Manchester City’s teenage star Claudio Echeverri has completed a season-long loan move to Bayer Leverkusen. The 19-year-old Argentine talent, who joined City from River Plate in 2024, will spend the campaign in Germany under new coach Erik ten Hag. The deal is a straight loan with no option to buy as City look to give the playmaker valuable first-team experience.
Echeverri joins Leverkusen on loan
Move has no buy option as City keep long-term control
19-year-old expected to replace Florian Wirtz in midfield
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Leverkusen have confirmed Echeverri has joined Die Werkself on loan for the 2025-26 season from City. The Bundesliga side beat interest from Borussia Dortmund, Lazio and Girona to secure his signature. The move contains no buy option, ensuring the Citizens retain long-term control of the Argentine’s future.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Echeverri arrives at Leverkusen at a key moment, with the club undergoing change after Xabi Alonso’s exit and Wirtz’s record move to Liverpool. The Argentine playmaker is expected to slot in as a creative replacement for the German in midfield. Leverkusen see the deal as a chance to rebuild their squad while giving the teenager regular game time.
DID YOU KNOW?
Echeverri joined City from River Plate in January 2024 but initially stayed in Argentina on loan. He has since made three appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side, including his debut in the FA Cup final and a goal in the Club World Cup. Now, he heads to Germany hoping to establish himself in one of Europe’s top leagues.
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WHAT NEXT FOR ECHEVERRI?
The 19-year-old could be in line to make his Bundesliga debut this weekend against Hoffenheim. He will aim to quickly adapt to Ten Hag’s system and prove himself so he can be involved in Guardiola's squad next season.
يستعد فريق الكرة الأول بنادي الهلال لاستكمال مشواره في بطولة كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين 2024-2025، وذلك بمواجهة الطائي.
ويحتضن ملعب استاد الأمير عبدالعزيز بن مساعد بن جلوي مواجهة فريقي الهلال والطائي في دور الـ16 من بطولة الكأس المحلية.
فيديو | الهلال يفوز على التعاون بثنائية في الدوري السعودي ويواصل الصدارة
وكان فريق الطائي قد حقق مفاجأة في دور الـ32 بالفوز على نظيره الخليج بخماسية مقابل هدفين، ليتأهل لدور ثمن النهائي.
أما الهلال فقد تأهل لدور الـ16 بالفوز على فريق البكيرية بهدف نظيف سجله ماركوس ليوناردو في الدقيقة 41 من عمر اللقاء.
الجدير بالذكر، أن نادي الهلال السعودي هو حامل لقب بطولة كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين بفوز على النصر في موقعة النهائي بركلات الترجيح. موعد مباراة الهلال والطائي اليوم في كأس خادم الحرمين
وتنطلق مباراة الهلال والطائي في الساعة السادسة وخمسة دقائق بتوقيت مصر والسعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة الهلال والطائي اليوم
وتذاع مباراة الهلال والطائي عبر فضائية ssc extra hd1. معلقي مباراة الهلال والطائي اليوم
وأسندت شبكة قنوات ssc مهمة نقل أحداث وفعاليات المباراة للمعلق جعفر الصليح عبر الصوتية الأولى ومحمد حسين في الصوتية الثانية.
ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا
Also says it’s unfair to judge Kohli’s batting “purely on the numbers” in IPL 2020
ESPNcricinfo staff07-Nov-20203:58
Gambhir: Kohli must put his hand up and be accountable
Eight seasons as captain, zero titles. And unlike most previous seasons, Virat Kohli didn’t enjoy a whole lot of success with the bat during IPL 2020 either, with his 466 runs coming at 121.35, his worst strike rate in any season he’s captained in.Those returns, and the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s poor finish – they lost each of their last five games, in the process squandering a possible top-two finish, only qualifying for the playoffs by the skin of their teeth and losing the Eliminator to the Sunrisers Hyderabad – have left critics, most notably the former India opener Gautam Gambhir, asking if Kohli should continue to lead the side.Simon Katich, the Royal Challengers’ head coach, has defended Kohli’s leadership, highlighting two facets in particular: his mentorship of younger players – notably the opener Devdutt Padikkal, who scored 473 runs, including five half-centuries, in his debut season – and his ability to lift the players and keep them fighting to the end, up to and including the team’s defence of a below-par 131 against the Sunrisers in Friday’s Eliminator.”We’re very fortunate to have spent these last 11 weeks working with him and I think what we’ve seen is someone that’s highly professional, someone that’s very, very well-respected by the group here, and not just for what he does on the field,” Katich said in a media interaction on Saturday. “I think his time around the group – both he and his wife Anushka [Sharma] spent a lot of time around the group, in the team room, and socialising with everyone – and what we saw, we saw someone that is very invested in this group, spent a lot of time with the younger players.Virat Kohli has a chat with head coach Simon Katich•BCCI”We paired him up with young Padikkal as a mentor, and we saw the growth in him throughout the tournament, having that time speaking batting with Virat Kohli is invaluable for his growth, and that’s the side a lot of people don’t see with Virat.”The other thing we saw, which was very visible on the field, was that we’ve got a leader that, no matter what the game situation is, gets the other ten guys to follow him and stay in the contest. And one thing [for which] we’re very proud of this group throughout this season is that we hung in the contest, we fought right to the end, even last night [in the Eliminator] when it looked like we didn’t have enough runs on the board. We fought right till the end, and that’s something that we’re very proud of, and Virat can take a lot of credit for that.”On the batting front, Katich pointed to a few mitigating factors that contributed to Kohli’s returns, and said it wasn’t right to judge his season “purely on the numbers”.ALSO READ: RCB season review: Lack of lower-order firepower mars improved performance “I think what we saw this year was, we did have consistent opening partnerships, between Padikkal and [Aaron] Finch,” Katich said. “Even though Finch probably [didn’t get] the volume of runs that he would have hoped for, we actually did get solid opening partnerships, so from that point of view, that was an area we wanted to address.”We got that, but then, as a byproduct of that, it probably meant that Virat came into the innings outside the powerplay on a number of occasions, which is never an easy time to start your innings, particularly here in the UAE where we found the conditions, particularly late in the tournament, starting to slow up.”That was a challenge for him, but we saw the class of Virat, particularly in the game against Chennai where he got that 90 off [52], or a number of times where the game situation didn’t help. He was looking like he was well on top of the bowling and we’d lose wickets at the crucial time, and that would sort of slow his progress, so you can’t just judge it purely on the numbers.”There were a number of games where he looked right at home and right at ease and then, unfortunately, we got schooled at times.”
Nottingham Forest face arguably the toughest test in club football this weekend when they take on Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side at the City Ground on Sunday afternoon.
Nuno Espírito Santo's side come into the encounter looking to return to winning ways after falling to a 2-0 defeat against fellow relegation-threatened side Everton.
The Reds have failed to win in their last three league outings and sit perilously close to the dropzone, amid very real fears of a relatively swift return to the Championship.
However, the chances of the Reds picking up three points on Sunday are extremely thin, with the Premier League champions unbeaten in 90 minutes since the start of December.
Forest claimed a crucial point against City last season after Chris Wood tapped home from close range after a sensational team move which involved every single member of the Reds side.
If Nuno's side are to claim anything from the fixture, he must recall two players to the starting lineup, with the duo deserving of a starting position after missing out against the Toffees last weekend.
Why Anthony Elanga must start against City
After picking up a minor injury a few weeks ago, winger Anthony Elanga has failed to start in any of the last two Premier League games but managed to come off the bench during the defeat at Goodison Park.
Gio Reyna replaced the Swede on the right-hand side of the attack, but failed to make a real impact before making way for the former Manchester United man after just 53 minutes.
Elanga has managed five goals and registered eight assists in the Premier League this season, with the forward thriving from regular game time after his move to the City Ground.
He should start based on his stats alone, but his "electric" pace on the counter-attack – as hailed by pundit Paul Robinson – could cause City a lot of problems, especially given Pep's tendency to start with three centre-backs, potentially allowing for huge gaps down either flank.
Forest will likely sit behind the ball for the vast majority of the encounter, looking to break where possible, but Nuno should also turn to another Reds player to combat the Citizens' potent forward line.
The man to partner Murillo against City
After returning to the starting lineup against Everton on Sunday, centre-back Moussa Niakhate struggled for much of the game trying to deal with the aerial threat of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The Senegalese defender only managed to win 50% of his duels on Sunday, whilst giving possession away ten times and committing a singular foul.
Niakhate, who is left-footed like Murillo, featured on an unnatural right-side of the centre-back partnership, struggling to make the impact he usually would have if he played in his usual role.
Nuno decided to drop Andrew Omobamidele for the crucial clash, a decision which turned out to be a costly one given the Irishman's impact alongside the Brazilian so far this campaign.
The "sensational" talent, as dubbed by writer Brendan O'Brien, has started eight games in the Premier League under Nuno and looks like the perfect partner alongside Murillo at the back, offering balance and allowing each other to feature on their natural side of the backline.
Appearances
10
Passes completed
263
Pass accuracy
87%
Duels won
19
Interceptions
13
Recoveries
20
The former Norwich City man has proven to be an excellent addition for the Reds since his summer transfer, with the 21-year-old having the potential to be a long-term starter at the heart of Forest's defence.
He's got the potential to become a brilliant Premier League centre-back, but he needs consistent game time in order to reach the heights all Reds fans know he's capable of, with Nuno needing to reunite the Irishman with Murillo ahead of the tricky test against City on Sunday evening.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing an "outstanding" Championship star this summer, but two huge clubs are providing competition for his signature.
Newcastle eyeing more attackers
There have been so many reasons for the Magpies' struggles throughout the 2023/24 season, from injuries to limp performances in both the Premier League and the Champions League. Eddie Howe's side have disappointed overall, but it's certainly fair to suggest they need a larger squad to stand a fighting chance.
While various areas of the pitch will likely be focused on when it comes to reinforcements, adding to the attack is of the utmost importance. This season, both Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson have found themselves sidelined too often through injury, while Harvey Barnes has also been absent for long periods and Miguel Almiron could leave the club this summer.
In Isak, Newcastle have a fantastic player who can become a genuine superstar at St James' Park, but on the flip side, Wilson could follow Almiron out the exit door and no longer represents the future.
armando-broja-alexander-isak-west-ham
In terms of long-term signings, Peterborough United youngster Ricky-Jade Jones has been linked with a move to the Magpies in the summer window, with the youngster compared to Usain Bolt because of his electric pace, running the 100m in just 10.9 seconds.
Newcastle have also been backed to sign more proven attacking stars, however, with Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush considered an option for Howe's men. The 25-year-old has 10 goals in 21 Bundesliga starts this season, also adding six assists.
Newcastle want to sign "outstanding" attacker
According to a new report from Football Transfers, Newcastle are battling to sign Leeds United ace Crysencio Summerville in the summer transfer window, as the Whites look to extend his stay at Elland Road. The Magpies are not the only big club believed to be in the mix to sign him, however, with Liverpool and AC Milan also name-checked as possible suitors.
Crysencio Summerville for Leeds United.
Summerville has arguably been the Championship's standout player this season, with his relentless numbers playing a key role in Leeds being third in the table and right in the mix for automatic promotion.
The 22-year-old has 25 goal contributions (17 goals and eight assists) in 38 league appearances to date, while Whites manager Daniel Farke had lauded him in recent months, saying he is both a "baller" and an "outstanding creative player".
Summerville could remain at Leeds if they secure promotion to the Premier League next month, but the report says that it is "not a guarantee that he will stay" at Elland Road even if they go up, and the thought of moving to Newcastle could appeal greatly to him.
Appearances
38
Starts
36
Goals
17
Assists
8
Shots per game
3.1
Key passes per game
2.7
Dribbles per game
2.4
Granted, Liverpool and Milan are also mouthwatering prospects, but it could be argued that the Dutchman has more chance of featuring prominently at St James', which could give them the edge.
Emi Martinez has been told that his “weird” behaviour is preventing a deserved standing among the top three keepers in world football being taken up.
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Famed for penalty-saving record
World Cup & Copa America winner
Has become master of mind games
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Aston Villa and Argentina shot-stopper has shown with his performances for club and country that he should be part of that conversation. He landed the prestigious Yashin Trophy in 2023 and FIFA Best Men’s Goalkeeper award after helping the Albiceleste to World Cup glory at Qatar 2022.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Martinez has also formed part of two triumphant Copa America squads, while helping Villa to a top-four finish in the Premier League and Champions League qualification. A reputation has been earned as one the best penalty-saving goalkeepers around, but the 32-year-old’s antagonistic antics can occasionally lead to less positive headlines being made.
WHAT DUNNE SAID
Former Villa defender Richard Dunne – speaking in association with online bingo site, – has told GOAL when asked if Martinez is the kind of character that you want in a No.1: “You just want them to be really good! The rest of it, the antics that he gets up to, is probably taking away from how good he is as a goalkeeper. If people didn’t have the other stuff to talk about, he would probably be more talked about as being up there in the top two or three goalkeepers in the world – because he is fantastic.
“The one thing you always want from goalkeepers is, can they make big saves and can they make them at important moments? He’s proved that he can. He’s been huge for his country and fantastic for Aston Villa. Personally I wouldn’t want them being a bit weird, I would like them to be calm and someone you can rely on and trust, but on the pitch he has been fantastic and you can’t knock him.”
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DID YOU KNOW?
Dunne added on Martinez mastering mind games, which are now part of football and a way of winning by any means possible: “You wonder how impactful it is, whether he needs to do it or whether it just motivates him to get that little bit extra, thinking ‘I’ve done this to this guy so I’d better save this or I’ll look a bit stupid’. Whatever he does, he makes saves that you don’t expect and he saves penalties, winning shootouts on his own at times.
“He’s such a big fella as well, he’s so imposing, that I’m sure he is intimidating to players coming up against him. It’s one of those things – if it works for you, keep doing it. It’s working for him, whatever he’s doing, so he just has to keep going with this style of play.”
With the attention of much of the Leeds United world on the race for automatic promotion, the focus of the 49ers Enterprises has seem to have turned towards the summer with transfers already being eyed.
Leeds eyeing promotion back to the Premier League
After a tough start to life back in the Championship, Leeds have recently been loving life in the second tier, with Daniel Farke's side in a strong position to make an immediate return to the Premier League.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke watches a Championship game.
Entangled in a four-way fight for automatic promotion, Leeds have been the form team of recent weeks, making light work of their opposition as they surge up the table.
Leeds player who Farke said has "unbelievable skills" is set to be sold
Leeds could be looking at yet another rebuild this summer.
ByZak Anderton Mar 16, 2024
This recent run of form has been spearheaded by the excellent displays in attack and tight ship at the back. The Elland Road faithful have been impressed by the performances of Archie Gray. The 18-year-old has been excelling in recent weeks, earning the Championship Fans’ Player of the Month award for last month.
Whilst nothing is certain in the EFL, it would be foolish for the 49ers to not start planning for what Leeds' side may look like if they are to return to the top flight at the first time of asking.
Leeds plot summer swoop for Longstaff
As reported by The Mirror, relayed by MOT Leeds News, Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff is on Farke's radar as he looks to outline his summer spending plans. Currently playing for his boyhood club Newcastle, the outlet claims that the 26-year-old is wanted by Leeds but for "no more than £15million".
kalvin-phillips-sean-longstaff-newcastle-opinion
Since breaking into the first team in late 2018, Longstaff has become a fan favourite on Tyneside appearing for the Magpies on 172 occasions. The midfielder has scored 11 goals during his time with the Toon, the most memorable of which was a strike in this season's victory over PSG in the Champions League.
This season has seen the 26-year-old struggle for consistent minutes owing to a mixture of poor form and persistent injuries. Despite these issues, manager Eddie Howe has stuck by Longstaff, emphasising his importance during a recent press conference:
"Sean has had some really good games for us this season and he is a really important player. He has game intelligence and his understanding of what we want from him is of the highest level.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe.
"I back him, I back his ability and I know how good he is. He is integral to us when he's at his very best but I do think he needs to train regularly to get his best rhythm."
With Longstaff's contract set to expire in the summer of 2025, the 49ers could be eager to get any transfer completed quickly to ensure that they can get the best deal possible.
Glasgow Rangers head coach Philippe Clement and head of recruitment Nils Koppen enjoyed a successful January transfer window as they made three additions to the first-team squad.
Mohammed Diomande, Oscar Cortes, and Fabio Silva were all brought in on initial loan deals to bolster the Belgian head coach's options across the pitch.
Diomande has already produced two goals and one assist, Cortes racked up one goal and two assists before his injury, and Silva has found the back of the net four times.
Mohammed Diomande
Clement will now be hoping that they continue to fire in goals and assists to help the Scottish giants to secure more silverware before the end of the season, which could result in them being viewed as successful signings.
Whilst it is easy to look at signings as successes and failures over the years, you can also look at players the club wanted to sign but failed to, and wonder what could have been.
Rangers' interest in Xavi Simons
TEAMtalk reported in December 2021 that Rangers were one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign attacking midfielder Xavi Simons from French giants Paris Saint-Germain.
His contract with the Ligue 1 side was due to expire at the end of the season and the Light Blues were seemingly looking to snap him up on a free transfer in the summer.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst – the Gers manager at the time – was 'well aware' of the young whiz due to his connections in the Netherlands, which could have given them an edge over their rivals outside of Holland in negotiations, had it got to that stage.
PSV's Xavi Simons
However, Simons opted to move back to his home country as he signed for Dutch giants PSV on a five-year deal. However, PSG were able to negotiate a buy-back clause as part of their compensation, given that his age meant it could not be a straightforward free transfer.
The Netherlands international hit the ground running with his new club, as he plundered an outstanding 22 goals and 12 assists in 48 appearances in all competitions.
PSV lost to Rangers in the Champions League play-off tie to qualify for the group stages in August but Simons only played 45 minutes over the two legs.
The 20-year-old was on fire in the Eredivisie with a sensational return of 19 goals, eight assists, and 11 'big chances' created in 34 appearances.
Rangers must now wish that they had signed him under van Bronckhorst in 2022 as the Dutch star's value has soared, and he is currently worth more than first-team star Todd Cantwell.
Todd Cantwell's current market valuation
At the time of writing (13/03/2024), Football Transfers has the English attacking midfielder's Expected Transfer Value (xTV) at €4.2m (£3.6m), which is the exact same xTV that Simons had in May 2022 before his move to PSV.
Michael Beale swooped to sign the mercurial talent from English Championship side Norwich City on a permanent deal at the start of last year, and he has been a terrific operator in the final third for the Scottish giants.
As you can see in the table below, Cantwell has provided quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Light Blues in his two seasons at the club so far.
Appearances
16
22
Goals
6
5
Assists
4
3
Big chances created
5
4
Key passes per game
1.3
1.6
Stats via Sofascore
The 26-year-old playmaker has directly contributed with 11 goals and seven assists in 38 Scottish Premiership matches for the Light Blues, which shows that he has the ability to be a difference-maker for the team in the final third.
At the age of 26, Cantwell also has plenty of years left ahead of him to develop and improve as a player to increase his output at the top end of the pitch even further.
Whilst, in isolation, the former Norwich star has been a successful, and impressive, signing by Rangers, some may look at Simons and wonder what could have been had van Bronckhorst snapped him up six months before the Gers signed Cantwell.
Xavi Simons' current market value
At the time of writing (13/03/2024), the Dutch international currently has an xTV of a staggering €43.1m (£36.8m), which means that his value is significantly higher than the current Light Blues attacking midfielder's (£3.6m).
His market value has soared alongside his terrific performances for PSV last season, and his outstanding displays on loan with RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga this term, having been re-signed by PSG and sent to Germany on a temporary basis last summer.
The 20-year-old dynamo has been in fantastic form for Leipzig throughout the 2023/24 campaign, and his current statistics suggest that he would be a big upgrade on Cantwell.
Appearances
24
22
Goals
6
5
Assists
8
3
Big chances created
10
4
Key passes per game
2.4
1.6
As you can see in the table above, Simons has outperformed the Rangers star in a number of key attacking statistics, whilst playing in one of Europe's major leagues, with far more key passes, big chances created, and assists, in only two more appearances.
The Leipzig loanee has also showcased his quality in the Champions League this term with a return of two goals, two assists, and three 'big chances' created in eight outings in the competition. This shows that he has the ability to compete and play at the highest level.
These statistics show why Simons' value has skyrocketed since Rangers failed to sign him under van Bronckhorst, as the talented whiz has excelled in the Netherlands and Germany over the last two seasons.
He has scored and assisted goals at an exceptional rate as an attacking midfielder and is currently worth more than any player within the Gers squad – including Cantwell – at this time.
This suggests that the Glasgow giants had a howler when they were unable to convince the talented dynamo to make the move to Ibrox back in the summer of 2022, when he left PSG, as they must now wish that they had snapped him up.
da esport bet： It feels as if Arsenal are on the precipice of something very special this season, and while much of the attention is on the incredible Premier League title race, European glory is a very real possibility.
da casino： Mikel Arteta's side are potentially just 90 minutes away from reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2010, but they'll have to beat Porto to do so.
The Gunners have looked unreal in recent weeks, and while there will be a temptation to leave the team as similar to the one that won on Saturday as possible, Arteta should make one key change in a bid to replicate a famous 5-0 win over the Portuguese outfit all the way back in March 2010.
Arsenal starting XI: 5-0 win vs Porto
GK – Manuel Almunia
RB – Bacary Sagna
CB – Sol Campbell
CB – Thomas Vermaelen
LB – Gael Clichy
CM – Abou Diaby
CM – Alex Song
CAM – Samir Nasri
RM – Tomas Rosicky
LM – Andrey Arshavin
ST – Nicklas Bendtner
Jakub Kiwior's game vs Brentford in numbers
The player who should be taken out of the team tonight is Poland international Jakub Kiwior.
Now, it might sound harsh given his recent performances in the league, and in all honesty, it is, but while he shone against the likes of Burnley, Newcastle United, and Sheffield United – registering a goal involvement in each match – he was underwhelming against the Bees.
This sentiment was shared by 90min's Sean Walsh, who awarded the 24-year-old a 6/10 on the night, writing that while the Tychy-born pro 'defended well enough,' he 'didn't provide enough in the final third when Arsenal needed more quality down the left.'
The former Spezia man's statistics backs up Walsh's assessment. In his 79 minutes of action, he registered an expected assists figure of just 0.04, lost possession 14 times, maintained a passing accuracy of only 77%, played one key pass, was accurate in one of his four long balls, and misplaced two of his three crosses.
Jakub Kiwior vs Brentford
Minutes
79'
Expected Assists
0.04
Lost Possession
49
Accurate Passes
37/48 (77%)
Key Passes
1
Long Balls (Accurate)
4 (1)
Crosses (Accurate)
3 (1)
All Stats via Sofascore
However, perhaps the most telling moment was his substitution. In the 79th minute, with Arsenal still searching for a win, Arteta opted to bring on Oleksander Zinchenko in his place, which could serve as a hint of what's to come on Tuesday night.
Why Oleksandr Zinchenko should start
Yes, Kiwior's replacement on Saturday should be the man to start in his place at the Emirates against Porto.
Zinchenko hasn't started a game since the victory over Liverpool on February 4th. However, his substitute appearance against the Bees and Arteta's confirmation on Monday that he, among others, will be fit enough to start against Porto should reduce concerns about his fitness.
The main reason the former Manchester City ace should start over his inform teammate is his ability to influence the attacking phase of play, given Arsenal's need for two goals or more.
This superiority is exemplified by the pair's underlying numbers this season, as in most, if not all, attacking metrics, the "silky" Ukrainian, as journalist Sam Dean described him, comes out ahead.
Zinchenko vs Kiwior
Stats per 90
Zinchenko
Kiwior
Expected Assists
0.11
0.09
Progressive Passes
12.3
5.45
Progressive Carries
2.25
0.45
Progressive Passes Received
3.38
1.48
Passing Accuracy
87.8%
84.6%
Shot-Creating Actions
3.44
1.14
Tackles Won
1.69
1.36
Successful Take-Ons
0.44
0.11
Ball Recoveries
5.38
3.18
All Stats via Transfermarkt for the 2023/24 Domestic Season
He produces far more progressive passes and carries, maintains better passing accuracy, produces far more shot-creating actions, is more successful in his dribbles, and even wins more tackles and recovers more balls, suggesting his defensive fragilities might not be as prevalent as some believe.
Ultimately, it is harsh on Kiwior to take him out of the team off the back of some great performances, but with the situation demanding Arsenal attack Porto, Arteta is better off starting the more offensive of the pair.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Two months ago, New Zealand left Sydney chastened by their 3-0 Test defeat after having gone across with high expectations only to suffer injury, illness and drubbings. Now they are back for this awkwardly-placed late-season ODI series and another chance to improve on a poor record when crossing the Tasman.It has generally not been a pretty picture when New Zealand have gone to Australia. Before the recent Test series, there was an ODI thrashing in 2016 (along with a one-off T20I) which followed a 2-0 Test loss in 2015 and the heavy World Cup final defeat earlier that year. Their last victory in any format in Australia was the 2011 Test win in Hobart.They have never won an ODI series, although they came close in the 2008-09 Chappell-Hadlee Series, when it was shared 2-2 after rained prevented a result in the decider at the Gabba with New Zealand pushing for a win. One of their most impressive runs against the home side came in the 2001-02 tri-series when they dominated Australia in the group matches before falling to South Africa in the finals.ALSO READ: Middle-order make-up among Australia’s key questionsSo there has, barring the occasional success, been a severe block for New Zealand visiting Australia regardless of how strong their side has been on paper. And this current ODI squad is very good; they have recently beaten India and the majority of the players were at the World Cup last year (when they also lost to Australia). Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson, who both suffered injuries during the Test series, are back while Kyle Jamieson will be looking to build on his impressive start against India.”We had a pretty good series against India, Test matches and one-dayers, so coming in here the guys seem in good form and excited,” Martin Guptill said. “It’s not often we get to play in Australia in one-day cricket.” For New Zealand, it would seem like a decent time to try and win their first ODI series in Australia and retain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy they have held since 2017 when the teams last played a bilateral series. The trophy was up for grabs at the 2017 Champions Trophy but the match was abandoned and it was decided not to compete for it at last year’s World Cup.”I think it’s irrelevant who they put on the park, they always present a very good challenge,” David Warner said. “In one-day cricket and T20 they are very disciplined in what they do, led by a world-class player and gentleman in Kane (Williamson). He knows a lot of our players inside out, I’m sure they’ll bowl to their specific plans and when with the bat they’ll know what to do.”The revival of Australia’s ODI form has hit the buffers with five defeats in a row following their ten-wicket win against India in Mumbai. While it is the middle-order that is coming in for most of the debate, Warner believes it is down to one of the top four to make sure they bat through the innings.”The only thing I can put it down to is the top four not scoring the bulk of the runs,” Warner said. “You can’t do it all the time but at least one of us has to go on and be there at the end. It is disappointing but at the end of the day we’ve got to keep trying to get better at that, try to find a balance with our batting through the middle as well.”Matthew Wade, who did not get a game in South Africa as he continues to wait for his first ODI since 2017, said Australia could take a leaf out of their book with the way a new-look batting order went about their work.”[South Africa] had a lot of guys out and quite an inexperienced team and they did the basics a lot better than we did. They had guys get hundreds and bat the whole way through. We’ve got to strip it back and make sure we’re doing the basics really, really well in this series. New Zealand are a very disciplined cricket team and we know they will do it well.”We’ve got to make sure one of the top four really bats through and makes a big hundred and in Australia we back our power towards the end on pretty true wickets. It’ll be nice to see if one of the top order can go through and bat the whole innings, that would be very helpful.”There is the extra motivation for Australia in trying to go through the home summer unbeaten. They won five of the six T20Is against Sri Lanka and Pakistan (and would have won the other in Sydney but for rain), then swept the Tests against Pakistan and New Zealand 5-0. Life on the road over the last few weeks has been tougher, but these two games in Sydney followed by the final match in Hobart next week stand between them and a first unbeaten summer since 2009-10.”We always want to win on home soil no matter how well we’ve been going,” Warner said. “The priority is to win every game at home, there’s no excuses, you have a lot of stuff in your favour.”