Arsenal could be set to pounce on the misfortune of a former Premier League rival, capitalising on one of the three relegated clubs.

What's the latest on Wilfried Gnonto to Arsenal?

That's according to Italian publication Calciomercato, who claim that the Gunners are one of the numerous suitors seeking to pry Wilfried Gnonto from Championship-bound Leeds United.

Amongst the suitors are Manchester City, who will also battle with plenty of Italian clubs who want to bring the electric wide man back to his homeland, although the north London outfit are noted as following him particularly closely.

With a price tag expected to reach as high as €40m (£35m), the Whites will likely still be frustrated to see their brightest prospect exit Elland Road. However, their loss could be Mikel Arteta's gain, with another skilful young winger for him to mould in Bukayo Saka's image.

How good is Wilfried Gnonto?

Given it is just his first full year in England, the 19-year-old has acclimated to the power and pace of the Premier League with relative ease. This is likely aided by his own physical assets, which have seen the 5 foot 5 powerhouse feature 24 times in the league and a further four times in domestic cup competitions.

Whilst eight goal contributions across those 28 appearances might not be the most eye-catching, he is a teenager who offers much more than just statistics.

His ability to beat a man is thrilling to watch, with his lightning-quick feet making viewers feel like he is always capable of the spectacular – talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor lauded such quality back in March, noting:

"He’s a top player. He might not be on Raphinha’s level just yet, as he’s only 19 – but he’s got that directness, that scary pace.

“He could do better with his final ball or with his finishing – but that will only get better and better in the future. I can see him being at that Raphinha level in the next couple of seasons."

Meanwhile, Football Insider pundit Tam McManus supplemented this by branding him a "pocket rocket" too, and when compared to other wingers across Europe he ranks in the top 16% for progressive carries per 90 to emphasise this superiority with possession.

Given the Gunners have been in for the 26-year-old Brazilian in the past, who notched 11 goals last season in the league, this could mark a fine investment into an asset who could easily surpass the Barcelona man.

Watching Saka occupy the right flank with a similar dynamism, adding many more goals and assists to his name, placing them in the same squad under the tutelage of Arteta could help elevate them both to new levels.

The England international recorded 14 goals and 11 assists in the league this season, but just two years earlier, when he was a teenager himself, he only managed nine goal contributions. The pathway for Gnonto's progression is therefore clear.

Arsenal's transformative manager could work his magic on an exciting winger once again, and in doing so form one of the division's most petrifying wide combinations.

City's sustained success is making a mockery of the claim that the English top-flight is the most competitive in the world

Manchester City are presently facing – and fighting – more than 100 charges of breaching the Premier League's financial regulations between 2009 and 2018. Many of their fans, though, believe the club to be victims of a conspiracy. Why? Because City's domestic dominance has put the Premier League in a very perilous position.

The English top-flight has expertly sold itself to consumers all across the planet as 'the best league in the world' because it is the most exciting and, far more importantly, the most competitive. It was unscripted drama, utterly unpredictable because of the level playing field. They built a billion-dollar brand on that illusion, but a fifth title in six seasons has exposed its fragile foundations.

Credit to Martin Tyler, the voice of ' coverage for three decades, he, just like many influential figures in the English media, is still doing his best to maintain the illusion of interest. "One of the great appeals of the Premier League is that it's not a one-team league," he insisted, without a trace of irony, on the day that Arsenal inevitably succumbed to City's superiority.

As displays of delusion go, it was right up there with the Premier League concluding that there would be no state involvement in the running of Newcastle United, and Chelsea thinking that Frank Lampard would make for a sensible interim appointment…

GettyThe Premier League is a Super League

Obviously, football fans are a loyal bunch, particularly in England. Despite the emergence of a 'Big Six' that effectively forced every other participant to focus on keeping their place in the most lucrative league in football, supporters still fill stadiums up and down the country, generating an atmosphere and a spectacle that the Premier League perfectly packages for a global TV audience.

And that is key, because the sale of international TV rights is where all the money is; it is that cash which has put the Premier League on a whole other financial plane to every domestic competition in Europe. It's the reason why Florentino Perez & Co. are so desperate for a Super League. England already has one of its own, essentially – so they want one too.

So, there is no imminent threat to the financial might of the Premier League – the latest U.S. deal, which runs until 2028, is worth $2.7 billion (£2bn) alone – given most overseas fans only follow the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool anyway.

AdvertisementGettyLosing its appeal

However, that in itself is a potential problem because of City's sustained success. Why would other supporters of the 'Bix Six' continue to tune in week after week if they already know who's going to win the title before the season starts? Unpredictability isn't just key to the Premier League's appeal – it's the very essence of sport.

Serie A has many issues, but one of the main reasons why its TV rights plummeted in price was Juventus winning nine successive Scudetti. So, having three different winners in the past three years – coupled with its clubs’ continental success this season – has done wonders for the claim that ‘Calcio is back!’

Obviously, Napoli coasted to victory this season, but the broader issue here is not one team running away with the league – Luciano Spalletti’s scintillating side sparked celebrations that drew the eyes of the entire football world to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona and the surrounding city – it's the same team lifting the trophy every year.

Getty ImagesA one-team league

That's why the sight of City lifting yet another trophy on Sunday was far from 'a great advert for the Premier League' – the line that is so often pushed by English pundits after fiercely-contested encounter played out before a packed house. They're a wonderful footballing side, maybe the greatest the English game has ever seen, but the inconvenient truth is that their triumph wasn't a cause for celebration – but concern.

As a recent FIFA study found, the title winners in England (City, invariably) are now winning well over 80 percent of the points available – by that rationale, it is the seventh-least competitive league in Europe.

The Leicester miracle of 2016 certainly seems a long time ago now. The Premier League revelled in the Foxes' 5,000-1 fairy tale, as it meant a fourth different champion in four seasons. For them, it made for a stark – and satisfying – contrast to Serie A, the Bundesliga and Ligue 1, which were all dismissed as one-team leagues. However, that’s exactly what the Premier League has become.

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GettyLiverpool's triumph an anomaly

As soon as Guardiola got to grips with English football, City began rewriting the record books. Ninety-seven and 92 points is no longer enough to guarantee top spot, which is a farcical reflection of the overall strength of the opposition.

It took a historic, Herculean effort from an outstanding Liverpool side just to win one title – which they are still being castigated for by some supporters even though it is now looking like an even more extraordinary achievement with each passing season of City success.

Of course, the counter-argument will be that City have raised the standard of English football; that the onus is on their rivals to match it. And Liverpool obviously proved it was possible. But that 2019-20 victory has been made to look like an anomaly, temporary respite from the City onslaught.

Indeed, what's really terrifying for the marketing teams at the Premier League, Sky and BT Sport, is that there appears to be no end in sight to City's dominance. Some people are actually praying for Pep's departure in the hope that a removal of a tactical genius will redress the balance!

England 278 for 6 (Duckett 63, Billings 62, Stokes 47*) beat Bangladesh 277 for 6 (Mushfiqur 67*, Sabbir 49, Imrul 46, Tamim 45, Rashid 4-43)
Scorecard and ball-by-ball updatesHold the pose and watch the ball disappear down the ground high into the crowd. Such was the perfect manner in which Chris Woakes settled a wonderful one-day series. Little speaks more highly of England than the fact they turned up in Bangladesh the first place but, having turned up, they fulfilled their aims on the field as they ended Bangladesh’s run of six successive series wins in ODIs on home soil.Bangladesh have an impressive lists of conquests to their name, but they have still not beaten England in a bilateral series, losing this one 2-1 as they went down in Chittagong by four wickets with seven balls to spare. Their 277 for 6 looked formidable on a slow pitch that turned substantially for Adil Rashid as he took ODI-best figures of 4 for 43. But the pitch quickened slightly as the dew fell, their finger spinners failed to find the same purchase and England met the run chase with imagination and maturity.When Eoin Morgan and Alex Hales withdrew from the Bangladesh tour because of safety concerns, England made it clear that there would be no retribution, while stressing that nothing could be taken entirely for granted: life has a habit of moving on was the gist from Andrew Strauss, MD of England cricket.Life has moved on, not enough to exclude them – Morgan will skipper on the ODI leg in India – but after this victory it will be enough for England to contemplate their deepening batting options with mounting excitement as they prepare to host the Champions Trophy and World Cup in forthcoming years. They won not just without Morgan and Hales, but without Joe Root and the injured Jason Roy, too, a first-choice top four whose absence was survived.Ben Duckett and Sam Billings, two batsmen to benefit from others’ absence, were prominent figures in England’s successful chase. Both lodged half-centuries that represented their best England ODI scores. Duckett’s, his second of the series, again built on a county season that brought him player-of-the-year recognition, while Billings played with zest as he capitalised on Jason Roy’s absence from the top of the order because of injury.Considering the shenanigans in the second match in Mirpur, after which the match referee doled out two fines and a reprimand, it was perhaps fortunate early in England’s run chase that it was Billings who collided with Mashrafe Mortaza, the bowler, who wandered into his path as he sought a second run. Some well-modulated, polite protest sorted that one out. A swept six against Mashrafe announced that he was set and the shot continued to sustain him until, on 62, it also brought his downfall when he top-edged Mosaddek Hossain to deep square.Billings has dash; Duckett scores quickly without you entirely noticing. He is an inventive cricketer, able to expose the field with a mix of sweeps, ramps and inside-out drives; a stout batsman with a permanently puzzled expression that might have been sketched for Toy Story. In one-day cricket, perhaps in Tests too, he can become a favourite. He perished to a ramp shot against Shafiul Islam, an alert keeper’s catch for Mushfiqur Rahim.With James Vince having fallen lbw in Nasir Hossain’s first over and Bairstow bowled by Shafiul, misjudging the length as he tried to pull, England were 99 short with 19 overs by the time Jos Buttler reached the crease. A slower ball from Mashrafe silenced him, then Moeen Ali chipped him feebly to mid-on. But Ben Stokes played with restraint and, only when Woakes was put down by Imrul Kayes at first slip off Taskin Ahmed – a head-high catch with 21 needed from 21 balls – did England feel that momentum was with them.Ben Stokes eased any tension towards the end of England’s chase•Getty Images

Perhaps influenced by the heated exchanges in Mirpur, even if only sub consciously, England had recalled Liam Plunkett, their most aggressive fast bowler, as a mid-innings enforcer. It was the wrong call. The Chittagong pitch was so slow that it was no time to be The Enforcer – even Dirty Harry would have taken the day off – but it turned from the outset. Liam Dawson, the Hampshire allrounder, must have rued a missed opportunity to bowl his left-arm spinner on a surface like this.Fortunately for England, Rashid had the sort of day when the heavens bestowed kindness upon him. Two long hops and a full toss accounted for three of his wickets and, on each occasion, his raised index finger looked like an exercise in positive thinking rather than a gesture of unadulterated triumph. But he turned the ball bigger than anybody and that contributed to his sense of threat, enough to take the Man-of-the-Match award. And he is England’s leading wicket-taker in ODIs this year.By the time that England had dispensed with the openers, Imrul and Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh would have felt quite settled at 106 for 2 in the 23rd over. Tamim became the first Bangladesh batsman to reach 5,000 ODI runs with a collector’s item – swatting a bouncer from Woakes in front of square. But reputations shift and it was the wicket of Imrul that England most hankered after, illustrated by a wasted review when he was 31 as they searched unsuccessfully for a hint of glove as he reverse swept Moeen. Stokes broke the stand, Imrul clipping him to square leg.Rashid then took four of the next five wickets to fall, repeatedly stymieing Bangladesh’s ambitions. Tamim, reaching for a short ball, got it as far as Vince at cover; Mahmudullah hit another long hop in the same direction. Sabbir Rahman, at least, received the high-class kill his sprightly innings deserved as Butter held an edge off a fierce leg break. Nasir Hossain was Rashid’s last victim, this time courtesy of a full toss sinking faster than the pound.Moeen wicket also possessed fortune as he defeated the left-hander, Shakib Al Hasan, on the outside edge and was stumped by Buttler who inadvertently flapped the ball onto the stumps and was fortunate that the bails fell off before he crashed his gloves into the timber.Bangladesh held their nerve as 10 overs elapsed without a boundary and by the end of the innings Mosaddek and Mushfiqur had been rewarded with an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 85 in 12 overs.Mushfiqur’s unbeaten 67 from 62 balls was his first half-century in 21 knocks, with England blowing two good chances to remove him. He might have been run out on 26 when Mosaddek sent him back but Bairstow missed. Then on 44 he struck Woakes down the ground but Stokes, having made good ground for the catch, had four bites before putting it down. With a bat in his hand, and a series to win, Stokes was to allow no such liberties.

Batsman Shai Hope and allrounder Rovman Powell have been picked in West Indies’ squad for next month’s tri-series in Zimbabwe, after the selectors decided to drop Kieron Pollard and Denesh Ramdin

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Oct-2016Batsman Shai Hope and allrounder Rovman Powell have been picked in West Indies’ squad for next month’s tri-series in Zimbabwe, after the selectors decided to drop Kieron Pollard and Denesh Ramdin. Pollard and Ramdin’s exclusions are the only changes to the squad that suffered a 3-0 defeat in the ODI series against Pakistan earlier this month.WI ODI squad for Zimbabwe

Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Johnson Charles, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder (capt), Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine, Ashley Nurse, Rovman Powell, Marlon Samuels
In Shai Hope, Rovman Powell
Out Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin

Both Pollard and Ramdin had poor returns in the limited-overs series in the UAE. Pollard managed 43 runs in the three T20s, and bowled two overs, going wicketless. In the three-match ODI series, Pollard scored 42 runs at an average of 14.00. He took one wicket in the 12 overs he bowled across the three matches. Ramdin, who was recalled to the ODI squad, compiled 79 runs at 26.33 in the three ODIs and did not feature in the T20s.Hope, who is a part of the Test side in the UAE, is uncapped in limited-overs internationals, but has played six Tests since May 2015 scoring 171 runs at an average of 15.54. He scored 76 in the three-day tour match against the PCB Patron’s XI, played under lights with the pink ball.Powell, uncapped in international cricket, had been named in the T20 squad for the UAE tour following a promising performance in CPL 2016. His only match on the tour was the practice T20 game against the Emirates Cricket Board XI where he scored 38 and bowled two overs for 14 runs.The Zimbabwe series will begin on November 14 with a match between the hosts and Sri Lanka. West Indies’ first match in the series will be against Sri Lanka on November 16. The final will be played on November 27.

Notwithstanding the Lodha Committee’s strong missive to the Supreme Court asking it to disqualify all ineligible office bearers with immediate effect, the BCCI and its members have reiterated that they continue to oppose some of the committee’s recommenda

Nagraj Gollapudi02-Dec-20160:49

‘Members have reiterated their position’ – Shirke

Notwithstanding the strong missive sent by the Lodha Committee to the Supreme Court asking it to disqualify all ineligible office bearers with immediate effect, the BCCI and its members have reiterated that they continue to oppose some of the committee’s recommendations.At a special general meeting on Friday, the BCCI said it would stick to the decision taken on October 1 at a previous SGM. Then, the BCCI had said that it had “unanimously” adopted “important recommendations” made by the committee.However, a deeper reading of the minutes of the October 1 meeting made it clear that the BCCI and the states were against some of the key recommendations such as election and term of an office bearer, one-state-one vote, formation of an Apex Council to replace the existing working committee, and the role of the CEO.On Friday, BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke did not respond directly to a question on whether the BCCI and the states had effectively decided not to accept the court order of July 18, which had approved most of the recommendations proposed by the committee and asked it to lay out a timeline for the BCCI to put the reforms in place. “We have once again explained to them [members] the position and they have again clarified their position that they stand to their decision taken earlier,” Shirke said on Friday, in a brief statement to the media. “So the decision taken on the October 1 SGM, the members have reiterated their position with regards to the reforms.”Shirke said the BCCI would await the court to provide further direction on December 5, when the court reconvenes for the next hearing. On Monday, the court will consider the latest status report submitted by the committee on November 18, when it proposed for the second time that the existing office bearers of the BCCI and state associations be removed if they failed to meet various eligibility norms. The committee has also proposed GK Pillai, a former civil servant, be appointed as an ‘observer’ to oversee all business conducted by the BCCI.A state association president who attended Friday’s SGM said the matter was out of the BCCI’s hands already and it was for the court to take the final call. “We don’t have to take any decision. We have said we don’t agree [with certain recommendations]. Whatever the Supreme Court says we will have to abide.”This member said there was no reason for the BCCI or states to panic even if the court were to pass an adverse order. “Since the last three meetings our stance has not changed. There is no panic.”

To cap off a week headlined by an incoming superstar, this weekend's matches showed just how far his new club has left to go

In some ways, it feels almost trivial to talk about games after a week like this. Lionel Messi, perhaps the best player the sport has ever seen, is coming to Inter Miami. The easy thing to do would be to take this column, put 'MLS' as one giant winner and call it a day.

But it isn't that simple, is it? There were some massive games this week. One of the most notable featured Inter Miami, who showed just how much ground the club will have to make up even with the Argentinian genius on his way.

It was another loss for Miami, as they couldn't ride the Messi wave to a win in New England. While the club is thriving on social media, the on-field results remain horrendous. Messi's arrival can't come soon enough.

Meanwhile, another Argentina-born maestro stole the show with a Goal of the Year, and perhaps Puskas Award, contender. It was a reminder of the talent that is already in this league, even if the focus is all on the one man that will undoubtedly lift MLS into a new stratosphere in the months and years to come.

With that said, here's a look at the winners and losers from this weekend's games:

• WINNER: Lucas Zelarayan

  While one Argentina-born maestro stole the headlines this week, another scored a legitimate Goal of the Year contender as dazzling as any goal the World Cup winner has ever scored.

  Level with the Chicago Fire in stoppage-time, Lucas Zelarayan scored an absolutely unimaginable winner. Receiving the ball in his own half, the Armenia international looked up, saw the goalkeeper and went for the chip, scoring from a mile away to seal all three points.

  The goal was officially measured at 60.98 yards and was Zelarayan's second 50+-yard goal of his MLS career. It's a reminder of the type of magic he can create.

  His celebration was Messi-esque, as he took off his shirt and displayed his name to the crowd. "I didn't know what to do," Zelarayan said. "I was so, so excited and I took my shirt off. I saw that celebration before and, yes, I was so excited. I did that because I was out of my mind."

  The league may be eagerly awaiting Messi's arrival, and for good reason, but there are some pretty damn good No.10s running around MLS, and Zelarayan continues to show why he may be the most spectacular of the bunch as he provided another highlight-reel goal.

Advertisement

• Inter Miami
  

  LOSER: Inter Miami

  It's hard to put them in this category given their absolutely league-altering signing midweek. But this is an on-field column, and there's a lot to say about what's going on on the field with Inter Miami.

  Once Messi's decision became public, his long-time friend and former team-mate Sergio Aguero revealed a funny story. He'd texted Messi once the news became public, letting him know that his new club wasn't exactly in a good place.

  “I spoke to Messi yesterday," he told . "I sent him a message with a screenshot of the Eastern Conference standings and I said: ‘Your team is behind! You have to move up to eighth or ninth!’”

  Another week, another loss for Inter Miami, though. Messi's going to have a lot of work to do. The latest defeat was a 3-1 battering at the hands of the New England Revolution, one which kept Miami at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. As things stand, Miami are seven points out of a playoff spot. Even in MLS, that's a lot of ground to make up.

  Adding injury to insult, the club also picked up another injury, as Corentin Jean went down in the loss. You can add him to the club's extensive injury list, another starter that looks set to miss time.

  The question isn't whether or not Messi can lift Miami to an MLS Cup, but rather if Messi can even lift Inter Miami to the playoffs. On-field success wasn't the only thing that brought Messi to South Beach, but it appears this club will need even more than the Argentine if he wants to lift some trophies in the near future.

• Getty Images
  

  WINNER: Alan Pulido

  Pulido deserves this moment. After missing nearly all of 2022 due to injury and watching his side struggle mightily out of the gate to start 2023, Pulido is well and truly back.

  He struggled to find his form initially but, after this weekend, Pulido is back to his old self, scoring twice and assisting another in a 4-1 win over Austin FC. That's now back-to-back games with a goal for Pulido, and 10 points from four games for a Sporting KC team that has emerged from their early-season mess.

  Pulido burst onto the scene with 11 goal contributions in his first 12 matches, but has never quite looked the same. He had eight goals and three assists in 2021 before an injury derailed his 2022 campaign. Sporting KC has missed him, dearly, as the club has lacked his presence up top.

  The Mexican star is back, though, and so is Sporting KC. With just one loss in eight games after zero wins in their first 10, the vibes have completely turned around at Children's Mercy Park and, if Pulido can perform like this, everything will be just fine for Sporting KC.

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• Getty Images
  

  LOSER: LAFC

  A bad, bad week for LAFC. A loss to Leon in the CONCACAF Champions League final, a midweek draw with Atlanta and then a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of the Houston Dynamo. It's safe to say the CCL hangover is in full effect.

  Head coach Steve Cherundolo put it bluntly: "Didn't show up to play tonight and just got beat." He's certainly right. The Dynamo beat the breaks off the defending MLS Cup champions, who put in the flattest performance we've seen from them in some time. The Dynamo have played some decent soccer this season, but they shouldn't be doing to LAFC. No team in MLS should.

  We'll chalk it up to a CCL hangover. We'll say heads dipped after their continental loss, and we'll say that this loss will be the perfect wake-up call. LAFC will probably be just fine – they're too good not to be.

  Still, though, they wouldn't be the first team to see their gas tanks emptied in CCL play. They wouldn't be the first team to never quite refuel, underachieving on tired legs after a deep run in continental play. Toronto FC (2018) and the Seattle Sounders (2022) were both victims of it; it's fair to ask if LAFC may be next.

  It's certainly something to keep an eye on. Is this a one-off or a sign of slowing down for a team that has played a lot of soccer over the last year or so?

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their plans to improve their attacking options in the upcoming summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Sam Lammers to Rangers?

According to Monday's edition of The Scottish Daily Mail [via Ibrox News], the Light Blues are keeping tabs on Sampdoria's loanee centre-forward, Sam Lammers.

The report claims that the Dutch number nine is one of a number of players on the club's shortlist as they attempt to replace Alfredo Morelos, who is set to depart on a free transfer this summer.

It is stated that the Serie A attacker, whose parent club is Atalanta, is also out of contract in the coming weeks and this means that the Gers could snap him up for nothing ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Who is Sam Lammers?

He is a 26-year-old striker from the Netherlands who has struggled since leaving his home country to play in Italy and Rangers could get him back to his best by partnering the ace with Todd Cantwell next season.

Since the start of the 2020/21 campaign, Lammers has scored five league goals for Empoli, Atalanta, Sampdoria, and Eintracht Frankfurt combined and this run of form does not suggest that the attacker would be a good signing for the Light Blues.

However, the former Dutch U21 international, who talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed as "two-footed", enjoyed a prolific spell in the Eredivisie and for PSV at youth level and Michael Beale could have some player on his hands if he is able to get him on top form.

Lammers scored 19 goals and provided five assists in 35 appearances for Heerenveen in all competitions in 2018/19 after he caught the eye during his time in PSV's academy.

The marksman plundered an impressive 46 goals and 21 assists in 101 appearances for the Dutch giants at U19 and U21 level combined.

These statistics suggest that the £17k-per-week finisher has the potential to be a prolific scorer, and provider, at Ibrox if he can get back to the levels of form he displayed at PSV and Heerenveen and Cantwell could help him to do just that.

The Englishman was a shining light in the Scottish Premiership in the second half of the season after joining from Norwich in the January window.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.36 across 14 appearances in the division and contributed with six goals and four assists from the middle of the park.

The maestro also created five 'big chances' for his teammates and made 1.3 key passes per game, which shows that the magician is capable of opening up the opposition's defence to create opportunities for his teammates.

Therefore, Cantwell could be exactly the man Lammers needs to return to his goalscoring best as the Norfolk-born wizard could present him with chances to find the back of the net on a regular basis in the Premiership, which could make them an exciting pairing for the Light Blues.