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Argentina captain Lionel Messi congratulated his team-mates on convincingly beating Brazil, while appearing to aim a subtle dig at their arch-rivals.

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Messi sends message to Argentina playersAlso took swipe at arch-rivalsArgentina thrashed Brazil 4-1Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Inter Miami star did not join Argentina's latest camp for their March World Cup qualifiers due to injury, however, the national team captain did cheer for his colleagues from his home. After a thumping 4-1 win over arch-rivals Brazil on Tuesday, Messi took to social media to congratulate the world champions.

AdvertisementWHAT LIONEL MESSI SAID

On his Instagram story, the 37-year-old uploaded a collage of photographs of the Argentina players celebrating and wrote in the caption: "Inside, outside, wherever it may be with this national team. Always speaking through football. Congratulations on the great match you played last night and also on the win against Uruguay."

IG:@leomessiGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Messi's congratulatory message also appeared to carry a subtle dig at the Brazilian team. Barcelona star Raphinha had made an X-rated provocative statement to rile up Argentina before the game. The winger almost got involved in a physical altercation with a number of Argentina stars after the full-time whistle and was subjected to frequent taunts from the home fans.

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

Argentina are now qualified for the 2026 World Cup, but Messi has not yet confirmed whether he will play at the tournament in North America. His current focus in on regaining fitness to aid Inter Miami's latest bid for MLS Cup glory, with a clash against the Philadelphia Union up next for Javier Mascherano's side this weekend.

INEOS have now made contact with a “top striker” who could cost Manchester United £50 million in the summer, according to a Sky Sports report. Since the Red Devils appointed Ruben Amorim as head coach, they have been linked with several new arrivals, as the Portuguese will be looking to put his own stamp on his squad soon.

Real Madrid talking to Man Utd about £85k-p/w ace who Amorim thinks is key

Real Madrid are keen on signing a Manchester United player who has become a key player in recent seasons.

ByBrett Worthington Dec 2, 2024 Man Utd transfer news

As January fast approaches, the transfer stories are going to start heating up, and United look to have a shortlist in place should opportunities present themselves. It is unlikely that the Red Devils will spend heavily in the New Year, but there could be room for a few ins and outs depending on what INEOS and Amorim like to do.

United are keeping their options open when it comes to signing a new left-back. This has been a problem position for them for some time, and January could be where they address it, as United have now placed David Raum on their shortlist ahead of 2025.

Up front, United also have Wolves forward Matheus Cunha on their radar, as they have been scouting him ahead of making a move in 2025. The 25-year-old has been a top performer for the Midlands side this season despite the team’s struggles, and he is now being looked at as a possible addition to Amorim’s side. But Cunha is not the only striker they are keeping an eye on, as they have now contacted another player that Amorim knows well.

Man Utd make contact to sign “top striker” Gyokeres

According to Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Manchester United have made contact for Viktor Gyokeres ahead of a possible move next summer, officially opening “concrete talks”. The Swedish international has emerged as one of the brightest and most exciting forwards in European football since moving to Sporting Lisbon back in 2023.

Gyokeres, who has been labelled a “top striker,” was very impressive during his time at Coventry City but has since taken his game to a new level in Portugal. The 26-year-old is under contract until the summer of 2028, but there is an agreement he will be allowed to leave for £50 million in the summer, despite having a release clause worth £83 million.

With 16 goals in Liga Portugal this season, the Red Devils are looking to sign the striker in the summer and have made their interest known. However, they are not the only side chasing his signature, as Plettenberg adds that Manchester City have also “intensified” their efforts in recent days.

Apps

12

Minutes per game

89

Goals

16

xG

13.05

Scoring frequency

67 mins

Shots per game

4.6

Goal conversion rate

29%

Assists

1

Big chances created

4

United will hope having Amorim as their head coach gives them the edge in the race to sign Gyokeres, as the forward was exceptional under the Portuguese. However, an upturn in form for Joshua Zirkzee, Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund could potentially change their minds, as all three have found the back of the net in recent matches.

Former South Africa Under-19 player had been hospitalised after an assault near Taunton in May

Firdose Moonda08-Sep-2022Mondli Khumalo, the former South Africa Under-19 and Kwa-Zulu Natal Inland bowler, has had a final, successful surgery after being assaulted in Somerset in May. He is now able to move around without a protective helmet and hopes to be able to return to professional cricket by early next year.”That was the final piece of the puzzle,” Rob Humphries, Khumalo’s agent, told ESPNcricinfo. “Now it’s about healing and the pathway back to professional cricket. He is in great spirits and physically, he is really good. He can get up and walk about. It’s about being able to get back in the gym and rebuilding his fitness. He is fit and strong and in a really good space.”Khumalo, who was on his first trip as an overseas professional at North Petherton Cricket Club, was attacked outside a pub in Bridgwater, near Taunton, where he was celebrating a win with his team-mates.A 27-year-old man was arrested and released on investigation and the case awaits the go-ahead from the crown prosecution service.Khumalo was unconscious at the scene and then placed in an induced coma for four days. He had three operations to relieve pressure and bleeding in the brain. Ten days after being hospitalised, Khumalo was able to stand unaided and his club team-mate Lloyd Irish shared a video of Khumalo catching a sponge ball.His fourth and final operation, to replace the piece of skull that had been removed to attend to the brain injury, took place on September 7. It would have taken place sooner, but was delayed by several weeks after Khumalo contracted Covid-19. He will remain in England until he is cleared to travel, with Humphries aiming for a November return. Khumalo’s mother and uncle, who made the trip across from South Africa to England soon after the attack, have already returned home and Khumalo has been in the club’s care.In June, they organised a crowd-funding campaign to help with the costs of Khumalo’s treatment, which is chargeable by the NHS, and raised £27,379. Further funding will be needed, as his bills have exceeded this amount.

In a rematch of the 2024 playoffs, Miami exacted revenge on the club that knocked them out of the MLS postseason

Lionel Messi returned to the starting XI and scored for visiting Inter Miami as the defeated Atlanta United 2-1 Sunday night. In a rematch of the 2024 MLS round one series in which the stunned the and eliminated the Supporters' Shield champions, Miami came out on top.

One thing remained the same: late drama, leading to a late winner.

The hosts opened the scoring early, with MLS record signing Emmanuel Latte Lath thumping home a close-range header just 11 minutes into the match. That lead didn't last long, and it was Messi who made sure.

The Argentine brought Miami level in the 20th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error from Atlanta to score his first MLS goal of the season. Atlanta midfielder Bartosz Slisz sloppily gave the ball away outside the box, and after Messi found the ball, he dribbled past defender Derrick Williams to chip goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Despite numerous attacking chances that followed, it was Guzan who remained stout, with the former U.S. international – who proved to be the difference in the postseason last November – standing on his head once again for Atlanta. The 40-year-old goalkeeper made six saves, denying the on multiple occasions, and making a world-class save near the 60th minute, denying Messi from close range.

The breakthrough arrived in the 88th minute, with substitute Fafa Picault heading home off a late corner to give Miami all three points on the road. The MLS veteran and Miami native smashed home his headed attempt across the box and into the back of the net for the dramatic winner – and he was instantly swarmed by teammates to celebrate.

With the result, Miami claimed first place in the Eastern Conference, leapfrogging the Philadelphia Union. However, they still trail the Vancouver Whitecaps in the race for the Supporters' Shield, with Javier Mascherano's men sitting second in the league standings.

GOAL rates Inter Miami's players from Mercedes Benz Stadium.

Goalkeeper & Defense

Rocco Rios Novo (7/10):

Thrown into the XI with Oscar Ustari suspended and Drake Callender injured. Made a great save midway through the second half, was overall a positive.

Jordi Alba (6/10):

Worked his flank really well – but the final ball was never there from him. The could have used more service from him.

Maxi Falcon (6/10):

Powerful and consistent, but caught in moments. Needs to communicate with Noah Allen more as their partnership continues to grow.

Noah Allen (6/10):

Struggled in possession at times – nearly gave Atlanta a goal early in the second half after his pocket was picked inside his own box. However, he was composed in 1v1 situations off the ball.

Gonzalo Lujan (5/10):

Miami continues to not miss Marcelo Weigandt – a testament to Lujan's rapid rise. However, Saba Lobzhanidze was too much for the Argentine to handle on his own – the Atlanta winger beat him numerous times.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield

Sergio Busquets (7/10):

Veteran performance locking down the midfield when tasked. Calm, composed and controlled the tempo to a needle.

Yannick Bright (7/10):

Solid performance in the middle of the park. Progressed the ball well forward, and broke up the midfield when needed.

Telasco Segovia (5/10):

Really struggled to break down the Atlanta defense, was often lost in his attacking midfield role.

Getty Images SportAttack

Tadeo Allende (5/10):

Was pacey on the counter, but never made his presence truly known.

Luis Suarez (4/10):

Struggled to integrate from the opening whistle. Looked tired early on and never recovered.

Lionel Messi (8/10):

Scored the Miami opener, a menace in the attack as always. Big picture: he was reliable and an outlet for Miami in the attack, which was what they needed – and what's expected.

Getty Images SportSubs & Manager

Benjamin Cremaschi (6/10):

Replaced Segovia, but never really found himself on the ball. Struggled to catch up to the tempo and insert himself.

Tomas Aviles (N/A):

Subbed on in stoppage-time.

Fafa Picault (9/10):

Instant impact. He only played 11 minutes, but he made every second count, scoring the game-winner.

Federico Redondo (N/A):

Subbed on with seven minutes to spare.

Javier Mascherano (4/10):

Severe lack of structure with the team going forward. There was no attacking identity. It was find Messi and see what he can do on the ball. The fullbacks failed to drive forward with the ball, and the midfield struggled with forward progression. A late goal saved them a draw on the road, but that shouldn't overshadow how poor they were on the ball in Atlanta's half – outside of Messi.

Even a kid knows you want a turning pitch against England, Pakistan’s captain Misbah-ul-Haq observed, Instead, the pitch only turned on the final day and it was Pakistan who were reduced to panic

Umar Farooq17-Oct-2015In a dramatic turnaround on day five, England almost gave a scare to Pakistan, transforming four dull days into a decisive climax. Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan captain said his side was caught up in “panic” as they lost their last five wickets in five overs but that salvaging a dramatic draw protected their confidence and left them with “no sense of defeat”.”If a situation changes quickly you have to cope with it,” said Misbah. “Credit should be given to the England side in the way they scored almost 600 runs and kept us under pressure. They kept control and later pushed us in a panic situation but it’s quite obvious that when such matches are saved it keeps the confidence alive. Had we lost this, trailing the series by 1-0, then it could have quashed the confidence.”At least we are not down. In Dubai it’s a different pitch, different game and it’s our hunting ground as well. We did make a couple of mistakes that we ought not to repeat. The shot I and Younis played wasn’t needed at that time – we could have easily survived and played through.”For four days the pitch was cursed for its slowness and unresponsiveness. But on day five the twist started when James Anderson removed Shan Masood and Shoaib Malik in the same over, leaving Adil Rashid to take charge later, picking up a five-wicket haul to leave Pakistan with a lead of 98.”It all happens with pressure,” said Misbah. “It was the fifth day with rough patches and obviously we made mistakes with two ugly run outs and bad shots to push us into the situation.”Such mistakes take you nowhere and push you in such situation where you crumble under pressure. We obviously had a plan to play sweeps against the offspinner and I should have struck with the option but I picked the wrong shot. It was a big blunder on the wrong time.As England take the moral victory, it was like deja vu for Pakistan. “This is what Test cricket is all about. We have been in such a situation so many times. I can recall two occasions in Galle – one we won and the other we lost. So we knew how to cope with this situation.”We were looking to take wickets early on with the spinners and later on with the light fading we were looking to go with seamers and the plan worked. We knew the ball wasn’t coming on the bat and with the light staying even until 5.40pm we had to be on toes.”The pitch was expected to turn at least from the day three but it didn’t respond at all until the final day. Misbah once again hit out the surface. “It was a clear message what we wanted. Even a kid knows that when we play against England we always want a turning pitch. I don’t know why the pitch wasn’t made the way it should have been. I am equally surprised as you are about it.”

Enzo Maresca has enjoyed a solid start to life as Chelsea boss, only losing twice in their first 11 matches of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.

The Blues have only tasted defeat against Manchester City and Liverpool, sitting third in the table on 19 points – but remain nine points off Arne Slot’s side, who occupy the top spot after the third international break.

After another summer of transfer arrivals, the new talents have wasted no time in making an immediate impact at Stamford Bridge, undoubtedly boosting their chances of finishing within the top four come the end of May.

Pedro Neto arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a deal in the region of £54m, but has already showcased his talents, scoring his first league strike against Arsenal last time out, securing a point for the Blues against their London rivals.

Big-money additions have become a regular occurrence after the takeover of Todd Boehly in 2022, but the club have often had to balance the books as a result.

The club are no stranger to a big-money departure, recouping a lorryload of money over the years from player departures.

Chelsea’s record departures from Stamford Bridge

Winger Eden Hazard was undoubtedly a fan-favourite during his time in West London, scoring 110 times within his seven years as a player at the Bridge.

The Belgian captured the hearts of the fanbase with his mazy dribbling ability, helping the side get out of numerous close encounters and cagey affairs.

However, despite their Europa League triumph at the end of the 2018/19 season, Hazard departed the Blues for a deal in the region of £130m – joining Spanish giants Real Madrid in a club-record departure for Chelsea.

Kai Havertz joined the Blues in a £75m deal back in the summer of 2020, making himself an instant hero at the club during his debut campaign in England.

The German international scored nine times during his opening year in the capital, only finding the net once in Europe, but that would be his biggest goal during his time at Chelsea, scoring the only goal in the Champions League final against Manchester City back at the end of 2020/21.

However, a handful of years on, he now plays his trade for London rivals Arsenal, after joining the Gunners in a £65m deal last summer – aiming to bolster Mikel Arteta’s ranks.

The transfer makes him the second most expensive departure in Chelsea history, but the club may currently have their own version of a £100m star who was of interest to Maresca this summer.

1) Eden Hazard

2019/20

£130m

2) Kai Havertz

2023/24

£65m

3) Mason Mount

2023/24

£60m

4) Diego Costa

2017/18

£57m

5) Oscar

2016/17

£52m

Chelsea’s £100m star in the making

Over the summer, Chelsea were on the lookout for a new striker, which led to Newcastle United talisman Alexander Isak being linked with a transfer to the Bridge.

However, despite the interest, the £100m valuation from Eddie Howe’s side put the Blues off a potential move for the Swede, with the Italian sticking with Nicolas Jackson as his primary option in the final third.

It’s a decision that appears to have been a blessing in disguise, with the Senegalese international enjoying his spell as a regular starter this campaign – being ranked as a similar player to Isak by FBref after his displays in the Premier League.

The “extraordinary” Jackson, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has outscored the Magpies’ talent, whilst achieving a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate than his fellow striker.

Games played

11

9

Goals & assists

9

6

Shot-on-target accuracy

56%

39%

Shots on target per game

1.5

1.2

Pass accuracy

74%

74%

Take-ons completed

45%

25%

Jackson has also completed more take-ons whilst also matching Isak for his pass accuracy, showcasing how much his all-round game has developed this season – undoubtedly benefiting from the faith shown in him by Maresca this season.

At the age of just 23, the former Villarreal ace has the opportunity to develop even further and become a real crucial player in the Maresca era at the Bridge, possibly preventing any big-money additions in the centre-forward position.

Many fans craved that big-money signing over the summer, but Jackson has proven that he has the skill set to be a success in England’s top flight and be the main man for the club as a focal point.

Like for Isak, a £100m price tag will surely soon be coming his way…

Sanchez & Jackson axed for £124m signings: Chelsea's dream XI after January

Chelsea could replace Sanchez with a £58m signing in their dream starting XI after January.

ByConnor Holden Nov 21, 2024

The fast bowling son of a labourer whose “spark” has been noticed by the likes of Rahul Dravid, Nathu Singh will get his chance on a bigger stage against the touring South Africans in a week’s time

Sidharth Monga in Jaipur23-Oct-2015The day the court appointed an ad hoc committee to run Rajasthan cricket, its convenor, Amrit Mathur, received a call from Rahul Dravid. The gist of the conversation was: “this boy” is good, please keep an eye out for him.After the end of the first match, against Delhi, their coach Vijay Dahiya, who joined only from the second match onwards, called Mathur. He had been told about “this boy” by Gautam Gambhir. The gist of this conversation: “we were talking, Gautam mentioned this boy and said that after a long time he has seen new India material, please make sure he is not ruined by over-bowling.”Chairman of national selectors Sandeep Patil happened to watch this boy. Rajinder Hans, another national selector appointed by the court to make sure the Rajasthan Ranji team was selected fairly, obviously saw this boy. And now, this boy, Nathu Singh, son of a labourer in a wire factory, is going to play for the Board President’s XI against the touring South Africans based on “the spark” Patil and team have seen. He has played only three first-class matches.Sometimes a name can evoke the person. Nathu is almost like you know him. Short, endearing. Not quite the immortal “” from the Hindi movie . His pronunciation is different. It’s Naa-thu. The thu is softer too. Until three years ago he used to bowl with a soft ball in the [neighbourhood]. Then a told him he should try a cricket ball because he was too fast for everybody.The first thing you notice about Nathu is the tattoo on his arm. “Mom dad,” it says. His mother and father gambled it all for him. When he took the advice to actually start playing with the cricket ball, he needed to play at an academy. He went to Surana Academy, where the fees was Rs 10,000 for the year. The father had no savings to spare, but he told Nathu: “Whatever I have I will put in. Let’s see for two months how you go.”

A sign of how sick cricket at grassroots levels is in India is that Nathu couldn’t find a place in the Jaipur district side, and had to play for Sikkar, hardly known for its cricket

Two months later the coaches at the academy and Nathu’s [mother’s brother] suggested he be given time because they saw that “spark”. The academy subsidised the fee looking at his family background, and by the end of that year he was in the Rajasthan Under-19 side. The MRF Pace Academy happened too, where he impressed Glenn McGrath. Boots and spikes? “I used to arrange from the seniors,” Nathu says. “Deepak [Chahar] and Aniket [Choudhury] helped me a lot.” Two years ago, when Nathu drew his first match fee, he gave it all to his parents. He still does.A sign of how sick cricket at grassroots levels is in India is that he couldn’t find a place in the Jaipur district side, and had to go and play for Sikkar, hardly known for its cricket. The rest of the machinery, though, has been remarkable in fast-tracking him into playing against a quality opposition.The word around is that he has pace, but more than pace his speciality is that he bowls quick when he bowls at a length. Every coach has told him that. The explanation is this: when you strive to bowl fast, when the pace is not natural but through extra effort, you tend to drag the ball down. Nathu doesn’t need to. “The coaches have also told me I am god-gifted,” Nathu says. “There is no need to work on me.”Time to watch him then. There is a Munaf Patel-like lumber to his walk and his batting. He is lbw first ball against Maharashtra. He looks a mug. His turn to bowl against Maharashtra comes after the new-ball bowlers, Chahar and Choudhury, have had a go. They are 21 for 1 when Nathu begins to meticulously mark his run-up to begin the ninth over of the innings. Four steps from the crease, toe next to the heel, and he marks a line there. Then a long leap to scratch another mark, audibly enough for those outside the fence. Then he goes to the top of his mark.Nathu walks four steps, then skips – not as extravagantly as Junaid Khan or Mohit Sharma – and then takes 10 brisk but comfortable steps into his delivery stride. The leap is high, the action is easy and smooth, and then he puts a big effort into the ball. There is pace. It repeatedly thuds into the gloves of wicketkeeper Dishant Yagnik. He looks front-on – he calls himself an inswing bowler – and it will need closer analysis to see if he looks over his front arm just before letting the ball go. This puts stress on the back, but also puts action on the ball. Bhuvneshwar Kumar does that.In a week’s time, Nathu Singh will have the chance to meet his hero, Dale Steyn, who always has time for young fast bowlers•Associated PressAs of now, though, despite being green, the Sawai Mansingh Stadium has not provided any lateral movement to the quicks on either side. Nathu gets late-cut for three consecutive boundaries by Maharashtra captain Rohit Motwani. He is not bowling his speciality: quick length balls. Probably because this is not quite a seaming surface and you have to hit the deck hard. He creates an opportunity with the other batsman Harshad Khadiwale, but sees a catch dropped. That has for long been the fate of the other India player from Rajasthan, Pankaj Singh. Ordinary slip catching has been the bane of Rajasthan quicks.Nathu bowls four wicketless overs before lunch and goes for four fours. He comes back after lunch and bowls a six-over spell that lasts until the afternoon drinks. Easy there, captain. Remember what Dahiya said. But then again, Chahar is off the field with an injury, and Nathu has had his man, Motwani. Motwani tries to back-cut again, but this time Nathu has bowled the quick length ball, which bounces to take the edge.It will be harsh to draw verdicts on his general accuracy or ability to work batsmen out based on just one day’s play, but the spark that everybody has seen is there. There is pace, natural pace, pace even at the end of the day when bowling his 18th over with a 70-over-old ball. Yet another cricketer from India has come up despite, and not because of, the system. The way people have rallied around him is heart-warming. In a week’s time in Mumbai he will meet another good Samaritan, his hero, Dale Steyn, who is never stingy with time or advice for young fast bowlers.The spark has somehow been given the fuel. It is up to him now to burn bright.

Long-serving batter regarded as among the best of his generation not to win an England cap

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Aug-2022James Hildreth, the long-serving Somerset batter, has announced that he will retire from professional cricket at the end of the season, almost 20 years after making his debut for the club.Regarded by some as the best batter of his generation not to have represented England, Hildreth amassed more than 17,000 first-class runs for Somerset, putting him third on the county’s all-time list behind Harold Gimblett and Marcus Trescothick. He currently averages 40.98, with 47 first-class hundreds, but the closest he came to being capped was a handful of Lions appearances more than a decade ago.He is Somerset’s leading run-scorer in T20 cricket, with 3906, and also tallied more than 6000 runs in List A games. Hildreth hit the winning runs when Somerset won the 2005 Twenty20 Cup, aged 20, and then did the same at Lord’s 14 years on to secure the Royal London Cup.Related

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Hildreth will turn 38 next month, and has only managed 256 runs at 25.60 in this year’s County Championship. He was not involved at all in Somerset’s Blast campaign.”It feels like the right time to start a new chapter in my life and I’m excited about what the future holds,” Hildreth said. “I left school at 18 and have spent the last 20 years with the club. It’s been my life and I’ve loved every minute of it.”The club and cricket as a whole has given myself and my family so much over the last 20 years, and I’ve got nothing but fondness and love for the club and that will continue for the rest of my life. I’m looking forward to being a Somerset supporter and to coming down to watch the guys with my family and my children.”The thing I’ll miss most is the pride that you feel when you pull on that shirt to represent the club and the whole of the south west. The Somerset members and supporters have been incredible to me. They’ve always been so supportive, and I’ve always felt that, whether that’s walking through town or being out on the pitch. I’d like to thank them for their support over the years, and hopefully I’ve managed to bring a little bit of enjoyment into their lives with what I’ve done on the pitch.”Hildreth, who was awarded his county cap in 2007 and a testimonial year in 2017, has made 715 appearances for Somerset – more than any other player – and was a central figure as the club regularly pushed for their first Championship pennant during the 2010s, five times finishing as runners-up.Somerset’s director of cricket, Andy Hurry, said: “James Hildreth will go down in history as one of the best players ever to represent this club. His stats speak for themselves, but his contribution to Somerset cricket has been so much more than that.”During his time at the club he has proved himself to be the model professional and he is the perfect role model for any aspiring player. The way that he has conducted himself both on and off the field has been exemplary, and as such he has become one of the most respected players within the domestic game over the last 20 years.”His name will forever be synonymous with Somerset County Cricket Club, and everyone associated with SCCC wishes James and his family well in their future endeavours. On behalf of everyone at the cub both now and in the past, thank you for so many incredible memories.”Somerset’s head coach, Jason Kerr, recalled two of Hildreth’s “outstanding” innings for the club – a 53-ball T20 hundred against Glamorgan in 2012, and his century on one leg during the final game of the 2016 Championship – while Gordon Hollins, the chief executive, described him as one of the finest batters of his era and a “mainstay of the success that this club has achieved over the last 20 years”.Kerr added: “I guess all good things have to come to an end, but James has had an outstanding career and I’m sure that we’ll see a deserving outpouring of best wishes and superlatives for him over the next few weeks. There’s no doubt he’ll be missed, first and foremost as a person, but obviously also as a cricketer. Players of Hildy’s calibre are few and far between.”

Arsenal are reportedly prepared to let four players leave this summer as they try to raise funds to sign a new striker.

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Arsenal to let quartet leaveHoping to free up fundsGunners search for new No.9Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Mirror reports that Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jorginho, Thomas Partey, and Kieran Tierney are all expected to leave the club this summer, with Arsenal eager to build a 'transfer war chest' for manager Mikel Arteta. However, only Zinchenko is not in the last year of his contract so it will more be about getting their wages off the bill.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Arsenal lost Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz to injury earlier this year, highlighting the club's desperate need to bring in attacking reinforcements. They have been linked with Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, among others, but if they fail to sign a new striker this summer, fans may turn on the Gunners. And the wait for a Premier League title looks set to extend to 21 years.

DID YOU KNOW?

The report adds that Tierney is likely to go to former club Celtic when his contract expires this summer and Jorginho seems destined to head to Flamengo but the future is uncertain for £17 million-rated ($22m) Zinchenko and Partey.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

Aside from injuries and transfer targets, Arsenal entertain PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday and boast a 7-1 lead from the first leg of their last 16 tie.

At the helm of young teams, the contrasting leadership styles of Virat Kohli and Angelo Mathews could present a fascinating subtext to an important series in Sri Lanka

Andrew Fidel Fernando10-Aug-2015Virat Kohli, 26, strides purposefully to the crease, reputation always preceding him, collar often popped, a sharp tongue cocked, ready to return fire. Angelo Mathews, 28, ambles to the middle, impervious and imperturbable, lost somewhere in his own universe.Both are gifted batsmen, leading young teams into an important series. That is about where the similarities end.If he was a general in your army, Kohli would be the man to lead the charge on an enemy position. His blood runs hottest in attack. He has sometimes been accused of being too aggressive, but to Kohli’s ears, this is probably a compliment. He isn’t blind to the merits of defence. More likely he feels it is beneath him. He bats out of his crease on the quickest pitches in the world, against the fastest bowlers. Balls other batsmen only dare prod at, Kohli sends scorching through midwicket, wrists whipping like a sail that has caught the wind.But there is a dark side to this outlook. When Kohli keeps a full cordon in for Indian quicks after the sheen has come off the ball, you wonder if he is deluded. Some decisions are best made with a level head and a sense of detachment, but Kohli’s emotions are never far from the surface. Even publicly, he has admitted he would prefer to be less expressive.As far as poker faces go, Mathews’ is among the stoniest around. On the surface he is dull. But still waters run deep, they say, and at 28, he has already produced some of Sri Lanka’s greatest innings. He is the general you want in charge of the fortress, because when his team is outgunned, when they are tumbling into crisis, that’s when he goads the best from himself. Kohli has a famously poor record in England. Mathews has a Lord’s ton and a monumental 160 at Headingley – an innings that seems to grow in stature with each passing England Test.Mathews’ shortcomings are peculiar for someone in his 20s, though unsurprising, given the man. “Angelo has ice in his veins,” his team-mates say, but when opposition batsmen are stealing the match away and he stands inert at slip or cover, you want to prod him with a stick to see if he hasn’t frozen through. When he attacks, he attacks conventionally. He uses words like “positive” and “aggressive” whenever a microphone is set in front of him, but in reality his style seems a departure from a Sri Lankan tradition that has pioneered strategy and embraced adventure.Angelo Mathews’ leadership style has often been criticised for not being aggressive enough but as a player, his best performances so far have come in challenging situations•AFPOf the two, Mathews has the better batting average of 51.67, and is arguably the superior Test batsman, to say nothing of his expanding wit with the ball. Since the beginning of 2013, only Kumar Sangakkara has a better Test average than Mathews’ 67.59. Sangakkara would be the first to concede that his runs have come easier. When Mathews bats with an often-clueless tail, they come to sudden life. He has subdued many fires, and ignited a few as well.Kohli is fresh at India’s helm, but appears to be the more dynamic leader. Under him, there is strong, vibrant direction to India’s transition. “We want to play aggressive cricket, and we don’t mind losing that way,” is the cry from his camp. Backed by full-throated advocates like Ravi Shastri, Kohli has so far lived true to his words, even if his team has died by the sword more often than they have thrived, for now. Kohli has arrived on the island intent on playing five frontline bowlers. Talk of dumping a batsman from the top seven perhaps won’t even feature in the team meetings Mathews leads.The path ahead teems with unique challenges for each man. Mathews is expected to fashion a world-beating team out of players graduating from one of the weakest domestic leagues in cricket. Kohli is funded by the wealthiest cricket body that has ever existed, but will barely draw a breath that is not endlessly pored over and dissected. Mathews’ loved ones are of virtually no interest to the Sri Lankan public, for example. With any luck, they will never become scapegoats for his failures.They now embark on a series that will be closely followed in Sri Lanka. Local fans have lowered expectations after a poor 2015 so far, but India is the team they would really like their side to beat. Kohli and his men, meanwhile, have that embarrassing recent away record to amend.Both teams will try new things. Unknowns will search for stardom. Old hands will aim to make graceful exits. And the clash of contrary captains will play out, perhaps in the background, but always with the capacity to define the tour.