Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has been forced to deal with a plethora of injuries since taking over from Ange Postecoglou, with the club’s bad luck in that regard continuing into this season.

Ex-chairman Daniel Levy got so frustrated with Spurs’ key player absences in 24/25 that he overhauled their medical department for the second year running last summer. Key sports science chiefs Adam Brett and Nick Davies were both shown the door before the start of this season, with Nick Stubbings following Frank from Brentford to join as medical lead.

The Lilywhites were minus Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Guglielmo Vicario for large portions of last campaign, alongside many other key men, which undoubtedly played a role in Spurs’ finishing a lowly 17th in the Premier League table.

This season, they haven’t fared much better.

Soon after Frank was appointed to succeed Postecoglou, Spurs lost playmaker James Maddison to an ACL injury which will keep him out for most of 2025/2026, with the England international on an extensive list of absentees.

The likes of Romero, Wilson Odobert, Randal Kolo Muani and Destiny Udogie were also sidelined for periods recently until making their respective comebacks, so Frank will be desperate for this torrid luck to cease as he attempts to guide Tottenham to major silverware and a top four finish.

Luckily for Spurs, electrifying winger and star summer signing Mohammed Kudus is likely to return against Man United this weekend after the Ghanaian confirmed his knock is getting better.

Tottenham hit by injury blow as "promising" youngster Elijah Upson withdraws from England duty

Speaking to Tottenham News, pundit and academy expert John Wenham, who oversees the Lilywhites Rose account on X, says that Tottenham’s injury woes even stretch down to youth level.

Young defender Elijah Upson, who captains Spurs’ Under-18s, was forced to withdraw from the England Under-17s World Cup squad after suffering his own injury, which comes as a crying shame considering the club could have had five youth players representing them for the Three Lions.

The 17-year-old was recently handed a call-up to Tottenham’s Under-21 squad as well, playing the full 90 minutes and shutting out West Brom in a 1-0 win just over a month ago.

The injury comes as more of a blow to Upson’s personal development, with the versatile centre-back/right-back looking to make Johan Lange – who now oversees the academy as one of his many co-director responsibilities – stand up and take notice.

Nottingham Forest’s Arnaud Kalimuendo has now entered fresh talks to join a new club in January, having failed to establish himself in the starting XI since arriving in the summer.

Kalimuendo arrived at the City Ground with a good reputation, having received high praise from scout Ben Mattinson courtesy of his performances for Rennes last season.

However, the 23-year-old has been unable to make an impact since getting his move to the Premier League, failing to score in nine outings across all competitions, albeit the majority of those came as a substitute.

Last month, it was revealed that Forest were already thinking about offloading the striker, with AS Roma being named as potential suitors, and now a new club have joined the race for his signature.

Stuttgart enter talks with Arnaud Kalimuendo's agent

According to a report from Sky Sports Germany (via Bulinews), Stuttgart are keen on signing Kalimuendo this winter, having expressed concrete interest in getting a deal done, and talks have already been held with the Frenchman’s agent.

The £60k-a-week striker’s move to the City Ground hasn’t worked out, having appeared for a total of just 66 minutes in the Premier League, meaning the door could be open for the German club to get a deal over the line in January.

It seems a little early to consider sanctioning a departure, considering Sean Dyche’s other strikers haven’t exactly been prolific in front of goal either, with Igor Jesus and Taiwo Awoniyi yet to score a goal between them in the Premier League this season.

Jesus was particularly poor in the 3-1 victory against Leeds United at the weekend, receiving a 5.8 SofaScore match rating, the lowest of any player on the pitch, before being replaced by Awoniyi just before the hour mark.

Goals from Ibrahim Sangare, Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson ultimately secured all three points for the Tricky Trees, who managed to turn the game on its head after Lukas Nmecha opened the scoring inside 15 minutes.

However, Dyche may be concerned about his options at striker, given that Chris Wood also wasn’t at his best prior to suffering a knee injury, having failed to score since the opening day victory against Brentford.

As such, with Jesus and Awoniyi struggling, it could be worth giving Kalimuendo a chance to prove himself, considering it is very difficult to make an impact as a substitute.

However, the former Rennes man clearly isn’t doing enough in training to impress Dyche, so it may be worth cashing-in if he doesn’t improve ahead of the January transfer window.

Nottingham Forest eyeing move for FC Porto striker Samu Aghehowa Nottingham Forest now eyeing £87m "powerhouse" striker with eight goals in 25/26

Evangelos Marinakis clearly means business, with the Tricky Trees joining the race for a new centre-forward.

ByDominic Lund Oct 26, 2025

There is no sign that Pakistan’s fast bowlers will rein in the aggression they put on display during the side’s most recent game against India last week. On the eve of the Asia Cup final, captain Salman Agha said he fully supported his team-mates’ right to impose themselves on both the game and the opposition so long as things don’t go too far.”If someone wants to be aggressive on the ground, then why not,” Agha said at a press conference. “If you deprive a fast bowler of their aggression, then what’s left? Every player knows how to deal with their emotions. I give players license to react the way they want at the ground. As long as they’re not disrespecting anyone and stay within the line, I have no issues with that.”That sets the stage for another charged-up India-Pakistan game – their third in as many weeks, this one for the title. After their last meeting on Sunday, Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan were pulled up for breaches of the ICC’s code of conduct. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav was similarly penalised for comments he made following the group game between the two teams.Related

• An India-Pakistan final that carries more weight than a title

• The myth and math of Saim Ayub

• Abhishek 2, Afridi 0 – the duel that could decide the Asia Cup final

• How can Pakistan turn it around against India in the Asia Cup final?

• India vs Pakistan – a look back at five memorable tournament finals

That day, India also refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts, either before or after the game, reflecting the state of affairs between two countries who were in military conflict earlier this year. Agha said he had “never before” known that to happen at a cricket match.”I’ve been playing cricket since 2007 professionally. I’ve never seen no handshakes between two teams. My dad is a huge fan of cricket and used to tell me about its history. He never told me about any game where there’s not been a handshake. I’ve heard it’s never happened before.”When India-Pakistan games took place in even more tense situations, handshakes always happened. Not to have handshakes is not good for cricket. If someone wants to be aggressive, whether they’re from my team or their team, I have no issues with that, but you should shake hands at the end of it.”As things stand, it is almost certain that there will be no handshakes before or after the final.India have, over the past fortnight, attempted to distance themselves from the idea that a game against Pakistan is any more significant than others. Agha’s outlook was different.”It would be wrong to say a Pakistan-India match doesn’t carry more pressure,” he said. “It’s the final. There’ll be a similar amount of pressure on both sides. The pressure of a final is different, of course.2:53

Chopra: Abhishek vs Shaheen could decide the game

“We can’t control what’s happened out of the ground. One of our philosophies is to not worry about what we can’t control. We are not focused on what people on the outside are saying. We’re here to win the Asia Cup and that’s our only focus.”Agha himself has had a near-negligible impact on the tournament. Thirty-one batters have scored more runs than him in the competition, with all of them getting those runs at more than a-run-a-ball. Agha’s strike rate, meanwhile, is 78.04.Agha admitted this tournament has been a struggle for him personally, even as he led his side to just their second Asia Cup final in 11 years. “My performance hasn’t been up to the level it should have been and I am working on that. In T20 cricket, strike rate is important, but at the end of the day, you have to see what the situation demands and the team needs. It’s not necessary to play with a strike rate of 150 if the pitch or the situation doesn’t demand it. You should play according to the situation.”Pakistan have gone with the same side over the past three games, not that there aren’t issues with the playing XI. Saim Ayub continues to search for form with the bat, having now scored four ducks in six games. The bowling, in general, has bailed out the batting, particularly when they’ve had to take first strike, which is all but one game this tournament.In just about each of those they produced below-par totals; the two lowest totals defended this edition have both been by Pakistan. Now they’re in the final and when it turns out this way, Pakistan fans start to talk about destiny. Agha too seems to have been made a believer. “Everyone knows we haven’t batted to our full abilities this tournament, but maybe we’re saving the best for the final,” he laughed.

Tilak Varma, Abhishek Sharma, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh will link up with the squad for the second and third games after the Asia Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Sep-2025

Rajat Patidar will lead India A in their first one-dayer against Australia A, on September 30, and Tilak Varma will take charge for the second and third games of the series after finishing the Asia Cup in the UAE, with Patidar as his deputy, on October 3 and October 5. All the matches will be played in Kanpur.Along with Tilak, other Asia Cup squad members Abhishek Sharma, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh will join the squad for the second and third matches to add muscle to it. Leaving the squad after the first match will be Priyansh Arya and Simarjeet Singh. Meanwhile, Ayush Badoni is the only member of the 17-member squad – KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj are in only for the second game there – selected for the two four-day matches to also be part of the one-day side.Not much attention appears to have been given to the last edition of the List A Vijay Hazare Trophy, where, of the top-ten run-getters, only Prabhsimran Singh and Abhishek, both from Punjab, have been picked. Ayush Mhatre, among those heavy scorers, will, of course, be leading the India Under-19s in Australia at the time. Similarly, among the top-ten wicket-takers, only Arshdeep features in the ‘A’ side.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Apart from the Asia Cuppers and Badoni, the squad has a strong and familiar-looking batting core, with Patidar, whose Central Zone are on the verge of winning the season-opening Duleep Trophy, Riyan Parag and Abishek Porel. Prabhsimran and Porel are also the main wicketkeeping options. Suryansh Shedge, Vipraj Nigam and Nishant Sindhu are the allrounders. Frontline bowlers include Gurjapneet Singh, Yudhvir Singh and Ravi Bishnoi. For the first game, Arya adds a batting option and Simarjeet a medium-pace alternative.The four-day matches will be played from September 16 and September 23 in Lucknow.India A squad for the 1st one-dayerRajat Patidar (capt), Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Riyan Parag, Ayush Badoni, Suryansh Shedge, Vipraj Nigam, Nishant Sindhu, Gurjapneet Singh, Yudhvir Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Porel (wk), Priyansh Arya, Simarjeet SinghIndia A squad for 2nd and 3rd one-dayersTilak Varma (capt), Rajat Patidar (vice-capt), Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Riyan Parag, Ayush Badoni, Suryansh Shedge, Vipraj Nigam, Nishant Sindhu, Gurjapneet Singh, Yudhvir Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Porel (wk), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh

تحدث أيمن مصطفى، محلل أداء الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي السابق، عن أسباب رحيله عن القلعة الحمراء خلال الأيام الماضية.

وقال أيمن مصطفى في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “أنا سعيد جدًا بالفترة اللي قضيتها في الأهلي، تجربة كانت مثمرة، والأهم في التجربة أن تترك أثرًا جيدًا”.

وتابع: “الحقيقة أنا في تجربتي مع الأهلي تعلمت أمورًا مهمة كثيرة، الكثير تحدثوا عن شخصية الأهلي، لكن هناك أمر لم يذكر وهي الصلابة النفسية، التي تؤثر على الشخص في تجربته مع الأهلي”.

وواصل: “نتعرض لضغوط رهيبة جدًا، وكم تفاصيل في العمل لم أرها في أي نادٍ، وتستطيع التعامل مع الضغوط طوال الوقت، فالعمل يكون 12 ساعة في اليوم، وممكن تصل لـ14 ساعة في بعض الأحيان حال ضغط المباريات”.

طالع.. الأهلي يعلن سبب استبعاد عبد القادر وشكري من مباراة شبيبة القبائل

وأكمل: “هذا هو السر الذي يجعل الفريق يمتلك الإيمان حتى في أحلك وأصعب الظروف، ممكن تسجل في الدقيقة 90، أو إنك تفوز ببطولات رغم صعوبة الموقف”.

استطرد: “عملت في الأهلي لمدة 7 أشهر، جئت بعد رحيل مارسل كولر، وكنت في فريقي السابق حرس الحدود، وتلقيت مكالمة وأنا متجه للمحاضرة قبل مباراة بيراميدز وقتها، كابتن محمد يوسف اختارني لأنني عملت معه في وقت سابق وبدأت المشوار فورًا، مع عماد النحاس، ثم خوسيه ريبيرو، ثم عماد النحاس مرة أخرى، ثم ييس توروب”.

واسترسل: “هناك عوامل كثيرة في فشل تجربة ريبيرو لكني لأ أريد الدخول في تفاصيل كثيرة، لن أتحدث عن الشق البدني لأن هناك ناس متخصصين أكثر، لكن ممكن نقول أن الفريق أنهى الدوري ثم دخل في كأس العالم للأندية”.

وأضاف: “النتائج في كأس العالم للأندية والحلم الكبير بوصول الأهلي للدور الثاني لم يتحقق بسبب وجود مشاكل أخرى، لأن الرجل كان يحاول تطبيق نظام جديد، والأهلي لم يكن محظوظًا خاصة أمام إنتر ميامي”.

وقال: “من وجهة نظري، الأهلي لا يتحمل عددًا كبيرًا من التجارب التي قد تؤدي في النهاية إلى عدم الوصول للبطولات بالطريقة المعتاد عليها، الأهلي يحتاج إلى مدرب أكثر مباشرة، صحيح أنه كان مدربًا هجوميًا جدًا، لكن ريبيرو كان يعتمد أكثر على المساحات ومحاولة الاختراق من العمق حتى عندما كنا نتحدث معه في تلك الفترة، كنا نؤكد له أن هناك أمورًا معينة في الدوري المصري يمكن أن تساعده على تطوير أسلوبه بشكل أو بآخر، وتمنحه قدرة أكبر على خلق الفرص بشكل مريح وطريقته كانت تحتاج إلى تطوير بسيط لتناسب أسلوب الأهلي”.

وتابع عن الفرق بين ريبيرو وتوروب: “توروب مباشر أكثر على المرمى، ويهتم بتفاصيل خاصة بالتنظيم الدفاعي أثناء عملية الهجوم، لا يمتلك فكرة المجازفة بإلقاء كل الأوراق الهجومية دفعة واحدة، بل يسعى دائمًا إلى تحقيق التوازن وهو دائمًا يتحدث معنا عن أن العقلية الهجومية مهمة جدًا، لكن الحفاظ على الدفاع هو ما يسمح لك بالوصول إلى البطولات”.

وأكمل بشأن بداية الدوري: “الأهلي دائمًا يلعب على المركز الأول، ومع وجود مارسل كولر قبل أن يأتي كابتن عماد النحاس، كان الأهلي متأخرًا بفارق أربع نقاط عن بيراميدز ومع تبقي ست مباريات فقط، ورغم ذلك أنهى الأهلي المسابقة بطلًا للدوري بفارق نقطتين عن بيراميدز”.

واستمر: “وبالتالي، أنت دائمًا تلعب من أجل البطولة مشوارك يكون طويلًا، وهناك أخطاء من الطبيعي أن تحدث، ومن واجبك أن تصلحها، أنت لعبت بنظام مختلف مع ريبيرو، ثم مع كابتن عماد، والآن تلعب بنظام مختلف أيضًا”.

واسترسل: “أشرف بن شرقي مثلًا، حتى آخر مباراة في السوبر كان قد سجل هدفًا وقدم مباريات ممتازة جدًا، وقبلها سجل أمام الاتحاد السكندري الهدف الأول، ويلعب في الجناحين الأيمن والأيسر، وأنا أراه يقدم مستوى رائعًا”.

واستطرد: “تريزيجيه كذلك، في فترة من الفترات، سجل أربعة أهداف في خمس مباريات مع كابتن عماد، منها ركلتي جزاء أمام الزمالك وحرس الحدود، وهدف ممتاز أمام سيراميكا، وهدف أمام إنبي، اللاعب يسجل ويحاول صناعة الفرص”.

وأتم: “ورغم كل ذلك، هناك نقطة مهمة لا ينتبه إليها كثيرون، هؤلاء اللاعبون لم يلعبوا كثيرًا معًا، فمثلًا عدد المباريات التي لعبها جراديشار مع تريزيجيه ليس كبيرًا؛ لأن في البداية كان لديك محمد شريف، ثم جاء جراديشار بعده أي فريق في العالم يحتاج إلى وقت للوصول إلى الانسجام، وهذا يحدث في كل الفرق، وليس الأهلي فقط”.

Needing to bat out a draw for Division One survival, visitors plunge to 85 all out

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay27-Sep-2025Yorkshire 475 (Agarwal 175, Hill 88, Lyth 69, Thompson 50, Raine 5-76, Ghafari 4-119) beat Durham 346 (Raine 101, Bedingham 93, Rhodes 50, White 5-69) and 85 (Hill 4-14, Bess 4-22) by an innings and 44 runsDurham threw away a golden chance to secure their Division One status in the Rothesay County Championship as they failed to bat out the final two-and-a-bit sessions of their season finale against Yorkshire at Headingley and were relegated in the process.Durham started their second innings 129 runs in arrears with a minimum of 89 overs left in the match against a Yorkshire side whose top-flight status had just been sealed by events elsewhere.With relegation rivals Hampshire losing to Surrey at 10.55am, Yorkshire were safe. And that result gave Durham a lifeline. Draw the game and they too were secure in Division One for next season.But they couldn’t grasp the chance, crumbling from 29 for 1 to 85 all out inside 45 overs during a remarkable afternoon collapse which saw George Hill and Dom Bess shine with four wickets apiece.Durham coach, Ryan Campbell, suggested afterwards that a “defensive mindset” had cost his side, as they attempted to survive rather than wipe out the deficit quickly.”I can’t explain it. It’s just a total capitulation,” he said. “Unfortunately, it’s happened a few times this year. The pressure went on and our blokes couldn’t stop it. Obviously, there’s a room full of gutted people. We were handed a lifeline and we didn’t take it.”I’ve always said that we bat at our best when we look to score. When you look to score, you get yourself into better positions and make better decisions. I think, obviously, there was a very defensive mindset of trying to get through. What then happens is that if you lose a couple of wickets, you haven’t gone anywhere.”The facts are that we were 120-odd behind when we started, and we needed to get rid of that as quick as we could. That takes courage to back your skills and ability, and that’s something we’ve always done.”But today was one of those days that will probably go down in Durham’s folklore of hanging our heads in shame. We’re going to have to rebuild and come back bigger and better next year.”Yorkshire’s fourth win of the season – this by an innings and 44 runs – consolidated their position in seventh place, with Durham losing for the sixth time to join Worcestershire in Division Two next season.Play started here at Headingley with Yorkshire advancing their first-innings 465 for 9 to 475 all out.Jordan Thompson moved from 44 to 50 and was last man out to Ben Raine’s seam, drilling a catch to long-off. When Thompson reached his fifty off 112 balls, he tapped the white rose on his chest with his bat in an obvious acknowledgement of his love for his home county ahead of a winter move to Warwickshire on a three-year contract.Raine finished with excellent figures of 5 for 76 from 35.4 overs. Having scored a first-innings 101, he became the fifth man in Durham’s first-class history to hit a century and return a five-wicket haul in the same match. He didn’t deserve this outcome, despite an ill-judged shot with the bat in the second innings.So, with Durham’s task clear, there was absolutely no need for adventure with the bat in hand.They reached lunch at 27 for 1 in 23 overs, losing Emilio Gay caught behind off the inside-edge pushing forwards at Hill’s seam. But then came the drama, the visitors losing their last nine wickets for 56.Bess had Lees caught behind for 18 pushing forwards just after lunch, a beauty of a delivery to the left-hander.And when Thompson’s seam accounted for Ben McKinney and David Bedingham in successive overs, Durham were 62 for 4 in the 35th. McKinney was lbw offering no shot, Bedingham caught behind.Hill also trapped Ollie Robinson lbw with one that kept low shortly afterwards and struck again in his next over to get Graham Clark caught at backward point for his 50th Championship wicket of the season. Durham were 76 for 6 in the 41st over.It took less than four more overs for the game to finish in deteriorating light. Raine miscued to mid-off running around as he tried to hit Bess over the top before Matthew Potts was caught at short leg and Daniel Hogg was caught behind – three wickets falling in the 44th over.Will Rhodes was then trapped lbw by Hill to finish the game, the last four wickets falling for two runs in only 10 balls.Yorkshire were jubilant, especially Hill with 4 for 14 in 10.5 overs and Bess with 4 for 22 from 17.Durham were disconsolate, and it will take some time to work out how they let this one get away. Hamphire survived in their place after one almighty scare.

Wrexham earned a hard-fought 0-0 draw as an inspired Arthur Okonkwo helped his side withstand an Ipswich Town onslaught at Portman Road. Phil Parkinson's men mustered just two shots to the home team's 18 and were greatly indebted to Okonkwo's brilliance in goal. While many will be concerned about their attack, their defence held steadfast once more in the Championship.

• Wrexham cling on for draw

  Wrexham came into the fixture off the back of a five-match unbeaten run but it was the hosts who looked the most likely to break the deadlock. The Tractor Boys, who have picked up 10 points from a possible 12 in their last four games, would have been comfortably ahead at the break had it not been for Okonkwo having a blinder. The Red Dragons' keeper did very well to keep out efforts from Sindre Egeli, Leif Davis, and Jaden Philogene as the visitors weathered a first-half storm.

  After producing an Expected Goals tally of just 0.02 in the opening 45 minutes, Wrexham fans urged their team on when the contest resumed, but instead, Ipswich's onslaught continued, as shot after shot rained down on Okonkwo. 

  The Welsh outfit, who were without top scorer Kieffer Moore due to injury, were defending gamely but were toothless in attack throughout the encounter. But in the end, Wrexham held on for a valuable point that sees them drop to 14th in the table, six places behind Ipswich, and just three points off the play-offs.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  The MVP

  Had it not been for Ipswich's wayward finishing and the superb Okonkwo, this could have been a demoralising defeat for Wrexham in Suffolk. The former Arsenal stopper started the season as the club's second choice, behind Danny Ward, but now he is becoming one of their most important players. 

• The big loser

  This will feel like a big missed opportunity for Ipswich, who are desperate to secure an immediate return to the Premier League following their relegation earlier this year. They had 63 per cent possession and eight shots on target but didn't do enough to get the win their performance, arguably, deserved.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Match rating (out of five): ⭐⭐

Alisha Lehmann has seen her house in Italy burgled, with the Como Women star sharing a video on social media of her ransacked bedroom. The Switzerland international was not in at the time of the incident, but is being forced to clean up the mess left behind. Lehmann had been embracing a new challenge with Como, but will now be asking questions of her living arrangements.

Italian job: Lehmann won Serie A title with Juventus

The 26-year-old forward took on an Italian job in the summer of 2024. At that point, she bid farewell to English football and the WSL following stints with West Ham, Everton and Aston Villa. A fresh start was made with Turin-based giants Juventus.

Lehmann savoured Serie A title success during her debut campaign with the Bianconere, allowing wild celebrations to be taken in. She was, however, never a guaranteed starter for the most ambitious of outfits.

With that in mind, an offer from Como Women was accepted in 2025. That transfer allowed Lehmann to take up residence in picturesque surroundings on the banks of an iconic lake. It did not take her long to get among the goals for new employers.

AdvertisementLehmann shares video of ransacked apartment

In October, having previously posted snaps of her soaking up the sun in Como, Lehmann shared how she gets to take in stunning views on a daily basis – with a huge expanse of water just outside her door. She stated online: “It's great to wake up every morning to a beautiful view. You wake up much happier.”

Lehmann’s mood has now been soured. She has shared another video with her 16 million followers on Instagram. In that, she captures the state of her bedroom after seeing intruders rifle through her belongings – with the contents of wardrobes and cabinets being flung everywhere.

Lehmann is trying to stay upbeat, as she accompanied said video with the message: “Next time people rob my house, can you please clean up after, cause I’ve got OCD.” As someone that likes organisation and cleanliness, the Swiss now faces confusion and mess.

Instagram

Why Lehmann joined the project at Como Women

Lehmann told when joining Como Women and forming part of a project that is about more than just results on the field: “It’s an independent club, fully focused on women’s football – and that really matters to me. From the start, I could see this wasn’t just another team; it’s a project with real purpose and vision. [So] signing with FC Como Women just felt right.

“We’re in a moment where women’s football can define itself on its own terms, and independent clubs like Como Women have the opportunity in leading the movement. [It] isn’t just about winning matches. It’s about building something that lasts. This is the first time I’ve joined an independent club. That was a big part of my decision. It shows there is a different way of doing things.”

She added: “I came here to play football and hope to earn my place by working hard. I came here to compete and to grow as an athlete. The rest will come if I stay true to that. For me, it’s simple: I want to play as much as possible, help the team, and enjoy football. What I love is that they [Como] take the game seriously, but also create space for players to be themselves.

“There’s so much potential here. Italy’s performances have shown the quality and spirit in the game here, and now people are paying attention. I think the league is ready to take a big step forward. With more visibility, investment, and commitment to the players, Serie A Women can become a real force in Europe. Being part of that journey is something I’m really excited about.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

InstagramAway games & Baller League: Lehmann often on the road

Lehmann is regularly away from home as she takes in games on the road with Como Women and the Switzerland national team. She has also been heading back to England after linking up with Love Island presenter and partner of Manchester City defender Ruben Dias, Maya Jama, to become coach of MVPs United in the UK version of Baller League.

Has Viktor Gyökeres lived up to pre-season expectations at Arsenal?

Well, so far, the Swedish international striker has scored six times for the Gunners, most notably bagging a brace during the 4-0 Champions League demolition of Atlético Madrid.

However, as the saying goes, in absence the heart grows fonder.

Gyökeres hobbled off at half time against Burnley, having opened the scoring at Turf Moor, thereby sitting out subsequent trips to Prague and Sunderland, his absence truly felt during the 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light, with Mikel Arteta really lacking someone capable of running in behind, as well as reinforcements off the bench, so perhaps his importance was only crystallised when he wasn’t there.

Before suffering this injury, Gyökeres had started all 13 of Arsenal’s Premier League and Champions League fixtures, completing 90 minutes on nine occasions due to a lack of alternatives, with Kai Havertz having not been seen since sustaining a knee injury at Old Trafford on the opening weekend.

Ahead of a North London derby following the international break, Arteta is hoping to have the cavalry back, with all six of Arsenal’s injured attackers nearing a return, so could “the best finisher at the club” challenge Gyökeres for his previously undisputed starting spot?

Kai Havertz's importance to Arsenal

If Arsenal are going to pip Manchester City to the Premier League title, they’re going to need their key players to remain fit and available.

For Arteta, these are William Saliba, Gabriel, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka; one could argue Jurriën Timber has entered this exclusive group too, while Martin Ødegaard was certainly there too prior to his injury issues both this season and last.

If you ask the manager, if not certain onlookers, even if this zeitgeist has changed for most supporters, Kai Havertz is in Arteta’s top-tier of importance too.

So far in 2025, the German international has played just 817 competitive minutes, 754 of which came prior to a serious hamstring tear during the warm-weather training campaign in February before, just when he had got an entire pre-season under his belt, a knee injury picked up against Manchester United in August required surgery.

Initially signed to play a completely different role, Arteta stating upon his arrival that “he will bring a huge amount of extra strength to our midfield”, after the Havertz as a left-eight experiment did not go as planned, he thrived as a centre-forward, scoring 29 goals for the Gunners to date.

So, what Arteta has shown is that, if Havertz is available, he is going to find a place in his team for him, so the idea that Gyökeres’ arrival would end his Arsenal career was never going to be the case.

Clearly, the pre-season plan was for the pair to timeshare the centre-forward role which, who knows, may have prevented Gyökeres’ injury, but certainly would have benefited him, given that the Swede’s best two performances, coming at St James’ Park and Turf Moor, both occurred after EFL Cup ties where he had been afforded a rest.

However, once Arteta has his full complement of forwards available again, the fabled ‘when everyone is fit’ bliss managers rarely ever enjoy, could there be another challenger for the number nine spot?

Why Mikel Arteta's "best finisher" could lead the line

As already outlined, Gyökeres, Havertz and Ødegaard as well as Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus are all hoping to make their eagerly-anticipated returns in the coming weeks.

Down to threadbare options, Arteta has been forced to return to the well that never seems to run dry that is Mikel Merino up front, something Gooners thought they had seen the end of after last season, but all the absentees have given Leandro Trossard the opportunity to seriously stake a claim.

The Belgian leads the way at Arsenal in terms of combined goals and assists so far this season, having bagged four of each, while this is also the case across 2025 to, as the table below documents.

Arsenal’s leading scorers in 2025

Players

Goals

Assists

Leandro Trossard

10

10

Mikel Merino

11

6

Declan Rice

9

10

Martin Ødegaard

5

9

Gabriel Martinelli

9

3

Bukayo Saka

9

Zero

Ethan Nwaneri

5

2

Viktor Gyökeres

6

Zero

Stats via Transfermarkt

Trossard has scored crucial goals on the road against both Fulham and Athletic Club this season, before firing home this absolute rocket on Wearside last Saturday night.

Ever since he joined the club from Brighton for £27m in January 2023, probably a better signing than Mykhailo Mudryk would have been, Trossard has been prolific in front of goal, scoring 32 goals and accumulating 27 assists, the most of any Arsenal player during this timeframe.

Thus, the Belgian has been labelled “the best finisher at the club”, while Tim Stillman of Arseblog agrees, describing him as an ‘excellent shooter and finisher’, something Arsenal’s squad lacks in general, praising his ‘positional versatility’.

Thus, given his output, Arteta is going to want to have Trossard on the pitch somehow.

With Madueke and Martinelli vying for minutes on the left-wing, could we see Trossard challenging for minutes as the centre-forward, certainly offering something different to Gyökeres, at the very least putting pressure on the Swede to perform, something he has not had due to the lack of a genuine alternative up until this point?

Related £150k-p/w star who's "better than Saka" could end Trossard's Arsenal stay

No Arsenal player has more goals & assists in 2025 than Leandro Trossard, but does Mikel Arteta boast a star “better than Saka” that will replace him?

Posts ByBen Gray Nov 12, 2025

New York Mets TV play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen is one of the best in the game because he's never afraid to share how he feels about a moment or play. That was on display during New York's 10-5 win over Miami on Tuesday when he lit into Marlins manager Clayton McCullough over a mind-boggling move during Pete Alonso's at-bat in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Marlins intentionally walked Juan Soto to load the bases for Alonso in a one-run game. That move normally would be made to set up a possible double play and is something that has been done by managers since basically the start of baseball.

McCullough, however, decided to go a different route as he brought his infield in which, with one out, didn't make any sense to Cohen.

"And again they bring the infield in with the bases load and one out against Alonso," Cohen said. "What is going on? Why would they set up the double play and then not play for the double play? Something is eschew."

The Marlins also brought in their outfield and then watched as Alonso crushed a double to left center that emptied the bases.

Cohen was in disbelief after that, saying: "You see how shallow the center fielder was playing against Pete Alonso? What are you doing?"

Not the best strategy.

The Marlins dropped to 5-6 with the loss. The Mets are now 8-3.