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Neither might feature if India make the WTC final, but their contribution at Gabba will not be forgotten

Sidharth Monga17-Jan-2021Don’t lie now. You have had these daydreams when that chemistry textbook was making no sense to your tired eyes. You happen to be at a match where the Indian team has catastrophically lost many of its players to injury and illness, and you somehow end up at short leg. You wear blows, take an incredible catch in the dying moments to win India the game and they ask you to train with them and you impress them as a cricketer and play in the final Test of the series. Whether it ends up in a long career or just this one fairy-tale Test depends on the kind of person you are. Or when your mum says dinner is ready.Or, if you are a better cricketer and less of a dreamer – but a dreamer still – you are a nets bowler to help out the Indian team at an international match in your hometown. You impress one of the assistant coaches, who asks the captain to take a closer look at you, and they find a skill in you that everyone has overlooked so far and take you straight into the first XI.So crazy has this series been that none of that would have been out of place. What we have in real life is not a million miles away from it either.2:37

Thakur: Me and Sundar have the temperament to succeed at this level

Washington Sundar last played first-class cricket more than three years ago. He is known more for his TNPL and IPL exploits. You wouldn’t blink if he never played first-class cricket again and went on to enjoy a long career as a limited-overs specialist. Only because of the Covid-19 pandemic was Sundar asked to hang around for the Test series to help with bowling in the nets.Related

• Shardul Thakur's evolution into India's canny white-ball option

• Reckless Rohit? Not really. Lyon just trumped his method

• Frustrated Australia lose their edge at critical moment

Two days before the final Test in Brisbane, he was told that India might have run out of suitable options for what they wanted to achieve in the game. Three days into the Test, he has not only taken three wickets with his limited but disciplined offspin bowling, but also nearly top-scored for India in a match where their aim has been to hang on for dear life, take the draw and, along with it, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy home.A near fantasy is how we see it, but not Sundar. He is a bit of a prodigy. He is only 21, has already handcuffed some of the biggest power-hitters bowling with the new ball inside the powerplay in the IPL and has a first-class century opening the innings. In another era, perhaps you might have heard more of him as a first-class player, but this is an era where he first made his name in the leagues, concentrated on them and also ended up travelling with the Indian teams without playing in the XI, thus missing out on a lot of first-class cricket.Slightly less wild is the story of Shardul Thakur. He is India’s seventh-choice seamer in Tests. He spent the long tour playing just three limited-overs games and bowling a lot in the nets, getting to bat only when the throwdown specialists or the bowlers have any energy left after bowling to the players expected to play.”These are the moments we wait and live for [as to] when we will get the opportunity and contribute for the team,” Thakur said after top-scoring for India in only his second Test. “This time also – in my mind and in my heart – I was only thinking that the longer I bat, the smaller their lead will be. Just wanted to spend time on the pitch.”It is a long tour and as a player, it is always challenging to stay motivated. But this was the last game with the series tied. So you don’t need extra motivation. Just look at the scoreline, go out and give your 100% to the team. Make sure you are making all the useful contributions.”Standing tall: Washington Sundar acknowledges his fifty on Test debut•Getty ImagesThakur is the embodiment of the “honest trier”, but his ambition is higher than that. He puts himself out there. Even in limited-overs cricket, he is frequently asked to bowl the difficult overs. In this Test, he kept looking to swing it and pitch it up even when he was getting driven. With the bat, he hooked Pat Cummins for a six, cover-drove Mitchell Starc for a four off the back foot – call him ‘Shardulkar’ if you will – and emulated a more recent Mumbai team-mate by clearing long-on off Nathan Lyon.The two men staying together for 36 overs might have outlandish and unbelievable stories but as is the case in Test cricket, it involved common sense too. Before they came out to bat, Thakur and Sundar must have seen Cameron Green introduced as early as the 12th over. They must have observed the shortening lengths of spells for Cummins and Hazlewood. They must have known Australia had played the whole series with the same set of four frontline bowlers. They decided if they could hang in for an hour, they could break them down.”We knew their bowlers were tiring,” Thakur said. “We knew if we hung in for one hour we would be on top. It was really important for us to hang in there. If someone lost his focus and tried a rash stroke, we would let him know and get them back to basics.”They were proven right when Cummins and Hazlewood bowled just seven overs between them with the new ball. Australia had been pushed this far by the collective effort of India’s batting, but they needed fit and able bodies to take advantage. Thakur and Sundar decided they would give themselves the best chance to do so.Now with the forecast for the remaining two days not looking great, India have one hand on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and one foot in the World Test Championship final. Neither of this duo might be there, but if India do get there, their contribution will not be forgotten.

New York Yankees right fielder and designated hitter Aaron Judge has been carrying his team all season—and now, his squad may have to return the favor.

Judge is out for the Yankees' game against the Philadelphia Phillies Saturday due to an elbow injury, manager Aaron Boone told reporters pregame. According to Boone, Judge will undergo imaging to determine the extent of the injury.

“Obviously concerned,” Boone said via Ronald Blum of the AP. “We’ll wait and see as they read the imaging.”

The news could not come at a worse time for New York, which has been in a 14-22 skid since peaking at 17 games over .500 on June 12. On Friday, the Toronto Blue Jays took possession of Major League Baseball's best record; they lead the Yankees by 5.5 games in the American League East.

Judge is slashing .342/.449/.711—he leads MLB in all three categories—to go with 37 home runs and an American League-best 85 RBIs.

New York has two games remaining against the Phillies before a critical four-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Vincent Kompany has fiercely rejected criticism of Manuel Neuer after Bayern Munich's 3-1 Champions League defeat to Arsenal, insisting the goalkeeper made no mistake despite two high-profile moments in London. With Bayern’s unbeaten run gone and pressure rising, the coach pushed back against growing scrutiny, while preparing his side to reset immediately in the Bundesliga.

• Bayern’s unbeaten run ends as Neuer faces spotlight

  Bayern's 18 game unbeaten streak came to a halt at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal exposed defensive gaps and capitalised on rare errors from Neuer. Jurrien Timber opened the scoring after the Bayern captain appeared blocked during a crowded corner sequence, and although Lennart Karl equalised, the Premier League leaders took control after the break.

  Noni Madueke restored Arsenal’s advantage before Gabriel Martinelli sealed the result with a calm finish past Neuer, who had rushed high off his line in an attempt to intervene. The moment triggered widespread debate in Germany, with pundits and fans questioning whether the 39-year-old should have approached the situation differently. That criticism quickly became the centre of Bayern’s media briefing setting up Kompany to deliver a firm defence of his goalkeeper.

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  Kompany rejects criticism of Neuer and insists no mistake was made

  Speaking ahead of the Bavarians' Bundesliga clash with St. Pauli, Kompany made it clear he would not entertain talk of a goalkeeping controversy, starting with a blunt dismissal of the claims. "Mistake, what mistake?," the Belgian said. "No. If you call that a mistake, then I have a different opinion."

  He then repeated his view, specifically addressing the Gunners' third goal: "What are you supposed to do as a goalkeeper? Either wait and then it's one-on-one, or you defend the space and try to help your teammate who's playing against a faster player. I have a different opinion on that."

  The Bayern coach also addressed the earlier corner incident and stressed that even if errors do happen, Neuer’s pedigree remains unquestioned. "Sure, mistakes can happen, he's made them before and will make them in the future. But he's an outstanding goalkeeper. This is the first I've heard of it, so I'm a bit surprised."

  Turning to the match as a whole, Kompany emphasised Bayern’s strong opening hour but admitted the final stretch was below standard: "The analysis is always clearer once you've rewatched the game. After a match like that, it's straight on to the next one. But of course, we have to learn from it. We were solid for the first hour and played on equal terms away in London. However, the last half hour wasn't up to our standard, and Arsenal deserved to win. Now we're seeing which players are ready… we're just looking at minor details."

• Neuer explains his decision and criticism intensifies

  While Kompany defended him, Neuer himself offered a more detailed breakdown of what happened during the crucial third goal, acknowledging the risk involved in his aggressive approach. "When you're behind, you simply have to take a bit more risk, and in that situation, the pass was initially good because it wasn't really going in deep. I could already see that Martinelli was running against [Joshua Kimmich] and was also a bit faster than Jo. I knew then that it would lead to a one-on-one situation and a great chance. I tried to clear it beforehand, and he took him down well. The touch was simply crucial, and then I couldn't reach it anymore, although I knew I was taking a big risk."

  Not everyone agreed with his decision. Former Die Roten and Germany midfielder Michael Ballack delivered a sharper assessment of the moment: “That wasn't necessary. Manuel made the wrong decision there. If he goes for the ball, he has to get it, he knows that himself. He decided to take the risk, and is being punished for it.”

  The contrasting views reflect a growing debate about Neuer’s form, especially as Bayern navigate a demanding season and weigh long-term choices around the goalkeeper position, though Kompany remains adamant that discussion is closed.

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  Bayern look to reset as St. Pauli test awaits

  Attention now shifts back to domestic action, with the Bavarians preparing for a potentially tricky meeting against St. Pauli. Despite their opponents’ run of eight straight defeats, Kompany warned that complacency cannot be allowed to creep in.

  "The most important thing is that we don't differentiate between St. Pauli and Arsenal in our preparations," he said. "When we look at them, we see that they're doing well and what they're capable of. We've played them twice, and against the same coach, and both matches were difficult. We deserved to win, but we fought hard. Even if they've lost eight times, maybe a game against Bayern will be different for them."

  All eyes now turn to Saturday, where Bayern will aim to rebound quickly, steady their form, and avoid further questions ahead of their next Champions League assignment.

Manchester City are now frontrunners in the race to sign a “world-class” £80m star, who Pep Guardiola has called “extraordinary”.

Man City eyeing new forward after Bayer Leverkusen defeat

Guardiola rung the changes on Tuesday evening, making 10 alterations to the side that lost 2-1 at Newcastle United at the weekend, and Bayer Leverkusen made them pay, emerging as 2-0 winners at the Etihad Stadium.

City did manage to create some chances, with Nathan Ake, Savinho and second-half substitute Erling Haaland all squandering big opportunities, but they weren’t clinical enough on the night, and the German side emerged as surprise winners.

Pep would’ve been hoping that his attackers would step up in the absence of Haaland, with Omar Marmoush being given the nod ahead of the Norwegian at centre-forward, but it was a subpar performance from the Egyptian, who received a 6.2 SofaScore match rating, the lowest of any player.

The defeat arguably underlined the need for the Blues to bring in another forward to support Haaland in the January transfer window, and there has now been a positive update on their interest in Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr.

According to a report from Football Insider, Man City are now frontrunners in the race to sign Vinicius, alongside Premier League rivals Chelsea, with the forward’s future at the Santiago Bernabeu in doubt, following a fallout with manager Xabi Alonso.

Talks over a contract extension have stalled, meaning the Brazilian could be set to depart the Spanish club, and City would have the financial muscle to get a deal over the line, with his current employers looking to receive £80m.

Should Madrid decide to cash-in this summer, with the 25-year-old’s current deal set to expire in 2027, a number of Saudi Pro League clubs would also join the Blues in the race, so there could be stiff competition for his signature.

"World-class" Vinicius could elevate Man City's forward line

With the likes of Savinho, Marmoush and Oscar Bobb failing to deliver against Leverkusen, Pep may be keen to bring in a forward who is already proven at the top level, and he is known to be a keen admirer of the Real Madrid star.

The City boss lauded the Brazil international as “extraordinary” last year, while he has also received high praise from Jurgen Klopp, who described the winger as “world-class” and a Real Madrid “legend”.

The former Flamengo man has been one of Madrid’s most important players for several years now, and he remained potent in front of goal right across the 2024-25 campaign, weighing in with 41 goal contributions in all competitions.

Same agent as Stones: Man City ready to snap up £80m Champions League "superstar"

There has been a new update on the Blues’ pursuit of a new defender.

ByDominic Lund Nov 27, 2025

As such, should Vinicius Jr become available, Man City should undoubtedly make a move, and £80m would be reasonable fee for a forward who is still young, and regarded as one of the best wingers in the world.

Since taking over Manchester City in 2016, Pep Guardiola’s team has constantly evolved, going through different eras with countless top quality players key to the Sky Blues’ success.

Right now, we’re all very much living in the Erling Braut Håland-era, given that the Norwegian striker has now scored 18 goals this season, most recently on target against former club Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

In behind the goalbot though, Guardiola has an array of attacking options at his disposal, but could two of these players be poised to replicate, arguably, Manchester City’s most productive ever attacking duo?

Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling's Manchester City legacy

Of players who’ve made the most appearances for Guardiola during his illustrious managerial career, Raheem Sterling ranks seventh on 292, while Kevin De Bruyne sits second with 381, behind only Bernardo Silva.

The Belgian departed for Napoli in the summer having scored 108 goals and registered 177 assists for Man City, a high proportion of which were for Sterling.

As noted by Total Football Analysis, in the 2019/20 season, De Bruyne registered 20 Premier League assists, equaling Thierry Henry’s long-standing record, with 25% of these assists providing Sterling with a goal, underlining their exceptional combination play.

The midfielder himself stated that he and Sterling had a “strong connection”, making them unquestionably one of the most dangerous attacking partnerships in modern Premier League history, winning four league titles and seven other major trophies together.

With both having now moved on to pastures new, Guardiola is searching for his next great attacking partnership, seeking to feed a certain prolific striker, so does he boast the ideal two candidates?

Manchester City's new Sterling and De Bruyne

Now that Manchester City’s treatment room has begun to empty, Guardiola has plenty of options from which to choose, with eight players battling for the four spots alongside Håland.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Against Borussia Dortmund in mid-week, Tijjani Reijnders, Savinho, Jérémy Doku and scorer of a brace Phil Foden started, while Silva, Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki were all introduced during the second half, with Oscar Bobb left in reserve.

Nevertheless, ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster Premier League clash with Liverpool, Guardiola has to prioritise establishing Cherki and Doku as a partnership.

The 22-year-old Frenchman arrived from Olympique Lyonnais for £34m in the summer with a massive reputation.

Guardiola asserted that Cherki “is one of the most talented players I have ever seen in my career”, while Lyon teammate Ainsley Maitland-Niles labelled him “an absolute… wizard with the ball”.

So far, including the Club World Cup, Cherki has scored four goals in sky blue, on target against Wolves on his Premier League debut, subsequently netting against Swansea in the EFL Cup and Dortmund in the Champions League.

Doku meantime has been consistently one of the Premier League’s most prolific dribblers since first joining the club, as the table below highlights.

Attempted take-ons

2nd

2nd

Successful take-ons

1st

2nd

Progressive carries

1st

1st

Carries into area

2nd

3rd

Assists

43rd

4th

Shot-creating actions

62nd

4th

Big chances created

54th

1st

As the table outlines, Doku is both a high-quality and high-volume dribbler, ranked behind only Mohammed Kudus when it comes to take-ons this season.

However, ten matches into this campaign, there are signs that the Belgian will exponentially increase his attacking output, seeing a vast increase when it comes to shot-creating actions and big chances created.

In 1,514 Premier League minutes last time round, he created only eight big chances and registered just six assists, while this season, in only 549 minutes, he has already racked up five big chances created and three assists, thereby very much on course to smash last season’s tally.

Former Tottenham captain Ledley King labelled Doku “dynamic”, adding that he “likes to attack on the outside” while, following a 5-1 win over Burnley, Guardiola described the winger as “unstoppable”, interestingly noting that “I have the feeling that Jérémy’s decision-making in the final third has improved​​​​​​​”.

Reportedly earning £50k-per-week and £180k-per-week respectively, both still aged 23 or under, there are signs that Doku and Cherki are both realising their true potential at Man City.

On paper, Cherki’s creativity and eye for a pass, coupled with Doku’s flair, pace and off-the-scale dribbling ability, has all the ingredients to replicate when De Bruyne and Sterling were able to produce for many years.

Thus, it is over to Guardiola to ensure this duo can flourish together, starting on Sunday when Liverpool visit the Etihad in a match not to be missed.

Forget Haaland & Foden: 41-touch star had "his best game in a Man City shirt"

Man City beat Borussia Dortmund 4-1 and this player starred

ByJoe Nuttall Nov 6, 2025

MLS announced a landmark decision by switching to a fall-spring calendar, and the benefits are obvious, but there are some valid challenges the league needs to navigate through

Focus really hard, and you could almost see the relief in Don Garber as he announced the news. MLS has done the one thing it really should have done for years, and he knew it. There has been talk, stretching back to last January, that an official switch to a fall-spring calendar in North America's professional soccer setup was imminent. For a while, there were just whispers and suggestions. It was reportedly brought up at countless board meetings. It received cautious public backing from coaches. 

And, more broadly, anyone who consumed the league, followed its transfers, or even turned on Apple from time to time knew it was probably the sensible idea.

After some previous challenges, MLS, at long last, has a fall-spring calendar. The league has confirmed it. The basics are as expected. Starting in 2027, games will run from late July to early May. There will be a break in the winter. Transfer windows will align with the rest of the world. There will be no more playing through international breaks. On the face of it, this seems like the day when a still-growing, but at times conservative, league finally decided to take a bold swing. 

At the same time, there are clear caveats. Existing player contracts will need to be reworked, and the league will now find itself competing more directly with other major U.S. sports during the heart of its season. There’s also value in tradition – even if MLS’s calendar has always been unconventional. So while this move feels logical and long overdue, it won’t be without complications.

MLS 3.0 may be underway, but its success is far from guaranteed.

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  'Take our time and get it right'

  MLS has been inching toward this for years, and there was a growing sense that the shift was inevitable. This is a league in a constant state of evolution, and the move brings it into the modern era in a more convincing way. In truth, MLS delayed the change longer than it wanted to, Commissioner Don Garber admitted at a news conference.

  "We would rather take our time and get it right than be fast and get it wrong," Garber said. 

  The general idea here is to capitalize on the momentum brought about by the 2026 World Cup. The tournament is considered – and rightly so – a landmark event in the scope of the game in North America. Now is the perfect opportunity, if not excuse, for MLS to make significant changes in earnest. And what better way to convince people that MLS is legitimate than to do so around a World Cup? If this is the expression of the American game in club form, it should surely be linked to the biggest global event that soccer offers. 

  There have been extensive discussions, though, to make sure that the change is made in the right way. The league surveyed fans and other relevant parties, it said in a release, about their relative interest in a Fall-Spring calendar. Ninety-two percent of respondents supported a change to align with the European game. Discussions first started in earnest in October 2023. Just over two years later, rumor has become reality. 

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  Transfers and international breaks

  On the face of it, primarily, removing all of the noise, this is advantageous for MLS. Some would meet it with a shrug and a "duh." MLS, by working on a different schedule, is out of touch with the European world that it is so often compared to. On the face of things, this is a move toward legitimacy. Want to take us seriously? Well, here's a calendar to show you that we're for real. 

  But the most obvious benefit is the way the league functions in the global soccer sphere. For so long, transfer windows have been so awkward to figure out. MLS's primary window runs from January to April. Its secondary one stretches from July to August. That has proven to be a roadblock on two fronts. Primarily, it has made player acquisition harder, with the league forced to go after those who have either already begun their seasons at their club or are looking for a move halfway through. It's a pain in terms of recruitment. Even more difficult, though, is the midseason window where MLS teams can so often lose their best players. That July to August window has been a deadly thing for some sides, who have to kiss top talents goodbye when a good offer comes in. 

  "It allows us to be aligned with the international transfer windows, which we think is incredibly important. It gives us a wide variety of opportunities that will expand our ability to be on this path, to be one of the top and leading leagues in the world," Garber said.

  The shift won't entirely change the fact that MLS teams will lose good footballers here and there. But they can also use those windows to sign new ones, or plan ahead properly. What can happen here, then, is the fleshing out of a proper global transfer infrastructure, where players come and go – and spending can be maximized (albeit with the caveat of complicated salary cap rules). There could be more transfers like LAFC's blockbuster move for Son Heung-Min as a result. 

  There is further good news to be found in the fact that the calendar now aligns with FIFA international windows. There are a number of instances during the season where clubs lose significant chunks of their roster due to national team commitments – and still have to worry about regular season games with significant implications. That is no longer a problem.  

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  A few concerns linger

  Yet there are surely some losers. The main group, immediately, might just be the players. A switch to a fall-spring calendar would undoubtedly complicate contract negotiations. Under current MLS rules, deals expire in December. There will, surely, be some contracts to renegotiate. Garber was asked, in fact, how much of a say the players had in the decision, and his response was vague.

  "I'm sure there will be a time soon that we'll be able to, collectively with the MLSPA, have a discussion, and we can talk about all those details," Garber said. 

  There are also some questions to be asked about timing. To be sure, a break from mid-December to early February – similar to the setup currently offered by the Bundesliga – will save some fans in cold climates. But Minnesota, Chicago, and New England in early December, or even November, might not be all that pleasant. 

  There are broader questions to be asked, too, about fan attendance in general. The league very proudly announced that it welcomed over 14 million fans in the regular season alone into stadiums on matchdays. Will the march to the stadium remain the same in the dark and the cold, rather than an agreeable summer evening? These are things that simply cannot be prepared for. 

  And then there are the minutea: sponsorships, season tickets, day-to-day operations for teams. Those remain unknown. 

  "The bottom line is this change has been approved because we think it will, overall, raise the awareness, therefore the engagement with our teams, and therefore make them more valuable to the corporate community and to their fans," Garber said.

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  The North American sports calendar

  But perhaps the biggest question, writ large, is how this all fits in to the rest of the North American sports calendar. Currently, the MLS season runs from February to early December. The playoffs and MLS Cup clash directly with the middle of the NFL season, the World Series, crucial college football games, and the start of the NBA season. This is not the best time of year to get eyes on your hallmark event.

  A shift to a May MLS Cup, then, would seem to alleviate some of those fears. NFL and college football will be over. The start of the MLB season is hardly gripping stuff. And falling right before the NBA finals seems a good deal. MLS is happy where they will fit in the calendar under a new system, Nelson Rodriguez, EVP of MLS said Thursday.

  "We think this sets us up to showcase ourselves in a much better form. The competition will always be there, whether it's gridiron, hoops, or sticks and balls," Rodriguez said.

  Still, there are questions to be asked. The middle of the season will then clash directly with the biggest games in the NFL and College Football Playoff (which is now approximately 36 teams large). And whatever eyes MLS might have been able to capitalize on during the club soccer offseason are now fixated elsewhere. The theory that MLS is an alternative to boredom when Europe's top leagues aren't active will now fall apart. 

Arsenal chief Andrea Berta was a very busy man over his first summer transfer window at the club, but now one of his decisions is being seriously questioned.

Arsenal record highest summer net spend to back Mikel Arteta

The arrivals of Kepa, Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres, who all cost a combined £267 million, will undoubtedly play a major role as Mikel Arteta attempts to end the club’s long wait for a Premier League title.

Rank

Club

Gross Spend

Sales

Net Spend

5.

Sunderland

£183.4m

£42m

-£141.4m

4.

Tottenham

£171.2m

£17m

-£154.2m

3.

Manchester United

£232.4m

£61.7m

-£170.7m

2.

Liverpool

£446.5m

£228.1m

-£218.4m

1.

Arsenal

£267m

£10m

-£257m

It’s been a near-perfect start for Arteta’s side this season, with the Gunners’ imperious defence largely to thank for Arsenal sitting three points clear of Man City at the top of the table.

William Saliba, who recently signed a new deal until 2030, and Gabriel Magalhaes have displayed once again why they’re two of world football’s best centre-backs right now, with David Raya also awarded improved terms after establishing him as one of Europe’s best goalkeepers.

Their solidity was once again evident last weekend as Arsenal battled to a narrow 1-0 win at Fulham, and they hugely profited off yet another dead-ball situation when Leandro Trossard tapped home the only goal of the game from a corner.

While Arsenal’s backline has made all the headlines, the same cannot be said of summer signing Gyokeres, who was brought in to be their main vocal point of attack after two seasons free-scoring in Portugal.

The Sweden international’s arrival for an initial £55 million from Sporting CP followed his extraordinary haul of 97 goals in just over a century of appearances for the Primeira Liga side, but Gyokeres hasn’t exactly replicated that form thus far.

The 27-year-old, after failing to score again versus Fulham, is now on a seven-game goalless run in all competitions, but this could well change at home to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League tonight.

Gyokeres was repeatedly denied by ex-Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno at Craven Cottage on Saturday, and his intent to trouble opposing shot-stoppers has been crystal clear from the get-go.

However, his numbers haven’t reflected this, with the Premier League’s all-time top scorer, Alan Shearer, now sharing his verdict on Berta’s big-name summer buy.

Alan Shearer says Berta paid over the odds to sign Viktor Gyokeres for Arsenal

Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, Shearer insists that Berta paid over the odds to sign Gyokeres for Arsenal, demanding more from the ex-Coventry City forward.

However, while Shearer was critical of Gyokeres’ return, he does explain that the Scandinavian brings something game-changing to the Emirates.

Gyokeres’ ability to hold up the ball and link play allows Arsenal’s creative midfielders to find space and launch attacks, even if he hasn’t yet consistently finished chances.

Moreover, Arteta’s new number nine is still adapting to the Premier League’s pace and intensity, which often takes time, and Gary Neville has tipped the player to “bully” lesser sides once he finds his feet in England.

With regular game time and continued development, Gyokeres’ goal tally is expected to improve, especially taking into account the chances he’s already created for himself on regular occasions in games.

That being said, with Kai Havertz expected to return from injury earlier than anticipated, Gyokeres could be looking over his shoulder if the goals don’t come more regularly soon.