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Glamorgan looked set to win before three dropped catches in last three overs came back to haunt them

ECB Reporters Network20-Jun-2024

Gloucestershire 142 for 8 (J Taylor 70, van der Gugten 2-8) beat Glamorgan 140 for 6 (Northeast 46*, M Taylor 3-21) by two wicketsGloucestershire completed a superb win over Glamorgan with Jack Taylor’s 70 setting up a remarkable comeback from 45 for 5 to secure a two-wicket victory.Glamorgan looked certain to claim the win before three dropped catches in the last three overs came back to haunt them as Josh Shaw hit the last ball for six to take the visitors past their target.Runs for Sam Northeast and an excellent spell from Timm van der Gugten had put Glamorgan into a winning position before Taylor’s 70 from 48 balls set up the victory for Gloucestershire.Gloucestershire looked to be heading for a large defeat before Taylor’s innings allowed them snatch the win from the very last ball.The Glamorgan innings was characterised more by touch than by power with their top three looking to work the ball around in very bowling friendly conditions. Kiran Carlson tried some early innovation and was dismissed as a result. He attempted to scoop a ball from Shaw over the keeper and was caught at backward point by Matt Taylor.With the early wickets of Carlson and Labuschagne, Northeast was happy to soak up the pressure that the Gloucestershire seamers applied, and he was going at under a run a run a ball for much of his innings. Northeast finished on 46 not out from 42 balls, the lowest not out score by an opener in a full 20-over innings in the competition’s history. Colin Ingram looked to be more aggressive and fell when he attempted to on drive down the ground off the bowling of Matt Taylor for 25. When Chris Cooke fell to the next ball Glamorgan were 76 for 4. When Ben Kellaway was caught at deep square leg in the next over off Marchant De Lange that became 81 for 5.Dan Douthwaite and Northeast put on the biggest stand of the Glamorgan innings but that was broken after the pair had added 37. Northeast added 22 in the final overs with van der Gugten to get Glamorgan to 140 for 6 from their 20 overs.The Gloucestershire innings got off to a poor start with the new ball once again causing serious difficulties for the batting side. They were 29 for 3 at the end of the powerplay and really struggling to get going.Van der Gugten bowled four consecutive overs from the Cathedral Road end to finish with figures of 2 for 8 in a spell that included a maiden and just one boundary.The introduction of the very first over of spin in this match brought immediate rewards for Glamorgan when Marnus Labuschagne took a spectacular one-handed catch while diving full length off the bowling of Mason Crane to dismiss Ben Charlesworth as Gloucestershire stumbled to 53 for 5 after 10 overs.Jack Taylor batted brilliantly throughout but benefited from some sloppy fielding after he had passed fifty with both Carlson and McIlroy putting him down off the bowling of Crane.Taylor was run out in the last over to seemingly end Gloucestershire’s hopes but Northeast dropped Shaw off the penultimate ball to give him the chance to win the game with his six off the final delivery.

Arsenal need a striker. Andrea Berta knows it, Mikel Arteta knows it, the fanbase knows it, the whole world knows it.

So, who will that man be? Well, with dream target Alexander Isak out of the running, it looks like it has come down to two candidates.

The first of which is Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede ended the 2024/25 campaign as the most goal-laden striker in Europe but there are doubts. Strange doubts at that considering how many goals he’s scored.

He is a beast, a physical player who can throw a defender to the floor and most importantly, he certainly knows where the back of the net.

Gyokeres is the finished article but clearly, Arsenal are thinking about the bigger picture too. That’s where Slovenian powerhouse Benjamin Sesko comes into the equation.

The latest on Arsenal's pursuit of Benjamin Sesko

A year ago, Arsenal were incredibly interested in bringing the RB Leipzig centre forward to the Emirates Stadium.

However, the striker decided to pen a new contract in the Bundesliga, which has seen him stay for another year.

Now, it would appear as though he’s ready to move on. Reports revealed nearly a week and a half ago that initial talks had begun and a deal has begun to accelerate in recent days.

Indeed, according to Sky Sports Germany reporter, Florian Plettenberg, the player is now ‘keen’ on signing for Arsenal this summer with advanced talks concerning personal terms in motion.

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That said, actually agreeing on a transfer fee is where the deal could get challenging. Plettenberg reveals that Sesko has a €80m (£67m) release clause but the Gunners cannot ‘simply trigger’ it.

That’s because the structure of a deal is said to be ‘complicated’, meaning a fee is now being negotiated freely.

Why Sesko would be a dream signing for Martin Odegaard

The 2024/25 campaign was undoubtedly the nadir of the club captain’s time at the Emirates to date.

After suffering an ankle injury early in the season, Martin Odegaard missed the best part of two months and simply wasn’t the same since.

Odegaard scored just six times in 45 games and only three of those goals came in the Premier League. It’s a far cry from the 15-goal term he enjoyed in 2022/23, where no midfielder scored more top-flight goals in England than him.

While the Norwegian still provided 12 assists, that number could soar to dizzy heights with a proper out-and-out centre-forward leading the line, not a Mikel Merino or Kai Havertz.

With Sesko described as “the new Erling Haaland” by scout Jacek Kulig, perhaps Odegaard could strike up a relationship akin to the one he enjoys with his fellow countryman at international level.

Indeed, it was only this weekend that we got to see the very best of the Arsenal playmaker, who enjoyed a fabulous game for Norway as they beat Italy 3-0.

Odegaard was the one who supplied Haaland’s goal in the tie, sliding a lovely ball in behind for the Manchester City forward to run onto.

It’s safe to say we’ve not seen enough of this in an Arsenal shirt. Why? Two reasons, really. Odegaard’s injury has undoubtedly hampered him but the biggest reason is that Arteta’s system hasn’t relied on a striker getting in behind.

Havertz and Merino are cut from a similar cloth in this regard. They come short to bring others into the game and it largely works. Yet, the Gunners need someone playing on the shoulder of the last man.

Matches

36

Wins

21

Draws

5

Defeats

10

Times Odegaard assisted Haaland

6

Minutes played

2,831

That’s where Sesko comes into the equation. Possessing a similar build to Haaland, the Slovenia international combines pace with brute force to burst past defenders.

He’s far from the finished article, scoring 21 goals last season, but that’s a great deal better than anyone at Arsenal; no one in red and white even found the net in double figures this season.

Odegaard is one of the most creative players in the division, ranking in the top 5% of positionally similar players in Europe’s top five leagues for assists per 90 minutes and the best 4% for progressive passes. Thus, he needs someone he can actually feed.

As the captain showcased with Haaland in front of him just a few days ago, he can thrive when he’s got someone willing to make runs beyond the defence. Sesko is definitely that man. This could be a match made in heaven for Arsenal.

Saka & Nwaneri hybrid: Arsenal make contact for "generational" £120m PL ace

The international ace would be incredible for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 7, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers are in the market for a new striker this summer. According to recent reports from Italy, the Old Gold are keen on signing Lazio centre-forward Taty Castellanos.

Any move could cost the Molineux side a fee of around £29m. Unless Vitor Pereira sells a few players to raise funds, this might prove problematic.

It isn’t just a centre-forward that they need ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. Another midfielder would go a long way to seeing them finish in the top half of the Premier League table.

Wolves eye move for Premier League midfielder

The Old Gold have shown interest in Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall of late, but they are also keen on bringing Liverpool starlet Harvey Elliott to the Midlands this summer.

According to GIVEMESPORT, Wolves are set to accelerate talks over securing the services of £50m-rated Elliott. The £40k-per-week midfielder has two years left on his current contract at Anfield, but having failed to establish himself in the starting XI this season, the door is ajar for Wolves.

He has plenty of experience in the top flight and would certainly give Pereira’s side something extra in the final third, as he could either operate on the right wing or as a number ten.

With the Portuguese manager eyeing a swoop for Castellanos to bolster his attacking department, the pair could form a dream duo next season.

Why Wolves must sign Harvey Elliott this summer

The Englishman made his debut for Liverpool during the 2019/20 season, just months after joining from Fulham.

Since then, he has amassed nearly 150 competitive appearances for the Reds, scoring 14 times and registering 19 assists.

This season, however, he has struggled for gametime. He has started only five times for the club, but has scored against PSG and PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.

In the Premier League last season, he showcased his attacking qualities, creating five big chances, averaging 1.1 key passes, and averaging 1.4 shots per game.

Goals

3

Assists

0

Big chances created

0

Shots per game

0.8

Goal conversion percentage

75%

Balls recovered per game

2.6

Via Sofascore

Adept at either finding the back of the net or generating chances, deploying him on the wing could see him shine with Castellanos.

Indeed, when compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Elliott ranks in the top 1% for progressive passes (9.41), in the top 9% for shot-creating actions (5.3), and in the top 12% for assists (0.34) over the previous 365 days.

These statistics indicate just how much of a threat he could be in the final third. Castellanos has netted 14 goals and grabbed eight assists for Lazio this term.

Should he move to England, Pereira will need players behind him who are capable of providing plenty of opportunities for the Argentinian striker.

By signing someone like Elliott, the club would be getting a solid, homegrown midfielder who can operate across several positions.

Much will depend on the sort of fee Liverpool are after, but if it is within their budget, Wolves must do all they can to bring him to the Midlands.

Ideal for Dewsbury-Hall: Wolves chasing move for "extraordinary" gem

Wolves look keen on signing a striker from Serie A.

1 ByRoss Kilvington May 17, 2025

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is expected by some sources to sign an “exciting” 23-year-old this summer, with manager Mikel Arteta admitting that his first transfer window at the club is set to be a “big” one.

Excitement surrounds Andrea Berta appointment at Arsenal

With Liverpool seizing a huge gap at the top of the Premier League table, and Arsenal now putting the majority of their focus into a good Champions League run, attention is already turning to the summer transfer window.

Related Arteta dealt injury blow with Arsenal "difference maker" out for "weeks"

It is a significant loss for the Spaniard.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Apr 1, 2025

Barring a miracle, Arsenal won’t be winning their first domestic league crown in 21 years after all, which has arguably been down to consistent injury problems suffered throughout the Gunners’ squad, including some pretty key names.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games

Date

Everton (away)

April 5th

Brentford (home)

April 12th

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

TBD

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Bukayo Saka made a stunning return to the fold on Tuesday night after recovering from a hamstring injury, scoring in a 2-1 win over Fulham, but star defender Gabriel Magalahaes was hauled off in the early stages after picking up a fresh injury problem.

Arsenal’s need for strength in depth is prevalent, as Arteta suggested this week in his pre-match press conference, and the Spaniard is fully anticipating a busy first summer window following Berta’s arrival.

“We want to increase the depth of the squad but as well we want to increase the quality and the skills that we need to go to the next step,” said Arteta on Arsenal’s summer transfer plans.

“It’s going to be a big one, and we are very excited about it.”

Some reports suggest that Berta could spend up to £300 million on seven new Arsenal signings (GiveMeSport), with co-chair Josh Kroenke expressing real excitement over the 53-year-old’s appointment.

“He understands our values and what we stand for, and we have no doubt he will help us push on and take the next steps in our bid to win major trophies,” said Kroenke.

“We undertook a thorough recruitment process, and we were hugely impressed with the level of all the other candidates, but it was Andrea’s experience and the success he has enjoyed that stood out. We are really looking forward to working together and welcoming him into the Arsenal family.”

Arsenal expected to sign Joan Garcia from Espanyol

One of Berta’s goals this summer is to sign a new second-choice keeper behind David Raya, with Bournemouth loanee Neto currently a temporary solution.

Espanyol starlet Joan Garcia was heavily linked with a move to the club last summer, and Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the 23-year-old even agreed personal terms over a move to Arsenal at the time.

Garcia’s current release clause stands at £21 million, but this could rise to £25 million or even drop to as low as £12.5 million, depending on Espanyol’s La Liga status.

In any case, as per Sky Sports journalist David Garrido, speaking to the outlet’s ‘Back Pages’ podcast, Spanish sources fully expect Garcia to join Arsenal from Espanyol this summer after a deal fell through in 2024.

“They’re also looking at a goalkeeper,” Garrido said.

“I think people in Spain are very much expecting Joan Garcia from Espanyol to go to Arsenal too. So there’s plenty of work to be done.”

The Spaniard has been called an “exciting” young goalkeeper by members of the press, and he played a major role in Espanyol’s promotion to La Liga last season. Their persistence in targeting Garcia also highlights how Arteta must seriously rate the player.

Not qualifying for the 2024 T20 World Cup was no doubt a downer, but Zimbabwe, at least for now, seem to have put the doom and gloom behind them

Deivarayan Muthu06-Jul-2024Castle Corner, the epicentre of home support at the Harare Sports Club, was buzzing. Sikandar Raza had just pumped Avesh Khan for a straight six. India’s spinners silenced the crowd for a while, before they found their voice again when Raza, the bowler, was front and centre of Zimbabwe’s successful defence of 115.After the fast bowlers had made early inroads, India’s new T20I captain Shubman Gill stood between Zimbabwe and a famous win. Raza had delayed his introduction into the attack until India had a left-hander in Washington Sundar at the crease in the 11th over. But he had to deal with Gill first. Gill lined up Raza’s first ball and short-arm pulled it away in signature style to the square-leg boundary. Raza responded with a fizzing carrom ball that burst through the defences of Gill and knocked back the off stump.Gill and India were stunned. Raza roared. The Harare Sports Club roared with him. They knew that their captain was onto something, and that something was Zimbabwe beating India for the first time across formats in over eight years.ESPNcricinfo LtdRaza was part of the team that had toppled MS Dhoni and Co. at this very venue back in 2016, but he had no memories of that T20I. Tino Mawoyo, the former Zimbabwe opener, had to remind Raza about it after announcing him as the Player of the Match.Raza had bowled only three overs in that game eight years ago. At the time, he was a regular offspinner who would turn the ball into right-handers and away from left-handers. But with T20 cricket becoming an increasingly hostile environment to regular offspinners, Raza, like R Ashwin, has expanded his repertoire to become an all-sorts spinner. Raza 2.0 can bowl offbreaks, legbreaks, carrom balls and swinging arm balls.

Appreciation post:

To our fans , chevrons appreciate you all #VisitZimbabwe #Alhamdulillah #ZIMvsIND pic.twitter.com/YTnmGcEA05

— Sikandar Raza (@SRazaB24) July 6, 2024