If the best Tests are supposed to thrill you to your core, here was one that could chill you to your extremities

Andrew Fidel Fernando01-Feb-2025Roughly halfway through the morning session on day four in Galle, an offbreak was allowed to pitch on a good length and hit a wicket. There were 13 Test cricketers, two on-field umpires, and thousands more attending at the ground. For those couple of seconds, every single one of them were just watching as a 160-gram ball bounced once and clattered into a 71-centimetre stake.Ordinarily, this should not happen in a Test match. Someone is charged with thrusting a wooden bat or poking a pad-covered leg in the ball’s path.But the man who was in charge of that just watched it happen, like the rest of us. Dimuth Karunaratne , playing his 189th Test innings, often one of the best players of spin in his team, Sri Lanka’s most-prolific opener, and a batter expected to shield the less-experienced players, had a perfectly good wooden bat and pad-covered leg. He didn’t use either.Related

Jayasuriya: 'There was a serious problem with our shot selection'

Length, more than pace, key to Australia spinners' success, says Smith

Kuhnemann, Lyon consign Sri Lanka to their biggest defeat

Mitchell Marsh out of Champions Trophy with back injury

Inglis soaks in dream debut as Australia's batting options blossom

What he did instead is wave this ball from Todd Murphy through to his off stump, like a zookeeper letting a lion through the enclosure gate to maul the pre-schoolers that have just arrived on their field trip. Karunaratne was the seventh batter to fall on a morning in which Sri Lanka were trying to save a Test. And still another batter would be out before lunch – Dinesh Chandimal falling for 31 to Nathan Lyon, the second time in the same session Chandimal was out to Lyon. Chandimal, by the way, was Sri Lanka’s best batter and highest run-scorer in the game.If the best Tests are supposed to thrill you to your core, here was one that could chill you to your extremities. Pulses remained unraced. Nails were left unchewed. Neck hairs stayed flaccid and pathetic against your skin. At no point could Australia ever seriously fear they might lose this match. At no point were they tested substantially. There really isn’t a session you can point to, where you might make a case that Sri Lanka won it.Josh Inglis, on debut, hit a hundred. Matthew Kuhnemann, in his first bowling innings in Sri Lanka, took a five-wicket haul. Usman Khawaja made his highest Test score, making 232 off 352 balls. “He looked at ease the entire time,” captain Steven Smith, who was in a 266-run partnership with Khawaja, said of the opener.”On debut, I thought he was outstanding,” Smith said of Inglis, who made 102 in the only Test innings he’s played.”I think a lot of credit has got to go to the surgeon,” Smith said about the doctor who fixed Kuhnemann’s busted thumb, to get him ready for this Test. This was so massive a victory for Australia, even medical personnel not on tour were getting a piece of it.It felt like at times in this Test, an Australia batter could wander over to a rock on the Galle shoreline and find a Test hundred underneath it. It felt like if an Australia spinner bumped into a coconut tree, three dismissed Sri Lanka batters would fall out and then sulk mopily back to the dressing room.Sri Lanka, by the way, are a team that could possibly have made the World Test Championship final, as recently as December. Occasionally, they have had moments of competence, and even inspiration. In their last series in Sri Lanka, they beat New Zealand 2-0 just before New Zealand went to India and won 3-0.But when you hit 654 for 6 declared in the first innings, you have plenty of options in a Test. And your captain can describe the rest of your Test with the enthusiasm with which a child describes a theme park ride.Australia recorded their biggest Test win•Robert Cianflone/Getty Images”It’s a lot of fun when you’ve got 650 on the board,” Smith said. “You can kind of set some funky fields, and try and force a batter error as much as possible. And, you know, not be worried about getting hit for any boundaries.”Exactly. In fact, Smith might be understating it. Sometimes, you get so far ahead in a Test, your entire XI could not turn up for a day, and you still win.No one blows a first-innings lead of 489, and it’s difficult to really convey how far apart these teams were. Australia went to the UAE to prepare for this series. They set the practice pitches in Dubai to “dusty” and their batters practiced the shots they were expecting to have to play in Sri Lanka, while their bowlers worked out their lengths.Sri Lanka played like they had trained to give up wickets and let runs flow. In the first session, they dropped two catches, and failed to review an lbw they’d overturned. But with the bat, Sri Lanka were especially inept.There should have been people who stopped Australia from dominating a Test at Galle, and imposing on Sri Lanka the biggest of the Test defeats they have ever suffered in their 42-year Test history.Ordinarily, this would not happen. But the people in charge were just watching, like the rest of us.

Conor Gallagher arrived at Atletico Madrid as one of the club’s most expensive midfield signings, a high-energy Premier League standout expected to thrive under Diego Simeone. But a year later, the England international has opened up about his frustration over limited minutes, his fading World Cup hopes, and growing links to a January move to Manchester United, admitting he is “not satisfied” with his current situation.

Gallagher's promising move now shadowed by uncertainty

When Atletico secured Gallagher from Chelsea in the summer of 2024, it felt like the beginning of a long and productive chapter for both player and club. Gallagher had just come off several standout seasons in England, rising through Chelsea’s academy, shining during his loan spell at Crystal Palace, and completing 136 Premier League appearances filled with intensity, pressing, and late bursts into the box. His €40 million (£35m/$46m) transfer fee reflected not only his reputation but also Atletico’s confidence that he could become a central figure in Simeone’s midfield.

He wasted no time making an impression in Spain. Gallagher became the first Englishman in 101 years to score for Atletico, immediately displaying the tenacity, forward drive, and tireless work rate that had earned him admiration in England. His early performances suggested he was tailor-made for Simeone’s relentless style, often finishing matches completely exhausted after covering ground in every phase of play.

Yet as the season progressed, the momentum stalled. Gallagher’s role became inconsistent, and minutes gradually slipped away. By early 2025, he had logged only 339 league minutes and completed just one full match since September. With established figures like Koke, Pablo Barrios, and Alex Baena fitting Simeone’s tactical structure more precisely, Gallagher found himself more frequently rotated, often used for energy rather than entrusted with a regular starting place. What began as a career-defining move slowly transformed into a frustrating waiting game.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesGallagher breaks his silence: "I'm not satisfied"

The growing speculation about his future eventually reached Gallagher, who chose to address it openly. In recent weeks, he has been strongly linked with United, who are considering him as a January reinforcement should he become available. His honesty regarding his current role made clear that he is wrestling with mixed emotions.

“I’m not satisfied. I don’t think anyone will be if they don’t play as much as they would like, but I will continue to work very hard to, whenever I have the opportunity, help the team and hopefully more opportunities will come to be a starter,” he said in an interview with AS, acknowledging his frustration with the lack of consistent minutes.

At the same time, Gallagher rejected the idea that he is searching for a way out. He spoke with genuine appreciation for Atletico and a strong desire to succeed in Spain. “I’m very happy here. My goal is to win titles with Atleti and I want to have a bigger role in the team. And, as I said, I’m going to continue working to the maximum to play more minutes and be able to help the team.”

Gallagher remains committed, ambitious, and respectful of Simeone’s decisions, but he cannot ignore the impact his restricted playing time is having, not only on his club career but also on his international prospects.

The World Cup clock is ticking and time is running out

For Gallagher, the consequences of limited playing time extend well beyond Madrid. With the 2026 World Cup approaching, he knows that irregular minutes could jeopardise his place in England’s squad. His opportunities have already shrunk in recent international windows, and he recognises the significance of the challenge ahead.

“That’s one of my goals. I have spoken to Thomas Tuchel and he has told me what he needs from me and what I have to do to return to the team. And it seems that, right now, it’s very difficult for me to get to that point. But, as I said before, I will continue to do my best to get more minutes and, hopefully, return to the national team,” he admitted. His response underscored both his desire to represent England and his awareness of the reality he faces: national-team football requires rhythm, consistency, and trust—conditions that have been hard for him to find in Simeone’s structured system.

The competition around him at Atletico is relentless. Koke’s leadership, Baena’s creativity, and Barrios’ defensive discipline align seamlessly with Atletico’s tactical identity. Gallagher’s high-energy, box-to-box profile remains valuable, but Simeone’s preference for positional control and experience has kept him on the periphery. As links with the Red Devils grow louder, the midfielder faces a difficult crossroads. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Getty ImagesThe road ahead for Gallagher

Gallagher’s situation now enters a decisive period as Atletico approach January with a player who is fully committed but undeniably underused. He respects Simeone, speaks with admiration for the club, and genuinely wants to win trophies in Madrid. But ambition alone cannot replace the minutes he needs, and the coming weeks will force Atletico to confront a critical question: is Gallagher a long-term piece of the project, or is the timing right to let him pursue a more prominent role elsewhere?

From Gallagher’s perspective, his approach remains professional and patient. He has not demanded an exit and continues to push for more responsibility in training. Yet he is fully aware that his career cannot afford another prolonged period on the margins.

The next chapter will depend on how Simeone sees him fitting into a midfield. If Gallagher’s opportunities grow, he will stay and fight for his place. If not, the January window may offer a path toward the minutes he needs and the international future he continues to chase.

أعلنت إحدى الجهات الإعلامية المصرية عن حصولها على حقوق بث مباريات بطولة كأس العرب 2025، وذلك قبل انطلاق النسخة الجديدة التي تشهد مشاركة واسعة من المنتخبات العربية وتترقبها الجماهير بشغف كبير.

ويخوض منتخب مصر منافسات البطولة تحت قيادة جهاز فني يضم حلمي طولان مديرًا فنيًا، وأحمد حسن مديرًا للمنتخب، وعصام الحضري مدربًا لحراس المرمى، وذلك وفقًا لقرار اتحاد الكرة المصري بتشكيل الجهاز الفني للفراعنة في البطولة.

ويستهل منتخب مصر مشواره في كأس العرب بمواجهة الكويت في الجولة الأولى من دور المجموعات، ضمن منافسات المجموعة الثالثة التي تضم أيضًا الأردن والإمارات، في مجموعة قوية ينتظر أن تشهد صراعًا كبيرًا على بطاقتي التأهل.

ويخوض الفراعنة اللقاء الأول أمام منتخب الكويت، ثم يلتقون الإمارات في الجولة الثانية، على أن يكون الختام بمواجهة الأردن، التي قد تلعب دورًا حاسمًا في تحديد المتأهلين إلى الدور التالي.

طالع أيضًا | “ساعدوني كثيرًا”.. حلمي طولان يشيد بثنائي منتخب مصر قبل كأس العرب القناة المجانية الناقلة لمباريات كأس العرب 2025

كشف الإعلامي إبراهيم فايق عن نقل منافسات بطولة كأس العرب بشكل حصري داخل مصر عبر شاشة MBC MASR 2، مشيرًا إلى استعداد القناة لتقديم تغطية موسعة من داخل الملاعب، مع استوديو تحليلي قوي ومشاركة نخبة من المعلقين العرب. موعد مباراة مصر والكويت في كأس العرب

تقام مباراة مصر والكويت يوم الثلاثاء الموافق 2 ديسمبر 2025، في تمام الساعة 4:30 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث المباريات لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo divulgou, na noite deste domingo (14), o estado de saúde de Matías Viña, após choque de cabeça sofrido pelo jogador na partida contra o Atlético-GO. Segundo o clube carioca, o lateral-esquerdo não teve lesão cerebral constatada nos exames realizados.

continua após a publicidade

➡️ A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!

➡️ Tudo sobre o Mengão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Flamengo

Viña deixou o gramado aos 30 minutos do segundo tempo, após dividida pelo alto com o zagueiro Adriano Martins. Os jogadores se chocaram de cabeça e precisaram ser substituídos imediatamente. Seguindo o novo protocolo de concussão estabelecido pela Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF), ambos foram encaminhados para o hospital.

Como não houve lesão cerebral detectada, Matías Viña foi liberado para retornar com a delegação do Flamengo para o Rio de Janeiro. O lateral-esquerdo seguirá em observação pelo Departamento Médico Rubro-Negro nos próximos dias.

continua após a publicidade

Em campo, O Flamengo venceu o Atlético-GO por 2 a 1 neste domingo (14), no Estádio Serra Dourada, na estreia dos times no Brasileirão 2024. Agora, o Rubro-Negro Carioca volta a campo na quarta-feira (17), às 21h30, diante do São Paulo, no Maracanã, pela segunda rodada da competição.

Mais Flamengo!

Tudo sobre

FlamengoMatías Viña

Dodgers star Mookie Betts has been a part of some of the biggest moments baseball has to offer. A three-time World Series champion and a former MVP, Betts is no stranger to the bright lights that accompany October baseball, having been to the postseason in eight of his 11 previous seasons in MLB.

Of course, a 162-game MLB season is one of the longest gauntlets in sports. Keeping a strong mindset and finding a suitable balance between the intensity of the big moments and the calmness of life outside of the sport is something he feels is crucial to maintaining a strong mentality throughout such a marathon of a season.

Betts spoke with as part of his new "Playa Sounds" campaign with Corona, which presents a unique audio experience blending the sounds of the beach and the ballpark in order to get himself and fans into a proper headspace for postseason baseball.

Betts expressed the importance of keeping a balanced mindset throughout the long season, which he pointed out was even longer than 162 games due to spring training and the postseason. He also detailed how that mindset can change for players when the postseason swings around.

"You don't want to really treat the games that much different [from the regular season]. You don't want to add extra pressure on yourself because there's already enough. But there also is that intense feeling that you can't really explain … I think it's just the feeling that it could be over. It could be over. When you're playing throughout the season, there's always tomorrow. But when you get to the postseason, there is no tomorrow," Betts said. "It kind of depends on how you view 'there is no tomorrow.'"

Betts acknowledged that he does experience nerves during the intense moments that come with the heightened atmosphere of the postseason, but that living in those moment is something he cherishes.

"I do get a little anxiety with it, but I also do love being in the moment. … You only get so many [opportunities to be in those big moments] and I don't want to manufacture anything. I just want to live through it and create some memories in it."

Betts said that the mentality he has today is something that's been developed throughout his career. As he's gone through the experiences of a big-leaguer, it's helped him stay more level headed in key spots. And with the Dodgers set to be major players in this year's postseason, Betts will be leaning on his experience in the playoffs to help keep his mentality sharp, even if he's not performing to his standards on the year as a whole.

With an absolutely cardinal series against the Mariners looming, the Astros are ready to redeploy one of their best young talents.

Houston is activating third baseman Isaac Paredes from the injured list ahead of the team's three-game series against the Mariners, it announced Friday. Paredes, 26, has not played since July 19 due to a hamstring injury.

When he hurt himself, the two-time All-Star was slashing .259/.359/.470 with 19 home runs and 50 RBIs. As noted by Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, each of those last two figures led the team at that time.

The Astros acquired Paredes from the Cubs on Dec. 13 in the trade that sent Chicago star right fielder and designated hitter Kyle Tucker. The transaction has worked out for both teams in the near term, as Paredes, Tucker and Houston right fielder Cam Smith have all provided their share of contributions to their new teams.

With nine games remaining, both the Astros and Seattle have 84–69 records. Houston is seeking its fifth straight American League West title, while the Mariners haven't won their division since 2001.

Tottenham Hotspur’s efforts in the Champions League against PSG last night were a vast improvement from the North London Derby, but it still wasn’t enough to claim all three points.

Luis Enrique’s men secured a 5-3 triumph at the Parc des Princes, but the night could have been a lot better for Thomas Frank’s side at one stage.

The Dane’s side twice took the lead against the reigning Champions League winners, with Randal Kolo Muani and Richarlison putting the Lilywhites ahead before and after the break.

However, numerous moments of madness from numerous players subsequently cost the side all three points, with Frank’s side now winless in their last three outings.

During such fixtures, the first team have shipped a total of 11 goals, many of which have been down to failures of one player – as demonstrated in Paris once again yesterday.

Cristian Romero’s dismal display against PSG yesterday

After Frank’s arrival as manager over the summer, he made an immediate impact by naming numerous first-team members as part of his Spurs leadership group.

Centre-back Cristian Romero was named as part of the group, with the Argentine wearing the armband in every one of his starts for the Lilywhites this campaign.

That was no different on Wednesday night, but the 27-year-old did nothing short of lead the side to a positive result, with his various errors costing the side against PSG.

His questionable pass into the feet of Pape Sarr saw the Senegalese star robbed of possession, which led to Fabian Ruiz firing the hosts into the lead for the first time.

Romero also charged down Vitinha on the edge of his 18-yard box, but his sliding effort saw him block the Portuguese international’s strike – which resulted in a penalty and all but killed off the game.

His underlying stats also showcase his lack of positive impact at the Parc des Princes, with the defender losing 50% of the duels he entered – subsequently being dominated by the opposition’s frontline.

The Spurs star who was as bad as Romero against PSG

After the manner of the Derby Day defeat on Sunday, it was clear that manager Frank needed to make various changes to try and avenge such a disappointing result.

As a result, the Dane made five changes to his starting eleven, which also saw a switch from a five-back to a more familiar four-back system – one which Romero was at the heart of.

The likes of Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray were handed rare starts at the heart of the side, with the duo often linking up with intricate play in large spells of the first half.

With both players aged under 20, there’s no denying that they will have huge parts to play in the immediate and long-term future for the Lilywhites in their quest for success.

However, there will certainly be question marks over a few of the other starters, with Pape Sarr one player who was unable to take full advantage of his recall to the squad.

The 23-year-old was named as a substitute against Arsenal, but was given the chance to stake his claim for a starting role again last night – but he may look back on the game as a missed opportunity.

Sarr certainly wasn’t solely to blame for the host’s third goal, but his lack of awareness after Romero’s pass saw him lose possession in the build-up to Luiz’s emphatic finish.

Minutes played

84

Touches

44

Passes completed

26

Errors leading to goals

2

Possession lost

7x

Tackles won

50%

Dribbled past

2x

Blocks made

0

He also could have done more to prevent Willian Pacho’s strike, with the Senegalese international unable to get ahead of the defender to clear the loose ball in the penalty area.

The youngster’s underlying stats were just as poor, with the midfielder only able to win 50% of the tackles he entered, whilst also being dribbled past twice.

Sarr’s lack of positive impact was highlighted in his tally of possession lost, as he gave the ball back to the opposition on seven separate occasions – often presenting a careless figure in possession.

There’s little denying he put in a shift when out of possession, but he did so to little avail, ultimately leading to journalist Alasdair Gold handing him a 5/10 match rating upon the final whistle.

After such a showing, it’s evident that Bergvall and Gray are both ahead of him in the pecking order, with Sarr needing a huge reaction in the upcoming matches to dislodge the pair.

As for Romero, it was yet another evening to forget, but given his role as captain, he must pick himself and the rest of the team up ahead of Saturday’s clash with Fulham.

New Kane & Son: Paratici plotting to sign two mega-money forwards for Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be making huge strides in completeing a deal for a new deadly partnership.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 26, 2025

South Africa captain says they had prepared for left-arm spin and was confident of a strong comeback

S Sudarshanan03-Oct-20251:56

Wolvaardt: We’re much better than 69 all out

South Africa’s collapse in their Women’s World Cup opener against England was down to “one of those days where the top order and the middle order failed on the same day”, according to their captain Laura Wolvaardt. Sent in to bat in Guwahati, South Africa were bowled out for 69, their third-lowest total in women’s ODIs, and lost by ten wickets.Wolvaardt insisted they were “much better than 69 all out” and backed her side to bounce back.”I think our prep has been good, I don’t think there were too many demons in the pitch,” she said after the match. “It was just one of those days where everyone went out early and that happens in cricket sometimes. It was not a pitch that we were super foreign to. We spent a lot of time in these conditions in the last couple of months, so definitely wouldn’t put it on the wicket.Related

Jafta: SA ready to reset after 'blowout' against England

Smith and Jones set seal on England's rout of South Africa

Smith puts the skids on South Africa to ignite World Cup campaign

“We are much, much better than 69 all out. As a group, we just need to put it behind us as quickly as we can and move forward, because if we’re going to take that into the next game, it’s going to be a very long tournament for us.”South Africa knew what to expect from England, who had two kinds of left-arm spinners, with Sophie Ecclestone’s release point being much higher than that of Linsey Smith.Marizanne Kapp became Linsey Smith’s third victim•Getty Images

On the eve of the match, South Africa’s batting coach Baakier Abrahams oversaw Wolvaardt’s preparation against left-arm spin closely. He specifically asked the net bowlers to change angles and bowl from wide of the crease as well. The focus was on her footwork and shot selection, and Abrahams reminded her of the forward defence with a straight bat. At one point, he praised her shot selection to a particular ball but pointed out that her head was falling over. Towards the end of her stint that lasted nearly 45 minutes, he nodded in approval.On Friday, though, it took Smith only two balls to dismiss Wolvaardt, who chipped a return catch. Smith then used inswing to beat the inside edges of both Tazmin Brits and Marizanne Kapp and hit the stumps. South Africa were four down just 31 balls into the game and couldn’t recover.”You can’t really fault our preparation. Yesterday, personally, I was super specific in my training,” Wolvaardt said. “I had someone bowl like Lauren Bell would and I had the left-armer [bowling] at me. I had already planned which guard I would take and what my options were and what my strong options were. To have that soft dismissal today was very disappointing with all the preparation that we had put in. We’ve been very well-informed by all of our coaches. It’s just one of those days where we played the wrong line for the ball swinging in.”While batting has been South Africa’s stronger suit heading into this World Cup, the defeat put their Nos. 3 to 6 in the spotlight. In ODIs since the start of 2023, South Africa have been one of the top batting teams. That is largely due to Wolvaardt and Brits, the most prolific pair in this period. In the same time frame, their Nos. 3 to 6 average 28.08, the worst among all eight teams at this World Cup. That is down to Kapp not playing all games, plus some players moving up and down the order.”Our middle order has actually been better this year than they have ever been,” Wolvaardt said. “I think the likes of Sune [Luus], Marizanne, Chloe [Tryon], [Annerie] Dercksen, who didn’t play today, have really been scoring a lot of runs throughout the past few series. I don’t think that we have any trouble in our middle order at the moment. It’s just one of those days where both top order and middle order didn’t fire.”In South Africa’s last ODI before the World Cup, they were dismissed for 115 with Pakistan left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu taking 6 for 26. Not all of South Africa’s frontline players played that game, since they had already won the series. Wolvaardt didn’t read much into the similarities between that performance and this one against England.”Those were two quite different spinners. Smith was very good with her swing and her drift today, whereas Sandhu in that game got a lot of turn over the wicket. So very different conditions. In that Pakistan game, we probably didn’t adapt well to a turning wicket, probably a lot more turn than what we were used to, very out of our comfort zone conditions-wise, whereas today, it was just a total collapse. We just didn’t apply ourselves well enough with the bat.”South Africa’s second game in the World Cup is against New Zealand in Indore on October 6.

The tournament will be held in February-March 2026 in India and Sri Lanka

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Oct-2025United Arab Emirates (UAE) have qualified for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, after defeating Japan on Thursday by eight wickets in the Asia-EAP Qualifier tournament in Al Amerat.Haider Ali’s 3 for 20 and and an opening partnership of 70 between openers Alishan Sharafu and Muhammad Waseem helped them comfortably chase 117 against Japan. UAE now join Nepal and Oman as the last three teams to secure their World Cup spot in next year’s edition.Apart from hosts India and Sri Lanka, the other teams with automatic qualification into the tournament are the top-seven teams from the 2024 T20 World Cup – Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, United States of America and West Indies. The three teams that qualified on basis of their T20I rankings were New Zealand, Pakistan and Ireland.Canada comfortably took the lone Americas Qualifier position. Italy, first time T20 World Cup participants, and Netherlands qualified from the five-team tournament in Europe. Namibia and Zimbabwe grabbed the two spots from the eight-team Africa qualifier before Nepal, Oman and UAE wrapped up the list this week in the nine-team Asia-EAP round.The 2026 tournament will follow the same format as the previous edition – the 20 teams will be split into four groups of five each, with every team playing the others once in a round-robin format. The top two teams from every group will progress to the Super 8 stage, where they will be placed into two groups of four according to pre-tournament seedings for another round-robin phase. The top two sides from each Super 8 group will then qualify for the semi-finals. The winners of the semi-final will meet in the final.

This weekend is arguably the biggest in Thomas Frank’s tenure as Tottenham Hotspur manager, when he leads his side out against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

The Dane has yet to get his first taste of the North London Derby, but he will be looking to get one over Mikel Arteta and secure bragging rights for the Lilywhites faithful.

Such a fixture is huge for supporters, with the meeting between the two clubs one of the first dates they look for upon fixture release day, before a ball is kicked.

However, it’s been a game that the white side of North London have often come out on the losing side away from home – subsequently winning just one of their last 32 encounters.

If Frank’s side are to write themselves into the history books, they will desperately need to keep one player quiet throughout the clash at the Emirates.

The threat Bukayo Saka poses to Spurs this weekend

Bukayo Saka may ply his trade for Arsenal, but he’s cemented himself as one of the Premier League’s most threatening attackers over the last couple of years.

The Englishman has managed to register over 20 combined goals and assists in all competitions in each of the last three years – often providing the difference in such a fixture.

He’s often popped up with the goods in attacking areas, as seen by his record against the Lilywhites since his senior debut back in the 2020/21 campaign.

Saka has featured on ten occasions against Spurs throughout his professional career, racking up a total of five goals – subsequently finding the net in 50% of his outings in such a clash.

He’s also popped up with various assists in the North London Derby, with his corner to Gabriel securing the Gunners all three points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last campaign.

It’s evident that the winger possesses serious quality, often coming alive on Derby Day, with Frank and his squad desperately needing to silence him on Sunday afternoon.

However, he too could unleash his own version of the Englishman at the Emirates, with the Lilywhites star potentially able to inflict serious trouble on Arteta’s men.

The Spurs star who’s becoming their answer to Saka

Players such as Saka don’t come around very often, and when they do, they cost a pretty penny – many of which undoubtedly cost a small fortune in the modern-day.

Whilst Spurs are unlikely to pay over the odds for top-level talents, they have invested heavily into the frontline over recent years – as seen by their deal to land Brennan Johnson.

The hierarchy forked out a reported £47.5m for the Welshman’s signature back in the summer of 2023, with the attacker showcasing his talents in North London last campaign.

He registered a total of 18 goals across all competitions last season, the highest of any player in the squad, often starring off the right-hand side of the club’s attack.

However, he’s fallen down the pecking order in recent months, which has resulted in various options being considered within the forward line in the capital.

Mathys Tel joined the Lilywhites on a permanent basis during the summer window, with the Frenchman costing a total of £27m from German side Bayern Munich.

The 20-year-old is capable of operating off the left-hand side or even as a centre-forward, with Frank able to rely upon the youngster in a variety of different positions.

When operating on the left, he’s able to cut inside and onto his favoured foot – something which Saka has made a name for himself for in England’s top-flight.

His similarities to the Englishman are also reflected in his shot on target accuracy, with Tel matching the winger with his tally of placing 33% of his efforts between the posts.

The Frenchman has previously impressed in his professional career, but has transferred his skills over to the Premier League, as seen by his tally of two goals in the league this season.

Tel’s efforts in attacking areas have led to huge praise from numerous outlets, with Bayern Chairman Herbert Hainer labelling him “one of the biggest talents in Europe”.

However, he will need consistent first-team minutes to reach the heights many have touted him to, with Frank needing to trust him in the near future to reap the rewards.

He’s shown that he’s capable of producing the goods in attacking areas, potentially able to provide the difference in the clash against the Gunners on Sunday.

Tel has proven he’s able to be the club’s answer to Saka, but it remains to be seen if the manager will show faith in him to allow the youngster to continue on his upward trajectory.

Spurs must sell "one of the worst signings in PL history" to fund Semenyo

Tottenham Hotspur must sell one player if they are to land Antoine Semenyo in January.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 20, 2025