A grand show from bowlers Lea Tahuhu and Leigh Kasperek, followed by a blitz from Rachel Priest, saw New Zealand canter home against West Indies

The Report by Deivarayan Muthu06-Jul-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsLea Tahuhu swung the new ball and removed West Indies’ openers•International Cricket Council

Offspinner Leigh Kasperek and seamer Lea Tahuhu skittled West Indies for 150 and set up New Zealand’s second win in four matches. Kasperek, playing her first ODI since February 2016, found drift, dip, and turn to befuddle the middle order, after Tahuhu had made light work of the openers. Rachel Priest led the pursuit with a ferocious 90 off 55 balls, of which 80 came in boundaries. The eight-wicket victory – achieved with 190 balls to spare – not only boosted New Zealand’s net-run rate and lifted them to fourth place but also suggested West Indies had not recovered from Sunday’s hangover, when they crashed to 48 all out against South Africa. They are now languishing at the bottom of the points table with four losses in four matches.Kasperek, who had been sidelined for the bulk of the last two seasons, with multiple fractures on her left hand, showed no signs of rust and set to work immediately with the new ball. She found exaggerated drift in the air and rapped the pads of Kycia Knight with her first two balls. Then she looped one past the outside edge to claim a maiden. She would claim five more maidens.The early damage, though, was done by Tahuhu. She struck in her second over when she slanted one across Kycia Knight and had her feathering behind. In her next over, she bounced out Hayley Matthews and tore to her right to snaffle a sharp return catch. Enter Kasperek, again. She removed Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin off successive balls, and was on the brink of a hat-trick in the 17th over. New Zealand deployed a Test-match field for the hat-trick ball – two slips, a silly point, a forward short leg, a short cover, and short midwicket – but Merissa Aguilleira, featuring in her 100th ODI, somehow kept it out. At the end of that maiden, Kasperek’s figures, believe it or not, read: 4-3-1-2, and West Indies were 53 for 4. Two balls later, Chedean Nation spooned 16-year-old Amelia Kerr to short midwicket.Aguilleira and Kyshona Knight then mounted some resistance with a 38-run stand for the sixth wicket. They were the only two batsmen to hit boundaries off Kasperek. Aguilleira struck the only six of the innings when she smote the offspinner over the midwicket boundary. But Kasperek held the next one back and drew Aguilleira out of her crease to have her stumped for 20 off 30 balls.Instead of going for the jugular by drafting Tahuhu back, Suzie Bates, the captain, persisted with her change bowlers. Amy Satterthwaite was smacked for back-to-back boundaries, while Sophie Devine was milked for ones and twos. Kyshona Knight was also adventurous against Kerr before Holly Huddleston cleaned her up in the 40th over. The innings lasted only a further three overs as Tahuhu returned and duly applied the finishing touches.Rachel Priest hammered a 29-ball fifty•ICC/Getty Images

In all, West Indies scored 24 boundaries. New Zealand’s openers Priest and Bates alone hit 24 boundaries. Priest pounced on anything that was remotely short and wide, rattling three boundaries off debutant Akeria Peters’ first over. New Zealand raced past fifty in the eighth over when Priest firmly swept Taylor to the square leg boundary. Seven balls later, she raised her own fifty, off 29 balls, with a crunch down the ground. Such was the assault that the game seemed almost over by then. At the other end, Bates was happy to ride in Priest’s slipstream.After unfurling a variety of drives, Priest chipped offspinner Anisa Mohammed to extra cover with her side 31 runs away from victory. Two balls later, Devine exited, but Bates and Katey Martin completed the formalities.West Indies’ batting lacked direction, their bowling was wayward, and their poor fielding did not help their cause either. No fewer than two catches were dropped in just 18.2 overs. All of that puts them all but out of the tournament.”We haven’t really been playing much 50-over cricket,” Taylor said after the match. “A couple of New Zealand girls managed to get acclimatised. If you look at 50-over games, it’s been a while since we last played.”In the past few games, the openers set up a platform but the middle order could not capitalise. It’s all about mindset (about the next game against Sri Lanka). We just have to look to play some positive cricket. We just have to play for some pride.”

Arsenal's transfer frenzy shows few signs of slowing down, as the Gunners are reported to be in the running to sign PSV star Xavi Simons this summer.

Dutch outlet ED reported last week that Arsenal are in talks to sign Simons, but the Dutch youngster has no shortage of potential suitors and journalist Paul Brown believes his development could increase tenfold under the stewardship of club captain Martin Odegaard…

How much would Xavi Simons cost?

Should the Gunners see off competition for the Netherlands phenom, they could have the perfect man in the Norway international to help him settle into his new surroundings at the Emirates Stadium.

Speaking to Football FanCast, the reporter said:

"I do think Odegaard has become a really important, quiet leader at Arsenal.

"He leads by example, but he doesn't need to charge around the pitch shouting at people.

"I do think behind the scenes he is capable of being that kind of mentor figure to anyone who comes into the club under any kind of pressure.

"I do think that that could be an important role for him. If someone like [Simons] was coming in he would be able to take him under his wing and help him along. I do think that could be quite important."

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano previously reported that Paris Saint-Germain have the chance to sign Simons for €6m (£5.1m), but that buy-back clause expires on July 31 and the midfielder will have the final say on his future.

Any other interested clubs face having to pay in excess of €50m (£44m), according to some reports in Spain (via Football365), given Simons' status as one of the best talents in European football.

Where would Xavi Simons fit in at Arsenal?

Ironically, it could be Odegaard that Simons eventually replaces in the Arsenal side. The Norway international is still only 24 himself, but he has been linked with a move away from the Gunners on more than one occasion.

The two players share a lot of similarities, not least the fact that they are both capable of scoring and assisting a large number of goals. Simons scored 19 and assisted eight in Eredivisie last season, while Odegaard scored 15 and set up seven in the Premier League.

Simons scored from 0.19 goals per shot he took last season, as per FBref, compared to 0.16 for Odegaard, while – pretty remarkably – they had an identical pass-completion percentage of 80.3.

While Simons comes out on top in terms of the combined tackles and interceptions managed per 90 (1.90 v 1.21), Odegaard edges things when it comes to successful take-on percentage (57.8 v 49.7).

Signing Odegaard's potential successor while he is still at the club makes perfect sense, though it may well be that Simons – on wages of £26k-per-week at PSV, according to Capology – is paired with the former Real Madrid player should he join.

Once described as "magnificent" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, it is little wonder that many of Europe's elite clubs – Arsenal and PSG being just two of them – are eager to sign Simons.

Under the tutelage of Mikel Arteta, and with Odegaard to lean on, Simons will have the opportunity to fulfil his undoubted potential on the Premier League stage.

Wellington Masakadza, who last played an international match in March 2016, has been included in Zimbabwe’s ODI squad for the series against Sri Lanka

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jun-2017Wellington Masakadza, who last played an international match in March 2016, has been included in Zimbabwe’s ODI squad for the series against Sri Lanka.* The left-arm spinner, who has 15 wickets from 10 ODIs, last appeared in a 50-over international fixture in 2015, against Afghanistan in Sharjah.The Zimbabwe squad for the only Test of the tour had three recalls – Regis Chakabva, Carl Mumba and Natsai M’shangwe – while uncapped allrounder Nathan Waller was also picked. Solomon Mire, Richard Ngarava and Chamu Chibhabha were left out. Waller was a part of Zimbabwe’s squad for the home series against Afghanistan in February but did not get a match. The changes also mean that Mire and Ngarava will have to wait longer for a maiden Test appearance.This is Zimbabwe’s first tour of Sri Lanka since a three-Test series in December-January 2001. While the five-match ODI series on this tour begins on June 30, the one-off Test will be played in Colombo, starting July 14.ODI squad: Solomon Mire, Hamilton Masakadza, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer (capt), Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Peter Moor (wk)Sikandar Raza, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu, Donald Tiripano, Richard Ngarava, Wellington Masakadza, Malcolm Waller, Chamu Chibhabha, Tarisai MusakandaTest squad: Regis Chakabva, Hamilton Masakadza, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer (capt), Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Peter Moor (wk), Sikandar Raza, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu, Donald Tiripano, Nathan Waller , Natsai M’shangwe, Malcolm Waller, Carl Mumba , Tarisai Musakanda*June 28, 4.00am GMT: This story was updated after Zimbabwe Cricket sent out the official release

أصدر نادي أهلي جدة السعودي بيانًا رسميًا يعلن من خلاله رفضه لقرار إدارة المسابقات بتأجيل مباراة الهلال في إطار منافسات دوري روشن.

وكانت إدارة المسابقات قد وافقت على طلب الهلال بتأجيل مواجهة الأهلي، لانشغاله بخوض منافسات الدور نصف النهائي ببطولة ذوري أبطال آسيا.

وقال النادي الأهلي في بيانه الرسمي الصادر قبل قليل: “بناء على قرار إدارة المسابقات برابطة دوري روشن السعودي المتضمن تأجيل لقاء الأهلي والهلال ضمن الجولة الـ28 من مسابقة دوري روشن السعودي، نؤكد رفضنا التام للقرار”.

طالع | كبير صحفيي بي بي سي عن مستقبل محمد صلاح: ليفربول لن يستخف بشأنه

وأضاف: “مبدين استغرابنا من تأجيل اللقاء إلى يوم الاثنين الموافق 6 مايو القادم، رغم رفضنا للتأجيل بشكل عام وتمسكنا بإقامة المباراة في موعدها المحدد مسبقاً”.

وتابع: “ونعتبر هذا القرار فردياً ولم يكن لنا أي رأي فيه بصفة رسمية، وأن التأجيل لهذا التاريخ لا يحفظ عدالة المنافسة وتكافؤ الفرص بين الأندية المشاركة في الدروي”.

وواصل: “ويعد خروجاً عن روح اللعب النظيف والشفافية في رياضة كرة القدم”.

واستكمل: “ونؤكد أن قرار إدارة المسابقات تعسفي، ونطلب تطبيق القانون على الجميع بمنح كل ناد يومي راحة على الأقل وهو ما يعني خوض مباراة الأهلي والهلال يوم 20 أبريل الجاري بجدة بدلاً من يوم 6 مايو القادم”.

وأتم: “ويكون بذلك متماشياً وفقاً للمادة التاسعة فقرة 4 من اللائحة التنظيمية لمسابقة دوري روشن السعودي للمحترفين التي جاء فيها: أن تلتزم إدارة المسابقات بمنح كل ناد يومي راحة على الأقل في المباريات التي تسبق أو تلي مشاركاته في أي مسابقات رسمية أخرى محلية أو خارجية”.

ويتربع فريق الهلال على عرش صدارة ترتيب الدوري السعودي برصيد 77 نقطة فيما يأتي الأهلي في المركز الثالث برصيد 52 نقطة.

الجدير بالذكر، أن فريق الهلال قد خسر مباراة ذهاب نصف نهائي دوري أبطال آسيا أمام العين الإماراتي برباعية مقابل هدفين، فيما يخوض موقعة الإياب يوم الثلاثاء 23 من أبريل الجاري.

📋 بـيـان إعلامي pic.twitter.com/bdiLE3tVi2

— النادي الأهلي السعودي (@ALAHLI_FC) April 17, 2024

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly showing a strong interest in Eintrach Frankfurt star, Randal Kolo Muani, with the Frenchman being lined up as a possible replacement for contract rebel, Harry Kane.

What are the latest transfer Tottenham rumours?

While there have been somewhat audacious claims that the Lilywhites are interested in a move for Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe, journalist Sacha Tavolieri has revealed that it is Kolo Muani who is the "priority" target for Ange Postecoglou and co, with negotiations having already taken place regarding a potential €80m (£69m) deal.

Writing on Twitter, the transfer insider stated: "EXCL. Randal Kolo Muani to be the priority target striker for Harry Kane's replacement at #Tottenham ! Interest's huge and talks on player's side has just started. I understand this deal could happen as ENIC Group gave green light to Daniel Levy for a sale of Harry Kane.

"It's an 80M€ deal. Eintracht Frankfurt have already discusses with clubs before. Not yet from Spurs. The French striker's keen to the move. Wait&See"

This comes amid reports that Spurs are looking to sell Kane if the Englishman does not agree to extend his contract at N17, hence the need to line up a suitable successor to the free-scoring marksman.

How many goals has Randal Kolo Muani scored?

There's likely to be some real excitement among Spurs supporters amid the club's tentative links to the aforementioned Mbappe, although questions will have to be asked as to whether the 24-year-old is actually a viable option, considering the sizeable fee that it would likely take to prise him from the Parc des Princes.

If a deal for the former Monaco ace – who has been the subject of a £260m offer from Al Hilal – is ultimately too much of a pipe dream, then Postecoglou has seemingly lined up a worthy alternative in the form of his compatriot, Kolo Muani.

While the latter man is arguably not of the same ilk as his international colleague – who boasts 310 goals and assists in just 260 games in all competitions – the former Nantes ace did catch the eye with 40 goal involvements in just 46 games in Germany last season, a haul not too far off that of Mbappe (51 goals and assists in 43 outings).

Lauded as "ice-cold in front of goal" by German legend, Lothar Matthaus, Kolo Muani had previously scored 23 goals and contributed 16 assists in just 83 outings for his former employers, although he truly came alive in the Bundesliga last time out.

With both men able to operate in a central role or on the flanks, they have unsurprisingly earned comparisons to French icon, Thierry Henry in recent times, with pundit Joe Cole noting Mbappe's likeness to the ex-Arsenal man, while the Bundesliga website previously said of Kolo Muani:

'Much like Kolo Muani, legendary France striker Henry started his career by impressing with his pace and trickery out wide before being repurposed as a centre-forward. Both players also clock in around the 6'2" mark and cut very similar, rangy figures.

'Kolo Muani also has a languid dribbling style and immense turn of speed that were hallmarks of Henry's game – especially at a young age. He bears similar strength on the ball and a cheekiness to his play that will leave Bundesliga defenders both in his wake and cutting frustrated figures.'

What the duo share, in particular, is there innate dribbling ability and direct nature in attack, with the Frankfurt ace ranking in the top 7% among his European peers for progressive carries and in the top 5% for successful take-ons, while Mbappe is only slightly ahead as he ranks in the top 5% and the top 1% for those same two metrics, respectively.

As such, the likeness between the pair could suggest that even if Tottenham can't get Mbappe in the door this summer, they could be set to snap up the next best thing instead…

The BCCI has said it is getting closer to narrowing down its list of difficulties in implementing the Lodha Committee’s reforms to “three or four”. The seven-member panel set up by the BCCI to study their implementation met on Saturday, and achieved a “huge amount of unanimity”, according to its convener, the BCCI’s acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary.The panel is set to meet again on July 7, when it will look to finalise a report that it will present before a Special General Meeting (SGM) that the BCCI will have to conduct before July 14, when the Supreme Court will next hear the case. Following the SGM, the BCCI will hand over its final list of difficulties to the Committee of Administrators, the court-appointed panel tasked with running the BCCI until fresh elections under the Lodha guidelines.”I can tell you that there was a huge amount of unanimity among all members including [Cricket Association of Bengal president] Sourav Ganguly, who was present through Skype,” Choudhary said on Saturday.He added that the members had agreed unanimously on “six or seven” points, but did not want to reveal what they were until they had been narrowed down to a final “three or four”. He indicated that the unanimously agreed-upon areas of difficulty were ones the BCCI had already spoken about in the past.The board is understood to be inclined to incorporate most of the Lodha committee’s recommendations, except for policies such as the age cap of 70 years for office bearers, the tenure cap of nine years with cooling-off periods in between, the one-state-one-vote policy, and the trimming down of the number of selectors from five to three.”I could well do that [reveal the six or seven areas of difficulty], but I think all of you know it,” Choudhary said. “We are trying to reduce the gamut of difficulties to three or four, and in that exercise we have succeeded very substantially today. The small bits which are left we will finish them [on July 7].”[By then,] instead of talking about 5-6-7 points, I’m certain that I will be talking about three or four only. The other three will unnecessarily get attention [otherwise].”Choudhary was confident the BCCI would be able to conduct a Special General Meeting (SGM) before July 14.”I’m sure you’ll have a copy of that one-page document which states clearly, delineates, that the honourable Supreme Court of India’s next date on the subject is the 14th of July,” Choudhary said. “It also says that we have to dispose this matter expeditiously, and it’s a matter of urgent nature. We exhausted the dictionary, so to say, and we are acting upon it.”On the question of Niranjan Shah’s presence in the BCCI’s committee, Choudhary clarified that the former Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) president was only part of it as a “special invitee” rather than one of the seven full members. Shah is at present disqualified from holding office either in the BCCI or any of its state associations since he is over the stipulated age limit of 70. Choudhary dismissed any confusion over Shah’s role in the panel as an issue of “semantics”.”He’s a special invitee,” Choudhary said. “You are getting into semantics. By trying to distinguish between the technical status of a person who’s attending the meeting… I have answered your question, whether he is a member or an invitee. I said he’s an invitee.”

The summer transfer window brings forth some crazy conspiracies regarding players’ futures. But, occasionally, those bizarre theories come true, and leave us all wondering just where fans learned their incredible detective abilities.The latest set of supporters to get out their long coats and magnifying glasses are Liverpool fans, who have spotted a potential transfer clue, regarding Romeo Lavia and Kephren Thuram.So far, Jurgen Klopp has welcomed both Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, in what is already an impressive midfield rebuild.Not wasting any time waving goodbye to Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, who could both reportedly leave the club this summer, the Reds have turned their attention straight to potential replacements.Now, in classic transfer season fashion, fans have spotted a major transfer clue.

Liverpool fans spot potential transfer clue

Taking to Twitter with the findings, @Omzlfc posted the path of a flight from Nice – where Thuram’s current club is based. The Twitter user explained: “Flight was meant to go from Nice to Liverpool has instead gone to Blackpool.

“It’s then going to Southampton and off to our training base in Stuttgart.”

As crazy a find as it is, Klopp and co are currently set up in Stuttgart, Germany, where they will kick off their pre-season plans against Karlsruher SC, before facing Greuther Furth.

It is interesting to note that the flight from Nice goes through Southampton, too, where Lavia is currently based.

With both the Saints midfielder and Nice man linked with a move to Anfield this summer, it’s no surprise that a flight going to both of their locations in one swoop has caught the attention of fans.

It’s the kind of detective work you might see more often in an Agatha Christie novel, which just about sums up the antics involved in a summer transfer window.

What’s the latest Liverpool transfer news?

All seemed to be going to plan for Liverpool this summer, before Saudi Arabia came in for both Fabinho and Henderson.

As per Fabrizio Romano, the Reds are discussing key details of a deal with Al Ittihad which will see Fabinho leave the club this summer.

The Brazilian has reportedly agreed personal terms and spoken to Al Ittihad manager Nuno Espirito Santo. The midfielder has also not travelled with Liverpool to Germany for pre-season plans.

Meanwhile, it looks more likely that Henderson could stay put this summer. The club captain has travelled with the squad for pre-season preparations but has reportedly agreed personal terms with Al Ettifaq, with the deal relying on Liverpool and the Saudi Arabian club reaching an agreement over a transfer fee.

Given that the Reds will be left short in midfield if the aforementioned duo depart this summer, the Premier League giants have Lavia on their list of targets, according to Romano, and have previously been in contact with Thuram.

With pre-season getting underway, Liverpool will be keen to solve any midfield issues once and for all in the coming weeks, whether that be with or without Henderson and Fabinho.

It’s certainly been a busy summer so far for the Reds.

حلل خبير في لغة الجسد، تصرف برناردو سيلفا لاعب وسط مانشستر سيتي قبل تسديد ركلة الجزاء أمام ريال مدريد في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

والتقى ريال مدريد ومانشستر سيتي على ملعب “الاتحاد” ليلة الأربعاء في إياب ربع نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا.

الوقت الأصلي للمباراة والأشواط الإضافية انتهوا بتعادل إيجابي بهدف لمثله، ليحتكم الفريقان إلى ركلات الترجيح.

وسدد برناردو سيلفا ركلة ترجيح بطريقة غريبة ليتصدى لها أندري لونين حارس مرمى ريال مدريد بسهولة، وحسمت المواجهة في النهاية بتأهل ريال مدريد لدور نصف النهائي.

وفي حديثه إلى “OLBG”، أشار خبير لغة الجسد دارين ستانتون إلى تصرف برناردو سيلفا، ونشرت صحيفة “ذا صن” البريطانية تصريحاته.

وقال: “ربما كان الجمهور يمنح بيرناردو سيلفا الوقت لضبط نفسه من خلال الإمساك بالكرة، لكن ربما كان ذلك بمثابة علامة على عدم موافقة الجماهير”.

وأضاف: “كان من الممكن أن يتسبب هذا في انتظار اللاعب بشكل أكثر إرهاقًا قبل تنفيذ ركلة الترجيح”.

وعن إخراج سيلفا للسانه، أفاد: “إنه يذكرني بشخص يمارس رياضة الركل في الحديقة، وكان يفتقر إلى أي تركيز أو شغف، نهض وانطلق”.

وأكمل: “اللسان هو أهم حركة، وله دلالات عديدة حسب السياق، سوف يفعل الأطفال ذلك من أجل المتعة، حيث يخرجون ألسنتهم”.

اقرأ أيضًا | جوارديولا يعلق على ركلة جزاء برناردو سيلفا ويؤكد: فعلنا كل شيء لإقصاء ريال مدريد

وتابع: “لكن أحد الأسباب الرئيسية التي تجعل الناس يفعلون ذلك هو عندما يحاول الناس التركيز، لقد كان يخرج لسانه في لفتة تهدئة”.

وأردف: “لقد كان متوترًا بشكل لا يصدق تحت ضغط لا يصدق، ولكن بالحركة البطيئة، كان كل شيء خاطئًا في الأمر برمته”.

وواصل: “لم يكن حارس المرمى مضطرًا حتى إلى التحرك، كان الأمر مثل الأطفال الذين يلعبون في الحديقة، لا يمكنك أن تصدق أن لاعب كرة قدم محترف هو من سدد تلك الركلة”.

واسترسل: “لا نعرف ما الذي كان يفكر فيه، ولكن من وجهة نظر لغة الجسد، فهو يعاني من بعض الانهيار، إنها أزمة ثقة، يبدو أن تعبيرات الوجه بعينيه تذهب إلى الفضاء، واللسان هو الشيء الرئيسي”.

وأتم: “كان يحاول التركيز ولكن في الوقت نفسه، من خلال الطريقة التي يخرج بها لسانه، كان يحاول طمأنة نفسه، هذا ما يفعله الأطفال، لسبب ما، في تلك اللحظة، كان يعاني من انهيار كامل فيما يتعلق بثقته في قدراته وحرفته”.

Arsenal are now ready to hijack Tottenham Hotspur's move for Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, according to a recent report from The Sun.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

Despite having already signed Declan Rice in a deal worth £105m, Arsenal remain in the market for a new central midfielder this summer, with a move for Southampton's Romeo Lavia still on the cards after the 19-year-old gave the green light.

Lavia was viewed as a potential replacement for Thomas Partey, although Mikel Arteta has recently indicated that the Ghanaian will remain at the Emirates Stadium this summer.

When asked whether he expects the 30-year-old to stay, Arteta said: "Yes, Thomas is a super important player for us. Every time I had a conversation with him, he says he wants to stay with us. There is nothing there at all."

Edu has personally been in talks to seal a move for Gremio midfielder Bitello this week, with the 23-year-old now emerging as a major target, and Arsenal could now be closing in on a move.

But according to a report from The Sun, the Gunners also remain interested in signing Luiz and are now ready to hijack Tottenham's move for the Aston Villa midfielder, with Ange Postecoglou currently considering him as a potential replacement for Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg.

Arsenal tried to sign the Brazilian last summer before he opted to put pen to paper on a new £75k-per-week contract at Villa Park, which is not due to expire until the summer of 2026.

Arteta and Postecoglou are now poised to tussle it out for the central midfielder, but it is as yet unclear how much Villa would be willing to sell him for. It should be noted that considering Steven Gerrard, who held onto the midfielder's services last term, is no longer in charge in the West Midlands, Unai Emery may yet be talked into a deal this year.

How good is Douglas Luiz?

The 25-year-old has been hailed as "incredible" by sports reporter Gregg Evans, while Villa boss Emery has in fact underlined just how essential he is for his current team, saying: "He’s very important and he has big potential. He can progress more.

"I’m trying every day to support him and to push him to do one more step ahead as a player. He’s doing it and he’s working very well."

The Rio de Janeiro-born maestro poses an attacking threat, having averaged 0.18 non-penalty goals per 90 in the past year, which places him in the 86th percentile compared to his positional peers, and he also ranks in the 85th percentile for assists.

Not only that, but the Aston Villa star is also competent defensively, averaging 2 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game in the Premier League last season, with those statistics ranking him among the highest in the squad.

Having averaged a WhoScored match rating of 6.93, the midfielder was the Villans' second-best performer in the league last season. However, there are doubts over whether he is a necessary signing for Arsenal.

Given that Arteta has now claimed that Partey is likely to stay, the Gunners are well-stocked in midfield, and they have no real need to spend big on another player in that area of the pitch.

Abi Sakande, Sussex’s promising 22-year-old seamer, was rewarded for an impressive spell with his first wicket in four-day cricket on a dreary, rain-affected day at Hove

ECB Reporters Network28-Jun-2017
ScorecardCameron Bancroft has shown a glimmer of form•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

Just 45 overs were possible at drizzly Hove with Sussex’s Specsavers County Championship match against Gloucestershire destined for a draw unless the rival captains can conjure up with a final-day run chase.Play was restricted to three spells, the lengthiest 32.1 overs in the middle session, and at stumps Gloucestershire had reached 150 for 1 in reply to Sussex’s 358 for 9 declared.The floodlights stayed on throughout but the pink ball did little to assist Sussex’s seamers while Gloucestershire’s batsmen settled for steady accumulation on a slow pitch with a damp outfield a further frustration.Cameron Bancroft made his second successive Championship half-century and Abi Sakande, Sussex’s promising 22-year-old seamer, was rewarded for an impressive spell with his first wicket in four-day cricket.Sakande said: “There is real competition for places just to get into our bowling attack so I knew I had to try and perform well today.I took five wickets against South Africa A a couple of weeks ago and have felt in quite good rhythm and I was pleased to get a wicket and with a bit of luck might have got a couple more.”It’s been a frustrating two days with the rain we’ve had but I have really enjoyed the experience. The pink ball does do a bit early on but then it gets a little soft but we stuck at it “But with Gloucestershire still 198 behind, it will need some imaginative declarations to ensure a decent finish with 150 overs lost so far including the entire second day.Bancroft, the 24-year-old from Perth, showed admirable application in the tough conditions, although he would have been run out on 31 had Jofra Archer’s shy at the stumps at the non-striker’s end hit the stumps.He put on 62 with Chris Dent before Sakande’s big moment when Dent mistimed a pull and was held at deep midwicket for 31.Will Tavare, too, had a let-off on 17 when he drove left-arm spinner Danny Briggs to mid-on but David Wiese failed to cling on to a difficult chance above his head, despite getting both hands on the ball.The ground was virtually deserted when play resumed for the final time at 9pm and Gloucestershire’s second wicket pair extended their stand to 82 from 27 overs with Bancroft 69 and Tavare 43 not out at stumps.