Arsenal scored four in just 14 minutes as Mikel Arteta’s side put Atlético Madrid to the sword, extending their 100 per cent record in the Champions League, with summer signing Viktor Gyokeres also ending his goal drought.

Viktor Gyokeres bags Arsenal brace in 4-0 win over Atlético Madrid

Diego Simeone’s Atlético set up shop right from the get-go and were determined to make life very difficult for Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Bar a few promising flashes of play, with both sides hitting the crossbar, Atlético thwarted Arteta’s men in the first half. The Gunners largely struggled to create a clear-cut opening, but past 57 minutes, the floodgates opened for Arsenal.

Gabriel Magalhaes headed home the first of Arsenal’s quartet in a scintillating second period. His compatriot, Gabriel Martinelli, thanks to some great work from Myles Lewis-Skelly, then added a second with 64 minutes gone before Gyokeres landed a quickfire double in the 67th and 70th minutes to leave Simeone’s side shell-shocked.

Atlético had scored seven goals in their opening two Champions League matches but rarely looked like threatening Arsenal’s back line as Arteta’s men recorded a third clean sheet in as many games in Europe and a fourth in a row in all competitions.

Eberechi Eze could’ve got himself on the scoresheet too, having watched a strike loop off David Hancko’s ankle and over goalkeeper Jan Oblak, before the summer signing was denied a first Champions League goal by the bar.

The headlines will belong to Gyokeres, who ended his seven-game run without a goal in all competitions thanks to some expert poaching inside the area.

The Swede, who’s been criticised for his lack of goal involvement lately, breathed a huge sigh of relief after bundling home his first from close range, before feeding off Gabriel’s headed assist to score a second.

The ex-Sporting CP star can now kick on and put his dry spell behind him, but he has serious competition for the crown of Arsenal’s best player against Atlético.

Paul Merson praises "outstanding" Bukayo Saka in Arsenal win

Alongside Gyokeres, £195,000-per-week winger Bukayo Saka also made his mark — particularly in the first 45.

The England international linked well with Jurrien Timber down Arsenal’s right-hand side and proved a constant menace for David Hancko, Koke and Nico Gonzalez to deal with.

While Saka wasn’t rewarded with a goal or assist to show for his efforts, the 24-year-old, who’s held talks over a new deal at N5, was lavished with praise for his attacking display by club legend Paul Merson.

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid – most shots

Total

Bukayo Saka

5

Gabriel Magalhaes

3

Viktor Gyokeres

3

Julian Alvarez

3

Eberechi Eze

2

via WhoScored

Merson was overseeing the Arsenal clash on Sky Sports News, providing commentary on each of the goals, and he was thrilled with a delightful piece of interplay which threatened to expose Atlético in the first-half.

Saka was at the heart of it, with Merson calling Saka “outstanding” and “by far the best player on the pitch”, adding that the Hale End sensation had Koke “on toast” [20:28].

As per usual, Saka played his part massively, and Arteta will be thrilled that the player’s hamstring injury woes are well and truly behind him.

The forward also captained Arsenal on a night to remember for the north Londoners, who reached the semi-finals of the Champions League last season, only to be knocked out by eventual winners PSG.

Watching Arsenal sweep aside their European opposition thus far, it’s very fair to suggest they could reach that stage again, or even go one further.

Arsenal join PSG and last season’s beaten finalists Inter Milan on nine points from the nine available, with Arteta seriously on course for the knockout rounds.

Walker Buehler, pitching on just one day of rest following his stellar Game 3 start, came out of the bullpen on Wednesday night to shut the door on the New York Yankees and clinch a World Series championship for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

For Buehler, who underwent Tommy John surgery halfway through the 2022 season and missed the entire 2023 campaign, the moment was vindication after a long road back to the mound.

"Obviously for me personally, huge," Buehler told Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal after the World Series win. "Two years off, two surgeries … It's a lot."

Then, Buehler, who was on the 2020 Dodgers team that won the World Series, couldn't resist taking a jab at critics who discredit the title that came in the 60-game season shortened due to the pandemic.

"For our organization, we deserve this," Buehler said. "We've been playing really good baseball for a lot of years. Everybody talks s**t about 2020, but they can't say a whole lot about it now."

Fans and pundits have, at tims, been hesitant to give Los Angeles full credit for the 2020 title, given that it came in a shortened season. Even Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo, who was dealt from the Dodgers to the Boston Red Sox in February of 2020, gave the Dodgers credit for winning the World Series that year but claimed it was "still a 60-gamer."

Buehler seemingly wasn't referring to anyone in particular with his comment to Rosenthal—just taking aim at the general consensus from critics of the 2020 team—but it was somewhat fitting that the Dodgers starter struck out Verdugo for the series-clinching out.

And Buehler wasn't the only player who referenced critics of the club's championship win four years ago.

Dodgers infielder Gavin Lux, part of the club's taxi squad in 2020, on Tuesday told reporters the lack of respect for that year's title "bugs everybody."

Blake Treinen, who pitched on the 2020 team, told Tom Verducci that it was good to see the club "silence the critics."

"I've been very blessed to be a part of this organization for my fifth year now," Treinen said. "For my first year, we were very blessed to have a World Series in Texas. And there's been a lot of people that want to discredit 2020."

"And I don't want to harp on this a lot but it's so great to see the guys that are still here from then, Doc [Dave Roberts], the players, front office being able to finally silence the critics on this because every year has its challenges. Everybody has the same playing field."

Arsenal’s Max Dowman, at just 15 years and 308 days old, stepped onto the European stage in the 72nd minute against Slavia Prague, becoming the youngest player ever to appear in a Champions League match. The teenager shattered the record previously held by Borussia Dortmund’s Youssoufa Moukoko, who was 16 years and 18 days when he made his debut in 2020.

• Dowman is one for the record books!

  By the time Dowman trotted onto the pitch, Arsenal had already stamped their authority on the game. Bukayo Saka had coolly converted from the spot to open the scoring before Mikel Merino – filling in as a makeshift striker amid an injury to Viktor Gyokeres – struck twice, one on either side of half-time, to put the game to bed. Moments later, Dowman entered the fray, looking calm and composed far beyond his years. Another academy graduate, Andre Harriman-Annous, followed him from the bench after impressing in the Carabao Cup against Brighton.

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• From the Youth League to Europe’s grandest stage

  Only weeks ago, Dowman was playing in the UEFA Youth League, where he dazzled for Arsenal’s Under-19s against Atletico Madrid, providing two assists in a narrow defeat. Now, under the floodlights of Europe’s biggest competition, he stood shoulder to shoulder with the senior side. His record-breaking debut follows his breakthrough earlier this year, when he became the second-youngest player to feature in both the Premier League and for Arsenal, making his bow in the 5–0 win over Leeds. Only team-mate Ethan Nwaneri, who made his own debut at 15 years and 181 days in 2022, has done it younger. At 15 years and 302 days, Dowman also became the youngest player ever to start a senior game for Arsenal, doing so against Brighton in the Carabao Cup earlier this season.

• Dowman has the full trust of Arteta

  Arteta was effusive in his praise for Dowman as he insisted that his courage on the pitch is a virtue which cannot be taught. 

  "The first thing he does is he comes on and takes people on and starts to dribble and gets a foul," the Arsenal boss said, via the . "That is personality and that is courage, you cannot teach that – you have it or you don’t." 

  Arteta billed him to be a future star and told : "He’s so good at timing the right moment to move the ball, when the opponent makes the next step. We have a massive player there. It doesn’t get any harder than this competition. Really happy to see them with us on this journey and hopefully they will continue to improve."

  He will give Dowman more opportunities to shine this season and added: "He is 15 years old and still growing. There are a lot of things we have to make sure are under control so he develops in the way he can do. He will play minutes with us, for sure. When he has the chance to do that he needs to take it. If we looked at his passport every day, we would never play him – simple as that. But when you look at what he does in training, you have to play him. If not, you are blind, or I'm blind. So it is finding a balance and an understanding – especially with the load, the things that are changing in his life, and make sure he can cope with that. So far, he has done that."

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  Arsenal move to secure the starlet’s future

  The Gunners have already moved swiftly to secure Dowman’s long-term future. According to , Arsenal have signed him to a two-year scholarship agreement, with a professional contract lined up once he turns 17 next year. Arteta revealed that both the player and his family are deeply invested in Arsenal’s project.

  "That's what we all want and I think what he wants as well," he said. "But the feeling that I have is that he genuinely loves it here. He is a huge Arsenal supporter and his family are really happy with the way things are developing around him as well. Hopefully, he will be with us for many years."

  As Dowman makes history, Arsenal’s form on the pitch shows no sign of slowing down. Tuesday’s win over Slavia Prague keeps them perfect in the Champions League this season, with four wins from four. Back home, the Gunners have opened up a six-point gap over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, underlining their transformation into serious contenders for both domestic and European honours. Their next Champions League assignment sees them welcome Bayern Munich to the Emirates. Before that, a Premier League clash with Sunderland awaits on Saturday, where another win would see Arsenal head into the international break riding high on confidence.

Teoscar Hernandez is set to re-enter free agency after a highly successful one-season stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers that saw him enjoy a career year and win a World Series.

Hernandez had played on a one-year, $23.5 million deal that saw him collect $15 million in 2024 and will see him collect the remainder of the $8.5 million as deferred money from 2030 to 2039. He'll have the chance to earn a long-term deal on the open market this time around, though he did admit he'd be keen on returning to L.A.

Speaking on ESPN Deportes after Wednesday's series-clinching Game 5, Hernandez said he would be prioritizing the Dodgers in free agency.

"The Dodgers will be my priority in free agency. I will do whatever is possible to return. It's not in my hands, but if it were I'd pick them," Hernandez said.

In 2024, Hernandez slashed .272/.339/.501 with 33 home runs and 99 RBIs. He figures to be one of the most sought-after free agents on the market this offseason, and he made clear that coming back to Los Angeles is something he'd be open to. Of course, that all hinges on the Dodgers' approach this offseason after reaching historic levels of spending last year.

Somerset suffer upset against Glamorgan thanks to allround batting and key bowling display

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Ned Leonard claimed five wickets against his old team•Getty Images

Ned Leonard claimed five wickets against his former county as Glamorgan shocked South Group leaders Somerset with a nail-biting two-run Vitality Blast win at Taunton.The visitors posted 176 for six after losing the toss, Dan Douthwaite top-scoring with 56 off 32 balls, with three fours and four sixes, while Colin Ingram hit 55 from 33 deliveries. Matt Henry finished with two for 15 from four overs.In reply, Somerset fell just short on 174 for nine, Will Smeed making 72 off 49 balls and Leonard claiming five for 25. It was only Glamorgan’s fifth victory in 20 Blast visits to Taunton.Henry’s first two overs of the match saw Will Smale caught by Craig Overton over his shoulder at mid-on and Alex Horton top-edge a pull shot to Meredith at fine leg to make it 22 for two.Ben Kellaway hit successive boundaries off Overton in the fifth over and the end of the power play saw Glamorgan 42 for two. That became 66 for three when left-arm spinner Lewis Goldsworthy had Kiran Carlson, on 14, brilliantly caught by the diving Tom Abell at deep mid-wicket.When Kellaway, who had moved to 28, top-edged an attempted reverse sweep off Goldsworthy to Tom Kohler-Cadmore at short third-man, Glamorgan were struggling on 75 for four in the 11th over.It was 94 for five when Riley Meredith dismissed Asa Tribe, caught behind cutting, but the Australian’s next over saw Douthwaite, on two, dropped by wicketkeeper Tom Banton and it proved a costly error.Ingram moved to a powerful 31-ball half-century with a six off Meredith. Ben Green struck a big blow for Somerset when having the South African caught at short third-man off a top edge with the total on 143 in the 18th over.Douthwaite smacked Lewis Gregory for 4,4,6 at the start of the 19th over and another six took him to fifty off 29 balls. He was run out off the final delivery of the innings, having cleared the ropes again off Meredith.Somerset had reached 25 off 3.5 overs when Banton was caught at mid-off miscuing a delivery from Leonard, who followed up by bowling Kohler-Cadmore behind his legs.The hosts had posted 41 for two at the end of the power play and were in some bother when Tom Abell fell for a duck, superbly caught by Douthwaite off his own bowling to make it 44 for three. Sean Dickson and Smeed lifted the tempo with sixes off Kellaway and at the halfway point in their innings Somerset were 77 for three, needing exactly 100.Dickson had made 27 off 17 balls when top-edging a slog sweep off Andy Gorvin to make it 97 for four after 12 overs. Smeed moved to a 35-ball fifty, but Gregory fell quickly to Leonard and at 100 for five the home side were in a deepening hole.The target became 55 off five overs and then 35 off three as Green and Smeed produced some clean hitting against tight Glamorgan bowling. Green hit a straight six of Jamie McIlroy, who quickly responded by having Smeed caught at wide long-off.Leonard then had Green caught off a skyer and Craig Overton taken at deep mid-wicket to complete his five-for and 16 off the final over, bowled by Douthwaite, proved just too many for Somerset.

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke was left incredibly frustrated by his side’s lack of ruthlessness in the final third in their defeat to Burnley on Saturday.

After the match, the German head coach noted that his team had more “possession, shots, big chances, xG” than the Clarets in their Premier League clash, but they came away from Turf Moor with no points to show for their efforts.

Possession

31%

69%

Shots

4

19

Shots on target

3

4

xG

0.45

2.63

Big chances

1

4

Goalkeeper saves

4

1

Passes

292

615

The statistics in the table above show that Farke was right about the level of chances that his team created throughout the match, but they failed to score a single goal from 2.63 xG and four ‘big chances’.

Brenden Aaronson, arguably, missed the biggest chance of the match when he raced through on goal to fire his shot almost straight at Martin Dubravka, who produced the save.

Jayden Bogle, Jack Harrison, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin also missed opportunities to find the back of the net, as the home side scored two goals from four shots in the entire game.

It is hard not to feel a little bit sorry for Farke from an offensive perspective, as the players the board have left him with do not look clinical enough for this level.

Why Farke is not to blame for Leeds United's attacking problems

It can be easy to use outcome bias to pin all the blame on the manager when a team loses a game. Sometimes the manager is to blame because the coaching or the tactics lead to a poor performance that gives the players little chance of picking up a result.

However, Farke put out a team with a structure and a style that created three times as many ‘big chances’ as the opposition, and roughly five times as much xG, but it was the players at his disposal that let him down.

Football Insider reported last month that the head coach wanted two more attacking signings in the summer, Harry Wilson and Manor Solomon, but the club did not land either of them.

1

Crystal Palace – 33

Crystal Palace – 22

2

Man City – 27

Man City – 17

3

Liverpool – 24

Liverpool – 17

4

Chelsea – 23

Leeds – 14

5

Arsenal – 22

Man Utd – 14

6

Man Utd – 22

Arsenal – 13

7

Brighton – 18

Newcastle – 11

8

Leeds – 17

Nottingham Forest – 11

9

Newcastle – 15

Chelsea – 10

10

Everton – 15

Everton – 10

As you can see in the table above, Leeds rank within the top eight teams in the league for ‘big chances’ created, but they also rank fourth for misses.

They have missed a staggering 14 of the 17 ‘big chances’ that they have created, which is why Farke should not be blamed for the lack of potency in the final third, because his system has been one of the most effective in the league.

Calvert-Lewin, who has scored one Premier League goal, is one of the players who has let him down. The former England international has missed the most ‘big chances’ in the team (five), per Sofascore, and ranks third in the division for ‘big chances’ missed.

The summer signing from Everton has not stepped up and delivered enough quality in front of goal, which has left Farke in a difficult position without the signings that he wanted the club to make in the forward areas.

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Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

The former Norwich and Borussia Monchengladbach head coach has been let down by the options he has in the first-team, which means that he may have to look to the academy.

Leeds United are brewing a potential upgrade on Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the form of 17-year-old centre-forward Harry Gray, who has excelled at youth level.

Why Harry Gray may be an upgrade on Dominic Calvert-Lewin

The teenage striker is currently out with a hip injury and is expected to be back in training next week, and he should be given a chance to impress once he is back up to speed.

There is no guarantee that Gray will be able to handle the step up to the Premier League as a 17-year-old striker, which is why it is harsh to judge Farke if he decides against such a risk, but his form at youth level suggests that he has the potential to be a breakout star.

The English striker scored four goals in four Premier League 2 matches before picking up a hip injury, per Transfermarkt, whilst he also notched a hat-trick against Scunthorpe in the National League Cup.

Gray, who was described as “seriously talented” by analyst Ben Mattinson, also scored eight goals in 11 matches for the U18s in the 2024/25 campaign, per Transfermarkt.

This means that the teenage marksman, who made his first-team debut against Stoke in the Championship last term, has delivered goals on a consistent basis at U18 and U21 level over the past 14 months or so.

24/25

8.85

3

23/24

13.63

7

22/23

6.50

2

21/22

6.22

5

20/21

18.21

16

19/20

16.11

13

18/19

6.17

6

17/18

5.44

4

16/17

1.25

1

As you can see in the table above, Calvert-Lewin’s form for Everton in the four seasons before his move to Elland Road does not suggest that he is likely to turn his current form around in front of goal.

He has consistently underperformed as a finisher in the Premier League, which is why it is not a surprise that he has missed five ‘big chances’ and only scored one goal for Leeds so far.

Gray, meanwhile, has been a lethal goalscorer who has found the back of the net week-in-week-out at two different age groups at academy level in the last two seasons for the Whites.

His impressive goalscoring rate for the U18s and U21s suggests that the club are brewing an upgrade on Calvert-Lewin, who has struggled to score goals on a consistent basis for most of his career, but it remains to be seen if he can make the step up in the short-term.

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The club’s current struggles in front of goal in the Premier League mean that Farke may have to fast-track his development and throw him in at the deep end once he is back from injury.

Arsenal have gone from strength to strength under Mikel Arteta’s management, and there’s a sense that this year is as good as any as they look to win their first top-flight title in two decades.

Seven matches into the Premier League campaign, the Gunners set the pace, 16 points claimed from 21 possible. Liverpool trail by a single point after successive defeats.

New technical director Andrea Berta has succeeded in bringing over some exciting summer signings, and in particular, Martin Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze have caught the eye.

But the £60m striker, Viktor Gyokeres, leaves something to be desired, having arrived to much fanfare after hitting incredible prolific heights in Portugal with two-in-a-row league champions Sporting Lisbon.

Viktor Gyokeres' Arsenal career so far

Gyokeres, at the very least, knows where the back of the net is. However, his performances across the opening weeks of the campaign haven’t been all that serviceable,

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has described him as a “battering ram” who could “beat up smaller teams”, but there’s a sense he might have work to do when pitted against those of an ostensibly higher technical level.

The 27-year-old’s frustrations aren’t limited to the domestic front, though, having blanked across his first two forays into the Champions League as an Arsenal player. During these fixtures against Athletic Bilbao and Olympiakos, he has missed three big chances (data courtesy of Sofascore).

It is also surely worth stressing that we are only two months into the campaign. There is plenty of time for this powerful goalscorer to continue to adapt to life as a high-profile Premier League marksman.

As Neville has alluded to, the contrast between “misfit” Gyokeres and the more technically smooth attacking teammates around him is not necessarily a bad thing, but he will need to sharpen his overall link-up play.

Gyokeres, after all, has the talent to become the Gunners’ finest centre-forward in many years, though whether he would take the cake when peering back at positional rivals over the past ten years or so is questionable.

Indeed, there’s a veteran striker who, having once led the line at the Emirates, has started the season even stronger than Arteta’s new focal frontman.

The former Arsenal ST outperforming Gyokeres

Gyokeres isn’t exactly a spring chicken, but then Arsenal have signed strikers of a more mature status in the past – and to an emphatic effect at that.

Just take a look at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who arrived from Borussia Dortmund for £56m in January 2018 and scored 92 goals across just 163 matches for the Gunners, assisting 21 strikes too.

The Gabonese goalscorer might have left the club somewhat unceremoniously, but he left his mark on Arteta’s reign, having manufactured the Spaniard’s sole slice of silverware, notching four goals in the late stages of the 2019/20 FA Cup.

Indeed, with Arteta only months into his tenure at the Emirates helm, Aubameyang rose to the occasion in the semi-final at Wembley and scored a brace to down Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

Despite arriving at the season’s midpoint in 2019/20, Aubameyang hit the ground running in the Premier League, lashing home ten goals from 13 matches before hitting consecutive 22-goal campaigns in the English top flight.

He was 28 when he first arrived at the north London outfit, and has led a storied career in the years since leaving. In fact, plying his trade for Marseille this term, the now 36-year-old Aubameyang has posted four goals and three assists from seven games in all competitions this year.

Quite remarkably, he’s outperforming a positional rival in Gyokeres, who is nearly nine years his junior and plundered 97 goals across two campaigns in Portugal, including a hat-trick over Man City in the Champions League last year.

When looking at Arsenal’s top goalscorers in the Premier League, year by year, since Aubameyang last played a successful season at the club, it’s clear to see that supporters and critics have been on the money when noting a lack of quality in the final third has been hamstringing an otherwise top-level attacking team.

25/26

Viktor Gyokeres

3

24/25

Kai Havertz

9

23/24

Bukayo Saka

16

22/23

Martin Odegaard

15

21/22

Bukayo Saka

11

20/21

Alexandre Lacazette

13

19/20

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

22

With three goals from his first seven Premier League appearances, it hasn’t been an abject start by any stretch. But Gyokeres has left something to be desired with his performances, for sure, having missed four big chances and averaged under six passes per game at a completion rate of 56%.

Three goals may be under the belt in the English top flight, but Gyokeres still needs to find another gear if he is to rival and surpass Aubameyang as the club’s finest centre-forward in so many years.

Whether he crosses that 22-goal threshold this term is open to question, but Arteta will no doubt expect more from his expensive summer signing, especially when looking at Aubameyang, and how he is still utilising his movement and positioning to score goals with a consistency and ferocity that belies his age.

Sky Sports journalist Dougie Critchley has marvelled at how “one the best finishers of the last 15 years” is still striking true on the big stage.

And given that Aubameyang is still outperforming the Swede for Marseille this season, the argument lingers concerning Gyokeres’ suitability for a side looking every bit the title-challenging force that they have been expected to perform as over the past few years.

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Manchester United’s 1-0 triumph over Liverpool on Sunday afternoon has injected a newfound sense of optimism that Ruben Amorim is the man to lead the club forward.

Such a performance made it two Premier League wins in a row for the Red Devils, something which hadn’t been achieved since May 2024 under former boss Erik ten Hag.

Dating back to the end of August, the side have now won four of their last six matches, showcasing the impressive work conducted by the boss despite links around his future at Old Trafford.

The 40-year-old also appears to have the backing of the hierarchy, especially after Sir Jim Ratcliffe claimed he wanted to give the former Sporting CP boss three years in the role.

However, Amorim may have numerous players to thank for the club’s recent upturn in form, with the duo undoubtedly being some of the shining lights during 2025/26.

The underlying stats behind Bruno & Mbeumo’s success in 2025/26

Despite a dismal 2024/25 campaign, Bruno Fernandes managed to achieve some incredible numbers for United, as seen by his tally of 37 combined goals and assists, but the midfielder has continued such form into the new campaign.

He’s currently sitting at the top of the Red Devils’ chances created chart, currently registering 2.8 per 90 – a tally that is way higher than any other player within the squad.

The 31-year-old has also completed the most passes of any player, further highlighting the ability he possesses to provide others with endless opportunities – despite operating in a deeper role after the arrival of one player this summer.

Bruno has had to play as a number eight to help accommodate new addition Bryan Mbeumo, with the Cameroonian showcasing why the hierarchy forked out a fee in the region of £71m for his signature.

The 26-year-old has already had an immediate impact, achieving the highest shot-on-target accuracy rate of any player in squad – contributing to his top-goalscorer status at present.

He’s also created the same number of big chances in the Premier League as Bruno, highlighting his all-round quality in attacking areas – something which was greatly lacking in 2024/25.

The United star who’s becoming Amorim’s best player

Mbeumo and Bruno have both registered a total of three combined goals and assists – with the pair registering the most contributions of any players in the United squad.

The efforts in front of goal, coupled with the aforementioned underlying stats, have made the pair some of the first names on Amorim’s teamsheet.

The pair have played key roles in the recent revival of the manager and will likely continue to do so in the near future, potentially bringing about added levels of success in the years ahead.

However, the aforementioned pair may not be the only ones who play a vital role under Amorim, with Amad Diallo arguably being one of his most important players at present.

Before the manager’s arrival at Old Trafford, the Ivorian was barely an impact player under Ten Hag and often had to rely on minutes off the bench to have the desired effect.

He’s since become a consistent starter over the last 12 months, but also doing so in a somewhat unfamiliar role to help fit into the 40-year-old’s infamous 3-4-2-1 system.

The 23-year-old has occupied the RWB position of late, a role that is slightly deeper than what he’s used to, having joined the Red Devils as a right-winger back in the winter of 2021.

However, Amad has taken to life in the position like a duck to water, nailing it down as his own and subsequently producing numerous incredible figures in 2025/26.

He’s featured in all but one league outing to date, only registering one goal contribution, but it’s his underlying stats that have seen him adhere himself to the fanbase.

Games played

7

Goals & assists

1

Pass accuracy

93%

Key passes made

1.4

Dribbles completed

1.2

Tackles made

1.9

Ball recoveries made

4.1

Big chances created

2

The Ivorian, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, has registered 1.4 key passes per 90 along with a 93% pass completion rate – subsequently showcasing his ability to provide those around him with key chances.

Amad has also completed 1.2 dribbles per 90 in the Premier League, which has allowed him to get into dangerous areas before making the killer pass to one of his teammates.

However, his new role has seen him take on added defensive responsibility, something he’s taken in his stride as seen by his tally of 1.9 tackles and 4.1 ball recoveries made per 90.

As a result of such performances, Amad is rapidly becoming one of the manager’s key performers, showcasing that he can be trusted operating in a somewhat unnatural position.

Should he continue on such a trajectory, the youngster can be a key first-team member for many years to come and help Bruno and Mbeumo in their quest for success in the final third.

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Cristiano Ronaldo's eldest son Cristiano Junior helped Portugal's U16 side clinch the Federation Cup in Turkey as they beat England in the final. Ronaldo's fiancée Georgina Rodriguez was in attendance as the proud mum cheered for the 15-year-old from the stands. At the end of the match, Cristiano Jr hugged Georgina and posed for a photograph with the trophy.

Ronaldo Jr shines for Portugal U16s

Cristiano Jr made his debut for the Portugal U-16s at the Federation Cup tournament against hosts Turkey last week and then scored his maiden goal in a 3-0 win over Wales in their second match. On Wednesday, he came off the bench in the second half and played the last few minutes of the final as Portugal U-16 beat England 2-1 to clinch the title.

Braga's academy player Rafael Cabral starred with a brace as Portugal edged out the Young Lions in the final. Ronaldo's fiancée Georgina was present at the venue to cheer Cristiano Jr on, and the posed together for snaps with the trophy after the final whistle. Georgina said in a post on Instagram: "I love being a mom. I am very proud of my big boy." 

The model and influencer has been a stepmother to Cristiano Jr since meeting his father back in 2016.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFollowing in father's footsteps

Like his father, the young forward’s football journey has been global. Having spent time in the academies of Real Madrid and Juventus, Cristiano Jr is now part of Al-Nassr’s youth setup in Saudi Arabia, where Ronaldo continues to shine at senior level in the Saudi Pro League. Earlier this year, Cristiano Jr dazzled for Portugal’s Under-15s at the Vlatko Markovic Tournament in Croatia, where he scored twice in the final to lead his team to a 3-2 win over the hosts.

Ronaldo has always been supportive of his son's growth as a footballer and keeps talking about his potential. The Portuguese legend has said: "He’s very competitive, like me when I was young, and he doesn’t like to lose. I don’t make big pressure; I make a little. He already has pressure being the son of Cristiano. Let him make his own mistakes, but I hope that in the future he can become a professional player."

It is indeed a tough job growing up as the son of a legendary footballer. Every touch, every goal, especially every miss, will inevitably be compared to Ronaldo’s glittering professional career.

'I want to follow Cristiano Junior'

In his latest interview on 'Piers Morgan Uncensored', Ronaldo discussed his retirement plans. When asked about when he is planning to bring the curtain down on his career, the 40-year-old said: "Soon. But I will be prepared. It’ll be tough and difficult, of course. Probably I will cry, yes. It will be very difficult, but Piers, I have prepared for my future since 25 or 26 years old. Nothing will compare to the adrenaline we have to score a goal. But, everything has a beginning and an end, so I’ll be prepared.

"I’ll have more time for me, my family, to raise my kids. I want to follow Cristiano Junior because he’s in the age where you do stupid things, normal, I did the same. I want to be more (of a) family person, more present."

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GettyHow is it going for Ronaldo?

Ronaldo has started the 2025-26 campaign on a bright note as he already has eight league goals to his name. His stellar form has helped Al-Nassr win seven matches in a row in the Saudi Pro League. Ronaldo, who has won almost every major honour available in club and international football, has surprisingly gone trophyless in the last two and a half years since moving to the Middle East. The veteran star is determined to win the league title this season and return to the AFC Champions League Elite Stage.

فاز فريق الناشئين لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي مواليد 2011 على ضيفه الزمالك بثلاثية نظيفة في المباراة التي جمعتهما في دوري الجمهورية.

والتقى الأهلي أمام الزمالك على ملعب الأهلي بمدينة نصر، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثامنة من بطولة الجمهورية، اليوم الجمعة.

ويضم الجهاز الفني لفريق أهلي 2011 كلًا من محمد رجب مديرًا فنيًا، وإبراهيم يوسف مدربًا عامًا، ومصطفى محمود مدربًا للحراس، وسيد حجاج إداري الفريق، ومحمد فودة طبيب الفريق، ومحمد فوزي إخصائي التدليك.

طالع|طاهر محمد طاهر: الأهلي مثل برشلونة.. وهدفنا الفوز بلقب السوبر

وسجل ثلاثية الأهلي في شباك الزمالك، إبراهيم أمير “هدفين”، وسعد محمد “هدف”.

فريق أهلي 2011 بات في رصيده 18 نقطة من الفوز في 5 مباريات والتعادل في 3 مباريات.

وكان الأهلي فاز على موردن سبورت 2 – 0، وعلى فاركو 7 – 0، وعلى غزل المحلة 5 – 1، وتعادل مع بيراميدز سلبيًا، ومع إنبي 1-1، ومع سيراميكا 2-2، وفاز على حرس الحدود 3-0، مسجلًا 23 هدفًا، مقابل 4 أهداف في مرماه.

وعلى مستوى الفريق الأول، يلتقي الأهلي والزمالك، في المباراة النهائية لبطولة كأس السوبر المصري، يوم الأحد 9 نوفمبر، في تمام الساعة 5:30 بتوقيت مصر. أهداف مباراة الأهلي والزمالك اليوم