Blades named replacement after Holder declines citing a planned medical procedure

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Sep-2025Alzarri Joseph has been ruled out of West Indies’ two-match Test series against India starting this week due to a lower-back injury. Joseph complained of discomfort, and scans revealed “a degeneration of the previously resolved lower-back injury”.According to a CWI release on Monday, Jason Holder, who is currently with the T20I side for a three-match series against Nepal in the UAE, declined to be Joseph’s replacement citing a planned medical procedure.So West Indies have called up left-arm seamer Jediah Blades to replace Joseph. Blades, 23, is also in the UAE and will join the Test squad after the third T20I on Tuesday.Related

• Pierre backs 'hard work over talent' as he inches towards West Indies Test dream

• Injured Shamar Joseph out of India Tests, Johann Layne called up

• Unfamiliar five – Warrican, Pierre among players who can challenge India

• FAQ: All you need to know about the India vs West Indies Test series

Blades is uncapped in Test cricket but has played three ODIs and four T20Is so far. In 13 first-class games, he has picked up 35 wickets at an average of 35.91.Joseph’s absence leaves West Indies’ pace attack severely depleted. Last week, Shamar Joseph was ruled out with an injury and was replaced by uncapped seam-bowling allrounder Johann Layne. Among their current seam-bowling options, Jayden Seales is the only one to have played more than ten Tests. In the spin department, they have got Jomel Warrican, Khary Pierre and captain Roston Chase.The first Test against India starts on October 1 in Ahmedabad.

Updated West Indies squad for India Test series

Roston Chase (capt), Jomel Warrican (vice-capt), Kevlon Anderson, Alick Athanaze, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Johann Layne, Jediah Blades, Brandon King, Anderson Phillip, Khary Pierre, Jayden Seales

Western Province opening batter Joshua van Heerden has become the first like-for-like injury replacement under a new trial for substitutes in cricket. Van Heerden replaced Edward Moore in a provincial four-day game against Lions at Newlands in the second round of the CSA’s first-class competition. Moore suffered a tear to his left adductor (inner thigh muscle) while fielding on the second day.The trial, which is also being conducted in Australia’s Sheffield Shield and India’s Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy, is part of an ICC initiative seeking a solution for teams that lose players to serious injury during a match.Like Australia, South Africa will consider both internal and external injuries (India are only looking at external injuries for now) and have a strict protocol for determining when a player can be replaced. If the injury is internal, such as a muscle tear, which was the case with Moore, the player is required to go for an Ultrasound and/or an MRI scan. The report is then sent to CSA’s chief medical officer Dr Hashendra Ramjee and CSA’s cricket operations manager Obakeng Sepeng who study the results and determine if the injury is serious enough to allow for replacement. They then contact the match referee to confirm the decision. If the injury is external, such as a visible dislocation or broken bone, the match referee can make the decision on a substitute in consultation with Dr Ramjee and Sepeng.Related

• BCCI introduces 'serious injury replacement substitute' rule

• CA to trial injury subs with tactical twist in Sheffield Shield

The injured player can only be replaced provided he has been ruled out of the match in its entirety. He will then be required to satisfy a “stand-down period of seven days”, as stated in CSA’s updated playing conditions before returning to play. In Australia’s case, substitutions are only allowed until stumps on the second day and the injured player is mandated a 12-day non-playing period. Like Australia and India, South Africa are only trialling the system in multi-day cricket for now.The differences in protocol stem from the ways in which different countries want to trial the system. They will all report back to the ICC, which could then come up with regulations for like-for-like substitutions in the international game. Currently, substitutions in international cricket are only allowed for concussion.

Former Manchester United, Newcastle, and Tottenham Hotspur striker Louis Saha has warned Lamine Yamal that he won't match the legacy of Lionel Messi because he doesn't have the same "obsession" with football as Cristiano Ronaldo. The Barcelona youngster has often been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons this season, with Saha the latest to fear that his potential could be wasted.

• Lamine listless as Barca slump to defeat at Chelsea

  Yamal lost his duel against Spanish national team-mate Marc Cucurella comprehensively on Tuesday evening at Stamford Bridge, with the left-back keeping his word. "I'll try to make things as difficult as possible for him," the left-back joked in September when talking about the matchup. 

  Even with his steady return of goals and assists, there’s been a subtle – but unmistakable – dip in the influence Yamal exerts on games this season. Granted, his performances have been affected after being diagnosed with pubalgia, with has prevented the 2025 Ballon d'Or runner-up from gaining the necessary rhythm. 

  However, over the past four months, he has made headlines for the wrong reasons more often than the right ones. He received severe backlash for his wild 18th birthday bash in July. Then, he accused eternal rivals Real Madrid of stealing and complaining.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Yamal warned of wasting his talent

  Saha, a Premier League icon, recently spoke to and warned that Yamal's "talent could be wasted because we are starting to see too many things in the papers about him."

  “I think only PSG or Man City could afford to pay £300m for Lamine Yamal. I still think that if you look at his trajectory, it would be sad to see him go so early for a big move," said Saha.

  “For the sake of the football we love, we want to see him develop in Barcelona, do well for Barcelona and be stable in Barcelona. I'm scared that this talent could be wasted because we are starting to see too many things in the papers about him.

  “That's going to be a sad story because he's such a big talent for the next 15 years and I want to see the best from him so I want to protect this kid. Moving around is not good. I think Neymar left Barcelona for this kind of hype. He wanted to be the one big player at PSG.

  “Neymar is such a waste because I think at Barcelona he will have really enjoyed himself and show that there was a complementary way to play with Messi over the years. Sometimes the management it's not easy to do because you have ego and you can find yourself dragged into something that is not very useful to your game.”

• Yamal won't reach the heights of Messi & Ronaldo, says Saha

  Yamal's meteoric rise to superstardom, all while being only 18, has drawn comparisons to Barcelona legend Messi. Recently, former Netherlands international Wesley Sneijder even claimed that it was "possible" for Yamal to supersede the heights scaled by Messi. However, Saha disagrees, explaining that it's likely he will follow the footsteps of a Neymar rather than a Messi or a Ronaldo.

  “Could Lamine Yamal one day overtake Lionel Messi? It would be good for him but I don't think so," the ex-Manchester United forward opined. "I doubt that he can achieve that because I see Lamine Yamal’s quality as a player but I don't see an obsession where you really focus on your football that Cristiano Ronaldo also has.

  “These guys are absolutely insanely obsessed. Some distractions are already around Yamal, that's not good. I think you’ll find him dragged away from the game like Neymar, who has, for me, maybe better quality.

  “Over the years, I've never seen anything like Neymar. Even if Yamal is incredible, I think Neymar was just at another level but he did not have the best lifestyle and over the years he got injuries and was dragged into things that are not helpful for his career.

  “This is where I'm very scared that Yamal will try to choose the same kind of trajectory. That would be sad for football.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• AFP
  

  Yamal in it to win it all

  While onlookers and naysayers may try to diminish Yamal's light, the youngster continues to remain a highly ambitious and motivated individual. The Barca academy graduate has laid the gauntlet for himself, targeting a treble of Champions League, World Cup, and the Ballon d'Or. "I want it all. I hope I achieve it all, and as long as we can play, it's possible," he stated to .

  "All the individual titles indicate that it has been a great season for the team. For me, it brings me happiness and pride. Accumulating awards at my age is very positive. I'm going to keep working and fighting to achieve things like this."

The Mariners were hoping to take even more control of the ALCS with a win at home on Wednesday night but after jumping out to an early lead they were completely dominated by the Blue Jays at home, losing 13-4. Seattle now leads the series 2-1 and just like that the momentum has shifted to Toronto after its bats woke up in a big way in what seemed like a must-win game for the AL East champs.

The game was pretty much a laugher after six innings as Toronto absolutely silenced the Mariners home crowd by putting up 12 runs and building a double-digit lead.

Speaking of the sixth inning, something happened at the end of Toronto's at-bat that had the FS1 announcers actually laughing out loud.

With two outs, Addison Barger hit a grounder to first baseman Josh Naylor, who was just a few steps away from the base. Instead of simply stepping on the bag, however, to end the inning he decided to make a tough throw to second to get Daulton Varsho out. Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford, who looked confused afterwards, made a nice play on a bad throw by Naylor to get the final out of the inning.

Fox's Joe Davis and John Smoltz had a good chuckle over this decision by Naylor, who appeared to forget how many outs there were in the inning:

The game was well out of reach at that time so Naylor's questionable move didn't matter and his teammate was able to bail him out by scooping up his bad throw, but the first baseman was still lucky that his mistake didn't lead to even more runs for the Blue Jays.

The Mariners, after winning the first two games of the series on the road, were hoping to take a commanding 3-0 lead at home. Now they find themselves back in a very tough series with Game 4 coming up Thursday night in Seattle.

Hopefully for them all their players are locked in for all nine innings and they can keep track of the outs, because at this point any small mistakes can have big consequences.

For the first time in 24 years, baseball fans in Seattle have experienced the taste of a postseason victory at home.

The Mariners defeated the Tigers 3–2 in Game 2 of the ALDS on Sunday night, evening up the series 1-1. The victory marked the first time in almost a quarter of a century that the Mariners won a playoff game at their home stadium.

As a result, it was an emotional scene at T-Mobile Park, as fans in Seattle soaked in the feeling of an October win. The Fox broadcast captured the scenes in the Pacific Northwest to perfection, showcasing some excited fans as they finally experienced the long-awaited moment.

One fan was captured on the broadcast tearing up and exchanging a wholesome embrace with a loved one.

The last time the Mariners won a home playoff game was October 15, 2001, when they defeated Cleveland 3–1. That season, they advanced to the ALCS but were ultimately defeated by the Yankees in a five-game series.

Fans are hoping this year will be different. Seattle is one of five MLB teams to never win a World Series, and it's clear that the team's supporters are ready for the drought to snap.

Game 3 is slated for Tuesday, Oct. 7 from Comerica Park in Detroit. The series could potentially return to Seattle for a Game 5, if necessary.

أفادت تقارير إعلامية اليوم الخميس، عن وجود أنباء سارة في نادي ريال مدريد، وذلك بالرغم من الهزيمة أمام مانشستر سيتي في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ريال مدريد واصل نتائجه السيئة خلال الفترة الأخيرة، وتعرض إلى خسارة قاسية على أرضه ووسط جماهيره أمام مانشستر سيتي بهدفين مقابل هدف، ضمن الجولة السادسة من مرحلة الدوري في دوري الأبطال.

ويمر ريال مدريد بوضعية صعبة للغاية هذا الموسم، خصوصًا على مستوى الإصابات، حيث يفتقد الفريق الملكي إلى العديد من اللاعبين بسبب الإصابة.

ومن بين لاعبي ريال مدريد المصابين في الوقت الحالي، إيدير ميليتاو، والذي تعرض لإصابة قاسية خلال لقاء الميرنجي ضد سيلتا فيجو يوم الأحد الماضي بالدوري الإسباني.

اقرا أيضًا.. ريفالدو ينصح مواطنه ويؤكد: ألونسو يناسب ليفربول.. ولاعب ريال مدريد وضعه حساس

ومن المتوقع أن يغيب ميليتاو عن الملاعب لمدة سوف تصل إلى أربعة أشهر، من أجل التعافي في إصابته في الركبة.

لكن بحسب “البرنابيو ديجيتال”، فإن ميليتاو لن يغيب لمدة أربعة اشهر، وإنما سوف يغيب اللاعب البالغ من العمر 27 عامًا لمدة شهرين فقط بسبب الإصابة.

وبالتالي قد يكون ميليتاو جاهزًا للعب مع ريال مدريد خلال شهر فبراير المقبل، حيث ينافس الفريق الملكي على كافة المسابقات مع ألونسو.

MatériaMais NotíciasVer Resumo da matéria por IASonny Anderson teve uma carreira internacional de sucesso, passando por clubes como Monaco, Lyon e Barcelona.Hoje, ele é comentarista esportivo no canal beIN Sports e participa ativamente de eventos relacionados ao futebol.Sonny é lembrado como um dos maiores atacantes da história do Lyon, marcando 71 gols em 110 partidas pela equipe.Resumo supervisionado pelo jornalista!

Poucos atacantes brasileiros tiveram uma carreira internacional tão sólida, produtiva e constante quanto Sonny Anderson. Antes de se tornar ídolo na França e viver grande fase no Barcelona, o jogador precisou superar um início difícil no Vasco, ainda muito jovem, até amadurecer na Europa. A transição de promessa a goleador consolidado foi construída ao longo de passagens marcantes por Servette, Monaco, Lyon e Villarreal, sempre com a mesma característica: eficiência extrema na área e qualidade técnica acima da média. O Lance! te conta por onde anda Sonny Anderson.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasLancepédiaPor onde anda o goleiro Felipe, de Flamengo e Corinthians?Lancepédia27/11/2025LancepédiaPor onde anda ex-goleiro Renan, do Internacional?Lancepédia26/11/2025LancepédiaPor onde anda Jefferson, ex-goleiro do Botafogo e da Seleção?Lancepédia25/11/2025

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Nascido em Goiatuba, Goiás, Sonny deixou o Brasil cedo, mas nunca se distanciou da admiração dos torcedores brasileiros, especialmente após se tornar um dos mais respeitados atacantes da Ligue 1. Em Monaco e principalmente no Lyon, ele escreveu alguns dos capítulos mais importantes de sua trajetória, acumulando títulos, artilharias e a reputação de ser um dos centroavantes mais completos da Europa na virada dos anos 1990 para os 2000.

Sua passagem pelo Barcelona também marcou época, mesmo competindo por espaço com nomes como Luis Enrique e Patrick Kluivert. Ainda assim, conseguiu números consistentes, gols decisivos e participação direta na conquista de títulos importantes. O respeito conquistado no futebol europeu abriu portas não apenas para trabalhos posteriores em clubes, como também para uma carreira midiática sólida após pendurar as chuteiras.

continua após a publicidade

A última fase da trajetória de Sonny como jogador incluiu experiências no Catar, onde manteve alto nível de desempenho, e posteriormente o retorno ao Lyon para atuar como auxiliar técnico e treinador de atacantes. Após encerrar a carreira nos gramados, o ex-atacante consolidou nova fase profissional longe das quatro linhas, mas mantendo forte ligação com o esporte. Hoje, aos 55 anos, ele segue na Europa e permanece figura constante no noticiário esportivo, seja como comentarista, em eventos, entrevistas ou projetos pessoais ligados ao futebol.

Por onde anda Sonny Anderson?

Após uma carreira marcada por gols e conquistas, Sonny Anderson (@sonnyandersonofficiel) vive hoje na França, país onde se tornou ídolo e consolidou seu nome na história do futebol europeu. Ele se estabeleceu no país desde o fim dos anos 1990, quando vestiu as camisas de Monaco e Lyon, e nunca mais se desvinculou definitivamente do futebol francês. Sua identificação com o país é tão forte que até hoje ele é reconhecido como uma das maiores referências de estrangeiros da história da Ligue 1.

continua após a publicidade

Atualmente, Sonny trabalha como comentarista esportivo do canal internacional beIN Sports, onde participa de transmissões, mesas redondas e programas especiais sobre futebol europeu. Sua análise é considerada equilibrada, técnica e muito bem fundamentada, o que lhe garantiu espaço permanente entre os principais nomes da emissora. Além da televisão, Sonny também produz conteúdos para redes sociais e participa de eventos da CBF e da Ligue 1, mantendo presença ativa em duas das ligas mais acompanhadas do mundo pelos fãs brasileiros.

Ao mesmo tempo, Sonny segue envolvido com projetos relacionados ao futebol, incluindo consultoria e participação em iniciativas de gestão e parcerias esportivas. Em várias ocasiões, ele também atua como embaixador informal de clubes franceses, especialmente Lyon e Monaco, participando de ações promocionais, entrevistas oficiais e eventos comemorativos. Sua relação com o Lyon, aliás, segue extremamente forte: ele é lembrado como um dos maiores atacantes da história do clube, tendo marcado 71 gols em 110 partidas pela equipe que dominou o futebol francês no início dos anos 2000.

Sonny também mantém uma presença ativa nas redes sociais, onde divulga trabalhos, comenta partidas e interage com fãs. Sua conta oficial apresenta referências claras à sua vida atual: a ligação com o futebol francês (especialmente Lyon e beIN Sports), parcerias profissionais e a forte conexão com sua trajetória esportiva. Sempre elegante e discreto, o ex-atacante é apontado por colegas como um dos atletas mais profissionais e dedicados da geração que brilhou nos anos 1990 e 2000.

Além de sua atuação midiática, Sonny ocasionalmente participa de eventos corporativos e de iniciativas de treinamento e mentoria para jovens atacantes. Sua experiência como finalizador, acumulada em mais de 450 jogos profissionais e 230 gols marcados, faz dele um nome frequentemente requisitado para compartilhar conhecimentos técnicos sobre movimentação, leitura de jogo e posicionamento ofensivo. Embora não tenha seguido carreira longa como treinador — sua única experiência foi no Neuchâtel Xamax, em 2011 — ele ainda é uma figura respeitada por dirigentes, ex-companheiros e treinadores do futebol europeu.

Com vida estável na Europa, Sonny Anderson mantém o Brasil como referência afetiva, mas sua rotina está totalmente ligada ao futebol francês e ao trabalho em mídia esportiva. A carreira sólida, o profissionalismo e o enorme respeito conquistado dentro e fora de campo tornam o ex-atacante um dos exemplos mais equilibrados de transição pós-aposentadoria: sem escândalos, discreto e sempre associado ao jogo que o consagrou. Quase duas décadas após pendurar as chuteiras, Sonny segue relevante, presente e admirado por gerações de torcedores que o viram brilhar no Vasco, no Barcelona e especialmente no Lyon.

Clubes da carreiraXV de Jaú (base)Vasco da GamaGuaraniServette (Suíça)Olympique de MarseilleAS MonacoBarcelonaLyonVillarrealAl-Rayyan (Catar)Al-Gharafa (Catar)

Tudo sobre

BarcelonaFutebol InternacionalFutebol NacionalLancepediaVasco

Carlo Ancelotti says he doesn't "owe" anyone a place in his Brazil 2026 World Cup squad after once again being asked about Santos star Neymar's prospects. The Brazil icon has repeatedly been left out of recent national squads due to injury issues, but after scoring a hat-trick for his club last time out, speculation over his World Cup place is intensifying. However, the Italian made it clear he will not be pressured into certain picks.

Neymar was 'Brazil's undisputed star'

According to two Brazilian greats, Neymar has been an icon for the national team over the past decade or so. He was their standard bearer at their home World Cup in 2014 as they bowed out in the semi-finals to a rampant Germany, but also helped them win gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The former Barcelona star was once one of the best players in the world but now he is 33 and has struggled with form and injury in his second spell at boyhood club Santos, although he has come good right at the end of the season for them as they aim to stave off relegation. Indeed, ex-AC Milan ace Cafu says that the forward is not the player he once was.

He told : "For 15 years, Neymar was Brazil's undisputed star, carrying enormous expectations and responsibility on his own. But no one wins the World Cup alone. Putting all our hopes on him at the moment is difficult because he struggles to even play three games in a row."

Despite that, 2002 World Cup winner Ronaldo has complete faith in his compatriot. "He's a crucial player for Brazil – there's no one else like Neymar. It's an exaggeration from a minority who believe he's neglecting his physical recovery. Anyone who has been in football knows perfectly how hard it is to come back from an injury and regain rhythm and confidence. He's right on track," he said.

AdvertisementAFPAncelotti fires warning to Brazil stars

Earlier this week, Ancelotti warned Neymar and Vinicius Junior, who has also struggled with injuries of late, that they need to be at "100%" to make Brazil's World Cup squad. 

He said: "There are many players who are very good, I need to choose players that are 100%. It's not just Neymar, it could be [Real Madrid forward] Vinicius. If Vinicius is at 90%, I'll call up another player who is at 100%, because it's a team that has a very high level of competence, especially up front. Up front, we have really many good players."

After Brazil found out they have Scotland, Morocco, and Haiti in their 2026 World Cup group, the Italian was once again asked about Neymar's chances of being involved in the tournament.

He told reporters on Friday: "If we talk about Neymar, we have to talk about other players. We have to think about Brazil, which can be with Neymar or without Neymar, with other players or without other players. The definitive list we will make after the FIFA date in March. I understand very well that they are very interested in Neymar, I want to clarify that we are in December, the World Cup is in June, I will choose the team that will go to the World Cup in May. If Neymar deserves to be, if he is well, better than someone else, he will play in the World Cup and period. I don't owe anyone a debt."

Who will be Brazil's next leader?

Ancelotti was also asked which of his players can inspire Brazil to World Cup glory. The national side is packed with quality players such as Vinicius, Rodrygo, Estevao, Raphinha, and more. Despite all that talent, the former Real Madrid boss gave little away.

"I can make a list of players who can be protagonists in the World Cup," he said. "It may be that now we don't have a referential player in this sense, but we will have many referential players. I can make a list, we have one of the best goalkeepers in the world, some of the best defenders, top midfielders and some players up front. I said I don't want players who want to be the best in the world, I want players who want to win the Cup. The important thing is not to have referents, but to have players who want to win."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

GettyNeymar faces uncertain future

At the end of the season, Neymar is expected to have arthroscopic surgery to address a meniscus injury in his left knee. For now, he is trying to keep Santos in the Brazilian top flight, with Neymar's side currently just outside the relegation zone with one game remaining. After that, though, the veteran – who scored a hat-trick against Juventude this week – doesn't know what lies ahead for him in 2026, with his contract expiring in a matter of weeks.

He told this week: "I don’t know, honestly. First, I want to finish this season and then think about it. Santos always comes first. I’m very happy for the goals and for helping Santos. We’re happy for the win. There’s one game left, and we have to give our all at Vila again. I always prioritise my health, nothing that would harm my career. It’s [the injury] manageable, something I’ve been dealing with for years. I’m doing everything to reach 100 percent. Scoring the goals today made me really happy. I’ve always been Neymar in every match, regardless of the situation. Sometimes things don’t go as planned because of the team’s form or injuries, but I’ve always shown up. I know what I can do on the pitch and always aim to give my best."

The question was whether India would pick Kuldeep Yadav or a spin-bowling allrounder. They found a way to accommodate both

Sidharth Monga14-Nov-20255:09

Bangar on India playing four spinners: ‘The team selection continues to surprise me’

A day before the first Test against South Africa, Shubman Gill gave followers of Indian cricket a scare when he said the last spot was between a specialist spinner and an allrounder. It was a here-we-go-again moment. Surely they were not debating Kuldeep Yadav’s place in the side?A moment of empathy later, one thought that the statement was perhaps necessitated by the need for a third seamer. That it wasn’t actually India craving Axar Patel’s batting at No. 9.When the pitch was revealed on the morning of the Test, it was apparent they didn’t need a third quick. So it was indeed the worst fears. Kuldeep’s place was under threat even though India had batting till No. 8.Related

• Rib injury sidelines Rabada from first Test against India

A massive sigh of relief must have been breathed when Gill reported at the toss that they had gone from Kuldeep or a spin-bowling allrounder to Kuldeep a spin-bowling allrounder. India were entering the bold new era of trying Washington Sundar as a top-order batter to accommodate a fourth spinner, Axar, in the XI, with Ravindra Jadeja in there as always.The player who missed out is a bit of an experiment himself. B Sai Sudharsan is the first specialist batter since WV Raman in the late 1980s to play Tests for India with a first-class average of under 40. He debuted in England, was left out after one Test, but had played five of the seven Tests since his debut. His average of 30.33 is the lowest among the specialist batters played by India in this period.We can reasonably eliminate an injury because India didn’t replace Sai Sudharsan with another specialist batter, in this case Devdutt Padikkal. That they replaced him with an allrounder is a sign that India are up to an experiment that is not quite outlandish. Experts have suggested in the past that Washington is good enough to bat higher in the order.India have decided it is time to pull the trigger on that experiment because these are the conditions when India have players who can cover up if it fails. Axar, who averages 35.88 with the bat, is a formidable No. 8. If it works out, though, the upside is huge. If Washington can develop into a batter good enough to bat in the top order, the flexibility it will give India is huge.Sai Sudharsan, who scored 87 in his last innings, might feel a bit hard done by after having been blooded at No. 3 in England, but this is the reality of playing cricket for India. Especially in India. There is just too much talent to keep out of the XI.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta issued a rallying cry to supporters. “Be in your seats by 7.30pm,” he commanded.

Fans inside the Emirates Stadium did not disappoint. North London Forever blared out from the sound system and after an intense week in which they’d gone unbeaten against Spurs, Bayern Munich and Chelsea, the fans were very needed.

The Gunners failed to defeat ten-man Chelsea at the weekend and it was a performance that looked tired. Arsenal have enormous squad depth but injuries are already testing this crop of players. As a result, Arteta rang the changes for the visit of Brentford on Wednesday night.

Arsenal may well have secured a 2-0 victory but it was not a vintage performance. It was a display befitting of just how different the starting XI looked.

There were no Bukayo Saka or Eberechi Eze. Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke started instead. With Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba still injured, the responsibilities at the heart of the defence fell to Cristian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie again.

Did they deliver? Well, Arsenal scored twice and kept a clean sheet, so it’s hard to argue against that.

Did Arsenal's midweek starters stake their claim?

Mosquera and Hincapie were rather patched together at the last minute when Saliba sustained a training injury late last week.

The Frenchman has now missed the last two games but for the two summer signings, this was a more composed and easier night than their showing at Stamford Bridge.

Chalkboard

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

Hincapie has been brave and aggressive in both fixtures but Mosquera struggled against Chelsea, notably when it came to progressing the ball. Of course, a Brentford side missing the Premier League’s second top goalscorer in Igor Thiago for over an hour helped their cause, but if Arteta is going to be missing two of the world’s finest defenders, the stand-ins have proven they can more than do a job.

It was in attack where Arsenal perhaps struggled a bit more. While Set Piece FC seem to have become more about scoring from open play, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli didn’t do a huge amount to suggest they should be starting.

Madueke was energetic and effervescent on the right flank, performing four dribbles, two of which were successful, but he ultimately lacked end product, amassing two shots and failing to provide a key pass. Martinelli’s night was even worse. He had only one shot and completed just one dribble.

Odegaard, who stood in for Eze, was also lacking sharpness. The skipper created four key passes but lost six of his seven duels.

For Arteta, he will have been pleased with Mikel Merino, however. The Spaniard scored yet again, taking his goal tally as a centre-forward for the club to ten in 22 outings.

Arsenal have been fortunate that they can rely on their squad depth. They’ve missed Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus in recent weeks but Merino has more than stepped up.

It was the substitutes who changed the game on Wednesday too. Saka, who replaced Madueke, scored the second strike to seal all three points for the Londoners.

Yet, the goalscorers were pipped to the man of the match award by someone who’s been on the fringes of things this season.

Arsenal's man of the match against Brentford

The contributions that Saka and Merino came up with were vital but if it wasn’t for the performance of Ben White, this night would have been far more challenging.

For White, this has been a troubling last year or so of his career. Signed for a mega £50m back in 2021, he had established himself as a core member of the Arsenal side.

2021/22

37

0

2022/23

46

7

2023/24

51

9

2024/25

26

2

2025/26

8

1

He was notably described by journalist Tom Barclay as “one of the best prospects in English football” in the summer he moved from Brighton and in the early stages of his Arsenal career he lived up to that, amassing nearly 100 appearances between 2022/23 and 2023/24.

Last season, however, things began to unravel. Fellow right-back Jurrien Timber was back from an ACL injury and his form since has been impeccable. In the words of the Standard’s Simon Collings, he is “the best right-back in the Premier League right now.”

What didn’t help White last season were persistent injuries that meant he was never really able to build momentum.

In 2025/26, though, he’s been available all season but has been met with stubborn resistance from Arteta to play him. He’s not the first person to find himself in this position during the Spaniard’s tenure.

Think of the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Kieran Tierney, Emile Smith Rowe or Oleksandr Zinchenko. While they all didn’t do a lot wrong in Arsenal colours, Arteta sought to upgrade them at the earliest opportunity available.

Zinchenko, in particular, has suffered the same fate as White has this season. When the Ukrainian signed for Arsenal from Manchester City he revolutionised the way Arsenal were able to play.

Previously, Arteta’s system saw Tierney flying forward from left-back but Zinchenko was fielded as an inverted full-back, something we now see from both Myles Lewis-Skelly and Riccardo Calafiori.

During that 2022/23 campaign, Zinchenko and White were vital from their respective roles in defence. They contributed in all phases of play. The former Man City man was finally moved on in the summer, albeit only on loan to Nottingham Forest and if White wasn’t careful, he may have been heading elsewhere too.

But, he revived his career on Wednesday, given just his second start in the top-flight all campaign. The defender’s only previous start came against Manchester United on the opening weekend and since then, Timber has made the spot his own.

When Brentford came to town, White rolled back the years. The 28-year-old was phenomenal, notably providing the assist for Merino’s opener.

He took home the player of the match award and deservedly so for a display in which the England international won more duels (10) and made more tackles (6) than any other player against Brentford. He also made more clearances than any of his Arsenal colleagues (6).

Many have tried and failed to get back in Arteta’s good books. Zinchenko and Ramsdale can testify to that. However, White has showcased that he’s still very much an elite full-back and he should not be dismissed just yet.

With Mosquera having had to limp off the field in the first half with an injury, replaced at centre-half by Timber, it would not be a surprise to see White back in the starting lineup this weekend against Aston Villa. On the evidence of this performance, he is undroppable right now.

Playing better than Saka: Arsenal ready to pay club-record fee for £132m star

The Arsenal target has been having a better campaign than Bukayo Saka this year.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 3, 2025