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It is the start of Arsenal’s biggest week of the season so far.

On Sunday, Mikel Arteta’s team take on Tottenham in the North London derby, seeking a fourth successive victory over Spurs for the first time since 1989.

After that, it is the small matter of Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday, both currently boast 100% records in this season’s competition, before another blockbuster the following Sunday, facing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in another fierce derby.

If the Gunners are going to maintain their unbeaten streak, currently standing at 14 games, they will need their “unpredictable” summer signing to come to the fore, currently going through a similar trajectory to that of his teammate.

Kai Havertz's roller coaster Arsenal career

Few players fluctuate in popularity at one particular club quite as dramatically and quickly as Kai Havertz has done since joining Arsenal in June 2023.

Costing £65m from hated rivals Chelsea, supporters were puzzled as to why Arteta had recruited the German, ostensibly signed to replace Granit Xhaka as the left-sided eight in midfield, but seemingly not suiting that role at all.

He scored just one goal in his first 12 Premier League appearances for the club, this is a pity penalty at Bournemouth, before flourishing in the second half of the 2023/24 season, once moved up front.

By the end of the campaign, as Arsenal won 16 of their final 18 Premier League matches, Havertz had 14 goals and eight assists to his name, netting nine times in 14 matches during that historic streak.

Last season, Havertz added 15 goals to his tally, despite suffering a season-ending hamstring injury against Newcastle in the EFL Cup semi-finals in February, meaning he has barely featured at all in 2025, seeing just half an hour of action this time round, suffering a knee injury on the opening day at Old Trafford and not seen since.

Two years ago, it would’ve felt fanciful to suggest that Arteta and Gooners everywhere are desperate to see Havertz return to fitness, considering the ambivalence and bewilderment his arrival and early appearances were met with, but he is undeniably a key figure that they’ve severely missed this season so far.

With that in mind, which of Arsenal’s summer signings is currently enduring a sticky start to life in North London, but could enjoy a Havertz-esque revival?

Arsenal's next Kai Havertz

In complete contrast to that of Havertz, Eberechi Eze’s £60m signing was the most exciting Gonners have been about any new arrival since the days of Mesut Özil’s deadline day switch from Real Madrid.

While there was an acceptance that some of the overseas summer signings, namely new striker Viktor Gyökeres, would take time to adapt to their teammates but also the level of the Premier League, there was hope that Eze would hit the ground running, which has not quite been the case, as the table below documents.

Eberechi Eze’s Arsenal statistics

Stats

Eze

Arsenal rank

Minutes

966

8th

Goals

2

6th

Assists

2

5th

Shots

25

4th

Shots on target

8

3rd

Key passes

8

8th

Big chances created

3

6th

Shot-creating actions

27

5th

Goal-creating actions

5

2nd

Successful take-ons

13

2nd

Average rating

7.04

7th

Stats via FBref and SofaScore

As the numbers highlight, Eze has certainly not been bad to commence his Arsenal career, but he has also not been the lights-out difference maker they were perhaps hoping for.

Rio Ferdinand, speaking on TNT Sports, labelled Eze an “elusive player” who is “unpredictable” when carrying the ball, which he describes as his greatest strength.

The England international has made massive contributions, scoring his first Premier League goal for the club against Crystal Palace, a thunderous volley to secure a 1-0 victory, while also producing this glorious assist to play in Gabriel Martinelli to rescue a draw in injury time against Manchester City.

Nevertheless, since Ødegaard suffered a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee against West Ham in early-October, Eze has taken on the mantle as the central number ten, yet to consistently look excellent in that role, albeit there have been glimpses.

At Crystal Palace, he played as an inside-forward on the left of the front three, whereas now he’s being deployed as an attacking midfielder shaded towards the right, thereby tasked with learning a new role and position on the job, required to do so in double-quick time.

This is, as already outlined, reminiscent of when Havertz arrived two years ago, with Arteta attempting to mould the German into a central midfield, taking time to get to grips with what was being asked of him, with Eze seemingly going through something similar.

So, what is the solution for Eze?

Well, for now, he will continue to be deployed centrally but, whenever Ødegaard does come back, Eze could potentially return to the left-wing, usurping Martinelli and Leandro Trossard in the pecking order, which may suit his skillset better.

In 2023/24, Havertz scored crucial goals against Brentford, home and away, Chelsea and Spurs, which is when he really started to win supporters over.

Not that Eze needs to do that, but a goal in Sunday’s North London derby, against the side he famously turned down to join Arsenal instead, might just take the roof off, but could also be what he needs to ignite his career in red and white.

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After finishing 17th in the Premier League last season, it was vital that Tottenham Hotspur bounced back and rose up the table in the ongoing campaign.

Thomas Frank was handed the responsibility of leading the charge, after Ange Postecoglou was handed his marching orders despite winning the Europa League.

The Dane was appointed on a three-year deal in North London, but it was crucial that the supporters gave him time to make the changes he desired to the first-team squad.

He’s now 11 games into the 2025/26 campaign, with the Lilywhites currently occupying fifth place going into the third international break of the current season.

However, there are still improvements to be made across the squad, that’s despite Frank massively changing the fortunes of the squad in one area during his opening months at the helm.

Spurs’ biggest improvement since the 2024/25 campaign

During the 2024/25 Premier League campaign under Postecoglou, Spurs certainly had a year to forget, as they finished just one place above the relegation zone.

The Lilywhites conceded a staggering 65 goals in their 38 league outings, an average of 1.7 per 90, subsequently resulting in a total of 22 league defeats.

Such a tally was the highest of any side who have survived in England’s top-flight, with the club lucky not to have dropped into the Championship under Postecoglou.

However, Frank’s arrival has stemmed the flow of goals at the back, with his men only conceding 10 goals in the first 11 outings – the fourth best record of any side in the division.

They have also kept a total of four clean sheets in the process, with the likes of Micky van de Ven certainly deserving credit for his part in the defensive solidity.

The Dutch international has started every league game to date, registering a total of 1.2 tackles won per 90, along with 1.1 interceptions per 90 – with the latter ranking him in the top 20% of all players in the league.

He’s also thrived in playing out from the back, as seen by his tally of 92% passes completed, arguably being one of the best centre-backs in the division at present.

Van de Ven has been joined at the heart of the backline by Cristian Romero, with the Argentine international striking up an excellent partnership with the Dutchman.

The pair have operated together in eight of the 11 outings – but have only suffered defeat once in that time, with the loss coming against Bournemouth back in August.

The 27-year-old has ranked in the top 4% of all players in England’s top-flight for tackles won, whilst also placing in the top 15% for duels won per 90.

Given their partnership together, they are undoubtedly one of the best duos in Europe’s top-five leagues, with the defensive improvement under Frank certainly down to their performances.

The Spurs player who’s now becoming one of the best in the world

Alongside Van de Ven and Romero, Spurs have had numerous players who have managed to catch the eye and contribute to their impressive start to 2025/26.

Central midfielder Lucas Bergvall has shown qualities way beyond his tender teenage years, even cementing his place at the heart of Frank’s side in recent months.

The Swedish international has featured in nine league outings this season, even registering his first Premier League goal in the 3-0 victory over West Ham United.

He’s ranked in the 97th percentile for successful dribbles to date, whilst also winning 2.8 tackles per 90 – showcasing his ability to operate in a box-to-box role in North London.

However, he’s not the only player to have cemented his place within the starting eleven, with full-back Djed Spence resurrecting his career with the Lilywhites.

He joined the club in a £20m deal from Middlesbrough back in the summer of 2022, but had to massively bide his time in making an impact in the first team.

The 25-year-old endured three unsuccessful loan spells at Leeds United, Rennes and Genoa, with many supporters undoubtedly expecting a cut-price transfer away from North London last summer.

However, the injury crisis within the squad last campaign handed the Englishman a rare opportunity to stake his claim for a regular spot in the first-team ranks.

He racked up a total of 35 appearances across all competitions in 2024/25, even scoring his first Premier League goal against Ipswich Town – ending the year on a total of five goal contributions.

A little over a year on, it’s evident that Spence has taken full advantage of the chance pushed in his direction, with the full-back now one of Frank’s most important players.

He’s featured in all but one league outing in 2025/26, with his underlying stats highlighting how pivotal he’s been to the Lilywhites’ impressive defensive numbers.

Djed Spence – PL stats (25/26)
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	10
Minutes played	761
Pass accuracy	82%
Tackles made	1.5
Duels won	3.8
Aerials won	47%
Recoveries made	3.4
Dribbles completed	1.8
Stats via FotMob

Spence has made an average of 1.5 tackles per 90 this season, whilst also coming out on top of 3.8 duels per 90 – often posing as a real solid defensive full-back.

The 25-year-old has also come out on top in 47% of the aerial battles he’s entered, whilst also making 3.4 recoveries per 90 – with his pace allowing him to get back and prevent the opposition from creating clear-cut opportunities.

In possession, the defender has been just as impressive, subsequently ranking in the top 20% of all defenders for dribbles completed – with one analyst labelling him as one of the “best in the world”.

As a result, he’s now a full England international, with Thomas Tuchel trusting him to be a key member of the squad ahead of the World Cup in the USA next summer.

His rise in North London over the last 12 months has been nothing short of remarkable, with the player deserving huge credit for his ability to get himself off the canvas.

Alongside Van de Ven and Romero, he certainly is part of one of the division’s best back fours, with the fans needing to enjoy every moment the trio spend together in North London.

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War and pandemics aside, there had been seven such instances before the Afghanistan-New Zealand Test in Greater Noida

Sreshth Shah13-Sep-2024A Test to be called off without a ball being bowled is very rare. Barring games cancelled due to war and pandemics, it has happened only seven times previously, with the Afghanistan vs New Zealand game in Greater Noida being the eighth such instance in the 147-year history of the format. Here is a look at the circumstances under which the previous seven games were abandoned completely.England vs Australia, Old Trafford, 1890
Those days, Test matches were three days long, and Australia were looking to earn a consolation victory in the third and final Test of the tour against WG Grace’s England when they arrived in Manchester. But it rained on all three days, leaving the organisers with no option but to call off the Test without even a toss. It was a damp end to a thrilling tour that included 34 first-class matches and the three-Test series which England won 2-0.England vs Australia, Old Trafford, 1938
Manchester was the scene once again, nearly half a century later. The teams were the same, although by now Test matches were four-day affairs with a rest day in between. Wally Hammond and Don Bradman were the captains, and the Old Trafford Test was supposed to be the third Test in the five-match Ashes series. The weather, though, did not allow the toss again, and the teams moved to Leeds next for the fourth game.Australia vs England, Melbourne Cricket Ground, 1970
This time it was in Australia that rain played havoc. Now, Tests had become five-day affairs, and the first two Tests of what was originally a six-match series had been drawn. England elected to bowl at the toss, but right when the teams were heading out, it began to rain, and it did for three straight days in Melbourne. Once it was clear a proper Test wasn’t possible, the administrators got together and came up with a remarkable plan to thwart the idea of a third straight draw and recoup lost revenue.They organised a 60-over one-innings-a-side game on the scheduled fifth day, and it was watched by around 46,000 fans, thereby retrospectively earning status as the first-ever ODI. The organisers also hastily arranged for a seventh Test later in January 1971 to make up for the lost fixture.New Zealand vs Pakistan, Dunedin, 1989
It was an inauspicious start to the three-Test series as the heavy, sweeping rain on the first two days of the Dunedin Test left nearly no chance of a result, and the game was cancelled by day three. However, with conditions improving on the scheduled fourth day of the Test, the two captains John Wright and Imran Khan agreed to play an ODI instead where Richard Hadlee claimed 5 for 38. The next two Tests of the tour went on without a hitch, although those too were draws and the series honours were shared.West Indies vs England, Bourda, 1990
England arrived in Guyana with a 1-0 lead in the four-game series, but a week of torrential rain leading up to the second Test left the Bourda outfield under water. With three days already lost, a contentious early decision was made on the scheduled rest day to call off the game altogether and instead host an ODI on the scheduled fourth day. That ODI could not take place either due to wet conditions, and so the ODI was moved to the scheduled fifth day. A 49-overs-a-side game was finally possible, and Gordon Greenidge’s 77 sealed a comfortable win for the hosts.Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, Faisalabad, 1998
Thick December fog welcomed both sides in Faisalabad for the third Test of the series. Visibility was so poor that after the second day, most players did not even come to the venue in the morning. On day four, the umpires called off the game. However, some commentators felt the decision was made in haste as conditions had improved by the afternoon. The PCB was also criticised for scheduling a Test in Faisalabad, a place where December fog was the norm. The silver lining for Zimbabwe, though, was that the abandoned Test ensured they won their maiden Test series after 15 previous attempts.New Zealand vs India, Dunedin, 1998
It was a remarkable coincidence that the sixth and seventh abandoned Tests were called off on the same day – December 20, 1998. While fog played spoilsport in Faisalabad, it was the rain in Dunedin that had the final say. As the rain continued into the third day of the first Test between New Zealand and India, the umpires called the fixture off, forcing a second abandoned Test in Dunedin. For Umpire Steven Dunne, it was the second time in his career – after Dunedin 1989 – to have to abandon a game, and an unofficial one-dayer was played on the scheduled fourth day.

Rovman Powell, the West Indies batter, was officially ruled out of the T20I series against Pakistan following the wrist injury he suffered during the preceding series against Australia. West Indies will not name a replacement.Powell, 32, sustained the injury while attempting a catch in the fourth T20I against Australia on July 26 in St Kitts. He did not feature in the fifth T20I against Australia following the injury, and neither was he part of the first T20I against Pakistan in Florida’s Lauderhill on July 31 that West Indies lost by 14 runs.West Indies and Pakistan face off again on August 2 and 4 in Lauderhill in the three-match T20I series. The two teams then fly to Tarouba in Trinidad & Tobago for a three-ODI series starting August 8. Powell is unlikely to feature in the West Indies ODI squad as he last played in the format in 2023.

After another difficult evening for Celtic in the Europa League, they’ve now discovered the extent of the injury that Callum Osmand picked up in another frustrating blow.

The Bhoys fell to a 3-1 defeat against Midtjylland and remain with just the one win to their name on the European stage this season – making qualification into the next round a mere fantasy at this stage.

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For all the good work that Martin O’Neill has done so far this season, not even the Northern Irishman could turn his side’s fortunes around outside of domestic action and he once again distanced himself from the permanent job.

What the defeat has certainly done is pile the pressure on Dermot Desmond and the rest of the Celtic board to get their next decision right and get it done sooner rather than later.

Ange Postecoglou pulled out of the race for the job in the early stages and that dealt the Bhoys an undeniable blow. Since then, however, other impressive candidates have emerged such as Club Brugge’s Nicky Hayen and Kieran McKenna.

Reports have even gone as far as to suggest that McKenna is open to the job in what could hand Celtic quite the boost. The Ipswich Town boss has struggled to get the best out of his side in the Championship so far this season, but no one will be forgetting the history that he made at Portman Road anytime soon.

Alas, before any manager can arrive, it’s up to O’Neill to get the Hoops back to winning ways and do so without recent Old Firm hero Osmand.

Celtic discover extent of Callum Osmand injury

As revealed by O’Neill at full-time, Osmand suffered a pulled hamstring against Midtjylland and will now be missing for at least a few weeks. It’s a major blow for the 19-year-old, who just took his place in Celtic’s Europa League squad off the back of putting Celtic out of sight with his effort in the Scottish League Cup semi-final against Rangers.

With Celtic’s attack already coming under fire this season, they now have the task of squaring off against Kilmarnock and others without one of their most promising talents.

Celtic frontrunner McKenna now wants Hoops job

Manchester United have now submitted a £24m opening bid for a “powerful” midfielder, who has been compared to Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.

Man Utd stepping up new midfielder pursuit

Man United could smash their transfer record to get a new midfielder through the door, having set out to bolster their options in the engine room in 2026, and Wharton has been identified as one of their top targets, even though the Eagles are set to hold out for over £100m.

The Red Devils are confident they’ll be able to sign the Englishman, and it is little wonder they are so keen, given the level of some of his performances so far this season.

However, given that the move would be on the expensive side, it remains to be seen whether a deal will be possible, and some cheaper alternative targets have now been identified.

According to a report from Sport Time (via Sport Witness), Man United have now submitted an opening offer of €28m (£24m) for Olympiacos’ Christos Mouzakitis, who has started to attract interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Real Madrid have also made a slightly higher bid, but the Greek club aren’t in a rush to sanction a departure, and they are hoping to receive €40m (£35m) for the midfielder’s services in the January transfer window.

Olympiacos aren’t even willing to listen to proposals of less than €30m (£26m), so if a January deal is going to transpire, Ruben Amorim’s side will have to increase their offer.

"Powerful" Mouzakitis could be low-cost Wharton alternative

The advantage of signing Wharton is that he is already proven in the Premier League, but over £100m is a huge amount to pay for any player, and the Olympiacos star could be an interesting alternative option.

In fact, the 18-year-old has been directly compared to the Crystal Palace star by scout Ben Mattinson, who said: “Mouzakitis is a highly technical #8. As a profile if I was to compare him to someone, I’d say Adam Wharton and Granit Xhaka.”

“He’s that type of left footed #8 who’s tenacious off the ball, incredibly crisp passing through the lines, powerful ball striker, good weight of pass…”

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The starlet, who has made five Champions League appearances this season, also has a keen eye for creating chances, averaging 0.47 assists per 90 over the past year, which places him in the 99th percentile compared to other midfielders.

As such, the seven-time Greek international could be an exciting long-term addition to Amorim’s squad, but Man United should also bring in a midfielder who has more experience at the top level, with Mouzakitis yet to prove himself in one of Europe’s major leagues.

Akash Deep produced the best match figures by an Indian bowler in England

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1-7 – India’s win-loss record in Test matches at Edgbaston. They had lost seven of their first eight games (with one draw) before beating England for the first time at the venue on Sunday.India’s win at Edgbaston is also the first time they have levelled a series in England immediately after losing the first Test. They had lost the first Test on 13 previous series in England and went on to lose the second in six and draw it in seven.336 – India’s margin of victory at Edgbaston is their biggest by runs away from home. Their previous biggest was a 318-run victory against West Indies in North Sound in 2019.Related

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Akash Deep ten-for seals statement win for India

10 for 187 – Akash Deep’s match figures at Edgbaston are the best for India in a men’s Test in England. Chetan Sharma, also at Edgbaston in 1986, is the only other India bowler with a ten-for in England.17 – Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj’s tally of wickets at Edgbaston is the joint highest by India’s new-ball bowlers in a Test. Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2005, and Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav against Bangladesh in Kolkata in 2019, also took 17 wickets.272 – Runs scored by Jamie Smith at Edgbaston, the third-highest by a wicketkeeper in a Test. Only Andy Flower is ahead of him with aggregates of 341 against South Africa in 2001 and 287 against India in 2000.1692 – Runs scored by England and India at Edgbaston – the highest for a Test between the two teams, bettering the 1673 in the previous match at Headingley. It is also the fourth-highest aggregate for a Test match not to end in a draw.3365 – Total runs in the first two Tests, the highest for the first two matches in any bilateral Test series. The previous highest was 3230 by Australia and England in the Ashes of 1924-25.India scored 1849 runs at Headingley and Edgbaston, the most by any team across the first two Tests of a series.

Allrounder speaks ahead of Ireland’s World Cup qualifying campaign

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