Christian Pulisic has revealed the “embarrassing” choice that he made for his initiation song at AC Milan. The USMNT star took to belting out Miley Cyrus’ hit ‘Party in the USA’, much to his own disgust. He has also revealed how Luka Modric was able to avoid suffering a similar fate in a group environment by handing out iPhone gifts to his new team-mates at San Siro.

• Honorary Milanista: Captain America is thriving in Italy

  Pulisic moved to Italy in the summer of 2023 when bringing a four-year, Champions League-winning stint with Premier League giants Chelsea to a close. He settled quickly in new surroundings, registering 15 goals across his debut campaign. That bar was raised to 17 efforts last term.

  The 27-year-old has endeared himself to another passionate fan base, with ‘Captain America’ now considered to be an honorary Milanista. He has also proved his worth to those that he shares the field with, although many may have fault to pick with his singing ability.

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  Stick to the day job: Pulisic reveals choice of initiation song

  Pulisic is not the type to speak his mind on a regular basis, but begrudgingly accepted that he had to stand up and showcase his vocal talents when joining Milan. He still cringes when thinking about that episode and now wishes that he had taken the same approach as Ballon d’Or-winning colleague Modric by putting his hand into his pocket instead.

  Discussing his adjustment to life with the Rossoneri, Pulisic told : “I don’t make myself heard vocally; I’m more reserved, quiet in the group. It’s my personality in life; people can see it. But I’ve grown a bit in my career, and I’m not afraid to speak my mind.

  “Did Modric give us iPhones as an initiation rite? Yes, I didn’t know this had come out. I don’t know if I should confirm it, but yes. You should sing in front of the team. But when you’re Luka Modric and you’ve won the Ballon d’Or, the Champions League, you can skip that process. And then you don’t say no to new iPhones. It’s a win-win situation.

  “My initiation song? It’s embarrassing. I sang Miley Cyrus’s ‘Party in the USA’, I thought it was appropriate. I think I did something similar at Chelsea. It’s the worst moment in the world. I hate it; it makes me cringe. You see people so uncomfortable.”

• Documentary star: Why private Pulisic allowed cameras into his life

  Pulisic does his best to keep himself out of the spotlight as much as possible – although his ever-growing celebrity status makes that difficult. He does not showcase his life on social media, but did star in a documentary for Paramount+ in 2024.

  He added on that venture and keeping his life private: “It’s not that I don’t trust it [social media], but I don’t want to add extra voices about myself. Some people are more adept at sharing their lives, and that’s fine. I’m more of a private person; it’s a personal decision. I don’t check social media much. Sure, you see news and stuff, but it’s easier to delete apps to avoid negative comments.

  “I’ve always asked myself, ‘Why did I do the documentary?’. No, come on, it wasn’t that bad. I always made it clear that I didn’t want a big crew following me. It was hard to let people into my life, but it was the right thing to do in view of the World Championships to inspire kids. It was about sharing what I’ve experienced in my career, and it was difficult. I’ve seen almost all of it, but some things are hard to rewatch. Hearing you talk a lot is not something I like.”

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  Home World Cup: Pulisic ready to star for the USMNT in 2026

  Pulisic will always prefer to do his talking on the field. He is being freed to do that again after recovering from another fitness setback, but has not been included in the latest USMNT squad. He will, however, figure prominently in Mauricio Pochettino’s plans – potentially as skipper of his country – when a home World Cup is enjoyed during the summer of 2026.

The young opener put India on the back foot with his outrageous shots, reminding people of a recent attacking batter whose absence is felt

Ian Chappell29-Dec-2024The team doesn’t mention it but the player Australia has badly missed is the ultra-aggressive opener David Warner.Australia were without a top-order batter who could disrupt the opposition with his strokeplay and make opposition bowlers think differently. Well, on Boxing Day they found such a player in vibrant young opener Sam Konstas.He not only disrupted India and gave Jasprit Bumrah something to seriously ponder, he also frustrated the opposition. In the end Virat Kohli succumbed and resorted to a physical approach. This is not the answer; cricket isn’t a physical game – it requires skill and thought.Related

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Konstas’ strategy was sound: shift some of the catching fielders and don’t allow good bowlers to operate the way they want to. It was his execution that was so different from Warner’s, and it remains to be seen if his is a viable long-term method.It certainly worked on Boxing Day but India will have noted that whenever Konstas played traditional cricket shots, his success rate was extremely low. Will this mean that in future India tries to force Konstas to play more normal cricket shots?This is how the battle plays out in Test cricket: a player arrives, batting in an unusual manner, then it’s up to the opposition bowlers to re-assess. Once the bowling team reacts, it’s the batter who has to make an adjustment. This is an ongoing process until one gains the upper hand.Apart from creating an immediate cult following, Konstas made life simpler for his fellow batters. Konstas’ outrageous blitz on the Indian new-ball bowlers allowed Australia to burst out of the gates and put themselves in a strong position.In his own way Konstas caused India to slip into the mentality of feeling sorry for themselves about the opposition playing and missing and edges falling short of the cordon. It wasn’t until late in the day when the batting took on a more normal approach that Bumrah began to exert some control over the Australian team again.

A player arrives, batting in an unusual manner, and it’s up to the opposition bowlers to reassess. Once the bowling team reacts, it’s the batter who has to make an adjustment. This is an ongoing process until one gains the upper hand.

In the build-up, Konstas’ statistical likeness to Ricky Ponting (twin centuries in a Shield game) was noted. Normally a statistical likeness with one of Australia’s best batters places a heavy burden on the newcomer. However, Konstas made light of any debutant pressure. The burden will come later when – not if – he fails.It’s then that his method will be questioned rather than admired. How Konstas reacts will decide whether he has the courage and skill to disregard the doubters, as Warner did, to become a highly successful batter.What Konstas’ gregarious attitude did do was energise Steve Smith, who rediscovered his old self and began to play with more freedom. Smith’s strokeplay and skipper Pat Cummins’ determination put Australia on the path to a big total.With Australia dominating the must-win Test, India needed to mount a strong fightback.It was then that the confident Yashasvi Jaiswal made it the story of two brash young openers, as he instituted his own form of disruption. Playing with flair, scintillating strokes and assurance, Jaiswal, with solid assistance from a determined Kohli, pushed India into safer waters.Just when it looked as though India were mounting a serious challenge, Jaiswal went and spoiled it all by saying “yes”. The inexcusable mix-up that followed resulted in him being needlessly run-out. Then Kohli, disoriented by the senseless waste, lost concentration and his dismissal meant India were in big trouble.The talented young openers from each side played their part in giving this Test a sense of drama but Konstas was better supported by his more experienced team-mates.Now it remains to be seen if India can regroup and provide the fight needed to keep Australia at bay. India will require all the resolve they can muster, as the result of this Test could well decide the destination of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Alejandro Garnacho has been told that facets of his game are not at a good enough level for a big club like Chelsea or Manchester United. The 21-year-old swapped Old Trafford for Stamford Bridge this summer and despite showing flashes of quality for Enzo Maresca's team so far, some of his detractors still feel there are some glaring holes in his game.

Garnacho 'not at the level you need'

Former United winger Lee Sharpe believes that the Argentina international's decision-making is just not good enough. While he praised his technical ability, athleticism, and X-factor capabilities, he still needs to improve a great deal to become a more complete player.

He told Adventure Gamers: "It’s always the same with Alejandro Garnacho. His issue is, and has always been, his decision-making in the final third. Skill-wise, pace-wise wise and his ability to excite people is second to none. But sometimes, he tries to shoot when he should pass and vice versa – he can get stuck in little areas, and it’s probably not quite at the level you need at a big club like Manchester United or Chelsea. Whether that is something that improves with age and experience, I don’t know. He has been in the Premier League for several years now and you would expect him to have developed in those areas, but I don’t think he has."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportGarnacho's attitude comes into question

Garnacho was once seen as one of Argentina's most exciting rising stars but he has been frozen out of the country's national team for nearly a year. Incidentally, former Argentine international Oscar Ruggeri thinks the youngster needs a bit of a reality check.

He said: "He's no better than anyone else, you're a football player, enjoy it, but you shouldn't be so full of yourself. It's pointless because you miss out on so much. Someone has to bring him down to earth. They're not calling him up to the national team. If he comes back down to earth like he was, they'll call him up again because he's phenomenal on the pitch."

Indeed, former United defender Paul Parker feels the way he left the Red Devils, and the way he carried himself in his final few months there, were unprofessional.

He added: "His conduct on and off the pitch was disrespectful. All he wanted to do was score a goal or have a near miss so he could act like Ronaldo. Now he's gone to a club where there’s a lot more ego. He will alienate himself or it’ll be a battle there. United fans backed him when he was going through things both on and off the field. His brother was tweeting things and they backed him and he said nothing. He’s stuck two fingers up at the club that nursed him."

Maresca comes to Garnacho's aid

This year, Garnacho has come under heavy fire from pundits for his antics but Chelsea head coach Maresca believes in the young winger.

After his goal in the Blues' 2-2 draw with Qarabag in the Champions League in midweek, the Italian said: "Now, when you don't win, I can understand that it's always, but I think Garnacho, he has done well in the second half. We gave him the chance. He's slowly, slowly improving."

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Garnacho?

With Garnacho not having to worry about playing for Argentina this month, the ex-United ace will hope to start for Chelsea at home to Premier League basement side Wolves on Saturday night. If results go their way, they could move into the top four by the end of the weekend.

It’s shaping up to be a sensational season for Arsenal this year.

With nine games played in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta’s side sit atop the Premier League table, six points clear of Manchester City and seven points clear of Liverpool.

Moreover, while the Gunners look impossible to score against at the moment, there is a real sense that the team could still move up a gear or two.

Even then, several Arsenal players are performing at levels fans have not seen before, including one big-money signing who is emulating Jurrien Timber’s rise.

Timber's rise at Arsenal

Arsenal made a number of impressive signings in the summer of 2023, including David Raya, Declan Rice, and Kai Havertz.

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Yet the player fans probably knew the least amount, due to him not playing in England, was Timber, who moved to the Emirates from Ajax for a fee of around £38m.

Unfortunately, the supporters wouldn’t learn much about their new defender during his first season at the club either, as he suffered an ACL injury in the opening game against Nottingham Forest, which kept him out until the final match of the campaign.

Fortunately, the Dutchman didn’t miss anywhere near as many games last season and, as a result, made an incredible impact on the team, primarily by being solid as a rock on the right-hand side.

However, this year has seen the Utrecht-born monster take yet another step forward in red and white, as, in addition to being an elite lockdown defender, he has also become a genuine attacking threat.

For example, in just nine Premier League games, the 24-year-old has scored two goals and provided two assists.

Moreover, according to FBref, he sits in the top 1% of full-backs in the league this season for non-penalty expected and actual goals, shots on target and through balls, the top 6% for passes into the penalty area, and more, all per 90.

In all, Timber has become an all-action full-back who excels in all facets of the game, and as a result, it’s almost impossible to disagree with analyst Ben Mattinson’s claim that he is “one of the best Emirates-era signings.”

Therefore, it’s massively encouraging to see another one of Arteta’s big-money signings start to emulate him in certain ways this season.

The Arsenal star emulating Timber

There are plenty of Arsenal players having stellar campaigns so far this season, but someone who’s been a big surprise in the best way possible has been Riccardo Calafiori.

The Italian international joined the club in the summer of 2024, and while he did so with plenty of fanfare, he did not have the best of debut seasons in red and white.

In fact, across the whole campaign, the former Bologna star made just 29 appearances, totalling 1497 minutes, which was almost entirely down to his truly dreadful injury record, which saw him miss 30 games for club and country and spend 175 days on the sidelines.

It was so bad, and Myles Lewis-Skelly did such a good job in his place that there were doubts over whether he’d actually be able to hold down a place in the team, or if he would suffer injury after injury before being shipped off, akin to what happened with Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Fortunately, this year has been completely different, and as things stand, he’s already made ten appearances for the first team, totalling 791 minutes, and is yet to miss a single game through injury.

This comeback is one of the similarities he shares with Timber, and the second is that, on top of simply being available, he’s also been absolutely incredible for the team this year, both defensively and especially going forward.

For example, he’s already scored a goal and provided two assists, and his underlying numbers, like the Dutchman’s, are sensational.

According to FBref, the £120k-per-week monster ranks in the top 1% of full-backs in the league for total shots, the top 4% for expected goals, the top 7% for goals plus assists, the top 10% for touches in the opposition’s penalty area and more, all per 90.

On top of the incredible numbers, the Rome-born wildcard is also one of the most entertaining players to watch in the league.

For example, the freedom given to him by Arteta and his subsequent roaming approach to the game have led him to being described as a “wild horse on the loose” by the Telegraph’s Sam Dean and “the most electrifying man in sports entertainment” by journalist James Benge.

Ultimately, while he had a poor start to life at Arsenal, Calafiori has exploded into life this season, and, like Timber, has become one of the most indispensable players in Arteta’s squad.

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After getting back to winning ways against Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership, Celtic and Martin O’Neill have now been handed some positive injury news on Kieran Tierney.

The Bhoys were in ruthless form as they dispatched Falkirk in comfortable fashion, welcoming veteran manager O’Neill back to the dugout in style. Given that shock league leaders Hearts also dropped points in a 2-2 draw, there’s no denying that it was the perfect evening at Celtic Park.

Things haven’t quite taken a turn for the better off the pitch, however, and Celtic have already been dealt their first blow on the hunt for their next manager. According to Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph, the Hoops’ pursuit of Ange Postecoglou is now unlikely to progress.

The Australian, who was recently sacked by Nottingham Forest after just 39 days in charge, had been linked with a return to Celtic before reports shut those rumours down.

With their former manager off the table for now, Parkhead chiefs have been left to choose from the remaining names on their shortlist, which reportedly includes Craig Bellamy and Kieran McKenna.

McKenna would be a particularly interesting choice despite how his Ipswich Town side have struggled as of late. He famously took the Tractor Boys to back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League, before suffering instant relegation last season. Now, a big move could finally be calling.

In the meantime, it remains O’Neill’s job to steady the ship and potentially take Celtic into the Scottish League Cup final with Tierney’s injury return only helping that cause.

Kieran Tierney set to return for Celtic vs Rangers

As revealed by O’Neill, Tierney is in line to return for Celtic vs Rangers this weekend after missing out on his side’s 4-0 thrashing of Falkirk. The left-back is no stranger to injury problems, but does not face a period on the sidelines this time around ahead of a crucial cup clash.

The return of the former Arsenal defender should provide O’Neill with an instant boost. His experience, alone, proves crucial in moments like these and in the Old Firm derby, of course.

Despite how Celtic have struggled this season, Tierney has enjoyed some much-needed consistency. The Scot has started seven of 10 Scottish Premiership games to begin putting his injury history behind him.

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Dubbed “unique” by Rodgers in his very first Celtic spell, Tierney now has the chance to make his mark the second time around as an experienced member of O’Neill’s squad. And that could start against Rangers in the Scottish League Cup this weekend.

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Spinner completes memorable match after first-innings hundred as visitors continue upturn in form

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay25-Jul-2025Lancashire 557 (Green1 60, Hartley 130, Hurst 106) and 110 for 1 (Jennings 57*) beat Gloucestershire 381 (Charlesworth 160, Phillips 64, Hartley 6-116) and 285 (Charlesworth 71, Phillips 56, Hartley 5-99) by nine wicketsMan-of-the-match Tom Hartley produced another career-best performance to propel Lancashire to a hard-earned nine-wicket victory over Gloucestershire at Cheltenham and keep alive their hopes of winning promotion back to Division One of the Rothesay County Championship.Having previously staged his highest score of 130 and taken 6 for 116 to put his team in control, the England slow left-armer claimed 5 for 99 on the final day of an entertaining match at the famous old College Ground as the red rose county made it two wins out of three in the red-ball format under the new leadership team of interim head coach Steve Croft and captain James Anderson.Made to follow on, Gloucestershire were dismissed for 285 in 98 overs in their second innings, Hartley finishing with match figures of 11 for 215 after Ben Charlesworth and Joe Phillips had scored 71 and 56 respectively for the home side. Chris Green weighed in with 2 for 62 as spin accounted for seven wickets on a surface offering some assistance.Set 110 to win in 26 overs, Lancashire chased down their target for the loss of Luke Wells with five overs to spare, courtesy of an authoritative unbroken second wicket partnership of 103 between Keaton Jennings and Josh Bohannon. Confronted by four spinners as Gloucestershire dispensed with seam, Jennings top-scored with a brisk 57 not out from 67 balls, while the equally forthright Bohannon faced 50 deliveries in raising an undefeated 45 as the visitors eased to victory in the final hour.Lancashire took 22 points to move into fourth place in Division Two, in the process leapfrogging Gloucestershire, who settled for five points after sustaining their third defeat of the season.Gloucestershire resumed their second innings on 98 without loss, still 78 in arrears and potentially vulnerable to a repeat of the collapse that undermined their first innings. It was incumbent upon openers Cameron Bancroft and Charlesworth to build upon their good start on a pitch that was offering some assistance to spin, but which was not expected to break up.If Gloucestershire’s minimum requirement was to bat two sessions, Lancashire were reading from an altogether different script, Anderson claiming the prized scalp of Bancroft in the opening over, the Australian edging to midwicket without adding to his overnight score of 35.Having seen off Anderson, Charlesworth was no doubt disappointed to then succumb to George Balderson in his first over from the Chapel Lawn End. Attempting a back-foot flick, Gloucestershire’s first-innings centurion found Marcus Harris at short midwicket and departed for 71 with the score 129 for 2. Guilty of poor shot selection, Ollie Price then pursued a wide delivery from Hartley that bounced off a length and edged to Luke Wells at slip, at which point Gloucestershire were 134 for 3, still 42 in arrears, having lost three wickets in the first hour.They came close to losing another in the next over, Miles Hammond standing his ground and being afforded the benefit of the doubt when Jennings claimed a catch at short square leg off the bowling of Hartley. The reprieve proved temporary, Green pinning Hammond lbw for 22 in the final over before lunch, which was taken with the score 168 for 4. Representing Gloucestershire’s best chance of saving the game, Phillips remained unbeaten on 35.He was joined by James Bracey and these two wiped out the remaining arrears early on in the afternoon session, Phillips going to a hard-earned 50 from 91 balls with his eighth four. But Lancashire continued to take wickets, Jack Blatherwick angling a short delivery into the body of Bracey, who was unable to get his bat out of the way and edged behind. His departure was a blow for Gloucestershire, who were in effect 21 for 5 with 57 overs left in the day.An even bigger blow befell the home side when Phillips’ vigil came to an end soon afterwards, the Cornishman held by the safe hands of Jennings at short leg off the bowling of the ubiquitous Hartley. Phillips had faced 110 balls, accrued eight fours and defied the red rose bowlers for three hours. Hartley then extracted additional spin to remove Graeme van Buuren, who stretched forward and was caught behind for 8 to leave the home side between a rock and a hard place at 210 for 7.Todd Murphy led a Gloucestershire counterattack, going for his shots, pushing the field back and sharing in a useful stand of 41 in eight overs with Zaman Akhter, who scored a breezy 20 before offering a return catch to Green as the home side slipped to 251 for 8. Ajeet Singh Dale survived a searching examination at the hands of Anderson and the new ball, he and Murphy digging in to reach tea on 268 for 8. Gloucestershire had a slender lead of 92 with a minimum 35 overs remaining.Lancashire’s go-to man, Hartley returned to bowl Murphy for a 56-ball 33 and complete the first 10-wicket match haul of his career as an enthralling contest entered its final session. He then accounted for last man Marchant de Lange, held at short square leg as Gloucestershire’s resistance with the bat finally came to an end in the early-evening sunshine.

Hoping to get one over on their rivals, Manchester United have now reportedly joined Arsenal in the race to sign Quinten Timber, whose contract is set to expire next summer.

Ruben Amorim’s midfield has been a topic of discussion ever since his arrival. The Portuguese manager revived Casemiro from a player destined to leave to an invaluable part of his side, but that has also come at a cost for Kobbie Mainoo. In an attempt to find balance, the academy graduate has struggled to get into the side.

As things stand, it looks like Casemiro and captain Bruno Fernandes will occupy the two deeper midfield roles in Amorim’s system when everyone is available for United. But there does lie one problem.

Casemiro is 33 years old and can’t go on forever, no matter how much his form has been revived. And with Manuel Ugarte still unable to find his feet at Old Trafford, Man United could do with a long-term solution.

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Rumours centred around Carlos Baleba in the summer as the Red Devils attempted to do exactly that, before the midfielder stayed put at Brighton & Hove Albion, and it’s clearly something that INEOS are looking to address.

It seems as though the Brighton man remains a target, but he’s now not the only one on United’s shortlist. Atlético Madrid’s Conor Gallagher, another name on the shortlist, is now reportedly open to an Old Trafford switch, whilst INEOS could yet land an alternative bargain deal to end their problems once and for all.

Man Utd join Quinten Timber race

According to Caught Offside, Man United have now joined the race to sign Timber and could yet jump ahead of Arsenal in pursuit of his signature.

The Gunners already have Quinten’s twin brother, Jurrien, in their ranks but may be forced to watch on as the two siblings do battle rather than unite in the Premier League next year.

There’s little chance that those at Old Trafford will be priced out of a move for the 25-year-old, too, as was the case with Baleba in the summer. The Dutch midfielder is set to become a free agent at the end of his current Feyenoord deal in June — handing Arsenal and Man United the chance to land a bargain deal.

Dubbed “underrated” by U23 scout Antonio Mango last year, Timber is also attracting interest from Borussia Dortmund, who are leading the race for his signature. Both Man United and Arsenal must first fend off competition from the Bundesliga giants before doing battle themselves next summer.

Man Utd hold discussions to sign "unique" teen sensation ahead of Real Madrid

Arsenal are well equipped to go all the way in their battle for the Premier League title this season, having brushed up their squad after three successive second-place finishes.

But while the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze have all established themselves as star members after big-money summer transfers, Mikel Arteta has ensured the Hale End academy has remained as important and influential as it has ever been, with some talented teenagers intermingled with the senior squad in north London.

Under Arteta’s wing, Arsenal have made incremental progress, with silverware the only thing missing since the Spanish coach replaced Unai Emery in 2019 and took his squad to the FA Cup final and won the trophy.

He has maintained his upward trajectory by entrusting Arsenal’s academy with regular opportunities.

Arsenal have so many exciting stars looking to establish themselves as the next Bukayo Saka or the new Declan Rice. The latter might not have cut his teeth with the Gunners, but they are certainly reaping the rewards.

Declan Rice's journey to superstardom

Rice is one of the best midfielders in the world. He is one of the first names on the team sheet for both club and country, and, aged 26, he has matured into a leader as well as a technical and athletic phenomenon.

It all started at West Ham United.

David Moyes nurtured his young protege to the fore and shaped him into the player he is today. Arsenal paid £105m for the Hammers man’s signature in 2023, with Rice having led his side to the Conference League title a month before.

Once a member of Chelsea’s Cobham academy, Rice is unquestionably one of the most talented Englishmen to have emerged in recent years, having evolved from a defender to a six to a first-class all-rounder.

The north London club are well stocked in the engine room, but with the likes of Myles Lewis-Skelly, Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri all emerging from Hale End in recent years, it might be nice to see an all-action midfielder burst onto the scene and help continue Arteta’s remarkable rise.

After all, who better to learn from than Rice?

Jack Wilshere’s declaration that Rice is a one-of-a-kind player and an inspiration and teacher for someone like Dowman is right on the money, but there’s actually an exciting Hale End midfielder who could more beneficially absorb the fruits of the Three Lions star’s labours over the coming months and years.

Arsenal's new version of Rice

Rice is one of the best English midfielders of his generation, and it’s for this reason that teenager Ife Ibrahim will be keen to take a leaf or two from the 26-year-old’s book as he looks to make his way from the Emirates academy into Arteta’s senior squad.

The London-born prospect has attracted praise for his performances at youth level this season and has enjoyed his first two caps for England U18s, having made his bow only a few weeks ago.

With the right moves over the next few years, Ibrahim could be just the player to learn from Rice and develop into a similarly special midfielder at the highest level, with the 17-year-old having already edged his way into U21 action at Arsenal despite his youth an inexperience.

Said to have a bit of “Vieira and Diaby” about him by analyst Harvey Diamonds, the rangy midfielder is adept at breaking up play and keeping things ticking from the base of the centre. He might not be the flashiest, but this is the kid of counterpoint you need against, say, someone like Nwaneri up ahead, creating and adding to the attack.

Whether Ibrahim even scratches the same ballpark as Rice in the future is, of course, another question entirely, but he has the physicality and progressive nature to succeed in the Premier League and learn some tricks from the superstar’s trade.

Having featured 54 times for Arsenal’s various development levels, Ibrahim has plenty of experience under his belt and has even featured three times against senior oppposition, in the EFL Trophy, this season, with data from Sofascore showing us that he won 59% of his duels across those three outings, averaging two interceptions per game and completing 87% of his passes. The teenager’s heat map suggests he covered plenty of ground across the midfield, stretching back to cover his defenders and barrelling forward when the chance presented itself.

This is all to say that Arsenal have a gem on their hands, one of many glittering underneath the surface level of Arteta’s squad. Given the need for a physical profile at number six to contrast with the elegance of Zubimendi, it might just be that Arteta strikes the jackpot once again with a talented academy star, free to grow into their skin and feeling the trust from the boss.

As with Rice (and Vieira, for that matter), Ibrahim appears to have a propensity for using his muscular frame and sharp bursts of pace to hold off opponents and dart upfield.

Arsenal youth correspondent Jeorge Bird has already confirmed that Arteta has welcomed the youngster into some senior training sessions over the past year, clearly with a view toward full integration down the line.

It wouldn’t be the first time Arteta has done such a thing.

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They came close – very close – but Pakistan’s destiny in South Africa has not changed just yet

Danyal Rasool29-Dec-2024Centurion is a great place to watch Test cricket, but even if you’re not particularly interested, there’s enough to keep you entertained. The queues for cheesy chips snaked out on most days, and more than 2 million rands of alcohol were sold. Couples lounged around the embankments shading themselves under giant umbrellas. Over by the scoreboard, a few people were jogging on the spot, raising money for a charitable cause. Unsupervised children of varying ages – invariably wearing the wildly popular fluorescent pink ODI shirt – set up their own games of cricket, scurrying back into the ground whenever a cheer went up to investigate if news was good or bad.But once lunch was over on day 4, that area which encircles SuperSport Park was no more a hive of activity. Nearly everyone had returned from the concession stands, those dozing under the umbrellas sat up. Even the children had packed away their little plastic bats and balls, aware this was a tense finish, but unsure why a multi-decade history of trauma was writ large on their parents’ faces.***Mohammad Abbas is bowling; he was bowling before lunch, and he was bowling yesterday. At this point, it seems like he’s been bowling for longer than he was out of the Test side. He might have been bowling since 2007, the last time Pakistan won a Test match in South Africa, because Pakistan have effectively been playing the same Test match here since.Related

• Secrets of Newlands pitch keep Pakistan guessing on team combination

• Mohammad Abbas ready for his redemption arc

• WTC final scenarios

• Stats – Jansen, Rabada and SA's ninth-wicket partnership for the ages

• Masood calls for more ruthlessness from Pakistan to kill off Tests

There are reasons South Africa cannot win this Test, primarily because it matters in a wider context. They are a handful of runs away from making a World Test Championship final, and a crack at yet another piece of silverware. They are – or were – in a winning position, and having begun to squander it, the path of heartbreaking failure looks like it has locked beneath their feet.But expecting Pakistan to win Tests in South Africa is a bit like being believing a steady diet of cheese will cure gout. That it failed to do so doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with the cheese. It’s just not what cheese does.Mohammad Abbas had single-handedly threatened to put South Africa’s qualification to the WTC final on hold•Gallo ImagesThis makes it a contest of a movable force against a stoppable object, because any world where Pakistan win this sort of Test in South Africa turns the narrative upside down. The plot armour that has scripted a Pakistan defeat this Test appears nigh-on impenetrable. When South Africa have bowled poorly, Pakistan just offered their wickets up. When South African wickets were falling in a bunch, Pakistan spread out their fields, threw in an hour of indifferent bowling, and ensured there was enough “cushion”, as Shan Masood called it, for a South African win to still be believably scripted. Masood pointed out this had been an issue with Pakistan in every innings. He just meant this match, but he might as well have extended that characterisation to about half the Tests Pakistan had ever played in this country.But boy, is Abbas trying to change all that. After a first innings where his exclusion from the Pakistan side appeared vindicated, he’s working on reversing more than just one narrative. Every other over, he takes off his floppy hat, almost on autopilot, and walks over to the bowler’s end. It appears human function doesn’t resume after the over begins either, so metronomic is Abbas’s end-product. Eighty-six of the 117 balls he sent down across the innings hit a hard length outside off stump, giving South Africa no breathing room from his end and picking up half his wickets. For a player who has got more than half of his Test dismissals hitting the stumps, a further 17 threatened off stump, and produced the other three.For much of the morning, though, he probes in vain, as South Africa fend off the inevitable stutter Pakistan, as well as a taut South African crowd – more than 5000 of whom have turned up on a glorious summer day – are convinced will come. Pakistan review one that whooshes past Bavuma’s bat without success, and South Africa successfully have an lbw overturned when Bavuma is convinced he got an inside edge. Abbas’ Hampshire coach Graeme Welch has encouraged him to add the bouncer to his game, and when he sends one down from time to time, it’s a mean one, rearing up high and drawing as much bounce as the faster bowlers have extracted.South Africa are cheered on by their fans as they seal their spot in the WTC final•AFP/Getty ImagesMysteriously, though, Bavuma’s ability to tell when he’s got inside edges is selective, and when, for some reason, he strides out of his crease and tries to whack Abbas over midwicket, he misses. Mohammad Rizwan appeals, but the spot where he stands may as well be a coiled spring for how often he goes up. The umpire thinks he’s got an edge, and even though it’s only clipped the flap of his right pocket, the South African captain walks off.The joy in Abbas’ expressions when he picks up a wicket is always mixed with an air of surprise, as if wondering why the batter did whatever they did, because Abbas is always doing the same thing. Length, top of off, target the pads, look for the outside edge. Having deprived him for much of the morning, it does feel like the batters are doing something different, bats jutting out away from their bodies, outside edges as if by magnetic force flying towards the ball. David Bedingham, and Corbin Bosch, who weary Pakistan supporters were convinced would hit the winning runs to round off the torment, fall off successive balls, and South Africa’s curse looks set to prove stronger than Pakistan’s history.For Pakistan, the specific details of what happen next barely matter. For the record, Naseem Shah bowls a loose over, and Rabada rides his luck. Like a long-forgotten plot point, Aamer Jamal, who had been sending a few down during the lunch break, emerges, beginning with a no-ball and ending with two boundaries. The field is spread far out as Marco Jansen – who has until now averaged 6.33 with bat this year – and Rabada pick up singles at will, casually interspersing them between the boundaries.Abbas produces a Rabada outside edge that Rizwan was standing too far back to take, but Pakistan recognise it is merely the script’s attempt at a final jump scare as it inexorably takes its course through to its denouement. It was Rabada and Jansen here, just like it was Dean Elgar and Hashim Amla in the past, or Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince further back. The cast may have changed, but destiny has not. Pakistan still must keep their appointment in Samarra.

Eberechi Eze opened up to Adebayo Akinfenwa on the latest episode of the 'Beast Mode on Podcast', telling his former teammate that he deserved to be released as an academy player. Eze was first let go from Arsenal's youth setup as a 13-year-old, and failed to secure a professional contract with Millwall at the end of his scholarship with the south London club.

• Eze's long route back to Arsenal

  Eze reflected on his youth career with Akinfenwa on the latest episode of GOAL’s Beast Mode On podcast. 

  Originally joining the Gunners as an eight-year-old, Eze was on the books with the north London club for the next five years. Following his release, he spent three seasons with Fulham, and a brief spell at Reading, before eventually signing a two-year apprenticeship with Millwall.

  When the young playmaker failed to make the grade at The Den, he got another chance with Championship side Queens Park Rangers, impressing technical director Chris Ramsey and winning a contract. After a loan spell alongside Akinfenwa at Wycombe Wanderers, Eze would go on to make 104 league appearances for the Hoops, eventually joining Crystal Palace in 2020 in a deal worth a reported £17 million.

  Five successful years at Selhurst Park, including scoring the winning goal in last year's FA Cup final, brought on a £60m switch back to his boyhood club earlier this year. 

  That transfer inevitably brought Eze's circuitous route back to the club into the spotlight. Despite many people telling him he never should have left the club in the first place, the playmaker was clear that he probably did deserve to be released, and that he did not feel an urgency over his career until he failed to make the grade at Millwall. 

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  Eze opens up to Akinfenwa on Millwall release

  Asked when he first realised he might not make it as a professional, Eze said: "Getting released from Millwall at 17. That's the one when I was like, ‘OK, this is real’ because everyone's got their pros [professional contracts] and my boys are working or coming out of college or whatever. It felt like real life at that point.

  "At the time it's like, ‘Oh, this is serious’. I need to find something now, not wait six months or wait a year, I’ve got to get something. It was probably the first time that I felt a bit… this is crunch time now, but again, as I said, the faith, the belief. Maybe I was a bit delusional. Maybe? I don't know.

  "That's always how I felt, man, regardless of the situation. As intense as it may have felt, kept going."

• Eze: 'I deserved to be released'

  Asked about getting released as a youngster, Eze said: "I feel like maybe I'm too understanding, in a sense. I'll speak to people now about getting released and they’ll be like: ‘you should’ve never got released’. But I'm thinking in my head, ‘Nah, I probably deserved to get released’.

  "I had talent, but were there other talented boys? Yes. Were people doing more than me? Maybe. So I didn't see it as like I'm like this chosen kid that should be here, but somehow got released.

  "I saw it as it's part of football, and as I grew up and as I've grown up, I've started to understand that a bit more. I'm not really trying to prove them wrong, because at the time they were right. They made the decisions that were correct and the year after, they weren't saying, ‘oh, you're so wrong’. It's only now that they started to talk about it."

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• Eze enjoys high expectations at Arsenal

  Eze spoke with real passion about his time back at the north London club, telling Akinfenwa about the "special environment" at the club while name checking his team-mate Jurrien Timber as an example of someone who exceeds the club's already high expectations. Those comments and Eze's reflections on his younger days, show a player that is relishing his second chance at his boyhood club and is a testament to the work ethic Eze  he clearly honed in the face of so much disappointment as a young player.