Apart from both England and Afghanistan’s semi-final spots being on the line, Buttler acknowledged the result on Wednesday could come with wider implications for his future

Danyal Rasool25-Feb-20253:17

Knight: ‘England’s best batter’ Buttler should bat up the order

There were barely enough spin bowlers in the nets to go around. Ben Duckett was first to the practice pitch on the edge of the main square. A left-arm fingerspinner operated in tandem with a right-arm leggie, with Duckett keen to use his feet or clear his front leg at the slightest opportunity. Perhaps it’s easy to do that to net bowlers, but Duckett had scarcely shown more respect to Adam Zampa three days back; this match-up had produced 50 runs in 36 balls as Duckett ran up a Champions Trophy record score. Here, under the lights, it looked as if his form hadn’t deserted him.It is perhaps how he shapes up around this time of evening on Wednesday, the floodlights having set in and the first signs of dew emerging, that determines England’s fate.England were vocal about the disadvantage dew had put them at in the dying stages of Australia’s romp to victory on Saturday after Australia won the toss and made sure England would bowl second. Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi admitted earlier that Afghanistan have a greater chance of winning when they bat first; indeed, it was a game model they executed to perfection in Delhi at the 2023 World Cup, posting a par total before squeezing England out by 69 runs. Perhaps, when they meet at the toss, both sides’ interests will align.Related

• Shahidi bats for Afghan women, but says it's something 'we cannot control'

• England, Afghanistan put politics aside with tournament on the line

“In the Australia game, the dew did come in and second innings skidded on a bit better,” Jos Buttler, speaking ahead of the game, said. “Each game is individual. You’ve got to play well, and the toss doesn’t guarantee a result either, so whatever happens at the toss, we need to put in a level of performance to win the game.”While it is just one individual result that puts England in the precarious position of needing to win tomorrow to keep elimination at bay, their collective performances under Buttler’s full-time captaincy makes England’s situation unsurprising. The defeat to Australia was England’s 21st ODI reversal under Buttler against just 12 wins.Since the start of the 2023 World Cup, their form has been even more dismal, with seven wins against 17 losses. Defeat to Afghanistan tomorrow wll guarantee first-round elimination in two consecutive ODI events after England were the format’s best side between 2015 and 2019, making official that title when they lifted the World Cup on home soil in 2019. With the 2027 World Cup on the horizon, it is unlikely to strengthen Buttler’s case to lead England into one more ODI ICC event.Buttler acknowledged the result tomorrow could come with wider implications for his future. “I think any time as an England captain, you want to perform, you want to perform well, and you want to lead your team to winning games of cricket. We haven’t been doing that enough in the recent past. But as soon as you catch yourself thinking about any negative things, you just try and completely forget that and focus on all of the positive things that could go right and where you can take the team.”Jos Buttler and Brendon McCullum have a chat•Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images

Shortly after Duckett was done, the England captain took his place in the nets. This was altogether a more circumspect performance: the confident stride out followed by tentative pushes down the ground, more defensive blocks than the nonchalant pickups over midwicket. And though he had a bit of a hit against the spinners, Jamie Overton had a bowl against his captain, while the coach threw several down at pace.For, despite Afghanistan’s prodigious spin ability, they may find targeting Buttler with pace the cannier move. While Buttler has enjoyed pace outside Asia, the slower conditions through the middle overs in the subcontinent have seen his performances degrade sharply. He averages 22.75 in Asia in ODI cricket since 2017 at just under 98, his average and strike rate 40 and 11 points down respectively. No batter since 2023 has been dismissed by pace in the first ten balls as frequently; it has happened to him in five of his last 13 innings, with a particular susceptibility against hard lengths.If there is consolation, though, Afghanistan may be the side you’d want to face if you’ve got Buttler’s specific set of vulnerabilities. Afghanistan’s spinners were uncharacteristically off-colour against South Africa in Karachi in the opening game, with Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed combining for 3 for 175 in 29 overs. It included a wicketless day out for Rashid, the first time that has happened to him in nine games.1:44

Should Afghanistan play an extra spinner against England?

Shahidi put it down to the Karachi pitch offering “no support” for spinners and said “even one ball didn’t turn”. Should conditions in Lahore be similar on an overcast day tomorrow, facing spin shouldn’t be one of Buttler’s problems. The England captain has struck at 107.46 against spin in Asia since 2023 at an average of 36. Given Afghanistan’s proclivity for using spin to asphyxiate sides in the middle overs, this could provide an opportunity for Buttler to turn the tables on them, and the tide around for his side.As his stint in the nets drew to its conclusion, Buttler was facing spin once more. He picked length early, transferring weight back every time it dropped short and launching it into the netting that prevented it from flying to cow corner. Some of the fuller deliveries were met with reverse sweeps – a few out of the middle, a handful that flew up. In these circumstances and in his form, it is a brave shot, but from the player that perhaps epitomises this England white-ball generation, you would expect little else.”From the start of the tournament, we knew pretty much every game is a must-win,” Buttler said. “We’ve got two games left and to progress further, we know we have to win those games. So that’s a very clear situation for us to be in. There’s little areas we want to improve and chase that perfect game.”England’s confidence under Brendon McCullum means they always keep the faith they will find the lock to such perfection. Buttler, however, has been around long enough to know if they are to find it under his stewardship, it probably has to be tomorrow.

Zia-ul-Haq, Nandre Burger and Noor Ahmad picked up three wickets apiece on a pitch with variable bounce to hand Orcas their second successive loss

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jun-2025Texas Super Kings 153 for 6 (Mukkamalla 30, Harmeet 2-24, Jasdeep 2-34) beat Seattle Orcas 60 (Jones 17, Burger 3-10, Zia 3-16, Noor 3-18) by 93 runsTexas Super Kings romped to their third successive victory while Seattle Orcas suffered their second loss in a row in MLC 2025 as TSK bundled Orcas for just 60 on a pitch that had variable bounce in Oakland. Orcas were chasing a modest target of 154 but never looked like getting even close to it after they were reduced to 21 for 5 in five overs by the TSK quicks and were eventually bowled out in 13.5 overs for a 93-run thrashing.Orcas openers couldn’t replicate their strong opening stand from their opening game and fell within the space of seven balls. Kyle Mayers spooned an easy catch to cover point off Nandre Burger and David Warner was sent back by an excellent diving catch from Faf du Plessis towards cover off left-arm quick Zia-ul-Haq. Steven Taylor also miscued Burger but it was Zia who dented the chase with a massive double blow in the fifth over when he yorked captain Heinrich Klaasen for a duck and had the experienced Sikandar Raza feather behind a short delivery to leave Orcas five down.Left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad – Chennai Super Kings’ highest wicket-taker in the recent IPL – handed Orcas another double blow and was on a hat-trick after trapping left-hand batters Sujit Nayak and Harmeet Singh lbw. He missed the hat-trick by sending down a full toss to Jasdeep Singh but it hardly had an effect on the result as Aaron Jones, the top scorer with 17, soon handed a catch to Noor, who finished with 3 for 18. Burger wrapped up the game to end with 3 for 10 and Zia had picked up 3 for 16 from his three overs in the powerplay.TSK had earlier opted to bat and saw a slow opening stand of 22 between du Plessis and Devon Conway. Du Plessis’s struggles were ended when an Obed McCoy delivery roared off the pitch to take his glove and Conway was trapped lbw three balls later. USA top-order batter Saiteja Mukkamalla took the run rate over six an over with a few boundaries. Marcus Stoinis’ 28 off 12, studded with four sixes, took them past 100 and the run rate over seven an over. Orcas, however, pulled things back again with the wickets of Stoinis, Daryl Mitchell and Calvin Savage to make it 122 for 6 before Milind Kumar and Shubham Ranjane powered the side past 150 with an unbroken stand of 31 from 15 balls.

He says there is freedom in the way they are approaching the game, and the idea of failure in particular

Firdose Moonda19-Jul-2025Winning this year’s World Test Championship final could free up South Africa to play without fear, according to veteran player Rassie van der Dussen. Although van der Dussen was neither part of the WTC win nor in the most recent T20 World Cup squad, he has been part of the South African system for the last 17 years and can already see the change that winning a major trophy has made.”It feels like there’s a difference. Maybe it’s boiled over from winning the Test Championship because we won that match when it counts, so it’s almost like we can experiment more,” van der Dussen, who is standing in as South Africa’s T20I captain for the Zimbabwe tri-series, said ahead of the team’s next match.”It’s obviously Shukri [Conrad]’s first time in charge of the white-ball sides, but the mindset is different. We are not trying things for the sake of trying it, or guys being chosen for the sake of being chosen. It’s about trying things with the understanding that it’s okay if you get it wrong, but you can only get to the other side if you try it properly and authentically. What Shukri brings in terms of environment, and in terms of a mindset, is that freedom.”Conrad will coach South Africa through the 2025-27 WTC cycle, during which the white-ball teams will also play in the 2026 T20 World Cup and the 2027 ODI World Cup, which they will co-host.Related

• Conrad: 'We're the world champions, we create our own reality'

• Conrad confident SA players will prioritise national duty over T20 leagues

Though there is always pressure on teams to win in the build-up to these events, some of the pressure around the South Africa squad has eased after their WTC victory – their first global trophy since 1998 (when they won the ICC Knockout) and first with the word “World” in it. Winning the trophy reinforced the set-up’s belief in their systems, especially because Conrad is a local coach who has done things his own way.He will likely be cut some slack early in his tenure, though he will know that his predecessor, Rob Walter, was increasingly in the spotlight for the team’s poor bilateral record in ODIs and T20Is. Conrad has already indicated he wants to avoid the same by having his best players available whenever possible.Shukri Conrad is coaching South Africa’s white-ball side for the first time•AFP/Getty Images

Already, this has turned out not to be the case: Aiden Markram, the regular T20I captain, along with Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Marco Jansen (who is recovering from thumb surgery), Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj, have all been rested from the tri-series. As a result, Van der Dussen is leading a side that includes several fringe players but wants them to keep up the winning momentum.”There’s obviously responsibility, and we want to win every match. Shukri has said that many times, and we want to win every match that we play, but we are also encouraged to be our best version, play the way we want to play, and play the way the team wants to play. If we fall short, that’s okay, we fall short on our terms. We’ll try to be better next time. There’s no pressure from a management point of view. We know what’s expected of us.”There is also the added expectation that some players in this squad – Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, George Linde and Gerald Coetzee in particular – could force their way into becoming first-choice picks. The function of a series like this, among other things, is to provide fringe players the platform to show what they can do at the international level.”Lhuan-dre, with what he has done domestically and at the SA20, you could just see that this guy needs to play at this level. And Brevis, through performance over the last six months, is putting guys under pressure,” van der Dussen said. “As a player in a team, that’s the positive pressure you want. You want someone breathing down your neck, because that’s fair. If you don’t perform, there’s a guy that’s going to take your place, and that’s always good in a team environment. It’s not like I can rest on my laurels because there’s no one really pushing me for my spot. In every department – bowling, spin bowling, fielding, keeping, batting, middle-order batting – there are guys putting their hands up and saying I want to be part of this team. That keeps you on your toes.”Even with this context in mind, South Africa will admit they have not been at their best so far, especially when it comes to the top-order’s performances. They were 38 for 3 chasing 142 against Zimbabwe, and 62 for 5 against New Zealand, a match where they finished 21 runs short.Given that Zimbabwe have lost both their matches so far, South Africa still remains favourites to reach the final, along with New Zealand, but there is work to be done. “What we want to see is progress in terms of how we want to play,” van der Dussen said. “We’ve been together for a week now, and we are getting a better understanding going between the guys. If we can start to get it even better, then we can make it to the final and play our best game on Saturday.”

KL Rahul went unbeaten at 98, as India tallied 103 runs in 22.3 overs in the session

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jul-2025

The big partnership between Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul dominated England•Associated Press

Lunch KL Rahul’s imminent century gave England a chance, and they took it. Rishabh Pant was run-out in the last over before lunch as he tried to hand the strike over to his partner so that he could bring up the landmark. Apart from that mistake, though, India were ruling the roost on the third day at Lord’s.An otherwise profitable session’s play – 103 runs in 22.3 overs – ended on a sour note for the visitors, and for Pant in particular – because he was out there with an injured finger. There were moments where he was placed in discomfort, but there were also moments that were straight out of his top drawer.Pant charged at Jofra Archer in the first over. He tried to break a sequence of 25 dots with a fall-away scoop. He was happy to risk the reverse ramp for just a single run. And, after securing his eighth half-century in England, he hammered his 88th six in Test cricket, which puts him only two shy of Virender Sehwag, who holds the India record.That is why Pant will be peeved at how he fell. It was needless, except for the fact that he thought he was trying to help his team-mate. Ben Stokes understood the urge. He might also have factored Pant’s injury into his calculations because the throw would’ve been a lot more straight forward to the batter’s end from his position. Instead, Stokes turned himself around and nailed the target at the other one, sparking a somewhat angry celebration.This happened towards the tail-end of Stokes bowling one of his fiery old spells, five overs where 26 balls were either short or short of a length, and his pace up at 90mph as he tried to make things happen. When he did, the whole team gathered around him, galvanised. Stokes himself knew how big a wicket Pant’s was and the circumstances in which it came, because England were very much second best throughout the session – though for no fault of trying.And perhaps that’s why there was a point in the celebrations where Stokes felt the need to bring his cap up to his mouth, a trick used to make sure the cameras don’t catch what you’re saying.Rahul, meanwhile, was the picture of simplicity and grace. Since his comeback into the Test team in 2021, on a tour of England, he has made four centuries away from home, the joint-most by an India batter. Pant is the man he shares the podium with, and it was in the effort to go clear at No. 1 that India lost a needless wicket and must now try and smother the momentum England might have gained thanks to their inspirational captain.

“Why go down that route,” Aakash Chopra asks on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time Out show

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Sep-20251:55

Why did Suryakumar let Siddique bat despite being out?

Suryakumar Yadav, the India captain, withdrew an appeal against Junaid Siddique on Wednesday night in Dubai despite the batter being given out by the third umpire.The incident took place in the 13th over of the UAE innings. Siddique was beaten while attempting a pull off Shivam Dube, and was found outside the crease when wicketkeeper Sanju Samson collected the ball and under-armed a direct hit to the stumps at the striker’s end. As soon as he missed the ball, Siddique seemed to point towards the towel that Dube appeared to have dropped while delivering the ball.Even as the square-leg umpire referred the decision to third umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Suryakumar walked up to the umpire at the bowler’s end to have a chat, and withdrew the appeal after he saw the replays on the big screen. The third umpire had declared Siddique out by that stage.Related

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• UAE coach Rajput: Batters were overawed by big names

• Kuldeep makes it worth the wait

• Stats – The shortest T20I that India has ever played

Siddique was out one legal ball later, when he toe-ended a slog off a Dube slower delivery to Suryakumar at mid-on to leave UAE 55 for 9. It was Dube’s third wicket; UAE were eventually bowled out for 57, which India overhauled in 4.3 overs.On ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show, Aakash Chopra suggested that Suryakumar’s decision was based on the match situation at the time, which was heavily in India’s favour.”It’s event-specific in my opinion, it wouldn’t have happened if [Pakistan’s] Salman Agha was playing on 14th [of September] and the game is in the balance, and he’s just roaming around, he [Suryakumar] won’t do that,” Chopra said. “It was a good throw, presence of mind from Sanju to hit the stumps.”If he was [outside the crease], it should be out, in my opinion. But opinions may vary. The problem is the moment you bring in ethics and generosity, it opens a can of worms: ‘oh, you did this today, why are you not doing the same thing tomorrow?’ Why go down that route?”Will you do it? If that’s the case, it’s like walking. You nick it and you walk. But the day you do not walk, that’s the day that decides which side of the divide you are on and that’s when you look like a hypocrite. I’m not saying SKY is going to do it again, or not do it again. But if it is within the rules and the umpire has given it out, just stay out. That’s it.”India went on to pull off their fastest chase in men’s T20Is, in terms of overs left – eclipsing the 6.3 overs’ chase against Scotland at the T20 World Cup in Dubai in 2021.

Both fast bowlers will face India in the ODI series with Hazlewood then due to miss the latter part of the T20Is

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff07-Oct-20252:26

How is England’s attack shaping up ahead of the Ashes?

Josh Hazlewood is confident one Sheffield Shield game will be enough for him and Mitchell Starc before the Ashes, with the quick likely to skip three T20Is against India to play for New South Wales.Hazlewood and Starc were on Tuesday both named in Australia’s squad to face India in three ODIs later this month, which kicks off the main part of the home summer.Related

• 'He doesn't need much' – Starc says Cummins can play off limited preparation

• Maxwell hopes to be fit for back-end of T20I series against India

• Doubts over Cummins' fitness for first Ashes Test grow, return remains unknown

• Ashes tracker: Labuschagne shines as Konstas stumbles

• Hazlewood: England will bring an 'unbelievable' batting line-up for the Ashes

Five T20Is then follow, and while Starc has retired from that format, Hazlewood has been listed in the squad for the first two of those games on October 29 and 31.Australian officials are keeping an open mind to Ashes preparations, ahead of the first Test in Perth beginning on November 21.But the most likely scenario remains having the duo play for NSW against Victoria in a Shield match from November 10, before a one-week preparation into the first Test.”We’ve definitely had chats about fitting in a Shield game,” Hazlewood said at a Cricket Australia sponsorship announcement with Woolworths on Monday. “I do think it’s important when there’s time for it. You don’t want to squeeze things in or rush for it.”This year I’m going to miss a couple of T20s to do that. Which I certainly don’t like doing, missing games for Australia. But in the long run it is about getting the best prep for the Ashes as well. You can’t have everything and that’s the trade off at the moment.”Josh Hazlewood will work through ODIs and T20Is during October•Getty Images

It creates the potential for a star-studded NSW side to take the field at the SCG. Nathan Lyon is eyeing three out of the first four Shield matches before the first Test and is expected to miss the round two fixture at Junction Oval which would leave him to face Queensland at the Gabba then Victoria in Sydney.It’s understood that Steve Smith is also in line to play while Sam Konstas will likely line up, although by then he will know his Test fate with the squad due to be named after the third round of Shield fixtures.Pat Cummins will sit out the white-ball matches against India as he fights to recover from his back issues in time for the first Test.Hazlewood said playing the ODIs would also help with preparation, with three games in the space of a week offering a reasonable workload.There is a fine balance for the 34-year-old to strike, given he is still eying off playing in the T20 World Cup in February before another ODI tournament in 2027.”That’s why I put my hand up for as many tours as I can,” Hazlewood said. “Even if I only play two out of three on a tour, it just means I am still touching base with those formats.”My game doesn’t change too much. I have been around long enough to duck and dive in each format and chop and change.”Hazlewood said it was possible for him to play all five Ashes Tests, with lengthy gaps between the first three helping bowlers manage their fitness.

Victoria looked well-placed to push for victory but not for the first time of late they let a strong position slip

Alex Malcolm09-Mar-2025An inspirational unbeaten century from Jake Lehmann in combination with a career-best 83 from Liam Scott secured South Australia their first home Sheffield Shield final since 2016 after they chased down 300 with four wickets to spare to defeat Victoria at the Junction Oval.Lehmann and Scott shared a match-defining 148-run stand to break the back of the chase having come together at 108 for 4. Henry Hunt also made a valuable early contribution of 66 and shared a 54-run stand with Lehmann. The trio withstood some brilliant spells from Scott Boland who took two late wickets to threaten to steal the game but ultimately Victoria could not sustain enough pressure with the ball.Related

• South Australia prevented from hosting Shield final at Adelaide Oval

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South Australia are now guaranteed a home final while Victoria can still made the decider if they beat Western Australia next week and other results go their way despite losing four matches in a row.Lehmann described his 12th first-class century as one of the best of his career after also going past 5000 first-class runs.”I feel like anytime you get a hundred and it’s in a winning team, and fourth innings is probably the hardest time to make hundreds these days, so yes, definitely up there,” Lehmann told ESPNcricinfo post match. “But it’s just probably on the vibe of the boys and the way we’ve played our cricket, and the belief in the team that we were always going to be able to chase them if we got into that last couple hours of the day.”South Australia coach Ryan Harris was full of praise for both Lehmann and Scott after the match. He was particularly proud of Scott’s efforts after backing up his 4 for 49 on day three with the ball with a match-winning 83.”I think his niche is probably No. 6 in this current set-up,” Harris told ESPNcricinfo. “And his overs, my communication with him is he’s probably a holder and now he’s a wicket-taker. And he’s done that because of having game time and learning his role and progressing as a player and as a person, learning the game. That only comes with game time and he’s done it beautifully. So he’s a huge player now.”Victoria coach Chris Rogers was left to lament how his side had lost a fourth game in a row after they had a lead of 163 with eight wickets in hand midway through day three and also had South Australia four down with 192 runs to defend on the final day.”We’re just missing something a little bit at the moment,” Rogers told ESPNcricinfo. “I just said to the group there were moments in this game where I think if we’d been able to get the upper hand we would have won this game against the side that’s on top of the table.”We feel like all the games we’re right in the contest, but then we just can’t get over the line. And that probably is the biggest frustration, and we’ve got to keep asking ourselves those questions, why aren’t we winning those moments?”The game was poised on a knife’s edge in the morning session when South Australia slumped to 54 for 3. Fergus O’Neill struck twice in three balls, pinning South Australia captain Nathan McSweeney lbw with a brilliant delivery that nipped in off the seam before taking the outside edge of Jason Sangha two balls later with one that straightened the other way.Lehmann and Hunt steadied with a 54-run stand but it was full of nervy moments. Hunt passed 50 but could have been out twice to Todd Murphy in one over, scoring a boundary off the outside edge while an offbreak beat his inside edge and went over the stumps past keeper Sam Harper for four byes.Lehmann also nearly fell to Murphy with Harper unable to hold a challenging catch down the leg side. Lehmann gave another life when he sliced a thick edge low to Xavier Crone’s left in the gully off O’Neill.Victoria still appeared firmly in the game when Hunt holed out to deep square for 66 off Sam Elliott. But Lehmann and Scott thoroughly dominated the middle session as Victoria fell flat.Boland bowled a very loose spell by his standards post lunch. He dropped short on several occasions and conceded four boundaries in three overs. Murphy gave up two at the other end as Lehmann and Scott set the tone for what was about to follow.The pair scored 104 runs from 30 overs in the middle session and scarcely looked troubled. Scott stood tall and drove powerfully through the off side against both spin and pace.Lehmann rotated the strike superbly without taking any undue risks and sweated on anything short and wide. Victoria spread the field to try and slow the scoring rate before the second new ball was due. But in the last 15 overs of the session Scott and Lehmann picked off 51 runs, including 16 off two overs of part-time spin from Campbell Kellaway and Harry Dixon.The trend looked set to continue against the second new ball as Scott raced past his previous highest first-class score while Boland struggled to get his line right in his first two overs after tea.But his international class shone through to force a late twist in the game. With 44 to win, Scott edged Boland to slip to give the hosts life. He then extracted another edge from Harry Nielsen shortly after to leave South Australia still needing 42 with just four wickets in hand. But Lehmann and Ben Manenti held their nerve.Lehmann survived another chance on 80 when he smashed Murphy straight to short cover but Kellaway could not hold the hot offer. Thereafter he latched on anything fractionally short to guide his side home, reaching his century and winning the game with three consecutive boundaries.

Marouane Fellaini is just now embarking upon his sixth season at Manchester United and he is as important a part of the first team now as ever before. 

The man signed by David Moyes all those years ago has gone on to become a firm favourite of Jose Mourinho’s. The Red Devils boss has started the 6’4” Belgium international in the last two Premier League matches.

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Even when the 30-year-old isn’t included from the off, he has proved himself to be a great impact option from the bench on numerous occasions. 

So valuable is Fellaini to United that earlier this summer he was handed a new two-year contract to keep him at Old Trafford until 2020.

When we asked United fans whether or not they consider Fellaini to have been a successful signing, 64% stated they thought he’d been a great buy. See the full results below.

However, when he first arrived at the club from Everton, many United fans were less than impressed with their club’s latest acquisition…

Arsenal star Mesut Ozil has claimed that he needs to be more selfish in order to add to his goal tally, according to reports from the Guardian.

Ozil currently holds the record for being the Gunners’ most expensive ever transfer, arriving from Real Madrid two seasons ago via a £42.5million fee.

However, the Germany international has been challenged by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to add to his total goal tally, which currently stands at nine league goals in 51 Premier League games.

WANT MORE? >> Arsenal Transfer News | Latest Transfer News

Known for being the assist-king, Ozil admits that he will need to become a more selfish player to score goals, but he will always put the team ahead of his personal record.

“I want to score more goals than in the last two seasons and that’s my aim for this season,” he said.

“I think now and then I need to become a bit more selfish – then I’d definitely score more goals. But I’m a player who thinks for the team first and not for my own needs and that’s why I will carry on to play the way I always do. I think that’s one of my distinguishing characteristics.

“For me it’s not just goals and assists that mean everything, what’s more important is that we’re successful as a team.

“My aim is to help the team and I’ll do all I can to achieve that. In truth I’m more the sort of player who doesn’t really go for goal, I tend to look for my team-mates and think, ‘Can I play this pass?’.”

The Gunners haven’t had the best start to their Premier League campaign, garnering four points out of a possible nine and only scoring two goals in three games.

Arsenal travel to St. James’ Park to face Newcastle United this Saturday in their next league fixture.

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It has been a busy old summer for football managers, after months of rumours, negotiations and so many transfer sagas that just won’t end, the transfer window has finally slammed shut.This season has seen a new record with clubs smashing their way past an incredible £800million worth of deals.As per usual, deadline day saw a flurry of sides trying to rush through very late deals in the hope of strengthening their sides for the remainder of theÂcampaign.Whilst it was a rather subdued deadline day compared to recent years their were still several impressive transfer deals that were able to go through at the last moment.Here are the three best signings that went through on the final day…

Bradley Johnson – Norwich City to Derby County

Yes, the transfer involves a player dropping down to a lower league, but the deal is a massive coup for Derby County and they should be praised for securing a player that has the quality to be starting for a club in the Premier League.

Johnson joins promotion hopefuls “Derby City” on a four-year deal for Âa club record £6million.

The 28-year-old was arguably one of the best midfielders Norwich had and played a huge role in helping the Canaries gain promotion last season, scoring 15 goals.

He is the complete midfielderÂ- strong, quick and good on the ball. He is comfortable moving forward in support of the attack, or tracking back to help his defence.

New manager Paul Clement believes he is a major coup that will bring invaluable experience and will beÂa real leader on the field as he steps in to replace Will Hughes, who has been sidelined long term with a serious knee injury.

Joleon Lescott – West Brom to Aston Villa

The centre back has moved across the Midlands to rivals Aston Villa in a deal worth around £2million and although the deal won’t have made the headlines, Lescott can be a great addition to Tim Sherwood’s side.

The 33-year-old may be heading towards the end of his career, but he brings something that Aston Villa were in desperate need of – Premier League experience.

Out of the thirteen new faces at Villa Park Âthis summer, only Lescott, Scott Sinclair and Micah Richards have a significant amount of top flight experience.

Lescott has spent the majority of his career in the top flight of English football, during spells with Wolves, Manchester City and West Brom, and will be vital in helping many of the new additions adjust to Premier League life.

The England international is a calming presence at the back, strong in the tackle and good in the air. He will likely link up with former Man City team mate Micah Richards to form the new look centre back partnership this season.

Michail Antonio – Nottingham Forest to West Ham

The attacking powerhouse became the fourth signing of a busy deadline day for the Hammers, when he joined the London side for a fee believed to be around £7million.

The 25-year old has finally been given his chance in the top flight after becoming one of the star performers for Forest last season,Âscored 15 goals for Dougie Freeman’s side.

He is a versatile attacker, comfortable as a striker or playing in one of the three attacking midfield slots. West Ham are getting a talented individual with bags of pace, pure brute physical strength and a keen eye for goal.

Fans of the club will no doubt be looking forward to seeing their new man in action, with Antonio looking the perfect type of player to thrive off the service from the creative Dimitri Payet.