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Arsenal winners, losers and ratings as Saka sinks Bodo/Glimt

Arsenal made it three wins in the Europa League with a hard earned 1-0 success at Bodo/Glimt on Thursday night.

The Norwegian champions boasted a formidable home record going into the game, having won their last 14 European games at the Aspmyra Stadion – including a 6-1 victory over Jose Mourinho's Roma last season.

So Mikel Arteta named a stronger team than many expected, with William Saliba, Ben White, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka all starting.

And it was Saka who scored the only goal of the game in the first half, albeit with a fortunate finish which saw the ball deflect in off his chest after his initial shot had been blocked.

Bodo did cause the Gunners some problems, especially in the second half, but they failed to really test Matt Turner with any shots on goal.

The win means Arsenal will now secure qualification through to the knockout stages, should they beat PSV Eindhoven at Emirates Stadium next Thursday night.

GettyThe Winners

Winner: Bukayo Saka

Another game, another goal for Saka.

This one my have been fortunate, with the ball deflecting into the net off his chest after his initial shot had been blocked by a defender.

But that will not matter to Saka, who now has three goals in his last two games following his double against Liverpool at the weekend.

The Arsenal winger had endured quite a slow start to the season from a goalscoring sense, netting just once in his first nine appearances.

So his numbers have taken a real boost in the last few days, with Saka having now scored four in 11.

That's much more like what we have come to expect from the 21-year-old.

Winner: Sambi Lokonga

This was another very tidy performance from the young Belgian, who has quietly enjoyed a strong start to the season for Mikel Arteta's side.

Lokonga has already accumulated nine appearances in all competitions and appears to have gone up a level from what we saw from him last season.

In tricky conditions on an artificial pitch, Lokonga was impressive in midfield. He looked calm under pressure, brought the ball forward well and was excellent in possession.

He also had a big part to play in Saka's first-half goal, playing the ball cleverly into his path on the edge of the box.

Winner: Matt Turner

There have been question marks over Turner following his move from the United States in the summer, so this would have been a very satisfying night for the American stopper.

He didn't have too much to do in terms of making saves, although he did make one smart stop in the second half following a quick counter from the home side.

But what was impressive about Turner was how sharp he was off his line.

The artificial pitch meant that the ball was skidding off the surface very quickly and he was always alert to deal with the danger.

Turner's starting position was always very good and he helped out his defence on several occasions when the hosts were threatening.

AdvertisementThe Losers

Loser: Reiss Nelson

This was a big night for Nelson, who was making his first start for Arsenal since January, 2021.

He would have been desperate to impress, but failed to make any sort of major impact down the left-hand side of the attack.

There were a couple of nice runs, but when Nelson did get into a good position his end product was severely lacking.

There was one shot early in the second half that summed up Nelson's night.

He was in a good position just outside the box. But, despite having a bit of time to set himself, he sliced an effort which ended up closer to the corner flag than the goal.

Loser: Fabio Vieira

He was the star of the show against Bodo in London, but this was a far more frustrating night for the Portuguese playmaker.

Vieira just couldn't really get into the game while playing alongside Martin Odegaard in the two advanced Arsenal midfield roles.

He produced a couple of nice touches, but he was mainly on the fringes of things and was unable to get into the sort of areas that saw him cause so many problems a week ago.

Loser: Cedric Soares

Still the Portuguese international is waiting for his first start of the season.

When he returned to full fitness a fortnight ago, the expectation was that Cedric would start both games against Bodo in the Europa League.

But instead he has been left on the bench for both, with Takehiro Tomiyasu starting at right-back in the game in London and Ben White starting in Norway.

That will have been a blow for Cedric, who appears to be well down the pecking order this season.

Arsenal Ratings: Defence

Matt Turner (8/10):

Was alert when he needed to be. Came off his line well to deal with danger and made saves when he needed to.

Ben White (7/10):

Got up in support of Saka well, left some space behind him at times.

Rob Holding (6/10):

Made a couple of important clearances. Good in possession.

William Saliba (6/10):

Played in second gear. Never really looked in trouble.

Kieran Tierney (7/10):

Looks fully fit now, which is promising. Got up and down the left all night.

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Midfield

Sambi Lokonga (8/10):

Impressive. Stood out in midfield and played a big part in Saka's first-half goal.

Martin Odegaard (6/10):

Saw a lot of the ball, produced some nice touches.

Fabio Vieira (5/10):

Just couldn't get into the game. He was always on the fringes of things.

The Gunners' centre-backs shone as they moved back to the top of the Premier League after a vital victory at Stamford Bridge

Arsenal roared back to the top of the of the Premier League with a 1-0 win at Chelsea on Sunday. After seeing Manchester City move above them 24 hours earlier with victory over Fulham, the pressure was on Mikel Arteta's side to respond at Stamford Bridge.

And they did just that, sealing a third successive league win at the home of their west London rivals thanks to a Gabriel Magalhaes strike on 63 minutes.

The Arsenal centre-back was on hand to turn in Bukayo Saka's corner and earn the visitors a deserved victory.

If anything, Arsenal should have won by more, but that will not worry Arteta at all, who had the added pleasure of seeing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang endure a nightmare afternoon against his former club.

Arsenal now travel to Wolves next weekend knowing that victory at Molineux will send them into the World Cup break top of the table.

Getty ImagesThe Winners

Gabriel Magalhaes

He's one of the few Arsenal players to have come in for some criticism this season, so this was a big day for Gabriel. Both he and William Saliba were exceptional in the heart of defence, limiting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to just eight touches while he was on the pitch. And at the other end, Gabriel popped up with the game's vital intervention, getting on the end of Bukayo Saka's corner to prod home his second goal of the season. There are few defenders with the natural ability of Gabriel, and when he plays as well as he did here, he is undoubtedly one of the best centre-backs in the country.

William Saliba

Chelsea have one of the greatest centre-backs of his generation in Thiago Silva. But in Saliba, Arsenal have a central defender who looks like he has what it takes to dominate Europe for years to come. The France international was simply sensational at Stamford Bridge. He barely gave Aubameyang a kick. And then when Armando Broja came on to offer a more physical presence, the Arsenal centre-back dealt with him with ease. Saliba cruised through the game with the class of a defender who has been operating in the Premier League for years, rather than a matter of months. What a talent.

Mikel Arteta

This was a third win in a row for Arteta at Stamford Bridge. A ground that used to hold torrid memories for Arsenal has suddenly become the Gunners' playground. After the defeat at Old Trafford earlier in the season, questions still remained about Arsenal's ability to perform against the Premier League's top sides, even with their excellent start to the campaign. So this was a huge result for Arteta. Not only did it see them move back to the top of the table, but psychologically this will have done wonders for the Spaniard's young side.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Losers

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

The look on his face after being substituted said it all. Aubameyang had talked the talk before the game, taking part in a promotional video for BT Sport which provoked plenty of criticism from Arsenal fans. But he failed to back his chat up on the pitch against his old club, mustering just eight touches during a totally anonymous performance. He lasted just 64 minutes before being hauled off, and Aubameyang might not be quite so loose-lipped before the return game in north London next year.

Gabriel Jesus

Had Jesus had got a better connection to Gabriel Martinelli's cross midway through the first half, he would have been celebrating a goal that would have been as good as any that will be scored this season. But instead the Arsenal striker got his header all wrong and miscued it wide, denying Arsenal a team goal that would have been spoken about for years to come. Jesus has now gone nine games without finding the target in all competitions, and it is becoming a bigger talking point with each game that passes. He had the chance to put an end to all that discussion at Stamford Bridge, but it was chance he failed to take advantage of.

Kieran Tierney

After the high of scoring the winner against FC Zurich on Thursday night, this was another low for Tierney in what has been a frustrating season. Most expected the Scotland international to start at Stamford Bridge following his fine display in midweek, but he instead found himself back on the bench, with Arteta throwing Oleksandr Zinchenko straight back into the starting XI despite having not played a since minute since October 1. Tierney did replace Zinchenko after the interval, but this was another big reminder to the left-back that he has fallen firmly down the pecking order this season.

Getty ImagesArsenal Ratings: Defence

Aaron Ramsdale (6/10):

Barely had a thing to do. Swept all well when needed.

Ben White (7/10):

Got forward well, always involved. Another fine display.

William Saliba (9/10):

Excellent once again. Monstrous performance.

Gabriel Magalhaes (8/10):

Controlled performance alongside Saliba and popped up with the winner.

Oleksandr Zinchenko (6/10):

Looked a bit rusty, which was understandable. Valuable minutes.

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Getty ImagesMidfield

Thomas Partey (8/10):

Dominant in the heart of midfield.

Granit Xhaka (7/10):

Competitive, physical. Excellent again.

Martin Odegaard (6/10):

Had one big chance in the second half, but put his shot over.

Who did Tunisia boss Jalel Kadri pick for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar?

Tunisia will be at the 2022 FIFA World Cup for the second consecutive edition and they will be desperate to improve on their performance from 2018.

They were grouped alongside Belgium, England and Panama at the tournament in Russia and had to settle for third spot, losing their opening two matches before recording a win against Panama in their final game.

Now, they have another crack at the World Cup and this time they will be up against France, Australia and Denmark in Group D.

Here are the 26 players tasked with doing the business.

ALSO READ: World Cup 2022 Group D: Fixtures, results, standings, squads & full details

©Ayano MiuraGOALKEEPERS

Bechir Said may have more caps for the Tunisia national team, but Aymen Dahmen has been Tunisia's preferred option between the sticks most recently.

Name

Club

Aymen Dahmen

Sfaxien

Bechir Said

Monastir

Mouez Hassan

Club Africain

Balbouli

Etoile du Sahel

Advertisemental ahly twitterDEFENDERS

Montessar Talbi, Dylan Bronn and Bilel Ifa are getting on the plane to Qatar to face their Group D competitors.

Al Ahly defender Ali Maaloul should also feel optimistic about his chances as one of the most experienced options.

Name

Club

Bilel Ifa

Kuwait

Wajdi Kechrida

Atromitos

Montessar Talbi

Lorient

Ali Abdi

Caen

Nader Ghandri

Club Africain

Dylan Bronn

Salernitana

Yassine Meriah

Esperalace

Ali Maaloul

Al Ahly

Mohamed Drager

Luzern

GettyMIDFIELDERS

Aissa Laidouni, Ferjani Sassi and Ellyes Skhiri will be confident of securing a spot in the midfield.

Manchester United youngster Hannibal Mejbri, who's currently on loan at Birmingham City, will also be hopeful, having impressed in previous appearances for the national team.

Name

Club

Ferjani Sassi

Al-Duhail

Hannibal Mejbri

Manchester United

Ellyes Skhiri

Koln

Ghailene Chaalali

ES Tunis

Anis Ben Slimane

Brondby

Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane

ES Tunis

Aissa Laidouni

Ferencvaros

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caf twitterATTACKERS

Skipper Youssef Msakni and Wahbi Khazri will be the first names on the list in attack, while Taha Khenissi and Saifeddine Jaziri are also a part of the final squad.

Name

Club

Youssef Msakni

Al-Arabi

Wahbi Khazri

Montpellier

Taha Khenissi

Kuwait

Saifeddine Jaziri

Zamalek

Issam Jebali

OB

Naim Sliti

Al-Ettifaq

Spurs are now looking for their 25th permanent manager since their 1991 FA Cup triumph, but who would be the best fit?

Irrespective of Tottenham being dumped out of the Champions League by AC Milan on March 8, the writing was already on the wall in terms of Antonio Conte's long-term future as manager of the club.

The Italian's contract in north London was due to run out at the end of the season, and with a top-four finish in the Premier League far from secure, fans had been growing increasingly tired of Conte's methods.

The Italian managed to hasten his departure by embarking on an extraordinary rant against chairman Daniel Levy and the club's lack of trophies in the modern era after Spurs' 3-3 draw with Southampton on March 18.

Tottenham waited a week before bringing the axe down on Conte, with his assistant Cristian Stellini stepping up to fill his position until the end of the season.

Who will they turn to replace Conte on a permanent basis in the summer? Is any manager capable of changing the defeatist culture that seems to run deep at a club that should really have a place among England's best given the huge resources and world-class infrastructure at its disposal?

There are plenty in the frame to give it a try, and GOAL is on hand to run down their credentials as Spurs open yet another new era…

Getty ImagesMauricio Pochettino

The man who came closest to transforming Spurs is first up on the list – Argentine tactician and current free agent Mauricio Pochettino.

Paris Saint-Germain took the decision to sack Pochettino after another failed Champions League campaign last summer, and he is now being linked with a sensational return to north London.

The 50-year-old guided Tottenham to League Cup and Champions League finals during his five-year stint in charge, along with one runners-up finish in the Premier League, before being relieved of his duties in November 2019.

He also now has the experience of managing three of the world's best players in the form of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, which might tempt Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to give him a second chance.

Tottenham have certainly gone downhill since Pochettino's departure, with Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Conte all failing to deliver the same levels of consistency, and a homecoming could provide a much-needed lift to an increasingly disillusioned fanbase.

AdvertisementGettyJulian Nagelsmann

Thomas Tuchel was considered the frontrunner to become Spurs' new boss only a few weeks ago, but it doesn't take very long for things to change dramatically in football.

The German was appointed as Bayern Munich's new manager this week, with Julian Nagelsmann sacked after just one-and-a-half seasons at the helm.

Irrespective of how well former Chelsea boss Tuchel does at the Allianz Arena, Bayern's decision to part ways with Nagelsmann was a harsh one considering how much the club still has to play for this season.

The reigning Bundesliga champions are one point off top spot and through to the quarter-finals of both the Champions League and DFB-Pokal – meaning Tuchel could end up with an unprecedented treble come May.

Nagelsmann would deserve huge credit for any amount of silverware Bayern end up with, but he may already have his eye on a new position in the Premier League.

It has been reported that the 35-year-old is on Spurs' radar, and he might fancy his chances of succeeding where so many other top managers have failed.

Nagelsmann's progressive tactics could be exactly what is needed to freshen things up at Tottenham after another dour campaign.

GettyLuis Enrique

The Barcelona legend is looking for work again after he was axed by Spain following their disappointing performance at the 2022 World Cup, where they were knocked out on penalties by surprise package Morocco at the last-16 stage.

It's his previous work with Barca that stands out on the managerial section of his CV, however, with Luis Enrique having steered the Liga giants to two Liga titles and the Champions League, winning six other trophies along the way, during a hugely successful stint between 2014 and 2017.

Like Conte, the Spaniard, who is, reports, at the top of sporting director Fabio Paratici's list of managerial targets, doesn't tolerate nonsense but whether he could ultimately be a success in the Premier League remains to be seen.

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GettySteve Cooper

It has been reported that Nottingham Forest head coach Steve Cooper is also a contender to succeed Conte, with the Welshman boasting a number of admirers in the Spurs boardroom.

The 43-year-old inspired Forest's successful promotion bid last season, and has made them competitive in their first season back in the Premier League after 23 years, despite having to manage a huge squad after a major summer overhaul.

Cooper has proven himself as an accomplished man-manager, and might be able to give Spurs' flops the kick up the backside they sorely need. He did, however, commit to a new three-year deal at the City Ground in October.

He and Levy wouldn't exactly be a match made in heaven either, given the fact Cooper can be quite stubborn with his tactical approach and ideas, and any differences in opinion could potentially lead to more issues behind the scenes.

Mikel Arteta's side crashed to a heavy home defeat at the hands of the Seagulls that all but hands the Premier League trophy to Manchester City

Arsenal saw their faint title chances all but ended with a painful 3-0 defeat against Brighton on Sunday. After seeing Manchester City win at Everton earlier in the day, the Gunners knew they couldn't afford to slip up if they wanted to keep up the pressure on Pep Guardiola's side.

But Julio Enciso's close-range header early in the second half and two late goals from Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupinan were enough to earn a deserved three points for the visitors as they gave their own European hopes a huge boost.

The defeat leaves Arsenal four points behind City with just two games to play. Guardiola's side still have a game in hand and they will win the title next weekend if either Arsenal lose at Nottingham Forest on Saturday or City beat Chelsea the following day.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the Emirates Stadium…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Aaron Ramsdale (4/10):

Made one good first-half stop, could do nothing with the opening goal. Maybe shouldn't have played the ball out to Trossard in the build-up to the second and could have done better with the initial shot for the third.

Ben White (3/10):

Really struggled against Mitoma. Just couldn't cope with him. One of his most difficult days of the season.

Jakub Kiwior (5/10):

Was clearly stamped on the back of the ankle for Enciso's goal, but it was strange to see him just drop to the floor given where the ball was.

Gabriel Magalhaes (5/10):

Given a tough time by Ferguson. It was a real physical battle.

Kieran Tierney (5/10):

Couldn't get forward like he would have liked.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Jorginho (5/10):

Solid enough in a scrappy game.

Granit Xhaka (5/10):

Tried to get forward, but midfield was very congested.

Martin Odegaard (6/10):

Probably Arsenal's best player. Looked to drive his team forward, but was unable to make the difference this time. It was a surprise to see him go off.

Getty ImagesAttack

Bukayo Saka (4/10):

Dragged one good chance wide in the first half. Made very little impact after that.

Gabriel Jesus (4/10):

Saw a first half effort kept out by Steele. Cut a frustrated figure in the second half.

Gabriel Martinelli (N/A):

Injured early on.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Leandro Trossard (5/10):

On early for Martinelli. Was lively, but probably could have done better with one shot which clipped the bar. It was his pass that was cut out that led to Brighton's second goal.

Reiss Nelson (6/10):

Another bright cameo. Flashed one effort just wide.

Thomas Partey (5/10):

Couldn't really help Arsenal get any control.

Emile Smith Rowe (N/A):

No real impact in the final 10 minutes.

Eddie Nketiah (N/A):

Didn't see much of the ball after his late introduction.

Mikel Arteta (5/10):

Frustrating day, capped by a yellow card for protesting. His late changes didn't really help.

Raphinha endured a difficult day in what could be his final Barcelona game, proving ineffective as the Blaugrana lost to Celta Vigo.

The Brazilian winger turned in a poor performance as Barcelona lost to relegation-threatened Celta to round off a memorable season with a forgettable 2-1 defeat. Celta needed a win to stay up after a series of miserable results, and a lifeless performance from the Blaugrana ensured the struggling side will play in Spain's top flight next year.

Barcelona had a goal ruled out early on, with Franck Kessie's short range strike being ruled out after the midfielder was caught offside in the build-up. But the Blaugrana were mostly on the back foot for the remainder of the half. And Gabri Veiga made them pay. The academy product, linked with a summer move, burst through the Barca defence and slotted the ball past Marc-Andre ter Stegen to give the home side a well-deserved 1-0 lead.

Veiga added a second for the home side after 65 minutes. The midfielder sliced a cross intended for the far post, but the floated ball flew over the keeper and into the net.

Xavi's substitutes gave Barcelona life. Ansu Fati met Ousmane Dembele's angled cross in his stride to make things tense for the home side. But the Blaugrana couldn't find a second, ensuring that Celta stayed up.

Still, though both the performance and outcome won't have pleased Xavi, their season as a whole, complete with league winners' medals, was one to remember.

GOAL rates Barcelona's players from Balaidos…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (6/10):

Almost gave away a goal when he fumbled a shot midway through the first half. Taken off after losing both clean sheet and goals conceded records.

Sergi Roberto (6/10):

A decent shift from the versatile vice-captain. He'll be a valuable squad player going forward.

Jules Kounde (4/10):

Another centre-back trial was unsuccessful. It'll be interesting to see where he plays next year.

Andreas Christensen (6/10):

Made a nice recovery tackle or two, but didn't have the legs to catch Veiga on Celta's opener. Subbed at half time.

Marcos Alonso (6/10):

Moved the ball well, but didn't offer much in the final third.

AdvertisementGettyMidfield

Eric Garcia (5/10):

Used as a pivot in Busquets' absence. Moved the ball, but didn't command spaces particularly well. Struggled defensively.

Franck Kessie (6/10):

Thought he'd grabbed a rare goal early on, but saw it ruled out. Was otherwise uninvolved.

Frenkie de Jong (6/10):

Not as effective without Busquets next to him. Still had some good moments and ensured Barcelona kept the ball.

GettyAttack

Raphinha (4/10):

Poor on the day. Looked creative in moments, but was caught offside in a key attack and picked up a silly yellow. Could be sold this summer if the right offer comes in.

Robert Lewandowski (6/10):

Starved for chances, but never stopped running.

Ferran Torres (4/10):

Difficult to see what, exactly, he offers sometimes. No surprise when he was hauled off.

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(C)GettyImagesSubs & Manager

Gavi (6/10):

Introduced at half time to add some much needed bite to midfield.

Ansu Fati (6/10):

Pulled one back to make things nervy late on. Should Barca sell him?

Ousmane Dembele (6/10):

Assisted Fati's goal. Should be first choice.

Inaki Pena (5/10):

His team conceded as soon as he entered the fray, but he could do little about it.

Pablo Torre (N/A)

No time to make an impact.

Xavi (5/10):

Went back to a 4-3-3, and his side looked a lot like a team who had already won the title. The Blaugrana created a few chances, but were poor at the back. Xavi shuffled things throughout the second half, but could not salvage anything from the game.

The Gunners barely laid a hand on Steve Cooper's side as their defeat officially handed the Premier League title to Manchester City

Arsenal's title challenge ended with a whimper as they slumped to a horrible 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening. It was a third defeat in five games for the Gunners, and one that saw Manchester City crowned Premier League champions for a fifth time in six seasons.

Mikel Arteta's side knew they needed a win at the City Ground to at least put some pressure on City ahead of their game against Chelsea on Sunday, but from the moment they fell behind to a Taiwo Awoniyi goal on 19 minutes, they never really looked like coming back.

Arteta bizarrely opted to start with Thomas Partey and Jakub Kiwior as his full-backs, and it was a move that backfired massively, with his side offering no threat from the wide positions and Forest packing the central areas as they comfortably shut the visitors out despite Arsenal having more than 80 percent possession.

Arsenal barely had a sight of goal all evening, with Bukayo Saka's tame effort from a tight angle which was comfortably saved the closest they came all evening to an equaliser.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the City Ground…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Aaron Ramsdale (5/10):

Barely had a thing to do all evening. Not at fault for the goal.

Thomas Party (3/10):

Saw a lot of the ball at right-back, but offered very little width or threat.

Ben White (3/10):

Slow in possession. Arsenal missed his overlapping runs out wide.

Gabriel Magalhaes (4/10):

Unlucky with the goal, when his clearance deflected in off Awoniyi, but looked nervy all game.

Jakub Kiwior (2/10):

Barely saw any of the ball at left-back. Should never have started there.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Jorginho (4/10):

Saw plenty of the ball but didn't do much with it. Took too many touches at times.

Granit Xhaka (3/10):

Couldn't get into the game at all, with most of Arsenal's play going down the right.

Martin Odegaard (3/10):

Gave away the ball in the build-up to Forest's goal. Couldn't get into threatening positions.

Getty ImagesAttack

Bukayo Saka (3/10):

Had one half chance in the second half, aside from that he never really threatened.

Gabriel Jesus (3/10):

Cut a frustrated figure by the end. Looks someway off his best still.

Leandro Trossard (2/10):

Scuffed one decent effort wide before half-time. No real impact.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Eddie Nketiah (4/10):

Didn't get a sniff of a chance.

Kieran Tierney (5/10):

Should have started at left-back. Damage was done by the time he came on. Did at least show some urgency.

Fabio Vieira (3/10):

No impact having come on for the final 20 minutes.

Mikel Arteta (1/10):

Really odd team selection that simply didn't work. Should have changed things at half-time.

The fastest players in the 2022-23 Champions League proper have been revealed.

Manchester City would eventually lift the trophy, but there was plenty of standout physical performances before they bested Inter in the final. There are few sights more exciting in football than a player leaving their opposite number for dead in a foot race.

And, as the Champions League is the pinnacle of the European club game, there were plenty of speedsters on display in last season's competition. But who was the fastest?

Thanks to UEFA, we have an answer to that question. Below, GOAL reveals the 11 quickest players in the 2022-23 Champions League…

Getty ImagesDominik Szoboszlai (RB Leipzig) – 35.9km/h

Szoboszlai has plenty of strings to his bow, as Liverpool fans are discovering this season. Underpinning it all is his pace, which is evidence by the 35.9km/h top speed he registered in an RB Leipzig shirt during last season's Champions League.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesRafa Silva (Benfica) – 35.9km/h

Benfica have produced some of the best young players in the world in recent years. However, their senior pros are special too. Last campaign, 30-year-old Silva proved he could still mix it with football's top athletes.

GettyKarim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund) – 36.1km/h

Chelsea won't be surprised to find Adeyemi on this list. When they met Borussia Dortmund in the last 16, Adeyemi infamously left Enzo Fernandez in the dirt to score a superb solo goal.

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Getty ImagesMoussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen) – 36.1km/h

The Premier League is the fastest division in world football. And judging by his 36.1km/h top speed, Diaby will have no issue fitting in following his big-money move to Aston Villa from Bayer Leverkusen this summer.

Lionel Messi has bemoaned the lack of recognition he got at Paris Saint-Germain after winning the World Cup with Argentina last year.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Messi won World Cup with ArgentinaWanted to show off trophy to fansFeels he deserved more recognitionWHAT HAPPENED?

Messi returned to PSG as a world champion, having fired Argentina to a final victory against France in Qatar. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner wanted to parade his trophy in the club's stadium ahead of his first game back, but the club would not let him because they feared some backlash from supporters.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Although Messi was given a guard of honour upon his return to training with the capital club, he feels he deserved more recognition, as he had seen many of his fellow Argentina heroes receive at their respective teams.

WHAT THEY SAID

"Even though I wasn't doing well at PSG, I got to be world champion there. Everything happens for a reason," he told "I was the only player from the world champions who didn't have recognition in his club."

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GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Messi left PSG in the summer after his contract expired and opted to join Inter Miami. Florida club will take on Orlando City in their next MLS game.

Arsenal's Vivianne Miedema has been included in the Netherlands' Nations League squad despite her ongoing recovery from an ACL injury.

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Miedema yet to play for Arsenal this seasonHas been out since DecemberBack in Dutch squadWHAT HAPPENED?

The Dutch are preparing to play two games against Scotland in the Nations League, on October 27 and October 31, and Miedema has been included in the squad. She is still continuing her recovery from the ACL injury she sustained last year and has not played since, but she has returned to full training with the Gunners.

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Miedema will initially train with the group before her injury is assessed by the Netherlands' medical staff. There remains the chance that she could kick a ball for the first time since December for her country, as opposed to the Gunners.

WHAT THEY SAID

Manager Andries Jonker said: "I spoke with Viv and Arsenal and looked at the possibilities. Vivianne trains with the group at Arsenal and she can also train with the group with us. If that goes well, it is possible that I use her in the group. games against Scotland."

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Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Miedema will hope to prove her fitness and get on the pitch for the Netherlands, although her club will surely be sweating on the outcome if she isn't fully fit.