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Liverpool manager Arne Slot has instructed his players to adapt to dealing with "long balls" as the Reds aim to end their dismal run of form in the 2025-26 campaign. The reigning champions have lost their last three Premier League games against Crystal Palace, Chelsea, and Manchester United, as they have dropped to third position in the league table.

• Liverpool look to end Premier League slump after Eintracht win

  Liverpool started their title defence campaign as they won seven matches in a row across all competitions, including five in the Premier League. However, their form suddenly took a dip by the end of September. The Reds went on to lose three back-to-back Premier League matches, including their latest loss 2-1 defeat to rivals Manchester United at Anfield, a feat the Red Devils achieved after nine years.  In between, they had also lost to Galatasaray in the Champions League.

  The English champions, though, have now finally ended their losing streak with a thumping 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League. Following the morale-boosting victory, Slot has now urged his players to try and learn to defend against "long balls" and end their misery in the league.   

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  Slot points out difference between this season the last

  Speaking to reporters, the Dutchman said: "The main difference between this season and last season is the playing styles we face. I've looked when we had a few days off at how many long balls we already had to defend – 178 in seven games and then United came and we had to defend 59 long balls. That's different from the first half of last season. The way to unlock it is a moment of magic, which we had in the first half of last season a lot with Mo [Salah], or a set-piece, which we had at Frankfurt as well, because that again was a low block. But two set-pieces unlocked the game for us. 

  "So, this is what I try to explain to them [the players] and what I try to explain to the media. What I try to do after the game, it was actually more of a compliment for the other manager that he found the right answer to our playing style."

  He added: "But at a certain moment, it's so clear, everybody does this. And even now I've heard that when we played Frankfurt, there were talks between their staff and Glasner and he explained to them their way of playing, which is normal that these things happen."

• 'We have to adjust'

  Slot added: "We have to adjust, and that's what we've tried to do. That's also what I've told the players, and I can say this here as well. The last two times we faced a 5-4-1 against Palace and against United, we've created more chances than we did every single time we faced a 5-4-1 last season, with a low block. And the reason for that is that we've tried to adjust a few things in our playing style as well, and against Frankfurt we again faced a 5-4-1, where I adjusted maybe even more.

  "But that's not to say that was the reason that we created so much, because we created already a lot against United and against Palace as well. So, yeah, we have to find answers to that, and we're not the first team that this happens. City experienced this for so many years. They are very, very good at playing in these tight spaces, and this is something we need to do even better than we already do."    

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  Slot had bizareely branded Man Utd a 'long-ball team'

  Slot understandably frustrated after the loss at home against a struggling United side but instead of accepting his team's flaws, the Dutch coach bizarrely labelled the Red Devils as a 'long-ball team'. In a chat with BBC Match of the Day after the game at Anfield, Slot had said: "It is always difficult to play against a team that defends in a low block and mainly plays the long ball. It makes it even more difficult when you go one down after one minute when one of our players are on the floor. If you would have told me before the game that against the low block, against so many long balls, that we would have created as many chances as we did I would have not expected us to lose. But that is what we did. We had enough chances to score more than one goal, but on the other hand, again conceding two and one of the two was the set piece."

  The champions will be back in action in the Premier League on Saturday as they take on Brentford away from home.   

Nottingham Forest are now into their fourth season of Premier League football after qualifiying for the Europa League during the 2024/25 campaign.

The Reds do fork out an eye-catching amount when it comes to salaries, though. In fact, their annual payroll stands at £93,210,000 with an average yearly wage for a first team player standing at just under £3m. Here’s Nottingham Forest’s best-paid players from the 2025/26 season. All earnings are based on reports via Capology.

Disclaimer – only the club and the players themselves truly know their wages, so take each of these figures as you will.

Here's a detailed look at Nottingham Forest's top 10 earners…

10

Dilane Bakwa

£70,000 per week

One of many to sign for Nottingham Forest in 2025, Dilane Bakwa arrived at the City Ground after impressing in France with Strasbourg.

The winger signed a five-year deal with the Reds on deadline day, earning £3.64m a season.

9

Murillo

£75,000 per week

Murillo has proven to be an excellent signing for Nottingham Forest after joining back in 2023.

A number of European giants were circling for the Brazilian defender, however, he signed a new improved five-year deal to stay with Forest in 2025.

8

Ibrahim Sangare

£75,000 per week

Ibrahim Sangare was Forest’s record signing when he joined from PSV Eindhoven in 2023, signing a five-year deal worth £75,000 per week.

The Ivory Coast international only made 17 Premier League appearances in his first full campaign and 13 in his second season, though.

7

Dan Ndoye

£85,000 per week

Dan Ndoye signed for Nottingham Forest from Serie A side Bologna after the Reds qualified for the Europa League.

Costing around £34m, the Switzerland international signed a five-year deal and is in line to recieve a total of £22.1m in wages during his time at the club.

6

Callum Hudson-Odoi

£90,000 per week

Winger Callum Hudson-Odoi also picks up an eye-catching £90,000 per week, with Forest landing the attacker from Chelsea for an initial £3m in 2023.

That has proven to be a shrewd signing so far, with the Englishman chipping in with numerous goals and assists with his direct play.

5

Chris Wood

£90,000 per week

Chris Wood initially joined on loan from Newcastle United in 2023, with that move becoming permanent months later after Forest remained in the Premier League.

The New Zealand international has used all of his experience to become first choice and is now the club’s all-time record scorer in the Premier League.

4

Nikola Milenkovic

£105,000 per week

2024 signing Nikola Milenkovic swapped Fiorentina for Forest and was a regular during his first season at the City Ground alongside Murillo.

The Serbia international is under contract until 2029.

3

Morgan Gibbs-White

£110,000 per week

Arguably one of Nottingham Forest’s most important players, Morgan Gibbs-White has gone from strength to strength after swapping Wolves for Forest following the club’s promotion to the Premier League.

He nearly signed for Tottenham in 2025, however, at the last minute, signed a new improved contract at the City Ground on £110,000 per week.

2

Oleksandr Zinchenko

£120,000 per week

Oleksandr Zinchenko signed for Forest late in the 2025 summer transfer window after the club submitted a deal sheet just before the deadline.

The Ukraine international is on a season-long loan from Arsenal, with Forest paying him over £6m in wages for the year.

1

Douglas Luiz

£135,000 per week

Another loanee at the City Ground and Nottingham Forest’s top earner is midfielder Douglas Luiz, who will pick up more than £7m in wages from the Reds.

The Brazilian made the move back to the Premier League from Juventus, and there is an obligation to make a move permanent if conditions are met.

Sheffield Wednesday fans have been urged to show their support and help the club survive following distressing news the Owls have been placed into administration. The four-times English champions will now be handed a damaging points deduction, which will leave the club on MINUS six points. The devastating development comes following years of mismanagement from owner Dejphon Chansiri.

• Writing on the wall for Wednesday

  Chansiri's management of the Yorkshire club has led to repeated transfer embargoes, points deductions, and unpaid player and staff wages. Adding to the financial instability, he controversially sold Hillsborough stadium to a separate company which he also owns, all while facing claims that he underinvested in the ground's maintenance. High manager turnover and refusing multiple takeover bids by demanding an unrealistic £100 million ($133m) asking price have further highlighted the instability and lack of viable alternatives under his leadership.

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  Dark cloud hanging over Sheffield giants

  News of Wednesday's administration has been met with sadness, particularly from fans who have long protested against Chansiri's ownership. Joint-administrator Kris Wigfield, a Wednesday fan himself, said: "The joint administrators have taken over the running of the club with immediate effect to protect the interests of creditors, and to ensure Sheffield Wednesday can continue operating while we seek a new owner as swiftly as possible. Like many football clubs, it has been trading at a significant loss for several years, with those losses historically funded by the former owner Mr Chansiri, who was no longer willing to provide that financial support. While the recent fan boycott has not directly caused the insolvency, it has increased financial pressure on the club. As a result, the owner has chosen to place the club into administration. 

• Plea to fans to fill Hillsborough

  Wigfield said: "Supporters are the backbone of any football club. The money they spend at the gate and in the ground is vital. I’ve been a season ticket holder since 1984 and know first-hand the passion of this fanbase. Now, more than ever, we need fans back in the ground – buying tickets, merchandise, pies and pints. Every penny spent will go directly to supporting the day-to-day running of this club, not to the former owner or professional costs. This will help stabilise the club while we secure a suitable buyer."

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  Bleak future for Owls

  When a football club goes into administration, an administrator takes control of its finances and day-to-day operations. The administrator's primary goal is to find a buyer or restructure the club's debts to prevent liquidation, potentially by selling off assets like players. The EFL imposes an immediate points deduction, but the club is protected from legal action by its creditors during this process. The long-term outcome depends on whether a suitable buyer is found and a financial agreement is reached with creditors. 

  While the future is uncertain, one thing that is guaranteed is a full house and a raucous atmosphere at Hillsborough for the visit of Oxford United on Saturday. 

  Another of the joint administrators, Paul Stanley, said: "There should be no interruption to the fixture schedule and we are in close contact with the EFL to ensure that the effects of this administration on the employees, supporters, the community and the players are minimised as far as possible.

  "Sheffield Wednesday is a massive, historic club with a loyal fan base in a city that lives and breathes football. If more fans return to Hillsborough, the club can cover its day-to-day costs and move towards a viable sale to a new ownership capable of restoring long-term stability. With the right ownership structure, we are confident that the club has a bright future and will meet all EFL regulatory obligations."

Wayne Rooney has revealed that former Manchester United teammate Carlos Tevez was his favourite strike partner at Old Trafford, snubbing Cristiano Ronaldo. The Red Devils legend said he shared a 'special connection' with Tevez during their two seasons together, describing their aggressive, hard-working style as the perfect blend that made them a nightmare for defenders.

• Rooney names Tevez as his best strike partner at Man Utd

  Rooney has opened up about his favourite attacking partnership during his Manchester United career, naming Tevez as the player he most enjoyed playing alongside. The former England captain shared the pitch with a host of world-class forwards under Sir Alex Ferguson, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Dimitar Berbatov, Robin van Persie, Louis Saha and Javier Hernandez. However, when asked who complemented him best, Rooney pointed to Tevez’s relentless work rate, aggression and understanding as the qualities that made their partnership click.

  Rooney and Tevez spearheaded United’s attack between 2007 and 2009, forming a dynamic duo alongside Ronaldo that helped deliver two Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League trophy. The pair combined for 47 goals during that spell, embodying Ferguson’s philosophy of intensity and fluidity in attack. Though Ronaldo’s brilliance often stole the headlines, Rooney insists it was Tevez who brought out the best in his own game.

  Tevez, who joined United on loan from West Ham in 2007, instantly struck up a connection with Rooney through their shared energy and tenacity on the pitch. Their ability to interchange positions and press defenders from the front made them one of the Premier League’s most feared strike pairings. 

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  Man Utd legend explains why he and Tevez clicked so well

  Speaking on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show, the United legend said: “Tevez, I really enjoyed playing with Carlos and I enjoyed playing with all of them, but with Carlos, there was a big thing in the papers when we were signing him saying that the two of us [were] too similar [and] we couldn’t play together.”

  “And yeah, I think for the both of us, that really like, you know, we were like, ‘Okay, we’ll show you and stuff [like that],’ and we were aggressive and we worked hard and tackled as well, but then bounced off each other.”

  “One of us plays the [No] 9, the other is a [No] 10 and we change it up and yeah, so he was definitely the favourite one to play with.”

  Rooney’s remarks highlight how his chemistry with Tevez went beyond goals or statistics. Instead, it was built on mutual understanding, unselfish movement, and an unwavering desire to outwork the opposition. While Ronaldo dazzled with his individual brilliance, Rooney’s bond with Tevez was rooted in shared effort and relentless pressing – qualities that made them inseparable on the pitch

• Rooney and Tevez once formed a formidable partnership

  The Rooney-Tevez partnership was short-lived but unforgettable. Both players brought a similar intensity that made Manchester United’s attack uniquely ferocious. Their aggression, energy, and ability to constantly swap roles left defenders guessing, while Ronaldo’s presence added a devastating third dimension.

  Rooney and Tevez complemented each other perfectly because neither was a traditional number nine. Both enjoyed dropping deep to link play, drifting wide to create space, and pressing from the front to recover possession. Their chemistry was instinctive – a reflection of their working-class footballing roots and shared hunger to prove critics wrong after early doubts about their compatibility.

  Reflecting on his time as a central striker under Ferguson, Rooney also admitted he sometimes found the role less enjoyable despite his prolific form. “I had two seasons when I played as the No 9, scored 34 goals in both but I was bored,” he explained. “I liked to play football and be involved in the game… I was scoring goals and we were winning games, but I wanted to get involved.”

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  Tevez and Rooney's differing paths post Old Trafford

  Rooney’s admiration for Tevez serves as a reminder of an era when Manchester United’s attack embodied work ethic as much as flair. While Ronaldo’s legacy as one of the greatest players in history is undisputed, Rooney’s reflections shed light on how footballing chemistry isn’t always about star power. Their partnership remains one of the most iconic in Premier League history precisely because of that mix.

  For Tevez, who went on to represent Manchester City, Juventus, Boca Juniors and Shanghai Shenhua before retiring in 2022, the bond with Rooney remains one of the defining periods of his career.

West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo is arguably in dire need of a proven goalscorer to lead his forward line, amid doubts surrounding Niclas Füllkrug and Callum Wilson.

West Ham identify attacking targets for January

Only Nottingham Forest and bottom side Wolves have scored fewer Premier League goals than West Ham so far, with the Hammers alongside Aston Villa and Newcastle as the division’s second-lowest scorers so far.

Following an injury-ridden and all-round lacklustre career at the London Stadium since his move from Borussia Dortmund, despite flashes of occasional brilliance, West Ham brought another injury-prone striker in Callum Wilson to Rush Green on a free transfer to back up the German.

The former Newcastle favourite, who had a habit of scoring against West Ham, is off the mark for his new club after bagging an injury-time goal in their 3-0 win away to Nottingham Forest just prior to the September international break.

Since Nuno’s arrival, the Portuguese has elected to go with Fullkrug as the club’s starting number nine — perhaps hoping he can eventually inspire a Chris Wood-level resurgence from the 32-year-old, who racked up 16 goals in all competitions in his last season at Dortmund.

However, given both Wilson and Fullkrug’s torrid injury records, it is hardly prudent to rely on either of them ahead of what will be a long 2025/2026 campaign where the Hammers could be fighting relegation.

January represents an opportunity for West Ham to back Nuno with another centre-forward who can ease the burden on Fullkrug and Wilson, with the Irons believed to be interested in Man United’s Joshua Zirkzee as an option heading into the winter window.

Another very intriguing potential target is also beginning to resurface — Real Madrid starlet Endrick.

The 19-year-old is yet to play a single minute for Xabi Alonso this season, having missed the early part of 2025/2026 with thigh problems, and he’s been an unused substitute in all of their last five games.

Endrick, signed from Palmeiras for around £53 million, has reportedly been subject to an approach from West Ham who could look to sign the Brazil international on loan in January.

West Ham chances of signing Endrick alive for January

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, in an interview with Hammers News, Endrick was open to joining the East Londoners on a temporary deal last January, and the possibility of this happening at the turn of the year still cannot be ruled out.

Endrick, who was once widely regarded as one of the brightest attacking talents in world football, made headlines with his electrifying performances at Palmeiras before his high-profile transfer to Real Madrid.

However, despite his evident skill and potential, breaking into Real’s star-studded first team is a daunting challenge for any teenager, especially in a squad packed with established global superstars.

A loan spell at West Ham would offer the striker a perfect platform to gain valuable experience in a competitive environment on the world’s biggest stage playing Premier League football.

For Nuno’s side, securing a prospect of Endrick’s caliber would bolster their attacking options and inject much-needed creativity into their squad at zero cost — making the move an attractive one for both parties.

The San Diego Padres had a blast Sunday night while blowing out the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the NLDS. They made some history along the way, too.

The Padres crushed six home runs in a 10–2 win at Dodger Stadium. Those six home runs tied the MLB postseason record for a single game. But, they became the first team in MLB playoff history to hit six home runs on the road.

The other teams to hit six home runs in a single postseason game were the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 of the 2023 NLDS against the Atlanta Braves, and the 2015 Chicago Cubs in Game 3 of the NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals. Both teams were at home. And both wound up winning those series.

All six home runs are below.

1. Fernando Tatis

2. David Peralta

3. Jackson Merrill

4. Xander Bogaerts

5. Kyle Higashioka

6. Fernando Tatis Jr. (again)

Quite an onslaught from the Padres in a game that got really chippy and even downright ugly at times.

The series is now tied 1–1. Game 3 will be on Tuesday at 9:08 p.m. ET at Petco Park in San Diego.

Manchester City defender Nathan Ake is now open to leaving the Etihad Stadium in the January transfer window, with the Premier League giants setting his price tag.

The Dutchman has been a fantastic servant for the Citizens since arriving from Bournemouth back in 2020, winning four Premier League titles and one Champions League crown, among other trophies.

That said, the 30-year-old has seen his playing time become more limited under Pep Guardiola this season, making only one start in the league, as well as making four substitute appearances in the competition.

Ake is now into the final two years of his current deal at City, with his contract running until the summer of 2027, so there are decisions to be made by both him and the club.

The Sky Blues may want to cash in on him while they still have time, assuming they don’t see a long-term future for him, and the player himself will no doubt like the idea of enjoying more regular playing time.

Ake wants to leave as Man City set £31m price tag

According to Caught Offside, the battle to sign Manchester City ace Ake is hotting up ahead of the January transfer window, with Inter Milan, Juventus and Crystal Palace all mentioned as options.

It is claimed that the Citizens are open to a deal and want as much as £31m for the Netherlands international. Ake wants to be earning more minutes ahead of the 2026 World Cup and is looking to leave the club in January.

It does feel as though Ake’s time at City is reaching its natural conclusion, during a period in which so many members of the club’s title-winning sides have moved on, not least Kevin De Bruyne earlier this year.

The centre-back is understandably open to the idea of a fresh challenge, given Guardiola’s current stance on him, even though the Spaniard has lauded him as “incredible” in the past.

If Ake does leave City, he will be remembered as a great servant who has done so much for the cause in the past five years, with his ability to thrive at both centre-back and left-back proving to be priceless.

Whoever does potentially sign will be getting an excellent player who still has plenty to offer in his career, with Guardiola also saying of him: “I don’t think you can ever find a single teammate of his who has anything bad to say about him. Both at his clubs and with the Dutch national team. He’s very competitive and I wish he could play a season without injuries, but sometimes you run into those kinds of things. I adore him as a person and as a player.”

Man City ready bid for Vinicius Jr as feelings at Real Madrid are revealed

He is one of the best players in the world.

By
Henry Jackson

Nov 2, 2025

From City’s point of view, if they can get as much as £31m for a player in his 30s, it would have to be considered good business, and they could then bring in a younger replacement instead.

Is Nathan Ake one of Man City's 10 highest-earning players?

Following a court decision in his favour, Anwar El Ghazi issued a brutal statement denouncing Mainz, who have been ordered to pay his full salary after the unlawful termination of his contract in 2023 over pro-Palestinian comments on social media. El Ghazi described the Bundesliga club’s stance as “baseless” and “nonsensical,” further branding them “serial losers” and “deluded.”

• Mainz lose court appeal against El Ghazi

  Bundesliga outfit Mainz have lost their legal battle against former player El Ghazi, after the Rhineland-Palatinate State Labour Court rejected the club's latest appeal. The court ruled that El Ghazi, whose contract was terminated at the end of 2023 due to controversial pro-Palestine posts on social media, is obliged to receive his salary in full, upholding an earlier ruling from July 2024. The court also determined that El Ghazi’s right to freedom of expression outweighed Mainz’s grounds for terminating his contract.

  The former Netherlands international received the €1.5 million compensation – his wages from November 2023 to July 2024 – ordered by the court in August 2024. Mainz appealed in an attempt to reclaim that money, but the appeal has been swiftly rejected.

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  Why did Mainz terminate El Ghazi's contract?

  It all started in October 2023, when El Ghazi posted about the Israel-Gaza conflict on Instagram. "This isn't a conflict and it's not war. This is genocide and mass destruction and we're witnessing it happen live. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," El Ghazi wrote in one of his social media posts immediate after the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Mainz suspended him after his post and released a statement claiming that El Ghazi had expressed remorse and apologised for his comment. However, the player swiftly refuted this in a subsequent post, claiming that he did not "regret" or "distance himself" from his initial words. Following the dispute, Mainz terminated El Ghazi’s contract unilaterally, prompting the 30-year-old to file a lawsuit in a Palatinate district labor court.

• El Ghazi makes a mockery of Mainz after winning legal battle

  Taking to Instagram on Thursday, El Ghazi wrote: "Another day, another hearing, another appeal but still the same old outcome; a loss for FSV Mainz 05. Regular defeats on the football pitch clearly aren’t enough for the board of the club so they keep coming back for more losses in the German courts!

  "I am grateful to the German courts for serving justice and seeing through the baseless and nonsensical claims of the club.

  "Let me be clear, the statement from the serial losers FSV Mainz 05 following their latest defeat is as deluded as their entire dealings and proceedings against me. I have never had, nor will I ever have, any consensus with any person or organisation which seeks to silence those standing for justice and humanity. My values can never align with any organisation whose values and convictions are to blindly stand with those accused of flagrantly breaching International law and perpetrating genocide.

  "No one is above the law. Let this latest victory send a loud and clear to message to the warmongers, their accomplices and the deluded board members of FSV Mainz 05; you cannot, and will not, silence the voices of the Palestinians and their advocates. Viva Palestina!!!"

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  Mainz do not regret their actions

  Following the verdict of the court, Mainz chairman and CEO Stefan Hofmann issued a statement accepting the ruling. He did, however, add that they will take the same actions with "individuals whose statements and actions fundamentally contradict" the values and beliefs of the club.

  “We have to accept the court’s decision that the conduct of our employee following the heinous Hamas attack in 2023 did not constitute sufficient grounds for immediate termination," said Hofmann. “However, we stand firmly by our position: based on the values and principles that define Mainz 05, there can be no future employment for individuals whose statements or actions fundamentally contradict them.”

  As for El Ghazi, he spent the 2024-25 season at Championship side Cardiff City, making 27 appearances and scoring three goals after signing a one-year deal with the English outfit. Over the summer, he joined Al-Sailiya in the Qatar Stars League. The former Ajax, Lille, Aston Villa, Everton, and PSV winger is tied to the club until June 2027.

The Oakland Athletics made a splash on Thursday, agreeing to a franchise-record contract with free agent starting pitcher Luis Severino according to multiple reports. ESPN's Jeff Passan was first to report the news.

Severino's deal spans three years and is worth $67 million, the largest total value contract in franchise history, according to . The deal includes an opt-out after the second season. Oakland, with the lowest payroll in MLB at $62,132,581, reportedly has designs on increasing that number into the $100 million range, as Passan noted.

The A's entered free agency in search of starting pitching after fielding a rotation with just three hurlers who exceeded the 100-inning mark. In Severino, Oakland lands a dependable starter with nine years of MLB experience.

Finishing third in the American League Cy Young Award race in 2017 as a member of the New York Yankees, Severino was once regarded as an ace. However, the Dominican Republic native was plagued by shoulder and elbow injuries, which ultimately brought about the end of his eight-year (2015 to '23) tenure in the Bronx.

Severino then inked a one-year deal with the Mets in November of '23—and authored a bounce-back season. He pitched to a 3.91 ERA while striking out 161 batters in 182 innings, helping the Mets reach the National League Championship Series.

Oakland, which will play in a minor-league ballpark in Sacramento for the next three seasons before its planned move to Las Vegas, now has a veteran righthander atop its rotation, as well as a key building block as it looks to bolster the seventh-youngest roster in MLB.

A major injury update has now emerged on Gabriel ahead of the North London Derby, with Arsenal set to host Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The Gunners are currently sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League table, four points clear of nearest-rival Manchester City, but injuries once again risk derailing their title charge, with Mikel Arteta being forced to contend with a number of setbacks already this season.

Noni Madueke, Martin Odegaard, Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz have all spent time on the sidelines in recent weeks, and there has been more bad news during the international break, with defender Riccardo Calafiori being forced to drop out of the Italy squad.

Fortunately, Calafiori is expected to be available for the big game against Tottenham at the weekend, but a more concerning injury update has now emerged on one of Arteta’s other key players.

Gabriel now a major doubt for North London Derby

As reported by The Guardian, Gabriel is now a major doubt for the North London Derby, with recent scans revealing the defender suffered a thigh injury on international duty with Brazil, and there are concerns he may be facing a prolonged spell on the sidelines.

The 27-year-old has returned to London for treatment, having not travelled with Brazil for their upcoming friendly against Tunisia, with the Gunners planning to take their time to assess the extent of the injury.

There are concerns the Brazil international could be sidelined during a busy period, with a number of tough fixtures on the horizon for Arteta’s side over the next few weeks.

Should the centre-back be unavailable for quite some time, it would be a major blow for Arteta, given that he has been one of the manager’s key players so far this season, with the Spaniard saying: “I adore Gabriel: his attitude, his commitment, his positivity, what he’s willing to do for the team.”

The £150k-a-week defender has formed a formidable partnership with William Saliba at the heart of defence, with the Gunners shipping just five goals in the Premier League this term, the fewest of any side.

That said, Piero Hincapie has proven he could be a solid replacement for Gabriel, having impressed in the 2-0 EFL Cup triumph against Brighton & Hove Albion, receiving an 8.2 SofaScore match rating, the highest of any player, after winning six duels and recording a 94% pass-completion rate.

Gabriel has been named as one of the best centre-backs in the world

The Best 15 Centre-Backs in World Football Ranked (2025)

Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk is one of the best defenders in the world.

By
Charlie Smith

Nov 20, 2025