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Bukayo Saka might not be enjoying his most prolific campaign in an Arsenal shirt, but the right-sided forward remains one of Mikel Arteta’s most influential and important lieutenants.

Should the first-place Gunners get their hands on the Premier League title this season, the Three Lions star will have had a defining say, driving Arsenal up and into the ascendancy over the past five years or so.

But Saka’s return this season – four goals and an assist in the league – does leave something to be desired, especially when the Londoners lack another truly clinical wide forward, someone who can score and assist week in and week out.

Bukayo Saka – Premier League Career by Season

Position

Apps

Goals + Assists

25/26

15

4 + 3

24/25

25

6 + 11

23/24

35

16 + 12

22/23

38

14 + 12

21/22

38

11 + 7

20/21

32

5 + 4

19/20

26

1 + 5

18/19

1

0 + 0

Stats via Transfermarkt

Arteta’s post-Christmas comments have underlined the club’s ambitions ahead of the January transfer window, with Arsenal certainly not against spending on the right recruit.

Arsenal's January transfer plans

Arteta has confirmed that Arsenal are ready to spend in the January transfer window. Their stance has shifted after a summer of sweeping changes, perhaps because their rivals are gearing up for some winter shopping.

Defensive injuries could see the Emirates side pounce on fresh cover, but there is also an appetite for fresh attacking quality, especially as title rivals Manchester City close in on Antoine Semenyo.

While Arsenal have shown an interest in the in-form Bournemouth star, who has scored nine goals and supplied three assists in the Premier League this season, they have not acted on their curiosity.

Perhaps technical director Andrea Berta wants to head down a shrewder route, with Sky Sports confirming that Arsenal have been scouting Jean-Mattéo Bahoya ahead of the New Year.

The Eintracht Frankfurt forward is only 20 years old, but he’s been identified as a potential superstar, with the completeness of skillset to become a major player in the Premier League.

The Bundesliga club are ready to play hardball, pricing the prospect at £71m.

Why Arsenal should sign Bahoya

Semenyo is riding the crest of a wave at the moment, but there’s every reason to believe that Bahoya has the potential to far outstrip the 26-year-old Ghana international.

The Frenchman’s natural physicality and technical quality have actually led analyst Spencer Mossman to describe him as playing “like a younger Saka”, and that bodes well for his potential in the Premier League.

Startingly fast and with a tenacious work-rate that most young forwards simply don’t boast, you can see why Bahoya is considered in the same breath as Arsenal’s talisman, actually ranking among the top 13% of positional peers in the Bundesliga for successful take-ons and the top 4% for tackles and interceptions per 90, as per FBref.

The prolific output hasn’t come yet, but he is electric, dynamic and invariably dangerous. Working under Arteta’s wing will give rise to such sharpness.

Arsenal are all about the long game, and there is a far greater chance of maximising value by signing someone of Bahoya’s ilk, rather than pushing for a star in Semenyo who has entered their prime without yet trying their hand at the highest level for a top team.

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Given that Semenyo is a boyhood Arsenal fan, and sources such as The Athletic’s David Ornstein have recently confirmed Arsenal’s admiration, it’s clear that the London club are holding fire for a reason unbeknownst to the masses.

Could it be that they are getting ready to intensify their interest in Bahoya? The France U21 international is going from strength to strength in Germany, and signing him would align with the focus on landing up-and-coming talents.

Given his Saka- and Semenyo-esque qualities, it might just be the shrewd signing to ensure a continuation of this thrilling journey under Arteta’s management.

Related Berta already plotting to sign Arsenal's next Zubimendi for Arteta

Arsenal are ready to react to opportunities in the January transfer window.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair

	Shoaib Malik is still nursing the ankle injury he suffered during the tour of India © AFP

Shoaib Malik’s ongoing battle with a troublesome ankle means he is still not a certain starter for Pakistan’s first ODI against Zimbabwe in Karachi.Malik, Pakistan’s captain, injured his ankle during a post-match football session after the Delhi Test against India in November. He subsequently sat out the remaining two Tests of the tour and though undergoing rehabilitation since then, he has still not fully recovered. He is currently taking part in a three-day training camp in Lahore as Pakistan prepare for the five-ODI series and he told reporters after the first day that he was feeling better.”My ankle is improving. I have started running and the ankle will get better over the next few days,” he said. “But if I am not 100% fit by the time the first ODI comes round, I will tell the board management.”Observers at the Pakistan camp suggest that the first ODI, on January 21, might be too soon for him. If that is the case then Pakistan will be looking for a temporary captain. Younis Khan, vice-captain in India, stood in when Malik first injured himself, but has in the past been reluctant to take on the role. Other possible options include Mohammad Yousuf and even Misbah-ul-Haq.Pakistan will be without a number of first-choice players during the series, the selectors keen instead to test new faces, particularly in the bowling department. Umar Gul and Shoaib Akhtar are out of the series due to injury – though the latter did make himself available. Mohammad Asif has yet to recover fully from surgery on a long-standing elbow problem.

Scorecard

Shane Watson, who returned for Queensland on Thursday, showed some encouraging signs with bat and ball at the Gabba © Getty Images

Shane Watson completed an encouraging day in his push to return to international duty at the World Cup, but Queensland will need more from him after another disappointing effort against Western Australia. Watson, who is appearing in a first-class game for the first time since a long-running hamstring injury, gained figures of 3 for 60 in 12 overs, including the wickets of Aaron Heal and Luke Pomersbach, as Western Australia were dismissed for 317.Queensland started their reply 178 runs behind and lost three wickets before Watson stabilised the situation with an unbeaten 23. He will resume with Craig Philipson, who is 12, on day three as the Bulls try to avoid their third outright defeat in a row at the Gabba.Ashley Noffke was the best of the Queensland bowlers with 3 for 76, but the home side was frustrated by the nightwatchman Heal, who reached 54, while Pomersbach (46) and the tail-enders also caused problems. Noffke struck twice with the second new ball to take care of Luke Ronchi and David Bandy, and James Hopes picked up two wickets. The gains were lost when Jimmy Maher, Lachlan Stevens and Clint Perren departed before stumps.

A superb spell of fast bowling from Ian Bradshaw shocked the Leewards Islands’ middle order while handing Barbados the first-innings honours on day two of the Carib Beer Series match at the Addelita Cancryn Ground at St. Thomas. Swinging the ball admirably, Bradshaw’s incisive four-wicket haul after tea was responsible for Leewards being dismissed for 258 in response to Barbados’ 360. Barbados proceeded to extend that lead to 147 while progressing to 45 for 1 at stumps.Earlier in the day, Austin Richards and Sylvester Joseph, the Barbados captain, combined to add 104 for the fourth wicket after the start of play was delayed for two hours owing to rain. Richards, unbeaten on 27 overnight, scored 64 before driving one back to Ryan Hinds, while Joseph contributed a fine 63. Bradshaw, who did not bowl in the first two hours of the day, then triggered a slide after the interval and the Leewards lost their last six wickets for 55.In a similar display of quality fast bowling, Reon King ripped through Jamaica’s batting line-up to give Guyana the upper hand at stumps at Chedwin Park in Jamaica. King’s figures of 4 for 19 from 15 probing overs of medium pace left Guyana reeling at 79 for 6 in reply to Guyana’s first-inning 314. King, 30, dismissed Chris Gayle (0), Donovan Pagon (24), David Bernard (1) and Carlton Baugh (2) in an opening spell of 12 overs.Wickets fell regularly thereafter, with Esaun Crandon gettind rid of the dangerous Marlon Samuels (9) as Jamaica were left at 48 for 6. Wavell Hinds, Jamaica’s captain, was unbeaten on 16 from 137 minutes while Gareth Breese has so far scored 12 in 101 minutes at the crease. Still 235 in arrears, Jamaica will need to get past 164 to avoid the follow-on.In the morning session, Guyana collapsed from 282 for 5 to be bowled out an hour after lunch. Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit a dogged 75 before being dismissed by Daren Powell, also a national campaigner. For Jamaica, Powell (3 for 45), Breese (3 for 66) and Jermaine Lawson (2 for 69), were the most successful bowlers.

Michael Vaughan: a break from cricket after a tough winter© Getty Images

Michael Vaughan will miss the first month of the domestic season, the England & Wales Cricket Board has announced. The ECB awarded Vaughan the break following England’s intensive winter tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa.This means he will play just two matches for his county, Yorkshire, before his England duties resume at the end of May, in the first Test against Bangladesh at Lord’s. But most other counties will be delighted by the amount of cricket their centrally contracted players will be able to play. James Anderson, who was a lost soul for much of England’s campaign, has been freed up to play in all matches for Lancashire, where he will attempt to rediscover his form and fortune.Vaughan, meanwhile, will compete for Yorkshire in the County Championship against Northamptonshire at Headingley on May 6, and will be available for their clash against Leicestershire from May 11. But then he will join his England side once more to play against Bangladesh and to compete in the Ashes series which starts in July.Some of the other centrally contracted players will also be allowed some time off. The left-arm spinner, Ashley Giles, will sit out of Warwickshire’s opener against the MCC. Steve Harmison, Andrew Strauss, Marcus Trescothick and Graham Thorpe will all concentrate on the County Championship, although they will be permitted to play in the C&G one-day tournament.It is likely that Mark Butcher will miss the start of the season after a wrist operation, but will then be available for Surrey. Andrew Flintoff, who is expected to sit out the Bangladesh Tests, can play for Lancashire once he has made a full recovery from his ankle surgery. The pace bowlers Anderson, Simon Jones and Matthew Hoggard will be available for all of their counties’ games.Availability of centrally contracted players
James Anderson
Fully available for all county cricketMark Butcher
Available once fully fitAndrew Flintoff
Available once fully fitAshley Giles
Championship matches from April 13 and C&G Trophy on May 17Steve Harmison
Championship matches and C&G Trophy on May 17Matthew Hoggard
Fully available for all county cricket from April 13Geraint Jones
Available for all county cricket from April 17Simon Jones
Fully available for all county cricketAndrew Strauss
Championship matches from April 20 and C&G Trophy on May 17Marcus Trescothick
Championship matches and C&G Trophy on May 4 and May 17Graham Thorpe
Championship matches and C&G Trophy on May 17Michael Vaughan
County championship matches on May 6, May 11 and C&G Trophy on May 17

The chief executive of Cricket Australia, James Sutherland, has gone out of his way to distance his organisation from the increasingly scandal-prone Shane Warne.Warne, who is currently serving a 12-month ban for drug misuse, has still been hogging the Australian headlines in recent weeks. He is currently embroiled in a series of murky allegations of sexual harassment, involving 16-year-old girls, exotic dancers and South African “hairy-backed sheilas” (in the immortal words of David Hookes). It is clear that Cricket Australia consider him to be a liability.”Any association [Warne] has with the Australian team at present is something I’m not comfortable with,” admitted Sutherland to the Sydney Morning Herald. “The Australian team is not going to train in Australia until the lead-in to the Perth Test [against Zimbabwe] in October, and our worlds are going to collide when they next train in Melbourne, in the lead-up to the Boxing Day Test match.”Sutherland added: “We’re clear we can’t fly him to training sessions or provide him with support in the form of direct assistance in order for him to train. We would be in breach of the sanctions in our own anti-doping policy.”Nevertheless, Warne has resumed training with his state side, Victoria, and it is only a matter of time before he is invited back into the Australian fold. “We believe it may be appropriate in certain circumstances for Shane Warne to train with the Australian team,” said Sutherland. “It’s a pretty open-ended matter. But I’m not sure what those circumstances would be, to be frank.”Warne’s 12-month ban expires in Feb 2004, and he is sure to feature heavily in the selectors’ thoughts in the coming months. But Sutherland did not envisage a swift reunion. “It needs to be something the team, coach and selectors are comfortable with. But we don’t anticipate we will invite him to train in the short run.”

BAT Sports all-rounder Damian Shirazi, recently named Southern Electric ECB Premier League Young Cricketer of the Year, is honing his skills “down under” in Sydney under the watchful eye of established Australian Test stars Geoff Lawson and Michael Slater.The Test pair are colleagues of Shirazi’s at the University of New South Wales Sydney Grade club, where the promising BAT all-rounder is spending the winter.Shirazi, who has hit a century and two half-centuries since linking up with Sydney-based BAT team-mate Dave Carson, has already picked up some bowling tips from Lawson, who spearheaded Australia’s attack in 46 Test matches in the 1980s.”Geoff is in charge of coaching at the club and has helped me quite a lot with my bowling,” explained Shirazi, who took 3-29 with his medium-pacers in a recent Sydney Second Grade match.”We don’t see that much of Michael Slater, because he’s away playing for the New South Wales State side most of the time.”But, when he comes back to play at the University some weekends, he invariably opens the batting with Dave Carson, who helped BAT win the Premier League this summer.”It’s amazing to see guys like these in your club.”Shirazi, whose ambition is to make the grade as a professional cricketer, won the prestigious Premier League Young Player award after a splendid all-round season with BAT.An ultra-competitive all-rounder, he notched 626 runs last summer, including six half-centuries, at an average of 44.71 and also picked up 15 wickets.”Damian matured a lot as a player during the summer,” praised BAT vice-captain Richard Dibden.”He works very hard at his game and is very keen to learn, which is why he’s spending the winter in a pretty demanding arena in Sydney.”I think he has the fundamentals to do very well and, because he wants to listen and develop his game, he has the chance to go further.”Shirazi, who captained England Schools in the past, has led various Hampshire YC teams, but seems to have missed out on a Hampshire contract next season.”He’ll come back in March an improved and even more determined young player,” Dibden forecast.Bournemouth left-hander Tom Webley is spending the winter on the opposite side of Australia and recently made his WACA First Grade debut for South Perth.”A totally different ball game,”Webley described his debut in the delightful Richardson Park ground alongside the Swan River.”I faced the fastest bowling of my life – I think they put in an few extra paces because I was a Pom,” added Webley, who has also done a day’s 12th man duties forWestern Australia.”I did the 12th man’s job in the Pura Cup game against Queensland at the WACA. It was an amazing experience. The place was humming with big name players, whom I’d previously only seen out here on television.”Hampshire Under-19 hopeful Steven Snell, from Ventnor, who is to join the MCC Young Cricketers staff at Lord’s next summer, is among the runs in South Africa.Although he is currently only playing in the Boland Superjuice Second Grade competition, Snell, 18, has produced a string of high scores for Hermanus.The Island teenager, who could be joining Havant next summer, chalked up 334 runs in his first six knocks, including one score of 159.Former BAT player Steve Rudkin is playing in the same Hermanus side – and been successful with his medium-pace bowling.”I’ve done a good deal of bowling since I came here from Durban, and have had two pretty useful returns – one of 7-81 and another of 6-67.”Unfortunately, my batting hasn’t been quite so successful, but I’m working hard on my technique,” Rudkin confirmed.The other local youngster playing in the Cape, Calmore’s Paul Cass, is finding it hard going in the Hermanus first team, managing only 69 runs so far.

Holders Railways sent last year’s runners-up Air India on a leatherhunt on the opening day of their three day CricInfo Trophy Nationalwomen’s cricket championship final at the Jorhat stadium in Jorhat onSaturday. After winning the toss, Railways rattled up 353 runs off89.5 overs before being all out shortly before close.Air India had the initial comfort of taking three wickets quickly.The batswomen to be dismissed were Balvir Kaur (11), Rajani Venugopal(13) and Reshma Gandhi (2) with only 65 runs scored. But then openerRajini Sharma and Hemlata Kale (32) added 54 runs for the fourthwicket off 14 overs to initiate the recovery process. Hemlata faced 57balls and hit five of them the ropes. Rajini Sharma, who anchored theinnings very well despite the early loss of wickets, finally fell inthe 42nd over. She was fifth out at 146 having scored 75 off 129 ballsinclusive of 12 fours. Deepa Kulkarni and Renu Margaret then gottogether to add 46 runs for the sixth wicket off ten overs. Renudominated the partnership scoring 34 off 38 balls with six hits to thefence. This was followed by a seventh wicket association of 47 runsoff 15 overs between Deepa and Rupanjali Shastri (23). Deepa, who wasgoing well, was now joined by Poornima Choudhury and the two increasedthe score by 54 runs during an eighth wicket partnership that lasted11.3 overs. Deepa, who had come in at 119 for four in the 36th over,was finally out with the total 293 in the 79th over. She scored 69off 127 balls with six fours.The tail now wagged to make Air India’s misery complete. Poornima andSunija Kanojia (24 off 22 balls with three fours) added 36 runs off6.3 overs. And finally Poornima and skipper and veteran Diana Edulji(11) put on 24 runs for the last wicket off five overs. Poornimaremained unbeaten with 48 off 72 balls with three fours.It was a tiring day in the field for the Air India bowlers. UshaBogade sent down 28 overs to pick up three wickets for 113. SmitaHarikrishna, skipper Poornima Rau and Seema Pujare picked up twowickets each for 41, 90 and 58 runs respectively.

It’s been an interesting last two years for Darren Bent. The England international has been tracked by Newcastle United , but the news of a possible Bent transfer has created quite a debate as to whether the 29-year-old has lost the spark he had shown in previous seasons – despite suffering a number of injuries during his time at Villa Park.

Football FanCast put together a poll asking the readers if they think that a Darren Bent transfer would be a step backwards for Newcastle and 57 per cent disagreed with that claim. So could he be the answer to the Magpies’ problems?

Bent is without a doubt a talented player – something he proved during his time at Sunderland where he scored 32 goals in 58 appearances. He also drew quite some attention in an England shirt, playing 13 times and netting four goals. He is a striker with impressive technique and good positioning, which allows him to easily end up in the right place, at the right time. He proved that after finishing the 2009-2010 season as the Premier League’s third top scorer with 24 goals. Bent in his pomp could prove to be useful for the Toon as the team only scored 45 goals in 38 Premier League games last season.

[cat_link cat=”newcastle-united” type=”list”]

Bent left for Villa in January 2011, after scoring eight goals for the Black Cats, and netted nine more for the Villans as they finished in ninth place. The next year he scored the exact same amount of goals in the Premier League but suffered a severe injury that made him miss the rest of the season since February. Injuries do take their toll on footballers both physically and mentally and can influence the rest of their career, Bent for example only managed to score three goals last season, which equates to 0.19 goals per match. Villa finished just five points away from relegation and he lost his spot to an impressive Christian Benteke. This bad year and his history of injuries is something that the Magpies will have to deal with should the striker returns to the North.

Nevertheless, when a team wants to sign a certain player the first question is always: “How much?” According to the Daily Telegraph, Aston Villa’s price on Bent equals to £8million but the Toon want to drop it down to £5million. The money could be described as too much for a player that has suffered a severe leg injury and has failed to improve ever since leaving Sunderland. Of course right now we live in a period of financial turmoil that has not changed managements’ ways of dealing with transfers, as proven by the latest Gareth Bale saga and the mythical £100million touted to be coming from Real Madrid.

This possible transfer doesn’t only hold something for the club but also for the player himself. As a former Sunderland player Bent will be greeted with expletives from disappointed and frustrated Black Cats’ fans if he joins their local rivals Newcastle. On October 29 2011, the 29-year-old striker played his first match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light and got booed every single time he got a touch on the ball. Now we could all assume that all that jeering would be doubled if he joins the Newcastle. Two years ago, the Aston Villa striker told the Daily Mail that he respects the Sunderland fans and that he owes them a lot. If he moves to Newcastle then what he said back then would count for nothing.

Truth is though; this transfer could be described as much needed from both sides. After failing to sign Lyon’s Bafetimbi Gomis, the Magpies need to bring a name quickly as Joe Kinnear, Newcastle’s new Director of Football, has not convinced the fans on his transfer abilities. We asked our readers if they thought the appointment of Kinnear was a mistake and an overwhelming 83 per cent agreed.

Bent would be a good solution as he has shown his worth in the past and managed to impress many sides, it’s no coincidence that Fulham are also interested in him. The striker wants another chance and if he joins the Toon he will be very aware that this could quite possibly be his last chance at glory. This would definitely be his last opportunity to be part of Roy Hodgson’s England side at the World Cup finals.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

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There is a lot more left in the tank for Bent and he could definitely bounce back and help Newcastle forget about their disappointing last season – hopefully resulting in a higher spot in the Premier League and a return to Europe.

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Ramnaresh Sarwan will lead defending champions Guyana in the Stanford Twenty20 tournament, starting in Antigua on January 26.Guyana’s hopes of regaining the title were given a boost by the inclusion of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who will join their 13-man squad after West Indies’ tour of South Africa comes to an end. Joining Chanderpaul will be his West Indies team-mate Sewnarine Chattergoon, who had been included in the national squad for the forthcoming ODIs in South Africa.Besides Sarwan, the squad includes seven other players who appeared in the 2007 final, when Guyana defeated Trinidad and Tobago to claim the $US 1 million top prize; the more prominent among them being vice-captian Travis Dowlin and Narsingh Deononarine.Royston Crandon, Zaheer Mohamed, and Jeremy Gordon have been named as stand-bys, while the team management consists of Albert Smith (coach) and Carl Moore (manager), both of whom were part of Guyana’s support cast in the 2007 season.Squad
Ramnaresh Sarwan (capt), Travis Dowlin (vice-captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Narsingh Deonarine, Lennox Cush, Leon Johnson, Derwin Christian, Christopher Barnwell, Esaun Crandon, Neil McGarrell, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Deon Ferrier.