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Arsenal can never make it easy for themselves.

Mikel Arteta’s side played host to Crystal Palace in the quarter-final of the League Cup on Tuesday night, with victory separating them from a two-legged semi-final with Chelsea.

However, while they looked likely to win by a wide margin in the first half, the North Londoners ended up needing penalties to get the job done.

It was a truly unusual game: while several Arsenal players put in commendable performances, a few let themselves down, including one who was even worse than the under-fire Eberechi Eze.

Arsenal's best performers vs Crystal Palace

Now, while it did almost end very badly for Arsenal, and there were a few players who let themselves down, it’s also true that the hosts were undoubtedly the better side.

One of the starters who played a massive role in the Gunners’ early dominance was Gabriel Martinelli.

The Brazilian winger rolled back the years in the first 45 minutes and looked like the dynamic game-changer who took the Premier League by storm in the 22/23 season.

Before coming off for Leandro Trossard, the 24-year-old completed three dribbles, created two big chances, played five key passes and had his opposite number on toast.

There is a strong argument to be made that he was as good as the man of the match, who happened to be William Saliba.

Martinelli vs Palace

Minutes

59′

Shots

1

Big Chances Created

2

Key Passes

5

Successful Dribbles

3

Ball Recoveries

2

Dribbled Past

0

All Stats via Sofascore

The Frenchman was brilliant on the night, constantly stepping into midfield to help with the build-up, and by the time the full whistle went, he had taken 97 touches and played 83 passes.

Moreover, while he didn’t score the goal, he played his role in it by moving one of the Palace players out of the way in the chaos preceding it.

The last two positives came in Christian Norgaard and Gabriel Jesus.

The former looked assured at the base of midfield, and while the latter was wasteful in the penalty area, he linked play brilliantly out of it.

However, while there were positives to take from Tuesday night for Arsenal, there were also a few negatives, including Eze and someone who was even more ineffective.

Arsenal's biggest underperformer vs Crystal Palace

Now, while he certainly wasn’t terrible on Tuesday night, Eze was once again fairly underwhelming.

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With Martinelli out on the left, Arteta opted to start the former Palace star in attacking midfield against his former club, and while the intent to make something happen was there, the execution was not.

It was another performance that left fans with the feeling that the 27-year-old is not someone who can run games from midfield, which doesn’t bode well for his game time, considering Martin Odegaard is back fit.

Unsurprisingly, the watching press were somewhat indifferent in their appraisals, with londonworld’s Toby Bryant awarding him just a 6/10 match rating at full-time.

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However, there was another attacking player who left an even worse impression: Noni Madueke.

Bryant awarded the Englishman a 5/10 match rating, and while that might sound harsh, it really isn’t.

Sure, the former Chelsea man showed plenty of attacking intent and should be applauded for trying to make things happen, but time and time again against the Eagles, his moves led to nothing.

Madueke vs Palace

Minutes

67′

Shots

5

Goals

0

Big Chances Missed

2

Dribbles

1

Touches

41

Lost Possession

14

Crosses (Accurate)

6 (3)

Accurate Passes

14/21 (67%)

Duels (Won)

4 (1)

All Stats via Sofascore

For example, in his 67 minutes of action, he completed just one dribble, misplaced 50% of his crosses, completed just 14 passes, lost the ball 14 times, and the fact that he took five shots without scoring a goal is a problem in and of itself.

Worse yet, Bukayo Saka replaced him and then went on to deliver 100% of his crosses and play three key passes in no time at all.

Ultimately, all that matters is that Arsenal are now in the semi-finals of the League Cup, although based on Tuesday night, Arteta should probably drop Eze and Madueke.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes

The on-going schools cricket season in Sri Lanka has been thrown into chaos as a result of the government imposing an indefinite ban on all school sports because of an escalation in the on-going war in the north against the Tamil Tigers.The ban came into effect on Wednesday when an education ministry circular announced an indefinite cessation in all school competitions. Almost immediately the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association postponed all matches. The final of the Under-13 tournament scheduled to be held at weekend will be the first casualty.The move followed a suicide bombing at the Fort Railway station in the heart of Colombo which killed several students and the coach of DS Senanayake College baseball team.This ban will seriously affect the on-going schools cricket season and also the major matches of leading schools in Colombo, including the oldest contest between Royal and St. Thomas’, St. Peter’s and St Joseph’s, and Ananda and Nalanda, which are scheduled to be played next month. The period January to first week of April is the height of the school cricket season with more than 130 schools being involved in competition around the country.The England Under-19 cricket team, which stayed back after the one-day triangular against Pakistan and Sri Lanka to play some practice matches, made a hasty departure ahead of schedule for Malaysia to take part in the Under-19 World Cup.According to the original schedule, they were not due to leave until February 9.Sri Lanka Cricket’s director of operations, Bandula Warnapura, stated: “I don’t know the exact reasons why England left earlier than schedule. They wanted one of their practice games to be rescheduled for an earlier date and we obliged them. They however played the three practice games before departure.”

Allan Border would “feel genuinely sorry” for Shoaib Akhtar if his World Cup absence was purely because of injury © Getty Images

The absence of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif from the World Cup could mean cricket avoids “another black eye”, according to Allan Border. Pakistan dropped the pair from their 15-man squad on Thursday, citing lingering injuries, but the decision came just hours after the ICC announced it could target specific players with its drug-testing at the tournament.Border said Shoaib and Asif, who tested positive to banned substances late last year and had their suspensions overturned, would cause the sport serious problems if they re-offended. “If it were to be true that it wasn’t an injury, and it turned out be something else, then it would be better for all concerned that they didn’t make the trip,” Border told .”If it was revealed at some later stage they had taken an illegal substance, then the sport doesn’t need another black eye.” Border said banned drugs had no place in cricket but he was prepared to offer Shoaib and Asif the benefit of the doubt.”I would feel genuinely sorry for both the two young blokes if that were not the case,” he said. “There has been a cloud hanging over both of them for a good while. If it is the case, it would be sad on the one hand because I believe they are both quality cricketers.”The whole cricketing world knows there has been a big question-mark over them both. It is a known fact they both had failed previous internal testing, but as we also know the Pakistan Cricket Board is not WADA-compliant.”Border said the World Cup, which begins in less than a fortnight, needed to avoid controversy to maintain its reputation. “Players who have been selected from other teams for what is cricket’s biggest tournament are there performing to the best of their ability and on a level playing field,” he said. “The bottom line here is there is no room for players who take [illegal] drugs in our game.”

‘I’m still keen to get out to India’ – Giles © Getty Images

Ashley Giles, the England left-arm spinner, has revealed that surgeons detected early signs of arthritis while operating on his hip. Giles, who withdrew from England’s tour of Pakistan after the three Tests, underwent surgery in an attempt to stimulate the new growth of cartilage in his hip.In an interview to BBC Radio Five Live, Giles said, “We thought the problem was just a bit of a tear in the cartilage but when the surgeon went in there were early signs of arthritis. I’m still keen to get out to India. When exactly that is, none of us really know. In 10 years time I don’t want to be having a hip replacement. But it’s a serious joint and (playing again too soon) it could damage it majorly. If we just give it a bit of extra time now it could do it a lot of good.”Giles, who was replaced by Ian Blackwell, the Somerset allrounder, did not rule out the possibility of returning to the squad in the latter stages of the tour. He said, “The door is still open for me to go on the tour at some point, basically because we don’t know how it’s going to react over the next couple of weeks. I’m desperate to play cricket for England but it’s better if I’m fit.”Besides Blackwell, Shaun Udal and Monty Panesar are the other spinners.Giles believes India hold the upper hand, given that that the hosts are likely to dish out turning tracks and adviced the England spinners not to get carried away. He added, “It will be tough for them because, although the wickets turn, the Indians are exceptional players of spin bowling. With the strength in our pace attack they certainly aren’t going to prepare bouncy wickets that suit those guys. In those situations you need your spinners to either hold up an end or be your strike bowlers.”

Ray Jennings: ‘I hope the players will want me to stay on’© Getty Images

Gerald Majola, the South African board’s chief executive, has confirmed that the post of national coach will be advertised for three weeks from this coming Friday (February 18). The panel that will sift through the applicants is to be named next week.Majola was less forthcoming about when the new coach would be confirmed, although it will have to be fairly soon as the contract of Ray Jennings, the present incumbent, finishes in May. “It will depend to a large extent on the candidates and the interview process,” Majola said. “We have to allow sufficient time for the panel to interview all the potential candidates and to be completely satisfied that they have appointed the best person for the job.”He also dismissed suggestions in some parts of the media that Jennings was being unfairly treated. “Ray has always been aware of the situation and understood the process of finding a long-term coach. He was well aware that he would have to apply for the full-time post along with all the other candidates if he wanted to continue in the job.”Jennings himself backed that viewpoint. “When I took the job in October, I knew what the process would be and that, should I want to continue, I would have to apply for the permanent job at the end of my tenure. If there has been any misunderstanding in this regard I regret it.”And he effectively threw his hat in the ring when he spoke of the improvements he had made, adding: “I hope the players will want me to stay on. It doesn’t help if I waste my time and energy and the people around me don’t support me. I’ll talk to the players in the next two or three weeks and ask them, because I’m still in the dark at the moment.”However, Graeme Smith, South Africa’s captain, gave Jennings lukewarm support and was quoted in some newspapers as saying he would welcome Steve Waugh in the role.”Jet [Jennings] is very important,” he observed, “but we will have wait and see what the board decides. It is a difficult situation.”

India may have had the better of the exchanges in the first Test, but Matthew Hayden showed just what might be in store for the Indians in the remaining Tests. His 99 was remarkable for the utter disdain with which he treated even the good balls. Of the 98 balls he faced, 51 of them pitched on a good length, which were dispatched for 52 runs. When the Indians pitched slightly short, though, Hayden was far less destructive: 30 balls just short of a length fetched just 12 runs.

How the Indians bowled to Hayden
Length	Balls	Runs	Scoring rate
Half-volley	8	19	237.50
Good length	51	52	101.96
Just short	30	12	40.00
Short	9	16	177.77

Ajit Agarkar was the only bowler who managed to curb the Hayden charge. As the table below shows, against the rest of the bowlers, Hayden scored at more than a run a ball.

Hayden against the Indian bowlers
	Balls	Runs	Scoring rate
Agarkar	27	19	70.37
Nehra	34	36	105.88
Zaheer	12	14	116.67
Harbhajan	20	24	120.00

Meanwhile, two wickets in the Indian second innings might have saved Nathan Bracken from being dropped for the second Test. One of those wickets was, inevitably, Virender Sehwag’s, whom Bracken has now dismissed five times in the last five innings, stretching back to the first match of the TVS Cup tournament in India. Sehwag did manage 17 runs off Bracken in the first innings, but most of those were after he was dropped in the slips off Bracken early in the piece.

Sehwag v Bracken in the last 5 innings
Balls	Runs	Dismissals	Ave
39	21	5	4.20

Queenslander Martin Love celebrated Valentines Day with a double-century as his state unearthed another pugnacious left hander with a penchant for big scores against South Australia here today.Love compiled 202 before retiring hurt with a groin complaint as the Bulls amassed 5-503 declared in their first innings in the top of the table Pura Cup clash at Adelaide Oval.In reply, the Redbacks were 1-133 at stumps on the second day after entering the encounter two points behind the Bulls on the cup table.Love was superbly supported today by newcomer Brendan Nash, a short, nimble left hander with a yearning for cross bat shots similar to that of the most famous of all Queensland lefties, Allan Border.Nash recorded his maiden first-class century and then flayed a Redbacks bowling attack which wilted in 38 degree heat before finally being dismissed for 157.Love and Nash featured in a 296-run partnership for the third wicket – a record for any Queensland pair against SA – that only ended when Love limped injured from the field.The Bulls veteran came to the crease yesterday after his side lost a wicket on the first ball of the match and departed 521 minutes later with Queensland in complete control at 2-434.Love’s innings was punctuated by majestic strokeplay that returned 21 fours, complemented by some late big hitting from Nash (15 fours, two sixes).The Redbacks replied with haste on a perfect batting pitch, rattling up their initial 50 in just 45 minutes as opener Ben Johnson cut loose.But Johnson lost momentum after reaching his half-century – he was dropped on 50 by acting Bulls skipper Jimmy Maher at first slip from Ashley Noffke’s bowling and then bowled by Joe Dawes two runs later.Johnson’s fellow opener David Fitzgerald posted his half-century late in the day and was not out 59 at stumps, but SA’s hopes again hinge largely on the contribution of acting captain Greg Blewett (17 not out).

Robin Smith reversed the fortunes of a disappointing season to raise Hampshire’s hopes of securing a place in the final of the NatWest Trophy final at Edgbaston this afternoon.Opening the batting for the first time this season, the Hampshire skipper made a quick and purposeful 61 as his side launched a strong reply to Warwickshire’s 50 overs total of 262 for four.He batted with John Stephenson who was happy to play second fiddle to the impatient Smith and together the pair scored at more than five an over for the first 13 overs, scoring at a higher rate than Warwickshire had at the same stage before them.But with the score on 66, Stephenson attempted to hook Dougie Brown and mistimed the ball sending it high to square leg where Michael Powell took the catch.Smith, who’s highest score in NatWest cricket this year was 23, was unruffled and progressed stylishly to his 50. It came from 58 balls and included eight fours, most of them the trademark square cuts that made him one of England’s most effective players at the start of the last decade.But in the 23rd over, Smith was bamboozled by the introduction of two spin bowlers into the attack who exploited his weakness for the turning slower ball and it was Neil Smith, the skipper who captured him with a ball that pitched outside the off-stump and turned neatly, bowling Smith through the gate.The score was 102 for two and with Hampshire’s batting their principal problem area this year, the game instantly swung back in Warwickshire’s favour for the first time since the innings started.Giles White went four overs later caught at deep mid wicket by Nick Knight to beome Smith’s second victim of the innings leaving Hampshire on 121 for three and with plenty still to do.

Even if Mitchell Johnson’s fiery burst at England on day two at Lord’s drew comparisons with his series-defining spell on the corresponding day at Brisbane in 2013, the bowler himself felt it was just another day at the office.Lord’s was a place of unfinished business for Johnson, following his horrid display here in 2009, but it is his more robust mental approach and greater consistency that he was able to prosper this afternoon. While Johnson struggled for wickets in Cardiff, he did not think he was far away. At Lord’s that confidence was borne out by a spell that had him ripping through Gary Ballance and, most importantly, Joe Root.”I’ve felt like the 2013-2014 me since that day really,” he said of Brisbane a little under two years ago. “Nothing has changed for me. I feel like since then I’ve bowled really well throughout that period. There has been times where I’ve been a bit flat maybe and haven’t bowled 150 clicks but I’m still trying to hit the wicket hard and bowl a good rhythm.”The ball has been swinging over here which has been amazing. When the ball is swinging at good pace it makes it more difficult. I don’t feel like a lot has changed for me, to be honest. You come up in different conditions against different players. The thing that I enjoyed about my training here was I was able to get out there in the middle and bowl a fair bit. I did that the other day and that gave me a lot of confidence coming into this Test.”Knowing that I’ve done the work and I’ve bowled here – yeah it probably wasn’t my best performance but I’ve grown a lot since then and I’ve bowled on a lot of different wickets that haven’t suited my bowling. I felt like I bowled well in the first Test so I wasn’t thinking about anything else but going out there and doing the best job that I can for my country. It’s nice to have those runs on the board when you go out there as a bowler. It definitely helps with the confidence side of things.”Mitchell Johnson played a central role as England fell to 30 for 4•Getty Images

Bowling with plenty of runs to defend made a big difference to Australia’s attack but also to England’s batsmen, who had heavier legs from near enough to two days of chasing balls struck by Chris Rogers and Steven Smith. Johnson said that his team-mates had also worked in more effective partnerships in the 29 overs they had in the run up to stumps.”I don’t think we bowled well in partnerships throughout that first Test,” he said. “That’s what the difference probably was, here we were able to work together as a team and get the ball up there nice and full and straight. That’s probably the big difference as well. I guess when there’s a few runs on the board it gives the team a bit of confidence and we were able to go out there and play aggressive cricket, which is the way we normally play.”You’ve always got to be confident that you can get something out of the wicket. I wasn’t concerned about seeing all the runs that were scored. When you do see runs on the board it does give you confidence as a bowling group. We had a few overs at them so we were just out there to try and get a few quick wickets. We were able to do that.”I find that in these conditions here, the overcast conditions, the ball definitely swings. But also we were able to use the slope as well. I know when I went out there to bat today and Mark Wood was bowling, the ball wasn’t swinging but just going down that slope … it felt like it was a bit different to a normal wicket. Once that ball stops swinging for us, we’ve got to be smart and use the slope.”As for England, Johnson enjoyed the fact the batsmen felt compelled by their new spirit of aggression to go after the ball even as it was new and swinging. Root’s dismissal, trying to play a forcing shot before he had his bearings, showed how some days it will work for the young Yorkshireman and others it will not.”We were hoping they were going to come out and play their aggressive brand that they’ve been talking about,” Johnson said. “We hope they come out tomorrow and do the same thing. Stokes is a very aggressive player anyway. We’d like to see him play some shots tomorrow morning and hopefully we can get a couple of quick wickets in the morning.”It’s day two, there’s a lot of hard work in this Test for us. We’re one-nil down in the series but we’ve definitely got that confidence at the moment with the runs and a few early wickets but we just need to keep working hard at it.”

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte is prioritising a move for Lautaro Martinez ahead of Paulo Dybala in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian publication Tuttosport (via Sport Witness), who claim that the Spurs manager has decided the Inter Milan centre-forward is his preferred target at the end of the current campaign, with the 52-year-old said to have shelved his interest in a move for the soon to be out of contract Juventus forward as a result.

Conte can forget Dybala with Martinez

While it is true that a move for Dybala would more than likely be the cheaper option of the two signings, it is not difficult to understand why Conte would prefer to land Martinez ahead of the Juventus playmaker.

Firstly, the £63m-rated striker and the Tottenham boss already have a relationship, with the 24-year-old having scored an extremely impressive 40 goals and registered 19 assists over his 97 appearances under Conte at Inter Milan.

Secondly, 17 of these goals and ten of these assists came in the Nerazzurri’s Scudetto-winning campaign last time out, with the €125k-per-week (£105k-per-week) forward proving to be a key player in the Italian’s first-team squad.

Indeed, over the Argentina international’s 38 league outings in 2020/21, the player who Roberto Rojas dubbed an “absolute goal machine” averaged an incredibly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.17, ranking him as the Inter’s third-best player.

Furthermore, Tottenham’s need for a new centre-forward is much greater than their need for another attacking midfielder or winger, as, should the £220k-per-week Dybala indeed go on to join Spurs, he would be fighting with the likes of Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski, Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn for a starting spot in Conte’s side.

Lastly, considering the fact that Martinez is four years Dybala’s junior, the former is certain to have a much greater resale value further down the line.

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As such, it would indeed appear wise for Tottenham to prioritise a move for the £70m Inter sensation ahead of the Juventus man who Antonio Cassano claimed is “not a champion” and “does not make the difference” this summer, as Martinez very much looks to be a much better fit for Conte’s side in almost every department.

AND in other news: Huge blow: Alasdair Gold reveals fresh Spurs development, Antonio Conte will be fuming