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The Pakistan pacer is expected to be out of action for at least six months as a result of the injury

Umar Farooq04-Nov-2017Usman Khan, the Pakistan left-arm pacer, has been diagnosed with a stress fracture of the back in what is a career-threatening blow. The 23-year-old bowler, who had stunned Sri Lanka with figures of 5 for 34 in just his second ODI two weeks ago, will be out of action for at least six months as a result of the injury.He picked up the injury after second T20 against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, and missed the final game of the tour – the landmark T20 in Lahore. Medical screening confirmed lumbar-bone stress in his back. He had struggled with the same injury in the early days of his career, in 2013, after making debuting for Pakistan in T20 cricket. He has sustained back injuries twice before and missed a major chunk of season of 2014-15 as a result. “It is disappointing but this [course of treatment] will give him the best chance of recovering as quickly as possible,” Mickey Arthur, the Pakistan head coach, told ESPNcricinfo.Usman was brought into the ODI side for the Sri Lanka series after Mohammad Amir pulled out due to injury, and he made an immediate impact. His five wickets in the second game against Sri Lanka came within the space of 3.3 overs. The performance was a throwback to four years ago, at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, when he announced himself with five wickets for nine runs in 3.1 overs for Agriculture Development Bank of Pakistan.Usman’s injury is the latest in a string for Pakistan. Amir recently missed the ODIs against Sri Lanka before returning for the T20 series, and Ruman Raees Babar Azam and Imad Wasim are recovering from a wrist impingement, groin strain and knee injury respectively. When asked whether he was concerned by this sudden spate of injuries, Arthur said: “A little bit, but a lot of them niggles just needed a bit of rest and that is why we have put such a lot of effort in working on our bench strength.”

Chelsea have had a summer to remember when it comes to signing players and it looks like fans could be treated to yet more spending, following a key update from journalist Simon Johnson.

Do Chelsea need more signings?

The Blues have made a disappointing start to life under Mauricio Pochettino, with their Premier League campaign flattering to deceive in the opening two matches.

While the 1-1 draw at home to Liverpool on the opening weekend was an adequate result, Sunday's 3-1 defeat away to West Ham was a shock to the system. Chelsea may have dominated chunks of proceedings, but they didn't create enough opportunities and their finishing wasn't good enough when chances did arrive.

The west Londoners may have spent big this summer, most notably signing the likes of Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Nicolas Jackson, but they still look short of elite quality currently, especially in attacking areas.

There is now less than two weeks of the summer transfer window remaining and failure to bring in one more wide option in the final third could ultimately prove costly.

Will Chelsea sign another attacker?

According to The Athletic's Johnson, Chelsea are still eyeing up another attacking signing this summer, although a new No.9 is out of the question, despite Christopher Nkunku's long-term injury after arriving from Borussia Dortmund:

"With the transfer window closing on September 1, there is still time for the chequebook to be used again. Chelsea have been looking at signing another attacking player anyway, but not a tried and tested No 9 as such.

"A move for Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise broke down last week, while Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson was put on the wish list last month."

While rival fans may balk at Chelsea's need to bring in another attacker, given the money they have already spent since the end of last season, there is no question that they look short of reliable options in that area of the pitch.

Raheem Sterling was superb in a losing cause against West Ham, arguably producing his best performance yet in a Blues shirt, but he has been a disappointing signing so far, and his very best days could possibly be behind him.

Meanwhile, Mykhailo Mudryk continues to experience a torrid time of things, failing to score in 19 Chelsea appearances and missing a glorious opportunity late in the day at West Ham, while Noni Madueke also hasn't had the desired impact.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

A move for Michael Olise has fallen through after he signed a new deal with Crystal Palace, so signing him is out of the question, but someone of a similar ilk could be ideal, in terms of a young wide talent who can combine pace, trickery and a steady flow of end product.

It looks as though Rennes winger Jeremy Doku is a possible option to come in and ease the Blues' woes, and the Belgium international could be a brilliant addition, having scored 12 goals and chipped in with a further ten assists for the Ligue 1 side to date.

Celtic’s move for Maik Nawrocki is on the verge of being completed, according to an update from reliable reporter Mark Hendry, sharing an update on Saturday morning.

Who have Celtic signed in 2023?

The Hoops have enjoyed a fairly productive summer transfer window so far, with Norwegian prospect Odin Thiago Holm, exciting attacker Hyun-jun Yang, Aussie star Marco Tilio and midfield enforcer Tomoki Iwata all arriving through the doors at Parkhead to work under new boss Brendan Rodgers.

There is still plenty of work to be done to tailor the squad to the returning manager’s liking though, especially after Ange Postecoglou’s star man, Jota, left to join Al Ittihad in a record departure worth close to €30m (£26m).

A centre-back looks to be next up on the agenda, with reports emerging late last week that the Bhoys board have lined up a move for Nawrocki, a promising 22 year-old Poland youth international who currently plies his trade for Ekstraklasa club Legia Warsaw.

Reports in the player’s homeland broke the news that Celtic had “entered the game” for the youngster and would compete with Turkish Super Lig club Galatasaray for his signature, and it appears the Parkhead outfit have now won the race.

Taking to Twitter from Japan on Saturday, where the Hoops were in action against Gamba Osaka, Football Scotland’s Hendry said: “Nawrocki is in the UK to do medical tests and sort out his contract details with fine tooth comb. Expect real (deal*) to be completed soon.”

Is Maik Nawrocki good?

Celtic fans can be forgiven for not knowing much about their imminent new arrival, but the 6 foot 2 ace certainly looks like a player with real potential. He's been in the Polish top flight since he was 19, starting with Warta Poznan before moving to Warsaw.

His first season in the capital didn’t exactly go to plan, as one of the country’s biggest clubs slumped to 10th in the final league standings, but he did manage 18 starts in the top flight, forcing his way in as a regular feature in the first XI.

His second campaign with the club – this season just finished – Nawrocki started 23 games in the league as they shot up to a second place finish, and he actually proved to be a consistent source of end product from set pieces too, scoring four times and providing one assist to boot, averaging a direct goal contribution one out of every five lots of 90 minutes, an impressive rate for a centre-back.

The youngster has yet to make his mark on the senior national team setup. He has been able to break into the fold for their Under-21 side though, making his debut for them in 2021 having already featured at various youth levels for the Under-15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 sides, so one would have to assume it’s only a matter of time before that progression leads him into the senior set-up.

What probably appeals most to Rodgers is the defender’s versatility, as not only is he equally comfortable on either side at centre-back, but he can also function as a full-back or even further ahead in defensive midfield, which likely reminds the boss of another towering player he had at his disposal during his last stay in Glasgow, Brentford’s Kristoffer Ajer.

France U-21 international Rayan Cherki has been made available by Lyon for €20 million after falling out of favour for the struggling French side.

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Lyon set €20 million (£17m/$22m) price tagHas made 14 appearances for French side this seasonBecome a regular for Thierry Henry's France U21sWHAT HAPPENED?

Lyon are willing to sell their playmaker this winter, just 12 months after spurning interest from both Chelsea and PSG. According to , the 7-time Ligue 1 Champions have set an asking price of €20m — although they are hoping for a higher fee for a promising young talent.

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Cherki was tagged as a future star as little as six months ago, and has been chased by Chelsea, PSG and West Ham at various points over the last 12 months. But he has failed to build on his potential this year, registering just one assist for a Lyon side who could face a shock relegation from Ligue 1.

WHAT FABIO GROSSO SAID

The former Lyon manager was critical of Cherki last month, seeming to rubbish the playmaker's potential in a press conference: "Is he a special player? He’s a player; he’s not a special player. He’s a player like any other, albeit with some additional qualities. But it’s not just technical qualities that matter; there are mental and athletic qualities as well. He possesses enormous technical abilities, but he needs to work on the others.”

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR CHERKI?

The 20-year-old will hope to be involved as Lyon take on Toulouse. Whether he remains at the club beyond the next two months remains to be seen, with PSG and Chelsea likely to battle it out for his signature if he is allowed to leave.

On head-to-head form, Sri Lanka clearly have the upper hand, India however, are playing at home; an advantage they haven’t made the best use of in recent times

George Binoy24-Oct-2005

Sachin Tendulkar’s return will add some much-needed experience to a batting line-up that is missing Mohammad Kaif, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly © Getty Images
The seven-match one-day series against Sri Lanka is a critical one for Indian cricket, and almost everything will depend on how the players, especially Rahul Dravid, the new captain, fare in a tough series against opponents who have not been in better form since the 1996 World Cup.Sri Lanka’s record in their last 50 one-day matches is fantastic – 34 wins and only 16 losses. And it gets better: in their last 25 games, they have won 19, a clear indication of a team on the rise. Sri Lanka haven’t toured India since 1999 but they’ve won seven of their last 11 games in the subcontinent outside home (four against Pakistan, one each against India, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh).India, on the other hand, have lost 24 and won 22 of the 47 ODIs that they’ve played at home since 2000. India’s tigers-at-home tag has taken a severe beating after 2001: they’ve lost 21 of their 37 games while six wins came against Zimbabwe and West Indies. To put a different spin on India’s home blues, they have won two, drawn one and lost four of their last seven ODI series at home (this doesn’t include the one-off BCCI platinum-jubilee match against Pakistan, which India lost). Look closer and you’ll find that both the wins came against Zimbabwe.Head to head, Sri Lanka have 11 wins to India’s seven in their last 20 ODIs. They have come up tops in five of their last six encounters against India. The solitary loss was in a match without Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas.Dravid will be determined not to let captaincy affect his batting, and he has his counterpart to look up to for the perfect example. Marvan Atapattu has averaged a stunning 52.67 over the last 12 months. All the Sri Lankan batsmen have healthy averages over the past year, while most of the Indians have struggled. And with Mohammad Kaif, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly not in the line-up and Sachin Tendulkar returning from a long injury lay-off, Dravid, Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh will have to shoulder much of the responsibility for scoring runs.

Batsmen’s comparison over the last 12 months

Batsman Matches Runs Average 100s/50s

Sanath Jayasuriya 11 393 39.300/2 Virender Sehwag 25 874 31.301/4 Marvan Atapattu 11 474 52.671/4 Sachin Tendulkar 9 227 25.221/0 Kumar Sangakkara 20 626 36.820/6 Rahul Dravid 23 807 38.431/8 Mahela Jayawardene 15 442 44.200/4 Yuvraj Singh 19 678 39.882/3 Russel Arnold 8 182 36.400/2 Mahendra Singh Dhoni 19 525 37.51/2One of India’s major worries will be the form of Harbhajan Singh who has taken just 11 wickets in his last 17 games at an expensive 65.55 apiece. While a few Indian bowlers are inexperienced in the one-day format (even Irfan Pathan has played just two ODIs in India), the Sri Lankan slow-bowlers are experts at keeping the batsmen on a leash. On head-to-head form, Sri Lanka clearly have the upper hand, India, however, are playing at home, an advantage they haven’t made the best use of in recent times.

Bowlers comparison over the last 12 months

Bowler Matches Wickets Average Econ

Muttiah Muralitharan 13 20 23.753.86 Harbhajan Singh 17 11 65.554.67 ChamindaVaas 9 11 28.364.23 Irfan Pathan 12 17 30.824.97 Dilhara Fernando 11 11 36.734.64 Ajit Agarkar 9 20 18.654.82 Upul Chandana 13 19 25.374.54 Jai Prakash Yadav 5 3 46.004.60 Tillakaratne Dilshan 13 12 19.333.79 Murali Kartik 4 5 29.805.14

Too much happened on the first day at the SCG. Close to 30,000 people got to see a fine spell of left-arm seam, a tantalising display of off spin and a counterattacking partnership straight out of a classic western flick

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan in Sydney02-Jan-2008

Brad Hogg and Andrew Symonds looted India for 173 runs © Getty Images
Too much happened on the first day at the SCG. Close to 30,000 people got to see a fine spell of left-arm seam, a tantalising display of off spin and a counterattacking partnership straight out of a classic western flick. Six wickets fell before the clock tower showed two; all hell broke loose thereafter.The Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales are doing their every bit to discourage speeding but nobody seems to have briefed the Australian lower order about speed limits. This was a notorious case of hit-and-run; a great robbery in broad daylight. Hardly had India begun to smile when Brad Hogg and Andrew Symonds, almost like a couple of gangsters, began to loot. Only once have more runs been scored on the first day at the SCG and that was nearly 100 years ago.Like at the MCG, India’s opening day was one of two halves. But unlike at the MCG, where they had a poor morning and a good afternoon, the trend was reversed. And unlike at the MCG, the umpires had a blackout. Anil Kumble might have taken 376 for 7 at the start of the day – he had lost his spearhead to injury after all – but he wouldn’t be smiling at the end of it. While a set of officials spoilt a fine day, a couple of batsmen weren’t going to miss out.Symonds walks in to a loud ovation and manufactures shots that get everyone to raise the decibel levels. Until he entered there was hardly a cut shot played, but soon they were being struck with anger. And when Hogg began to cut at the other end India were made to run ragged. India must be made to take a new-year resolution: we will not leave the third-man region vacant.A new year brings a lot of promises but some things don’t change. For every talented seamer India unearths, there will be another nursing an injury; for every top order they dismiss quickly, there will be a tail waiting to spoil the good work; for every fine batsman emerging from the , there will be a poor fielder letting the ball slip through. India dropped two catches – one a tough skier at mid-on, the other a simpler one that dipped towards short leg – and could have had one more chance if someone more athletic than Rahul Dravid was placed at fine leg. Yuvraj Singh, supposedly their best fielder, embarrassed himself too often.But a couple of Singhs brought plenty of cheer. Both hadn’t done too much at the MCG but came into their own here. RP, 22 years and eight Tests old, led the attack manfully before Harbhajan rediscovered his mojo. Until Hogg walked in, RP had the measure of every left-hander by getting the ball to straighten after hitting the right length. Phil Jaques misread the bounce, Matthew Hayden was squared up, Michael Hussey prodded tentatively, and Adam Gilchrist followed him. Three of them, seemingly impressed with Sachin Tendulkar sporting a floppy hat after suffering an allergic reaction, edged to first slip.Ishant Sharma, just 19, made an early impression and could have easily had his first wicket when Symonds was on 30. A whole stadium might have heard the edge but that’s not what matters. Some teams think Steve Bucknor needs a hearing-aid; India might be more intent on a hearing.It’s rumoured (wrongly) that the 555-run stand between Herbert Sutcliffe and Percy Holmes prompted a businessman to start the cigarette company. Someone here would be tempted to start Benson and Edges. Ponting edged twice but Mark Benson heard neither. Where is the technology, screamed a billion people. But that also didn’t make a difference for the third umpire, with all the assistance he receives, managed to get one wrong again. Symonds was on 48. The rest, as they say, was savagery.

Martin Williamson reviews the latest Ashes books offerings

Martin Williamson and Will Luke19-Nov-2006In his foreword to Cricket’s Burning Passion (see below), Michael Atherton writes: “In the aftermath of the wondrous 2005 Ashes series, a raft of cricket books appeared on the bookshelves. There were the usual gruesome mix of ghosted autobiographies, ghosted diaries and rushed, ill-considered reviews …”. Ahead of the 2006-07 series a number of books have been issued, as expected, but the quality is far superior than those Atherton refers to. In 2005, the writers were all up against tight deadlines as publishers sought to cash in. The current offering shows that the authors have had the advantage of having time to prepare, and the result in a much more enjoyable and readable selection

Stiff Upper Lips and Baggy Green Caps Simon Briggs (Quercus, 280pp)

So much has been written about the Ashes, especially since September 2005, that finding a fresh angle on such a well-documented history would seem to present an almost insurmountable challenge. However, Simon Briggs has managed to rise to the occasion, and the end result is a delightful offering which should appeal to both seasoned fan and relative newcomer. The strength of the book is that it eschews the worthy-but-dull statistics which often form the bedrock of such histories and, by concentrating on the colourful characters and events the result is an easy read but a far from unfulfilling one. If you want a potted history of Test cricket’s oldest continuous rivalry – and you want to be entertained into the bargain – then look no further.The Ashes Miscellany Clive Batty (VSP 146pp)

The problem with books of miscellany is that the originals have spawned some dreadful offspring with little merit aimed at nothing more than cashing in on the sales boom. In the last couple of months there have been two such dire offerings, so it was a delight to find that The Ashes Miscellany is a return to the well-researched and entertaining kind of book that made the genre so popular in the first place. The contents will appeal to both those who consider themselves well versed in Ashes history and casual cricket fans who want trivia to impress their friends in the pub. It would have been too easy to pad the book with well-worn anecdotes and page-filling statistics, but Clive Batty has avoided that short cut and produced a genuinely good publication.The Book of Ashes Anecdotes Gideon Haigh (Mainstream 376pp)

The delight of setting out on a review of anything by Gideon Haigh is that you know it will be a quality read, and this collection of quotes and book extracts is no exception. He has produced a similar offering before – his 1997 Australian Cricket Anecdotes is well worth snuffling out – and this follows a similar format. Some of the entries are familiar but many are not, and it is those that shed a new light on many events in Ashes history. What really makes this, however, is that Haigh has not gone down the route of reproducing pithy one-liners but has opted for longer extracts, and this allows the flavour of the writers and characters to come through and make a more lasting effect. I found the Bodyline section the most interesting, especially Douglas Jardine’s reflection on it and Bradman some years later. “You know, we nearly didn’t do it,” he said. “The little man was bloody good.” That last sentiment also applies to Haigh’s book.

Cricket’s Burning Passion Scyld Berry and Rupert Peploe (Methuen 206pp)

In his introduction, Michael Atherton notes that amid all the Ashes brouhaha in 2005, few actually knew much about the urn at the heart of all the fuss. The challenge for Berry and Peploe (the great grandson of Ivo Bligh, the man who regained the Ashes lost in 1882) was to bring alive a tour which took place 124 years ago. That they have done, and the end result is a remarkable story and a compelling read. Bligh is one of the game’s more colourful characters and those who toured with him – and almost all of them died young – are a fascinating rabble. And as for the urn? Well, there remains some uncertainty about its contents. Some say it is a burnt bail, others a burnt piece of leather from a ball. Most likely, however, it is ash from fires at Bligh’s run-down stately home – more than one tale exists of the urn being knocked over and the contents spilled and replaced from the fireplace by clumsy servants. The Ashes are possibly sports’ least intrinsically valuable trophy. This book helps to explain why they are priceless.Match of My Life Sam Pilger and Rob Wightman (Know the Score books, 240pp)

It requires something really unique for a new Ashes book to poke itshead above the masses. And though Sam Pilger and Rob Wightman’s lacks a certain gravitas, the 12 namesfeatured provide enough interesting and amusing anecdotes to hold thereader’s attention span. The premise is simple: 12 famous Ashes namesrecount their stories. The usual and the modern are all there: AshleyGiles, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer – but far too much has alreadybeen said about 2005, the series which apparently beats all that precede it.Fortunately there are others to address the balance and Neil Harveyopens the book’s innings. Written in his own words Harvey recounts hisfirst Ashes Test (he made 112in the first innings scored the winning run in Australia’s chaseof 404). It is written with candour with amusing stories of the tours -meeting King George VI and Keith Miller’s friendship with the currentqueen, Elizabeth – which comes as a relief. Langer’s, on the otherhand, is too misty-eyed; a syrupy tone is best left for the biography.And writing in the third person, which he does once or twice, is aninstant mood-killer too. Talking of killing the mood, Geoffrey Boycott- an inevitable name to appear in such a collection – ischaracteristically candid, although offers a little too much on hisown achievements. It’s Geoffrey, though, and therefore requiredreading. Overall, it is a crisp, brisk and enjoyable view intoplayers’ experiences of playing in the Ashes. It’s a little different,too, and therefore worth a look.

Lucy Bronze admits it did not “seem quite fair” that she had to field a yellow card request from England’s Euro 2022 final hero Chloe Kelly.

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Wiegman's side claimed continental gloryWere hanging on to extra-time goalWilling to try every trick in the book late onWHAT HAPPENED?

Towards the end of an epic clash with Germany at Wembley Stadium, the Lionesses found themselves clinging on to the slenderest of leads – with Manchester City winger Kelly having edged them in front during extra-time.

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Wild celebrations led to Kelly being booked for taking off her shirt, meaning that others had to step up when it came to running down the clock. Bronze formed part of that process, in her role as a buccaneering full-back, with Sarina Wiegman’s side having to dig in and do the dirty work in order to get their hands on a historic piece of silverware.

WHAT BRONZE SAID

Bronze, who is now on the books of Catalan giants Barcelona, has told of her memories from the Euro 2022 final: “A lot of that game is a blur – the biggest moment I remember was time wasting in the corner with Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone! Chloe told me to take a yellow card because she already had one for taking her top off after scoring. I thought, ‘You’ve got a yellow card because you scored the winner in the final and you’re going to become an icon; I’m going to get a yellow card for wasting time from a throw-in – this doesn’t seem quite fair!’ Hundreds of thousands were watching and in that moment we were having a laugh – no one else was part of that apart from the three of us in that corner!”

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Bronze and Kelly went close to landing England another major honour at the 2023 World Cup, only to see the Lionesses fall agonisingly short in a 1-0 final defeat to Spain. A star-studded squad is, however, brimming with potential and more challenges are expected at future tournaments.

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino made a key change to his team at half-time and saw Cole Palmer go on to inspire the Blues to victory.

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Chelsea beat Sheffield UnitedPochettino makes half-time tactical switchPalmer comes up with goal and assistWHAT HAPPENED?

Chelsea returned to winning ways on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Sheffield United. Goals from Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson handed the Blues a much-needed three points to move up to 10th place in the table. Palmer now has six goals this season for the Chelsea, with Pochettino revealing after the game how a key tactical tweak he made had helped the summer signing inspire the Blues to victory.

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Pochettino told : "In the second half we changed the position of Palmer and Raheem Sterling, we tried to put Palmer and [Mykhailo] Mudryk in a better position in front of goal. I’m confident, even when we lose. I really believe in the players and the club. Now it’s about to use that in the next competition in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup."

The Chelsea boss also went on to speak about what he feels is Palmer's best position: "For me he’s a playmaker, a player who can link the team. He’s also a player with the capacity to score goals and give assists. The contribution of Cole Palmer from day one has been massive."

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Palmer is certainly having a big impact at Chelsea after signing for the club from Manchester City in a deal worth £42.5 million ($53.8m). Chelsea went to great lengths to bring in the youngster and he is already establishing himself as a key player for Pochettino. The move is also paying off for Palmer. He is enjoying regular football at Chelsea and will be hoping he can also force his way into the England squad for Euro 2024.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Palmer has now scored and assisted in three Chelsea games this season against Sheffield United, Burnley and Tottenham.

Behind-the-scenes footage has captured the emotional moment David Raya's family witnessed him officially become an Arsenal player.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

The big story emerging from London Colney this week is the arrival of the Brentford goalkeeper in North London.

As per The Athletic, the 27-year-old joins initially on a season-long loan with the option to make the move permanent next summer. The Gunners will pay an initial £3m fee, while then in 12 months' time, if they want to make it a permanent transfer, they'll pay a further £27m.

The goalkeeper only had one year left on his contract at Brentford, but has signed a new two-year deal, with an option for an additional 12 months, to protect his value with the Bees in case he doesn't end up staying at Arsenal.

It appears to be a good deal all-round (except potentially for Aaron Ramsdale who now faces strong competition for the number one spot between the sticks) especially considering the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Tottenham have all reportedly shown interest in the player at some stage in the recent past.

And it seems as though Raya's family are pretty delighted with the move as well, especially his 91-year-old grandfather Joaquin.

Indeed, as seen in a clip now being circulated on Twitter – taken originally from a video shared on the club's official website –– Mikel Arteta presents the family member with a signed, personalised Arsenal shirt with his name on the back.

The Grandfather jokes: "I'm a bit nervous!" Before opening the gift upon which he adds: "This is my biggest dream."

They then go and take a picture together in a wholesome moment as sporting director Edu Gaspar jokes that 91-year-old Joaquin is "the first signing".

Who joined Arsenal in 2023?

The Gunners have made some pretty exciting moves already this summer, with Declan Rice most notably arriving for a club-record £100m fee (which could rise to £105m).

On top of that, Kai Havertz left Chelsea for their London rivals, and Jurrien Timber arrived from Ajax, making Raya the club's fourth signing in the current transfer window.

Arsenal also got a few more signings in through the door at the start of 2023 in the January transfer window as they picked up another player from the Blues in Jorginho, while also landing Brighton winger Leandro Trossard and Polish defender Jakub Kiwior.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

Arteta and Edu will no doubt hope this is enough to see their side fight successfully in the race to win the Premier League but a bad injury to Timber, could force them back into the transfer market to sign another defender before the window closes.

Indeed, transfers expert Fabrizio Romano has said recently: "Arsenal will explore the market, will discuss internally, Arteta will be involved in conversations because, at the beginning of the market, they looked at the possibility to bring in one more centre-back, a traditional centre-back, more than a versatile centre-back such as Timber who can play everywhere basically in the defence.

"They were looking for example at a player that they appreciate is Aymeric Laporte, this is true. The rumours about Laporte are true in the sense that he's one of the players appreciated by Arsenal, but from what I [have] heard, Man City didn't want to sell one more player to Arsenal; they prefer a different kind of destination for Laporte."