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Your guide to women’s college basketball Feast Week: 36 games to watch over the next 10 days

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Your guide to women’s college basketball Feast Week: 36 games to watch over the next 10 days


Las Vegas has already hosted some important and exciting early-season games, but nothing tops next week’s Players Era Women’s Championship, a chance for players to earn NIL money and for teams to separate themselves from the other elite squads in the country.

Four of the nation’s best — Duke, South Carolina, Texas and UCLA — meet up at Michelob ULTRA Arena, the home of the WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces, on Wednesday and Thanksgiving Day to compete in a Final Four-caliber event.

That’s the highlight of the holiday week tournaments and games — but far from the only intriguing action across the globe over the next 10 days. Games from Puerto Rico to Cancun and from Florida to Texas help create one of the best stretches on the basketball calendar this season.

Many of these games will have far-reaching implications into March and could be the difference between being in or out of the NCAA tournament field.

It’s a crowded sports calendar this time of year, but this is your guide to the best games and how to watch them. Come back after the final whistle to see how each game ended and for analysis on how it might impact March.

All times Eastern

Thursday


Baylor vs. Iowa

9 p.m., ESPN2, WBCA Showcase (Orlando, Florida)

A full week before Thanksgiving, the WBCA Showcase at the The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort gets the holiday hoops feast started with a Top 25 matchup. The No. 7 Bears already have a pair of good wins on their résumé, making this a bigger game for the No. 19 Hawkeyes, who are looking for their first. Both teams are 4-0; one of their perfect seasons will end Thursday.

Friday


Michigan vs. UConn

8 p.m., Fox, Hall of Fame Showcase (Uncasville, Connecticut)

Syracuse and Utah tip off the event (5 p.m., FS2), but this is the marquee game of the two days at Mohegan Sun — and it got even bigger after Michigan’s 39-point win over Notre Dame on Saturday.

Saturday


Miami vs. Iowa

8 p.m., ESPN+, WBCA Showcase

The Hawkeyes get two notable games in Orlando. A Hurricanes team with 12 new players gets its first true test.

Sunday


Utah vs. UConn

2:30 p.m., FS1, Hall of Fame Showcase

The Utes are another potential bubble team that needs a boost. Winning is not essential here, but a good performance against the No. 1 team in the country will be enough to help.


Washington State vs. Missouri

3 p.m., ESPN+, WBCA Showcase

The WBCA Showcase wraps up with this single game on Sunday. The Tigers need to string together some wins after falling to Kansas over the weekend if they want to remain in bubble contention before SEC play begins.

Monday


Belmont vs. Ohio State

11 a.m., FloHoops, Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo, Goombay Division (Nassau, Bahamas)

The Buckeyes weren’t able to hang with UConn on Sunday, making this game that much more important. Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge against Belmont’s deep and experienced backcourt is the matchup to watch.


Minnesota vs. South Florida

4 p.m., FloHoops, Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo, Junkanoo Division

If the Bulls want to be in the running for an at-large bid, this is the kind of game they need to win. Minnesota has many more opportunities for résumé wins in the Big Ten, but a good showing in the Bahamas sets up the Gophers nicely.

Tuesday


Emerald Coast Classic, Bay Bracket championship game

1:30 p.m., FloHoops (Destin, Florida)

Mississippi State and Middle Tennessee will be favored to get here. Winning both games is especially important to the Bulldogs, who have gotten off to a good start but need to build up the win total with the SEC gauntlet awaiting.


Oregon vs. Saint Mary’s

2:30 p.m., FloHoops, Hoopfest Women’s Basketball Classic (Frisco, Texas)

The Gaels and the Ducks have gotten off to good starts against the softer parts of their schedules, so this Thanksgiving trip provides some key tests. Oregon can’t afford a stumble because December brings games against Oregon State, UCLA, Stanford and Michigan.


Texas A&M vs. Colorado

7 p.m., BallerTV, Hawaii North Shore Showcase (Laie, Hawaii)

Ny’Ceara Pryor, who dominated for three years at Sacred Heart, has made her way to a Power 4 school with the Aggies. She’s filling the stat sheet, leading the team in points, assists and steals.


Emerald Coast Classic, Beach Bracket championship game

7:30 p.m., FloHoops (Destin, Florida)

Virginia and Nebraska are the favorites to meet for the Beach Bracket title. A backcourt meeting of the Cavaliers’ Kymora Johnson, one of the underrated players in the country, against the Huskers’ Britt Prince is worth tuning in to see.

Wednesday


Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo, Goombay Division championship game

1:30 p.m., FloHoops (Nassau, Bahamas)

West Virginia will likely get the Belmont-Ohio State winner. After beating Duke with just five players in the second half last week, the Mountaineers are getting much more attention.


Texas vs. UCLA

2 p.m., truTV, Players Era Championship (Las Vegas)

This is the event of the week — and possibly the event of the season prior to March. The Bruins have already had a difficult nonconference schedule with wins over Oklahoma and North Carolina, but nothing on their schedule matches the quality of the Longhorns.


Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo, Junkanoo Division championship game

4 or 6:30 p.m., FloHoops (Nassau, Bahamas)

If Alabama survives Harvard on Monday, the Crimson Tide will have a game against either South Florida or Minnesota that could have significant bubble implications in March.


Duke vs. South Carolina

4:30 p.m., truTV, Players Era Championship (Las Vegas)

As we were saying, nothing on UCLA’s schedule matches the quality of the Longhorns … unless the Bruins end up meeting the Gamecocks in the Players Era final on Thursday. Duke, meanwhile, has gotten off to a slow start and needs some redemption after losses to Baylor and West Virginia. This is that opportunity.


Maryland vs. Kentucky

6:30 p.m., FloHoops, Puerto Rico Shootout (Carolina, Puerto Rico)

Easily the best game of the Puerto Rico Shootout, the Terps and Wildcats meet in the final game of Day 1. Both programs are having success on the fly after major personnel changes in the offseason. Kentucky will play Louisville right before heading south, and Maryland has already beaten Princeton, but this will be the biggest test for either team thus far.


Cal vs. Auburn

7:30 p.m., FloHoops, Hoopfest Women’s Basketball Classic (Frisco, Texas)

These are two teams on the periphery of the bubble — and they’ll only stay there with a pair of wins in Texas. Auburn plays UTSA and Cal meets Grand Canyon two days earlier.

Thursday, Nov. 27


South Dakota State vs. North Carolina

11 a.m., FloHoops, Cancun Challenge (Cancun, Mexico)

After the Players Era Championship, this is the next-best event of Thanksgiving week. The Jackrabbits and Tar Heels lead off a great first day. South Dakota State’s Brooklyn Meyer is off to a great start and ranks among the national leaders in scoring. North Carolina’s success starts with defense. The winner of that matchup likely wins the game.


NC State vs. Green Bay

4 p.m. ET, FloHoops, Cancun Challenge (Cancun, Mexico)

The Wolfpack and Phoenix represent a contrast in styles. NC State wants to run. Green Bay likes to control the pace. This is a dangerous game for the Wolfpack, who can’t afford any more nonconference losses if they want a top-four seed in the NCAA tournament.


Players Era championship game

8 p.m. ET, truTV (Las Vegas)

No matter how this shakes out and what the matchup is in this game, a clear No. 2 team in the country will emerge from this first-of-its-kind women’s event.


Richmond vs. TCU

9 p.m., FloHoops, Cancun Challenge (Cancun, Mexico)

Coming off the most successful season in program history, and with All-American candidate Maggie Doogan back, the expectations are high for Richmond. Four games removed from a 29-point loss at Texas on Nov. 7, this represents a chance to check the Spiders’ progress. The pieces have come together quickly for the Horned Frogs, who should be unbeaten heading into Big 12 play with a win over the Spiders.


Oregon State vs. Vanderbilt

9 p.m., ESPN+, Paradise Jam (U.S. Virgin Islands)

Coach Scott Rueck always seems to find a way at Oregon State — and how he defends Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes will be another test. After the Beavers’ win over Illinois, they are back in the NCAA tournament hunt.

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Mikayla Blakes eases in long jumper for Vandy

Mikayla Blakes eases in long jumper for Vandy


Players Era consolation game

10:30 p.m., truTV (Las Vegas)

Despite the quality of the opponents at the Players Era Championship, two losses in Las Vegas would be devastating to No. 1 seed aspirations — or possibly even No. 2 seed prospects given how many more challenges in and out of conference await the Blue Devils, Bruins, Gamecocks and Longhorns.

Friday, Nov. 28


Iowa State vs. Marquette

11 a.m., FloHoops, Coconut Hoops (Fort Myers, Florida)

The Cyclones won’t have been challenged until this trip to Florida. Marquette was dominated by Minnesota two weeks ago and should approach this game with some desperation if the NCAA tournament is part of the Golden Eagles’ future.

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Marquette Golden Eagles vs. Milwaukee Panthers: Game Highlights

Marquette Golden Eagles vs. Milwaukee Panthers: Game Highlights


Indiana vs. Gonzaga

1 :30 p.m., FloHoops, Coconut Hoops

Allie Turner of Gonzaga and Indiana’s Shay Ciezki are two of the best small guards in the country. Ciezki is off to a fast start and is one of the best 3-point shooters in the nation.


Kansas vs. Georgia

7:30 p.m., ION, Fort Myers Classic (Fort Myers, Florida)

Neither team was on the NCAA tournament radar until a combined 9-0 start to the season. This could be the game that proves whether postseason hopes are realistic.

Saturday, Nov. 29


Oklahoma State vs. Miami

11 a.m., FloHoops, Cayman Islands Classic (Grand Town, Cayman Islands)

Expect plenty of points to be scored in this one. The Cowgirls hit the 100-point mark four times in their first five games.


South Dakota State vs. Kansas State

11 a.m., FloHoops, Cancun Challenge

Spin the wheel again in Cancun and more good matchups emerge. The Wildcats have eight players averaging at or around seven points per game. That kind of balance will help against a SDSU defense that is consistently good, especially in the half court, under coach Aaron Johnston.


Paradise Jam, Island Division championship game

1 p.m. or 3:30 p.m., ESPN+ (U.S. Virgin Islands)

The Vanderbilt-Oregon State winner will meet either BYU or Virginia Tech. Regardless of the matchup, this game will have meaning. If the Beavers come out of the Paradise Jam with two wins, they are not only the clear WCC favorite but also in a position to earn an at-large bid. The Hokies won’t likely threaten for the top of the ACC, but their at-large chances increase significantly with a championship here.


North Carolina vs. Columbia

1:30 p.m., FloHoops, Cancun Challenge

The Lions’ Riley Weiss scored 24 points in an NCAA tournament win over Washington last season. If you missed that, here is another chance to watch Weiss, who is having an even better junior season.


George Mason vs. Ole Miss

3 p.m., BallerTV, Daytona Beach Classic (Daytona, Florida)

If the Atlantic 10 is going to get multiple bids to the NCAA tournament like it did a year ago, George Mason is the key. A game at Maryland right before this trip to Florida and this matchup with Ole Miss gives the Patriots their two biggest opportunities for a foundational résumé win.


Georgia Tech vs. Florida

5 p.m. ET, FloHoops, Cayman Islands Classic (Grand Town, Cayman Islands)

In the four games with sophomore Liv McGill, the Gators have scored at least 87 points. In the game she missed with a leg injury, they scored 54. If she’s on the floor, Florida is a must-watch.


Paradise Jam, Reef Division championship game

8:30 p.m., ESPN+ (U.S. Virgin Islands)

LSU and Washington State is the likely matchup here. The Tigers’ nonconference schedule once again doesn’t provide many challenges, and the Cougars are struggling this season. But this might be a chance to see MiLaysia Fulwiley in her new surroundings. She’s leading LSU in scoring despite still coming off the bench.

play

1:19

LSU Tigers vs. Tulane Green Wave: Game Highlights

LSU Tigers vs. Tulane Green Wave: Game Highlights

Sunday, Nov. 30


Coconut Hoops, Blue Heron Division championship game

11 a.m. or 1:30 p.m., FloHoops (Fort Myers, Florida)

An IndianaIowa State meeting seems most likely here, and the Hoosiers have some size to throw at Cyclones star Audi Crooks, who already has a 43-point game this season.


Coconut Hoops, Great Egret Division championship game

4 or 6:30 p.m., FloHoops (Fort Myers, Florida)

With their fast pace, ability to shoot and the addition of freshman Aaliyah Chavez, Oklahoma is fun to watch. The Sooners meeting Florida State here is the likely matchup in one of the final games of the weekend.


Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo, Junkanoo Division championship game

6:30 p.m., FloHoops (Nassau, Bahamas)

Michigan State and Clemson will be the big favorites to meet in this one. The Tigers’ early losses were to South Carolina and Louisville, but they played well for long stretches in both. The Spartans opened the season by scoring at least 92 points in four straight games, sparked by Grace VanSlooten and the best assist totals in the country.



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Georgetown guard KJ Lewis (ankle) out for rest of season

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Georgetown guard KJ Lewis (ankle) out for rest of season


WASHINGTON — Georgetown junior guard KJ Lewis will miss the remainder of the regular season with a left ankle injury, the team said Thursday.

Lewis, who is in his first season with the Hoyas after transferring from Arizona, injured his left ankle during Georgetown’s 76-60 loss to Marquette on Tuesday. Including Tuesday’s loss, Lewis has appeared in every Georgetown game this season and led the team by averaging 14.9 points.

The Hoyas are tied with Marquette and Xavier for last in the Big East with a 5-12 conference record. Georgetown is 13-15 overall under third-year head coach Ed Cooley.



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USMNT’s Sargent joins Toronto after ‘unfortunate’ Norwich exit

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USMNT’s Sargent joins Toronto after ‘unfortunate’ Norwich exit


Toronto FC has completed the transfer of United States international striker Josh Sargent from English Championship side Norwich City, the club announced on Friday.

ESPN had previously reported that Toronto will pay Norwich a fee of $22 million, which could rise to $27 million if certain incentives are met. The fee currently ranks in the top five that an MLS side has ever paid for an incoming transfer.

The highest-ever fee is believed to be the $26 million that LAFC paid for Son Heung-Min last summer, which the Sargent move will eclipse if all the incentives are reached.

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Sargent has signed a five-and-half-year contract that will keep him in Toronto through June of 2031.

In an interview with ESPN, Sargent said that with the arrival of his third child last December, he and his wife Kirsten were eager to get back to North America to be closer to extended family.

The team that Toronto is putting together, one that includes international teammates Djordje Mihailovic and Walker Zimmerman, also held appeal for Sargent.

“Over the last year or so, with all of my kids and everything in my family expanding, it’s kind of become more and more appealing, the thought of moving a bit closer to home.” Sargent said about joining TFC.

“Toronto reached out, I had very good talks with them. They seem to have a very good project that they have planned here. The ownership is all about it and they’re all in with it. So there were just a lot of things that sounded very attractive to me and very clear of their vision. So yeah, it was exciting.”

The move completes a bitter transfer saga that began last December when Toronto first made its approach with an offer of $18 million. When talks appeared to break down in January, Sargent sat out an FA Cup match against Walsall on Jan. 11, and following a meeting with sporting director Ben Knapper and manager Philippe Clement, Sargent was sent to train with the Canaries’ U21 side.

Sources tell ESPN that during that meeting, Knapper made comments about Sargent’s family. Sargent was seen to be visibly upset by these remarks, and he never played for Norwich again.

Sargent didn’t go into much detail about his final days with the Canaries.

“It was unfortunate how things worked out there, I think,” he said about Norwich. “But I’m happy to finally be here, happy to get started with a new chapter in my life and I’m just fully focused on trying to put that behind me and hit the ground running here.”

When asked if he had gotten the chance to say a proper goodbye, Sargent added, “I think the only thing I’m going to say is there’s two sides to every story. I think I got to say goodbye to all the people that I was close to, and understood the situation and yeah, that’s probably all I want to say about it to be honest.”

The move is the latest in a lengthy rebuild for Toronto that finally appears to be coming to fruition. Toronto claimed a domestic treble of MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield and Canadian Championship in 2017, but the last time the Reds qualified for the postseason was in the Covid-impacted season of 2020.

In addition to Mihailovic and Zimmerman, Toronto recently acquired midfielder Dániel Sallói. TFC has an experienced manager in Robin Fraser.

“I know there’s a lot of video [Fraser] is wanting to do on that side of things for sure,” Sargent said.

Sargent finishes his Norwich career with 55 goals and 15 assists in all competitions. He scored seven goals in 23 league matches this season.

His international prospects have dwindled this campaign, with his last callup to the U.S. men’s national team occurring back in September. He hasn’t scored for the U.S. since 2019.

When asked how he thinks the move will impact his international prospects, Sargent said he’s fully focused on Toronto, and didn’t discuss the potential move with U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

“I’m fully focused on trying to start well here,” he said. “That’s truly what I care about, and if you do well at the club level, it puts you in a good position to get with [the] national team. So that’s where my full focus is at the moment. And off the back of that, if I can get back with the team, have another chance, I’d be very happy, of course.”

Additionally, Toronto FC acquired St. Louis City SC’s right of first refusal (ROFR) for Sargent in exchange for $500,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) — $250,000 in 2026 GAM and $250,000 in 2027 GAM — and up to an additional $225,000 in conditional GAM if certain performance-based metrics are met.

He will be added to TFC’s roster, pending a medical and receipt of his work permit and International Transfer Certificate (ITC).



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Haaland, Rice, Semenyo: Who is your Premier League Player of the Year?

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Haaland, Rice, Semenyo: Who is your Premier League Player of the Year?


We’re fast approaching the business end of the 2025-26 Premier League season, and heading into March, everything is still very much to play for. The title race has coalesced into a two-team battle between leaders Arsenal and chasers Manchester City, while the push for Champions League soccer next season is neatly poised between several clubs — defending champions Liverpool are on the outside looking in, needing to close the gap to Aston Villa, Manchester United and Chelsea.

At the bottom end of the table, Wolves‘ fate appears certain (they are 17 points adrift from safety with just 10 games left) and, to a lesser extent, Burnley‘s too (eight points back with 11 to play), but the third and final relegation spot could go to any one of Nottingham Forest, Tottenham or Leeds United from here.

Equally hard to call is the race for the Premier League’s Player of the Year, with no clear-cut, stand-out candidate yet and plenty of stars making a clear case for the prize. So, with 10 matchdays left, we asked our regular Premier League reporters to make their picks for the top award, and why they are worthy.


Tom Hamilton: Sometimes it makes sense to go for the obvious option. If Manchester City win the league, then you could argue their standout player was one of Bernardo Silva (for his guile), Nico O’Reilly (for his adaptability and temperament) or new arrivals Gianluigi Donnarumma and Antoine Semenyo. But if you want the clear and obvious choice, then it’s Haaland, the man at the top of the scoring charts.

The Norway forward is in the middle of a relatively quiet spell for his club, but his 22 league goals have helped City to where they are. The big change for Haaland this year? He’s becoming more of an all-around contributor and his work rate is through the roof, to the extent that he has also notched seven assists, second only to Bruno Fernandes and one behind his best total of eight back in the 2022-23 campaign. That’s 29 goal contributions. Not bad.

Take City’s recent 2-1 win over Newcastle: Haaland had more touches of the ball than ever before (43), he made the third-most clearances for the team (after Rodri and Marc Guéhi) and won 12 duels, the most he has managed in a top-flight game. “He’s an incredible, generous player, so today is a performance, and I’ll never forget what Erling has done for us,” manager Pep Guardiola said afterward.

So be afraid, Premier League: Haaland is evolving into a more all-around player, and his goals and assists should see him deservedly crowned player of the season.

James Olley: With everything in the league still to play for, from title to top four to relegation, it’s too early to be conclusive about this, but Arsenal are top of the table at present, and Declan Rice has been the heartbeat of a team competing impressively on four fronts.

Only Martín Zubimendi (2,360) has played more outfield Premier League minutes for the Gunners than Rice’s 2,329, and Rice ranks second in the division for chances created (defined by Opta as key passes and assists) behind Bruno Fernandes. But he is about much more than stats. Rice drives the Arsenal team forward as he has developed into a complete midfielder, affecting the game in his box-to-box role while also proving an extremely efficient set piece taker.

If Arsenal are to keep the pace, it will largely be a result of Rice maintaining the level of form and influence he has shown so far.

Sam Tighe: When there’s no “obvious” pick like during this season, it can trick you into thinking there haven’t been any outstanding candidates. But as the group outlines, we’re hardly short of incredible individual campaigns, are we?

I’ll throw my support in for James’ pick of Rice. In a Premier League landscape where physicality, mobility and tenacity reign supreme, the 27-year-old is the division’s leading light. To put it into context, among Arsenal players, only Zubimendi (293.57 km) has covered more ground than Rice (285.48 km) this term, while among all Premier League central midfielders, only Sandro Tonali (33.37 km/h) has clocked a higher max speed than Rice (33.17 km/h).

Rice is fast and relentless; if the Gunners win the title, his frenzied, all-action style will symbolize their approach to doing so. Yet he also backs up those athletic traits with finesse where required. There are very few better corner takers in the sport right now, and there’s no doubt he’s steadily getting better at picking a pass through the lines.

Beth Lindop: It might seem preposterous to nominate a Liverpool player considering how abject they have been at times this season, but in terms of pure individual excellence, Szoboszlai would be my pick.

In the summer, there was a suggestion in some quarters that the Hungary international could lose his place in the team following the arrival of the £116 million playmaker, Florian Wirtz, from Bayer Leverkusen. However, Szoboszlai has this season established himself as the first name on Arne Slot’s team sheet, with his relentless running, tactical flexibility and, of course, his eye for a spectacular strike having kept the Reds’ campaign from descending into total disaster.

With 10 goals to his name already this season, Szoboszlai is well on course to surpass his career-best goal tally. He has also deputized admirably at right back amid Liverpool’s ongoing injury crisis, while his noticeable willingness to speak more frequently to the media is reflective of a player keen to assume more responsibility within the team and position himself as a future club captain.

Liverpool’s disappointing collective form means Szoboszlai will most likely miss out on individual accolades, but he should definitely be in the conversation.

Antoine Semenyo, FW, Manchester City (formerly at Bournemouth)

Mark Ogden: This is a tough one because there really hasn’t been an outstanding candidate so far this season, but my pick right now would be Semenyo. He was outstanding for Bournemouth during the first half of the season — his 10 Premier League goals kept Andoni Iraola on the tails of the top six for a while — but his performances meant it was inevitable he would move on in January, and he had a queue of heavyweight clubs wanting to sign him before he chose Manchester City.

Even though a deal was done and his release clause was triggered, Semenyo agreed to stay at Bournemouth for two extra games in January before making his move. No fuss, no drama: just a professional attitude and the perfect sign-off with a stoppage time winner against Spurs in his final game.

His form at City has been just as impressive, and he kept them in the title race during their midseason wobble with three goals in his first five games. So for performing at his top level for two clubs and showing professionalism throughout, I’m going for Semenyo.

Rob Dawson: There were genuine concerns about whether Brentford would be able to avoid relegation this season after losing manager Thomas Frank — as well as key players Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, Christian Nørgaard and Mark Flekken — in one summer. Goals were expected to be a particular problem after both Mbeumo and Wissa — who combined for 39 in the Premier League last season — moved on.

Frank’s replacement, Keith Andrews, deserves a lot of credit for turning this season into a push for Europe instead of a battle against the drop. But so too does Igor Thiago. His 17 league goals have cushioned the blow of losing Mbeumo and Wissa. It’s a fantastic return for a 24-year-old striker in his first full campaign in England after last season was ruined by injury.

Scoring goals in the toughest league in the world is a big ask, and Thiago has done it regularly. Unfortunately for Brentford, he has done so well that the inevitable question will be: How long can they keep him before he follows Mbeumo and Wissa out of the door?

Gab Marcotti: To me, it’s pretty simple. Aston Villa might be on the slide, but they’re still third, well ahead of Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea. And this is after a summer when they didn’t really add anybody of note and lost their sporting director, Monchi, as well. A lot of that is down to Rogers: He has started every game and has usually been a difference-maker each time.

Rogers doesn’t have the greatest supporting cast — certainly not compared to the other suggestions who are sure to crop up — and I think it’s fair to say that, without him, Villa would be midtable at best. Only four players have more open play goal involvements (non-penalty goals and assists) than he does this season, and all of them play for bigger and better-resourced sides: Haaland, Fernandes, Semenyo and João Pedro.

Throw in the fact that he invented Cole Palmer‘s goal celebration — they were teammates at City, and Palmer “borrowed” it from him — and to me he’s the obvious choice.

Arsenal logoMartín Zubimendi, MF, Arsenal

Julien Laurens: When Arsenal spent €60 million last summer to activate his release clause and recruit him from Real Sociedad, there were a lot of skeptics about his adaptation to the Premier League, his potential and even his talent, but there was also concern about his ability to take the Gunners to the next level. And yet, I think he has already proved all the doubters wrong.

It has not always been perfect, obviously — remember his mistake against Manchester United — but overall, he has been impressive. His ability to dictate the tempo of a game, his intelligence and his reading of the play have been outstanding. He has also scored five Premier League goals already, which is more than Szoboszlai, more than Rice and only three less than Rogers, who is a more advanced player, by the way. Some of his goals have also been key, such as the openers against Forest, Leeds and Sunderland, in keeping Arsenal on course for a potential first league title in over 20 years.

Zubimendi makes Rice and Jurriën Timber better, and there is still so much room for improvement from him as well. He has had such a great impact on the team that it’s worth celebrating.



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