Sam Dean

That spell as Arsenal’s emergency striker really did something to Mikel Merino. Before Leicester away in Feb 2025: 40 goals in 405 games for club and country Since Leicester away in Feb 2025: 23 goals in 70 games for club and country

Mikel Merino. Big game player.

@EarlArsenal Messi has made 298 high speed runs at this World Cup. Haaland has made 314 — and Haaland didn’t play Norway’s third game. Haaland is the only top attacker who is even close to Messi in these rankings. Kane has made 600 high speed runs, for example.

@SamJDean I'd like to see this for Haaland, the difference won't be much.

Lionel Messi has spent 64% of this World Cup at "zone one" pace, which is between 0 and 7km/h. At 39, he has mastered the art of conserving his energy and picking his moments. The other Argentina players run so he can walk. telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/…

@TrophyFpl More visible, yes. More important, no. (In my opinion)

@SamJDean Yet Gabriel has been more important in the last two seasons for Arsenal ;)

Are there any remaining arguments against this guy being the best centre-back in the world?

Illan Meslier becomes the ninth goalkeeper Arsenal have signed since Mikel Arteta's appointment in 2019. #AFC have now signed a goalkeeper in seven consecutive seasons. Runarsson, Ryan, Ramsdale, Turner, Raya, Neto, Setford, Kepa, Meslier.

Martin Odegaard has made 685 high-speed runs at the World Cup so far. He ranks 18th in the entire competition for that metric, despite only playing four games (he was rested for the third group match). All the players who have totalled more high-speed runs have played five games

I’m told Bruno is extremely emotional following Brazil’s early exit from the World Cup. This is probably his last chance to secure a big money move to a team competing for title and Champions League. But he does not want to tarnish his legacy at Newcastle and will only leave if clubs can agree a price. Newcastle valuation is around the £100m fee they received for Tonali. No chance they sell at £50-60m Very unlikely Bruno goes down the same path as Isak to force an exit but he would like a move to Arsenal. More to follow @TeleFootball #nufc #arsenal

Feel there is going to be more bad news for #nufc regarding Bruno Guimareas saga. Claims from his camp that he wants to leave. Still no contact from Arsenal club to club.

@nee_kap Better location within the city. I walked to and from today’s game

@SamJDean Better than SoFi?!

In Atlanta for Argentina v Egypt. Fifth game in five cities in five days. This is the best stadium I’ve been to in the US.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni: "Messi missed a penalty but he asks for the ball again and he drives, again and again. I get goosebumps, to be honest. This is who we are, as Argentinians. We play our hearts out."

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan says he will not watch a single minute of the remainder of this World Cup because of the "injustice" his team suffered against Argentina. "It is my own way of speaking up and standing up. I am not going to watch a single match of this tournament."

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan: "Why isn't there any fairness in sport? In football? I do not want to try to put it nicely here with beautiful wording. We have been treated unfairly today. We have suffered injustice."

Hossam Hassan, Egypt's head coach, says his team have been "treated unfairly" and "suffered injustice". He says the result was influenced by "internal" and "external" factors and that Egypt had objected to the selection of the French referee.

An absolute privilege to cover that game. It had everything: underdogs fighting for their lives, brilliant goals, Messi magic, refereeing controversy, late drama. Argentina have Messi (and they certainly had help from the ref) but they also have an extraordinary competitive edge

The amount of late drama at this World Cup has been ridiculous. The noise in Atlanta when Messi scored... woof. Not heard anything like it at this World Cup.

Unbelievable. That one will count. Egypt are putting on a counter-attacking clinic here.

Ruling out that goal, for a challenge as innocuous as that, just feels totally wrong.

Lisandro Martinez is a brilliant defender and a great passer of the ball but there's a reason centre-backs are usually the tallest players on the pitch. His height is such an obvious weakness.