Fraser-McGurk roared back to form in T20s with a blistering 88 off 38 balls that was studded with 11 sixes

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jun-2025Finn Allen smashed his second straight 50-plus score, Jake Fraser-McGurk roared back to form, and fast bowlers Xavier Bartlett and Haris Rauf picked up four wickets apiece to lead San Francisco Unicorns to their second win on the bounce in MLC 2025. Unicorns posted a 200-plus total for the second game in a row, after their record-breaking 269 for 5 in the opening game of the tournament, and it proved to be too much for Los Angeles Knight Riders as only two of their batters scored over 30.It was Fraser-McGurk this time who led Unicorns’ charge with a blistering 88 off 38 balls that was studded with 11 sixes and just two fours, and it came after he had tallied just 61 runs in his last seven T20 innings at an average of just 8.71, which also included him getting dropped from the Delhi Capitals (DC) playing XI in the IPL. Against LAKR, however, he and Allen hammered 121 runs in just 55 balls for the second wicket – including a powerplay of 76 for 1. The highlight in that phase was the four consecutive sixes Fraser-McGurk smashed off Shadley van Schalkwyk in the fifth over that went for 25. After a rare boundary-less seventh over for just four runs from Sunil Narine, and seven more in the next bowled by Jason Sangha, Fraser-McGurk and Allen got back to smashing the ball around before Allen holed out to long-on off Narine for 52 off 27.Fraser-McGurk replied with three more sixes in the 13th over after he had brought up his 21-ball fifty, before he too handed a catch, to mid-off against van Schalkwyk. The top order had set the stage as Unicorns were going at over 12 an over when Fraser-McGurk fell with the score on 167 with 39 balls to go. The LAKR bowlers pulled things back after that as Unicorms lost four wickets and managed just 52 runs thereafter. They lost Hassan Khan, Corey Anderson, Bartlett and Brody Couch in the space of three overs, which included a double-wicket over from Ali Khan. Rauf struck a six and a four in the last two overs to stretch them past 200 and post a challenging total.The LAKR chase was dented twice early on with the wickets of openers Andre Fletcher and Alex Hales in the first 21 balls. No. 3 Unmukt Chand kept them going with a 30-ball half-century to post 66 in the powerplay. He lost his partner Nitish Kumar in the eighth over to Hassan that ended a quick stand of 46 off 24. Chand and Matthew Tromp then managed just 33 runs off the next 30 balls that saw three boundary-less overs on the bounce. Chand took off again with a four and a six in the next two overs before Rauf roared with a seven-run double-wicket over that saw Chand and the powerful Andre Russell walk back, the second dismissal coming through a 146km thunderbolt that rattled the stumps. LAKR were five down and needed 107 from 42 balls, which proved to be too stiff. Saif Badar scored 17 off eight balls and Narine, the captain, smoked 27 off 13 before Rauf struck with another double-wicket over that virtually ended the chase in the 19th over.

They have a chance to win the T20I series, while SL will look for amends after being bowled out for 94

Mohammad Isam15-Jul-2025

Big Picture: Sri Lanka out to stop Bangladesh’s comeback

Bangladesh have twice levelled with Sri Lanka on the white-ball leg of this tour. They failed to keep the momentum in the ODI series after winning the second game, and crashed in the third encounter by nearly 100 runs. Bangladesh have now set up the T20I series similarly, by winning the second game to make it 1-1. Now’s the chance to make amends.Bangladesh’s 83-run win against Sri Lanka in the last game was only their second T20I victory in eight games in 2025. But they did get a good idea of their best approach in the format: a team-wide performance rather than bank on individual brilliance. In a team lacking superstars in any format, they have to build a unit with several performers.Litton Das returning to form will certainly encourage the team. The Bangladesh T20I captain struck 76 off 50, his first half-century after 13 innings. The numbers might suggest he played an anchor role but he was attacking in both partnerships with Towhid Hridoy and Shamim Hossain. Bangladesh will look for a similar approach, with at least two or three sizeable partnerships, and a big finish to their batting innings.Related

• Salahuddin: 'I have no ego; if someone better comes along, it's for the team'

• Litton, Shamim lead Bangladesh's rout of Sri Lanka

• 'I have to do it every day' – Shamim on mixing the mercurial with the mundane

The action now returns to the R Premadasa Stadium where in the night games the pitch currently has a batting-first score similar to that of the Shere Bangla National Stadium. Bangladesh wouldn’t mind the familiarity.Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have to bounce back from getting bowled out for 94, their lowest T20I total at home. They could take a leaf out of their ODI series playbook when they lost the second game, but then roared back with a victory. For that to happen, they would need their top order to step up again, the way Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka set up their first T20I win.Captain Charith Asalanka has to also ensure his XI is balanced and not too lopsided with bowling options. He would also expect runs from Kusal Perera and Avishka Fernando, while the likes of Dasun Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne have to contribute with the bat. Asalanka has been missing Wanindu Hasaranga, as legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay hasn’t quite delivered in the series so far.Bangladesh’s spinners, though, will keep posing a challenge. Rishad Hossain had a three-wicket haul after a seven-month gap in T20Is. It is shaping up to be a climactic tour finale for both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Form guide

Sri Lanka LWWLL (Last five completed T20Is, the most recent first)

Bangladesh WLLLLKusal Mendis has been in fine form across formats against Bangladesh•AFP/Getty Images

In the spotlight: Kusal Mendis and Towhid Hridoy

Kusal Mendis has been Sri Lanka’s standout performer in the last four weeks across formats. The most admirable part of his batting has been his pacing in each format. He tore into Bangladesh’s attack in the first T20I in Pallekele, making light work of the 155 target. His 8 in the second game therefore came as a surprise, particularly when he was run-out running languidly. Kusal has the opportunity to sign off on this tour emphatically.Towhid Hridoy made just 31 in Bangladesh’s win in Dambulla but he provided crucial support to Litton in their third-wicket stand. Hridoy has a middle-order role that requires him to bat in different gears, similar to Mushfiqur Rahim’s for much of his white-ball career. Hridoy is therefore filling into big shoes, while also growing as a cricketer. Increasingly, opposition bowling attacks are taking him seriously enough to look for holes in his batting. Hridoy has all the shots in the game, though sometimes his choice and timing of those shots get him into trouble.

Team news: Sri Lanka may need batting depth

Sri Lanka could bring in Dunith Wellalage in place of Chamika Karunaratne, while Avishka Fernando’s place is under the scanner.Sri Lanka (probable XI): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Kusal Perera 4 Avishka Fernando, 5 Charith Asalanka (capt), 6 Dasun Shanaka, 7 Chamika Karunaratne/Dunith Wellalage, 8 Maheesh Theekshana, 9 Jeffrey Vandersay, 10 Binura Fernando, 11 Nuwan ThusharaLitton Das finding form will encourage Bangladesh•AFP/Getty Images

Bangladesh are likely to go with the same team that helped them level the series.Bangladesh (probable XI): 1 Parvez Hossain Emon, 2 Tanzid Hasan, 3 Litton Das (capt, wk), 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 6 Shamim Hossain, 7 Jaker Ali, 8 Mohammad Saifuddin, 9 Rishad Hossain, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Pitch and conditions: Bowling first a no-brainer

The side batting first in night matches has lost nine out of the last ten T20Is at the R Premadasa Stadium. The average batting first score in these ten matches has been 125 runs, much lower than Pallekele and Dambulla where the first two T20Is were played. There are forecasts of some rain in the evening too.

Stats and trivia: Good omens for Bangladesh

• Sri Lanka’s 94 all out against Bangladesh is their lowest T20I total at home. The previous lowest was 99 against Pakistan in Hambantota in 2012.
• Bangladesh snapped a six-match losing streak with their 83-run win in Dambulla. This was their sixth losing streak of six T20Is or more.
• The R Premadasa Stadium is among Bangladesh’s favourite overseas venues in T20Is, having won three out of seven matches there.

Maharaj, who last held the spot in November 2023, returned to the top following his five-for in the first ODI against Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Aug-2025South Africa left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj has displaced Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana as the No. 1 men’s ODI bowler, following his five-for in the first ODI against Australia in Cairns.Maharaj, who last held the spot in November 2023, returned to the top after gaining two places to move ahead of Theekshana (second) and India spinner Kuldeep Yadav (third). The 35-year-old picked up career-best ODI figures of 5 for 33 which gave South Africa a 98-run win and a 1-0 series lead.Among the South African batters, Aiden Markram moved four spots up to No. 21 and Temba Bavuma five spots to No. 23 following their respective half-centuries in the first ODI.Related

• Australia set to face another trial by spin but Subrayen won't play

• Road to 2027: Questions for Australia and South Africa

• Maharaj's masterful maiden ODI five-for hands South Africa 1-0 series lead

• Maharaj shakes off T20I snub with statement white-ball display

Following the recently concluded ODI series against Pakistan, West Indies captain Shai Hope jumped two spots to No. 9 on the batters’ list. Hope finished as the top run-scorer in the series with 207 runs, helping West Indies win the series 2-1. His team-mate Jayden Seales moved 15 places up to 18th in the bowling rankings following his ten wickets in the series.Following the T20Is between Australia and South Africa preceding the ODIs, fast bowler Nathan Ellis entered the top ten among bowlers, moving three places up to No. 9. Ellis picked up 3 for 31 in the third T20I to help Australia seal the T20Is 2-1. Josh Hazlewood, who picked up the most wickets for Australia in the series, rose two spots to 18th.South Africa’s hard-hitting batter Dewald Brevis jumped nine spots to equal 12th on the list for T20I batters following his superb efforts in the series. Brevis scored 125 not out off 56 in the first T20I and followed it up with 53 off 26 in the second.

James Sales’ maiden List A century sets up Northamptonshire’s first win of the campaign

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay15-Aug-2025Northamptonshire 321 for 8 (Sales 117, Robinson 63, Broad 59) beat Durham 171 (Raine 31*, Chahal 3-30) by 150 runs A superb maiden List A century from James Sales – 117 off 110 balls – set Northamptonshire Steelbacks up for a first Metro Bank One-Day Cup win in four games this season, by 150 runs at the expense of Durham at the Banks Homes Riverside.The young Steelbacks side kick-started their Group B campaign following a No Result and two defeats as they successfully defended a commanding 321 for 8 total. Durham, meanwhile, suffered their third defeat in five to threaten their chances of a top-three finish for knockout qualification.Having elected to bat, Northamptonshire were advanced by centurion Sales, who was well supported by New Zealander Tim Robinson’s well-paced 63 off 69 balls and Justin Broad’s more aggressive 59 off 45.Durham then lost early wickets and never realistically threatened. They were bowled out for 171 inside 32 overs. Indian Yuzvendra Chahal finished with 3 for 30 from six overs of leg-spin.Sales, who hit his three sixes down the ground off spin and seam, was strong on both sides of the wicket as he accelerated through his innings having come to the crease at 31 for 1 in the ninth over.The 22-year-old right-hander batted through until the 48th over when he holed out to wide long-on against Ben Raine’s seam.New-ball duo Mitchell Killeen and Paul Coughlin struck twice apiece, but Durham relinquished control of the innings from 35 for two in the 10th over.Killeen had bowled captain Lewis McManus, Coughlin had Ricardo Vasconcelos caught behind by debutant 17-year-old wicketkeeper Robbie Bowman.Sales shared century partnerships for the third and fourth wickets with overseas Robinson and Broad en-route to his fifty off 65 balls and his century off 101.He dwarfed his previous List A best score of 35, though has three Championship hundreds to his name through last season and this.Durham, missing linchpin wicketkeeper-batter Ollie Robinson because of a family funeral, failed to gain control with the ball on the same pitch used for Tuesday’s defeat to Middlesex when the visitors chased an English List A record 388.This pitch was good, but it wasn’t the absolute featherbed of a couple of days ago.The home side lost Coughlin to a suspected shoulder issue having bowled nine overs.The Steelbacks were excellent having failed to reach 230 in either of the first two games played, and they continued their good work when it came to the defence, reducing Durham to 49 for four inside 11 overs.Left-arm quick Liam Guthrie struck twice, as did Luke Procter with his seamers. Alex Lees, Will Rhodes and Colin Ackermann all fell.But the headline dismissal was the first – four for one at the start of the second over – when ex-Northamptonshire opener Emilio Gay was trapped lbw stuck on the crease for a second golden duck in as many matches following disappointment against Middlesex.This was Gay’s first appearance against Northamptonshire since leaving Wantage Road late last summer.And when South Africa Test batter David Bedingham, on 30, miscued Broad’s fifth ball to mid-off, it felt like a decisive blow at 78 for five in the 15th over.Debutant Bowman encouraged for 27 and George Drissell bettered that with 30. But they fell to the spin of Rob Keogh and Yuzvendra Chahal as the score fell to 150 for seven in the 29th.Chahal forced a discomforted Coughlin to miscue to cover before bowling Killeen as he struck twice in the 31st over.Seventeen-year-old debutant off-spinner Nirvan Ramesh then wrapped things up with his maiden first-team wicket, Archie Bailey caught behind. He bowled a tidy 4.2 overs for 23.

Unfortunately, Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Brighton was not enough to lift Aston Villa out of the relegation zone.

The Villans remain in the bottom three of the Premier League with 22 points to their name, one point off 17th-placed Watford.

While the point against Graham Potter’s side wasn’t ideal, Dean Smith made a second-half change which at least meant their trip to the Amex Stadium didn’t end in defeat.

Snapshot

The Seagulls took a first-half lead after Leandro Trossard smashed a fine strike into the bottom right corner of Pepe Reina’s goal, which left Villa chasing the game.

Danny Drinkwater had received a yellow card before that 38th minute strike, picking up a caution in the 14th minute.

Smith then made his first change by bringing Indiana Vassilev on for Trezeguet, although it was the Villa boss’ next substitute which paid dividends for the Midlands-based side.

68th minute switch paid off

In the 68th minute, the former Brentford boss decided to replace Drinkwater with Douglas Luiz, and he was almost immediately rewarded.

The Brazilian midfielder went on to grab the assist for Jack Grealish’s powerfully-hit equaliser after playing a beautifully weighted through ball into the Englishman’s path, just seven minutes after coming onto the field.

How much do you remember about football in 2019? Our quiz will test your knowledge…

Additionally, the former Manchester City man had one shot on target and won an aerial duel against Brighton, while also making one interception as well as finding a teammate with two long balls from an attempted three.

He may only have had 14 touches and made 11 passes, but seeing as one of them set Grealish up to win a vital point for the Villans, it was a move that paid off.

It was also the right thing to do given Drinkwater’s lack of impact for 68 minutes, in which he failed to record a shot on target or a key pass – it was telling that Luiz registered one of each in his 22 minutes on the field.

In other news, Aston Villa would be breaking new ground by completing this transfer…

Arsenal and Liverpool will renew one of the Premier League’s greatest rivalries as the pair meet each other at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night.

The Gunners are in search of their first three points on home soil following their shock 2-0 defeat against West Ham.

Arsene Wenger’s side bounced back from that loss to win impressively at Crystal Palace and the Gunners will be hoping that they can start a winning run when Liverpool visit, a side they beat 4-1 at home last season.

However, Brendan Rodgers’ side have changed a lot since then and perhaps, most importantly, they have tightened things up at the back.

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They go into the game off the back of two consecutive 1-0 victories over Stoke and Bournemouth respectively. The wins weren’t exactly scintillating, but that bother Reds fans too much as the table reads six points from a possible six.

However, the visit to the Emirates is certainly the Reds’ toughest test so far, and they will be hoping to get their first win at Arsenal since 2011.

But what chance do Rodgers’ Reds have at getting a win tonight? Well if the bookies are anything to go by then there isn’t much of a chance, with the Gunners fancied as heavy favourites.

Perhaps this isn’t helped by the fact that Liverpool could have to make do without their influential captain Jordan Henderson, who has a foot injury and has been playing with pain killing injections recently.

His loss will hurt Liverpool and considering Arsenal have lost just one of their last seven games against Liverpool, a player of his influence not on the field will make a huge difference to the Reds side.

When you look at how Liverpool could win tonight you would have to say that it is probably best for Rodgers to admit that his side is not as good as Arsenal and they aren’t going to play them off the park; if they were to go toe-to-toe, it would be an exciting game but ultimately you would have to say that one result is likely, and that is an Arsenal win.

Liverpool’s best chance of getting the three points is keeping the same side that beat Bournemouth, with maybe only one change, which would be Emre Can coming in for Henderson.

Keeping the same defence is crucial, as clearly they have formed a solid unit so far and have looked very tight in the two games they have played; those two clean sheets should mean they pick themselves really.

Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana, and Jordon Ibe will fill the attacking positions behind Christian Benteke, providing support for the big Belgian in the search for goals.

The side should be that and the tactics are simple, too. They will have to play fairly similarly to how West Ham did when they got a win there, and that is to set up fairly defensively and invite the Gunners on to them. They will need to be compact and allow Arsenal no spaces in front of the back four, where they are most dangerous, and they will need to force Wenger’s men out wide and force hopeful crosses in to the box, which Lovren and Skrtel should deal with.

From there they can be set up to counter attack through the pace and skill of Ibe, Coutinho, Lallana and Benteke. They should also make sure plenty of early crosses come in for Benteke, who can take advantage of Arsenal’s weakness at defending headers.

Indeed, Benteke will have a big role to play, Liverpool should also target set pieces as source of goals. They need to ensure they deliver well and put Wenger’s side under pressure whenever possible.

If they can maintain a counter attack, deliver quality into the box and keep it tight at the back there is every chance that Liverpool could get a result tonight – and perhaps even the win.

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With Chelsea all but out of the title race already, Arsenal v Manchester United today was perhaps the first big, early title clash of the season. Despite Arsenal’s blistering start to the game that they went on to win at a canter, this won’t tell us if either side can win the league, but it does show us some important things about two contenders who didn’t make the grade last season.

Manchester Untied came into this game trying to wrestle back top spot from Manchester City but ended up losing another spot and sliding down to third as they were humbled by Arsenal.

In the end, Manchester United were blown away and couldn’t get into the game afterwards. It was over after 20 minutes. We don’t know who will win the league, but we have had some questions answered

Arsenal are back in the big time

For years of talking about being title candidates, Arsenal always came up short on the big occasion. Heavy defeats away to title rivals were a regular thing – losing big against Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United over the years – but they seem to be a thing of the past. Last January, Arsenal stifled Manchester City at the Etihad and now they’ve beaten Manchester United by simply blowing them to smithereens – it was reminiscent of how they dispatched of Liverpool in April. The blip was the defeat against Chelsea, but with only nine men on the pitch, it would’ve taken an almighty effort to win that game.

Arsenal are back!

When arsenal are good, they’re very very good

You wouldn’t know it from their Champions League performances, but Arsenal are a very good team. They hit five away at Leicester last week, and Alexis Sanchez once again proved that he’s back to form by scoring twice today after his hat trick last weekend.

They were devastating on the break, and they’d have fancied beating anyone today.

United’s money hasn’t stopped them from being short-handed

In a big clash away to one of your title rivals, the last thing you want is to be forced to play two attacking midfielders at full back. After all the money United have spent since Louis Van Gaal was appointed as manager, United are still short at the back, and they looked short in the midfield today, too. With Carrick and Schweinsteiger chasing shadows for the entirety of the first half, Arsenal found it too easy.

Surely they can’t think they can win the league with their midfield playing like that?

The magic of the FA Cup spread to Salford City last weekend, in doing so it caught the attention of Manchester United fans who enjoyed watching members of the Class of ’92 celebrate their pet hobby’s success.In a remarkable blurring of the lines, Salford were painted as tiny minnows enjoying a rare treat. Their billionaire owner Peter Lim, or the five former Manchester United players that have ploughed resources into the club, obviously played no part.The whole adventure has been turned into some idyllic affair. It’s good to highlight the pros of non-league football in a time when vast numbers of supporters from top flight clubs feel disenfranchised. But if people want a genuine experience they should travel a little further to places like Stockport County. Salford City is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.If we rewind a little it’s clear to see the hypocrisy of the Manchester United fans that celebrated with their heroes this weekend. The club has got there using money that isn’t self-generated, breaking the league’s wage structure, with foreign investment that could get bored and leave at any time. That description isn’t one this writer has just aimed at Salford, it’s what United fans applied to Manchester City following their takeover from Sheikh Mansour and the subsequent rise up the league.It’s been seen as a diabolical act, one that is ruining football. How dare Manchester City invest to better themselves and catch the more successful sides. However, it’s been a thing of beauty watching the Class of ’92 dipping their hands into their pockets to prop up Salford City.It’s perfectly acceptable – normal, even – to expect them to throw cash at the non-league league problem and progress through the tiers. As United fans are pointing out: You need to invest to better the club. But it’s only okay if Manchester City aren’t the ones doing the bettering.“Foreign owners will not be mindful of tradition or club values.†That was another gem thrown at Man City fans. There’s yet to be any evidence supporting the statement regarding City’s owners and a whole stack that instantly disproves it. The new owners at the Etihad have dealt with all matters that could offend with excellent diplomacy and delicacy.

There’s no need to bring in outsiders from elsewhere if removing tradition is your thing. The Class of ’92, lads from down the road managed to change the badge and the club’s colours. It’s was outrage when Cardiff City fans experienced the same treatment, it’s part of the romance when the Manchester United connection does it without consultation.

It’s inevitable Salford City will continue to climb the leagues. The same thing happened with AFC Wimbledon. When semi-professional outfits are ran like full-time clubs it’s just a matter of time until they become fully fledged pros. There’s no issue with this. Ambition is a good thing and to aim high you have be better than what’s above you.

Salford City are beginning to see the reward for their endeavours. The problem is their ambition has been given human form and idolised in the guise of Gary and Phil Neville, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs. The same people that revere Salford’s efforts chastise other clubs when they dare dream big, and then achieve using similar means.

So the next time you feel like taking a shot at Manchester City for daring to invest in a youth academy or improve the Etihad, remember the Class of ’92 enhanced Moor Lane, set-up a scouting network, another youth team, and altered the infrastructure of how the club was run. This wasn’t with Salford’s money – it was given to them.

Unless Manchester United fans in support of the Salford City project think the Class of ’92 aren’t “doing it the proper way,†it safe to assume we’re all finally in agreement. There is only one way to play catch-up, and it requires outside investment and internal reshaping.

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Manchester United star Jesse Lingard has confirmed that he received an offer from Liverpool earlier in his career, according to reports from Sky Sports.

The 22-year-old has been one of the break-out stars for the Red Devils this season, with the youngster scoring the opening goal in the club’s 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in their previous Premier League fixture.

His recent displays have even earned him a call-up to the England national squad, but Lingard could only make the bench during the Three Lions’ 2-0 win over France on Tuesday.

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However, being part of Roy Hodgson’s squad is seen as an incredible achievement for the former Man United youth star, yet Lingard revealed he could have been part of a different youth setup with Liverpool.

“I was at a local club Penketh United and Mike Glennie, a Manchester United scout, came to watch me,” he said.

“He spoke to my granddad and offered me trials but there was also interest from Liverpool and I had to pick. I was only young but obviously my heart was with United at the time.

“Going through the years, I was with Larnell Cole, Mike and Will Keane, Sam [Johnstone], Ravel [Morrison] and Tunners [Ryan Tunnicliffe].

“There are a lot of lads still doing their thing at other clubs and they’re happy seeing me where I am.

“I’ve won a lot of trophies, like the FA Youth Cup and the Reserves league a couple of times, but it would top it off to win the Premier League with the first team.”

United will travel to Vicarage Road to face Watford in their next league game, with Lingard in contention to start with summer signing Antony Martial picking up an injury while playing for France.

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After Arsenal’s comfortable victory against Dinamo Zagreb in midweek, they now face a do-or-die match away at Olympiakos, which they must win in order to progress to the next stage of the Champions League – the knockout stages, which they have been accustomed to reaching yearly in the past under Arsene Wenger.

While many fans will wail and gnash their teeth at the mere thought of another season passing without their side making it to the quarters and semis of this great competition, I wonder if any will consider that the possibility of an early exit might actually boost their chances of domestic glory?

While Arsene Wenger and his players would never be able to suggest this openly, it could well be the case that they feel their chances of winning the Premier League could be significantly increased by being knocked out of Europe’s premier competition.

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We have already seen in these last few weeks that Arsene Wenger does not have the league’s strongest squad at his disposal. With injuries seeming to derail their chances in most competitions every single year, surely one less trophy to worry about would be a good thing?

The fact is that, due to not recruiting in the same way as most of their rivals each summer, Arsenal simply do not have as deep a squad as other title contenders.

This means that when the players regularly have to compete on two fronts every week, injuries and tiredness inevitably follow. Together with Arsenal’s quick, fluid passing style that encourages opponents to stick their foot in, is it any wonder Wenger is constantly bemoaning the crowded Emirates treatment room?

If Arsenal go out of the Champions League, they can pour all their energies into the two competitions they have done the best in over the last few years; the league, and the FA Cup, which they won in 2014 and retained last year.

They will not have to worry about either picking their first team in two matches a week and running the risk of fatiguing them, or playing a mix of first team and players who would otherwise be on the bench and losing anyway. As seen when the Gunners took on Sheffield Wednesday in the Carling Cup (losing 3-0 and seeing Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain injured in the process), these cup competitions can prove costly.

With only one game a week, Wenger can afford to spend that whole week training and getting his players ready for that specific match, which will also mean the team has more time to get ready for whatever that particular opponent will throw at them. Organisation and planning would improve, and no doubt Wenger would also be happy with the chance to spend a serious amount of time getting his team ready for big Premier League games, and not constantly having to give up a day to recovery with players exhausted from midweek exertions.

There is no doubt that going out of the Champions League group stages would hit Wenger and the team hard. It is possibly the world’s most prestigious competition, and Arsenal remain one of the biggest clubs never to have won it. Going out before Christmas would be something Wenger and his players would have to live with for the rest of the season.

However, these blows could yet be offset by the advantages gained – advantages which could see the Gunners maybe even go all the way in the Premier League title race.

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