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GOAL spoke to a number of former NCFC players, who outlined the harsh realities of a volatile league after being made redundant four days before a playoff game

The day North Carolina FC announced they would be halting operations at the end of the season hit one player’s family particularly hard. 

Upon learning from her husband that everything their family had built in Cary, N.C., would come crashing to an end, the player’s wife was immediately rushed to the hospital. She had terrible breakouts on her face and body. It was so bad that a doctor determined she needed steroids to remedy her symptoms.

This is the side of football that many don’t get to see. And it was one of many reactions to the news that NCFC would, come the end of the season, no longer exist. On Nov. 3, the United Soccer League Players Association informed all 26 roster members of the club that they would not have an employer within a month. The news, officially announced by the team itself on Nov. 4 – four days before a home playoff game – made waves on social media. 

Yet more important than the debate over USL’s future and its grandiose ambitions was the impact that this news had on real human lives. A club closing down might seem a minor casualty in a much wider soccer sphere, in which news cycles last minutes – at most. And USL franchises are smaller and more volatile than those in more well-off leagues. 

But for the players, staff members, and those on the inside, such an event is life-changing and potentially catastrophic for a football career. 

“The reaction was anger. Having a two-year deal gave balance and a belief of certainty. Then, we had that ripped out from under us so late in the season,” one NCFC player told GOAL.

It isn’t fair to the thousands of paying fans who show up to games week in, week out – the season ticket holders who will suffer after watching their team fold. But there is also a devastating human cost of redundancy for the 26 on the roster. 

A handful of NCFC’s players, speaking on the condition of anonymity, talked about their reactions to seeing their contracts voided. Some were on multi-year deals, while others were due to see their contract expire at the end of the season. But all have had their lives turned upside down in recent weeks, with few apparent solutions.

Getty'It’s embarrassing'

NCFC are not the first USL team to halt operations in recent years – 12 franchises have folded in the last decade. As the league expanded, this has become something of an unfortunate trend. Ownership groups have often gambled on markets without success. And due to a lack of long-term sustainability, some simply pull the plug. 

It’s common for players to see this happening in real time. One player, who was part of Memphis 1901 before it folded in December 2024, admitted that he could see the news coming. 

“You don’t wake up one morning to a press release,” he said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to have his identity protected. “It starts slowly with whispers in the locker room, uncertainty in staff meetings, small signs that something isn’t right.” 

NCFC said their reason for ceasing operations was the franchise agreement ending, as well as an application to USL’s new Division One league, set to come to USL in either 2027 or 2028. They were, in effect, closing their doors now to set themselves up for the future. 

The club itself reiterated that sentiment in an email. 

“We had a great 20 years, but we're aiming to make professional soccer sustainable here for the next 20 and beyond. There’s an incredible soccer community in the Triangle, and this reset will give us the time and resources to connect better, understand more deeply, and best represent them when we kick off again in the future,” a club spokesperson told GOAL. 

The club has already applied for Division One status, and its application, like many, is under review. 

When asked about the club’s decision, the USL declined to offer a comment. According to sources, there isn’t an expectation that other clubs hoping to play USL Division One will make similar moves. The club, when asked about communications with the league itself, said they were unable to comment on behalf of the USL. 

The general sentiment from club executives around the league is one of anger and disappointment. The president of another USL Championship club, speaking anonymously, characterized NCFC’s decision as a “betrayal of trust” and made clear that they don’t wish for the club to be let back into the league. 

“It’s embarrassing for NCFC to capitalize on Division One the way they have, especially before the playoffs,” they said. 

That same president also acknowledged that the decision comes at an inopportune time, given the league’s recent success and big ambitions for the future. “It’s disappointing at a time when there is so much happening around the league,” they added. 

The USL Players Association expressed similar frustration. 

“When a professional club shuts down, the players are always the ones left holding the bag. North Carolina FC is the 12th USL Championship club in the past decade to fold, and each time it happens, players are left with only two months of salary, immediate housing instability, and, for international players, real uncertainty over their immigration status,” Connor Tobin, Executive Director of the USLPA, said in a statement to GOAL.

AdvertisementIMAGN'Shocked and disappointed'

One squad member, who has a wife and son, was ‘shocked and disappointed’ to hear the news. He was supposed to be under contract for at least one more year – on a guaranteed salary. That deal, expected to sustain him for at least another season, has been shortened to just two months of compensation. He declined to answer if he felt optimistic about the chances of signing a new contract elsewhere. 

A second player who had spoken with GOAL took the news poorly, but wasn’t entirely surprised. 

“I felt hurt, but honestly, I could see it happening beforehand,” he said. 

Another suggested that NCFC had been hinting that it would shut its doors for some time. The club’s franchise agreement was due to expire at the end of the 2025 season, and a few players noticed that the lack of marketing from club leadership – which also owns the NWSL’s North Carolina Courage – indicated that things might change. 

“I wasn’t extremely shocked because of the lack of effort from the front office when it came to marketing the team,” he said. 

But more generally, the reality for those who put their trust in a club can be devastating. 

“A few had relocated their families just months earlier and signed year-long leases. Breaking those leases meant paying thousands of dollars they didn’t have and forcing many to stay in a city without a team simply because leaving was financially impossible,” a former squad member of a different USL club told GOAL.

ImagnDirectly impacting a playoff match

Part of the shock for the players was the timing of the announcement. 

The club revealed its decision four days before an Eastern Conference semifinal clash with Rhode Island FC – a game which NCFC hosted at WakeMed Soccer Park. Head coach and sporting director John Bradford was looped in on discussions around the timing of the announcement. 

The players, however, were baffled that the club chose a date so close to a crucial fixture. 

“I was more surprised and annoyed with the timing right before a home playoff game,” one said. 

Some players admitted that the news impacted their performance, or certainly the vibe around the team in the days before the game. 

“It affected the training in the week leading up. Time that could have been spent preparing was spent on HR meetings and other meetings,” one player said. 

One player who spoke with GOAL acknowledged that “team spirit took a hit,” but one insisted that they “focused valiantly on doing their best” given the circumstances. 

The club, meanwhile, praised the players’ attitude in the week leading up to the game. “The players and staff were utmost professionals during the training sessions and the playoff match that followed the announcement, and we are incredibly proud of the effort and heart they showed in the conference semifinal,” an NCFC spokesperson told GOAL. 

They lost 2-0.

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GettyFinding a new club

Yet the effects of that Nov. 4 decision extend far beyond the result itself. USL contracts are typically shorter than those in MLS or other leagues, leading to significant roster turnover. In the USL, it’s common for players to be on one-year or two-year deals, creating constant movement from season to season. 

But finding work so late into the season, when most teams have already formulated their roster plans for the following year, can be immensely difficult. 

“The worst part is you’re late to the free agent game. Most teams have spent a good chunk of their budget and roster spots already. You lose all the leverage that you may have had if you knew you’d be a free agent six months ago. And as a result, you have to take a bad deal or a deal you don’t believe matches market value,” one player said. 

Another, previously employed by a different club that folded, acknowledged the same. 

“Contract status shapes the fallout,” they said. “Players out of contract can move on more quickly, but those with ‘guaranteed’ deals often discover the guarantee is limited. In a league with modest wages, that adds up to four paychecks and a public signal that players from a folded club can now be acquired at a steep discount.”

The sentiment about finding a new club was generally pessimistic. Only one of the players GOAL spoke to said they were confident that they would seal a new deal with a new team. The club insisted they have worked with players to find new clubs. 

“As soon as the team’s immediate future direction was finalized, our priority was to provide players and staff with timely, transparent information so they could prepare for 2026 and beyond,” a spokesperson said.

From looking at Yankees right fielder and designated hitter Aaron Judge's numbers in 2025, one would hardly know he was injured.

However, even while slashing .331/.457/.688, the future Hall of Famer was affected by a right elbow flexor strain for much of the late season. The injury cost him 10 days, and led to a sharp decrease in time spent playing the field when he returned in early August.

On Thursday, New York manager Aaron Boone offered a glimpse of how Judge plans to rehabilitate his injury in the offseason.

"[Judge] is not [having surgery]. He actually had an MRI after the season, it showed continued improvement in the flexor muscles. He finished the season doing pretty well, so no surgery is going to be needed for Aaron," Boone told reporters via SNY.

Judge slashed .500/.581/.682 with a home run and seven RBIs in the Yankees' seven-game playoff stint. Nonetheless, the Blue Jays knocked the Yankees out of the American League Division Series in four games.

"He'll take some time off and continue to do strengthening things and rehab and stuff. Felt like he finished the season in a pretty good place, as we saw continued improvements with him," Boone said.

The age of the home side is a major talking point but they remain formidable while England have come full of strokemakers and genuine pace

Andrew Miller and Andrew McGlashan07-Nov-20257:23

Will Joe Root finally score his first hundred in Australia?

Top orderAustralia Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green
England Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Jacob BethellTheir displays in the New Zealand ODIs may beg to differ, but England’s batters arrive in Australia with a rare clarity of purpose, thanks to three years of constant backing from the selectors and an overarching licence to be proactive. In Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, they boast Test cricket’s standout opening partnership since 2019, and if doubts persist about Crawley’s overall returns, then Australians will need little reminding of his 189 at Old Trafford in the 2023 series. How the diminutive Duckett tailors his game to Australia’s bouncier surfaces could be one of the subplots of the series.Related

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England’s obvious issue is the identity of their No. 3 batter, although the debate may prove to be a red herring. Ollie Pope tends to start series very well, and in averaging a notch below 39 since 2022, he is a long way from being a lame duck at first-drop. His removal from the vice-captaincy will make a switch to Jacob Bethell easier if England so choose, but it seems unlikely they will take that option just yet.Their opponents, by contrast, still don’t know which order they will be lining up in, even if the personnel for Perth are now in place. Jake Weatherald’s impending debut could enable Marnus Labuschagne to slot back into his favoured No. 3 berth, but while his Sheffield Shield form is a significant boost, Usman Khawaja’s struggle for meaningful runs remains a worry as he enters what could be the final stretch of his international career. To highlight Australia’s recent uncertainties at the top, if Weatherald debuts, he will be Khawaja’s sixth opening partner since David Warner retired.It could yet be that Cameron Green retains the No. 3 position if he doesn’t play as a full allrounder. He adapted impressively in the Caribbean, but England won’t mind seeing him there.Who comes out on top? England, if the pitches are flat; Australia, if hanging tough is requiredMiddle orderAustralia Steven Smith, Travis Head
England Joe Root, Harry BrookHere lies the engine room, not just of the respective teams, but arguably the series itself. A pair of all-time great batters on either side, in Steven Smith and Joe Root, and two other brilliant contemporary performers in Harry Brook and Travis Head, with a string of match-seizing displays in their repertoire.A big Ashes ahead for Steven Smith?•AFP/Getty ImagesAll eyes are on Root going into this campaign. As the current No.1-ranked batter in the world, he could not ask for better circumstances as he seeks that elusive maiden hundred in Australia – the only significant void in his immense repertoire. His counterpart, by contrast, has 18 already on home soil and, as he showed in racking up two more hundreds in an overall off-colour series against India last summer, Smith’s muscle memory is liable to kick in at any given moment.Brook, currently No. 2 on the rankings, showcased some startling strokeplay in the New Zealand ODIs last week, and as vice-captain, he has an added layer of responsibility going into a seminal series. But his record in Australia is undeniably limited – at international level he’s made just 69 runs at 9.85 in the country, all during England’s T20 World Cup win in 2022, while his solitary BBL campaign for Hobart Hurricanes realised 44 runs at 6.28. It’s unlikely to remain that fallow for long, but it’s a reminder of the magnitude of the Ashes stage.Head, meanwhile, has eight of his nine Test hundreds on home soil, and plays with a freedom that will take England’s own game back to them if he is allowed to get on a roll. Stokes kept him relatively quiet in 2023 with a persistent short-ball ploy, and while he certainly has the pace at his disposal to do so again, it’s a draining method to deploy across five Tests. Smith, for his part, declared he was “ready” before he had had a proper hit back with New South Wales.Who comes out on top? Australia, purely through weight of prior experienceAllroundersAustralia Cameron Green, Beau Webster
England Ben Stokes, Will JacksThis category might as well be Ben Stokes versus himself, given the inordinate importance of England’s captain to… well, every aspect of his team’s challenge. Four years ago, he rushed back to action before he was mentally or physically ready; four years before that, he was the spectre at Australia’s feast as England were devoured in his post-Bristol absence. Now, he’s back as their strategic kingpin, a full 12 years after he alone emerged with a reputation enhanced from the 2013-14 whitewash.Ben Stokes could be the key to it all for England•Martin Rickett/PA Photos/Getty ImagesIt hardly needs mentioning what “the Headingley heartbreaker”, as one Aussie paper described him last week, can achieve with bat in hand. But his break-glass-in-emergency bowling could yet be the crucial aspect of his performances. He’d scarcely featured as an allrounder for two years until his 15-wicket display against India last summer but, between his knack for partnership-breaking and his willingness to take on the old-ball donkeywork, he could prove vital in keeping his quicks fresh and firing.Green, who could slip back to No. 6, has yet to sprinkle the stardust in quite the same way as Stokes, but he still shapes as a pivotal cricketer for Australia over the next ten years. At full fitness, he is, like Stokes, a genuine pace-bowling option and as a batter could easily be the long-term No. 4 when Smith is done. He struggled with the turnaround from IPL to Test cricket in 2023, eventually being dropped for the final Test, and given he’s a rhythm player, his lack of recent cricket could be a telling factor.Beau Webster, meanwhile, has done little wrong in the allrounder role since debuting against India, although England probably won’t lose sleep over him. If Green is fully fit to bowl, he shapes as the fall guy.Who comes out on top? England, if Stokes doesn’t break himself in the processWicketkeeperAustralia Alex Carey, Josh Inglis
England Jamie SmithJamie Smith travels to Australia as one of England’s great white hopes. A batter of proven power and untapped potential who ought to thrive on bouncy surfaces. His counterattacking methods and calmness when batting with the tail make him an ideal No.7 in… whisper it… the mould of Adam Gilchrist. Much like Brook, however, the theory has not yet met the reality of Australia’s cauldron-like venues.Jamie Smith could be a game-changer in the middle order•Getty ImagesIn Alex Carey, Australia now have a tried and tested international career. Four years on from his hasty debut, he has become a fulcrum of the side. Events at Lord’s in 2023 will, no doubt, get a few airings during this series and for a time after that, he did struggle. But over the last 18 months, he has been outstanding with an average of 41.89 along with some excellent glovework, until a few drops in the West Indies earlier this year.Who comes out on top? A tight one to call. Experience vs youth. If the series becomes relatively low-scoring, it could be a defining head-to-head.Fast bowlersAustralia Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc
England Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Matthew PottsHere’s where things get interesting. Pat Cummins’ absence – at least for the first Test – is perhaps the first indication of mortality in an awesome Australia seam attack that has ruled the roost for a decade. Josh Hazlewood, who has bowled magnificently in early-season white-ball matches and is five away from 300 Test wickets, and Mitchell Starc remain formidable performers, while Scott Boland has his 6 for 7 in the 2021-22 Ashes as proof of his credentials.Mitchell Starc is a great of the game but will age finally weary him?•Randy Brooks/Associated PressBut age is not on their side, and given England’s determination to go after their opponents – Boland has already been earmarked as a target in some quarters, which promises a fascinating duel – it seems inevitable that one of the lesser lights in Australia’s seam ranks will be pitched onto centre stage at some key moment, although it may yet be Cummins himself who plays the super sub role.England have their own concerns, of course. Mark Wood is edging back to operational fitness for what will surely be his own last hurrah, while the excitement surrounding Jofra Archer’s miraculous return to all-formats action should be tempered by the four years of frailty that preceded it. If either suffers a setback mid-match, it would be a disaster.And yet, for the first time since 2010-11, England are primed to hit Australia with a battery of 90mph/145kph quicks, all of whom can expect to make an impact no matter how spicy (or otherwise) the Australia pitches turn out to be. They might conceivably miss the old-school skills of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes, but their recent record down under suggests otherwise.Who comes out on top? This is nip and tuck, even in Cummins’ absence. It could come down to further injuries. England need Wood and Archer to stay fit.SpinnersAustralia Nathan Lyon
England Shoaib BashirProven GOAT-tier offspin on the one hand; high-ceiling-ed optimism on the other. On paper, there’s hardly a contest in this department, as Nathan Lyon lays his 562 Test wickets on the table against Shoaib Bashir’s 20 months of on-the-job training. Who knows if Bashir will even feature in the series’ early exchanges – Perth, then a pink-ball Test, might encourage an extra seam option, or even the part-time spin of Will Jacks to enable extra batting depth. But when he does, we shall see whether England’s defiantly biomechanical selection policy stands up to its acid test.England have invested a lot in Shoaib Bashir•PA Images/GettyThe logic has long been that Bashir has the ability to drive his offbreaks into the pitch from a high release point and provide a wicket-taking threat that others, notably Jack Leach, would have lacked in Australian conditions. He’ll be backed up, too, by Stokes’ unfailingly positive captaincy – a few swings for the fences won’t deter England’s captain from persisting in his quest for breakthroughs. Nevertheless, of all the aspects of England’s battle plan, this one feels the most fraught with danger. Not least because of the thrum of inevitable quality twirling down from Australia’s side.One thing is certain, though, and it’s that England won’t let Lyon settle. That was clear in 2023 before Lyon’s series-ending injury, which highlighted how vital he remains to the balance of their side, although the role he plays could be determined by conditions.Who comes out on top? Australia. Surely.

The winger, who has been a steady contributor for the MLS Cup hopefuls, talked to GOAL about his impressive season since returning to North America

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Emmanuel Sabbi knew Vancouver had what it takes from early on. All of the signs were there: a manager in Jesper Sorensen who was locked in and invested, a motivated squad, and a fanbase that was truly willing to get behind the team. 

"When I got here, I saw the firepower we had. It's been next man up mentality since Day 1, since I got here, and we've really shown that, and it looked prevalent early. You know, our coach demands a lot from us," he tells GOAL. 

But could he have ever hoped that they would be playing in MLS Cup? That's less certain. Still, the work has been put in:

"So it's just a testament of hard work, and the reality now is here," he says. 

And it's deserved, in truth. Vancouver started hot, stayed hot, and then got that extra piece in Thomas Muller to take them over the line. Sabbi, meanwhile, has been a mainstay. He tallied double-digit goal contributions with seven goals and three assists for the Whitecaps and has been a steady presence in attacking areas all year. Where that lands him remains to be seen. He has one cap for the USMNT. There could yet be others. But first, there is a trophy to win. And it's a big one.

Sabbi joined GOAL Convo, a weekly Q&A with central figures in North American soccer, and talked about Vancouver's improvement, playing against Lionel Messi, and why he hopes to be in the USMNT conversation in the future. 

Getty Images SportON PREPARING FOR THE FINAL

GOAL: You're playing in MLS Cup, a massive final. What's going through your head?

SABBI: Yeah, I didn't really know what I was coming to. But yeah, I'm here, talked to Jesper [Sorensen] and Ryan Gauld, and got a real gist of what Vancouver is like, and ultimately made my decision to come. And it's been a great season.

GOAL: What has surprised you the most about playing in MLS?

SABBI: The pace, honestly. The pace is really, really high here. There are great, tremendous players around and, yeah, it's very pacey here. So I really like that.

GOAL: Do you think that suits your game?

SABBI: Definitely. You've just got to get into it, right? I mean, I came, got a little injury, and then just had to get up to speed. And once I got up to speed, it was really amazing to be in MLS.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportON CONTENDING FOR MLS CUP

GOAL: When you came into the season, did you in the back of your mind say, 'MLS Cup is a reality,' or when did it start to really hit you that this is a contending team?

SABBI: When I got here, I saw the firepower we had. It's been next man up mentality since Day 1, since I got here, and we've really shown that, and it looked prevalent early. You know, our coach demands a lot from us. And also, we demand a lot from each other. Honestly, it looks like we would get here from all the games that we've played and how we perform. So it's just a testament of hard work, and the reality now is here. 

GOAL: What makes Jesper Sorensen so unique as a manager? You always hear from players like, 'oh, this guy, he's, he's laid back,' or 'this guy is he's super tactically driven or focused.' What makes him special?

SABBI: He kind of has everything, honestly: tactically, he's sound mentally, he's prepared for every game. I think all-around, he's a great coach. He helps the young ones as well, as you've seen a lot of young players play and played a big role. So I think all-around, he is a great coach. He helps everyone. He's also into our personal lives. And it's really nice to have a coach like that.

Getty Images SportON MIAMI

GOAL: Who is your favorite player?

SABBI: [Laughs] Lionel Messi. 

GOAL: You played against Messi in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. What's it like playing against him?

SABBI: I mean, it's the best player of all time, and you're standing on the pitch with him and playing against him and trying to defend him. And, you know, it's surreal. 

GOAL: What's your earliest Messi memory?

SABBI: Honestly, his first goal was insane. And just getting a pass from Ronaldinho like that, and just finishing it the way he did. It's insane. It's incredible to see that he's still doing it today, and yeah, hopefully he doesn't go against us! 

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GettyON THE USMNT

GOAL: You've been capped before. Do you ever think about the possibility of being on the national team again? 

SABBI: I hope so. My job was to try to have good performances and be consistent. And I hope that, you know, the national team has seen that, that I'm a candidate to try to make my mark there as well. And I'm just grateful for the opportunity to come back and play in MLS and show how good I am and that I'm ready.

GOAL: Was that part of your decision to come back to MLS, to get a little more visibility? 

SABBI: Not really. I think the national team looks at all the leagues, honestly. And it was just a different choice for my family and me, and I listened to my family and talked to my agent, and then had a couple of calls with Vancouver, and that's how it became possible.

Doggett, who is a good chance of being in Australia’s Ashes squad, claimed six wickets to keep South Australia in the game

Tristan Lavalette29-Oct-2025Cameron Green, playing as a specialist batter, fell for a duck but Western Australia team-mate Cameron Bancroft issued a reminder of his indefatigable approach at the top of the order with a determined century at the WACA.Bancroft’s 122 off 255 balls guided WA into a position of strength against South Australia on day two despite the stirring efforts of spearhead Brendan Doggett who finished with 6 for 48 from 21.2 overs.Related

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Doggett is pushing to be a fast-bowling reserve for the Ashes having been part of the World Test Championship squad earlier this year and originally due to tour West Indies before injury struck.”There has been a little bit of noise, but trying not to think about it,” Doggett said about his potential Ashes chances. “I just want to keep playing for South Australia and keep putting good performances together. I think that’s all I can control at the moment.”After missing the India ODIs due to side soreness, Green had a starring role in the field on day one as he eyes making a bowling return in WA’s next Shield match against Queensland starting on November 11.But Green, batting at his preferred No. 4, lasted just six deliveries after whacking Doggett straight to mid-off. It was left to Bancroft to anchor the innings and he returned to form with steely defence mixed with classical drives.A slow start to the season has seen him slip outside of the Ashes selection mix on the back of making just 344 runs at 26.46 last season compared to an average of 48.37 across WA’s hat-trick of titles.Cameron Green fell for a duck as he builds towards the Ashes•Getty Images”I’ve had my time at that level, feel really grateful. If an opportunity came to play for Australia, that’s great, but certainly not feverish about it,” said Bancroft, who played the last of his 10 Tests during the 2019 Ashes.After dominating the opening day, WA resumed on 87 for 0 with Bancroft and skipper Sam Whiteman having to contend with far more disciplined bowling from South Australia’s quicks.In his return from a hamstring injury, Doggett had been sluggish late on the opening day but found his rhythm from the get go amid overcast morning conditions. Doggett had Whiteman edging to second slip to break the 93-run opening stand and immediately caused Hilton Cartwright problems by pitching up and targeting the pads.Cartwright was made to dig in as he shifted up the order from his customary No. 4 spot due to Green’s return. With the surface flattening out after notable sharp bounce and carry on the opening day, Bancroft and Cartwright started to take the game away from South Australia as they built a half-century partnership and batted into the second session.Cameron Bancroft drives during his century•Getty ImagesWith South Australia needing a spark, it was up to Doggett to bend his back and he did exactly that after lunch with a stirring spell that accounted for Cartwright and Green in consecutive overs.But South Australia’s momentum was halted by Cooper Connolly, playing his first Shield match of the season having recently impressed in the India ODI series. Connolly has already proven he’s a three-format player in his fledgling career and seemed set to add a sixth half-century in eight Shield innings as he scored at a run-a-ball pace.Connolly was particularly aggressive against offspinner Ben Manenti and the approach rubbed off on Bancroft with the pair trading sixes as WA powered past South Australia’s first innings total of 215.But Connolly’s cavalier knock ended on 33 when he whacked Nathan McSweeney to extra cover before rain halted play for an hour. On resumption, McSweeney unexpectedly turned the game briefly with the further scalps of Bancroft and Aaron Hardie, who threw away his wicket after miscuing a reverse sweep.WA did finish with a 92-run first innings lead but were unable to make a breakthrough before stumps were called early due to bad light.

On Saturday lunchtime, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had a big decision to make. Play Martin Odegaard or Eberechi Eze in the number 10 position?

Well, the Spaniard chose his club captain Odegaard. It was a successive start for the Norwegian who is now back from injury and ready to make an impact.

What that meant was that the Gunners’ November Player of the Month was selected on the left flank.

It wasn’t a decision that went well for Eze. The scorer of that famous hat-trick in the north London derby just a few weeks ago, his influence from the left, rather than in a central area, was severely lacking.

It was Eze who switched off at the back post for Matty Cash’s opener and despite having a goal ruled out for offside, he was anonymous in the final third.

The summer signing was subsequently withdrawn at the half time interval having registered just 13 touches of the ball and amassed just seven passes.

Why Arsenal must pick Eze over Odegaard in the number 10 role

Before Emiliano Buendia’s late winner at Villa Park on Saturday, TNT Sports’ Martin Keown had named Martin Odegaard as the player of the match.

The club captain drifted in and out of the game, but left the field with three key passes and three shots to his name. He also ensured Bukayo Saka looked like a constant threat in the game. Indeed, in the words of the Telegraph’s Sam Dean, he noted that “it can’t be a coincidence that Saka has been so dangerous today, on the day he is reunited with Odegaard,” suggesting that as a pairing, they remain one of Arsenal’s “great weapons.”

That they may well be, but the skipper arguably held Arteta’s team back. While Eze has looked like such a big goal threat over the last few weeks, a dynamic and silky player who can produce a moment of magic out of nowhere, Odegaard was sluggish and timid in possession.

His biggest problem is that unlike Eze, he takes too many touches and he’s slow in possession. The 26-year-old is one of the best midfielders in the world on his day. He’s supremely creative but Arsenal’s summer recruit from Crystal Palace has taken them to the next level in recent weeks.

Mins played

90

45

Touches

80

13

Key passes

3

0

Shots

3

0

Successful dribbles

1/4

1/1

Duels won

3/10

2/5

Possession lost

15x

3x

It was surely no coincidence that two of their finest wins of 2025, the victories against Spurs and Bayern, came with Eze in the team over Odegaard.

It feels incredibly unlikely that Arteta will drop the latter but he must explore what this team could be like without their captain.

That said, Eze isn’t the only threat to Odegaard’s long-term future at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal's next Odegaard and Eze

Eze’s arrival has coincided with a lack of game time for Ethan Nwaneri. Last season he was compared to Lionel Messi by Joe Cole and described as “the most exciting footballer in England.” How times change.

While the 18-year-old is still up there as one of the finest young talents in the country, scoring nine goals last term, regular senior football has eluded him in 2025/26. He has played just 165 minutes of Premier League football this term and only 20 minutes since the start of November.

Nwaneri will no doubt come good but he will also have to rival the great Max Dowman for a place in the team over the forthcoming years. Odegaard, beware.

The two exciting teenagers are not the only threats to Odegaard’s long-term future, however. Enter Holger Quintero.

At the end of last week, Arsenal announced the signings of a set of twins, Holger and Edwin Quintero from Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle.

They have become one of the finest exponents of young talent in world football in recent years. Part of their alumni include Moises Caicedo, Piero Hincapie and PSG’s brute of a central defender William Pacho.

Well, the Quintero twins look like the next cabs of the rank and while they will not be seen in Arsenal colours until they turn 18, the 16-year-old’s have signed an agreement to join the club, something that was announced last Thursday.

Edwin is a left-footed right winger and, alongside Dowman, has been labelled as a “10/10 talent” by scout Jacek Kulig. As for his brother, Holger, he is an attacking midfielder by trade and an exciting one at that.

Described as a “top talent” by Como scout Felix Johnston, he possesses a glittering array of skills, outlined by Kulig.

The scout notes that he has “superb close control, flair and creativity” while hailing the youngster’s “low centre of gravity and excellent agility, acceleration and coordination.”

Close control and creativity are two areas in which Odegaard also thrives in but it’s arguably that lack of acceleration and ability to carry the ball forward with pace that holds him back. That’s where Quintero could trump him in the years to come.

Further described as a young kid with “elite dribbling skills with futsal-like ball control”, there is a reason Arsenal have decided to invest in these two young attacking sensations.

To predict they could become world beaters might be a stretch at this stage, but there is huge excitement about them both. As Kulig put it, Holger is “one of the most exciting U17s in South America.”

Watch out, Odegaard, it might not only be Dowman coming for your place.

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