Saliba and France cruise into knockouts
William Saliba played the full 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet as France beat Iraq 3–0 to reach the World Cup Round of 32 (5). Mbappé, Olise, and Dembélé did the damage at the other end. Saliba has been playing through pain for months, driven by this exact World Cup ambition. That gamble is paying off for now, but it's something to watch when he returns to north London.
Ødegaard drags Norway through, France awaits
Your captain delivered when it mattered. Martin Ødegaard led Norway to a 3–2 win over Senegal, booking their spot in the knockout rounds (6). The group finale now pits Ødegaard against Saliba, Norway versus France. Two Arsenal teammates, one ticket to the next round.
Rice limps through England's 0–0 with Ghana
Declan Rice played the full match as England drew 0–0 with Ghana on Tuesday (10). Afterwards he walked through the mixed zone with his left calf strapped and a noticeable limp, per David Ornstein. Rice downplayed the result: "You have to give credit to Ghana, they played in a very compact 4-5-1 with short spaces" (10). The severity is unclear ahead of England's final group game against Panama on Saturday.
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Carragher: you can't rest Rice
Jamie Carragher did not leave much room for debate. "You don't rest when you're at the World Cup," he said, arguing England cannot sit Rice against Ghana despite those fitness concerns (7). The limp tells a different story.
Arsenal move for Bouaddi, Lille want €80m+
Arsenal are preparing an opening bid for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, one of the most talked-about young players at this World Cup (1). Lille want more than €80m. PSG, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool are all watching. Ibrahim Affelay put it bluntly: "He doesn't suffer from stage fright."
Calafiori valued at €100m, Madrid circling
Arsenal have placed a €100m price tag on Riccardo Calafiori to deter Real Madrid (2). Calafiori is happy in London and has no intention of forcing a move. Only an offer above that threshold would make the club consider a sale.
Monga talks advancing, Scott also tracked
Arsenal are now in direct club-to-club contact with Leicester over winger Jeremy Monga (3). Separately, both Arsenal and Manchester United are tracking Alex Scott (3). Two young names, two different profiles, both on the radar.
Savinho loan blocked, Barcola still in play
Manchester City rejected an Arsenal loan approach for Savinho (4). The club continues to explore wide options, with PSG's Bradley Barcola also on the list. City were never going to do you a favour.
Fan reactions
The Rice injury dominates the conversation. Ornstein's report of strapping and a limp after the England draw has fans anxious ahead of the Panama game. On the brighter side, the Monga talks with Leicester have sparked genuine excitement, with the deal now at the direct negotiation stage between clubs. Read the Rice discussion here.
