“Could this signal the beginning of the end for Arsenal’s Premier League aspirations?” April 9, 2004. Exploiting a surprisingly lackadaisical defense from Arsenal’s backline, Sami Hyypia has just scored, giving Liverpool a 1-0 lead at Highbury Stadium. Disaster. Entering the clash with Gerard Houllier’s Liverpool, Arsenal knew they were merely eight games away from Premier League immortality. Having maintained an unbeaten streak through 30 matches in the 2003/04 season, eight more games without defeat would secure their status as modern English football’s first-ever ‘Invincibles’ and secure a third Premier League title under legendary manager Arsene Wenger. Of the remaining eight…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
OGC Nice captain Dante’s previous critique of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s control over the Ligue 1 club has resurfaced, coinciding with Ratcliffe’s impending acquisition of a 25% share in Manchester United. INEOS, Ratcliffe’s company, is poised to secure a substantial portion of Man Utd, obtaining a quarter of the club’s shares at $33 per share. The announcement of this minority takeover is expected shortly. Despite the enthusiasm among Manchester United fans about diminishing the influence of the criticized Glazer family at Old Trafford, Dante’s statements from a L’Equipe interview have resurfaced. These remarks may temper expectations concerning Ratcliffe’s ownership, given that…
Norway has officially announced that Erling Haaland will be absent from the Sunday encounter with Scotland due to an ankle injury sustained earlier this week. In the 2-0 victory over the Faroe Islands, Haaland entered the match as a substitute and twisted his ankle. Despite playing through the discomfort and completing the full second half, further assessments have led the Norway medical chief to confirm Haaland’s exclusion from the upcoming match against Scotland. While the injury is not deemed serious, Norway’s chief medical officer, Ola Sand, explained in a statement, “The injury is not serious, but he is in so…
Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min has reassured fans after an apparent ankle injury scare during South Korea’s 5-0 victory over Singapore. Although Son scored the third goal in the second half, he later sustained a knock on his ankle, requiring treatment and causing visible discomfort. Concerns arose among Spurs supporters as their leading scorer remained on the field for the final ten minutes. Fans urged South Korea manager Jurgen Klinsmann to protect Son and prevent him from joining other players on the treatment table. Fortunately, Son seems to have avoided significant damage, downplaying fears of an injury after the game.…
Gabriel Jesus, despite missing Arsenal’s last three Premier League games, may potentially participate in Brazil’s upcoming World Cup qualifier against Argentina. The 26-year-old has been plagued by injuries this season, including a hamstring issue following a previous knee problem that kept him out of early fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace. Last season, Jesus endured a three-month absence due to a knee injury sustained at the 2022 World Cup, and a recurrence of that problem sidelined him for a significant part of August. Despite being sidelined for Arsenal, Brazil’s manager, Fernando Diniz, has considered Jesus fit enough to be…
Chelsea faces the possibility of a Premier League point deduction as newly leaked documents suggest a series of payments made during Roman Abramovich’s ownership may have breached Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules and other regulatory guidelines. The files, uncovered through a collaborative investigation by the Guardian, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ), and Germany’s Paper Trail Media, reveal payments totaling tens of millions of pounds spread over a decade. These payments are said to have been “routed through offshore vehicles” owned by the Russian billionaire, who was compelled to sell the club in 2022 due to sanctions imposed on his…
Newcastle United is expressing interest in securing the services of Barcelona forward Ferran Torres in the wake of Callum Wilson’s injury setback. The Magpies currently hold the seventh position in the Premier League table and are grappling with the highest number of injuries in the league. Wilson, facing a hamstring issue sustained in a 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, is anticipated to be sidelined until the end of December. This adds to the challenges faced by manager Eddie Howe, who is already without ten other first-team players. Alexander Isak, expected to return after the international break,…
The Super Eagles commenced their 2026 World Cup qualifiers by hosting Lesotho in a competitive match. In the first half, the Super Eagles had opportunities to score, with Kelechi Iheanacho’s impressive free-kick saved by the Lesotho goalkeeper. However, a notable moment occurred when Iheanacho missed an open goal, denying the Super Eagles a lead. Both teams entered halftime with a 0-0 scoreline. Lesotho took the lead in the 56th minute through Mkwanazi, surprising the Super Eagles. Moses Simon’s attempt to put Nigeria ahead in the 64th minute hit the post. The Super Eagles equalized in the 67th minute, as Semi…
Real Madrid star Federico Valverde has explained his decision to reject the opportunity to join Arsenal. Valverde came close to joining the Premier League giant after a trial at the club in 2016, but ultimately chose to sign for Real Madrid from Penarol. In his column for The Players’ Tribune, Valverde clarified his stance, stating that he turned down Arsenal because he “never wanted to go to England.” He emphasized that, although stories circulated about his potential move to Arsenal at the age of 16, it was not a desire of his to play in England. Valverde highlighted the influence…
In recent years, if there’s an unsung hero at Chelsea, it undoubtedly is Conor Gallagher. While some academy graduates have departed for more lucrative opportunities or sought the allure of brighter lights at Premier League rivals and European giants, the 23-year-old has remained steadfast with the Blues without hesitation. Amidst a season marked by both on and off-pitch challenges, Gallagher emerged as a constant, impressively anchoring the midfield under the management of Graham Potter and Frank Lampard. Despite consistent performances, there were calls from certain supporters for his departure during the summer, as plans for a dressing room overhaul coincided…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta faces charges from The Football Association following his criticism of referees in the aftermath of the team’s contentious 1-0 loss to Newcastle United. Anthony Gordon secured the winning goal, prompting Arteta and Arsenal supporters to express dissatisfaction with VAR checks for the ball going out of play and a potential foul by Joelinton on Gabriel Magalhaes. Arteta, labeling the decision as “disgraceful,” stated he felt “embarrassed and ashamed” by the officiating of the match. The FA has officially charged Arteta under FA Rule E3.1 for his post-game comments, alleging that they constitute misconduct by being insulting…
Emma Hayes was emphatic that Chelsea had been “cheated” following their 2-2 draw with Real Madrid in the opening match of the Women’s Champions League group stage. The Blues fell victim to two contentious refereeing decisions, with Niamh Charles having a goal disallowed for a debatable offside, and Real Madrid being awarded a penalty despite Jessie Fleming’s challenge on Athenea del Castillo seemingly occurring well outside the penalty area. Despite Chelsea’s solid away performance, which included goals from left-back Charles and Sam Kerr, Real Madrid’s Olga Carmona converted a penalty, adding to her 10th-minute goal and securing a draw. After…
Manchester United currently enjoy a commendable run of form in the Premier League, but paradoxically, there’s a sense of underperformance. Despite Erik ten Hag’s aspirations to transform the team into a dominant force in transitions, this vision has yet to materialize this season. Instead, a significant part of their campaign has been dedicated to merely appearing as a proficient footballing unit. While optimism surrounded United as they entered Ten Hag’s second season, much of that positivity has dwindled at Old Trafford. Despite a victory against Luton Town, the team’s buoyancy is tempered by previous letdowns in European competitions. Steering clear…
Cole Palmer has openly admitted his initial uncertainty about leaving Manchester City for Chelsea during the summer transfer window. However, the prospect of securing regular first-team football proved too enticing to resist for the 21-year-old. On transfer deadline day, Palmer made the move from Manchester to London, signing a substantial seven-year contract with Chelsea. The deal’s potential value could reach £42.5m, factoring in future add-ons and bonus payments. Palmer wasted no time making an impact at Chelsea, notching four goals in nine Premier League appearances. He displayed composure by scoring the equalizing goal against his former club in the thrilling…
A series of lackluster performances has prompted some fans to demand the coach’s removal, particularly with crucial fixtures on the horizon after the international break. Following Barcelona’s narrow 2-1 victory over Alaves on Sunday, Xavi found himself once again having to justify his position. In a recurring pattern over recent weeks, the team relied on individual brilliance to compensate for a lackluster showing. In this instance, Robert Lewandowski’s second-half brace salvaged the result for the Blaugrana, yet it did little to conceal the overall poor performance. This scenario has now become a familiar occurrence for Xavi. Just over a year…
Emma Hayes has officially been appointed as the head coach of the United States women’s national team. The 47-year-old, who has been at the helm of Chelsea since 2012, will continue leading the Blues until the conclusion of the 2023/24 season before assuming her role with the USWNT. She steps into the position vacated by Vlatko Andonovski following the team’s disappointing performance in the 2023 Women’s World Cup. During her tenure at Chelsea, Hayes has achieved remarkable success, securing six Women’s Super League (WSL) titles, including the last four consecutively. Additionally, the team claimed the Women’s FA Cup five times,…
A recent report reveals that Newcastle United is facing the prospect of being without Callum Wilson for a minimum of six weeks due to a hamstring injury. The 31-year-old opted out of England’s upcoming internationals against Malta and North Macedonia after missing the 2-0 defeat to his former club, Bournemouth. Wilson, who has been in excellent form for Newcastle, continuing from where he left off last season, has been a key player in the absence of strike partner Alexander Isak, who is recovering from a groin issue. According to Telegraph Sport, Wilson’s potential six-week absence could mean missing Newcastle’s remaining…
Manchester City has unveiled a groundbreaking financial report for the 2022/23 season, showcasing a staggering revenue of £712.8 million. This marks the highest earnings ever recorded by any Premier League club in a single campaign. The substantial increase, nearly £100 million more than the previous season’s earnings, coincided with the men’s team achieving a remarkable Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League treble – a feat accomplished by only one other English team. The disclosed revenue surpasses the previous Premier League record set by Manchester United just last month, which amounted to £648.4 million. Although Barcelona’s disputed €990 million (£861…
Liverpool is reportedly considering a remarkable move to acquire Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain, following Real Madrid’s withdrawal from the competition. Real have reportedly made the decision not to pursue Mbappe in the summer, when he will be available on a free transfer. They have pursued the France international for multiple windows, but believe that his contractual demands and the deal he is currently on make him unattainable. A new report from AS, via Sport Witness, claims that Mbappe wants as much as €35 million (£30.5m/$38m) per year after tax, which equates to a weekly wage of £586,000 ($728,000). He…
Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, has affirmed that the club has no plans to make any signings during the January transfer window. Despite acquiring five players in the summer, the club faced financial constraints, limiting their spending to €3.4m. This amount was utilized to secure the return of Oriol Romeu, with the other signings including free transfers Inigo Martinez and Ilkay Gundogan, as well as loan deals for Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo. Despite these additions, Barcelona’s recent performances have been disappointing. A notable defeat to Real Madrid in El Clasico was followed by three lackluster displays before the international break.…