Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that he has been devising a strategy to challenge Manchester City since the summer. The Gunners are set to visit the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, concluding a demanding week that included matches against Tottenham Hotspur and Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League. Arteta’s side navigated those two fixtures relatively well, securing a 1-0 victory over Spurs and managing a 0-0 draw in Bergamo. At a press conference on Friday, Arteta explained that the intensity of this early-season schedule prompted him to start planning for City well in advance. “We’ve been preparing for this since…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Real Madrid had Vinicius Junior to thank as they came from behind to secure a 4-1 victory over Espanyol on Saturday. An unfortunate own goal by Thibaut Courtois early in the second half put Madrid under pressure, but Vinicius came off the bench to inspire the comeback. Dani Carvajal equalized moments after Vinicius’ introduction, followed by Rodrygo’s go-ahead goal. Vinicius then netted a deserved goal to seal the win, and Kylian Mbappe added a late penalty to wrap up the scoring. Match Summary: Madrid created several chances in the first ten minutes, with Kylian Mbappe seeing his early shot well…
Jadon Sancho’s assist for Nicolas Jackson’s opening goal in Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over West Ham marked the first time the winger has created goals in consecutive Premier League matches. Sancho joined Chelsea on an initial loan deal this summer and quickly won over fans with a standout performance against Bournemouth, where he assisted Christopher Nkunku’s decisive goal. He followed that with another strong display against West Ham. With two assists in two games, Sancho is starting to show the form that led Manchester United to pay £73 million for him in 2021. After a challenging time at Old Trafford, Sancho’s…
For the second consecutive week, Brentford took the lead inside 25 seconds. Keane Lewis-Potter delivered a cross to Mbeumo, who broke free from Micky van de Ven and fired a stunning volley into the net. Tottenham quickly looked to respond and came close when a poor touch from Sepp van den Berg allowed Solanke to break down the channel. His cutback to Son Heung-min was redirected towards Maddison, but his close-range shot was blocked. Spurs soon found the equalizer. Ethan Pinnock’s misplaced pass was intercepted by Maddison, and although Mark Flekken saved his initial shot, Solanke was there to convert…
Liverpool surged to the top of the Premier League with a dominant 3-0 victory over Bournemouth at Anfield, thanks to a first-half blitz. Goals from Luis Diaz and a stunning strike by Darwin Nunez gave the Reds a commanding lead by halftime, allowing them to comfortably see out the game and quickly recover from their shock defeat to Nottingham Forest in the previous match. Match Recap: Bournemouth initially thought they had scored early when Antoine Semenyo finished a deflected Justin Kluivert cross in the fourth minute. However, a quick VAR check confirmed an offside, nullifying the goal. This scare spurred…
Former Super Eagles head coach Sunday Oliseh praised Nicolas Jackson for his standout performance in Chelsea’s victory over West Ham United. Jackson scored twice in Chelsea’s 3-0 win at the London Stadium on Saturday. He opened the scoring in the fourth minute, capitalizing on a defensive mistake by the hosts, and added a second in the 18th minute with a brilliant assist from Moises Caicedo. Oliseh took to social media to commend Jackson for his exceptional display. “Five matches, four goals, and two assists; Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson is truly impressive, rekindling the form he showed at Villarreal. I love seeing…
Manchester United were left frustrated after being held to a 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace on Saturday, despite dominating large portions of the match. The Red Devils delivered one of their best performances of the season in the first half and could have been comfortably ahead by halftime. However, Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson was outstanding, repeatedly denying United’s attempts on goal. Palace had a few bright moments and nearly snatched a win with two Ebere Eze chances, but neither side could find a breakthrough. Match Summary:United came close to scoring early, with Alejandro Garnacho getting a one-on-one chance after being…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is optimistic that Kevin De Bruyne will be fit to face Arsenal on Sunday. De Bruyne suffered a groin injury during City’s 0-0 draw against Inter in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. Although he initially continued playing, he was substituted at halftime for Ilkay Gundogan. At a press conference on Friday, Guardiola provided an update on De Bruyne’s condition ahead of the crucial Premier League match. “He feels a little better today,” Guardiola said. “We’ll train tomorrow and see. He could be involved.” Guardiola also expressed his pleasure at having Phil Foden back in…
Former Arsenal star Martin Keown has voiced his concerns over captain Martin Odegaard ahead of the Gunners’ Premier League match against Manchester City on Sunday. Odegaard is likely to miss the clash at the Etihad Stadium as he recovers from an ankle injury sustained while representing Norway. “[Martin] Odegaard is undoubtedly a significant loss because he really gets everything moving,” Keown told TNT Sports. “He creates space for [Bukayo] Saka by running into that pocket, allowing him to thrive.”
The highly anticipated IBF heavyweight title fight between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois is set for September 21, 2024, at Wembley Stadium in England. Ahead of the bout, Nigerian-born UFC star Israel Adesanya has placed a $10,000 bet on Joshua to emerge victorious. Adesanya revealed his wager via an Instagram post on September 17, 2024, showing he predicted Joshua would win between the 10th and 12th rounds, with a potential payout of $50,000. The showdown, expected to attract 96,000 fans, marks Dubois’ debut at England’s national stadium, while Joshua is familiar with the venue. The pressure will be on Dubois,…
Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman reflected on their goalless draw with Arsenal, describing the match as “a chess match.” The two sides faced off in their first Champions League game of the season on Thursday night, with both teams unable to find the back of the net. Atalanta had a golden opportunity in the second half, but David Raya saved Mateo Retegui’s penalty. “We had a plan, and we were unfortunate not to score. We’ll take the positives and move forward,” Lookman said. “It was like a chess match. Obviously, they’re one of the top teams, and we matched them tonight.…
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick stated that Eric Garcia’s red card in the 10th minute significantly impacted his team’s performance in their 2-1 loss to Monaco in the Champions League on Thursday. Monaco secured a surprising victory at home, marking their return to the competition after five years. They took the lead through Maghnes Akilouche following Garcia’s dismissal. Lamine Yamal equalized for Barcelona, but George Ilenikhena scored the winner for Monaco. In his post-match interview, Flick acknowledged, “The sending off completely changed the game. Monaco deserved the win. We need to reflect on what happened, but we should be proud despite…
Erik ten Hag has assured that he will not take any risks with Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount as both players have returned to training with Manchester United. Hojlund has yet to play this season due to a summer injury, while Mount last featured in the second week of the campaign. Both were back in training this week and could be available for Saturday’s match against Crystal Palace. After witnessing both players miss significant time due to injuries last season, Ten Hag is committed to allowing them ample time to regain their fitness. He feels confident that his squad is…
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has expressed sympathy for Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, who is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to an ankle injury. Odegaard’s injury has cast doubt on his availability for Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Manchester City on Sunday. During his pre-match press conference on Friday, Guardiola praised the 25-year-old midfielder, calling him an exceptional talent. “I feel so sorry for him. I always prefer to face the biggest and toughest squads,” Guardiola said. “Odegaard is Arsenal’s captain, and everyone knows he’s an important and exceptional player.” He added, “In a long season, injuries,…
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has expressed surprise at the team’s progress since he joined the club this summer. Maresca was appointed to replace Mauricio Pochettino, who left by mutual consent, and after a lackluster pre-season, many were concerned it would take time for the players to adapt to his methods. However, Chelsea has made a solid start to the season, earning seven points from their first four games, and Maresca acknowledged that he didn’t expect this level of progress so soon. “We are ahead of where I expected, to be honest,” Maresca told club media. “The players have been…
Legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that he misses being a football manager. The 82-year-old retired after the 2012/2013 season, having led United to their 13th Premier League title in his 27 years at Old Trafford. Since his departure, United has struggled for success, with Manchester City dominating much of the last decade. In an interview on BBC Breakfast, Ferguson reflected on life after retirement, saying, “Yeah, I miss it sometimes. The first year after retiring, I attended the European final and told Cathy, ‘This is what I miss’—the big games, the European matches. I started going…
Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee has named Cristiano Ronaldo as one of his top three football idols. Zirkzee, who signed with Man United during the summer transfer window, also cited Robin van Persie and Dennis Bergkamp as key influences. At 23 years old, Zirkzee is aiming to follow in the footsteps of these legends. When asked by Viaplay to name his three idols, Zirkzee responded:”Cristiano Ronaldo, Robin van Persie, Dennis Bergkamp.” Ronaldo and Van Persie both had successful stints at Manchester United, while Bergkamp made his mark at Arsenal.
Portugal is set to introduce a new €7 coin in honor of Cristiano Ronaldo, celebrating the 39-year-old’s remarkable achievements in football. Journalist Carol Radull reports that the initiative acknowledges Ronaldo’s significant contributions to both club and country throughout his illustrious career. Having made a name for himself at Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, he is now making waves in Saudi Arabia. Ronaldo holds the record as the all-time leading goalscorer in men’s international football, with 132 goals in a record 214 appearances for Portugal. He played a crucial role in Portugal’s historic Euro 2016 victory and helped secure the…
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have maintained their 39th position in the latest FIFA world rankings following the 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifiers. This comes after a 3-0 victory over Benin Republic and a draw against Rwanda in Kigali. Despite these results, Nigeria remains among the top 40 football nations globally. In Africa, they are ranked sixth, behind Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, and Tunisia. Their direct rivals, Ghana, sit at 70th, while South Africa is at 59th. Nigeria is currently searching for a new head coach, with their next AFCON qualifier scheduled for next month against Libya in…
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is set to bench one of his forwards as part of a “mini revolution,” according to Marca. Ancelotti is considering dropping one of Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius, or Rodrygo as he plans a tactical shift. Since Mbappé’s arrival as a free agent this summer, Real Madrid has struggled to find cohesion on the field, prompting Ancelotti to consider moving to a four-midfielder formation. The Italian coach aims to restore balance to the team, making them more solid defensively without compromising their attacking prowess. While this new approach won’t be used in every game, it is expected…