Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
They trailed early for the second time in consecutive weeks and fourth already this campaign, yet Pep Guardiola’s defending champion Manchester City found a way to break Wolves’ hearts with a John Stones stoppage-time winner hours before Liverpool doused Chelsea’s encouraging start despite suffering more injury woes as the Premier League’s pacesetters intensified this weekend. Continue reading “Gutsy 2-1 victories for leaders Liverpool, champs City say it all in early title race”
Granit Xhaka repaired his reputation in north London before departing for £21.6m last summer, joining Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen project – quickly establishing himself as an indispensable player spreading his wings further since returning to Bundesliga play. He’s carried that form on the international stage at the Euros, where the 31-year-old faces some familiar faces Saturday. Continue reading “Granit Xhaka’s metronomic momentum – club and country – hasn’t gone unnoticed”
Although the axe appears likely to fall on Erik ten Hag at Manchester United and Frank de Boer had a nightmare spell at Crystal Palace, there’s renewed optimism that Liverpool – led by their data-driven recruitment approach – are targeting the right man in Feyenoord head coach Arne Slot, after the 45-year-old rejected English overtures last term and has since won more silverware. Continue reading “Given his managerial rise, Liverpool’s pursuit of Arne Slot should be no surprise”
David Moyes declared Declan Rice was worth more than £100m, and his West Ham side were the beneficiaries of a nine-figure sum when Arsenal swooped for his signature last summer. Ivan Toney is perhaps even more expensive to Brentford, though the England striker’s existing situation makes it difficult to envisage a high bidding war – something his manager has now said publicly. Continue reading “Thomas Frank accepting the inevitable leaves Ivan Toney sweepstakes open”
An injury doubt only deemed fit enough to play 45 minutes this evening, Gabriel Martinelli picked precisely the right time to score his first goal of the campaign as the Brazilian’s deflected strike deceived Ederson, delivering Arsenal a smash-and-grab home win over reigning Premier League champions Manchester City to send them joint-top with north London rivals Tottenham after eight games.
Continue reading “We know our potential, Martinelli says after deflected late winner against City”
Little over four weeks after my update on Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun’s club future, it appears the United Status international – 22 earlier this month – could be nearing a permanent switch to Italy, if this weekend’s reports are to be believed. Inter are favourites for his signature after their Romelu Lukaku pursuit went cold, though they’re attempting to whittle his price down.
Continue reading “Inter frontrunners for Arsenal’s Balogun, attempting to lower £34m price-tag”
After six goal involvements in 21 appearances during half-a-season with Championship side Middlesbrough last term, Folarin Balogun notched seven in his first six Ligue 1 matches – four starts – as Stade Reims reaped the rewards of their Arsenal loanee’s ever-improving growth abroad. Now with uncertainty over his long-term future in north London, suitors across Europe are circling. Continue reading “Milan rivals, Leipzig, Monaco and Villarreal linked with Arsenal’s £34m-rated Balogun”
Individual mistakes from Gunners defensive duo Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Magalhaes during both halves helped reigning champions Manchester City rally from a tetchy start to return top of the Premier League, earning a hard-fought 3-1 away win over long-running leaders Arsenal in north London. Erling Haaland ended his three-match goalscoring drought to wrap up the points, combining with – who else – Kevin de Bruyne. Continue reading “Arsenal 1-3 Manchester City: Individual mistakes cost profligate Gunners as Citizens return top”
Second-half strikes from Diogo Jota and impact substitute Roberto Firmino helped Liverpool close the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester City to just one point, as the Reds rallied from a sluggish first-half showing to end Arsenal’s six-match unbeaten run in north London. Continue reading “Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool: Second-half goals from Jota, Firmino see Reds close gap on leaders City”
The 24-year-old produced his best individual display of the season and needed to, in helping ten-man Arsenal squeeze past an increasingly frustrated Wolves showing. But while Mikel Arteta’s men revelled at full-time after ending a five-game winless run, this determined away display just reiterated how unpredictable they have proven under the Spaniard’s guidance. Continue reading “Gabriel’s gritty all-round display against Wolves shines a light on volatile Arsenal”
Demarai Gray’s 20-yard screamer ensured Rafa Benitez’s Everton rallied from a goal down late to snatch all three points against a passive Arsenal side – snapping an unwanted eight-match winless streak in the process. Richarlison had two strikes disallowed for marginal offsides after VAR review, but eventually netted their equaliser on an evening packed with twists and turns.
Continue reading “Everton 2-1 Arsenal: Richarlison and Gray help Toffees turn the tide late on”
Euro-chasing Everton look to build on successive wins against Chelsea and Leicester City when hosting Arsenal in Saturday’s 5.30pm kick-off, while Scott Parker’s Fulham face a wounded animal in Newcastle just three days after their hosts were blasted for five by Leeds in midweek. Continue reading “Saturday’s PL Previews: Everton host struggling Arsenal, Fulham travel to Newcastle”
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