General Football News
Mikel Arteta confirms double injury blow for Arsenal after Liverpool defeat
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed a double injury blow for the club following the disappointing 3-0 defeat to Liverpool last night. The Gunners were completely outclassed by the reigning champions and succumbed to their biggest margin of defeat against the Reds at home in the Premier League era. Before the game, it was confirmed that David Luiz was nursing a knee injury, and Arteta acknowledged that he could be out for a while with a surgery possibly required. He told Arsenal.com: “We don’t know. There a few possibilities on that, being a little more conservative with the treatment or having to go for a surgery.” “We are talking with the doctors at the moment to make the right decision on that, but we’ll see. He could be out for a few weeks at least.” Meanwhile, there was more concern...
Thomas Tuchel confirms Chelsea injury blow, reveals one starter vs West Bromwich Albion
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that N’Golo Kante won’t play any part in today’s Premier League early kick-off against West Bromwich Albion at Stamford Bridge. The France international picked up a hamstring injury during a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine last month, and he was subsequently sent home for further treatment. In yesterday’s press conference, Tuchel confirmed that Kante won’t be part of the squad as he has yet to return to training following the muscular problem. He added that there is a possibility that Kante could also be sidelined for the next game against Porto as he does not want to rush him back to action. He told Chelseafc.com: “He [N’Golo Kante] wasn’t with the squad, and he did some individual work. With N’Golo, we will have to be patient.” “Will he mis...
Arsenal suffer fresh injury blow ahead of Liverpool clash, three players doubtful
Arsenal have provided a worrying fitness update ahead of the Premier League clash against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium tonight. Earlier on Thursday, manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that Bukayo Saka (hamstring) and Emile Smith Rowe (hip) had yet to return to team training. The club have now revealed that both players will be assessed ahead of the late kick-off against Jurgen Klopp’s side. Granit Xhaka is also doubtful for the game as he was feeling unwell on Friday, but Willian is back in contention after overcoming a calf problem. While Saka, Smith Rowe and Xhaka could yet play a part, the Gunners have provided a surprise update by confirming that David Luiz is ruled out. The Brazilian is said to have experienced discomfort in his right knee, and it has been confirmed that he won’t be ...
‘What a player’, ‘Baller’: Some Arsenal fans react to the club’s social media update
A selection of Arsenal fans on Twitter have expressed their delight after learning that Martin Odegaard was voted the club’s Player of the Month for March. The Norwegian joined the Gunners on a short-term loan from Real Madrid in January, and he stepped up with his performances before the international break. Odegaard scored his maiden goal for the club with a stunning long-range strike against Olympiacos, and he followed up with a goal in the north London derby triumph. Prior to the internationals, he produced his best performance of his Gunners career as he proved the catalyst for the club’s 3-3 draw at West Ham United from three goals down. Odegaard played in the build-up of all three goals at the London Stadium with his clever distribution. He has now become a firm favourite among the ...
Arsenal reportedly ready to sell £300k-a-wk star who wanted Barca move last year
According to Football Insider, Arsenal are planning to listen to offers for striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer. Sportslens View The 31-year-old signed a three-year deal worth £300,000-per-week last September, but it appears that they already regret that decision. The Gunners are believed to be keen to cash in on him for the right price to bolster their transfer coffers for the summer. Aubameyang was reportedly willing to leave Arsenal for Barcelona at the end of last season to play alongside Lionel Messi. Arsenal were said to have been left furious with the La Liga giants over their pursuit of the Gabonese and the persistent rumours linking him with a move to Camp Nou. Aubameyang caught the eyes of Barca with his form at the time, having bagged the Golden Boot with 22 Premi...
On-loan Chelsea star could be promoted to first-team amid Crystal Palace interest
Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher could be promoted to the first-team squad following his season-long loan at West Bromwich Albion, according to Goal.com. The 21-year-old spent the previous campaign on loan with Charlton Athletic and Swansea City respectively, before making the temporary switch to the Baggies last summer. He has been a regular for the Midlands outfit in the Premier League with 23 appearances, registering two goals and two assists. His performances have left a good impression, and Goal claims that he is the front-runner among the loaned out players to get into Thomas Tuchel’s squad. Crystal Palace are said to be interested in the young midfielder, but a transfer won’t be easy as the midfielder still has four years left on his contract. Sportslens view: Gallagher is ce...
‘Tough one to take’ – Arsenal striker reacts to international heartbreak
Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has taken to Instagram to react as England were dumped out of the European Under-21 Championship this evening. While the young Lions secured a 2-1 win over Croatia, it was not enough as they needed to win by two clear goals to progress to the quarter-finals. Aidy Boothroyd’s side suffered costly defeats to Portugal and Switzerland in their first two Group D games, and they had to beat Croatia by two goals and hope that the Swiss would lose to the Portuguese. The Croats secured a place in the last-eight of the competition due to a superior goal difference, and the result left Nketiah heartbroken. The Gunners academy graduate won a penalty for his side 12 minutes into the game, going down under the challenge of Bartol Franjic in the box. Crystal Palace’s Eberech...
Alasdair Gold: Spurs eyeing 6ft 4in centre-back duo, one is an England international
According to football.london journalist Alasdair Gold, Tottenham Hotspur are keen on bolstering their defence this summer and are keeping tabs on Fulham’s Joachim Andersen and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Lewis Dunk. Sportslens View Spurs looked at Andersen when he was at Sampdoria but they did not move in time, and he ended up joining Lyon instead in the summer of 2019. The 24-year-old is currently on a season-long loan at Fulham, featuring in 24 Premier League games and weighing in with a goal and an assist. The Craven Cottage outfit do not have an option to buy the player in the deal, but they will definitely be keen to retain his services if they escape the drop. Relegation for Fulham would boost Spurs’ chances in the race for the Denmark international, but he definitely would not come...
Report shares what various sources think of Spurs potentially appointing Ralph Hassenhuttl
Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a couple of managers of recent following the team’s struggles under head coach Jose Mourinho. What will happen to the Portuguese if Spurs end the campaign without a trophy and outside of the European places remains to be seen, but chairman Daniel Levy is definitely preparing for the worst-case scenario. RB Leipzig’s Julian Nagelsmann, Leicester City’s Brendan Rodgers and Belgium’s Roberto Martinez have all been linked with the Tottenham job, and Southampton manager Ralph Hassenhuttl has been mentioned as a potential option too. However, his playing style could prove to be a stumbling block. According to The Athletic’s Jack Pitt-Brooke, various sources wonder whether the Austrian’s intense style would translate well to the bigger-name dressing room at...
Barcelona have reportedly sounded out £150m Spurs star ahead of summer move
According to The Transfer Window podcast, La Liga giants Barcelona have sounded out Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane ahead of a potential move during the summer transfer window. Sportslens View The Catalans failed to sign a replacement when Luis Suarez left for Atletico Madrid last summer. That could prove costly in this season’s title race, with the Uruguayan playing a pivotal role as Diego Simeone’s side lead the way in the La Liga with only 10 games remaining. Barcelona will look to bolster their attack this summer, and they are eyeing a potential move for Kane. The Spurs star is one of the best strikers on the planet, and he has already proven that he can be an excellent playmaker, weighing in with 16 assists in 39 games across all competitions. The 27-year-old has 22 goals in thos...
‘Arteta trusts him’: Agent says Arsenal midfielder will sign new contract soon
The agent of Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny has said that his client will put pen-to-paper on a new contract with the north London club. Elneny returned from a season-long loan at Besiktas last summer, and there was speculation that his future could lie away from the Gunners. However, he was instead reintegrated into the first-team plans by manager Mikel Arteta, and he has nearly played 2,000 minutes across 31 appearances. His current deal with the Gunners expires at the end of next season, but Elneny’s agent Alan Nazmy has clarified that the Egyptian will prolong his stay. Elneny has been linked with a return to Turkey with Galatasaray in the past, but Nazmy emphasised that he has the trust of the Gunners head coach. He told the Egyptian press via The Sun: “Elneny will renew his contra...
Arsenal and Leicester reportedly keeping tabs on French centre-back
According to Foot Mercato, Arsenal and Leicester City are keen on Valenciennes centre-back Ismael Doukoure and could look to lure him to the Premier League. Strasbourg are also keeping tabs on the 17-year-old who has impressed for the Ligue 2 club this term. Sportslens View Doukoure has featured in 15 games across all competitions for Valenciennes, and his performances at the back appear to have caught the eyes of the aforementioned trio. His pace, aerial threat and ball-playing abilities have set him apart from his peers, and he will be playing in the English or French top-flight sooner rather than later if he continues developing at this rate. Leicester City landed Wesley Fofana from Saint-Etienne last summer, and the 20-year-old has already established himself as one of the best centre-...
