Premier League
Arsenal midfielder may not play under Mikel Arteta again, asking price set
Arsenal will sanction the sale of midfielder Matteo Guendouzi once he returns from his season-long loan stint at Hertha Berlin this summer, Football Insider reports. Guendouzi fell out-of-favour under manager Mikel Arteta following the project restart last season due to an incident after the defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. The Frenchman was frustrated with Neal Maupay playing a part in Bernd Leno’s knee injury and after the final whistle, he grabbed the forward by the neck for a brief moment. He escaped any punishment through the FA for the reaction, but Arteta was clearly not pleased and axed him from the first-team squad for the rest of the season. Guendouzi was loaned out to Hertha last summer and it is now reported that he may not play another game for the Gunners as he is not in...
Mark Lawrenson states his prediction for Manchester City vs Manchester United
BBC football expert Mark Lawrenson has stated his prediction for the upcoming derby between Manchester City and Manchester United in the Premier League. The Cityzens have been in exceptional form over the past few months and they recently won their 21st straight game across all competitions. In league terms, they have won 15 in a row and are clear at the top of the standings with a 14-point lead over arch-rivals United. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were considered as potential title challengers just four weeks ago, but that no longer appears the case. They have suffered just one league defeat this year, but their regular tendency to play stalemates has cost them in the bid to keep up with the Cityzens. Ahead of the Manchester derby, they have played three successive 0-0 draws with two of th...
Mikel Arteta wants to bring £31.5m French star to Arsenal this summer
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has identified RB Leipzig’s Ibrahima Konate as one of the top central defensive targets ahead of this summer’s transfer window, Standard Sport reports. The north London side have experienced another poor Premier League campaign, and they are eight points off the Champions League places with 12 matches left in the season. Five teams are between them and the fourth spot, and their best chance of qualifying for the elite competition may rest on winning the Europa League. In a press conference yesterday, Arteta said that the club are already planning for the summer, and it is now reported that they are monitoring Konate with a view to a move. The same report suggests that David Luiz, Calum Chambers and Kostas Mavropanos could also head through the exit door as part...
Decision time for Chelsea star as loan club eye permanent deal
Ruben Loftus-Cheek will face a big decision this summer as he enters an important phase in his career. The 25-year-old is currently on loan at Fulham but has indicated that he will return to Chelsea this summer to fight for his place. Loftus-Cheek is contracted to the Blues until 2024, and his chances of forcing his way into their starting XI appear remote. The midfielder has performed well for Fulham, and manager Scott Parker has confirmed that we would love to make the move permanent. During his press conference for Fulham’s Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, Parker praised the impact Loftus-Cheek has made. “Ruben has been a fantastic addition,” he said. “I’ve seen someone grow immensely from the start of the season to a person and player now who has transformed. ...
‘We will challenge for all titles’: Chelsea manager’s claim under the spotlight
Thomas Tuchel’s claim that Chelsea will challenge for silverware on all fronts next season raised plenty of eyebrows across the Sportslens team. In his press conference ahead of Chelsea’s visit to Liverpool in the Premier League on Thursday, Tuchel was adamant that the Blues will be a force to be reckoned in the future. The club last won the title in 2017, but they have dropped significantly behind Manchester City and Liverpool since then. “Sometimes, it’s good to look at the reality and have the ambition to close (the gap) as fast as possible,” he said. “The point is, will we close the gap to Man City this season? No, we will not – this is impossible. “But from next season, all of us start with zero points – City were in trouble this season, and nobody took advantage of it. It’s proven in...
10 VAR decisions that show Arsenal, Liverpool & other PL clubs are right in asking for better refereeing
The introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in 2019 was heralded as a massive step forward for the Premier League. The days where controversial decisions were made were supposed to become a thing of the past, and football would be a better place for it. However, the reality has proved to be much different, with barely a week going by without some VAR-related nonsense occurring in England’s top flight. Whether it’s diving going unpunished or penalties not being given, VAR has not cleaned up the mistakes many thought it would have upon introduction. We’ve waded our way through the list of VAR decisions in the Premier League to pick out 10 of the most contentious since it was introduced. Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool – October 2019 Liverpool were unstoppable during the 2019...
Owen’s late-late goal, that overhead kick and more: best Manchester derby highlights
The Manchester derby is widely viewed as one of the biggest football rivalries in the world. Meetings between City and United often produce memorable moments, and that has certainly been the case over the past few years. Ahead of the Premier League clash between the two sides on Sunday, we look at 10 recent defining moments of the rivalry. Benjani shows United no mercy United staged a memorial for the 50-year anniversary of the Munich air disaster ahead of their game against City in February 2008. The City fans and players showed their class by playing a respectful part in proceedings, but the gloves came off when the action got underway. Goals from Darius Vassell and Benjani secured a 2-1 victory for City – the first time they had won at Old Trafford in the league since 1974. Owen the unl...
Paper Talk: Chelsea goalie latest, Everton eyeing forward, United chasing defender
Our Paper Talk feature takes a look at the latest news and rumours from some of the top media outlets in the business. Keep up-to-speed with what is happening around football right here at Sportslens. Chelsea continue to be strongly linked with AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. We recently reported that his agent, Mino Raiola, wants to include a €40 million release clause in Donnarumma’s new contract with Milan. Eurosport has now issued an update, saying that Milan may not be willing to meet the 22-year-old’s salary demands. Donnarumma is reportedly looking for around £9.1 million per year on his next contract and that, along with the release clause, may prove to be a stumbling block. The Blues currently have Edouard Mendy as their number one choice, with Kepa Arrizabalaga serving ...
‘Big injury’: Mourinho confirms Tottenham man will not play tomorrow
Tottenham Hotspur will travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham in the Premier League on Thursday night. Ahead of the match, Spurs boss Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Giovani Lo Celso won’t play in the London derby. Mourinho has confirmed that he has just returned from a ‘big injury’, and Spurs will not take any risks with him. The Argentine is training with the squad at the moment, but Spurs will include him when he is ready. Mourinho on Lo Celso: “Training with the team but a big injury. We’re not going to risk yet. In fact we don’t want to risk, we’ll bring him to the team when he is ok. Maybe one or two more weeks. Everybody else ok.” https://t.co/zuHFY5uF6l — Alasdair Gold (@AlasdairGold) March 3, 2021 However, the Portuguese boss has revealed that Garet...
‘Outstanding’, ‘Deserves more’: Some Man City fans react to 30-year-old’s display vs Wolves
A selection of Manchester City fans on Twitter heaped praise on Riyad Mahrez following his impressive display against Wolverhampton Wanderers last night. The Algeria international had gone into the game in a good run of form with a goal or an assist in each of his previous three Premier League appearances. He produced another top-notch showing against Nuno’s side where he was involved in three of the four goals scored by the Cityzens. The 30-year-old produced a delightful pass in the 15th minute which led to Leandro Dendocker’s own goal as he tried to intercept the ball ahead of Raheem Sterling. Prior to the interval, Mahrez delivered a cross which was headed home by Aymeric Laporte, but the goal was chalked off by VAR for offside by the finest of margins. Wolves scored against the run of ...
West Ham United must move for 21-goal forward this summer
The recent reports linking Tammy Abraham with a move to West Ham United are an exciting development for the club’s fans. The 23-year-old was left out of Chelsea’s squad for their game against Manchester United on Sunday, sparking talk over his future at Stamford Bridge. Abraham has developed well at Chelsea, with his return of 21 goals in 56 Premier League appearances highlighting his progression. However, with Timo Werner and Olivier Giroud in the squad, Abraham faces plenty of competition for game time. The Blues have also been strongly linked with Borussia Dortmund star Erling Braut Haaland, and his potential signing must be a worry for Abraham. Having demonstrated that he can score goals in the Premier League, there would be plenty of clubs willing to sign Abraham this summer. Leiceste...
Massive opportunity: What can Everton expect from their next five games?
After two back-to-back wins, confidence is overflowing in the Everton camp. The victory against Liverpool in the Merseyside derby was followed by a 1-0 win against Southampton yesterday, and Everton are now just two points behind fourth-placed West Ham United with a game in hand. Take a look at the media narratives and you’ll get the vibe around Goodison Park. Garth Crooks, writing for BBC Sport: “If Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin can recapture the spark they had earlier in the season, Liverpool might find themselves finishing behind their arch-rivals. Now wouldn’t that be interesting?” Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports told on MNF that Everton must aim for the top-four, and while they don’t have squad depth like Liverpool or Chelsea, the Carlo Ancelotti-factor can propel them to their tar...
