Month: November 2024

Kai Havertz may have scored the winning goal in a Champions League final but his late header to seal victory over Brentford and send Arsenal top of the Premier League was also a “dream” moment for the forward.

With title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City facing off 24 hours later, any victory for Arsenal would have taken them to the summit for the first time in 2024.

It looked like they were on course to miss out after returning goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale gifted a goal to Yoane Wissa to cancel out a brilliant Declan Rice header, only for Havertz to convert with four minutes remaining and secure a 2-1 victory.

After a slow start following his summer move from Chelsea, where he netted the only goal of the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City, H…

Defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has signed a new deal with Arsenal.

The Japanese star joined the Gunners in August 2021 from Serie A side Bologna and has made 73 appearances in all competitions.

The PA news agency understands Tomiyasu’s new contract is for two years, with the option of a further 12 months.

Manager Mikel Arteta said: “We are so pleased to have Tomi commit his future with us. Together with his natural ability and strength, Tomi’s attitude, mentality and values are first class.

“Tomi is loved by everyone and has been an integral part of the squad since joining us. The way he trains, with his desire and determination to be the best version of himself every day, is admirable. We look forward to continue working with Tomi in the future years…

Best Odds: 8/11

Bookmaker:

With an AFCON final spot hanging in the balance on Wednesday evening, Nigeria will meet South Africa at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake.

Nigeria

Starting with Nigeria, watching a host of African icons shockingly crashing out at the group stage last month, the Super Eagles are certainly smelling the chance to make more AFCON history. Collecting seven points from their three Group A appearances, Jose Peseiro’s men have quickly gained a reputation for their pragmatic approach. Making a statement on January 27th as they punched their quarter-final ticket thanks to a 2-0 victory against historic rials Cameroon, the mood in Niergia’s camp should be at a real high. Suffering just a single defeat from any of their previous 13 straight appe…

While Europe s elite might have wrapped up the 2021/22 campaign, that doesn t mean we re short of action from across the footballing globe. So, for those of you looking to stick on a Sunday acca, we have found a handful of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.

Sunday May 29th

BST 02:00 Sporting Kansas City vs Vancouver Whitecaps 

Starting with Sunday s hosts, last seen earlier in the week when extending on their US Open Cup adventure, it appears that the mood in Kansas camp should be at a recent high. Eventually mounting a second-half comeback at home against Houston as they grabbed a 2-1 victory, Sporting KC will be desperate to build off of that momentum here. Bouncing back from that dreadful 7-2 drumming away at Portland on May 15th, that is …

Sadio Mane scored his first Bundesliga goal as Bayern Munich opened the new campaign with a stunning 6-1 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Europa League winners Frankfurt seemed a tricky first opponent for the champions, but Julian Nagelsmann s side swept them aside in sensational style.

Having defeated RB Leipzig 5-3 in the DFL-Supercup last week in their first competitive match after Robert Lewandowski s departure, Bayern were five up by half-time on Friday – Joshua Kimmich, Benjamin Pavard, Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry joining Mane on the scoresheet.

Manuel Neuer s sloppiness gifted Randal Kolo Muani a consolation, yet it was a minor blip in a supreme Bayern display, and Musiala capped things off with his second late on.

Bayern had full co…

Late VAR drama saw Chelsea spared and then angered as they drew 1-1 away to London rivals West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday.

Tomas Soucek had what briefly looked to be a late winner chalked off before the midfielder got away with a clear handball in his own box to leave the visitors stunned.

Chelsea had earlier enjoyed arguably their best spell since Graham Potter s appointment during the first 25 minutes, Joao Felix netting a well-worked opener on his return from suspension.

But former Chelsea full-back Emerson Palmieri levelled soon after, and while the visitors dominated much of the following hour, their woes in front of goal meant they were at the mercy of VAR towards the end.

2014 Emerson is the first player to score his first Premier League…

According to , Real Madrid have put Liverpool s Trent Alexander-Arnold at the top of their wish list for the next summer transfer window. The expiration date on the current contract of the England international is moving ever closer, and unless there s significant change on that front between now and the end of the season, he will leave his boyhood club as a free agent.

Other potential targets for the right-back role at the Santiago Bernabeu would apparently be Pedro Porro of Tottenham Hotspur, Jeremie Frimpong of Bayer Leverkusen, and Juanlu of Sevilla.

Reports in Spain have gone even further, with Marca claiming Liverpool are already aware that Alexander-Arnold will not sign a new deal, though such stories coming from that particular outlet have been known to turn out…

Ousmane Dembele may yet sign a new contract with Barcelona after going from strength to strength under head coach Xavi, according to the club s vice-president Rafa Yuste.

France international Dembele was informed by Barca director Mateu Alemany to leave the club immediately in January after repeatedly turning down the offer of a new deal.

The 24-year-old was linked with a number of heavyweight clubs in the most recent transfer window, but a move away from Camp Nou did not materialise before the deadline.

Dembele has since been integrated back into the side by Xavi and is once again a key player for Barca now that his injury issues appear to be behind him.

It looked certain the former Borussia Dortmund forward would leave on a free transfer at the end of t…

Luis Suarez is braced for what he feels could be the greatest challenge of his career after joining Gremio.

Suarez was a free agent after leaving Nacional ahead of the World Cup in Qatar, at which he started two of Uruguay s three games as they suffered a surprise group-stage exit.

The former Liverpool, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid striker penned a two-year contract with Gremio – who won promotion back to the Brazilian top flight after a one-season spell in Serie B last term – on New Year s Eve.

Asked whether joining Gremio represented his biggest challenge, Suarez told the club s media channels: It could be, but I can also compare it with my time at Atletico Madrid.

I won the league with Atletico when Real Madrid and Barcelona dominated football in…

Best odds: 8/5

Bookmaker:

Denmark will host Serbia at Parken Stadium on Sunday for their second UEFA Nations League match, following solid performances from both teams on matchday one.

With both sides eager to build on their initial success, the group is shaping up to be more competitive than anticipated. Denmark will look to make their home advantage count, while Serbia obviously hope to prevent that from happening.

Denmark

Denmark and Serbia enter their second Nations League fixture on Sunday, both coming off crucial performances in what has turned out to be a highly competitive League A Group 4. Denmark secured a 2-0 victory over Switzerland under interim coach Lars Knudsen, setting the tone for their campaign despite the ongoing search for Kasper Hj…