Arsenal are plotting ahead of the summer transfer window, with Bayern Munich and Germany star Joshua Kimmich among the names to be linked with a move to the Emirates Andrea Berta is the favourite to become Arsenal’s new sporting director ( Image: David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images) February was filled with doom and gloom for Arsenal but so far March has been different story. The Gunners found their goalscoring grove again on Wednesday, pulling off a 7-1 win away to PSV Eindhoven. The result set a new Champions League record and means that Mikel Arteta’s men already have one foot firmly in the quarter-finals. Speaking of looking forward, the summer transfer window is edging closer, as is the conclusion of Arsenal’s hunt for a new sporting director. Andrea Berta is the
Category Archives: SOCCER
Mar
Football managers usually get sacked when clubs get desperate. At Manchester United, it may be the other way round. United are desperate, all right. Desperate not to go back to square one. Desperate not to have to start all over again. Desperate not to admit they’ve got it wrong once more. It’s all this that stands in favour of Ruben Amorim and a stay at Old Trafford beyond the summer. What it’s not in his favour – so far at least – is the football. Sometimes it’s worth writing some truths down, or saying them out loud, to believe and appreciate their sheer gravity. This is where we are with United. Amorim’s team are unfathomably poor to the point where we are almost immune to it and accepting of it.
Mar
Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario riles fans with full-time gesture for more support after dismal defeat at AZ Alkmaar as struggling stars are told to ‘concentrate on their own performances’ Vicario was seen remonstrating with Spurs fans after their loss to AZ Alkmaar Tottenham fell to a 1-0 defeat in the first leg after Lucas Begvall’s own goal LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Is Alisson the best goalkeeper in the Premier League? By MICHAEL PAVITT Published: 16:21 EST, 6 March 2025 | Updated: 20:11 EST, 6 March 2025 Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario clashed with supporters after the club slipped to a lacklustre 1-0 defeat to AZ Alkmaar in their Europa League last-16 tie. A freak Lucas Bergvall own goal proved the difference between the sides in The Netherlands. Vicario prevented Tottenham
Mar
FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirms 2026 World Cup final will feature a Super Bowl-style half-time show… with Coldplay in charge of choosing the musical performers The 2026 FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey will feature a half-time show British pop rock band Coldplay will work with FIFA to select the performers LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Is it harsh on Anthony Gordon that he misses the Carabao Cup final? By ROBERT SUMMERSCALES Published: 06:54 EST, 5 March 2025 | Updated: 07:44 EST, 5 March 2025 FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup final will feature a half-time show inspired by American football’s Super Bowl. The tournament – which will be the biggest in World Cup history as will feature 48 national teams, instead of 32
Mar
Millwall ban Mail Sport from matches and press conferences after reporting how club’s fans loudly chanted ‘let him die’ while Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta was being treated following horror ‘karate kick’ tackle Jean-Philippe Mateta was on the receiving end of a horror tackle on Saturday Millwall fans chanted ‘let him die’ while the Crystal Palace striker was treated LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Is it harsh on Anthony Gordon that he misses the Carabao Cup final? By KIERAN GILL Published: 12:53 EST, 3 March 2025 | Updated: 04:46 EST, 5 March 2025 Millwall have banned the Daily Mail from attending the club’s matches and press conferences for reporting how their fans loudly chanted ‘let him die’ while Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was surrounded by paramedics and being fitted
Mar
Alexander Isak was ‘targeted by a family of burglars who carried out a series of raids’ after ‘arriving in the UK on a ferry from France just days prior’ Alexander Isak’s Northumberland home was hit by family of burglars last April The Swedish striker, 25, is believed to be the third victim of the gang LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Is it harsh on Anthony Gordon that he misses the Carabao Cup final? By TUM BALOGUN Published: 04:05 EST, 5 March 2025 | Updated: 04:05 EST, 5 March 2025 Alexander Isak was targeted by a gang of burglars who carried out a string of high-value break-ins, Newcastle Crown Court has heard. The Swedish international’s Northumberland home was broken into last April, with police confirming at the time that a
Mar
Wayne Bridge has spoken about an ‘unbelievable’ fight he saw while at Chelsea He revealed how an ex-Chelsea star knocked his team-mate out in training LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Is it harsh on Anthony Gordon that he misses the Carabao Cup final? By SAM BROOKES Published: 03:59 EST, 5 March 2025 | Updated: 03:59 EST, 5 March 2025 Former Chelsea star Wayne Bridge has revealed how two of his former team-mates once settled their differences by fighting each other in training – and it didn’t end well for one of them. Bridge spent six years at Chelsea between 2003 and 2009, and won four major trophies including the Premier League title. It was a hugely successful period for the Blues, but that didn’t mean that the players always
Mar
Paris Saint-Germain cruised to a 4-1 win over Lille on Saturday to extend their lead in France to 16 points ahead of their heavyweight Champions League clash with Liverpool. Bradley Barcola, Marquinhos, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue all struck in the first half at the Parc des Princes as PSG extended their unbeaten run in Ligue 1 this season to 24 matches. “It’s a perfect scenario ahead of a game like the one against Liverpool,” said PSG captain Marquinhos. “We’re in great shape and all the signs are good. We’re winning and we’re full of confidence. We must not stop and the staff are pushing us hard to give it our all.” Jonathan David grabbed a consolation after coming on as a substitute for Lille, who go to Borussia Dortmund
Feb
Namibia have eased into the second round of qualifiers for the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) finals after a 1-0 victory over fellow Cosafa side Eswatini at the Dobsonville Stadium in Johannesburg on Wednesday. The win sees Namibia advance 4-0 on aggregate after they had claimed the first leg in Eswatini 3-0 last week. The fixture was played in honour of the late former Namibia President Dr Sam Nujoma, who passed away at the age of 95 earlier this month and will be laid to rest on Saturday. Namibia now advance to face Zambia in the next round, which will be for a place in the 2026 Wafcon finals. Zambia, who appeared at the last Fifa Women’s World Cup, will present a mighty challenge for coach
Feb
‘He expressed his desire to move to Libya for further experience and opportunities,’ said Chiefs sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jnr. Kaizer Chiefs announced on Friday that Botswana defender Thatayaone Ditlhokwe has left the club to join Libyan side Al-Ittihad. ALSO READ: Chiefs set CAF target Amakhosi Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jnr says it was Ditlhokwe who asked to leave Chiefs to go to Libya. Chiefs give their reasons “It was not an easy decision for us when Al-Ittihad approached us regarding TT,” Motaung Jnr told the Chiefs official website. “We engaged the player and during our discussions, he expressed his desire to move to Libya for further experience and opportunities. “As a Club, we didn’t want to impede his progress, and we appreciate his professionalism and discipline. Although we will
Feb
Jude Bellingham snatched a stoppage-time winner as Real Madrid twice came from behind to beat Manchester City 3-2 in the first leg of their blockbuster Champions League play-off tie Tuesday, while Paris Saint-Germain took command of an all-French clash with Brest. Erling Haaland’s double — his first goals in five appearances against Madrid — looked to have secured Pep Guardiola’s side a slender advantage, but instead the reigning European champions now go into next week’s return leg in Spain as strong favourites to reach the last 16. “It was a weird one. We played some of our best football of the season and ended up behind,” Bellingham told Amazon Prime. “I don’t care what form City are in they are still an unbelievable team. It’s always tricky to play against
Feb
Napoli missed the chance to extend their lead over Inter Milan at the top of Serie A to six points as Antonio Conte’s men were held to a 1-1 draw by Udinese on Sunday. Scott McTominay put the hosts ahead in the first half at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, but Jurgen Ekkelenkamp equalised shortly afterwards and Napoli could not find a winner. Napoli were given the opportunity to stretch their advantage at the top of the table by Inter’s 3-0 loss at Fiorentina in midweek — a game which was originally stopped in December after home midfielder Edoardo Bove suffered a heart attack. Reigning champions Inter could cut the gap back to three points when they host Fiorentina on Monday. Atalanta are also still in the hunt for their
Feb
Liverpool overturned a first leg deficit to reach the League Cup final with a 4-0 win over Tottenham on Thursday, ramping up the pressure on Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou. Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk were on target for the Reds, who will face Newcastle at Wembley on March 16 for the first silverware of the English season. Liverpool remain on course for a quadruple in a dream debut season for Arne Slot. They enjoy a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League, have cruised into the last 16 of the Champions League and visit Championship strugglers Plymouth in the FA cup fourth round on Sunday. “To reach a final should always be special,” said Slot. “It was a very good performance from our
Feb
Phakaaathi has it on good authority that Saavedra and Sundowns have come to an amicable decision to part ways. Erwin Saavedra’s time at Mamelodi Sundowns had come to end. ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix As previously reported by Mgosi squad, Erwin Saavedra’s time at Mamelodi Sundowns had come to an end. With Matias Matías Esquivel’s loan recall from Club Atlético Talleres confirmed, Sundowns needed to open up a foreign spot on their books. Saavedra is deemed surplus to requirements by the Brazilians who now have the South American contingent of Esquivel, Lucas Ribeiro, Marcelo Allende and Arthur Sales, new defender Lucas Suárez on their roster. ALSO READ: Zothwane to reunite with Larsen at Richards Bay Phakaaathi has it on good authority that Saavedra and Sundowns have come to an amicable decision to part ways
Jan
The new league phase of this season’s expanded Champions League is all set for a frantic conclusion on Wednesday, as 18 matches are played simultaneously across Europe and the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain battle to avoid an early exit. AFP Sport rounds up what is at stake ahead of the final round of games in the league phase: Top 8 places up for grabs There is a real incentive for finishing in the top eight places of the giant, 36-team standings — those sides will skip the two-legged knockout round play-offs next month, getting some precious rest as they advance straight to the last 16 in March. Liverpool, with seven wins out of seven, and Barcelona are the only two teams to have already guaranteed a place