The Nation Newspaper

Tag: arsenal

  • Arsenal reignite title bid with big Crystal Palace win

    Arsenal reignite title bid with big Crystal Palace win

    Arsenal reignited their Premier League title challenge by thrashing struggling Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium.

    The Gunners’ fight at the top had faltered towards the end of last year as they lost three of their past five Premier League games.

    But, after heading off to Dubai for a week-long winter break, Mikel Arteta’s side returned reinvigorated as a Gabriel header, Dean Henderson own goal, Leandro Trossard finish and two late Gabriel Martinelli strikes sealed the three points.

    Read Also: Ivory Coast hopes Haller returns against Guinea

    The first two goals came from corners, with the opener coming in the 11th minute when Gabriel nodded in before the defender’s header from another set-piece struck Crystal Palace goalkeeper Henderson to deflect into the back of the net.

    The visitors offered little in response. Instead Arsenal added to their lead in the second half when Trossard was sent one-on-one with the goalkeeper and kept his cool to finish confidently.

    With Palace already well beaten, Martinelli added further sheen to the win with two goals in injury time, both swept into the far corner.

  • EPL: Preview, team news, lineups of Aston Villa vs Arsenal

    EPL: Preview, team news, lineups of Aston Villa vs Arsenal

    Arsenal meet Aston Villa today in what is likely to be a huge challenge in their Premier League title push.

    A trip to Villa Park has become one of the most daunting assignments in the top flight, with Unai Emery’s side beating Manchester City on Wednesday night to extend their extraordinary winning run on home soil to 14 League matches.

    Arsenal were the last away side to beat Villa, back in February, and another positive result this weekend would be a significant statement as they look to stay the course in the title race this season.

    Aston Villa Team News

    Emery has a key decision to make in the forward areas for Aston Villa, with Leon Bailey scoring in the last two matches having got the nod to start over Moussa Diaby.

    It remains to be seen whether the Villa boss persists with Ezri Konsa at right-back, with Matty Cash an obvious option to come in should Konsa be shifted back to the centre of defence.

    Emi Buendia, Bertrand Traore and Tyrone Mings remain out, but Villa did not appear to pick up any new injury problems against Man City.

    Read Also: EPL: Preview, team news, predicted lineups of Luton vs Arsenal

    Arsenal Team News

    Arsenal will be without Takehiro Tomiyasu, who is set to miss up to six weeks with a calf injury. Ben White can be expected to continue at right-back, while Oleksandr Zinchenko could return at left-back having been on the bench as Jakub Kiwior started against Luton.

    There are otherwise not believed to be any fresh injury concerns for the Gunners, with Thomas Partey not expected back before Christmas and Jurrien Timber among the long-term absentees

    Lineups

    Aston Villa: There are otherwise not believed to be any fresh injury concerns for the Gunners, with Thomas Partey not expected back before Christmas and Jurrien Timber among the long-term absentees

    Arsenal:  Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Rice, Havertz, Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

  • FULL DRAW: Arsenal to host Liverpool in FA Cup third round

    FULL DRAW: Arsenal to host Liverpool in FA Cup third round

    Premier League leaders Arsenal will host Liverpool in one of the standout ties in the third round of the FA Cup.

    Elsewhere, Sunderland will face Newcastle in a Tyne-Wear derby at the Stadium of Light and holders Manchester City will entertain Huddersfield Town.

    Manchester United will visit 2013 winners Wigan Athletic, Tottenham will host Burnley, and Everton will travel to Crystal Palace.

    The third round will be played between 5 and 8 January.

    Isthmian League South East Division side Ramsgate, the lowest-ranked team left in the competition, will host Championship high-flyers Ipswich if they can beat AFC Wimbledon in their second-round tie on Monday.

    Maidstone, of the National League South, can look forward to a home tie against either Stevenage or Port Vale.

    Read Also: EPL: Arsenal beat Wolves to move four points clear

    Draw in full

    Luton Town v Bolton Wanderers

    Shrewsbury Town v Wrexham

    Arsenal v Liverpool

    Stoke City v Brighton and Hove Albion

    Norwich City v Crewe/Bristol Rovers

    West Ham v Bristol City

    Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley

    Fulham v Rotherham United

    West Bromwich Albion v Aldershot/Stockport County

    Southampton v Alfreton Town/Walsall

    AFC Wimbledon/Ramsgate v Ipswich Town

    Peterborough United v Leeds United

    Millwall v Leicester City

    Watford v Chesterfield

    Sunderland v Newcastle United

    Sheffield Wednesday v Cardiff City

    Crystal Palace v Everton

    Middlesbrough v Aston Villa

    Nottingham Forest v Blackpool/Forest Green Rovers

    Wigan Athletic v Manchester United

    Manchester City v Huddersfield Town

    Blackburn Rovers v Cambridge United

    Gillingham v Sheffield United

    Swansea City v Morecambe

    Chelsea v Preston North End

    QPR v Bournemouth

    Coventry City v Oxford United

    Brentford v Wolverhampton Wanderers

    Plymouth Argyle v Sutton United

    Maidstone United v Stevenage/Port Vale

    Newport County/Barnet v Eastleigh

    Hull City v Birmingham

    BBC

  • EPL: Arsenal beat Wolves to move four points clear

    EPL: Arsenal beat Wolves to move four points clear

    Arsenal moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League table with victory over Wolves at Emirates Stadium.

    The Gunners, 6-0 winners over Lens in midweek, took an early lead when Bukayo Saka got the better of Craig Dawson in the penalty area before firing low into the bottom corner.

    It was 2-0 not long afterwards, Martin Odegaard finishing a magnificent team move involving Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus to double the hosts’ advantage.

    Gabriel Martinelli struck the outside of the post with a low shot, while Leandro Trossard and Jesus both went close as Arsenal pressed for a third goal that would have put the result beyond doubt.

    Read Also: Havertz scores late goal totake Arsenal top of the table

    Wolves improved in the second half and Matheus Cunha tested David Raya’s reflexes with a powerful effort at the near post, before curling a superb drive into the top corner to give the visitors hope with five minutes remaining.

    Gary O’Neil’s side were unable to complete the fightback, however, and Eddie Nketiah fired against the frame of the goal for Arsenal not long after Cunha’s strike.

  • EPL: Preview, team news, lineups of Arsenal Vs Wolves

    EPL: Preview, team news, lineups of Arsenal Vs Wolves

    After their most emphatic victory of the season so far, Arsenal will face Wolves in Saturday’s Premier League clash at the Emirates stadium.

    The Gunners were rampant on Wednesday night as they put six past Lens to win their Champions League group.

    Arsenal team news

    The suspended Fabio Vieira has been added to the injury list with a groin problem, with the Portuguese playmaker potentially missing the next few weeks of action.

    Vieira joins Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe, and Jurrien Timber on the sidelines.

    Wolves team news

    The visitors suffered a double midfield blow on Monday night when Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes picked up yellow cards which means they’ll be suspended for Saturday’s game having already picked up five in the Premier League this season.

    Read Also: Havertz scores late goal totake Arsenal top of the table

    Tommy Doyle is one of O’Neil’s peripheral options who could earn a starting berth as a result.

    Doubts remain over Pedro Neto’s fitness after he suffered a hamstring injury in Wolves’ 2-2 drawn with Newcastle. He’s edging closer to a return, and he could make the bench on Saturday. Craig Dawson will come back from a suspension.

    Arsenal XI: Raya, Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Rice, Trossard, Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Martinelli

    Wolves XI: Sa, Semedo, Kilman, Dawson, Gomes, H Bueno, Bellegarde, Traore, Doyle, Hwang, Cunha

  • EPL: Arsenal go second with victory over Burnley

    EPL: Arsenal go second with victory over Burnley

    Arsenal moved level on points with Premier League leaders Manchester City courtesy of a hard-fought victory over beleaguered Burnley.

    The Gunners had struggled to break down a disciplined Clarets side for much of the first half but broke the visitors’ resistance on the stroke of half-time when Leandro Trossard bravely nodded in at the far post for Arsenal’s 1,000th goal at Emirates Stadium.

    Burnley equalised eight minutes into the second half when Josh Brownhill’s low shot was deflected into the net by Gabriel, but the visitors were level for only three minutes before William Saliba headed in Trossard’s corner from point-blank range.

    Read Also: EPL: Arsenal vs Burnley: Preview, Team news, line-up

    Oleksandr Zinchenko completed the scoring with an acrobatic finish into the top corner after Dara O’Shea had inadvertently steered another Trossard corner onto the crossbar.

    Arsenal finished the game with 10 men after second-half substitute Fabio Vieira was shown a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Brownhill, but the Gunners held on comfortably.

    Burnley stay in the relegation zone while Arsenal trail league leaders City on goal difference – although Pep Guardiola’s team can restore their three-point lead with victory at Chelsea on Sunday.

  • EPL: Arsenal vs Burnley: Preview, Team news, line-up

    EPL: Arsenal vs Burnley: Preview, Team news, line-up

    Arsenal will face Burnley at the Emirates Stadium today after losing to Newcastle last Saturday at the St. James Park.

    The North London side beat Sevilla in the Champions League to get a place in the Round of 16.

    Burnley had a tough start seeing them lose five of their first six games.

    Arsenal Team news

    Arsenal will continue to monitor injury doubts of Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus.

    Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey are sidelined and Emile Smith Rowe is likely to again miss out.

    Read Also: Arsenal back Arteta over VAR ‘disgrace’ rant

    Burnley Team news

    Burnley are without top scorer Lyle Foster, who is in the care of specialists after the recurrence of a mental health issue.

    Josh Cullen is back from a ban, while the fit-again Hjalmar Ekdal may return to contention.

    Arsenal XI: Raya; Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Jorginho, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli

    Burnley XI: Trafford; Vitinho, O’Shea, Beyer, Taylor; Brownhill, Berge, Gudmundsson; Rodriguez, Amdouni, Koleosho

  • Liverpool joins Arsenal, Chelsea in pursuit of Osimhen

    Liverpool joins Arsenal, Chelsea in pursuit of Osimhen

    Liverpool have reportedly joined the race for Victor Osimhen‘s highly coveted signature.

    European giants are on high alert for the red-hot Napoli star after his public fallout with the club last month – when the Serie A outfit’s social media team appeared to mock him for missing a penalty against Bologna and labelled him a ‘coconut’.

    Jurgen Klopp sent one of his scouts to watch him in action on international duty, according to The Sun.

    Osimhen played 60 minutes of Nigeria’s friendly with Saudi Arabia in Portugal before a hamstring injury forced him off. He did not play in their next friendly against Mozambique.

    It means Liverpool join the list of clubs with a serious interest in the 24-year-old alongside Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea.

    Read Also; I’m living in constant fear, Chef Dammy cries out

    Osimhen’s future at Napoli was thrown into doubt last month when the club released two controversial TikTok videos appearing to mock him.

    The first seemingly mocked him for missing a penalty and the second labelled him a ‘coconut’ in what has been widely condemned as a racial slur. Both videos were promptly deleted.

    In the wake of the scandal, his agent suggested they could take legal action, Osimhen demanded a public apology and removed all but one of his Instagram posts with a Napoli shirt, and the social media executive responsible resigned.

    Napoli did not publicly apologise following the outrage and insisted that they ‘never wanted to mock’ their talisman.

  • Late Martinelli’s goal gives Arsenal victory over Man City

    Late Martinelli’s goal gives Arsenal victory over Man City

    Gabriel Martinelli scored a dramatic late winner as Arsenal earned a statement victory over defending Premier League champions Manchester City at Emirates Stadium.

    A largely disappointing game was given a stunning finale four minutes from time just as both sides looked certain to have to settle for a point.

    Making his return from a hamstring injury as a substitute, Martinelli’s strike deflected in off Nathan Ake to earn Arsenal a first league win over City since December 2015.

    It was a moment that sparked wild celebrations and put the Gunners level on points with north London rivals Tottenham at the top of the table.

    Read Also: Iheanacho, Vardy steer Leicester to victory

    The biggest talking point until the goal was how Manchester City’s Mateo Kovacic somehow stayed on the pitch after successive late tackles on Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.

    City had the better early opportunities when Rice cleared off the line from Josko Gvardiol before Ake scooped a shot over the bar from close range.

    Arsenal keeper David Raya, who had an uncertain time, was twice almost caught in possession on his line by Julian Alvarez.

    But it was the home side who were elated as Martinelli, introduced off the bench for the second half, made that vital contribution. BBC

  • Arsenal Youngster Daniel Oyetunde: Football gives me inner peace

    Arsenal Youngster Daniel Oyetunde: Football gives me inner peace

    Arsenal U18 player Daniel Oyetunde grew up in the Waltham Abbey area near Enfield. When he was younger I’d constantly pester his Nigerian dad to take him to the park to play football and practise. From here sparked the fire that has kept burning till date.

    While noting that football brings an underlying peace that allows him to express himself using my feet, the forward is gradually becoming the focus of the Arsenal young guns (U18 team) and on the way to bigger things. 

    Yet, his path did start with Arsenal. He was rooting for Chelsea. 

    “I have to admit I’ve been a Chelsea supporter my whole life and my earliest football memory was the 2012 Champions League semi-final between Chelsea and Barcelona where Torres scored that goal. It’s an iconic moment given that we went on to win the Champions League. As a Chelsea fan and striker, I looked up to the likes of Didier Drogba – he was such a brilliant striker and a big-game player who will always be remembered for his clutch goals. However, I also watched a lot of Thierry Henry’s highlights and was just amazed at how good he was in his prime. I try to mould my game on both Drogba and Henry.

    Read Also: Guardiola confirms injury blow for Arsenal match

    “At the age of six, I joined my first Sunday League team in my local area and I also played up front for my school team. I enjoyed my time in the Sunday Leagues because it allowed me to grow and develop as a player.”

    Then, he went to Tottenham his first trial and was rejected. Next, in line came Arsenal and he was successful.

    “My first Arsenal goal came against Tottenham, who hadn’t offered me a contract two years prior. The move to Arsenal came about when I was in Year 9. I’d been playing for Cheshunt FC and we won the league that season with me scoring plenty of goals – what a great season that was! After that, I had a few academies interested in seeing me play, including Arsenal. They offered to let me train with one of the scouts in a one-on-one session and then I started an eight-week trial with Arsenal under-15s in time for their pre-season.