mikkysmithonsport1

“Opportunities will come” – Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa tipped for January exit chances Liverpool winger Federico Chiesa could reportedly receive offers to leave Anfield and return to Serie A when the January transfer window opens. The Italy international has found regular minutes hard to come by since joining the Reds last summer, and many were surprised he wasn’t moved on during the last window. Transfer insider Dean Jones has suggested that Chiesa’s future will again be worth monitoring in January. While he expects chances for the 27-year-old to depart, he notes that Chiesa may not rush into a move, as leaving Liverpool could be seen as a step down. Chiesa’s Liverpool situation Despite limited game time, Chiesa is not desperate to leave. Any move would have to be the right project to convince him. “Chiesa clearly enjoys being at Liverpool and the club values him as a useful squad member. He’s patiently waiting for his moment to make an impact,” Jones told TEAMtalk. “Of cour...

Liverpool XI vs Everton: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup, injury latest for Premier League Arne Slot is facing big selection calls for the Merseyside derby at Anfield Mohamed Salah is expected to start for Liverpool in the Merseyside derby Arne Slot faces a huge decision over whether to start Alexander Isak or Hugo Ekitike up front in against Everton at Anfield. Liverpool handed a debut to their £125million transfer Deadline Day signing in the 3-2 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night, though Isak did not play the entire 90 minutes. Slot has been keen to build up the striker’s fitness after he missed the entirety of pre-season as well as the first three Premier League games of the campaign with Newcastle prior to sealing a switch to Merseyside. Speaking after the win over Atletico, Slot confirmed Isak will not play 90 minutes against Everton, but it remains to be seen if the Sweden international will make his league b...

Mikel Arteta provides six-man Arsenal injury update ahead of Man City clash Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has shared the latest team news as his side prepare for Sunday’s high-stakes Premier League meeting with Manchester City. Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard remain doubts after recent setbacks. Odegaard sat out Tuesday’s Champions League victory over Athletic Club following a shoulder problem picked up against Nottingham Forest, the same area he injured last month in a win over Leeds. Saka, sidelined since the Leeds game on August 23 with a hamstring issue, is pushing hard to return in time for the City match. Ben White has also been struggling with fitness problems despite featuring on the bench against Forest. Arteta admitted that final decisions on Saka, Odegaard, and White will only be made after Saturday’s training session: “If there’s a chance, it’ll be after tomorrow’s sessions. They haven’t trained yet. We’ll know more tomorrow whether they can be in the squad or not.” Meanwh...

Arne Slot praises Everton’s show of respect after Diogo Jota’s passing Liverpool manager Arne Slot has expressed his gratitude to Everton for the way they supported their city rivals in the aftermath of Diogo Jota’s tragic death in July. Slot said such gestures prove that compassion goes beyond football rivalries, as Liverpool prepare to host Everton in Saturday’s first Merseyside derby of the season. Jota and his brother, André Silva, lost their lives in a car accident in northern Spain during the summer. In the days following, Anfield became a place of mourning, with fans from across the football world leaving flowers and tributes. Everton were among the first clubs to show solidarity, sending a delegation including Portuguese strikers Beto and Youssef Chermiti, along with club legend Ian Snodin. Manager David Moyes and captain Seamus Coleman also attended to pay their respects. Slot acknowledged how much their support meant at such a painful time. “It was their captain, their st...

UEFA probe looms after Atletico staff clash with Liverpool fans Liverpool’s dramatic 3-2 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid has been overshadowed by reports of a confrontation between the Spanish club’s staff and home supporters. According to The Times journalists Paul Joyce and David Lynch, UEFA are preparing to investigate claims that a member of Diego Simeone’s backroom team spat towards Liverpool fans in stoppage time, shortly after Virgil van Dijk’s 92nd-minute winner. The coach in question had already been sent off by referee Maurizio Mariani following heated arguments with fans seated behind the away bench. Video clips circulating online appear to show a man in Atletico tracksuit spitting in the direction of supporters while stewards intervened. UEFA confirmed they are awaiting the referee’s and delegate’s official reports before determining disciplinary action. Liverpool, as hosts, will also need to provide CCTV evidence. Supporter denies racism in Simeone row A L...

Eberechi Eze could be handed new Arsenal role as Arteta weighs Man City options Martin Keown has tipped Arsenal’s £67million summer signing Eberechi Eze to shift into a deeper midfield role when Manchester City visit the Emirates on Sunday. Eze, who joined from Crystal Palace after rejecting Tottenham, has made just three appearances for the Gunners so far. He has one Premier League start under his belt, provided an assist for Viktor Gyokeres against Nottingham Forest, and featured for 70 minutes in the midweek Champions League win over Athletic Club. The 27-year-old has been deployed mainly on the left wing, but competition is intensifying. Both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard came off the bench to score in Bilbao, giving Mikel Arteta fresh selection headaches ahead of the weekend showdown. Speaking to TNT Sports, ex-Arsenal defender Keown suggested Eze could be moved into midfield to fit Martinelli into the XI. “There’s a chance Eberechi Eze could play as a midfield play...

Reports: Arteta not facing sack if Arsenal go trophyless this season Ben Jacobs has claimed that Mikel Arteta’s future at Arsenal is not directly tied to winning silverware this campaign. The Gunners’ last major success came with the FA Cup in 2019/20, but despite the ongoing wait, Arteta is not under immediate pressure to end the drought. Instead, sporting director Andrea Berta is expected to carry out a full review at the end of the season to assess whether the Spaniard has maximized the squad and resources available. Arsenal have finished runners-up in the Premier League for three years running, raising hopes that this could be the season they finally clinch their first league crown since the famous Invincibles of 2003/04. Arteta himself remains optimistic, recently stating: “We are very lucky players prefer to go to Arsenal than somewhere else.”

Arsenal latest: Arteta under pressure as Gyokeres shares positive update after knock Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal began their Champions League campaign with a win on Tuesday night and now turn their attention to a huge Premier League clash on Sunday. The Gunners came through their meeting with Athletic Club without major issues, using the game as ideal preparation for the showdown with Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side also have less recovery time, something Arsenal will hope to capitalise on. Liverpool remain the early pace-setters in the league, taking maximum points from their opening four fixtures. Arne Slot’s men also claimed a dramatic midweek European victory, with Virgil van Dijk netting a late winner against Atletico Madrid. For Arsenal, three points at the Emirates this weekend would keep them in touch with Liverpool and move them six points clear of City, who have already suffered two league defeats. Arteta faces selection dilemmas after both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandr...

Erling Haaland can’t reignite Myles Lewis-Skelly row but Arsenal youngster still has hurdles to clear Myles Lewis-Skelly was one of Arsenal’s breakout stars in the Premier League last season, but the teenage defender is now fighting to secure a regular spot in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI. One of the standout moments of last campaign came when Lewis-Skelly mocked Erling Haaland by copying the striker’s famous “zen” celebration after netting in Arsenal’s 5-1 victory over Manchester City at the Emirates in February. It was a cheeky response to Haaland’s earlier jibe of “who the f*** are you?” during City’s late 2-2 draw with Arsenal in September. A year on, the Norwegian certainly knows his name—so does everyone else. That personal spat added more fuel to the growing rivalry between Arsenal and City, ensuring Sunday’s Emirates clash will be another fiery contest. The 18-year-old made a sensational rise last term, going from an unknown academy player to a first-team regular, even break...

Liverpool vs Everton – Premier League Showdown at Anfield (20 Sept 2025) | Lineups – Head-to-Head – Match Preview The Merseyside Derby remains one of the fiercest and longest-standing rivalries in English football. On 20 September 2025 , Liverpool welcome Everton to Anfield for a high-stakes Premier League encounter, kicking off at 11:30 UTC . Liverpool’s position: 1st in the Premier League Everton’s position: 6th in the Premier League This isn’t just a battle for three points—it’s about local pride, history, and momentum. Head-to-Head (Last 20 Meetings) Liverpool wins: 16 Everton wins: 3 Draws: 14 Liverpool have dominated recent derbies, though Everton stunned them with their 2021 Anfield victory. Form Guide (Last 5 Games) Liverpool: W – W – W – D – W Everton: W – D – W – L – W The Reds’ unbeaten run underlines their title push, while Everton’s mixed results show they can be unpredictable. Key Battles to Watch Mohamed Salah vs Everton’s left-back replacement: Sal...

Eze switch and Saliba return as Arsenal weigh two big calls for Man City showdown Mikel Arteta could tweak his Arsenal lineup in two key areas as they gear up for a huge Premier League clash with Manchester City this weekend. Despite a summer of major reinforcements, Arteta’s team selections have been relatively predictable so far. In midweek, though, it was the established names who delivered—Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard came off the bench to fire Arsenal past Athletic Club in the Champions League, underlining Arteta’s philosophy of “finishers” making the difference. Martinelli’s impact in Spain may earn him a recall, especially with Arteta often keen to ride the momentum of in-form players. The Brazilian winger has already scored a decisive late winner against City at the Emirates before, and his return would likely see Eberechi Eze shifted into a central role to cover for the injured Martin Ødegaard. Mikel Merino, who has faced criticism after the loss at Anfield, coul...

Liverpool gain new psychological edge as only one question remains Match verdict from Anfield after late 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid On his 47th birthday, Arne Slot might have felt the tension of several years packed into one night, but deep down he likely never doubted Liverpool’s late show. Once again, his side left it until the final moments to clinch victory, keeping their remarkable streak of dramatic finishes alive. For the fifth straight game, the Premier League champions struck the decisive blow in the closing stages—this time Virgil van Dijk’s 92nd-minute header sealed a 3-2 triumph and further fuelled their Champions League push for a seventh European crown. Remarkably, Dominik Szoboszlai’s 83rd-minute free-kick against Arsenal still stands as the earliest winning goal Liverpool have managed this season. The pattern is clear: Slot’s team are developing a knack for scoring when it matters most, a habit that unnerves opponents and emboldens supporters. Marcos Llorente’s ...

Video Virgil van Dijk’s stoppage-time header sparks chaos as Diego Simeone loses control on the touchline Virgil van Dijk sent Anfield into raptures with Liverpool’s latest injury-time winner, while Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone completely unraveled on the sideline. In trademark Liverpool fashion, Arne Slot’s men made life dramatic once again—surrendering a two-goal lead for the third time this season before snatching victory right at the death. Marcos Llorente, who has history at Anfield, looked to have rescued a point for the Spaniards with a thunderous late strike. But in stoppage time, Liverpool’s captain rose highest from a corner to head home, ensuring the Reds began their Champions League journey with a win. Van Dijk delivers, Simeone explodes While Van Dijk sprinted toward the Kop in jubilation, Simeone was busy raging at anyone within shouting distance—opponents, officials, and even home supporters in the Main Stand. A scuffle broke out on the sidelines as tempers f...

GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Atletico Madrid (Salah, 6) Beautiful play by Salah as he cuts inside, plays the ball to Gravenberch, continues to run in between two defenders, and slices the ball into the back of the net.  Horrible start by the visitors. Dream start for Salah!) Beautiful play by Salah as he cuts inside, plays the ball to Gravenberch, continues to run in between two defenders, and slices the ball into the back of the net.  Horrible start by the visitors. Dream start for Salah!

Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid LIVE: Champions League updates, team news, lineups, TV details, prediction Premier League champions begin their European journey Match spotlight: Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Liverpool open their Champions League campaign tonight with a clash against Atletico Madrid at Anfield , kicking off at 8pm BST . The Reds come into this one in excellent domestic form, having won all four of their Premier League fixtures so far. Their latest victory was a narrow one at Burnley, where Mohamed Salah’s late penalty — awarded after a Hannibal Mejbri handball — secured three points. The major pre-match question is whether Alexander Isak , the £125m summer arrival from Newcastle, will make his long-awaited debut. The Swedish striker missed out at Turf Moor but is included in tonight’s squad. Fellow new forward Hugo Ekitike has impressed early on, yet Isak’s presence suggests he could finally see action. Manager Arne Slot has stressed he’ll be cautious with Isak, giv...

Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid LIVE: Champions League updates, team news, lineups, TV details, prediction Premier League champions begin their European journey Match spotlight: Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Liverpool open their Champions League campaign tonight with a clash against Atletico Madrid at Anfield , kicking off at 8pm BST . The Reds come into this one in excellent domestic form, having won all four of their Premier League fixtures so far. Their latest victory was a narrow one at Burnley, where Mohamed Salah’s late penalty — awarded after a Hannibal Mejbri handball — secured three points. The major pre-match question is whether Alexander Isak , the £125m summer arrival from Newcastle, will make his long-awaited debut. The Swedish striker missed out at Turf Moor but is included in tonight’s squad. Fellow new forward Hugo Ekitike has impressed early on, yet Isak’s presence suggests he could finally see action. Manager Arne Slot has stressed he’ll be cautious with Isak, giv...

Liverpool XI vs Atletico Madrid: Predicted lineup, latest injury updates and team news for Champions League opener Debut watch: Alexander Isak could make first Liverpool appearance in Anfield clash Spotlight on: Florian Wirtz Liverpool begin their Champions League journey tonight with a home tie against Atletico Madrid at Anfield. Arne Slot’s men are flying domestically, having won all four of their opening Premier League fixtures, and will be aiming to improve on last season’s continental campaign that ended in a last-16 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. This will be Liverpool’s first meeting with Atletico since 2021, when they beat the Spanish side twice in the group stage – 2-0 at Anfield and 3-2 in Madrid – with Atleti reduced to 10 men on both occasions. All eyes are now on Alexander Isak, Liverpool’s £125m summer signing from Newcastle, who could be handed his debut. The Swedish striker was left out of the win over Burnley as Slot stressed caution after his limited pre-season, but h...

What Gabriel Martinelli told Arsenal teammates before his decisive display against Athletic Club Gabriel Martinelli scored and provided an assist as Arsenal defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-0 in their Champions League group opener on Tuesday night. The Brazilian explained how he identified Bilbao’s defensive gaps just before coming on as a substitute, which proved crucial in changing the game. Within just 36 seconds and four touches, he latched onto a lofted pass from Leandro Trossard to fire Arsenal into the lead. Minutes later, Martinelli turned provider, beating his marker before setting up Trossard for the second goal, sealing the win and giving Mikel Arteta’s side the perfect start in Spain. “When I came on, I just wanted to run in behind and look for space,” Martinelli said. “I told the boys on the bench there was a lot of space there. Leo spotted me with a great ball, and I finished it. For the second, I knew their defenders were tiring, so I tried to beat my man and pick someone ...

Gyökeres, Merino, Saka – Arsenal injury updates and possible return dates after Athletic Club win Arsenal kicked off their Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Athletic Club, but the night also brought fresh concerns on the injury front. Supporters had their hearts in their mouths when Viktor Gyökeres and Mikel Merino both picked up knocks, adding to a growing list of absentees for Mikel Arteta’s side. Just like last season, injuries are starting to pile up quickly, making the win even more significant. Substitute heroics from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard — each registering a goal and an assist — ensured Arsenal secured all three points despite being without Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, Gabriel Jesus and Ben White. Here’s the latest on Arsenal’s injury situation: Viktor Gyökeres – Sustained a head clash with Gabriel Magalhães but was taken off for tactical reasons, not injury. Return date: Sept 21 vs Man City. Mikel Merino – Also suffered a ...

Declan Rice delivers telling one-word verdict on Gabriel Martinelli after Bilbao heroics Declan Rice perfectly captured Arsenal’s admiration for Gabriel Martinelli with a single word after the Brazilian’s game-changing display in the 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao. The England midfielder shared a photo of the squad celebrating with Martinelli on Instagram, captioning it simply: “family.” Martinelli, 24, came off the bench to produce his most decisive performance of the season so far. With Arsenal struggling to unlock the Spanish side’s defence, Mikel Arteta introduced him in place of Eberechi Eze. Within a minute, he latched onto a long ball, burst clear, and slotted home the opener. Later, he weaved through defenders before setting up Leandro Trossard, whose deflected effort sealed victory. Competition for places has been fierce since Eze and Noni Madueke arrived for a combined £118m, but Rice’s post underlined Martinelli’s importance to the squad. His message echoed the warm praise...

Liverpool XI vs Atletico Madrid: Predicted lineup, latest injury updates and team news for Champions League opener Debut watch: Alexander Isak could make first Liverpool appearance in Anfield clash Spotlight on: Florian Wirtz Liverpool begin their Champions League journey tonight with a home tie against Atletico Madrid at Anfield. Arne Slot’s men are flying domestically, having won all four of their opening Premier League fixtures, and will be aiming to improve on last season’s continental campaign that ended in a last-16 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. This will be Liverpool’s first meeting with Atletico since 2021, when they beat the Spanish side twice in the group stage – 2-0 at Anfield and 3-2 in Madrid – with Atleti reduced to 10 men on both occasions. All eyes are now on Alexander Isak, Liverpool’s £125m summer signing from Newcastle, who could be handed his debut. The Swedish striker was left out of the win over Burnley as Slot stressed caution after his limited pre-season, but h...

Gabriel Martinelli makes statement as Rice shows frustration in Arsenal win Key takeaways from Arsenal’s 2-0 Champions League victory over Athletic Club as Mikel Arteta’s side maintain their strong start to the campaign. The Champions League returned with Arsenal looking to go one step further after last season’s near miss, and their pursuit of a first-ever European crown is off to a solid start. Second-half goals from substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard secured a professional win in Bilbao, extending the Gunners’ impressive early-season form to four victories in five matches across all competitions. With a crucial Premier League showdown against Manchester City coming up on Sunday, Arteta’s men now carry momentum and three valuable European points into that clash. Champions League debut delight For many professionals, Champions League football represents the pinnacle. Eberechi Eze savored his first taste of the competition after joining from Crystal Palace in the...

Liverpool XI vs Atletico Madrid: Predicted lineup, latest injury updates and team news for Champions League opener Debut watch: Alexander Isak could make first Liverpool appearance in Anfield clash Spotlight on: Florian Wirtz Liverpool begin their Champions League journey tonight with a home tie against Atletico Madrid at Anfield. Arne Slot’s men are flying domestically, having won all four of their opening Premier League fixtures, and will be aiming to improve on last season’s continental campaign that ended in a last-16 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. This will be Liverpool’s first meeting with Atletico since 2021, when they beat the Spanish side twice in the group stage – 2-0 at Anfield and 3-2 in Madrid – with Atleti reduced to 10 men on both occasions. All eyes are now on Alexander Isak, Liverpool’s £125m summer signing from Newcastle, who could be handed his debut. The Swedish striker was left out of the win over Burnley as Slot stressed caution after his limited pre-season,...

Virgil van Dijk gave his thoughts on new teammate Alexander Isak ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid. “Very good. Very eager,” Van Dijk said in a press conference when asked about his first impression of the striker in training. “His quality was clear right from the first session, even though I was still away on international duty at the time. From what I’ve seen and heard, it’s all positive. Off the pitch too, we’ve spoken a few times. “I actually spoke to him during the international break once everything was finalised. For him, it’s now about getting fully fit as quickly as possible, learning how we play, how we press, our set-piece routines. It’s been a solid first week for him. We’ll see tomorrow.” Isak could make his Liverpool debut on Wednesday against Atletico Madrid.

Jamie Carragher tips Barcelona as his Champions League favourites Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher has backed Barcelona to go all the way in this season’s Champions League. Speaking to CBS Sport, Carragher said: “I’m going to pick Barcelona as my favourites. I was really impressed with them last season and I think they’ll go close again.” His choice raised eyebrows as he overlooked his former club Liverpool, though he insisted he still expects the Reds to progress deep into the competition. Barcelona made it to last season’s semi-finals before being eliminated by Inter Milan, while Liverpool exited earlier in the knockouts at the hands of eventual winners PSG. According to a supercomputer projection, Barcelona have an 8% chance of lifting the trophy, with Real Madrid rated at 6%.

GOAL! Athletic Club 0-2 Arsenal (Trossard, 87) TROSSARD SEALS THE VICTORY! Arsenal strike twice late on, with both goals coming from the substitutes. This time Gabriel Martinelli tees up Leandro Trossard, returning the favour for his opener.  The Arsenal forward pokes an effort goal bound and it is deflected over the head of Unai Simon and into the back of the net. 

GOAL! Athletic Club 0-1 Arsenal (Martinelli, 72) INSTANT IMPACT! Just 36 seconds after coming off the bench, Gabriel Martinelli has fired Arsenal into the lead at San Mames.  Those were his first touches since coming on to the pitch! This goal is all about Martinelli's pace as he touches the ball over the Athletic Club backline and races through on goal. 

Athletic Club 0-0 Arsenal 4: Arsenal concede possession poorly and Athletic Club very nearly make them pay for it.  Riccardo Calafiori had to track back to intercept a pass through that was aimed at Alex Berenguer.  If it had reached him, the striker would have been through on goal. Athletic Club 0-0 Arsenal 2: It's taken a whole two minutes for Athletic Club to get a touch on the ball. Arsenal so far very happy to knock the ball around in their own half. 

Athletic Club 0-0 Arsenal KICK OFF   Arsenal get things underway at San Mames. No floodlights necessary here as the sun beams down in Bilbao. It's not quite the same, is it? But it will have to do. The Champions Legaue is back Athletic Club 0-0 Arsenal 1 min:  Loads of early possession for Arsenal, knocking the ball about at the back. KICK-OFF! We are underway in this Champions League clash! HERE WE GO! The Champions League music rings around the San Mames for the first time in over a decade! Kick-off is next.

Athletic Club 0-0 Arsenal KICK OFF!  Arsenal get things underway at San Mames. No floodlights necessary here as the sun beams down in Bilbao. It's not quite the same, is it? But it will have to do. The Champions Legaue is back Athletic Club 0-0 Arsenal 1 min:  Loads of early possession for Arsenal, knocking the ball about at the back. KICK-OFF! We are underway in this Champions League clash! HERE WE GO! The Champions League music rings around the San Mames for the first time in over a decade! Kick-off is next.

Athletic Club vs Arsenal LIVE: Champions League updates, lineups, TV info, prediction Arsenal begin their European campaign in Bilbao It’s finally here: Athletic Club vs Arsenal LIVE ! Arsenal launch their new Champions League journey tonight with a tough test away at San Mames. Mikel Arteta’s men are aiming to make a statement in their opening group stage game, putting last season’s painful semi-final exit to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain behind them. The Gunners come into the clash in good spirits after beating Nottingham Forest at the weekend, bouncing back from a narrow pre-international break defeat at Liverpool. Arteta is again dealing with injury setbacks, with skipper Martin Odegaard sidelined due to a shoulder problem, joining Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus on the absentee list. William Saliba is back fit but only makes the bench. As for Athletic Club, they began their LaLiga season with three straight wins before being stunned at home by Alaves on S...

Isak trains but midfielder missing: Liverpool’s latest session before Atletico Madrid tie Liverpool look set to have almost their entire squad available for Wednesday night’s Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid. The Reds completed their final preparations at the AXA Training Centre earlier today ahead of hosting Diego Simeone’s side, who travel without Julian Alvarez and Thiago Almada. Arne Slot has close to a clean bill of health for the clash, with only one notable absentee from Tuesday’s session in Kirkby. Who took part in training? Footage released on Liverpool’s official YouTube channel showed record signing Alexander Isak involved. The £125m striker sat out the weekend win over Burnley as Slot deemed him not quite ready for action at Turf Moor. Alexis Mac Allister also trained, showing no lingering issues from Lesley Ugochukwu’s reckless challenge on Sunday, while Federico Chiesa joined the group despite being ineligible for the Champions League squad. Youngste...

Athletic Club vs Arsenal LIVE: Kick-off time, TV channel, line-ups, stream info Follow live updates from San Mamés as Arsenal begin their Champions League campaign against Athletic Club. Mikel Arteta’s side travel to Bilbao aiming to start their European season with a win. The manager spoke on Monday about using last year’s semi-final disappointment as motivation, stressing the need for a fit squad and clinical finishing if they are to progress further this time. Arsenal will be without Bukayo Saka, Ben White, Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus due to injury, but William Saliba and Christian Nørgaard have returned to fitness and could feature. Arsenal back in Champions League action The Gunners return to the competition after last season’s run ended in the semi-finals against eventual winners PSG. Their 2025/26 campaign begins against Athletic Club, before tougher group fixtures against Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich later on. Saliba and Nørgaard trained on Monday,...

Athletic Club vs Arsenal referee once angered Man Utd with three big decisions Donatas Rumsas, the man set to officiate Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Athletic Club, has previously been at the centre of controversy involving Manchester United. The Lithuanian referee oversaw United’s Champions League meeting with FC Copenhagen in November 2023, a night that ended in frustration for Erik ten Hag’s side. United were 2-0 up and seemingly in control until Marcus Rashford was dismissed following a VAR review of his challenge on Elias Jelert. Rumsas faced further criticism later in the game after awarding two penalties – one for each side – both for handball incidents, again following VAR interventions. United went on to lose 4-3 at Parken Stadium, a result that contributed to them finishing bottom of their group. Speaking afterwards, Ten Hag voiced his anger: "I’m very disappointed about these decisions. This is not football. We played well until the red card, but that momen...

Arsenal XI vs Athletic Club: Predicted lineup, team news and injury updates ahead of Champions League clash The Gunners are dealing with several absences as they begin their Champions League campaign in Bilbao. Injury situation: Mikel Arteta will be without a number of first-team regulars when Arsenal face Athletic Club tonight. William Saliba is expected to return after missing the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest due to an ankle problem. The defender rejoined full training on Monday and travelled with the squad to Spain. However, Ben White and Martin Odegaard did not train at London Colney and have been ruled out, along with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz. Bukayo Saka also remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury, with Arteta admitting there is still no clear timeline for his return. With Odegaard out, Arteta has choices to make in midfield. Ethan Nwaneri filled in against Forest, but Declan Rice—rested at the weekend—is expected to start. Saliba’s availabi...

Arsenal XI vs Athletic Club: Predicted lineup, team news and injury updates ahead of Champions League clash The Gunners are dealing with several absences as they begin their Champions League campaign in Bilbao. Injury situation: Mikel Arteta will be without a number of first-team regulars when Arsenal face Athletic Club tonight. William Saliba is expected to return after missing the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest due to an ankle problem. The defender rejoined full training on Monday and travelled with the squad to Spain. However, Ben White and Martin Odegaard did not train at London Colney and have been ruled out, along with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz. Bukayo Saka also remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury, with Arteta admitting there is still no clear timeline for his return. With Odegaard out, Arteta has choices to make in midfield. Ethan Nwaneri filled in against Forest, but Declan Rice—rested at the weekend—is expected to start. Saliba’s ...

Mikel Arteta gives latest Arsenal injury news on Ben White, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka Several Arsenal players were missing from the team’s first training session ahead of their Champions League clash with Athletic Club, including Ben White, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard. Speaking shortly after arriving in the Basque Country on Monday, Arteta confirmed at his press conference that William Saliba had rejoined the squad and Christian Norgaard also featured, but there were still a number of absentees. On Odegaard, Arteta was clear: “No.” The Norwegian has stayed in London and did not travel with the squad. He added: “Gabby, Kai, Ben and Martin are still out, unfortunately.” When pressed about Saka, the Arsenal boss admitted there was no clear timeframe for his return. “No, I think he’s still got quite a few things to go through. It’s too early to say which week he’ll be available, but he’ll push to get back as soon as possible.” Arteta also touched ...

Liverpool vs Atletico postponement update amid Merseyside weather alert Liverpool’s Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid comes in the same week Merseyside has been placed under a yellow weather warning for strong winds, sparking concerns over possible disruption. Arne Slot’s side welcome Diego Simeone’s men to Anfield on Wednesday night, but the Met Office has clarified that while travel and power issues could hit the region earlier in the week, there are currently no warnings for the day of the game itself. Weather warning and Champions League update The Met Office warning stated: “Strong, gusty winds are likely to cause some travel disruption and possible power outages. Delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport are likely, while coastal routes and communities could also be affected by spray and large waves.” That alert is in force from Sunday evening until Monday, with conditions expected to improve well before midweek. Forecasts now show Wednesday will be clear, ...