All posts by h716a5.icu

USA allrounder calls for better facilities if the team is to improve on Super Eight achievements

Sidharth Monga23-Jun-20242:35

Knight: USA will be proud, but they need more help

The euphoria of beating Pakistan and qualifying for the Super Eight of T20 World Cup 2024 is now over. USA’s World Cup has ended with two resounding defeats on a slow surface in Barbados. While teams are naturally better prepared to face USA now, there is also an element of batters used to training indoors not adjusting quickly to a slower pitch. In both these matches, they made a decent start in the powerplay before falling apart in the middle overs.And according to Harmeet Singh, the USA allrounder, if the team is to improve between now and the next T20 World Cup in India in 2026, for which they have automatically qualified, they will need to improve their outdoors infrastructure.”For the whole group, we just need infrastructure to practise better, to train better,” Harmeet said. “We need the whole system in place. Trainers need to be able to work with us all year even if remotely. If you see England, Australia, all the destinations, they have incredible infrastructure in every state. Being indoors doesn’t help. We need a lot more outdoor set-ups, need good training facilities.Related

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“Stadiums are coming up, but the short-term goal should be building a lot of infrastructure for guys to be able to train so that the whole grassroot [cricketers get to train better] and our bench strength also builds with that. Playing franchise cricket will help, but it will help four, five, six guys who might play, but to build a cricket-playing nation, we need a lot more infrastructure.”The nature of the sport is that associate teams don’t get to play the amount of cricket that is required to get better. It can become a vicious cycle that ends up in underwhelming performances if you play straight in tournaments, which in turn leads to calls for World Cups to become smaller. To be able to play regularly against bigger opponents, you have to be a big commercial draw, which USA currently aren’t.Harmeet Singh wants an improvement in US facilities•Getty ImagesHowever, Harmeet believes that the last month or so has helped cricket reach beyond the Asian diaspora, which is why it is all the more important for USA to capitalise on the current mood with the right infrastructure.”The cricketing community is large, especially in Texas where I come from, or New Jersey as well,” Harmeet said. “Seattle has a big cricket community. The West Coast, the overall California area, everywhere, there is a lot of cricket going on. It’s just that we don’t have enough turf practice facilities everywhere. We just have kids practising in indoors.”Let’s say being a professional cricketer [before moving to the US], I can manage going from indoors to outdoors. I know the differences. Kids when they practise indoors, they go outdoors straight away on turf pitches, and there’s no feet, nothing. So all that needs to change and hopefully, in the near future, we have a lot more practice facilities than just building grounds. Go to India or anywhere in a Test-playing nation, we have so many grounds to practise. All the academies are outdoor academies and then you go indoors [only] when it’s raining.”I know parents who spend a lot of money on their kids to train, but then the problem lies is when you are just doing indoors, the growth is standard, it’s not a lot of growth. And then when they go outdoors, the kids feel the heat. ‘Oh it’s hot.’ It’s supposed to be hot.”But it’s not just at the grassroots level, but at the top too, that USA need to catch this wave of momentum. “There’s a lot to learn and everybody has come a long way from where we started,” Harmeet said. “And then there’s a lot of confidence also in the team that we’ve battled against the best. And when we were at our best, we did push them to the line. So I think there’s so much to learn.”The work starts now,” he added. “Not tomorrow, the work starts now in our heads. We need to think how we are going to be at the 2026 World Cup. And then from now to then, the journey needs to be from us personally putting in the work and then USA Cricket also providing us lots and lots of games and training opportunities. And then franchise cricket [for those who can]. And then putting that preparation into the 2026 World Cup and get the best result.”

Amid rumours that they’ve joined the race to sign Hugo Ekitike, Manchester United are now reportedly considering a summer swoop to sign another Bundesliga star for Ruben Amorim.

Man Utd join Ekitike race

Despite finishing as low as 15th in the Premier League and missing out on European qualification, Manchester United have still managed to put themselves in interesting conversations this summer. The Manchester United name seemingly still carries strong and has already convinced Matheus Cunha to arrive from Wolverhampton Wanderers. But INEOS are not done there.

According to recent reports, the Red Devils have now joined the race to sign Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt this summer. The German club value their forward at a hefty £84m but that has not been enough to deter those at Old Trafford from making their approach in an attempt to beat rivals Liverpool to a summer deal.

Minutes

2,563

2,004

1,402

Goals

15

4

3

Assists

8

0

1

Expected Goals

21.6

5.3

4.8

It’s easy to see why Manchester United are interested in Ekitike. The Frenchman outscored Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee combined last season and whilst his underperformance when it comes to XG may be a concern, there’s no denying that he’d be an instant upgrade on Amorim’s current options.

Of course, it’s at Old Trafford that Ekitike could form an impressive partnership with Cunha. The Brazilian was officially unveiled as a Manchester United player earlier this week and told the club’s media channels: “It is the most common phrase that you can say at this moment, but this is the dream come true. Maybe outside, I think maybe my decision, they don’t understand. But when you have always dreamed to play here, it’s easier to pick this decision.”

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He would be an upgrade on a current player.

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After Cunha and perhaps even after Ekitike, however, INEOS could still be on the hunt for fresh faces, which could yet include a Bayern Munich defender.

Man Utd considering Kim Min-jae move

According to Bild reporter Christian Falk, Manchester United are now considering a move to sign Kim Min-jae from Bayern Munich this summer. The defender is set to fall down the pecking order in Germany following the arrival of Jonathan Tah and could, therefore, be on the move in the coming months.

Falk told Caught Offside: “No decision has yet been made on Kim Min-jae’s future. There have also been no negotiations with the player’s side. But, there is interest from Saudi Arabia. Kim has not ruled it out.

“However, we are still waiting to see whether Liverpool and Manchester United become concrete. There are also rumours that the two Premier League clubs are interested. The fact is: FC Bayern can imagine a sale. However, there is still no offer for the defender.”

Dubbed a “technical leader” by former Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung, Min-jae could solve Amorim’s defensive problems once and for all by completing a summer move to revive his career following Bayern frustration.

Having initially cost the Bavarians around €50m (£43m) in 2023, however, there will be big questions as to how much they will demand to sell their centre-back this summer.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will have a host of difficult decisions to make when it comes to the playing squad during the summer transfer window, which opened for business on Sunday.

As well as deciding on players to join the club this summer, with Kieran Tierney already one star who is set to join at the start of next month, the Hoops boss will also have to sanction exits from Parkhead.

It has been reported that winger Luis Palma is working with his agents to seal a permanent or loan exit from Glasgow this summer, after Olympiacos did not take up their option to sign him permanently.

The Honduras international spent the second half of this season on loan with the Greek giants, and is now set to look elsewhere to find a home for the 2025/26 campaign and beyond.

Palma has had his moments in a Celtic shirt, with ten goals and ten assists in 48 matches, but the Hoops are now looking to part ways with him this summer.

One player who has already been ruthlessly ditched by the Scottish Premiership giants this summer, though, is experienced goalkeeper Scott Bain.

How Celtic have reshuffled their goalkeeper ranks

With Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo the clear first and second-choice options for Rodgers between the sticks, Bain was set to be the third choice once again heading into next season.

The Scottish shot-stopper did not play a single minute across any competition for the club this season, and only played three times in all competitions during the 2023/24 campaign.

At the end of last month, the club confirmed that the 33-year-old had left the club, despite having a year left on his contract, as they mutually agreed to part ways.

It has since been confirmed that Bain has agreed a one-year contract to join newly-promoted Falkirk in the Premiership, which could give him a better chance of playing regular football next season.

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph reported last month that Aberdeen goalkeeper Ross Doohan has agreed to join the club on a free transfer to replace Bain as the third-choice at Parkhead.

Appearances

15

Saves

33

Successful run-outs

20

Penalties saved

1/1

Duel success rate

100%

Clean sheets

2

As you can see in the table above, Doohan played 15 times in the Premiership this season and could be a decent enough option to call upon if Schmeichel and Sinisalo are both unavailable and the third-choice is needed.

The goalkeeping department is not the only area of the squad that should be addressed, though, as Rodgers should also ruthlessly axe Auston Trusty, after just one year in Glasgow, if there is enough interest in him from elsewhere.

Why Celtic should move on from Auston Trusty

At the end of the 2023/24 campaign, Liam Scales was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year for his performances in the left-sided centre-back position for the Hoops in the Premiership.

Despite the Ireland international’s form, and Cameron Carter-Vickers, Stephen Welsh, and Maik Nawrocki being in the squad, Rodgers opted to further bolster his options at the back by signing Trusty.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Celtic reportedly splashed out a fee of £6m to sign the USA international from English Championship side Sheffield United, which shows that they were willing to commit a significant portion of their budget to bring him to Parkhead.

Looking back, it was a slightly strange decision to spend so much money on another option in the left-sided centre-back position when Scales, who is only 26, played in 34 of the club’s 38 Premiership matches last season on his way to being in the Team of the Year.

This did not suggest that there was an imminent need for £6m to be splashed on a new centre-back unless they were a clear and significant upgrade on Scales.

Unfortunately, though, Trusty’s performances in his debut season in Scottish football were not of a high enough standard to prove that he is a better option, and the Irish central defender ended the campaign as the first-choice next to Carter-Vickers once again.

At the start of the year, Rodgers said that Trusty had to do better against Dundee and claimed that he contributed to the team being “a bit soft”, as he was beaten too easily in the air in the clip above to make it 3-3.

Appearances

26

22

Clean sheets

14

10

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.9

2.3

Dribbled past per game

0.2x

0.5x

Error led to shot

1

4

Error led to goal

0

1

Duel success rate

72%

64%

As you can see in the table above, the American flop made far too many errors at the back in the Premiership, making four more errors leading to shots or goals in four fewer appearances than Scales.

The Ireland international was also stronger in his duels and did not allow opposition forwards to get the better of him in dribble attempts, which suggests that he was more reliable for Rodgers.

That could be why Scales ended the season as the first-choice left-sided centre-back, including starting the SFA Cup final, and that is why it has been a dismal first year in Glasgow for the £6m signing.

Nawrocki also caught the eye in his three rare Premiership outings, winning 65% of his duels and being dribbled past just once, as he did not make a single error that led to a shot or goal.

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Therefore, Rodgers should instantly and ruthlessly part ways with Trusty after just one year in Glasgow because Scales and Nawrocki appear to be more reliable and quality options ahead of him, which is why Celtic should attempt to recoup as much of the £6m they spent on him as possible this summer.

Newcastle United will feel a major sense of relief following the weekend’s events and could now look to strike for two players at the same club in the summer window, according to a report.

Newcastle United squeeze into final Champions League place

Despite the Magpies enjoying a season to remember, Eddie Howe’s overriding emotion after securing Champions League qualification will be relief following his side’s 1-0 loss to Everton on the final day.

Manchester United came forward to ensure Aston Villa missed out, while Nottingham Forest’s defeat to Chelsea put the seal on a return to Europe’s premier competition in the North East.

While Newcastle’s appeal on the transfer market is already strong, Howe has cited the pull of the Champions League as a key avenue to bringing in quality additions between now and the closure of the window.

“The power of the Champions League and the pull of the Champions League is huge and we can’t get away from that, the excitement that this will bring for the people here.

“And of course it’s a selling point for us now, it’s an opportunity for us to sell that dream to future players that might be considering coming to us.”

Eddie Howe battling to keep hold of "unsettled" £150k-a-week Newcastle ace

Losing him would be a big blow for the Magpies.

1 ByHenry Jackson May 24, 2025

Borussia Dortmund breakout star Jamie Gittens is said to be on Newcastle’s radar and could be on the market for around £50 million, though Chelsea and Arsenal are also in the race for his signature.

Moving towards the summer, there is plenty of optimism over the business that could take place at St James’ Park. Antonio Cordero is already joining from Malaga, and he could now be followed by two attackers from the same club in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Newcastle United eye Jonathan Rowe and Luis Henrique double deal

According to TBR, Newcastle are looking to sign Marseille pair Jonathan Rowe and Luis Henrique; two players who Howe is said to hugely appreciate as the Magpies eye new additions this summer.

The former has signed permanently due to an obligatory clause in his loan spell from Norwich City, while Henrique has enjoyed a magnificent campaign featuring predominantly off the right flank.

Jonathan Rowe (left winger)

Luis Henrique (right winger)

Appearances: 30

Appearances: 35

Goals: 3

Goals: 9

Assists: 4

Assists: 10

Rowe is believed to be the main name on Newcastle’s list, and he has managed to average 1.3 shots on target per Ligue 1 match this term despite a modest goal return.

On the other hand, Henrique has fashioned 53 opportunities on the other side, providing a valuable threat during Marseille’s runners-up finish behind Paris Saint-Germain in the French top-flight.

Seeking to add depth to his forward line, Howe is intent on Alexander Isak staying put now that Champions League football has been secured, potentially creating a new front three if both men mentioned were indeed to arrive at St James’ Park.

Arsenal are now seriously considering a move for a defender who has played every single minute for his club in the Premier League this season.

Gunners stepping up centre-back pursuit

Mikel Arteta has received criticism for not bringing in a new striker, which has arguably been costly in his side’s pursuit of the Premier League title, with Gary Neville recently questioning the decision prior to the 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield.

As such, it is looking increasingly likely that the Gunners will pursue a new forward this summer, with an offer for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak now in the works, but they are also keen to strengthen at the opposite end of the pitch.

The north Londoners have stepped up their pursuit of a new centre-back in recent weeks, having now made a formal offer for AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, but the Spaniard is not the only Premier League defender on the shortlist.

According to a report from The Boot Room, Arsenal are now seriously considering a move for Brentford defender Nathan Collins, who has impressed for the Bees since arriving from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a £23m deal last summer.

Newcastle United are also ramping up their interest in Collins, however, so there could be competition for his signature, and a move to St. James’ Park could be preferable, given that he wouldn’t have to compete for a starting spot with the likes of Gabriel and William Saliba.

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ByDominic Lund May 11, 2025 Collins among Premier League's "best" defenders

The centre-back has been indispensable for Brentford this season, playing every minute in the top flight, and he has received high praise for his performances from ESPN’s Mario Marra, who described the Irishman as “one of the best” defenders in the Premier League.

The 24-year-old’s defensive aptitude is also underlined by the fact he places highly on some key defensive metrics over the past year, when compared to other centre-backs in the big five European leagues.

Statistic

Average per 90

Blocks

2.0 (97th percentile)

Clearances

6.08 (82nd percentile)

Aerials won

3.22 (91st percentile)

Not only that, but the Ireland captain has also proven himself to be an attacking threat, picking up two goals and five assists for Brentford in the Premier League, underlining his ability to be a difference-maker at both ends of the pitch.

That said, it is likely to be very difficult to displace Gabriel and Saliba in the starting XI at Arsenal, so it remains to be seen whether Collins is willing to leave Brentford behind and play more of a sporadic role in north London.

With INEOS looking to send a statement this summer, Manchester United are now reportedly ready to table a shock offer worth as much as £85m to sign a Premier League rival.

Man Utd must get summer incomings right

In what feels like an Old Trafford groundhog day, Manchester United cannot afford to get their incomings wrong this summer. Like in 2014 under David Moyes and then under the likes of Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunner Solskjaer, the Red Devils are in no position to make mistakes in the transfer market as they look to hand their latest manager the keys to unlock a place among Europe’s elite again at long last.

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He’s a serial winner.

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What does seem to be different about Ruben Amorim compared to Moyes, Van Gaal, Solskjaer and in some ways even Mourinho is just how honest he’s been about the extent of the task in front of him.

Even in the build-up to Manchester United’s 7-1 aggregate mauling of Athletic Bilbao to reach the Europa League final, Amorim assured reporters that silverware would not take away from what has been a disastrous season.

The former Sporting Club boss told reporters: “For me, in that moment and you look at Premier League, we are the worst team since I arrived in terms of results. That is my idea. In the end of the season, we can be the worst team in Premier League history with a European title.

“So we will not change anything. We know that this season was disappointing. Nothing is going to change, in that moment, I have to think a bit more but I felt that. I still feel that this season was the worst in the last 50 years.”

Whether the Red Devils have what it takes to overcome Tottenham Hotspur in the final is another question, but if they do manage to win the competition then their transfer plans could become all the more interesting.

Man Utd readying shock Tonali offer

According to Corriere dello Sport, as relayed by Sport Witness, INEOS and Manchester United are now ready to table a stunning €100m (£85m) offer to sign Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United this summer. In an ambitious move, the Red Devils have set their sights on the Italian, who has enjoyed an excellent season at St James’ Park.

Starts

25

21

Goals

3

1

Progressive Carries

33

16

Ball Recoveries

163

117

Manchester United’s interest, whether a deal is feasible or not, should come as no surprise. As the numbers show, Tonali would be an instant upgrade on Manuel Ugarte and perhaps the difference between taking Amorim’s side into Europe and a place in mid-table once again next season.

Eddie Howe will likely be keen to keep hold of his midfielder, however. Full of praise, the Newcastle boss told reporters earlier this season: “We’ve seen that in recent games from a defensive viewpoint now more than an attacking viewpoint, where he’s sprinting to put out fires for us, nicking balls, intercepting balls, using his athleticism to track runners. He’s been excellent in that respect and think that’s really helped the team.”

With Champions League qualification still up for grabs courtesy of the Europa League, Manchester United have now reportedly joined the race to sign a Paris Saint-Germain star this summer.

Man Utd set for crucial Europa League final

After spending the current campaign closer to the relegation zone than the Premier League title, the thought of Manchester United qualifying for the Champions League seems absurd. But the Europa League has offered them more than just a slither of hope. By defeating Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao, the Red Devils will have a place among Europe’s elite next season, having won the Europa League unbeaten this season.

Saving one of their best performances for the semi-final stage, Manchester United thrashed Athletic Bilbao 7-1 on aggregate to book their place in the final, leaving Ruben Amorim hopeful that a disastrous debut campaign could yet end with silverware.

That said, the former Sporting Club boss is well aware that even if his side win the Europa League, there’s still plenty of work to be done. He told reporters in the build-up to the semi-final: “For me, in that moment and you look at Premier League, we are the worst team since I arrived in terms of results.

“That is my idea. In the end of the season, we can be the worst team in Premier League history with a European title. So we will not change anything. We know that this season was disappointing.”

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With the transfer window now approaching, that aforementioned improvement could start as soon as this summer and with the potential arrival of a much-needed attacking star. Looking to solve their goalscoring problem once and for all, the Red Devils have reportedly turned their attention towards a Champions League finalist.

Man Utd join race for PSG striker Goncalo Ramos

According to Caught Offside, Manchester United are now desperate to sign a striker, with PSG’s Goncalo Ramos on the radar in an attempt to end their goalscoring woes. Joining Arsenal, Aston Villa and others in the race to sign the PSG forward, those at Old Trafford could certainly do with the boost of Champions League qualification.

Whilst Ramos is not the first-choice striker under Luis Enrique, he has still had his moments of importance this season – scoring 15 goals in all competitions. Now, at 23 years old, the Portugal international is open to looking elsewhere for game time and towards the Premier League. And although he hasn’t been deemed good enough for Enrique at times, Ramos could provide Amorim with the perfect upgrade at Manchester United.

Starts

11

20

Goals

7

4

Assists

3

0

Expected Goals

11.7

3.8

A player dubbed “prolific” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig in March, Ramos’ record of seven goals in 11 Ligue 1 starts proves that he’s ready for a permanent starting role elsewhere. In comparison to Rasmus Hojlund, the PSG forward would offer Amorim an instant improvement.

Manchester United and INEOS are now preparing an offer worth £40 million to sign a “brilliant” defensive addition this summer, according to a recent report.

Amorim hails United display at Bournemouth ahead of massive semi-final

The Red Devils played another relatively meaningless Premier League game on Sunday afternoon, and it looked as though they were going to be on the end of another defeat. However, a 90+6 minute equaliser from Rasmus Hojlund secured a point for United against 10-man AFC Bournemouth.

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ByKelan Sarson Apr 27, 2025

It was a game that came right before United’s very important trip to Spain on Thursday, where they will play Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League semi-final first leg. The game against the Cherries was not important in the sense of nothing being on it for United, but Ruben Amorim felt his side deserved the point and did have chances to win the game.

“I think we deserved it. In the first half, we suffered with their high-intensity press, but we created chances. We had quite similar chances near the box with a lot of shots,” Amorim told BBC Match of the Day.

“I think we deserved at least one point if you look at the game. If you look at our last games, it is always like this – we do something to help the opponent get an advantage. Then it is really hard to score goals, but the players did really well to get at least one point.

“We have the ability to push our opponents. There are small things I think we can do better. We need to understand these moments better, but if you look at the 20 minutes [after Evanilson’s red card], we had situations to score, which is really important.”

Man Utd preparing £40m bid for Inter star Denzel Dumfries

The Red Devils winning the Europa League would not only see them play in Europe’s biggest competition, but it could help them when it comes to their transfers this summer and getting players Amorim wants. According to Inter Live, Man United are now keen on signing Denzel Dumfries from Inter Milan this summer.

The report states that United are not just showing an interest but are willing to make a £40 million offer to sign Dumfries, along with a £60 million bid to sign Yann Bisseck in what would be a mega deal. It goes on to add that Giuseppe Marotta, who is chairman of Inter, is not against offers coming in for Dumfries, and he is preparing to evaluate everything. However, United are not alone in their pursuit of the defender, as Arsenal have stepped up their efforts to bring him to London.

The 29-year-old, who renewed his contract at Inter until the summer of 2028 earlier this season, has been a key player this season. Dumfries has played a total of 39 matches in all competitions, scoring eight goals and registering three assists.

The Dutch international had missed the last few weeks of football with a hamstring injury but returned to play 27 minutes against AS Roma on Sunday afternoon. United’s interest in Dumfries is particularly intriguing given he rates very similarly to Patrick Dorgu according to FBRef’s statistical profiling, perhaps making him the ideal fit on the other flank.

Dumfries

Dorgu

Apps

26

29

Starts

19

28

Goals

6

3

Assists

2

1

Progressive carries

46

93

Progressive passes

47

74

Progressive runs

159

169

Tackles (Won)

25 (18)

68 (44)

Interceptions

6

21

Blocks

25

32

Unlike Dorgu however, Dumfries is a player who has been performing at the top level for a long time now, and back in 2022 BBC pundit Micah Richards labelled the defender “brilliant” for his World Cup performance against the United States.

“Denzel Dumfries. What a player he is. I just thought his whole game was brilliant. It was his timing of his runs… He didn’t sort of mix it up too much, but when he did, it was the right moments. Down this right-hand side, he was just breathless.”

Arsenal are preparing for a first Champions League semi-final since 2009 after defeating defending European champions Real Madrid.

The Gunners were 3-0 up from the first leg thanks to Declan Rice’s double and Mikel Merino’s strike, and sensationally won 2-1 at the Bernabeu after a late winner from Gabriel Martinelli.

Their reward is a tie against Paris Saint-Germain, with the winner heading to Munich to face either Barcelona or Inter.

The last week or so has seen Arsenal add to their prestigious list of memorable European nights, with their first-leg victory over Los Blancos arguably the greatest night the Emirates Stadium has ever seen.

With that in mind, here is a look at the best European matches in the club’s illustrious history.

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ByStephan Georgiou Apr 15, 2025 11 Roma 1-0 Arsenal (6-7 on penalties) 2008/09 Champions League, round of 16 second leg

After securing a 1-0 win at home, Arsenal went to Rome’s Stadio Olimpico in 2009 hoping to finish the job without any major issues.

However, the Gunners fell behind pretty quickly, with Juan levelling the aggregate scoreline inside 10 minutes.

With no further goals on the night, a shootout was required, and despite Eduardo’s miss for the visitors, Manuel Almunia saved from Mirko Vucinic and Max Tonetto blazed over to send Arsene Wenger’s side through to the last eight.

10 Arsenal 2-0 Juventus 2005/06 Champions League, quarter-final first leg

Arsenal delivered one of their finest results in the Champions League when seeing off Juventus in the first leg of their quarter-final in 2006.

Buoyed by eliminating Real Madrid in the previous round, the home side went ahead through Cesc Fabregas, who slotted past Gianluigi Buffon just before the break.

Thierry Henry then scored against his former club to double Arsenal’s advantage and cap a magical night at Highbury, with the Old Lady held to a goalless draw in the second leg in Turin.

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ByBen Browning Feb 14, 2025 9 Arsenal 3-0 Anderlecht 1969/70 Fairs Cup, final second leg

It feels strange to put a final so low on this list, but 55 years on, Arsenal’s victory against Anderlecht in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup to secure their first European trophy would be worth a mention in any case.

Down 3-1 from the first leg, Ray Kennedy’s consolation in Belgium would set up a superb comeback at Highbury.

Eddie Kelly got the ball rolling in north London, before two goals in two minutes from John Radford and Jon Sammels handed the Gunners the trophy.

Bertie Mee’s side would go on to win the league and cup double the following season.

8 Arsenal 1-0 Porto (4-2 on penalties) 2023/24 Champions League, round of 16 second leg

Arsenal had been out of the Champions League for six seasons before their long-awaited return in 2023/24, with their wait for a quarter-final stretching back to 2010.

So when they went 1-0 down late on against Porto in the first leg, history looked like repeating itself, with Arsenal’s last seven Champions League campaigns ending at the last-16 stage.

Leandro Trossard put Mikel Arteta’s side in front on the night, but there were no more goals on a tense night in north London.

Thankfully, the Gunners were faultless from the spot, with David Raya’s save from first-leg hero Galeno sparking wild celebrations at the Emirates.

7 Milan 0-2 Arsenal 2007/08 Champions League, round of 16 second leg

Arsenal were underdogs heading into their clash in the San Siro to face reigning European champions Milan, but came away with one of their best results on the road in Europe.

A goalless draw at the Emirates meant a score draw would be enough to send the Gunners through without the need for extra time, but if anything, it looked as though another 0-0 was on its way.

Six minutes from time, Cesc Fabregas picked the ball up in the centre of the field and unleashed a shot from 30 yards, which somehow found the corner to all but seal the result for Arsenal.

Emmanuel Adebayor scored late on to put the icing on the cake.

6 Inter 1-5 Arsenal 2003/04 Champions League, group stage

Rather incredibly, Arsenal’s heroics against Milan may not even be their greatest in the San Siro.

While their victory over Inter was only in the 2003/04 group stage, it probably trumps their win over the Rossoneri for the fact that a win was vital, and that the scoreline remains stunning to this day.

Arsenal had a horrendous start to their group campaign, earning one point from their first three matches, and required a win in Milan to stay alive.

That meant beating a team that had thumped them 3-0 at Highbury just two months earlier.

Fortunately, Thierry Henry was in red-hot form, and hit a brace to help smash an Inter side that fell apart in the second half, with Freddie Ljungberg, Edu and Robert Pires all getting in on the act before the final whistle as Arsenal smashed their opponents on their way to winning Group B.

5 Arsenal 1-0 Parma 1993/94 Cup Winners' Cup final

Arsenal’s most recent European trophy was secured 31 years ago, when an unfancied Gunners side saw off favourites Parma in the Cup Winners’ Cup final in Copenhagen.

George Graham’s side, who were also without the suspended Ian Wright, took a surprise lead through Alan Smith’s volley in the first half.

Parma’s stars, including Gianfranco Zola, Faustino Asprilla and Tomas Brolin, had plenty of chances either side of Smith’s effort, but the defence remained resolute to bring the trophy home.

4 Villarreal 0-0 Arsenal 2005/06 Champions League, semi-final second leg

Arsenal were 90 minutes away from their first Champions League final after a 1-0 success in Highbury’s final European game against Villarreal.

The surprise package in the Champions League that season, Villarreal were hoping to overturn their deficit to set up an all-Spanish affair in the Paris finale.

And just when Arsenal looked like seeing it out, the hosts were awarded a soft penalty in the final moments, with extra time now looking like a certainty.

But Jens Lehmann had other ideas, diving to his left to keep Juan Roman Riquelme’s spot-kick out and send the Gunners through.

3 Arsenal 2-1 Barcelona 2010/11 Champions League, round of 16 first leg

While this tie eventually ended in controversial defeat, the first leg of Arsenal and Barcelona’s last-16 tie in February 2011 can still give fans goosebumps.

Led by Pep Guardiola, tournament favourites Barca took the lead through David Villa’s first-half finish, only for a late Gunners comeback to send the visitors home defeated.

Robin van Persie levelled an absorbing tie after catching out Victor Valdes at his near post, before an incisive breakaway saw Samir Nasri find Andrey Arshavin free in the box to slam home the winner.

2 Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid 2024/25 Champions League, quarter-final first leg

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal came of age when they came up against the European champions at the Emirates Stadium, with a second-half blitz seemingly putting the tie beyond their opponents.

A close tie exploded into life in the second half when Declan Rice curved a superb free-kick around the Madrid wall to draw first blood, before repeating the trick with an arguably better strike just minutes later.

Makeshift striker Mikel Merino then rounded off a super move to give Arsenal a golden chance of defeating their fancied opponents and make the semis for the first time in 16 years – a chance they didn’t pass up.

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ByStephan Georgiou Apr 9, 2025

Manchester United have submitted a £64 million bid to sign a “powerhouse” player ahead of interest from Arsenal and Chelsea this summer, according to a recent report.

Ruben Amorim responds to Gary Neville's criticism

The Red Devils played out a 0-0 draw against rivals Manchester City on Sunday afternoon in what was a dull affair for a Manchester Derby. After the game, former United player and captain Gary Neville stated that United need as many as “five new signings” this summer to help Amorim.

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Man Utd played out a 0-0 draw against Man City

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Neville told Sky Sports: “I do understand why Ruben Amorim’s done that today, with the players he’s got, because he hasn’t got the players to adapt. They need five new players straight away before you even think about the rest of it.

“The three up front are not good enough, and the two wing-backs, they’re not good enough. They need five players. They need to serve him with five players who are good enough in this system to be able to play his system the way he wants.”

Then, speaking in his post-match press conference, Amorim responded by stating that he knows Neville is “critical about everything”: “I understand that Gary Neville is critical about everything. I understand that we are having the worst season in history.

“Manchester City won everything in the past, but this season they are struggling. So, we are not in the best of moments to give the best spectacle to fans. We are not fighting for the big things; it’s different.

“I understand the critical aspect of the players who played in this game in a different way because they were fighting every time for the titles. It’s a different context.”

Man Utd submit £64m bid to sign Viktor Gyokeres despite Arsenal green light

If – as Neville says – United need five new additions, INEOS could be working on one of those potential arrivals already. According to a report from Spain, Man United have made a £64 million bid to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP.

The report states that United have positioned themselves as one of the teams most interested in signing the Sweden international, but they face competition from Chelsea, as they have also tabled an offer for the striker. Both Premier League teams have made an offer worth 75 million euros, while the player himself has given the green light for Arsenal to sign him, although this report does not mention the Gunners making a bid.

The Red Devils will hope to have an edge in this race, as Amorim worked with Gyokeres at Sporting and seemed to get the very best out of him. United want to sign Gyokeres, who has been dubbed a “powerhouse” by analyst Ben Mattinson, as they believe he will be a huge uprgade on struggling stars Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.

Gyokeres

Hojlund

Apps

26

26

Starts

24

18

Goals

30

3

Goals per 90

1.24

0.17

Total shots

109

21

Shots per 90

4.51

1.22

Shots on target

60

9

Goals per shot

0.17

0.14

The potential arrival of Gyokeres at Old Trafford would surely spell the end for Hojlund, who, despite scoring against Leicester City before the international break, failed to make any significant impact in the Manchester Derby.

It is just three goals in 26 league games this season for Hojlund, who was subbed off on Sunday once again, and Amorim knows that if he has any chance of being a success, he needs to have a striker with a better success rate in front of goal, which Gyokeres has, given he’s got 30 goals in 26 league games.