Europa League
‘Sokratis has told us Arsenal’s secrets,’ claims current teammate at Olympiacos
Arsenal take on Greek side Olympiacos in the Round of 16 of the Europa League on Thursday, with a defeat against them last year still in the back of their minds. The duo clashed in the round of 32 of the same competition last season, where the Greek side surprised the footballing world by cruising through at the Gunners’ expense. Since then, not much has changed at the Karaiskakis Stadium. Pedro Martins is still at the helm in Athens, while most of the players who defeated Arsenal 2-1 to advance on away goals are expected to start on Thursday night. Olympiacos 🆚 Arsenal on Thursday is the biggest game Arsenal are gonna play this season, it’s the one that determines how our season will look like, we have to go hard that day! — Saliba🔴. (@SalibaEra_) March 7, 2021 ...
Arsenal provide update on Smith Rowe ahead of Burnley clash
Arsenal have this evening revealed a late update on the fitness of Emile Smith Rowe, ahead of their showdown with Burnley. Mikel Arteta’s men are set to return to action tomorrow afternoon, in a Premier League meeting with the Clarets. The Gunners will of course head into the Turf Moor clash with their tails up, on the back of a morale boosting pair of wins over the last couple of weeks. First, a last-gasp Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang header saw Arsenal get the better of Benfica, to book their spot in the Last-16 of the Europa League. And this was followed last weekend by a hugely impressive 3-1 downing of Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. The news, as a whole, proved of a positive nature, with only two players – including 3rd-choice goalkeeper Alex Runarsson – struggling as things st...
Victor Osimhen returns to training ahead of Bologna clash
Victor Osimhen has returned to full training ahead of Napoli’s Serie A game against Bologna at Stadio San Paolo on Sunday. The 22-year-old suffered head trauma after landing awkwardly on the turf following a collision with Cristian Romero in his side’s defeat to Atalanta on February 21. The forward spent the night in the hospital and underwent several tests but has been cleared of any damage to his head. The Nigeria international missed Napoli’s clash against Granada in the Europa League as well as their league games against Benevento and Sassuolo. The Parthenopeans have now confirmed the Super Eagles forward has rejoined the rest of his teammate in preparation for their league game against Sinisa Mihajlovic’s men “Osimhen did the whole session with the team,” read a statement from the clu...
Leon Balogun doubtful for Rangers vs Livingston clash with injury
Nigeria defender Leon Balogun is a doubt for Rangers’ trip to Livingston on Wednesday due to injury. Balogun was replaced by Nathan Patterson at half-time during Rangers’ Europa League home win against Royal Antwerp last Thursday after picking up the injury. Rangers manager Steven Gerrard confirmed the versatile defender will be assessed ahead of the game billed for the Tony Macaroni Stadium. 🎙️ “Leon Balogun has a quad issue so will be a doubt for tomorrow,” Gerrard told a news conference on Tuesday morning. The 32-year-old has made 17 league appearances for Rangers this season. The Gers top the table with 82 points from 30 matches. Get more stories like this on Twitter You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating shou...
Peter Crouch comments on Rangers chances of winning the Europa League
Rangers are potentially a few wins away from winning the Scottish Premiership this term after an unbeaten run in the campaign. Steven Gerrard’s men have won 26 games and drawn four times in 30 league fixtures this term, with 15 points between them and second-placed Celtic – who have played a game more. Rangers are also looking to go far in the Europa League after securing a berth in the last-16 following a 9-5 aggregate win over Royal Antwerp in the round of 32. The Light Blues will face Czech giants Slavia Prague in their bid to make it to the quarter-finals, and former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch has commented on their chances of going far in the competition. “The Europa League looks more winnable for our teams and I wouldn’t discount Steven Gerrard taking Rangers deep into the compet...
Sokratis reacts after Olympiacos are drawn with Arsenal in the Europa League last 16
Olympiacos defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos has said that he is looking forward to a ‘difficult game’ against former club Arsenal in the round of 16 of the Europa League. The Greek centre-back spent two-and-a-half years with the Gunners but his contract was terminated last month such that he could join Olympiacos on a free transfer. He will now come face-to-face with his former employers in the last 16 of the Europa League and anticipates a special but difficult game against the north London giants. “This game is something special [for me]. I believe it will be a difficult game. Arsenal is a very big team,” He told Olympiacos TV, as translated by journalist Chris Wheatley. “[Since last year’s clash] they have the same coach with two or three new players, it’s a team with very h...
‘He is a diamond’: Mourinho really impressed with ‘incredible’ Spurs player
Jose Mourinho has showered praise on Tottenham Hotspur youngster Dane Scarlett after he impressed in the Europa League. The exciting youngster grabbed an assist after coming off the bench. He became the first 16-year-old to assist a Europa League goal since Kylian Mbappe in December 2015 for Monaco against Spurs. 16y 337d – Aged 16 years and 337 days, Tottenham’s Dane Scarlett is the first 16-year-old to assist a Europa League goal since Kylian Mbappé in December 2015 for Monaco against Tottenham. Prospect. pic.twitter.com/sooxTEbvDg — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 24, 2021 The teenager almost scored on his debut against Ludogorets and has made one Premier League substitute appearance as well. He has been very impressive for the academy side this season, managing 20 goals in 18 matches...
‘What a player’, ‘Saved us’: Some Arsenal fans react to forward’s display vs Benfica
A selection of Arsenal fans on Twitter were delighted with Bukayo Saka’s performance against Benfica in the Europa League last night. The north London side went into the second leg of the last 32 with a 1-1 aggregate score and they opened the scoring in the 21st minute through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after an incisive pass from Saka. Right before the interval, the Portuguese side pulled level on the night after Diogo Goncalves scored with a stunning free-kick which nullified the Gunners’ away-goal advantage. At the hour mark, Jorge Jesus’ side went ahead through Rafa Silva following a defensive blunder from Dani Ceballos, who gifted possession with a poor attempt to head the ball back to Bernd Leno. Silva rounded the goalkeeper before an easy finish. Kieran Tierney came up with his Europ...
Mikel Arteta ‘especially happy’ for one Arsenal star after comeback win vs Benfica
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was particularly relieved for midfielder Dani Ceballos following the club’s 3-2 win over Benfica in the second leg of the Europa League last 32. The Gunners made the trip to Piraeus with a 1-1 aggregate score and went one-nil ahead on the night through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 21st minute. However, Benfica pulled level right before the break with a sublime free-kick from Diogo Goncalves before Rafa Silva gave them a surprise lead at the hour mark. Both goals were directly scored after errors from Ceballos. The Spaniard’s poor attempt at a tackle gifted Benfica the chance to score from a set-piece in the 41st minute. He thereafter mistimed his attempted header back to Bernd Leno which gifted Silva with an easy finish as he rounded the goalkeeper before t...
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sends message to Dani Ceballos after Arsenal win vs Benfica
Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hailed the mentality of midfielder Dani Ceballos after the club secured their progress to the last 16 of the Europa League. The Gunners won their last 32 tie against Benfica with a 4-3 aggregate win but it was far from straightforward as plenty of drama unfolded at the Karaiskaki Stadium last night. The club already had an away goal advantage after the 1-1 draw in the first leg and they took the lead in the 21st minute in Piraeus through Aubameyang. However, Benfica levelled the scores through a stunning free-kick from Diogo Goncalves in the 41st minute which found the top left corner of Bernd Leno’s net. The set-piece came about from Ceballos’ needless tackle and the Spaniard had another horror moment after the hour mark of the contest. ...
Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Brazil legend Ronaldo ‘the best player in history’
Milan star Zlatan Ibrahimovic has named Brazil legend Ronaldo as ‘the best player in history’. Ibrahimovic expressed his admiration towards the World Cup winner ahead of Milan’s Europa League clash with Red Star Belgrade on Thursday night, while putting him ahead of modern-day greats such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the all-time list of top players. The 39-year-old thinks Ronaldo Nazario, who inspired Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002, transcended the game with his unique talents and still stands out as the unrivalled master of the footballing craft to this day. Zlatan told Discovery Plus: “I don’t need to describe Ronaldo, ‘The Phenomenon’. “I always say you have the players that play the game, and the players that are the game. For me, Ronaldo is the game. When you watch him...
Arsenal star bolsters line-up, but Arteta takes big risk in defence
The Europa League takes centre stage this evening with the round of 32 second leg ties featuring some enthralling fixtures. We’ll update this story with reports, results and the latest Europa League highlights as the games are played. One tie has already been completed, with Tottenham Hotspur beating Wolfsberger 4-0 on Wednesday to book their place in the last-16. Arsenal are in early action against Benfica on Thursday and will fancy their chances of going through after drawing 1-1 in the first leg. Kieran Tierney is in the starting XI for the Gunners, but the inclusion of David Luiz and Hector Bellerin in defence is a risky move by manager Mikel Arteta. 📋 Tonight’s team news is in! 🏴 @KieranTierney1 starts🇧 ...
