Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka is “raring to go” and hinted that the winger could start in Tuesday’s match against Fulham. Saka has been sidelined since December due to a serious hamstring injury, but he returned to training during the international break, sparking optimism that he could play a part in Arsenal’s first game after the recent pause. Arteta was asked about Saka’s fitness during his pre-match press conference and dismissed concerns about rushing the 23-year-old back into action. “Bukayo is ready to go,” Arteta said. “The careful work has already been done. Now it’s about…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Nigeria-born British boxer Anthony Joshua has been urged to avoid a potential fight with Jake Paul, with boxing experts warning it could harm his credibility. Joshua, a former two-time heavyweight champion, became linked to Paul after the YouTuber-turned-boxer called him out on his podcast. Reports suggest that Joshua and Paul have discussed a potential fight in 2026, with Anthony Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, confirming Joshua’s interest. However, former European bantamweight champion Spencer Oliver has strongly advised Joshua to steer clear of the fight, stating on talkSPORT: “If he does it now, he loses all credibility. He’s a two-time world heavyweight…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has praised Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, and Kevin De Bruyne following his side’s 2-1 win over Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday. Guardiola described the trio as “really good” after City secured their place in the semi-finals with goals from Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush in the second half. “Not just the young players, but the older ones as well,” Guardiola told ITV. “Today, Bernardo, Gundo, and Kevin – you know they are really good.” Silva, Gundogan, and De Bruyne all featured in the victory at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium. Manchester City’s next match…
Manchester City will meet Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals of this season’s FA Cup after a comeback victory over Bournemouth in the quarter-finals on Sunday. City controlled possession but struggled in the first half, missing several key opportunities, including a penalty from Erling Haaland. Bournemouth took the lead through Evanilson, who converted Justin Kluivert’s goal-bound shot just before the break. However, City turned the game around after the interval. Haaland quickly redeemed himself, scoring right after the restart with an assist from half-time substitute Nico O’Reilly. The same player then set up the winning goal for fellow substitute Omar Marmoush,…
The FA Cup, one of the most open in years, heads to the grand stage of Wembley for the semi-finals next month. Nottingham Forest secured their place in the final four for the first time since 1991 after beating Brighton & Hove Albion on penalties. They will face Manchester City, who came from behind to defeat Bournemouth in Sunday’s early evening match. Crystal Palace comfortably triumphed over Fulham on Saturday and will meet Aston Villa, who also eased past second-tier Preston. 2024/25 FA Cup Semi-Final Draw: When will the 2024/25 FA Cup semi-finals be played? The FA Cup semi-finals will…
A second-half surge from Aston Villa saw them overcome a determined Preston North End side on Sunday afternoon, with Unai Emery’s Premier League team ultimately securing a 3-0 victory in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Preston, the only Championship side to reach the last eight, were battling both Villa’s top-flight quality and a squad hit by injuries. Nevertheless, Paul Heckingbottom’s team started strong, frustrating their higher-league opponents in the opening 45 minutes. Villa’s best first-half effort came from Ezri Konsa, whose header was off target, while Preston’s Stefan Thordarson missed a prime opportunity with an aerial chance. After the break, Marcus…
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal tally in his debut season at the club. Mbappé scored twice in a 3-2 comeback victory over Leganes on Saturday. His penalty gave Madrid a 1-0 lead at the Santiago Bernabéu, but Leganes quickly equalized through Diego Garcia. Dani Raba then put the visitors ahead 2-1 before halftime. After the break, Jude Bellingham pulled one back for Madrid, and Mbappé netted his second, bringing his total to 33 goals across all competitions this season. Only Chilean striker Iván Zamorano (37) has scored more in his first season with the Spanish…
Tragedy struck on Saturday as former national and West African light-heavyweight boxing champion, Segun ‘Success’ Olanrewaju, collapsed and passed away during a fight in Ghana. Olanrewaju was competing against Ghanaian boxer Jon Mbanugu at Fight Night 15 of the Ghana Professional Boxing League at the Bukom Boxing Arena when he suddenly lost consciousness. Reports indicate that Olanrewaju was ahead on points before the incident occurred. A video showing his collapse in the ring has since gone viral on social media. Throughout his career, Olanrewaju held both national and West African light-heavyweight titles. His contributions to the sport have been widely…
Strasbourg’s unexpected rise in Ligue 1 could pose a significant challenge for Chelsea, as both clubs are part of the same multi-club ownership model. In 2023, BlueCo, the consortium led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, added Strasbourg to their portfolio of sports investments. At the time, the French club was fighting relegation and had only finished in the top half of Ligue 1 twice in the 21st century. However, Strasbourg has had a remarkable season, climbing to fifth place in the league, partly due to the guidance of their English head coach, Liam Rosenior, and their ties with Chelsea.…
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has accused UEFA of “deciding” their Champions League defeat to Real Madrid. Simeone remains angry about Julian Alvarez’s penalty being disallowed for a double touch, claiming his fellow Argentine was unfairly penalized. The incident proved decisive as Simeone’s side was eliminated from the competition. “We performed well in the Champions League; we competed strongly and won the second leg [at home],” Simeone told reporters after a 1-1 draw with Espanyol on Saturday. “We finished as UEFA had decided. We won and were still eliminated. “I don’t see it as a setback. What happened was very…