Premier League
Saka sends Arsenal closer to Champions League return
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was thrilled with a “very big win” as Bukayo Saka’s strike saw off Aston Villa 1-0 yesterday to open up a four-point gap in fourth place in the Premier League.
The Gunners could increase that margin further with a game in hand over fifth-placed Manchester United (50) and were well worthy of the three points against a toothless Villa at Villa Park, despite the narrow scoreline.
“It’s a very big win for us. I thought we played fantastically well, but we didn’t put the game to bed when we had the chances. But we showed the resilience to win,” Arteta said on BBC Sport.
“Villa are a very good team and to come here is always extremely difficult. We managed to do the things we wanted to do in the match and I think we deserved to win the game.
“There’s still 10 games to go and you can see how small the margins are. The key is that we are there (in the top four) and that we believe we can do it.”
The Spaniard had complained about the tight turnaround his side faced after Wednesday’s 2-0 home loss to Liverpool, which ended a five-game winning run.
But he would have been pleased there was no sign of tiredness from his players in the early stages.
Martin Odegaard and Thomas Partey dominated the midfield and a nice move between the two deserved a better finish from the latter as he fired straight at Emiliano Martinez.
The former Arsenal goalkeeper then denied his old club the opener with a stunning save low to his left to prevent Ezri Konsa turning the ball into his own net from Saka’s dangerous cross.
Saka was a constant threat and fittingly got the only goal on 30 minutes when Villa failed to clear a free kick and he fired low past Martinez from the edge of the box.
Arsenal’s fine, flowing first-half football deserved more than just Saka’s goal – the Gunners’ 2,000th Premier League strike.
But the England forward was, nonetheless, happy with his ninth league goal of the season.
“It’s very, very, very satisfying. I thought we created a lot. We started very well,” he told the BBC.
“The early goal helped us get into the game, but we need to start finishing games to prevent things from getting too nervy…
“The top four is definitely possible.”
Arsenal players surrounded referee Andy Madley moments later begging for a red card after Tyrone Mings caught Saka, but the Villa defender got away with a booking.
Villa, who did not have a single shot, on or off target, in the first half, improved after the break but lacked the creativity to break Arsenal down as Philippe Coutinho failed to hit the heights of his best form since joining on loan from Barcelona.
Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno, deputising for the injured Aaron Ramsdale, was not forced into a save until the final kick of the game when he parried Coutinho’s free kick to safety and was mobbed by his teammates at full-time.
The Gunners did not hold back celebrating a big three points in their quest to end a five-year exile from the Champions League.
A second straight loss for Villa means they stay ninth.
“We were indecisive in the things we tried to do. I think our performance lacked belief,” said manager Steven Gerrard.
“It wasn’t until after half-time that we showed we can be better.
“We deserved to be behind in the first half. We set up to be aggressive but lacked belief in what we were doing. I’m emotional.”
-Reuters/AFP
Thomas Partey, who formerly played for English Premier League soccer club Arsenal, has been charged with rape and sexual assault, London’s Metropolitan Police said on Friday.
Partey, a Ghana international, was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, with the charges relating to three women and the offences reported to have taken place between 2021 and 2022, the statement said.
Partey’s management did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
He is due to appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Aug. 5.
Partey, 32, was signed by Arsenal from Atletico Madrid for 50 million euros ($59 million) in October 2020 and became a key member of Arsenal’s first team.
He was first arrested in July 2022, though he was not named at the time and continued to play for Arsenal while investigations were ongoing.
-Reuters
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Five players including England forward Marcus Rashford and Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho have informed Manchester United that they wish to explore a future away from the Premier League side, a club source said on Friday.
Brazilian midfielder Antony, Dutch defender Tyrell Malacia and England international Jadon Sancho are also looking to leave the club, the source added.
Rashford, who has made more than 400 senior appearances for United, has fallen out of favour with manager Ruben Amorim, played for Aston Villa on loan while United had their worst-ever Premier League campaign, finishing 15th in the standings.
Amorim had called Rashford’s work rate into question, saying he would rather put a goalkeeper coach on the bench than a player not giving their all.
Rashford said he was feeling fitter and better since joining Villa, where he scored two goals in 10 league appearances.
United also failed to qualify for the Champions League as they lost the Europa League final 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur. Garnacho, who was a late substitute in the final, voiced his displeasure on social media after the loss.
“Up until the final, I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don’t know,” he wrote in a post . “The final will influence (my decision), but the whole season, the situation of the club.”
Sancho was on loan at Chelsea, where he made 31 league appearances last season. Antony, who joined United from Ajax Amsterdam in 2022 for a reported initial transfer fee of more than $100 million, scored five goals in 17 LaLiga appearances on loan at Real Betis.
Malacia joined Dutch side PSV Eindhoven on loan in February.
-Reuters
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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes turned down the opportunity to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in order to keep playing “at the highest level”, he said on Tuesday.
The Portuguese midfielder admitted that he had considered the move, which media reports said was worth four times his current salary, after being contacted by Al-Hilal’s president.
“There was that possibility, the president of Al-Hilal called me a month ago to ask me about it,” Fernandes, who is preparing to face Germany with Portugal, told reporters on Tuesday.
“It was a big offer, very ambitious. There was a waiting period for me to think about the future.”
Fernandes ultimately decided to stay at United and said he was motivated by his desire to continue playing at the top level and encouraged by his family and the club’s coach Ruben Amorim.
“I would be willing to do it if Manchester United thought so,” Fernandes added. “I spoke to the coach Ruben Amorim who really tried to talk me out of it. The club said they would not be willing to sell me, only if I wanted to leave.
“I spoke to my wife and family, and she asked me what my personal goals were in my career.
“It would have been easy to move there but I want to keep myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions and I feel capable of it. I am happy with my decision.”
The 30-year-old Fernandes scored 19 goals and provided 19 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions for United last season, winning the club’s Player of the Year award for the fourth time.
However, it was a season to forget for the team, as they finished 15th in the Premier League, their lowest league finish in half a century, and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.
-Reuters
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