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Arteta says referee’s decisions destroyed game

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Premier League – Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain – May 12, 2022 Referee Paul Tierney with Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka after awarding Tottenham Hotspur a penalty Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta rounded on the referee Paul Tierney after his side’s hopes of wrapping up fourth spot were wrecked by a 3-0 defeat at rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.

Arsenal, who would have guaranteed a first top-four finish since 2016 with victory, looked comfortable early on.

But their night fell apart after Harry Kane gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute after Cedric Soares was adjudged to pushed Son Heung-min.

Ten minutes later Rob Holding was shown a second yellow card for a crude block on Son, having already been booked for wrestling the South Korean earlier.

“I have two options I can lie to you, or I can be suspended, and I really want to be on the touchline against Newcastle,” Arteta told reporters when asked about the first-half decisions that left his side in disarray.

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“If I say what I think I’m suspended six months. I’m allowed to give my interpretation of what happened but I don’t know how to lie. Ask the referee to come in front of the camera to explain his decision. It’s a shame because such a beautiful game was destroyed today.”

Despite the defeat, Arsenal remain in pole position in the race with Tottenham for fourth place and qualification for next year’s Champions League. With two games remaining they have one more point than their arch-rivals.

“This game is history. Now it’s Newcastle. This is gone. It went out of our hands and we have to accept it,” Arteta said.

“Now we need to be the team that you saw from the beginning. You lose a football match in the conditions we lost them.

“It’s painful. But we have a huge match on Monday so we will try to beat them.”

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Worryingly for Arteta he is running out defenders. Holding will be suspended for what looks a difficult trip to Newcastle while Gabriel went off injured and Ben White was not risked despite being on the bench.

“Hopefully Ben will be fit and Gabriel will recover as we do not have enough players in the backline,” Arteta said.

“We have two games to play each. It’s in our hands and now we have to do our jobs.”

Reuters/

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Salah signs new deal as Liverpool icon eyes final career chapter

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Egypt Face Anxious Wait Over Salah Injury After Ghana Draw -

Egyptian outlet, Ahram, has reported that Mohamed Salah has signed a new contract with Liverpool, extending his stay at Anfield beyond the 2024-25 season as he prepares for what could be the final chapter of a storied career with the club.

While the terms of the agreement were not disclosed, British media reports indicate the 32-year-old forward has signed a two-year extension, keeping him at the club until at least 2027.

Salah, who joined Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017, has become a modern-day icon at Anfield.

The Egyptian international has scored 243 goals in 394 appearances—third on the club’s all-time scorers list—and has helped the Reds secure seven major trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League titles.

“I had my best years here,” Salah told the club’s website. “Hopefully it’s going to be 10. I signed because I believe we can still win big trophies together.”

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He has maintained his prolific form this season, scoring 32 goals and providing 22 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions. His 27 Premier League goals currently lead the division.

During his time with Liverpool, Salah has won the Premier League Golden Boot three times, been named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year twice, and claimed two FWA Footballer of the Year awards.

Now entering the latter stages of his career, Salah remains focused on adding more silverware to his collection and further cementing his legacy at Liverpool.

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Leicester’s 15-year-old debutant Monga wears blank shirt over gambling sponsor rule

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Premier League - Leicester City v Newcastle United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - April 7, 2025 Leicester City's Jeremy Monga after the match REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga, who became the second-youngest Premier League player when he made his senior debut in Monday’s 3-0 loss to Newcastle United, had to wear a blank shirt because it is sponsored by an online cryptocurrency gaming platform.

Britain’s Gambling Act 2005, which underwent a review in 2020, prohibits players under 18 from wearing kits displaying gambling sponsors. Monga, an England U16 international, made his senior debut at 15 years 271 days old.

Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri remains the youngest Premier League player in history, having debuted in the competition when he was 90 days younger than Monga.

Leicester, who suffered an eighth straight loss in the league without scoring a goal, are 19th in the standings, 15 points below the safety zone.

-Reuters

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Players criticised for ‘love-in’ after tepid Manchester derby

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 Premier League - Manchester United v Manchester City - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - April 6, 2025 Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly in action REUTERS/Peter Powell EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR 'LIVE' SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED

Manchester United and Manchester City players came under fire for their amiable hugs and handshakes after playing out an entirely forgettable 0-0 Premier League derby draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.

In a match between teams limping through disappointing seasons, City failed to leapfrog Chelsea in their bid for Champions League qualification and remained fifth in the table while United languished in 13th place.

Pundits said the friendly post-game scenes were an indication of a lack of passion.

“I think the congratulations and love-in that I’m watching says both teams are happy with a 0-0,” former United captain Gary Neville said on Sky Sports. “The best Man City and Man United teams would be very disappointed with the way they’ve approached the end of that game.

“It looks like it’s Sunday afternoon and they’re going to go for a roast dinner together now.”

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Former United midfielder Roy Keane agreed.

“They get interviewed after as if a draw isn’t too bad,” Keane said. “A draw doesn’t get you anywhere fast. This is not enough, this isn’t good enough.”

United manager Ruben Amorim shrugged off the comments with a smile.

“I understand that Gary Neville is critical about everything,” he said. “And then I understand that in the moment we are doing the worst (United) season in history. Manchester City who won everything in the past this season are struggling. So we are not in the best moments to give the best spectacle to every fan.

“And then when we are not fighting for the big things, of course, it’s different. You have to look at the context of the game, and I understand the critical aspect of the players that played in this game in a different way (such as Neville and Keane), because they were fighting every time for the titles, so it’s a different context.”

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The mood was not entirely convivial, however, with

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola unhappy about the boorish chants by United fans aimed at his midfielder Phil Foden.

“A lack of class, but it is not United, it is the people,” Guardiola said. “We are so exposed, people who are now on the screen in world football – managers, owners and football players, especially.

“And, honestly, I don’t understand the mind of people involving the name of Phil’s mum in that. So it’s a lack of integrity, a lack of class and they should be ashamed. But it is what it is, so it’s happening everywhere, I would say, not just in UK.”

Guardiola said he was not concerned about Champions League qualification.

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“Eight games. Crystal Palace (their next game on Saturday). We go for it,” he said. “I’d prefer to have 10 more points or 12 more points. In the previous season, there were five, six or seven games left, we were already fine, but it’s what it is.”

-Reuters

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