Premier League
Jesus out of Arsenal’s matches
Arsenal’s Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering what is suspected to be an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, according to British media reports on Tuesday.
Jesus, 27, left the pitch on a stretcher before the end of the first half in Arsenal’s FA Cup tie with Manchester United on Sunday, which Mikel Arteta’s side lost on penalties.
“We know more now. It is not looking good at all. We need to review with one more specialist and will have better information this afternoon,” Arteta told a press conference ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League game with Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.
“I don’t want to confirm anything until we have the final report this afternoon. We were very worried after the game and we are very worried today.”
Jesus had just recently hit goalscoring form, netting his first league goals of the season when scoring a double against Crystal Palace in December, and scored another in a win over Brentford on New Year’s Day.
He also scored a hat-trick against Palace in a League Cup quarter-final game last month. Jesus joined Arsenal in 2022, having won four league titles with Manchester City.
Arsenal may now look to bring in a new striker during the January transfer window, but according to the manager, it is not the only area in which they may need to invest.
“We have other issues as well. A player can bring things to a team in different ways. That is what we are trying to do,” Arteta said.
“We are actively looking in the market to improve the squad. We would be naive not to do that. There is an opportunity to improve the squad.”
Arteta also spoke about the online abuse suffered by Kai Havertz, after the forward had his penalty saved during Sunday’s shootout, which led to Arsenal exiting the FA Cup in the third round.
“It is incredible, honestly. We really have to do something about it,” Arteta said.
“Accepting and hiding this has terrible consequences. It is something we have to eradicate from the game.
“On the 27th December we won 1-0 and Kai Havertz scored the goal. That was 20 days ago. Guys, what is the perspective? We are all responsible for the narrative and how we talk.”
Arsenal, second in the league standings and six points behind Liverpool who have a game in hand, host Spurs who are 12th, in the north London derby.
“It is the nicest game of the season to watch and play because of the atmosphere and what it means to the people, us and everyone that is involved,” Arteta said.
“The atmosphere is something the fans can help with and something we can do by giving them something to feed off.”
-Reuters
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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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