Sports

Osimhen, Boniface on four-man Arsenal strikers shortlist

Published

1 year ago

March 4, 2024

Victor Boniface and Victor Osimhen

Osimhen, Boniface on four-man Arsenal strikers shortlist

Arsenal have apparently drawn up a four-man shortlist of striking options for the summer transfer window, with Super Eagles duo Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface among them.

During a dismal spell of winter form, in which they won just one of seven games from December 9 to January 7 with just five goals to boast, Gooners were crying out for a new striker to arrive midway through the season.

However, with the threat of Financial Fair Play sanctions hovering over their heads, Arsenal – who spent over £200m on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber in the summer transfer window – did not answer their supporters’ calls.

Mikel Arteta and Edu’s decision to stick with the options at their disposal has been vindicated, as the Gunners have run riot since returning from a mid-season Dubai training camp, winning each of their first six Premier League games in 2024.

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The Gunners have struck a staggering 25 top-flight goals in that time – including 15 in their last three matches with Newcastle United, Burnley and West Ham United – but their shortcomings did come to the fore in a 1-0 loss to Porto in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League contest.

Leading number nine Gabriel Jesus has struggled with knee injuries during his time at the Emirates Stadium, while Eddie Nketiah is still playing second fiddle to the Brazilian and is not a long-term solution up front.

Having also allowed Folarin Balogun to depart for Monaco over the summer, Arsenal are expected to prioritise the capture of a new marksman this summer, and according to TEAMtalk, four names are under consideration.

The first of those is Napoli talisman and 2022-23 Serie A top scorer Victor Osimhen, who netted 26 times en route to Scudetto glory last season but is confirmed to be leaving the club at the end of the campaign.

The Gunners are said to be behind Chelsea in the race to sign the Nigeria international, though, while Paris Saint-Germain are also in the running and are better placed to pay Osimhen’s mammoth £113m release clause.

Osimhen, Boniface on four-man Arsenal strikers shortlist

Related Topics:Victor Boniface Victor Osimhen

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FIFA ranking: Super Falcons retain global position, remain 1st in Africa

Published

14 hours ago

March 6, 2025

Trends Admin

FIFA ranking: Super Falcons retain global position, remain 1st in Africa

Nigeria’s senior women’s football team, the Super Falcons, have held on to their 36th position in the latest FIFA global rankings, according to the list released on Thursday, March 6, 2025.

The Super Falcons also remain the top-ranked women’s football team in Africa, underscoring their dominance on the continent.

South Africa, Morocco, Zambia, and Ghana are the other countries in the top five.

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Sports

Liverpool survive onslaught to beat PSG

Published

19 hours ago

March 6, 2025

Trends Admin

Liverpool survive onslaught to beat PSG

Liverpool completed one of the biggest smash and grabs in Champions League history to come away from their last-16 first leg against Paris St-Germain with a win.

PSG completely dominated the game, with 27 shots, and the Reds goalkeeper Alisson had to make nine saves.

But the hosts could not find an opener – and the Reds scored with their second shot of the night in the 87th minute.

Harvey Elliott netted with his first touch, after replacing Mohamed Salah, when he was picked out by Darwin Nunez.

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Luis Enrique’s side were shell shocked – and how they failed to score will go down as a mystery. Well, an Alisson-shaped mystery.

PSG forwards Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in particular were unplayable at times.

Kvaratskhelia had a fine goal in the first half rightly disallowed by the video assistant referee (VAR) for offside.

The VAR again sided with Liverpool, more controversially, when Ibrahima Konate avoided a red card despite shoving Bradley Barcola over just outside the box.

Liverpool will host the second leg next Tuesday.

Liverpool survive onslaught to beat PSG

Sports

Kane scores twice as Bayern outclass Leverkusen

Published

20 hours ago

March 6, 2025

Trends Admin

Harry Kane

Kane scores twice as Bayern outclass Leverkusen

Bayern Munich have one foot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after a Harry Kane double helped them to comfortable win against 10-man Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Kane gave the hosts an early breakthrough in the all-German meeting before Jamal Musiala doubled their lead by capitalising on a mistake from Leverkusen goalkeeper Matej Kovar.

The visitors went down to 10 men after a second yellow for Nordi Mukiele just past the hour mark, then Kane scored his 31st goal of the season from the penalty spot to seal the victory.

It only took Bayern nine minutes to draw first blood as Kane popped up in front of Mukiele to head home a perfectly-weighted cross from Michael Olise.

The visitors almost found a way back when Dayot Upamecano’s dreadful backpass was intercepted by Jeremie Frimpong inside the box, but Bayern captain Manuel Neuer came to his team-mate’s rescue with a brilliant save to deny Leverkusen a swift equaliser.

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Vincent Kompany’s side were denied a second as Musiala headed Joshua Kimmich’s corner against the crossbar.

After being outplayed in the first half, Leverkusen’s hopes of a comeback in the second were dashed when Kovar let a Kimmich cross slip through his gloves for Musiala to poke into an open goal.

Mukiele was then dismissed for a reckless challenge on Kingsley Coman before Kane was dragged down to the floor by substitute Edmond Tapsoba during a corner.

Referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot after a video assistant referee (VAR) review and the England captain made no mistake from 12 yards to pull the Bundesliga leaders further ahead.

“This is the Champions League, this is the biggest game of all,” Kane told TNT Sports after the game.

“We’re playing against a team who have had an unbelievable couple of seasons. If we don’t carry it on, then it doesn’t mean anything.

“We’re here to send a message not just to everyone but to ourselves.”

Kane’s nine-goal haul is the most by an English player in a single Champions League campaign and the joint-most in a European Cup campaign alongside Dennis Viollet, who scored nine goals for Manchester United in 1956-57.

The 31-year-old also has nine goals in the Champions League knockout stages now, with Frank Lampard (15) and Wayne Rooney (14) the only Englishmen ahead of him in that regard.

He has now scored more goals across all competitions than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues since he joined Bayern (75).

Seventeen of them have come in the Champions League, which is also more than any other player in the competition in that time.

Former Germany international Thomas Hitzlsperger told BBC Match of the Day: “Kane was instrumental to the win. I have seen him when he is quiet and doesn’t score and people say has he reached a peak already. But his record speaks for itself, he is so important.”

Athletic journalist Rory Smith, added: “There is a genuine debate at times over his mobility. There was a game against Frankurt recently he missed and Bayern looked more fluid.

“But he is such a reliable goalscorer even if he detracts from the fluency of the team a bit, how do you keep him out?”

The second leg at BayArena will take place on Tuesday, 11 March (20:00 GMT).