Sports
Saka On Target As Arsenal Beat Watford To Leapfrog Manchester United
Bukayo Saka starred as Arsenal leapfrogged Manchester United into the Premier League top four on Sunday with a 3-2 win at struggling Watford.
Martin Odegaard struck early for the visitors before Cucho Hernandez equalised with a stunning overhead kick minutes later but Nigerian-born England star, Saka, restored Arsenal’s lead in an entertaining first half.
Brazilian winger, Gabriel Martinelli, made it 3-1 early in the second half and the Gunners held out for a crucial win despite a late goal from Moussa Sissoko.
The victory lifted Mikel Arteta’s men into fourth place in the Premier League – one point ahead of Manchester United.
Arteta, whose team started the season with three straight league defeats, said it was “very pleasing” to be in the top four, although he felt the win should have been more comfortable.
“We know how difficult it is to be in this position in this league,” he told Sky Sports. “We’ve earned it – we have come a long way as a team.”
Arteta was asked about the role he played in the build-up to Arsenal’s third goal – he grabbed the ball when it went out of play and quickly passed it to Saka, who launched the ultimately decisive move with a throw-in.
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Arsenal jokingly awarded their manager an assist on their Twitter feed.
“I saw an advantage and I took it,” said Arteta. “We have to be alive and that is the way I live the game. I try to instil that in the team as well.”
Watford had the ball in the net a few seconds after kick-off but Nigeria striker, Emmanuel Dennis, had his effort ruled out for offside.
Arsenal settled quickly after their early fright and were in front in the fifth minute after neat work down the right, with Saka cutting back to Odegaard, who finished with his left foot.
But the Gunners’ advantage was cancelled out in the 11th minute when Colombian forward, Hernandez, produced an acrobatic overhead kick from near the penalty spot after a cross from Kiko Femenia.
Arsenal restored their advantage just after the half-hour mark with a cleverly crafted goal finished by the lively Saka.
The England man dispossessed Tom Cleverley just outside the Watford box before passing to Alexandre Lacazette, who held the ball up then backheeled it to Saka, who fired in.
Arsenal extended their lead early in the second half with a delightful third from Martinelli, who hammered home from the edge of the box after a neat layoff from Lacazette.
Watford still offered a threat despite Arsenal’s superiority and Dennis should have narrowed the gap but miscued a chance at the far post with about 20 minutes to go.
Arsenal substitute Eddie Nketiah hit the woodwork with 10 minutes left before Sissoko gave the visitors a late scare when he bundled the ball home in the 87th minute.
The win makes Arsenal strong favourites to finish in the top four and qualify for next season’s Champions League – a competition they have not played in since the 2016/17 season.
They have 48 points after 25 games, one ahead of United, who had played two games more ahead of the Manchester derby.
Roy Hodgson’s Watford remain second from the bottom of the Premier League table, three points from safety.
(AFP)
Sports
Super Eagles suffer 2-0 loss to Mali in friendly match
Super Eagles suffer 2-0 loss to Mali in friendly match
Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Tuesday night suffered a 2-0 defeat to Mali in a friendly match played in Marrakech, Morocco.
Mali, ranked 19th below the Super Eagles in the FIFA’s latest standings, opened scoring through Atalanta-based striker El Bilal Toure in the first half after Nigeria’s dreadful error resulting from a short goal kick.
Toure could barely believe his luck when defender Chidozie Awaziem tried to play a long square pass under pressure near the edge of the Nigeria box and succeeded only in crossing the ball straight to the Mali striker.
He controlled well on his chest before bundling a finish past goalkeeper Stanely Nwabali.
Nigeria lost Moses Simon to injury when the Nantes star collided with Mali keeper Mamadou Samassa and had to be substituted after appearing to suffer a painful knee injury.
Kamory Doumbia made it 2-0 for Mali with three minutes to normal regulation time.
Nigeria defeated Ghana 2-1 last Friday in a positive result for interim coach Finidi George, the former Ajax and Real Betis winger, who won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations.
The defeat has left the Super Eagles with a lot of concerns before they resume World Cup qualifying in June.
This was the 12th meeting between Nigeria and Mali. Nigeria have the head-to-head advantage, with six wins and three defeats in those games.
Mali’s most recent previous win over the Super Eagles was a 4-1 friendly victory way back in 1975.
Some key stars missed the friendly match due to injury. They are Victor Osimhen, William Troost-Ekong, Victor Boniface, Ola Aina, and Zaidu Sanusi.
Midfielder Frank Onyeka has also withdrawn from the squad.
Sports
Chelsea, Arsenal, PSG ready to pay €90m for Victor Osimhen
Chelsea, Arsenal, PSG ready to pay €90m for Victor Osimhen
Chelsea, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are ready to offer €90 million for Napoli star striker, Victor Osimhen, according to Italian newspaper, II Mattino.
Osimhen has a release clause of around €120 million in his contract but Napoli President Aurelio de Laurentiis could accept a bid below that, according to the publication.
Napoli are prepared to part company with the Nigerian at the end of the season despite the forward signing a new contract last December.
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Chelsea, Arsenal and PSG have been persistently linked with a move for the forward.
Intermediaries are reportedly working with the striker’s agent, Roberto Calenda to sort out his future.
Osimhen, who joined Napoli from Ligue 1 club, Lille in 2022, has scored 72 goals in 125 appearances for the Partenopei.
Chelsea, Arsenal, PSG ready to pay €90m for Victor Osimhen
Sports
Finidi George aims for second victory as Super Eagles face Mali today
Finidi George aims for second victory as Super Eagles face Mali today
Former World Cup star Finidi George is determined to secure a second consecutive win as he leads the Super Eagles in their clash against Mali today. Appointed as the interim coach for the Nigerian team, George aims to maintain the winning momentum after their recent victory over Ghana.
The encounter between the two West African teams is scheduled at the Grand Stade de Marrakech in Morocco, where the Super Eagles emerged triumphant in their previous match against arch-rivals Ghana with a 2-1 scoreline.
However, George faces challenges as key players such as defender Calvin Bassey and midfielder Frank Onyeka are sidelined due to injuries, adding to the absence of other notable names like Victor Osimhen, William Ekong, and Olaoluwa Aina.
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Despite these setbacks, George remains optimistic about the team’s prospects against Mali. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a winning mentality and expresses confidence in the players’ ability to replicate their performance against Ghana and secure another victory.
Notably, George himself has a history with the Eagles of Mali, having played against them during the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria emerged victorious.
In light of the absences and injuries, George may turn to players such as goalkeeper Olorunleke Ojo, defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Jamilu Collins, midfielder Alhassan Yusuf, and forwards Nathan Tella, Sadiq Umar, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru to play prominent roles in the upcoming fixture.
Despite the challenges, Finidi George remains determined to guide the Super Eagles to another triumph as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in June.
Finidi George aims for second victory as Super Eagles face Mali today
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