Arsenal could be set for huge Premier League title boost as nightmare Liverpool scenario emerges

Arsenal could be just three points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool ahead of their game away at Manchester City on Sunday, February 23 with both teams having played the same number of games.

Arne Slot’s side are currently six points clear at the summit with that gap possibly stretching to nine before the Gunners play again once Liverpool have made the short trip to Goodison Park for a Merseyside Derby against Everton next Wednesday.

Though they were just beaten at home by Bournemouth in the FA Cup, since the arrival of David Moyes a total of nine points from a possible 12 have been picked up. Liverpool have also won just once in their last five visits to their rivals.

If that record remains the same, Arsenal will be handed a major confidence boost before taking on Leicester in their return to action this Saturday. Having reached the Carabao Cup final, Liverpool have seen their Premier League game against Aston Villa rescheduled to take place in just 10 days.

A win against Wolves the previous weekend is likely but Villa Park will present a significant challenge for Slot and his squad. A defeat in that game could see Liverpool head into their clash against reigning champions Man City just three or four points clear, assuming Arsenal beat Leicester and West Ham in their next two games.

While it is a lot ifs, there is a real possibility that some ground is made up given the fixtures awaiting both teams. Being out of the FA Cup could actually benefit Arsenal when it comes to the run-in as Liverpool may require league games being moved.

€50m Barcelona midfielder snubs two Premier League offers despite salary double temptation – Report

The midfield is one of the most competitive areas of this FC Barcelona team, as following the return of players like Frenkie de Jong and Gavi, Hansi Flick has up to seven options for three midfield spots, i.e., Pedri, Gavi, Frenkie, Casado, Olmo, Fermin Lopez, and Pablo Torre.

The CAM role is particularly competitive, as most of these players can operate in this role, and Gavi, Olmo, Pablo Torre, and Fermin Lopez all play their best football in this position.

Olmo is the preferred starter for Flick, but his frequent injuries have opened the door for other players to get opportunities to shine in this position as well, and one player who has taken good advantage of such opportunities is Fermin Lopez.

In fact, his performances have been so impressive that several clubs across Europe are interested in signing him, and have already contacted Barcelona to get him.

According to SPORT, the Catalan club received offers as high as €70 million for the midfielder, but Lopez did not even want to hear the offers that came from two Premier League sides, i.e., Manchester United and Aston Villa, who even offered to double the wages he is currently getting.

This was mainly because the €50m-rated La Masia graduate wants to succeed at the Blaugrana club, and had made it clear from the outset that he was not going to listen to any offers.

Injured Barcelona star now likely to return to the field before the end of this season – Report

The first half of the 2024-25 season was not easy for FC Barcelona on the injury front, as the Blaugranes saw several important players miss significant game time due to physical issues.

Things have improved lately, with the returns of Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Ronald Araújo, etc., and as things stand, the only two players who still remain unavailable due to long-term injuries are Marc Bernal and Marc-André ter Stegen.

The goalkeeper suffered a torn patellar tendon at the end of September and was expected to remain on the sidelines for around 8-9 months, thus missing the rest of the season.

However, according to SPORT, the German is intending to return to play before the season ends, and with the way his recovery is going, hopes of him achieving this objective are getting higher.

The report mentions that the Barcelona captain’s recovery four months after his injury is going significantly more positively than was previously expected. In fact, he is already training on the ground, and also on the pitch at times.

In the press conference ahead of the game against Sevilla, Hansi Flick also talked about his situation and revealed that Ter Stegen has already started working with the goalkeeping coach, De la Fuente.

The German has already told the coaching staff to expect him to be available in the month of May, when there will still be five La Liga games left to play and another two potential games in the UEFA Champions League, the second leg of the semi-final and the final.

Meanwhile, Barcelona are more cautious than the goalie himself, and it remains to be seen whether Hansi Flick will risk taking him to the pitch in this crucial phase of the season after Ter Stegen has missed almost the entire season.

Gabriel Martinelli breaks Arsenal injury silence with clear message to Mikel Arteta

Gabriel Martinelli has sent a clear message following reports a hamstring injury will keep him out of action until March at the earliest. The Brazilian went down clutching the back of his leg during the Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle with Ethan Nwaneri swiftly coming on in his place.

“Yes, he felt something,” Mikel Arteta said on Martinelli in his press conference after the game. “I think it was his hamstring and he wasn’t comfortable to continue so we’ll have to do an MRI scan tomorrow to see the extent of the injury.” The Athletic then revealed a few days later that he faces more than a month out of action due to injury.

Mikel Arteta had already lost Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka to long-term injuries this season and the blow for Martinelli means he will have just three fit senior attackers at his disposal. While Nwaneri is certainly part of his first-team plans, the Hale End graduate is still only 17.

Despite the fact the club were firmly aware of the challenges Arteta was facing in attack, no new signings were brought in during the January transfer window. Attempts were made to sign Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins but that deal was not sanctioned while interest in Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel never really went beyond that.

Arsenal get shock Diogo Jota transfer green light as Liverpool open door for move

Arsenal have an interest in signing Diogo Jota from Liverpool, it has been claimed. The 28-year-old, who joined the Reds from Wolves for £45million from Wolves in September 2020, could leave this summer with Arne Slot said to be growing frustrated over his damning injury record.

Jota has missed a staggering 95 matches due to injuries during his four-and-a-half years at Anfield. 16 of them have come this season, with the Portugal international not able to stay fit and enjoy a consistent run in the side.

When available, Jota is Liverpool’s best centre forward but there is a concern that he is missing too many matches, having started just 11 across all competitions this season. Anfield Watch reports the Reds are considering allowing Jota to depart Merseyside in the summer with Arsenal keen on signing the front man.

While there is a reluctance to sell to a rival club, Jota is believed to be available for the ‘right fee’, the report claims. There are also said to be suitors from abroad keeping an eye on his situation. The report further adds that Arsenal were interested in Jota last summer and could come back in with Mikel Arteta’s side crying out for another attacker to strengthen their squad.

Jota has scored eight goals and added two assists in 20 appearances this season. He has netted three of them as a substitute, having last found the net against Nottingham Forest last month. Now back in the fold after a short spell out, Jota could start Liverpool’s trip to Plymouth in the FA Cup on Sunday.

He made his return to action as a late substitute during Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Tottenham on Friday. The ex-Porto and Atletico Madrid marksman replaced Darwin Nunez in the 72nd minute and helped the Reds ease through to the Carabao Cup final. In total, Jota has scored 64 goals in 165 matches for Liverpool.

Myles Lewis-Skelly set to land huge new role after Arsenal breakthrough as internal talks start

Myles Lewis-Skelly is reportedly being closely monitored by new England manager Thomas Tuchel ahead of the March international break.

The Three Lions will play Albania and Latvia in their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign next month, and according to Fabrizio Romano, ‘internal discussions’ have taken place about a potential call-up for the youngster. Tuchel has attended a number of Premier League games this season including those where Lewis-Skelly has featured as he draws up a list of players to call upon.

Mikel Arteta handed the left-back his senior debut in the 2-2 draw against Manchester City last September. Since then, he has gone from strength to strength in Arsenal colours this season – making 23 appearances across all competitions.

Last weekend, the left-back netted in Arsenal’s 5-1 win over Pep Guardiola’s side and sat down on the Emirates turf to copy Erling Haaland’s ‘zen’ celebration.

Gary Neville meanwhile, has compared the 18-year-old to how Patrice Evra used to play at Manchester United. “I just want to correct one thing. I said, ‘Ashley Cole’ on Sunday about Lewis-Skelly when he burst onto the scene,” the Manchester United icon said on the It’s Called Soccer podcast.

Ben White absence, Declan Rice anguish – Four things spotted at Arsenal’s Dubai training camp

Mikel Arteta has quite clearly been pushing his Arsenal squad to the limit in sweltering conditions at their Dubai training camp. The Gunners headed out to the Middle East earlier this week following Carabao Cup elimination at the hands of Newcastle with a rare 10-day break on their calendar.

Having been knocked out of the FA Cup and avoided a Champions League play-off tie, some warm-weather training has been on the agenda all while other Premier League clubs play twice. Following their cup tie away at Plymouth Argyle, Liverpool also face Everton in the Merseyside Derby before Arsenal return to action against Leicester.

Arteta has already been handed several injury boosts from the trip overseas with Ben White returning to training while Bukayo Saka also made the journey to continue his rehabilitation. Gabriel Martinelli joined his teammates as opposed to remaining at London Colney but his hamstring injury looks set to keep him out for a month.

White absence explained

Despite being spotted back out on the grass in team training for the first time in nearly three months, White can not clearly be seen in any of the 32 training photos uploaded to Arsenal’s official website.

Given the amount of action he has missed, it is very possible Arteta is managing his load with the defender perhaps joining Saka indoors. It is however, plausible that a minor setback has been suffered with several players experiencing that upon returning from long-term injuries.

I’m available for cut price deal – I could join Arsenal or pave way for Alexander Isak transfer

Victor Osimhen could help Arsenal solve their goalscoring woes – one way or another – eight years after he turned down a move to the Emirates Stadium. The 26-year-old Nigerian is currently one of Europe’s most sought-after strikers and will be on the hunt for a new club when his season-long loan at Galatasaray from Napoli ends in the summer.

He’s netted an impressive 17 times in 22 appearances since his move to Turkey and is on track to equal his career-best tally of 31 goals, achieved during the 2022/23 season. A host of Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, who failed in their bid to sign him last summer, Arsenal, and Newcastle, are reportedly eyeing up a move for him.

The Gunners, keen to bolster their attacking options due to concerns over Kai Havertz’s inconsistent form, had previously attempted to sign Osimhen back in 2016 but were unsuccessful. However, they may look to make amends for that missed opportunity with a renewed approach this year.

Interestingly, a move to Newcastle for Osimhen could also work in Arsenal’s favour, as it might pave the way for long-term Gunners target Alexander Isak to leave St James’ Park. Isak, 25, has been in scintillating form this season, bagging 19 goals in 27 games for the Magpies.

But Newcastle’s hefty £150million valuation of the Swede could prove a stumbling block for Arsenal’s hopes of bringing him to London. Osimhen, on the other hand, is reportedly on the market for £60m, with Napoli eager to part with the striker following their acquisition of Romelu Lukaku last summer.

The Nigerian spurned the Gunners nearly a decade ago, choosing Wolfsburg over them as a teenager because of their strong focus on player development. After dazzling in the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he guided Nigeria to victory, Osimhen caught the attention of several top European clubs, including Arsenal, but ultimately picked Wolfsburg.

20-year-old Barcelona midfield star now ready to return against Sevilla – Report

Injuries are always an unfortunate occurrence, and Barcelona has had their fair share of them this season. At any given point of the ongoing campaign, the Catalan club has been dealing with casualties. Fortunately for Barcelona, however, they have managed to pull through.

Thanks to La Masia and the ingenuity of German coach Hansi Flick, Barça has looked dominant and consistent for much of the season. Even with a few bumps here and there, Barcelona has stood its ground across all the competitions that the club is participating in.

However, there was still a lot of excitement when Gavi finally made his long-awaited return from his ACL injury this season. With the Barcelona Golden Boy back, the team’s morale was boosted even more and the overall impact was a greatly positive one.

Unfortunately, the 20-year-old Spanish midfielder ended up suffering a blow to the head in his last appearance for the team against Deportivo Alaves. Since then, he has had to miss the Valencia clash in the Copa del Rey due to precautions, but the team still managed to win that game convincingly.

Moreover, the player’s return will have to wait no longer either. After training normally with the rest of his teammates, as highlighted by Mundo Deportivo, Gavi is now ready to return to action on the pitch and is fully prepared to feature against Sevilla.

A big game for Barcelona in La Liga, it is one that could potentially help Hansi Flick’s side make up some significant distance in the league title race. With both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid set to clash, there is a great opportunity for Barça to capitalize on whatever result that comes out of that game.

‘He’s doing very well’… Hansi Flick provides promising update on injured Barcelona captain’s surprising recovery

Hansi Flick’s arrival at Barcelona was definitely a decision that initially divided opinions. Since then, however, the German coach has won hearts all across the fanbase with the way his team has performed. Even with some unfortunate injuries, Barcelona has remained strong.

However, that does not mean that there was a lack of certain complications at the start. Yet, if there was one issue that required extreme urgency and attention to solve, it was the goalkeeping dilemma for Hansi Flick that started after the untimely injury to Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

Due to the injury he sustained against Villarreal back in September 2024, Barcelona had to urgently bring in a new goalkeeper to keep the team on the right track. In came retired Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, and the veteran has established himself as the team’s number one choice right now as well.

However, despite initial reports suggesting that Ter Stegen’s season could be over due to the muscular injury he suffered, it seems that his recovery is going much better than expected. In fact, Hansi Flick has himself now provided an extremely positive update.

As highlighted by SPORT, the German coach spoke about the 32-year-old goalkeeper’s recovery recently and provided quite the positive report on it: