Arsenal Beat Luton To Top Premier League Table

Published

4 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Arsenal coasted to a 2-0 win over struggling Luton on Wednesday to dislodge Liverpool from the top of the Premier League table, once again edging ahead in a thrilling three-way title tussle.

Gunners captain Martin Odegaard opened the scoring midway through the first half and an own goal just before the break gave the home side a cushion.

The result lifts Arsenal to 68 points – one ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, who host Sheffield United on Thursday.

Defending champions Manchester City, playing fourth-placed Aston Villa on Wednesday, started the evening in third place, a point behind Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s men dominated possession in the opening stages at the Emirates but created few clear-cut openings in front of an expectant crowd.

But they broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, courtesy of a sweet left-footed strike by Odegaard.

Emile Smith-Rowe, a peripheral figure this season, stole possession and fed Odegaard, who played a one-two with Kai Havertz before stroking the ball home.

Arsenal doubled their lead in the 44th minute thanks to an own goal from Luton defender Daiki Hashioka, who turned into his own net following more good work down the left by Smith-Rowe.

The home side, playing in second gear, had just three shots on target in the first half but were well worth their lead.

The bulk of the second half was largely flat, although Luton came into the game more, probing for an opening to haul themselves back into the contest.

Arteta brought on midfielder Declan Rice and forward Eddie Nketiah, adding Gabriel Martinelli with 15 minutes to play.

Arsenal substitute Takehiro Tomiyasu went close, bending one just wide, and Nketiah forced a save from the scrambling Thomas Kaminski in the closing minutes.

They were unable to score a third but saw the game out with few alarms.

The Gunners, who have not been crowned English champions since 2004, set the pace for the bulk of last season before flagging as the finishing line approached.

But, adding steel to their style, they have now won nine of their past 10 league games, with the only blip in that sequence a goalless draw against City on Sunday.

Arsenal, who have conceded just four goals in the league in 2024, travel to Brighton on Saturday before hosting Villa on April 14.

Defeat for depleted Luton leaves Rob Edwards’ side third from bottom of the English top flight, three points from safety, and facing an immediate return to the Championship.

In the other 1830 GMT kick-off on Wednesday, Brentford drew 0-0 with Brighton.

On Sunday, Manchester City failed to break down Arsenal as a highly-anticipated clash at the top of the Premier League failed to live up to the hype in a 0-0 draw at the Etihad.

10 Facts About New Super Eagles Coach, Finidi George

Published

17 mins ago

April 29, 2024

Editor

The Nigeria Football Federation on Monday announced the appointment of former Super Eagles winger Finidi George as the new head coach of the nation’s senior men’s national team.

The announcement came in a statement, with the NFF Board approving the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to hand over the reins to the 52-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam and Real Betis forward.

The new Super Eagles boss’s immediate task will be to guide the team to victory in two crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and the Benin Republic in Uyo and Abidjan, respectively, within the next five weeks.

However, takes a look at 10 things about Finidi George as compiled by The PUNCH.

1.⁠ ⁠Finidi George was born on April 15, 1971, in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

2.⁠ ⁠⁠He played as a right winger and was known for his pace, accurate crosses, efficient dribbling, and free-kick abilities. He played for three clubs in Nigeria including Calabar Rovers and Sharks of Port Harcourt.

3.⁠ ⁠⁠George had a successful club career with Ajax, winning 8 major titles including the 1995 Champions League.

4.⁠ ⁠⁠He also played for Real Betis in Spain, nearly joining Real Madrid before that move fell through.

5.⁠ ⁠⁠George spent one season with Mallorca and then joined Ipswich Town in the Premier League for £3.1 million in 2002.

6.⁠ ⁠⁠He made his international debut for Nigeria in 1991 and earned 62 caps, appearing at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups.

7.⁠ ⁠⁠George won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria and helped them reach the round of 16 at the 1994 World Cup.

8.⁠ ⁠⁠At the 1994 World Cup, he scored against Greece and celebrated with a famous ‘urinating dog’ celebration.

9.⁠ ⁠⁠He has 11 brothers, two of whom (Igeniwari and Celestine) were also professional footballers.

10.⁠ ⁠⁠In September 2021, George was appointed head coach of Nigerian club Enyimba F.C. and won the Nigeria Premier League with them in June 2023.

Sports

JUST IN: Finidi George Appointed New Super Eagles Head Coach

Published

4 hours ago

April 29, 2024

Editor

The Nigeria Football Federation has appointed former Super Eagles winger Finidi George as the new head coach of the nation’s senior men’s national team.

The announcement came in a statement on Monday, with the NFF Board approving the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to hand over the reins to the 52-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam and Real Betis forward.

Finidi George, who spent 20 months as an assistant to the outgoing José Santos Peseiro, had been serving as the interim coach after the Portuguese tactician’s departure following the Super Eagles’ impressive run to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

During his interim tenure, George oversaw two friendly matches in Morocco last month, where the team ended an 18-year winless streak against Ghana with a 2-1 victory before suffering a 0-2 loss to Mali.

“George, a member of the so-styled ‘Golden Generation’ that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Tunisia and emerged as the second most entertaining team in Nigeria’s debut at the FIFA World Cup finals in USA the same year, won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals,” the NFF statement read.

Reflecting on his illustrious playing career, the statement highlighted George’s achievements, which include “gold, silver and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2002 AFCON tournaments.”

One of George’s most memorable moments came when he “assisted Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory) to score Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Bulgaria in Dallas, USA on 19th June 1994,” the statement noted.

The NFF statement emphasised that “the matches are must-win encounters, with the Super Eagles lagging behind in third place in Group C of the African campaign behind Rwanda and South Africa.”

Sports

5 Games That Will Decide Who Wins EPL Title

Published

1 day ago

April 28, 2024

Editor

With the run-in to the English Premier League (EPL) title heating up, Manchester City and Arsenal are having a fierce go at each other, not to forget a Liverpool that cannot be totally ruled out of the race just yet.

Currently leading the pack, Arsenal sit atop the Premier League table with 80 points, closely followed by Manchester City with 79 points and a game in hand. Mikel Arteta’s side has been stellar this season, picking up from where they left off last campaign and ensuring that they don’t repeat the mistakes that saw the League title painfully slip off their hands.

Manchester City, on the other hand, are very familiar with this competition, and the odds are right in their favour to go ahead and do what no team has ever done, that is, win the EPL title four consecutive times.

But to do that, they need an impeccable run of results in their remaining four games in the current campaign, and the title will remain at the Etihad.

For Liverpool, it is almost over after managing to pick up a meagre one point from their last three games to leave them gasping for breath in chase of the top two.

Be that as it may, in less than three weeks, the new champions of England will be known, and that event will most likely be decided by these five upcoming games:

Man United vs Arsenal (12 May)
The biggest game Arsenal have left in the current campaign. On this day, Arsenal will make a trip to Old Trafford for a match that could decide whether or not they end the season trophyless.

Arsenal vs Everton (19 May)
Arsenal faithfuls will hope this day will be the day they get to lift the English Premier League at the Emirates after 20 years should Man City falter in their remaining games, and they get a perfect run-in to close the league. However, it will be delusional for Arsenal to expect an easy game against a rejuvenated Everton side who just survived relegation and would want to end the season on a good note.

Fulham vs Man City (11 May)
Fulham can be a potential banana skin to any team, and you want to avoid them especially when you are chasing a very important trophy. Pep Guardiola, however, has them to worry about and engineer his side to get past for a perfect run to the title.

Tottenham vs Man City (14 May)
The outstanding match that gives Manchester City a subtle edge in the standings. This has every sign to be the ‘final’ of the Premier League season, and Manchester City know they have their work cut out going to a tough ground like the Tottenham Stadium to grind out a win against a team desperately chasing a Champions League ticket.

Man City vs West Ham (19 May)
Like Arsenal vs Everton, Man City could lift their fourth consecutive EPL title should they avoid defeat prior and get a win at the Etihad against West Ham in the final day of the Premier League season.