Sports

Arsenal’s Draw Keeps Man City Title Hope Alive

Published

2 years ago

April 9, 2023

Arsenal’s failure to end their Anfield hoodoo by throwing away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 away to Liverpool on Sunday has opened the door for Manchester City to snatch the Premier League title away from the Gunners.

Mikel Arteta’s men still lead by six points at the top of the table, but for the first time in nearly two months City have the destiny of the title back in their own hands.

City have nine league games remaining to Arsenal’s eight and home advantage when the two sides meet at the Etihad on April 26.

Since losing to City in mid-February, Arsenal have belied their relative lack of experience in a title tussle.

A run of seven consecutive league victories contained the mixture of late winners and routine wins sprinkled with dazzling football that champions are made of.

However, they finally came unstuck when put under the pressure of an Anfield crowd baying for blood after a difficult season for Liverpool.

Arteta warned ahead of the game he expected to face a “jungle” of an atmosphere at a stadium where Arsenal have still not won in the league since their manager was patrolling the midfield in 2012.

Yet for 35 minutes, the visitors showed why Liverpool’s league position of eighth in the table does not lie.

Arsenal scored twice through Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus and could have had more but for wayward finishing by Jesus and a fine save from Alisson Becker to deny Oleksandr Zinchenko.

“We started the game exceptionally well, dominated it, and took the game where we wanted,” said Arteta.

“Scored the first one, and continued to play the way we wanted. We scored the second one and that was a moment to kill the game. And yet, before half-time, we gave them hope.”

Mohamed Salah’s strike just before the break flipped the momentum of the game and despite the Egyptian then missing a penalty early in the second half, Arsenal were incapable of turning the tide.

Wave upon wave of Liverpool attack after the break was finally rewarded when Roberto Firmino headed in three minutes from time.

The drama did not end there as Aaron Ramsdale produced miracles in the Arsenal goal just to salvage a point.

“We gave every single ball away, especially in very dangerous areas when you allow open spaces in big transition moments against the best team in the world doing that,” added Arteta.

“When that happens, it’s chaos. It’s a lot of balls in your box, it’s difficult to get out of those situations and then you have to suffer.”

Arsenal’s second-half retreat does not bode well for more tough tests to come on the road in the coming weeks.

As well as their trip to City, Arsenal also have to travel to third-placed Newcastle.

Avoid defeat at the Etihad in 17 days’ time and the title is very much still Arsenal’s to lose.

But on a day when Liverpool’s outside shot at a top-four finish was realistically killed off, City were the big winners.

AFP

Sports

JUST IN: Ofili Confirms Turkey Switch

Published

14 hours ago

September 1, 2025

Editor

Nigeria sprinter, Favour Ofili, has confirmed she is switching allegiance to Turkey, bringing an end to her long-running fued with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, according to The PUNCH.

Reflecting on the move in a post via her Instagram page on Monday, Ofili said her decision followed months of reflection after a turbulent cycle in which she felt let down by the Nigerian federation.

She explained that while she was proud of her career in Nigerian colours, repeated disappointments had left her with little choice.

“Wrapping up my 2025 season has been a whirlwind of new experiences and big decisions.

“As some of you have heard, I’m also starting a new chapter representing Turkey.

“I am proud to have represented Nigeria for many years in a highly successful way, having won six gold medals, two silver medals and two bronze medals in championship meets and reaching the Olympic 200 metres final,” she said.

Ofili added that neglect from the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and the Nigerian Olympic Committee, particularly during the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games, had contributed to her decision.

She stressed, however, that her switch was not financially motivated.

“While that means sitting out this year’s championships in Tokyo, this change comes from the heart, not from financial motives.

“I’m truly grateful to have discovered a new home in Turkey, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.

“I also appreciate the support I got from my coach, agent, sponsor and loved ones during this difficult time,” she said.

Her announcement comes after the president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Tonobok Okowa, admitted the federation was struggling to prevent the exodus of elite athletes due to poor funding.

He confirmed Ofili’s switch during the National Athletics Championships in Lagos, warning that more athletes could follow suit unless urgent financial support arrived.

Okowa said countries like Turkey had stepped up efforts to recruit foreign talent, offering substantial incentives.

“The kind of money they put on the table to get her is not something many athletes would refuse.

“That is why we are pleading with Nigeria as a nation and our government to come out and support us, so we don’t keep losing our athletes,” he said.

Ofili’s decision mirrors previous high-profile departures, including Francis Obikwelu, Gloria Alozie and Femi Ogunode, who also left Nigeria to represent other nations.

Ofili will sit out the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo as she completes the switch, before beginning the next phase of her career in Turkish colours.

Sports

Liverpool Vs Arsenal: Gunners Seek 1st EPL Win At Anfield Since 2012

Published

2 days ago

August 31, 2025

Editor

Arsenal head to Anfield this Sunday—seeking a first Premier League win there since 2012—a victory will bolster their title pursuit.

Currently unbeaten in two league matches, Arsenal boast of the division’s best defensive record; Liverpool, the defending champions, have conceded goals early this season.

Liverpool, unbeaten at home in August since 2015, have scored in 36 successive league matches—a potential new record.

Arsenal’s injury list is mounting– Saka, Havertz, Odegaard and Jesus are either out or doubtful.

New 68 million pound signing, Eberechi Eze, may debut.

Mikel Arteta praised Eze’s “special aura” at training; he is expected to spark creativity amid absentee worries.

Liverpool offer positive fitness news; Mac Allister is training again; no new concerns reported by manager Arne Slot.

Arteta says the fixture is “defining” for perception as much as league position; he urges belief through adversity.

Slot admits Arsenal pose a serious threat—particularly from set-pieces—but insists his side is fully prepared.

The Anfield record speaks volumes: League meetings have ended in draws lately.

Arsenal are winless there in 12 league trips—and have not won since 2012.

Head-to-head balance remains tight; in 244 meetings, Liverpool lead 95–83 in wins; 66 ended level.

Recent league matches at Anfield have mostly ended in stalemates, including a 2‑2 draw in May 2025 when Arsenal came from two down.

A draw may be respectable; a loss, predictable under circumstances; a win, however, will irreversibly shift the narrative in Arsenal’s favour.

As the players emerge onto that famed Anfield turf, this fixture transcends tactics; it will come down to mindset, belief—and perhaps a debut that sparks hope.

Game day may well redefine Arsenal’s season.

(NAN)

Sports

Chelsea Vs Barcelona, Arsenal Vs Bayern — UEFA Releases Fixture Date, Time

Published

3 days ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

Chelsea vs Barcelona, Arsenal vs Bayern — UEFA releases fixture date, time
UEFA has officially released the full fixtures, dates, and kick-off times for the 2025/26 Champions League league phase, setting the stage for blockbuster matches involving Europe’s biggest clubs.

The schedule follows the draw held on Thursday, 28 August 2025, which determined the opponents for all 36 participating clubs under the new league-phase format.

According to the schedule, Chelsea will host Barcelona on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, in one of the standout ties of Matchday Five, with kick-off set for 21:00 CET. Arsenal, on the other hand, will face German giants Bayern Munich on the same matchday, also on Wednesday, 26 November 2025, at 21:00 CET.

In Matchday 1, Bayern Munich will host Chelsea at the Allianz Arena in a repeat of the 2012 Champions League final, where the Blues won 4-3 on penalties. On Wednesday, October 1, 2025, Barcelona will welcome PSG in the standout fixture for MatchDay 2.

Matchday 4 features another high-profile fixture as Paris Saint-Germain host Bayern Munich on Wednesday, 5 November. On the same night, Liverpool renew their fierce rivalry with Real Madrid at Anfield, with kick-off time set for 21:00 CET.

Now in its second year running, the Champions League is being played under UEFA’s new “league phase” format, which replaced the traditional group stage. Instead of eight groups of four, all 36 participating teams are placed in a single league table, each playing eight different opponents, four at home and four away.

The top eight sides qualify automatically for the round of 16, while teams finishing 9th to 24th will contest a play-off round to secure their spot in the knockouts.

Opening Champions League fixtures (1900 GMT unless stated)

Tuesday, September 16

Athletic Bilbao (ESP) v Arsenal (ENG) (1645 GMT)

PSV Eindhoven (NED) v Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL) (1645 GMT)

Juventus (ITA) v Borussia Dortmund (GER)

Real Madrid (ESP) v Marseille (FRA)

Benfica (POR) v Qarabag (AZE)

Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) v Villarreal (ESP)

Wednesday, September 17

Olympiacos (GRE) v Pafos (CYP) (1645 GMT)

Slavia Prague (CZE) v Bodo/Glimt (NOR) (1645 GMT)

Ajax (NED) v Inter Milan (ITA)