Month: March 2023

– Arsenal have scored at least three goals in five of their last six Premier League outings
– Leeds have been bold against stronger teams, scoring at least twice against seven of the top 10
– Recommended bet: Arsenal to win and over 3.5 goals

The title run-in starts here for Arsenal, who need only to maintain their impressive form for 10 more games if they are to claim the Premier League crown.

February’s three-match wobble already feels like a distant memory for Gunners fans, who have since seen their team go on to win six consecutive top-flight matches to take control of their title race against Manchester City.

But a Leeds side battling against relegation will not stand back and admire their high-flying hosts and will be seeking revenge for October’s keenly contested 1-0 defeat at Elland Road – a match in which the Whites will feel they deserved at least point, if not all three.

Arsenal vs Leeds (Saturday, 3pm)

Team news

Arsenal full-back Takehiro Tomiyasu and midfielder Mohamed Elneny have both been ruled out for the rest of the season, while striker Eddie Nketiah is likely to miss out this weekend.

Centre-back William Saliba could also be absent with a back problem, midfielder Thomas Partey is rated 50/50 to feature and left-back Kieran Tierney will be assessed after picking up a calf injury during the international break.

Leeds midfielders Adam Forshaw and Tyler Adams are unavailable as they recover from injury, while forward Wilfried Gnonto and centre-back Maximillian Wober are significant doubts. Stuart Dallas remains a long-term absentee.

The stats

Leeds are in good form – taking seven points from their last four league matches – and have been decent away at teams in the top six, winning 2-1 at Liverpool, drawing against Manchester United and Newcastle and proving slightly unfortunate in a 4-3 loss to Tottenham.

But they have yet to visit either of the top two and have already lost at home to both Manchester City and Arsenal – albeit they comfortably outperformed the Gunners in expected goals at Elland Road, creating 1.8 xG to Arsenal’s 0.5.

Mikel Arteta’s men have won each of their last six league matches, scoring at least three goals in five of those games, but they have conceded nine goals in their last six home top-flight assignments.

Prediction

Arsenal are rightly overwhelming favourites to take all three points against Leeds but the sprightly visitors should contribute to an end-to-end encounter – and that will be all the more likely should the Gunners’ key defensive players, Saliba and Partey, fail to return from injury.

Javi Gracia’s Leeds have scored at least twice in trips to Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham this season and their front-footed approach makes both teams to score an appealing option for Bet Builders.

However, an in-form Arsenal frontline that has scored an average of 2.71 goals per home game in the Premier League this season should be confident of outscoring their visitors in an entertaining encounter.

Back Arsenal to win and over 3.5 goals at 31/20 with LiveScore Bet.

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Jonas Eidevall believes it is a “realistic vision” for Women’s Super League title contenders Arsenal to make the Emirates their permanent home. 

A dominant first half at the stadium last night helped the hosts overturn a first-leg deficit to beat Bayern Munich 2-1 on aggregate and advance to the Champions League semis. 

Trailing to a Lea Schuller goal, a Frida Maanum strike and Stina Blackstenius header sealed a 2-0 win to leave Eidevall on a high — despite the early loss of skipper Kim Little. 

That win came in front of a crowd of 21,307, with Eidevall’s side having also played to attendances of more than 40,000 on three occasions this season.

The Gunners boss said: “I think when we talk about growing the game, that’s absolutely fundamental for creating these moments with our supporters. 

“Being able to experience playing here so many times, but also to get supporters here to experience it with us, helps us to do this. 

“I get the sense of belief that we’re seeing history created very quickly in front of our eyes, when I see how the attendances and the culture is here at the Emirates. 

“Five years ago, if someone would have said Arsenal’s long-term plan is to move permanently to the Emirates, people would not have believed it. 

“But now I think people understand that might be a realistic vision for the future.” 

Among the crowd were club technical director Edu and men’s manager Mikel Arteta.

Eidevall, 40, added: “The support of the whole club is magnificent. They talk a lot about when you’re around Arsenal that we always act with class. 

“But when you’re inside the organisation you really understand the meaning. 

“It’s not just something that’s written on a wall. It’s ingrained from top management and it spreads down. 

“That communication and belief from them is amazing.”

Chelsea have underwhelmed this season and may look to offload players to ensure they meet financial fair play requirements, but could Reece James really leave Stamford Bridge?

The Blues have spent big money over the past 10 months since Todd Boehly took over ownership from Roman Abramovich.

Enzo Fernandez, Wesley Fofana, Mykhailo Mudryk, Marc Cucurella, Raheem Sterling, Benoit Badiashile, Kalidou Koulibaly, Noni Madueke and Malo Gusto were all signed in lucrative moves.

TOP STORY – MADRID CONSIDER SHOCK MOVE FOR CHELSEA’S JAMES

Real Madrid are plotting a shock swoop to sign Chelsea full-back Reece James as the Blues plan a clean-out, claims AS.

James, 23, is contracted with the Blues until 2028, making any deal complicated, but Los Blancos are reportedly hoping Chelsea’s need to balance the books can work in their favour.

Madrid previously landed Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard from Chelsea, albeit in different circumstances with both only having shorter terms remaining on their contracts.

AS claims Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham remains Real’s priority signing.

ROUND-UP

– The Evening Standard claims Arsenal are making West Ham midfielder Declan Rice a transfer priority, amid plenty of interest from Premier League clubs. Rice is expected to leave the Hammers at the end of this season, with Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United also reportedly in the hunt.

– Manchester United are keeping an eye on Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani and Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund should their advances for Tottenham’s Harry Kane fail, claims the Manchester Evening News.

– Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat is eager for a move to Barcelona, claims Footmercato. The Blaugrana had interest in the Moroccan during the last transfer window.

– Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have lodged initial bids for 16-year-old Hajduk Split defender Luka Vuskovic, according to 90min.

– Footmercato reports Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is set to sign a new five-year contract with Napoli, having been linked with PSG recently.

– El Chiringuito claims Manchester City are eyeing a move for ex-Spain boss Luis Enrique amid talk Pep Guardiola could opt for a sabbatical at the end of the season.

Dumbarton missed the chance to go top of the Scottish League Two table after being beaten 1-0 by Forfar.

The result means that the Sons are still two points behind league leaders Stirling, while victory sees the Loons move up into fifth.

Dumbarton had a fantastic opportunity to take the lead after being awarded a penalty in the 16th minute, but goalkeeper Marc McCallum made a great low dive to deny Ally Love from the spot.

Seb Ross found the eventual winner for the visitors, firing the ball home in the 63rd minute to seal three points.

Title-chasing Sheffield Wednesday hit back from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw at Cheltenham.

All four goals game in the second half, with Aidan Keena and Alfie May putting the home side 2-0 up as the Owls looked set to be condemned to a third successive defeat.

But Aden Flint’s header restored hope and Lee Gregory netted a late equaliser to move them to within two points of leaders Plymouth.

Cheltenham created the better chances in the opening 45 minutes, but David Stockdale kept them out with a string of saves, denying May twice and Keena.

Will Vaulks’ long-range effort was touched over the bar by Luke Southwood just before the break.

Southwood made an excellent save to deny Michael Smith four minutes after half-time.

Cheltenham opened the scoring in the 62nd minute when Will Ferry’s delivery was miskicked by Dominic Iorfa, allowing Keena to score his second goal in two games.

May nearly added a second two minutes later, but his effort rolled just wide.

But he made no mistake in the 69th minute following up for his fifth goal in as many games when Stockdale could only parry Taylor Perry’s low shot.

Flint headed in a fine cross from Barry Bannan to restore hope for Wednesday and Smith supplied the ball in from the right for Gregory to touch in the leveller three minutes from the end.

Vaulks hit the post with the final kick of the game as Wednesday missed out on the chance to go top.

Stefano Pioli insisted “nobody is perfect or unbeatable” as Milan prepare to overthrow Napoli in the all-Italian Champions League quarter-final clash.

Milan and Napoli will meet for the first time in European competition on April 12 in the first leg at San Siro, with Luciano Spalletti’s side flying high in Serie A and UEFA’s top club competition.

The Partenopei are 19 points clear at the Italian top-flight summit and suggested by many as a potential challenger for the European crown.

But Milan have only lost one of their nine all-Italian showdowns in Europe (W4 D4) and Pioli sees no reason why the Rossoneri cannot dream of progressing past Spalletti’s in-form side.

The Milan coach said: “Honestly, I’d rather not meet an Italian side. In the Champions League it’s better to face a foreign club. Napoli are very strong but we want to play for it.

“They have shown great consistency, strength and quality, they have all the characteristics of a great team, but nobody is perfect or unbeatable.”

Pioli’s side have not reached the last eight in the Champions League since the 2011-12 term when they were eliminated by Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.

Milan last went beyond that stage in the 2006-07 season en route to lifting the trophy but overcoming Napoli will prove an incredibly difficult challenge.

Napoli have won each of their past three away matches against the Rossoneri, their best such run against them, although they have not triumphed in any of their past five trips to Milan in cup competitions.

Pioli wants to build on Milan’s Champions League history but says the Rossoneri cannot take their eyes off the Serie A top-four battle, leading fifth-placed Roma by just a point.

“It’s part of the history of this club and the path it has always followed,” he added. “We are beginning to write our history, that of Milan in the Champions League is a different path from ours.

“When you go to San Siro to play the Champions League it is something exciting and spectacular that involves everyone.

“We are very busy but we are also focusing on the league. To make this season a positive one, we have to play in the Champions League next year. We have to be careful.”

Before the mouthwatering European meeting, Milan visit Napoli in Serie A on Sunday with the Rossoneri’s Scudetto soon seemingly heading for Naples.

Pioli’s side have been unable to replicate their exploits from last season’s title-winning campaign, though the Italian suggested Milan’s young side would always struggle to defend their title.

“I don’t think there are many teams in Europe that immediately win the second league,” he continued. “We won with a very young team, thanks to a project and a club path we are proud of.

“We are one of the few clubs with a sustainable project; only a few teams manage to win and be competitive in Europe.

“That is a leap that we have not yet been able to make but this year too gives us the opportunity to understand great things, to improve and be the strongest club.”

Arsenal reached the Women’s Champions League semi-finals after a dominating opening 45 minutes helped overturn a first-leg deficit and see off Bayern Munich 2-1 on aggregate. 

Trailing to a Lea Schuller goal, the hosts recovered from the early loss of captain Kim Little to win 2-0 in front of 21,307 fans at the Emirates. 

A fine Frida Maanum strike set them on their way before Stina Blackstenius’ header settled the tie. 

The margin of victory should have been much more comfortable but for a fine goalkeeping display from Maria-Luisa Grohs and some wayward finishing from the Arsenal forwards. 

After watching Jonas Eidevall guide the Gunners to their first Champions League semi-final since 2013 when they lost to Wolfsburg, who also knocked them out in the quarter-finals last season, former England defender Gilly Flaherty was full of praise. 

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, she said: “Eidevall is confident Arsenal can beat anybody. If they get the game plan right, they’re confident of beating anyone. 

“Tonight they were unbelievable, they thoroughly deserved the win. 

“They won’t fear whoever they get next. I feel they believe they can go the whole way.”

Little was tripped as she looked to maraud into the Bayern half with their defence out of position in the 10th minute. 

No free-kick was given but the Arsenal skipper had to be replaced by Lotte Wubben-Moy as birthday girl Leah Williamson took both the armband and Little’s place in the heart of midfield.

The positional shift would play a part in Arsenal breaking the deadlock as Williamson directed a flick into the path of Maanum, who bent home the opener. 

Maanum was in again soon after but could not nick the ball off the toe of Grohs as she looked to intercept a weak back-pass. 

Arsenal’s lead was doubled before the half-hour as Katie McCabe worked space for a cross from the left and Blackstenius nodded in.

It could have got even better before the break but Williamson missed with a header and Blackstenius was denied by Grohs before Maanum’s follow-up was blocked. 

Grohs was keeping the visitors alive, saving a close-range header from Blackstenius before Wubben-Moy’s cross cannoned back off the crossbar. 

The second half started on a more even keel. 

Bayern wrestled back some possession as two corners caused problems in the Arsenal box and Wubben-Moy blocked to keep out a Klara Buhl strike. 

Grohs was at it again moments later, tipping a McCabe shot wide after the Republic of Ireland international had danced into the box. 

When Grohs was not in the position to keep Arsenal at bay, it was more profligate finishing that failed to kill off the tie as Caitlin Foord ballooned a fine chance over the crossbar.

McCabe limped off late on to present Eidevall with another injury concern but he will be pleased his Continental Cup winners have at least two more games to add to their packed fixture schedule.

Barca cruise through

Earlier in the night, Barcelone hammered Roma 5-1 at the Camp Nou to advance to the last four 6-1 on aggregate. 

Two-goal Fridolina Rolfo scored either side of Maria Leon’s curler to put Barca, who finished runners-up to Lyon last season, out of sight before half-time. 

Asisat Oshoala tapped in a fourth a minute after the restart and Patricia Guijarro headed home from a corner to complete the rout. 

Champions League debutants Roma pulled one back through Annamaria Serturini but it was plain sailing for Barca in their quest for a second European crown.

Tottenham have reached out to FIFA for urgent “further clarification” after Fabio Paratici’s ban was extended worldwide “with no advance notice” to the club.

Paratici was one of 11 individuals banned by the Italian Football Federation in January after Juventus were found guilty of alleged breaches in relation to historical transfer dealings.

The Bianconeri were docked 15 points in Serie A as part of the punishment, with Paratici and Juve denying any wrongdoing and lodging an appeal for the initial sanctions to the Italian Olympic Committee.

Paratici was handed a 30-month ban by the FIGC but continued his role with Spurs due to his punishment only falling under the jurisdiction of Italian football’s governing body.

But FIFA confirmed on Wednesday those FIGC sanctions have been extended worldwide, with Tottenham demanding immediate clarity over the bans on their managing director of football Paratici.

“Following media reports today regarding the FIFA Disciplinary Committee decision to extend worldwide the sanction imposed by the FIGC Federal Court of Appeals on Fabio Paratici on 20 January 2023, the club made urgent enquiries to FIFA,” a club statement read.

“FIFA has late this afternoon responded to us in writing notifying us today, Wednesday 29 March 2023, that a decision has been made by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee to extend the FIGC sanction worldwide.

“This committee deliberation has been taken with no advance notice to any of the parties involved. We are urgently seeking further clarification from FIFA as to the details of the extension and its variance from the FIGC sanction.”

The announcement came just a day after Paratici had addressed the club’s media and stated head coach Antonio Conte’s dismissal from Spurs was the “right decision for everyone”.

Paratici placed his full faith in interim boss Cristian Stellini, who will be in charge until the end of the season, and Spurs sought to clarify the interview took place prior to any knowledge of FIFA’s sanctions.

The statement added: “We should like to make clear that when Fabio conducted the interview on club channels yesterday neither he nor the club had any indication of this decision being made by FIFA, based on the fact the FIGC sanction was taken on January 20 and remains subject to an appeal on April 19. 

“We shall update on this matter in due course.”

Members of Arsenal and Aston Villa’s technical teams have been charged by the Football Association over an altercation during their Premier League game last month.

The Gunners staged a remarkable 4-2 comeback at Villa Park on February 18, sealed by a dramatic own goal courtesy of their former goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

It came after earlier goals from Bukayo Saka and Oleksandr Zinchenko had helped the visitors draw on level terms, while Gabriel Martinelli added a fourth deep in injury time.

Celebrations were marred between a clash between Villa’s head of performance analysis Victor Manas and Arsenal’s technical analyst Miguel Molina, and now the pair have been charged by the FA.

“Aston Villa’s head of performance analysis, Victor Manas, and Arsenal’s technical analyst coach, Miguel Molina, have been charged following their Premier League game on Wednesday 18 February,” read a statement.

“It’s alleged that Miguel Molina’s behaviour and/or language during the 94th minute was improper and/or abusive and/or insulting, and that his behaviour in the tunnel after the final whistle was also improper.”

Manas and Molina have until Friday to provide a response to the FA.

Marcus Rashford has denied “nonsense” claims he is holding out for a huge £500,000-a-week deal to stay at Manchester United.

The England international, who has scored a career-best 27 goals in 44 games this campaign, is due to be out of contract at Old Trafford at the end of next season.

According to British publication the Daily Star, Rashford’s United future is in limbo due to the ongoing sale of the club and his big wage demands.

However, the 25-year-old directly replied to the article on his personal Twitter page on Wednesday to deny that is the case.

“Just before this one starts to do the rounds! It’s complete nonsense,” he posted. “The club and make self [sic] have been respectful to one another, and that’s how it will remain. 

“My focus is purely on finishing as well as possible in the league and winning trophies.”

Rashford added on Instagram: “Another non-story flying around about my advisors and me making demands. It’s complete nonsense!

“My aim and the club’s aims are to finish as high as possible in the league and to try and win a cup or two.”

Rashford’s goals tally this season has been bettered only by Kylian Mbappe (31) and Erling Haaland (42) among players across Europe’s top five leagues.

He has spent eight seasons as part of United’s first team since making his big breakthrough with two goals on his debut against Midtjylland in February 2016 as an 18-year-old.

Speaking last month, United manager Erik ten Hag confirmed the club are working on tying down the academy product to fresh terms.

“Of course [Rashford’s new contract] is a priority,” he said. “We are working on that. Just sit and wait. In the background. we are working hard.”

Rashford missed England’s two Euro 2024 qualifiers during the international window, but he is expected to be fit to feature against Newcastle United on Sunday.