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Arsenal are now out of the Champions League, and this is obviously a huge disappointment. But a kind draw in the FA Cup sees Arsenal face Championship opposition in the semi-final for the second time in two years, and the Gunners’ recent league form has seen them climb to 3rd place, only one point behind defending champions Manchester City. So things aren’t looking too bad for Arsenal.

They are looking as nailed-on for a Champions League spot as they have been in years – though that isn’t saying much – and now people are even starting to believe that Arsenal can mount a serious title challenge.

Chelsea look to be some distance over the horizon for both Arsenal and City, The West London club are 7 points clear of Arsenal with a game in hand, and with no Champions League or FA Cup distractions, they look to be unstoppable.

But losing to PSG might have saved Chelsea a fixture pile-up over the next few months, but the hangover from losing that game has seen them looking a little wobbly. Going out in the manner that they did, coupled with the flat performance at the weekend at home to Southampton shows that Chelsea aren’t invincible.

Mourinho seems to have settled on a starting eleven, and likes to play them as often as possible. But a full season without a rest is tough for most players, and Mourinho’s insistence on a high work rate and pressing from his front men might make them tireder in the long run. But maybe without that fixture congestion they should still see it through.

It’s in our nature, as fans, to continue to hold out hope of a title race. We don’t like to concede that it’s over this early, and we’ve seen so many comebacks in the past to suggest that it’s not over yet. Manchester City have been Chelsea’s rivals all season long, and they themselves have a taste for the thrilling comeback.

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We’ve been saying since the start of the season that it’s a two horse race between those two. They were neck and neck on New Year’s Day – level on points with identical goal difference and goals scored stats, but Chelsea are now 6 points clear with a game in hand.

But if it’s still a race between the top two, Arsenal are now only a point behind it. Surely if City are in a race, Arsenal are too.

They themselves no longer have the Champions League to worry about, but they do still have the FA Cup to juggle with the league games.

They’ll have to play more games than City and Chelsea over the course of the title run-in, but this might actually be a good thing. Although Arsenal will have at least one more game to play, getting to a Wembley final would give them belief and momentum, as will the opportunity to retain their FA Cup crown.

It’s been so long since Arsenal were champions of anything that maybe that taste of glory will galvanise the Gunners for an assault on the league title this time too, as they remember the taste of victory from last season’s triumph. Maybe a trip to Wembley will reignite those memories and give them a boost to catch the two ahead of them.

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All of this after their heroic defeat to Monaco would be welcome. Defeat was disappointing, of course, but perhaps it may be morale-boosting all the same – after all, they did come mightily close to qualification, and they did create the chances to win by the required 3 goals.

So if there is still a race to the title, it must certainly include Arsenal given their recent league form and momentum. But that’s only if you believe there’s still a race to be had! If Arsenal are included, what about Manchester United and Liverpool, who are still only a few points further back?

The two-horse race we’ve had all season could turn into one of the most thrilling title races in living memory. Or it might not even be a race at all any more. Either way, you feel that to lose it now Chelsea would have to ‘mare to rival Devon Loch!

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We’re finally seeing a side of Arsene Wenger that many had deemed necessary for a number of seasons. It’s the same manager, of course. Calm exterior, thoughtful insights on the game. Yet behind closed doors, it’s the take-no-prisoners approach that’s needed at this level of football.

It the reports of an ultimatum ring true then it’s another step towards a changing of mentality that was needed a long time ago. After Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Reading on the weekend, Wenger said he was pleased that the players did not relent in the drive for three points. There was no handbrake to be raised on this occasion.

Many of the current Arsenal players, as well as those who have played for the club in recent seasons have never had it so good. The mentality at the club meant they would never be hung out to dry following a run of poor performances, and it truly would have taken something monumental for the knives inside the walls of London Colney to turn against them.

It’s not that Wenger needs to run the club with an iron fist, but there really does need to be a sense of fear about the players when they play badly. How often do you see Manchester United as a collective performing well below what’s expected? It’s not that Alex Ferguson wouldn’t allow it, but the players themselves wouldn’t allow the performance levels to drop in such a way. It’s a mentality that does indeed stem from the manager and the respect for himself and the club he demands.

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For Arsenal players, it’s been an easy ride. Even after the humiliating loss against Bradford in the League Cup, Wenger seemed incredibly hesitant to criticise his players. Sometimes you need that in public, even if some don’t find it constructive in any way. Big clubs with big mentalities know when strong words are necessary.

It’s only now that Wenger has said to the player that they’re earning their place next season have we seen a notable improvement, and one that supplements the defensive strategy adopted a few weeks ago.

No one on the continent will pay many of these players the wages they’re currently on. A lot of it’s to do with budgeting, but much of it is just because none of them are worth it. And now you get the sense that this is the last opportunity for some, where a feeling of last orders really didn’t frighten the current playing staff from living the good life in the past.

I wouldn’t get too carried away with players like Gervinho. A goal and two assists is something you’d expect from a title-winning forward playing in a team who are supposed to generate as many chances as Arsenal. Now there’s a lot of faith in the words of Wenger and the performances of the Ivorian over the past two league games. I’m not convinced and I don’t believe he should be afforded another season with the club. If Wenger’s latest stance is here for the remainder of his time with the club then it should be used on players who are clearly good enough: Gervinho has never been good enough for Arsenal.

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The fight and willingness to do better stems from the top. For far too long Arsenal players, as well as fans, have been fed the line that fourth is acceptable and there is no urgency for trophies. There’s no pressure internally and the club are unlikely to pay much attention to the discontent among supporters. It really is no surprise then that Arsenal have been coasting for much of the past six years. The best want to leave because mediocrity is accepted both on the pitch and in the transfer market, and despite how admirable Wenger’s approach to the game may be, the lack of drive for success from a leader will naturally rub off on the players.

This wake up call is exactly what Arsenal needed. Very rarely have we seen players performing for the shirt or justifying their next pay cheque. It’s become too comfortable, and only now when the threat has become very real has the ultimatum been dropped. A lot of these players need to know what it means to play for Arsenal. They’ve been fortunate, not many managers of other top Premier League clubs would have offered them this opportunity.

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that a deal to bring Montpellier forward Olivier Giroud to the club is 90 per cent done.

The Emirates Stadium outfit are looking to bolster their squad for next season, with the France international on the verge of joining the north London club after an impressive 2011-12 with the French champions.

Wenger is looking forward to having the player at his disposal.

“Giroud hasn’t played much at the Euros so far, but he’s going to be an Arsenal player 90 per cent next season,” Wenger told TF1, translated to English by Sky Sports.

“I think he has exceptional potential and will integrate very well in our collective and our way of playing.

“He is a real team player and knows how to combine with other players and I’m sure he will do well with us.”

Giroud will join Lukas Podolski at Arsenal, who has signed for the side over the summer also, and Wenger has been impressed with the attacker’s performances for Germany at Euro 2012.

“Podolski did a great job for the German team, he has superb team work.

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“He plays in a cautious way sometimes, but he’s still scored a very important goal against Denmark for his 100th cap. I am very happy with what I’ve seen from him,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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Tottenham Hotspur are unlikely to appoint a new manager until the summer, though one name has emerged as a primary candidate…

Tottenham manager news – Fabrizio Romano provides Julian Nagelsmann update

The Telegraph recently revealed that Julian Nagelsmann was a key target for the north London outfit, having been sacked by Bayern Munich only last month.

Now, renowned transfer guru and journalist Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on the situation, claiming that while a move is far from close, he is among chairman Daniel Levy's shortlist.

He told Caught Offside:

"Tottenham have Julian Nagelsmann in their list alongside other candidates, for sure; but nothing is advanced or decided yet.

"Daniel Levy will take his time to make final decision, the board/directors situation also has to be clarified after Fabio Paratici resigned; this is a crucial step to decide on the new manager.

"Nagelsmann is not in a hurry to decide his future."

Will Nagelsmann become Spurs manager this summer?

Many around N17 have pined for the return of Mauricio Pochettino over the last few months but with much of the same playing squad still contracted, it's hard to envisage anything being different to the end of his tenure at the club.

Naglesmann, meanwhile, could offer a similar philosophy but one that can inject this lifeless outfit with some fresh impetus.

His favoured counter-attacking 4-2-3-1 system is similar to that of the Argentine's prime Spurs side, with the full-backs given license to bomb forward, thanks to the defensive stability in the engine room.

The wingers, such as Heung-min Son, become equally crucial as they come inside to support the sole striker and getting the South Korean closer to his talismanic partner Harry Kane will surely reap rewards.

This is perhaps why former Newcastle United and West Ham United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has hailed the German as a perfect candidate for Tottenham.

"I think Nagelsmann is a good fit," he told ESPN. "I don’t know what it would cost and whether he would want it, but I think Nagelsmann would be a good fit for Spurs. Given his experiences at Bayern, he would deal with the difficulties of Daniel Levy."

His youthful age, at least in coaching terms, is more of a positive than a negative as he's able to truly connect better with his players with his "awesome" and "outstanding mentality," according to Sky Germany reporter Philipp Hinze, who has also hailed him as a "mastermind."

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That mix of player management and tactical nous is exactly what Tottenham's next manager needs to have, with Antonio Conte perhaps falling short in both regards on numerous occasions.

Having departed the Bavarian giants with an impressive 71.4% win rate and an average of 2.31 points-per-game, via Transfermarkt, there will be few better candidates available on the managerial market this summer, so it's on Levy and his staff to make the right offer to lure the 35-year-old to north London.

Given the evidence above, he could indeed be the breath of fresh air that the club desperately needs to move forward. He completely transformed RB Leipzig as a club and now Spurs could be the next to undergo an on-pitch makeover under the eye-catching stewardship of Nagelsmann.

Moussa Sissoko’s £30m move to Tottenham in the summer of 2016 hardly went to plan for either party involved and now it seems as though the Frenchman will leave Spurs after just two years.

What’s the story?

Turkish newspaper Sabah have reported that Sissoko is a target for Fenerbahçe after they missed out to West Ham in the race to sign Jack Wilshere on a free transfer.

Valued at £16.2m by Transfermarkt, Sissoko has appeared in 58 Premier League games for Spurs during his two seasons at the club, but has failed to convince the fans or Mauricio Pochettino that he is capable of holding down a starting spot.

One club that should look to hijack Fenerbahçe’s potential deal is newly promoted Wolves. Nuno Espirito Santo has made seven signings already this summer as he looks to add to his squad for their return to the Premier League and Sissoko would bring much needed Premier League experience.

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A perfect fit?

If he is able to find the form he showed at Newcastle and for the French national side at Euro 2016 then Sissoko could be a formidable attribute for Wolves.

In his best position on the right of a midfield, the 28-year-old’s pace and power allows him to drive his team forward and start attacks.

Football Whispers’ algorithm has named Sissoko as the second most likely player to join Wolves in this transfer window and with new signing Diogo Jota on the opposite wing, Wolves could create a dangerous attacking side.

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Spurs will likely be willing to take a hit on the £30m they spent on Sissoko and it could end up being a perfect deal for the West Midlands side.

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Philadelphia Union have been denied top spot in the MLS Eastern Conference after being held to a 1-1 draw at home by the Los Angeles Galaxy.Galaxy captain Landon Donovan opened the scoring in the 24th minute on Wednesday, and Philadelphia had to wait until six minutes before the end to equalise with a goal from Congolese striker Danny Mwanga.

A win would have seen Philadelphia leapfrog New York Red Bull into top spot in the East, but they now trail by a single point, while the Galaxy extended their lead in the Western Conference to two points over Real Salt Lake.

Elsewhere, Dallas scored a 1-0 home win over Toronto to lift themselves above the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers into fourth in the Western Conference, with the only goal of the game coming via a penalty in first-half stoppage time from midfielder Daniel Hernandez.

And the Vancouver Whitecaps played out a 1-1 draw at home against the San Jose Earthquakes in a match between the Western Conference’s bottom two sides.

Chris Wondolowski put San Jose ahead six minutes before half-time but a 91st-minute goal from Davide Chiumiento helped Vancouver grab a share of the spoils.

Newcastle United have confirmed that loanee Hatem Ben Arfa sustained a broken left leg early on in the 2-1 defeat at Manchester City on Sunday.

The France international winger was felled by a challenge from City's Nigel de Jong and now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

A short statement from the Magpies read:"X-rays taken have confirmed that he has suffered a broken tibia and fibula of his left leg. He will undergo surgery on Monday morning.

"Everyone connected with the club sends Hatem their best wishes for a speedy recovery. At this stage no time limit has been put on his expected return date."

Manager Chris Hughton had expressed his unhappiness at the tackle which left Ben Arfa stricken.

He said:"Everyone will have their own opinion, but it was a tackle that did not need to be made.

"When something like that happens and then to have some incredible decisions go against us, it's hard to take."

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However, City assistant coach Brian Kidd defended his player, adding:"Everybody knows Nigel and he is as honest as the day is long. It's so sad when you see that happen and we hope it is not too serious.

"There was no malice in Nigel's challenge and Nigel is not that type of lad. He's the same in training and there's no malice in Nigel."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Ryan Mason’s abysmal away record as West Bromwich Albion manager ultimately proved to be his undoing.

Staggeringly, the Baggies’ last-gasp loss on the road at Leicester City – which proved to be Mason’s final outing in the dug-out – was the West Midlands outfit’s tenth away defeat in a row in Championship action, with the 34-year-old stating that he felt “devastated” yet again for the travelling faithful at the full-time whistle.

That would prove to be some of his last words to the media, as he was finally put out of his West Brom misery, with only nine league wins heading his way in total, from 26 contests.

In the end, Mason was in over his head, taking on the challenge of the second-tier job so early into his fledgling managerial career, as West Brom now look to get their faltering season back on track with an inspired replacement.

Contenders to replace Mason

It will be interesting to see what route the Baggies go down in immediately replacing the underwhelming head coach, with experienced Championship managers being lined up to come in.

Manager Focus

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Indeed, both Michael Carrick and Carlos Corberan are being rumoured to call the Hawthorns home very shortly, with the pair combined overseeing a mighty 138 wins in the Championship.

The Spaniard collected a large portion of those when previously in charge of the Baggies, and with his future at Valencia hanging in the balance, a spectacular reunion might soon be on the cards.

Yet, the other route West Brom could go down is going after another inexperienced head coach, despite the obvious failures of the Mason reign, with former Manchester United coach Eric Ramsay also in line to take on the reins after the 34-year-old, according to the Express and Star.

Now a fully fledged manager in his own right at Minnesota United, this would be a left-field move, and a daring one, considering the position West Brom find themselves in, near the foot of the Championship table, after a similar gamble didn’t pay off with Mason.

He was eyed up previously, though, so right now, it could be the time when Ramsay is actually handed the vacancy, as West Brom potentially gain their next Corberan in the making in the highly regarded boss.

Why Ramsay can be Corberan 2.0

It does feel like some time ago that Corberan was just a second-in-command figure to Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United, with the 42-year-old very much earning his stripes in English football behind the scenes, under the enigmatic South American.

Bielsa would even hail Corberan as a “very talented” coach during the time at Elland Road together, with the eccentric Argentine manager also stating that he sometimes valued the ex-West Brom boss’ opinion “more than his own.”

He would then go on to forge his own career as a main head coach in England, emerging from the shadow of Bielsa, with two Championship playoff finishes coming his way with both Huddersfield Town and West Brom, as his exit for Valencia in late 2024 devastated the Hawthorns masses.

Realistically, it could be challenging to tempt Corberan back to West Brom imminently, as he will still feel he has a job to do in La Liga, with Ramsay perhaps being the next best option in attempting to replicate the overwhelming success story of the Spaniard.

After all, in an eerily similar manner to Bielsa’s praise of the now under-pressure Valencia manager, Ramsay was also dubbed as “very talented” when taking up a coaching role at the Red Devils by Erik ten Hag, with similar praise also coming his way when he was Wales’ assistant manager by Rob Page, who wildly called the 33-year-old “one of the best young coaches” he had worked alongside.

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Much like Corberan, though, Ramsay would have known that he would need to spread his wings in the main manager game sooner rather than later, and he’s made quite the impact in America as head coach of MLS outfit Minnesota.

Ramsay’s record with Minnesota

Stat

Ramsay

Games

81

Wins

38

Draws

16

Losses

27

Goals scored

157

Goals conceded

133

Points accumulated

130

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Ramsay has guided Minnesota to a respectable 38 wins so far from his 81 games in charge, with sporting director Khaled El-Ahmad lauding the 33-year-old for being “super energetic” from the sidelines, as he immediately acclimatised himself to his new environment.

It would, of course, be a huge jump for Ramsay to go from the MLS to the pressures of the EFL’s elite league, but Corberan never looked back after he was shoved into the deep end at Huddersfield.

Having also found himself being tentatively linked to the RC Strasbourg opening, it’s clear that Ramsay is a manager on the rise, with West Brom potentially his next destination.

Related Better than Carrick: West Brom could re-hire "elite" Mason replacement

West Bromwich Albion fans would be overjoyed if this manager target came in to replace Ryan Mason.

Posts 4 ByKelan Sarson

Manchester United are now reportedly monitoring a South American gem who has a release clause worth a hefty £69m.

Amorim warns Man Utd "have to perform" vs Leeds

Attempting to welcome the new year in style, Man United square off against Leeds United in desperate need of bouncing back following a disappointing draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out.

It was a stark reminder of where the Red Devils find themselves these days and a clear sign of just how far they have to go under Ruben Amorim.

Leeds are unlikely to be pushovers, either. Daniel Farke’s side haven’t suffered a defeat in six games and that run has included two draws against Liverpool as well as a victory over Chelsea. Everything suggests that the Whites will be welcoming Man United with three points in mind.

Amorim, with the chance to win his first derby day against Leeds, told reporters in the build-up: “It’s different. I never experienced this one. In Portugal it’s a big rivalry. Here’s it is the same. Different environment, different culture but the noise is going to be big. We just have to perform.

“But it’s hard to compare different cultures, different derbies, different history, so let’s just focus on the game. It is 11 guys against our 11 in the beginning and we will try to win.”

Of course, it’s not just on the pitch that Man United need results this month. Away from the action, INEOS must also get things right in the transfer market.

To that end, whilst potential midfield reinforcements such as Carlos Baleba will reportedly be taking priority, those at Old Trafford also have their sights set on a South American gem.

Man Utd monitoring £69m Rayan

According to AS journalist Eduardo Burgos, as relayed by Sport Witness, Man United are now monitoring Rayan alongside Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

The 19-year-old has burst onto the radar of a number of European stars, but won’t come cheap. Reports have suggested that clubs will have to trigger his €80m (£69m) release clause at Vasco da Gama.

As far as Ben Mattinson is concerned, however, that £69m release clause may be worth triggering. The Como scout spoke highly of the forward last January, dubbing him a “technical powerhouse”.

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Since then, Rayan has scored 20 goals in 57 appearances in the 2024/25 campaign in Brazil and very much looks destined to take the leap towards European football.

Related Ugarte upgrade: Man Utd hoping to sign "monster" for £35m after talks

Time could be running out for Manuel Ugarte at Manchester United.

Posts ByRobbie Walls

So many Premier League sides have welcomed young South American stars with great success in the past and United may well follow suit in the near future.

	Chris Gayle could be out of the first edition of the IPL © Getty Images

Chris Gayle has been ruled out of the first edition of the Indian Premier League after failing to recover from a groin injury that he sustained during the recent series against Sri Lanka, the Kolkata based reported.Gayle sustained the injury in the third ODI in St Lucia, limping off with a groin strain shortly after finishing his bowling stint. He missed Kolkata’s first two games – in Bangalore at at home – before he was declared unavailable for the rest of the tournament as well.However a spokesman for the franchise said a final decision was yet to be made. “He’s injured but he’s still not out of the tournament,” he said. “No decision has been made yet.”Gayle, along with three other West Indies players, were supposed to return to the Caribbean on May 18, in time for their series against Australia. It was reported that Gayle will be coming to the city first week of May to spend some time with the Kolkata team.