Mikel Arteta and Arsenal are enjoying a different world, a different story after winning for the second time since Christmas away at Brighton and Hove Albion.
Talk of a potential relegation battle was building prior to the Boxing Day clash with London rivals Chelsea, but Arsenal ran out 3-1 winners at Emirates Stadium.
Although the Gunners were unconvincing on Tuesday as they turned their focus to Brighton, another three points took them nine clear of the bottom three and up to 13th.
It is the first time since the opening two matches of the season Arsenal have won two in a row in the Premier League, although the clean sheet was their fourth on the road this term trailing only Aston Villa (five) in that regard.
Manager Arteta is now targeting consistency …
Market: Orlando City win
Odds: 19/20 @
Two sides who are desperately seeking a boost this weekend, Orlando will welcome Atlanta to the Exploria Stadium in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Starting with the hosts, while Orlando might still find themselves battling it out at the top of the Eastern Conference, they are enduring a worrying blip. Putting in what many are billing as a season-worst display last weekend, The Purples were hit with a woeful 5-0 drumming away at New York City. Recording just a single MLS victory in any of their last five attempts over the past month, they really failed to build off of that much-needed 2-1 victory against Philadelphia earlier in the month. However, despite being a side really seeking a boost, Head Coach Óscar Pareja sh…
Atletico Madrid have beaten a host of Europe s top clubs to the signing of highly rated Benfica teenager Joao Felix for €126million.
The LaLiga club submitted an offer last Thursday, just three weeks after he made his debut for Portugal, and the deal was completed six days later.
He has signed a contract for the next seven seasons with the Wanda Metropolitano side.
Joao Felix scored 20 goals in all competitions during the 2018-19 season his first as part of Benfica s senior squad and in April became the youngest player to hit a Europa League hat-trick.
Head-turning performances domestically and in continental competitions reportedly captured the attention of Juventus, Manchester City and Manchester United, but Atletico have moved quickest to win his sig…
Chris Hughton has signed a new contract to extend his spell as Brighton and Hove Albion manager, the club have confirmed.
The 59-year-old has agreed to fresh terms that will keep him at the club until June 2021.
Brighton finished 15th in the top flight in 2017-18, having won promotion to the top flight last year, which saw Hughton nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Season award.
I m delighted to have extended my time with the club, and I would like to thank the chairman, the board, my staff and everyone at the club, including our fans, for the support we ve had in achieving our aims, Hughton told the club s website.
The set-up in terms of the training ground and excellent facilities, and the professionalism of all the staff across the club …
Juve propose Llorente-Alex Sandro swap
Portuguese daily newspaper that Italian giants Juventus and FC Porto could be involved in a high-profile swap deal.
The Dragons coach Julen Lopetegui is desperate to lure Fernando Llorente to Estadio do Dragao and has already spoken with his compatriot about a possible deal.
Juventus seem ready to allow the Spaniard to leave this summer, but they also hope to sign Alex Sandro from FC Porto.
The Bianconeri are, therefore, ready to do a swap deal, although they would also have to send some money in the opposite direction due to the fact that Llorente and Alex Sandro are valued at €15m and 25m respectively.
Fernando Llorente is almost certain to leave Juventus this summer after they signed the likes of Mario…
Opposition wingers are not the only players to have been thwarted by Aaron Wan-Bissaka this season, with the Manchester United full-back revealing he has yet to be beaten in training either.
The 22-year-old moved to Old Trafford from Crystal Palace in June for a reported £50million and has impressed for his new club, starting all but two of their Premier League games.
Only Leicester City duo Wilfred Ndidi and Ricardo Pereira have made more tackles than Wan-Bissaka in the English top flight this term and the right-back has proven to be equally adept at defending in training.
Ex-United midfielder Darren Fletcher recently suggested not one player in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s squad had managed to beat Wan-Bissaka since he joined.
Asked whether that was true, W…
Jose Enrique expects Liverpool great Steven Gerrard to manage the Reds one day but suggests it would be a tough ask to replace Jurgen Klopp.
Gerrard, who played alongside Jose Enrique at Anfield, is making impressive initial strides in his coaching career, leading Rangers to the top of the Scottish Premiership, on course to end Celtic s dominance of the division.
But having won nine trophies with his boyhood club as a player, including the Champions League, a return to Liverpool has long been mooted.
The Reds are reigning Premier League champions under Klopp and in a title race again this year, trailing rivals Manchester United by three points at the summit ahead of the sides clash on Sunday.
So, while Jose Enrique anticipates Gerrard will take the helm, …
Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan has signed a short-term contract Thursday on loan to German giants Bayern Munich after impressing coach Jurgen Klinsmann on his 10-day trial.
With Galaxy currently on their winter break, Donovan, 26, will be with Bayern from January to March next year with Klinsmann hoping the United States forward can stay until the end of the season.
Donovan made a very good impression during the ten days with us, explained Klinsmann, who has signed the American as fourth-choice striker behind Luca Toni, Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski.
We have agreed to sign the player on loan from January 1 2009 with an oral promise he will play in Europe until the season starts in the United States again.
Donovan is currently under co…
Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni insists his side have more to worry about than just Tottenham star Gareth Bale in their Europa League tie.
Bale announced himself on the continent with a stunning second-half hat-trick against Inter in 2010 in the Champions League.
The two teams meet in the Europa League last-16 at White Hart Lane on Thursday, and Stramaccioni has warned that the Wales winger is not the only player that needs to be watched.
I think Tottenham are not only a very strong team physically, but they also has great quality, Stramaccioni told reporters.
(Inter coach Andre) Villas-Boas had the opportunity to develop with one of the best coaches in the world, Jose Mourinho.
Bale is now one of the most complete players on the European scene…
Everton striker Romelu Lukaku produced a superb display in the Toffees 3-0 win at Southampton on Saturday
Everton’s 3-0 win at Southampton on Saturday in the early kick-off was an eye-catching one.
The Saints are usually strong at home, but Roberto Martinez’s team, and in particularly striker Romelu Lukaku made a mockery of the Saints.
The big Belgium international scored a brace for the Toffees and combined well with England international Ross Barkley.
Big
Everything about Lukaku seems to be big, his potential, his price tag and his ego. The £28million man holds so much potential and despite perceiving to flop at Chelsea he can be a big talent.
In the past Lukaku has shown flashes of his ability. However against the Saints the forme…