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Arsenal’s top-four hopes receive major boost with dramatic win over Wolves

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Arsenal left it late to come from behind and earn a memorable 2-1 victory over Wolves and ignite their bid to qualify for the Champions League.

Wolves went in front after just 10 minutes, but for the first time in 45 Premier League matches, they let a lead slip with a Jose Sa own goal in injury time the difference.

The Gunners almost got off to a blistering start but had strong appeals for a penalty waved away by Martin Atkinson in the first minute of play.

Wolves then did the ball in the net a few minutes later, with Romain Saiss’ deft finish ruled out for an offside.

But the visitors weren’t to be denied when Hwang Hee-chan intercepted Gabriel’s weak back pass and rounded Aaron Ramsdale to open the scoring in the 10th minute.

Following the concession of the early goal, Arsenal composed themselves to dominate much of the first half, with last-ditch Wolves blocks denying them.

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Bruno Lage’s side had the first real chance of the second half when Hwang was freed by Daniel Podence, but the South Korean international was denied by Ramsdale in the Arsenal goal.

For all of their pressure, it looked like it would be a frustrating evening for Gunners, but with less than ten minutes to go, substitute Nicolas Pepe capped a wonderful move to bring the scores level.

And with just seconds to go Alexandre Lacazette’s shot was deflected in by a flailing arm from Wolves keeper Jose Sa to spark scenes of wild celebration inside the stadium.

The result means Arsenal are right on the shoulder of Manchester United, just one point with two games in hand.

When Wolves came to the Emirates and beat Arsenal in November 2020, it felt like a seminal moment in Arteta’s journey at the club.

There were calls for the inexperienced coach to be sacked, with the Gunners lacking a clear philosophy a year into his tenure.

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This time around however, there is no doubt about Arsenal and the way in which they want to play football.

They are now a team defined by an intense, high-press, which caused Wolves plenty of problems during the opening 45 minutes.

To see the Mexican international back on the same Emirates pitch where he suffered his life threatening head injury offered a sense of perspective for both sides.

There were times in his recovery when there were genuine concerns he had played his final game of football.

But when the action started Jimenez would have only wanted his return to be punctuated by a Wolverhampton Wanderers victory.

It was his press which forced Gabriel’s error, but he missed a gilt-edged chance to double the lead when he screwed a shot wide when one-on-one with Ramsdale.

The late winner ensured Wolves were beaten after scoring the opener for the first time in 45 Premier League matches.

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Better teams have come unstuck against this suffocating Wolves defence, but after plugging away for 96 minutes, they got their winner.

This is the kind of result that, if the Gunners are to get into the top four will be looked at as huge turning point.

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Man United confirm 39-year-old Ruben Amorim as new manager

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Manchester United have appointed Ruben Amorim, Portuguese coach, as the club’s new manager.

 

The Red Devils announced Amorim’s arrival in a statement on the club’s website on Friday.

 

The manager joined United from Sporting Lisbon and penned a three-year deal to manage the club with an option of an additional year.

 

However, the Portuguese coach is not expected to join United immediately due to work visa requirements. He is billed to resume at Old Trafford on November 11.

 

Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue as United’s interim manager until Amorim’s arrival.

 

United sacked Erik Ten Hag as the club’s manager on October 28 following a 2-1 loss to West Ham.

The defeat was the United’s fourth in the English Premier League (EPL) this season, and they slipped to 14th place on the log.

 

The team also remain winless in the Europa League with three draws from as many games. They are rooted in the 21st position of 36 teams in the Europa League log.

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Amorim is saddled with the responsibility of rejigging and correcting the wrongs in the team that made Ten Hag’s tenure unimpressive.

 

The 39-year-old is considered one of Europe’s most promising managers. He won the Primeira Liga twice in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon — the first of which was the club’s first title in 19 years.

 

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Ballon d’Or: Lookman ranked 14th best male footballer in the world

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Ademola Lookman, Super Eagles winger, has been named the 14th best male footballer in the world. 

The 27-year-old was named among the 15 best players in the world on Monday at the Ballon d’Or ceremony held at the Théâtre du Chatelet in Paris, France.

The winger is the only African to make the 30-player shortlist for the 2024 Ballon d’Or prize. He is the second Nigerian to be nominated for the prize in two years.

In 2023, Victor Osimhen became the first Nigerian to break into the top 10 of the award — finishing eighth overall.

Before that, Kanu Nwankwo was the last Super Eagles player to crack the top 15 of the coveted individual prize, ranking 11th in 1996.

Lookman placed ahead of Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and William Saliba on the 2024 Ballon d’Or ranking.

The winger scored 17 goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions last season for Atalanta, which retained its status as one of the best in Serie A.

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He scored a hattrick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, winning Atalanta’s first-ever European title.

Lookman was one of Nigeria’s best players at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire. He scored three goals as the Eagles won silver at the tournament. He was also named in the competition’s best XI alongside captain Willian Troost-Ekong.

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UPDATED: Man United sack Ten Hag, name Van Nistelrooy as interim coach

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Manchester United have fired Erik ten Hag as the club’s head coach following an uninspiring tenure at the helm of affairs.

In a statement on the club’s website, United said Ruud van Nistelrooy will take over as the team’s interim manager.

Ten Hag’s dismissal comes just a day after a 2-1 defeat at West Ham United on Sunday. The loss was the United’s fourth in the English Premier League (EPL) this season, and they slipped to 14th place on the log.

 

The team also remain winless in the Europa League with three draws from as many games. They are rooted in the 21st position of 36 teams in the Europa League log.

 

Ten Hag was appointed as United manager in April 2022. He replaced Ralf Rangnick, who had been working at United in an interim capacity after the club sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November 2021.

 

Although Ten Hag’s tenure in the United dugout was fraught with inconsistent results in the EPL, the Dutchman led the club to two domestic trophies, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.

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Van Nistelrooy will take over on an interim basis alongside the remaining departing coach’s technical team members until a permanent manager is recruited.

 

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