Sports

Arsenal down Man Utd in thrilling Emirates encounter

Published

3 years ago

January 22, 2023

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Eddie Nketiah’s 89th minute winner kept Arsenal on course for the Premier League title as they downed Manchester United late on.

The two sides both had to come from behind at different periods as the contest ebbed and flowed in north London, but ended with the Gunners firmly on top.

The Red Devils remain the only team to beat the Gunners this term – and threatened to do so again when the in-form Marcus Rashford scored a sublime opener from distance.

Erik ten Hag’s celebrations highlighted the importance of the clash, but their lead was short lived as Eddie Nketiah levelled proceedings. Arsenal were able to dominate the midfield and took the lead in the second-half when Bukayo Saka cut-in before scoring in impressive fashion.

The hosts’ lead was similarly short-lived as the bandaged Lisandro Martinez scored a clever header in front of the away following to level the contest once more. It looked as if the contest would end level, but Nketiah sent the Emirates in raptures, after a VAR check, as he flicked home late on.

The contest at the Emirates had a whiff of the Sir Alex Ferguson vs Arsene Wenger about it, such is the quality of these two teams, who are once again up at the top. Here are five talking points from north London.

It has probably been well over a decade since an Arsenal vs United clash involved two teams who were in a good moment, ready to compete and at ease with what they are. The contest, with all its history, has always attracted big audiences and been a game to look out for, but it lacked what we had today.

On Sunday it felt like we’d rewound the clock to a time when these two heavyweights were challenging for honours – and that is exactly what they look set to do. Arteta and Ten Hag have created teams that are befitting their club’s rich history.

At the Emirates we were treated to a 90 minutes that was full of quality, full of energy and full of optimism for both sides. Arsenal supports will have left the happier, but fans can’t have been anything but pleased with what they saw as both outfits showed why they are firmly on the rise.

No Jesus, no problem
The Brazilian was the marquee signing at the Emirates in the summer and quickly showed why in the early months of the season. Even when Gabriel Jesus wasn’t scoring, he was having a notable affect on the team and the fear was, were he to get injured, Arsenal would drop off.

That fear became a reality at the World Cup, but Nketiah has filled in seamlessly and continues to justify the new contract he penned in the summer. For much of the season he’s been Jesus’ understudy, but is proving he’s more than capable of leading the line for a side with title aspirations.

His header levelled the contest, and showed the predatory instincts he’s long been credited with. Jesus is set to be sidelined for several more weeks but his absence is certainly not being felt as Nketiah produced perhaps the moment of the season so far with the winner.

Casemiro’s absence felt
Ten Hag was keen to remind fans that when United beat Arsenal earlier this season, they did so without Casemiro. Much was made of the Brazilian’s absence in north London, which came as a result of his yellow card at Crystal Palace in midweek.

Scott McTominay stepped in to fill the void but he is not a five-time Champions League winner. Casemiro’s arrival has galvanised the United midfield, but without him Arsenal exploited and dominated the middle of the park. They were able to play through the visitors, which allowed them to feed their attacking stars.

You imagine, had Casemiro started, that we would’ve seen a different game, but it was the Gunners who were able to take advantage.

You have to remind yourself sometimes that the man wearing the United No 10 shirt is the same man from last season. Rashford was a player bereft of confidence and form and you wondered whether he would get back to the heights he once threatened to reach as a youngster.

Now though, after an impressive pre-season and a new manager giving him instructions, Rashford is leading United’s attack. His strike at the Emirates showed bags of quality, but could only have been scored by a man brimming with confidence in his own ability.

His strike was his ninth in all competitions since the end of the World Cup – a tally not bettered by anyone in Europe.

Sports

Nine African teams in World Cup last-32 round

Published

2 weeks ago

June 28, 2026

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Following the conclusion of the group stage, nine African countries have confirmed their places in round 32 of the 2026 World Cup.

Algeria and DR Congo are the latest teams from the continent to seal their last-32 ticket at the ongoing competition.

They join Morocco, South Africa, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Cape Verde, Ghana and Senegal in the business end of the competition, breaking the previous record of just two African teams at a World Cup knockout round.

Tunisia is the only country on the continent to qualify for the World Cup, but failed to progress beyond the group stage.

DR Congo qualified after earning their first-ever World Cup victory, 3-1 over Uzbekistan, in their last group stage match on Saturday in Atlanta. Yoane Wissa’s brace and Fislon Mayele’s strike helped the Leopard turn around a game that started disastrously for them.

The victory takes DR Congo to the top of the eight best third-placed teams, and they will face England next on Wednesday.

Algeria also managed to squeeze into the last 32 through the best losers’ route. A 3-3 draw against Austria in their final group game ensured they displaced Iran for the final slot.

Ghana also clung to the third-placed ladder to advance despite their 2-1 loss to Croatia in their last Group game. The Black Stars will face Colombia in the next round on July 3.

ROUND OF 32 FIXTURES (All Nigerian time)

South Africa vs Canada — June 28 — 8 pm — Los Angeles Stadium

Brazil vs Japan — June 29 — 6 pm — Houston Stadium

Germany vs Paraguay — June 29 — 9:30 pm — Boston Stadium

Netherlands vs Morocco — June 30 — 2 am — Estadio Monterrey

Ivory Coast vs Norway — June 30 — 6 pm — Dallas Stadium

France vs Sweden — June 30 — 10 pm — New York New Jersey Stadium

Mexico vs Ecuador — July 1 — 2 am — Mexico City Stadium

England vs DR Congo — July 1 — 5 am — Atlanta Stadium

Belgium vs Senegal — July 1 — 9 pm — Seattle Stadium

United States vs Bosnia and Herzegovina — July 2 — 1 am — San Francisco Bay Area Stadium

Spain vs Austria — July 2 — 6 pm — Los Angeles Stadium

Portugal vs Croatia — July 3 — 12 am — Toronto Stadium

Switzerland vs Algeria — July 3 — 4 am — BC Place, Vancouver

Australia vs Egypt — July 3 — 7 pm — Dallas Stadium

Argentina vs Cape Verde — July 3 — 11 pm — Miami Stadium

Colombia vs Ghana — July 4 — 2:30 am — Kansas City Stadium

Sports

Athletics Open: Amusan wins gold, sets new record in Taiwan

Published

1 month ago

June 6, 2026

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Nigerian and world women’s 100m hurdles world record holder, Tobi Amusan,on Saturday won the women’s 100m hurdles gold at the New Taipei Athletics Open in Taiwan.

Amusan struck gold ahead of Taiwanese duo Bo Ya Zhang, who settled for second place in 13.17s, and Yi Po-an took third place in 13.37s.

The 29-year-old’s winning time of 12.72s is also a new meeting record, chalking off 0.08s off the previous mark of 12.80s held by Nia Ali, US Olympic silver medalist and former world champion.

Amusan was dominant in the qualifiers for the final, blowing away the field in Heat 2, and continued the form in the final to deliver a swashbuckling race that thrilled the crowd.

She took the lead outright after the fourth hurdle, leaving Zhang behind.

The three-time Senior Africa Athletics Championship winner crossed the finish line before the last competing athlete cleared the final hurdle, to the amazement of screaming spectators.

It is the second consecutive race Amusan will break a meeting record this athletics season, she also broke her meeting record in the women’s 100m hurdles event at the Rabat Diamond League.

She has won three of five races this season, and has not failed to claim a podium finish.

Sports

Arsenal win EPL title after 22 years

Published

2 months ago

May 19, 2026

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Arsenal are English Premier League (EPL) champions after Manchester City failed to win at Bournemouth.

Pep Guardiola’s Man City drew 1-1 with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium to hand Arsenal an unassailable four-point lead with just one match remaining to the end of the season.

The Gunners win the EPL title for the first time in 22 years, since the legendary Invincible side won it in the 2003/04 season.

In the club’s 100th season without relegation from the EPL, the club will celebrate its centenary participation with a league title won on the back of a record 28 EPL wins that surpassed the 26 wins recorded by the Invincibles. The defence prevented opponents from registering a shot on target in six matches, equaling a 23-year league record, and also scored a record 17 goals from corner kicks.

Mikel Arteta’s tough side has led the table for most of the season before a late mini-collapse, and Man City’s late surge in form nearly threatened their title ambition for a second season in a row.

City’s late resurgence, however, was initially stunned by Everton in early May and completely collapsed against Bournemouth.

Guardiola’s side visited the Vitality Stadium aware that any result other than a victory would seal Arsenal’s title. But they lacked the execution for the mission after falling to a wonderful strike from Junior Kroupi in the first half.

City were only kept in the game by Bournemouth’s profligacy in front of goal. When Erling Haaland’s equaliser was squeezed home in the eleventh hour of the game, even the most faithful City supporter knew it was too little, too late.

Arsenal and Arteta secured the league earlier than they would have predicted, giving City a prodigious title run-in.

The league triumph is Arteta’s second major title with the North London club since joining in December 2019, adding to the English FA Cup trophy won within six months of his tenure in May 2020.

The 44-year-old Spaniard wins his fourth title overall and can win his fifth — and third major trophy — with victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final next weekend.