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Back on track: Arsenal fight back to win and return to top of table

Published

4 years ago

February 18, 2023

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Arsenal fought from behind twice before claiming a 93rd minute winner at Aston Villa – thanks to the head of former goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

The Gunners had lost three of their last four games heading into this clash and got off to the worst possible start when Ollie Watkins beat the offside trap to fire home an opener for Unai Emery’s men. Bukayo Saka hammered in an equaliser with, before Philippe Coutinho finished off a brilliant team move to put Villa back in front before the break.

However, Oleksandr Zinchenko equalised just past the hour mark, but the Gunners looked set to be frustrated as the game headed into injury time. But when Jorginho’s fine 25-yard strike clattered the crossbar and bounced down, their luck was in, as it hit the back of the head of Martinez, and rebounded into the net, before Gabriel Martinelli wrapped up the win late on. Here are six talking points from a huge show of character from Mikel Arteta’s men.

Title hopes back on track
It looked like it would be five games without a win in all competitions for Arsenal with their title challenge has been seriously dented. But they dug deep in stunning fashion to put their title challenge back on track with a remarkable win.

They now move three points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table, with a game in hand over Pep Guardiola’s side. The luck was on their side at Villa Park, something that all title winners need to have.

Mikel Arteta can finally sleep soundly, with his side’s title challenge firmly back on track. They are now back in control of the title race, with the manner of Saturday’s win likely to feed into their momenteum.

It would be fair to say that Philippe Coutinho’s time at Aston Villa has not gone the way the Brazilian would have hoped. He had made just six starts in the Premier League heading into Saturday’s game, but was given a chance from the off against the Gunners.

It was a chance he made the most of, completing 79 per cent of his passes and being a threat throughout. But the highlight of his afternoon came, unsurprisingly, with his goal.

Villa had moved up the pitch in impressive fashion having played out from the back, with Coutinho picking up the ball in the Arsenal box. With many expecting him to fire to the right, Coutinho instead slid the ball low to the left and proved he can still deliver in the big games.

Unai Emery clearly has unfinished business in the Premier League and he showed once again why he is considered to be one of the top coaches in the division. His gameplan worked to perfection, coming so close to securing his side an impressive win against the title challengers.

A point would have extended his impressive record against the Gunners. In his previous four games as manager against them Emery had been yet to lose, winning once and drawing three times.

But that record is now at an end, with Arteta showing his coaching ability to turn the game on its head with his substitutions. Emery was left shellshocked at full-time, but he will take heart from his side’s performance.

Oleksandr Zinchenko has been one of the signings of the season since his arrival at Arsenal from Manchester City. But Aston Villa appeared to have a successful plan for how to deal with the Ukrainian, who tends to cut inside as an inverted fullback.

Villa packed the midfield to ensure there was little space for Zinchenko to roam into inside, with Arsenal somewhat blunted as a result. But as the game progressed, the Ukrainian international was able to grow increasingly involved in the game.

And he produced a stunning goal to keep his side’s title hopes alive just past the hour mark. With the ball loose from a corner, Zinchenko fired low past Emi Martinez from outside the box, rescuing a point for the visitors.

Still fight in the Gunners
Having endured their worst run of form of the season and seen Coutinho put Aston Villa back in-front, Arsenal’s squad may have been forgiven for dropping their heads. Instead though, the Gunners carried on fighting and scrapping to get back into the game.

Related Topics:Arsenal ASTON VILLA PREMIERSHIP

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Lionel Messi retires from international football

Published

3 weeks ago

August 31, 2026

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Argentina football legend, Lionel Messi, has drawn the curtain on his international football with Argentina after an illustrious career with the South American nation.

The 39-year-old made a total of 207 appearances, announced his retirement on Monday.

He won the World Cup in 2022, and was a runner-up in 2026 and 2014. He also secured two Copa América titles.

Messi wrote in a statement, “It was a decision that hurt – and still hurts deep down – but I understand that the time has come. I swear to you that I always gave it my all – not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.

“Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply. I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team. I’ve given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up who deserve to be here.”

Messi, who made 207 appearances and reached three World Cup finals, is widely regarded by fans worldwide as the greatest footballer ever.

Sports

Tinubu orders comprehensive reform of Nigerian football after resignation of NFF board

Published

3 weeks ago

August 27, 2026

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football to ensure the national football team overcome repeated failures to qualify for major regional, continental and world tournaments.

“The reform must respond to a longstanding need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across Nigerian football,” he said.

Tinubu, according to a statement on Thursday by Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesperson, made the decision to help the country “overcome repeated failures to qualify for major regional, continental and world tournaments”.

“Football, Nigeria’s most popular sport and the greatest beneficiary of public support, investment and national attention, has continued to struggle basically due to structural deficits within the system,” the president said.

The President noted that while other sports had recorded meaningful progress since the reset of the sports sector under the re-established National Sports Commission, football has continued to struggle because of structural weaknesses within the system.

He stressed that Nigerian football must begin to match the country’s exceptional talent, passion and resources with stronger institutions and sustained performance.

President Tinubu directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to work with the NFF Secretariat and relevant football stakeholders to ensure continuity in essential football administration and facilitate a broad, consultative reform process.

The process will include appropriate engagement with FIFA and CAF while safeguarding Nigeria’s obligations within the international football framework.

The President called on football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition and work together to build a stronger, more accountable and successful football system.

Sports

Ibrahim Gusau confirms resignation as NFF president, Mohammed Sanusi steps down as general secretary

Published

3 weeks ago

August 27, 2026

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Ibrahim Gusau has confirmed his resignation as the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The former chairman officially announced his resignation at a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday.

He said: “After consultation with family, friends and stakeholders, I just want to tell you that I have decided to resign from my position.

“As Nigerians, nobody is greater than this country. We all love our country and its progress. And as people who have been in football and managing football, we need to look at ourselves and ask, ‘What next?’ so we made a lot of consultations.”

Gusau added that he also advised members of the NFF board to follow his footsteps. He clarified, however, that he cannot say whether they would heed his advice.

A few minutes after Gusau’s announcement, the NFF, on its X page, confirmed the resignation of Mohammed Sanusi as the federation’s general secretary.

The mass resignation comes a few weeks after the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the women’s World Cup for the first time since the competition’s inception. The disappointment triggered backlash for the NFF board members.

According to rumours, the NFF leadership was pressured to step down after intervention from top brass of the Federal Government, from the National Sports Commission (NSC) to the presidency.

Gusau was elected NFF president in 2022, and his tenure was supposed to end next month, with an elective congress scheduled for September 27.

The fate of the congress is uncertain as reports claim that a normalisation committee will be set up to oversee the federation’s affairs until further notice.

Under Gusau’s leadership, the Super Eagles, like the Falcons, also failed to qualify for the men’s 2026 World Cup, despite Africa getting 10 slots for the first time. The failure also extended to age-grade football, with the men’s U-17 and U-20 teams missing out on World Cups.