Category Football

Arsenal secured an important win against Ipswich on Friday night, reducing Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League table. The Gunners managed this victory without needing star player Bukayo Saka.

The match, held in North London, was mostly a story of Arsenal attacking while Ipswich focused on defending. Except for an early chance by Ipswich, Arsenal dominated the game, keeping the visitors in their own half and creating many scoring opportunities.

Arsenal finally broke through in the 23rd minute when Kai Havertz scored the opener. The goal came from a perfect cross by Leandro Trossard from the left side. Later in the first half, Gabriel Jesus thought he had doubled the lead with an impressive goal from a tight angle, but it was ruled offside.

In the second half, Ipswich came out stronger and tested Arsenal a bit more. Arsenal had chances to extend their lead, with Declan Rice and Havertz coming close to scoring. Gabriel also missed a clear chance from a corner.

Mikel Arteta’s tactical changes in the later stages of the match helped Arsenal regain control. They deserved the three points, which now put them just six points behind league leaders Liverpool.

Player Performances

Goalkeeper & Defence

– *David Raya (8/10):*
The Arsenal goalkeeper had little to do but stayed calm when in possession, passing the ball well under Ipswich’s pressure.

– Jurrien Timber (8/10):
Played aggressively, often joining Arsenal’s attacks to help break through Ipswich’s solid defence. He even had a couple of good shots saved.

– William Saliba (8/10):
Reliable as always, Saliba barely had to defend but ensured a stable backline.

– Gabriel (8/10):
A consistent threat during set pieces and found himself supporting Arsenal’s attack on several occasions.

– Myles Lewis-Skelly (9/10):
Outstanding at left-back, showcasing his talent and proving his value to Arteta’s team. Another success story from Arsenal’s Hale End Academy.

With this win, Arsenal stays firmly in the race for the Premier League title and shows their depth by performing well without Bukayo Saka.

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has made it clear that Marcus Rashford will remain out of the team until he meets the club’s standards. Rashford has been dropped for the last three games against Manchester City, Tottenham, and Bournemouth.

Amorim explained that the decision to leave Rashford out is based on his performances in training, not his recent interview where he expressed a desire to leave the club. The coach emphasized that Rashford needs to improve before returning to the squad.

“When I feel the time is right, I will bring him back. Until then, I am focused on what’s best for the team,” said Amorim. “I speak to Marcus every day about his performance, not about the interview. He wants to play, and he’s trying, but this is my decision. I have to do things my way, and I won’t change that.”

United are going through a tough phase, with back-to-back losses to Tottenham and Bournemouth. They now face Wolves on Boxing Day. Amorim highlighted that players like Rashford, who have been with the club for a long time, have a big responsibility during difficult times.

“Marcus needs to be the best version of himself. Players with big talent have big responsibilities. This is one of the lowest points for the club, and everyone needs to step up and show strength,” said Amorim.

The coach has faced many questions about Rashford since the forward was dropped for the Manchester derby. However, Amorim insists that Rashford’s absence is not causing issues within the team.

“It’s not a distraction for me or the players. Everyone at the training ground understands the situation. The media may see it differently, but my focus is clear. Everyone knows what I expect from Marcus and the rest of the squad,” he said.

As United prepare for their next match, the focus remains on improving performances. Amorim’s message to Rashford and the team is simple: work harder, take responsibility, and rise to the occasion.12

FIFA has officially chosen Saudi Arabia to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. This will be the second time a Middle Eastern country hosts the tournament, following Qatar in 2022.

The decision was made during an extraordinary FIFA Congress meeting on Wednesday. FIFA President Gianni Infantino also confirmed that the 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, with celebratory matches in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay to honor the tournament’s 100-year history.

The 2030 World Cup will be unique, taking place across six countries and three continents. Uruguay, which hosted the first-ever World Cup in 1930, will hold a special opening game, alongside Argentina and Paraguay. While Spain and Argentina have hosted before, this will be the first time Morocco, Portugal, and Paraguay welcome the tournament.

For the 2034 World Cup, Saudi Arabia will host the first-ever 48-team tournament in a single country. Matches will take place in 15 stadiums across five cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and Neom. Riyadh’s new King Salman Stadium, which will hold 92,000 spectators, is expected to host the opening and final games.

Saudi Arabia’s bid was approved unanimously, with no competing bids. Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal al Saud, the Saudi Sports Minister, expressed pride in the decision, promising an “extraordinary World Cup” in the kingdom.

FIFA’s move to expand the tournament and take it to new regions reflects its goal of bringing football to more countries while maintaining the quality of the competition, Infantino said.

West Ham United striker Michail Antonio, who was involved in a car crash, is in stable condition, the Premier League club confirmed on Saturday.

“Michail is in a stable condition following a road traffic accident this afternoon in the Essex area. Michail is conscious and communicating and is currently under close supervision at a central London hospital.

“At this difficult time, we kindly ask everyone to respect the privacy of Michail and his family,” West Ham said in a statement.

The 34-year-old, who joined West Ham in 2015, has 83 goals for the Hammers in 322 appearances while winning the UEFA Conference League in 2023.

England-born Antonio never made a senior international appearance for the Three Lions before he made a switch to Jamaica.

West Ham hosts Wolves on Monday.

Sunil Chhetri justified his place in the Bengaluru FC starting lineup with a hattrick against Kerala Blasters FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 match at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Saturday.

The 40-year-old Chhetri, who came off the bench in the last few outings, displayed incredible skill, composure and boundless energy to power BFC to a 4-2 victory. The sight of Chhetri scurrying to cut short KBFC’s attacking moves deep into injury time was a testament to the stalwart’s insatiable desire to win.

BFC moved to the top of the points table (23 points), three ahead of nearest rival Mohun Bagan. KBFC, despite a lion-hearted showing, fell to a fourth loss in its last five outings.

The packed house was treated to a high-quality outing, with both teams unwilling to give an inch. The scoring began with a strong header from Chhetri, who rose above his marker Sandeep Singh to put BFC ahead.

AS IT HAPPENED | BENGALURU FC VS KERALA BLASTERS FC HIGHLIGHTS

BFC’s lead doubled in the 38th minute, when a clean left-footed strike from Australian Ryan Williams nestled into the top corner.

KBFC entered the second half with fire in the belly. Spanish forward Jesus Jimenez made inspired runs, giving hope to the massive contingent of away supporters at the venue. Jimenez finally broke through in the 56th minute, slotting it home from close range.

The home faithful was stunned into silence when Freddy Lallawmawma’s header brought KBFC level at 2-2.

BFC brought on Jorge Diaz, who had an immediate impact. Diaz cut through the defence and found an unmarked Chhetri. The veteran forward needed no second invitation to score, giving BFC the lead once again.

In injury time, Chhetri put the game to bed with a goal from close range to become the oldest player to score a hattrick in the history of the league. After this incredible showing, it will take a brave coach to relegate this evergreen star back to the bench.