Premier League
Manchester United head to the Emirates for clash with Arsenal
It is always a big occasion when Arsenal and Manchester United meet, and the timing of Sunday’s English Premier League clash in London could allow both clubs to send a message about their potential title ambitions heading into the September international break.
After a surprising second-place finish last season, Arsenal, with seven points so far, have done their part to prove they are not going anywhere. Even their lone blemish on the season, a 2-2 home draw against Fulham last weekend, included an encouraging fightback from a goal down to briefly take a 2-1 lead.
They have also weathered a short-term injury absence of attacker Gabriel Jesus, with Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah each scoring twice over Arsenal’s first three matches.
With Jesus available on Sunday – having made a very brief cameo in the Fulham draw – manager Mikel Arteta admits a win would be a momentum builder, even if he thinks it is a bit too early to declare anyone a true challenger to Manchester City, the three-time defending champions.
“We all want to win games, we all want to play the best possible way,” the Spaniard said on Friday.
“That’s (a victory) not going to dictate but it gives you momentum and belief. Before the international break, it’s very important to finish well and win your game and go into September with another block of games on a high.”
Despite dropping points last week, the Arsenal boss insisted he is pleased with the performance and remains positive.
“Really happy, I said against Fulham, and I have watched the game twice, that we played ten times better, six or ten, but we definitely played much better (than before). But it’s all about the results,” he added.
Jesus’ return will be a boost, while Takehiro Tomiyasu also returns from a one-game suspension. Oleksandr Zinchenko is close to a full recovery from a calf issue, but long-term absentees Jurrien Timber and Mohamed Elneny remain out.
The Gunners and the Red Devils have two wins apiece in their last four league meetings, with the home team winning on all four occasions, so Arteta’s men might have a slight advantage on Sunday.
United, who have six points, have also certainly looked vulnerable at times this season, suffering a hefty 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur two weeks ago and having to overcome an early two-goal deficit in last weekend’s 3-2 home win over Nottingham Forest.
But Erik ten Hag’s men deserve credit for enduring some key absences early on, and the picture appears to be clearing heading into the weekend.
Summer signing Rasmus Hojlund is set to make his club debut and could even start after a back issue kept the Danish striker out in August
“He had a good training week, we still have a final training but he is doing well, he is responding well, so yeah he will be available for Sunday’s game,” ten Hag said on Friday.
And the club have added Sergio Reguilon on loan from Tottenham as well to fill an urgent need at left-back after a pair of injuries to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.
“He is a very experienced player, a player for big clubs, a player that’s played already a lot of games in La Liga, in the Premier League,” ten Hag added of Reguilon.
“While we had a problem with Luke Shaw injured, Ty Malacia injured, they are for long term out, so I think we responded very well in that emergency situation.”
United were also able to get Moroccan standout Sofyan Amrabat on loan with an option to buy from Italian Serie A side Fiorentina to help bolster their midfield, following an injury to Mason Mount.
Veteran centre-back Raphael Varane is out for a few weeks after coming off at half-time against Forest, so Victor Lindelof should deputise on Sunday.
– Reuters/ AFP
Thomas Partey, who formerly played for English Premier League soccer club Arsenal, has been charged with rape and sexual assault, London’s Metropolitan Police said on Friday.
Partey, a Ghana international, was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, with the charges relating to three women and the offences reported to have taken place between 2021 and 2022, the statement said.
Partey’s management did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
He is due to appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Aug. 5.
Partey, 32, was signed by Arsenal from Atletico Madrid for 50 million euros ($59 million) in October 2020 and became a key member of Arsenal’s first team.
He was first arrested in July 2022, though he was not named at the time and continued to play for Arsenal while investigations were ongoing.
-Reuters
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Five players including England forward Marcus Rashford and Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho have informed Manchester United that they wish to explore a future away from the Premier League side, a club source said on Friday.
Brazilian midfielder Antony, Dutch defender Tyrell Malacia and England international Jadon Sancho are also looking to leave the club, the source added.
Rashford, who has made more than 400 senior appearances for United, has fallen out of favour with manager Ruben Amorim, played for Aston Villa on loan while United had their worst-ever Premier League campaign, finishing 15th in the standings.
Amorim had called Rashford’s work rate into question, saying he would rather put a goalkeeper coach on the bench than a player not giving their all.
Rashford said he was feeling fitter and better since joining Villa, where he scored two goals in 10 league appearances.
United also failed to qualify for the Champions League as they lost the Europa League final 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur. Garnacho, who was a late substitute in the final, voiced his displeasure on social media after the loss.
“Up until the final, I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don’t know,” he wrote in a post . “The final will influence (my decision), but the whole season, the situation of the club.”
Sancho was on loan at Chelsea, where he made 31 league appearances last season. Antony, who joined United from Ajax Amsterdam in 2022 for a reported initial transfer fee of more than $100 million, scored five goals in 17 LaLiga appearances on loan at Real Betis.
Malacia joined Dutch side PSV Eindhoven on loan in February.
-Reuters
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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes turned down the opportunity to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in order to keep playing “at the highest level”, he said on Tuesday.
The Portuguese midfielder admitted that he had considered the move, which media reports said was worth four times his current salary, after being contacted by Al-Hilal’s president.
“There was that possibility, the president of Al-Hilal called me a month ago to ask me about it,” Fernandes, who is preparing to face Germany with Portugal, told reporters on Tuesday.
“It was a big offer, very ambitious. There was a waiting period for me to think about the future.”
Fernandes ultimately decided to stay at United and said he was motivated by his desire to continue playing at the top level and encouraged by his family and the club’s coach Ruben Amorim.
“I would be willing to do it if Manchester United thought so,” Fernandes added. “I spoke to the coach Ruben Amorim who really tried to talk me out of it. The club said they would not be willing to sell me, only if I wanted to leave.
“I spoke to my wife and family, and she asked me what my personal goals were in my career.
“It would have been easy to move there but I want to keep myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions and I feel capable of it. I am happy with my decision.”
The 30-year-old Fernandes scored 19 goals and provided 19 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions for United last season, winning the club’s Player of the Year award for the fourth time.
However, it was a season to forget for the team, as they finished 15th in the Premier League, their lowest league finish in half a century, and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.
-Reuters
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