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    Man Utd flop Antony told ‘good players don’t have to constantly show off skills’ by Real Betis boss after debut assist

    REAL BETIS boss Manuel Pellegrini has fired a warning to Antony following his impressive LaLiga debut.The on-loan Manchester United winger put in a man-of-the-match performance as Betis drew 2-2 with Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Antony impressed on his debut for Real Betis against Athletic BilbaoCredit: RexThe Brazilian has received a warning from Betis boss Manuel PellegriniCredit: RexAntony, 24, turned provider for Isco just fifteen minutes into his first start in Spain. The Brazilian rushed onto a through ball and lashed a strike towards Unai Simon in the Bilbao goal.It was smartly saved by the keeper – but ex-Real Madrid midfielder Isco was on hand to sweep home.Antony was a constant threat on the right for the hosts, tormenting full-back Inigo Lekue.READ MORE ON MAN UTDHe was involved again as the hosts took the lead on the stroke of half-time through Romain Perraud. It was a far cry from the 24-year-old’s dismal spell at United, where he was ridiculed for doing needless tricks with the ball while not producing any end product. Following the game, Betis boss Pelligrini sent Anthony a warning to continue his strong start.And he advised the winger from falling back into familiar habits. Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSPelligrini said: “Well, I think it was a very positive debut.”He’s a quality player. I was talking to him just before the game.Antony leaves Man Utd with more yellow cards than goals as £86m Ten Hag flop goes down as one of worst transfers ever”I think a good player doesn’t have to be constantly showing off his skills with the ball.”He has to play a good game, make few mistakes and do two or three important things – a goal, a good pass, a good cross.”I think he was very involved today, especially with the second goal.”He had just arrived a couple of days before and I think he’s going to contribute a lot to us.”Antony joined Man Utd in 2022 from Ajax in a deal worth £84million.He mustered just 5 goals in 62 games for the Red Devils, leaving the club with more yellow cards than goals. READ MORE SUN STORIESBetis reportedly do not have an option to buy included in the loan deal that sent Antony to Spain last month. United are still contributing 16 per cent of his mammoth £200,000-a-week salary. More

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    I locked myself in a dark room, refused dinner and talked to myself after missing a penalty, reveals Cristiano Ronaldo

    CRISTIANO RONALDO has revealed he would lock himself in a room and not eat if he missed a chance to score.The Portuguese legend, who turns 40 today, opened up on the impact his career has had on his mental well-being.Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up about his struggles to cope with failureCredit: GettyCR7 says he would not eat and lock himself away after not scoringCredit: GettyRonaldo’s determination to be the best led to him struggling to cope when he felt he had failed on the pitch.On the emotional toll it took on him, CR7 told LaSexta: “What happens on the pitch. stays on the pitch.”I can’t get back home with my problems from football and get back home with my family. It is not fair on them.”But in the beginning it was very difficult. I tell you clearly.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”I remember myself in Madrid for example, missing an opportunity or missing a penalty. I would lock myself in my room, angry at myself.”I did not allow myself to fail and I talked to myself alone with the light off. I was sick. “I would lay down in bed without having any dinner and say, ‘Why did you shoot to the right and not to the left? You’re dumb.'”I was talking to myself like that.”Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSRonaldo posted this snap ahead of his 40th birthdayCredit: Instagram / cristianoWhen it comes to penalties, Ronaldo has scored 171 and missed just 31 across his career, with 13 of the spot-kicks not finding the back of net at Real Madrid.Despite now learning to not take football into his personal life, he has still had struggles with emotion, bursting into tears when his penalty was saved by Jan Oblak at Euro 2024.Cristiano Ronaldo opens up on ‘f—ing clueless’ coaches he’s played for, Messi relationship and calls himself the GOATBut with 923 goals for club and country so far, Ronaldo is convinced he is the GOAT.He said: “I am the best player ever, I believe that.”I’m fast, I’m strong, [I score] with my header, with the left, no one has ever been more complete than me.“You may prefer Pele, Messi, Maradona, I understand and respect that.“If I finish on 920, 925 goals… it doesn’t matter to me at all. I am the best in history. Period.“If I reach 1,000 goals, great. If not, that’s fine too. Numbers don’t lie.”Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club. More

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    Vinnie Jones buried my tortoise alive while landscaping our back garden… he told me ‘play on son, the ref didn’t see it’

    VINNIE JONES buried my tortoise alive.It’s not exactly “Freddie Starr ate my hamster” – thankfully dear little Lightning was swiftly dug up, suffering nothing more than a dose of shell shock. But it’s a very true tale.Jones was part of the legendary Wimbledon team who caused one of football’s biggest upsets by beating Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup finalCredit: GettyThe team lived up to their Crazy Gang tag on and off the pitchCredit: GettyVinnie with Wally Downes Snr after joining Wimbledon in 1986 and then burying his team-mate’s tortoiseLightning enjoying happier times above groundIn 1986, Watford hod carrier Vincent Peter Jones was signed by newly-promoted top-flight side Wimbledon as a young but raw prospect with oodles of potential.In one of the many debacles that plagued Harry Bassett’s magnificent and underrated career, he put the shy Hertfordshire bumpkin under the wing of my dad, midfielder Wally Downes Sr, and said: “Look after him.”With Bassett’s Crazy Gang being a successful rabble of local working-class lads, when the Downes family swapped Shepherds Bush for Kingston-Upon-Thames, my old man didn’t check the Yellow Pages for landscape gardeners.Instead, established first-team pros Mark Morris and Brian Gayle were made project managers – with Jones and a couple of young apprentices roped in to do the leg work.Vin, full of the boundless enthusiasm that would later help him complete the most magnificent FA Cup upset, was eager to impress and set about building the patio.Typically keen to graduate from the cement mixer to more architectural duties, the baby-faced and curly-haired midfielder installed the membrane with expert precision.And then he organised the Dons’ apprentices to rapidly lay the paving slabs to help build new mentor Wally a bespoke BBQ and bar under the glorious weeping willow beloved by the previous owner.Unfortunately, the ex-tenant had also left behind Lightning – a beautiful tortoise who was hibernating throughout the course of the property’s sale.It was agreed after the deeds were exchanged that my mum, Mary, would be in touch as soon as the ancient reptile emerged from its slumber.However, in the weeks after we had the new patio laid, the dinky dinosaur never showed up.Vinnie Jones and Gazza reunited 30 years on from THAT grab And, after repeated visits to the mock-Tudor home, the deflated former owner eventually accepted the loss, along with the estate agents’ fees.Then we realised…And, thankfully before the RSPCA cottoned on, animal-loving Vinnie took a sledgehammer to his freshly laid paving and rescued the bemused Lightning – who is somehow still going today – from the most miserable of deaths.Christ knows what the new neighbours thought, having watched the equivalent of a Premier League side strolling through the allotments and alleyways to build a garden.Lightning, with Wally Jr’s son, also Wally, has somehow survived up to this todayVinnie attacked the rescue mission with the same gusto with which he attacked gamesCredit: GettyThe ball-playing hardman was never afraid to get his hands dirty, as this iconic image of him embracing Paul Gascoigne from 1988 provesCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdAnd he certainly never shied away from a challengeCredit: AP:Associated PressAnd then watching them rip into the ground like desperate pirates looking for treasure, while screaming: “Where the f*** has he buried it?… Get the f***ing thing up before it suffocates!”The patio was eventually re-laid – but the Downes family never did make it on to the Neighbourhood Watch committee.After nine Wales caps and big-money moves to Leeds and Chelsea, plus the odd scandal here and there, Vinnie remains a great family friend.Books and documentaries about the phenomenal feats the Dons achieved – including that 1988 “Crazy Gang beating the Culture Club” FA Cup final upset against Liverpool – regularly pop up, anniversaries come and go.Legends like London youth-football stalwart Geoff Taylor and the Dons’ unlicensed physio/licenced cab driver Derek French are still alive, kicking and screaming from London to Sheffield.I will always remember Jonah as the man who ripped up that patio in record timeTeetotal Vinnie is now, of course, a movie star with over 100 film credits to his name, swapping his bad-boy antics for roles in hit shows such as The Gentlemen and on stage in the West End.The fearsome image of a scrotum-squeezing maniac scything through the divisions – which earned Vinnie a reputation that overshadowed his technical ability and dedication as a player – is a black-and-white one for the ages.He will probably always be the owner of the fastest yellow card in British football history for his caution after just FIVE SECONDS for Sheffield United against Manchester City in 1992.But he is also a brilliantly relatable advocate for men’s mental health, showing a vulnerable side few people would ever have thought possible, following the heartbreaking death of wife Tanya.He may now be starring in Hollywood movies with the likes of Brad Pitt, Sly Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, but I will always remember Jonah as the man who ripped up that patio in record time.A future football star obliterating bricks and mortar in a frantic search for a tortoise who didn’t have a clue why her charmed little life on a Surrey lawn had suddenly descended into a living hell.Even when I pinged him a WhatsApp message to ask for his memories of the foul-up, he told me, in typical style: “Play on, son. The ref didn’t see it.”Vinnie, seen here in his breakthrough Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels film from 1998, is now a bonafide Hollywood starCredit: AlamyVinnie in his dressing room with Wally Snr during his recent stint in Only Fools and Horses The Musical in London’s West EndHis football talents should not be forgotten though, with the midfielder earning big money moves to Chelsea and Leeds, among othersCredit: GettyHe also represented Wales nine timesCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd More

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    Fears new Man Utd stadium faces SEVEN-YEAR wait as Sir Jim Ratcliffe rushes to get started on Old Trafford replacement

    MANCHESTER UNITED fans could be waiting SEVEN YEARS for a new home to replace Old Trafford.Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to move the Red Devils into a new 100,000-seater, £2billion home.Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is desperate to get started on Old Trafford’s redevelopmentCredit: AlamyAn AI impression of the new project, which could see United build a 100,000-seater stadiumCredit: CanvaThe plans will see a huge overhaul of the area around Old TraffordCredit: PAThe plans recently received government backing and will see a transformation to the area around the Theatre of Dreams.It will lead to new housing, commercial and public spaces, as well as the creation of thousands of jobs. Ratcliffe is eager to get spades in the ground on the mammoth redevelopment as soon as possible. The 72-year-old wants to get work underway by the end of 2025, with completion by 2030. READ MORE ON MAN UTDBut according to building experts, cited by The Mail, “it could be 2032 before the stadium could be fully rebuilt or redeveloped.”Seven years is seen as a more accurate target by architects who are wary of planning permission to build in the area.United are yet to decide whether to develop Old Trafford or commence with an entirely new build.It’s reported that a final decision on the stadium’s future will be made before the end of the season.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSA redevelopment of the iconic ground would house just 87,000 fans, a task force recently discovered. The team – which includes ex-United star Gary Neville, Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and Lord Sebastian Coe – conducted a feasibility study into whether a new stadium should be built. Inside Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s plans to replace Old Trafford with a ‘Wembley of the North’Ratcliffe has pushed for an ambitious “Wembley of the North” project.He envisages a completely new 100,000 arena which would serve as the focal point of a completely renovated site. The entire project is estimated to cost around £2billion and was described by Olympics hero Coe as “one of the biggest regeneration projects ever undertaken in the UK”.Manchester mayor Andy Burnham added: “[This is] the biggest opportunity for urban regeneration this country has seen since London 2012.”It will be a key part of our 10-year plan to turbocharge growth across Greater Manchester.”We look forward to working with the Government on moving freight away from the site around Old Trafford to new locations to open up capacity for our rail network and unlock massive regeneration potential – delivering benefits across the whole of the North.”On the field, it’s been another dismal season for United.They currently sit 13th in the Premier League, with only 8 wins from 24 games.The Red Devils appear set for a huge summer reset under Ruben Amorim, with almost every member of the squad available for sale.Ratcliffe and Ineos have cut costs around the club throughout the past year, including slashing budgets for non-playing staff.READ MORE SUN STORIESEven legendary Sir Alex Ferguson was not safe, with the Scot removed from his multi-million-pound role as a club ambassador in October.Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club. More

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    Major overhaul to EFL promotion and relegation proposed as league gives plan unanimous backing

    THE NATIONAL League has urged EFL clubs to back a promotion and relegation switch.All 72 clubs in the National League have signed a letter to EFL chiefs asking them to back a vote of member clubs over changing to a three-up, three-down system between League Two and the fifth tier.A major change to the EFL’s promotion and relegation system has been proposedCredit: HandoutBromley won promotion to the EFL via the National League play-offs last seasonCredit: GettyNational League clubs argue that the current system, where only one club gets automatic promotion to the EFL with a second place available through the play-offs, is inconsistent with the rest of the pyramid.And at a meeting last week which formally endorsed the “3UP” campaign, clubs in the National League’s three divisions unanimously backed the move.EFL bosses have previously spoken positively about the idea but a switch would need the formal backing of the clubs – with those in League Two likely to need more convincing.National League chairman Jack Pearce suggested the likely arrival of the Government’s new Independent Football Regulator this summer meant that the EFL had to respond.READ MORE EFL NEWSPearce said: “The Regulator’s stated objectives include providing financial sustainability, economic resilience and preserving the heritage of the sport.  “In terms of heritage, National League clubs are at the heart of towns and cities across the whole country, with clubs that are part of the fabric of their communities.  “An extra promotion place would create an invaluable aspiration for all these clubs and supporters – plus clubs in the leagues below.  We simply can’t wait any longer for parity within the game.”Pearce argues that three clubs switching each season would create a “fluid” pyramid while also providing greater opportunity for relegated clubs to “bounce back” into the EFL.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThe top SEVEN clubs in the current National League table are ex-EFL clubs, with another six who have been in the top four tiers further down the standings.He added: “We have been consistently told that the EFL support our 3UP position in principle but are reluctant to progress any changes whilst they are consulting with the IFR and Premier League regarding their own redistribution of football income.  EFL club owner gives update on new £2bn ‘spaceship’ stadium included in mega plans for state-of-the-art complex “However, we believe the campaign goal is vital to the overall health of the game and the government’s objectives – therefore it should be as high on the agenda as any other matter this year.“Rick Parry, the EFL Chair, has often said that ‘the EFL should look down as well as up’ so we’d now like that to actually happen.” More

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    Cesc Fabregas’ Como unveil stunning new stadium plans as breathtaking 10,584-seater lakeside ground gets makeover

    CESC FABREGAS’ Italian side Como have unveiled stunning new plans to redevelop their lakeside stadium.The Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia is regarded by many as the most picturesque arena in European football.Como have unveiled plans to redevelop their stadiumCredit: COMOThe plucky side were promoted to Serie A last summerCredit: COMOThe plans are set to boost the local communityCredit: COMOSituated by Lake Como, it boasts breathtaking views for both home and away supporters.And with Como now playing in Serie A, plans are afoot to make it one the best stadiums around.The minnows are managed by none other than Arsenal and Chelsea icon Fabregas.They sit 15th in the table, two points above the relegation zone.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd after being promoted from Serie B last season, Como have already seen the capacity of their stadium increase from 7,798 seats to 10,584.Now, the club have confirmed a lengthy process to redevelop their home ground further.The three-stage plan is set to take shape in May 2026, with the first construction phase finishing in October 2027.A second phase will continue until August 2028.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSAnd the project, which does not yet specify how many more seats will be added, will be a “gift for the entire community” as it looks to boost the surrounding area.Como president Mirwan Suwarso said: “Our aim is to ensure Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia remains a vital part of the community.Cesc Fabregas shuts down England position debate as World Cup winner ‘shows why he got over 100 caps’ Cesc Fabregas is the manager of ComoCredit: EPATheir stadium currently holds over 10,000 fansCredit: ReutersComo are 15th in Serie A right nowCredit: Reuters“The new project must honour the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium legacy while making it an active and accessible space for all citizens and visitors — not just for football, but for everyone to enjoy, 365 days a year.”Alessandro Rapinese, the Mayor of Como, added: “This is the first phase of the process.“This stadium is not just for football, but a gift for the entire community.“I look forward to the various phases and to being able to enjoy Como play inside the new stadium.”Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club. More

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    Mikel Arteta ‘disappointed’ Arsenal made mess of transfer window but says ‘powerhouse’ Havertz can carry Arsenal attack

    MIKEL ARTETA is really “disappointed” Arsenal messed up the January transfer window.But the Gunners boss says “powerhouse” Kai Havertz can carry their attack until the end of the season — starting against Newcastle.Mikel Arteta has admitted his disappointment at not adding another attacker to the Arsenal squadCredit: PAArsenal were in for Ollie Watkins at one stage but failed to strike a dealCredit: GettyBut Arteta believes Kai Havertz can lead them to gloryCredit: ReutersWith long-term injuries to forwards Gabriel Jesus (knee) and Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Arsenal were in desperate need of adding some attacking reinforcements during the winter window.Instead, the North London giants must chase down Prem leaders Liverpool and reach the latter stages of the Champions League with a squad weaker than most of their rivals.Arsenal have just one fit centre-forward in ex-Chelsea man Havertz, 25, having decided to stick with what they have instead of bringing in a body to bolster the team.The closest Arteta came to fixing his striker crisis was a futile £45million approach for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, 29, late in the window that was quickly rejected.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThere was also interest in a loan deal for Bayern Munich attacker Mathys Tel, 19.But Emirates chiefs decided to back out of a move before Tottenham swooped to sign the Frenchman. Mikel Arteta insists the Gunners’ lack of transfer activity is NOT a “gamble”.The Spaniard claims Arsenal can now splash the cash in the summer — with top targets such as RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, 21, valued at £60m.Ahead of trying to turn around a 2-0 deficit in tonight’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at Newcastle, Arteta defended the club’s cautious stance.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSAmid the horror ACL injury to Jesus last month, the Gunners chief explained: “We had a clear intention to explore opportunities to improve our squad with players that can impact it. “We haven’t achieved it so we are all disappointed.How Arsenal humbled Man City with Arteta’s genius double press“But, as well, we are very aware that we only want to bring certain kinds of players to the club and have to be very disciplined.“Nobody knows whether it is better to have done it or not. We will know probably at the end of this season.“It’s not a gamble — it is reality. We have the players that we have and some of them are on loan.“We’ve never had a squad of 35, 40, 45 players. So many other clubs, they have 45 players in their list.“We just don’t have that size at the moment. We have had to do so much in the last few years and that’s where we are.“So we’re going to have to evolve there as well and have more and  more players from the academy.“And the ones that are here need to be fitter longer. We need to be on our toes.”Arteta warns stars against firing up ToonBy Jordan DaviesMIKEL ARTETA wants Arsenal to go “full gas” tonight and seal a spot  at Wembley.But the Gunners boss urged his stars NOT to fire up  a  raucous St James’ Park crowd.Arteta’s side face a daunting task trying to overturn Newcastle’s 2-0 lead from the first leg of this Carabao Cup semi-final.And the Spaniard wants his players to stay calm — three days after Myles Lewis-Skelly and Gabriel taunted Erling Haaland during a 5-1 win over Manchester City.Asked about keeping emotions in check, Arteta said: “We talk about those things and  have to understand that each ground is different.“Playing home or away is very different. Their attitude, what they celebrate and what they don’t, is really very different up north as well to here in London.“It’s part of the context of the game. They’re a very difficult team to play.”Arteta learned how riling up fans can change a game — once clashing with Jurgen Klopp at Anfield and helping inspire Liverpool to a 4-0 win over Arsenal  in 2021.He has bad experiences  of St James’, losing his last two visits there 1-0, including a controversial clash in November 2023 that saw the Spaniard charged for his comments towards officials.Goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon helped the Toon sink Arteta’s men in the first leg  on January 5.But Arsenal have won four games on the spin, scoring 11, and are looking forward to a mid-season Dubai break after tonight’s clash.Arteta explained: “When you compare the emotional state of the team  after the defeat to Newcastle and how we are today, it’s so different.“We come from some  very strong performances and great wins, especially the last one  against Man City. So it is momentum.“Next stop is a Wembley final so we know how big that is and you can feel it.“We have a break after this game as well.“So it’s the moment to go full gas and try to approach it in a way  we believe is  best  to win that final.”Left-back Lewis-Skelly, 18, is likely to be thrown into another battle from the off after netting his first senior goal against City on Sunday.Fellow academy kid Ethan Nwaneri, 17 — who scored against Pep Guardiola’s men as well — is also in with a chance of starting tonight.Arteta added: “It’s about how they compete, not just how they play. In order to be very emotional, very stable, you have to be composed and confident in yourself.“They will try to expose you as well. But those boys have gone through these challenges.“The bigger the game got, the better they became, which is not  so easy to do.”Following the resignation of Edu in November, Arsenal have relied on inexperienced interim sporting director Jason Ayto to negotiate deals, alongside Arteta, managing director Richard Garlick and head of recruitment James Ellis.Arteta revealed the club will make a decision on who takes up the  post permanently “relatively quickly”.He explained: “When you try your best and you do things with the right process, and see the people that we all share the same intentions and wills, and after you don’t achieve it, for sure there are things to learn from it. There always are.“Jason and the team have done a really good job. But then it’s the transfer market — and it’s complicated.“But you have to move on. Now I focus on the numbers that we have and just how to maximise them. It’s remarkable what the team have done so far.“There are times when we have only had 13 players out there training — that’s just super, super low.“So I’m expecting when the players who are not fit return we’re going to be better.”Arsenal player ratings vs Man CityARSENAL stunned Man City 5-1 at the Emirates on Sunday evening.It was an incredible result against their rivals of recent years.Here, we take a look at how the Gunners rated…David Raya – 7/10Had very little to do in the first half but made a brilliant save in the 22nd minute to deny a goalbound header from Josko Gvardiol. Made another stunning save two minutes from the half-time interval, stopping a deflected Savinho shot from close range. Powerless to stop Erling Haaland’s 55th-minute header from briefly levelling the scores.Jurrien Timber – 6Didn’t offer his usual attacking threat going forward but was solid defensively. Picked up a pointless yellow breaking up a harmless counter-attack in the 24th minute. Almost scored late in the second half.William Saliba – 5Didn’t have much to do in the first half but won all his aerial battles in the first 45 minutes. Marshalled the defence well early in the second period but was embarrassingly outjumped and outmuscled by Haaland for City’s equaliser – a major flaw of his that continues to be exposed.Gabriel Magalhaes – 6Like his defensive partner, he was seldom called into action in the first half. Dominant in the air in his battles with Haaland, who he trolled after Odegaard’s goal.Myles Lewis-Skelly – 8Continues to endear himself to the Emirates faithful with composure and tenacity beyond his years as he brilliantly floated between left back and midfield. Put real daylight between the two sides with a thumping finish just after the hour mark. This young lad is a real bright prospect for both the Gunners and England.His trolling of Haaland by copying the Norwegian’s ‘Lotus’ celebration went down a storm with fans.Thomas Partey – 7Steady in the heart of midfield and broke up play well when required. Fired the Gunners back into the lead in the 57th minute with a deflected shot from outside the box.Martin Odegaard – 7Was in the right place at the right time to benefit from the aftermath of an uncharacteristic Manuel Akanji error and break the deadlock. Was at the heart of everything good the north Londoners did going forward.Declan Rice – 6Combative, as always, in the middle of the park and played a role in the home side taking the lead, teeing up Havertz who squared the ball to Odegaard.Leandro Trossard – 6Was particularly lively on the left in the first half, giving Matheus Nunes a real run for his money. His end product, however, wasn’t the best.Gabriel Martinelli – 6Lively on the right wing in the early goings. Found the back of the net in the fifth minute after some beautiful play from Odegaard but was needlessly offside. Forced a good save out of Ortega with a rasping effort in the 68th minute.Kai Havertz – 6Lively early doors, testing Stefan Ortega with a tame shot in the first minute. Teed up Odegaard for a tap in a few moments later. Missed a golden opportunity to double the lead in the 25th minute, dragging the ball wide with the goal at his absolute mercy. Made amends for his howler by finishing an even harder chance in the 76th minute. He well and truly needed that as he looked absolutely devoid of confidence.SUBSEthan Nwaneri – 83 (on for Trossard) – 7Put the cherry on top of the cake with an outrageous effort in second-half stoppage time.Mikel Merino – 83 (on for Odegaard) – 5Raheem Sterling – 89 (on for Kai Havertz ) – N/ARiccardo Calafiori 89 (on for Lewis-Skelly) – N/ARead more on all the latest Arsenal news.Forward Jesus’ major knee operation will potentially keep him out for the rest of 2025, while Gunners talisman Saka is targeting a March return.So Arteta must rely solely on Havertz to deliver the goods for the rest of the campaign.Havertz boasts 15 goals in  all competitions so far — a career best in England — and has started 29 of Arsenal’s 37 games this term.If he got injured, it would be a hammer blow ahead of a Champions League last-16 tie next month and as they try to close the six-point gap to Arne Slot’s Reds who also have a game in hand.Havertz scored in Sunday’s 5-1 win over Manchester City. Asked if he  could start every game until May, Arteta said: “It’s possible. “He has played a lot of football but his robustness, his availability, has been unbelievable.“Genetically, he is a powerhouse. He’s so well-built. He’s a player that anything you ask him, he is happy to do. His body just absorbs everything.READ MORE SUN STORIES“And when you see the professional side, how he lives his life, it is immaculate. “When something works, don’t touch him.”Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club. More

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    Premier League refs are best in world and other countries AGREE say chiefs – as just four mistakes this season revealed

    PREMIER LEAGUE chiefs remain convinced they have “the best referees in the world” — and insist that other countries AGREE.As officials in Spain discussed going on strike in protest at abuse from fans and clubs,  the Prem’s chief football officer claimed that top-flight whistlers are better than they have ever been.Chiefs reckon Premier League refs are the world’s best despite some high-profile errorsCredit: RexMichael Oliver’s red card for Myles Lewis-Skelly was later overturnedCredit: PATony Scholes said: “One of our main targets is to have the best match officials in the world — and we do. “We have ten officials on the Fifa list and two of them — Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor — are in the top ten in the world according to Fifa.“Other leagues around the world look up to the officials and VAR process in this country as a model they would like  to follow.“That’s the message we get from people around the world.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut Oliver and Taylor have been at the centre of major controversies this season.Oliver red-carded Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly for ‘serious foul play’ at Wolves last month but the player’s three-match ban was overturned on appeal.He was also the VAR who advised ref David Coote to review an  injury-time incident when  West Ham beat Manchester United after being awarded a  late penalty  — that ultimately led to Old Trafford boss Erik ten Hag’s October sacking.And Taylor giving Brighton a penalty against Arsenal last month when William Saliba ‘headed’ Joao Pedro led to Gunners fury.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSYet that West Ham spot-kick is one of only FOUR mistakes after a VAR intervention so far this season — according to the Prem’s key match incident panel, which including ex-players, managers and referees.The panel also highlighted another nine  incidents where the VAR should have intervened.Premier League clash descends into farce as VAR counts number of playersThose four VAR errors . . .BOURNEMOUTH 1 NEWCASTLE 1Dango Ouattara’s late ‘winner’ was wrongly chalked off for handball after being awarded on the field.WEST HAM 2 MAN UTD 1Hammers’ stoppage-time spot-kick  winner came after Michael Oliver advised David Coote to review Matthijs de Ligt’s contact with Danny Ings.EVERTON 0 BRENTFORD 0Christian Norgaard should not have received a red card for ploughing into keeper Jordan Pickford.NOTTM FOREST 3 SOUTHAMPTON 2Nikola Milenkovic’s goal was ruled out for subjective offside against Chris Wood,  but VAR should not have got involved.That figure is markedly down from the total of 20 cock-ups at the same point of last season and 25 at the corresponding time in 2022-23.Scholes added: “Nobody under-estimates the gigantic impact of any single error.“They can cost a club points, managers their jobs, players their place in the team and have a huge impact on a game of such high stakes“But, while there were four incorrect interventions, that means 66  correct ones while the total errors are down.”Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club. More