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      Ruben Amorim says he WON’T put out bomb squad for Chelsea clash as Man Utd stars warned about Europa League final spots

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      RUBEN AMORIM warned his Manchester United stars that their Europa League final places are on the line.United, a lowly 16th in the Prem and on a dismal run of TWO points from their last seven games, visit Chelsea on Friday night.Manchester United will play Tottenham in the Europa League final later this monthCredit: SHUTTERSHOCKThe Red Devils face Conference League finalists Chelsea on Friday nightCredit: GETTYManager Ruben Amorim has warned his players their places in the starting XI aren’t guaranteedCredit: PABut the Portuguese boss will NOT accept players downing tools — and says he has not yet picked his team for Wednesday’s final against Tottenham.Asked if players still have a chance to make the starting XI for Bilbao, Amorim said: “That is clear. “I know the starting XI I am thinking for Chelsea — then I will see.“Even the way we play against Chelsea I will see it — and it will be important for the next one.READ MORE MAN UTD NEWS“We have to try to recover. The best thing to prepare for the final is to play the game and then the players have to understand if you play or don’t play against Chelsea, it means nothing to the final.“That is important. I am just preparing [for] the game of Chelsea. That’s my focus.”Amorim is unlikely to risk defensive duo Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt for the trip to Stamford Bridge.And their injury-hit campaigns have left the manager wondering if he needs to look for a new centre-back this summer.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSMan Utd ratings vs West Ham as Ugarte awful and Mainoo invisible in latest horror showMANCHESTER UNITED dropped to 16th in the Premier League after suffering an embarrassing 2-0 defeat to West Ham at Old Trafford.Ruben Amorim named a strong team for United’s return to domestic duty, but not even Amad Diallo could save the day.United gave fans a lively start, but reverted back to factory settings after the visitors took the lead inside 27 minutes.West Ham picked off United against the run of play, before former Man Utd star Aaron Wan-Bissaka came back to haunt his old club.The full-back fed a clever ball through to Mohammed Kudus, who thrashed a low cross into the six yard box for Tomas Soucek to tap home.United got caught cold again and were the masters of their own undoing, after Kudus pounced on Manuel Ugarte’s mess up to set up Jarrod Bowen, who doubled West Ham’s lead in the 58th minute.Apart from some bright moments from Amad, this was another awful performance from the home side, as West Ham became the SIXTH team to the double over United this season.The Red Devils haven’t haven’t won a Prem game since their 3-0 win at Leicester on March 16, which incidentally was the last team West Ham beat in February.Here’s how SunSport’s Katherine Walsh rated every Man Utd star’s performance at Old Trafford…A striker, a No .10 and a central midfielder are currently the main priorities this summer.But Yoro, signed from Lille last summer for an initial £42million, has started only 12 games in his debut season, while De Ligt, who joined from Bayern Munich for £38.5m, has spent the last few weeks on the treatment table.Ruben Amorim vows to QUIT Man Utd if horror slump continues as dejected boss identifies ‘most dangerous thing’ at clubAmorim said: “Leny was the same as Matthijs.“I was thinking about next year, the squad if we need another guy, if it is a long injury.“That is my concern. It is not just about the final. Of course, I want every player fit.“But Leny had that problem in his foot and I was so concerned about the next season, the next squad, the way we build up the squad. “That was my biggest concern.”Amorim says he will not take any risks with players who have had injury worries in recent weeks.He said: “If there is a player that has not recovered for the game and it would put him at risk for the final, he will not play.”Ruben Amorim won’t risk players nursing niggling injuries against ChelseaCredit: GETTY More

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      Erling Haaland demands Man City end ‘boring and not fun’ season with FA Cup glory

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      ERLING HAALAND says not even lifting the FA Cup can save  Manchester City’s “catastrophic” season.Pep Guardiola’s side are still batting for a Champions League place and will finish trophyless if they lose to Crystal Palace at Wembley tomorrow.Erling Haaland claims Man City have lacked ‘full hunger’Credit: Shutterstock EditorialEtihad chief Pep Guardiola is experiencing rare failureCredit: AlamyAnd striker Haaland said: “We have the Cup final to play for and in a horrific season we still managed to do this.“It is not nice to lose so many games. It is boring and not fun.“When you have won four league titles in a row, if you don’t win five, it’s not going to be a successful season.“You cannot win every year. The club has set the bar  so high that this is a catastrophic season — that  says it all.”READ MORE MAN CITY NEWSHaaland added: “Next time, we have to find something inside our  stomach again to attack the season.”City have fallen way short of their high standards this term and will finish miles behind champions Liverpool. They failed to make the  Champions League last-16 after getting knocked out by Real Madrid in the play-off round.Haaland is just back from a six-week injury lay-off, while several team-mates  also had long  spells on the sidelines.Most read in FA CupHaaland is back fully fit but has not enjoyed the season so farCredit: GettyBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKBut the Norwegian ace also feels City have lacked hunger after winning four Prem  titles in a row.Despite hitting the 30-goal mark for a third straight season, Haaland admits he has not done enough.Man City drop Jack Grealish transfer hint as they launch stunning new kit for Club World CupThe 24-year-old hotshot added: “You can find excuses. Injuries, many injuries at bad times, but we haven’t been performing well enough.“We haven’t fully had the hunger inside of us. I haven’t been good enough or helped the team enough.“We haven’t been there fighting in either the Premier League or the Champions League — and that’s not good enough for a club like City.“You should be there and you should compete.Kevin De Bruyne aims to bow out on another highCredit: Getty“We haven’t done that so now if we can finish strong in the Premier League and win the FA Cup that would be a really good thing. I’ll do everything I can to make it happen.”Haaland says they must do  everything they can to help outgoing club legend Kevin De Bruyne make sure he finishes on a high.The Belgian has been told there will be no new contract this summer — meaning his glittering ten-year spell at the Etihad is coming to an end.De Bruyne has won six Prem titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups and five League Cups with the club.And Haaland said: “We would love for Kevin to finish with  one more trophy.Read More on The Sun“He has had an incredible time at Manchester City. It is ridiculous how many trophies he has won.“To get passes from him has been a dream. It’s been special playing with him.” More

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      Ruben Amorim admits his job will be easier if Man Utd DON’T beat Tottenham in the Europa League final

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      RUBEN AMORIM has bizarrely declared that his job would be easier if Manchester United LOST the Europa League final against Tottenham.The Red Devils have endured their worst-ever Premier League season and face not even making 40 points in the league if they lose to Chelsea and Aston Villa in their final two games.Ruben Amorim has suggested his job would become easier if Man Utd lost the Europa League finalCredit: GettyMan Utd take on Spurs in the Bilbao final on May 21Credit: GettyDespite their horrific league form, they have put together an unbeaten campaign in the Europa League to take them to the final against Spurs in Bilbao on May 21.Winning the tournament would see Man Utd qualify for next season’s Champions League and bag at least an additional £80million in prize money.However, Amorim believes his job would be made easier if the club were to LOSE the final because it would afford him more time to train the woefully under-performing squad.The former Sporting boss explained: “That is my feeling. We need more time with the team.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”We need to arrange a lot of things in Carrington that we need more time to do so we’re not thinking game by game by game. “Then we have the squad. We proved this year that we need to be a better squad if we want to win European games and then be really competitive in the Premier League. That is going to be tough.”It is going to be really bad [if United don’t win the final]. I don’t want to use that as an excuse. “It is going to be really tough and the patience of the fans and you guys [the media] next year if we don’t win it is going to be on the limit. Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford”We would have to be perfect to continue with everything. I know that. So it’s not going to be better in that way.”After suffering a 17th league defeat of the season to West Ham last week, Amorim suggested he would QUIT the club if results did not improve.Ruben Amorim vows to QUIT Man Utd if horror slump continues as dejected boss identifies ‘most dangerous thing’ at clubHowever, he clarified those comments by saying: “What I am saying is that since I arrived here I am always talking about the standards and I cannot see the team having these results, especially in the Premier League, and not say anything and not take the responsibility.”It’s just that. I have a clear idea what to do. I understand the problems of the team. I am far from quitting. “What I am saying is we need to perform and, this season and in the future, we need to perform or else they will change us.”That is a normal thing. That was my feeling [after West Ham] and is still my feeling today.”Cost-cutting measures implemented since the arrival of minority owners Ineos last year have led to 450 staff being made redundant by the club.Those cuts have also seen staff perks cut, including tickets to the Europa League final.However, Amorim has personally offered to pay for 30 tickets so his staff can take their families to the showpiece final.Man Utd vs Spurs – Europa League final: Kick-off time, TV channel and live stream info for Bilbao clash More

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      Eni Aluko left off punditry duty for all three Uefa finals after Ian Wright row as full TNT Sports line-up revealed

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      ENI ALUKO will not feature as a pundit for any of the European finals following her public bust-up with Ian Wright.The former England Women’s star insinuated some male pundits, like Wright, risked blocking opportunities for women by taking up space in women’s sports.Eni Aluko will not feature for TNT Sports in any of the three European finalsCredit: PAAluko apologised to Ian Wright after insinuating he risked blocking opportunities for female punditsCredit: AlamyWright subsequently rejected Aluko’s apology, stating he felt upset given the support he has shown her in the past.Now Aluko has been left off punditry duty by TNT Sports, so will not feature at the Champions League final, nor the Europa League and Conference League finals.Aluko, 38, has appeared regularly as a pundit on Conference League matches featuring her former side Chelsea.She provided analysis for matches against Panathinaikos, Noah, and Copenhagen, but will be absent for Chelsea’s final clash with Real Betis.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAluko has also been used by TNT Sports for Premier League and WSL matches this season, but last worked on March 27.Since then she’s had a fall out with Wright after suggesting there is a “finite amount of opportunities” for women and “men need to be aware of that”.Aluko later said sorry after receiving a lot of backlash for her comments, but Wright said he could not accept her apology.He said: “I’m very disappointed by what Eni has said.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS”She knows how I have helped her and supported her publicly, and I know the previous conversations she’s had with me and my management.”I’ve seen the apology on social media, but I can’t accept it, but I also want to move on from it. I don’t need any further social commentary directed at anyone.”Ian Wright says he ‘cannot accept’ Eni Aluko’s apology as Arsenal legend responds over women’s football punditry rowTNT Sports have confirmed their punditry and commentary line-ups for all three finals, with Peter Crouch also left off the roster for all three.Instead Rio Ferdinand will appear twice, including the Champions League final where he will be joined by Karen Carney and Owen Hargreaves.The former Manchester United star will be in attendance to see the Red Devils take on Tottenham in Bilbao – ex-Spurs hero Gareth Bale will be there for TNT Sports alongside Glenn Hoddle, Robbie Savage and Paul Scholes.Michail Antonio, Joe Cole, and Steve Sidwell have been picked for the Europa Conference League final.SunSport has contacted TNT Sports for comment.TNT Sports’ European finals teamsChampions League: Paris Saint-Germain vs Inter Milan – May 31Presenters: Reshmin Chowdhury & Laura WoodsPundits: Karen Carney, Rio Ferdinand, Owen HargreavesCommentary: Darren Fletcher & Ally McCoistReporter: Jules BreachEuropa League: Tottenham vs Manchester United – May 21Presenters: Jules Breach & Lynsey HipgravePundits: Gareth Bale, Rio Ferdinand, Glenn Hoddle, Robbie Savage, Paul ScholesCommentary: Darren Fletcher & Ally McCoistReporter: Danny JamiesonEuropa Conference League: Chelsea vs Real Betis – May 28Presenter: Emma DoddsPundits: Michail Antonio, Joe Cole, Steve SidwellCommentary: Adam Summerton & Lucy WardReporter: Becky IvesRio Ferdinand will be a pundit at two European finals for TNT SportsCredit: PA More

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      Gary Neville reveals shock combined Man Utd and Spurs XI that gives him ‘sickly feeling’ going into Europa League final

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      GARY NEVILLE has insisted that only ONE Manchester United player would get into Tottenham’s starting XI.The Red Devils take on Spurs in the Europa League final on May 21 as they look to end their catastrophic season on a high.Gary Neville has claimed only Bruno Fernandes would start at TottenhamCredit: GettyThe midfielder has been a bright spark for Manchester United this seasonCredit: ReutersA spot in next season’s Champions League is at stake as both teams try to salvage their campaigns with both hovering just above the relegation zone.Man Utd reached the final by thrashing Athletic Bilbao while Spurs eased past Bodo/Glimt.The two sides currently sit 16th and 17th in the Premier League, having both lost their last match at the weekend.West Ham’s 2-0 win at Old Trafford saw Graham Potter’s side leapfrog the two and put them just above the bottom three.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLSpurs have been able to win three times against Man Utd this season, twice in the Prem and once in the EFL Cup.Neville is aware of this and admitted that he has a “sickly feeling” about the match in Bilbao.The United legend has also insisted that only Fernandes would get into Ange Postecoglou’s side when every player is fit.Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, he said: “I have got a sickly feeling about this game next Wednesday.Most read in Europa LeagueJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS”The biggest reason I have a sickly feeling about this game is when I look at every player in the team, [Dejan] Kulusevski, [Heung-min] Son, Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke, James Maddison if he was fit, [Yves] Bissouma and [Pape] Sarr, [Cristian] Romero and [Micky] van de Ven and [Pedro] Porro and [Destiny] Udogie.”When you look at those players like for like with United, only Bruno [Fernandes] would get into the first XI of Spurs.‘Spurs does crazy things to people’ – Postecoglou takes swipe at Wenger as Arsenal legend proposes shock rule change”I would select every single Tottenham player.”The goalkeeper is a 50-50 split because I’m not a big fan of Vicario and I am not a fan of Onana.”But I would choose every single player of Tottenham’s over Manchester United’s next Wednesday. That is my worry.”Fernandes, 30, has played a key role in helping United reach the final of the Europa League.He has scored seven goals and assisted four more in his 13 appearances in the competition.Only Bodo’s Kasper Hogh and Olympiacos’ Ayoub El Kaabi have managed as many goals as the Portuguese midfielder.Meanwhile, Neville did make his prediction over which team would be victorious.Read More on The SunHe added: “United do have a couple of players, the likes of Casemiro and Bruno, they have something in them that will step up for a one-off game.”But if the players play like they should, Tottenham should win that game.” More

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      How Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s other sporting ventures are going as Man Utd chief admits Nice are ‘so much better without’ him

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      SIR JIM RATCLIFFE promised a bright new dawn for Manchester United.More than a year on, the club are set for their lowest Premier League finish and worst domestic season since their 1974 relegation — all while firing a staggering 450 club staff.Manchester United minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been busy this seasonMan Utd are set for their worst ever Premier League finishBut Nice are experiencing immense success in Ligue 1Victory over Tottenham in next week’s Europa League final could alter the narrative, sealing Champions League football to add to ambitious plans unveiled recently by Ratcliffe and Ineos – his multinational chemical company.United are just one part of a £2.2BILLION-plus sporting empire that  once looked dominant but is now showing some cracks. Here, SunSport’s MARTIN LIPTON breaks down the rest of Sir Jim’s portfolio — sport by sport . . . FOOTBALLRead More on FootballBEFORE Manchester United, there was Lausanne and Nice.In 2017, Ineos announced a deal to take over the Swiss club, described as part of the chemicals giants’ “continuing investment in youth and  community sports” in the area.A pledge of “full backing” for manager Fabio Celestini lasted until the club were demoted six months later.Lausanne have been a yo-yo club in the Ineos era but now sit well clear of relegation and  are settling into the 13,000-capacity Stade de la Tuiliere, which was opened in 2020.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSTwo years after the Swiss investment, Ineos bought French side Nice in an £89million deal, with Ratcliffe stating: “We made some mistakes at Lausanne but we are fast learners.“These have been rectified and we are already seeing the benefits.”Ineos arrived with Arsenal icon Patrick Vieira in the dugout but he was sacked after 15 months. Four full-time successors have come and gone since, with Franck Haise now reaching the end of his first season, where he is well positioned to improve on Ineos’ best Ligue 1 finish of fifth.Despite a winless Europa League campaign, Nice are fourth domestically with a game left.They are one of three teams on 57 points and could finish as low as  seventh. But a home win over Brest on Saturday will all but guarantee Nice entry to Champions League qualifying.Last summer, after investing £1.3billion to take over “sporting operations” at United, Ineos were forced by Uefa to transfer most of their shares in Nice to a blind trust.’So much better without our interference’Ratcliffe admitted in March: “The best season that Nice has had is this one, where we’ve not been allowed to get involved due to multi-club ownership rules. They’ve been so much better without our interference! Maybe there’s a lesson.”When Ratcliffe confirmed his buyout of just over a quarter of United’s stocks from the Glazers, he vowed to lead the Old Trafford club back to the top but said: “It’s going to take two or three seasons.”That looks an understatement.The dismissal of Erik ten Hag was overdue but paying Newcastle £3million for sporting director Dan Ashworth only to sack him after five months was an expensive embarrassment.Ratcliffe publicly backs Ruben Amorim but has criticised certain players.The announcement of the £2bn plan to build a 100,000-capacity “New Trafford” as the centrepiece of a huge development project next to the club’s home since 1910 was a signal of ambition.With Ineos’ finances under scrutiny, it has been claimed Ratcliffe could exit MercedesFORMULA ONEINEOS became Mercedes’ “principal partner” in a five-year £100m deal signed in 2020 and by the end of the year had taken a one-third stake.Back-to-back team championships in their first two years made it eight in a row, Sir Lewis Hamilton winning the drivers’ title in 2020 and only losing out to Max Verstappen on the final lap in 2021.But that was the end of Mercedes’ domination and Hamilton joined Ferrari ahead of this season.George Russell remains a title contender even if his car is slower than the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri as well as Verstappen’s Red Bull.With Ineos’ finances under scrutiny, it has been claimed Ratcliffe could exit but team principal Toto Wolff said: “He is one of us three amigos — Mercedes, Jim and I. We are never going to part ways.”New Zealand Rugby launched a legal case alleging a ‘breach of contract’RUGBY UNIONRATCLIFFE’S Ineos became a “performance partner” of the All Blacks in 2021 on a  six-year deal worth £4million per season — but they could be kicked into touch.New Zealand Rugby launched a legal case alleging a “breach of contract” in February after announcing Ineos had “failed to pay the first instalment of the 2025 sponsorship fee, confirming its decision to exit” the agreement.That came with Ineos admitting  it is suffering financially from rising levels of carbon tax in Europe, making chemicals a “tough industry to be in”.Ratcliffe can’t Haka it, moaning in March: “We talked to New Zealand Rugby about the fact that times are tough.“We wanted to see if we could find a compromise, which you would have thought as a sponsor of the All Blacks they’d have listened to, but they didn’t want to listen.”NZ are currently an unacceptable No2 in the world.Ineos bankroll the cycling team to the tune of £40million per yearCYCLINGTEAM SKY had become the dominant force in world road cycling under Sir Dave Brailsford with riders including Tour de France winners Chris Froome, Bradley Wiggins and Geraint Thomas.They were rebranded as Team Ineos in 2019, becoming Ineos Grenadiers the following year. The company promised to match or even exceed the team’s £34million annual budget.Colombian Egan Bernal won the team’s seventh Tour de France title in the first year of sponsorship but there have been no further triumphs in cycling’s elite race.Ineos bankroll the team to the tune of £40m per year but are closing in on a multi-million pound sponsorship deal with another petrochemicals giant, TotalEnergies.In January, Ineos announced a third challenge — but without Sir Ben Ainslie’s involvementSAILINGOLYMPIC sailing legend Sir Ben Ainslie and Royal Yacht Squadron Commodore Jamie Sheldon were with Ratcliffe in 2018 to announce the launch of Ineos Team UK and its bid to finally win the America’s Cup.The crew, including another Olympic champion in Giles Scott, reached the final of the Prada Cup qualifying campaign in 2021 but were outsailed by Italy’s Luna Rossa, who in turn was comfortably beaten by the holders, Emirates Team New Zealand.Ineos committed more than £110million and renamed the team Ineos Britannia before the 2024 edition of the world’s oldest sailing race.This time, with another Olympic champion, Dylan Fletcher, joining Ainslie at the helm of the twin-hulled craft, the British boat reached the final in the waters off Barcelona.But they again fell short, beaten 7-2 by the Kiwi vessel.In January, Ineos announced a third challenge — but without Ainslie’s involvement.Ratcliffe suggested: “Ben wanted to do his own thing and that’s fine.” But Ainslie claims he has the right to be the “Challenger of Record” with access to more information than other contenders.Ainslie’s team  was “astounded” by the Ineos move, adding it “raises significant legal and practical obstacles”.ATHLETICSKENYAN superstar Eliud Kipchoge’s successful bid to break the two-hour barrier for the marathon distance in 2019 was bankrolled by Ratcliffe through the Ineos 1:59 Challenge.Read More on The SunKipchoge covered 26.2 miles in Vienna in 1:59:40.2 — although it did not count as an official world record as he was allowed a series of pace-setters and it was not an open event.Later, in 2022, Ineos signed an agreement to become “performance partner” to Kipchoge’s Dutch-based NN Running Team.In 2022, Ineos signed an agreement to become “performance partner” to Eliud Kipchoge’s NN Running Team More

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      Liverpool set to play hardball with Real Madrid over Alexander-Arnold transfer – as squad treat star to Dubai leaving do

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      LIVERPOOL are ready to play hardball with Real Madrid over Trent Alexander-Arnold.The LaLiga giants are hoping to persuade the Reds to let Alexander-Arnold go for a token £850,000 in time to play in the Club World Cup next month.Liverpool are currently not willing to let Trent Alexander-Arnold leave before the Club World CupCredit: PABut Anfield chiefs are in no mood to make life easy for Real.They are unhappy how information about their pursuit of TAA was leaked at key moments in the season.Shortly after rumours emerged that the Spanish side were trying to sign him in January, the right-back put in a terrible performance in the 2-2 draw with bitter rivals Manchester United.So Liverpool do not regard the fee — again leaked through Real’s mouthpieces in the Spanish press —  as a good enough reason to let Alexander-Arnold go before his contract expires on June 30.READ MORE TRANSFER NEWSHe is currently with the squad in Dubai on something of a leaving do.Some feel Liverpool might benefit next season if as many Real players as possible were involved in the month-long Club World Cup in the heat of an American summer.Their first game is on June 18 in Miami.But unless Real improve their offer, the Reds are prepared to make the player and his new club wait.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSMeanwhile, the Merseysiders have made a decisive move to replace TAA by triggering the £33.6million release clause of Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong.The Holland wing-back, 24, is also a target for Bayern Munich.But he is thought to be keen on a move to Anfield to play under fellow Dutchman Arne Slot, and talks between his agent and the Reds are well advanced.Jamie Carragher ‘shocked’ by Alexander-Arnold boos as he admits ‘most Liverpool players want to play for Real Madrid’ More

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      The incredible Martin Odegaard stats that show why his drop in form at Arsenal is linked to long-range shooting

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      MARTIN ODEGAARD has been a shadow of his former brilliant self at Arsenal this term.A combination of illness, injury and becoming a father for the first time in December has seen him struggle for consistency and momentum, with large sections of the Gunners fanbase questioning his ability as captain with another Prem title charge falling short.Martin Odegaard has failed to convert from long-shots this seasonCredit: GettyThe stats show that the less he shoots, the worse his output isCredit: GettyBut perhaps more worryingly, it has been his creativity and intent on the ball in front of goal that has been missing – put in the spotlight following key absences to the likes of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus for large periods of the campaign.One area that has slumped in particular has been his shooting and scoring from outside the box, something that became a real trademark for the Norwegian in previous seasons.But his last two games can give fans hope he is on his way back as SunSport reveals the stats behind his dramatic drop in long-range belters, and why they are so important to his overall game.Odegaard gave a first glimpse of what was to come during his six-month loan spell from Real Madrid during the 2020/21 season, having joined on January 27, 2021.read more arsenalIt came in a Europa League round of 16 first leg clash away at Olympiacos, scoring his first goal for the club with a thunderbolt from 25 yards in a 3-1 victory.Collected on the half turn, he took two touches to compose himself and with the third came a venomous thump to announce himself to the Arsenal fans and boss Mikel Arteta.He ended that campaign with 12 shots from outside the box in 20 games in all competitions.His bravery to shoot in those positions grew in the following seasons, and got his rewards.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSIn 2021/22, he attempted 33 shots from outside the box in all competitions – 32 of them coming in the Prem – scoring twice, from a free-kick in a 1-0 victory away at Burnley in September 2021 and a screamer in a 2-1 defeat at home to Brighton in April 2022.His most successful and persistent year with long-range shots and goals came in 2022/23, scoring three times from 46 attempts in the Prem against Tottenham, Southampton and Newcastle. In total, he had 47 attempts in all competitions.How ‘brave’ Arsenal were denied by PSG in Champions League semi-finalThe strike against Spurs in a 2-0 away win in January 2023 was prime Odegaard – one touch out of his feet followed by a low, driven fizzler into the bottom corner.Odegaard went one better last year with 48 long-range shots in all competitions, scoring twice. The first was against PSV in the Champions League in September 2023. The second was away at Burnley in February 2024, making it one goal from 39 long-range Prem attempts.And the stats show that there is a direct correlation between the number of long-range shots Odegaard takes and his overall performance.Across the 22/23 and 23/24 campaigns – his best so far in an Arsenal shirt – he mustered 95 shots from outside the box in 93 appearances in all competitions, just over one a game.Within that period, Odegaard scored 26 goals and notched 18 assists.So, it is perhaps no surprise that we have witnessed a below-par Odegaard showing this term with just five goals and 10 assists in 42 games in all competitions having attempted just 30 long-range shots, the only goal from them coming in the 7-1 Champions League last 16 first leg rout of PSV in March.Of those 30, only 22 have been in the Prem with no success. You have to go back 15 months to find his last league belter from outside the box.There have been signs Odegaard is regaining his confidence in this regard.In last week’s 2-1 Champions League semi-final second leg defeat at Paris Saint-Germain, he was denied by a world class save from Gianluigi Donnarumma.Read More on The SunAnd in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with champions Liverpool at Anfield, another long ranger was tipped onto the post by Alisson that Mikel Merino then headed in to complete the comeback.The message is clear then: Odegaard is at his best when he is brave enough to take responsibility and shoot from range. Once that comes back into his game on a regular basis, so will his form. More