Champions League

MIKEL ARTETA wishes he could have “paused” time to prevent Gabriel Jesus getting injured in January and regrets not protecting him.Arsenal have been forced to play the past three months without a recognised striker, using midfielder Mikel Merino and winger Leandro Trossard as makeshift No9s.Gabriel Jesus’ season was ended after a knee injury against Man UtdCredit: PATrossard was given his marching orders against Man CityCredit: ReutersIt has had a huge impact on their season and saw them crash out of the FA Cup in the third round and Carabao Cup semi-finals, as well as surrendering their Prem title charge to Liverpool.Kai Havertz underwent hamstring surgery following a freak training accident in February during their mid-season warm-weather camp in Dubai.But it was Jesus’ lay-off that still plays on Arteta’s mind – the Brazilian rupturing his ACL during an FA Cup tie against Manchester United on January 12. He is now pushing to return to action before the end of the year.Jesus has spent large periods in the medical room since arriving at the Emirates from Manchester City for £45m in the summer of 2022 – missing over 50 games through injury.Read more FootballBefore the United cup clash, Jesus had started just 12 games in all competitions this season as he struggled for fitness and consistency, scoring seven goals in the process.Despite the setbacks, Arsenal have still managed to reach the Champions League semi-finals, facing Paris Saint-Germain tomorrow night in the second leg, needing to overcome a 1-0 deficit.But speaking to the Men In Blazers show, when asked if there was anything he would do differently this season, Arteta explained: “Possibly. Yeah.“It’s very difficult now to understand that, if I could pause the game and say, Gabriel Jesus, we brought you back to life. You know, you are doing incredibly well.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK“You’re going to now get injured, so stop. I would stop him, bring another player in and continue to play the game. Unfortunately, we cannot do this in football.”Arteta is also still frustrated over ill discipline, with his side picking up FIVE red cards in the Prem this term, with three of them coming inside the first ten games of the season.Mikel Arteta forced to pull back fuming Arsenal set piece coach after Declan Rice corner routine goes wrongDeclan Rice picked up two yellows in controversial fashion in a 1-1 draw with Brighton in August, as did Leandro Trossard in the dramatic 2-2 draw with Manchester City in September.William Saliba was given a VAR-reviewed straight red in the 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth in October.Myles Lewis-Skelly has picked up TWO reds since making his senior debut in that draw at the Etihad, the first in a 1-0 victory at Wolves that was later rescinded in January.But the teenager picked up another in a damaging 1-0 home loss to West Ham a month later.Myles Lewis-Skelly was dismissed for a foul on Matt DohertyCredit: PAArteta continued: “I am probably prouder than I was back in August.“While we have to deliver, we’ve been through a lot this season with a lot of very difficult situations that in any other circumstances would have put the club and the team in a very, very difficult position.“I see the team where we are and how we are competing and it is an absolute joy because in ten, 15, 20 years I analysed what happened when these things happened to other clubs and it’s very different.“In the period that we play with the amount of injuries, you have zero chance to win the league and you have very few chances even to play in the Champions League.“That’s history, what we’ve done in the Champions League with that, with those conditions in my opinion is extraordinary.”’I already mentioned that twice’ – Mikel Arteta takes issue with reporter’s question as Arsenal title hopes all but endOne thing that has brought Arteta joy is the club’s dog “Win”, who was brought in at the end of the 2022/23 season and is a regular face around their London Colney training ground.Arteta was recently seen walking Win outside Colney in the background of a Sky Sports broadcast, and the players often take it in turns to take the pet home with them.Read More on The SunArteta said: “It brings me joy and peace. When we are all with Win, you change your energy. It is all love, all hugs. He wants to be touched. She wants to go on the floor and given massages and pleasure.“That dog is the most loyal and unbelievable animal that exists. I feel very attached to her.”Labrador Win is considered the ‘club dogCredit: Getty More

JOHN TERRY tried to be a hero with his infamous Champions League final penalty shoot-out miss, claims former team-mate Claude Makelele.The ex-Chelsea captain hit the post after slipping as he took his spot-kick, handing Manchester United the 2008 Champions League trophy.John Terry tried to be a hero in the 2008 Champions League final, claims Claude MakeleleCredit: PA:Press AssociationThe captain’s miss handed Man Utd the trophyCredit: GettyMakelele believes Terry made a mistakeCredit: GettyTerry later revealed the moment ‘broke’ himCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdBut it has now been claimed Terry was never meant to take the penalty in the first place.Makelele, 52, revealed Solomon Kalou was in line to step up instead.And he believes a mistake was made as Terry took on the job instead, as he wanted to be a “hero”.Speaking on The LineUp, brought to you by BetMGM and talkSPORT, he said: “The dressing room after the game was like fire. There was no happiness whatsoever – it was a sad place to be.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“We made a big mistake ahead of the penalties. We had an order which was agreed with the players and the manager, but it changed at the last minute.“It was supposed to be Salomon Kalou taking the last penalty but John [Terry] took the opportunity off him. I think we lost this competition because football is very harsh sometimes and, if you don’t do things the right way, you get punished.“I was very angry when he missed the penalty because it was a chance that I knew a lot of the young players wouldn’t get. I’d won the Champions League before but, in this moment, John had to be the leader and do what was best for the team.“He didn’t make sure we won the trophy, he tried to be a hero. If he knew this, he would have been a hero because he would have lifted the trophy.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSJoin SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford BridgeIf Terry scored his penalty Chelsea would have won the Champions League – instead he missed and Edwin van der Sar saved from Nicolas Anelka in sudden death to decide the title.Terry, 44 has spoken about how that pivotal moment “broke” him.Chelsea star Cole Palmer explains how 100 versions of himself would beat one gorillaHe said: “I just remember standing looking over Moscow in my hotel, I was on about the 25th floor, just looking out.”Just asking, ‘Why? Why then? Why did it start raining? Why did I slip?’ All of these things that go over [in your head].”Probably the hardest thing was that three days later we met up with England. We had a friendly at Wembley against the USA.”I ended up scoring a header from outside the box and that was probably the hardest moment.”Because if I could swap any goal in my career it would be that. I scored a header from 18 yards and after the game it f***ing broke me.” More