Premier League

MIKEL ARTETA claims that he would have been “thick” to repeat previous mistakes made against Manchester City.The Arsenal boss, 42, spoke today ahead of his side’s Carabao Cup clash with Bolton tomorrow night.Mikel Arteta spoke ahead of his side’s clash with BoltonCredit: GettyArsenal were reduced to 10 men following Leandro Trossard’s red cardCredit: PASince their 2-2 draw with City on Sunday, the Gunners have been criticised for their defensive tactics.Several City players blasted their style of play, with Kyle Walker referring to their “dark arts”.While statistics also show that Arsenal on average waste more time during stoppages in play than any other team in the Premier League.When asked if he was “surprised” about the reaction to his team’s game plan, Arteta claimed that their tactics were “normal”.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe said: “Well, we had to play the game that we had to play. The first 10, 15 minutes, we couldn’t with 11 vs 11.”Then we got much better. Then we were thrown in a very different context and did what every team does.”They played 30 seconds with 10 men. Look what they did for 30 seconds. It’s normal what they did. We had to do it in a different way.”The Spaniard then referenced his side’s trip to the Etihad in September 2021, when they were beaten 5-0 following Granit Xhaka’s first half red card.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHe continued: “We learnt from the past. Unfortunately we’ve been in the same situation a few times.”We were in that same situation with Granit after 38 minutes and we lost 5-0.Tight-lipped Mikel Arteta hints Arsenal picked up ‘serious’ injury against Man City as he says ‘we have to wait on one’ “We’d better learn. If not I would be thick, very thick.”Arteta went on to take issue with a question that referred to Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard both being sent off for “kicking the ball away”.He interjected: “For passing it you mean.”Quizzed if he will remind his players not to kick the ball away in future, he replied: “Yeah I think so. Don’t touch the ball. We will play without the ball.”Arteta was also asked about his post-match confrontation with Erling Haaland.The City striker, 24, told the Gunners boss to “stay humble”.He reflected: “It’s part of football, part of sport. After the game, all that goes away and we move on. That’s it.”We thought games like this had been lostSunSport’s NEIL CUSTIS hails chaotic Man City vs Arsenal clash as a return to the Premier League of yesteryear.FOR two teams who have done so much to take the game forward this really was a tremendous throwback.We thought these games had been lost.Real feisty encounters between two rivals fighting for the top honours.How we used to love it when Manchester United came up against Arsenal when Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were in charge.When Roy Keane, watching on as a TV pundit here, used to clash with Patrick Vieira before a ball had been kicked.The Manchester derbies used to have it as well.In fact that were clashes everywhere throughout the league.Since then the emphasis on the beauty of the game, the tactical side, the ball playing centre-back, the false nine, the inverted full-backs have all come to the fore.But English football still loves something like this.Compare this to the two matches between this pair last season not least the really STALEmate here.Then along comes a blood and thunder classic.A match to set the tone for what we all hope will be a real title tussle to the end but with that added edge.While these two managers maybe good friends who knows we may even get the niggly comments in pre-match press conferences about each others teams.We knew we were in for something a bit different as straight from the kick-off Kai Havertz charged into Rodri and left him flawed.The first players’ melee ensued.Foreign coaches often scratch their heads as to why English crowds love stuff like this.Love a thumping tackle, or a bit of a barney.How that as much as any sweeping move gets them to the edge of their seats and there was plenty of that here.Jurrien Timber was employed on the right to combat the pace of Jeremy Doku.SO Doku just charged into him and floored him.Rodri was clearly seen as one of City’s key men so at a corner Thoams Party followed up Havertz’s early example and caught him behind the knee, and the player hobbled out of the action.Gabriel and Erling Haaland was a classic battle between a big centre-forward and an Arsenal centre-back who performs like greats of old like Tony Adams and Martin Keown.A player for whom a thumping tackle warrants the same high fives or celebrations as something defining at the other end of the pitch.Haaland did brilliantly to pull away William Saliba and slip behind Gabriel for his goal.Gabriel will have been fuming having kept the big Norwegian so quiet last season.He barely gave him another sniff of goal, barring a second-half header saved, as he stuck to him, the pair often pushing and shoving one another as Haaland became frustrated with his shadow.Leandro Trossard did not get his second yellow and therefore the only red for the actual barge on Bernardo as everyone first thought but for kicking the ball away after that.Both technical areas were a flurry of arm waving and shouting from the two managers.The staff on the two benches started having a go at each other and Guardiola had to intervene.In the press box one of Arsenal’s technical staff was losing it.As Arsenal players went down with cramp and played for time the boos went up.The fourth official was getting in the ear.Michael Oliver was being told he was not fit to referee by a large section of the home support.When Arsenal fans were spotted in the posh seats having been in the expensive tunnel club City fans shouted and pointed to try and get them ejected.Right at the end after City’s dramatic equaliser and the game restarted Haaland barged into Partey and every player on the pitch got involved even the two goalkeepers.At the final whistle the ref was harrangued.On the touchline Guardiola and Arteta hugged. 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GARETH SOUTHGATE is being eyed by new Premier League owners.But he also remains the favourite to become the next Manchester United boss.Gareth Southgate could take a phone call from a new Premier League ownerCredit: GettyThe former England manager, 54, remains out of work.He quit the Three Lions in the summer following the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain after eight years in charge.But according to talkSPORT, Everton are interested in him taking over from Sean Dyche.On Monday, news broke that US billionaire Dan Friedkin has agreed to buy the club and replace Farhad Moshiri on Merseyside. READ MORE ON FOOTBALLPart of the deal will reportedly help the Toffees move to their new Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium debt free.But the incoming owner – who also owns Roma – will want to stamp his mark on the team.And that could include a change in manager. The talkSPORT report claims Friedkin is a big fan of Southgate and would be keen to lure him to Everton.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSDyche is already under pressure to keep his job after the Toffees’ winless start to the season – including two defeats from 2-0 up. However, once Friedkin’s takeover is ratified, the American businessman could make the change – either mid-season or at the end of the campaign.Everton’s £760million new stadium close to completion as incredible new video of ground is revealed Gareth Southgate vs Sean Dyche Premier League managerial records comparedGARETH SOUTHGATEMatches: 114Wins: 29Draws: 33Losses: 52Win rate: 25.4%Points per game: 1.05Goals for: 115Goals against: 159Manager of Month awards: 1 (August 2008)Clubs: MiddlesbroughSEAN DYCHEMatches: 319Wins: 90Draws: 84Losses: 145Win rate: 28.2%Points per game: 1.11Goals for: 313Goals against: 458Manager of Month awards: 3 (March 2018, February 2020, April 2024)Clubs: Burnley, EvertonBut current odds with the bookmakers show he could have a battle to land Southgate.The ex-Crystal Palace defender was tipped to replace Erik ten Hag in the summer – before the Dutchman penned a contract extension at Old Trafford.But defeats to Brighton and Liverpool as well as Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Palace has heaped more pressure on Ten Hag.And unattached Southgate (2-1) leads the likes of United assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy (11-4), Thomas Tuchel (7-2) and Kieran McKenna (7-1) in the current running if Ten Hag gets the boot.Southgate revealed he is happy to take his time before deciding on his next career move – and hinted that could be outside of football.In the meantime, though, he has started working as a technical observer for Uefa. * Odds correct at time of publishingSean Dyche and Erik ten Hag are both battling to keep their jobsCredit: APNine managers Man Utd considered before keeping Erik ten HagERIK TEN HAG appears to be safe as Man Utd manager, but the Dutchman edged dangerously close to the sack.Here are nine managers Red Devils chiefs are reported to have considered for the job and what allegedly happened with each.Gareth SouthgateEnjoys plenty of support among Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos chiefs but made clear he wouldn’t talk to any clubs until after Euro 2024. There is yet to be any suggestion that contact was made with the England boss.Kieran McKennaTalks were opened with McKenna’s representatives before the FA Cup final, but the former Man Utd coach opted to sign a new deal with Ipswich after Ten Hag’s Wembley win.Roberto De ZerbiAllegedly sounded out before the FA Cup final with salary expectations discussed. But Ineos chiefs concluded ex-Brighton boss was not the right fit for the project.Thomas FrankBrentford boss met Man Utd representatives the day before the FA Cup final. The Dane also dined with Ratcliffe, Roy Hodgson and Frank Lampard at the launch of a new Ineos car in February.Marco SilvaFulham boss reportedly met Man Utd representatives face-to-face two days before the FA Cup final, around the same time as Ten Hag was conducting his press conference.Mauricio PochettinoFell out of Man Utd’s thinking in the first week of June, despite being a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson.Thomas TuchelMade a very strong impression and came across well during a Monaco meeting. Personal terms were discussed before the ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss decided to step back from the process.Ruben AmorimSporting boss was discussed by the Man Utd hierarchy but did not make the final reckoning.Roberto MartinezPortugal manager was considered in the early stages. More

A FORMER Arsenal star has lifted the lid on their bid to find a new club.The defender, 32, played 70 times for the Gunners between 2011 and 2019.The former Arsenal star has taken part in a PFA scheme for free agentsCredit: Instagram / the_pfaAfter three loan moves away from the Emirates he left permanently five years ago, landing a switch to Nottingham Forest.He last played in English football for the Tricky Trees in 2021, before heading Down Under to continue his career in the A-League.Following three years in Australia, the Harlow-born ace is back in the UK as a free agent, and is determined to prove his fitness to a prospective new club.He recently sat down with former England goalkeeper Ben Foster on the “Fozcast” to describe his search for a new club, and how he has kept fit while training with a whole squad of free agents.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLDuring their conversation, Carl Jenkinson admitted that he stumbled into the PFA scheme while training with pal and ex-Brentford centre-back Charlie Goode.”I didn’t know about it until about five weeks in,” he admitted. “It was just through word of mouth.”One of the lads I was training with on my own, who used to play for Brentford, Charlie Goode, who’s now at Stevenage – he just said to me one day as we were doing a session with a coach ‘have you heard about this PFA programme?'”I didn’t know anything about it. He said ‘I’ll send you over the details tonight’ and started explaining what it was all about.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSJenkinson, 32, opened up to Ben FosterCredit: YouTubeCharlie Goode went on to sign for StevenageCredit: Rex”It was literally the next day I said ‘look, I’ve read through all the details, it sounds unbelievable,’ It’s exactly what we need.”I said ‘Chaz, you need to be there as well’. So we both, literally the day after, went up there.”Tight-lipped Mikel Arteta hints Arsenal picked up ‘serious’ injury against Man City as he says ‘we have to wait on one’ Foster, who retired last year following a spell at Wrexham, then explained that to be part of the PFA scheme you have to be a footballer, member of the union, and out of contract to be eligible to join up with the squad.It was then pointed out that the squad is 30-strong, and that with around 600 professional footballers released in England every year, the process is not that simple.Jenkinson continued: “It’s not if you apply, you’re in. It’s an application process.”He then revealed that the CEO had told him that the camp was aimed more at experienced pros, rather than those that had been released straight from academies.Goode, 29, went on to sign for League One Stevenage on August 5, and has since gone on to make six appearances in all competitions.But Jenkinson, who earned one England cap in 2012, remains without a club.With the PFA scheme having finished, the full-back revealed that he is still training and keeping fit as he hopes to return to the game.Who are these famous footballers?Jenkinson then admitted that clubs are more focused on recruiting young players, and that he would have liked the PFA camp to extend beyond the end of the summer transfer window.When Foster pointed out that clubs are looking to sign players aged, “30, 31, 32 max” – Jenkinson replied: “I’d actually say less.”Just from feedback I’ve had from clubs, not just for myself, but for some of my mates – you’re talking 27 these days.”One of my pals was talking to a Premier League club, and they were like ‘we don’t sign players over 27’.READ MORE SUN STORIESDuring his time at Arsenal, Jenkinson won the FA Cup in 2014.He also picked up silverware Down Under, winning the A-League Premiership with Melbourne City.Jenkinson won the FA Cup with Arsenal in 2014Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More