Premier League

BUKAYO SAKA is a major doubt for Arsenal’s clash with Bournemouth on Saturday.The England winger was seen limping off the pitch after the North London derby.
Bukayo Saka is a doubt for Arsenal’s weekend clash with BournemouthCredit: Getty
Mikel Arteta has now hinted that Saka could be out of his side’s next Premier League match as the Gunners are handed another injury blow.
Declan Rice was taken off at half-time against Tottenham on Sunday and was seen with his leg strapped up on the bench.
The summer signing is understood to have been unable to train since due to a back injury.
Arteta has spoken of his doubts over Saka’s fitness ahead of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup clash with Brentford.
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“He was limping quite badly after the match,” he explained at his pre-match press conference.
“We had to get him off the field. He hasn’t been able to participate in the session. It’s a possibility (that he could miss playing Bournemouth).”
Saka could also miss next week’s Champions League trip to France to face Lens.
Arsenal are also set to host Manchester City in the league before the October international break.
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Arteta withdrew Saka during stoppage time against Spurs, replacing him with Emile Smith Rowe in the 97th minute.
The 22-year-old was on the scoresheet earlier in the match, taking his goal tally for the season to four in eight matches across all competitions.
As for Rice, Arteta added: “He has not trained yet. He could not carry on in the game. Hopefully it is not something big.
“We are confident (it is not serious, but) he is still uncomfortable. Hopefully it will progress in the next few days.” More

MANCHESTER UNITED ace Sofyan Amrabat was just hours away from becoming a Liverpool player this summer, it’s claimed.The 27-year-old joined Old Trafford this summer on loan from Fiorentina for £8.5million with an option to buy for £21.4m.
Sofyan Amrabat was near to joining Liverpool this summerCredit: Getty
Amrabat made his Premier League debut for the Red Devils on Saturday in their 1-0 win against Burnley.
However, according to the Daily Mail, the Moroccan almost signed for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
The report claims the German boss phoned the midfielder personally to persuade him to move to Anfield and help fill in the gaps left by Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and James Milner.
Klopp was only a step away from getting his man but a last-minute hold-up forced the Reds to sign Ryan Gravenberch instead.
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Talks between the Reds and Amrabat were put on hold for just a day.
And it was during this time that Liverpool decided 21-year-old Gravenberch was a younger and better fit for Klopp’s squad.
It is understood that Amrabat is in the process of changing agents from Stellar to Sports Entertainment Group – who were involved with the move to United.
Amrambat could make his first start for Man Utd in Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup against Crystal Palace.
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The Moroccan international came on in the last five minutes to secure United’s victory at Turf Moor.
Amrabat’s debut was delayed after he sustained an injury that forced him to leave international duty early.
But his first game for the club was worth the wait as he helped see out the win as United got back to winning ways after a dismal few weeks for the club.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp had a call with Amrabat to persuade him to move to AnfieldCredit: Reuters More

TOTTENHAM captain Son Heung-min has revealed his top four sporting GOATs – but old pal Harry Kane did not make the cut.The forward was speaking to EA FC clubhouse in London where he opened up on who he thought were the best athletes of all time.
Son has revealed who his top four GOATs areCredit: Reuters
Old pal Harry Kane was left off of Son’s listCredit: Getty
Son, 31, was asked during an interview to list four people who are the greatest in their sports.
Sports Insider questioned the South Korean star saying: “Your four best athletes of all time?”
To which Son replied: “Oh wow! Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Messi and Ronaldo.”
But a name who surprisingly did not make it on Son’s list was old pal Kane.
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Son and Kane played together at Spurs for seven years and are regarded as among the Premier League’s most prolific pairings.
The iconic duo have assisted over 40 goals for each other – the highest in the Premier League of all time.
Despite their close partnership, Son does not think the Bayern striker and England captain is up there with the best.
He does think basketball legend Michael Jordan is – as he won six NBA titles during his glittering career with the Chicago Bulls.
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While seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady who played for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers was also named.
Also, old-time football rivals Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo made Son’s top four.
Messi who has won ten LaLiga titles, seven Balloon d’Ors and a World Cup has been long compared to the Portuguese superstar.
Cristiano Ronaldo has won three Premier Leagues, two La Ligas, two Serie A titles and five Balloon d’Ors during his career.
The iconic due assisted 37 goals for each other at SpursCredit: Getty More

MAURICIO POCHETTINO still has the backing of his Chelsea players despite their horrendous start to the season.The Blues manager has won just one of his six Premier League games in charge.
Mauricio Pochettino still has the backing of his Chelsea playersCredit: Alamy
He also hit out at his young squad after Sunday’s home loss to Aston Villa, telling them to “grow up”.
However, the Daily Mail report that Pochettino still has the support of his players at Stamford Bridge.
His approach since arriving in West London has been welcomed by the squad, the report adds.
Pochettino’s man-management skills have been praised, along with his willingness to engage with players.
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The former Tottenham boss is said to have been going out of his ways to speak to members of the team.
His attitude is understood to have been key to maintaining their support despite Chelsea’s poor form.
He is also said to have had his door open to any players who want to talk about tactics, opponents or their own role in the team outside of training.
As a result, the report claims Pochettino is well-liked and backed by his players.
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Sunday’s loss to Villa has left Chelsea 14th in the Premier League, though, already nine points off the top four.
Their victory at home to winless Luton remains their only win from the opening six games, with half of those ending in defeat.
Chelsea’s fortunes could still get worse, too, with a nightmare run of fixtures lying in wait after the October international break.
Pochettino has already admitted owner Todd Boehly is “disappointed” with the club’s start to the campaign.
Pochettino has won just one of his six Premier League matches as Chelsea managerCredit: Getty
Speaking after the defeat against Villa, he raged that his young side needs to “grow up”.
“Footballers want to win but players when they are young without experience make mistakes,” Pochettino told reporters.
“This is why we feel disappointed because we are seeing too many situations like this.
“We need to change as soon as possible. We need to grow up like a team.” More

CHELSEA reportedly set a transfer rule this summer which meant they did not even consider James Maddison or James Ward-Prowse. The Blues chairman Todd Boehly has seen the team collect just five points from six Premier League games.
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly put in place a bizarre transfer rule before the summerCredit: Getty
Chelsea’s transfer rule meant they did not consider signing Tottenham’s James MaddisonCredit: AP
The rule also meant West Ham’s Ward-Prowse was not consideredCredit: PA
There may be a reason why the Blues have been suffering this term even though they recruited record signings this summer.
Chelsea chairman Boehly took a huge risk before the summer by putting in place an age limit on signings.
According to The Telegraph, Chelsea set a 25-and-under rule on their incoming summer business as the club look to build a squad that could see them through the next decade.
But this decision has seen Mauricio Pochettino’s squad struggling to escape the bottom half of the Premier League table and currently lie 14th.
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The rule meant stars like Maddison, 26, and Ward-Prowse, 28, who have flourished at Spurs and West Ham respectively, were never really considered at Stamford Bridge.
The report also revealed Pochettino’s side backed away from what they felt to be an English premium placed on Declan Rice who was former head coach Graham Potter’s top target.
Instead, Chelsea ended up paying more for 21-year-old Cole Palmer than Spurs spent on Maddison.
And paid an initial £53million for 19-year-old Romeo Lavia, which is roughly £20million more than Ward-Prowse cost West Ham.
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Chelsea then made a record-breaking deal by signing 21-year-old Moises Caicedo in a £115million deal.
The youth and inexperience of the team can best be shown with 22-year-old Nicholas Jackson who has been booked five times in his first six games and will now serve a suspension.
And to top it off Pochettino’s side is faced with an injury crisis as 12 players have been ruled out in the opening weeks of the season. More