Premier League

ARSENAL youngster Max Dowman made his debut for the club’s Under-18s on Saturday – at the age of just 13.The midfielder has rapidly ascended through Arsenal’s Hale End academy this season.
Max Dowman made his debut for Arsenal’s U18’s on SaturdayCredit: Getty
And his talent was awarded with a call-up to Jack Wilshere’s U18s at the weekend.
The Gunners took on Southampton’s U18s at London Colney and cruised to a 4-0 win thanks to goals from Chidozie Obi-Martin and Louis Zecevic-John.
But Dowman proved to be one of the stars of the show when he was introduced in the second half.
Arsenal fans were left stunned when they discovered the midfielder’s age, with one person tweeting: “13 is crazy!”
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Another added: “Must be some player!”
A third said: “A 13-year-old in U18s, that is some achievement!”
While a fourth fan wrote: “Arsenal’s next generation is promising!”
Wilshere heaped praise on Dowman after the match and admitted the young teenager “deserved” his chance with the U18 side.
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The former midfielder said: “We take a holistic view of the academy, pushing our players to excel.
“Debut opportunities aren’t handed out lightly, and Max has demonstrated over the past few months that he deserves this chance. There are others on the verge of stepping up as well.
“He handled the moment admirably, sending an important message to the team that when we introduce players, they possess the quality to contribute effectively.” More

BRUNO SALTOR has secretly left Chelsea just four months after Mauricio Pochettino’s arrival, according to reports.The Spaniard landed a job as part of the new manager’s backroom team for this season but has already left his role.
Bruno Saltor has reportedly secretly left ChelseaCredit: Getty
He joined the Blues as part of Graham Potter’s coaching setup in September last year.
Potter was axed after seven months at the helm, but Saltor remained at the club.
He was Chelsea’s caretaker boss for one match versus Liverpool, guiding them to a 0-0 draw before Frank Lampard returned to the dugout.
The club legend was let go in favour of Pochettino over the summer and the ex-Tottenham and PSG boss brought with him his own coaches.
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However, Saltor was allowed to stay at Stamford Bridge and took up a job in Poch’s team.
Yet The Telegraph now claim the 42-year-old has left with the club paying off his contract.
Chelsea have not confirmed Saltor’s departure and reportedly chose against making a public statement revealing the news, pushing him out the back door.
Todd Boehly paid Brighton an eye-watering £21million in compensation to get Potter and several of his coaches out of their deals with the Seagulls.
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Potter, Saltor, Billy Reid and Bjorn Hamberg have all since been axed.
Now just head of goalkeeping Ben Roberts and data analyst Kyle Macaulay remain.
Saltor was a right-back during his playing days and featured 235 times for Brighton. More

JULEN LOPETEGUI was surprisingly at Stamford Bridge to watch Chelsea lose to Aston Villa, according to reports.The Blues were beaten 1-0 at home to leave them languishing in 14th in the table.
Mauricio Pochettino has not been able to turn Chelsea’a fortunes aroundCredit: Alamy
Ex-Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui was in the stands at Stamford BridgeCredit: PA
Pressure is beginning to mount on new boss Mauricio Pochettino with him yet to turn around Chelsea’s disastrous form.
The club have won just six matches in all competitions during 2023.
And this comes after summer spending took Todd Boehly’s transfer outlay to £1billion since he bought the club in May last year.
Pochettino raged at his players after yesterday’s defeat and admitted that the owner is “disappointed” by the team’s start to the season.
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And a shock report has emerged that experienced manager Lopetegui was in the stands to see Chelsea’s struggles.
Birmingham World claim he watched the match from a hospitality suite inside Stamford Bridge.
Lopetegui has been at the helm of the likes of Real Madrid, Sevilla and the Spanish national team during his career.
He was most recently in charge of Wolves, saving them from relegation last season.
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However, the 57-year-old decided to leave just days before their opening match of this campaign due to frustration over transfer business and a fall out with club chiefs.
He was replaced by Gary O’Neil.
Lopetegui is supposedly keen on another job in England as he believes he has unfinished business in the Premier League. More

A SUPERCOMPUTER has predicted the final Premier League table… and it’s bad news for Manchester United.Bettingexpert’s supercomputer, BETSiE, ran its algorithm after this past weekend’s results.

The supercomputer simulated the Premier League season 100,000 times, taking into account all match results from last season, pre-season and current form. 
And despite United’s recent win over Burnley, they have slipped down from fifth to sixth in the virtual prediction.
It means they would drop out of the Champions League qualification spots.
Tottenham, Newcastle, Arsenal and Liverpool make up the rest of the top flight European places with City tipped to retain their title.
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Look away Chelsea fans because the supercomputer has Mauricio Pochettino’s struggling Blues finishing ninth.
The West Londoners were beaten 1-0 at home to Aston Villa on Sunday following a red card from Malo Gusto.
Burnley, Luton and Sheffield United – all promoted this season – are predicted to be relegated.
The Blades are now rock bottom following a dismal 8-0 defeat at home to Newcastle which leaves manager Paul Heckingbottom fighting for his job.
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But when asked whether he will be the manager for the next game, Heckingbottom said: “Yes, 100 per cent.
“This might be a theme now by the looks of it. I can’t answer any of that, the game, the players, my department, yeah no problem, but things like that you are asking the wrong man.”
Ex-Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder is a leading candidate to replace Heckingbottom at Bramall Lane.
Paul Heckingbottom is fighting for his jobCredit: Getty More

TOTTENHAM fans are loving James Maddison’s cheeky response to Bukayo Saka’s goal celebration.Arsenal and Spurs drew 2-2 in yesterday’s North London derby as things got heated between the England team-mates.
Bukayo Saka brutally copied James Maddison’s darts celebrationCredit: Getty
Maddison avoided a Saka tackle as he set up Spurs’ goalCredit: sky sports
Maddison taunted Saka in a post-match interviewCredit: Sky Sports
Saka saw his shot deflect off Cristian Romero and fly into the back of the net to put the Gunners 1-0 up after 26 minutes.
He then wheeled away celebrating and proceeded to copy Maddison’s trademark darts celebration in a “savage” move.
Saka eyed up a pitchside camera and threw his imaginary dart with a cheeky grin on his face.
But that smile was then wiped off his face 18 minutes later when Maddison grabbed the assist for Son Heung-min’s equaliser.
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The creative midfielder skipped away from a tackle put in by Saka as he got to the byline and pulled an-inch perfect ball back to the South Korean to make it 1-1.
Asked about the battle between Maddison and Saka, the Spurs favourite said: “Me and Bukayo have had a bit of banter and a bit of trash-talking while we were on international duty.
“I got told he did the darts celebration – he must’ve still be doing it when I turned him for our first goal.”
Tottenham supporters loved the response, one said: “I knew he would respond, Madders is spicy.”
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James Maddison had the last laugh in a brutal response to being trolled by Bukayo SakaCredit: Twitter
Another added: “He gets it. Proper Spurs.”
A third commented: “Just when I thought I could not love him anymore.”
On the pitch, both Maddison and Saka were not done trying to get the better of each other as the Arsenal winger scored his side’s second goal from the penalty spot.
And Maddison assisted Son again as he made it 2-2.
James Maddison has a trademark darts celebration, which Bukayo Saka mimickedCredit: Getty More

MAURICIO POCHETTINO has told his billion-pound Chelsea flops to “grow up.”Malo Gusto was sent off as the Blues lost at home to Aston Villa — their THIRD Prem defeat in six games.
Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea suffered another frustrating defeat to Aston VillaCredit: Alamy
He admitted afterwards that owner Todd Boehly is ‘disappointed’ by their poor startCredit: EPA
And Pochettino revealed US owner Todd Boehly — who has splashed out £1billion on transfers since taking charge last year — is “disappointed” at the current mess.
Chelsea boss Poch said: “Footballers want to win but players when they are young without experience make mistakes.
“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.”
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Asked if he had spoken to the club’s owners over the past fortnight, the former Tottenham manager replied: “They are disappointed.
“They are excited to build a project. They feel disappointed but they need to support the plan.”
Gusto, 20, was sent off after VAR upgraded his yellow card for his 58th-minute foul on Lucas Digne to red.
And Ollie Watkins hit a stunning 73rd-minute winner to pile more misery on Chelsea, who are languishing a lowly 14th in the table.
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Poch already has 12 stars out injured. And to add to his woes, striker Nicolas Jackson, 22, will join the suspended Gusto on the sidelines after collecting a fifth booking in just six matches.
The Argentine boss added: “Players like Nico that are so young and feeling out the Prem are learning in time. We need to learn together. It’s difficult to talk about positives.
“No doubt with time the team is going to perform, but we cannot hide the situation that disappoints all the fans, the club, us and the players.”
Chelsea’s only victories in their seven games under Poch have come against promoted Luton in the Prem and AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup.
The Blues have scored just seven goals in seven games in all competitions – and without any in their last three outings.
Pochettino admitted: “We need to work in giving the players trust and confidence.
“We have the squad, we cannot change anything, so we have to give them confidence.”
Chelsea are in disarray after a dreadful start to the seasonCredit: Reuters More