Premier League

CEDRIC SOARES made his fourth Arsenal appearance of the season on Saturday – prompting a heartwarming reaction from his daughter.The right-back has fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium this season, but he was handed a rare appearance during Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Burnley at the weekend.
Cedric Soares made a rare Arsenal appearance on SaturdayCredit: Getty
The defender’s daughter was filmed hugging the TV when he came onCredit: Instagram sportbible
He was introduced to replace Ben White in the 69th minute and went on to help the Gunners keep a clean sheet.
Cedric’s partner was watching from home with their young daughter, who was filmed hugging the TV in a touching moment after spotting him on the screen.
Arsenal won the match 5-0 thanks to goals from Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz.
Odegaard opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a great strike into the bottom-right corner.
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Saka doubled Arsenal’s advantage from the penalty spot just before half time and struck again after the break.
Trossard scored the fourth before Havertz made it five with 12 minutes to play.
Cedric’s cameo was just his fourth first team appearance of the season.
The 32-year-old has started just one game for Arsenal since the start of the campaign – away at PSV Eindhoven.
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He came close to leaving north London in January, with Villarreal, Galatasaray and Besiktas all interested.
However, all three clubs failed to strike a deal with the Gunners.
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Cedric joined Arsenal on an initial six-month loan from Southampton in January 2020 and went on to sign permanently six months later.
The defender has since made 63 first team appearances for Mikel Arteta’s side. More

FANS were left gasping “I thought this was Love Island” after James Tarkowski’s cheesy flirting on a reality TV show went viral.The Everton ace, 31, is mainly known for his defensive work and no-nonsense attitude in the Premier League.
James Tarkowski showed off his cheesy flirting on an upcoming TV show
Tarkowski and wife Samantha will star on Prime Video’s ‘Married to the Game’
But Tarkowski is now taking a turn as a TV star.
The centre-back will appear on upcoming Prime Video show Married to the Game.
The six-part series, airing on February 23, lifts the lid on the life of a football Wag.
Married to the Game aims to show the pressures of living with a professional sportsman while holding down a job and family life.
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Arsenal star Jorginho, ex-Man City duo Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez, and Nottingham Forest’s Matt Turner will all feature alongside their respective partners.
But fans are most looking forward to seeing Tarkowski in action.
That’s after Prime Video teased a clip of his relationship with wife Samantha.
The pair started dating in 2015 while Tarkowski was playing for Brentford.
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Samantha is a fitness model and influencer who regularly cheers her man on at Goodison Park.
And the loved-up couple tied the knot in a summer wedding last June.
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Tarkowski is in his second season with EvertonCredit: Rex
Samantha is a fitness model and influencerCredit: Instagram @samanthajtarkowski
She and Tarkowski have been dating since 2015
The couple got married last summer
Samantha regularly cheers on Tarkowski at Goodison Park
In the video, Tarkowski laid on the charm while showing off his cheesy flirting.
Samantha started the conversation by saying: “Everyone looks so gorgeous.”
Tarkowski replied: “Especially you!”
This caused blushing Samantha to say: “Oh thank you, and you! I wasn’t expecting that.”
Tarkowski said: “I planned that for you.”
Samantha answered: “You know how to be a husband.”
Tarkowski ended the clip by saying: “I do.”
Fans found the defender’s cheeky “rizz” too much to handle.
One declared: “I thought this was Love Island?”
Another boomed: “Dyche must be fuming.”
One noted: “Bro got moves.”
Another added: “I don’t know what to think about this.”
Tarkowski is in his second season at Everton and has played 30 times in all competitions.
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Before that, he starred under boss Sean Dyche at Burnley.
And earlier in his career, Tarkowksi enjoyed spells at Oldham and Brentford. More

GERARD DEULOFEU has turned on former team-mate Mason Holgate for his horror challenge on Kaoru Mitoma.The on-loan Sheffield United defender was shown a straight red card in Sunday’s 5-0 loss to Brighton.
Mason Holgate was sent off for a horror challenge on Kaoru Mitoma on SundayCredit: Getty
Former team-mate Gerard Deulofeu has called for Holgate to be punished furtherCredit: Getty

Holgate’s reckless studs up lunge saw him catch Mitoma above the knee.
His challenge has since been slammed by fans and pundits, with Deulofeu the latest to speak out.
He called for an additional ban on top of the three-match suspension Holgate will receive for the straight red card.
The ex-Everton winger wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “This boy has been a teammate of mine but I see this and my heart breaks because I am experiencing it first-hand.
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“We must begin to sanction this type of tackle in an exemplary and appropriate manner. IT IS INADMISSIBLE.”
Deulofeu is currently sidelined following knee surgery, which has kept him out since January 2023.
The Udinese man previously played with Holgate at Everton, making four appearances alongside him.
He made a total of 127 Premier League appearances for Watford and Everton before moving to Italy in 2021.
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Meanwhile, Holgate has played three times since joining the Blades on loan for the rest of the season in January.
Sunday’s defeat was his second 5-0 defeat across those matches, coming either side of an away win over Luton.
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He is now set to miss the fixtures against Wolves, Arsenal and Bournemouth through suspension. More

A SUPERCOMPUTER has predicted what the Premier League table will look like at the end of the season as three teams battle it out for the title.Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City are currently embroiled in a thrilling title race, with Jurgen Klopp’s side leading the pack.
Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by ChelseaCredit: Getty
Liverpool beat Brentford to stay at the top of the tableCredit: Alamy
Arsenal cruised to a 5-0 win over BurnleyCredit: Getty
The Reds retained their spot at the top on Saturday with a 4-1 win over Brentford.
Meanwhile, Arsenal added to their goal difference with a convincing 5-0 victory over Burnley.
However, City struggled to pile the pressure on when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.
Following the weekend’s results, Instant Casino’s supercomputer predicts Liverpool to top the Premier League at the end of the season.
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Man City are expected to finish second, with Arsenal down in third despite their impressive run of form.
Aston Villa are expected to take the final spot in the top four, with Tottenham in fifth and Manchester United in sixth.
The supercomputer also predicts Chelsea to finish eighth, 13 points better off compared to last season.
At the other end of the table, the three promoted teams are forecast to return to the Championship.
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Liverpool are predicted to win the Premier League
Brentford could narrowly miss the drop, with Luton 18th, Burnley 19th and Sheffield United 20th.
Everton are also expected to survive despite being handed a 10-point deduction earlier in the season.
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FOOTBALL fans have joked that Sean Dyche “played 4D chess” by sending Mason Holgate on loan to Sheffield United.Holgate, 27, was sent off for a horror tackle on Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma at the weekend.
Mason Holgate was sent off for a challenge on Kaoru MitomaCredit: Getty
Fans have joked that Sean Dyche loaned the defender on purposeCredit: EPA

The defender dived in on the winger, taking him out at knee height just 12 minutes into the game.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp described it as “scandalous” and “one of the worst tackles” he’d ever seen.
Sheffield United went on to lose 5-0 to Brighton, leaving them rock bottom of the Premier League table.
Holgate’s parent club Everton are also in a relegation battle.
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The Toffees currently sit 18th in the table, but they will have the opportunity to leapfrog Luton with a win over Crystal Palace on Monday.
Some Everton fans have now joked that Dyche sending Holgate on loan to a relegation rival was genius.
One person tweeted: “When Dyche said Holgate going to Sheff Utd was a good deal for us I think this is exactly what he meant to be honest 😂.”
Another wrote: “4D Chess Dyche is playing there.”
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While another commented: “Sean Dyche sending Agent Holgate to send Sheffield United down.”
Holgate was initially loaned to Southampton at the start of the season, but his move was terminated early last month.
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He made just seven appearances for the Saints during his time at St Mary’s.
The defender was sent out on loan again on transfer deadline day, this time to Sheffield United.
He lost BOTH of his debuts by a scoreline of 5-0, with Southampton losing to Sunderland and the Blades suffering a defeat to Aston Villa.
Sheffield United next face Wolves on Sunday. More

KELVIN DAVIS has been appointed the new manager of Eastleigh.The former Southampton goalkeeper has landed his first managerial job with the National League side.
Kelvin Davis has been appointed Eastleigh managerCredit: PA:Press Association
The former Southampton goalkeeper saved a penalty against Manchester United in 2012Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Davis replaces former boss Richard Hill at the Silverlake Stadium and will be joined by assistant Danny Butterfield.
Eastleigh are currently 15th in the fifth tier, four points above the relegation zone.
The new manager’s first match will come on Tuesday away to bottom club Oxford City.
As a player, Davis made 53 Premier League appearances for Sunderland and Southampton.
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He also had spells with Wimbledon, Luton and Ipswich before retiring in 2016 aged 39.
The 47-year-old has since served as both caretaker boss and assistant manager at Southampton, but left the club at the end of the 2021/22 season.
Davis helped the Saints win promotion to the Premier League in 2012 and began their top flight return as first-choice goalkeeper.
He saved a penalty from David Silva on the opening weekend as Manchester City beat the newly promoted side.
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The Southampton goalkeeper followed up his heroics by denying Robin van Persie from 12 yards two weeks later.
However, he once again ended up on the losing side as Manchester United won 3-2 at St. Mary’s in September 2012.
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