As the transfer window nears the end of January approaches, Mikel Arteta reiterated on Friday that Arsenal are actively looking to sign a striker. The club has remained silent about its options.
As Arsenal battle to defeat Premier League leaders Liverpool in the title race, concerns have grown over Gabriel Jesus’ and Bukayo Saka’s lack of scoring threat as a result.
The Gunners are the only Premier League team with eight goals scored in double figures this season, compared to Kai Havertz’s eight.
Prior to his side’s Saturday trip to struggling Wolves, Arsenal manager Arteta was questioned about the need for reinforcements.
“We lost two very, very important players, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus so we lack goals, we lack people, we lack options in the front line. It’s clear,” he said.
“If we can get the right player, that’s what we are actively looking at. Any player? No, someone who improves and strengthens our team. ”
He continued, “Ideally, we need some assistance because we are already very short and even shorter, but the team still manages that.” However, we must pursue the club’s goals. ”
On February 3, the transfer window closes at 23:00 GMT.
Arteta said his side, who have finished as runners-up to Manchester City for the past two seasons, had improved since the start of the campaign.
And they pose a real threat to Liverpool’s title challengers, who are six points clear of them with a game in hand.
Arsenal gave Brentford a 2-0 lead against Aston Villa, but Arne Slot’s side scored two goals in added time to win the game.
“The margins are really, really small,” said Arteta. The gap appears to have been significantly smaller than it was last weekend, and you could see how things could have gone.
“We have to be at it, we have to do what’s in our hands and there’s still a long, long way to go. ”
As Chelsea and Manchester City prepare to travel to the Etihad and compete for a top-four spot, Manchester City have no time to heal from yet another agonizing Champions League defeat.
Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth, both looking to upset the established order by qualifying for next season’s Champions League, meet at the Vitality Stadium in an intriguing match-up between two in-form teams.
Ange Postecoglou, the beleaguered Tottenham manager, desperately needs a win against relegation-threatened Leicester to keep Spurs out of trouble.
AFP Sport looks at three talking points ahead of the weekend’s action:
City is going back to square one.
On December 26, 2024, Manchester City’s #20 Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva (C) reacts to conceding their first goal in the English Premier League game between Manchester City and Everton at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north of England. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)
City’s 6-0 win over Ipswich last weekend gave them hope that they might have recovered, but their optimism was squandered in a four-goal blitz by Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, leaving Pep Guardiola’s side on the verge of embarrassing early exit.
After a terrible run of results, City is now back in contention for a top-four spot thanks to a five-game unbeaten run in the Premier League.
With a victory at the Etihad on Saturday, the fifth-placed Chelsea would leapfrog the English champions, who currently sit fifth.
However, their upturn came with a light run of fixtures, and their 4-2 defeat at PSG, which exposed the weaknesses that a tougher opponent might have exposed, coincided with that.
City face Arsenal, Newcastle, Liverpool and Tottenham in their following four Premier League games.
The club’s slump, exacerbated by injuries, has forced them to be unusually active in the January transfer market.
Forward Omar Marmoush could make his debut on Saturday after sealing a £59 million ($72.6 million) move from Eintracht Frankfurt, while Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis will bolster Guardiola’s defensive options.
READ ALSO:  , Guardiola Admits Man City ‘ Could Not Cope ‘ With PSG As European Hopes Flicker
“dreams” of Champions League
On January 6, 2025, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest play at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, central England, with the New Zealand striker #11 Chris Wood (R) and his teammates celebrating their victory on the field. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP).
Forest are on course for a stunning return to Europe’s elite competition, starting the weekend level on points with second-placed Arsenal and six clear of City and Newcastle.
Under the direction of Brian Clough, Forest won the 1979 and 1980 European Championships, which would be an impressive achievement.
However, Nuno Espirito Santo’s men face a stern test of their ambitions on Saturday when they take on Bournemouth, which has won the club’s record 10 Premier League games.
In a remarkable 4-1 victory over Newcastle at St James’ Park last weekend, Justin Kluivert scored a hat-trick, the Cherries overcame a growing injury list to put them to the test.
Bournemouth are seventh in the table, just three points behind the leaders, despite never having qualified for European competition.
“I like the fans to dream”, said captain Lewis Cook. “Why not get excited”?
Leicester’s lifeline for sorry Spurs
On October 19, 2024, during the English Premier League game between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Malian midfielder #08 Yves Bissouma (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal. (Photo by AFP/BENJAMIN CREMEL)
Tottenham fans may lose some of their joy if Ange Postecoglou fails to save Spurs’ sorry season, according to reports that the Bournemouth supporters are expressing their concern.
Tottenham, which has suffered from injuries, has dropped to 15th place in the Premier League after losing seven of its previous nine games.
The bottom three’s terrible form has so far tempered their fears that they will be sucked into a relegation fight.
Former Premier League champions Leicester, in their first season back in the division, have lost seven in a row under Ruud van Nistelrooy and are 10 points behind Tottenham.
However, if they win, they could move out of the drop zone as Ipswich and Wolves’ weekend rivals face difficult matches.
Liverpool take on runaway leaders Ipswich, while Wolves welcome second-placed Arsenal to Molineux.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
Saturday
Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest, Brighton v Everton, Liverpool v Ipswich, Southampton v Newcastle, Wolves v Arsenal (all 1500), Manchester City v Chelsea (1730)
Sunday
Crystal Palace v Brentford, Tottenham v Leicester (both 1400), Aston Villa v West Ham (1630), Fulham v Manchester United (1900)
The German FA (DFB) announced Friday that Julian Nagelsmann had agreed to stay as Germany coach until the end of Euro 2028.
Nagelsmann claimed that, two years later, despite his success at the German-hosted Euro 2024, he was able to stay for both the 2026 World Cup and the Euros.
“It’s still going on, but it’s not over yet.” We want to continue to develop. We want to win titles”, the 37-year-old said in a statement.
Nagelsmann signed the extension in Leipzig on Friday as part of the DFB’s 125-year anniversary celebrations.
The former coach of RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich assumed the position in 2023, initially on a temporary basis for Euro 2024.
In April 2024, shortly before the tournament, Nagelsmann extended his deal to include the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Now, he will also remain in charge Euro 2028, to be hosted by Britain and Ireland.
Nagelsmann succeeded in replacing the four-time World Cup winners after a difficult transition as the second-youngest men’s head coach in the history of Germany.
Germany lost to England in the final 16 of Euro 2020 after being eliminated from the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in the group stages.
After the World Cup in Qatar, Hansi Flick became the first national team coach to be fired.
Nagelsmann took over Hoffenheim at the age of 28 in 2016 as the youngest coach in Bundesliga history, before transferring to RB Leipzig three years later, becoming the youngest coach ever.
He then signed with Bayern Munich, where he won the Bundesliga between 2021 and 2022, before being unexpectedly fired in March 2023.
Germany won the group at Euro 2024, showing signs of revival, before losing to eventual champion Spain in extra time in the quarter-finals.
“Our goal was a successful tournament, but I had no idea what the German national team meant to Germany, how many hearts it reached, and how many people it moved,” Nagelsmann said.
Germany will face Italy in a two-legged quarter-final in March after reaching the knockout phase for the first time in the Nations League.
The in-demand coach was expected to return to club football after the 2026 World Cup, according to Nagelsmann’s extension.
Jurgen Klopp will also have to wait for the position he has been a long-awaited for since leaving Liverpool last year.
DFB president Bernd Neuendorf said Nagelsmann’s desire to stay on was a “significant signal” for the future of the game in Germany.
Arne Slot, the manager of Liverpool, made a joke about how his father occasionally complains that his team isn’t “exciting enough.”
The Premier League leaders, six points clear of second-placed Arsenal, play relegation-threatened Ipswich on Saturday but the Dutchman is expecting a difficult game.
In his first game in charge at Anfield in August, Slot faced Ipswich and won 2-0. “Sometimes they were a little unlucky in the final moments of games,” Slot said.
Because some teams improve over the winter break, the second half of the season is always more challenging than the first half.
“Many teams work with their manager for the first half of the season, which typically leads to a team improving. ”
Ipswich, under the leadership of Kevin McKenna, have occasionally enjoyed positive outcomes, but Manchester City knocked them out with a 6-0 defeat last week.
At his press conference prior to the game, Slot was asked if Liverpool’s fans would anticipate a similar outcome at Anfield.
When I call my father after the game, he can also claim that it wasn’t as exciting as other Liverpool games (a 2-1 Champions League win in midweek),” he said.
And then I have to try to explain to him that these games are very difficult to play if you start putting on all kinds of difficult balls. However, he doesn’t always agree with me.
However, as a manager, I was pleased with how well-organized and in charge we were against Lille. ”
It was difficult to defeat well-drilled Premier League opponents who adopt a defensive strategy, according to Slot, whose Liverpool team are more pragmatic than they were under his attack-minded predecessor Jurgen Klopp.
“A low-block team, (Nottingham) Forest, is probably the best in the league if you play these stupid balls, which I call stupid balls, which my father would love to see us playing a bit more,” he said.
There is a difficult balance between taking the risk and conceding a lot, or having control, or perhaps not creating as many chances, because of that. ”
He continued, “We have to find a balance, and I understand that fans who come to the stadium occasionally find it difficult to see us winning, but we can hopefully score a lot of goals in an exciting match.”
However, two teams are required for that, and the better we do, the less likely it is for teams to pitch up to Anfield and say, “OK, let’s go to a high press and let’s press them all over the pitch.” ”
After retiring in the semi-finals with a muscle tear, Novak Djokovic’s chances of winning the record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title were in jeopardy, according to Novak Djokovic.
The 37-year-old’s upper left leg was again heavily taped after hurting it in the quarter-finals and the Serb called it quits after losing the first set 7-6 (7/5) to Alexander Zverev.
As the German reached his first Melbourne final, Djokovic booed and received applause from the court.
“There is a chance. When asked if Djokovic might have graced the Melbourne Park courts once more, Djokovic replied, “Who knows”.
“I’ll just have to see how the season goes. I want to keep going. I’m not sure, though, whether or not my schedule will be revised for the following year.
“I’m usually interested in visiting Australia to play. Here, I’ve had the most success in my career. So if I’m fit, healthy, motivated, I don’t see a reason why I wouldn’t come, “he added.
” But there’s always a chance, yeah. “
Djokovic is currently the all-time leader after five Grand Slams, missing the one that Margaret Court needed to surpass.
He missed the US Open, where he last won for the first time in seven years in 2024, giving doubt whether he will ever pass Court.
His semi-final agony also deprived him of a 100th career title.
” I actually thought I played really well, as well as I played the last 12 months, to be honest, “he said of his tournament run.
If I was physically fit and prepared to fight, I liked my chances. I believe I did a great job of striking the ball. There are many advantages to my performance.
“I wish Sascha (Zverev) all the best. You know, he deserves his first Slam. I’ll be cheering for him”.
Boos for Djokovic
In Sunday’s showdown with American 21st seed Ben Shelton or world number one Jannik Sinner, Zverev will face off in a fight.
While the German has been a Grand Slam runner-up twice before, at last year’s French Open and the 2020 US Open, he has never before been to the final in Melbourne.
He lost to Daniil Medvedev in five sets the previous year, going into the semi-finals with a 2-0 lead.
After ending 2024 as the second-best player in the world, he returned to his best form with a horrific ankle injury and won more matches than anyone else. He ended the season, however, with renewed vigor.
Zverev claimed some fans were in poor form when they booed Djokovic off court.
In an on-court interview, Novak Djokovic stated that he has given the sport absolutely everything he has given up for the past 20 years.
“So please be respectful and really, really show some love for Novak as well”.
After receiving medical attention in his four sets against Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic approached the match with concerns about his fitness.
However, he has repeatedly demonstrated remarkable recovery abilities throughout his career, which didn’t initially seem to be a hindrance.
In a first-service game that featured a 27-shot rally and four break points, the Serb made the move with his customary stance.
With both players blowing hot and cold, Zverev had to save three break points to keep the game at 2-2.
At 4-4, Djokovic barely managed to get 50% of his first serve in, which was another break point.
Zverev approached the German to shake hands before Djokovic scored a straightforward volley to give him the set in a close tiebreak.
Following Domenico Tedesco’s dismissal, Belgium’s football federation named Frenchman Rudi Garcia as the new national team coach on Friday.
Later in the day, the federation announced that they would formally introduce the 60-year-old former Napoli, Lyon, and Roma boss to the press at a press conference.
After a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, Garcia will be given the task of revitalizing the Red Devils. He has previously held positions with Saudi giant Al Nassr and French giants Marseille.
Following disappointing recent Nations League performances and an early exit from the continental championship this summer, Belgium fired Italian-German coach Tedesco last week.
In March, Belgium will face Ukraine in a play-off.
Garcia’s latest effort in management at Napoli was an unsuccessful five-month stint in 2023 during the club’s disastrous post-Scudetto winning season.
The Frenchman started out coaching at Lille from 2008 to 2013 as a coach.
Belgium travel to North Macedonia in June to kick off their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Previous coach Tedesco was appointed in February 2023 to replace Roberto Martinez and rebuild the squad as the country’s “golden generation” departed.
