Arsenal sweep aside Ange's Forest with convincing win

Arsenal Sweep Aside Ange’s Forest with Convincing Win

Arsenal cruised to a comfortable victory over Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest, delivering a performance that reflected just how well their summer signings have settled in. It wasn’t just the goals from Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyökeres that caught the eye. At the back, Cristhian Mosquera was rock-solid once again, showing composure and control in a performance that made William Saliba’s absence barely noticeable for the second match running. Further forward, Arsenal’s attacking shape looked refreshed and dangerous. Noni Madueke was sharp and direct on the right wing, while Eberechi Eze offered equal threat on the left — a far cry from last season when the Gunners leaned heavily on Bukayo Saka for attacking inspiration. The new front three of Eze, Gyökeres, and Madueke gives Mikel Arteta tactical flexibility and genuine depth in attack. With Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard only needed for late cameos, Arsenal’s squad strength is starting to show — even amid a handful of injuries. It’s early days, but this performance suggests Arsenal are not only stronger but more balanced across the pitch. The signs are promising, and the new arrivals are already delivering.

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PSG to Face Barca in Champions League, Real Madrid Draw Man City & Liverpool

Liverpool and Manchester City will both come up against Real Madrid in this season’s Champions League, while title-holders Paris Saint-Germain were handed a tough list of opponents in Thursday’s draw, including Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Xabi Alonso’s Real will play City at home and take on Premier League champions Liverpool at Anfield in what will be two of the standout fixtures of the league phase. Arne Slot’s Liverpool, who finished first in the league phase last season only to be eliminated by PSG in the last 16, will also play Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven and Qarabag of Azerbaijan at home. In addition, they must go to Inter Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille and Turkish champions Galatasaray. City, who won the Champions League in 2023, will welcome Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Italian champions Napoli and Galatasaray to the Etihad Stadium. As well as Real, they will also visit Villarreal, Monaco and Norwegian newcomers Bodo/Glimt. PSG will entertain Bayern and go to Barcelona, while the French club also have home fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United. Luis Enrique’s team went on to win the Champions League last season but only after struggling amid some difficult games in the league phase, in which they finished 15th. They have no obviously straightforward fixtures this time, as they also face Atalanta at home, as well as Leverkusen, Sporting CP and Athletic Club away. What is the Champions League format?Every team now plays eight games against eight different opponents in the new format of Europe’s elite club competition, which was introduced last season. All 36 clubs are pooled together into one league rather than split into groups. The top eight teams advance to the last 16, while those finishing between ninth and 24th go into the knockout round play-offs. The bottom 12 teams are eliminated. Other fixtures to look out for will include Barcelona visiting both Chelsea and Newcastle, while Arsenal entertain Bayern and Atletico and must also go to Inter Milan and to Bilbao. Tournament newcomers Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan, who ousted Celtic on penalties in the play-off round, will host Real and travel to London to play Arsenal. Minnows Pafos of Cyprus will visit Chelsea and face Bayern at home. UEFA is not expected to announce specific fixture dates until Saturday, but the first round of games will take place across three days from September 16th to 18th. The eighth and final matchday is scheduled for January 28th. This season’s Champions League final will take place in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, on May 30th next year, with UEFA announcing on Thursday that the game will kick off at 18:00 local time rather than the usual 21:00. Who qualified for the Champions League?Below is the full list of 36 teams that qualified for the league phase, arranged in the Pots that were used in the draw: Pot 1: PSG, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona. Pot 2: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Atalanta, Villarreal, Juventus, Eintracht Frankfurt, Club Brugge. Pot 3: Tottenham Hotspur, PSV Eindhoven, Ajax, Napoli, Sporting CP, Olympiacos, Slavia Prague, Bodo/Glimt, Marseille. Pot 4: FC Copenhagen, Monaco, Galatasaray, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, Qarabag, Athletic Club, Newcastle, Pafos, Kairat Almaty.

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Ref Watch: Dermot Gallagher Reviews Arsenal’s Narrow Win Over Man Utd

Ref Watch: Dermot Gallagher Reviews Arsenal’s Narrow Win Over Man Utd

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has delivered his verdict on the key talking points from Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, as part of his weekly Ref Watch segment on Sky Sports News. The Saliba–Cunha Penalty Call One of the main controversies came in the second half when Matheus Cunha went down inside the box under pressure from William Saliba. Referee Michael Oliver waved play on, and VAR did not intervene. Arsenal’s Winning Goal: Foul on Bayındır? Arsenal’s new signing Riccardo Calafiori netted the decisive goal, but questions were raised about whether United goalkeeper Altay Bayındır had been impeded in the buildup. Other Talking Points Gallagher also ran through other refereeing controversies from the Premier League’s opening weekend, reminding viewers that many marginal calls—like Cunha’s penalty shout—are left to on-field referees, with VAR reluctant to step in unless a “clear and obvious” error is made. Ref Watch airs every Monday at 9am on Sky Sports News, with Gallagher and guest pundits reviewing the weekend’s biggest refereeing calls.

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Cunha, Mbeumo Offer Hope Despite Man Utd Defeat to Arsenal

Manchester United may have lost 1-0 to Arsenal at Old Trafford, but there were signs of promise for manager Ruben Amorim as his side showed attacking intent and energy throughout the encounter. Unlike some of last season’s flat displays, United played with pace and purpose, troubling the Gunners with sharp bursts in attack. New arrivals Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo stood out, maintaining the form that made them Premier League threats last season. Cunha, in particular, proved a handful, ranking top for dribbles (6) and duels contested (20). Mbeumo also impressed, offering direct running and movement despite being closely marked for much of the game. Amorim finally appears to have players in central areas who can inject chaos and unpredictability into United’s forward play. While the Red Devils failed to find the net, an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.59 showed they were good value for at least a goal. For United fans, the result was disappointing, but the performance suggested that Old Trafford could become a far more difficult ground for visiting teams this season.

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Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle: 15-Year-Old Max Dowman Shines as Gunners Claim Thrilling Friendly Win in Singapore

Arsenal edged Newcastle United 3-2 in a lively pre-season friendly at the National Stadium in Singapore, with teenage sensation Max Dowman stealing the spotlight. The 15-year-old midfielder, promoted from Arsenal’s academy, delivered a composed and fearless performance and played a decisive role in the match-winning moment, earning a penalty that captain Martin Ødegaard converted. Newcastle took an early lead through Anthony Elanga, who capitalised on a defensive lapse to slot home coolly. However, Arsenal responded quickly. First, Mikel Merino equalised with a well-placed strike before a deflected cross led to an Alex Murphy own goal, giving the Gunners a 2-1 advantage. Jacob Murphy brought the Magpies level again with a powerful finish midway through the second half, setting the stage for a dramatic finale. Enter Max Dowman: the teenager, making his unofficial debut, surged into the box with confidence and was brought down, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Ødegaard stepped up and calmly dispatched the penalty to seal the win. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praised Dowman’s maturity and impact after the match. “For someone his age to show that level of composure and decision-making is incredible,” Arteta said. “He has a very bright future ahead of him.” The win continues Arsenal’s strong pre-season form, while Newcastle will take positives from a competitive outing in humid conditions. Goals:

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Viktor Gyokeres Joins Arsenal: Swedish Striker Brings Power, Goals – and Big Expectations

Arsenal have completed the signing of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP in a major summer move, bringing one of Europe’s most prolific goalscorers to the Emirates. The Swedish international netted an astonishing 39 goals in the Portuguese top flight last season — the highest across Europe’s top eight leagues. Gyokeres’ arrival addresses Arsenal’s long-standing need for a dominant centre-forward, as the club looks to push for Premier League and Champions League glory under Mikel Arteta. The 26-year-old’s combination of raw power, pace, and relentless running earned him praise throughout Europe. Referred to by coaches as a “physical machine” and even a “battering ram,” Gyokeres offers a very different profile from Arsenal’s current attacking options. Filling a Critical Gap Since Arteta took over, Arsenal’s spending on natural forwards has been relatively modest — just £75 million prior to this summer. With Gabriel Jesus sidelined for the rest of the year and Kai Havertz often deployed out of position, the Gunners needed a true No. 9. Gyokeres, who previously impressed during a stint at Coventry City with 40 goals in 97 matches, brings not only a goal-scoring threat but also a dynamic style. He ranked among the top three players in Portugal last season for progressive carries and scored 23 goals from fast breaks — a sharp contrast to Arsenal’s often static attacking play. “His ability to run and keep running sets him apart,” said Adi Viveash, his former coach at Coventry. “He’d do 12 to 14 hard runs a game — other strikers might only manage four.” A New Challenge However, questions remain about how Gyokeres will adapt to the tactical demands of the Premier League, particularly against teams that sit deep in low blocks. At Coventry, he struggled early on with tight spaces and needed extensive coaching to refine his game. Another potential challenge is his temperament. Described as strong-willed with a “big personality,” Gyokeres reportedly pushed to tailor training sessions to his liking and even forced his move to Arsenal by skipping pre-season training at Sporting. “He had a strong character, and we clashed sometimes,” Viveash admitted. “But he knew his worth — and he proved it.” What This Means for Arsenal The Gyokeres signing, reportedly worth over £60 million, signals Arsenal’s intent to build a more direct, physical attack line — and adds depth as they prepare for a demanding 2025/26 campaign. With Noni Madueke also targeted and Jesus injured, Arteta is clearly reshaping his frontline. Whether Gyokeres can replicate his goal-scoring feats in England’s top tier remains to be seen. But if his development trajectory continues, Arsenal may finally have found the elite striker they’ve been searching for.

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Eze, Madueke, Gyokeres Signings Could Transform Arsenal – Sports Analyst

Sports Analyst Mark McAdam has described Arsenal’s potential summer business as “transformative,” suggesting that the addition of Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, and Viktor Gyokeres would give the Gunners the depth and quality needed to win major honours. Speaking on The Transfer Show, McAdam confirmed that Arsenal are actively exploring a deal for Eberechi Eze, with the Crystal Palace midfielder’s release clause set at £60 million plus £8 million in add-ons. “The key thing is that Eberechi Eze would be keen on moving to north London, which makes things a lot easier,” McAdam said. He added that pairing Eze with Chelsea’s Madueke and Sporting Lisbon striker Gyokeres would significantly boost Mikel Arteta’s attacking options. “What a summer it would be if they signed Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres and Eze. That would completely transform what Arsenal have. When you add the young players and Bukayo Saka, suddenly Arsenal fans will be licking their lips, saying this is the type of squad, strength in depth they believe can finally get them over the line,” he noted.

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Arsenal Holds Eberechi Eze Transfer Talks

Arsenal could scupper Tottenham’s plans with a surprise move for Eberechi Eze after ‘holding talks’ with the England star’s representatives amid their search for quality attacking signings. The Gunners are in the market for a quality No.9 and a left-sided forward to bolster their title hopes next season. And it seems as though their search for the latter could lead them into a surprise battle with their arch-rivals for Eze, who is the latest Crystal Palace star to be linked with a blockbuster summer move. Mirror Football revealed last week that Eze was on Spurs’ shortlist with a deal for Bryan Mbeumo now looking unlikely. And amid claims that the 26-year-old is also on Arsenal’s radar as they finalise their own shortlist of attacking targets, The Sun are reporting that talks between Andrea Berta and Eze’s representatives have already taking place. It’s outlined that Arsenal hold a strong interest in Eze, who has a £68million buy-out clause in his Eagles contract. Given he would be available for that price, Eze represents a cheaper alternative to Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward, Rodrygo, who the Gunners have also been courting this summer.

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