Barcelona want to sign Joel Veltman

Mikel Arteta admits his Arsenal side needed too many chances to beat Brighton but was pleased with the maturity and intelligence which secured victory at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners returned to winning ways in the Premier League as Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz struck in the second half on an afternoon where Arteta’s side dominated Brighton.

The visitors managed just one shot on target on a tough afternoon for Roberto De Zerbi and his players – while Arsenal had mustered 16 in a goalless first half.

Arsenal eventually found the back of the net as Jesus nodded in from close-range, before a smart Havertz finish secured the points.

“We have great players that can define games and finish actions,” said Arteta.

“Today we needed too many…

Arsenal are interested in signing Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig in the January transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that intermediaries have made contact with Arsenal and have told them that Sesho is available for a move in the middle of the season.

Sesko joined RB Leipzig from RB Salzburg in the summer of 2023. The two clubs had agreed a £20 million deal for the 20-year-old forward back in the summer of 2022. 90min has claimed that Leipzig would be open to selling the Slovenia international forward in the January transfer window if they receive £40 million for him.

The young forward has made two starts and six substitute appearances in the Bundesliga for RB Leipzig so far this season, scoring three goals in the process. Sesko has scored one goal in…

Cristiano Ronaldo is the symbol  of Real Madrid and the heir to club legend Alfredo Di Stefano, according to president Florentino Perez.

Ronaldo was one of Perez s first signings upon his return for a second spell as president in 2009, as his Galacticos philosophy was once again established.

Since then, Ronaldo has gone on to establish himself as one of the greatest players of all time and enjoyed an astonishing career in Madrid, winning everything on offer and claiming four Ballons d Or, adding to the one he won in 2008 with Manchester United.

The records have also tumbled for him at Madrid and he is now the club s leading scorer in LaLiga and across all competitions.

And Perez believes his influence has been like that of Di Stefano, who is regarded as …

Rob Edwards revealed he would have joined critics in writing off Luton’s Premier League survival chances before the start of the season if he had been an outside observer.

The Hatters boss saw his side win for the third time since their top-flight return against Newcastle on Saturday to pull to within two points of 17th-place Nottingham Forest.

It continued an impressive run at Kenilworth Road that in their previous four home games had seen them beat Crystal Palace and take the lead against Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City, albeit taking only a single point from those three fixtures.

THAT WAS FOR YOU LOCKS!

— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown)

Victory against bottom side Sheffield United on Boxing Day could see them move out of the bottom thre…

Chelsea needed an 89th-minute penalty from substitute Noni Madueke to edge past Crystal Palace 2-1 at Stamford Bridge and climb back into the top half of the Premier League table.

It had looked like being another frustrating home outing for Mauricio Pochettino’s side for most of the second half, after Michael Olise had cancelled out Mykhailo Mudryk’s early goal with a brilliant finish on the half-volley on the stroke of half-time.

Nicolas Jackson missed a superb chance to win it, slotting the ball wide after being set up by Conor Gallagher.

Coming up clutch. |

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)

But with the game drifting towards what would have been a deserved point for Palace, there was a final twist, Eberechi Eze tripped Madueke as he sought to…

Manchester United return to winning ways as Anthony Martial scored twice in a 4-1 triumph over a generous Newcastle United side at Old Trafford.

Having lost 2-0 to then-bottom Watford last time out, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s side appeared to be suffering a Christmas hangover when they fell behind to Matty Longstaff s 17th-minute opener on Boxing Day.

Manchester United s defence had been given an early reprieve when Dwight Gayle carelessly blazed over when clean through, but Longstaff – scorer of the only goal in the reverse fixture back in early October – made them pay, collecting Joelinton s layoff before angling a low shot beyond David de Gea.

However, any thoughts Steve Bruce may have harboured of completing a league double over his former club had disa…

Prediction: Beşiktaş to win 3-0

Best Odds:

Bookmaker: 

Besiktas and Konyaspor will lock horns with each other in the Turkish Super Lig this week. The match between Senol Gunes’s side and Aleksandar Stanojevic’s team will be held at Vodafone Park in Beşiktaş, Istanbul and is scheduled to kick off at 6pm UK time on Wednesday

Besiktas

Besiktas are one of the biggest clubs in Turkey and have a huge support, which is why it is a big blow to the fans that they have had a disappointing season in the Turkish Super Lig. Senol Gunes’s side could not really challenge for the title this season, and they could now not even end up second in the standings.

Kara Kartallar are third in the Turkish Super Lig table at the moment with 77 points from 35 …

Andres Iniesta passed through the ranks and Barcelona s famous La Masia before being promoted to the first team in 2002. What followed was 16 years of pure brilliance, during which he helped the Catalan club win nine La Liga titles, four Champions League trophies, Copa del Rey six times, among numerous other honors. He was also a part of the great Spain generation which won two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup squeezed in between.

In 2018, he finally left Camp Nou to join Japanese side Vissel Kobe, and his story has been told in a documentary that will soon be released.

https://twitter.com/andresiniesta8/status/1227188225195769857

…

Paris Saint-Germain got 2019 off to a flying start as they cruised into the Coupe de France round of 32 with a 4-0 victory over Pontivy GSI.

Neymar and Kylian Mbappe headlined a strong PSG side, but they needed a Sylvain Jule own goal to break the deadlock.

Making his 50th PSG appearance, Neymar hit the woodwork in the first half and eventually scored with 20 minutes remaining.

Mbappe added further gloss from the penalty spot soon after, with Julian Draxler getting in on the act as the 12-time winners took their first step towards a fifth-successive Coupe de France triumph.

Clement Daoudou pulled off fine saves to deny Dani Alves and Kylian Mbappe early on, but he was powerless to prevent PSG s 24th-minute opener.

Jule was well placed to cu…

Arsenal have signed Kai Havertz from Chelsea on a “long-term contract” and have reportedly moved closer to sealing a deal for West Ham captain Declan Rice.

Havertz joins after three years with the Blues, during which he made 139 appearances, scoring 32 goals, including the winner in the 2021 Champions League final.

The news regarding the 24-year-old Germany international comes as it was reported that Arsenal had also agreed a £105million fee with West Ham for Rice.

We keep moving forward.​

Kai Havertz is a Gunner

— Arsenal (@Arsenal)

Havertz said on Arsenal’s official website: “It’s super exciting for me to be joining this amazing club and to be part of the Arsenal family. This club has such a big history, and I hope we ca…