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Premier League and FA Cup semis: 10 things to look out for this weekend | Football

1 Luton hope Brentford are eyeing the seaside There was a definite end-of-season vibe on the Gtech Group Stadium following Brentford’s current win over Sheffield United, with Thomas Frank and his gamers performing what amounted to a lap of honour as they took plaudits from followers relieved that the spectre of relegation had lastly been banished from their small nook of west London. In fact solely time will inform if the Bees develop into the primary Premier League workforce to decamp to the metaphorical seaside this season and this weekend’s match towards Luton at Kenilworth Highway will present a good indication. Ravaged by harm with as much as 11 gamers prone to be unavailable, Luton have been on a hiding to nothing of their game against Manchester City however nonetheless emerged from the rout with their heads held excessive having restricted the champions to a one-goal lead till their capitulation after the hour mark. It’s more and more tough to go with Rob Edwards’ aspect with out sounding condescending, but when it transpires that the Brentford aspect that turns up in Bedfordshire has mentally tapped out, the Premier League’s dapperest supervisor, his gamers and their…

Read MorePremier League and FA Cup semis: 10 things to look out for this weekend | Football

Tottenham fans fume as Just Stop Oil unexpectedly troll club’s trophy haul

Tottenham followers have been left confused and incensed after Simply Cease Oil made a joke about their lack of trophies out of the blue. The north London club has grow to be the newest to really feel the sting from Simply Cease Oil – however nobody might have seen the way in which it got here coming. 3 Credit score: X/Simply Cease Oil After making a plea on social media for donations, one X consumer replied with a gif depicting the quantity zero. The X consumer’s show image confirmed a model of the Tottenham membership badge and the Simply Cease Oil X web page didn’t maintain again. Reposting the reply on their very own web page, Simply Cease Oil replied with the caption: “Trophies received by Spurs in final decade.” It has left a number of Spurs followers scratching their heads in bemusement – however secure to say they don’t seem to be joyful. One fan replied: “Nah I used to be in your facet lads, now I’m going to lease a Vary Rover, hope you’re joyful.” One other mentioned: “Belongings you’ve really achieved. 0.” Whereas a 3rd wrote: “Actually setting fireplace to my home…

Read MoreTottenham fans fume as Just Stop Oil unexpectedly troll club’s trophy haul

Arsenal eye Alexander Isak and Michael Olise in search for striker and winger | Arsenal

Arsenal are concentrating on a striker and winger in the summertime to strengthen Mikel Arteta’s squad after their hopes of reaching a primary Champions League semi-final since 2009 were ended by Bayern Munich. Successive defeats against Aston Villa and Bayern have left Arsenal’s possibilities of silverware this season counting on Manchester Metropolis slipping up within the Premier League title race with six video games to play after Arteta’s aspect completed as runners-up final 12 months. There have been indicators of ­progress since greater than £200m was spent final summer season on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurriën Timber however the proprietor, Kroenke Sports activities & Leisure (KSE), recognises that Arteta’s squad wants vital strengthening to assist them take the subsequent step. It’s understood that ­Newcastle’s striker Alexander Isak is likely one of the major targets. He might value about £100m and was closely scouted by Arsenal earlier than his move to St James’ Park in August 2022 for an preliminary £63m. ­Arsenal have additionally been ­closely linked with Isak’s Sweden teammate Viktor Gyökeres, who has scored 36 targets this season for ­Sporting in ­Portugal after becoming a member of from ­Coventry final 12 months and…

Read MoreArsenal eye Alexander Isak and Michael Olise in search for striker and winger | Arsenal

Haaland fails to deliver cutting edge as Real’s will to power shines through | Manchester City

Pep Guardiola had talked about the necessity to endure earlier than this recreation. OK then. It’s a deal. This was a gripping, gruelling, sky blue migraine of a soccer match, one which Manchester City actually didn’t need to lose, however which by some means all the time felt prefer it was slipping from their grasp even throughout a second half when Metropolis gave the impression to be very slowly, fastidiously, methodically pulling the legs off this Actual Madrid workforce. There will likely be no double-treble now after Madrid’s victory on penalties. However Metropolis nonetheless performed like champions of Europe for lengthy durations. They took Madrid right into a horrible place. These should not footballers accustomed chasing and masking, ready for the blow to fall. At instances it felt as if Actual spent the final hour of this recreation desperately making an attempt to take it to a replay again at their tiny floor with a corrugated roof. Even the shoot out was a wierd affair. Bernardo Silva produced a dismal effort. Mateo Kovacic hit the goalkeeper. Ederson scored. Antonio Rüdiger slotted the winner and celebrated with a power-slide throughout the Etihad turf. At which level…

Read MoreHaaland fails to deliver cutting edge as Real’s will to power shines through | Manchester City

Martin Keown fears Arsenal don’t deliver ‘when it matters most’ as Mikel Arteta laments first leg mistakes

Arsenal legend Martin Keown has questioned the Gunners’ capacity to offer the products on the massive stage after defeat to Bayern Munich. The Gunners lost 1-0 to the German giants of their Champions League quarter-final second leg, with boss Mikel Arteta ruing the 2 objectives they conceded within the first leg on the Emirates Stadium. 3 Arsenal’s return to the Champions League got here to an in depth on the quarter-final stageCredit score: Getty Arsenal, who had been taking part in within the final eight of the competitors for the primary time since 2010, battled properly within the first half on the Allianz Area. However Joshua Kimmich’s header sealed their second defeat in 4 days after their 2-0 loss to Aston Villa that dented their Premier League title hopes, with the stress seeming to get to them once more. And it is a concern that Gunners ‘Invincible’ Keown has raised concerning the aspect as they replicate on one other disappointing defeat. When requested on TNT Sports activities how the gamers can be feeling, he stated: “Properly, vastly disillusioned. It comes all the way down to positive margins, determination making on the pitch, just one aim…

Read MoreMartin Keown fears Arsenal don’t deliver ‘when it matters most’ as Mikel Arteta laments first leg mistakes

Georgia footballers protest against Tbilisi’s ‘foreign influence’ bill | Georgia

Main gamers in Georgia’s nationwide males’s soccer crew have backed mass protests sparked by a “overseas affect” invoice criticised for mirroring a repressive Russian legislation. Riot police have clashed in latest nights with massive rallies of individuals protesting exterior the parliament constructing in Tbilisi towards the bill, which is seen in Brussels as a menace to future EU membership. Jaba Kankava, the captain of Georgia’s nationwide soccer crew, which just lately certified for Euro 2024, its first main match, posted an image on Instagram of two protesters staring down riot police on Tuesday evening, including: “Fuck Russia.” A bunch of different nationwide crew gamers, together with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a winger for Italy’s Serie A membership Napoli, and Giorgi Mamardashvili, who’s a goalkeeper for Valencia in Spain’s La Liga, additionally posted what seemed to be coordinated messages on social media. They wrote: “Georgia’s path is to Europe. The European manner unites us!! Ahead to Europe!! Peace to Georgia.” Hundreds of individuals gathering in entrance of the Georgian parliament constructing to protest on 16 April. {Photograph}: Nicolo Vincenzo Malvestuto/Getty Pictures David Kezerashvili, who served as Georgia’s defence minister on the time of the 2008 Russian invasion of…

Read MoreGeorgia footballers protest against Tbilisi’s ‘foreign influence’ bill | Georgia

Football League: Portsmouth win promotion to Championship and title | Football League

Late targets from Colby Bishop and Conor Shaughnessy confirmed Portsmouth’s return to the Championship after a 12-year absence. John Mousinho’s facet twice hit again from behind to beat playoff hopefuls Barnsley 3-2 and guarantee they’ll end the season as champions, sparking celebrations at Fratton Park. Portsmouth appeared possible be annoyed of their seek for the only level they wanted in an effort to make sure of promotion when Devante Cole gave Barnsley an early lead then John McAtee restored the guests’ benefit after Kusini Yengi’s equaliser. However Bishop levelled from the penalty spot within the 83rd minute and Shaughnessy headed in from a nook six minutes later to place the seal on Portsmouth’s promotion celebration. Actually the late drama at Fratton Park had no bearing on the night time’s occasions attributable to third-placed Bolton being held 2-2 at residence by Shrewsbury. Mid-table Shrewsbury twice led via Daniel Udoh and Jordan Shipley, whereas Bolton responded via Cameron Jerome and Paris Maghoma, whose 71st minute leveller strikes them inside three factors of second-placed Derby. Peterborough confirmed their place within the playoffs with a 4-1 win over Fleetwood, who stay nearly alive of their battle to beat the…

Read MoreFootball League: Portsmouth win promotion to Championship and title | Football League

Cole Palmer to miss out on goal bonus despite scoring as many as Erling Haaland

Cole Palmer is about to overlook out on receiving a objective bonus. The Chelsea star is tied with Manchester Metropolis hotshot Erling Haaland within the Premier League Golden Boot race following his four-goal haul in the course of the Blues’ rampant win over Everton on Monday evening. 2 Palmer has been a goalscoring sensation for Chelsea this time periodCredit score: Getty However The Sun reviews that no matter whether or not he claims the prize, no extra cash is heading his approach as Palmer did not negotiate a bonus into the deal that introduced him to Stamford Bridge final summer time. The 21-year-old got here by the youth academy at Manchester Metropolis earlier than occurring to make 41 appearances for Pep Guardiola‘s aspect. Regardless of being extremely rated by Metropolis, Palmer took the choice to go away the treble-winners as he appeared to kick on and show himself as one of many Premier League’s high performers. Provided that he’d have been competing with Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez, Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku for a beginning spot, few may blame him. Nonetheless, Palmer’s time at Chelsea has surpassed all expectation. Becoming a member of…

Read MoreCole Palmer to miss out on goal bonus despite scoring as many as Erling Haaland

Football’s version of toddlers at a party fighting over the last piece of cake | Football

A SPOT-KICK OF BOTHER Having watched his group report their best result of the season in opposition to Everton, Mauricio Pochettino should have been thrilled that speak in his post-match press convention was dominated by speak of an unseemly squabble between a number of of his gamers over who ought to take a penalty. And whereas it would sound like we’re being facetious, nothing could possibly be farther from the reality – lastly, the broader soccer world had been supplied with incontrovertible proof of what precisely the Argentinian has to place up with. An elite supervisor solid into a job extra kindergarten cop than Jürgen Klopp, it has lengthy been suspected that Pochettino has had foisted upon him a squad significantly missing in knowledge and expertise. And on Monday night time, like two entitled toddlers at a celebration combating during the last piece of cake, Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke proved the purpose when each tried to grab a spot-kick from one another and their group’s designated penalty-taker. Finally neither petulant tantrum-thrower received their approach and demonstrating easy cool of the jazz musician his title suggests he ought to actually be, Cole Palmer received to…

Read MoreFootball’s version of toddlers at a party fighting over the last piece of cake | Football

Lille vs Aston Villa LIVE commentary: Unai Emery eyes place in Europa Conference League semi-finals – kick-off time, team news and talkSPORT coverage

Aston Villa maintain a slender lead as they tackle Lille within the second leg of their Europa Convention League quarter-final, dwell on talkSPORT 2.  Unai Emery’s facet gained 2-1 at Villa Park within the first leg with targets from Ollie Watkins and John McGinn previous Bafode Diakite’s strike.  4 Villa are forward within the quarter-final in opposition to LilleCredit score: Getty Villa now simply must defend their lead or lengthen it to succeed in the ultimate 4 of UEFA’s third-tier European competitors.  And so they’re in good kind to take action, coming into this important sport off the again of an incredible 2-0 win away at Arsenal on Sunday.  Lille vs Aston Villa: Great Watkins  Watkins is placing up the most effective numbers of his profession as he stars for Villa this season.  He has scored 19 instances within the Premier League and sits one behind Cole Palmer and Erling Haaland within the race for the Golden Boot. His goalscoring hasn’t been unique to home competitors although, with that kind translating to the European stage.  The 28-year-old has netted in 4 of his final 5 Convention League appearances, with Phil Foden and Harry Kane the…

Read MoreLille vs Aston Villa LIVE commentary: Unai Emery eyes place in Europa Conference League semi-finals – kick-off time, team news and talkSPORT coverage