Manchester United fan Mark Goldbridge has given his reaction to what captain Bruno Fernandes did over the weekend, as he mentions the name of the club’s former captain, Roy Keane.

The Red Devils got back to winning ways over the weekend as they put in a strong performance to get past Southampton 3-0, a result that will ease the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag.

Watch out Garnacho: Man Utd may have dream challenger in "incredible" teen

The “special” gem has a bright future ahead of him.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 15, 2024 Man Utd transfer news

It is only the middle of September, and the transfer window has been shut for just over two weeks, but there is plenty of speculation circling regarding Man Utd and who they may look to sign in 2025.

The Red Devils were last week linked with improving in the goalkeeper department, as the club is said to be “very interested” in signing Athletic Bilbao shot-stopper Unai Simon. The goalkeeper is said to have impressed United with his performances for Bilbao and Spain, and they are now ready to pay a “considerable sum” to sign the Spaniard.

Apps

195

Goals conceded

202

Clean sheets

66

The latest player to be linked with a move to Old Trafford is Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Martin Baturina. The Croatian international is said to be “very high” on United’s transfer wishlist, with the club sending scouts to watch the player during the recent international break. The Premier League side is said to be keeping a close eye on Baturina, as he plays for Zagreb.

During the summer, Leeds United were linked with Baturina, agreeing to a £25 million fee, but the player ultimately chose to stay with Zagreb. As United potentially eye new recruits for January, they will have full concentration on the current ongoings on the pitch, and one player reacted to the latest weekend performances on social media, which didn’t go down well with one fan.

Mark Goldbridge reacts to what Man United’s Bruno Fernandes has done

While Man Utd claimed a comfortable 3-0 win away at Southampton, a former player of theirs, Jadon Sancho, was performing for Chelsea in his first appearance for the club since his move during the summer.

Sancho came on at half-time for Chelsea and put in a strong display, grabbing the assist for the only goal of the game, as they beat Bournemouth 1-0. Sancho took to Instagram over the weekend to react to his first appearance for the club, and in the comments, Bruno Fernandes reacted by saying: “Some player, you, keep that smile.”

This is something that didn’t go down too well with Manchester United fan Mark Goldbridge, as he took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and responded by saying:

Goldbridge mentions former Manchester United captain Roy Keane, as the Irishman set incredible standards during his time at Old Trafford, and every captain at the club will always be compared to Keane. But football then to football now is very different, and as Goldbridge refers to it, this seems to be part of the modern game now.

After an excellent summer transfer window, Manchester United are already reportedly targeting further incomings, with a long-term replacement for Luke Shaw now in their sights.

Man Utd transfer news

The Red Devils ended the window with the arrival of Manuel Ugarte to ensure that they welcomed additions all across Erik ten Hag's side, from the backline to his attacking options. Ugarte may well prove to be the most important incoming of the lot. The former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder should replace Casemiro and put an end to United's woes in the middle of the park.

Ugarte was a fan of the deal himself, expressing his delight by telling the club's official website: "It is an incredible feeling to join a club of this magnitude; one that is admired all around the world. The project that the football leadership discussed with me is extremely exciting; Manchester United is an ambitious club and I am an ambitious player."

However, those at Old Trafford haven't taken time to admire their summer business, as they have already shifted their attention towards further incomings. According to the Daily Mail, Manchester United are now targeting a long-term deal to sign Antonee Robinson to replace the injury-prone Luke Shaw. The 27-year-old is reportedly valued at £30m by Fulham and could help solve another problem in Ten Hag's side.

No one's doubting Shaw's ability, of course, but his injury record speaks for itself, with the left-back having already missed the start of the campaign. Robinson, meanwhile, missed just one Premier League game last season and has enjoyed a flying start to the season at Craven Cottage.

"Great" Robinson has picked up where he left off

Arguably one of the Premier League's best left-backs last season, Robinson has simply picked up where he left off since the summer, assisting twice in three games to maintain his place as one of Fulham's most important players.

Fulham boss Marco Silva is well aware of just how talented the American is too, having said via The Athletic last weekend: "The way he started last week, he’s a great, great athlete. He’s a crucial, crucial player for us. If he keeps improving, then it will be another big season ahead for him. A great assist, great decision to do it first-time for Iwobi. He has to really like his performance."

As Robinson continues to steal the headlines, Manchester United could close in to land the ultimate replacement for the unreliable Shaw.

Assists

6

0

Key passes per 90

0.91

1.21

Tackles won

1.60

0.75

Minutes

3,265

959

Shaw's lack of minutes last season highlights just how unreliable an option he has become under Ten Hag. By contrast, Robinson's ability to create and his consistency stand out as traits that the Red Devils should be chasing sooner rather than later.

Dani Olmo has made a final decision on his Barcelona future as his agent explained the plan amid the current contract chaos at the club.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Barcelona yet to register Olmo for second half of season
• Club has struck €100m deal to raise funds
• Player's agent reveals intention to stay at Barca

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Olmo’s move to Barcelona from RB Leipzig last summer came with significant fanfare after the Blaugrana secured his services for €62m (£51m/$64m). However, due to ongoing financial struggles, the club have to this point been unable to register him with La Liga for the second half of the season.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Barcelona recently received a €100m (£83m/$104m) cash injection by selling VIP boxes at the newly renovated Camp Nou to Middle Eastern investors. This substantial boost is expected to allow the club to register Olmo and other players, bringing them back under La Liga's 1:1 financial rule for player signings.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  It has been reported that the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United were closely monitoring Olmo's situation. A clause in his contract stipulated that he could terminate his deal with Barcelona if he wasn't registered by January 1, sparking interest from top clubs across Europe. City had been tracking Olmo even before his move to Barcelona, considering him a perfect fit for Pep Guardiola’s system. In the summer of 2023, it is said City attempted to sign him but ultimately missed out. Meanwhile, United’s board viewed Olmo as a golden opportunity, with his potential availability as a free agent offering a chance to secure a high-calibre player without a transfer fee.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT OLMO'S AGENT SAID

  Despite growing interest, Olmo’s agent decisively ended the speculation. Speaking to , he stated, "The decision made by Dani is to stay at Barcelona as he wants to play for Barca. We are not considering any other option. Dani wants to play for Barcelona."

It's not been the brightest of starts to the season for Everton, who have lost each of their three Premier League fixtures, the last of which stung keenly, letting a late two-goal lead slip.

Indeed, despite winning 2-0 at home to Bournemouth, having played with confidence and style, Everton inexplicably capitulated and the Cherries lashed in three strikes to send the atmosphere at Goodison Park spiralling through the floor.

It cast a black blanket over an already disappointed fanbase, having lost 3-0 and 4-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur previously, but there were positives to take from last weekend's result.

Sean Dyche and his Toffees team have been mired in the trenches before, and with Dominic Calvert-Lewin fit and firing, they might just have the firepower to shoot away from the relegation fodder this season.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin's resurgence

Calvert-Lewin, of course, will need to stay fit, something that he has not done with consistency over the past several years.

Calvert-Lewin: Everton Stats by Season (PL)
Season	Apps	Goals	Assists
2024/25	3 (3)	1	1
2023/24	32 (26)	7	2
2022/23	17 (15)	2	1
2021/22	17 (15)	5	2
2020/21	33 (32)	16	1
2019/20	36 (30)	13	1
2018/19	35 (19)	6	2
2017/18	32 (18)	4	5
2016/17	11 (5)	1	0
Stats via Transfermarkt

Not including the current fledgling campaign, Calvert-Lewin has only started over half the fixtures in the Premier League season on three of eight attempts.

But when he's on top, he's on top. The 11-cap England international has scored 55 goals across 216 Premier League appearances and is regarded for his physicality and quality as the focal frontman.

Last season, he enjoyed a revival that saw him feature across 32 top-flight fixtures, lacking his former prolificness but finding his feet toward the end, posting four goals and an assist across the final seven fixtures as Dyche's outfit clicked into gear.

It's important to put things in perspective. Four matches into the 2023/24 season, Everton had lost their opening three top-flight fixtures while defeating Doncaster Rovers in the second round of the Carabao Cup, identical to present results.

Everton also finished comfortably in 15th place, and had they not suffered an eight-point deduction, they would have finished 12th.

Calvert-Lewin's late-season resurgence proved vital in hitting a winning patch of form and steering away from the dreaded drop zone. The Athletic's Patrick Boyland even remarked that he looked "like the DCL of old" following a commanding display against Liverpool.

Everton have bolstered their No. 9 spot by signing Armando Broja on loan from Chelsea with the option to make the deal permanent for £30m next summer, but Calvert-Lewin's early-season form, scoring a goal and an assist apiece already, suggests that he could take some shifting from the starting spearhead spot.

He will need to juggle the workload, however, for an extended layoff could prove to be ruinous for Dyche and his plans. Everton could do with another dynamic attacking presence – Broja, aged 22, is talented but scored only two goals across 27 matches last year.

Casting our mind back, Everton could definitely make good use of two former players, namely Anthony Gordon and Ademola Lookman, who have both shot to the upper echelon of the world's pantheon of players.

The latter, in particular, might just be the biggest regret when it comes to player departures.

How Gordon compared to Lookman in 2023/24

Atalanta superstar Lookman once plied his trade in Merseyside blue, signing from Charlton Athletic for a fee rising to £11m way back in January 2017.

A versatile winger with a love for scoring, he's one of Everton's brightest attacking talents of the past decade, with Gordon another to have carried high potential throughout his early days at the club before being sold and since realising his potential elsewhere.

Gordon was sold to Newcastle United for £45m in January 2023, and while the England international has since gone from strength to strength and been the subject of interest from Liverpool, who eyed a £75m deal this summer, Lookman would give him a good run for his money in claiming the tag of the player at the higher point.

It's quite simple really; after all, Gordon isn't on the Ballon d'Or shortlist, is he? He also posted 12 goals and 11 assists across all competitions last season for the Toon, winning their Player of the Year award. But alas, Lookman trumped him – and won gold during his continental campaign besides.

Indeed, Lookman's tally of 32 goals for the Bergamo-based outfit to date is more than Gordon has achieved in his entire senior career, with the Englishman netting just 21 times for the Toffees and the Magpies, respectively.

Still only 26 years old, the Nigerian forward has plenty yet to give but has recently hit the pinnacle of his career, scoring an emphatic hat-trick against previously invincible Bayer Leverkusen in last term's Europa League final to hand the Serie A side their first-ever European title.

He joined as a teenager, and this 19-year-old prospect carried exciting qualities under both Ronald Koeman and then Sam Allardyce but failed to bring it together on English shores, despite scoring on his debut against Manchester City's Pep Guardiola.

Indeed, in total, four goals across 48 matches were registered for the Blues, but his talent was recognised by Germany's RB Leipzig, who signed him for £22.5m in July 2019 during Marco Silva's time at the helm, after enjoying his performances on loan in 2017/18 – where he scored five goals and added four assists across just 11 outings in the Bundesliga.

Now playing for Atalanta, he's positively exploded. Last year, Lookman bagged 17 goals and ten assists across 45 matches in all competitions to outshine Gordon's return, now honoured with a nomination for the 2024 Ballon d'Or.

And why not? On top of his extraordinary performance on one of the biggest nights in Atalanta's storied history, he has maintained a fierce threat throughout, ranking among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90, as per FBref.

Such a meteoric rise has even earned the £38k-per-week talent a summer of interest from high-profile suitors such as Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, though Italian sources' suggestions that Atalanta were looking for a €70m (£59m) figure appears to have dissuaded the interested parties.

This transfer price means that Lookman is worth more than any of Everton's forwards. Calvert-Lewin was pursued by Newcastle United in the summer but the Magpies were put off by Everton's demands of £40m earlier in the summer.

Of course, Lookman's post-Toffees career has been cardinal for his development; remaining on Merseyside, he may not have found the gusto to propel him to the 2024 Ballon d'Or candidate list or hit such a value, having now become an undoubted "superstar", as per 90min's Sean Walsh.

But one can't help but rue the failure of Silva and Co to keep a hold of him and ignite his career. Given that the likes of PSG and Arsenal hold a vested interest, it's clear that quite the pretty penny could have been fetched.

Everton have hit the jackpot on "monster" who's worth more than Broja

The Chelsea forward has joined on loan with an option to buy for £30m…

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 4, 2024

Matt Taylor’s unbeaten 51 rescues Gloucestershire but can’t prevent visitors from taking points

ECB Reporters Network25-Jul-2021Danny Lamb claimed career-best figures of 5 for 30 to inspire Lancashire to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Gloucestershire in a one-sided Royal London One Day Cup contest at Bristol.Lancashire won the toss, inserted the hosts on a drying pitch beneath leaden skies and, with Preston-born seamer Lamb to the fore, dismissed Gloucestershire for 171 in 48 overs. Only lower-order resistance from Matt Taylor, who top-scored with 51 not out, and George Scott, who contributed 43 runs to a swashbuckling eighth-wicket alliance of 69 in 16 overs, prevented an even heavier defeat.Keaton Jennings registered a patient 47 to afford the reply solid foundations, while Josh Bohannon, Luke Wells and Rob Jones all weighed in with useful cameos before Steven Croft and George Balderson helped Lancashire attain their target with 6.2 overs to spare. Gloucestershire’s most-effective bowler, Josh Shaw took 4 for 36 in a losing cause.Gloucestershire were on the back foot from the very outset, openers George Hankins and Ben Charlesworth falling inside five overs to new-ball bowlers Liam Hurt and Tom Bailey respectively.Any prospects of Graeme van Buuren and Tom Lace redressing the balance were dashed when their stand, worth 41, was terminated by the advent of Lamb, who claimed three wickets in 11 balls as the home side lurched from 56 for 2 to 63 for 5 in the space of three calamitous overs. Lamb induced Lace to mishit a drive to mid-off for 15, van Buuren became the latest batsman to play himself in and then surrender his wicket cheaply when slicing to point for 17, and Jack Taylor was pinned inside his crease as Lamb took a wrecking ball to the top and middle order.Introduced from the Pavilion end at the mid-point of the innings, England Under-19 slow left armer Jack Morley made an instant impression, bowling debutant Ben Wells with his first ball, then hurling himself low to his right to take a startling return catch and send back Tom Smith on his way to incisive figures of 2 for 22 from 10 overs.Deep in trouble at 89 for 7 in the 29th over, Gloucestershire were indebted to Scott and Matt Taylor, these two carrying the fight to the red rose county and at least restoring a semblance of respectability. Between them, they amassed 10 boundaries, more than the rest of their team-mates combined, and the visitors breathed an audible sigh of relief when Scott edged a catch behind off the returning Lamb and departed for an 84-ball 43.Matt Taylor went to his fifty in the grand manner, hoisting Bailey high over deep square leg to register his third six, and finished unbeaten on 51, made from 64 balls, while Lamb bowled Shaw to claim his first List-A five wicket haul and wrap up an innings which never quite recovered from the loss of early wickets.Forced to set attacking fields in pursuit of early wickets, Gloucestershire made a breakthrough in the eighth over, Scott taking off at point to hold a marvelous catch and send back Bohannon for 24 off the bowling of Shaw with the score on 36. Smith took an equally thrilling catch at deep point as Wells succumbed to Shaw for 31, but Jennings proved unmovable in his role of anchor, the former England opener chiseling 47 from 84 balls and raising 51 for the third wicket with Jones to usher Lancashire to within sight of victory.The returning Shaw denied Jennings a half century and then accounted for Jones as the visitors experienced a slight wobble, but Croft and Balderson calmed any nerves in an unbroken stand of 41 for the fifth wicket.

MatériaMais Notícias

Além de comentar sobre a diversão durante as férias, Libertadores e encantamento com o Flamengo, Gabigol também respondeu a respeito da falha crucial de Andreas Pereira, seu companheiro de equipe, na final da Libertadores, que culminou no gol do título do Palmeiras, em Montevidéu.

RelacionadasFlamengoGabigol revela teste que fez com o ‘louco’ Bruno Henrique: ‘Fiquei dois meses sem falar com ele’Flamengo10/12/2021FlamengoGabigol prevê outro título com o Flamengo na Libertadores e brinca: ‘Férias é época de fazer m…’Flamengo10/12/2021FlamengoFlamengo informa a data da reapresentação em 2022 e já tem o primeiro nome da barca definidoFlamengo10/12/2021

– O Andreas é um moleque muito cabeça. Acho que vai lidar bem com isso. Lidar bem é f…, né? Mas acontece, mano. Não foi ali que a gente perdeu o jogo. A final é muito de merecimento, foram mais coisas que aconteceram para a gente não ganhar o título, perdemos muito gol – disse Gabi, em entrevista ao canal “Podpah”.

> Andreas é premiado com o gol mais bonito do Brasileiro; reveja a pintura

Gabigol e Andreas Pereira, assim como todo o elenco do Flamengo, se reapresentarão no dia 10 de janeiro no Ninho do Urubu, às 9h, para a temporada de 2022.

علق حلمي طولان، مدرب الزمالك الأسبق، على رحيل السويسري كريستيان جروس، عن منصب المدير الفني للقلعة البيضاء.

وقرر الزمالك توجيه الشكر لكريستيان جروس، وتعيين البرتغالي جوزيه بيسيرو بدلًا منه في قيادة الفريق الأول.

طالع.. 6 لاعبين مهددون بالغياب عن الزمالك أمام الأهلي في الدوري

وقال طولان في تصريحات عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر 2”: “لديَّ رأي قد لا يعجب الكثيرين، لكني أرى أن هذا القرار غير صحيح، خاصة قبل مباراتين مهمتين أمام بتروجيت والأهلي، نفس الأمر حدث قبل نهائي القرن أمام الأحمر”.

وتابع: “التوقيت ليس مناسبًا على الإطلاق لإقالة جروس، كما أن الأداء لم يكن جيدًا لأن الفريق لم يحصل على الدعم الكافي”.

وأضاف: “عندما يتم تدعيم الزمالك، يجب أن يكون بلاعبين على مستوى عالٍ جدًا، وليس مجرد تجربة لاعبين”.

وأتم: “أعتقد أن جروس ظُلم، ولم يتم تدعيم الفريق بشكل قوي، كما أن التدعيم جاء متأخرًا، بالإضافة إلى وجود العديد من الإصابات داخل الفريق”.

Spinner who was the first person of colour to represent South Africa, opens up during SJN hearings

Firdose Moonda12-Jul-2021

Omar Henry – the first player of colour to play for South Africa since readmission•Getty Images

Omar Henry has revealed how he wanted to return home from the 1992 World Cup after being given what he considered an unsatisfactory answer over why he was left out of South Africa’s match against New Zealand.In an emotional testimony at Cricket South Africa’s Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) hearings, Henry revealed how he was regarded as a “sell out” by his own community after he accepted an offer to play for a white club in the 1970s, and the challenges of being the first player of colour to represent South Africa post-readmission in 1992, including his difficulties at the World Cup, which he believes reflect selection issues that continue to exist today.Henry was the only player of colour included in South Africa’s squad for the tournament, and the only specialist spinner. He played just one match, against Sri Lanka in Wellington, despite South Africa’s schedule featuring three group matches in spinner-friendly conditions in New Zealand.”I did my research and knew as the frontline spinner that I was not going to play that many games because of the conditions and the way our squad was selected, because we were stacked with a lot of allrounders. I made peace that I would be lucky if I played one or two games. But when I saw New Zealand play in New Zealand and I saw there was a pitch that was going to suit me, I had high expectations that I would play,” Henry said.He didn’t.”I wasn’t selected. I was very disappointed and I needed to know why I wasn’t selected. I went to the manager and asked him if he could give me a reason why I wasn’t selected, which was the protocol. He said, ‘I know you’re disappointed and I will talk to the captain and the coach and I will come back to you.'”By match-day, Henry had not received a response and after South Africa’s defeat, was involved in “an incident,” with captain Kepler Wessels. “We played the game, we were absolutely annihilated and everybody was upset. In the dressing room an incident happened between me and the captain and it created a very unpleasant situation that eventually had to be stopped by the manager,” Henry said. “I was unhappy with the way I was treated and the answers that were given to me so I pursued the matter further. Several meetings were held, and still I wasn’t satisfied and then I wanted to come home. I wanted to leave. That created even more tension.”It was only the intervention of CSA’s first president of colour that convinced Henry to stay. “I managed to find out that Krish Mackerdhuj was in Australia and I requested a meeting with him. I explained my situation and said I wanted to go home if I don’t get the right answers and he pleaded with me that there is a bigger picture and I can’t go home,” Henry said. “He was of the view that if I go home, there is no guarantee that things like this won’t happen with players of my colour in the future. He pleaded with me for a few hours and I changed my mind and stayed. I felt that maybe it was meant to happen to me as the first black person to play for South Africa, and hopefully that will be addressed and we will move on. In hindsight, I was wrong. That’s why we are here today.”Omar Henry bowling his left-arm spin on Test debut•Getty Images

Henry spoke of happier times when he played for the Free State province, a historically white, Afrikaans team, who embraced him.”Afrikaaners felt they were given a raw deal, just like black people, although they enjoyed the privileges of Apartheid. My stay in Bloemfontein was an education in how liberal some of those Afrikaaners were and I made friends for life,” Henry said. “We won the Currie Cup and it was the last year of the Currie Cup. That was a great achievement. When I look at my contribution to that, trying to prove to the white man that a black man can also play cricket and that we can all live together in peace and harmony and respect one another, I felt in my heart that I broke down barriers. And I think I did. Those players and people that were close to me, we still had respect for one another although we come from different backgrounds. They knew, in their heart of hearts, that Apartheid was wrong.”Henry also saw continued challenges in selection, specifically relating to racial bias when he worked as an administrator. He coached Boland and was a selector at the province, and also served as selection convener for South Africa. Throughout that time, Henry had to work within the confines of the target system which stipulates the minimum number of players of colour that a domestic team and the national side must field.Henry found the system limited, that it set a bar people were not willing to go beyond and turned transformation into a number-crunching exercise. He provided an example from his time at Boland, when the targets required teams to field three players of colour and he faced resistance when he wanted to pick a fourth player, Henry Davids. “I took the risk and fought for him to be selected, knowing full well that I could lose my job. But I stuck my neck out and that’s when the realisation came that there is still some misunderstanding or mistrust or dishonesty within the system,” Henry said.Henry also said the transformation goals presented to him when he served on the national selection panel were unrealistic and could only be met in time. “I was told I need to pick 50% black players in the team. From what I knew about the system at the time, I couldn’t honestly say that I could have achieved that immediately. I had to be honest and say I am sorry I can’t deliver on that,” he said.Overall, Henry painted a picture of a sporting system that is grappling to understand how to develop talent as it tries to redress past wrongs. He acknowledged that the pain of people of his generation, a few of whom left South Africa to seek opportunity abroad (Henry played for Scotland for example), and most of whom never got the chances they may have wanted, has not healed and that true inclusivity continues to be elusive.”There is a lot of hurt. There is a lot of healing to be done. People of my age, at unification, thought they were going to get an opportunity. They didn’t. They didn’t come close. We don’t know the depth of the emotional damage we have done to people,” Henry said. “There is a lack of education about understanding what development is, what transformation is. I can talk about this all my life because it was my life. It is not an easy subject and it is something we have to continue and we are probably going to continue this even when my grandchildren are adults.”The SJN hearings are due to run for the next two weeks after which transformation ombudsman Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza, will produce a report and recommendations to CSA.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been handed some good news this week as an injury update comes out of London Colney, and it is much-needed as the Gunners prepare for a crucial run of games.

Arsenal earn 0-0 draw away to Atalanta in Champions League opener

The Gunners earned a hard-fought 0-0 draw away to Europa League champions Atalanta in their opening Champions League game of the new season on Thursday evening, with goalkeeper David Raya taking many of the plaudits.

Related "Extremely quick" player has been in constant contact over joining Arsenal

He’s been reaching out via his representatives.

Posts 1 ByEmilio Galantini Sep 19, 2024

Indeed, it is safe to say Raya was the hero in Bergamo following his sensational double save to deny Mateo Retegui an opening goal for Atalanta. The Spaniard first denied Retegui from the penalty spot, diving expertly to his right before getting straight back up to acrobatically claw the Atalanta forward’s follow-up header off the line.

It was a moment of magnificence, and arguably one of the finest double-saves in recent memory. Due to their recent succession of injuries to key first team players, Arsenal had an array of academy players on the bench last night, so Arteta will be silently thrilled to come away from a difficult ground with a clean sheet and a point.

“I think we started the game really well in the first 20, 25 minutes,” said Arteta on Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Atalanta.

Atalanta

Statistics

Arsenal

2

Shots on target

2

4

Shots off target

3

51

Possession (%)

49

1

Yellow cards

0

7

Fouls

11

4

Corners

2

“I think we played with the ball in the right areas, with a lot of intention and were effective, but without creating too many clear-cut chances. After that, we lost control of the game because we were very inconsistent with the ball, giving a lot of simple balls away – and against a team that are man-to-man [that] costs you moments to transition because the moment you lose your man, there is a space and you are in equal numbers in the backline or overloaded. Defensively we didn’t suffer – that’s the reality.”

Arsenal take on Premier League title rivals Man City at the Etihad Stadium next in one of their biggest tests of the season, but Arteta looks set to be without a few crucial stars for the trip to Manchester.

Club captain Martin Odegaard will be out for a while after injuring his ankle on international duty with Norway, whereas summer signing Mikel Merino is sidelined after fracturing his shoulder in training.

Arsenal given "massive boost" after Mikel Merino injury update

Merino was expected to be out till late October, following his collision with Gabriel Magalhaes in the Spaniard’s first ever London Colney training session.

However, Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge has relayed some positivity out of Arsenal, with Arteta handed a “massive boost” after injury news on Merino, who is progressing well and only a few weeks away.

“Mikel Merino, obviously a disappointment for him picking up that shoulder injury as soon as he’d signed for Arsenal,” said Bridge live on air this week.

“We understand that [he] is actually progressing quite well and a few weeks away now. So that will be a massive boost for Mikel Arteta when he comes back to really bolster that central midfield.”

Arsenal signed Merino in a £32 million deal from Real Sociedad in the summer window, following the 28-year-old’s brilliant 2023/2024 campaign at both club level and internationally.

The former Newcastle United ace scored eight goals and assisted five others in 45 appearances across all competitions for Sociedad last term, and played a key role during Spain’s triumph at the Euros.