Having netted his first senior goal for the Gunners in a Europa League clash with Qarabag, the teenager is determined to make his mark in north London Emile Smith Rowe believes his decision to snub a loan move away from Arsenal has been justified as he seeks to build on his goal-scoring exploits in Europa League competition. The 18-year-old, who was on target in a 3-0 victory over Qarabag, has become the second youngest player to score for the Gunners and the first born in the 21st century to net for the club. The highly-rated midfielder, who is a product of a famed academy system in north London, hopes his…

The two star players are starting to become disgruntled with Atletico’s failure to win silverware. Antoine Griezmann believes it is time he won a trophy after Atletico Madrid reached the Europa League final. Atletico knocked out Arsenal in the semi-finals 2-1 on aggregate after a 1-0 home win in the second leg and will now take on Marseille in Lyon on May 16. Griezmann was part of the Atletico side which lost the Champions League final on penalties to Real Madrid in 2016 and he has yet to win a major piece of silverware with Diego Simeone’s side. Article continues below Editors' Picks Juve on alert: Exiled Icardi may have…

The Arsenal defender is on the mend after suffering an unfortunate Achilles injury which ruled him out of France’s bid for global glory in Russia. Laurent Koscielny was on course to play for France at World Cup 2018 until a ruptured Achilles tendon left him in agony, but the experienced defender already has a plan in place for coping with a period of enforced inactivity.  The Arsenal centre-back suffered the injury during the Gunners’ Europa League semi-final defeat to Atletico Madrid and is not expected to be back in action until November, when Unai Emery’s first campaign in charge will be well under way. Koscielny’s recovery is progressing but, in…

The Chelsea boss praised the 24-year-old for his recent improvements and insisted that he should be considered for a return to England duty Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri believes that Ross Barkley can make a return to the international stage, after his displays for the club at the start of the 2018-19 campaign. The midfielder has featured in six of the Blues’ opening seven Premier League games this term, playing an important role in the team’s unbeaten start. Barkley moved to Stamford Bridge from Everton back in January for £15m (€17m/$19m), but only managed to appear four times under then boss Antonio Conte, which saw him fall way down the pecking…

Dinamo Minsk crumbled in their trip to face the Russia side, who defied a sending-off to unbelievably score eight second-leg goals Ten-man Zenit scored four extra-time goals to sensationally crush Dinamo Minsk 8-1 and overturn what seemed an insurmountable first-leg deficit in the Europa League third qualifying round. Minsk had appeared set to cruise through the tie after easing to a 4-0 success on home soil last week. But two goals in either half from Zenit pushed the second leg beyond 90 minutes before a further four – including two penalties – secured their place in the play-off round in incredible circumstances. Article continues below Editors' Picks Juve on alert: Exiled Icardi may have already…

His team were helped by a controversial late decision, but the French side’s manager wants the video assistant referee (VAR) introduced Marseille coach Rudi Garcia wants the video assistant referee (VAR) to be introduced in the Europa League after his side reached the final. An extra-time goal from Rolando against Red Bull Salzburg saw Marseille book a spot in the decider 3-2 on aggregate despite a 2-1 loss on Thursday. But the clash in Salzburg was just the latest to be marred by controversy in European football this week, with Rolando’s goal coming from a corner incorrectly awarded to Marseille. Editors' Picks Juve on alert: Exiled Icardi may have already…

Unai Emery hopes to have the Frenchman available for selection following the upcoming international break Laurent Koscielny is close to handing Arsenal a defensive boost after missing the first three months of the 2018-19 campaign. The former France international has been sidelined with an Achilles rupture that required surgery since May, the central defender missing his country’s World Cup triumph at Russia 2018 as a result. Unai Emery has slowly reintegrated the 33-year-old, who last featured for the Gunners in a Europa League clash with Atletico Madrid on May 3, into training and the Spaniard says Koscielny is almost ready to be considered for selection. Article continues below Editors' Picks…

The Leicester boss is impressed with Arsenal’s fine start to the season but is unsure whether they can compete at the very top of the table. Claude Puel has played down Arsenal’s Premier League title credentials despite their fine recent form under new boss Unai Emery. After losing his first two games in charge, Umery’s side host Puel’s Leicester on Monday evening looking to secure their 10th successive victory in all competitions. That fine run has lifted the Gunners up to fifth in the Premier League, five points behind leaders Manchester City, with the supporters hoping they can mount a sustained title challenge. Article continues below Editors' Picks Juve on…

The former Boca Juniors midfielder denied accusations that he was sent off in an effort to attend the South American match Leandro Paredes found himself in the middle of a controversy in Russia this week regarding a red card and the final of the Copa Libertadores. This past weekend, Paredes earned a red card in a match between Zenit Saint Petersburg and Akhmat Grozny, prompting fans to accuse the midfielder of deliberately being sent off in order to attend the Copa Libertadores final between Boca Juniors and River Plate on Saturday. The Argentinian was dismissed with eight minutes left in the match, and will automatically be suspended for next Sunday’s clash with CSKA Moscow.…

The Scottish side put themselves into a strong position by winning convincingly at Ibrox Stadium in the first leg Rangers will hope to finish the job and take a step closer to the Europa League group stage when they face Maribor in Slovenia on Thursday. Steven Gerrard’s side boast a formidable lead in the tie thanks to a 3-1 victory in the first leg at Ibrox Stadium, but they will have to be careful after conceding an away goal. Goals from Alfredo Morelos, James Tavernier and Lassana Coulibaly have given the Scottish side a solid cushion heading into the second leg, but they cannot allow themselves to become complacent. Article…