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There is no escaping it now: this season has been a disappointing one for Arsenal so far.

After two campaigns of fighting at the top of the Premier League table, the Gunners have looked miles off the pace this year and, as things stand, sit six points off league leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand.

Now, Mikel Arteta’s side have certainly been unlucky in the injury department and been on the wrong end of a few overzealous refereeing decisions. Still, much of the team’s problems stem from their own performances.

Several stars have seen their form seriously drop off so far this season, including one big-money signing with whom Thierry Henry claimed he would have loved playing.

Arsenal's poor performers

So, before we get to the player in question, it’s worth examining some of the other disappointments this season, starting with Gabriel Martinelli.

Now, the sad thing about the Brazilian winger is that following an underwhelming campaign last year in which he produced just 13 goal involvements, his poor performances this season have not come as a massive surprise.

The former Ituano gem has just four goals and two assists to his name in 22 games so far and looks a shadow of the player who was almost unstoppable in 22/23.

It feels like the 23-year-old has almost entirely lost the ability to take an opponent on, and on the rare occasions in which he has beaten a defender this season, he’s often either missed with his shot or made the wrong pass.

Unfortunately for Arteta, the player he favoured over the Guarulhos-born gem towards the end of last season, Leandro Trossard, has also gone somewhat off the boil this year.

The Belgian ace has also racked up just four goals and two assists in 22 games, a far cry from the sensational haul of 17 goals and two assists he managed last season.

Moreover, when he has found himself in dangerous positions this season, the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace has also made poor decisions or been somewhat greedy, to the team’s detriment.

Overall, both wingers are causing the manager problems this season, although they are still giving him something more than one of their big-money teammates once lauded by Henry.

The Arsenal star Arteta must axe

So, to get straight to the point, the Arsenal player in question is none other than Gabriel Jesus.

The Brazilian striker joined the club for around £45m in the summer of 2022 and made a significant impact on the team in his first year, scoring 11 goals and providing seven assists in 33 appearances.

However, the former Manchester City ace underwent knee surgery midway through the campaign, and while he was still effective afterwards, some of his sharpness and agility had clearly disappeared.

Still, at the start of the following season, Arsenal and Premier League legend Thierry Henry was full of praise for the 27-year-old, telling CBS Sports “I would have loved to play with him” and that “what he offers and what he does for the team is second to none.”

However, as the season progressed, the French icon’s appraisal of the striker appeared more and more disconnected from reality.

While he ended the campaign with a reasonable haul of eight goals and eight assists in 36 games, he had lost his place to Kai Havertz.

Unfortunately, instead of putting up a fight to take it back this season, the Sao Paulo-born dynamo has regressed even further, and after 20 mostly substitute appearances, he has a single goal and two assists to his name.

Moreover, the 5 foot 9 marksman simply looks like a shadow of his former self, with his recent performances against Fulham, AS Monaco and Everton, particularly woeful.

Now, if he was simply a squad player, then this might not be such a big deal, but on top of his hefty transfer fee, he’s also earning a whopping £265k-per-week, which makes him the second-highest-paid player in the squad, and he is not even close to justifying that at the moment.

Ultimately, while Jesus is an incredibly talented player, his form over the last year and a bit has been genuinely poor, and with no signs of improvement in the previous few games, Arteta and Co should be looking to sell him as soon as possible.

Arsenal planning offer for "insane" Kai Havertz upgrade

The fantastically talented striker would be an excellent addition to Arsenal’s squad.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Dec 16, 2024

Chris Richards and Crystal Palace booked their place in the FA Cup quarterfinal with a 3-0 win over Antonee Robinson's Fulham

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• Richards and Palace cruise to win
• Robinson starts after missing USMNT duty
• Turner left on bench

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  With U.S. international Chris Richards in the starting XI, Crystal Palace cruised to a clear-cut 3-0 win over Antonee Robinson's Fulham behind a pair of first half goals. Eberechi Eze was the catalyst, netting Palace's opener in the 34th minute before assisting Ismaila Sarr four minutes later to double the lead for the visitors, who added one more for good measure in the 75th-minute when Eddie Nketiah put the game away.

  Richards started and played all 90 minutes, helping Palace's five-man backline keep the clean sheet. Robinson, meanwhile, went 71 minutes for Fulham after missing USMNT duty due to lingering injury issues. He had one shot, four crosses attempted, and one chance created.

  Matt Turner, Palace's usual cup goalkeeper, didn't see any action as the USMNT starter was left on the bench by manager Oliver Glasnee – opting instead to stick with starter Dean Henderson.

  “I talked to both goalkeepers today and I took the decision that Dean [Henderson] will start tomorrow,” Glasner said Friday. “On one side, it was a tough decision. On the other side, it was a very good decision for me to take because [it’s good to choose] between two great goalkeepers with everybody having 100 percent confidence and trust of us."

  He added, “Dean is our No. 1, he’s played most of the games. We didn’t have a game for three weeks and I didn’t want to change this [the goalkeepers], that is why he will start tomorrow. [Matt Turner took it] very professionally. We talked two or three times this week because I was undecided for a long time."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  With the win, Palace are into the FA Cup semifinals, becoming the first team to advance to that stage. The draw for the semifinal round, which will be held at Wembley Stadium, will be held on Sunday following the three other quarterfinal matches.

  Palace have never won the FA Cup, with their best runs ending in final defeats in 1990 and 2016.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  This will be Palace's first trip to the FA Cup semifinals since the 2021-22 season, the campaign before Richards made the move to the London club. He joined Palace from Bayern Munich in July 2022, having spent the previous two seasons on loan with Hoffenheim. He made a total of 10 appearances at Bayern, earning medals for a UEFA Super Cup and two DFL Supercup triumphs.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR PALACE AND FULHAM?

  With the win, Palace will now look ahead to a return to the Premier League on Wednesday when they visit Southampton. Fulham, meanwhile, still have plenty at stake this season. currently sit eighth, only four points out of a Champions League spot, but will now face Arsenal and Liverpool in their next two Premier League matches.

Everton have emerged from a gruelling run of December fixtures without tasting defeat, but the tough run hasn’t finished yet, with Nottingham Forest travelling to Goodison Park in the Premier League.

A series of draws have been played out against Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City, with Sean Dyche’s side restoring their defensive integrity and fostering their togetherness as they move further away from the drop zone.

Forest, however, have been the Premier League’s surprise package this term, brilliant in their own resilient style, holding fourth place after beating Tottenham Hotspur on Boxing Day.

It won’t be easy, but Goodison Park will boom as it bows out of 2024. A year of tests and troubles and, at times, turmoil. But perhaps, as the new year beckons, a year that has planted fresh roots of promise.

Everton team news

Iliman Ndiaye and Seamus Coleman were both substituted against Manchester City due to fitness scares, but these were precautionary moves and Dyche is hopeful that the wide players will be ready to take on Forest.

James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam remain sidelined, but there is a chance that Dwight McNeil could return to the team after missing the past three fixtures due to injury.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin could be dropped for Armando Broja, with the 27-year-old striker enduring a torrid run of form that has seen him go 13 Premier League matches without a goal.

Elsewhere, Dyche might consider boldly dropping Jack Harrison as he continues to struggle for top form.

Why Dyche should drop Jack Harrison

Harrison’s two-year loan concludes at the end of the season, and after piecing together zero goals and zero assists from 16 Premier League outings this term, he’s hardly declaiming his irreplaceable value to The Friedkin Group.

The problem of course is that Everton aren’t exactly overloaded with options on the right flank, but if McNeil does manage to reclaim his fitness levels, it’s time for the 28-year-old to shrink into the sidelines.

McNeil has been a potent force at number ten this season but lacks the combativeness and link-up play to truly flourish, especially against a side like Forest, who employ a regimented and tough-to-play-against style.

They will be physical, rough, and will look to exploit any chinks in Everton’s midfield, which is why Abdoulaye Doucoure must shuffle forward and make room for Orel Mangala to partner the evergreen Idrissa Gueye in the middle of the field.

McNeil’s playmaking skills still demand his presence, fitness providing, but that would mean that Ndiaye would need to shift out to the right flank, thus knocking Harrison to the bench.

This wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, for Harrison – whom writer Ell Bretland dubbed “abysmal” – scarcely scores and lost a whopping ten duels against City on Boxing Day. Pep Guardiola’s devastated team have lost their slickness and authority, but Forest will bring the punch to the contest this afternoon.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Ndiaye can more than compensate for Harrison’s potential absence, with the Senegal star averaging 5.9 successful duels per top-flight game this term, as per Sofascore.

While Dyche will be hesitant to make too many alterations to a team that has hit a successful formula in recent weeks, players such as Harrison and Calvert-Lewin have struggled to match the level of some of their defensive peers, and this could be fatal against Forest.

Let’s hope that McNeil is fit and that Everton carry the synergy crafted in recent weeks over to this crucial fixture. The latest crucial fixture. The next in a long and unending line.

Let’s hope. Because Everton have given hope back to the people in recent weeks, and with a bit of fine-tuning, Harrison moving to the bench, that hope could flower into something even better.

Everton and Friedkin Group make first move for Euro 2024 "phenomenon"

He turned heads at the European Championships earlier this year…

By
Barney Lane

Dec 27, 2024

Manchester United women's head coach Marc Skinner has signed a new two-year contract at the club, with the option of an extra year.

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• Skinner's deal was set to expire at end of season
• Man Utd boss has now signed new two-year contract
• Red Devils set for Champions League return

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Appointed in 2021, Skinner signed a one-year extension with the Red Devils last summer after guiding the women's team to a first major trophy by defeating Tottenham 4-0 in the FA Cup final, in the same season in which he led the side out in their first-ever Women's Champions League match. His contract was set to expire at the end of the current season, then, but he has now signed a new deal until 2027, with there the option for that to be extended until 2028.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  There have been ups and downs for United in Skinner's time in charge. Last season was a good example of that, with the FA Cup triumph coming despite poor league form which saw the club miss out on Champions League football. This term, the Red Devils have been much better in the Women's Super League, and currently hold a seven-point cushion inside the European places. They are also still in the FA Cup, set to play Man City in the semi-finals next weekend.

• WHAT SKINNER SAID

  Speaking upon the announcement of his new contract, Skinner said: "It has been an absolute privilege to serve as head coach for this fantastic football club for the past four years and I am delighted to be extending my time in the role for at least a further two years. We are building a young, hungry team with the aim of challenging consistently for further trophies. There is still more hard work ahead, including this season, but the players and staff have already shown their determination to succeed and I am looking forward to us taking the next steps in our journey together."

  Jason Wilcox, the club's technical director, added: "Marc’s record since taking charge speaks for itself, having delivered our first major women’s silverware and firmly established us among the leading teams in the WSL. After a major overhaul last summer, we have an exciting, developing squad ready to compete for further success, and we are convinced that Marc is the right coach to lead that process."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  In the 2022-23 season, Skinner oversaw United's first real charge for the WSL title, which saw them take eventual champions Chelsea to the final day. There is a slight chance his team could be in the mix for that trophy this season, with the Blues six points clear at the top but having dropped points twice in their last four games. United, however, do have a very tricky run-in, with Chelsea, Man City and Arsenal their final three opponents of the WSL campaign.

Ruben Amorim may drop Andre Onana for Manchester United's trip to Newcastle with deputy Altay Bayindir on stand-by to start at St. James' Park.

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• Onana at fault for both goals away at Lyon
• Amorim expected to make changes against Magpies
• United legends question keeper's position

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Cameroonian keeper is in the firing line after a disastrous performance away at Lyon on Thursday night. Onana was at fault for both Lyon goals in the first leg of United's Europa League quarter final tie.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Reports suggest Amorim is considering calling up Bayindir to the first team as a result. United's manager did publicly back his number one after Thursday's game, but a switch could be made to keep Onana out of the firing line.

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  WHAT PETER SCHMEICHEL SAID

  Legendary United keeper Peter Schmeichel was highly critical of Onana. He said: "There are so many issues that Ruben Amorim needs to sort out.

  “I would be very uncomfortable pointing to one player but it’s not great to watch. You never feel safe. You never feel like going 2-1 up … you always fear the other team are going to come back.”

  Sir Alex Ferguson's longtime assistant Mike Phelan suggested it might be time to move on, telling the Telegraph: “That’s the biggest decision as a manager you have to make. Is there a No 2 goalkeeper at United capable of taking the No 1 role for the rest of the season? You can’t keep covering up those mistakes.”

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• WHAT NEXT FOR ANDRE ONANA AND MANCHESTER UNITED?

  After a tricky fixture away at Newcastle in the Premier League, the Red Devils face off against Lyon in the second leg of their Europa League tie on Thursday.

Daniel Levy and Johan Lange are working to sign a £55 million star for Tottenham Hotspur this month, according to a recent report.

Spurs’ winless run stretched to four games in the Premier League over the weekend, as they suffered defeat to Newcastle United, a result that puts Ange Postecoglou under more scrutiny.

Tottenham transfer news

Given how the season is going for Tottenham and where they find themselves in the league, Postecoglou could be pushing the Spurs board to loosen the purse strings this month, as he may have his eye on one or two more incomings.

Tottenham now holding internal talks over signing £202k-p/w ace in January

It would be a massive statement of intent from Postecoglou.

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By
Ben Browning

Jan 6, 2025

Tottenham have already completed some transfer business this month, as they have brought in goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky from Slavia Prague, and they are looking to follow that up by bringing in a new defender and possibly a forward in this transfer window.

But a new midfielder could also arrive this month, as it’s been reported that Spurs have made an enquiry to sign David Frattesi from Inter Milan.

The Premier League side want to add depth to their squad but face strong competition to secure the transfer of Frattesi, as Manchester United and Newcastle are also chasing the 25-year-old. Despite the midfielder not playing regularly for Inter, they don’t want to lose the player and are only willing to negotiate a deal if they receive an offer of £42 million.

Levy working to sign Randal Kolo Muani for Tottenham

It was reported over the weekend that Spurs have held internal talks over a move to sign Paris Saint-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani. Now, according to The Boy Hotspur, Levy and Lange have flown out to France to negotiate a deal to sign Kolo Muani for Tottenham.

The 26-year-old joined the French champions in the summer of 2023, but it has been a move that has just not worked out for either the player or the club. The France international impressed at both FC Nantes and Eintracht Frankfurt, but at PSG he has struggled to nail down a regular starting spot, and that has seen him not be as effective in front of goal.

Kolo Muani has played 14 times for PSG in all competitions this season, but he has just started two of those games and has scored two goals in the process. The forward is out of favour, and a move seems likely this month.

The report states that PSG are ready to let Kolo Muani leave this month, and it could cost Tottenham around £55 million to get a deal over the line, but were he to join the Premier League side, the fee is not expected to be paid until 2026.

It also adds that he could earn £165,000 a week at Spurs, which is more than £8.5 million a year. Kolo Munai’s arrival would provide competition and support to Dominic Solanke, who has had to lead the line for Spurs for the majority of this season.

Lamine Yamal is enjoying his life at Barcelona as he aims to win the treble with Hansi Flick's side this season.

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• Yamal is loving life in Barcelona
• Aims to win the treble with the Blaugrana
• Barca face Dortmund on Wednesday

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Barcelona sensation has displayed stunning form in the 2024-25 campaign, as he has scored 13 goals and provided 20 assists in 42 appearances across all competitions. Yamal has played an important role in keeping his side alive in three competitions as the Catalan giants lead the Liga title race by four points, have reached the final of Copa del Rey and will compete against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League quarter-final.

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• WHAT LAMINE YAMAL SAID

  Speaking to , the 17-year-old revealed his aim to win the treble this year as he said: "I'm one of those people who always trusts their team. From the start of the season, I always aim for the maximum. So, if we can win the treble at the start of the season, that's the aim. It's no different now. It's not because of over confidence or anything like that, it's because you have to believe in yourself.

  "If you are saying that another team is going to win, I don't know why you go out on to the pitch to play, so we can win the treble. We are Barça. We have already achieved it [in 2009 and 2015] — hopefully we can do it again."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Yamal also shared his experience of playing at one of the biggest clubs in Europe as he added: "It is like a dream. I still think that. If we reach the final of the Champions League, the final of the Copa del Rey, the [Clásico] final this month, the World Cup [next year with Spain] … Everything is like a dream. It's as if I'm playing PES. It's incredible. When you get home and you say 'Pffff I played in the final of the Euros …' It's incredible.

  "I don't [notice the pressure]. I just try to enjoy myself. I don't think too much about other things. I also don't think too much about what I am doing, what I am doing tomorrow, what game I am playing, if it's more important [than others]. "Obviously, I know I am playing for Barça. I know the importance of that, but I don't think about pressure. I play, enjoy myself … And that's all."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  Flick's men will be back in action on Wednesday as they host Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League last-eight fixture.

Arsenal have made club-to-club contact over signing a striker for manager Mikel Arteta, as the Gunners look to potentially take advantage of the player’s talks over fresh contract terms hitting a brick wall.

Arsenal open to signing new striker in January alongside winger

Much of the noise ahead of January’s imminent transfer window has centered around the acquisition of a new winger to replace Bukayo Saka, who is out for over two months after undergoing hamstring surgery.

Arsenal battling to keep £200k-per-week star as Barcelona plot move for him

The Catalans have identified him as a target for 2025.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Dec 31, 2024

The likes of Barcelona star Dani Olmo and PSG’s Randal Kolo Muani have been repeatedly linked in the build up to next month as Saka alternatives, but credible media sources have refused to rule out Arsenal bringing in a new number nine as well.

The Athletic claim that Arsenal are open to the possibility of signing a centre-forward in the winter, even if they are aware that a prolific option will come at a premium in what is an historically tricky window to navigate.

There are suggestions that Arsenal are monitoring Victor Osimhen’s situation, as his Galatasaray loan deal includes a rumoured break clause, which would allow certain interested sides to swoop mid-season and cut his spell in Turkey short.

Gabriel Jesus recently hit a serious purple patch of form over two matches against Crystal Palace, scoring five goals against the Eagles in a single week, and Kai Havertz has proved himself reliable in a makeshift centre-forward role.

However, it remains to be seen whether their current options will be tenable long-term, and Arsenal have been tipped to bring in a proven goalscorer for quite some time now.

Arsenal attempted a proposal to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig in the summer, but the Slovenian rejected their advances in favour of remaining in the Bundesliga, for another season at least.

The north Londoners could go back in for Sesko in 2025, as it is believed he has a “gentlemen’s agreement” to leave Leipzig either next year or in 2026.

However, Sesko isn’t the only Bundesliga striker on their radar.

Arsenal make contact with Eintracht Frankfurt over signing Omar Marmoush

According to CaughtOffside, Eintracht Frankfurt star Omar Marmoush is attracting interest from N5. The Egyptian sensation is enjoying a phenomenal 24/25 campaign right now with 18 goals and 12 assists in all competitions. Arsenal have made contact with Eintracht over signing Marmoush, moving ahead of other Premier League sides in the race for his signature, as they look to pounce on his precarious contract situation.

The 25-year-old is thought to be dissatisfied with recent talks over a new deal, putting a host of clubs on red alert, including Arsenal, who could look to take advantage.

It is unclear whether his exit could happen in January, but the rumoured price tag for Marmoush is set at around £50 million.

Nottingham Forest are now keen on signing a “magical” midfielder after conducting a scouting mission, according to a report.

Forest flying high in the Premier League

With just under half of the Premier League season left to play, Forest are flying high near the top of the table, sitting just six points behind league leaders Liverpool after the 1-1 draw last time out.

It speaks volumes about how much the Tricky Trees have progressed that some members of the squad were left disappointed by the most recent result at The City Ground, with Anthony Elanga saying: “I’ll be honest, it feels like a loss, I feel like it was there for the taking. But we will build on this, and I feel like this mentality shows how far we have come – the fact that it feels like a loss.

Nonetheless, Nuno Santo’s side remain in Champions League contention, and the manager is now weighing up new additions to help his team achieve their ambition of playing European football next season.

Nottingham Forest pushing to land £84m-rated star who's better than Luiz

The Nottingham Forest target has a release clause of £84m

By
Joe Nuttall

Jan 14, 2025

Bringing in a new central midfielder appears to be one of Nuno’s priorities, and internal approval has now been granted over a move for Palmeiras’ Richard Rios.

However, Rios is not the only option Forest have in mind, as reports from Turkey (via Sports Witness) have now revealed they are keen on signing Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sara.

Scouts were left impressed after watching Sara in action recently, but there may be competition for his signature, with other Premier League clubs conducting scouting missions of their own.

Any deal is more likely to take place in the summer than January, with the Tricky Trees yet to formalise their interest by making contact with the Turkish club.

Gabriel Sara impressing in Turkey

The Brazilian, valued at €23m (£19m) is enjoying a fantastic debut season in Turkey, picking up two goals and six assists in 16 league outings, while he has also made six appearances in the Europa League.

With Forest in a good position to qualify for Europe next season, Nuno may be keen to bring in players with experience at that level of football, so the 25-year-old fits the bill in that regard.

Scout Ben Mattinson has also tipped the maestro for success in the Premier League in the future, having made a real impact for Norwich City in the Championship.

Nuno may want to bring in another midfielder this month too, in order to aid his side’s Champions League hopes, but signing Sara in the summer certainly looks like it could be a good bit of business.

Carlo Ancelotti has urged Real Madrid players to give their best to overturn the three-goal deficit in Champions League clash against Arsenal.

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• Ancelotti tried to motivate players
• Arsenal lead 3-0 from first leg
• Madrid face the Gunners on Wednesday at home

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The defending champions were left shocked last week at Emirates Stadium as Arsenal beat them 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final fixture. Declan Rice converted two stunning free kicks, while Mikel Merino scored the third as the Gunners took a huge leap to book their berth in the last-four stage.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  As Real Madrid face an uphill battle in the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu, manager Ancelotti has urged his players to play the match with 'heart and balls' and give a tough fight to the Premier League giants. He also refuted rumours regarding his future at the club, as he denied that elimination from the Champions League would result in his sacking.

• WHAT CARLO ANCELOTTI SAID

  Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the Italian coach told reporters, "We need to play the game with a lot of heart and balls."

  He then added, "I don’t think this Arsenal game will impact my future at Real Madrid. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Keep your head cold, keep going. It’s not my first big game, and I hope it will NOT be the last one. I’m excited."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

  After facing Mikel Arteta's side on Wednesday, Los Blancos will be back in action in La Liga on April 20 as they take on Athletic Club in a crucial home fixture.