^ ^ Darren Fletcher hails 15-year-old Manchester United wonderkid as ‘amazing talent’

Darren Fletcher has an ‘amazing talent’ on his hands (Picture: Getty Images)

Manchester United’s JJ Gabriel has won the Premier League Under-18s Player of the Season award and Darren Fletcher says the club as an ‘amazing talent’ in its ranks.

The forward is just 15 years old but has shone against older players in the age bracket, scoring his 21st league goal of the season at the weekend.

Gabriel will be involved on Thursday as United take on Manchester City in the FA Youth Cup final.

The London-born teenager has been capped up to Under-17 level by England and the BBC suggests he will be involved in the Red Devils’ first team pre-season preparations this summer.

Under-18s boss Fletcher is keen to keep expectations under control, but cannot deny that the 15-year-old is a standout performer among the country’s brightest young stars.

‘JJ’s an amazing talent,’ Fletcher told the BBC.

‘He is a fantastic kid. He brings an enthusiasm to the pitch every day to learn, to want to play, to be on the ball. He’s desperate to do better, to improve and to learn. He takes constructive criticism well and I’ve got a great relationship with him.

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JJ Gabriel doesn’t turn 16 until October (Picture: Getty Images)

‘I do think we need to remember he is a kid and also he’s been part of a really good team, and the players have helped him as well.

‘But JJ has scored the goals and goals always get the limelight. He has a major future and is somebody I’ve enjoyed working with immensely.

‘His next steps are something people above me will decide. We want him to go up there and thrive, so we need to get him in the position to do that.’

Gabriel has already trained with the Red Devils first team (Picture: Getty Images)

Reacting to winning the Under-18s Player of the Season award, Gabriel told MUTV: ‘I’m delighted to win this award. I thank my coaches and team-mates for helping me win this amazing award.

‘Since we came together as the Under-18s, we’ve become a very good team. Everyone looks out for each other and we all work hard for each other. I think we’ve had a very good season.’

He added: ‘I’d say [the Academy] helped me mature a lot. They help me to be very humble and keep my feet on the ground.

Gabriel’s father Joe O’Cearuill in action for Brighton in 2007 (Picture: Getty Images)

‘I’m delighted to be working with him [Fletcher], he’s an amazing coach and has helped me so much this season to become a better player and the best version of myself. I’ve got to say you’ve got to maintain working out on the training pitch every single day, giving it my all and working hard in the gym to stay fit and not get injured.

‘My family have helped me a lot, through tough times and good times. They come to all my matches, no matter how far or close, and I love them to bits.’

Gabriel’s father, Joe O’Cearuill, is a two-cap Republic of Ireland international and was once on the books of Arsenal, turning out for Brighton, Barnet and Forest Green Rovers, among others, over his career.

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^ ^ Arsenal open to temporary move as they plot Emirates expansion

Arsenal moved into the Emirates 20 years ago (Picture: Getty Images)

Arsenal are planning to expand the Emirates Stadium and are considering various options, including a short-term move while work is carried out.

It may still be one of the newest arenas in the Premier League, but it is now 20 years since Arsenal moved into the Emirates after leaving Highbury.

The stadium in north London seats 60,000 people and the Gunners are looking at how they could increase that number.

City AM report that ‘all options remain on the table’ for how the club could go about that.

Those options range from relatively small upgrades to hospitality areas, to substantial work which would see the team play elsewhere while it is carried out.

The report states that Arsenal are holding talks with architects Populous, who designed the Emirates.

The experts in stadium projects also worked on Wembley and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Arsenal could certainly sell more tickets than their capacity allows (Picture: Getty Images)

When Arsenal moved into the Emirates, it was the second biggest stadium in the Premier League, only behind Manchester United’s Old Trafford.

That has changed since then, though, with Tottenham’s new ground boasting a capacity of 62,850, to take second place behind Old Trafford.

West Ham have moved to the London Stadium, with a capacity of 62,500, while Liverpool have extended Anfield to a capacity of 61,276.

That leaves the Emirates the fifth biggest in the Premier League and sixth in England, with Wembley leading the way on 90,000.

It was a memorable night at the Emirates as Arsenal beat Atletico earlier this month (Picture: Getty Images)

The other Premier League grounds with over 50,000 capacity are Manchester City’s Etihad (55,097), Everton’s Hill Dickinson (52,769) and Newcastle’s St James’ Park (52,338).

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says he experienced something at the Emirates that he never had before when the Gunners beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 in the Champions League semi-final second leg.

He felt the Arsenal fans produced a unique atmosphere which played a big part in getting the team into just their second ever Champions League final.

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‘An incredible night,’ Arteta said after the win, which set up a clash with PSG in the final. ‘We made history again together and I cannot be more proud for everyone.

‘The way that we were welcomed outside the stadium was special and unique. The atmosphere, our support has created the energy, the way they managed every ball with us, they made it special and unique, I never felt that in the stadium.

‘We knew how much it meant to everybody. The boys did an incredible job and after 20 years and a second time in our history, we are back in the Champions League final.’

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^ ^ Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand names the England teammate he ‘hated’

Rio Ferdinand has revealed the divisions that existed in the England dressing rooms he shared with his illustrious teammates (Picture: Getty)

They might have put aside their differences now, but Rio Ferdinand has revealed there was a genuine hatred between himself and Liverpool rival Steven Gerrard during their time as England teammates.

The pair shared Three Lions dressing rooms between 2000 and 2011, a period during which the so-called Golden Generation failed to live up to their billing.

A succession of managers, including the likes of Fabio Capello and Sven-Goran Eriksson, failed to get the best out of a group of players who played major roles in the successes Premier League teams enjoyed in European club competitions across that same period.

Over time it has emerged that the intense nature of the club rivalries that simmered for nearly a decade, principally between Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal, contributed to England’s repeated failures at major tournaments.

Gerrard spoke to Ferdinand on his YouTube channel Rio Ferdinand Presents last year and opened up on the national camp during their time together.

He was frank in his assessment, saying: ‘I think we were all egotistical losers. Because I watch the telly now and I see (Jamie) Carragher sitting next to Paul Scholes on this fan debate and they look like they’ve been best mates for 20 years.

‘And I see Carragher’s relationship with Gary Neville and they look like they’ve been mates for 20 years. I’m probably more close and friendly with you now than I ever was when I played with you for 15 years.

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Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard were England teammates for a decade (Picture: Getty)

Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard captained Manchester United and Liverpool at a time when they were England collegues (Picture: Getty)

‘So why didn’t we connect when we were 20, 21, 22, 23? Was it ego? Was it rivalry? Why are we all mature enough now and at stages in our life where we’re closer and more connected now?

‘Why couldn’t we connect as England team-mates back then? And I think it was down to the culture within England that we were all never connected. All in our rooms too much. We weren’t a team.’

Despite, arguably, not boasting as talented a group as they did during Ferdinand’s pomp, England made remarkable strides under Gareth Southgate and reached the finals of Euro 2020 and 2024.

Thomas Tuchel has continued the good work of his predecessor and a new-look side is among the favourites to the reach the latter stages of the upcoming World Cup.

Rio Ferdinand believes a fit Bukayo Saka is key to England’s World Cup hopes (Picture: Getty)

Assessing the current squad, Ferdinand added: ‘If we’re going to win the World Cup, then Harry Kane has to be playing well.

‘Declan Rice knits things together on and off the pitch. Jude Bellingham gives us a chance because he’s a big-moments player. A fit Bukayo Saka can win us games.

‘We’ll need a lot of luck to win it. The weather is going to be a huge thing for us to overcome. But we’re well equipped to go deep in the tournament.’

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^ ^ Wesley Sneijder makes astonishing Arsenal vs PSG prediction for Champions League final

Sneijder believes the Gunners can spring a surprise, however (Picture: Getty)

Wesley Sneijder believes Arsenal could lose 4-0 in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.

The Gunners booked their place in the final last week against Atletico Madrid and are chasing a magnificent double under Mikel Arteta with the Premier League title within their grasp.

But they come up against perhaps the most dangerous side in European football in defending champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Their semi-final with Bayern Munich demonstrated the extent of their strengths, putting on a show of scintillating football in a thrilling 5-4 victory in the first leg before shutting down the opposition with a resilient rearguard performance away in Germany in the second.  

The French champions recorded the biggest ever final victory when they trounced Inter Milan 5-0 last year.

Sniejder, who won the competition with Inter in 2010, believes Arsenal’s full-backs will be key on the night, believing the presence of Jurrien Timber will be vital if the Dutchman can recover from injury in time.

While not ruling out an ‘ugly’ win for the Premier League side, the former Netherlands international believes Luis Enrique’s men can run riot in Budapest.

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PSG ran riot in last season’s final (Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

‘If I have to say who I think will win, I’d say PSG. But Arsenal are not conceding goals easily. They have a very strong defence with the two central defenders with top quality,’ Sneijder told Hard Rock Bet.

‘I don’t believe the full-backs are the best players in the Champions League, and that’s where PSG have power, especially on the left side.

‘Everybody with an Arsenal heart hopes Justin Timber will be back and recover for the final. Otherwise, it’s going to be very hard for them. But Arsenal also know how to double up, with Declan Rice dropping back into defence.

Jurriën Timber has missed the last 12 games (Picture: Getty Images)

‘It’s going to be an interesting one. I think it could be similar to the Inter Milan final last year. I believe it could be [5-0]. Before the game, I thought PSG had the advantage but Inter with a strong defence, and with the way they play on the counterattacks. 

‘Maybe it can be [an upset] and 1-0 to Inter but it could also be a very hard night for Inter as well and it’s the same feeling I have now [for Arsenal]. It can be ugly, 1-0 to Arsenal, and I don’t say ugly in a bad way because to stop PSG scoring is a huge performance. But that’s really hard.

‘If Arsenal manage it and win 1-0, then it’s a great job. But I believe it will be very hard not to concede against PSG. So, it can either be 3-0 or 4-0 to PSG, or 1-0 Arsenal.’

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^ ^ Paul Scholes names Arsenal star who ‘suits’ playing right-back as injury crisis looms

Scholes compared it to one of his old teammates taking up a similar role (Picture: Getty Images)

Paul Scholes believes Declan Rice is ‘suited’ to playing at right-back with Arsenal facing an injury crisis in that position for the final weeks of the season.

Arsenal have been without Jurrien Timber since mid-March with Ben White deputising again on Sunday in the Premier League clash with West Ham United.

When the England international was forced off with a knee injury, Mikel Arteta called upon Martin Zubimendi from the bench, moving Rice from his midfield role to right-back.

Rice did help his side keep a clean sheet with the Gunners taking a huge step towards title glory but the positional change left Arsenal vulnerable on the transition with West Ham getting back into the game after the change.

Arteta made more changes at half-time with Cristhian Mosquera coming in at right-back with Rice returning to a more familiar role.

Rice did play the full 90 minutes at right-back against Brighton in December, excelling in that role that afternoon.

With concern for White and no indication if Timber will be back for the final weeks of the Premier League season and the Champions League final, Arteta may have to consider more emergency options.

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Rice dropped into a right-back role against his old side (Picture: Getty Images)

Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, Scholes and Nicky Butt recalled how Roy Keane filled in at the back during his second season at the club with the former agreeing Rice can do a similar job.

‘Roy Keane played right-back for two thirds of a season,’ Butt said.

White was forced off in the first-half against West Ham (Picture: Getty)

Scholes replied: ‘He played there loads because United had Bryan Robson and Paul Ince.

‘Roy played there loads and was brilliant. Declan Rice looks like he would suit playing at right-back to me. He can play there. He’s not a big creator anyway.’

With Timber missing his side’s last 12 games, White could also be set for a spell on the sidelines with Arteta admitting it ‘doesn’t look good at all.’

It leaves Arteta with a problem at right-back although Mosquera has proved reliable when shifted out wide this season.

Arsenal return to action at home to Burnley on Monday night.

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