^ ^ Arsenal hoping for Noni Madueke injury boost after post-match footage emerges

Madueke was forced off against Sporting (Picture: Getty Images)

Arsenal face a nervous wait to learn the extent of Noni Madueke’s knee injury but the winger appeared in good spirits as he celebrated the Gunners reaching the Champions League semi-finals.

A dull stalemate against Sporting CP at the Emirates on Wednesday was enough to secure Arsenal’s place in the final four of the competition thanks to their 1-0 away in Lisbon last week.

The result set up a semi-final showdown with Atletico Madrid but Mikel Arteta’s focus for now is on a season-defining Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sunday.

The Arsenal boss is already dealing with a string of injury problems with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori all absent.

There was also concern for Madueke when he was forced off in the second-half against Sporting.

The former Chelsea star, who had a separate injury scare while on international duty with England last month, collided with Pedro Goncalves on the touchline with Max Dowman brought onto replace him for the remainder of the game.

Arteta confirmed it was a knee issue post-match but was unable to provide any further update. ‘It was something in his knee, we had to take him off,’ Arteta said.

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Noni Madueke at FT.Doesn’t look overly concerned about the knee issue that forced him off.Potentially good news for Arsenal. pic.twitter.com/GLP7FbyOwW

— Ryan Taylor (@RyanTaylorSport) April 15, 2026

‘I don’t know the extent of that.’

But there appeared to be positive signs at the final whistle in footage recorded by journalist Ryan Taylor.

As Arsenal players celebrated the hard-fought result that booked their place in the semi-final, Madueke hobbled over to join his teammates with Saka and Timber also emerging from the tunnel.

While moving with a limp, the winger did not appear too concerned by the issue, smiling and laughing with his teammates.

Madueke was in good spirits after the game (Picture: Getty)

Arteta will be expected to provide a further update on his winger when he speaks to the media on Friday.

Saka has not played since the Carabao Cup final with Arteta revealing this week he is dealing with an Achilles injury.

Having still not returned to first-team training, he remains a doubt for Sunday’s trip to the Etihad.

Madueke has served as Saka’s understudy all season but any doubts over his fitness could open the door for 16-year-old Dowman to start against Pep Guardiola’s side.

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^ ^ Sporting Lisbon star aims major dig at Arsenal after ‘boring’ Champions League clash

Morten Hjulmand was unimpressed with Arsenal’s tactics against Sporting Lisbon (Picture: CBS)

Sporting Lisbon captain Morten Hjulmand claimed Arsenal’s delaying tactics contributed to last night’s ‘boring’ Champions League stalemate.

Mikel Arteta was keen to praise his side who made club history by progressing to the semi finals of Europe’s elite club competition for the second leg in a row after protecting their 1-0 first leg advantage.

In truth, however, it was another disjointed performance, particularly in attacking sense, and did little to suggest they are capable of producing the sort of display that would get their faltering title challenge back on track at Manchester City this weekend.

Sporting, meanwhile, were left to rue their own failings in the reverse fixture last week, as well as the chances they spurned towards the end of the first half at Emirates Stadium, most notably the opportunity that Geny Catamo volleyed against the post.

The Portuguese champions rarely threatened in the second period as Arsenal’s defence held firm, but Hjumland felt his side’s cause wasn’t helped by Arsenal taking far too long over their set piece preparations.

Asked if the best team on the night progressed, the Denmark international said: ‘I think it was an even game today the impact of the first game that we lost made it more difficult to go to the Emirates and win, especially when don’t often lose at home we knew it would be difficult here.

‘But the game had low intensity and no rhythm, zero goal and I would say boring.’

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Arsenal are through to a second successive Champions League semi-final (Picture: Getty)

Pressed on what made the game such a disjointed affair, he added: ‘I think a lot stops during the game so we couldn’t get the rhythm that we wanted to. A little bit boring.

‘If I was a viewer from outside 0-0, also the first game 1-0 it’s not the way Sporting wants to show itself. We want to score goals, create chances and we didn’t do it today.

‘During the game I felt a lot of stops, especially during set-pieces and it takes a lot of time out of the game.

‘When we did get the rhythm we did create a lot of chances, especially in the first half. But at the end we didn’t create enough to win the game to be honest.’

Geny Catamo hit the post for Sporting Lisbon (Picture: Getty)

While the other last eight ties were packed full of incident, goals and drama, this particular quarter final stood out like a sore thumb for all the wrong reasons.

Asked to compare Arsenal with the other teams who have made the semi finals, PSG, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid, Hjumland said: ‘I prefer to speak about Sporting and compare them to other teams.’

With the overriding emotion from an Arsenal point of view one of relief, Arteta was keen to stress the positives of reaching the latter stages once again and with a tie against a side they have already comprehensively beaten this season to look forward to.

‘It’s a great night, I’m so proud of everybody at the club,’ said the Arsenal boss. ‘Thank you to our supporters for the manner in which they followed the team.

Declan Rice overcame an injury scare to help Arsenal into the semi finals (Picture Getty)

‘It’s the first time we’ve [reached the semi-finals consecutively] in 140 years, so that tells you the difficulty and magnitude of what we’ve done. 

‘I think we don’t realise it now, but we’ll realise it in a few years, so don’t take for granted what we’ve done. It’s extremely difficult to achieve, and it’s never been achieved [by ourselves], so big gratitude to our players and everyone who’s contributed to achieving that.

‘We’re not perfect, we want to improve in every area, but we have two magical nights to play against Atletico and we’re certainly going to prepare well for that.

‘We’ll take things from [October’s meeting] and games they have played recently, but we’re going to have to go to Madrid, be ourselves, and compete in the manner we have – and then we’ll have a big chance to win it.’

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^ ^ ‘Never heard anything like this’ – Arne Slot slammed by Liverpool legend over PSG decision

Arne Slot’s decision to start Liverpool striker Alexander Isak against PSG raised eyebrows (Picture: Getty)

Dietmar Hamann has questioned Arne Slot’s explanation for starting Alexander Isak against Paris Saint-Germain, claiming he has ‘never heard anything like this’ in football before.

Isak had not started for the reigning Premier League champions since as far back as December after undergoing surgery on a serious ankle injury which included a fractured fibula.

The 26-year-old had managed only two substitute appearances – in Liverpool’s previous clash with PSG and against Fulham – since his return, but Slot decided to throw his record signing in from the off at Anfield on Tuesday night.

The decision backfired on the Liverpool head coach, though, with Isak making a total of just five touches as the Merseyside giants failed to overturn the two-goal deficit from the sides’ first quarter-final meeting in Paris.

Isak’s ineffectiveness and clear lack of fitness forced the hosts into an early change as Cody Gakpo came on in place of the former Newcastle striker at the halfway stage.

The substitution did little to affect Liverpool’s fortunes, however, with Ousmane Dembele scoring twice in the second period to ensure Luis Enrique’s men advanced through to semi-finals with a 4-0 aggregate victory.

Facing the media shortly after the final whistle, Slot insisted Isak was ‘ready’ to be included in the Reds’ starting XI despite his exit at the midway point.

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Isak managed just five touches before coming off for Gakpo (Picture: Getty)

A late double for Dembele sealed Liverpool a comprehensive quarter-final win (Picture: Getty)

‘I said before the game that if you go to extra-time and he plays the second half and plays 45 minutes, there are only two minutes in between before extra time comes up for half an hour,’ the Dutchman told reporters.

‘I don’t think that was realistic. To play him for 45 minutes and see at half-time how he feels to add five to ten minutes to that, that was a possibility today.

‘But because we already had to make the first substitution in the first half, I didn’t want to make the second substitution five minutes after half-time. That’s why I took him off at half-time.’

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On his shock decision to start the Sweden international, Slot continued: ‘He was twice close to a goal and that’s why you play a striker of his level.

‘There was one header from a set-piece and one great run in behind [Willian] Pacho where he was really close to scoring which was eventually offside. It’s good to have him back.

‘He was ready and if I thought he wasn’t ready then I wouldn’t have played him.

‘If you compare us today to last week, I think it’s fair to say he was completely ready to play otherwise you can’t play a first half as we did, although the second half was even better.’

‘I’ve never heard of anything like this’ – Hamann was baffled by Isak’s selection (Picture: Getty)

Fans and pundits alike were left puzzled by Isak’s surprise selection given the forward had only been used twice off the bench in Liverpool’s two previous contests.

Giving his reaction on Sky Deutschland, ex-Liverpool midfielder Hamann went a step further, claiming Slot’s explanation for starting the attacker was unprecedented and made next to no sense.

Hamann said: ‘He hasn’t played for three months and then he comes up against the best team in Europe and suddenly he should play. And Slot doesn’t want to bring him on because he might not be able to play extra time…

‘I have to be completely honest: I had the utmost respect for the man, but I’ve never heard of anything like this.

‘I don’t know if something like this has ever happened before. Probably, but not in the Champions League.’

Liverpool must quickly regroup and lick their wounds, with attentions immediately turning to what is set to be a tough Merseyside derby away to Everton in only four days’ time.

The Reds will be desperate for a morale-boosting win over their bitter rivals after a wretched run of six defeats in their last ten games in all competitions.

Despite their miserable form, though, victory at Hill Dickinson Stadium could see Slot’s men rise to as high as third in the Premier League table.

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^ ^ Manchester United star ‘agrees deal to leave’ as club prepare to announce transfer

Man Utd are working on incoming and outgoing transfers (Picture: Getty)

Manchester United are not only working on incoming signings ahead of the summer transfer window but are also in talks to sell a number of current Old Trafford players.

Much of the speculation around United ahead of the summer has been on their search for a new midfielder to replace Casemiro, who announced in January his intention to leave at the end of the season.

The Red Devils were already planning to sign a new midfielder before the Brazilian’s announcement, with former manager Ruben Amorim left disappointed by the club’s failure to bring in a No. 6 last summer.

Manchester United have expressed interest in Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba and Alex Scott ahead of the summer, with Nottingham Forest’s Anderson believed to be their top target.

While United’s priority is midfield reinforcements, they are also expected to sign a new forward to support Benjamin Sesko and are interested in signing a new full-back.

Manchester United’s new permanent manager should have money to spend with the Premier League giants on course to qualify for the Champions League.

They were just sixth at the time of Amorim’s sacking in January but have climbed to third under caretaker boss Michael Carrick.

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Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe (Picture: Getty)

Old Trafford bosses are already busy making plans for the summer and are just as preoccupied working on outgoings as incoming deals.

Manchester United hope to sell Marcus Rashford to Barcelona and have already agreed to offload Rasmus Hojlund, who looks set to earn a permanent move to Napoli.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his colleagues will look to cash in on Andre Onana despite his desire to return to Old Trafford while Jadon Sancho will finally leave after a dismal spell in Manchester.

Altay Bayindir is set to leave Old Trafford (Picture: Getty)

Another player set to leave is goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, who has already agreed a deal to join European giants Besiktas, according to reports in Turkey.

Bayindir, who joined United during Erik ten Hag’s tenure, was the first-choice goalkeeper at times last season and in the early part of the current campaign.

But the 27-year-old is firmly behind Senne Lammens in the pecking order and was in talks over a move to Besiktas during the January transfer window.

While that deal fell through, Bayindir is set to return to Turkey this summer, with Besiktas preparing to announce the transfer, according to Fanatik.

Manchester United were reluctant to sanction Bayindir’s exit midway through the season but it is claimed they are ready to agree a deal ahead of the summer transfer window.

Bayindir looked set to feature regularly for United this season but £18m summer signing Lammens has emerged as the No. 1 at Old Trafford, even impressing legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

As a result Bayindir has not featured for Champions League-chasing Manchester United since September.

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^ ^ Arsenal vs Sporting: Predicted lineup today and Champions League team news

Rice was absent from training on Tuesday (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal have a number of injury concerns heading into tonight’s Champions League showdown with Sporting CP.

The Gunners were given a real test in the first leg of their quarter-final in Lisbon last week but Kai Havertz’s late goal has them in control at the halfway stage.

Mikel Arteta’s side are just 90 minutes from the semi-finals where Atletico Madrid await but may have to get the job done without some of his first-team stars once again.

Declan Rice was absent from training on Tuesday having played the full 90 minutes at the weekend against Bournemouth.

The England international has been almost ever-present in the starting XI this season, missing just one game through injury but is a doubt for tonight’s second leg in north London.

Arteta refused to disclose any details surrounding the issue when he spoke to the press yesterday, insisting Rice is doing everything he can to ensure he is available.

Bukayo Saka has missed Arsenal’s three games since the international break ended with Arteta revealing the winger has been struggling with an Achilles injury.

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Saka has been nursing an Achilles injury (Picture: Getty Images)

Arteta was hopeful he would return last weekend but Saka remains a doubt tonight.

Jurrien Timber has not played since the win over Everton a month ago due to a groin problem with Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori also absent from training on Tuesday.

Arsenal XI to face Sporting – Metro prediction

It’s difficult for Arteta – there can be no further slip-ups tonight but at the same time, he cannot afford to rush anyone back with that titanic clash with Manchester City waiting this weekend.

Martin Zubimendi is among those looking jaded and in need of a breather but with Odegaard and Rice still doubts, there is little alternative.

Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz were game changers off the bench last week in Portugal which may be enough to earn them starting berths this evening.

Arsenal vs Sporting TV channel, live stream and kick-off time

Arsenal vs Sporting kicks off tonight (15 April) at 8pm.

You can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1 with streaming also available through the HBO Max app.

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