^ ^ Bukayo Saka knows ‘deep down’ who Arsenal want to play in Champions League final

Bukayo Saka scored the goal that took Arsenal to the Champions League final (Picture: Getty)

Bukayo Saka confessed he knows ‘deep down’ who Arsenal want to play out of PSG and Bayern Munich after he scored the goal that fired his boyhood club to the Champions League final.

The Gunners advanced to the Budapest showpiece after a narrow 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid at a raucous Emirates Stadium.

A draining, physical contest was ultimately decided by Saka’s predatory finish on the stroke of half-time when he reacted to first to a loose ball after Jan Oblak had made a save to deny Leandro Trossard.

Mikel Arteta’s side spent the majority of the second period keeping their opponents at bay and relied on their defensive solidity to protect the clean sheet that guaranteed their place in the Budapest showpiece.

Arsenal will now wait to find out which European heavyweight they will face in just over three week’s time.

Holders PSG, who knocked Arsenal out in the semi finals last year, or Bayern, spearheaded by Harry Kane, represent daunting opposition and Saka kept his cards close to his chest when asked who he would prefer to face.

‘You can’t ask me that!’ said Saka after CBS pundit Micah Richard’s asked who is preference would be.

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Bukayo Saka pounced to scored Arsenal’s goal in their 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid (Picture: Getty)

Bukayo Saka and Mikel Arteta embraced at full-time (Picture: Getty)

‘You know I’ll have to give a media trained answer! You know deep down who we want to face, that’s all I’ll say.’

‘That moment after the game, only myself and a few other people that are close to me will understand what I’ve been through in my career and the journey that I’ve been on to reach this stage,’ Saka added following praise from Clint Dempsey, who remarked on the mature way he handled the fallout of his penalty miss in the Euro 2020 final against Italy.

‘I just wanted to say thank you to God in that moment, because God is what gets me through all of these things. Some players will not recover from certain situations I’ve endured, but he’s been my strength through it.

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Arsenal fans created an incredible atmosphere at Emirates Stadium (Picture: Getty)

‘I’m just happy to be here and proud of myself that I can stand here today and still be playing at the highest level and have the opportunity to play in the Champions League final.’

Saka also praised the atmosphere generated by Arsenal fans who have, themselves, faced criticism in recent weeks and been accused of adding to their air of anxiety ahead of must-win Premier League games.

‘We felt it,’ said Saka. ‘Since we were on the coach, I’ve never seen the Emirates like this in my whole career, I’ve played so many games here. It was so special. They pushed us, from the start to the end.”

‘This is probably the biggest game the Emirates has ever hosted I’d say and it was a successful one.

‘All the fans that were here will go home and remember this night forever.

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^ ^ Petr Cech tells young Man Utd star to consider Premier League transfer

Cech is a huge fan of the United starlet (Picture: Getty Images)

Chelsea legend Petr Cech has urged Manchester United starlet Radek Vitek to ‘continue playing’ next season even if it means leaving the club this summer.

Senne Lammens arrived at Old Trafford from Royal Antwerp last summer with the Belgian enjoying a terrific first season in the Premier League after the calamitous reigns of Andre Onana and Altay Baynindir in goal.

While he was at fault during the 3-2 win over Liverpool on Sunday, he looks set to be a long-term option in goal at Old Trafford.

But United do have another very promising option between the sticks. After spells at Accrington Stanley and Austrian outfit BW Linz, Vitek joined Bristol City last summer, enjoying a fantastic campaign on loan with the Championship side where has scooped the Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards.

Vitek signed a new long-term contract with United before leaving on loan but it is not yet clear what their plans are for him next season. With Onana and Bayindir expected to leave, there will be room for a second goalkeeper to provide cover and competition for Lammens.

But with the Belgian making the no1 spot his own, he will face a fight for minutes.

Former Chelsea and Arsenal star Cech has been very impressed with his young compatriot and believes there will be interest from other Premier League teams this summer, urging him to make a first-team role his top priority next season.

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Vitek has been in spectacular form at Bristol City (Picture: Getty Images)

‘It’s important to play,’ Cech told BBC Sport.

‘Of course, there are situations where sometimes you know that you have a big chance to come back and fight for your position. That’s a different thing.

‘But as it stands at United, Lammens has done really well. I’m sure he [Vitek] will want to go somewhere and continue playing.’

Lammens is United’s new no1 (Picture: Getty)

Cech continued: ‘It’s great to see him progress because playing for the Under-21s with United is one thing, but then he played men’s football in Austria, which went really well for him, then he came back to England with Bristol City and did well there.

‘That obviously gives him an opportunity to attract even attention from teams in the Premier League.

‘I met him a couple of years ago, when we had a training session and talked about things. I could see he’s got the hunger and the willingness to get better.’

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^ ^ Pep Guardiola sends title message to Arsenal after Man City draw with Everton

Pep Guardiola after Man City’s draw with Everton (Picture: Sky Sports)

Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City will keep fighting Arsenal for the Premier League after dropping points at Everton but admits the title is no longer in their own hands.

Man City were hoping to reduce Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League to three points when they visited the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday night.

Guardiola’s side blew the title race wide open by beating Arsenal last month but the Gunners responded with wins over Newcastle United and Fulham.

Trailing Arsenal by six points but boasting two games in hand, the title was still effectively in Manchester City’s hands but that required an away win at Everton on Monday.

City led through Jeremy Doku’s brilliant strike on the stroke of half-time but Everton mounted a stunning comeback, going 3-1 up through a Thierno Barry brace and a Jake O’Brien header.

It was then Man City’s turn to produce a brilliant comeback, with the visitors scoring two late goals through Erling Haaland and Doku to avoid defeat.

The 3-3 draw means Arsenal boast a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League ahead of their final three league games against West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace.

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Jeremy Doku scored twice in a thrilling 3-3 draw (Picture: Getty)

Assessing the title race after Manchester City’s draw at Everton, Guardiola said: ‘We take the point and until it’s over, we’re going to continue.

‘It’s better than a loss. We played to win. It just shows what the team are. We tried and we have done it. It’s not in our hands. Before it was in our hands. Now, no.

‘We have to do it in our four games that we have in the Premier League. It will be quite similar against Brentford. We will see what happens.’

Everton dented Man City’s title hopes (Picture: Getty)

Discussing the game more generally, Guardiola said: ‘Everton away is always difficult and I give credit to them for their composure and aggression.

‘Second half, they made a step up. We didn’t have as much control and we gave away the goal. After that they come back and make a proper English game, so aggressive in the duels.

‘But in general we made a really good performance. It’s not easy because they play so well defensively, with 10 players there and the fast transitions.’

Man City hero Doku added: ‘It feels painful now. There is still a lot of games to go.

‘We lost two points today. We will keep on fighting – we owe it to ourselves and to our fans.’

Manchester City will look to boost their fading title hopes on Saturday when they welcome in-form Brentford to the Etihad Stadium.

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^ ^ Moises Caicedo makes controversial Chelsea claim and reveals ultimate ‘dream’

Moises Caicedo has committed his long-term future to Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

Moises Caicedo claims Chelsea are ‘going in the right direction’ and has set out his stall to become a ‘legend’ at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea, who won the Club World Cup last summer, are just ninth in the Premier League ahead of their clash against Nottingham Forest on Monday night.

A run of five successive league defeats without scoring a goal cost Liam Rosenior his job at Stamford Bridge, with Calum McFarlane now in charge of the side until the end of the season.

As well as winning the Club World Cup under former manager Enzo Maresca, Chelsea also qualified for the Champions League and lifted the Conference League trophy.

But Chelsea will go trophyless this season unless they beat Premier League rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

A number of pundits and a large section of fans are concerned by the direction Chelsea are going in on and off the pitch.

Hugely inconsistent form has been matched by some baffling transfer decisions by the Chelsea owners, who purchased the club from Roman Abramovich in 2022.

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Divisive Chelsea owner Todd Boehly (Picture: Getty)

But Caicedo insists Chelsea are ‘going in the right direction’ and ‘believes’ major trophies are just around the corner.

Caicedo, who last week put pen to paper on a contract extension keeping him at Stamford Bridge until 2030, said: ‘I believe in this team, this club and I know we’re going in the right direction.

‘We’ve only just begun together. There is still a lot more to achieve, and I’m very hungry to keep improving every day.

Chelsea sacked Liam Rosenior last month (Picture: Getty)

‘I want to win more trophies with Chelsea and give everything for this club and for the fans.

‘We have enjoyed some great times together already and my dream is to become a Chelsea legend, and I will work as hard as possible to make that happen.’

Chelsea put their miserable Premier League form to one side last weekend to beat Leeds United in the FA Cup semi-final.

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McFarlane will hope to oversee another positive result on Monday night when in-form Nottingham Forest visit Stamford Bridge.

Just five points separates seven teams competing for the remaining European spots and McFarlane wants Chelsea to ‘focus’ on their own job rather than look at the fortunes of other teams.

‘I know people don’t want to hear this because it’s boring, but we just have to focus on the next game,’ said McFarlane.

‘That’s beating Nottingham Forest on Monday, and then beating Liverpool at Anfield and trying to tick them off and win as many games as possible, finish as high up the league as we possibly can.

‘That’s all we can control.’

As McFarlane said, a trip to Anfield awaits Chelsea following their home match against Forest before the Blues meet Man City in the FA Cup final.

Chelsea’s final two games of the season are against relegation-threatened Tottenham and Sunderland.

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^ ^ Gary Lineker raises England World Cup fear over Arsenal star

Thomas Tuchel will pick his England World Cup squad later this month (Picture: Getty)

Gary Lineker has urged Thomas Tuchel to pick in-form Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Maino in his England World Cup squad amid burnout fears over Arsenal’s Declan Rice.

The teenager’s United career is firmly back on course with his stellar form at the heart of Michael Carrick’s engine room rewarded with a new long-term contract.

Mainoo looked destined for the Old Trafford exit in January having been frozen out by Ruben Amorim, but Carrick’s arrival as interim coach has coincided with a second chance at his boyhood club and the 21-year-old has seized the opportunity.

Indeed, the midfielder capped a perfect week by scoring the winning goal in Sunday’s 3-2 win over Liverpool, a victory that guaranteed Champions League qualification for the Red Devils.

Mainoo played a key role in England’s march to the final of Euro 2024 but with competition fierce, it appeared as though his lack of first team football would cost him any chance of playing for the Three Lions this summer.

A burst of superb form, however, means he is now pushing for inclusion and Lineker believes he fully deserves a place on the plane, even as cover for Declan Rice who could yet end up playing 62 games for club and country this season, should Arsenal get to the Champions League final.

‘I would say he’ll make the squad,’ Lineker told The Rest Is Football podcast, predicting that Mainoo has done enough to earn a call from Tuchel.

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Kobbie Mainoo starred in Manchester United’s win over Liverpool (Picture: Getty)

‘I think this is really important, this World Cup is like no other we’ve ever had. There’s an extra round of matches.

‘It’s going to be played in exceptional heat like most World Cups are but there are a lot of games to play.

‘You’re going to have to rotate, players are going to get injured. The more players that you’ve got that are seriously good the better.

‘You could see Rice, Declan is overplayed. He’s played so many games and he probably covers more yardage than most players. He could run out of steam at some point and need a rest.

Declan Rice could end up playing 62 games for club an country this season (Picture: Getty)

‘To have options in this World Cup particularly with the extra round in there it’s going to be invaluable to have someone that’s burst into form.’

Mainoo earned the man of the match award for his display against Liverpool on Sunday and afterwards admitted he owes Carrick a debt of gratitude for the way in which his career has turned around in such a short space of time.

‘It was difficult of course, anytime you’re not playing football,’ he said. ‘I just tried to look forward as much as possible and to keep my head down.’

Reflecting on Carrick, he added: ‘He’s played a huge part in it, all the confidence he gives all the players.

‘You want to follow him and fight for him and die for him on the pitch.’

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^ ^ Gary Lineker claims Arsenal improved without ‘cautious’ £51million star

Gary Lineker was impressed with Arsenal’s performance against Fulham (Picture: Getty)

Gary Lineker suggested Arsenal’s dramatic improvement against Fulham coincided with Mikel Arteta’s decision to rest Martin Zubimendi.

The summer signing from Real Sociedad has been a near ever-present at the heart of the Gunners’ engine room and formed an effective partnership alongside Declan Rice.

Zubimendi’s near instant adaptation has meant Myles Lewis-Skelly’s chances of getting an opportunity to play in his natural position have been blocked while the arrival of Piero Hincapie has meant he has hardly featured at left-back where he impressed during his breakthrough campaign.

With the games coming thick and fast over the course of the run-in, Mikel Arteta opted to take a gamble on Saturday against Fulham and hand the Hale End Academy graduate a first start in a more central role.

Arteta’s faith was rewarded by a superb display that helped power Arsenal to a 3-0 win that saw them open a six-point gap, albeit having played two games more, at the top of the table.

Whether Arteta is brave enough to keep Lewis-Skelly in the team for the visit of Atletico Madrid in midweek remains to be seen, but Lineker couldn’t help but notice the fundamental difference the 19-year-old made to Arsenal’s attacking threat.

‘I’m going to throw something in here because I think there’s a fundamental difference between the Arsenal that we’ve seen in recent weeks,’ Linker told The Rest Is Football Podcast.

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Myles Lewis-Skelly impressed Mikel Arteta against Fulham (Picture: Getty)

‘No disrespect to Zubimendi, but he’s a cautious player. He’s a defensive midfield player and he predominantly knocks it back.

‘I thought Myles Lewis-Skelly came in in a midfield position, not a left-back that’s moving into midfield. His first thought is to turn and look forward and quickly.

‘I think that really enabled Arsenal to get it forward quicker. It was a bit of a plan, they pushed the wingers higher. Saka was getting the ball in time to take someone on. I think he made a fundamental difference.

‘It’s quite interesting because he’s a young player and we’ve known him as a full-back. But in that midfield area, the way he was so positive and looking forward.

Myles Lewis-Skelly started in midfield for Arsenal against Fulham (Picture: Getty)

‘Rice is a different player in the sense that he’s probably at his best when he’s running with the ball. But he’s also a player that tends not to look for forward passes particularly quickly. So I think he really helped them.’

And after watching the teenager impress against seasoned Premier League opposition, Arteta admitted he may have made an error in holding back a player whose lack of game time has seen him linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer.

‘He fully deserves it,’ said the Arsenal manager reflecting on Lewis-Skelly’s performance in a new-look engine room. ‘I’ve been tough on him.

‘He had a spectacular season last year when he jumped into the first team. He had some difficult moments after that, but he stayed very humble, very focused, very aligned with what we wanted to do, and I knew he was ready.

‘He’s been showing in training every day the opportunities that he had to play. He’s done it and today he really stepped up and I thought he had an incredible performance.’

Asked why it had taken him so long to give Lewis-Skelly a chance to impress in midfield, he added: ’Because probably I don’t have a clue and maybe I should have done it earlier, I don’t know.’

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