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Lionel Messi and Inter Miami grabbed a 3-2 win against Sporting Kansas City at the Arrowhead Stadium in front of a record crowd of over 70,000.

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Inter Miami win 3-2 in clash against Sporting KCPlayed at Kansas City Chief's Arrowhead StadiumMatch had an official attendance of 72,610Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Sporting KC shifted their clash against Inter Miami to the Arrowhead Stadium, which plays host to Superbowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, in anticipation of a massive crowd interested in watching the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner play live alongside Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. The Herons won the thrilling contest thanks to goals from the former Barcelona forwards and Diego Gomez.

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Sporting KC's anticipations of a massive crowd were proved correct as the match saw an official attendance of 72,610. It became the most-watched football match in the history of Missouri and also became the fourth most-watched Major League Soccer clash.

Getty ImagesWHAT GOMEZ SAID

The goalscorer of the Herons' first goal, Gomez, spoke to the media after the match, he said [via Miami Herald]: "We are very happy with this victory, it helps a lot after the game we lost against Monterrey.

"This will help us for what comes up next in the season. It was indescribable how it felt playing in such a big, beautiful stadium."

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WHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI?

The Herons were knocked out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup in midweek by Monterrey. However, the win at Arrowhead Stadium has put them atop the Eastern Conference. They will now be in action when they take on Nashville on April 21.

The Premier League has responded to Nottingham Forest openly questioning the integrity of VAR official Stuart Attwell following the Everton clash.

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Premier League to investigate ForestFA also unhappy with club's commentsForest hit back with a fresh statementWHAT HAPPENED?

The Premier League conveyed its "disappointment" with Forest's initial statement, which was labelled "embarrassing" by Gary Neville, about Attwell in the wake of not being given three penalties in the defeat to Everton, confirming both they and the FA will investigate the comments made. That was followed by Forest hitting back with another statement, questioning how PGMOL handles its appointments amid the potential for conflicts.

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The controversy stems from challenges in the box from Ashley Young on Giovanni Reyna and Callum Hudson-Odoi, as well as an perceived handball from the same Everton player, going unpunished by referee Anthony Taylor in real time, as well as the VAR unit. Young later even poked fun at the outrage by referencing Justin Timberlake's 2002 song 'Cry Me a River'.

WHAT THE PREMIER LEAGUE SAID

A statement published on Monday afternoon read: "The Premier League was extremely disappointed to read the comments made by Nottingham Forest on social media yesterday, following its match against Everton. We note The FA has confirmed it will be investigating the club's statement. It is never appropriate to improperly question the integrity of match officials, and the nature of these comments means the Premier League will also be investigating the matter in relation to the League's Rules."

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WHAT THE FA SAID

The FA's statement outlined: "We have formally requested observations from Nottingham Forest, Nuno Espirito Santo, Neco Williams and Mark Clattenburg as a result of their comments following their Premier League match against Everton on Sunday April 21. We will provide any further updates in due course."

Arsenal have emerged from the interminable dog days and now fight for illustrious success under Mikel Arteta's wing, having come agonisingly close to the Premier League title last season and currently topping the table at present.

While the Spanish manager has married the implementation of his vision on the pitch with astute business on the transfer front, Arsenal's ever-reliable Hale End academy has been an integral part of the framework.

Player

Club

Market Value

Erling Haaland

Manchester City

£217m

Vinicius Jr.

Real Madrid

£217m

Kylian Mbappe

Paris Saint-Germain

£173m

Bukayo Saka

Arsenal

£173m

Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid

£173m

Rodrygo

Real Madrid

£173m

*Sourced via CIES Football Observatory

Indeed, amid star-studded confreres, Bukayo Saka is arguably the Gunners' most important player and is valued among the most valuable players in world football – with six goals and nine assists already this term underscoring his importance.

The 22-year-old winger graduated from the academy to earn his place among the finest around, with Emile Smith Rowe also enjoying an impressive rise before injury derailed his progress.

There's a whole host of potential awaiting a promotion to Arteta's senior set-up, and while the squad has not looked this good in some time, it's a testament to Mehmet Ali and Jack Wilshere's work with the development squad that there are so many options good enough to burst onto the scene. Another looking to make a breakthrough is teenager Lino Sousa.

Lino Sousa's career in numbers

Sousa, aged 18, is one of Arsenal's most promising youngsters and has been lauded as "outstanding" by former youth coach Kevin Betsy for his seamless integration into life at Hale End.

Signing for Arsenal from West Bromwich Albion in January 2022 when he was 17-years-old, Sousa has now completed 49 appearances for the London side's various youth teams, clinching five goals and three assists in the process.

This season, the Lisbon-born dynamo has scored three goals from just 11 appearances across all competitions, including a decisive strike against Swindon Town in the EFL Trophy – a match that the young Gunners won on penalties.

As per Sofascore, the teenage full-back was effective during the display, complementing his strike with an 82% pass success rate, one clearance and success in 50% of his contested duels.

Speaking to the Arsecast Podcast, journalist James McNicholas was full of belief that the marauding starlet could wedge his way into Arteta's plans, saying: “The other one who’s a massive talent is Lino Sousa, who’s really well thought of and potentially there is actually a gap in the squad at left-back.

“He’s 18 years old, the boy at [Manchester] City Rico Lewis has come in and done a terrific job and he’s 18 as well. I do think the club really highly of Lino Sousa and see him as a first-team player potentially one day."

Oleksandr Zinchenko is key to Arsenal's efforts and is among the most creative and fluid full-backs in Europe, but with Kieran Tierney shipped out on loan to Real Sociedad and Nuno Tavares handed to Nottingham Forest on a season-long deal, McNicholas' words may well ring true.

The eight-cap England U19 international might have a tough task in relegating Zinchenko to the bench, but should his impressive performances keep up then the Arsenal bosses could be faced with something of a quandary on their hands, though one that would be welcomed with open arms.

Oleksandr Zinchenko's style of play

Arsenal signed Zinchenko from Premier League juggernauts Manchester City in July 2022 for £32m, with the dynamic Ukrainian star only starting ten matches in the top flight during his final campaign at the Etihad Stadium.

The 58-cap international ranks among the top 4% for pass completion, the top 2% for passes attempted and the top 1% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref, emphasising the level of creative distribution within Zinchenko's power.

Zinchenko is the full package, creative, industrious and inspiring, with the £150k-per-week ace's displays even leading the likes of reporter Connor Humm to remark on how he appears "everywhere" on the pitch when on his a-game.

As the player's heat map portrays – via Sofascore – the 25-year-old is quite the ubiquitous presence down the left channel and often finds a home in the opposition's half, where his 1.1 key passes per game and crisp 90% pass completion rate really shine through.

Technically, Zinchenko is not a natural full-back and was actually shifted into the placement by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, playing in central midfield almost exclusively for his nation, and Arteta could now start fielding him further infield to accommodate the rise of Sousa.

Given that Thomas Partey is expected to be sidelined until after the new year – with his future at the club in doubt too – Zinchenko could now cement a spot in the centre, and given that he boasts a 68% tackle success rate in the Premier League this term (higher than William Saliba) such a tactical tweak really could provide benefits for the Gunners.

Player

Club

Jules Kounde

Barcelona

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool

Giovanni Di Lorenzo

Napoli

Kyle Walker

Manchester City

Andy Robertson

Liverpool

*Sourced via Football Transfers

Arsenal insider Jeorge Bird has been among those to sing Sousa's praises and made these comments on the player's potential, writing: 'An England youth international, Sousa has demonstrated his versatility for Arsenal U18s, featuring as a left wing-back and also as a left-sided centre-back in a three man defence.

Wherever he has been deployed Sousa has shown that he is very composed in possession, with his playing style seeming somewhat reminiscent of Ainsley Maitland-Niles at youth level. Sousa relishes pushing forward but also doesn’t shirk his defensive responsibilities.'

Clearly a player of attacking strength but maintaining a solid base simultaneously, the 18-year-old was an unused substitute in Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Brentford last season and looks poised for a first-team debut sooner rather than later.

Especially given that Ali – speaking to The Athletic – remarked: “Lino is a player who is very comfortable on the ball, because of that we sometimes give him licence to come inside to get the ball to feet and then try and serve (the ball in) effective and dangerous areas."

This certainly feels similar to Zinchenko and is exactly what Arteta will look for in a young full-back, and Arsenal must now make room for the latest Hale End prodigy to enter the fray and make his mark.

Making tweaks to stay more upright while bowling has been central to the pacer finding form of old, work he has done in combination with bowling coach David Saker

Daniel Brettig in Adelaide06-Dec-2018You remember those yorkers. Those fast, swerving yorkers that Mitchell Starc unleashed in Auckland and Melbourne against New Zealand, the defining deliveries of the 2015 World Cup. You remember them more than you have witnessed them lately, because Starc hasn’t been able to produce them too often for a while.In the aftermath of Australia’s first home-Test day for the summer, Starc revealed how he and the bowling coach David Saker had been working to rediscover the sort of swing and pace he showcased three years ago. As a result, he has got the new ball swerving more consistently in Adelaide, both the nets and in the middle, than he has since that tournament.Central to their work has been to get Starc bowling in a more upright manner over a braced front leg. Over the course of several years and even more wear and tear to foot and leg, Starc realised that he had been collapsing that leg in trying to avoid soreness and pain. Fully fit after a natural recovery from his most recent foot injury in South Africa earlier this year, Starc was swinging the ball sharply in training ahead of this Test, and on day one gained enough shape to make his angled ball across the right-hander too dangerous for M Vijay to ignore.”We had a bit of a chat a few months ago now prior to the UAE tour about how my action had probably changed, bowling through niggles and periods where I’d been sore and that sort of stuff,” Starc said in Adelaide. “There were times when I’d collapse on my knee to try to get through when I was sore and that sort of thing.”So going back to perhaps as I bowled in the World Cup in 2015, I got the ball swinging around and bowling with good pace. So it is something I’ve tried to find a way to get back to. There weren’t any big differences or big changes I had to make, but little things I’ve been doing in the last few weeks seem to have found a bit more swing I think.”Getty ImagesFor all the work he had done, Starc acknowledged that gaining swing can also be something of a mystery in terms of its consistency. He is now hopeful, however, that the sort of curve witnessed in Adelaide can be sustained through the remainder of the summer.”I’ve been sort of tweaking a few things and trying a few different things with David Saker, looking at perhaps how I bowled in 2015 throughout that World Cup and trying to perhaps get over my front leg a bit more. Little things have worked and hopefully the swing that I’ve got the last couple of weeks hangs around for the summer,” he said. “There’s little things I’ve tried over the last little while that have worked for little periods. This one seems to be working for a bit longer, I had it going nicely in the nets the other day and it’s worked again today.”Just little changes and little cues I used to have that I probably went away from or unknowingly went away from. But it’s nice to see the ball moving around and I think we’ve all been preparing brilliantly for this Test series with a little period off after the [previous] Shield game. Between the batters and bowlers our preparation’s been fantastic, so it’s one good day out of a long series, so hopefully personally I can keep swinging the ball around and being that bit more consistent than I have been in the past.”Assessing the day as a whole, Starc reasoned that the Austrlaians had been very close to their best for the first four hours of play, before flagging somewhat after tea on what was an oppressively hot day. “I think we’ve planned and prepared really well for this week and had a lot of vision to look at, and how India have played in the past,” he said. “They did go quite hard but we bowled exceptionally well for the first four hours, especially when the ball got soft and stopped moving around, the scoreboard never got away from us.”I thought we bowled really well for four hours, probably pretty well for another hour and probably got it a bit wrong at the end there. [Cheteshwar] Pujara batted a lot of time, he’s someone who likes to absorb pressure and bat a long time, and credit to him he scored a fantastic hundred today. I think if you asked us at the start of the day if we’d take losing the toss and [India] being 9 for 250 at stumps I think we’d bite your arm off.”As for the stunning one-handed catch claimed by Usman Khawaja to claim Virat Kohli in Pat Cummins’ first over of the day, Starc noted how much the Queensland captain had worked on his fitness and agility in 2018. “Usman Khawaja 3.0 isn’t it?” Starc quipped. “No he’s on fire, he’s made a huge effort over the last nine months and it’s showing in his batting and now it’s showing in his fielding. A great catch and probably one he’ll keep bringing up now as well, so a great effort from him.”

Harry Kane is not giving up on breaking Robert Lewandowski’s Bundesliga goal record, but the Bayern Munich star admits that he needs to “hurry”.

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Prolific Polish striker sets the standardEngland international chasing him downThree league games left to take in this termWHAT HAPPENED?

As things stand, the legendary Polish frontman boasts the record for most goals scored across a single German top-flight campaign – with that bar being set at 41 efforts. Few could ever have dreamed of scaling such heights, but Kane is very much in the hunt.

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The England international is in danger of missing out on major silverware once again in his debut campaign at the Allianz Arena, but he has delivered on a personal level. Kane has found the target on 42 occasions through as many appearances, with 35 of those strikes coming in the Bundesliga.

WHAT KANE SAID

Kane needs six more to draw level with Lewandowski and seven to overtake him. With only three fixtures left to take in, Kane has told of whether he can rewrite the history books: “It's possible, but I have to hurry, I have to score a few goals in the next few weeks. As I said, it's there, it's within reach. But it will depend on the last three games.”

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR KANE?

Bayern have two away games to come, against Stuttgart and Hoffenheim, alongside a home date with Wolfsburg. The potential is there for Kane to chase down Lewandowski’s record-setting mark from 2020-21, while also looking to savour Champions League glory – with Real Madrid set to be faced in the semi-finals of that competition.

Leeds United will want to get back to winning ways at the weekend immediately, the Whites hosting last season's Championship playoff finalists Coventry City in front of an expectant Elland Road.

Daniel Farke's side weren't anywhere near their free-flowing best away at Sunderland last time out, succumbing to a disappointing 1-0 defeat which put an end to Leeds' seven-game unbeaten streak in the division.

The popular German manager in West Yorkshire could soon not be liked as much by this usually dependable first-team star if he's dropped for the game on Saturday however, Joel Piroe second-rate throughout the away contest at Sunderland with his spot in the team up for grabs consequently.

Joel Piroe's game vs Sunderland in numbers

Piroe's performance at the Stadium of Light was noticeably flat compared to his recent displays, the Dutch striker scoring in Leeds' last home match before this defeat against Sunderland.

He barely troubled Anthony Patterson in the Black Cats' goal all night away from the comforts of Elland Road – the former Swansea City forward registering just one shot on target in the narrow defeat as per Sofascore.

Piroe and the rest of his Leeds teammates just couldn't get into their natural groove up against a staunchly organised Sunderland team, the Whites firing a blank unusually over the 90 minutes.

The 6 foot 1 attacker would only amass 28 touches in total in a quiet showing, with Patterson in the Black Cats net even coming away from the game with more touches at 32.

It would lead to Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth giving Piroe a 5/10 rating for his efforts in a post-match article, stating that the ex-Swans man wasn't 'incisive' enough when bombing forward.

Leeds' number seven wasn't the only player having an off-day for the visitors, Daniel James was in blistering form before this clash but was poor in the 1-0 loss – inaccurate with all three of his crosses into the area with Daniel Ballard barely having to flinch to clear the ball away from danger for the hosts.

Farke could shake up the Leeds personnel in attack therefore for this weekend's encounter with Mark Robins' underperforming Sky Blues, Wilfried Gnonto edging closer to being in line for a start after a promising cameo off the bench on Tuesday night.

Wilfried Gnonto's game vs Sunderland in numbers

The diminutive Italian figure has managed to turn his Leeds career around quickly, with Gnonto at one point refusing to play for the club owing to transfer interest from the Premier League.

He's by no means a consistent first-team presence under Farke now – only starting six games this season – but he's a useful squad member as he proved away versus the Black Cats.

Given a 'second chance' by his manager after a notable falling out behind the scenes, the "pocket rocket" – as he once was dubbed by Tam McManus was fully committed to attempting to help his team pull off a comeback against Sunderland when on the pitch.

The 20-year-old would fail to have a single shot on goal, but the tricky Italian forward was successful with his only dribble attempt of the contest.

In contrast, James didn't attempt a single dribble past his Sunderland marker over 75 minutes in a bid to unlock a dogged Black Cats defence.

Moreover, Gnonto launched himself into numerous ground duels to try and win contentious balls and spring an attack – winning 66% of his ground duels, full of energy and life when introduced into the game.

Farke could start the "dangerous" forward – as he once was referred to by ex-Manchester United striker and current football pundit Michael Owen – ahead of a misfiring James or he could reshuffle the forward line altogether and start the ex-Zurich man in a number ten role.

Piroe could miss out as a result, Farke potentially unafraid to make big judgement calls to try and boost his team to then pull off more vital victories.

West Indies batsmen rue missed opportunity after failing to build on starts against England

The Report by Valkerie Baynes23-Jan-2019West Indies 264 for 8 (Hetmyer 56*) v England
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsJames Anderson broke through with the second new ball to turn the first Test against West Indies in England’s favour on a tough opening day of toil for the fast bowler in Barbados.In the absence of fellow quick Stuart Broad, overlooked as the tourists opted to play two spinners, Anderson’s four scalps took the pair past the 1000-wicket mark between them.Anderson laboured long and hard for his first wicket, and it was a crucial one, breaking a 46-run partnership between Shai Hope and Roston Chase. Bowling his 17th over, he found an inside edge from Hope with a ball that jagged back for a neat caught behind by Ben Foakes.Anderson should have had a second one a short time later when Shimron Hetmyer drove to Jos Buttler, diving to his right and getting his hands to the ball at short cover but failing to hold on to it. It could have proved costly had Anderson not struck late in the day, with Hetmyer going on to reach an unbeaten 56.West Indies captain Jason Holder had repeatedly called on his batsmen to stand up in this match. The issue for the home side could well prove to be that too many faltered after initially heeding his instructions. Three of his batsmen reached half centuries without going on with the job, while two more – debutant John Campbell (44) and Kraigg Brathwaite (40) – fell just short.England took the new ball after 80 overs and Anderson struck almost immediately, tempting Chase (54) with an outside edge collected neatly by Joe Root at slip. Shane Dowrich followed a short time later for a duck but Anderson saved his best for last with a one-handed caught-and-bowled to dispatch Holder cheaply and claim figures of 4 for 33 off 24 overs, half of them maidens.For all the early talk of England’s two spinners versus West Indies’ one and what next for a snubbed Broad, it was allrounder Ben Stokes who ensured England went to tea in better shape than at lunch.Stokes snared the wickets of experienced duo Brathwaite and Darren Bravo shortly before rain forced an early tea with the home side still looking to be in a solid position, thanks to a resilient Hope.Brathwaite, who had played the unlikely role of extra for the first hour as Campbell carved out an eye-catching start, began to look threatening as he picked up his scoring rate immediately after his opening partner’s dismissal. But he managed to add only nine runs after lunch before Stokes struck, enticing an edge which carried to Root at slip.Bravo’s return – he was playing his first Test in two years after the resolution of a dispute with the West Indies board – was short lived. He managed just two runs before Stokes trapped him lbw.Stokes chimed in with the last wicket of the day when he had Kemar Roach caught by Root for no score.England’s selection of a twin spin attack with Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid, in contrast to the home side’s decision to opt for four fast bowlers, bore fruit with Moeen claiming the only wicket of the morning session – that of Campbell, whose rush of blood brought him undone when he attempted to sweep and was hit flush on the back leg for lbw.Moeen and Rashid were selected for a pitch Root admitted he would have batted first on too, had he won the toss, and Broad was edged out by Curran whose batting strength turned the decision. The spinners were expensive though, Moeen conceeding 59 runs from 12 overs while Rashid’s 17 overs cost 56 runs. Curran finished the day with none for 54 from 12 overs.West Indies opted for just one spinner, Chase, in addition to four quick bowlers, which included a recall for Alzarri Joseph after a long-standing back problem.

Arsenal's invincible, title-winning season in 2003/04 is a unique achievement in Premier League football. Legendary coach Arsène Wenger led his side to something that will likely never be achieved again, no matter how many billions of pounds are spent.

Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp are just a few players who cemented their place in footballing history. It wasn't easy, these players left everything on the pitch, and the Arsenal faithful will love them forever for it.

Football FanCast takes a look at the 10 biggest games in Arsenal's miraculous invincible season, which featured superb performances across all competitions. Here, FFC has ranked these games based on a variety of factors, including the difficulty of the opposition, the significance of the result and the effect on their unbeaten run in the Premier League.

10 Robert Pires completes superb Anfield comeback Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal

Liverpool 1

Arsenal 2

Kewell 14'

Hyypia og 31'

Pires 68'

Arsenal asserted their dominance in the Premier League with a pivotal victory against a strong Liverpool side. Despite missing key players like Patrick Vieira and choosing to rest Martin Keown, Arsenal displayed resilience. Manager Arsene Wenger surprised further by starting Jeremie Aliadiere in the attack and reshaping the lineup.

Liverpool initially took the lead with Harry Kewell's early goal, capitalising on a period of dominant play. However, Arsenal, despite the absence of their injured stars, managed to level the scores through an own goal by Sami Hyypia, aided by a deflection off Edu. The turning point came in the second half when Robert Pires scored an absolute worldie, curling in from distance to hand Arsenal the lead and ultimately, the win.

9 Gunners recover to beat title rivals Chelsea 1-2 Arsenal

Chelsea 1

Arsenal 2

Gudjohnsen 1'

Vieira 15'

Edu 21'

By this point in the season, Arsenal were considered heavy title favourites, heading into this game five points clear with 13 matches to play. With that being said, the importance of this comeback win against Chelsea cannot be overstated. The Blues took an early lead after just 27 seconds, with Eidur Gudjohnsen capitalising on Patrick Vieira's midfield error.

Arsenal responded swiftly, showcasing their trademark scintillating football under Wenger, and in the 15th minute when Robert Pires and Dennis Bergkamp combined, Vieira equalised. Arsenal seized the lead soon after when Neil Sullivan's misjudgment of a corner gifted Edu the opportunity to score.

Chelsea pressed for an equaliser, but Arsenal's defence, bolstered by the return of Sol Campbell, proved too formidable. Gudjohnsen's earlier booking came back to haunt him as he received a second yellow for a foul on Gilberto, reducing Chelsea to 10 men on the hour mark.

Despite Chelsea's efforts to find a way back into the game, Gilberto had two late chances denied by Sullivan. The match ended in Arsenal's favour, solidifying their position at the top of the table and furthering Chelsea's woes with Gudjohnsen's dismissal.

Ranking the 10 best Chelsea vs Arsenal matches of all time

Football FanCast has taken a look back at the best matches between the London rivals.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 20, 2023 8 Reyes double dumps Chelsea out of cup Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea

Arsenal 2

Chelsea 1

Reyes 56'

Mutu 40'

Reyes 61'

Arsenal loved beating Chelsea this season. Jose Antonio Reyes announced himself at Arsenal with a decisive performance, scoring twice to dash Chelsea's FA Cup hopes. Despite Arsenal missing leading scorer Thierry Henry due to injury, Reyes' impact from the bench that afternoon was immediate. Chelsea initially took the lead through Adrian Mutu's strike following Jens Lehmann's poor clearance.

Reyes, however, turned the tide after the break. In the space of five minutes, he unleashed a spectacular long-range effort from 25 yards to equalise and then capitalised on Chelsea's substitute 'keeper Neil Sullivan, who had replaced the injured Carlo Cudicini, with a clinical 12-yard finish. The goals rattled Chelsea, who had appeared comfortable in a fiery match marked by six yellow cards in the first half.

Reyes' outstanding contribution, coupled with Chelsea's misfortunes, including Cudicini's injury, secured Arsenal's progression to the FA Cup quarter-finals. Patrick Vieira's brilliant pass set up Reyes for his second goal, leaving Chelsea in disarray. Who needs Henry?

7 Late Cole header keeps Arsenal's CL hopes alive Arsenal 1-0 Dynamo Kyiv

Arsenal 1

Dynamo Kyiv 0

Cole 88'

Arsenal fans may not like him very much anymore, but in November 2003, Ashley Cole rescued Arsenal's Champions League aspirations with a late header, securing a crucial victory against Dynamo Kyiv at Highbury. The dramatic goal, coming 90 seconds from time, ended Arsenal's eight-match winless streak in the Champions League and revitalised their chances of progressing to the knockout stages.

Despite early frustration against Dynamo's sharp passing, Arsenal settled into the game, with Dynamo's goalkeeper making key saves. The first half was marked by Arsenal's struggle to convert chances, and Dennis Bergkamp missed an opportunity early in the second half. As the clock ticked down, Wenger made strategic substitutions, bringing on the likes of Sylvain Wiltord and Kanu.

The breakthrough finally came when Cole's late header met Thierry Henry's flick-on, securing a vital win and reigniting Arsenal's hopes in the Champions League.

Arsenal's top 25 Champions League moments

Arsenal have enjoyed some of their greatest European nights in the Champions League.

ByMark Marston May 15, 2025 6 Electrifying Henry display destroys hapless Leeds Arsenal 5-0 Leeds United

Arsenal 5

Leeds United 0

Pires 6'

Henry 27'

Henry pen 33'

Henry 50'

Henry 67'

Poor Leeds United, they had absolutely no answer for the unplayable Henry in this game. The silky Frenchman showed his brilliance with a four-goal performance as Arsenal closed in on the title with a commanding victory. The Gunners took an early lead when Robert Pires curled home a pass from Dennis Bergkamp.

Henry doubled the advantage before Michael Duberry's mistake led to a penalty, which he cheekily chipped home. Completing his hat-trick with a cool finish, Henry then added a solo effort for the fifth goal, with Arsenal's No 14 netting a seventh strike in as many days in the process.

5 Battle of Old Trafford sees Arsenal escape with point Manchester United 0-0 Arsenal

Manchester United 0

Arsenal 0

Van Nistelrooy m/pen 90'

Vieira s/o 81'

The 'Battle of Old Trafford' is one of the most iconic matches in Premier League history. Images of Martin Keown screaming at Ruud van Nistelrooy are seared into the minds of Arsenal and Manchester United fans alike.

The clash ended dramatically as Van Nistelrooy missed an injury-time penalty, prompting an intense reaction from Arsenal players. The Dutch striker's penalty miss came soon after an incident that led to Arsenal's Patrick Vieira receiving a second yellow card.

Arsenal players contested Van Nistelrooy's alleged overreaction, leading to heated confrontations and yellow cards for both teams. Arsenal, without Sol Campbell, showcased resilience and tactical adjustments, sacrificing flair for muscle after a Champions League defeat to Inter.

Despite the intense finale, Arsenal's solid defensive display secured a return to the top of the Premiership. The Gunners were a little bit lucky here. as Manchester United created plenty of chances, including Ryan Giggs' free-kick hitting the post and Van Nistelrooy's header looping onto the net's roof.

4 Arsenal complete Italian job in San Siro classic Inter 1-5 Arsenal

Inter 1

Arsenal 5

Vieri 33'

Henry 25'

Ljungberg 49'

Henry 85'

Edu 88'

Pires 89'

It was that man Henry who inspired Arsenal yet again in their 5-1 thumping of Inter. Needing a win on the night, Henry opened the scoring with a well-placed side-footer, but Inter equalised through a Christian Vieri shot deflected off Sol Campbell.

Arsenal regained the lead when Freddie Ljungberg tapped in Henry's cross. Henry extended the lead with a solo effort, and late goals from Edu and Robert Pires secured a 5-1 triumph. The win, avenging their previous defeat to Inter, showcased Arsenal's ability to transfer their Premiership form into Europe.

The victory positioned them to progress to the knockout stages, requiring a win in their final home game against Lokomotiv Moscow.

3 Gunners confirm place in history with final-day victory Arsenal 2-1 Leicester City

Arsenal 2

Leicester City 1

Henry pen 47'

Dickov 26'

Vieira 66'

This is the game they did it. The last game of the season, securing an incredible unbeaten Premier League campaign. Arsenal had become the first team since 1888/89 to finish a league season unbeaten.

Facing the prospect of losing their invincible record, Leicester City took the lead after 26 minutes when ex-Gunner Paul Dickov headed home. Henry wasn't going to let that slide. Determined to secure the historic feat, he equalised minutes into the second half with a penalty, awarded for Frank Sinclair's foul on Ashley Cole.

The decisive moment came in the 66th minute when Dennis Bergkamp's brilliant pass set up Patrick Vieira to score, ensuring Arsenal's victory and an unbeaten season. The incredible atmosphere at Highbury reflected the magnitude of this historic achievement, cementing Arsenal's place in football history.

2 Arsenal stage dramatic comeback to revitalise season Arsenal 4-2 Liverpool

Arsenal 4

Liverpool 2

Henry 31'

Hyypia 5'

Pires 49'

Owen 42'

Henry 50'

Henry 78'

Thierry Henry's hat-trick propelled Arsenal to a crucial 4-2 victory against Liverpool, putting them seven points clear at the top of the table. Liverpool took an early lead with Sami Hyypia's header, but Henry equalised after 31 minutes.

Michael Owen restored Liverpool's lead before half-time. Arsenal responded emphatically in the second half, scoring twice in a minute through Robert Pires and a sensational Henry solo effort. Henry completed his hat-trick after 78 minutes, securing a vital win for Arsenal after a challenging week.

Arsenal showed remarkable resilience to come back and get the win following the disappointment of recent FA Cup and Champions League exits. Liverpool, still battling for fourth place, couldn't withstand Arsenal's second-half onslaught.

1 Gunners secure Premier League title at White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Arsenal

Tottenham Hotspur 2

Arsenal 2

Redknapp 62'

Vieira 3'

Keane pen 90'

Pires 35'

This is the game that gave Arsenal fans eternal bragging rights over their north London rivals. Securing the league title at White Hart Lane? It won't get much better than that for Arsenal, even if they had already done so 33 years prior.

Patrick Vieira opened the scoring in the third minute, finishing a counter-attack orchestrated by Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp. Robert Pires doubled the lead with a calm finish after a Vieira assist. Spurs responded with Jamie Redknapp's well-struck shot in the 62nd minute.

Pires later hit the crossbar for Arsenal, but Robbie Keane secured a late equaliser from the penalty spot after being fouled by Jens Lehmann. The result, reminiscent of Arsenal's title-winning moment at White Hart Lane in 1971, confirmed their status as champions. Despite Spurs' efforts, the draw didn't hinder Arsenal's title celebrations, marking their third league triumph under manager Wenger.

Despite insisting that he would be leaving at the end of the season, it has now been confirmed that the Blaugrana's manager will remain until 2025

So, it's confirmed: Se queda. Xavi announced defiantly in late January that he would be leaving Barcelona at the end of the campaign, and asserted that there would be no circumstances in which he might return. A Champions League win wouldn't be enough, nor would a miraculous La Liga turnaround. His decision, he insisted, was made.

Except, it wasn't. Barca, after months of trying, have convinced their manager who seemed so certain to depart to stick around. Quite why they have been so desperate to change the legendary midfielder's mind isn't wholly clear, though. Xavi hasn't necessarily done poorly in Catalunya, but there is a sense that he has taken the club as far as he can.

The Blaugrana, really, need a fresh face in the dugout, but Barca have convinced him to stay all the same, with the coach set to see out the rest of his contract, which expires in 2025. It all sets up an interesting season ahead, as Barca face the reality of trying to compete with a surging Real Madrid with a largely similar set-up to the one that has struggled so much at times in 2023-24. Either way, it should make for interesting viewing.

GOAL takes a look at the winners and losers of Xavi's decision to remain at Barcelona…

Getty ImagesWINNER: Joan Laporta

Well, the big man got his wish. For months, Barca president Joan Laporta had floated in the press that he might try to convince Xavi to stay. It was clear that Laporta wanted his manager to stick around, dubbing him a "club legend", and claiming that Xavi had earned the right to remain in Catalunya until at least the end of the season amid calls for him to be sacked.

Laporta wins in enumerate ways here. First of all, he gets to keep his preferred candidate for the job. He has always had a good relationship with Xavi, while the long time 'Cule' has undoubtedly benefitted from having someone with an unconditional love of the club as the figurehead of the team.

But perhaps more importantly, from a practical standpoint, this makes sense for the Barca's flailing finances. it is no secret that the Spanish giants remain in massive financial trouble, and will be forced to sell this summer in order to refresh the squad. A new manager search would also, then, have added to the potential expenses, and in a crowded market place, Barca might have simply been outbid for some of their top options.

Laporta, then, gets to keep his favourite, and also save some cash.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Xavi's happiness

Yes, seriously. Xavi repeatedly claimed that the media circus that came with coaching Barcelona made him fall out of love with the job. He mentioned that it had taken a toll on his mental health, and went as far to discourage others from inheriting the role for fear that they may have the same struggles.

And that's not any more likely to change now he's sticking around. The Catalan media will remain ruthless, while the press will continue to circle every time Barca drop points, or the manager makes a mistake. He will still be pestered about his tactical decisions, Barca's finances, and the presumptive dominance of Madrid in La Liga.

If anything, it might all get worse. Xavi may love this job, and love his club, but by opting to stay, he has opened himself up to further criticism. Should he leave again – for real this time – it may not be on his own terms. And the chances are, it won't be amid much understanding from those who cover the club.

GettyWINNER: La Masia's top talents

Xavi has received criticism from a number of angles for the way he has handled the Barcelona job, and rightly so in some cases. His tactical decision-making has been poor on a number of occasions, while his system undoubtedly grew stale throughout the 2023-24 season.

However, he cannot be called into question for his usage of youth. Xavi has handed out 15 debuts to La Masia products in his two-and-a-half years at the helm, and worked a number of top talents into the first team. Under his tutelage, Lamine Yamal has emerged as one of the most exciting talents in the game, while, Pau Cubarsi and Fermin Lopez have both become regulars. It was also Xavi's decision to make Gavi an indispensable part of the team during his early days at the club, while he kept faith in Ansu Fati to a point, despite a series of injuries rattling his career.

Barca won't be able to invest heavily in the coming months, and Xavi probably knows this. Working the kids into the fold, then, will be crucial if Barca are to remain competitive in La Liga.

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Getty ImagesLOSER: The old guard

Although there's continuity at the top, change seems to be afoot in Barca. Xavi has already hinted at it, ushering a new wave of young players into the side. Add the exciting Vitor Roque to play up front, and this could be a very young, very good team before too long.

That would seem to be bad news for the old guard. Barca already started the rebuilding process when Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba left last summer, and the presumed departures of Marcos Alonso and Sergi Roberto will only continue it.

Among the other veterans, Robert Lewandowski, in particular, faces a tricky summer. The legendary Polish striker has been a shadow of his usual self this campaign, and is now well into his mid 30s. As such, he doesn't seem to have very long left in Barcelona, and should a big-money offer come in from Saudi Arabia or MLS, he too could be set for a departure.

The news is a serious blow to Sri Lanka’s chances in the next Test, and the consequences of this hamstring injury may also be keenly felt in South Africa

Andrew Fidel Fernando26-Jan-2019Sri Lanka fast bowler Lahiru Kumara has been ruled out of the second Test against Australia in Canberra and the South Africa tour next month, with a hamstring injury. Kumara had sustained the injury on day two of the first Test in Brisbane, and had been off the field for the entire third session, as Sri Lanka sought to bowl Australia out. He did not come out to bat on day three, with Sri Lanka going on to lose by an innings and 40 runs.”Kumara is out for four to six weeks. So he’s out of the next game,” Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal confirmed after the loss.The first Test against South Africa starts in two and a half weeks, on February 13, in Durban, effectively ruling Kumara out.Kumara is the second Sri Lanka quick to pick up a hamstring injury on this tour, after Nuwan Pradeep was also ruled out last week. He is the third Sri Lanka player overall to leave the team with a hamstring complaint during their ongoing southern hemisphere tours, with Angelo Mathews having sustained a hamstring strain during the second Test against New Zealand.The news is a serious blow to Sri Lanka’s chances in the next Test, and the consequences of this injury may also be keenly felt in South Africa. Kumara is the fastest bowler in Sri Lanka’s pace battery, and had been among their most penetrative bowlers in the recent Tests against New Zealand. He had been especially impressive on Sri Lanka’s 2016-17 tour of South Africa, where he took 11 wickets at an average of 26.45.To compound troubles, Chandimal also revealed that another quick, Dushmantha Chameera, who took 1 for 68 at the Gabba, had been added to the growing injury list, although the nature or the extent of his injury is not known.”Dushmantha is also injured. So we’ll need to get another two quick bowlers,” Chandimal said.However, no replacement has yet been named for Kumara or Chameera, with Kasun Rajitha almost certain to play in the second Test. Left-armer Vishwa Fernando is also with the team, having replaced Pradeep in the past few days.