TORONTO — After an encouraging start to the weekend, Sunday’s loss to the Angels raised at least two significant questions for the Toronto Blue Jays.
The health of their right fielder is now in doubt, and they continue to seek answers in their fifth rotation spot. With those challenges looming large, the Blue Jays must now navigate a three-game series against a Tampa Bay Rays team that swept them just last week.
As the Blue Jays prepare to host the Rays on Monday (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT) for three games at Rogers Centre, let’s take a closer look at a few of the bigger questions they’re now facing:
What’s Barger’s status?
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Two hours before first pitch Sunday afternoon, the Blue Jays announced that Addison Barger would miss the game due to right elbow soreness. The 26-year-old woke up with reduced range of motion leading to an MRI Sunday afternoon.
“With how important he is to us, we wanted to be careful,” manager John Schneider said.
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The absence impacts the team on a couple fronts. First, Barger can really slug, as we saw last year when he hit 21 home runs and 32 doubles. That power is needed within a lineup that ranks 21st in home runs among the 30 MLB teams.
And second, Barger’s throwing arm was a welcome addition to the outfield defence Saturday as he prevented Jorge Soler from scoring with a throw clocked at 101.2 m.p.h. His arm — and even the threat of his arm — changes the way opposing teams run the bases, and no one else on the Blue Jays’ roster offers comparable outfield arm strength.
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If this was clearly a day-to-day issue, there would be no reason to send Barger for an MRI, but evidently other possibilities are in play. Either way, the Blue Jays will know more Monday.
Hustling toward an identity?
Elsewhere on the position player front, Daulton Varsho scored the Blue Jays’ lone run of the game Sunday after reaching on an infield hit in the first inning.
Without a full effort-run, he wouldn’t have reached base, but his hustle allowed him to reach and score. Later, in the eighth, Myles Straw and Varsho both reached on infield hits and while neither scored and Varsho jammed his heel a bit at first, the baserunning helped load the bases for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
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This is the kind of effort Schneider wants to see every day and he made a point of saying as much this weekend. It’ll be telling which players take the hint.
How to proceed with Lauer and Miles?
Along with Barger’s health, the other big question to emerge from the weekend was what the future holds for Eric Lauer, Spencer Miles and the fifth spot in the Blue Jays’ rotation.
Starting in the major leagues for the first time ever, Miles pitched three scoreless innings Sunday while allowing two hits and striking out two. His fastball averaged 96.5 m.p.h. as he built his way up to 38 pitches, his most since April 11.
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Lauer, on the other hand, allowed six runs, including three home runs, in five innings, while striking out four. He threw 80 pitches — nearly a starter’s workload — while averaging 90.7 m.p.h. with his fastball.
Afterward, he acknowledged he has work to do, regardless of what role he fills from here.
“I don’t think by any means I’m a shoo-in for a rotation spot, that’s for sure,” Lauer said. “I know I want to help the team in the best way I possibly can.”
So, how to proceed? While Lauer was an essential part of the 2025 team, his velocity’s down by about 1 m.p.h. and his home run rate has spiked to 2.7 per nine innings. With an ERA of 6.69 after eight turns in the rotation, he’s been given a fair chance and it’s not working the way anyone would have hoped.
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If Max Scherzer or Jose Berrios were healthy, they’d be in that spot. Under the current circumstances, the conversation remains open-ended — and must now include Miles.
Schneider said he believes Miles has some important building blocks needed for starting pitchers — that is, the pitch mix, quality of stuff and command needed to work through a lineup more than once. And when the manager told Miles about his assignment ahead of Sunday’s outing, he was careful with his wording.
“I told him he would start,” Schneider recalled. “I didn’t say he would open, (I said) he would start. We just wanted to see how he went.”
Even so, that doesn’t mean it’d be simple to turn the Rule 5 pick into a starting pitcher. His season high in pitches is 43. His career high in innings is 21 — as in the 21 he’s pitched this season. Ramping him up recklessly can’t be the answer here after two significant surgeries but he’s open to the idea of building his pitch count further.
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Asked about starting, he said: “I definitely think I can still do it down the road.”
How far down the road? A week from now? A year? Miles sounds open-minded.
“I’m totally capable,” he said. “I mean, I’m just here to do whatever they ask. I’m a Blue Jay.”
There are no guarantees here, but a cautious, deliberate ramp-up is an intriguing possibility for a team with many injured starters.
Aug 27, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Taylor Heinicke (6) dives for a game-winning two-point conversion during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Taylor Heinicke never took a regular season snap for the Minnesota Vikings, but once upon a time, he felt like an offshoot solution for the future. A decade later, Heinicke has decided to retire.
Minnesota never saw the full Heinicke story, but the old Vikings QB built one anyway.
Heincke didn’t sign anywhere for the 2025 season, a hint that he wouldn’t be back, and that suspicion was confirmed last week.
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Heinicke’s Strange NFL Ride Started in Minnesota
It’s the end of the road for Heinicke after nearly 30 starts in the big leagues.
Taylor Heinicke scrambles during preseason action for the Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 29, 2015, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington against the Dallas Cowboys. Heinicke entered the league as an undrafted quarterback and spent multiple seasons developing in Minnesota before later resurfacing with several NFL teams around the league. Minnesota defeated Dallas 28-14 that evening. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports.
Heinicke Retires.
That’s a wrap for Heinicke. ESPN’s John Keim wrote Thursday, “Quarterback Taylor Heinicke, who became a fan favorite during his two-plus seasons with the Washington Commanders, announced the end of an improbable NFL career Thursday. Heinicke, 33, posted a message to Instagram thanking those who supported him throughout his seven-year NFL career in which he spent time with seven franchises — appearing in games for five of them.”
“Heinicke was released in August by the Los Angeles Chargers and went unsigned for the rest of the season. He played four games with the Chargers in 2024, attempting five passes.”
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Heinicke personally noted on his decision, “Many ups and downs throughout the years, but the ups outweigh the downs tenfold. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would’ve been able to live this life… Excited for this next chapter of my life.”
Time in MIN
The Vikings signed Heinicke as an undrafted free agent in 2015, where he eventually secured the QB3 job behind Teddy Bridgewater and Shaun Hill. He remained with Minnesota until September 2017, then played for the Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, Washington Commanders, and Atlanta Falcons. His career also included a stint in the XFL with the St. Louis BattleHawks in 2020.
During his tenure in Minnesota, Heinicke became known for a notable off-the-field incident that severely hampered his career. He suffered a significant setback with the Vikings after he reportedly kicked through a glass door when locked out of a friend’s apartment, sustaining a serious leg injury. Consequently, he never played a regular season snap for the Vikings before the aforementioned departure to Houston in 2017.
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Career Resume
Heinicke saw action in 42 career games from 2017 to 2024, with 29 starts, while his teams went 13-15-1 and his watch. He tallied 6,663 passing yards, 42 total touchdowns, and 28 interceptions. Per efficiency and according to EPA+CPOE, his best historical comparisons are Matt Cassel and Justin Fields.
Teddy Bridgewater and Taylor Heinicke share a moment after Minnesota Vikings minicamp practice on Jun. 15, 2016, in Minneapolis. The Vikings spent several years grooming young quarterbacks behind the scenes during the Mike Zimmer era, with Heinicke operating as a developmental backup alongside Bridgewater and veteran Shaun Hill throughout portions of the offseason program. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
Over a 17-start sample, Heinicke averaged this statline for context:
3,602 Passing Yards
25 Total TDs
16 INTs
62.5 Completion %
Here’s his full resume by team:
Minnesota Vikings (2015–2017)
New England Patriots (2017)
Houston Texans (2017)
Carolina Panthers (2018)
St. Louis BattleHawks (2020)
Washington Commanders (2020–2022)
Atlanta Falcons (2023)
Los Angeles Chargers (2024)
Best Memory?
Heinicke started one playoff game in his career. He led the Commanders in the postseason against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Tom Brady’s team — in the 2020 Wildcard Round, losing by a score of 31-23.
But in the contest, Heinicke looked like he belonged, delivering 306 passing yards and two touchdowns. The Commanders featured three other quarterbacks that season: Alex Smith, Dwayne Haskins, and Kyle Allen. By happenstance, Heinicke got the tap on the shoulder for the playoffs and damn near knocked off Brady’s Buccaneers.
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Brady and Co. would eventually win the Super Bowl handily over the Kansas City Chiefs.
SI.com‘s Joanne Coley on Heinicke: “Heinicke’s football career was not easy. After a standout college career at Old Dominion University, he went undrafted in 2015 and spent several years bouncing around the league. He had short stints with the Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, and Minnesota Vikings, mostly as a backup quarterback.”
“Everything changed later that year when Washington called him late in the season. Heinicke was unexpectedly thrust into the starting role for a playoff game against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite the loss, Heinicke delivered one of the most memorable performances fans would remember.”
Taylor Heinicke celebrates after a Washington Commanders touchdown on Dec. 24, 2022, during a road matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Heinicke carved out one of the NFL’s more unusual quarterback journeys, eventually becoming a respected spot starter after entering the league as an undrafted player years earlier. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports.
The Vikings saw Heinicke a couple of years later when he led the Falcons — the game when Joshua Dobbs Mania took hold.
Coley added, “He threw for more than 300 yards, including a diving touchdown at the goal line that instantly became one of the franchise’s most iconic playoff moments. That game helped turn him into a fan favorite in Washington.”
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“Heinicke started 15 games in 2021 and helped lead Washington to several key wins during his time with the team, including a 2022 Monday Night Football victory over the previously undefeated Philadelphia Eagles.”
Heinicke also borrowed former Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins‘ chain gimmick in 2022:
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NYON, Switzerland — German referee Daniel Siebert was picked Monday by UEFA for the Champions League final after FIFA left him off its World Cup list.
The game between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain on May 30 at Puskas Arena in Budapest will be Siebert’s 10th in the Champions League this season — and the third straight round he will have worked an Arsenal match.
Siebert handled Arsenal’s 1-0 wins at Sporting Lisbon in the quarterfinals first leg, and at home to Atletico Madrid in the semifinals second leg.
He refereed PSG once this season, in a league phase game at Athletic Bilbao that ended 0-0.
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In his nine Champions League games this season Siebert has shown two red cards and awarded just one penalty kick.
Players are not the only members of Ohio State football getting work done before the 2026 season.
On May 9, Buckeyes defensive coordinator Matt Patricia posted a photo on Instagram in a neck brace and lying on a hospital bed, wearing his signature flat cap with a smile.
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“Off-season repairs aren’t just for players. Massive thanks to Dr Viljoen and the Neurological Specialty Care team for taking care of me. Incredible group! So blessed and thankful for you,” Patricia wrote in the post.
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Patricia did not reveal details. He thanked Dr. Stephanus Viljoen, an Ohio State neurosurgeon specializing in spinal surgeries and back pain, according to his OSU profile.
The German official has been appointed by the Uefa Referees Committee and will be tasked with officiating one of the biggest games in football at the Puskas Arena on Saturday, 30 May.
The 42-year-old has 11 years of experience since beginning his career in 2015 and brings experience from nine Uefa Champions League matches from this season alone.
Siebert was the referee in the quarter-final first leg between Sporting Lisbon and Arsenal, one of two games officiated this term with the Gunners, who ran out 1-0 winners on that night.
He was also in charge in the semi-final second leg between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid, another 1-0 win for the Gunners, which will appeal to Gunners fans ahead of the match.
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Siebert is yet to show a yellow card to an Arsenal player, and has shown just three yellow cards across both matches. While he has also officiated one PSG match this season; the goalless draw at Athletic Bilbao in December, where he brandished four yellow cards.
Siebert averages more yellow cards on average overall, with 4.44 per game from nine games in the Champions League this term, according to Who Scored, and 0.22 red cards per game. That’s up from his Bundesliga average, from 15 games this term, with 3.20 yellow cards per game and 0.13 red cards per game.
Further experience comes from last year’s Uefa Europa League semi-final between Manchester United and Athletic Bilbao, and he also officiated two games at the Uefa Euro 2024 and three games at Uefa Euro 2020.
Atletico Madrid’s Robin Le Normand speaks to Referee Daniel Siebert (AP)
Following Arsenal’s victory over West Ham, and the high-profile VAR incident that ruled out Callum Wilson’s equaliser for the Hammers, Mikel Arteta has publicly confessed his admiration for the pressure officials operate under.
Notably Chris Kavanagh and how he observed 17 replays over four minutes and 17 seconds before deciding to rule out the goal due to Pablo’s arm impeding David Raya.
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“When I had to be critical, I have been,” Arteta told Sky Sports. “Today I have to congratulate them [VAR]. You needed a lot of courage and bravery to stand out and give the opportunity to the referee to have a look at the action.
“When you see the picture, there is no question that it is a clear foul. They were very brave. The action deserved that. In my opinion, it is very clear. They are the rules and we ask for consistency.”
Referee Daniel Siebert gestures during Sporting v Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals (Getty Images)
Uefa Champions League final 2026 refereeing team
Referee: Daniel Siebert (Germany)
Assistants: Jan Seidel and Rafael Foltyn (both from Germany)
Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey was downcast after falling to the New York Knicks in Game 4 on Sunday night, leading to an early second-round playoff exit.
Maxey appeared to be more upset with the fan support.
Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey tries to get past New York Knicks’ Landry Shamet during the second half of Game 3 in a second-round NBA playoff series in Philadelphia on May 8, 2026.(Matt Slocum/AP)
Knicks fans swarmed the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia for both Games 3 and 4. They got a front-row seat to watch their team sweep their Atlantic Division rival. Knicks fans even went as far as infiltrating local news broadcasts in celebration.
Maxey spoke about the fans in his postgame press conference.
“It absolutely sucks, if I’m being honest. It just sucks,” he said, via SNY TV. “That’s really all I can say about it, man. It’s hard. It’s definitely difficult. It’s only one way to put a stop to it and it’s, we have to go out there and win these games.
Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots a free throw during the first half of Game 4 against the New York Knicks in the second round of the NBA playoffs in Philadelphia on May 10, 2026.(Matt Slocum/AP)
“Just being completely honest, we were better when we played them in the Garden this entire season. I know we lost Game 2 and 1, but Game 2 was better. The regular season was better. I was telling them, it felt louder here for them than it did in the Garden.”
He said it was up to the team to drown out the noise.
“We got to put a stop to it as a team,” Maxey added. “Winning these games, that’s gonna make our fans louder than theirs or whatever. I don’t know how to keep them out. I don’t know the logistics of it, but it does suck. I can’t even lie. It definitely does suck.”
New York blew the doors off Philadelphia in Game 4 with a 144-114 win.
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Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers defends Mikal Bridges of the New York Knicks during the first half of Game 4 in the second-round NBA playoffs in Philadelphia on May 10, 2026.(Matt Slocum/AP)
It was the eighth time in the last nine playoff appearances that the 76ers haven’t at least made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. Philadelphia hasn’t gotten that far in the postseason since making the 2001 NBA Finals.
Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
Vancouver Canucks legends Daniel and Henrik Sedin could be taking on a larger role with the team’s front office.
On the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast published Monday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman provided the latest news on the Sedin twins.
“I think Monday could be a big day for the Canucks. Maybe not in terms of an announcement but in terms of an internal decision being made, and possibly an idea of how the structure is going to work,” Friedman said. “I do think the Canucks have asked the Sedins if they want to take more of a role, and how willing they would be in taking a greater role …
“I don’t know what the titles would be in Vancouver if this is accepted, but I do believe that (the Canucks) have talked to the Sedins about taking a larger role, and they were pondering the idea. … I think the Sedins’ role in this could be important if they decide to accept the mission as it’s been presented to them.
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“So, I think we’re kind of awaiting two decisions here. No. 1, who the head of hockey operations will be. And, No. 2, are the Sedins willing to take a bigger role? And, you know what, now that they’ve seen how it might work in Toronto — you know, (Mats) Sundin had to move from Sweden to Ontario — the Sedins are already there. It’s not like they would be uprooting their families. So, I think it just comes down to time and how are they feeling. I think it would be a great thing for the Canucks if they get it. Obviously, it’s their decision.”
32 Thoughts: The Podcast
Hockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.
The Sedins currently have roles in the Canucks’ player development department, but could look to move up in the organization with Jim Rutherford stepping down as president of hockey operations and Patrick Allvin having been fired as general manager.
The Sedins rank first and second on a number of all-time Vancouver stats lists, including games played, points and assists. They were taken back-to-back by the Canucks with the second and third picks in the 1999 NHL Draft and spent their entire careers in Vancouver.
History for Rashford, becoming the first Englishman to win LaLiga with Barca, and joining what remains a select group to triumph with anyone, alongside Laurie Cunningham, David Beckham, Kieran Trippier and Jude Bellingham. If the circumstances were different, it would surely prompt Barcelona to take up the €30m option to turn his loan into a transfer.
Although, were the circumstances different, Rashford may not have got the move to Camp Nou he seemed to covet when his relationship with United broke down; the Catalan club were also interested in the costlier Luis Diaz and Nico Williams last summer. Rashford seemed like Plan C, available without an immediate transfer fee in part because of United’s inability to sell him.
Marcus Rashford helped Barcelona wrap up the title in style (Reuters)
He has nevertheless been a success as a high-calibre squad player, his outings split almost equally between starts and substitute appearances. A tally of 14 goals in 47 games is decent, if unexceptional. More impressive, though, is that he also has 14 assists, giving him 28 goal contributions, an average of one every 87 minutes on the pitch. There is an argument that Rashford has been flattered by the figures and, unlike United, Barcelona have been in Europe, but he has as many goal involvements this season as Bruno Fernandes.
Which, in its own way, may offer an insight into what United are missing. Though arguably not missing too much, given that they have qualified for the Champions League and have taken the most points in the Premier League since Michael Carrick’s return to Old Trafford.
Yet that has been built on a small core. With European commitments next season, United require more players. It is also evident they need attacking reinforcements; it was clear even before Joshua Zirkzee laboured ineffectually in Saturday’s stalemate at Sunderland to show why he is not good enough.
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Joshau Zirkzee was largely ineffective against Sunderland (PA Wire)
Their squad, reshaped by Ruben Amorim in his quest to play a 3-4-3 that didn’t suit Rashford – or virtually anyone else, for that matter – does not contain a natural left winger. Patrick Dorgu started Carrick’s reign there, acquitting himself well before getting injured, but it remains to be seen if that was a short-term gambit or a long-term strategy. Matheus Cunha has occupied the role more often, but is essentially a No 10. Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo have taken turns there. Rashford would have the potential to be a regular.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Sesko is the only specialist No 9 in the squad and if Rashford probably would not describe himself as such, he is better qualified to fill the role than anyone else on United’s books, with the exception of Rasmus Hojlund, whose loan to Napoli is set to become a permanent deal.
As United’s recruitment drive last summer shows, when they spent around £200m on Cunha, Sesko and Mbeumo, they can end up paying at least £60m for forwards; the club would concede that they paid towards the upper end of their valuations for players who, in some cases, are less gifted than Rashford.
Rashford has impressed as a starter and a substitute for Barca (Reuters)
And selling him for €30m would represent a figure at the lower end of his valuation, even accounting for his sizeable wages and the fact he turns 29 in October. The numbers have significance when the summer spending has to be focused on the midfield, with what might be a £200m rebuild, with at least two signings required and preferably three. They may want other additions, too: perhaps a left-back, unless Dorgu is pencilled in for defensive duties.
Meanwhile, there is no guarantee that Barcelona, their funds ever tight, their preference for trying to get quality players on the cheap, their greatest need arguably for an out-and-out centre forward to replace Robert Lewandowski, would even try to buy Rashford anyway. They may prefer the brinkmanship of aiming to borrow him again.
The sense has been that Rashford feels his United career is over, even beyond the feeling his first choice is to be at Barcelona. Certainly, there may be some at Old Trafford and in the fanbase who do not want him to return. As things unravelled in the 18 months following his outstanding campaign in 2022-23, there were more incidents beyond those that got into the public domain.
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Things fell apart for Rashford at Old Trafford (Getty)
But it was nevertheless true that he was exiled with remarkable speed by Amorim, whose United then scored very few goals. It was a damaging decision, but Amorim is gone. Carrick is a former teammate and coach; indeed, no player scored more goals or got more assists for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United than Rashford.
Last month, United’s temporary manager said no decision had been made on Rashford. Nor on Carrick either, perhaps, though he is likely to get the job on a lengthier basis. And if he provided a non-answer last week, Rashford may yet be a logical answer for United.
Some bridges may have to be rebuilt, but he is a scorer of 138 United goals, a player good enough to excel for Barcelona. They are not obliged to give him to the new champions of Spain on the cheap. Especially not when he could fill in at least two gaps in United’s plans for next season.
She suffered a serious knee injury when she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament in November 2022 and was forced to miss the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Mead came on as a substitute in her side’s Champions League final against Barcelona last season and, in one of her “greatest highlights in an Arsenal shirt”, set up the winner for Stina Blackstenius as Arsenal won the title for the first time in 18 years.
This season, she has made 27 appearances in the WSL and Champions League, with 11 of those as a substitute, and scored five goals.
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Arsenal have also announced Victoria Pelova, who joined them from Ajax in January 2023, will be leaving the club at the end of the season.
The midfielder has made 87 appearances for the Gunners, scoring six goals.
Peter Schmeichel has slammed the VAR decision to disallow West Ham’s last-gasp equaliser against Arsenal, accusing the Gunners of set-piece hypocrisy as they close in on the Premier League title
Leandro Trossard struck in the 83rd minute at the London Stadium to hand Arsenal a crucial advantage in their pursuit of the Premier League title. Drama then unfolded when Callum Wilson appeared to snatch a 95th-minute equaliser for the Hammers, who are desperately battling to avoid the drop.
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West Ham’s celebrations were swiftly cut short as VAR scrutinised replays of the incident before recommending an on-field review. Pablo was spotted gripping Raya’s arm as he leapt for the ball, with referee Chris Kavanagh subsequently ruling the goal out.
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However, Schmeichel, the iconic former Manchester United goalkeeper who also played for Manchester City, argued that Arsenal — the Premier League’s most prolific side from set-pieces — would be nowhere near the summit of the table if such actions are to be considered a foul.
“That decision today, it’s just so wrong on so many levels,” the Dane told Viaplay. “What really makes me angry is that Arsenal would never be top of the league if that’s a free kick.
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“That’s how they’ve scored so many goals by blocking people, holding people, doing all kind of things, and then we get to this point… it takes VAR five minutes.
“Darren England the VAR official, (it takes him) five minutes. He starts the replay over and over again. That in itself puts so much doubt into that decision. It cannot be a free kick, it cannot.”
Schmeichel added: “I think it’s so wrong, I just don’t understand why all of a sudden that’s a free kick, because it’s not been for any teams all the way throughout the season.
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“All of this, it’s just crazy, and that decision today is just so wrong on so many levels.”
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Schmeichel wasn’t the only one challenging VAR’s intervention, with West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen expressing similar sentiments in his post-match remarks.
Mikel Arteta, however, commended the match officials for their courage in reaching such a significant decision. He said: “A call from the refs that I think is very brave, but very consistent with what they’ve been talking about all season.
“So when I have to be critical, I have been. And it is a free kick and the goal has to be disallowed. So congratulations because they made a big call in very, very difficult circumstances.”
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