ELITE football is a war-game that begins with the manager and ends with the referee’s final whistle.
Under-fire Arsenal, a man short, played the war game and eventually shared the points with champions Manchester City on Sunday.
They have been accused of “dark arts” by crudely wasting time, but it seems a huge majority of teams use similar tactics in the circumstances.
Mikel Arteta is an exceptional manager, so suggestions that he deployed a rookie player to tell goalkeeper David Raya to feign injury was unworthy of him.
The poor young pro who was apparently sent to deliver the message to Raya was rewarded with a yellow card for unsporting behaviour, this before he had played a single minute of professional football.
But no matter the tactics, unsporting or otherwise, his players did what they were told and were ruthless in trying to retain their 2-1 lead.
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Yet in a way their steely defence confirmed how difficult it is to overcome the class of the four-in-row champions.
Just as well Sunday’s 107min 17sec marathon was competently refereed by Michael Oliver.
Not so easy in a match of colliding bodies, fierce tackles and endless delays.
I am quite sure Pep Guardiola would not have been as fractious as his former assistant but as the saying goes “needs must as the devil drives”.
One or two Arsenal players might have been tempted to break ranks.
How Arteta outsmarted Pep AGAIN with cunning Calafiori ‘piggyback’ trick and ‘secret Arsenal coach’
At half-time Arteta set the tactics to give the Gunners a chance to win — and his players did as they were told.
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Like every manager, Arteta is THE BOSS.
No prizes for guessing the orders the Spaniard gave to his men: simply, stay back and stop them.
Pushing, wrestling, body-checking, time-wasting are ugly but commonplace and they still exist despite many crackdowns.
Managers tend to turn a blind eye to most fouls unless a penalty results or an offender is sent off.
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In first-half injury-time, Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard saw red for kicking the ball away and receiving his second booking.
Arsenal ratings vs Man City
TEN-MAN Arsenal came desperately close to beating Man City.
Unfortunately for Mikel Arteta’s men, John Stones popped up in the 98th minute to score an equaliser with the match ending 2-2.
Here’s how the players rated…
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DAVID RAYA – 9
Well beaten for Haaland’s opener but continued his impressive start to the season with some super second half stops – notably from Haaland and Gvardiol.
RICARDO CALAFIORI – 8
A full debut the Italian won’t forget. Didn’t get close enough to Savinho for the opening goal but made amends with his stunning long range curler to level it.
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GABRIEL – 9
Planted one header over but made no mistake with his second one just before the break to score for the second straight weekend.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 8
Clattered by Haaland early on and lost the Norwegian for City’s goal – but dusted himself down and led the rearguard action for the visitors superbly.
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JURRIEN TIMBER – 8
Asked to play an unfamiliar role on the right but did a great job for his boss keeping the livewire Doku quiet – and did fine when Pep changed it around too.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7
Caused Walker plenty of problems in the first half. Played the ball back for Calafiori to score and teed up another great chance for Trossard.
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DECLAN RICE – 7
Helped Arsenal work their way back into the game after early onslaught – and protected the back four so well when City were camped on the edge of the box.
THOMAS PARTEY – 7
Quick thinking from free-kick led to equaliser – also involved in the collision with Rodri that changed the course of the game.
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BUKAYO SAKA – 6
Always a threat with his corners – not least when Arsenal got their second. Subbed at the break to make way for an extra defender.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 4
Steered good chance over. Booked for pulling back Savinho then a second yellow for barge on Silva and then delaying the restart. Stupid from the Belgian.
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KAI HAVERTZ – 7
Early collision with Rodri and caused a few problems in the first half but then had to focus on helping his 10 man team out defensively.
SUBS
WHITE – 7
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(For Saka 46) – Thrown on to shore up the defence at the break – and did exactly that.
KIWIOR – 6
(For Calafiori 74 )– Gave the Italian a rest for the final few minutes and kept it tight.
JESUS – 6
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(For Martinelli 87) – Some good pressing against his old team in the closing minutes
LEWIS SKELLY – 6
(For Timber 90) – Good experience for the youngster but was bizarrely booked before even coming on for his debut.
No doubt Arteta was furious — not least because Declan Rice committed the same silliness earlier this month and missed a match.
Managers tend to be practical and Arteta knew all too well how City dominate opponents of the highest class.
With his weakened team, he ordered impassible non-stop defence, last-minute blocked shots, strong tackles, muscle in the six-yard box and decisive heading.
No way were his men going to chuck away their lead, defending it as if it were the Siege of the Etihad, bloody but unbeaten.
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All of this to succeed in running down the clock and defy City by any way legal or close to it.
They did this with a lock-tight defence, holding off one of the world’s best teams until John Stones finally equalised deep into added time.
Yet Arteta should cherish the point. Players are vastly paid and often spoiled but here was an example of defiance that is as much to be admired as challenged.
Yes, Arsenal’s time-wasting was epic. They used every trick in the book but, on balance, two lost league points for City was a small win for their closest rivals.
ANDY CARROLL has proven to be an instant fan favourite across the Channel after making a stunning transfer switch to fourth tie of French football.
Carroll, 35, completed a surprise move to crisis club Bordeaux from Amiens in September.
The former Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham ace has had an electric start to life in the French wine region with four goals in two games, and helping the club land their first win of the season in his last game.
Last season Bordeaux played football in Ligue 2, but gave up its professional club status and were relegated down to the fourth tier of French football after going into financial administration.
However, Carroll has revealed that the fallen giants maintained a huge appeal to him before he was convinced to join by head coach Bruno Irles.
Speaking to Foot Mercato, Carroll said: “I had the opportunity to do it. I had the chance to speak with the coach. I like the idea of this project to go back up to Ligue 1 and it’s something I wanted to do.
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“When I spoke to the coach, I was very confident about what we could achieve here in Bordeaux. That’s probably the main reason why I signed here in the summer.
“Of course, it’s also a very big club with a huge fan base, great facilities and that’s something I want to be a part of…
“I don’t think I needed any convincing honestly. Bordeaux is a very big club and as soon as I had the opportunity to sign here, I did it.
“I was enthusiastic about trying to come and play here, I’m happy, even glad, to have done it.”
When asked about the drop down from professional football to amateur, he said: “Not at all. It’s just football. No matter what level you play at, it’s still football. And it’s something I want to do.
“A few years ago, when I was out of contract and had no club, I used to play every week with my friends.
Andy Carroll ‘playing 5D chess’ as former England star steals show on debut after dropping down to fourth tier
“We used to play 11-a-side games on Thursday nights. And playing football is something I’m going to continue to do as much as I can…
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“Not at all. Football is football. I mean, there are obviously different pitches, but at the end of the day, it’s football.
“I’ve played on a lot of pitches in my career and it’s true that it’s not great when the pitches are not good quality. But I haven’t complained since I’ve been here.
“We have a fantastic training pitch. The stadium pitch is incredible. We’ve played away too and it was a decent pitch. I’m not complaining at all.”
Fans were loving the nine-cap England international’s response, with one saying: “He reeks of football.”
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A second said: “Bravo, he exudes passion”, while a third said: “Top mentality of the player.”
Yeah, but I mean, I get paid to play football. I get paid to do what I love. And if I wasn’t a professional footballer, I would have played football anyway and I wouldn’t have gotten paid.
Andy CarrollFoot Mercato
Another said: “Very good mentality, respect.”
While one added: “What a godsend for a player with his experience. A total star.”
He revealed that his friends and family were all “happy” for him and wanted him to enjoy playing football.
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Carroll added that upon learning of his desire to join Bordeaux, they told him to “sign right away”.
However, Carroll has admitted that some of his team-mates did not understand his decision to make such a sudden drop down the divisions.
He added: “(Laughs) Yes, there are several players who have asked me what I was doing there and why.
Carroll reveals plans to keep playing for Bordeaux until he’s 40
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ANDY CARROLL wants to keep playing until he hits 40 – and dreams of partnering his eldest boy up front.
The ex-Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham striker enjoyed a dream debut for Bordeaux with two goals to earn a draw with Chateaubriant.
And despite years of injury issues during his time in the Premier League, the nine-capped England international says he wants to continue “another five years until I’m 40”.
Carroll, father to sons Lucas, 14, Arlo, eight, and Wolf, five and two daughters, said: “My sons keep saying, ‘Oh, you should go into management’.
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“But I’ll keep saying well, ‘hopefully, one day, you’re old enough that you can join me and be my strike partner in the same team playing with each other’.
“They are really good players. So that’s probably more my dream than retiring and doing something else.”
But I know why I signed here and I know it was the right decision. It’s a big club and I’ve said it before, but I want to be part of this adventure.
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“And when I spoke to the coach, everything went exactly as I wanted.”
Despite his positive outlook on the situation, it has not been all rosy for him, with Carroll admitting that “everything was dark” as he struggled to battle injuries.
He said: “Yeah, but I mean, I get paid to play football. I get paid to do what I love. And if I wasn’t a professional footballer, I would have played football anyway and I wouldn’t have gotten paid.
“I’m grateful for the money I’ve earned in the past and still today, it allows me to continue playing football. That’s exactly what I wanted for myself. I just want to play.
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“I’ve had a lot of injuries in my career, I’ve been on the bench and I’ve been a bit player on and off the pitch sometimes. Only playing the last ten minutes.
It was a really tough time in my life [at West Ham], really. It was a stressful time for me. I was down in the dumps, everything was dark. It was hard to get back up. I was just falling apart and making bad decisions and mistreatment and bad things. As a player, you just want to be out there and playing.
Andy CarrollFoot Mercato
“I just want to finish my career playing as much as possible. And it’s not about money. It’s just about enjoying my life…
“It was a really tough time in my life [at West Ham], really. It was a stressful time for me. I was down in the dumps, everything was dark. It was hard to get back up.
“I was just falling apart and making bad decisions and mistreatment and bad things. It was just really tough. You know, as a player, you just want to be out there and playing.
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“But sometimes you hear stories, people saying, ‘oh, he’s still injured’, ‘he should retire’ and things like that that are not nice.
“At that point, you’re in a hole, in your shell and you’re just trying to get out of it, because it can be dangerous.
“Luckily, I managed to get out of it and I had a more positive ending. So now I just love playing football.
“There has been a lot of press about my injuries and other things, and it is not helpful. Those who know me know that I did not want to be injured and I want to be on the pitch to help the team.
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“But the press had been very negative with me saying that I did not want to be on the pitch and that I should leave the club. But for me, I have always been motivated by the idea of playing and being on the pitch.
“And maybe sometimes I was too motivated, I forced myself when I was probably not 100%. I collapsed. It is part of the things that you have to experience to learn. But I feel very good now.”
Carroll revealed that he was loving the “quiet” lifestyle in southwest France, having been “very well received” by a “great group of guys” in the dressing room.
Help for mental health
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If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support.
The following are free to contact and confidential:
Mind, www.mind.org, provide information about types of mental health problems and where to get help for them. Email info@mind.org.uk or call the infoline on 0300 123 3393 (UK landline calls are charged at local rates, and charges from mobile phones will vary).
YoungMinds run a free, confidential parents helpline on 0808 802 5544 for parents or carers worried about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving. The website has a chat option too.
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Rethink Mental Illness, www.rethink.org, gives advice and information service offers practical advice on a wide range of topics such as The Mental Health Act, social care, welfare benefits, and carers rights. Use its website or call 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged at your local rate).
Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk, is the a mental health initiative spearheaded by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales.
Brandon Royval had a tall order for his bounce back from his first UFC championship defeat.
After losing to Alexandre Pantoja in a UFC flyweight title fight back in December 2023, “Raw Dawg” was booked to take on former champion Brandon Moreno, who had defeated him in 2020, in enemy territory – Moreno’s home country of Mexico. Yet, despite the difficulty, Royval rose to the challenge and defeated Moreno in a hard-fought split decision.
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You can watch Royval’s big win over Moreno in the video above.
Royval (16-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) returns to the octagon this Saturday in the main event of UFC Fight Night 244 in Las Vegas. He takes on undefeated Japanese prospect Tatsuro Taira (16-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in a flyweight contest.
Nobbs joined Villa in 2023 after 12 years with Arsenal and she has scored 58 goals across her 193 WSL appearances.
She won 12 trophies at Arsenal, including three WSL titles, but had to overcome a number of serious injuries, which heavily affected her international career.
“Those times, when you look back now, appear to have just flown by, but when you’re actually in the moment it was one thing after each other,” said Nobbs.
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A major setback for Nobbs came in November 2018.
“After I did my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), I couldn’t really catch a break and it was just the love of playing and believing that if I worked hard, eventually I could get back on the pitch,” she said.
“I just had to keep thinking there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Football is good and bad. You have amazing days and then you have bad days too.
“I think it’s just about trying to enjoy it as much as you can. I’ve always played football because I love it. I’ve probably learned to just keep fighting.”
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Villa boss Robert de Pauw described Nobbs as a “little Luka Modric in midfield”, something she joked she would write down and keep forever.
She has long been considered one of England’s brightest talents, catching the eye at WSL level after signing for Arsenal from Sunderland in 2010.
Nobbs was named the England Player of the Year in 2016 and the FA Players’ Player of the Year in 2017 – but a lot has changed throughout her WSL career.
“It’s probably just the level of support. Backroom staff, for example, that maybe you don’t see or hear as much about,” Nobbs said.
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“When we first started, we were still doing a lot on our own as players. Now, especially for the younger ones coming up, there’s just so much they can learn and soak up on how to be the best footballer.”
A HONDURAN referee has lifted the lid on a heated exchange he had with a “difficult” Cristiano Ronaldo after revealing what it’s truly like to manage the superstar on the pitch.
One of the spats ended with the Portuguese striker later offering a sincere apology.
Said Martinez has officiated a number of games involving Ronaldo throughout his career.
And he has now recounted one particularly edgy incident involving the former Man Utd and Real Madrid star.
Martinez claimed that he was refereeing an Al-Nassr game when he disallowed two of the 39-year-old’s goals for offside.
An irate Ronaldo reportedly made his feelings surrounding the quality of Martinez’s officiating known.
“He is a very competitive person, which makes him feel there’s a lot of injustice towards him, so he complains a lot.
“We disallowed two goals for him, with VAR and everything, but there was a play that upset him because he felt he was fouled in attack, leading to a goal against them. They were losing.
The 33-year-old added: “He stayed 10 metres away from me and said: ‘It’s always the same with you lot, you always think you’re the stars.
“‘But we don’t bring you here to be the stars, we are the stars’, in perfect Spanish.
“He started calmly but then got agitated and I just looked at him provocatively to see if he would get closer to me, but he didn’t.”
Inside Cristiano Ronaldo’s former Cheshire home on sale for £5m with seven bedrooms, padel courts, pool and guest barn
However the Fifa-accredited official spoke to Ronaldo about their disagreement in the tunnel after reviewing the incidents.
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The referee said: “After checking the VAR, I asked him to come closer. Cristiano is Cristiano, and if he doesn’t want to come, he won’t.
“But he came over to where I was and I said to him: ‘You’re a great player, but what you said at half-time isn’t right. I respect you a lot, but we’re here to do our job just like you are’.
“He replied: ‘Yes, you’re right; it wasn’t the right way to express myself. I apologise’.”
Ronaldo’s ultimate expression of regret speaks volumes about his sporting personality.
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Martinez then revealed that the Portugal captain left him alone in the second half and went on to score a stunning free-kick.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo has received 12 red cards in his career.
Of those, eight were direct red cards and four dismissals have come through double yellow cards.
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