Manchester City assistant Pep Lijnders spoke of what they need in the title race with good news on the injury front
Ruben Dias will return to training next week for Manchester City as Pep Lijnders outlined what the team need to chase down Arsenal in the Premier League title race. Dias could be available to face Liverpool as early as next Sunday with positive news as well on Jeremy Doku.
Doku provided two assists to help City beat Galatasaray in the Champions League in midweek, but was forced off in the first half with another injury. The Belgian winger was making his first start since suffering a problem to his knee in the Manchester derby but had to come off.
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Pep Guardiola said after that game that he hoped Doku would be fit again when they return to Champions League action in March, and the diagnosis on Friday was even more positive. While City will do their best to ensure Doku gets the rest he needs, he could be back in time to face Salford in the FA Cup or Newcastle in the Premier League.
“First of all for Jeremy, I have to make a big compliment of how he played. A top team is defined by the individual quality of our form players and how he was constantly available between the lines and to attack, the first assist to Erling was unbelievable,” said Lijnders, filling in for his boss on media duties. “Sorry that he went out but now we look.
“It’s a similar injury to the last one, at that time it was on the lateral side and now it’s in the centre. The last one took 18 days, I presume this will be a little shorter. We have to take time but Jeremy is a robust player.”
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Lijnders knows plenty about title races from his time as Jurgen Klopp’s assistant as Liverpool going up against City. They produced tallies of 92 points and 97 points and lost the league, but the Blues could get less and win it this year with Arsenal stuttering.
City are not in great form themselves but have been encouraged by Arsenal’s failure to get too far ahead. Ahead of their game at Tottenham, Lijnders said that the league leaders have to feel City when they play.
“It’s about us. I’ve been in a few titles race, it’s always about just focusing on the next game,” he said. “I know it’s a cheeky answer but you have to win your own games, create your own path and do things that you can control and with this you have to put pressure, chase and go behind them. They have to feel us and that is only by winning football matches.”
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Brentford boss Keith Andrews was left frustrated after his European hopefuls blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home to Wolves.
Igor Thiago had celebrated his first call-up for Brazil by putting the Bees 2-0 up against the Premier League’s bottom club after Michael Kayode’s opener.
But Adam Armstrong pulled one back for Wolves before half-time and, in a frantic second half, Tolu Arokodare hauled them level.
Rob Edwards’ revitalised side almost snatched a third straight win – and a first away from home this season – but Arokodare’s header thudded against the crossbar.
“Very frustrating,” said Andrews. “We need to manage the game better, we need to perform better in the second half, to manage momentum and deal with how the game flows.
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“The disappointing thing is we didn’t perform well in the second half. We didn’t produce the levels we normally do.”
A win for Brentford would have taken them to within a point of sixth-placed Chelsea and two behind Liverpool in fifth.
“The fact I’m getting asked questions like that is really nice, with eight games to go,” added Andrews.
“Our destiny is very much on us. What do we want to do? Push hard? Because I do.”
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Thiago toasted his international call-up in style with his 19th Premier League goal of the season.
“I’m really happy for him, really proud,” said Andrews. “I know a lot about his journey to get to Europe and the Premier League and I said to the staff they’ve all played a part and should be very proud.
“When he pulls on that iconic jersey it will be a special moment.”
Wolves were looking for a third straight win – and a first away from home this season – to keep their slim hopes of survival alive.
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“It’s hard to say when you’ve been two down but I thought we could have got all three points today,” said Edwards.
“Full credit to the boys for showing that fight. There’s a tinge of disappointment.
“It’s better to show fight and quality rather than just giving up and that’s why the supporters were on their feet at the end. While we’re here, make the most of it and show we are a good team.”
Due to some strange fixture scheduling, Wolves now have a 25-day break until their next match at West Ham.
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“It’s a really strange situation but we’ve got to make the best of it,” added Edwards.
Justin Fields is now a member of the Kansas City Chiefs‘ quarterback room after being traded to the AFC West.
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Fields now comes to a franchise unlike anything he’s seen before. An elite quarterback, an elite offensive mind, and a winning environment.
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With Fields seen as Patrick Mahomes’ backup, given that No. 15 is rehabbing his torn ACL, Justin could get a decent look at first-team reps this offseason as Patrick eases his way back to full health.
For Sports Illustrated’s Mike Kadlick, Fields might finally be able to shake himself free from the bust label.
“The 27-year-old will now not only have an opportunity to potentially play meaningful football to begin the ’26 season—depending on when Mahomes is cleared post-ACL surgery—but also a chance to reset his bust-labeled career under one of the league’s premier offensive minds in Andy Reid,” Kadlick wrote.
Can Fields be latest veteran QB set for career revival?
Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield are the two players who are the shining lights when it comes to top draft picks who have failed early in their careers, only to move and see their careers trend upward.
Could Fields be the next one?
There’s certainly a case to be made.
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He’ll learn from Mahomes, get to play in an offensive scheme designed by wizard Andy Reid, and he won’t be under any pressure to win. He’ll work on his game in the shadows, as Darnold did in San Francisco.
Yes, there is a long way to go, but Fields might have just landed in the best possible spot to revive his career.
As Liam Rosenior digests his second Premier League defeat as Chelsea manager, the Blues boss was called out on live TV by an Arsenal icon
Thierry Henry has criticised Liam Rosenior for turning away following Alejandro Garnacho’s error that proved costly for Chelsea against Newcastle United. The ex-Manchester United forward was given the nod to face Eddie Howe’s side, who beat the Blues 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Anthony Gordon slotted home the match’s only goal, which saw the west Londoners slip out of the top five following Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at Anfield to Tottenham Hotspur. It was a sloppy goal as Tino Livramento managed to easily thread Jacob Murphy through before the winger knocked the ball past the advancing Robert Sanchez for Gordon to stroke it home.
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Henry, speaking on Monday Night Football ahead of Brentford’s home fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers, pointed out Garnacho’s pressing attempt on the Newcastle defender. He argued the United academy graduate, who left Old Trafford last summer in a £40million deal, ought to have angled his press to cut off the passing route to Livramento, who was unmarked centrally.
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While the Arsenal icon conceded Garnacho had erred, he disapproved of Rosenior’s reaction of turning away in exasperation after Newcastle found the net, reports the Mirror. Henry said: “The way he went to put pressure there Garnacho, it’s very important that we’re going to talk about it.
“At that particular moment you have the info yourself that Chalobah was maybe going there [stepping forward], but you know he’s stopped and Livramento is alone. So at that particular moment you know you’re going to make a little turn or arc your run to make sure that the ball doesn’t go in, and then they play on Malick Thiaw here.
“That can happen what you just explain if you bend your run and that’s going to have a massive impact on what can happen straight after because it allows that ball to go inside and that’s exactly what you don’t want and he allowed that to happen.”
In response to Rosenior’s reaction, Henry added: “So the first mistake is don’t allow the ball inside (like Garnacho did), correct it after, but the leader on the field (points to Reece James) didn’t make it happen, right?
“But I want to show you here (points at Liam Rosenior turning away from the pitch), Liam Rosenior, I’ve been there, you are disappointed that they allowed that ball to go inside but we are not at a training ground here where you can go: ‘Ahh, let’s start again’.
“So since you talked about players do not react or they liked to be coached or the coach likes to maybe not give them that freedom, then coach it because there is a mistake.
“He’s not coaching it on the field, and unfortunately, I said to you that I’ve been there, but he’s not even looking at what is happening. Goal. Do you understand what I’m saying, it’s not easy. That’s what they need to deal with and they didn’t.”
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When questioned about Newcastle’s goal, Rosenior acknowledged a “tactical issue” lay behind the collective error, which could prove damaging to Chelsea’s Champions League qualification ambitions. The former Strasbourg boss explained: “Yeah, there’s a tactical issue. We press in a different way to most teams. It’s a new way of pressing. We don’t step on the press and we don’t cover in a position that we should have done. Mistakes happen.
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“They had nothing. They had nothing in the game and we gave them a goal. We talk about the press. I think the press was the reason Newcastle had to kick long balls back to us and we controlled the game.
“But in that moment, we make a mistake and it feels like at the moment every mistake we’re making is ending up in the back of our net and we need to make sure we stop those mistakes.”
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.
Panarin was back on the MSG ice Monday as a member of the Los Angeles Kings, and fans gave him a loud ovation during a tribute video show in the first period.
The Rangers traded Panarin to the Kings in early February after the team determined they would not be re-signing him in free agency. As part of the trade, Panarin and the Kings agreed to a two-year contract extension.
Panarin played seven seasons for the Rangers and was one of the most dominant scorers in the NHL over that time. His 607 points in Rangers blue are the ninth most in franchise history, and the Rangers made the playoffs four times.
“I’ll try not to cry,” Panarin said pre-game. “We are battling for the playoffs. I don’t have time for that emotion, but, yeah, I’m just excited to play in MSG again.”
Joan Laporta was reelected as the president of FC Barcelona for another five years after winning a leadership vote among members of the Spanish soccer powerhouse.
Shortly after midnight in Barcelona, the club announced Laporta had won.
His only rival, Victor Font, had earlier conceded defeat and congratulated Laporta “for his unquestionable victory.”
With the counting now over, Barcelona said Laporta received 68% of the votes.
The club said that more than 48,000 of Barca’s 114,000 club members cast ballots at Camp Nou Stadium or at four other voting stations across Catalonia in northeastern Spain and in Andorra.
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“Thanks to this marvelous club, where its fans still vote to decide who will be their president and executive board,” Laporta said in his victory speech inside an auditorium at Camp Nou, flanked by members of his incoming board.
Laporta successfully presided over Barca from 2003-10 during the glory years of coach Pep Guardiola and a young Lionel Messi.
He was voted back into his post in 2021 when the club was in a dire economic situation after the lavish spending on players by president Josep Bartomeu and the financial hit of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Laporta responded to the crisis by deciding Barcelona could no longer afford Messi, who left for Paris Saint-Germain, and selling off some club assets, including 25% of its Spanish league TV rights for the next 25 years.
The club’s debt, however, has increased under Laporta, growing from 1.3 billion euros to over 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion) under his watch.
Font’s campaign tried to paint Laporta as an irresponsible manager who had ruined the future of the club, but Laporta won over more club members with his message that he had saved the club from ruin and now needed another term to finish the job.
Laporta, 63, was helped by the strong performance of the team under coach Hansi Flick and the emergence of a new star player in Lamine Yamal.
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He defended his financial management by highlighting that the club has lowered its spending on player wages and boosted its revenues. The increase in debt was also partly due to a long-overdue renovation of Camp Nou, the largest soccer stadium in Europe, which will boost revenues once complete in the coming months.
Barca’s club elections have many of the trappings of a real political election, with a long campaign that was intensely followed by Barcelona’s fans in Catalonia and the local media.
Coach Flick and several players of the club’s men’s and women’s soccer teams and its other sports teams, which include basketball and handball, cast ballots at Camp Nou on Sunday.
The election took place on the same day that Barcelona’s men’s team beat Sevilla 5-2 to retain its lead of the Spanish league.
Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy participates in his first preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders, taking snaps and directing the offense during early action in August 2024. McCarthy later suffered a meniscus tear during the outing, an injury that sidelined him for the entire season while veteran Sam Darnold handled starting duties. Mandatory Credit: (YouTube).
The Minnesota Vikings signed two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray on Thursday evening, and that means J.J. McCarthy, the man once viewed as the franchise’s QB1 solution — not very long ago — could be traded, according to the Pioneer Press‘s Charley Walters.
The Vikings’ quarterback conversation got weird in a hurry this week.
McCarthy has not expressed discontent since the Murray signing, nor has he requested a trade, but Walter’s warning is out in the open.
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Kyler Murray Chatter Opened the Door for a New Round of Speculation
That didn’t take long.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy reacts with emotion after reaching the end zone during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. McCarthy helped spark early momentum for Minnesota while directing the offense in front of a hostile crowd during the contest played on Dec 14, 2025. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images.
Walters: Vikings Could Trade McCarthy
Walters is never shy about expounding on Vikings-themed rumors, and he took the plunge on McCarthy’s status last weekend.
He wrote, “Now that Kyler Murray seems set to be the Vikings’ starting quarterback next season, it wouldn’t be surprising if the team entertains a trade for J.J. McCarthy. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns seem like teams that might have an interest in McCarthy, potentially as a starter.”
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“The Los Angeles Chargers, coached by Jim Harbaugh, who coached McCarthy to a national championship at Michigan in 2004, would seem a third possibility as a backup to Justin Herbert. The Chargers do not have a designated backup QB. Last season, it was Trey Lance from Marshall, Minn. A trade for McCarthy would require a high enough draft pick. Don’t be surprised, if the Vikings were to trade McCarthy, if they bring Carson Wentz back to play behind Murray.”
McCarthy has missed 70% of all games since joining the Vikings in 2024, so it’s safe to say his stock is at its lowest.
The Browns Fit
The Browns have several quarterbacks; the Browns may not have a quarterback, which presents a problem.
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These men are the 2026 depth chart at the moment:
Deshaun Watson
Shedeur Sanders
Dillon Gabriel
Cleveland could not be overly nimble at quarterback this offseason because they’re still mitigating the sin of trading for and signing Watson at $230 million fully guaranteed. However, in 2027, offloading Watson will become slightly less painful, and by then, the Browns will have a clearer indication of whether Sanders has taken the next step as the franchise guy.
In the meantime, per the Walters theory, Cleveland could acquire McCarthy and basically throw in the towel on Gabriel, a 3rd-Rounder from last year.
Cleveland.com‘sMary Kay Cabot noted on the Browns’ quarterback situation last week, “They’re not trading for Anthony Richardson, despite widespread rumors during the first week of free agency that they’d pursue him, sources say. It’s never been a serious consideration for them, although they usually do their due diligence on available veterans to see if it’s a fit.”
“But Richardson was never in their plans, and the rumors were unfounded. At this point, the Browns are prepared to move forward with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders as their top two contenders for the 2026 starting job, unless their remaining work on the draft-eligible quarterbacks alters those plans.”
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The Steelers Fit
Most believe, at least tentatively, that Aaron Rodgers will return in 2026, his 20th season in the pros. Rodgers said last summer that 2025 would probably be his last ride, but then the offseason rolled around, and he became noncommittal about his future. It’s what Rodgers does every year, and his old friend, Brett Favre, used to do annually with the Green Bay Packers. The two share an extreme and befuddling passion for milking offseason suspense. Nobody on the planet enjoys it except for those two guys.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy addresses reporters during a press conference introducing him as the franchise’s new head coach at the PNC Champions Club inside Acrisure Stadium. McCarthy answered questions from media members during the event held on Jan 27, 2026, marking the start of his tenure leading the Steelers. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.
If Rodgers retires, the Steelers would look down at the roster and find Will Howard’s name, a 6th-Rounder from last year’s draft. If Pittsburgh is not enthused about HowardMania, it could call Kirk Cousins for a one-year bridge to get it to the 2027 NFL Draft, which is on deck to be stuffed to the gills with quarterbacks.
Otherwise, the Steelers could send a late-round pick to Minnesota for McCarthy, and the youngster could marinate behind Rodgers for a season or battle Howard for the job this summer.
It could be The McCarthy & McCarthy Show in Pittsburgh: Mike & J.J.
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The Chargers Fit
This is the weirdest of them all — unless the Chargers are secretly biding their time to end the Justin Herbert era. And why on earth would they be doing that?
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh celebrates with quarterback J.J. McCarthy following a touchdown pass against Michigan State during the third quarter at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. The Wolverines extended momentum during the rivalry matchup played on Oct 21, 2023, as Harbaugh acknowledged his quarterback on the sideline. Mandatory Credit: Nick King-USA TODAY NETWORK.
Sure, McCarthy and Harbaugh won a championship together at Michigan, but does that mean McCarthy wants to join Harbaugh in Los Angeles as Herbert’s backup? He has a better chance of dethroning Kyler Murray this summer than sniffing the Chargers’ lineup as the QB1. What’s more, Murray isn’t necessarily Iron Man; he could miss a few games, casting McCarthy back into the QB1 spotlight.
McCarthy to Los Angeles only makes sense if the Vikings have an urgent need to get rid of him, and Harbaugh comes knocking accordingly.
NEW DELHI: Sanju Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, recently spoke about his journey after India’s historic title win. The wicketkeeper-batter played a crucial role in the tournament, scoring 321 runs in five innings at an average of 80.25 and a strike rate close to 200. His performances included several match-winning knocks as India went on to lift the trophy at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad after defeating the New Zealand national cricket team in the final.
Jay Shah calls 2019 to 2026 as Indian cricket’s golden period
Long relationship with Gautam Gambhir
While speaking to the media in Thiruvananthapuram, Samson talked about his long-standing bond with India head coach Gautam Gambhir. According to him, their connection goes back many years to when he played for Kolkata Knight Riders.“Gauti bhai (Gautam Gambhir) and I have a very old relationship. I think I met him when I was in KKR. He was the captain of the team and he also lives in Delhi. I also played in the same academy where he was…so it’s a very long relationship and what has happened from there till now, I think cannot be expressed in words,” he told PTI.Samson’s impressive run in the tournament also helped him surpass Virat Kohli’s record of 319 runs in a single T20 World Cup edition by an Indian, which Kohli had set in 2014.
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Emotional message from Sachin Tendulkar
The 31-year-old also shared that he received a special message from cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar after India’s victory.“I got a message from Sachin, sir. It was a very emotional message for me,” said Samson.India’s triumph was historic, as the India national cricket team became the first side to win three T20 World Cup titles and also the first team to successfully defend the trophy on home soil.
Sanju Samson reflects on his journey
Samson described his comeback in the tournament as one of the most memorable phases of his career. After facing inconsistency and spending time on the bench earlier, he emerged as India’s top performer when it mattered the most, delivering key innings from the Super Eight stage against the West Indies national cricket team to the final.Reflecting on his approach to the game, Samson said he always focuses on being true to himself and playing for the team.“I never wanted to be selfless. I’ve always wanted to be myself. So I bring a lot of different qualities, a lot of strengths, a lot of weaknesses. I like to look at cricket as a team sport. So I think we play to win. And looking at what things have happened in my life lately, I definitely carry a lot of dreams with me. So a lot of youngsters, a lot of people, not even in cricket, a lot of people in different careers, they look at me like their own careers, like their own life,” Samson concluded.
Oct 2, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove (44) throws during the first inning of game two in the Wildcard round for the 2024 MLB Playoffs against the Atlanta Braves at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove is expected to open the season on the injured list after he was slow to recover from his return start March 4 start at spring training.
Musgrove missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery and made his return to the mound in an exhibition game against Great Britain’s World Baseball Classic team at Peoria, Ariz., during the first week of March.
He went two-plus innings with three strikeouts and allowed a run on five singles, with a fastball that reached 95 mph.
“I’ve talked to a lot of guys that say they don’t feel normal or don’t feel back to themselves (until) about that two-year mark,” Musgrove said after the outing. “I’ve got all these things that I’m aware of, but I’m not really trying to put myself into one of those classes right now. I’m kind of just taking the ball every fifth day and see how I recover and adjust as we go.”
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But Musgrove has not thrown a baseball since, with Padres manager Craig Stammen telling reporters Monday that his starter is expected to be on the IL when San Diego opens its season March 26 at home against the Detroit Tigers.
When he last pitched in 2024, Musgrove was 6-5 with a 3.88 ERA in 19 regular-season starts. He was pulled early from a wild-card round game against the Atlanta Braves on Oct. 2 and diagnosed with a torn UCL two days later.
Over nine seasons with the Houston Astros (2016-17), Pittsburgh Pirates (2018-20) and Padres, Musgrove is 66-62 with a 3.73 ERA in 206 appearances (180 starts).
Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal will be inspired by Max Dowman’s youthful exuberance as they chase silverware on four fronts.
Arteta is deciding whether to involve the 16-year-old wonderkid in Tuesday’s Champions League tie against Bayer Leverkusen at Emirates Stadium after he made history against Everton on Saturday.
Having stepped off the bench to set up the opener for Viktor Gyokeres, he then ran the length of the pitch and rolled home the second to become the Premier League’s youngest ever goalscorer.
Arsenal face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday and with the season approaching the decisive phase, Arteta insists Dowman can lift the team through his energy.
“It’s very inspiring when you see someone, almost naive, making decisions and flowing and careless playing in that manner, in that context. It’s great,” Arteta said.
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“And I think probably our players realised as well. It’s a good example, playing with that flow and enthusiasm is actually very beneficial for the team.
“I didn’t expect that kind of goal, that’s for sure, but his attitude and his decision making, yes. If not, I wouldn’t have made the decision to play him.
“But then to be that precise and deliver the moment that he delivered, that’s something difficult to imagine.”
Arteta uses a “cook slowly” approach for bringing through young players and while he has been impressed by Dowman’s confidence on and off the field, he is wary of him becoming overburdened by hype.
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“I think they have to cook at the optimal speed in relation to what they need and what they demand,” he said.
“He is knocking on the door at 16, saying ‘I am good enough and I can impact this team whenever it is needed’. And he is doing it when he is playing.
“We just need to bring the temperature down and understand what is the best thing for this boy at his age.
“He’s doing something phenomenal. We all know that. Let’s keep it down a little bit and respect his nature to do what he has to do, which I’m sure is going to be something really good.”
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Arsenal drew the first leg of their round-of-16 tie against Leverkusen 1-1 and Arteta has called for his players to rise to the occasion when they battle for a place in the quarter-finals.
Leverkusen, positioned sixth in the Bundesliga, have published a photo on their X account showing a can of paint and the corner area at the Emirates Stadium having been removed.
The playful post – a reference to Arsenal’s goalscoring prowess at corners – is accompanied by the caption ‘That’s better!’.
“When you come to this stage in the competition, you really have to elevate your game to a different level, collectively and individually,” Arteta said.
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“For sure, this will be one of those nights where we need the best from all of us in a really consistent way to go through.
“We know what’s at stake, how much we want it and we’re going to show that.”
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