Why the Champions League playoff round draw is a load of balls January 30, 2025 If you thought the new format for the tournament was needlessly long and convoluted, wait until you hear about the Champions League knockout stage draw. Actually, make that draws. Because despite many elements of the draw being pre-determined by the final table of the league phase, Uefa will be conducting three separate draws to finalise [...]
Ambani family on course for £100m London Spirit in Hundred auction January 22, 2025 The likely destinations of English cricket’s crown jewels in the Hundred auction are taking shape, with the Ambani family’s determination to buy 49 per cent of the London Spirit in a deal expected to exceed £100m forcing other bidders to look elsewhere. A consortium of Californian investors led by Nikesh Arora, chief executive of Palo [...]
Sport in 2025: A rallying cry to London, Mayor Khan and Londoners January 2, 2025 For at least the past five years it has felt as if London was disappearing off the global sporting stage. The capital may boast the Home of Cricket, 17 professional football clubs and five stadiums with a capacity of over 50,000 but huge sporting events have sought refuge in the likes of Saudi Arabia, the [...]
Fifa risks legal battle by including Mexican teams in Club World Cup draw December 3, 2024 Fifa will include two Mexican teams with the same owners, Club de Futbol Pachuca and Club Leon, in the draw for the Club World Cup tomorrow despite facing potential legal action over their involvement in next summer’s competition. Costa Rican club Liga Deportiva Alajuelense have sent a formal complaint to Fifa on the basis that [...]
Arsenal return to scene of European glory night seeking another lift November 5, 2024 Arsenal’s last visit to the San Siro to play Inter Milan, 21 years ago this month, is the stuff of red and white legend. Desperately needing a result to keep alive their Champions League hopes but sent into battle at one of European football’s most daunting arenas without key players, Arsene Wenger’s team delivered a [...]
Arsenal’s Kroenke says Edu successor will have ‘major trophy’ ambition November 4, 2024 Arsenal co-chair Josh Kroenke insisted a succession plan for Edu will have major trophies at its heart after the sporting director left the Gunners on Monday. The Brazilian played 127 times for the north London club and was serving as sporting director before his resignation this week. The 46-year-old has been linked with a move [...]
Arteta claims Arsenal deserved all three points after Liverpool draw October 27, 2024 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta insisted his team had deserved all three points after a 2-2 draw with Liverpool that denied the visitors a return to the top of the Premier League. Twice the hosts went in front, through Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino, but twice Liverpool fought back, with goals from Virgil van Dijk and [...]
Gabriel Jesus needs a second coming at Arsenal. Is this his chance? October 22, 2024 When Gabriel Jesus latched onto a loose ball, dummied a defender and slotted low into the net against Lens in November last year the Arsenal striker set a new Champions League record. It made Jesus the only player from any English club to score in each of his first four games of the season in [...]
Arsenal are overachieving in the Premier League, but do fans appreciate it? October 10, 2024 In a parallel universe, Arsenal have already beaten Manchester City to the title. Forget Pep and Mikel’s inflamed war of words in this season’s scrap for the Premier League trophy; the Gunners have bagged the prize for outperforming their playing budget. Football, though, must ultimately be about fans’ dreams, not investors’ and bank managers’ bottom [...]
‘I was so happy’: Why PSG hold a special place in Arsenal boss Arteta’s heart September 30, 2024 Mikel Arteta isn’t given to excessive displays of sentiment but the Spaniard has made no attempt to hide his fondness for Paris Saint-Germain as they head to London to face his Arsenal team in the Champions League on Tuesday. As a young player trying to force his way into Barcelona’s all-star midfield, Arteta spent a [...]