Will Arsenal's slow start cost them?
Nineteen years waiting for a Champions League semi-final and Arsenal were still caught cold.The stats bear it out. For the first 20 minutes of their game against Paris St-Germain, Mikel Arteta's side were off the pace and unable to rise to the occasion.After that? It was a different story - far more progressive, attacking and accurate.But was it too late? Ousmane Dembele's goal in that opening spell ultimately decided the first leg and left the Gunners with a mountain to scale at the Parc des Princes next Wednesday.With criticism of the club's pre-match Tifo rumbling on, Arteta will hope his players will respond to the raucous scenes in Paris as they did in Madrid for the quarter-final, standing firm before pushing back to win in style.Victory in the French capital is the minimum requirement if they are to reach the Champions League final.Starting hot will be the first step.
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Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Celtic tick all the boxes for Benjamin Nygren as Sweden star outlines exactly what he wants at next club
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BENJAMIN NYGREN craves a big club with a huge support who fill a noisy stadium every week. He wants to fight for trophies, play under pressure and get a crack at Champions League football. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 4 Benjamin Nygren speaking to WTV in Sweden Credit: WTV 4 He addressed his future in football 4 He's closing in on a move to Celtic Credit: Alamy If only there was a club out there that could offer him all of that Nygren didn't name Celtic as he spoke candidly about his ideal next step just two weeks ago. But the Sweden star couldn't have dropped any bigger hints that the Hoops are the perfect club for him. SunSport has unearthed a YouTube interview where Nygren outlined his wishes as he prepares to quit Nordsjaelland. The 23-year-old would have been aware that Celtic were watching him closely as he talked on a Swedish channel. And it appears the Hoops will tick every single box as he closes in on a £2million move to Parkhead. Asked why he is ready to move on, Nygren said: 'I want to go to a bigger club. 'I want to play in the Champions League and I want to get as far as possible in my career. 'We have been in agreement for some time about me leaving in this window. I feel it's time. 'I want to go to a club that has extreme belief in me and has a clear plan for me. The diggers move in as Celtic Park pitch is dug up 'But also a big club that plays in the best tournaments in Europe. 'At club level, the Champions League is the biggest competition you can play in. 'Nordsjaelland is a very family-orientated club and it can be quiet in the stands. 'That is good in a way maybe but I think it's a lot of fun when there are a lot of fans. 'It's more fun to play when it's a full stadium, where there are a lot of supporters and there is a lot of pressure. 'That is what I like the most.' Nygren has been a revelation in Danish football for the last two years and is now a full Sweden cap. He scored 16 goals for the Superliga side last season and already has two in just four appearaneces for the national team. But he believes there is even more to come from him and wants to play under a manager who truly believes in him. Benjamin Nygren's career 2013 (youth level) - 2019: IFK Goteborg - 15 games (six goals, five assists) 2019 - 2022: Genk - seven games (one goal) 2020 - 2022: Heerenveen (loan) - 51 games (seven goals, six assists) 2022 --: Nordsjaelland - 107 games (35 goals, eight assists) Celtic gaffer Brendan Rodgers has a track record for developing players in his attacking midfield position. Tom Rogic, Stuart Armstrong, Ryan Christie and Matt O'Riley all blossomed under his guidance at Parkhead. Nygren could be the next to work with Rodgers and the versatile playmaker has vowed to keep working at his game. He said: 'Being able to play in different positions is a strength for me. 'I know that I can contribute a lot to teams and also help make people get the best out of their own qualities. 'I believe in my abilities and I think I am good at creating chances and finishing when I get them myself.' Nygren will always be grateful to Nordsjaelland for the way they helped revive his career after a £4m move to Genk in 2019 didn't work. The Danish side offered him a platform to show his qualities again after being tipped as Sweden's next big thing as a kid. Nygren has taken that chance and also given a lot back to Nordsjaelland, and captained the team last season. Yet he admits he has now outgrown the club, who focus on developing talent as opposed to winning trophies. He said: 'I would definitely say it's a good environment to develop. 4 'We have a lot of young players. 'Generally, in the last ten games of the season, we had three or four 18-year-olds in the starting line-up. 'That's not very common so it's a platform to learn and develop. 'This is a club that has a lot of eyes on it, but which also maintains a very high level and is a top-five club in Denmark in principle every year. 'Nordsjaelland's highest goal is not to win the league, but to play with young talents to sell. 'It is a selling club and it becomes difficult to compete for the titles when you sell your best players all the time. 'But that doesn't affect my motivation. Wherever I play, even if nobody is watching, I want to win.' Nygren also has an eye on next summer's World Cup after recently breaking into the Sweden squad. Jon Dahl Tomasson's side face Switzerland, Kosovo and Slovenia in their qualifying group and are favourites to progress. Nygren is desperate to stay in his national squad and playing at a high level in Europe for Celtic would boost his chances. Speaking to Wenstrom Television, he said: 'The World Cup is the biggest thing there is. 'It is one of my highest goals to get there during my career. 'It was extremely fun to get into the Sweden squad and score my first goal. 'That is something I have been dreaming about for a long time. 'I have fought very hard each day to reach that level in my career. 'I felt I was getting closer and closer, and it fun to be called up and play for the national team. 'To make my debut and starting debut and score my first goal was a dream.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Wayne Rooney's lookalike son plays for Man Utd as millions watch amazing video
Wayne Rooney's lookalike son plays for Man Utd as millions watch amazing video The Red Devils legend's eldest son is following in his footsteps as he makes his return to Old Trafford this weekend Rooney junior is following in his famous father's footsteps Wayne Rooney makes his return to Old Trafford this weekend as part of the England team for this year's Soccer Aid charity match. The former Manchester United striker became a legend during his 13 years with the Red Devils, becoming the club's all-time record goalscorer and helping them to five Premier League titles, as well as triumphs in the Champions League and Europa League. In his 559 appearances for the English giants, he also lifted the FA Cup, two League Cups and four Community Shields. However, eight years after he left United to return to boyhood club Everton, and four years on from retiring from playing altogether, Rooney returns to the Theatre of Dreams in a new role to raise money for UNICEF. Sunday night's match will see the 39-year-old - who has held managerial positions with Derby County, D.C. United, Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle since retiring - adopt a player-coach role for the charity event. It will see him lead the team from the sidelines as part of a coaching team also made up of Tyson Fury, David James and Vicky McClure, before taking to the pitch alongside the likes of Roman Kemp, Sir Mo Farah and Bella Ramsey. Rooney previously managed at the 2020 edition of Soccer Aid, but said the opportunity to work alongside Fury in the role made this year's event even more exciting. Article continues below "I'm a big boxing fan, so to do it alongside Tyson Fury is fantastic," said the Premier League legend as his role was confirmed. "We have this in common - we'll both be taking it incredibly seriously. It's great to lace up the old boots again - and see some old friends." Rooney is set to earn a warm reception as he returns to Old Trafford and, while it has been eight years since he last played for United, his ties to the club remain strong, thanks to his eldest son Kai. Content cannot be displayed without consent The 15-year-old is currently tearing it up for the Red Devils' youth teams and has been tipped to follow in his father's footsteps at the club, such is his ruthlessness in front of goal. Kai has impressed his coaches since joining United in 2020 and earlier this year hit headlines after scoring a brilliant solo goal for the club's U17s side in their clash with Real Sociedad. The impressive move saw the teenager collect the ball down the right-hand side of the pitch after his centre-back found him with a knock over the top. After getting away from his marker with a neat first touch, he shrugged off another would-be tackler before slotting the ball under the goalkeeper and into the net. While the United side ultimately lost 5-1, the strike - which has been viewed by over three million people on social media - caught the eye of fans who have tipped the young talent to emulate his legendary father at Old Trafford. Content cannot be displayed without consent Of course, Kai has receive a fair amount of guidance from his father, as he explained: "It's a lot about scoring goals because he was pretty good at scoring goals. So it's mainly tips about that. "He is preparing me to get into professional football with the right mentality." Revealing his favoured position on the pitch, the youngster added: "I could play on the wing as well, but I'm mainly a striker that scores goals." Rooney senior has also spoken of his pride at his son's budding career, telling The Athletic: "He's enjoying it. That's the most important thing. He's doing everything he can to try to have a career in football and not just him, my other children as well. "They love the game and my advice - to any children - is play to enjoy. "There's that much pressure when you do get to the professional level and sometimes you forget why you're playing the game. You're playing because you love playing the game and you enjoy playing the game." Article continues below Rooney's wife Coleen also told the Mirror: 'We've never pressured them into even playing football. We've always just let them decide what they want to do. My eight-year-old was playing and doing really well but then decided he didn't want to, and that's OK. 'I think they sometimes get pressure off other people, you know. People approach them now and then if we're out, they do say, 'Are you are as good as your dad?'. Kai says 'I'm a different type of player.' "You've got to let them know that you don't have to follow and to be your own person.'
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
PSG vs Atletico Madrid live stream: How to watch Club World Cup for FREE
CHAMPIONS of Europe Paris Saint-Germain embark on another trophy challenge - this time heading to USA for the Club World Cup. They have been drawn into group B with Atletico Madrid, Botafogo and Seattle Sounders. 2 2 Luis Enrique's side pummelled Inter 5-0 in the 2025 Champions League final, winning the competition for the first time in their history. PSG won the competition outside the qualifying period of 2021-2024, but their Uefa ranking meant that behind Bayern Munich, they were the second best ranked side. With only two spots per country, Atletico Madrid qualified ahead of this year's semi-finalists Barcelona, after their performances in Europe between 2020-2024. SunSport can reveal how to watch the clash for FREE. How to watch PSG vs Atletico Madrid for FREE The clash between PSG and Atletico Madrid will be shown LIVE for FREE on the DAZN app. DAZN will be showing ALL of the Club World Cup clashes for FREE this summer. Viewers will need to enter an email address and become a registered user. The two sides will meet on Sunday, June 15 at 8pm BST. SunSport will live blog all the action from the match as it happens.
