Arsenal can 'change narrative' of season
Jurrien Timber says Arsenal can "change the narrative" of their season if they beat PSV Eindhoven in their Champions League last 16 tie.The Gunners have suffered injuries to several of their key attackers with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus ruled out for the season, while Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have hamstring injuries to keep them on the sidelines.Arsenal have failed to score in their last two matches and fallen 13 points behind leaders Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.However, they were one of the standout sides in the Champions League group phase, finishing third on 19 points and only conceding three goals.Before Tuesday's first leg at PSV's Philips Stadium, Dutch defender Timber said: "I think the motivation is there and it's an amazing league to play in. I think we showed as well in the group stages that we did really well and we have a good team."I think tomorrow is a beautiful game to change the narrative and to win."Timber has played 36 times for Arsenal this season after only making two Premier League appearances in the last campaign after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury on the opening day.And the 23-year-old does not think his side need to do anything complicated to get the good feeling back."I think we have so much quality in our group, of course we have a lot of injuries, especially up front, but it's a beautiful challenge for us to put our front players - or anyone - to score goals and hopefully we can show that," added Timber."We have to score tomorrow, we have to win and in the Champions League you only have two games, so you don't get second chances. So we have to go for it in this game."Without their first-choice forwards, Arsenal have been criticised for their recent performances, but Timber remains excited for the challenge of taking on PSV."I don't think of it as a negative, but we have been through a lot - especially in the last couple of weeks," said the former Ajax player."But what I said is I think it is a challenge for us and we just have to take it. Tomorrow is beautiful game to show that - and we will definitely show that tomorrow."
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Scottish Sun
38 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
I'm an England legend but I turned down Celtic – the missing piece of my career is that I didn't play for Rangers
He also reached a Champions League final and was a pal of Gazza WAD COULD HAVE BEEN I'm an England legend but I turned down Celtic – the missing piece of my career is that I didn't play for Rangers HIS career CV would be the envy of many a player. Played at World Cups? Check. Played in the Euros? Check. Reached a Champions League final? Check. Advertisement 3 This player was renowned for his distinctive mullet hairstyle Credit: Action Images - Reuters 3 He was a pal of Rangers icon Paul Gascoigne Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 3 He always wanted to play for Rangers but it never came to anything Credit: Getty But for one England legend that wasn't enough because he always wanted to play for Rangers... and it never happened. He amassed 62 caps for his country and scored six times and before going on to star at one of Europe's biggest clubs at the time, he became a hero for fans of Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur back home. The man in question was Chris Waddle, one of the most gifted footballers of his generation. Waddle, now 64, has revealed that he had a burning desire to play for Rangers but sadly, nothing ever materialised. Advertisement Though he ended up an icon at Newcastle, Waddle grew up supporting rivals Sunderland. But he always kept an eye out for the Light Blues' results, given how closed he lived to the border with Scotland as a child. Waddle helped Newcastle win promotion in 1984 and a year later he was given his first England cap after lighting up the top flight. He won himself a move to Spurs in 1985 and he continued on that upward trajectory, playing a key part in the team that reached the 1987 FA Cup final only to lose to Coventry City. Advertisement His impressive displays for Tottenham caught the eye of French giants Marseille, one of European football's powerhouses at that time. They paid £4.5million for his services (making him the third most valuable player in the world), playing alongside stars like Abedi Pele and Jean-Pierre Papin - and two other players with links to Rangers. Trevor Steven had joined Marseille form Gers (and would return to Ibrox in 1992) and French international Basile Boli would join him at Ibrox too. But Waddle never made the same move. Advertisement Marseille reached the European Cup final during Waddle's spell at the club and much of the same squad would go on to win the re-branded tournament - now known as the Champions League - in 1993. The controversial circumstances in which they won the competition is a story for another day... For Waddle, he returned from France in 1992 having been named the second best player in the WORLD by French magazine Onze Mondial and being named in the FIFA XI for 1991. He reached another FA Cup final with Sheffield Wednesday but his career was increasingly hampered by injuries and by the mid-nineties, it seemed he was destined for a change of scenery. Advertisement Waddle was approached by Celtic in 1996, when the Ibrox side were at their absolute peak. The Light Blues boasted superstars like Brian Laudrup, Ally McCoist and fellow Tyne and Wear man Paul Gascoigne. Waddle told OLBG: 'I wanted to play for Rangers but nothing ever came about. 'Celtic tried to buy me from Sheffield Wednesday but I decided against it. Advertisement 'I didn't want to go at the time. I was 35 and I decided to stay, I didn't want another move but they did come in for me." In the end, Waddle was afforded the chance to sample Scottish football when a less-than-likely suitor came calling upon his release from Sheffield Wednesday in 1996. That club was Falkirk. Then in the old First Division (second tier), the Bairns managed to sign the ageing winger in September on a month-to-month deal. Advertisement He became perhaps the biggest signing in the club's history but the move didn't quite work out, with Waddle returning to England the following month after playing in four league games, scoring one goal. Waddle was the subject of a £750,000 bid from Celtic in January, following an approach from legendary Hoops boss Tommy Burns. Such a move could have seen him join the likes of Pierre van Hooijdonk, John Collins and Paulo Di Canio (or perhaps, the Parkhead club moved onto Di Canio because they couldn't get Waddle...). The Englishman recalled: 'I went to Falkirk because I knew a guy from Sheffield Wednesday who was on their board. I had been released after an ankle injury and a minor surgery and wanted to play some football before finding another club. Advertisement 'He asked if I wanted to go and play there for a month and I went to get my fitness back before signing for Bradford. 'It was never in the plans to stay up in Scotland, but hopefully me and Falkirk did each other a favour. 'I remember the Celtic offer was when Tommy Burns was manager, he made an offer to David Pleat but I turned it down because I wanted to stay in the Sheffield area." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Watch Esperance Tunis vs Chelsea in Club World Cup for free in the UK
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Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Max Aarons on Rangers transfer brink as medical 'done' and Bournemouth man in Glasgow
Russell Martin is set to land his first signing since been named boss as he gets his recruitment up and running at Ibrox Rangers are closing in on a first major signing under Russell Martin. Sky Sports report that Max Aarons is currently in Glasgow putting the finishing touches on a loan move from Bournemouth. They say he's already had his medical checks and is currently going through the final stages of paperwork ahead of a switch north of the border. It's stated that there is no obligation to buy in the packaged and it is just a straight loan deal. Aarons spent time away from the Cherries on loan at Valencia last season but is set to return to the UK. The news will come as a major boost to fans who are desperate for the big recruitment drive after the 49ers takeover to kick into life. His arrival would signal the second summer signing after Lyall Cameron joined on a pre-contract from Dundee. That deal was done pre the new era with a host of other names including Leicester City defender Conor Coady on the radar of the Ibrox side. They are currently back in pre-season training as they gear up for a bid to reach the Champions League with Panathinaikos first up in the second qualifying round. Three successful two-legged ties will need to be negotiated to land a spot at Europe's top table. Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
