Latest news with #FA Cup
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Xhaka's rollercoaster Premier League experience
Granit Xhaka has Premier League experience in abundance, something Sunderland sorely lacked before their return to the top flight. The 32-year-old arrived at Arsenal in the summer of 2016 under Arsene Wenger. He scored 23 goals in 297 appearances for the Gunners, helping them win the FA Cup twice and finish runners-up in the Premier League in his final season of 2022-23. We have a decent idea of what to expect from the Switzerland international - so here is a reminder of his highs and lows. Run-ins with referees Granit Xhaka's disciplinary record did make the headlines numerous times during his Arsenal career, perhaps unsurprising given he was sent off five times for previous club Borussia Monchengladbach. In his debut season he saw red twice, with his first coming on his fifth Premier League start against Swansea, followed by another at home to Burnley later in the campaign. That one against Burnley is usually remembered because he grabbed Ashley Westwood by the neck. In total, he was dismissed five times during his spell in north London, all of them straight reds - and he was also no stranger to yellow cards, accumulating 55 yellow cards in the league alone. His time away from the Premier League may have helped though, Xhaka not being sent off at all during two seasons with RB Leipzig. Six weeks as Gunners captain Xhaka was appointed Arsenal captain by Unai Emery on 27 September 2019 but was stripped of the role by 5 November. It was a tense period at the club when the Gunners hosted Crystal Palace on 27 October 2019. Friction between fans and the club had been escalating for weeks with results and performances under Emery leaving a lot to be desired. But the game turned toxic just after the hour when Xhaka was substituted to roars of delight from Arsenal's fans. He reacted angrily to jeers at his slow departure by waving and cupping his ear sarcastically to the home support, exchanging words before taking off his shirt and disappearing down the tunnel. From outcast to irreplaceable Mikel Arteta's arrival in December 2019 helped Xhaka turn his Gunners career around. Signed by Wenger as a box-to-box midfielder, he ended up playing more as a defensive midfielder, which landed him in some rather sticky situations. Losing possession in deep central areas facing his own goal often resulted in conceding goals and it was something Arteta wanted and had to fix. Following Oleksandr Zinchenko's arrival in the summer of 2022, Arsenal had the tools to adopt a 4-3-3 system heading into the 2022-23 season and Xhaka moved from those deep central areas to a more advanced position on the left side of midfield. And this is where he thrived. Xhaka was involved in 16 goals that season (nine goals, seven assists), his highest tally in a single campaign. According to Opta, all nine of his goals were scored from inside the box after 10 of his first 14 goals for the Gunners came from outside the area. Redemption From those boos in 2019 to a raucous chorus of "we want you to stay" - Xhaka's story is ultimately one of redemption. He eventually left Arsenal in July 2023 to join Bayer Leverkusen for £21.4m but went out on a high, scoring twice in the final game of the season, a 5-0 home win against Wolves, before being given a standing ovation as he was substituted late on. Departing Emirates Stadium as a fans' favourite, he returns to the Premier League without anything to prove - and ready to add limitless steel and heart to Sunderland's midfield.
BBC News
16 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Xhaka's rollercoaster Premier League experience
Granit Xhaka has Premier League experience in abundance, something Sunderland sorely lacked before their return to the top 32-year-old arrived at Arsenal in the summer of 2016 under Arsene scored 23 goals in 297 appearances for the Gunners, helping them win the FA Cup twice and finish runners-up in the Premier League in his final season of have a decent idea of what to expect from the Switzerland international - so here is a reminder of his highs and lows. Run-ins with referees Granit Xhaka's disciplinary record did make the headlines numerous times during his Arsenal career, perhaps unsurprising given he was sent off five times for previous club Borussia his debut season he saw red twice, with his first coming on his fifth Premier League start against Swansea, followed by another at home to Burnley later in the one against Burnley is usually remembered because he grabbed Ashley Westwood by the total, he was dismissed five times during his spell in north London, all of them straight reds - and he was also no stranger to yellow cards, accumulating 55 yellow cards in the league time away from the Premier League may have helped though, Xhaka not being sent off at all during two seasons with RB Leipzig. Six weeks as Gunners captain Xhaka was appointed Arsenal captain by Unai Emery on 27 September 2019 but was stripped of the role by 5 was a tense period at the club when the Gunners hosted Crystal Palace on 27 October 2019. Friction between fans and the club had been escalating for weeks with results and performances under Emery leaving a lot to be the game turned toxic just after the hour when Xhaka was substituted to roars of delight from Arsenal's reacted angrily to jeers at his slow departure by waving and cupping his ear sarcastically to the home support, exchanging words before taking off his shirt and disappearing down the tunnel. From outcast to irreplaceable Mikel Arteta's arrival in December 2019 helped Xhaka turn his Gunners career by Wenger as a box-to-box midfielder, he ended up playing more as a defensive midfielder, which landed him in some rather sticky possession in deep central areas facing his own goal often resulted in conceding goals and it was something Arteta wanted and had to Oleksandr Zinchenko's arrival in the summer of 2022, Arsenal had the tools to adopt a 4-3-3 system heading into the 2022-23 season and Xhaka moved from those deep central areas to a more advanced position on the left side of this is where he was involved in 16 goals that season (nine goals, seven assists), his highest tally in a single to Opta, all nine of his goals were scored from inside the box after 10 of his first 14 goals for the Gunners came from outside the area. Redemption From those boos in 2019 to a raucous chorus of "we want you to stay" - Xhaka's story is ultimately one of eventually left Arsenal in July 2023 to join Bayer Leverkusen for £21.4m but went out on a high, scoring twice in the final game of the season, a 5-0 home win against Wolves, before being given a standing ovation as he was substituted late Emirates Stadium as a fans' favourite, he returns to the Premier League without anything to prove - and ready to add limitless steel and heart to Sunderland's midfield.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Football team from Sussex to break record for longest gap between FA Cup appearances
A football team from Sussex will set a new record for the longest gap between FA Cup appearances. Seaford Town FC will break the record when they play at home in the competition against Sutton Athletic on August 2, at 3pm. The X account FA Cup Factfile recently posted: "A new FA Cup record will be set by Seaford Town FC this season. "Having last appeared in the competition as Seaford FC in the 1911-12 season, the club will return 104 campaigns later this season - breaking the 99 campaigns record set by Beverley Town FC just last season." The FA Cup, officially the Football Association Challenge Cup, is the oldest national football competition in the world, dating back to 1871. It's a knockout tournament in England where teams from various levels of the English football league system compete. Seaford Town FC's home ground is The Crouch, on Bramber Lane near the centre of town. They play in the Southern Combination Football League. The team is led by manager Alan Burns and his assistant Sam Browne. The FA Cup trophy is one of the oldest in world football (Image: Carlos Yo) Regarding the club's achievement, football website said: "Everyone in football, especially around here, is really excited about them getting back in the FA Cup. "Getting back in the FA Cup has got everyone in town really excited and shows how important the club is to everyone here. "Seaford Town FC has been around forever and now it's showing it can do big things in English football. "Everyone at the club and all the fans can't wait to see what's going to happen next in their FA Cup story." Read more: Popular beer chain set to close its Brighton bar 'within days' Home with commercial swimming pool in back garden goes on sale New TK Maxx is set to open in shopping centre A spokesperson for Seaford Town FC added: "Time to see some more history unfold. We can't wait to see you all there to share it with us." Seaford Town FC play Sutton Athletic at The Crouch on August 2 at 3pm. Tickets are £7 for adults, £4 for concessions, and free for under 16s.
Times
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Times
Madonna: Veronica Electronica review — the Queen of Pop at her emotional best
Aaron Ramsey scored a 79th-minute header to earn Arsenal a stunning 2-1 win over Double-chasing Chelsea on Saturday and deliver embattled manager Arsene Wenger a record seventh FA Cup. Wenger has been barracked by his own fans and failed to secure Champions League qualification for the first time in 20 years, but he ends the season by surpassing Aston Villa's George Ramsey as the FA Cup's greatest manager. Alexis Sanchez's early opener for Arsenal, allowed to stand despite an apparent handball, was cancelled out by Diego Costa, only for Ramsey to reply immediately with the second FA Cup-winning goal of his career. Arsenal, plagued by defensive selection issues, claimed a third FA Cup win in four seasons and 13th in total, making them the outright most successful team in the competition's history ahead of Manchester United. Antonio Conte's Chelsea, who had Victor Moses sent off after he received a second booking for diving, were thwarted in their attempt to complete a Premier League and FA Cup Double for the second time. It meant no glorious farewell for departing skipper John Terry, who will bow out on 717 appearances and 17 major honours after spending the match on the bench. Victory was rich vindication for Wenger, whose Arsenal future is due to be decided by a board meeting in the coming days, and allowed him to salvage something from the most difficult season of his 21-year tenure. He is reported to have been offered a two-year contract and while dissent against him has mounted this season, the stirring nature of his side's win will surely have won back some of his team's disgruntled fans. The Frenchman's team took a fourth-minute lead with a goal that will be debated long after the final whistle. After blocking N'Golo Kante's attempted clearance on the edge of Chelsea's box, Sanchez ran through to skewer a shot past Thibaut Courtois, only for an offside flag to be raised against Ramsey.
The Independent
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Crystal Palace ultras deliver suitcase of fake money to Uefa HQ in protest to Europa League ruling
Aggrieved Crystal Palace fans have taken their protests directly to Uefa 's doorstep, flying out to the governing body's Switzerland headquarters to fight against their club's demotion from the Europa League to the Conference League. Palace had qualified for the Europa League through their stunning FA Cup victory over Man City, a historic first major trophy in the club's history. However, Uefa has ordered the Eagles to play in the third-tier European competition for breaching multi-club ownership rules. The club crucially missed a March 1 deadline to demonstrate that American co-owner John Textor, also a part-owner at Lyon, had no control or influence over more than one club in the same competition. Uefa's Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) decided Textor's interest in both clubs meant only one could enter the Europa League, with Lyon 's higher league position of sixth edging out Palace, who finished the Premier League campaign in 12th. Nottingham Forest are expected to benefit from the Eagles' demotion, replacing them in the Europa League following their seventh-place league finish. After hundreds of supporters made their feelings clear in an initial protest outside Selhurst Park, The Independent understands that members of Palace ultras Holmesdale Fanatics - who organised the first march - today travelled to Uefa's HQ in Nyon, Switzerland to combat the perceived injustice head-on. It was revealed in a statement that they gained access to the building to hand deliver a letter addressed to Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin, which demanded a reversal of 'this moral injustice' and Palace's reinstatement into the Europa League. The group also presented Uefa with a suitcase of fake money, which represented 'the contradictions between their supposed 'fundamental values' of integrity and fairness, and the reality of their business methods and general conduct'. Uefa declined to comment when approached by The Independent. Following the protest in Nyon, they travelled to the Lausanne headquarters of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to reiterate their desire to have the ruling overturned. This came less than two hours before CAS confirmed that Palace had lodged an appeal against Uefa, Forest and Lyon regarding the alleged breach of multi-club ownership regulations. The appeal procedure will be expedited with a decision expected on or before August 11.
