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Daily Mirror
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Arsenal's final home game tells its own story after season didn't go to plan
ARSENAL 1-0 NEWCASTLE UNITED: Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have fallen short in their pursuit of the Premier League title but victory over Newcastle seals Champions League football Back in August, celebrating second place was not really in Arsenal's plan. But at the final whistle at the Emirates, there was an overwhelming sense of relief as well as joy as they finally saw out at a game. It should be enough to guarantee runners-up place behind Liverpool barring a final day collapse at bottom-of-the-table Southampton and a huge swing in goal difference for Manchester City who have a game in hand. Arsenal had their eyes on a bigger prize at the start of the season but their wretched run of form - this was their first win in four Premier League games - had left them biting their finger nails. This was another nervy occasion and the result was a blow for Newcastle who now go into the final day sweating on their own place in the top five. Newcastle certainly have something over the Gunners because they have already beaten them three times this season - including both legs of the Carabao Cup semi final - and that was clearly in the minds of the Arsenal players. But when Arsenal need a big player or a big performance then they can almost always rely on Declan Rice who has provided the best moments in a topsy turvy season. Rice scored the second half winner this time and it was running, his energy and his determination to fight for every ball that got the team over the line. The harsh reality is that Arsenal's drop off in the past few weeks has left a few fans questioning whether Mikel Arteta can deliver the biggest trophies in the long term. But it must have been a huge comfort for Arteta to hear the home fans chant his name towards the end of the game as Arsenal battled to get the win over the line. Of course there were nerves. Arsenal have thrown away leads - they have surrendered 21 points from winning positions this season - far too often. But after the final whistle, Arteta and his players got a big reception on the pitch as they all embarked on the modern fad of a 'lap of appreciation.' Arteta thanked the fans with a rousing speech before they played that painful North London Forever - featuring the naff second line of 'whatever the weather" - before thankfully they put on Ice Ice Baby to pay tribute to Rice. The England midfielder has been a constant for Arsenal while too many others have been woefully inconsistent. Yes, here's looking at you, keeper David Raya. In contrast, Newcastle have had a terrific season. Football is all about expectations. Newcastle have overachieved as they have already won the Carabao Cup, are still on course for the Champions League and that is some finish. Arsenal, meanwhile, just looked like a bag of nerves. Not helped by Raya. His distribution is reckless and so often gets himself and his team into trouble. You have to balance his saves against him causing the danger in the first place. Raya has become complacent with no competition for his place. Sure enough, his loose pass out from the back went straight to Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes then had a big chance which Raya saved. The Gunners keeper then showed the other side of his game with super saves to deny Harvey Barnes' deflected shot and Dan Burn's close range header. Raya made Arsenal a bag of nerves. William Saliba was not at the races either and he was replaced by Riccardo Calafiori and Arsenal, in fairness, did get better and more assured. Arsenal got the breakthrough after 55 minutes. Bukayo Saka won the ball back, Martin Odegaard played the pass and there was Rice to sweep home from outside the box. That was Rice's ninth goal in all competitions. Newcastle made it nervous at the end, Arsenal had to man the barricades as Kai Havertz also came on for a late cameo appearance. But, finally, they held onto a lead and got a much-needed win. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
New York Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Observing an Arsenal training session: Music, a large stopwatch and intensity
The Arsenal fans who attended Wednesday's open training session at the Emirates Stadium were treated by a welcome sight: Kai Havertz in full training. The German international has been absent since suffering a hamstring injury during Arsenal's training camp in Dubai in early February. As Arsenal jogged out onto their home turf, with the club anthem 'North London Forever' playing over the PA, the tall figure of Havertz was immediately visible among the squad — and the 25-year-old went on to be heavily involved throughout the session. Advertisement He was given a 'guard of honour', complete with playful slaps to the head, by his team-mates to mark his return to training. Havertz was joined by Leandro Trossard, who went off injured during Sunday's game at Anfield, and Declan Rice, who missed the Liverpool match through injury. Jorginho also trained, having been absent since suffering a blow to the ribs during the final moments of April's 1-1 draw with Brentford. More than 7,000 Arsenal fans accepted the club's invitation to watch the training session at the stadium. There was no charge for tickets — the intention was to thank supporters and connect with the local community. So what was it like? The goalkeepers — David Raya, Neto and Tommy Setford — were out on the pitch first. They ran through a drill which involved claiming crosses, bowling out throws and diving to save long shots, while Break My Soul by Beyonce played over the sound system. Music is regularly a feature of Mikel Arteta's sessions. 'That is something we've done for many years, it is part of training,' the Arsenal manager said in January. 'We use music as another element of our sessions to build energy and change purposes that we want in the training session. The players enjoy it. Depending on the day, sometimes certain players pick certain songs, it's the same as in the dressing room.' Watching the training session unfold, it was striking how much time the goalkeepers spend away from the main group. It is no wonder the cliche of the 'goalkeepers union' has come about — they are each other's predominant support and social network. The relationship between No 1 Raya and goalkeeper coach Inaki Cana is clearly also of paramount importance. At 10.55am, it was announced that 'something special' was about to happen. 'They're announcing the Man City hearing verdict,' joked one fan in the East Stand. Instead, it was the outfield players coming out to start training — with Havertz among them. Arteta was the last man out onto the field, receiving a hug and a high-five from Gunnersaurus on the touchline. Advertisement For the Arsenal players, there's a certain novelty to training in front of supporters. Although commonplace in other European countries, it's relatively unusual in England. Back in 2022, then Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka approached the club about the prospect of holding more training sessions in public. The Swiss international believed it would improve relations between fans and players. 'The people who do not see us in the training, for example, do not see how hard we are working,' he explained. 'They see us only in the 90 minutes. Everyone has a good and bad day. That is why I spoke with the club as well about, 'Why can't we bring the fans maybe once a week so they can see us how we train?'' Arsenal's outfield contingent began training just after 11am. Academy players Maldini Kacurri, Michal Rosiak and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji rounded out the group. It was clear that, although Arteta's title may be 'manager', he is a coach first and foremost. He plays an active role in the leading the session — but he is not alone. He is supported on the training pitch by around a dozen technical and performance staff. Arsenal start with some simple activation, a bit of passing and some stretching. The latter requires the players to pair up with those of equivalent heights — Havertz was partnered by Merino, Trossard by Oleksandr Zinchenko. Every exercise is timed to the second: Arsenal trained with a large digital stopwatch placed behind the managerial dugout. The pitch is freshly watered (and assistant coach Carlos Cuesta at one point got caught by the sprinkler system). After their initial warm-up, Arsenal broke into small groups for some familiar technical drills: dribbling round cones, passing into small goals and the now ubiquitous rondos. This training session was clearly a little different: at one stage, a group of children, present as part of Arsenal's community programme, found themselves chasing a ball round a rondo. Arsenal then moved on to the meat of the session; the part that closely replicates a match scenario. Two teams of 10 outfield players competed on a compressed pitch to win a single ball, Arteta tossing it into different zones to create transition moments. Having gained possession, the aim then appeared to be to create penetration, either in wide areas or through the middle. At first, there were no goals or goalkeepers — breaking beyond the back line was enough to end the phase. That would prompt another immediate restart from Arteta. Advertisement It was physical and intense. At one stage, Gabriel Martinelli went down in obvious pain but he was able to return to the field shortly afterwards. Havertz not only took part, he was integral to the session. He wore a different colour bib to the rest of the group, signifying that he was actually operating as the centre-forward for both teams. Whoever had possession, he would change direction and assume the role of attacking focal point. Eventually, goals and goalkeepers were added, bringing the exercise more in line with a conventional game. Arsenal then moved onto a three-team tournament featuring groups of six outfield players. Hein and Neto played in goal throughout, with Raya continuing more drills with Cana in front of the North Bank. There were eye-catching moments, including some sumptuous two-footed finishing from Ethan Nwaneri and Trossard. He may have fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium, but the close control and creativity of Zinchenko in a small-sided game was second to none. The team in orange bibs seemingly came out on top: Rosiak and Riccardo Calafiori at the back, Jorginho and Mikel Merino in midfield, with Trossard and Raheem Sterling leading the attack. He may not have scored in the Premier League this season, but Sterling did not look out of place in the training environment, showing a keen eye for goal. They celebrated their victory — Arteta demands a competitive environment, even on the training pitch. Arsenal finished with a team photo in front of the assembled fans: a souvenir from an unusual, insightful day.
Daily Mirror
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Coleen Nolan forced to apologise to emotional Loose Women co-star after blunder
ITV's Loose Women was the stage for a mix-up that had viewers amused, as host Coleen Nolan accidentally looked past her co-star Linda Robson on live television. Coleen was in the driving seat for the April 30 episode of the chat show, joined by Janet Street-Porter, Linda Robson and the Heart Radio sensation Kelly Brook. Before heading on a commercial break, Coleen hyped up what was still to come, hinting that Linda would soon share about her bond with Anne Hathaway and how they both cheer for Arsenal Football Club. But, post-advert return saw an awkward moment when Coleen breezed past Linda's anticipated segment, turning instead to Janet to open up about the significance of celebrating anniversaries. Realising she had mistakenly cued Janet to voice her opinion instead of Linda, the ex-singer quickly caught on to her mistake, reports Belfast Live. Further jitters escalated when Coleen, mid-request for Janet's views on historical romances, corrected herself – halting abruptly to clarify: "We're not, I'm not [going to you next]." In a bid to ease the tension, she followed it up telling Janet: "I'm saving you." With a bit of humour, Janet quipped back: "You're giving me time to come up with my answer," seemingly unfazed by the scheduling hiccup. Coleen, keen to get back on track, gestured towards Linda, asserting: "Linda, I'm going to ask you." Now thrown off too, Linda responded with just a "What?" which sent the audience into fits of giggles, witnessing the panel navigate their on-air uncertainty. The host owned up to her slip-up, apologising to Linda: "Sorry, sorry, I forgot to mention I was so excited to get to Janet's love life that I forgot to mention about this Hollywood connection." When given the opportunity, Linda excitedly shared her link to Hollywood A-lister Anne Hathaway, who happens to be a massive Arsenal fan, just like Linda's son Louis Dunford. The Loose Women star and her son Louis recently were trending on social media after it came out that Louis is the brains behind Arsenal F. C.'s anthem, The Angel (North London Forever), well-loved and sung by fans across the globe. Anne Hathaway, an avid supporter herself, showed some love by singing Louis' hit on social media, a performance that aired on Loose Women and left everyone touched. Back in the studio, Linda, clearly moved by the moment, confessed: "I think I might cry." Spotting Linda's emotional state Coleen offered support asking: "Are you ok, love, do you want a tissue?" Masking her emotions from the cameras, Linda responded to the host: "I'm alright," and they carried on with the programme. Loose Women airs weekdays on ITV1, from 12:30pm.
Telegraph
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Mikel Arteta learnt the hard way that Arsenal cannot confect a fortress
As a cri de coeur, Mikel Arteta's video message to Arsenal fans packed quite the punch. Staring straight down the lens, and jabbing his finger in the style of Lord Kitchener to tell supporters how much their club needed them, he demanded that 'every pass, every tackle, every run, every decision' be cheered so that his players could feel the connection. For such rhetoric to work, though, you tend to need some of the ball in the first place. And as Arsenal found themselves outsmarted and outmanoeuvred at every turn by Paris St-Germain, the manager's tub-thumping achieved the opposite of the intended effect, with a delirious pre-match atmosphere curdling by the final whistle into one of bitterness and regret. Bring everything tonight. — Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 29, 2025 This was supposed to be a night like no other at the Emirates: one where Arsenal would make good on all the yearning, and where Arteta's sloganising about 'our time' would propel them towards a first Champions League final for 19 years. He has spoken repeatedly about trying to create greater intensity at home, even urging fans to make this stadium more hostile than Anfield. Except such a reputation can only be earned, not confected. Where Liverpool have the timeless strains of You'll Never Walk Alone, Arsenal's battle cry of North London Forever has only existed since 2022. Arteta demanded a fortress, but in the end PSG stormed the ramparts with alarming ease. By the end, the atmosphere felt horribly lukewarm, with anticipation replaced by foreboding for the second leg at 1-0 down. The never-say-die spirit mandated by Arteta simply never materialised. In fact, the more impressive choreography at kick-off came courtesy of PSG fans, whose co-ordinated bouncing was relentless. A key reason is cultural, of course: England simply has no equivalent of the European ultras culture, with Crystal Palace's self-styled 'Holmesdale Ultras' consisting of little more than a few die-hards with a drum. Here, at a Champions League semi-final under a perfect evening sky, there was perhaps the most vivid manifestation of the difference. While PSG's disciples took over Trafalgar Square before marching towards the Emirates, Arsenal could only conjure a giant red tifo with a cannon. In fairness, this was not the fans' fault. Many had wanted to produce a banner to remember, but instead the club provided one so underwhelming it looked as if it had been rushed out at the last minute by an Islington printing shop. Not that this stopped Wayne Rooney from rounding on Arsenal's support. 'I was disappointed with the fans,' he said. 'They really pushed the team against Real Madrid, but I thought they were subdued, it was almost like it was an anticlimax, like they thought they were going to walk into the final. But fans have to be there. The players have to do it, too, but it wasn't good enough on either side.' Arteta could point out, quite rightly, that he should not be lectured by a man who has conspired to relegate Birmingham and, imminently, Plymouth. And yet the awkward truth was that Arsenal shrivelled under the spotlight. On the grandest European night here since 2006, Arteta's rabble-rousing served only to make his players too het up, too emotional, too skittish as they spent the first 15 minutes chasing shadows. Never mind applauding madly for every successful pass, fans barely had a chance to murmur as they watched PSG string 26 together en route to Ousmane Dembélé's goal. From there, the longed-for passion evaporated, with supporters instead turning their ire on referee Slavko Vincic for showing Bukayo Saka a dubious yellow card. Arteta has done so much right in his 5½ years in charge, turning Arsenal from dysfunctional also-rans into Premier League runners-up three years in a row, not to mention engineering arguably their greatest performance in living memory against Real just three weeks ago. If he has any weakness, however, it is that he can sometimes strain too hard in sight of the prize. He is always a cat on a hot tin roof on the touchline, living every triumph and torment with his players. But there is no requirement for him to transmit such jitters to the stands. Fan fervour at these games should be allowed to develop organically, not insisted on almost as a condition of entry. For that reason, Arteta's call to arms, beamed out on the giant screens, ultimately felt unnecessary. How many times have you seen Pep Guardiola, at whose feet Arteta learned his craft, pull such a stunt? Yes, Guardiola is fearsomely exacting with his players, berating them even when they are having the games of their lives. But he has known better than to pre-record some rebel yell for fans before a ball has been kicked. There is also a certain light and shade: during the tense, Treble-deciding Champions League final in 2023, he implored his Manchester City players to relax. Arteta, by contrast, is so hyperactive, so perpetually wired, that he risks leaving himself and everybody else wrung out with stress. This is hardly a lost cause just yet. After all, Liverpool have already shown this season how to win 1-0 at Parc des Princes. But on this evidence you fear for Arsenal, so dramatically were they undone by PSG's slickness and superior self-belief. If there is one change Arteta should implement for the return leg in Paris in eight days' time, it is to dial down the hysteria, to trust more in his own methods than in the gratuitous Churchill-esque flourishes.
Telegraph
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Why Anne Hathaway, Dua Lipa and Beyonce's support is so important to Arsenal and PSG
If Declan Rice's free-kicks were the two most eye-catching moments of Arsenal's Champions League victory over Real Madrid, then Anne Hathaway's subsequent show of support might have been a close third. The Hollywood actress celebrated Arsenal's first-leg victory with an unexpected rendition of The Angel, the club's anthem. Hathaway's performance, shared on her social media, prompted almost as many headlines as Rice's match-winning brace. A few weeks earlier, her post about Bukayo Saka's return from injury generated two million likes on Instagram, which was twice as many as Saka and Arsenal's own posts combined. Arsenal are a big deal but Hathaway, it seems, is even bigger. 🎶 North London Forever 🎶 Arsenal fan Anne Hathaway has shared her rendition of the club's iconic anthem after their victory against Real Madrid last night 🎤 — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 9, 2025 The 42-year-old (who politely declined an interview request) is far from the only celebrity to align themselves with the Arsenal cause in recent years. Stars of the acting, music and fashion world have been increasingly leaning towards Arsenal, and in turn Arsenal have been gleefully embracing them. Ahead of the first leg against Madrid, for example, the club published a pre-match video which featured an array of celebrity fans. Actors Idris Elba, Nicholas Galitzine, Will Poulter and Marisa Abela all featured, as did musicians Aurora and ODUMODUBLVCK. Later that night, pop sensation Dua Lipa was seen watching the game at Emirates Stadium. She then posed for pictures with Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori. Nothing beats the excitement of those huge Champions League nights. Let's make it happen 💫 — Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 8, 2025 This will feel familiar to Paris St-Germain, Arsenal's opponents in the Champions League semi-finals. Indeed, it could be argued that Tuesday's first leg is not only a clash of two excellent football teams, but also a battle of two of the biggest brands in the sport. Two clubs who want to win football matches and want to be seen as cool while doing so. PSG, more than any other club over the last decade, have understood the commercial significance of aligning themselves with celebrity glamour. For the French side and their Qatari owners, it has been a deliberate and productive strategy that has helped them to average more than £300 million a year in commercial revenues over the past five seasons. Collaborations with Beyonce, Justin Timberlake and Travis Scott, plus the regular sight of A-listers – Leonardo DiCaprio, Mick Jagger and Rihanna, among others – at Parc des Princes, have made PSG a cultural and commercial international behemoth, as has their monstrously successful tie-up with the Jordan brand. Beyoncé com uma camisola do PSG personalizada pela KOCHÉ 🇫🇷👑 — B24 (@B24PT) July 27, 2018 For much of the past decade, the French side have presented themselves as a high-end football club who moonlight as a luxury fashion label. Cynics might go further and argue they are more of a fashion brand with a football club attached. They have stores on the Champs-Élysées, Oxford Street, Fifth Avenue and Miami Beach, after all. It speaks volumes that one of their commercial partners is Dior. 'We are at this cultural high-point where 'cultural adjacents' are everything,' says James Kirkham, the founder of brand agency Iconic. 'It has never been more intertwined and interwoven, where fashion meets football and music meets gaming and gaming meets art. Football is absolutely at the heart of it, and PSG have arguably led the way.' There are many similarities between Arsenal and PSG. As the best team in London over the last few years, Arsenal have become the destination club in the capital. PSG have that status in Paris – their club badge, featuring the Eiffel Tower, is effectively a statement of ownership. These are creative, diverse, dynamic and fashionable locations – and these are the clubs who, above all others, strive to represent those cities in their marketing strategies. Arsenal's collaboration with clothing brand Labrum even resulted in Emirates Stadium hosting a fashion show earlier this season. Rice was among those who walked the pitchside runway. Declan Rice walks for Labrum's London Fashion Week show at Emirates Stadium. — VERSUS (@vsrsus) September 16, 2024 For both clubs, the end goal is the same: to be seen as cool, and to reap the commercial rewards of such a status. To be a place where celebrities not only want to go, but also to be seen. To be a club that can successfully pump out new merchandise multiple times a season. Arsenal's route to this point, though, has been different to the path taken by PSG. The French side's approach has been high-end celebrity glamour – with plenty of superstar footballers signed along the way – but Arsenal's has centred around a more urban, street vibe. They have aligned themselves with the local community in north London, for example in viral campaigns featuring local pubs and fish bars. 'Arsenal's output in the last five years has been nothing short of outstanding,' says Kirkham. 'They have played a north London urban card and they have done it brilliantly. It feels very tied to a north London identity. With Arsenal it feels like authenticity over glamour.' 🍽 Chip Inn Fish Bar 🐟 Home to the finest catches, on the other side of Holloway Rd. 🧤 Isn't that right, @AaronRamsdale98? #ArsenalSupportingSupporters — Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 22, 2022 It helps Arsenal's cause that they now have a highly marketable team. The likes of Saka and Rice are two of the most recognisable faces of the England squad, while Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri are up-and-coming teenagers who represent the youth of the local area. Martin Odegaard is a fashionable captain. And such is Calafiori's aesthetic appeal, he was last week named the underwear ambassador for sportswear giant Adidas. Does any of this matter? To Arsenal's long-serving match-going fans, almost certainly not. If anything, all of these celebrities and merchandise launches might be a source of irritation. But to the club's financial standing? Absolutely. Arsenal's commercial revenues have trailed the biggest teams in Europe in recent years and this is one way of closing that gap. The Deloitte Football Money League shows that, of the top 10 revenue-generating teams in the world, Arsenal had the lowest commercial revenues last season, with £218 million. This marked a 29 per cent increase from the previous campaign, though, so there can be no doubt that they are moving in the right direction. Celebrity interest is just one small part of this wider picture, of course, and it is not always helpful. For example, the sight of controversial UFC fighter Conor McGregor on the Emirates pitch in October, play-fighting with Saka, was not one that pleased the club. Those are the reputational risks involved, but for clubs like Arsenal and PSG there are plenty of rewards to be seized. These are two teams who, perhaps above all others, know the value of fusing their club with popular culture, of growing their brands beyond the pitch. They are competing not only for a place in the Champions League final, but also for street credibility and global appeal. 'We want to do something special': Arteta's rallying call to Arsenal fans By Sam Dean Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal's supporters to create the best ever atmosphere at Emirates Stadium in Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg against Paris St-Germain, saying the occasion requires a night that the club 'has not seen'. The Arsenal manager also told his players to channel the weight of the history on their shoulders, as the club looks to win the Champions League for the first time in their existence. Arsenal blew away Real Madrid with a 3-0 thrashing at home in the previous round and are now hoping to replicate that performance against the French giants, who were defeated 2-0 at the Emirates in October. 'I am not exaggerating when I say: guys, bring your boots, bring your shorts, bring your shirts and let's play every ball together,' said Arteta in a rallying cry to the Arsenal supporters. 'We want to do something special. That place [the Emirates] has to be something special, something that we have not seen.' Arteta admitted that he feels the weight of history in this competition but added: 'It's an opportunity. It's a moment now to say: 'OK, this is who we are, this is who we are as a team, this is who I am as an individual and I'm going to put my very best in there to make it happen'. Play with that mindset and let yourself go.' The 5-1 aggregate victory over Madrid has given Arsenal huge confidence that they can defeat the French champions, who defeated Liverpool and Aston Villa to reach this semi-final. 'The players feel we can face these guys and we can be better than them,' said Arteta. 'That is the feeling we had against Madrid in the previous round, and through the group stages, and that is how we feel today. I look them [his players] in the eyes and they can't wait to play tomorrow. That is the feeling.' Arteta's main selection issue will be replacing the suspended Thomas Partey, who was ruled out of this match because of a yellow card in Madrid. Declan Rice is likely to move to a more defensive midfield position, with Mikel Merino – if passed fit – and Leandro Trossard playing in the advanced roles further forward. Arteta's enthusiasm and positivity contrasted with PSG's Luis Enrique, who used his pre-match press conference as an opportunity to rail against negativity from the French media. PSG have won only one of their last four matches in all competitions but have already won the French championship. With their performances against Liverpool and Villa, they announced themselves as serious contenders for this season's Champions League. 'No one is talking about the goals or the games we've won, let's talk about our defeats, that's fine,' said Enrique, whose team were beaten at this stage of the competition by Borussia Dortmund last season. 'The questions coming from the media and even the questions the journalists ask, I think it is quite negative. But maybe that's just me.' Probable line-ups Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli. PSG (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia. Referee: Slavko Vincic (SVN).
