Latest news with #titlechallenge
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Our mindset is to win the Premier League'
"Our mindset is to win the Premier League and we will give everything from the first game," says Arsenal centre-back William Gunners have strengthened their squad this summer, providing much-needed depth to mount a serious challenge, and are ready to take the next step to get their hands on the title."We have to learn from the last three seasons," said Saliba. "Of course, we are lucky to have a chance to compete in the Premier League again and try to win."We have a lot of new players and they will hopefully help us to win this league."With expectation comes pressure, but that is not something the France international fears."Pressure is good," he added. "That means we are in a good place."We need to keep going like this. If we are not good we don't have pressure, so it's good."We play football to have pressure. We are in a good mood and we've had a good trip [in Singapore]."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli & nine players Arsenal should consider selling after £200m summer spending spree
Arsenal are going big this summer in what feels like a crucial juncture in their ongoing pursuit of ending their 21-year Premier League title drought. The Gunners have been spending freely, strengthening across the board, but attentions must now turn to outgoings. After a protracted transfer saga, long-term target Viktor Gyokeres is set to become their latest big-money new arrival, following the likes of Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke through the door at the Emirates Stadium and taking the north Londoners' summer outlay to around £200 million ($269m). Meanwhile, Jorginho, Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Thomas Partey - who has been charged with rape and sexual assault - have all left the club without generating any income. Head coach Mikel Arteta will know there is plenty more blubber to be trimmed and money to be made as he attempts to mould a potentially title-winning squad... Kai Havertz Do Arsenal need to ask themselves a serious question about Havertz?! Gyokeres' long-awaited, imminent arrival throws the German attacker's involvement into serious doubt, after he emerged as Arteta's main No.9 last season. Nine goals in 23 appearances before a hamstring injury effectively curtailed his season was not a bad return, but the decision has clearly been made that he is not the prolific striker Arsenal need to carry them forward, while the No.10 role and the wings are occupied. It might be time to cash in... Gabriel Jesus It's a great shame, but it's probably time to face up to the fact that Jesus' much-heralded move to Arsenal in 2022 has been completely derailed by fitness issues, with the forward currently sidelined by a second serious knee injury since his arrival, with those bookending a number of other niggles. He still faces a number of months on the treatment table as he continues to recover from a dreaded cruciate ligament tear, but it would be little surprise if the Gunners were weighing up cutting their losses behind the scenes. Finding a buyer is another question. Jakub Kiwior Strangely, Kiwior's place in Arteta's plans has rarely seemed secure since he signed for the north Londoners in January 2023, although he really stepped up in the run-in in 2024-25 amid a raft of defensive injuries. However, that spell only seems to have put him in the shop window. With Riccardo Calafiori now back in action and Gabriel Magalhaes nearing a return, Arsenal have also completed the signing of highly-rated Spanish centre-back Cristhian Mosquera - all of which pushes Kiwior right down the pecking order. Unsurprisingly, it's been reported that he wants out. Albert Lokonga One player who is pretty much guaranteed to be on his way this summer, forgotten man Lokonga is back at Arsenal having done his reputation no harm with a decent loan spell at Sevilla, albeit disrupted by injuries. Now 25, the midfielder has surprisingly been included on the Arsenal's pre-season tour to Asia, but with just one year to run on his contract the club will be determined to find him a new, permanent home this summer. The player says he needs "stability". Gabriel Martinelli A divisive figure among the Arsenal fanbase, there is some uncertainty surrounding Martinelli's future amid the flurry of transfer activity at the Emirates, with Madueke signed seemingly to play off the left flank that the Brazilian currently occupies. The 24-year-old has plateaued somewhat across the last two seasons, with his lack of end product becoming a point of contention. His sale would represent significant profit after Arsenal paid just £6m after unearthing him at Ituano in his homeland. Reiss Nelson There seems to be a hesitance to permanently let go of Hale End graduate Nelson, who is back at Arsenal after an injury-curtailed loan spell at Fulham last season, where he had initially impressed. However, while he has travelled on the Gunners' pre-season tour and even featured in the friendly win over AC Milan, the new arrivals in attacking areas surely mean his time at his boyhood club is drawing to an end. Fulham are apparently interested in bringing him back. Leandro Trossard Trossard has been a very useful tool for Arsenal since arriving from Brighton in January 2023, despite never being a guaranteed starter. Last season, he stepped up in Havertz's absence in the second half of the campaign, finishing strongly with six goal involvements in eight games to end the league campaign. However, given the attacking signings the Gunners have made or are about to make, with both the left wing and striker positions being reinforced, it's hard to see where he will fit. At 30 years old and with just one year to run on his contract, this is probably the opportune moment to cash in amid links to Fenerbahce and Bayern Munich. Fabio Vieira A notable absentee from Arsenal's pre-season tour to Singapore and Hong Kong, although that is mainly the result of his involvement in the Club World Cup with loan club Porto. Nevertheless, it would be a surprise to see him return at this stage. The Portuguese attacking midfielder is certain to feature near the top of the list of players Arteta and Co. will want to move on this summer after an indifferent spell back with his former side. He's already been linked with newly-promoted Serie A side Parma. Oleksandr Zinchenko Zinchenko was supposed to be a transformative signing for Arsenal, and while he has helped to push them closer to ending their Premier League title drought, there is a sense they have never quite got the best out of him. Niggling injuries have put him on the back foot, and some will argue that the versatile Ukrainian should have been utilised in midfield more, where he is a classy operator. The 28-year-old's limited minutes in the second half of 2024-25 - even when fit - suggest his days at the Emirates are numbered, with one year left on his contract.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paulo Costa shares alleged Khamzat Chimaev DMs that inflamed rivalry: 'I want to take everything he has'
Paulo Costa hasn't changed his ultimate goal after his return to the win column at UFC 318. Costa battled it out for three rounds this past Saturday night in New Orleans to defeat Roman Kopylov in a much-needed unanimous decision. The win snapped the Brazilian's two-fight skid, giving the one-time UFC middleweight title challenger just his second win of his past six appearances. Advertisement Costa, 34, made it clear before the fight he still hopes to eventually get his hands on his old rival Khamzat Chimaev, whom he was supposed to fight in October 2023. Speaking on Monday's edition of "The Ariel Helwani Show," Costa revealed the private back-and-forth his longtime girlfriend, Tamara, had with Chimaev ahead of their canceled bout. "He said, 'Your man is not a man enough. He likes men,'" Costa claimed. "He sent her a picture of [Israel] Adesanya and me, he said, 'Look, he lost to Adesanya. He likes Black men. You should look for a better man than him.' Something like that, with no sense. "Of course, she sends some message back, 'Don't involve my family in this business. It's not about us because you never involve family in this. It's between you and Paulo. This is disrespectful. This is not the kind of thing that a man should do. If you want to talk to Paulo, this is not about me. It's not my business. This is only business. Take care of your problems with Paulo.' She said something like that. "I hate this motherf***er. I hate this guy. I want to fight him. I want to take everything he has." Unfortunately for Costa, a nasty staph infection on his elbow became dire enough to require surgery two weeks before his originally scheduled fight with Chimaev. As a result, former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman stepped into the bout on short notice and ultimately lost a majority decision against the undefeated middleweight contender. Advertisement In Chimaev's next fight, he'll challenge for the middleweight title against champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 on Aug. 16. Costa said he will be in attendance in Chicago on that night, and he predicts Chimaev will come up short against "DDP" after gassing out as the fight progresses. That same strategy is also how he sees himself beating Chimaev, should the two ever book another fight. "I truly believe I'm one of the worst opponents for him, because I'm strong," Costa said. "I never go back[ward]. I have strong hips, strong legs. I can defend takedowns very well. And I'm going to make a hell of a fight for him. "I think me and Dricus is a kind of perfect fighter to beat him. I think Dricus has a kind of same style [as me], same body shape that are going to compromise his work. Chimaev is still very immature. He fights like an immature guy. Nobody rushes for a title fight, or five rounds against a very strong man like Dricus or me. He's going to do that because he's immature. He cannot compose himself and keep his base because he's emotional. He acts like a kid. I don't know what's his problem." Advertisement Regarding his own confidence levels, Costa admits he's still finding his way back to his best self after the Kopylov win. Before his title loss against Adesanya in 2020, Costa had finished all but one of his 13 opponents. Despite the great performance against Kopylov, Costa expects he'll only get better with more fights from here on out. "I'm still getting this confidence back," Costa said. "I need more fights. I need one more, two more, to get 100% of my confidence back, because I could finish this fight against Kopylov. That first [knockdown], when he fell and got up on his feet, I was — I don't know if I [went hard enough for the finish]. I will keep at the pace, [I was thinking] maybe it's not the right moment to go. Advertisement "But there was a good moment to go because he was rocked, still groggy, figuring out what happened. It was a clean shot. Clean straight in his mouth. He felt that. He was in kind of survival mode. I didn't take too many advantages of that. I could, but my confidence was not so good to do that."
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Put up or shut up' - fan views on Gabriel comments
We asked for your views on Gabriel's statement that this season "will be different" after admitting Arsenal have "let a couple of titles slip through our fingers".Here are some of your comments:Matt: I mean you'd expect to hear it from a player. I'm not sure I'm convinced Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi will complete the team. Still far too reliant on Bukayo Saka. Having Eberechi Eze on the left would mean teams are far less likely to double up on Saka and take him out of the game. That said, maybe Gabriel Martinelli will come good when there's a dangerman up front who can sweep in his cut-backs. Any true Arsenal fan is wary of optimism, but who knows? Trust the process everyone!Rachel: I would love this season to be different! In reality we all know it can take time for a new team to gel together. With new players comes a change in the dynamic and although I'm confident the new signings will work out well, we could still be waiting a while before everything news notifications on your clubGuy: I don't share Gabriel's confidence. If you look at the squad this season I don't think it has improved from the squad we started last season with. We have seen our rivals make improvements though. I see us slipping further down the table and we will be fighting for top four rather than the It's make or break for this team and the manager this season. We have to win big, simple as that. Players will leave if the title isn't won. We are signing big players so hopefully they produce the performances the fans deserve. It's time to stop talking and go out on that pitch and I think it will be the same, but nearer to the eventual Once we sign Gyokeres he'll have everything in place for a title push - the striker every fan has been crying out for the past few seasons, cover in every position and a rock solid midfield. However, that will leave nowhere for Arteta and the players to hide. It's time to finally put up, or shut up!Vince: I'm cautiously confident we can make that final step this time. It looks like we finally have enough depth in quality to withstand the worst injury crisis, and are well balanced in terms of dependable seniors and exciting juniors. Get that forward in, bring Jesus back from injury and we should be celebrating something next May.
The Independent
21-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Manny Pacquiao's shock result in comeback fight brings more questions than answers
Manny Pacquiao 's controversial return to boxing did not bring the clarity that boxing fans desired. On Saturday night (19 July), in a strange title challenge against Mario Barrios, a 46-year-old Pacquiao fought the WBC champion to a majority draw, leaving questions over what comes next. Many within boxing had spoken out against Pacquiao's return, as boxing's only eight-weight world champion fought professionally for the first time since 2021. Yet the Filipino legend impressed in Las Vegas, against an admittedly underwhelming Barrios, 30. Those factors combined for a 114-114 draw on two of the three judges' scorecards, while the other read 115-113 in Barrios's favour. While Pacquiao had been coy before the fight about what might come next, he naturally would not have planned for a draw. A rematch against American Barrios looks likely, however. 'It wasn't necessarily about respect,' Barrios said about his inability to see off Pacquiao. 'It was just, you know... He still has a lot of crack. For his age, he was very explosive, tricky, and I just wasn't trying to make a mistake by overcommitting on a shot that I wasn't sure of. 'I prepared for the best Pacquiao, but he's still tricky in there, still has so much experience and showed that tonight. You know, it was a really good learning experience for me. I'm still proud of everything I was able to do.' Pacquiao was trying to break his own record as the oldest-ever welterweight champion, but he was unable to leave the MGM Grand with victory secured. In his previous pro bout, in 2021, he was outpointed by Yordenis Ugas in Vegas. A shock move by Pacquiao could be a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, 48, who beat the Filipino in one of the most lucrative boxing matches of all time in 2015. 'Manny is always ready,' Sean Gibbons, from Pacquiao's promotional company, told Sky Sports. 'After that performance last night, you better check with Floyd!'
