Author: WTX Sports Team

Emiliano Martinez has been accused of assaulting a cameraman at full-time after Argentina’s 2-1 World Cup qualifier defeat by Colombia. James Rodriguez’s second-half penalty saw the reigning World Cup winners slide to a home defeat on Tuesday. But it was an incident after the game that sparked controversy when goalkeeper Martinez appeared to slap a camera away from his face, causing the operator to fall to the ground. The cameraman in question, Jhonny Jackson, has since spoken to Colombian media and said he was left ‘very angry’ by the ordeal. ‘Out of the blue he slapped me,’ Jackson told RCN Deportes.…

Theo Walcott has warned Mikel Arteta that Ethan Nwaneri may not be ‘ready’ to start in midfield should Martin Odegaard be ruled out of Arsenal’s north London derby clash with Spurs. Arsenal are eager to return to winning ways after dropping points last time out against Brighton but Arteta could be without a number of his key players at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Declan Rice misses the contest following his controversial sending off versus the Seagulls and injury concerns have been stacking up for the Gunners, with Mikel Merino, Gabriel Jesus, Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu and captain Odegaard all nursing…

Robert Pires is confident Arsenal have enough strength in reserve to get a positive result in Sunday’s north London derby despite the absence of Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. The Gunners will travel to the home of their fierce rivals without their injured skipper who suffered an ankle injury playing for Norway in midweek. Mikel Arteta is also without midfield linchpin Rice after he was sent off in controversial circumstances against Brighton a fortnight ago, prior to the international break. Summer signing Mikel Merino will again be absent as he continues his recovery from a shoulder injury he picked up…

Mikel Arteta has thanked the Arsenal fans who have helped to ’emotionally transformed the club’ after he signed a new long-term contract. The 42-year-old succeeded Unai Emery five years ago and, having inherited a woefully underperforming and unbalanced squad, has helped mastermind a near total overhaul which almost culminated in the Premier League title last season. Having spent significantly again in the summer transfer window, Arsenal are expected to again challenge for major honours this term and Arteta is looking forward to continuing the journey and winning the silverware his efforts merit. ‘I feel extremely proud, very excited and am…

McLaren engineer Jonathan Beaumont has made a Lando Norris title prediction and has rated his F1 season out of 10 ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Norris currently sits second in the World Drivers’ Championship standings as the British star looks to follow in Lewis Hamilton’s footsteps and become a champion. The 24-year-old has 241 points following impressive wins at the Miami Grand Prix and Dutch Grand Prix and is 62 points behind Red Bull superstar Max Verstappen. There are eight races left this season for Norris to close the gap – starting with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – which…

Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher are split on Declan Rice’s best role for Arsenal and England. Rice initially joined Arsenal from West Ham as a holding midfielder but in his first season under Mikel Arteta, the 25-year-old scored seven Premier League goals after given more licence to push forward. During England’s Euro 2024 campaign, Rice took on a deeper role but Neville believes the Arsenal midfielder is not as good as Manchester City’s Rodri in that position. Carragher, however, has called Neville’s claim ‘harsh’ and believes Rice’s offers a more complete package than the Manchester City…

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has hinted striker Joao Pedro will be fit enough to feature in Saturday’s Premier League game against Ipswich. The 22-year-old has made an eye-catching start to the new season, scoring a late winner against Manchester United, before earning his side a point with the goal that capped a man of the match display against Arsenal prior to the international break. Pedro played 45 minutes for Brazil in Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat against Paraguay and faces a race against time to have recovered in time to play against the newly promoted Tractor Boys. Hurzeler, however, is confident his…

Manchester City have announced Japan international Risa Shimizu has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The club say she has had successful surgery after picking up the injury in Japan’s Olympic group-stage defeat by Spain in July. Shimizu joined City this summer on a three-year deal from West Ham after turning down an offer to stay with the London club. She will now continue her rehabilitation at Manchester City, with the club preparing for their Women’s Super League opener at Arsenal on 22 September. .

Joel Veltman has praised Declan Rice for his reaction in the aftermath of his controversial sending off against Brighton. The Arsenal midfield linchpin was given his marching orders in last month’s tempestuous 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium and will serve a one-match suspension against Tottenham on Sunday. Rice was given a second yellow card during the early stages of the second half against the Seagulls after he prevented Vetlman from taking a quick free-kick by nudging the ball away from his opponent. The former West Ham skipper looed astonished when referee Chris Kavanagh dismissed him despite having made only…

Liverpool vs Forest: Latest team news, predicted lineup and injuries Liverpool will hope to have Alexis Mac Allister available when they return to Premier League action this weekend against Nottingham Forest. Arne Slot has guided the Reds to a perfect start to the new Premier League season with three wins from three – the latest that 3-0 hammering of Manchester United at Old Trafford. The Liverpool boss has had a relatively injury-free squad to choose from in the opening stages of the campaign but there was concern for Mac Allister after he was forced off in Argentina’s victory over Chile…

Roy Keane has warned Jack Grealish that he could lose his ‘sharpness’ at Manchester City if he fails to secure a regular role under Pep Guardiola. After failing to make Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2024 in the summer, Grealish was recalled by Lee Carsley for England’s Nations League wins over the Republic of Ireland and Finland. The 29-year-old produced two impressive performances for the Three Lions but Keane believes the midfielder could struggle to make the next England squad if he is lacking playing time at City. ‘Biggest thing for Jack is, I definitely think he needs to play…

Manchester United and Chelsea have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Jonathan Tah, with the Bayer Leverkusen defender keen to secure a transfer move to the Premier League. Tah, 28, has just one year remaining on his current contract at Leverkusen and has no intention of extending his stay with the German champions beyond the end of the 2024/25 campaign. The sought-after centre-back repeatedly knocked back Leverkusen’s attempts to place him on a new deal this summer and made no secret of his desire for a fresh challenge while speaking to the media ahead of Germany’s 5-0 victory…

Rafael van der Vaart believes Arne Slot is bringing out the ‘full potential’ in Ryan Gravenberch after the Liverpool midfielder’s impressive display against Germany on Tuesday evening. The Netherlands drew 2-2 with Germany in Amsterdam with Tijjani Reijnders and Denzel Dumfries scoring for Ronald Koeman’s side. Gravenberch, meanwhile, delivered the standout performance at the heart of the Dutch midfield and Van der Vaart feels the 22-year-old has made a drastic improvement during Slot’s short reign at Anfield. ‘I think we have a great midfielder,’ Van der Vaart told NOS. ‘Arne Slot has brought him back to his full potential at…

Lee Carsley sends warning to former Man Utd starlet Angel Gomes Lee Carsley was delighted with Angel Gomes following his eye-catching full England debut but warned the former Manchester United starlet he faces a battle to maintain his place in the Three Lions squad. United’s decision to allow the gifted midfield technician to leave on a free transfer raised eyebrows at the time and the 24-year-old’s rapid progress at Lille has only served to underline that oversight. Having won the trust of Carsley at Under-21 level, the Lille star was immediately parachuted into the interim England manager’s first senior squad…

Arsenal fans have been left furious after Jarred Gillett was named as the referee for Sunday’s north London derby against Tottenham. Gillett, 37, was the referee for the Gunners’ opening Premier League game of the season as they defeated Wolves 2-0 at the Emirates last month. The Australian official angered Arsenal supporters in that match when he didn’t send off Wolves star Yerson Mosquera after he grabbed Kai Havertz by the throat. Last season, Gillett disallowed a last-minute Havertz goal against Aston Villa, which has also been referenced by Arsenal fans on social media before the derby. ‘How is it…

Troy Deeney has questioned Arsenal’s decision to sell Emile Smith Rowe and believes the midfielder could have been the player to come in and replace the injured Martin Odegaard. Odegaard, 25, has emerged as a major doubt ahead of Arsenal’s north London derby clash with Tottenham after sustaining an ankle injury during Norway’s Nations League win over Austria. The Arsenal captain had to be helped off the pitch by Norway’s medical staff in Oslo and was later seen walking with the aid of crutches as he boarded a flight back to England. It leaves Mikel Arteta will a potential headache…

Lee Carsley is a man keen to keep his cards close to his chest but even he must be quietly confident about the start he has made to life as England interim manager. Two wins from two against the Republic of Ireland and Finland was expected, and sterner tests are to come, but the 50-year-old is now the overwhelming favourite to be the permanent successor to Gareth Southgate. That, in large part, is down to his own actions and the stamp he has been able to put on this England side after just two games. Carsley did not play it…

Martin Odegaard is likely to be out of action for the next three weeks but the Arsenal captain has avoided serious ankle fracture, according to Norway’s team doctor. Already without midfield duo Declan Rice and Mikel Merino, Mikel Arteta suffered another huge blow earlier this week when Odegaard was forced off in obvious pain during Norway’s Nations League win over Austria. The 25-year-old was pictured boarding a private plane back to London on Tuesday with the aid of crutches, sparking fears he had suffered a fracture that would rule him out for a significant period. Speaking to Norwegian outlet VG,…

Jarell Quansah has admitted ‘it wasn’t a nice feeling’ after being hauled off at half-time in Arne Slot’s first game in charge but says he accepted the decision of the new Liverpool boss. Quansah was named in the starting XI alongside Virgil van Dijk as Jurgen Klopp’s successor got his first taste of Premier League action against Ipswich Town on the opening weekend of the season. With the game goalless at the break, Slot made the decision to take off Quansah with Ibrahima Konate coming on for the England Under-21 star. The Reds went onto score twice in the second-half…

John Obi Mikel claims Chelsea had agreed personal terms with Victor Osimhen but the deal for the Napoli striker broke down over ‘minor details’. Chelsea made a late attempt to sign the Nigeria international in the closing stages of the summer transfer window but the Premier League club were unable to complete a move. The 25-year-old had previously rejected an offer to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, whose €80 million (£67.3m) bid was accepted by Napoli. Obi Mikel has revealed that he played a role in negotiations between Osimhen and Chelsea and says a deal was only ‘hours away’ from…

Arsenal defender Nuno Tavares has been showered with compliments by Lazio owner Claudio Lotito after his bright debut for the Serie A club. Tavares joined the Italian side on a season-long loan in July having fallen out of favour with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. The full-back signed for the Gunners from Benfica in 2021 for around £8million but spent the last two previous seasons on loan at Marseille and Nottingham Forest respectively. The Portuguese defender endured a forgetful stint with Forest – making just 12 appearances in all competitions – but is hoping to get back to his best at…

Republic of Ireland fans were filmed taunting England fans with chants of ‘Lizzie’s in a box’ ahead of Saturday’s Nations League clash between the two sides. The day before the second anniversary of the death of Elizabeth II, England sealed a 2-0 win over Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin with Declan Rice and Jack Grealish on the score sheet. Ahead of kick-off, a group of Irish supporters were filmed singing the chant at full volume outside a Dublin pub as England fans were escorted by police on the other side of the road. There was a heavy Garda…

Harry Kane may be beyond reproach with 62 goals as England’s leading scorer but he’s far from being a value bet to celebrate his 100th international cap by breaking the deadlock against Finland at Wembley. The 31-year-old Londoner is the only Englishman to win Golden Boots at the World Cup and European Championship and has won three of those trophies in the Premier League with Tottenham and the Bundesliga’s equivalent with Bayern Munich last season. His tally includes just eight goals in friendlies, which draws a healthy comparison to the 22 goals that Bobby Charlton scored in similar matches and…

UEFA Nations League fixtures today 09/09 – where to watch, kick-off Nations League – Group 2 fixtures Group 2 fixturesKick offwhere to watch? Cyprus vs Kosovo17:00Viaplay International YouTubeFrance vs Belgium19:45Viaplay International YouTubeIsrael vs Italy19:45Viaplay International YouTubeRomania vs Lithuania19:45Viaplay International YouTube Nations League – Group 3 fixtures Group 3 fixturesKick-offwhere to watch? Norway vs Austria19:45Viaplay International YouTubeSlovenia vs Kazakhstan19:45Viaplay International YouTube Nations League – Group 4 fixtures Group 4 fixtures Kick-offwhere to watch? Montenegro vs Wales19:45Viaplay International YouTube Turkey vs Iceland19:45Viaplay International YouTube

Chelsea’s co-owners are looking to buy each other out amid a rift at board level. Chairman Todd Boehly and majority owners Clearlake Capital are both prepared to take full control of the club. Boehly has gradually lost power despite being named co-controlling owner after the club’s purchase from Roman Abramovich for £2.5bn in July 2022, with Clearlake – which owns a 61.5% stake – in primary control at Stamford Bridge. Clearlake co-founder Behdad Eghbali has become the most hands-on figure within the ownership group since Boehly stepped down as interim sporting director in January 2023. Multiple figures in the senior…