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It’s taken Unai Emery months of hard-work to lay his foundations into making Arsenal a much more attractive, positive football club in his tenure.

So, to see his good work being undone by unnecessary individual errors can be especially frustrating for the Spaniard.

So whenever Shkodran Mustafi ruins Arsenal’s plans with a mistake, it’s Emery who is undoubtedly hurt the most. The error-prone German defender was back to his worst on Sunday, ending the Gunners’ unbeaten home streak with another embarrassing performance against Crystal Palace.

Coming up against possibly the most out-of-form Premier League striker in Christian Benteke, Mustafi ended up getting bullied. He was out of position multiple times, harried with his challenges and unsure of what to do. The German allowed the towering Palace striker to waltz beyond him for the opener before making a schoolboy error for the second.

Just when Arsenal were clawing back into the game after equalizing, he sloppily allowed Zaha to slide past him to score against the helpless Bernd Leno. This isn’t the first time he’s made mistakes which have cost Arsenal points. The German’s done it time and again this season, ruining their momentum and piling on the misery on Emery.

Considering he’s reportedly paid £90k (via SportRac), it simply isn’t good enough.

At this point, even Kostas Mavropanos seems a more reliable option than him. While signing a strong centre-half must be made a priority in the summer, Emery needs to deal with his Mustafi issue immediately.

However, if he keeps on persisting with the erroneous defender, the witty Spaniard’s risking destroying everything he’s built so far at Arsenal.

Arsenal fans, do you think Mustafi should be replaced soon? Join the discussion by commenting below…

James Tavernier came through the academy system at Newcastle, and after spells on loan, with a move to Wigan sandwiched between them, he moved to Rangers in 2015.

Still a Championship club then, he wanted to be part of the rebirth of a giant, and help Rangers re-establish themselves as one of Scotland’s powerhouses, after the now infamous issues that plagued much of this decade.

Three and a half years later, and he is now firmly established as one of Steven Gerrard’s key players — which was acknowledged when he was given the captain’s armband this season.

As captain, he is the first name on Gerrard’s team-sheet each week, and he has consistently led by example over the season.

With still eight games left — and a massive Old Firm clash against Celtic this weekend — he has already made 50 appearances this season, and that he has played in every competition Rangers have taken part in, it underlines his importance to the team.

To think that as a youngster, Tavernier could not get close to establishing himself in the Newcastle senior team, and all his temporary moves away from St James’ Park, it is testament to his character and self-belief that he never gave up.

It is exactly that type of attitude that has endeared him to Rangers fans, and the fact that he has managed to chip in with 14 goals and 17 assists across all competitions this season has helped too.

Awarded with an improved contract at the beginning of the season, Tavernier, at 28-year-old, still has his best years ahead of him, and tied down at Ibrox until 2022, should see him leading the club for a few years to come.

Perhaps one of Tavernier’s most impressive stats is that, as a defender, he has only been booked once in his 50 games this season, which is remarkable for a full back who is up against pacy, tricky wingers almost every week.

His low point of the season, however, happened recently when playing in a game at Easter Road, a Hibs fan ran along the touchline and attacked the Rangers captain as he attempted to take a throw-in.

It was an ugly incident, and not one that Tavernier will remember fondly, but he kept his composure and helped his side secure a point.

Tavernier’s is a success story for a player who, in footballing terms, has gone from rags to riches.

A young player deemed unlikely to succeed by Newcastle, who has gone on to be captain of one of the biggest clubs in Britain.

Newcastle’s loss has most definitely been Rangers’ gain.

What do you think of your captain’s performances this season, Rangers fans? Do you hope he skippers your side for the years ahead? Let us know…

أعلن نادي يوفنتوس الإيطالي لكرة القدم، إصابة الدولي الأمريكي ويستون ماكيني، لاعب وسط الفريق، بـ فيروس كورونا المستجد، كوفيد 19.

وأكد النادي عبر موقعه الرسمي، أنه امتثالًا للوائح والبروتوكول المعمول به، وبعد ظهور إيجابية نتيجة ماكيني، سيدخل في عزلة تامة “الحجر الصحي”.

طالع أيضًأ.. رونالدو يكسر العزل في البرتغال للعودة إلى تورينو 

وقال يوفنتوس إن جميع العينات سلبية باستثناء ماكيني، ولكن لن يتم السماح لهم بالاتصال مع أي شخص خارج المجموعة بعد إصابة ويستون.

وكان كريستيانو رونالدو مهاجم الفريق قد تعرض للإصابة بـ فيروس كورونا أمس الثلاثاء، أثناء مشاركته مع منتخب بلده البرتغال.

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Sheffield Wednesday held their bitter rivals Sheffield United to a draw in the Steel City derby at Hillsborough on Monday night. The goalless stalemate was a better result for the hosts than it was the Blades, as Chris Wilder’s side missed an opportunity to move into the automatic promotion places.

Despite the deadlock remaining unbroken, it was not a boring game, and in fact represented a fascinating tactical battle. Ultimately, Owls boss Steve Bruce will be the happier of the two managers, but both learned important lessons about their teams on Monday.

Steve Bruce is doing a brilliant job

One thing that this derby clash made clear is just what an impact Bruce has had at Hillsborough. Defensively, the Owls were brilliant to a man. The home side produced a dogged, battling, determined and diligent display to keep their fierce local rivals at bay for the ninety minutes.

Prior to Bruce’s appointment earlier in the year, the Owls would not have had the cohesion or confidence to pull off such an impressive defensive effort. Now, though, under the 58-year-old former centre-back’s stewardship, the likes of Michael Hector and Tom Lees are flourishing.

Did Chris Wilder get it wrong in the Steel City derby? Check out the thoughts of Ingood Nick below…

The Blades missed Mark Duffy

For all of their possession and endeavour, the Blades lacked incision and penetration. Without that killer final pass being good enough, the likes of Billy Sharp and Gary Madine stood little chance of scoring. In the end, Wilder’s side resorted to hopeful long balls, which Wednesday mopped up easily.

What the Bramall Lane club lacked was the influence of Mark Duffy, as the 33-year-old midfielder remained an unused substitute for the second Championship game running. The veteran has racked up four goals and six assists in the league so far this year, and might have been the key to unlocking the Owls’ stubborn rearguard. With his side having failed to find the back of the net at all, Wilder may now regret not having given Duffy a go.

Madine or McGoldrick is a big choice

Both Madine and David McGoldrick are fine strikers, each capable of scoring goals and having a positive impact. Madine was given the nod to start by Wilder on Monday night, with the 31-year-old taking his place on the bench. This was a far bigger decision than it might have originally seemed, as both the Cardiff City loanee and McGoldrick significantly impact the way United play.

By going with Madine, Wilder opted for a more physical, target man-like presence. This was the wrong call, as the Wednesday defence found this type of threat all too easy to cope with. When McGoldrick, and his movement and creativity, were introduced to the fold in the second half, the Blades immediately looked better and more potent. Had he been included from the off, the final result may have been very different.

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Loads of Liverpool fans have been reflecting on their 0-0 draw against Bayern Munich, and they’re more than a little worried about a bad patch of form for Andy Robertson.

Robertson has been one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League since joining Liverpool in a deal worth an initial £8m, as the Scottish captain’s performance levels rarely drop below a seven out of ten.

That hasn’t been the case recently though, as he seems to have lost a little bit of the attacking spark that has seen him rack up eight assists in all competitions this season, and even more worryingly he has looked shaky at the back.

After a poor showing in the 1-1 draw against Leicester, it was the 24 year-old who needlessly gave away a free kick at the London Stadium, from which West Ham equalised, and he struggled massively with Bayern ace Serge Gnabry on Tuesday night.

That is now three games out of the last four that the all-action left-back hasn’t been at his best, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

Newcastle United finally break unwanted record signing Miguel Almiron for a transfer fee of £20 million signalling the start of what could be a new beginning. But most likely not.

The 14 (and a bit) year wait is finally over. Not since 2005 have the Newcastle faithful seen their club dip into their silver collection to fund a transfer anywhere close to what recent arrival Miguel Almiron has cost.

With owner Mike Ashley opting to continue his business strategy into football – signing budget items and hoping for the best, it’s been a tough time for the Newcastle faithful who have had to endure their team bouncing between the two top English tiers without a clear project in sight.

During his unveiling, Almiron, 24, claimed (via the Daily Mail): ‘I am the sort of player who tries to get the team playing around me, that’s how I’d describe myself.‘ Adding: ‘I try not to think about the pressure of the price tag or pay attention to it.‘

The Paraguayan international will undoubtedly be making his full debut for the club shortly to help secure their Premier League survival, and hopefully Rafael Benitez’s future on Tyneside.

He said, ‘When I heard of the interest from Rafa Benitez it was a no-brainer. We all know what a great manager he is, a great person, and there was no hesitation about wanting to play for him and the club.’

However, on the topic of the Spaniard’s possible departure from the club, he conceded: ‘It’s not a topic we’ve discussed. The only things I’ve spoken to him about is me feeling comfortable and settling in quickly so I can bring something to the side.‘

Does this go to prove how influential Benitez is at Newcastle?

It’s certainly evidence that he’s one of the fundamental incentives behind big money transfers. Moves which have become intrinsically linked with Premier League success.

The striker may have drawn a blank against Bournemouth but their talisman turned on the style in a 4-0 win

If Erling Haaland doesn't get you, don't worry there's plenty of Manchester City players that will. The Norwegian didn't find the net on his first appearance at the Etihad Stadium but that didn't stop the Premier League champions tearing apart Bournemouth apart in a 4-0 win.

The newly-promoted Cherries simply had no answers to the brilliance of Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan, who combined to produce a mesmerising performance that will have City's title rivals fearing that Pep Guardiola and his players will prove unstoppable this season…

• The Winners

  Kevin De Bruyne:

  Another season, another performance of quality as the Belgian continues to set remarkably high standards at the Etihad Stadium.

  Irrespective of his involvement in the goals, De Bruyne has an incredible work rate that his team-mates have to follow. and that’s matched by sheer quality.

  His goal was a work of art, with the attacking midfielder completely throwing Bournemouth’s defenders with an incredible dummy that gave him enough time and space to curl a delightful shot into the corner with the outside of his right boot.

  Then, of course, came the assist, with De Bruyne stretching the Cherries’ backline before playing a perfectly-timed nutmeg pass for Phil Foden to run onto and score.

  Ilkay Gundogan:

  He was the hero at the last game at the Etihad – the dramatic, title-clinching victory over Aston Villa – but admitted afterwards that he was disappointed that he hadn’t started.

  But those two goals were a reminder of why he is so important, with Guardiola hailing his ability to take up goalscoring positions.

  Getting a breakthrough always takes the pressure off City and once again it was Gundogan that found the opener after exchanging passes with Haaland.

  That and his constant running earned him a deserved hug from Guardiola when he was replaced midway through the second half.

  Sergio Gomez:

  The new left-back has not yet been confirmed as a signing but he was at the Etihad Stadium to watch the brutal dismantling of Bournemouth.

  And he must have been licking his lips at the thought of playing in this City team, with his move from Anderlecht expected to go through imminently.

  Gomez began his career as an attacking midfielder and, therefore, will have been delighted to see Joao Cancelo effectively play as a winger.

  Guardiola spoke enthusiastically about what Gomez can bring to his team and now he must be desperate for the deal to go through as quickly as possible so that he can join up with his new team-mates for their next outing.

  Bernardo Silva:

  Speculation continues to grow around Silva’s future, with big-spending Barcelona making no secret of their ambitions to sign him.

  Starting on the bench for City’s second successive Premier League game will only add to the rumours, even if Guardiola’s decision to leave him out was tactical.

  The City boss has made it clear that he wants the Portuguese star to stay, although he cannot be certain what will happen before the transfer window closes.

  And City fans made their affection for Silva clear when he was introduced as a second-half substitute, with a deafening roar followed by the constant chanting of his name.

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• The Losers

  Scott Parker:

  Choosing to wear a cardigan on one of the hottest days in Premier League history was a strange decision, but trying to stop City in this mood was largely out of his control.

  His side counterattacked intelligently but the reality was that City were simply too strong and Bournemouth spent the majority of the game on the edge of their own box.

  The Cherries have been bouncing between the top divisions for the past few seasons and are among the early favourites for relegation.

  A chastening visit to the Etihad Stadium is the last thing that Parker needed after an encouraging victory on the opening day against Aston Villa and he must get his players to forget about it as quickly as possible.

  Erling Haaland:

  The Norwegian striker played well but he looked frustrated at not scoring when he was replaced midway through the second half.

  His last touch had come moments earlier when he scuffed a shot just wide with what was probably his only sight of goal.

  It was also a tough start as he didn't touch the ball for the first 16 minutes, although he should be happy that when it came, it teed up Gundogan for the game's crucial opening goal.

  There was little space for Haaland to work in and he will have easier days but this was hard work in high temperatures.

• Getty
  

  Man City Ratings: Defence

  Ederson (6/10):

  The goalkeeper’s biggest test was to remember to put on sunblock on an afternoon where he was largely watching from the best seat in the house. But he stayed alert to make one smart save from Ben Pearson’s snapshot.

  Kyle Walker (7/10):

  Reprised his new role as a hybrid full-back-midfielder and once again revelled in the position. His sharp, intelligent passing is exactly what Guardiola would have wanted from him.

  Ruben Dias (7/10):

  Always alert to any danger whenever Bournemouth tried to overload on the counterattack. Saw a lot of the ball at his feet and continues to improve at starting attacks from deep.

  Nathan Ake (8/10):

  Was left isolated on a couple of occasions but swept up without fuss. Continued his impressive start to the season.

  Joao Cancelo (7/10):

  A typically impressive performance as he helped the build-up throughout and his intricacy and calmness panicked Jefferson Lerna into an own goal.

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• Midfield

  Rodri (7/10):

  The Spaniard doesn't generate many headlines in his holding midfield role but he completely controlled the middle of the park with his reading of the game.

  Ilkay Gundogan (8/10):

  With Bournemouth lined up on the edge of their box for long periods, he played as a second striker at times, getting the crucial opener and making dynamic runs.

  Kevin De Bruyne (9/10):

  Incredible quality coupled with a fantastic attitude shows why he remains one of the most impressive performers in world football.

Kylian Mbappe was kept quiet as second placed Lens beat PSG 3-1 to narrow the Ligue 1 holder's lead to just four points atop the table.

Facing the goal from the top of the 18-yard box, surrounded by three defenders, Kylian Mbappe tried the spectacular.

He pivoted to his left, spinning to one side, before attempting to turn onto the other. But for all of his rotation, he simply lost the ball, a flurry of opposition defenders converging to poke it away. PSG's star striker turned away in frustration, while Lens regained possession.

It was one of numerous aggravating moments for Mbappe, who found himself shut down by a dogged opponent. With Lionel Messi still out of the team and Neymar suspended, PSG needed their star striker to deliver. But the Ligue 1 leaders never got him in the game, while Lens were devastating on the break, stealing a 3-1 win to shrink Les Parisiens' lead atop the table to just four points.

Lens opened the scoring inside five minutes when Przemyslaw Frankowski volleyed home from close range. But PSG responded shortly after, with Hugo Ekitike latching on to a loose ball before finishing from a tight angle. Star man Lois Openda made it 2-1 for the hosts 20 minutes later, beating two defenders and squeezing the ball under Donnarumma to complete a fluid counter attack.

Lens continued to push the advantage in the second half, and found a third shortly after the break. Massadio Haidara dispossessed Fabian in front of the PSG box, before feeding Openda, who backheeled the ball into the path of Alexis Claude for an easy finish. PSG manager Christophe Galtier reacted with a series of substitutions, but with a thin bench, saw his replacements fail to offer any sort of lift to his side. And Mbappe never got in the game, leaving PSG devoid of options as they fell to a convincing away defeat.

Getty ImagesThe Winners

Lois Openda:

Ironically, the standout forward wasn't wearing a PSG shirt Sunday night. Openda terrorized the visitors' back line, running in behind and exploiting the spaces left between Ramos and Mukiele. He only touched the ball 24 times, but set up one and scored a wonderful goal, his eighth of the season.

There were no real secrets as to how Openda was going to operate, but PSG never really had an answer. With their back four pushing up but playing far too wide, Openda had room all evening. It was, admittedly, slightly odd to see PSG undone by such a predictable formula, but there was a real beauty to the simplicity of Openda's performance.

Hugo Ekitike

Ekitike spurned interest from Newcastle to sign for PSG in the summer, leading to a fair few raised eyebrows. Why would a young player sit on the bench behind one of the most prolific front threes on the sport? On Sunday night, he showed what he might have learned since joining the club.

Ekitike got himself on the scoresheet with a rather controversial finish, and got himself into the box with regularity. He still doesn't have a clear understanding with Mbappe, but he's now established himself as the clear stand-in if one or more of the trio are unavailable. Chances are, there will be many more goals to come.

The Ligue 1 title race:

There wasn't supposed to be anything resembling a Ligue 1 title race before the season. PSG are just too good. Everyone else is too average. And there still might not be. This is a PSG side far from its best, with at least three key players missing.

But this was also an opportunity for Lens to make things interesting, with the second placed side able to cut PSG's lead to four points. And they did just that. PSG will likely be too good (it's genuinely difficult to see them losing another game). But if Lens keep winning, things might just get interesting.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Losers

Sergio Ramos:

Ramos' performance can be encapsulated by one tackle. The centre back, finding himself the wrong side of Luis Openda, dived in front of the striker, desperately trying to cut out a driven pass up the pitch. But as Ramos slid, his foot dug into the turf, and the ball flew a metre past. And Ramos could only watch as Openda scored.

He endured a torrid evening, tortured by one of the league's best strikers. After six weeks off, it was hoped that the 36-year-old could recapture some old form. However, he's struggled since the World Cup break, and no longer has the extra burst of pace to make up for poor positioning. Ramos can still be a quality centre back on his day, but keep performing like this and he could find himself lining up alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.

Fabian Ruiz:

It's difficult to see what exactly Fabian Ruiz brings to PSG's midfield. Handed his second straight start, the Spaniard struggled to find a foothold in the game. With Neymar suspended and Messi still not in the squad, Fabian needed to add some attacking thrust to the side. But he was largely ineffective and failed to consistently link up with PSG's attacking duo – he only completed two passes into the final third. He didn't offer much defensively either, and often left Nordi Mukiele isolated against two Lens players down the PSG right.

Kylian Mbappe:

What a frustrating night for the Frenchman. PSG made no secret of their game plan Sunday evening, as it was clear from early on that they would try to rely on Mbappe. Lens adjusted accordingly and basically marked the winger out of the game. There were a few fleeting moments of class: shots from narrow angles and spins in tight areas. But a clear chance never came, and he cut a frustrated figure as the final whistle blew. It's safe to say that Mbappe misses his attacking counterparts.

Getty ImagesPSG Ratings: Defence

Gianluigi Donnarumma (5/10)

Should have done better on Lens' first, as the goalkeeper parried the ball into a dangerous area. Can't really be blamed for either of the other two. He was shaky otherwise, with a few loose passes.

Achraf Hakimi (6/10)

Was the most effective of PSG's back four going forward, and showed some wonderful flashes of pace to recover.

Sergio Ramos (4/10)

Was caught the wrong side of Openda, allowing the striker to break through and score. Could have given away a penalty after a hefty nudge inside the box. Also failed to track a run for Lens' third. A rough night.

Marquinhos (5/10)

Sent the wrong way for Lens' second after a desperate slide tackle. Was terrified by Openda all night, who exposed his lack of pace.

Nordi Mukiele (6/10)

Often caught two vs one with Lens' wing backs pushing up. Left Massadio Haidara unmarked in the build up to Lens' opener. He didn't get much help from Fabian defensively, though. A few good tackles redeemed an otherwise rough night.

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Midfield

Fabian Ruiz (5/10)

Handed his second straight start and it's difficult to see what exactly he brings to the midfield trio. Deservedly substituted after less than an hour.

Danilo Pereira (6/10)

Brought in for solidity at the No.6, and wasn't quite at his best. Reliable in possession, completing all but one of his passes. But he was caught out of position for Lens' second goal, ran out of legs after 59 minutes.

Marco Verratti (7/10):

On the end of a disappointing defeat on his 400th PSG appearance, although he did create three chances.

Carlos Soler (6/10)

Tasked with playing the No.10 role, and isn't quite as good as his suspended Brazilian teammate.

ScorecardSarel Burger ended with match figures of 5 for 66•Arne Putensen/Proactive

Xander Pitchers’ unbeaten 105 in Namibia’s second innings and a disciplined bowling performance on the final day helped them to a 114-run win over over Hong Kong in the ICC Intercontinental Cup in Windhoek.Namibia’s first innings didn’t get off to an ideal start after they elected to bat; they were 16 for 2 in the seventh over. Gerhard Erasmus and Raymond van Schoor, however, put on a 101-run stand to steady their innings, but right-arm seamer Haseeb Amjad and Nadeem Ahmed took quick wickets through the middle to push the home team on the back foot.Sarel Burger and Nicolaas Scholtz added 122 for the sixth wicket to guide them to 250, but the lower order collapsed and Namibia were bowled out for 272. Scholtz remained unbeaten on 85 and Amjad picked up 5 for 49.The start to Hong Kong’s response was poor. They were 0 for 2 as as Burger and JJ Smit dismissed Irfan Ahmed and Roy Lamsam inside four overs. Smit and Christopher Coombe added to Hong Kong’s woes by reducing them to 25 for 4 in 19.2 overs.Hong Kongs hobbled their way to 135 for 8 before a 46-run ninth-wicket stand a 22-run 10th-wicket partnership pushed them to 203. Nizakat Khan (58) and Tanwir Afzal (52) were the main contributors.Namibia declared their second innings on 232 for 5, after gaining a lead of 301 runs, riding mainly on Pitchers’ third first-class century and van Schoor’s 42.Hong Kong started off with a 51-run opening stand which ended with the fall of Lamsam’s wicket. The rest of the innings fell apart. The Scholtz brothers, Bernard and Nicolaas, took five wickets between them, to add to Burger’s 2 for 38 to bundle out Hong Kong for 187 in 75.2 overs.

MatériaMais Notícias

Nesta quinta-feira, no Rei Pelé, às 19h15, CRB e Paraná irão travar um duelo com objetivos semelhantes: buscar a vitória para se aproximar, ou quem sabe, entrar na G4. Para Igor Cariús, atleta da equipe alagoana, esse confronto tem um sabor especial devido ser contra seu ex clube. Jogador espera por lei do ex e fala sobre essa sensação.

– Já joguei contra ex clubes. É sempre uma sensação diferente. Podemos reencontrar velhos amigos e relembrar algumas histórias, mas dessa vez irei defender o CRB e fazer de tudo para sair com a vitória. Tomara que essa lei do ex funcione comigo – comentou

Com apenas um ponto separando os dois times da tabela, tudo leva a crer que o duelo será disputado com as duas equipes buscando a vitória. Lateral sabe dessa dificuldade e comenta sobre o que espera do confronto.

– Vamos entrar focados para conseguir vencer esse confronto. Sabemos que não será fácil, mas estamos preparados para conquistar essa vitória. Estou confiante em ter um bom resultado amanhã – finalizou.