Mikel Arteta defended Aaron Ramsdale after the Arsenal goalkeeper’s error-strewn display in the 1-0 win at Brentford. Not even Kai Havertz’s late winner, which sent the Gunners to the top of the Premier League for the first time this season, could mask a horror show from Ramsdale. The 25-year-old was back in the spotlight on his first league appearance since September 3 with David Raya, now seemingly the club’s undisputed number one, still on loan from Brentford and ineligible to face his parent club. But the England international made a horribly nervous start which almost gifted the Bees an early goal. Having exchanged passes with Gabriel from a goal kick, Ramsdale suddenly developed a bout of the yips, hesitating with his clearance and allowing Yoane Wissa to pinch the ball away. Luckily for Ramsdale, Declan Rice had already spotted the danger and got back to clear Bryan Mbeumo’s shot off the line, before Wissa put the rebound wide. But Ramsdale hid his face under his shirt following another embarrassing error before half-time, somehow letting the ball slip out of his hand. Instead of throwing it up-field he ended up looking like a fast bowler delivering a bouncer which went straight to Bees midfielder Frank Onyeka. The danger was quickly cleared, but Ramsdale’s confidence was ebbing further down the drain. However, Arteta insisted: “This is football, I’m so happy with the team, we kept a clean sheet and we move on. “He has big courage, big personality and that’s why we love him. I enjoy to see the players encouraging each other.” Nevertheless, the Gunners won it when Bukayo Saka swung in a cross from the right and substitute Havertz ghosted in at the far post to plant his header past Mark Flekken and send them back to the top of the pile. It was only the German’s second goal since his summer switch from Chelsea. “That’s the beauty of it, when things come easy you don’t value it,” Arteta added. “We love him for a reason and the way he behaves in difficult moments. We could not be happier that a big player like him won the game. “I’m so happy, when you have opportunity to go top and you come to Brentford, an uncomfortable place to come, the team showed so much willingness to compete.” For the Bees a record of 14 London derbies without defeat came to an end. “I think we did so many things right, it was a very even game in many ways,” said boss Thomas Frank. “There were two chances for each team. Unfortunately they took one and we didn’t. The game should have been a draw. I’m pleased with the performance and effort of the players.” Read More Two teenagers arrested for ‘misogynistic chanting’ towards referee Rebecca Welch Novak Djokovic left to rue ‘bitter’ end to season as Serbia beaten in Davis Cup We have to be better – Brendan Rodgers says Celtic’s penalty record must improve Mauricio Pochettino angry as ‘soft’ Chelsea fall apart at Newcastle Brighton boss explains ‘big, big celebration’ and says no disrespect was meant Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola full of praise for two-goal Marcus Tavernier

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The obstacles on the road to Paris had appeared to be little more than potential problems. The Netherlands would always undoubtedly be the toughest task but after defeat by Belgium and an early World Cup exit their status became increasingly tenuous. England Women needed to make a statement and the circumstances would rarely be more favourable. After all, the Lionesses impressed against Scotland, they brushed off the oft-levied concerns about fatigue. There were a handful of worrying instances in their Nations League opener but they had been fleeting at best. They weren’t supposed to follow it up like this. A 2-1 defeat away from home presents more questions than answers for Sarina Wiegman. There’s no doubt this team are capable of great moments but they can’t afford to allow getting caught out to become a more regular occurrence. Within a matter of minutes in Utrecht it became apparent this was going to be a tiresome night for the Lionesses. Their passing was wayward, their possession uneasy, their defending inattentive. England lacked any semblance of composure and they were made to pay. The Netherlands’ pressure was unwavering, their attacking intent notably creative. England stuck to their shape but that matters little when the opponent takes any opportunity to force you to unwind, bring out your worst tendencies and carve out the gaps. Whipped up by a boisterous home support – a sea of luminous orange wanting to get the better of Wiegman on her return – the Netherlands toyed and made sure to torment the travelling team. Caitlin Dijkstra had an effort batted away by Mary Earps, the England goalkeeper leaped highest to collect the resting corner, but the predominant feeling when she dropped to the ground in a vain attempt to slow the tempo was one of exasperation. England rode their luck but playing in such a manner is always unsustainable: the Dutch opener was long overdue when it finally arrived. Georgia Stanway dawdled at the back and took too long to play the ball forward, Jackie Groenen noticed the opportunity. She pounced and dispossessed the England midfielder, Danielle van de Donk – offside on the replay but handed a reprieve by the lack of VAR – collected and spotted Lieke Martens, prowling the edge of the box waiting for her chance to come. Her precision finish, curled into the top right corner, forced the Lionesses into an uphill battle. There was, at least, some marginal improvement which followed. First Rachel Daly scooped a volley towards Daphne van Domselaar’s goal and was denied by the post, then Van Domselaar was made to showcase her abilities to keep out Lauren Hemp and Lucy Bronze with a fine double save. But Wiegman knew something was still amiss – even if her customary stoic body language refused to admit any concerns. Something needed to change and it’s certainly helpful for England in moments like this to have a master tactician at the helm. Daly made way for Chloe Kelly, the back three was abandoned in favour of a more secure back four, and from the opening moments of the second half it seemed that despite England’s uphill battle having looked increasingly like a mountain they had the perfect sherpa for the task. Hemp began bombing towards the defence in a manner she hadn’t been able to achieve while Kelly replicated such intent on the opposite flank. The game tilted back into balance and Alessia Russo, back in the team after overcoming an issue which kept her out against Scotland, came to the rescue – or at least that’s what the Lionesses would have hoped. Stanway was played in by substitute Kelly, she cut the ball across the face of goal, and, with a slight deflection off Dominique Janssen playing it into the air, found Russo. Those opportunities are her bread and butter and she was at hand, rifling into the same corner where Martens drew first blood. England found their way back into it but little more than that was able to materialise. They couldn’t capitalise and were made to pay. Andries Jonker rejigged his Netherlands team and, when England began to tire, got the better of his country’s former manager. Carelessness was the enemy again, Alex Greenwood sloppily handing off the ball to Martens. She fed Renate Jensen and Earps was beaten at her near post. On the stroke of 90 minutes England became the architects of their own downfall. England are level on points with the Netherlands in their Nations League group after their first two matches. They mustn’t slip into their increasingly regularly seen error-strewn ways when they welcome Belgium to Leicester next month. There were warning signs at the World Cup when England were sloppy but the Lionesses managed to mostly ride their luck on the big stage. Issues were laid to rest by reaching the final, but it’s becoming clear those tendencies remain present. Experimenting with a back three has been a double-edged sword and the formation question remains mostly unanswered: both have their merits, both have their downfalls. The particular way in which Wiegman sorts this side’s problems is less important than sorting them quickly. They managed to stop the rot which had been setting in before the World Cup; Team GB’s Olympic hopes rest on it being stopped from seeping in once more. Read More Netherlands vs England LIVE: Latest Nations League updates Nike U-turns on selling Mary Earps’ England goalkeeper jerseys England boss Sarina Wiegman looking forward to ‘special’ Netherlands return Sarina Wiegman happy with ‘three very important points’ against Scotland England find another blueprint for success to start Nations League with victory England vs Scotland LIVE: Latest Nations League updates

Thilo Kehrer has urged his team to write their names into the West Ham history books by winning the Europa Conference League final – and believes a squad bonding trip to Portugal can help them on their way. The Hammers face mid-table Serie A side Fiorentina in Prague on Wednesday night with the aim of lifting their first major piece of silverware for 43 years. The 1980 FA Cup was their most recent major trophy while their solitary success in Europe was clinching the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1965. Kehrer is determined for West Ham to finish the job at the end of a rollercoaster season that produced a 14th-placed finish in the Premier League. “Making history is being in the final, we know that. Now our focus and vision is completing the goal,” Germany defender Kehrer said. “I said it at the beginning of the season without knowing how the season would go, bringing a title to West Ham is a big goal. “We have the squad and quality to do it, so we’re very confident going into this final. We’re focused completely on the final. “You can feel the excitement of the fans and everybody around the club. There’s great excitement and for us players it’s great to be in that place. We’re enjoying it and will prepare to the best of our abilities. “We feel the support of every one of our fans. We are aware of all the people who are supporting us, they are behind us and cheering us on. We are very glad about that. We are taking that energy with us to Prague. “We’re happy for everyone who will be at the stadium but also for everybody around back here, we’ll give our best for them.” West Ham’s 10-day gap between the climax to the Premier League season and their European final enabled David Moyes to take the squad to Portugal for a short training camp. Apart from fine-tuning their preparations for the Eden Arena showdown, the players were given the freedom to play golf and visit a local water park. “We had some time together in a different place to usual, which helps to mix things up,” Kehrer said. “We relaxed a little bit but it also gave us some time together to regroup. We will try to use it as an advantage. “We’ve bonded well as a group this season. We used the last few days to grow even more and get even more team spirit so that everyone is focused on the goal.” Kehrer’s form since his £10m move from PSG last summer has been patchy, but the 26-year-old insists he has learned during his first season at West Ham. “I’ve taken some experience from the differences of the Premier League to other leagues – the intensity, the speed, the duels, the competitiveness,” he said. “This season I’ve become more complete by feeding off that experience. I can’t wait for what’s coming next.” Read More Discipline is key for David Moyes as West Ham promise fair play in Prague final Fiorentina aim to take out frustration on West Ham in Conference League final The year that sportswashing won: A season that changed football forever West Ham walk off pitch after alleged racial abuse in seven-a-side tournament Leicester’s unexpected twist provides reminder of football’s new reality Izzy Christiansen calls it a day – Thursday’s sporting social

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