Martin Odegaard reveals Declan Rice’s ‘brilliant’ impact at Arsenal
Martin Odegaard believes his “amazing” midfield partner Declan Rice is already proving his worth after Arsenal eased into the Champions League knockout stages. England international Rice, a £105million summer signing from West Ham, was among a host of standout performers as the Gunners secured top spot in Group B with a 6-0 demolition of French club Lens. Arsenal captain Odegaard has been impressed with the instant impact and consistency of his 24-year-old team-mate, who has been ever-present in the Premier League and Europe this term. “It’s brilliant – I think he’s been amazing since he came here,” the Norway international said of Rice. “Every game he’s showing his qualities. He’s a great player, a great guy, so a great addition to the squad.” Rice was afforded a rest for the final 15 minutes on Wednesday evening as in-form Arsenal won their pool with a fixture to spare, four days after going top of the Premier League. Odegaard volleyed home the last of the rampant hosts’ five first-half goals against last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up before Rice’s replacement Jorginho converted a late penalty to complete the rout. The former Real Madrid playmaker says the Gunners are constantly striving to produce statement performances. “Every time we play we want to send a message,” said Odegaard. “Of course, we want to win every time we play and we want to put on performances like this. “The way we started the game was brilliant. We had complete control of the game with the ball. We played with a really high rhythm and intensity and we were effective in front of goal. “The last few games we’ve been really good defensively and we wanted to show even more on the ball and to get some more goals as well. “We did that and we knew what we were playing for and we saw the motivation and the hunger out there.”
2023-11-30 21:21
Jude Bellingham keeps scoring and Real Madrid keeps winning despite spate of injuries
Real Madrid wasn’t supposed to still be this good after losing its top scorer this summer and being decimated by injuries
2023-11-30 20:55
French soccer league struggling with violence, discriminatory chanting and low-scoring matches
There’s been discriminatory chanting in the stands, a team bus pelted with stones, a game called off because of crowd trouble, and precious few goals on the field
2023-11-30 20:51
What are Scotland’s best and worst case scenarios in the Euro 2024 draw?
Scotland are safely through to Euro 2024 after finishing second in qualifying Group A. Steve Clarke’s side were beaten only once across their campaign and secured a famous victory over Spain to help book their place at next summer’s tournament. Their 17-point tally sees them go into Pot 3 for the draw for the Euros. They will not face any of the other five nations in that pot in the group stages of the competition. With three play-off qualifiers still to be confirmed, the pots look like this: Pot 1: Germany (hosts), Portugal, France, Spain, Belgium, England Pot 2: Hungary, Turkey, Romania, Denmark, Albania, Austria Pot 3: Netherlands, Scotland, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic Pot 4: Italy, Serbia, Switzerland, Play-off winner A, Play-off winner B, Play-off winner C So what is the toughest possible draw for Scotland? While the pots are based on qualifying form, and thus a useful gauge of team quality, we will go by Fifa’s world rankings to determine the best and worst case scenarios for Clarke and his team. The toughest possible draw for Scotland (current world ranking 36th) would be: France (2nd), Denmark (19th), Italy (9th). On paper, the easiest draw would be: Germany (16th), Albania (62nd), Kazakhstan* (100th). *Kazakhstan are part of qualifying play-off Path C When is Euro 2024? The 17th edition of the men’s Euros will be held in Germany between 14 June and 14 July. Which cities are hosting fixtures? Berlin Munich Hamburg Dusseldorf Frankfurt Cologne Stuttgart Gelsenkirchen Leipzig Dortmund Read More When is the Euro 2024 draw and what are the pots? Who has qualified for Euro 2024 - and which nations still could? Scotland sign off on successful Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with six-goal thriller Is Scotland vs Norway on TV? Channel, time and how to watch Erling Haaland ruled out of Norway match – only a week before Man City v Liverpool Steve Clarke praises Scotland for keeping their heads after late draw in Georgia
2023-11-30 20:48
Dortmund gaining confidence in Bundesliga after Champions League success. But Leverkusen is up next
Borussia Dortmund’s success in the Champions League is giving it confidence it can recover its faltering Bundesliga campaign
2023-11-30 20:47
Gabriel Jesus ‘doesn’t care’ about rumours linking Arsenal with other strikers
Gabriel Jesus is unconcerned about Arsenal reportedly coveting other strikers as he seeks to stay fit and translate his prolific Champions League form into the Premier League. Brazil international Jesus took his European tally to four goals in as many appearances by claiming the Gunners’ second in Wednesday evening’s 6-0 demolition of French side Lens. Yet the former Manchester City forward has found the net just once in the top-flight this term amid absences due to knee and hamstring injuries. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been linked with potential moves for Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Brentford’s Ivan Toney, in addition to an audacious bid to sign Paris St Germain star Kylian Mbappe. Jesus dismissed the significance of the transfer speculation and insisted he offers more than just goals as he defended his scoring record. “This happens you know, maybe it can be agents talking about a lot of things,” he said. “I’m not the most experienced, but I think I have seen a lot of things in football. “Sometimes it is like this, it happened when I was at City even with (Sergio) Aguero and me scoring. I was scoring a lot and people was linking everyone. So here, I don’t care about this. “I know my qualities and I know what I can bring to the team. I can score and I can also help with other things, like opening spaces. But the only people who can see it are those who watch the game and understand. “Those who don’t understand we will say that: ‘Oh he didn’t score today’. But maybe I run and open space for someone and, let’s be honest, I don’t miss a lot of chances. “I think it is not about ‘he doesn’t know how to score’. Sometimes I have to be more in the box, that is the one thing I am working on.” Premier League leaders Arsenal booked a Champions League last-16 spot as Group B winners with a thumping midweek win at Emirates Stadium. Jesus assisted Kai Havertz’s opener and then doubled the advantage with a composed finish before Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard added further first-half finishes, prior to Jorginho’s late penalty. The 26-year-old feels comments he made last week regarding his goal-scoring ability in the aftermath of his country’s World Cup qualifying defeat to rivals Argentina were misinterpreted. “I spoke after the game against Argentina – and people don’t understand sometimes and people took it out of context and said ‘Gabi, his strong point isn’t scoring’,” he said. “I said this, but not in that way. I have other qualities as well, but I can score guys! “Obviously I want to score every game, if it’s possible a hat-trick. But that’s not the reality. “Now my main target is to keep fit because I know I can help everyone here. I’m sleeping better, I’m eating better.” Jesus was a Champions League runner-up with City in 2021 and says the Gunners – beaten finalists in 2006 – must believe they can go all the way in the tournament. “If you talk about experience in this competition, Arsenal have reached the final in their history,” he said. “They didn’t win but Arsenal is big. Arsenal can go and face strong teams, playing good. That is enough to believe. “First we have to believe and then go there and try to win the games.” Read More Andre Onana – Do the numbers back up the criticism? Lancashire sign Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon for 2024 season We have to own it – Scott McTominay urges Man Utd to atone for Galatasaray draw Keira Walsh ‘feeling fresh’ before latest round of Women’s Nations League games He’s amazing – Martin Odegaard hails ‘brilliant’ Declan Rice impact at Arsenal On This Day in 2004 – Sir Matthew Pinsent announces retirement from rowing
2023-11-30 20:27
No. 2 Michigan is a big favorite in Big Ten championship game. Third straight CFP bid is in sight
No. 2 Michigan is a heavy favorite entering the Big Ten championship game against Iowa in Indianapolis on Saturday night
2023-11-30 19:58
No. 4 FSU looks to make its closing playoff argument against No. 15 Louisville in ACC title game
Fourth-ranked Florida State faces No. 15 Louisville on Saturday for the Atlantic Coast Conference championship
2023-11-30 19:57
No. 17 Tulane, No. 25 SMU bring unblemished league marks into AAC title tilt
No. 17 Tulane is trying to win back-to-back conference titles for the first time in nearly a century when it hosts No. 25 SMU in the American Athletic Conference championship game
2023-11-30 19:55
Andre Onana – Do the numbers back up the criticism?
Andre Onana failed to deal with two Hakim Ziyech free-kicks as Manchester United threw away a two-goal lead against Galatasaray on Wednesday night. It was the latest Champions League drama for the much-scrutinised goalkeeper and here, the PA news agency looks at his United record. Champions League roller coaster The 3-3 draw in Istanbul followed a 3-2 defeat in the first meeting with Gala and 4-3 losses to Bayern Munich and FC Copenhagen as United, top scorers in Champions League Group A, prop up the standings. That contributes to Onana’s record of 33 goals conceded in 20 games since Erik ten Hag signed him from Inter Milan this summer to replace long-serving keeper David De Gea. He has conceded only 16 in 13 Premier League appearances – a slight improvement on De Gea’s record under Ten Hag at the same stage of last season, when he had conceded 18 – but remarkably has topped that in only seven appearances in other competitions, which also include a 3-0 Carabao Cup loss to Newcastle. By this date last season, United had conceded 25 goals in 21 games in all competitions – De Gea accounting for 23 in 20, albeit with his European appearances coming in the Europa League. Martin Dubravka was in goal for the 4-2 League Cup win over Aston Villa. One extreme or the other Onana has seven clean sheets with United, including a stoppage-time penalty save in the 1-0 home win over Copenhagen, but has conceded three or more on eight occasions – De Gea did so only six times the whole of last season, though they included losing 6-3 to Manchester City and 7-0 to Liverpool. United have this season lost league games 3-1 to Arsenal and Brighton and 3-0 to City, in addition to the Newcastle tie and the four Champions League games. Eight games represent 40 per cent of Onana’s United appearances to date, while De Gea conceded three or more in less than 10 per cent of games over his 12 years at Old Trafford. That ‘one extreme or the other’ approach this season leaves only five exceptions in which United have conceded either once or twice. They have four clean sheets and have conceded three or four in their other four games since beating Sheffield United 2-1 on October 21. How Onana compares De Gea won last season’s Premier League Golden Glove with 17 clean sheets and conceded 43 goals in 38 games, an average of 1.13 per game. Onana’s current rate of 1.23 would equate to 46.77 goals over the full league season – only twice have United conceded 47 or more, 54 in 2018-19 and 57 in 2021-22. De Gea was ever-present in the league for both of those seasons, comfortably United’s worst in the Premier League era. In 2018-19 they conceded 72 in 51 games in all competitions, an average of 1.41 per game. Last season, Ten Hag’s first in charge, United conceded 63 goals in 62 games overall – 1.02 per game. De Gea was ever-present apart from four Carabao Cup games shared between Dubravka and Tom Heaton. In mitigation for Onana, United have allowed more shots on target this season while dealing with injuries in defence. The Cameroon international has made 51 saves in 13 league games, already halfway to De Gea’s tally of 101 in 38 last term and averaging 3.9 per game, up from 2.7. Read More Lancashire sign Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon for 2024 season We have to own it – Scott McTominay urges Man Utd to atone for Galatasaray draw Keira Walsh ‘feeling fresh’ before latest round of Women’s Nations League games He’s amazing – Martin Odegaard hails ‘brilliant’ Declan Rice impact at Arsenal On This Day in 2004 – Sir Matthew Pinsent announces retirement from rowing Arsenal through to last 16 as Manchester United squander lead again
2023-11-30 19:51
Troy, Appalachian State ride hot streaks into the Sun Belt championship game
Troy and Appalachian State are both riding hot streaks into the Sun Belt Conference Championship Game
2023-11-30 19:47
Chess.com gives verdict on Hikaru Nakamura cheating allegations
Chess.com has given an official verdict on the cheating allegations made against Hikaru Nakamura, after the grandmaster and streamer found himself at the centre of the biggest drama in the sport. In case you’ve not been following the story over the last week or two, Nakamura dismissed “garbage” claims that he had cheated recently after going on a 15-game winning streak. Grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik added fuel to the fire after the claims came to light on social media – and even though Kramnik later deleted the posts about Nakamura, he didn’t take it lightly at all. Now, Chess.com has waded in on the news story and completely absolved Nakamura. Addressing the claims, the site said in a statement: “In the case of the recent accusations against Hikaru Nakamura by Vladimir Kramnik, we can say that we have generated nearly 2,000 individual reports on Hikaru’s games in our Fair Play system and have found no incidents of cheating.” “Our team has done the math and various simulations of streaks for a player like Hikaru who has played more than 50,000 games. We have found that not only is a 45 game winning streak possible, it is in fact likely given the number of games played,” the site added. Not finished there, Chess.com went on to say that the claims “lack statistical merit” having consulted statisticians. However, cheating is far more prevalent on the platform than people might think. According to Chess.com, 50,000 accounts were banned for cheating on the platform in October alone. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings
2023-11-30 19:21