Tag: Arsenal

Incoming USWNT coach Hayes has sideline dust-up with Arsenal boss Eidevall

The Chelsea manager accused the Arsenal boss of “male aggression on the touchline”

Things got a little heated between Chelsea coach Emma Hayes and her Arsenal counterpart Jonas Eidevall in Sunday’s Women’s League Cup final.

The pair were at odds over an issue that managers typically don’t get too concerned over: the number of balls available to use during the game.

In short, Eidevall thought only one ball would be used, and was enraged when Chelsea took a quick throw-in with a new ball from the dugout. The manager got near Chelsea’s Erin Cuthbert on the touchline in a moment that clearly did not sit well with Hayes.

After the match, which Arsenal won 1-0 on an extra-time winner from Stina Blackstenius, Hayes gave Eidevall a minor but unmistakable bump on the pitch when the pair shook hands.

Afterward, the incoming U.S. women’s national team head coach vented her frustration at what she called Eidevall’s “male aggression.”

“I’m not down for male aggression on the touchline, I’m really not,” Hayes said. “And fronting up to players, for me, that’s unacceptable. I’m disappointed and I told Jonas that. I don’t think it’s OK to behave like that.

“He got a yellow card, and he should have probably been sent off. I’m all for competing to win. I’ve never been booked in 12 years in my time here. I totally accept he’s a winner and wants to win but his behavior on the touchline wasn’t acceptable.”

Eidevall hit back by saying that the “male aggression” remark used by Hayes was “irresponsible.”

“I think that’s a very irresponsible way of labelling the behavior that I have, I don’t feel comfortable with that label, I don’t think it’s the truth to do that, so I think it’s very irresponsible to do that,” he said.

“The ball gets kicked away and Chelsea want to take a new ball to throw a quick throw-in and I said, ‘You guys wanted to play with one ball, now we need to get that ball.’

“Of course, Erin doesn’t get happy over that, I didn’t say anything more in that situation. If we decide to play with one ball we play with one ball. I like to play with multi-ball, the game is quick, but they didn’t want to do it and you can’t do it when it suits you.”

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Arsenal and Liverpool will play at Lincoln Financial Field on July 31

Arsenal and Liverpool F.C. will travel to the United States this summer as part of the Rivals in Red Tour, facing off at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Wednesday, July 31.

Two of the Premiere League’s best and most historic football clubs are heading to Philadelphia for a late-summer matchup.

Arsenal and Liverpool F.C. will travel to the United States this summer as part of the Rivals in Red Tour, facing off at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Wednesday, July 31.

The game will see two of the top teams in the Premier League meet in front of one of the country’s most vibrant soccer fanbases in the country. Liverpool F.C. vs. Arsenal is one of the great rivalries in the Premier League, with more goals than any other fixture since the Premier League began in 1992. The first match between the two teams dates back to 1893.

Arsenal will also play Manchester United at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, on July 27. This will be the second time they have faced each other on American soil, with the same fixture last July selling out the 80,000-capacity MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The pre-sale ticket window opens on Monday, February 26, at 9 a.m. ET. Fans can sign up now for Monday’s pre-sale and early ticket access by visiting https://tegsport.com.au/event/rivals-in-red-usa-2024-tour/. Tickets for the general public will go on sale on Ticketmaster Tuesday at 9 a.m. ET.

Arsenal launches custom women’s kit from Stella McCartney collaboration

It’s the first time that Arsenal’s women’s team will wear a separate kit to the men

Arsenal and Adidas have announced the launch of a custom away kit for the women’s team from famed designer Stella McCartney.

The kit will debut on October 6 for Arsenal’s Women’s Super League clash against Manchester United, while the Arsenal men’s team will wear it during warm-ups for its Premier League match against Manchester City two days later.

This season will be the first time that Arsenal’s women’s team will wear a separate kit to the men.

“I’m so proud to continue the story with Arsenal by creating this bespoke capsule for the women’s team,” McCartney said in a release from Adidas.

“I love that the away jersey taps into the exciting intersection of fashion and football through its elevated geometric print and captivating hues – with technical performance materials at the core. It’s important that both players and fans alike can playfully express themselves as they move on and off the pitch, and we hope this bold, new collection can play a part in that.”

The gender-neutral kit is part of an eight-piece collection that also includes shorts, a jacket, pants a t-shirt and more.

“For me, football has always been about having fun and getting creative – it’s why I got into it as a young girl and it’s what inspires me today,” forward Alessia Russo added. “I love that this collection represents that, and I can’t wait to wear the shirt with pride on match day.”

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PSV’s USMNT trio made some history in a bad night at Arsenal

For the first time ever, three U.S. internationals shared the same UEFA Champions League pitch

For the first time ever, three U.S. internationals played in the same UEFA Champions League game. That is an accomplishment worth celebrating. As for the game itself? Much less so.

PSV trio Sergiño Dest, Malik Tillman and Ricardo Pepi all shared the field on Wednesday, but the Dutch side was blown away in a 4-0 defeat to Arsenal to kick off both teams’ group-stage campaigns.

Dest played the full match, while Tillman came on midway through the second half and Pepi was introduced in second-half stoppage time.

In particular, it was a rough night for Dest, who tried and mostly failed to contain Bukayo Saka on the right side of Arsenal’s attack. The first and third goal for the Gunners could at least partially be blamed on Dest.

First, he completely switched off and allowed Saka to run past him and score on a rebound.

Dest would later get sucked inside and was unable to close down Gabriel Jesus quickly enough, as the Brazilian had plenty of time to take a touch and fire home Arsenal’s third goal.

After the game, PSV head coach Peter Bosz admitted that Arsenal’s superior quality was the difference, adding that his team did not defend well in its own box.

“[Our players] worked, they played with the ball, but the difference in quality was too great,” Bosz said.

“I’m willing to take a critical look at myself. They defended well in their box, we did not in ours. Then you run into a major defeat. If we play more at this level more, we’ll learn from these mistakes. I hope we can see that in the second leg in December, against the best team in the group and one of the best teams in the world.”

PSV will also face Lens and Sevilla in a difficult Group B.

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Which Premier League teams are owned by Americans?

Half of the Premier League’s 20 teams are now under majority American ownership. 

With the news of Everton’s takeover by U.S. private equity firm 777 Partners, the influence of American owners in the Premier League has never been higher.

When that deal goes through, it will mean that exactly half of the Premier League’s 20 teams are under American ownership. That includes four of the league’s biggest teams: Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool.

The English top flight has become an attractive investment for prospective owners as the league’s revenue from broadcast deals continues to skyrocket.

Here, we have listed all 10 Premier League clubs currently under American ownership. Some of the clubs include multiple owners/investors, so the American owners are italicized in those cases.

Another much-hyped Mexico prospect leaves Europe to join Tigres

Marcelo Flores was a highly touted prospect at Arsenal, but has now headed to Liga MX

The hype around Marcelo Flores at this time last year was growing exponentially.

A rising star in Arsenal’s academy, Flores earned the first of his three senior caps with Mexico at age 18. He then made the bench for the Gunners senior team for the first time in April 2022.

After fully committing his international future to Mexico over Canada and England, there was even talk of Flores making a late bid for a World Cup roster spot with El Tri.

But following a difficult loan spell with Spanish second division side Real Oviedo last season, Flores is following a path that other much-hyped Mexican prospects have traveled recently.

On Sunday, the 19-year-old’s transfer from Arsenal to Tigres was confirmed. The Evening Standard reported that the fee was £2 million.

Flores marks the third young Mexican to leave Europe and sign with Tigres just this year.

Diego Lainez, who like Flores has at times over the years been considered a future superstar, joined Tigres on loan in January. He was followed by Eugenio Pizzuto, who spent time with Lille and Braga before returning home to Mexico this summer.

All three players were 22 or younger when making the move to Tigres.

Amid some criticism of the transfer, Tigres manager Robert Siboldi defended Flores by insisting that the move was driven by the desire for playing time, not money.

Siboldi added that he would not consider the transfer to be a setback for Flores.

“He comes to earn his place, he is very motivated and I am very happy [to sign] a young man with experience, with training from other places that is supposed to be more demanding,” Siboldi told a press conference.

“Why don’t we see everything that can arise? A player comes to Mexico because something has happened, they haven’t had the minutes they wanted. They have the desire to play above the economic aspect.

“They can be at Real Madrid, at Manchester United and not play … it doesn’t mean that if they come to Tigres, Rayados or any team from Mexico that it’s a setback.”

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The top 25 highest-paid Premier League players in 2023-24

The five biggest English clubs make up the majority of the list

The new Premier League season is upon us, with Manchester City looking to win the title for the fourth season in a row and the sixth time out of seven.

As more money piles into the world’s richest league, its clubs — especially the big ones — are spending that cash freely on transfer fees and wages.

When examining the biggest earners in the Premier League, it’s no surprise to see the big clubs dominating. Of the top 25 highest-paid players in the Premier League, 15 come from the two Manchester clubs.

Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal employ the bulk of the remaining players, with Newcastle the only other team represented.

Let’s take a look at the 25 highest-paid Premier League players in 2023-24 by annual salary. All data is provided by Capology.

USMNT star Balogun says Henry influenced his decision to join Monaco

The 22-year-old striker left Arsenal to join the Ligue 1 side in a reported €40 million deal

Folarin Balogun has said France legend Thierry Henry helped convince him to choose Monaco as his new club.

Balogun completed a transfer to the Ligue 1 side on Wednesday, joining in a reported €40 million move from Arsenal.

The U.S. national team striker starred on loan with Reims last season, scoring 21 goals in Ligue 1 to send his transfer stock soaring.

Speaking at his introductory press conference on Thursday, Balogun said he had been in touch with Henry, who began his professional career with Monaco before eventually becoming a legendary figure at Arsenal.

“When I played against Monaco with Stade de Reims last season, he sent me a message to congratulate me on my goal,” Balogun said of Henry.

“He was just telling me about the the club, the history, he also said the city is very nice. That put the thought in my mind, and over time it became more clear that this is the next step for me and the step I wanted to make.

“Yesterday, after my signature, he congratulated me again, I am very happy to have his encouragement.”

Unlike Henry, Balogun did not get the chance to establish himself as a regular during his time with the Gunners. The 22-year-old played just 10 games with Arsenal, and took in a loan spell at Middlesbrough before his time at Reims.

Balogun said that despite his lack of opportunities with his boyhood club, he left Arsenal without any hard feelings.

“As a young player, I want to play,” he said. “I want to prove what I’m capable of. What’s done is done. You don’t always get the opportunity. Sometimes that opens door to new opportunities. I am happy with the way things turned out. I wish Arsenal all the best for the season. We’re looking to achieve great things at Monaco this season.”

Balogun could make his debut for Monaco on Saturday in a league match against Lens.

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USMNT’s Balogun departs Arsenal, joins Monaco in €40m-plus transfer

It’s good bye Arsenal, bonjour Monaco for Balogun

U.S. men’s national team striker Folarin Balogun is heading back to France.

The 22-year-old has sealed a move to Monaco, with the Ligue 1 club confirming a permanent transfer for the (now former) Arsenal forward on Wednesday. Terms were not announced, but reports have valued the deal as somewhere north of €40 million.

A report from Fabrizio Romano on Wednesday said that Arsenal will maintain a sell-on clause for the USMNT man for nearly 20% of a future sale.

“I think it’s a fabulous move for him,” USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter told reporters on Wednesday. “He’s familiar with the French league. He’s already performed at a really high level with a French team and now he’s going to a bigger club in the French league. I think it’s a really strong move.

“We expect him to be able to score goals, continue to score goals, like he’s done. Having met him and spoke to him, he’s a really humble guy who’s focused on the process and and continuing to improve, and he sees this as the next step for him on his way as he climbs the ladder in European soccer.”

Balogun’s return to Ligue 1 looks like very good news for him and the USMNT, and very bad news for teams in France not named AS Monaco, who overcame strong interest from Inter.

Last season, Arsenal sent Balogun out on loan to an unfancied Reims side due to a backlog of strikers in north London. Balogun responded with 22 goals in 39 appearances, including over 46% of the team’s 45 league goals. Balogun finished the season in fifth in the Ligue 1 goalscoring table.

Balogun won’t just walk into the team once he arrives at Stade Louis-II. Manager Adi Hütter has so far played out of a 3-4-2-1 formation this season, and Monaco’s lone striker has been its captain, Wissam Ben Yedder.

The 32-year-old has four goals in three games thus far in Monaco’s 2023-24 campaign, scoring at least once in all three of the club’s Ligue 1 matches. Furthermore, Monaco’s attack is firing on all cylinders at the moment, producing at least three goals in each of those games.

Ben Yedder can play underneath a striker as well. With Switzerland target man Breel Embolo going down with an ACL injury early in the club’s preseason, the big transfer fee is a clear statement that Monaco will be expecting Balogun to deliver the goods.

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Turner admits he was looking for a way out of Arsenal

The USMNT goalkeeper made just seven appearances in his lone season with the Gunners

Matt Turner says that Arsenal made it clear to him: If he wanted to play, he was going to have to leave.

Following just one season with the Gunners, the U.S. national team’s starting goalkeeper departed last week in a transfer to Nottingham Forest that could be worth up to £10 million.

Just days after completing the move, Turner made his Premier League debut in a familiar place. Coincidentally, Forest’s opening game of the season was away to Arsenal, with Steve Cooper’s side falling 2-1 after first-half goals from Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka.

Turner made just seven appearances in his lone season with Arsenal, serving as Aaron Ramsdale’s backup. At 29 years old, the USMNT No. 1 isn’t in a place where he can afford to wait around too long for playing time. Speaking to ESPN, Turner said he began to look for a way out of Arsenal after an offseason conversation with club hierarchy.

“I think for me it was something that was definitely on my mind,” he said. “I wanted to go and play and find places to play, but at the end of last season when I brought that up it very much seemed like it wasn’t on the cards from conversations with the front office, staff members.

“If there was ever a league in Europe that I wanted to play in it was this one, so it’s been a goal of mine to prove myself in the Premier League and hopefully I can do that for 37 more games.”

AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

Turner was clear-eyed about his debut season, admitting that he didn’t feel he did enough to surpass Ramsdale as the club’s starter — though he was satisfied with his performances when given an opportunity.

Asked if he regretted not playing more at Arsenal, Turner said: “Sure, but obviously I didn’t do enough to earn that so I’m self-aware enough. I thought I did well in the opportunities that I had to play.

“But again, the team is at the top of the table for most of the season and when that’s the case you don’t really change the goalkeeper very much.”

Still, Turner said he was happy with his experience in north London, saying it helped him become the USMNT’s starter at the 2022 World Cup and has led to him getting a shot to start in the Premier League.

“It helped me to become number one for the national team and play in the World Cup and that was always the goal,” he said, “and now I’ve found myself playing in the Premier League at another club.”

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