ARSENAL'S BRICK WALL 🧱

 

'THIS IS BIG BOY STUFF' - ROY KEANE AND MICAH RICHARDS HAVE FURIOUS ROW IN STUDIO ABOUT MAN UNITED PLAYER

Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir prompted a huge clash between Roy Keane and Micah Richards after the Red Devils' loss to Arsenal.

The Red Devils were beaten 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon in their Premier League 2025/26 season opener, with Bayindir left culpable for the winning goal.

Bayindir had a moment to forget for Arsenal's winner against United on SundayCredit: Getty

His error sparked a heated debate between Keane and Richards at full timeCredit: Sky Sports

Stand-in goalkeeper Bayindir was surprisingly named in the starting line-up by Ruben Amorim in place of Andre Onana.

The Cameroon international had not been expected to feature due to a hamstring injury suffered last month.

However, Amorim confirmed prior to the match that he had been available for the fixture.

His decision to start Bayindir instead backfired just 13 minutes in as the Gunners took the lead through Riccardo Calafiori.

A corner from Declan Rice caught the keeper off guard as the ball dropped under the crossbar with Bayindir only able to flap at it.

Surrounded by players from both sides, Bayindir was only able to palm the ball onto the head of Calafiori with the Italian nodding home from a yard out.

Following the match, Keane and Richards were involved in a heated debate about the goal in the Sky Sports studio.

The pundits failed to see eye-to-eye on the United keeper's decision-making for the goal.

As Richards attempted to explain his stance that Bayindir needed more protection from the Arsenal players by his teammates, Keane fumed: "Micah, this is big boy stuff."

He continued: "There's going to be mismatches. If they've got a lot more players bigger than you're leads, then you're going to be outmatched somewhere."

Bayindir was unable to claw away a Rice corner as Calafiori scored the winning goalCredit: Getty

Richards hit back by arguing: "But not in the centre (of the goal)."

Keane replied: "That's the goalkeeper, you can't babysit a goalkeeper."

His fellow pundit did agree on Bayindir's fault in the goal, though, admitting: "I agree with you that the goalkeeper should definitely do better.

"But I also believe he should be protected a lot more."

Why did Onana not play?

Amorim had been asked about his selection choice between the sticks prior to the match.

With Onana only returning to training days before the fixture, he opted against playing his first-choice goalkeeper despite him being available.

Meanwhile, veteran Tom Heaton was included on the substitutes bench ahead of him.

The Portuguese explained: "We try to choose the best players for each game, so next week is a different life.

"This week, we chose these players. No (he is not injured), he’s recovered but the other guys did so well during pre-season, so I need to balance that."

Onana has not played for United since their post-season friendly against the ASEAN All-Stars in May.

Meanwhile, Bayindir made four pre-season appearances for the Red Devils.

Amorim's side are next in action away to Fulham next Sunday before a trip to Grimsby in the Carabao Cup on August 27.

- Ciaran Wiseman

RECORD-BREAKING ARSENAL ENJOY CARNIVAL SEASON IN EINDHOVEN

Reuters 

Eindhoven has been packed with carnival-goers in recent days but on Tuesday it was Arsenal enjoying their own party in the city, getting over their goalscoring crisis and setting a Champions League record in the process.

Mikel Arteta's side became the first team in Champions League history to score seven goals away from home in the knockout stages of the competition as they romped to a 7-1 win over PSV Eindhoven.

It was the most goals the Gunners have scored in a single game since beating Newcastle 7-3 in the Premier League 13 years ago.

The Arsenal manager said the win had given his players "joy and confidence and belief", but was not getting carried away when questions were put to him about the records that his team had broken.

"For sure, it's something that hasn't been done, so great to be part of that," Arteta said. "But as a team we want to achieve many other things that are far more important than that.

"The happiest thing is we are in a very strong position to go to the next round, which is where we want to be.

"But there's still a job to do in London in a week's time."

After failing to score in their past two games, a 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest and 1-0 defeat by West Ham, Arteta may not have seen a victory like this coming.

"This will give them great confidence for the rest of the season. Right from the start Arsenal had control of the game," said Chris Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Arsenal were ruthless with their finishing, some of the combination play in the final third was sensational.

"Martin Odegaard looked back to his best. To a man they were really strong and that centre-back pairing [Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba] is phenomenal.

"Arsenal will take some stopping in this competition."

England and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice was one of the players singled out for his performance during the game and said that the Gunners have got the reward for their hard work in recent weeks.

Rice, who had a goal ruled out for offside, said Arsenal were "fluid" and possessed the "enthusiasm, drive and hunger" that the knockout stages demand.

"But we've been playing like this all season," he added. "We feel we've been playing well as a team. Sometimes we score five, sometimes two, sometimes we don't score but [on Tuesday] we did well. It all clicked."

Arsenal's lack of a recognised striker has been well documented, with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz both injured. But six different players contributed to the rout on Tuesday - Odegaard scored twice, along with goals for Jurrien Timber, Mikel Merino, Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori.

The emphatic win means that Arsenal can start planning for a trip to Madrid, as they are set to take on the winner of the tie between Real and Atletico, which finished 2-1 to Carlo Ancelotti's side. Next week's second leg takes place at Atletico.

Nwaneri shows why he's earned Arteta's trust

Arsenal's excellent 17-year-old Nwaneri again showed why there is so much hype and excitement about his future in the game.

The academy graduate has been given the task of filling in for Bukayo Saka on the right hand side of Arsenal's attack while the England international is out injured. The teenager has repaid that faith in him with eight goals in 28 games in all competitions.

That goal return puts him alongside some of England's most iconic young players.

Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney scored nine goals each in all competitions when they were aged 17 or younger and Nwaneri now has 16 days before his 18th birthday to try to match or beat that record.

"I don't think that he needs any pushing. You see every time what the intention is," Arteta said. "If it comes, it comes and it's great.

"I'm really impressed with the way he behaved and the way he played. It's about consistency and now doing it again three days later in another big stadium."

Nwaneri also became the third youngest player to score a goal in a knockout stage match in the Champions League after Bojan in April 2008 (17 and 217 days) and Jude Bellingham in April 2021 (17 and 289 days).

"He's 17 years old and he's on the biggest stage," Rice said.

"We've taken [the youngsters] under our wing and they deserve to be playing. You should see them train they way they have no fear and want to perform.

"Even if Saka was here Ethan would be still getting minutes because he's that good and works so hard in training. We have so many top young players."

Nwaneri was joined in the starting XI by his team-mate from the academy Myles Lewis-Skelly and the 18-year-old also impressed despite being withdrawn in the first half to avoid him getting sent off.

Lewis-Skelly, who had been booked earlier, put in a late tackle on Richard Ledezma and although he was unpunished, Arteta substituted him moments later.

"They play like they have been here for many years," captain Odegaard said.

"So much quality and confidence, they're ready for it. I'm not worried about them, we enjoy having them in the team and they have a great attitude."

Odegaard, who himself started playing senior football at 15 years old, believes that Lewis-Skelly can use his early withdrawal as a learning experience.

"He took that really well," he added. "He knew it was a tricky position to be in. He was on a yellow and had a tough challenge too. He took it well and we're all there to support and I'm sure he will learn from that too."

- Alex Howell, BBC Sport football news reporter in Eindhoven

ARSENAL RATINGS: SAKA, TROSSARD STAR IN WIN VS. LEICESTER

Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka celebrate after Arsenal take the lead vs. Leicester City in the Premier League. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal returned to winning ways on Saturday afternoon as they secured a 4-2 victory over Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners dominated the first half and got themselves in front when Jurriën Timber crossed low towards Gabriel Martinelli, who registered his first Premier League goal of the season with an accurate finish. Martinelli was a regular spark for the home side's attack throughout the opening 45 minutes, and he was involved again before the break when providing the assist for Leandro Trossard to double the lead.

Manager Mikel Arteta looked comfortable as his side enjoyed 76% possession by the end of the first half, but it was just moments after the restart when the Foxes responded, with James Justin's effort deflected off Kai Havertz from Facundo Buonanotte's free kick.

Leicester City goalkeeper Mads Hermansen kept his side in it with saves against Gabriel Magalhães and then Trossard, before a spectacular effort from Justin was smashed in off the post to level the scoring. Hermansen was involved again when a poor pass out from the back allowed Declan Rice to play in Trossard, only for the 29-year-old to see his effort saved.

Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri were introduced as Arsenal looked to get a late winner, and after Hermansen made one more save from Riccardo Calafiori, it was one corner too many in the 94th minute as Trossard's effort was deflected in by Wilfred Ndidi to win the game. Havertz added a late goal to seal it with one of the final kicks of the match.

Positives

Arsenal's victory puts them on level points with Manchester City, while they continued to show how they continue to win games late, while being the best in the league at converting set pieces. Bukayo Saka's performance was also noteworthy, in an almost faultless display on the day.

Negatives

There were some moments when concentration could have been better, with Calafiori taking a chance on a yellow card -- but those were minor negatives in an otherwise convincing performance.

Manager rating (1-10)

Mikel Arteta, 7 -- Arteta's side created more than enough chances to win the game, and the Arsenal manager was unlucky to see his side concede from a deflected set piece and then a spectacular strike. Some might argue he could have made the introduction of Sterling sooner, but the Gunners did have a massive chance to retake the lead a minute before he came on.

Player ratings (1-10; 10: best. Players introduced after 70 minutes receive no rating)

GK David Raya, 5 -- There was little to do for Raya as Arsenal dominated the first half, but he had to pick the ball out of his net moments after the restart, with Leicester City converting from their free kick.

DF Riccardo Calafiori, 6 -- The Italy international combined well with Martinelli when advancing up the left flank, and was encouraged to shoot by the Emirates Stadium crowd after his effort against Manchester City last week. He could have been tighter to Justin before his strike, and was also careless with some challenges which may have seen him sent off on another day. Almost scored the winner with a powerful header but was denied by Hermansen.

DF Gabriel Magalhães, 6 -- Gabriel was a constant danger on set pieces as usual and came close to scoring when forcing a save from Hermansen. Composed in possession, and helped quickly restart attacks for his side after receiving the ball.

DF William Saliba, 7 -- A strong display from Saliba saw him regularly win the ball back with aggressive challenges high up the pitch, which allowed Arsenal to maintain pressure when their opponents tried to clear the danger. Involved in the first goal when challenging Jamie Vardy who claimed for a foul before the Gunners scored, but there didn't look to be too much in it. Booked in the second half for a foul on Vardy.

DF Jurriën Timber, 7 -- Timber fared well against Leicester City's attempts to counter-attack and dealt well against the threat of Stephy Mavididi. Registered an assist with a low cross that was delivered across the box to Martinelli.

MF Thomas Partey, 6 -- Kept things ticking in midfield by moving the ball on to Arsenal's more creative players, but didn't have too much to do defensively, with the majority of Leicester City's attacks going down the flanks.

MF Declan Rice, 7 -- An all-round strong midfield performance saw Rice help control the game as well as win possession back consistently, impressing with his decision-making. Played in Trossard after a big error from Hermansen, and was unlucky not to get an assist after the goalkeeper made amends with a save.

MF Kai Havertz, 6 -- The 25-year-old timed his runs well into the penalty area and was able to connect with multiple crosses but couldn't trouble the goalkeeper. He was also too deep from Leicester City's free kick, deflecting Justin's effort into his own goal. Got himself on the scoresheet late on to seal Arsenal's 4-2 victory.

FW Gabriel Martinelli, 8 -- Martinelli always looked to beat his marker down the left-flank and where he provided a regular option when Arsenal won the ball back high up the pitch. Got things up and running with a strong finish from Timber's low cross, and then turned provider to assist Trossard as the Gunners made it 2-0. Replaced by Sterling in the second half.

FW Leandro Trossard, 8 -- The Belgium international got into consistent intelligent positions and was rewarded at the end of the first half as he finished accurately from Martinelli's cut-back. Missed a big chance in the second half but made amends with his effort that was deflected into the goal in the 94th minute.

FW Bukayo Saka, 9 -- There was always a sense that something could happen when Saka had the ball on the right-flank, where Leicester City even struggled to deal with the 23-year-old when they doubled up on him. Impressed when beating his man down the line as well as cutting inside, and he consistently carried the ball into dangerous areas before creating shooting opportunities for himself and his teammates.

Substitutes (players introduced after 70 minutes = no rating)

Raheem Sterling (on for Martinelli, 74"), N/R -- Positive in possession and tried to beat his marker down the line, but couldn't get his deliveries into the box.

Ethan Nwaneri (Partey, 85"), N/R -- Brought on and provided an instant lift to the crowd amid a confident performance, and was involved as he helped win the corner that put Leicester under all sorts of pressure.

Gabriel Jesus (Trossard, 98",) N/R -- Introduced as Arsenal looked to play the remainder of the game out.

- Adam Brown

RICCARDO CALAFIORI WAS A TRUE GUNNER EVER SINCE | #ARSENAL