MIKEL ARTETA THINKS ARSENAL WERE ROBBED IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL

 

Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta 

Mikel Arteta couldn’t understand why the incident involving Nuno Mendes and Noni Madueke didn’t result in Arsenal being awarded what could and probably would have been a decisive penalty in the Champions League final defeat to PSG.

Arsenal fell to PSG in the penalty shoot-out, though in Arteta’s mind, it was the penalty in normal time and another that wasn’t given that are the real talking points from Budapest.

Arsenal’s rearguard across the entire 120-plus minutes were only breached from the penalty spot. Cristhian Mosquera bundled over Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the box to tee up Ousmane Dembele to cancel out Kai Havertz’s opener during regular time.

However, the Gunners and Arteta believed they should have been awarded a penalty of their own when substitute Madueke took a tumble under pressure from Mendes in the first period of extra time. The incident can be viewed here.

Speaking to TNT Sports post-match, Arteta couldn’t wrap his head around why different decisions were made for what he perceived to be two very similar incidents.

Mikel Arteta angered by non-awarding of penalty

He bemoaned: “I watch it back and [Mendes on Madueke] could easily be a penalty. Especially when we see the penalty they gave me this year in the competition.

“This season, the referee made a decision, and he made a different one with Cristhian Mosquera and that is an important one.”

During his post-match press conference, Arteta again took umbrage at the perceived difference in officiating.

He said: “When something had to go our way, especially in the boxes with the penalty that was given against Mosquera and then no penalty to Madueke, those didn’t go for us.”

Speaking about the game in general, the Spaniard told TNT Sports: “Yes, it is very tough to accept when you are so consistent in the competition all the way to the final and in the end you lose the trophy on penalty kicks, so it is a difficult one.”

He later added: “We haven’t done it for 22 years [reached the Champions League final], so imagine the second time in our history that we have done it, and we need to recognise the season we had, but at the moment nobody is going to take the pain away from you.”

On PSG, who have now gone back-to-back in the UCL, Arteta said: “They are a superb team and I congratulate them. Individual quality they have, the manner they are coached, they are a top, top team.

“You have to go through the emotions and if you’re in pain, then go through the pain.

"Think you could do something else, then learn from it. Reflect on that and show the ambition that we want to have again.”

On what message he has for his players, Arteta concluded: “That I am so proud of them, with this season we have had under the circumstances. Internally, we know what we have been through.

"It is just a privilege to manage this group of players and this team the way they carry this badge and how much they put into it. We got a big one [Premier League] and missed out on the biggest one.”

- Steve Pearson

ARSENAL FORWARD NONI MADUEKE RULES OUT FOR WEEKS WITH INJURY

Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly tries to block Arsenal's Noni Madueke during the Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Manchester City in London, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

LONDON (AP) - Arsenal forward Noni Madueke faces "a few weeks" on the sidelines after sustaining an injury in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Manchester City.

Madueke was taken off at halftime with manager Mikel Arteta saying only that the England international had suffered a non-specific "issue." It was later reported he had sustained a knee injury.

No specific timeframe was given for his recovery.

"We don´t know yet, we´re probably going to have to scan him next week again," Arteta said Tuesday. "He felt something at the beginning of the match, he tried to carry on, and at halftime, he was too sore, so let´s see."

Madueke was a $65 million signing from Chelsea in the offseason and has impressed for Arsenal and England this campaign.

"It´s very disappointing to see because he was in such a good state," Arteta said. "He was getting some consistency, some flow into the team and he looked like a real threat, so it´s a big miss for us."

Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly tries to block Arsenal's Noni Madueke during the Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Manchester City in London, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Arsenal plays third-tier Port Vale in the English League Cup on Wednesday.

Arteta confirmed defender Piero Hincapie was also ruled out with a groin injury.

- AP

PLAYERS MIKEL ARTETA SIGNED FROM CHELSEA

 

ARSENAL APPEAR TO ACCIDENTALLY LEAK FIFTH SUMMER SIGNING IN A MAJOR GAFFE DURING NONI MADUEKE UNVEILING

Arsenal appear to have inadvertently leaked the signing of centre-back Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia.

The Gunners' gaffe occured when annoucing the arrival of Chelsea winger Noni Madueke in a £52million deal.

Madueke joined the club from their London rivals on Friday and images of him in his new gear were shared online.

However, it was amongst those pictures that eagle-eyed fans spotted an error on the Getty Images website.

Getty is a visual media company that also supplys stock images and photos from throughout the footballing world are usually taken by their photograpers and uploaded to their site.

When it comes to new signings, fresh images of them taken during their first day typically appear soon after the announcement.

In Arsenal's case, they ended up leaking a separate deal.

Madueke was officially announced as an Arsenal player on Friday Credit: ARSENAL.COM

Along with the photos of Madueke, supporters also managed to find a picture of Mosquera, who the Gunners have agreed to sign in a deal worth around £18m, undergoing his arrival interview.

It shows Mosquera sat under a spotlight, with a member of the Gunners' media team sat across from him.

The leak instantly spread around social media before it was then eventually removed from Getty Images.

Removal came too late though, as the picture was quickly shared on X.

Reporter Chris Davison wrote: "As others have pointed out, Cristhian Mosquera's Arsenal interview was accidentally uploaded with Madueke's photos on Getty Images."

Valencia defender Mosquera is set to join Arsenal in a deal worth around £18mCredit: Getty

Fans then responded in the replies, with one saying: "Might as well announce him now then."

"This surely has to be confirmed now. So obvious," another wrote.

A third posted: "Announce him now what's to hide."

Mosquera has rejected interest from other Premier League clubs, including Bournemouth, to join Arsenal instead.

It seems he has now completed his £18m move and the announcement can be expected soon after this leak.

The Spaniard will provide some depth at the back for Mikel Arteta, where he will cover for William Saliba and Gabriel.

Mosquera will become Arsenal's fifth summer signing, following Madueke's arrival at the Emirates.

Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard have all also joined the club over the last few weeks.

Viktor Gyokeres may be the next to become a Gunner too.

The saga surrounding his move to the Premier League continues to roll on, but Arsenal are getting closer to getting the deal done.

Arteta is bolstering his squad ahead of another title push after coming second yet again in the top-flight last season.

His side begin their 2024/25 campaign away at Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, August 17.

- Jack Johnson

NONI MADUEKE IS A GUNNER

 

ARSENAL LEGEND SOL CAMPBELL WANTS ANSWERS

 

HARRY KANE MAKES ENGLAND CENTURY IN STYLE WITH DOUBLE TO SEE OFF ENGLAND

Sportsphoto

 If at first you do not succeed, try again. It has been a guiding ­principle for Harry Kane. Here, the England captain had numerous nearly‑but‑not‑quite moments and, if it were not him, it might have been possible to think it was going to be one of those nights.

This is Kane. And the red-letter occasion when he celebrated his 100th England cap was only going to end one way – him making it happen, getting through on the strength of his talent and remorselessness.

There were 57 minutes on the Wembley clock when Kane lashed high into the Finland net from just inside the area after a lovely first‑time pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold. It was Alexander-Arnold’s night, too; the weight and incision of his passing was sumptuous.

Kane did the rest. A touch with the ­outside of his right boot to cut inside ­Robert Ivanov; the hammer brought down. The ­cameras cut to Kane’s family in the stands and they would do so again before he was withdrawn to heartfelt applause.

Again, Alexander-Arnold was the architect, playing a beautiful return ball to the debutant, Noni Madueke, who had come on as a substitute. Madueke pulled back; Kane banged first time into the far corner. The captain had said on Monday that he wanted 100 England goals, which sounded like wishful thinking. It is never wise to question his targets. At the age of 31, he has 68.

The result gave the England interim manager, Lee Carsley, a ­second win in two games after the 2‑0 ­success against Republic of ­Ireland in ­Dublin on Saturday. For him, there was much to enjoy. ­Nothing more so than Kane.

It felt a little out of character to see Kane in sparkly gold boots but then again, the occasion had been built up pretty much exclusively around him. Why not adopt a few trimmings of the showman? He would collect more gold before kick-off – a special cap to commemorate his landmark, two other members of England’s 100 club, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, doing the honours. And then it was out to mine even more.

There were empty seats inside Wembley but it was still a huge crowd and they had come to see a Kane goal. He was central to virtually everything in the first half and yet the breakthrough eluded him.

Anthony Gordon had his full‑back, Adam Ståhl, for pace and when he crossed early on, Kane opted to look square for Bukayo Saka instead of going for goal. Finland got bodies in front of Saka; they would put them on the line time and again.

Kane watched a volley deflect high, he extended Lukas Hradecky with a low shot when he might have done better and he had the ball in the net with a header from Saka’s cross only to be pulled up for offside. Then there were the times when Finland’s last defender stretched to make a ­crucial clearance as Kane looked to get in behind.

Control has been Carsley’s ­watchword; the biggest thing he has wanted to see. Fluidity is another and the movements he demands were on show from the outset, most notably Alexander-Arnold up and inside from right-back. Rico Lewis, on his first start, had plenty of licence from left-back.

Alexander-Arnold was in the mood to make something happen; he even popped up on the left at times. He ­produced the moment of the first half, a delicious reverse ball that released Saka. The winger’s shot took a deflection and Hradecky had to throw up a hand to paw clear. Alexander-Arnold blasted a low shot past the far post and was wide with a free-kick.

AP

It was practically all England up to the interval and yet Finland did have their opportunities, none better than when Declan Rice was robbed by Rasmus Schüller and Topi Keskinen lashed high from the edge of the area. He ought to have played in Teemu Pukki.

Earlier, Lewis had to make a challenge to snuff out Pukki while Keskinen bent just wide, although the referee did whistle for an off‑the‑ball foul by Finland in the move.

Carsley gave a full debut to Angel Gomes and he saw plenty of the ball in a deep-lying central midfield role, moving it briskly and smartly. He also got his foot in to win it, sometimes high up. Carsley is right. Gomes is a different kind of midfield conductor, almost un-English-like.

The second half began as the first had left off; England ­pushing, Kane threatening. There was a free‑kick from him that Hradecky did well to save; then a scissors kick following a Finland defensive lapse. Same result. England had to remain patient because Rice and Gordon had gone close.

Finally, it happened, Carsley as jubilant as anyone when Kane ­showcased that lethal shooting ­technique, honed during those endless hours on the training ground. Ezri Konsa’s enforced withdrawal after he rolled his ankle was a worry but England pressed on, not wanting to settle for 1-0.

Madueke brought tricks and pene­tration; he worked ­Hradecky with a deflected effort while another substitute, Eberechi Eze, could not control another fabulous ­Alexander‑Arnold ball. The last word went to you-know-who.

- David Hytner

NONI MADUEKE AFTER HIS HAT-TRICK VS. WOLVES

 

REAL MADRID BEAT CHELSEA TO END PRESEASON U.S. TOUR

Real Madrid closed out their tour of the U.S. with a 2-1 friendly win over Chelsea at Bank of America Stadium on Charlotte, North Carolina, on Tuesday night.

New arrival Kylian Mbappé and last year's standout performer Jude Bellingham did not take part in Madrid's tour of the U.S., with the pair resting after a busy summer at the European Championship.

But despite being without two of the game's biggest names, their was still plenty of star power on the field for the defending LaLiga champions, who went in front before 20 minutes when Lucas Vázquez poked home from close range following a goalmouth scramble.

Madrid doubled the lead shortly after when Brahim Díaz ran down a through ball from Vinícius Júnior and rounded Chelsea keeper Filip Jörgensen before slotting home from a tight angle.

Chelsea, who'd made very few trips into Madrid's end of the field, pulled a goal back before the break with Noni Madueke's towering header at the back post from an Enzo Fernández cross.

The second half finished goalless.

Carlo Ancelotti's side begin the 2024-25 campaign in earnest on Aug. 14 against Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup, a match featuring last year's Champions and Europa League winners. Chelsea have one more club friendly on Aug. 11 before starting their Premier League season at home to Manchester City on Aug. 18.

Game Information

Bank of America Stadium

2:00 AM, August 7, 2024

Coverage: ESPN2/ESPNDP/ESPN+

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Over/Under: 3.5

Attendance: 62,617

Referees: Guido Gonzales Jr.