Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta brushed off talk of Manchester City’s growing lead at the Premier League summit, but did admit injuries were already starting to test his squad.

The Gunners were pegged back twice by rivals Tottenham on Sunday and dropped points again following an entertaining 2-2 derby draw.

It left Arsenal already four points off City, who are perfect after six fixtures, with the memory of Pep Guardiola’s side being able to overturn an eight-point deficit in April to clinch title success last season still fresh at the Emirates.

Guardiola’s City visit north London on October 8 but Arteta, when asked about the current points deficit, insisted: “We’re not thinking about this. We have a game every three days, we try to win our games.

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Virgil van Dijk is close to making his return from a serious knee injury after being included in the squad for Liverpool s pre-season camp in Austria.

Van Dijk missed much of the 2020-21 season having suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Everton in October, ruling him out for the remainder of the campaign.

As such, he was also unable to feature for the Netherlands at Euro 2020, with the Oranje finding themselves eliminated by the Czech Republic in the round of 16.

But he looks set to bolster Liverpool s defensive ranks for the 2021-22 campaign, with the 30-year-old included in the group that is due to begin pre-season training in Tyrol, near Salzburg, next week.

Also on the list is new signing Ibrahima Konate, a recent arrival from RB Lei…

Market: Zaragoza win

Odds: 19/20 @

Hoping to make an immediate return to winning ways on Sunday afternoon, Zaragoza will welcome Mirandes to La Romareda.

Starting with the hosts, putting in a toothless performance last weekend and left disappointed as they slumped to a 1-0 loss away at Ferrol, Zaragoza will be seeking an immediate response here. Nevertheless, despite settling for a bottom-half finish last season, Fran Escriba’s side have made plenty of improvements since opening up the 2023/24 campaign. Battling it out at the top of the Segunda standings and with their sights set on mounting a genuine promotion charge this time around, Los Manos will be excited to make a return to home soil on Sunday afternoon. Still mustering 16 points from their first seven …

Market: Real Zaragoza win

Odds: 11/10 @

Two sides who find themselves seeking a boost on Friday night, Real Zaragoza will welcome Lugo to La Romareda when this weekend s Segunda fixtures get underway.

Starting with the hosts, while Zaragoza might have opened the 2021/22 campaign enjoying an eye-catching run of form, Los Maños have really failed to build off of that early-season bounce. Last seen earlier in the week when playing out an action-packed 3-3 draw away at Oviedo, Head Coach Juan Ignacio Martínez has seen his downbeat squad win just one of their last nine Segunda matchups, a run that stems all the way back to March 11th. Gaining a reputation as somewhat of a stalemate specialist over recent months, the Whites should at least be boosted by their largel…

Bayern Munich midfielder Xabi Alonso has confirmed he will retire at the end of the season.

The former Spain midfielder s 18th season as a professional will be his last, bringing down the curtain on a glittering career at club level and with his country.

Alonso was part of Spain s successful World Cup squad in 2010, as well as their Euro 2012-winning vintage, picking up 114 caps for La Roja.

The playmaker is also a two-time Champions League winner, having scored in Liverpool s incredible comeback to win the final in 2005 before helping Real Madrid to La Decima in 2014. Bayern are also set for a deep run in this season s competition, having thrashed Arsenal 10-2 on aggregate in the last 16.

Lived it. Loved it.

Farewell beautiful game.

— …

Arsenal s Aaron Ramsey was pleased to avoid another opening-day disappointment after his injury-time strike sunk 10-man Crystal Palace.

Arsene Wenger s team headed into Saturday s Premier League match on a high following their emphatic 3-0 win over Manchester City in last Sunday s Community Shield at Wembley.

But Palace, playing on the back of Tony Pulis shock departure as manager on Friday, absorbed early pressure before debutant Brede Hangeland headed them into 35th-minute lead at the Emirates Stadium.

It evoked uncomf
00004000
ortable memories of Arsenal s 3-1 collapse at home to Aston Villa on the opening day of last season, although Laurent Koscielny eased fears by hauling Wenger s men level in first-half stoppage time.

Frustrations continued after…

Italy head coach Giampiero Ventura says Juventus have plenty to be proud of this season despite their Champions League final defeat on Saturday.

Massimiliano Allegri s side were beaten 4-1 by Real Madrid in Cardiff, making it two final defeats in three seasons and five in a row stretching back to 1997.

It also meant that Juve narrowly missed out on replicating the treble won by Inter in 2010, with the Old Lady having already claimed a domestic double of Serie A and Coppa Italia triumphs this year.

Club president Andrea Agnelli told his players they should be proud of their season and Ventura expects them to bounce back from their loss and challenge for the trophy again next season.

I don t think Italian football looks any less impressive, he told a media…

Besiktas JK have moved to confirm they are negotiating a deal with FC Porto for Portuguese winger Ricardo Quaresma.

The Black Eagles have so far recruited Dusko Tosic and Andres Beck, and they plan to make the Portugal international their third signing of the summer.

And with the Turkish giants confirming via their official website that talks were ongoing, chances are the transfer will be wrapped up in the coming days.

“With regard to the transfer of Ricardo Quaresma, the club (Besiktas) have already started negotiations with FC Porto,” a statement read.

Ricardo Quaresma returned to Porto in January 2014, joining on a free transfer from Al Ahli and he in turn produced some very good performances, scoring 10 goals and creating 7 more in 43 competit…

Liverpool announce their first profit for seven years in new financial results.

Liverpool returned to profit for the first time in seven years in the last financial year, new figures have revealed.

A statement released by the Premier League club on Tuesday confirmed they posted a small profit in the year ending May 31 2014 a stark contrast to a loss of around £50million reported 12 months previously  while their revenue increased by 19 per cent to £255.6m.

This upturn in revenue has been primarily attributed to the rise in income from the Premier League s lucrative TV rights deal, with Liverpool moving back up to ninth from 12th in the Deloitte Football Money League.

Since Fenway Sports Group completed its takeover of Liverpool FC in October 2010, …

Spain are the best side at Euro 2024, so says La Roja head coach Luis de la Fuente.

Tournament debutants Georgia were no match for Spain on Sunday, as De la Fuente s team ran out 4-1 victors in Cologne.

Spain accumulated 3.25 expected goals (xG) and allowed just 0.25 going the other way in another emphatic performance in which their youngsters Lamine Yamal and Nico Willams dazzled.

La Roja will now face hosts Germany in an enthralling quarter-final tie, but De la Fuente says they must hold no fear.

We have a lot of confidence and a team with talent, quality and commitment.

Being convinced of your ability is very important. I don t want to offend anyone but we have the best team at this tournament.

35 Spain

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