Arsenal winger Noni Madueke has revealed that pure instinct guided his crucial penalty-winning run in the Champions League round of 16 first leg. After securing a vital 1-1 draw away at Bayer Leverkusen, the dynamic substitute is deeply confident that a roaring Emirates Stadium crowd will push Mikel Arteta’s squad towards the quarter-finals when the two sides meet again next week.
Bayer Leverkusen managed to surprise Arsenal using the London side's own special weapon, scoring from a corner kick in the match held Wednesday evening. The header prompted Leverkusen manager Kasper Hjulmand to share a notable moment with Arsenal’s set-piece coach as the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 ended in a 1-1 draw at the BayArena.
Arsenal left it late to salvage a 1-1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie as Kai Havertz came back to haunt his former club. The Germany international netted from the penalty spot after Robert Andrich had given the hosts the lead as the Gunners earned a result that their overall performance barely deserved.
Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie has strongly defended the club’s pragmatic tactical evolution and heavy reliance on set-pieces under manager Mikel Arteta. With the Gunners currently sitting seven points clear at the Premier League summit, the player insists their robust approach is entirely legal, prioritising crucial victories over beautiful football to finally secure the elusive title.
Ahead of the Champions League clash against Arsenal, Leverkusen manager Kasper Hjulmand has questioned a highly controversial tactic employed by the London club.
Antonin Kinsky's name will live in Tottenham and Champions League infamy for ever more. The Spurs goalkeeper was thrust into the line-up for Tuesday's last-16 first leg at Atletico Madrid, only to last just 17 minutes after twice gifting goals to Diego Simeone's side in what will go down as one of the worst goalkeeping performances in the history of Europe's premier club competition.
Arsenal FC does not play fast or particularly attractive football – yet still wins games at a high rate. The controversy surrounding the appropriateness of the playing style under manager Mikel Arteta, which has been dubbed "terror ball", has reached a new dimension.
Julian Alvarez has sent shockwaves through the Metropolitano by admitting he is unsure if he will still be an Atletico Madrid player next season, amid links with Barcelona and Arsenal. Despite the club's efforts to dampen exit talk, the Argentina international declined to give a definitive answer regarding his future following a standout performance against Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League.
With the countdown on to the main event in the United States, Canada and Mexico, New Balance have got us bang in the mood for the 2026 World Cup with their latest boot drop ready for the biggest stage, with fresh paintjobs for the Furon, Tekela and 442.
Borussia Dortmund are reportedly "discussing" a sensational third move for Jadon Sancho as they prepare for life without Julian Brandt. The England international could return to the Signal Iduna Park on a free transfer when his contract at Manchester United expires this summer.
Arsenal have received a significant triple fitness boost ahead of their Champions League round-of-16 first-leg encounter against Bayer Leverkusen. Key defensive and attacking figures were spotted during the club's final training session before they departed for Germany. While Mikel Arteta still faces some notable absences, the return of this influential trio strengthens the Gunners' hand for a crucial European away leg.
Tottenham forward Mathys Tel has aimed a clear dig at Arsenal while discussing the "boring" tactics being deployed by teams across the Premier League. While Mikel Arteta’s team remains on track for an unprecedented quadruple, their reliance on set-piece proficiency has attracted criticism and become a blueprint for the rest of the league to follow. Tel claims that the modern Premier League resembles "a zoo," where the pursuit of spectacle is frequently sacrificed in favour of efficiency.
Arsenal came out of the 2025 summer transfer window as one of its perceived winners. They didn't go toe-to-toe with reigning Premier League champions Liverpool in terms of bringing in star talent, but they stacked their squad full of enough quality so they wouldn't be hit as hard if they suffered another injury crisis this season. Their 2024-25 campaign was derailed in large part due to a drop in talent beyond their strongest XI.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has spoken out amid the growing speculation linking him with a blockbuster move to the Premier League. Despite reported interest from Manchester United and Arsenal, the Georgia international has reaffirmed his commitment to Paris Saint-Germain, citing his love for the French capital.
The FA Cup quarter-final draw has produced some spectacular matchups, headlined by a heavyweight clash between Manchester City and Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium. Meanwhile, League 1 strugglers Port Vale have been rewarded for their magical cup run with a dream tie against Chelsea. Premier League leaders Arsenal also face a tricky away test against Championship outfit Southampton.
Brentford owner Matthew Benham has revealed how the club nearly signed future superstars Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Omar Marmoush and Mykhailo Mudryk for a fraction of their current values. Speaking in Boston, he shared fascinating insights into the massive bargains that ultimately slipped away due to staggering agent demands and complex negotiations.
Sixteen teams will be whittled down to a final eight as the race for English football's most prestigious domestic cup prize heats up - here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about the upcoming draw
Manchester United legend Patrice Evra has called out Theo Walcott, suggesting the former Arsenal winger was "probably drunk" when comparing the current Gunners side to United’s iconic 2007-08 Champions League-winning team. The Frenchman did not mince his words after Walcott suggested Mikel Arteta’s title-chasers could compete with Sir Alex Ferguson's legendary squad, joking that he is a "danger to society" for making the claim.
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has jumped to the defence of Premier League leaders Arsenal, labelling the growing waves of criticism directed at Mikel Arteta’s side as "very unfair." Despite the Gunners sitting seven points clear at the summit following their 1-0 win over Brighton, rival managers and pundits have taken aim at their functional style of play and heavy reliance on set-pieces.
Arsenal will be “annoyed” at failing to win the Champions League, GOAL has been told, but that does not mean that the Gunners will “smash up” Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 of this season’s competition. Former ‘Invincibles’ squad member Jeremie Aliadiere has warned Mikel Arteta’s side against complacency after being handed a supposedly favourable European draw in 2026.
In an explosive tell-all interview, former Barcelona manager Xavi has revealed how the club’s hierarchy apparently blocked his attempts to sign current Arsenal midfield anchor Martin Zubimendi. The legendary Spaniard, who was sacked in 2024, identified the then-Real Sociedad star as the perfect replacement for Sergio Busquets, only to seemingly see his request flatly rejected by the board during a period of intense financial scrutiny at the Catalan giants.
Sandro Tonali has been told that he “deserves to play for a big team”, with the Newcastle midfielder reported to be attracting admiring glances from the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea. The Italy international has been at St James’ Park since 2023, with Giuseppe Rossi telling GOAL why big-money bids for a proven Premier League performer could be tabled during the summer transfer window of 2026.
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