Author: Gabby

Arsenal icon Paul Merson has recommended that Chelsea’s incoming manager Xabi Alonso brings back striker Nicolas Jackson to the squad once he takes charge at Stamford Bridge. Speaking on ‘The Good, The Bad & The Football’ podcast, Merson emphasized the Blues’ need for reinforcements this summer after their failure to secure a Champions League spot.

Jackson, who is currently on loan at Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, should be immediately recalled, according to Merson. ‘Chelsea require a manager whom the supporters appreciate, and they have that in Xabi Alonso because he is an exceptional coach,’ Merson stated. ‘They need new faces and a major squad overhaul. I would bring Nicolas Jackson back without hesitation.’

The Unity Cup returns to The Valley in London, with Nigeria set to defend their title against a trio of formidable opponents. The four-team invitational, running from May 26 to 30, features Nigeria, India, Zimbabwe, and Jamaica.

Nigeria claimed the trophy in 2025 by defeating Jamaica in the final. Now, the Super Eagles aim to repeat that success. Their opening match pits them against Zimbabwe on Tuesday night, with the winner advancing to the final. The other semifinal will see Jamaica face India on Wednesday.

Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, acknowledged the challenge Zimbabwe presents. “Zimbabwe is a great team with strong players. They come with a lot of motivation. They want to win,” Chelle stated during his pre-match remarks.

Lagos-based journalist Femi Fabunmi expressed confidence in Nigeria’s chances. “The Super Eagles are a super weight in the Unity Cup. As holders, they won’t hesitate to win again. Among the four teams, Nigeria has the highest ranking. With their array of stars, they should overpower Zimbabwe,” Fabunmi said.

Notably, Nigeria and Zimbabwe have drawn their last two encounters, adding intrigue to the upcoming clash. The match kicks off at 7:30 PM local time.

Manchester United icon Gary Neville has pinpointed two priority signings for Arsenal following their 2025/26 Premier League title victory. The Gunners secured the crown ahead of Manchester City over the weekend, but Neville believes there is still room for improvement.

Speaking on his podcast, the former defender highlighted the need for a new striker to provide competition for Viktor Gyokeres. He also suggested that bolstering the midfield options behind Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi would be wise.

Neville stated, “Arsenal will need to strengthen in the transfer market. But right now, having won the title and reached the Champions League final, I don’t want to dwell on that. We’ll consider these matters later. Do they require another centre-forward as a backup for Viktor Gyokeres? Do they need an additional central midfielder in case Declan Rice or Martin Zubimendi are unavailable? There are likely a couple of positions Arsenal will still look at, but they already have considerable depth in the squad.”

Former Arsenal star Paul Merson has weighed in on the surprise omission of Chelsea’s Cole Palmer from England’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Three Lions’ manager Thomas Tuchel recently announced the final roster, leaving out Palmer along with Phil Foden and Harry Maguire.

Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Merson pointed to a key factor behind Palmer’s exclusion. He argued that the striker Nicolas Jackson’s loan move to Bayern Munich last season disrupted the on-field chemistry that benefited Palmer. “I said it before, Palmer made Jackson and Jackson made Palmer,” Merson explained. “Palmer’s not on that plane to the World Cup because Jackson’s not been there.”

Merson’s analysis highlights the interdependence between the two Chelsea players, suggesting that without Jackson’s presence, Palmer’s form dipped, costing him a spot in Tuchel’s World Cup plans.

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has weighed in on the upcoming Champions League final, predicting that Paris Saint-Germain will have the upper hand against Arsenal when the two sides meet in Budapest. Despite Arsenal’s Premier League triumph, Neville believes the French champions possess a ruthless edge that will prove decisive.

Arsenal ended a 22-year wait for the English top-flight title by narrowly edging out Manchester City. With the league secured, Mikel Arteta gave key players a breather in the final match against Crystal Palace, a game Arsenal still won 2-1 to cap off their celebrations at Selhurst Park. Now, the Gunners turn their attention to the Champions League final on Saturday, May 30.

Neville acknowledged that the rest Arsenal’s squad enjoyed could be beneficial, but he doubts it will be enough to overcome PSG. Speaking on ‘The Gary Neville Podcast’, he described Luis Enrique as an obsessive, serial-winning manager who instills a relentless winning mentality in his team. “PSG are on a different level,” Neville said. “They have one of those obsessive managers—and I mean that as a compliment—who are just winners, serial winners. That ruthless mentality drives them to do anything to win, and they consistently achieve victory. Luis Enrique is arguably the greatest manager in the world right now.”

This will be only Arsenal’s second appearance in a Champions League final, having lost their first to Barcelona in 2006. The north London side will need to overcome a PSG team brimming with confidence and quality if they hope to lift the trophy in Budapest.

Alvaro Arbeloa, who has been serving as Real Madrid’s interim manager, took a moment to express a deeply personal farewell to one of his players, Gonzalo Garcia. The emotional exchange came after the final LaLiga match of the 2025/26 season, where Real Madrid secured a 4-2 victory over Athletic Club.

Arbeloa stepped into the managerial role in January after the club parted ways with Xabi Alonso. Despite his efforts, the team fell short in both the Champions League and LaLiga, losing to Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals and suffering a crucial defeat to Barcelona in El Clasico. This marked two consecutive trophy-less seasons for Real Madrid, leading to President Florentino Perez’s decision to bring in a new head coach, with Jose Mourinho expected to take over this summer.

Before the match against Athletic, Arbeloa announced his departure, prompting several players to share their gratitude. Garcia, who scored the opening goal against Athletic, took to Instagram to thank Arbeloa: ‘Mister, I am incredibly thankful for everything you have taught me over these years. It has been an honor to work with you, both at the academy and with the first team. I wish you and your staff the very best; you truly deserve it.’

In his response, Arbeloa admitted he wished he had been more fair with the forward, stating, ‘Thank you so much, Gon. You’ve been much more than just a player to me. I wish I had been more fair with you. Go show all your worth.’ Garcia finished the season with six goals and one assist in 30 LaLiga appearances.

Manchester United icon Gary Neville has tipped Paris Saint-Germain to overcome Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League final, despite the Gunners securing the Premier League title just days earlier. In his podcast, Neville asserted that PSG operate at an entirely different level from Arsenal and possess the finest manager in world football right now, Luis Enrique.

Neville admitted that the North London club will face a monumental challenge in Budapest. He described PSG as being on a separate tier, emphasizing the relentless winning mentality instilled by their coach. According to Neville, Enrique belongs to a rare breed of managers who are obsessed with victory and will stop at nothing to achieve it.

The former defender elaborated that Enrique has instilled a ruthlessness in his squad, a characteristic that sets them apart. He praised the Spaniard’s track record, labeling him a serial winner and arguably the top manager globally at this moment. Neville’s comments come as Arsenal bask in their domestic triumph, but he warns that the Champions League presents a far sterner test.

Arsenal legend Martin Keown has showered praise on Noni Madueke for his outstanding contribution to the club’s Premier League victory this season. The former defender, now a pundit, admitted that the winger exceeded his expectations more than any other player during the Gunners’ successful campaign.

Mikel Arteta’s team secured the league title with a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on the final day at Selhurst Park. Madueke scored the winning goal after Gabriel Jesus had put Arsenal ahead. The match ended in triumph for the north London side, capping off a memorable season.

Before Madueke’s move from Chelsea to Arsenal last summer, some fans were unhappy with the transfer. Rio Ferdinand had to step in and defend the player, slamming the supporters for their ‘vulgar’ reaction. Now, Madueke has proven his worth, and scoring the decisive goal in the title-clinching game was a perfect conclusion to the story.

Keown was quick to acknowledge the player’s impact. Speaking to Madueke after the match, as reported by Metro UK, Keown said, ‘You surprised me the most. I recall that initially, some supporters had doubts about you. But you’ve done an incredible job. You’ve won the Premier League and earned a World Cup spot with England. You’ve already made your mark at this club.’

Madueke responded with gratitude, describing winning the league and earning a call-up for the FIFA World Cup with England as a dream come true.

The Super Eagles’ preparation for the Unity Cup semifinal against Zimbabwe intensified on Monday evening, with 20 players taking part in a training session at Charlton Athletic Stadium.

Former Golden Eaglets captain Samson Tijani joined the squad in time for the workout, boosting the numbers ahead of the crucial clash.

However, several key figures are yet to arrive in London. Captain Wilfred Ndidi, Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Emmanuel Fernandez, and Raphael Onyedika remain absent from camp.

Head coach Éric Chelle is likely to field an experimental lineup against the Warriors, as many of his first-choice stars are unavailable. Debuts are anticipated for Femi Azeez, Owen Oseni, and Rafiu Durosinmi, who could all feature for the first time against Kaitano Tembo’s side.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 PM Nigerian time. The winner will advance to Saturday’s final, facing either Jamaica or India.

Zimbabwe’s captain, Marvelous Nakamba, has expressed the team’s strong morale as they prepare for the Unity Cup semi-final match against Nigeria’s Super Eagles, as reported by Daily Post.

Kaitano Tembo’s squad will compete against the three-time African champions at the Valley in London on Tuesday evening.

The Warriors arrived in Birmingham last Thursday to start their training for the invitational tournament, later moving to London on Sunday.

Nakamba highlighted the team’s dedication, stating that the players have trained hard and are ready for the challenge. “Our preparations for the match against Nigeria have been thorough,” Nakamba remarked. “The team spirit is high, with everyone motivating each other during training. We are eagerly awaiting the game and hope to see strong support from Zimbabweans.”

The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 PM Nigerian time.