Category: Entertainment

Legendary Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has weighed in on Arsenal’s Champions League semifinal clash with Atletico Madrid. Following a 1-1 stalemate in the first leg, Gerrard has shared his thoughts on what Mikel Arteta should do to secure a win in the return fixture. The former midfielder believes that two key attackers must be in the starting lineup to turn the tie in Arsenal’s favor.

Gerrard specifically pointed to Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka as the players who should be unleashed from the beginning. In Wednesday’s first leg, both England internationals were left on the bench before being introduced in the second half. Goals from Viktor Gyokeres and Julian Alvarez ultimately decided the outcome, leaving the tie finely balanced.

According to Gerrard, Eze’s inclusion would inject creativity and unpredictability into Arsenal’s attack. “In the second leg, you’ve got to get Eze on the pitch,” Gerrard commented on TNT Sports. “He provides that extra spark and looks more dangerous.” The Liverpool great also stressed the importance of fielding Saka, describing him as a big-game player who thrives under pressure. “Saka starts for me in the second leg. You play your top performers in crucial matches like this.”

Arteta’s decision to bench both players initially has sparked debate, but Gerrard’s advice is clear: against a resilient Atletico side, Arsenal cannot afford to leave their most effective weapons on the sidelines. The second leg promises to be a tense affair, and Gerrard’s suggestions could be the key to Arsenal reaching the final.

Mikel Arteta expressed fury at referee Danny Makkelie following Arsenal’s 1-1 stalemate with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, claiming a crucial penalty decision was unjustly overturned. The Gunners boss argued that the error fundamentally altered the tie.

After Julian Alvarez leveled the score by canceling out Viktor Gyokeres’ first-half penalty, Arsenal substitute Eberechi Eze appeared to be fouled inside the area. Makkelie initially pointed to the spot, but after a VAR review, he reversed his call—a move that left Arteta incensed.

“I went back to the dressing room, reviewed the footage with the players, and I’m deeply frustrated and angry because the decision contradicts the rules,” Arteta said post-match. “It completely shifts the outcome of this matchup. I’m extremely upset.”

The Spanish tactician emphasized that the referee’s choice to rescind the penalty was unacceptable at this level. “There was definite contact. You make the call, then you can’t change it after reviewing it a dozen times. That’s not allowed in elite competition. It’s a wrong decision that alters the course of the tie, and that simply cannot happen.”

Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton has voiced his outrage following Arsenal’s 1-1 stalemate against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final first leg, claiming the Gunners were unfairly treated by the officiating. Speaking on BBC Radio 5, Sutton expressed frustration over a controversial penalty decision that was overturned after a VAR review.

The match at the Metropolitano saw both sides convert spot-kicks in the first and second halves, with Viktor Gyokeres and Julian Alvarez finding the net from 12 yards. However, the pivotal moment occurred when referee Danny Makkelie initially pointed to the penalty spot after Eberechi Eze went down in the box, only to reverse his call upon consulting the pitchside monitor.

“Arsenal have been absolutely robbed this evening,” Sutton declared. “People can argue the merits, but everyone watching the game tonight saw it. You can talk about Arsenal’s performance and what they lacked, but they would have been in an unbelievable position going into the second leg at the Emirates. Now they have plenty of work to do.”

The draw leaves the tie finely balanced ahead of next week’s return fixture at the Emirates Stadium.

Former Real Madrid star Steve McManaman has strongly criticized Diego Simeone’s conduct during Atletico Madrid’s Champions League semifinal first leg against Arsenal, which ended in a 1-1 draw. McManaman, speaking to TNT Sports, described the Argentine manager’s behavior as ‘terrible’ and ‘absolutely awful.’

Throughout the match at the Metropolitano, both Simeone and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta drew attention for their touchline actions. However, McManaman singled out Simeone for particular criticism, noting that the Spanish television director may have missed some incidents but viewers could still witness the intensity of the exchanges.

‘We could see, sometimes the cameras would not show it with the Spanish directors, but we could see what was going on,’ McManaman said. ‘His behavior, his number two and three with the officials, was terrible. Absolutely awful.’

Teko Modise, the ex-captain of South Africa, didn’t hold back his criticism of Ademola Lookman’s finishing after the Nigerian forward squandered a golden chance in Atletico Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal in the UCL semifinal first leg.

Lookman, who returned from injury to play the full match at the Wanda Metropolitano, had a clear opportunity in the 53rd minute but shot straight at Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.

Speaking on SuperSport, Modise said Lookman could have done better and needs to think faster under pressure. He suggested the player should have chosen a better angle to force Raya into a more difficult save.

Despite the miss, Lookman remains a key figure for Atletico since joining from Atalanta in the winter, with two goals and two assists in seven UCL appearances this season.

As the tie moves to the Emirates Stadium for the second leg, Lookman will be eager to rediscover his scoring touch and help Atletico book a place in the final.

Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard has praised Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice for his commanding performance during the Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. Speaking to TNT Sports after the match at the Metropolitano, Gerrard highlighted Rice’s influence on the game.

According to Gerrard, Rice was outstanding, particularly in the opening 45 minutes. He described the England international as dominant in all phases of play, whether in or out of possession. The former midfielder noted that Rice operated in a deeper role than usual, dropping between the centre-backs to provide an extra man in buildup, a tactical adjustment to counter Atletico’s two-man press.

The match ended in a 1-1 stalemate, with goals from Viktor Gyokeres and Julian Alvarez coming from the penalty spot. The second leg is set to take place next week, with everything to play for.

Arsenal etched their name into the history books on Wednesday evening, securing a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Metropolitano Stadium. The result not only keeps their European dreams alive but also sees them equal a long-standing club milestone.

Goals from Viktor Gyokeres and Julian Alvarez ensured the spoils were shared in a tightly contested affair. The Swedish striker opened the scoring for the Gunners, but the Spanish side responded through Alvarez to leave the tie finely balanced ahead of the return fixture.

OptaJoe reports that this result extends Arsenal’s unbeaten streak in the European Cup/Champions League to 13 matches, matching their previous best run set between March 2005 and April 2006. Mikel Arteta’s men have shown remarkable consistency on the continent, and this latest landmark underscores their progress under the Spanish tactician.

Attention now turns to domestic duties, with Arsenal set to host Fulham at the Emirates Stadium this weekend. That Premier League encounter serves as a crucial warm-up before the decisive second leg against Atletico Madrid, which will also take place in North London. Arteta will be eager to maintain momentum and secure a place in the final.

Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has thrown his weight behind Paris Saint-Germain as the team most likely to lift the Champions League trophy this season. The English football icon shared his thoughts during an appearance on TNT Sports, emphasizing that the French powerhouse is exceptionally tough to overcome when performing at their peak.

Gerrard’s endorsement comes on the heels of PSG’s thrilling 5-4 victory over Bayern Munich in the first leg of the semi-finals. That result has only strengthened the belief that the Parisians have what it takes to go all the way. When pressed on which club he would wager on for the ultimate prize, Gerrard admitted that PSG has been his top pick from the very beginning.

“I haven’t placed any money on it, but my choice has always been PSG,” Gerrard stated. Having watched them narrowly miss out last year, he remains convinced that their best form is virtually unbeatable. The Reds legend highlighted their ability to dominate games as a key factor in his prediction.

Despite their advantage, PSG still face a stern test in the second leg at the Allianz Arena. A commanding performance will be required to fend off Bayern Munich and secure a spot in the final. Gerrard’s faith in the Ligue 1 champions, however, remains unshaken as they aim to conquer Europe’s premier club competition.

Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina has opened up about his decision to switch international allegiance from England to Nigeria, citing his family heritage as the driving force. The defender, born in Southwark to Nigerian parents, represented England at youth levels from U16 to U20 and was called up to the U21 squad in 2015. However, before earning a cap for the U21s, he accepted an invitation to train with the Super Eagles in London in March 2017 and ultimately chose to play for Nigeria.

Aina explained that the choice was made when he was around 20 years old, emphasizing that his parents’ origins and his cultural roots made the decision natural. ‘It’s where my parents are from; that’s my heritage,’ he said in an interview with Nottingham Forest’s YouTube channel. ‘The opportunity came, and I felt it was the right time, so I embraced it fully.’

Due to being provisionally tied to England, FIFA had to approve his switch before he could debut for Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier against Zambia in October 2017. Aina noted that his family takes immense pride in seeing him wear the Super Eagles jersey, often more than he does himself. ‘For me, it’s a privilege and an honor. Playing for them is truly remarkable,’ he added.

Aina was a key figure in Nigeria’s run to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final, where his performances earned him a spot in the tournament’s official Team of the Tournament. He currently represents Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

Sunday Oliseh, a former midfielder for the Super Eagles, has paid tribute to the late Stephen Keshi, describing him as the country’s original football icon. Oliseh highlighted Keshi’s extraordinary leadership, professionalism, and influence both on and off the pitch.

Keshi enjoyed a stellar playing career that spanned clubs in Nigeria like ACB and New Nigerian Bank, as well as international stints with Stade d’Abidjan, Africa Sports, Lokeren, Anderlecht, and Strasbourg. He made history as the first Nigerian to feature in a major UEFA club competition final, playing the full 90 minutes as Sampdoria defeated Anderlecht 2-0 in the 1990 European Cup Winners’ Cup.

On the international stage, Keshi represented Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations in 1984 and 1988, and was part of the triumphant 1994 Super Eagles squad, even though he didn’t feature in the final. Oliseh noted that Keshi’s talent was never in doubt—his performances spoke for themselves and elevated him to legendary status.

“He led by example. If the team was told to wear green shirts, he would wear a green shirt. He was disciplined and a winner,” Oliseh remarked. “He made it clear to everyone that he had a family to support and needed to earn money. If you weren’t on board, he’d lose income—that was his mindset.”

Oliseh added, “We never questioned his ability because you could see his performances. He was the first superstar of Nigerian football. At one point, he would fly in from Belgium for Nations Cup matches, play, and then return to his club. That shows how significant he was, and Nigeria supported it because they wanted their best player involved.”

Watching as kids on television, Oliseh said they all recognized Keshi as a superstar, and his teammates accepted that status.