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Arsenal Secures Stoppage-Time Draw Against Manchester City

Martinelli Scores Last Gasp Equalizer As Arsenal Secures Stoppage-Time Draw Against Manchester City at Emirates

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Martinelli Scores Last Gasp Equalizer As Arsenal Secures Stoppage-Time Draw Against Manchester City at Emirates—-Arsenal salvaged a 1-1 draw against Manchester City on Sunday thanks to super-sub Gabriel Martinelli who looped the ball over Donnarumma to level the scores at Emirates stadium as Pep Guardiola’s defensive tactics backfired.

Manchester City holding on to the lead given to them by Erling Haaland early in the first half, Guardiola made a series of unusually cautious substitutions that left his side without a recognised striker on the pitch in the closing stages.

It was the kind of rearguard action that is rarely associated with the attack-minded Guardiola, but his willingness to sacrifice his purist principles for a more pragmatic approach came back to haunt him.

It was a change made by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta that proved decisive as Martinelli came off the bench to spare his team from a second defeat to a title rival after their loss at champions Liverpool in August.

Arsenal moved up to second place, five points behind Liverpool, while City are languishing in ninth with just two wins from their first five league matches.

Already eight points adrift of Liverpool, it will take a significant improvement from Guardiola’s men to catch Arne Slot’s pace-setters, who have won their first five league matches.

Liverpool were the real winners from the slugfest in north London, which left Guardiola without a league win in five successive matches against an opponent for the first time in his reign.

Despite grumbling about City having to play their Champions League opener against Napoli 48 hours after Arsenal were in action at Athletic Bilbao, Guardiola named an unchanged side.

Guardiola had said City might as well go “hiking” in the 66 hours between the Napoli and Arsenal games, such was the lack of consideration for his players’ fitness.

But if Guardiola felt City had a mountain to climb, the trek looked more manageable after just nine minutes.

Haaland’s muscular hold-up play launched a blistering City break as Tijjani Reijnders sprinted towards the Arsenal area slipping a precise pass to the Norwegian, who applied the finishing touch with a clinical low strike from eight yards.

Haaland resisted the temptation to use his zen celebration after Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly had mockingly copied the pose when he scored in the Gunners’ 5-1 win over City in February.

Haaland’s fifth goal in seven league appearances against Arsenal took the 25-year-old to 12 goals in eight games for City and Norway this season.

Having conceded from open play for the first time this season, Arsenal were nearly breached again when Haaland teed up Reijnders for a powerful drive that forced David Raya to save.

Arteta was criticised for being too cautious when he picked Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino at Liverpool, but he selected the same midfield trio and once again the move was far from a resounding success.

Noni Madueke’s blast from 12 yards finally forced a save from Donnarumma just before half-time.

A feisty clash threatened to boil over when City captain Bernardo Silva kicked the ball into Leandro Trossard’s groin before the Arsenal winger threw the ball back at him in retaliation.

Arteta sent on Bukayo Saka, back from a hamstring injury, and Eberechi Eze at half-time and the England wingers immediately lifted Arsenal.

Zubimendi lashed just over from the edge of the area before Eze unleased a stinging strike that Donnarumma pushed away.

City spent much of the second half clinging to their lead and Guardiola switched to five at the back as he sent on Nathan Ake for Phil Foden to batten down the hatches.

Even Haaland was removed for the last 15 minutes as Guardiola parked the bus, but the Spaniard paid the price for his caution in stoppage-time.

Eze’s lofted pass sent Martinelli sprinting away from Ake as he tried to play offside and the substitute chipped a fine finish over the advancing Donnarumma to spark wild celebrations all around the Emirates.

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Tottenham Agree Club-Record £100m Deal for Sandro Tonali From Newcastle United

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Tottenham Agree Club-Record £100m Deal for Sandro Tonali From Newcastle United—-Spurs have reached an agreement with Newcastle United for the Italy international, with Roberto De Zerbi landing his top midfield target in a blockbuster deal worth up to £100 million.

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a club-record £100 million deal with Newcastle United to sign Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali, in what is set to become one of the biggest transfers of the summer window. The agreement is understood to be worth an initial £92.5 million, with a further £7.5 million in performance-related add-ons.

The 26-year-old is expected to sign a long-term contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after agreeing personal terms. Tonali is reportedly set to become one of the club’s highest-paid players, with manager Roberto De Zerbi playing a pivotal role in convincing his fellow Italian to make the move to North London.

De Zerbi identified Tonali as the cornerstone of his midfield rebuild, believing the Italy international possesses the technical quality, leadership and tactical intelligence needed to transform Spurs into Premier League and UEFA Champions League contenders. The pair share a close footballing philosophy, with sources indicating Tonali was persuaded by De Zerbi’s long-term vision for the club.

Tonali joined Newcastle United from AC Milan in 2023 for around £55 million and quickly became one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders. Although his first season in England was interrupted by a 10-month suspension for breaches of betting regulations, he returned strongly and helped Newcastle end their long wait for major silverware by winning the Carabao Cup before re-establishing himself as one of the league’s elite central midfielders.

For Newcastle, the sale represents a substantial profit and provides significant financial flexibility as the club continues to reshape its squad. Reports suggest Eddie Howe’s side are already targeting replacements, including Hoffenheim winger Bazoumana Touré and Swiss midfielder Johan Manzambi, while also exploring further additions before the new season begins.

The acquisition of Tonali signals Tottenham’s intent under De Zerbi. The Italian midfielder is expected to become the centerpiece of a revamped Spurs side aiming to challenge for domestic honours and compete strongly in Europe. Once the medical and final paperwork are completed, Tonali will officially become Tottenham’s most expensive signing in the club’s history, eclipsing all previous transfer records.

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JUST IN: Folarin Balogun Scores but Sees Red as USA Beat Bosnia to Reach World Cup Round of 16

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JUST IN: Folarin Balogun Scores but Sees Red as USA Beat Bosnia to Reach World Cup Round of 16—-The USMNT defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in Santa Clara to book a last-16 clash with Belgium, but the victory was overshadowed by Folarin Balogun’s controversial red card after the striker had opened the scoring.

The United States booked their place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a determined 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, overcoming the dismissal of star striker Folarin Balogun to continue their impressive run on home soil.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side endured a nervy start at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium as Bosnia threatened through Ermedin Demirović, forcing goalkeeper Matt Freese into two excellent early saves. Despite Bosnia’s bright opening, the hosts gradually settled into the contest, dominating possession and creating the better opportunities.

The breakthrough came just before halftime in the 45th minute. A high press forced Bosnia into surrendering possession near midfield, and after Malik Tillman’s attempted pass deflected kindly into Balogun’s path, the Monaco striker calmly slotted a left-footed finish beyond the goalkeeper to score his third goal of the tournament. The strike made Balogun only the third American player to score three or more goals in a single FIFA World Cup.

The match took a dramatic turn in the 64th minute when Balogun was shown a straight red card following a VAR review. Referee Raphael Claus upgraded the incident to serious foul play after reviewing Balogun’s challenge on Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemović, leaving the United States to play the remainder of the match with ten men. The dismissal means Balogun will miss the Round of 16 clash against Belgium through suspension.

Despite the setback, the Americans showed tremendous resilience. With Bosnia pushing forward in search of an equalizer, Malik Tillman produced a moment of brilliance in the 82nd minute, curling a superb free-kick into the top corner to double the lead and effectively seal qualification. Matt Freese completed an outstanding evening by preserving his clean sheet with several key saves late in the contest.

The victory sends the United States into the Round of 16, where they will meet Belgium in Seattle in one of the standout ties of the knockout stage. However, Pochettino will be without his leading scorer after Balogun’s dismissal, a significant blow as the co-hosts aim to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2002.

While Balogun’s evening ended in disappointment, his goal proved crucial in setting the United States on course for victory. Combined with Tillman’s spectacular free-kick and a disciplined defensive display, it was enough to keep the Americans’ World Cup dream alive as they prepare for their toughest test yet against Belgium.

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