International Football Thread

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Fulham reject Everton's approach for Wilson​

Harry Wilson has scored eight goals in 23 Premier League appearances this season
Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Fulham have rejected an offer from Everton for midfielder Harry Wilson.

It is understood the Toffees made an approach for the 28-year-old last week, but it was turned down by the Cottagers.

The Wales international is out of contract this summer and could leave for free, but Fulham are adamant on not selling him this month.

Head coach Marco Silva has also said there is "zero chance" of Wilson being sold in the January transfer window.

Instead the club has made securing his future a priority, having signed him on an initial loan deal from Liverpool in July 2021.

 

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Is Carrick proving Amorim's Man Utd tenure was a wasted year?​

Sesko scores dramatic late winner as Man Utd beat Fulham
Simon Stone
BBC Manchester United reporter at Old Trafford
1 February 2026

"The best feeling."

A lot of words have been spoken since the sacking of Ruben Amorim about a reconnection with Manchester United's DNA.

There are plenty who question whether it even exists.

If there is such a thing, this is it. United snatching a winner, deep into stoppage-time, just as it seemed victory would prove elusive. Michael Carrick's post-match assessment summed up the view of many.

Benjamin Sesko is entitled to the headlines after delivering the dramatic ending.

But when the dust settles on the 3-2 win over Fulham, United fans may start to look back further to Ruben Amorim's ill-fated 14 months in charge and wonder whether their club effectively wasted a year.

 

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Man City and Villa slip up in title race​

Reuters

Pep Guardiola’s side secured a 2-2 draw in London

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PSG beat Strasbourg after Hakimi red​

AFP

The defending champions retake top spot in Ligue 1

 

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PSG score late winner to reclaim top spot​

victory sees PSG move up to 48 points, two ahead of second placed RC Lens.



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City stunned as Solanke magic earns Tottenham draw​

Everything changed after the break with brilliantly improvised effort to score second goal in 70th minute.

 

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Arteta backs Arsenal for League Cup final​

The Gunners beat Chelsea 1-0 in the semi-final second leg

AFP
February 04, 2026

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta embraces Martin Zubimendi after the League Cup semi-final. Photo: AFP

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LONDON: Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal will use the "magical" feeling of reaching the League Cup to fuel their Premier League title charge.
Arteta's side beat Chelsea 1-0 in the semi-final second leg on Tuesday as Kai Havertz netted with virtually the last kick of the game to seal a 4-2 aggregate victory.

It was a cathartic triumph for the Gunners, who had lost their previous four semi-finals in the 2025 Champions League and League Cup, the 2022 League Cup and the 2021 Europa League.

In their first final for six years, Arsenal will face Manchester City or Newcastle at Wembley on March 22.
City hold a 2-0 lead over Newcastle ahead of Wednesday's second leg at the Etihad Stadium.

It is shaping up to be a memorable season for Arsenal, who are six points clear at the top of the Premier League and reached the Champions League last 16 by winning all eight of their group matches.

 

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Arsenal sink Chelsea to reach League Cup final​

AFP
February 5, 2026



LONDON: Arsenal’s Kai Havertz scores against Chelsea during the League Cup semi-final second leg at the Emirates Stadium.—Reuters

LONDON: Arsenal reached the League Cup final for the first time in eight years as Kai Havertz sealed a 1-0 win against Chelsea in the semi-final second leg on Tuesday.

Mikel Arteta’s side had put themselves in pole position in the first leg and Havertz came off the bench to finish the 4-2 aggregate victory in the closing moments at the Emirates Stadium.

It was a cathartic triumph for the Gunners, who had lost their previous four semi-finals in the 2025 Champions League and League Cup, the 2022 League Cup and the 2021 Europa League.

In their first final for six years, Arsenal will face Manchester City or Newcastle at Wembley on March 22.

City hold a 2-0 lead over Newcastle ahead of Wednesday’s second leg at the Etihad Stadium.

Arsenal haven’t won the League Cup since 1993, losing in their last three final appearances.

Now they have the chance to end that drought by winning the club’s first trophy since the 2020 FA Cup.

That remains the sole silverware won by Arteta since he was hired in December 2019.

“We knew it was going to be a real battle out there. That resilience, that clarity to understand what kind of game we had to play, we did so well,” Arteta said. “There was a special atmosphere inside our stadium. It makes such a difference. We’ve been waiting a few years to get into this position and we’re certainly going to enjoy it.”

It is shaping up to be a memorable season for Arsenal, who are six points clear at the top of the Premier League and reached the Champions League last 16 by winning all eight of their group matches.

Despite their success, Arsenal have attracted criticism for their reliance on goals from corners and set-pieces.

Arteta launched a passionate defence of Arsenal’s style of play this week, revealing he has a “massive book of people” who feel his side are the “most exciting in Europe”.

 

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Man City brush aside Newcastle​

They will face Arsenal in the League Cup final

AFP
February 05, 2026

Manchester City's Omar Marmoush (L) celebrates scoring against Newcastle. Photo: AFP

MANCHESTER: Manchester City will face Arsenal in the League Cup final after ending Newcastle's reign as holders with a first-half blitz in their 3-1 victory on Wednesday.

Pep Guardiola's side were already in pole position after winning the semi-final first leg on Tyneside in January and they finished the job in ruthless fashion at the Etihad Stadium.

Omar Marmoush struck twice in the first half of the second leg before Tijjani Reijnders put the result beyond doubt.

Anthony Elanga reduced the deficit after the interval, but City's 5-1 aggregate win sent them back to the League Cup showpiece for the first time since 2021.

City's final date with Arsenal is set for March 22 at Wembley after the Premier League leaders knocked out Chelsea on Tuesday.

 

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Reaching the final was a welcome tonic for Guardiola following the frustration of blowing a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at Tottenham on Sunday that delivered a major blow to their title challenge.

With a crucial trip to Liverpool looming this weekend, City trail Arsenal by six points in the Premier League title race.

The League Cup was the first silverware of Guardiola's City reign when they beat Arsenal in the 2018 final, with current Gunners boss Mikel Arteta then working as the Spaniard's assistant.

City went on to win the competition for the following three years, but haven't lifted the League Cup since 2021.

"We will travel to London again, they will wait for us there. They never travel to the north (for finals) but I am really happy to be back. Five (League Cup) finals in 10 years is a big milestone," Guardiola said.

"It will be good. You have to live this experience. The first title we won here was in the League Cup.

"When you win something, it helps to win more. It's a pleasure to play against Arsenal, the best team right now in Europe and maybe the world."

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe added: "Really annoyed with the first half display. We pride ourselves on being really organised and tactically we want to be able to handle any problem the opposition gives us.

"That first half we weren't good enough individually and our duels were off and it gave us huge problems."

Guardiola used sarcasm and statistics this week to defend City against claims the club's success has been due to the financial muscle of their Abu Dhabi-based owners.

The City manager pointed out six English clubs have spent more than his side over the past five years, but he knows he will never win over the critics.

 

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Slick City

Guardiola's only way to silence the outside noise -- and mounting suggestions that City are a team in decline -- is with silverware.

And after finishing last season without a trophy for the first time in eight years, Guardiola would love to end City's barren spell at Arsenal's expense.

Marmoush put City ahead with a stroke of luck in the seventh minute.

He raced into the Newcastle penalty area and when Dan Burn made a last-ditch tackle, the ball bounced off the Egypt forward and looped into the net.

James Trafford preserved City's lead, saving from Joe Willock and Anthony Gordon in quick succession.

Marmoush struck for the second time in the 29th minute, heading home from virtually on the goal-line after Kieran Trippier made a hash of clearing Antoine Semenyo's cross.

That was the culmination of an incisive City counter-attack and they pulled Newcastle apart again with another rapid raid in the 32nd minute.

Reijnders led the break, picking out Semenyo and racing into the area to finish the Ghanaian's return pass with a clinical low drive from 12 yards.

City barely got out of first gear in the second half and Elanga got one back in the 62nd minute, curling into the far corner after slaloming through the defence.

 

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Inter eyeing chance to put pressure on title rivals Milan​

AFP

They are eyeing to stretch lead to eight points



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Real Madrid seeking consistency over magic​

AFP
They will face Valencia in La Liga on Sunday

 

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Chelsea's draw with Leeds 'bitter pill' for Rosenior​

AFP

The Blues missed a chance to move close to fourth-place United

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Sesko strikes late to rescue West Ham draw​

AFP

He second half goal at the London Stadium to secure a 1-1 draw

 

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Spurs sack Frank after miserable reign​

The London based club suffered a 2-1 defeat against Newcastle

AFP
February 11, 2026

Thomas Frank took over at Tottenham in June 2025 after Ange Postecoglou was sacked. Photo: AFP

LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur have sacked head coach Thomas Frank after less than eight months in charge following a 2-1 defeat at home to Newcastle on Tuesday, which left them a mere five points above the Premier League relegation zone.

The north London side are 16th in the table and without a win in their past eight Premier League games -- their worst such run since October 2008.

Spurs have won just two of their past 17 league matches and collected only 12 points in that time.

Frank, 52, replaced Ange Postecoglou, who was dismissed in June just over two weeks after leading Spurs to victory in the Europa League final.

 

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Arsenal seize control as City slip, Chelsea rout Villa​

Agencies Published March 6, 2026



MANCHESTER: Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson shoots to score against Manchester City during their Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium.—Reuters

BRIGHTON: Arsenal seized control of the Premier League title race as Bukayo Saka’s goal secured a priceless 1-0 win at Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester City could only draw 2-2 at home to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

Mikel Arteta’s side went into their south coast assignment leading the table but looking over their shoulders at City, but ended the night with a first title since 2004 glinting on the horizon after a big swing in their favour.

Saka’s deflected effort in the ninth minute proved sufficient as Arsenal kept a 14th Premier League clean sheet of the season with a gritty display that Saka described as ‘ugly’.

Gunners keeper David Raya went down injured on three separate occasions and required treatment, sparking suggestions he was faking to allow time for tactical discussions between Arteta and his players.

Later at the press conference Brighton coach Fabian Hurzeler accused Arsenal of time-wasting and faking injuries and claimed that the Gunners “make their own rules”.

 

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Como boost UCL bid, Juve back to winning ways​

AFP
A third straight victory for Cesc Fabregas's side keeps the pressure on Roma

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Man City hand Newcastle brutal FA Cup lesson​

AFP

Chelsea survive scare against spirited Wrexham

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Yamal bends Barca past Bilbao​

AFP

Atletico edge Real Sociedad in a thrilling contest

 

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Japan knock out Vietnam​

Taiwan beat India to set up Asian Cup quarter against China

REUTERS
March 10, 2026

Photo: Reuters

PERTH: Japan stayed perfect in the women's Asian Cup group stage as they ‌eased to a 4-0 win over Vietnam, who crashed out of the tournament as Taiwan secured second place in Group C with a 3-1 victory over India on Tuesday.

Vietnam, who finished with three points, ranked bottom of the three third-placed teams in the group stage, with Uzbekistan and the Philippines advancing to the quarter-finals due to better ⁠goal differences.

Taiwan will face defending champions China in the quarter-finals on Saturday, a day before Japan take on the Philippines.

Japan, the only team to not concede a goal in the group stage, took the lead in the 21st minute with Yui Hasegawa's cross being headed into the net by striker Rio Ueki.

Vietnam keeper Khong Thi Hang's diving saves limited the damage in the first half, but Japan's persistent attacks paid off after the break, when Maika Hamano, Aoba Fujino and Kiko Seike scored within 16 minutes.