05/11/2025

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | NOV 5, 2025

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Arsenal want respecting again: Arteta

Ű BY FLO CLIFFORD

“So now we decide the date (for the Carabao Cup match) I am sure they will change the Premier League (match) as well.” Asked if he had made a request to the Premier League, Arteta replied: “I’ll leave that to the club. “I think we’re very clear what was the best thing, the more logical day to play, they bring a different date.” The Spaniard has been able to call on a more complete squad this season after injuries derailed previous title challenges, but he said

“I don’t know what depth we’re talking about now” when he was quizzed on the impact of back-to-back games on the health of his team. “We’re missing a lot of players, a lot of front players,” he said. “If we continue to do that (play) every three days… we want respecting again. “What we discussed previously (on player welfare), that in our opinion it’s the most important part.” Arteta had originally stated his opposition to the Carabao Cup tie being moved, saying: “I don’t think that is fair (if the match is rescheduled) because we have other competitions as Granit’ influence as Sunderland point

well”, although he later said there were “much better options” than the original date. Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard said it was frustrating that players’ views seemingly were never sought in calendar planning. “I would say so. Obviously it is up to the people who make the calendar at the start of the year,” he said. “I think they should know that these kind of things can happen and, with a lot of players already mentioning that there are a lot of games, I think they should.” – The Independent

eight days, which the Eagles’ manager Oliver Glasner fumed was “dangerous” and “irresponsible” in regard to player welfare. Now, both teams are set to play two matches in three days, with the last eight tie moved to Dec 23. Palace and Arsenal are both due to be in League action on Dec 21. Arteta has suggested Arsenal will seek to have their match against Everton moved, presumably to Dec 20. “Hopefully they will move our Premier League match, because to play two days later doesn’t make any sense,” the Gunners boss said yesterday.

MIKEL ARTETA has called on the Premier League to move Arsenal’s match against Everton, saying the club “wants respecting again” as complaints over fixture congestion mount. Arteta wants to avoid his side hav ing two games in three days, after the EFL announced on Monday that the Gunners’ Carabao Cup quarterfinal against Crystal Palace had been moved. The tie was originally due to be played on Dec 16 but that would have left Palace playing four games in

‘We love

Regis hails Xhaka midfielder earns

Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka

reacts during the English Premier League match against Everton yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

Ű BY REBECCA JOHNSON

early advantage. The Toffees wasted a brilliant chance to double their lead in the 28th minute when Jack Grealish sent a deep cross into Thierno Barry at the back post. The forward blasted the ball over the bar from inside the six-yard box and Moyes admitted Sunderland gained some “strength” from that miss. “I think after 30 minutes I’d have been disappointed if I was only going home with a point, I think after 90 I was quite pleased with a point,” Moyes said. “We played well. I think the miss we had from Barry took the wind out of our sails to make us 2-0 and after that, they started to get a little bit of

possession of firearms with intent, blackmail and driving without a license. He has been bailed while enquiries continue.” EFL slams ‘undermining’ of Carabao Cup THE Carabao Cup is being undermined by fixture congestion due to expanded European cup competition, the English Football League said yesterday after confirming Crystal Palace’s quarterfinal with Arsenal on Dec 23. “The League recognises the challenge it (the sched ule) presents to Arsenal and Crystal Palace in particular, and the frustration and concern that will undoubtedly be felt by their managers and players,” the EFL said in a statement. “These are con cerns which are shared by the League. To continue making endless conces sions only serves to undermine the reputation of the Carabao Cup. It also challenges the traditional scheduling of the English football calendar and strength of our domestic game, which relies upon teams having the necessary time for preparation and ability to field their strongest lineups.” The goal was Xhaka’s first for the club and Le Bris emphasised his crucial role for Sunderland this sea son. “He’s really important because we have many young players and many new players in this League,” the Sunderland head coach said. “They don’t know the condition and one player like Granit, with his previous experiences, is really important for us. He has this quality to score. “I’m happy to have this kind of player. He wants to play football, he wants to be competitive, he’s always connected with the game and he sets the standards.” Asked if he thought Xhaka could be one of the best midfielders in the

strength from us missing the chance. “We’d played well enough in the first 20 or 30 minutes, but we didn’t play well at all second half. We were poor.” Everton had enjoyed earlier chances when James Garner’s strike flashed wide seconds into the game and Grealish hit a post. Moyes added: “We were worried about the strength they’d finished the first half. “We had a miss, Jimmy hits the post, I think Grealish hits the post. We had done enough to get our selves a couple of goals in front. “We’ve been told it’s a hard place to come and hard place to win. We came close tonight, but not quite enough.” – The Independent

Premier League at the moment, Le Bris replied: “I don’t know, because we have in this League many really good players. “We love Granit, so probably we won’t be a good judge in this situa tion. “He’s really important. I think he enjoys playing with us as well, because the lads are well-connected with him, with the way of playing, they want to fight until the end.” Everton boss David Moyes felt his side were “poor” after the opening 30 minutes. On his return to the Stadium of Light for the first time since over seeing Sunderland’s relegation from the top flight in 2017, Moyes saw his side fail to build on their

Agent reportedly threatened EPL player with gun A football agent has been arrested after threatening a Premier League player with a gun, British media reported yesterday. The BBC and other media reported the player, who is in his 20s but cannot legally be identified, was threatened in London on Sept 6 in a late-night incident while with a friend. The Sun said the 31-year-old accused, also unnamed, was arrested two days later and given bail on Sept 9 on condition there was no contact with the player. The police confirmed they had been called to a street in North London at 11.14pm on Sept 6 after reports a man in his 20s had been threatened with a firearm. “Officers spoke to the victim and during the course of their investigation it was also reported another man in his 20s had also allegedly been blackmailed and threatened by the same individual. No injuries were reported in either inci dent,” they said. “A 31-year-old man was arrested on Sept 8 on suspicion of S UNDERLAND boss Regis Le Bris hailed Granit Xhaka’s importance to his side after the midfielder’s equaliser earned a 1-1 draw against Everton. Summer signing Xhaka has been integral to the Black Cats’ strong start to the season and he put in another impressive display against the Toffees. Everton enjoyed a dominant start and went ahead through Iliman Ndiaye’s stunning finish 15 minutes in, but the hosts grew into the game and levelled 43 seconds after the break when Xhaka’s effort rico cheted off James Tarkowski’s foot and into the net. SIDENETTING

Duo apologise as Frank defends Spurs ‘foundation’ TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR boss Thomas Frank said yesterday that Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence have apologised for snubbing their manager and heading down the tunnel after Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea. Premier League and are unbeaten after three games in the Champions League.

Victory at home to FC Copenhagen overnight would put Spurs in a strong position to make the knockout phase of the Champions League for only the second time in six years. Winning the Europa League last season masked an otherwise disastrous campaign that saw Ange Postecoglou sacked despite ending the club’s 17-year trophy drought.

Spurs were booed off by their own supporters after failing to win for a fourth consecutive Premier League home game. Van de Ven, who started the game as captain, and Spence have been two of the better performers in an inconsistent start to Frank’s reign in charge. But they barged past Frank “Micky and Djed came into my office yesterday and just said they wanted to say sorry for the situation,” said Frank. “They didn’t want it to look bad or any misconception that you can get in this beautiful media world. “So there was no disrespect meant at all towards me or the team. They were just frustrated with the performance from us and the booing during the game,“ added the 52-year-old Dane. Despite their poor home form, Spurs sit fifth in the at fulltime as he tried to get them to acknowledge the home fans.

Tottenham finished 17th in the Premier League – their worst season in English football’s top-flight since being relegated from the old First Division in 1976/77.

Tottenham manager Frank Thomas. – AFPPIC

“Of course, we are coming on the back of a bad performance – there is a big flashing light right now. Everyone has a little bit of a struggle to look past that to see some of the very good performances we have had this year as well,” added Frank. “If anyone had said that we would now be 17 points after 10 games – everything is not perfect – but there is a decent foundation. “Everyone would have taken that situation where we are now in terms of 22 (League) defeats last year (season) and finishing 17th.” – AFP