03/09/2026

SPORTS THURSDAY | SEPT 3, 2026

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Major problem for Gun rivals Arteta has strength in depth with deluxe back-up players

CHELSEA have erupted with rage after their proposed £47 million (RM254m) transfer of Lamine Camara was cancelled by Monaco at the last minute. Xabi Alonso’s side had agreed to sign the 22-year-old on dead line day, with an agreement reached with both the player and Ligue 1 club. All parties had a written agreement, but Monaco are said to have reneged on the deal. Camara was viewed at Stamford Bridge as Enzo Fernandez’s replacement and the Argentine has released a statement confirming his British record-equalling £125 million (RM675m) move to Manchester City. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims that Chelsea have described Monaco’s actions as a “deeply unprofessional way to conduct business” as they have been left in the lurch. Monaco’s U-turn is thought to have arrived as a result of Everton’s proposed move for their striker, Folarin Balogun. The Principality side had to sell one of Camara or Balogun at the deadline to ease their finan cial concerns, but opened the door for Chelsea when Balogun failed his Toffees medical and it appeared that the move had col lapsed. But Everton were willing to return to the table, albeit demanding a price reduction, and a deal sheet has been sub mitted, with the transfer now going ahead again. Such devel opments led Monaco to decide to pull the plug on their sale of Camara. The Telegraph claim that Chelsea had the chance to rip up Fernandez’s move to City as a result, but they have decided to keep their word and allow him to leave. Fernandez had already said his goodbye on social media, before City or Chelsea confirmed the transfer, writing: “I want you to know that these have not been easy days for me. Writing this is not easy either. The truth is, l haven’t been in a good place.” He added: “To all my team mates over these years, thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing so many moments with me. I was truly happy here, and I wish you nothing but the very best for the future. “Thank you for all the love and support you have given me and my family throughout these years. I will never forget it. “This group will give you many more reasons to be happy, and I will be happy for you too. Never doubt that. “You will always be in my heart, Blues. I will always wish you, always, nothing but the very best.” – Express Newspapers Chelsea rage after Monaco U-turn

Dortmund ease into

BORUSSIA DORTMUND over came a stubborn start to beat fifth-tier HEBC Hamburg 5-0 yes terday and reach the second round of the DFB-Pokal in front of a record crowd of 45,917 at the Volksparkstadion. Dortmund dominated pos session but struggled to break down an HEBC side that defended resolutely, with goal keeper Jannik Schoon making several saves to keep the ama teurs level. The Bundesliga side finally broke through in the 33rd min ute when HEBC captain Janek Wrede turned Julian Ryerson’s cross into his own net. Daniel Svensson doubled Dortmund’s advantage three minutes later before Samuele Inacio struck twice, in the 41st minute and first-half stoppage time, to put the visitors 4-0 ahead at the interval. Fabio Silva completed the scoring in the 59th minute as Dortmund secured a comfort able victory, although HEBC con tinued to battle throughout. The result was never in seri ous doubt after Dortmund’s breakthrough, but the occasion was as significant as the score line for the Hamburg amateurs. The match attracted the biggest crowd ever for a DFB-Pokal game involving a fifth-tier team. Dortmund coach Niko Kovac praised the atmosphere and the way both teams embraced the occasion. “The result was secondary. I find what happened during and after the game is something you rarely see in this form,” Kovac said. “That’s why I’m pleased that we were all witnesses to it.” Dortmund midfielder Marcel Sabitzer admitted his side could have scored more but said the occasion had been special. “We could have scored a few more goals. In the second half it was only one, which was too lit tle,” Sabitzer said. “But for the others it was the game of their lives and we were part of it. Forty-five thousand spectators on a Tuesday evening – that worked for everyone involved.” HEBC player Robert Schick said the amateurs were delighted despite the heavy defeat. “There was some luck involved that it stayed 0-0 for so long. We also had a good goal keeper. But 5-0 was outstanding for us — everyone would have signed up for that beforehand,” Schick said. – Agencies German Cup second round

Ű BY RICHARD JOLLY

thing he needs little encouragement to do anyway: buy defenders. “We knew that with Willy out, we had an injury in the back line, we knew we were in big trouble, so we had to do everything,” he said. “And (at Villa, Cristian) Mosquera, he could not continue. “So we know that the depth has to be really big when you’re fighting for four competitions, in the manner that we play as well.” Arteta is a former midfielder, but he can sound like a man with a defender’s mentality, forever fearing the worst and acting accordingly. Mosquera, it transpired, is not sidelined. “He’s fine, but he was feeling like he was about to have something,” said Arteta. Given Mosquera’s fine start to the season, the probability is that he will begin against Chelsea on Sunday; if knowing that he has an alternative, in Konsa, who played in a World Cup semifinal seven weeks earlier, offers reassurance, it is also an indication of the extraordinary way Arteta has stock piled compelling choices. By common consensus, Arsenal have much the finest defence and midfield in the Premier League. It is increased by the remarkable versatility of Arteta’s team. Compile depth charts and it is notable how many players can figure in mul tiple roles: Konsa, a more than competent right-back, is a case in point. In the newcomer Ben White and the currently injured Jurrien Timber, he has three who can operate at both right back and right-sided centreback. Riccardo Calafiori, the catalyst for Saka’s goal, is an example of a preference for left-backs who are also left-sided centrebacks. Lewis-Skelly is the left-back who has now displayed he can play in midfield. Guimaraes’ excellence at Newcastle was not confined to one brief: he could be either the No. 6 or the right-sided No. 8. Factor in the physicality that nearly all of his squad pos sess and Arteta may be eliminating another way of losing games. Konsa joins the team of the giants. He and Guimaraes, each pushing 29, add to the experience; there was a time Arteta’s Arsenal could be called callow, but not now. The lesson he seemed to take from the 2024-25 season was that injuries could cost Arsenal the title. With more cover across defence and midfield, there is a question if any thing, or anyone, can now. – The Independent

M IKEL ARTETA is the manager who is an advo cate of bigger squads. On matchdays, anyway, with the Spaniard rationalising that he does not like telling Arsenal’s 21st, 22nd and 23rd men that they will not be involved. But, given his emphasis on strength in depth, perhaps it was understandable that Arteta attributed Arsenal’s 1-0 tri umph at Aston Villa to everyone. “It was a squad victory,” he said, when invited to praise Bukayo Saka, scorer of the only goal. Arsenal’s belief in the power of the collective may cost individuals: as Bruno Fernandes scooped the personal prizes last year, there was the thought that maybe it would have been different had Arsenal’s first Premier League title in 22 seasons been credited solely to one player. If there was something quintessentially Arteta about Arsenal’s win at Villa Park – a clean sheet produced by such solidity that David Raya did not have a shot to save – the teamsheet was a sign of his approach. There were Premier League debuts for their new club for Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa, each as a substitute, and if injury may have been a reason the Brazilian did not start, there are reasons to argue neither belongs in the first-choice 11. Able to summon Konsa and Guimaraes, perhaps it was no wonder Arsenal held on to the lead Saka gave them with few alarms. The replacements also included last year’s flagship sign ing, Victor Gyokeres, and two World Cup winners, in Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino. The eight outfielders who began on the bench came for an average cost of slightly more than £50 million (RM270m). Indeed, they actually cost more than a starting XI, including the homegrown pair of Saka and Myles Lewis-Skelly. Arteta’s exploits have not come cheaply but, Declan Rice apart, he has not landed a £100 million (RM540m) signing, in part because he prefers to share his resources around. His preference seems to be to have three £50 million recruits rather than one £150 million (RM810m) buy. If the aim is to give up no chances to opponents, Arteta is trying to leave nothing to chance. Having deluxe back-ups is a way of ensuring as few things as possible can go wrong. There is an argument that he never needed Konsa any way and that a defender who averaged 32 League starts across his seven years at Villa is unlikely to make half as many for his new club. The loss of William Saliba encouraged Arteta to do some