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Saka scores on return from injury for Arsenal as Forest defeat United

Published

1 week ago

April 1, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Bukayo Saka sceletrates first goal in his first game since return from injury

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Bukayo Saka scored the clincher as Arsenal defeated Fulham 2-1 in their English Premier League (EPL) encounter at the Emirates stadium on Tuesday.

The England international of Nigerian heritage had missed the last 12 league matches due to a hamstring injury and doubled the Gunners’ advantage on his return in the second half after Mikel Merino’s opener.

Alex Iwobi, a former Arsenal man and Super Eagles midfielder, was a second-half substitute for Fulham, while Calvin Bassey was an unused substitute.

Arsenal are playing catch-up to Liverpool, runaway league leaders, but Mikel Arteta’s side were not ready to give up on their fading title hopes in this London derby, claiming all three points as the season’s final stretch unravels.

Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey and Ethan Nwaneri all fired wide for the hosts, who then lost Gabriel Marghaelles, their talismanic defender, to injury.

However, they regrouped and found the breakthrough on 37 minutes through Merino. The Spaniard’s deflected shot found the bottom corner for 1-0, which Arsenal protected into the halftime break.

The game continued without much action until the entry of Saka in the 66th minute, and the winger scored seven minutes afterwards, arriving at the back post to apply the finish to Gabriel Martinelli’s flick with his head for 2-0 on 73 minutes.

Rodrigo Munoz pulled one back for Fulham in the dying seconds as Arsenal saw out the match to claim all three points. The North Londoners remain second 61 points from 30 matches, cutting Liverpool’s lead to nine points.

Elsewhere, Anthony Elanga carried the ball for 85 yards to finish off a counter attack into the bottom corner as high-flying Nottingham Forest defeated struggling Manchester United 1-0 at the City Ground. Both Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi, Nigeria internationals, started the match, but Aina hobbled off due to injury on 39 minutes while Awoniyi lasted 86 minutes before substitution.

The win for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side completed a home and away clean sweep over Man United, their first over the Red Devils since the 1991/92 season.

They consolidate on third position with an eight-point gap over Chelsea in fourth as they inch closer to a spot in next season’s Champions League.

RESULTS
Arsenal 2-1 Fulham
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 West Ham United
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Manchester United

SportsNews

Unity Cup 2025: Chelle hints on inviting new players

Published

7 hours ago

April 10, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle says the Unity Cup will provide him the opportunity to beef up his team with new players.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria, Black Stars of Ghana, Reggae Boys of Jamaica and Soca Warriors of Trinidad and Tobago will compete in the 2025 edition of the competition.

Chelle kept faith with majority of the regular stars for the last month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

The Malian declared that he will call up new players to strengthen the team.

“We are looking forward to taking part in the Unity Cup as it will give us the chance to try out a few new players in different roles, helping us to strengthen our squad before the matches in September and October,” the 47-year-old told thenff.com.

The Unity Cup will run from May 27 to May 31, 2025.

All the matches will be played at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium in London.

SportsNews

Champions League: Nigerian singer, Joeboy loses N3million bet as Arsenal thrash Real Madrid

Published

1 day ago

April 9, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Nigerian singer, Joeboy, lost a N3million bet after Arsenal beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.

Seven hours before kick-off, Joeboy posted a betting slip with the caption, “Cashing out on Arsenal tears tonight!”

The Controller crooner could have won N10,345,000 if Madrid has won at the Emirates.

But Declan Rice curled in two beautiful free-kicks to give the Gunners the lead, before Mikel Merino added a third.

The result left Joeboy short of words, as he could only tweet “Goodnight” at full time.

Arsenal will be looking to book their place in the semi-final when they travel to the Santiago Bernabeu for the second leg next Wednesday.

Before that game, Mikel Arteta’s men host Brentford in the Premier League.

SportsNews

Champions League quarter-final: Arsenal thrash Real Madrid as Inter beat Bayern

Published

2 days ago

April 8, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Arsenal on Tuesday night thrashed Real Madrid 3-0 in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg tie.

The first half ended in a 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium.

However, in the second half, Declan Rice’s brace and a goal from Mikel Merino gave Mikel Arteta’s side a first leg advantage ahead of the return leg next week.

Meanwhile, in the other Champions League last-8 first leg tie played, Inter Milan defeated Bayern Munich 2-1.

Lautaro Martinez gave the visitors the lead in the first half.

But Thomas Muller equalized for the hosts.

However, Davide Frattesi scored few minutes later to give the Serie A side a first leg advantage ahead of the return leg next week.

Meanwhile, the remaining quarter-final fixtures will continue on Wednesday.

Aston Villa will face Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona will clash with Dortmund.