European Leagues

I Regret Joining Man Utd from Arsenal – Sanchez Confesses

Alexis Sanchez wanted to terminate his Manchester United contract after just his first training session at Carrington following his move from Arsenal.

The forward landed in England back in 2014, signing for the Gunners from Barcelona and made an immediate impact.

In his debut season, Sanchez won the FA Cup and netted 25 goals across all competitions, cementing him as the club’s Player of the Year. Despite a less impressive second campaign, the Chile international bounced back spectacularly with 24 goals the following year.

Sanchez became a pivotal figure in Arsene Wenger’s side, drawing interest from the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United. When the former withdrew their offer, the Chilean chose to switch allegiances to Old Trafford – a move that saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan go the other way.

At the time, hopes were high that the transition would pay off for Jose Mourinho’s team, but hindsight painted a picture of regret for Sanchez immediately after joining. In a candid revelation in 2020, as quoted by the Mirror, the former Arsenal and United star said: “I accepted the opportunity to go to United.

“It felt tempting, and it was something good for me. I liked this club a lot when I was a kid. Eventually, I signed, but I didn’t ask for information on what was happening inside the club. Sometimes there are things that you don’t realise until you get there, and I remember the first training session I had, I realised a lot of things.

“After the session I got home and I told my family and my agent, ‘Can you not rip up the contract to go back to Arsenal? ‘ They laughed. I told them there was something that didn’t sit right, it didn’t seem good.

“But I had already signed; I was already there. After the first few months, I carried on having the same feeling. We weren’t united as a team in that moment.”

With seven league goals to his name before the move, Sanchez would score just two more after his mid-season switch, also losing the FA Cup final to Chelsea. The following campaign, however, was nothing short of a disaster.

Having failed to find the back of the net in the first six league games of the season, he was dropped for a trip to West Ham – a move made by Mourinho that shot the forward’s confidence. Sanchez, who – according to the BBC, was on a four-and-a-half-year deal worth £14m a year after tax added: “In a game with West Ham, I wasn’t picked.

Premier League

Tottenham defender Dragusin sidelined for the season with ACL injury

Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin is set to miss the remainder of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his right knee during the club’s Europa League clash against Elfsborg.

The 23-year-old will undergo surgery and is expected to be out for at least six months, with recovery timelines for ACL injuries sometimes extending up to a year.

In a statement, Tottenham confirmed that Dragusin “will be assessed by our medical team to determine when he can return to training.”

Having started 21 of Tottenham’s past 23 matches, Dragusin has been a vital part of the defense since his arrival from Genoa in January 2024 for £25 million.

The Romania international expressed determination to bounce back stronger, writing on Instagram:

“Football doesn’t just teach you how to win – it teaches you how to fight when things get tough.”

Dragusin joins a growing list of sidelined Tottenham players, including Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, and Cristian Romero.

To bolster their defensive options, Spurs recently signed Austrian defender Kevin Danso on loan with a £21 million purchase option. Additionally, the club’s £70 million bid for England defender Marc Guehi was rejected by Crystal Palace, though they secured 19-year-old attacker Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich.

Premier League

Arteta disappointed by Arsenal’s lack of winter signings

Nobody Works Harder Than Me - Arteta On Woeful Arsenal Display

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed disappointment over the club’s failure to strengthen their squad during the winter transfer window but commended the management’s disciplined approach to player recruitment.

The Gunners were linked with potential attacking reinforcements following Gabriel Jesus’ season-ending ACL injury and the continued absence of Bukayo Saka due to a hamstring issue. However, no deals materialized before the window closed.

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s EFL Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle on Wednesday, Arteta stated:

“We had a clear intention which is always when a window opens to explore the opportunities to improve our squad with players that can make an impact.

“With players injured, we’ve been impacted and we haven’t achieved it. We are disappointed in that sense but as well we are very aware that we only want to bring certain kinds of players and we have to be very disciplined with that as well. I think that we were.”

Despite the challenges, Arteta emphasized the importance of staying true to Arsenal’s recruitment philosophy.

“It’s in the profile, a player that we believe can make us much better. Financially there is a lot of ways, a lot of things that we must stay in the lane that has taken us this far and from there try to improve.”

Arsenal face a difficult task in Wednesday’s semi-final after a 2-0 defeat in the first leg against Newcastle.

Premier League

Gary Neville backs Arsenal to challenge Liverpool for Premier League title

Manchester United legend Gary Neville has expressed confidence that Arsenal can still beat Liverpool to the Premier League title this season, despite facing challenges with injuries and a quiet January transfer window.

The Gunners trail Liverpool by six points, with the Reds holding a game in hand. However, Neville remains optimistic about Arsenal’s title hopes.

Speaking as quoted on Arsenal News Channel, Neville said: “It’s a difficult window to do business in, and the type of striker Arsenal need is a significant one, and those players aren’t available. Ollie Watkins would have hit the ground running at Arsenal, but you need to be world-class to get into that team.”

He praised Arsenal’s patience and strategic management:
“I can see why they are being patient. Liverpool did the same with Martin Zubimendi. Both Arsenal and Liverpool are being run pretty well. They won’t panic.”

Neville emphasized that Arsenal’s chances hinge on staying competitive if Liverpool falters:
“Arsenal can still win the title. It’s a long shot, but they just need to be there if Liverpool slip up. Injuries happen to big players in football, and the loss of Van Dijk or Salah would disrupt [Liverpool].”

Arsenal’s next challenge comes on Wednesday in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals against Newcastle United, who hold a 2-0 advantage from the first leg.