Mikel Arteta admits he has concerns about Arsenal s attacking play and not only the goalscoring drought of captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Gunners have lost back-to-back Premier League games 1-0 to Manchester City and Leicester City and have failed to score more than twice in any of their previous eight matches in all competitions.

After having an Alexandre Lacazette goal disallowed early in the first half, Arsenal attempted just one shot in the second period against Leicester before Jamie Vardy s 80th-minute winner.

This season, Arsenal are averaging just 8.8 shots per match in the league – their lowest such figure since at least 1997-98 – and 1.3 goals per game, their worst rate in 25 years.

Aubameyang has scored just once in six league games…

Danny Ings gave in-form Southampton sweet revenge over Leicester City and Manchester United hammered bottom side Norwich City in the Premier League on Saturday.

Leicester consigned the Saints to a record-equalling 9-0 defeat in October, but the second-placed Foxes – who had three goals ruled out – were beaten 2-1 at the King Power Stadium less than three months later.

Ings 10th goal in his last 10 top-flight starts sealed all three points for a Southampton side who have now won three and drawn one of their last four Premier League matches.

Manchester United replaced Sheffield United in fifth spot with a 4-0 drubbing of Norwich at Old Trafford, Marcus Rashford scoring twice, after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored and was sent off in Arsenal s 1-1 draw at …

Antoine Griezmann hopes to offer complete performances if selected to play a more withdrawn role for France at the World Cup.

Griezmann impressed when playing behind Olivier Giroud as France won their second World Cup in 2018, with his tally of four goals in Russia only bettered by England s Harry Kane (six).

Despite Griezmann occupying a traditional striking role for Atletico Madrid, reports have suggested Didier Deschamps may deploy the 31-year-old in an advanced midfield position behind two forwards in Qatar.

While the news that Ballon d Or winner Karim Benzema will miss the tournament with a thigh injury could provoke a rethink, Griezmann told Telefoot he is content to play in any position.

Asked about his role for Tuesday s Group D opener against Aus…

Robert Lewandowski became the first player in Bundesliga history to score in eight successive away games and Thomas Muller scored twice as leaders Bayern Munich cruised to a 4-0 win over Schalke.

Second-place RB Leipzig suffered a shock loss to Mainz 05 on Saturday and Bayern took full advantage at the Veltins-Arena on Sunday, moving seven points clear at the top.

Schalke are bottom of the table with one win all season but they more than matched the European champions before Muller s 33rd-minute breakthrough.

Muller doubled his tally late on after Lewandowski struck early in the second half, before David Alaba added further gloss at the death to a victory that saw Manuel Neuer keep a Bundesliga-record 197th clean sheet.

Robert Lewandowski s last 8 on …

Best odds: 11/10

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We re well in the second half of the 2020-21 season in the Premier League, and at the moment, Manchester City are far ahead in the title race with five points and a game in hand on city rivals United in second place. This match between Leicester City and Liverpool, set to be played at the King Power Stadium on Saturday lunchtime, could go a long way in deciding the race.

Leicester City

It will, of course be another reunion between Brendan Rodgers and the club where he led the team for three years, between 2012 and 2015. So far, he hasn t been very successful in those encounters, losing all three. He will be hoping Liverpool s poor recent form will help him break that run.

Speaking of form, Leicester won three of their last si…

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reached out to fans after agreeing to buy a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United, telling them he takes his responsibility to put the club back on top of world football “very seriously” but also calling for patience.

United announced on Christmas Eve that Ratcliffe, the chairman of INEOS, had finalised a £1.25billion deal for a share of the Premier League outfit and will invest more than £236m to refurbish the debt-laden club’s infrastructure.

INEOS will also take over the management of United’s football operations.

Ratcliffe has now written to the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust, the Fans’ Forum and the Fans’ Advisory Board insisting INEOS “are in for the long-term” but advising that success on the pitch “will re…

While Arsenal might have eventually missed out on a Champions League return last season, the Gunners make their return to action on Boxing Day in the midst of a remarkable purple patch.

Only continuing to gain a string of plaudits from across Europe since opening the 2022/23 campaign, men now find themselves at the heart of a shock Premier League title charge.

Holding a commanding five-point buffer over defending champions Manchester City, have also suffered just a single top-flight defeat this season.

However, handed a real blow as attacking talisman Gabriel Jesus picked up a long-term knee injury while on World Cup duties with Brazil, Arteta is reportedly keen on dipping into the January transfer market.

Ahead of what could be a crucial month in Arse…

Bayern Munich made a grand statement in the Champions League as they hammered Barcelona 8-2 to book their semi-final place in remarkable fashion.

Lionel Messi and his team-mates were swept aside by the dominant Bundesliga champions in a chaotic first half, with Philippe Coutinho then coming on to deal further blows to his parent club in the closing stages.

Thomas Muller s sublime strike got things started and, although David Alaba s own goal drew Barca level, Ivan Perisic and Serge Gnabry had Bayern 3-1 up by the 27th minute.

Muller s second piled further misery on Barca – who conceded four goals in the first half of a Champions League match for the first time – and while Luis Suarez responded after the break, Bayern had more to give.

Joshua Kimmich r…

Market: Dartford win

Odds: 3/5 @

Looking to make an immediate return to winning ways on Tuesday night, Dartford will welcome Slough to Princes Park for a National League South Showdown.

Starting with the hosts, while Dartford might have put in a rugged performance away at Taunton over the weekend, Alan Dowson’s men would have been disappointed to have been on the wrong end of a 1-0 loss. Nevertheless, securing an eye-catching silver medal finish last season, the Kent-based outfit still have their sights set on mounting another promotion charge this time around. Despite watching their four-match unbeaten run come to an abrupt end last time out, the Darts will be smelling the chance to claim an immediate boost here. Signing off August with a deserved 2-0 victory…

A fierce debate has arisen over the last 15 years or so, regarding the rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Truth be told, it s been a while since the high-tide of that rivalry, back in the days when the two genuine superstars wore the shirts of the two greatest clubs in Spain, Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively.

Since Ronaldo left Madrid in 2018, playing three years for Juventus before enduring what turned out to have been a spell of woe back at Manchester United, it s been largely the fans of the two players and the click-seeking media outlets who continue with the comparisons.

Two years before that, Ronaldo led Portugal to European glory and for many it was a sign of his superiority over Messi.

But the Argentinian has obviously turned the …