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Joe Cole reveals the ‘huge advantage’ PSG have over Arsenal for Champions League semi-final

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Joe Cole believes Paris Saint-Germain hold a significant edge over Arsenal heading into their Champions League semi-final clash.

The two European heavyweights are set to face off for a place in the final, with PSG benefiting from the second leg being held at their home ground.

Arsenal are riding high after a dominant display against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, sweeping the reigning champions aside with a 3-0 win at the Emirates and a 2-1 victory at the Bernabeu to secure a 5-1 aggregate result.

Mikel Arteta’s men stunned the football world with their high-intensity performances, outplaying the Spanish giants over both legs. PSG, on the other hand, had to dig deep to overcome Aston Villa.

The French side claimed a 3-1 win at home but were made to sweat in the second leg at Villa Park, eventually scraping through with a narrow 5-4 aggregate scoreline despite a 3-2 defeat in England.

Arsenal will host the first leg at the Emirates Stadium on April 29 before traveling to Paris for the return fixture on May 6. According to Cole, the location of the second leg gives PSG a vital advantage, especially with the abolition of the away goals rule.

The former England international praised Arsenal’s stunning quarter-final performance but emphasized that playing the decisive match in Paris could tilt the tie in PSG’s favor.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Cole said Arsenal’s display against Madrid was “absolutely brilliant” and commended Arteta for leading his team to one of their most memorable European nights. He highlighted that with the Premier League title seemingly out of reach, Arsenal can now channel all their energy into the Champions League, giving them a genuine shot at glory. Still, Cole warned that playing the second leg away could be a critical hurdle.

Arteta, thrilled with his team’s performance, described the victory over Real Madrid as one of the best nights of his footballing career.

The Arsenal boss lauded his squad for rising to the occasion against a club with such rich European pedigree, expressing pride in their belief and execution across both legs.

Arteta noted that Arsenal’s Champions League history is relatively limited, making this achievement even more special for the team and its fans.

Meanwhile, Inter Milan booked their place in the other semi-final after knocking out Bayern Munich, setting up a clash with Barcelona, who eased past Borussia Dortmund. With Arsenal facing PSG and Inter meeting Barcelona, the stage is set for a thrilling finale to the Champions League season.

Joe Cole remains hopeful about Arsenal’s chances, particularly since their domestic title hopes have faded, giving them a singular focus on Europe. He acknowledged that if the Gunners were still in a tight Premier League title race, their odds in Europe would be slimmer.

Now, with full attention on the Champions League, Arsenal may yet find themselves one step closer to lifting the trophy for the first time in their history.

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

Andre Onana could remain in Turkey beyond his loan spell, with Trabzonspor keen to secure him on a permanent deal.

The 30-year-old moved to Trabzonspor after falling out of favour at Manchester United, who brought in Senne Lammens last summer. Since then, Lammens has established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, paving the way for Onana’s temporary switch.

In Turkey, however, Onana has rediscovered his form and quickly become a key figure. He recently grabbed attention with a standout performance in the Turkish Cup, saving three consecutive penalties to help his side overcome Samsunspor and reach the semi-finals.

The moment sparked widespread reactions online, especially from United supporters recalling their earlier penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town, where Onana managed just one save.

Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has openly expressed the club’s desire to keep the goalkeeper. He indicated that while Onana has his own career plans, the club would be eager to make the move permanent if the circumstances align, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.

Back in England, United are expected to consider selling Onana, particularly with Lammens now firmly established as their number one. The club will likely aim to recover a significant portion of the £47.5 million they paid to sign him from Inter Milan in 2023, with two years still remaining on his contract.

Beyond his cup heroics, Onana has been a consistent presence in the league, starting every match for Trabzonspor and playing a vital role in their push for the title. His performances have earned strong praise in Turkey, with the club currently sitting third in the table, just six points behind leaders Galatasaray.

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Man City place Arsenal ‘bottles’ for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

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Man City place Arsenal 'bottles' for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

Manchester City appear to have kicked off the psychological battle ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal.

In the build-up to the match, bottles branded with the Arsenal logo were reportedly being sold outside the stadium, priced cheaply and seemingly intended as a tongue-in-cheek way for home fans to mock the visiting supporters.

The stunt draws inspiration from a recent viral moment at Stamford Bridge, where a City fan was seen jokingly “drinking Arsenal tears” during their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea—a clip that quickly spread across social media.

With tensions already high given the importance of the fixture, the gesture adds another layer to the rivalry between the two sides. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be focused on responding where it matters most—on the pitch—as they aim to silence critics and deliver a strong result in what could be a defining game in the title race.

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

Alejandro Garnacho faced criticism from his former Manchester United teammates following Chelsea’s latest Premier League setback.

A first-half goal from Matheus Cunha secured a narrow but important win for United, strengthening the position of Michael Carrick’s side in the race for Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to struggle, with the defeat marking their fourth consecutive league loss without finding the net.

Pressure is mounting on head coach Liam Rosenior, who only took charge a few months ago after replacing Enzo Maresca. While the club has not publicly wavered in its support, questions are beginning to emerge over several players, including Garnacho, whose performances have failed to meet expectations since his £40 million move from Old Trafford.

Reports suggest Chelsea could be open to offers for the 21-year-old after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge. He had an early opportunity to impress against his former side after coming on for the injured Estevao, but once again struggled to make an impact, finding it hard to break through a United defence that was missing several first-choice centre-backs.

Garnacho also received a hostile reception from United supporters during the match, and the reaction appeared to carry over beyond the pitch. After the game, Luke Shaw shared an image on social media showing himself standing over Garnacho following a challenge. Bruno Fernandes responded with a playful but pointed comment, while former teammate Alex Telles also joined in with reactions.

Chelsea’s broader struggles are becoming increasingly concerning. They now sit four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth place, despite having played an extra game. The current run—four straight league defeats without scoring—is their worst in nearly three decades, with an even longer drought not seen since 1912.

Across all competitions, the form is equally worrying, with six losses in their last seven matches and 16 goals conceded during that stretch. A significant portion of their recent goals have come in a single outing against Port Vale, highlighting their lack of consistency in front of goal.

After the match, Rosenior admitted uncertainty about what failing to qualify for the Champions League could mean for his future. He acknowledged the result was difficult to take, especially given that Chelsea created numerous chances but failed to convert them. He pointed out that United capitalised on a limited opportunity, while his side were unable to make their attacking pressure count.

Despite the frustration, Rosenior emphasized the need for continued effort and improvement, insisting that the team must find a way to turn their form around before the situation worsens further.

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