Football
‘He’s a soldier!’ – Erik ten Hag hails Arsenal defender after Real Madrid win
Erik ten Hag has expressed high praise for his former player Jurrien Timber following Arsenal’s impressive 3-0 Champions League victory over Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners stunned Europe by dismantling the reigning champions in the first leg of their quarter-final clash, taking a commanding lead into the return fixture at the Bernabeu.

While much of the attention went to Declan Rice—who netted two stunning free-kicks—and Bukayo Saka, who returned from injury to torment Madrid’s defense, Timber’s contributions didn’t go unnoticed.
The Dutch defender played a key role in helping Arsenal maintain a clean sheet against the dangerous attacking trio of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, and Rodrygo.
Ten Hag, who worked with Timber during their time together at Ajax, has been closely following the defender’s progress since his £34 million move to the Premier League.
Despite a difficult debut season that was disrupted by an ACL injury, Timber has bounced back this year to become a consistent performer for Mikel Arteta’s side, making over 40 appearances across all competitions.
Speaking to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, Ten Hag admitted he didn’t watch the match live, opting instead for Bayern Munich’s clash with Inter Milan, but he caught the highlights of Arsenal’s dominant performance.
He revealed that Timber’s standout display came as no surprise, given what he has seen from the 23-year-old throughout the season.
The Dutch coach described Timber as a “soldier” on the pitch—ruthless, focused, and always ready to execute any tactical instruction without hesitation.
According to Ten Hag, Timber understands the demands of top-level football and approaches every game with a proactive mindset, never waiting for the action to come to him.
He emphasized that Timber’s mentality is rooted in the belief that elite football is a battleground where it’s “eat or be eaten.
” That competitive fire has earned Timber a regular starting role at Arsenal and, in Ten Hag’s view, the young defender is on track to grow into a leadership figure within the squad.
Ten Hag, who has been out of managerial work since parting ways with Manchester United in November, remains an admirer of his former players and their evolution at the highest level.
Timber’s rapid rise, after such a serious injury setback, only reinforces Ten Hag’s confidence in his former protégé’s mental toughness and technical quality.
As the second leg against Real Madrid approaches, Timber’s defensive presence could prove vital in helping Arsenal close out the tie and book a place in the semi-finals.
With praise from a coach who knows him intimately and performances that continue to impress on Europe’s biggest stage, Timber’s journey from Ajax to Arsenal is fast becoming a blueprint for success at the elite level.
Ten Hag, reportedly a candidate for upcoming vacancies across Europe, including at Borussia Dortmund, will no doubt be keeping a close eye on Timber’s continued progress—and possibly even hoping for a future reunion.
Football
‘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.
Football
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.
Football
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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