United News of Bangladesh

Arsenal continued their superb form in the Champions League with a commanding 3-0 win over Slavia Prague on Tuesday night, thanks to a brace from Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino and an early strike from Bukayo Saka. Playing away at the Czech champions’ home ground, Mikel Arteta’s men took control of the game after a composed start. Arsenal recorded their first shot on target in the 20th minute and capitalized on mounting pressure just 12 minutes later. From a fifth consecutive corner, Gabriel Magalhães’ header struck the arm of Slavia midfielder Lukas inside the box. The referee awarded a penalty to the Gunners after checking the touchline monitor, which Saka confidently tucked away to put the visitors ahead at the break. Arsenal doubled the lead within a minute of the restart. Leandro Trossard whipped in a cross from the left towards the edge of the six-yard area, and Merino met it with a superb volley beyond goalkeeper Jakub Markovic. The Premier League side sealed the victory in the 68th minute following a oppositons’ defensive blunder. Declan Rice delivered another teasing ball into the area, and Markovic misjudged its flight, allowing Merino to head in his second goal of the night. In the 72nd minute, Arteta introduced Max Doman for Trossard. At just 15 years and 308 days old, Doman became the youngest player to feature in Champions League history. Slavia Prague, who drew two of their previous three matches, failed to create serious threats in the final stages as Arsenal comfortably saw out the game. The victory extended Arsenal’s flawless run in Group B to four straight wins, taking their tally to 12 points. Arteta’s side also equalled a historic English football record by claiming their eighth successive win in all competitions without conceding a single goal, a record previously achieved only by Preston in 1889 and Liverpool in 1920.

In a dramatic and highly charged encounter at St James’ Park, Arsenal staged a sensational late turnaround, scoring two headed goals in the final minutes to snatch a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United. The win sees the Gunners move to within two points of league leaders Liverpool, who suffered a surprising defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace. Arsenal, the Premier League runners-up for the past three seasons, started with intent in the sixth round of the league on Sunday. They appeared to have earned an early breakthrough when referee Jarred Gillett awarded a penalty for Nick Pope’s challenge on Viktor Gyokeres. But after a lengthy VAR review, the decision was controversially overturned, leaving the visiting camp furious. Despite that setback, Mikel Arteta’s men continued to press forward, with Leandro Trossard striking the post and Eberechi Eze forcing two fine saves from the inspired Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope. However, it was the home side who broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when record signing Nick Woltemade rose to head in Sandro Tonali’s cross from the left. Martinelli rescues Arsenal with stoppage-time strike against Man City That goal looked like it would be enough for the Magpies as they clung on deep into the second half. But Arteta’s men refused to relent. With six minutes of normal time remaining, substitute Mikel Merino flicked in a precise cross from Declan Rice to level the score. The equalizer ignited a fresh wave of belief for the visitors, who piled more pressure on the Newcastle backline. Deep into stoppage time, their persistence paid off. In the sixth minute of added time, Gabriel Magalhães rose highest to meet a right-wing corner from Martin Ødegaard, heading home the winner and sparking wild celebrations among the players and traveling fans. The victory lifts Arsenal back into second place in the Premier League standings. Crucially, it also ensured the north Londoners closed the gap at the top following Liverpool’s shock defeat at Crystal Palace a night earlier. The Gunners now have 13 points from six games, comprising four wins and a draw. Liverpool currently sit atop the table with 15 points from the same number of matches. For Newcastle, the defeat leaves them in 15th place with only six points. Both teams will now turn their attention to European competition. Arsenal return to Champions League action with a home tie against Olympiakos, while Newcastle travel to face Union Saint-Gilloise on Wednesday night.