Arteta 'proud' to be at Arsenal amid Barcelona links

By Sports Desk November 02, 2022

Mikel Arteta insists he is "extremely happy and proud" to lead Arsenal despite reports linking him with Barcelona as he praised Xavi's "phenomenal" work at Camp Nou.

Arsenal have won 10 of their 12 Premier League games this season to lead Manchester City by two points at the summit, and they will top their Europa League group if they beat Zurich on Thursday. 

The Gunners' excellent form has seen Arteta linked with a move to Barcelona, where Xavi is facing mounting pressure after failing to lead the Blaugrana to the Champions League's last 16.

However, Arteta remains fully focused on his current role, saying: "What I can say is I am extremely proud and happy to be where I am now. I think Barcelona are on a really good path now.

"I think they have a phenomenal coach, a coach who has been an absolute legend at that club and has lifted the whole place, and you have to be very respectful of that."

Despite Arsenal's strong results, some onlookers have expressed worries about the form of Gabriel Jesus, who has not scored since a 3-1 derby win over Tottenham at the start of last month.

However, Jesus claimed two assists in Sunday's 5-0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest, as well as playing a key role in the first of Reiss Nelson's two goals, and Arteta sees no cause for concern.

"If he makes three assists in a game, I don't think he has to make many adjustments," Arteta said. "I will be really happy if he is able to do that every game."

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    Manchester City's Jeremy Doku is one of four players to withdraw from Belgium's Nations League squad for their fixture against Italy and Israel. 

    Doku becomes the fifth player from Pep Guardiola's ranks to pull out from international duty this month and will not be available for Domenico Tedesco. 

    The 22-year-old was not part of the City side that lost for a fourth consecutive game in a row away to Brighton on Saturday, despite featuring against Bournemouth and Sporting CP.

    Doku has managed two goals and two assists in all competitions this season, while he has also completed the most dribbles (21) in the Premier League for the Citizens. 

    Atalanta's Charles De Ketelaere is also another notable injury absentee after being forced to miss the Serie A side's 2-1 win over Udinese at the weekend with a hamstring issue.

    The midfielder's seven goal involvements (two goals, five assists) in the Italian top-flight is a total only bettered by Ademola Lookman (10) and Mateo Retegui (14) for Atalanta. 

    Joaquin Seys, who earned a first senior call-up to the Red Devils side, also misses out after he was carried off with a leg injury while playing for Club Brugge. 

    Lyon's Malick Fofana has also withdrawn, though Tedesco welcomed four new faces to his squad. 

    Juventus' Samuel Mbangula, RB Leipzig's Arthur Vermeeren, Sevilla's Albert Sambi Lokonga and Anderlecht's Killian Sardella all come into the 23-man squad. 

    Belgium sit third in Group A2 and know they must win both of their games to stand any chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the competition. 

    They welcome group leaders Italy to Brussels on Thursday before making the trip to Budapest to take on Israel three days later. 

  • Koeman: De Jong in line for Netherlands return, but 'not at his peak yet' Koeman: De Jong in line for Netherlands return, but 'not at his peak yet'

    Frenkie de Jong is expected to make his return for the Netherlands in their Nations League clash against Hungary, but is a long way off from reaching his "peak" level.

    Those were the words of Ronald Koeman, who called up the Barcelona midfielder for the first time in 14 months after his struggles with an ankle injury. 

    De Jong has made seven appearances for Barca in all competitions this season, but was substituted in their 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad. 

    The 27-year-old was replaced by Dani Olmo at half-time on Sunday after sustaining a knock, though Koeman confirmed it was not a serious issue. 

    "I got in touch pretty quickly. Then it became clear that it wasn't about his ankle," Koeman said. 

    "It was already stated somewhere that it was about his shin, so it wasn't a problem then either. 

    "We assume that he can play on Saturday. But it is possible that he will have to train individually tomorrow. But we will see that tomorrow."

    However, Koeman said that despite his recent return to the pitch, De Jong is yet to return to being the player that helped the Netherlands finish runners-up in the 2018-19 Nations League.

    "It's clear that he's been out for a long time and hasn't played a whole game yet. So yes, then you're not at your peak yet. Let's put it that way.

    "But it's so important for us that he's there."

    De Jong was one of three players to return to Koeman's ranks, alongside PSV Eindhoven's Noa Lang and Ajax's Devyne Rensch, but there was no place for Memphis Depay. 

    Depay featured in all six of the Netherlands' fixtures at Euro 2024, notching one goal and one assist in their run to the semi-finals of the competition. 

    The 30-year-old recently joined Brazilian outfit Corinthians and has scored three goals in 10 appearances for his new club. 

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    “Memphis is not good enough and fit enough in my opinion,” he added. "If there is one player I have regular contact with, it is Memphis. We have talked about his situation.

    "If he continues like this, he will come into the picture in March. He probably finds it a shame now that he is not in the squad, and maybe he did not expect to be left out either.

    "Memphis is getting fitter, that is clear. But I will decide the moment when he returns.”

    The Netherlands welcome Hungary to the Johan Cruijff Arena this Saturday before facing Bosnia and Herzegovina three days later.

    Koeman's side sit second in Group A3 with five points from their four games, and know that two victories will seal their progression to the quarter-finals of the competition. 

  • Injured Barcelona star Yamal withdraws from Spain squad Injured Barcelona star Yamal withdraws from Spain squad

    Spain will be without star winger Lamine Yamal for their upcoming Nations League games against Denmark and Switzerland.

    Yamal starred for La Roja at Euro 2024 and has been exceptional for Barcelona so far this season.

    The teenager has already provided a LaLiga-leading seven assists this term, while his 12 goal contributions rank joint-third in Spain's top tier, behind club-mates Robert Lewandowski (16) and Raphinha (13).

    Yamal has also attempted (84) and completed (34) more dribbles than any other player in LaLiga in 2024-25, while Barca's two league defeats have come in matches in which the attacker did not start; a 4-2 loss at Osasuna in September, and a 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad on Sunday.

    Indeed, injured Yamal was left out of Hansi Flick's squad against La Real, and Spain have now called up Bryan Gil in his place, and Barcelona confirmed on Monday that the 17-year-old has suffered a grade one high ankle sprain, and will be out of action for up to three weeks.

    Luis de la Fuente's team are top of their Nations League group, with 10 points from their four matches.

    La Roja face Denmark on Friday before hosting Switzerland on November 18. 

    Should Spain collect one more win from their final two matches of 2024, then they will set a new national record for the number of victories in all competitions in a single calendar year. surpassing the 10 they managed in 2009.

    Barca also confirmed that Lewandowski will need 10 days out of action after suffering a back injury, meaning he will sit out Poland's matches against Portugal and Scotland.

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