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• Gasperini wary of Arsenal ahead of Champions League opener

  Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledges Thursday's Champions League meeting with Arsenal will be a difficult challenge for his Atalanta side following a mixed start to their Serie A campaign.

  Atalanta sit eighth in the Italian top flight with two wins and two defeats from their first four games of 2024-25, having beaten Fiorentina 3-2 in a thriller on Sunday.

  La Dea twice trailed to goals from Lucas Martinez Quarta and Moise Kean, only to fight back for victory with Mateo Retegui, Charles De Ketelaere and Ademola Lookman scoring.

  Gasperini led Atalanta to Europa League glory last season, and they are preparing to step up to the revamped Champions League, with Arsenal the visitors for their first league-phase match next week.

  Gasperini knows the Gunners will provide a huge test, telling DAZN: "It's not just their aerial power, it's the way they run and move the ball. They have fantastic dynamism.

  "Arsenal are a great reference point in England, they dominated the Premier League last season along with Manchester City and Liverpool.

  "We have never played against them and I think they will be a big test for us because of their intensity, quality and pace. 

  "We’re not used to teams with those characteristics, this could be a problem for us."

  Gasperini also expressed frustration with the recent international break, noting that it had complicated efforts to prepare the team for their European campaign. 

  "Having the break for international duty was not helpful, as so many of them left again straight away," he said.

  "I think first of all this team needs to find solidity, get those mechanisms running smoothly."

• Ex-wife of former Jamaica footballer Jorginho James shares harrowing details of assault: "He punched me eight times..."

  The estranged ex-wife of former Jamaican footballer Jorginho James has come forward with harrowing details of an assault she endured on August 30. A video of the horrific assault that occurred inside his child’s daycare facility, has since gone viral.

  In an interview with Fox 26, she recounted the frightening ordeal that is the latest in a series of incidents involving the 30-year-old former professional soccer player.

  James, who has had previous run-ins with the law for family-related assaults, was first charged with a felony last month. Recalling one such incident, his ex-wife described a terrifying attack where James used a belt to strangle her. "He put a belt around my neck, and he strangled me," she said. "He kept me in the room for about an hour, two hours. He put the belt around my neck a second time and this time it was longer."

  The ex-wife managed to call 911 during the ordeal, leading to James' arrest. However, he was released on bond just two days later. Court records indicated that James initially complied with the protective order and bond conditions placed upon him. However, this compliance reportedly came to an abrupt end on August 30.

  According to the ex-wife, the incident on that day unfolded as James followed her while she was taking their two-year-old child to daycare. "As soon as I parked, he jumped into my back seat," she recounted. Fearing for her safety, she quickly exited the car and sought refuge inside the daycare while calling 911. However, this did not stop James. "While I'm still on the phone with them, that is when he started hitting me," she said. "He punched me eight times. I feel like he wouldn't have stopped if I wouldn't have fallen. He already had his arm ready to go a ninth time."

  The brutal assault left the battered woman with severe injuries, including a large black bruise on her face, swelling, and a broken finger. "I can't use my right hand," she shared, adding that even two weeks after the attack, the physical effects are still evident.

  Despite the severity of the attack, the charges against James were not upgraded to a felony. Instead, the August 30 assault was classified as a misdemeanor, with James only facing a second felony charge for violating a protective order or bond condition. "I was 100 per cent sure that he wasn't going to be able to come out this time," the flustered woman expressed, voicing her frustration and disbelief at the legal response.

  Even though the District Attorney's Office filed a motion to deny bond, the court set it at $20,000. James currently remains free after posting bail.

   In a message directed at James, the ex-wife said, "I hope he watches this or somebody he knows watches this, and he realizes that he hurt our daughter more than he hurt me. She's been screaming and crying in her sleep. I just need him to stay away and focus on himself and getting better so he can be a father to our daughter in the future if he gets a chance."

   

   

• 'I always win things in my second year' - Postecoglou insists Tottenham can win trophies

  A defiant Ange Postecoglou believes Tottenham have enough to win trophies this campaign as he "always wins things in his second year".

  Gabriel Magalhaes scored the decisive goal for the Gunners in the 64th minute, profiting from some slack defending on a corner as he thumped in the winner.

  Spurs had the better chances, especially in the first half, finishing the game with 15 shots overall, more than double what Arsenal managed (seven).

  The hosts also dominated possession with 63.7% and entered the final third 62 times, but as they did against Leicester City on the opening day, they struggled to take their chances.

  Asked if he thought his team had enough to challenge for silverware this season, Postecoglou told Sky Sports: "I don't usually win things, I always win things in my second year," he told Sky Sports. "Nothing's changed. I don't say things unless I believe it."

  Postecoglou has failed to beat Arsenal in three Premier League attempts and was left to lament their lack of a clinical edge after the match.

  "It's very disappointing in a big game for us and our supporters. We didn't deliver so you have to take the pain from that," he added.

  "It has been the story of our season so far, we played in their half and created chances, but we lack a bit of belief in the final third. That's what we need to fix. It was always going to be decided in moments, and they capitalised on theirs.

  "It's me who has to give the guys the way forward. It's not for a lack of trying by the lads, we are just going through this early part of the season where we are playing well but not getting rewards for it.

  "We handled set-pieces pretty well, but we switched off for one and paid the price."

  Son Heung-min made his 19th Premier League appearance in the North London derby, with only Sol Campbell (22) playing in more among outfield players.

  The Spurs captain struggled to make an impact though, worth just 0.04 expected goals (xG), and he echoed Postecoglou's frustrations.

  "We dominated the game; the football was there, we just conceded from a set-piece again. We did it last season, and it is really frustrating," Son said.

  "I am sure the fans are also very disappointed. We have to improve, 100%. It's a tough moment and we have to stick together.

  "We are getting into the final third, but the players have to take the responsibility to score. It is the hardest part of football, making the right decision and being clinical.

  "We will bounce back strong, there is a long way to go."