Arsenal face a crunch tie in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday night as they host Sporting CP in the second leg at the Emirates Stadium, with Mikel Arteta battling to save the season.
The Gunners were on course for a quadruple less than a month ago but have since lost the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City before being dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship outfit Southampton shortly after.
While they currently sit six points clear at the top of the Premier League table with six games to go, a defeat to Man City on Sunday will hand all the initiative in the title race to their rivals, potentially seeing the team spiral from utopia to disaster. But the Champions League has the opportunity to provide history, if the manager is brave.
Arsenal Have Chance to Claim Big Win
A late Kai Havertz goal in Lisbon helped the north London club to claim a 1-0 win on the road in the first leg, and help them put one foot into the semi-finals last week. However, the team have since fallen to a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth at home, sparking serious concerns about the mentality of the team.
The Gunners will have the opportunity to bounce back from that at home, in front of their fans, by taking on the Portuguese champions once more and claiming a place in the semi-finals against Atletico Madrid.
But the attack has been misfiring for a while now, and if Arteta wants to ensure that the team have the best chance of winning, then he has to play the players who are currently making a difference in games, rather than the biggest and most established names.
With Bukayo Saka an injury doubt, Noni Madueke struggling for form, Gabriel Martinelli failing to make an impact, and Martin Odegaard absent, Arteta must be brave with his starting lineup and make the call to start young Max Dowman in the Champions League, despite his age.
Dowman Is Good Enough to Start
Dowman, described as ‘phenomenal’, has been one of the stories of the season, making his debut as a 15-year-old and becoming a regular in match-day squads under Arteta, playing in all competitions.
His ability to beat opposition players with the ball at his feet has been sublime, and it’s that type of quality that could be the difference between getting the crowd into the game to qualify for the next round, or struggling to break down a stubborn defence again and potentially crashing out of another tournament.
If you’re good enough, you’re old enough, and Dowman is certainly good enough. Declan Rice’s injury concern has dominated the build up to the game thus far, but even if he’s unavailable, the biggest decision Arteta must make is starting Dowman over his other big-name forwards.
Tottenham, meanwhile, will need to strengthen their squad following back-to-back 17th-placed finishes in the Premier League, with new head coach Roberto De Zerbi looking to make quick moves in the window to put together a group he thinks can challenge towards the top of the table, rather than the bottom.
Alex Scott enjoyed a fine season for Bournemouth
World Cup – UEFA Qualifiers – England Press Conference – Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre, London, Britain – November 11, 2025 England’s Alex Scott during the press conference Pool via REUTERS/Bradley Collyer
The 22-year-old was a regular starter under Andoni Iraola, only missing the final game of the season, named in the starting lineup for 34 of the 37 other matches in the Premier League. He scored three goals – with another coming in the FA Cup – and made one assist, picking up the Supporters’ Player of the Year award.
GIVEMESPORT senior football correspondent Ben Jacobs said last month: “Tottenham are one of the clubs looking at Bournemouth’s Alex Scott.
“He’s on Manchester United’s radar too, but once again, as I’ve said many times, Bournemouth are calm about that situation and are hoping to offer Scott a new deal.”
However, as time has moved on, it may be that Scott is now available to complete a move away from the Vitality Stadium this summer, with a report from the Athletic stating that “an extension is seen as unlikely”.
How much Bournemouth will demand to sell Scott
Alex Scott
The Athletic report goes on to state that United have made inquiries as to the cost of a deal, with Scott having just two years left to run on his current deal on the south coast. It is thought Bournemouth would demand around £60million to even consider selling the midfielder who has been described as “elite” by Nigel Pearson, who was his manager at Bristol City before moving to Bournemouth.
Pearson said: “He’s a unique talent. I’ve heard him compared to lots of players, but Alex is just a top-class young player who has a very level head. He will go on to play for England, I have absolutely no doubt about that. He is destination elite.”
Spurs may hold an advantage over United, should they look to pursue a move, given Scott grew up as a Tottenham fan.
Speaking after scoring against Arsenal, he said: “Yes, I support Tottenham, though that doesn’t have much to do with today. But growing up as a kid, it was definitely a dream for me [to score against Arsenal]. Bournemouth are my team at the minute but I was a Tottenham fan growing up, so as a kid growing up, I would have been really happy with that.”
Kate Mason is joined by Ben Jacobs for a live edition of Market Madness, breaking down the latest chaos in the transfer market and all the biggest stories from across football.
Journalist, author and host of The Athletic’s Walk On podcast, Tony Evans, joins live to discuss a huge summer at Liverpool, including:
– Arne Slot’s departure — the right call or too soon?
– Andoni Iraola’s potential arrival
– Where Liverpool’s season went wrong
– Key areas to strengthen and possible transfer targets
Plus, Ben brings the latest breaking transfer news and answers your questions in his weekly mailbag.
We also hear from England legend Jill Scott ahead of her Sport Relief challenge, as she reflects on life after football and gives her thoughts on the Lionesses’ chances at the upcoming World Cup.
It’s widely understood that Spanish giants Real Madrid have agreed a contract with Jose Mourinho to become their next manager. Once this news is officially confirmed, it won’t take long before the Portuguese coach starts pushing for some key transfers.
He is set to return to the Spanish capital for the second time in his career, having left way back in 2013, after three seasons in which he won both La Liga and the Copa del Rey. Mourinho spent last season at Benfica, where he went unbeaten in the league, but only finished third.
With Madrid, the 63-year-old arrives at a club in chaos after a trophyless season saw Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa struggle to deal with the big superstars in the dressing room. Mourinho is unlikely to be concerned by the big egos in the squad. However, one of his first key transfer targets isn’t quite the usual Galactico fans might expect.
Mourinho Wants Relegated Premier League Star
One of the defining dramas of the season for Madrid last season was Aurelien Tchouameni’s dramatic clash with Fede Valverde, which saw the Uruguayan hospitalised and both men fined for their antics. If Mourinho wants to calm the dressing room, he could look to offload one.
Indeed, according to journalist Ramon Alvarez, Mourinho ‘has told’ Real Madrid that he would like the club to sign West Ham United ace Mateus Fernandes this summer. The Hammers need to sell their most valuable assets this summer after being relegated, and the midfielder is of interest to a number of clubs.
Premier League sides Arsenal and Manchester United have been strongly linked with the former Southampton star in the past few weeks, amid talk that any transfer could cost as much as £80m. Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in Fernandes.
Rodri Also Linked With Madrid Interest
It’s worth noting that even if Tchouameni stays, Dani Ceballos wants to leave and Madrid are willing to let him go. His contract expires in 2027, so an exit this summer makes sense as they could still bring in a fee for the 29-year-old.
As such, Mourinho will likely want a midfield reinforcement regardless. One other name to be linked, beyond Fernandes, is Manchester City midfielder Rodri. The Spain international, 29, is heading into the final year of his Man City contract, and it remains to be seen if he will hang around or follow Pep Guardiola out of the exit door.
Reports claim that Mourinho is ‘very keen’ on bringing Rodri to Madrid. That said, having seen their manager depart, the Premier League club will be reluctant to lose another experienced head on the pitch, with Bernardo Silva and John Stones also confirming their exits this summer.
