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Ray Parlour believes it’s time for Arsenal to take some risks in the transfer market in an attempt to get themselves back into contention for the Champions League.

The Gunners sit ninth in the Premier League and are set to miss out on the top four for a fourth successive year, with their continued absence from Europe’s elite club competition taking a heavy toll on the club's finances.

And with the financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic now adding to Arsenal’s problems, transfer business at the Emirates Stadium this summer is expected to be extremely difficult.

But Parlour - who won three league titles and made a record 333 Premier League appearances during his 12-year senior career in north London - says his former club must find a way of strengthening Mikel Arteta’s squad, even if it means they have to take a gamble.

“Maybe they have to take a few more risks which probably they don’t want to do but sometimes in football you’ve got to take a risk,” he told Goal.

“Because if you can get the right players in, suddenly you can turn things around and turn the club around because you can compete again with the best.

“And that’s when you can attract big players in the Champions League.”

Parlour added: “You’ve got to be clever, you’ve got to wheel and deal sometimes because Arsenal are not a club who are going to be competing with the likes of Manchester City [in the transfer market].

“Not having Champions League football is a real burden on the financial situation, that’s why it’s so important to try and get back in it as quick as possible. They had a massive chance last year in the Europa League final, if they had won that.

“Now they have to find a way somehow, I don’t know what route they take to get back there, but we’ve seen what it’s done for Spurs and that’s what Arsenal have got to try and get back to.

“But it’s not as easy as you think, it’s not simple because you are competing against good teams, even teams like Wolves now who have improved so much.

“And what happens with Newcastle if the takeover goes through? They are going to come in and say we are going to have a go at the top four. So it really is difficult to get into the Champions League now.”

Arteta is keen to improve his squad at the end of the season, with a central midfielder now top of his priority list having just completed the permanent signings of centre-back Pablo Mari and right-back Cedric Soares.

Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey is a target, but his £44 million ($54m) release clause could prove prohibitive, unless Arsenal raise some significant funds with some sales once the window open - something Parlour believes could happen.

“There are also some players who you would probably think they could do without,” said the former Gunners star. “There are quite a few players whose contracts are running down.

“I don’t know what they will do with Lacazette. Nketiah is getting a chance now and he’s still a young lad.

"He’s still got to improve and get better, but Arteta might be saying ‘l like what I’m seeing in training from him and I know he will improve’.

“So it will be interesting to see what he does with certain players. Whether Aubameyang stays I don’t know and obviously it’s important to sign Saka up to a long-term contract. He’s been excellent.”

Parlour added: “It’s down to the club now recruitment wise. Arsenal have to get that right.

“They’ve brought Edu in, someone who has played in very good dressing rooms, he was part of the Invincibles and he knows what sort of characters you need if you are going to be successful as a team.

“That’s what his hardest job is now, finding those players who have got good characters that rub off on other players. That’s the hard bit, trying to find them.”

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hailed Odion Ighalo's predatory instincts and impact on Manchester United behind the scenes after the on-loan striker netted against Norwich City in the FA Cup on Saturday.

The 31-year-old continued his goalscoring form in cup competitions with the opener as the Red Devils saw off the Canaries 2-1 after extra-time in Saturday’s quarter-final.

After a goalless first-half at Carrow Road, Ighalo fired the visitors into the lead from close range in the 51st minute with his first shot of the game, prompting praise from his manager.

"It is great to have the option to rotate,” Solskjaer told BBC Sport. “Anthony Martial came on and did brilliant, but Odion gives me a chance to rotate. 

"He's a proven goalscorer and played his part in both goals," the Norwegian coach continued. "He is a great person to have around the dressing room too.

“Odion knows how much we value him in and around the dressing room; he’s a goalscorer, a poacher, he’s strong, we can play the ball into him, he showed for the second and Paul [Pogba] found him.”

Todd Cantwell equalised for Norwich in the 75th minute with an effort from outside the box, but captain Harry Maguire scored an extra-time winner as he fired home as the hosts failed to clear their lines.

While Ighalo is yet to score in six Premier League outings for United, he's proved to be an excellent option for Solskjaer in cup competitions.

He netted against Club Brugge in the Europa League, and scored twice away at Derby County in an FA Cup clash in early March as he made a strong first impression on his new fans after joining on loan from Shanghai Shenhua.

In Ighalo’s last start before this weekend, he scored one and contributed an assist as United thumped LASK 5-0 away in Europe, form which prompted United to extend his loan deal until early 2021.

“It was very important (to keep him at the club), that was important for me and we worked hard to do it,” Solskjaer concluded.

United, who are now unbeaten in their last 14 games across all competitions, travel to Brighton and Hove Albion in Tuesday’s Premier League encounter as they look to maintain pace in the race for Champions League qualification, before welcoming Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth on Saturday.

Currently, United are sixth having collected 49 points from 31 league outings.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was forced to dodge an awkward question over Manchester United's plans for Jadon Sancho, refusing to rule out a bid for the Borussia Dortmund star. 

Sancho, 20, has been closely linked with a move to Old Trafford this summer, although the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona are also said to be considering an offer. 

Any transfer, though, would likely not come cheap, with Dortmund reportedly setting a price tag upwards of £100 million ($123m) on their young gem at a time when spare cash is at a premium in the post-coronavirus football world. 

That did not stop a reporter from Norway's Viaplay from asking Solskjaer whether he was considering signing anyone from BVB, a question that momentarily stumped the United manager. 

"I'm good at maths, but I can't answer that question. There are many good footballers on many teams," Solskjaer told the journalist, before adding that United would be in the market for the right player and on the right terms. 

"If something is in front of us screaming that it's sensible, both from a sporting and a financial perspective, I know we're going to try, but you can't make any promises."

Speaking on Saturday, Dortmund director and former player Sebastian Kehl emphasised that his club had received no bids for Sancho's services and were hopeful of retaining him for at least another 12 months.

“We expect Jadon to play with BVB next season and we’re all very happy with the quality that he brings to our side and the difference that he can make,” he told  Sport Buzzer.  

Sancho arrived at Signal Iduna Park in August 2017 when he was just 17, having declined to sign professional terms with United's arch-rivals Manchester City. 

He has gone on to establish himself as a key member of the Dortmund first team and one of the world's premier young talents, making 99 senior appearances to date and scoring 34 goals. 

The 2019-20 season saw Sancho reach a personal best tally of 17 Bundesliga goals, a figure only bettered by Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski and future Chelsea signing Timo Werner.

However, it was not enough to break Bayern's domination of the German top flight as the Bavarians ultimately finished 13 points clear at the top to seal their eighth consecutive title. 

Ritah Kivumbi registered her first goal of the season for Mallbacken despite losing 4-3 to Alingsas in Saturday’s Swedish Elitettan game.

Mallbacken headed into the encounter on the back of a two-game winless run, including last weekend’s 1-0 triumph over Bollstanas while the Alingasas suffered their first defeat in a 2-0 loss to AIK.

And Kivumbi was handed her first start of the season, after her contributions to Conny Johansson's two opening victories but her effort was not enough to ensure they extended the fine run.

And the Uganda international rewarded the manager for affording her the starting role as she opened the scoring for the hosts just five minutes into the tie to gain a first-half advantage.

The visitors resumed the second half on a high and they found a way back when Ina Österlind netted three minutes after the restart at Strandvallen.

In the 57th minute, Pernilla Milton doubled the lead for Lars Bjork's team but Felicia Edgren levelled for the hosts five minutes later.

The back-and-forth continued between the ambitious sides as in-form Osterlind restored Bjork's advantage in the 67th minute but Fanny Flyckt secured the equaliser for the hosts a minute later.

However, Osterlind struck eight minutes from time to seal the victory as Johansson's team could not find a late response, condemning them to their first league defeat of the season.

Kivumbi, who opened her Elittetan goal account for the new campaign, lasted for 66 minutes before she made way for Fanny Flyckt, while Nigeria's Sarah Micheal was an unused substitute.

The defeat saw Mallbacken drop to fourth on the log with six points - three behind leaders AIK after three matches and they will seek to return to winning ways against 10th placed Kalmar on July 1.

Afriyie Acquah was in action as Burundi midfielder Youssouf Ndayishimiye scored a goal and assisted another in Yeni Malatyaspor's 3-2 defeat against Fenerbahce.

Acquah made his 24th appearance in the Turkish Super Lig on Saturday but his effort was not enough for Hikmet Karaman's side who fell to their fourth loss in their last five league outings.

The Black Stars midfielder was on parade for 90 minutes in the five-goal thriller as Fenerbahce scored two last-minute goals to turn the game around and secure maximum points.

It was a goalless affair in the first-half but the second 45 minutes produced five goals in the last 20 minutes.

Vedat Muriqi opened the scoring for Fener at the Ulker Stadium in the 70th minute but Ndayishimiye came off the bench to revive the visitors’ chances in the encounter.

He grabbed the equaliser for Malatyaspor 11 minutes later, thanks to an assist from Ivory Coast's Moryke Fofana.

The strike was the Burundian midfielder's maiden goal in the Turkish top-flight on his fourth appearance this season.

Shortly after the goal, Ndayishimiye turned provider for his side’s second goal as Mitchell Donald fired them ahead in the 89th minute.

Malatyaspor were on course to secure their second Super Lig victory since December until Ozan Tufan’s scored a stoppage-time brace to give Fenerbahce maximum points.

The result left Yeni Malatyaspor just a point away from the relegation zone as they are placed 14th in the league table with 28 points from 29 matches.

Acquah provided defensive cover for the visitors during the game, and he managed the most interceptions (2) with two clearances.

The Ghana international has been a key fixture in Hikmet Karaman's team since his arrived in Turkey on a free transfer from Serie A club Empoli last August.

Egypt's Karim Hafez, Morocco's Issam Chebake, Zimbabwe's Teenage Hadebe and Benin goalkeeper Fabien Farnolle were also on parade for the Malatya outfit.

Next up for Yeni Malatyaspor in the Super Lig is a home fixture against Genclerbirligi on Saturday and the African stars will be aiming to boost the team's survival with a victory.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised his substitutes after Manchester United booked their place in the FA Cup semi-final following a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Norwich.

United had struggled against the Canaries in the quarter-final clash at Carrow Road after Solskjaer made eight changes to the side that easily beat Sheffield United in the Premier League on Wednesday.

The rhythm and fluidity to United’s attack had disappeared and the Norwegian explained it was the result of making so many changes.

“We’re really happy with going through, Jesse (Lingard) and the others that hadn’t played and needed another game, they needed minutes to get the sharpness back and in that respect this worked out really well,” he said after Harry Maguire's extra-time winner saw off 10-man Norwich.

“The difference between training and games, the competitive edge, will help them in the next few months.

“This team, they played together against Derby in the last round, it took us too long to get into rhythm of trusting ourselves passing between the lines, one and two touches, we moved the ball a little bit too slowly. We kept prodding and we got the goals we needed.”

Solskjaer became the first manager to utilise the option to use six substitutes, after the game had headed into extra time, and they needed the firepower off the bench and a red card for Timm Klose to push them to victory.

While Solskjaer praised the impact of all the substitutes, he was particularly impressed with Anthony Martial.

“I thought Anthony came on and did really well, he made a little bit of a difference, runs down the channel, some great sprints and turns, he was positive, with 10 men we knew we had 30 minutes, we had to keep prodding and take our chances,” Solskjaer said.

“With them being down to 10 men and us having dominated it was time to put all hands to the pump, get the forwards on, get Nemanja (Matic) playing centre-back, we only ended with one centre-back with Harry. Sometimes it doesn’t work as hoped, in training it looks great and on paper it looks great, they were really organised and they tired towards the end.”

Solskjaer also praised Odion Ighalo after the striker scored his fifth goal in four starts for the club.

“It was very important (to keep him at the club), that was important for me and we worked hard to do it, Odion knows how much we value him in and around the dressing room, he’s a goal scorer, a poacher, he’s strong, we can play the ball into him, he showed for the second and Paul (Pogba) found him,” Solskjaer said.

“He’s performing well but it also gives me the chance to rotate with Marcus (Rashford), Anthony and Mason (Greenwood) so they can get a rest and we’re fresh for every game.”

Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela has announced the government resolved to rename Goble Park Stadium after Mike Mokoena. 

The late Free State Stars boss succumbed to cancer at a Johannesburg hospital last week and was laid to rest on Friday. 

He was accorded a special provincial official funeral by South Africa president Cyril Ramaphosa as a way of honouring the man who had been involved in football for 43 years. 

"We have resolved as the executive of the Free State provincial government to change the name of Goble Park Stadium to the Mike Mokoena Stadium," said Ntombela at Mokoena's funeral. 

Ntombela said the government aims to speed up the process so that everything is finalised this time next year.   

"So next year, when you come here and you make your way to Goble Park, you will be saying, 'we are going to the Mike Mokoena Stadium'.

"Of course, the necessary processes will be followed. Look, I swear, this one is going to happen," she said.   

Ntombela further revealed they have also done all the necessary research behind the name Goble Park and found that it means nothing to anybody, and therefore Mokoena's name will take over the legacy.  

"We have also checked who Goble was, we are not fighting anyone – it’s just a name from overseas and it means nothing to anybody. So, indeed we were just waiting for Bra Mike to take over. That Goble will be Mike Mokoena Stadium," concluded Ntombela.

Mokoena relocated Stars from Qwaqwa to Bethlehem soon after returning to the PSL in the early 2000s, and this has been their home ground for decades with Charles Mopeli Stadium used as their alternative ground until around 2013.   

Mokoena formed the club now known as Free State Stars in 1977 but at the time, it was known as Makwane Computer Stars.

It was under Mokoena's leadership that the club gained promotion to the National Premier Soccer League in 1986. 

Stars won two major trophies in the professional ranks - the 1994 Coca Cola Cup and the Nedbank Cup in 2018. 

The Bethlehem-based side got relegated in 2019 after finishing 16th at the end of the 2018/19 season. 

Portia Boakye was on target but her effort counted for nothing as Linda Molthalo was sent off to see Djurgarden bow to a 3-2 defeat against Uppsala in Saturday's Damallsvenskan opening game.

Banyana Banyana star was afforded her Damallsvenskan debut as a substitute in the tie, having bagged a brace in a 4-2 win over AIK on arriving from Chinese side Beijing Phoenix in January.

For Ghana's Boakye, she started her third season campaign with Djurgarden in style since arriving from Ostersunds in 2018 before she grabbed her first goal for the club in the match.

Tilde Lindwall scored the opening goal of the encounter at Studenternas IP as Pierre Fondin's team gained the lead after just eight minutes in the Damasvenskan season opener.

However, the hosts fought their way back with a strike from Sara Olai in the 25th minute but their celebration was shortlived as Boakye put the visitors back in front six minutes later.

Before half time, manager Fondin was forced to make an early change for his visiting team due to injured Fanny Lang, who made way for Molthalo in the 35th minute.

After the restart, Djurgarden held on to their slim lead but the hosts broke their defensive resilience as Cassandra Korhonen cancelled out Boakye's effort to level matters in the 81st minute.

Three minutes later, the South Africa international bagged her first booking for a poor challenge before she was given her marching orders after a second serious foul play inside two minutes.

Having gained a numerical advantage, the home side rallied late to overpower their visitors to claim the crucial winner through substitute Beata Olsson deep inside injury time.

The defeat leaves Djurdgarden in 10th position after a losing start to a new campaign, and they will hope for a winning home start in front of their fans against 12th placed Vaxjo on July 4.

Quique Setien felt Barcelona lacked a cutting edge, as well as a bit of luck, following the 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo - leaving them with "little margin for error" in the Liga title race.

Luis Suarez scored a brace but Barca were twice unable to hold onto a lead on Saturday, despite dominating for long periods of the game. 

They were impressive in the first half in particular, youngster Riqui Puig catching the eye on his first league start of the season, but only led 1-0 at the break. 

Setien felt the performance in the first 45 minutes deserved more with Barca denied by the woodwork when a Gerard Pique header hit the crossbar prior to Suarez's opener in the 20th minute.

"They took a lot of risks in the last few minutes and they found a goal that gave them a point," Setien told the media. 

"We should not have got into that situation because we were much the better team in the first half.  We had to have gone in at the break with a more comfortable scoreline. 

"We're not in that moment of clarity. 

"We did a lot of things well. It should have been a more comfortable game. 

"We definitely lack conviction to turn our play into goals. The superiority we had in the first half was enough to have won the match and gone into [the second] more relaxed. 

"We're finding it difficult. Scoring is sometimes a question of luck." 

Iago Aspas' late free-kick denied Barcelona victory on the road. While the point picked up is enough to take them top for now, Real Madrid have the opportunity to leapfrog them when they face Espanyol on Saturday.

Zinedine Zidane's squad also have the added cushion of owning the better head-to-head record against their rivals this season.

Setien acknowledges that Barca may now require help from others if they are to retain their crown in Spain.

"We've got little margin for error now and, in theory, we have to win all our games and hope our rival slips up," he admitted. "We'll try to keep picking up maximum points."

Next up for Setien and his players is Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou on Tuesday.

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has set his sights on lifting the FA Cup with the Red Devils after he proved an unlikely goal hero in Saturday's quarter-final clash with Norwich. 

United made hard work of Premier League strugglers Norwich at Carrow Road, going ahead in the second half through Odion Ighalo only to be pegged back by Todd Cantwell 15 minutes from the end. 

Maguire then stepped up in extra time to end the last-eight tie, jumping on a loose ball in the Norwich penalty area to beat Tim Krul with just minutes left to play before penalties loomed.

Saturday's victory makes United the first side to seal a place in the FA Cup semi-finals and Maguire is keen to go all the way and lift the famous old trophy. 

"It would mean everything," the centre-back, who joined United from Leicester City in the summer of 2019, told BBC Sport after the final whistle. 

"I joined this club to win trophies, it's a great tournament and hopefully we play a lot better in the semi-final than tonight."

Maguire's late heroics aside, it was a far from vintage performance from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men, who struggled throughout against the relegation-threatened Canaries. 

The Red Devils captain was not certain why his team failed to impress, having comfortably beaten Sheffield United 3-0 in midweek, but insisted that making it through to the semis was more important to United than the nature of their performance.

"It was a difficult game and we made hard work of it. We weren't at our best, but that's what happens in cup games sometimes," he added. 

"We had a tough game in the heat on Wednesday but we made changes so that shouldn't be the reason. I can't really put a finger on it at the moment, we'll have to watch it back and see.

"We played a little slow and went through the middle a bit too much, we should have gone wide a lot more. We're in the semi-final and that's all that matters."

Maguire is also hoping that his match-winning cameo in front of goal pushes him to score more often in United colours.

"I'm always pleased when I chip in, especially when it's a big result in the last minute of extra time," he explained. 

"I'm a bit disappointed that I've only scored three goals, it's something I'm working on and looking to improve between now and the end of the season and hopefully I can carry that into next season."

United and Maguire are back in action on Tuesday, when they visit Brighton in the Premier League.

The Nigeria Professional Football League season should be negated, according to Authentic Nigeria Football Supporters Club boss Abayomi Ogunjimi.

Football in the country has been on a hiatus following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, which crippled several activities globally.

Leagues in several countries have resumed owing to the relaxation of lockdowns, albeit, the future of the NPFL remains undecided.

Recently, the Nigeria Football Federation disclosed consultations are in top gear on how to end the 2019-20 league season,

Nevertheless, the supporters club’s chief feels it would be rewarding calling off the league rather than risk the spread of infections – owing to the shortage of clinical amenities in case of emergencies.

“Life is more important to me than anything. Do we have the medical facilities and the structure to rescue lives [in case of emergency] when we resume?,” Ogunjimi told Goal.

“You know the way things work here; this is Africa and we are still growing. You cannot compare the NPFL with the Premier League, La Liga, or the German Bundesliga – we will get there someday hopefully – but I don’t think we should gamble with peoples’ lives.

“We have few matches left to play and I feel the government, LMC and the sports ministry should observe the situation and take a positive decision as soon as possible.

“For the supporters’ club which is my primary zone, I don’t think I would love to risk the lives of my members.

“All I know is that we will return to our normal lives, so why are we in haste? I feel we should be patient before we make decisions.

“However, if we have adequate facilities to start the league again, then why not? But if the reverse is the case, I think we should call it quits.”

The League Management Company (LMC) had proposed four options to end the league, including a points-per-game (PPG) method, which was subjected to a vote some days ago.

Plateau United currently lead the table with 49 points from 25 games while Rivers United are second with 45 points, both in the Caf Champions League spots.

Lobi Stars are third with 43 points while Nasarawa United, Jigawa Golden Stars, Kwara United and Adamawa United occupy the last four spots on the table.

Captain Harry Maguire scored a late extra-time winner to secure Manchester United's place in the FA Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 victory at Norwich City.

United forward Odion Ighalo and Norwich midfielder Todd Cantwell scored with their respective sides' first shots on target as an entertaining second half followed a forgettable first.

Norwich took the contest to extra time despite seeing Timm Klose receive a straight red card in the 89th minute.

The game looked destined to be decided by penalties but Maguire popped up in the 118th minute to book United's place in the last four at Wembley.

The first half was most notable for Maguire blocking a goal-bound Lukas Rupp effort, but both teams emerged from the break with greatly improved intent and Ighalo broke the deadlock with a clever show of improvisation.

Juan Mata deflected Luke Shaw's left-wing cross into his half and Ighalo's hooked volley beat Tim Krul from point-blank range.

Norwich responded well to going behind, though, and Cantwell superbly restored parity with a swerving long-range drive that beat the dive of Sergio Romero.

Yet their hopes of a cup shock were dealt a substantial blow when Klose correctly saw red for holding back Ighalo as the last line of Norwich defence just outside the area.

The hosts survived six additional minutes to force extra time thanks to successive Krul saves to deny substitutes Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood.

Norwich were again grateful to Krul in the 22nd minute of extra time as he clawed away a Maguire header and then turned behind a fierce effort from Bruno Fernandes.

However, Krul was finally beaten for a second time as Maguire slid in to convert from close range after Norwich failed to deal with Pogba's ball into the box.

What does it mean? United still on track for double

United are through to their 30th FA Cup semi-final, more than any other club in the history of the competition. While the focus has been on their top-four chase, their narrow victory keeps them on track for a FA Cup and Europa League double.

Their cup run over, Norwich's hopes of salvaging something positive from the campaign look slim. Daniel Farke's men are six points adrift of safety with seven games left.

Ighalo maintains 100 per cent record

Eyebrows were raised when United brought in Ighalo on the final day of the January transfer window but he continues to justify that decision.

He has five goals in his four starts - scoring in each of those games - and his intelligent play in leading the line saw Klose dismissed.

Too Klose for comfort

There was no doubt about Klose's red. Having allowed Ighalo to get the wrong side of him, he then denied a clear goalscoring opportunity by holding onto the Nigerian and left Norwich with an arduous task in extra time.

Key Opta Facts:

- Manchester United have reached their 30th FA Cup semi-final, more than any other team in the competition.
- The Red Devils have won 11 of their last 13 away games at Norwich in all competitions (L2), winning each of their last four.
-  Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the first manager to make six substitutions in a competitive match in English football.
- Cantwell's seventh goal of the season ended Man Utd's run of 448 minutes without conceding in the FA Cup, last conceding in last season's quarter-final against Wolves.
-  Ighalo has scored in all four of his starts for Man Utd (five goals), scoring with his first shot in this match, with what was the game's first shot on target.

What's next?

Three points behind fifth-placed Wolves after their win at Aston Villa earlier on Saturday, United will look to pull level when they visit Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League on Tuesday. Norwich's increasingly desperate survival bid next takes them to Arsenal on Wednesday.

Arsenal’s decision to extend David Luiz’s contract is understandable, says Paul Merson, as the experienced Brazilian defender “never goes hiding” after making mistakes and remains a “proper player”.

Eyebrows were raised when the Gunners revealed that they had taken up a 12-month option on the enigmatic South American centre-half.

For many, Luiz is too error-prone to plug defensive leaks in north London, while at 33 years of age he is also no long-term option.

He will, however, be sticking around at Emirates Stadium after Mikel Arteta decided to keep the larger-than-life character on his books.

Merson believes the right decision has been made with the former Chelsea star, who is a Premier League and Champions League title winner, with the positives he brings to the fold helping to counter the obvious negatives.

“On his day, he is a proper player and there's no grey areas, he's black or white,” former Gunners star Merson told Sky Sports.

“You've seen it at Chelsea where he's absolutely outstanding and we've seen him at Arsenal where he's been atrocious. But for me, on his day, I think he's top drawer.

“If he can help the centre-halves coming through and the youngsters there with his experience, because he's won everything in the game, I don't think it's a bad year.

“I hear people saying 'oh get rid of him, he makes mistakes' - of course he makes mistakes, but he might be able to help other players while he's there.

“The one thing I like about him is that he never goes hiding, he always keeps getting on the ball, he's always in the thick of it and sometimes, that's probably why he makes too many mistakes. But I can understand where Mikel Arteta is coming from.”

Luiz’s only outing since the Premier League restart saw him endure a nightmare evening at Manchester City.

After being introduced off the bench, he proceeded to tee up Raheem Sterling for the opening goal of the game before conceding a penalty and being sent off.

Arsenal came unstuck in that outing, and in their next against Brighton, but did return to winning ways last time out against Southampton and will be hoping to carry that momentum through an FA Cup quarter-final clash with Sheffield United on Sunday.

That competition represents their best chance of ending the 2019-20 campaign on a high, with top-four dreams having been dashed for another year as they sit 11 points off the pace.

Luis Suarez admitted Barcelona's 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo left a bitter taste as there was a potentially crucial twist in the La Liga title race on Saturday.

Barca led twice but were pegged back on both occasions, Celta grabbing an 88th-minute equaliser through captain Iago Aspas' free-kick.

Suarez scored both goals for the visitors, ending a personal drought that stretched back to early January before he suffered a knee injury, but was left frustrated by the teald the head-to-head advantage over the reigning champions, having picked up four points from the two Clasico meetings in 2019-20.

m's failure to see out the win.

While Quique Setien's side moved back top of the table courtesy of the point picked up on their travels, Real Madrid have the chance to leapfrog over them again if they avoid defeat at rock-bottom Espanyol on Sunday.

Zinedine Zidane's side also ho"It was a vital match to fight for the title," Suarez admitted in his post-match interview for La Liga TV.

"We had a good first half, creating chances, but in the second half it was different, Celta wanting to be more aggressive.

"It [the result] leaves a bitter taste, one of sadness and frustration because we have lost two points."

Lionel Messi set up both goals for Suarez, the first of which saw him head in a clever free-kick from close range after Celta had put players on the line to protect against a direct shot.

The Uruguayan striker found the net again in the 67th minute following Fedor Smolov's leveller earlier in the second half, but his brace was not enough as Aspas swooped late to put a further dent in Barca's title aspirations.

Barca, who next face Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, have now won just once in their last four away games in the league.

"For my part, I am happy to help with both goals, but you are angry because things have to be corrected," Suarez added.

"This was a complicated away game, as will be the trip to Villarreal. Then, in between, we host Atletico."

Odion Ighalo opened the scoring in Manchester United’s FA Cup quarter-final game against Norwich City on Saturday, extending his fine scoring record for the Red Devils.

After a scoreless first half at Carrow Road, the former Nigeria international handed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men a 51st-minute lead.

Luke Shaw dashed into the hosts’ penalty area, looped a cross onto the penalty area with Ighalo firing past Tim Krul after Juan Mata managed to poke the ball through to him.

That stretched his fine goalscoring run this term, with the ex-Watford man justifying his loan extension from Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua.

This was only his fourth start for United, but he has found the net five times across those appearances.

Todd Cantwell cancelled out the goal with his 75th-minute strike as the game went into extra-time.

The 31-year-old was a surprise addition at Manchester United at the end of the mid-season transfer window following Marcus Rashford’s injury worries.

However, his stay was extended to allow him to finish this campaign, with his original spell due to finish at the end of May.

Ighalo has had limited time to make an impression, as he did not make his debut until February 17, with the coronavirus pandemic halting the season a month later.

The 30-year-old made a total of 10 appearances for United across all competitions, four of which were starts, accumulating over 400 minutes on the pitch.

Also, he has created eight chances for his team-mates, which includes his one assist.

No player has scored more than his five goals across all competitions since February 17, and the only forward who matches him in that tally is in fact team-mate Anthony Martial. 

Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has scored three, comes the closest.

Solskjaer’s side who are now unbeaten in their last 14 games [with 90 minutes] across all competitions are guests of Brighton and Hove Albion in Tuesday’s Premier League encounter before welcoming Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth on Saturday.

Victory for them in those games would be very crucial as they continue their chase for a place in Europe next term. Currently, they are sixth in the log having accrued 49 points from 31 league outings.

Goal can exclusively reveal Gift Motupa's proposed move to Mamelodi Sundowns will only be finalised next week. 

According to a source privy to the situation, the deal is as good as done after both the Brazilians and Bidvest Wits reached an agreement this week. 

Motupa has been discussing personal terms with the Tshwane giants, and contrary to reports that he has put pen to paper, Goal has been told otherwise. 

"There is a deal in principle but until he has put pen to paper, we cannot say the deal is done," the source told Goal.

"Having said that, we expect him to finalise everything with Sundowns next week. They are the only team he has been in talks with at this stage," added the source. 

The 24-year-old marksman is set to have been offered a five-year deal but that will be split into a three-year contract with an option to renew for two years, the source revealed. 

"It's a five-year deal but the final two years will be optional, meaning he will sign a three-year deal with an option to renew for a further two years."

"However, I think the club will announce the deal at the end of the [current] season," concluded the source. 

Motupa has been in top form for the Students since his arrival in July 2018. 

He scored 11 goals across all competitions in his first season - the goals that came on the back of a difficult period which saw Orlando Pirates loan him out to Baroka FC. 

With lesser expectations, Motupa has proved that he can reach his full potential provided he's given enough of a chance to showcase his talent.

This season only, the former Bucs marksman has scored 12 goals in 25 games to take his tally of goals with Wits to 23 in 50 appearances.

He still has an opportunity to increase the number of goals he's scored already this season after it was confirmed earlier this week that competitive football can resume under strict medical measures. 

Motupa will get to compete with the likes of Mauricio Affonso, Lebohang Maboe and Phakamani Mahlambi among other attackers at Sundowns.

Montreal Impact captain Jukka Raitala has praised Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama for his strength and his positive vibes in training.

Wanyama moved to Canada in March to team up with Thierry Henry’s side as a designated player after bringing an end to his two-year stint at Tottenham Hotspur.

Eight days after his arrival, the 28-year-old midfielder made his debut for Montreal Impact in a Concacaf Champions League quarter-final fixture against C.D. Olimpia which ended in a 2-1 defeat on March 11.

The suspension of football in the United States of America and Canada due to Covid-19 is delaying Wanyama’s MLS debut but Raitala revealed he has seen the midfielder’s physicality, and he is hoping to see his contribution in the team.

“There was a situation where he was protecting the ball and I tried to tackle him and he didn't move at all,” Raitala told MLS Soccer.

“I asked him a question after practice: 'Has any player ever managed shoulder-against-shoulder to put you on the ground?' He was quiet, he didn't say anything.

“I think that's, for sure, something where this guy is strong, a very clever player, very good with the ball and confident, very confident. Good teammate, he's happy. I don't know, I can only say positive things about him and I think he will be very good for us.”

The 2020 MLS season is scheduled to resume in a one-off tournament in July after almost four months of suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The competition will be staged in Florida and Montreal Impact have been drawn in Group C against New England Revolution, Toronto FC and DC United.

They will begin their campaign against New England Revolution on July 9 and all games will be played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Wanyama left Tottenham earlier this year after struggling for regular playing time in Jose Mourinho's team. He made 97 appearances for the North London outfit and he scored seven goals in total.

After featuring in the Kenyan Premier League with Nairobi City Stars and AFC Leopards, the combative midfielder started his European career in Sweden with Helsingborg in 2007 before moving to Belgian outfit Beerschot and then Celtic where he spent two years after which he completed a move to England to join Southampton in 2013.

There was little joy for Ghanaian players in the German Bundesliga as the top-flight drew to a close on Saturday.

A total of five men, divided across two teams, suffered nothing but disappointment.

Ghana centre-back Kasim Nuhu Adams, wingers Nana Ampomah and Bernard Tekpetey, as well as youngster Kelvin Ofori, all slumped with Fortuna Dusseldorf while German-born Christopher Antwi-Adjei went down with Paderborn.

The last two on the Bundesliga table at the end of each season suffer straight relegation while the third from bottom club goes into a play-off showdown with the third-placed side in the second-tier league.

In the end, Paderborn finished rock-bottom in the log while Dusseldorf took the second-from-bottom position.

Heading into the final matchday with only a chance to finish third to keep their hopes alive, Dusseldorf needed either a win in their clash with Union Berlin to clinch 16th position for a play-off or a draw in the least, with a hope that contenders Werder Bremen fail to register a convincing win over Cologne.

It ended in tears for the Flingeraner as they succumbed to a 3-0 away defeat while Bremen sealed an emphatic 6-1 victory.

The defeat saw Dusseldorf finish second-from-bottom on the log, effectively confirming a season, at least, in the second division.

Interestingly, all four Ghanaians on the books of Dusseldorf did not make the matchday squad.

Adams, though, will not be joining the side for the Bundesliga 2 campaign as he was loaned from six-placed Hoffenheim for only the 2019-20 term.

Ampomah, who signed for Dusseldorf on a long-term deal at the start of the season, has been rumoured to be on his way out of the club, having struggled to impress at Merkur Spiel Arena.

Tekpetey, like Adams, joined the Flingeraner on loan but a two-year agreement means he has one more year on his contract to fulfil, the kind that pulls him to the Bundesliga 2. Parent club Schalke 04, could, however, prematurely terminate the loan deal and bring the attacker back to the elite division.

Ofori, 18, is the fourth Ghanaian with Dusseldorf.

Elsewhere, Paderborn ended their disappointing campaign with a 3-2 loss at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Steffen Baumgart's side was already confirmed as relegated before the final matchday.

Antwi-Adjei, who saw full minutes of action on Saturday, could, however, stay up in the elite division as he has been linked to seventh-placed Wolfsburg. 
 

Players from the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage knelt during the playing of the US national anthem on Saturday in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. 

The protest has been repeated across the world of football in the weeks since Minneapolis resident George Floyd was killed through alleged excessive force on the part of officers during a police operation. 

Bundesliga stars Jadon Sancho and Marcos Thuram were among the first to show their support of Black Lives Matter, while the Premier League also saw players wear the movement's name on their shirts in place of their own surnames. 

Saturday's NWSL Challenge Cup match marked the return of professional sport in the US following lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic and members of both teams 'took a knee', echoing the gesture first brought into the public eye by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. 

Players also wore Black Lives Matter shirts during the playing of the anthem, which was performed on a saxophone. 

The issue of kneeling prior to sports matches has long been a focus of fevered discussion inside US sport, and was in fact banned by US Soccer in 2016 when national team star Megan Rapinoe performed the act in sympathy with Kaepernick. 

Earlier in June, however, the governing body repealed its policy forcing players to stand, and the NWSL saluted the act in a message shared on its official Twitter account. 

Among the most vehement critics of 'taking a knee' is President of the United States, Donald Trump, who has suggested in the past that doing so during the anthem should be a "deportable act".

Trump vowed to stop watching football due to the U-turn on kneeling, while Republican congressman Matt Gaetz went further, calling for the US national teams to be disbanded if they refuse to stand. 

"I’d rather the US not have a soccer team than have a soccer team that won’t stand for the National Anthem," the Florida politician stated in a message that was shared by Trump. 

"You shouldn’t get to play under our flag as our national team if you won’t stand when it is raised."