Arsenal to face Villarreal, Eric Garcia to Chelsea, Haaland LATEST, Aguero Barcelona talks – Liverpool transfer news
BARCELONA are in talks with Sergio Aguero as they look to reunite the Man City star with long-term pal Lionel Messi.
Arsenal have received a mega boost as 19-year-old Folarin Balogun has signed a new contract with the club.
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Stay up to date with all the latest football news in our rolling blog...
WHY THE LONG NECK?
Thibaut Courtois has enjoyed a 'family' outing in Madrid...
The Real Madrid goalkeeper posted a selfie with two giraffes who he dubbed his 'brothers' in a hilarious tweet, on an 'excellent afternoon with the family!!'.
DEM AND WHERE
Ousmane Dembele is reportedly considering a move to England or Italy if he leaves Barcelona.
The winger’s contract is up in 2022 and TuttoMercatoWeb claim he has rejected the latest offer.
Initial contact with Paris Saint-Germain is detailed in the report but the switch is not thought to be Dembele’s preferred route, with Juventus another option.
SEMI-FINAL LINE-UP
Here are the confirmed Europa League semi-final ties...
First leg - Thursday, April 29. 8pm:
Manchester United vs Roma
Villarreal vs ArsenalSecond leg - Thursday, May 6. 8pm:
Roma vs Manchester United
Arsenal vs Villarreal
Credit: Getty
RED DEVILS QUALIFY
Job done for Manchester United.
Edinson Cavani and a Jesus Vallejo own goal seals their passage to the semis 4-0 on aggregate over Granada.
Roma are their opposition after an Edin Dzeko goal made it 1-1 on the night and a 3-2 aggregate victory against Ajax.
ARSENAL THROUGH
What a performance from Mikel Arteta's side, taking a 4-0 win over Slavia Prague and a 5-1 aggregate triumph.
They will face Unai Emery and Villarreal in the final four.
GUNNERS FIRING
It really has been a perfect night on the pitch for Arsenal.
Alexandre Lacazette makes it 4-0 picking up a Nicolas Pepe cross, jinking past his marker and firing home for 5-1 on aggregate.
Elsewhere, Dinamo have a goal back against Villarreal but it is nevertheless 3-1 to the Spanish side.
Credit: Reuters DZEK THAT OUT
Edin Dzeko has put Roma back on level terms with Ajax.
That means, with 15 minutes to go, the tie is fully in the Serie A side's favour with a 3-2 aggregate lead.
The winner will face Manchester United in the next round.
MORE MORE MORE
If Villarreal and Arsenal qualify tonight, they will face up in the Europa League semi-finals.
Not only will that mean a reunion with old manager Unai Emery, but a meeting with one of Europe's hottest forwards.
Gerard Moreno has contributed more goal involvements (23) that any player side from Robert Lewandowski (25) and Lionel Messi (27) in 2021.
The Spaniard scored the second of the Yellow Submarine's 2-0 lead over Dinamo Zagreb.
Credit: AFP IN THE BALANCE
It appears likely that three Europa League quarter-finals are done and dusted.
The same cannot be said for Roma versus Ajax, where the Dutch club have just scored to take the lead at Stadio Olimpico - and had another chalked off by VAR.
Brian Brobbey gathered up a long ball to nudge it around the goalkeeper and score.
Roma still lead on away goals but are certainly not home and hosed.
LACA CLASS
You can't argue with this display from Arsenal before tonight's game with Slavia Prague. Unity.
COV BOOST
Coventry have won 1-0 at Rotherham after that Leo Ostigard goal.
It means the Championship survival fight looks like this:
HALF-TIME IN EUROPE
The Europa League semi-finals are taking shape with just 45 minutes left to play in tonight's ties.
Arsenal are three to the good in Czech Republic and 4-1 up over Slavia Prague on aggreagte.
Likewise, Manchester United have a commanding lead over Granada with Edinson Cavani making it 1-0 on the night and 3-0 overall.
It's goalless in Italy, keeping Roma 2-1 up over Ajax.
And Villarreal have opened up a 3-0 aggregate lead over Dinamo Zagreb, thanks to goals from Paco Alcacer and Gerard Moreno.
MOORE SETBACK
Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore has contracted pneumonia and blood clots while suffering from coronavirus.
The former defender, 46, tested positive this month and will remain on leave of absence from the Owls.
He told the club media: “I have developed pneumonia as a result of COVID-19, with blood clots on the lungs and extreme discomfort.
“I am gutted to be away but I understand the situation and the course of action I must take.”
BIG GOAL AT THE BOTTOM
Coventry have taken the lead at Rotherham in the Championship relegation dogfight.
And they have Leo Ostigard to thank as he rose highest to nod home a free-kick.
There are now just ten minutes for Rotherham to find a leveller against the opposition sat on the other side on the dotted line.
RATE THAT
Arsenal are on a mad one.
GUNNERS IN DREAMLAND
Bukayo Saka makes it 3-0!
That's 4-1 on aggregate. Arsenal are heading to the semi-finals.
SMOOTH AS SILK
A very nice finish from Edinson Cavani.
That's goal number nine on the season.
NOW IT'S TWO
A frantic start in Prague, Arsenal are TWO up!
Alexandre Lacazette scores a penalty with 20 minutes on the clock.
Follow the madness with our dedicated live blog here...
GUNNERS AHEAD
It didn't take them long to make up for that...
Smith Rowe battles his way through the box and tees up Nicolas Pepe.
The winger wriggles free of his marker and scores at the near-post. That one counts and is a huge away goal for Arsenal.
GUNNERS DENIED
Emile Smith Rowe thought he had made it two for two for the English clubs.
A long, long VAR judgement for offside cancelled out his rebound finish after Bukayo Saka's shot was turned onto the post and rolled his way.
GOAL TRAFFORD
Edinson Cavani has put Manchester United one up against Granada, and 3-0 to the good on aggregate.
A lovely Paul Pogba flick on set the Uruguayan up for a fiery finish.
Is that the tie sealed?
Credit: Reuters
AUBA OUT
That Aubameyang statement in full:
"Hey guys, thanks for all the messages and calls.
"Unfortunately I contracted Malaria whilst being on national team duty in Gabon a few weeks ago.
"I’ve spent a few days in hospital this week but I’m already feeling much better every day, thanks to the great doctors that detected and treated the virus so quickly.
"I wasn’t really feeling myself the last couple weeks but will be back stronger than ever soon! Will be watching my boys now, huge game for us! Let‘s go and get it."
BREAKING
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has contracted malaria.
The Arsenal captain caught the illness while on Gabon duty a few weeks ago and was forced to spend time in hospital this week.
He misses tonight's game with Slavia Prague and posted from his bed to cheer on the Gunners.
ONE EYE ON THE BOTTOM
There is a big game in the Championship relegation battle tonight.
Rotherham are clawing back their multitude of games in hand at home to Coventry, as 22nd hosts 21st.
At the break, it's 0-0.
Credit: PA SEA YOU LATER
Sead Kolasinac is willing to accept a 50 per cent pay cut to make his loan move to Schalke permanent this summer, according to reports.
The Arsenal left-back, 27, returned to the Bundesliga strugglers in January on loan until the end of the season.
Schalke sit dead-last in the top-flight and sit 13 points adrift of safety with just six games to play.
Having already been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, Schalke officials are planning for life in the second tier. And that means they won't be able to afford Kolasinac's £100,000-a-week wages.
But BILD claim the Bosnian club favourite is willing to slash his wages in half to stay at the VELTINS-Arena - even if they are relegated.
