Match Details

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• More injury woes for Chelsea as Liam Rosenior confirms another setback

  Chelsea’s £52m summer signing Jamie Gittens has suffered another significant hamstring injury, casting a shadow over the club’s dominant 7-0 FA Cup quarter-final victory against Port Vale. ​Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior confirmed that Jamie Gittens faces an indefinite period on the sidelines after a training ground setback. The 21-year-old missed the 7-0 thrashing of Port Vale, having “picked up what looks like a hamstring injury again.” Rosenior expressed deep concern for the winger, stating, “It’s a real shame for him; I think it’s the third time it’s happened.” ​Despite the injury blow, Chelsea secured their place in the FA Cup semi-finals with an emphatic performance. Rosenior, whose future has been subject to intense scrutiny, praised his side’s resilience following a difficult ten-day period. “We had a really difficult 10 days but the way we came through is a really good step for the run-in,” the Blues boss added.

• How 200 fast-food orders has landed Samir Nasri in £4.8m tax probe

  Former Premier League star Samir Nasri is under investigation by French authorities for alleged tax fraud after over 200 food delivery orders reportedly placed him in Paris rather than Dubai.

  ​Samir Nasri is embroiled in a legal battle after French tax authorities allegedly used his Deliveroo history to track his location.

  Despite claiming residency in tax-free Dubai, reports suggest 212 fast-food orders were delivered to his Paris home in 2022.

  Consequently, the 38-year-old pundit faces a potential £4.8 million reassessment, covering backdated income tax and property levies accrued since 2019.

  ​The French treasury has already moved to freeze a bank account and place a judicial lien on Nasri’s residence.

  Investigators are also examining his punditry appearances for Canal+ and stakes in local companies as evidence of his permanent presence in France.

  Nasri, who earned £180,000-a-week during his peak at Manchester City, denied the charges while authorities continue to scrutinize his financial ties.

  As Nasri fights to protect his assets, the “Deliveroo trail” serves as a modern warning to high-profile athletes attempting to navigate complex international tax laws through residency claims.

• Player Ratings: Jesus and White flop as awful Arsenal exit FA Cup in Southampton defeat

  Arsenal’s ambitions for a domestic cup double were extinguished on Saturday night as Championship side Southampton pulled off a massive 2-1 upset in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

  Having already tasted defeat in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City, the Premier League leaders arrived at St Mary’s under immense pressure to deliver.

  Instead, a series of defensive lapses and a lack of clinical finishing saw them dumped out by a resilient Saints squad, who now head to Wembley for the semi-finals.

  ​The hosts took the lead in the first half when Ross Stewart capitalized on a misjudged cross that drifted over the Arsenal defense.

  Although the Gunners found a lifeline through substitute Viktor Gyokeres in the 70th minute, their joy was short-lived.

  Shea Charles settled the tie with a brilliant curled effort, leaving Mikel Arteta’s side to focus solely on their remaining league and European commitments.

  ​Arsenal Player Ratings 

  ​Kepa Arrizabalaga (6/10):

  Retaining his spot after a difficult Carabao Cup final, the Spaniard was relatively solid under pressure. He produced several vital interventions to keep Arsenal in the contest while the Saints were dominant. He could hardly be faulted for either of the goals conceded.

  ​Ben White (3/10):

  It was a night to forget for the defender, who struggled with his positioning long before the opening goal. His inability to judge the flight of the ball led directly to Stewart’s strike, and he was repeatedly targeted by Southampton’s pace in behind.

  ​Cristhian Mosquera (6/10):

  The defender provided a crucial last-ditch recovery early on to prevent an opening goal after a defensive mix-up. However, his performance was nearly marred by a dangerous cross-field pass in the second half that almost gifted the hosts a second.

  ​Gabriel Magalhaes (6/10):

  Returning from injury, the Brazilian looked physically taxed but managed to provide the game’s turning point for Arsenal with a superb long ball to set up the equalizer. Unfortunately, his night ended early due to a knee concern.

  ​Myles Lewis-Skelly (5/10):

  The youngster failed to capitalize on a rare start, looking unconvincing in possession. He struggled to track back effectively when the Saints broke forward and was eventually replaced as Arsenal searched for more defensive stability.

  ​Christian Norgaard (6/10):

  Left as the solitary defensive anchor in a very attacking lineup, Norgaard performed admirably under the circumstances. He worked hard to shield the back four, though he was often overwhelmed by the sheer volume of Southampton counter-attacks.

  ​Martin Odegaard (6/10):

  The captain was the primary creative spark during a bright opening 20 minutes, though he failed to convert a clear-cut opportunity to take the lead. As the match progressed, his physical sharpness seemed to dip, and his influence faded before being substituted.

  ​Kai Havertz (6/10):

  For much of the evening, Havertz was a peripheral figure who struggled to impose himself physically. However, he showed great composure and balance to provide the assist for the equalizing goal before being withdrawn for a more defensive option.

  ​Max Dowman (7/10):

  The 16-year-old was comfortably Arsenal’s most dangerous outlet, constantly driving at the Southampton defense. It was a telling sign of the senior players’ struggles that the team relied so heavily on a teenager to create scoring chances.

  ​Gabriel Jesus (4/10):

  It was an anonymous display from the Brazilian forward, who failed to register any significant goal threat or link-up play. His lack of impact led to an early second-half exit in favor of a more traditional strike presence.

  ​Gabriel Martinelli (5/10):

  A night of high frustration for the winger, whose predictable approach was easily neutralized by the Saints’ backline. His evening was summed up by a booking for an unnecessary altercation with the official during a dead-ball situation.

  Substitutes

  Riccardo Calafiori (5/10):

  Introduced to provide more tactical security, the defender struggled to make a tangible impact. He was caught out of position during the buildup to Southampton’s winning goal, failing to track the run of Fellows effectively.

  Noni Madueke (6/10):

  Replacing Odegaard, he injected energy into the final third. While he successfully linked up with Dowman to create overloads, he lacked precision in the final moments, frequently carrying the ball out of play.

  Viktor Gyokeres (7/10):

  Providing an immediate focal point, the substitute proved far more dangerous in the box than his predecessor. He was perfectly positioned to convert the equalizer, showcasing the clinical presence Arsenal lacked earlier.

  William Saliba (5/10):

  Stepping in for the injured Gabriel, he was unable to tighten the defensive structure. Southampton continued to find gaps in the closing stages, and he could not prevent the late breakthrough.

  Martin Zubimendi (N/A):

  Introduced for a brief cameo following Havertz’s exit, he had insufficient time to influence the proceedings or settle into the high-intensity tempo of the final minutes.

• EIGHT England players released from England camp amid injury worries

  England manager Thomas Tuchel has released eight players from his squad ahead of the Japan friendly, including Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Noni Madueke due to injury concerns.  

  ​Thomas Tuchel has streamlined his England camp for the upcoming World Cup audition against Japan, releasing eight players following a 1-1 draw with Uruguay.

  The departures are headlined by Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, alongside Noni Madueke, who left Wembley in a knee brace.

  Other notable exits include John Stones, Aaron Ramsdale, Fikayo Tomori, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton.

  ​The high-profile withdrawals have complicated Tuchel’s preparations as he evaluates his final options for this summer’s tournament.

  Despite the rotation, veteran defender Harry Maguire remains with the group to compete for a defensive spot.

  Discussing his selection hierarchy, the German coach admitted: “I see other players I like to start for us, I see other players ahead with a different profile.”

• Harry Maguire frowns at ridiculous penalty decision in England draw with Uruguay

  Harry Maguire criticized a late VAR-awarded penalty that allowed Uruguay to snatch a 1-1 draw against England at Wembley on Friday night, overshadowing Ben White’s earlier opening goal.

  Manchester United defender ​Harry Maguire expressed deep frustration following England’s 1-1 draw with Uruguay, labeling the stoppage-time penalty intervention “ridiculous.”

  Despite England controlling much of the friendly, a VAR review judged Ben White to have committed a foul in the box.

  Maguire defended his teammate’s actions to ITV, stating: “Ben’s just goes to try to block the shot. It’s not a bad tackle, it’s not malicious.”

  ​The match marked a disjointed debut for several players under new head coach Thomas Tuchel.

  While Maguire earned high praise from the national press for his leadership, the late equalizer cost England a morale-boosting victory.

  Reflecting on the team’s loss of rhythm following several second-half substitutions, Maguire remained adamant about the final decision, adding: “It’s part and parcel of defending in the box, there is going to be contact.”