Key events
Arsenal: During his press conference, Mikel Arteta took time to reflect on his team’s hard-fought win against Aston Villa last Saturday. Arsenal were forced to come from behind twice before scoring two goals in added time to secure all three points.
“There is a much better better mood, much more positive,” he said. “The confidence is much better, the environment around training is much better. The fact the team showed the capacity in an adverse situation; when you are 2-1 down and played less than 72 hours before and everyone is expecting you to be tired mentally – to be able to come back and win the game is a real big boost for us.”
Erik ten Hag: Manchester United can beat anyone after Barcelona win – videoArsenal: Mikel Arteta has got his pre-match media duties out of the way early doors, telling reporters that Thomas Partey is back from injury and in contention to feature in the Arsenal squad travelling to Leicester this weekend. He also said Gabriel Jesus is nearing a comeback having been out since the World Cup, but had no further updates on the contract negotiatians between either Bukayo Saka or William Saliba and the club. “We want to create a long-term project here and to do that we need our best players to be committed to the club,” he said.
Southampton hand Sellés reins until end of the seasonFollowing their win over Chelsea last weekend, Southampton have confirmed Rubén Sellés has been appointed as manager until the end of the season after convincing the hierarchy he can steer the club clear of relegation. Ben Fisher has the latest …
Ruben Sellés certainly looks the part of the elite, debonair, young European coach and has now been given the chance to steer Southampton out of the relegation zone. Photograph: Stephanie Meek/CameraSport/Getty ImagesA big weekend of football …Greetings one and all. Another busy weekend of football looms, with this one incorporating the first cup finals of the English and Scottish seasons. They’re both difficult to call, with Manchester United and Newcastle United duking it out at Wembley on Sunday afternoon in the denouement of the Carabao Cup, while Celtic take on Rangers in the final of the Viaplay League Cup at Hampden Park.
Before those showpiece events there’s plenty of league business to be taken care of and we’ll bring you news from the various managerial press conferences scheduled for today. There’s also the small matter of the Europa League draw, in which Manchester United and Arsenal will find out who they face in the last 16.
Performing far better in the Europa Conference League than they are on the domestic front, West Ham will also learn who they must face in the next round of Europe’s third tier competition.