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Jon Rahm of Spain gives an interview ahead of the LIV Golf season opener in Riyadh. As the league’s two-time defending individual champion, Jon Rahm has quickly become the face of LIV Golf. That makes the Spaniard’s opinion on the uncertain state of LIV amidst a valuable one as the tour kicks off its 2026 season this week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Brooks Koepka sent shockwaves when he left LIV last December and made his PGA Tour return over the weekend at the Farmers Insurance Open. Patrick Reed, while not yet back with PGA officially, announced his LIV departure last week and is set to return to the more prominent tour later this year. The PGA Tour announced a “returning member program,” the criteria of which made only four LIV players eligible for immediate reinstatement: Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Australian Cameron Smith and Rahm. Instead, Rahm elected to stick with LIV for a third season as the captain of defending team champion Legion XIII. But Rahm admitted he doesn’t hold any ill will towards Reed for his decision. “I think each one is going to do whatever he thinks is best for them. At this point, I just wish him nothing but the best of luck. Hopefully it all goes well,” Rahm said when asked about Reed’s decision Tuesday. “We’re free to choose where we want to play golf. At least that’s how it should be. And he’s made his choice, obviously. Nothing really against him. He’s been playing fantastic golf, and if he wants to go back, he should have the chance to do so.” This week’s event in Riyadh also marks the beginning of a new era for LIV, which will move from 54-hole events to the more traditional 72 holes this season. The hope is that this change will allow for LIV events to begin counting for points in the Official Golf World Rankings, which they have not since the league’s 2022 launch. A decision on that front is reportedly expected soon from OWGR’s board, potentially paving an easier path for LIV competitors to qualify for major championships. Rahm, a two-time major champion, sees the change as a positive on all fronts. “I’m happy about it. I would say I was one of the people that pushed for it. So obviously I’m happy about it,” Rahm said. “I think the more golf we play, the better for stronger teams and stronger players, and I think it will benefit us four individuals and as a team.” Another potential LIV change this season is the league pushing for the DP World Tour to stop fining competitors for missing events due to LIV event conflicts. That’s affecting Rahm more than many, as he said recently that he’s been fined approximately $3mn for missing DP events since joining LIV ahead of the 2024 season. “I don’t know what it may be or what it’s going to look like, but I’m happy to see that looking for a path forward for LIV players to be able to play on both tours and not to get penalised,” Rahm said Tuesday. “The fact that they’re looking at a positive way to figure it out, I think it’s only good for us, and I think it’s good for the DP World Tour as well.” Related Story Source link
Belinda Bencic and Elina Svitolina have made history as the first mothers ranked inside the WTA Tour’s top 10 at the same time, with the governing body hailing it as “an incredible moment for women’s sport”. Switzerland’s Bencic returned to the top 10 in January for the first time since stepping away from the court in September 2023 to give birth to daughter Bella. In the latest rankings released on Monday she was joined by Svitolina, mother of Skai, after the Ukrainian’s run to the semi-finals at the Australian Open last week. The WTA has made efforts in recent years to help players maintain their professional careers and become parents with its Family Focus Program. It includes ranking protection during pregnancy, postpartum support with a return to play and paid maternity leave. “Two mothers ranked inside the WTA’s Top 10 rankings for the first time is an incredible moment for tennis and for women’s sport,” said WTA chief executive Portia Archer. “Not only does this highlight the exceptional achievements of Belinda and Elina, it reaffirms the WTA’s commitment to creating an environment where mothers can continue to compete and succeed, at the very highest level of sport – or any profession.” Bencic and Svitolina both took advantage of the Special Ranking Rule for returning mothers. “Coming back to the WTA Top 10 one year after returning to competition after maternity leave is something I am incredibly proud of,” said Bencic, ranked nine. “Very few people know or have experienced how difficult that journey is, but my family, my team and I have put all of our energy, work and dedication into it to accomplish this goal.”Tenth-ranked Svitolina added: “It’s a dream to return to the WTA Top 10. “Doing it as a mother means so much to me. I’m proud of my fight and resilience.” Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek retained their spots as world numbers one and two in the rankings, with newly-crowned Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina jumping two places to three. Amanada Anisimova, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva and Jasmine Paolini fill out four to eight respectively. Source link
US skier Lindsey Vonn addresses a press conference ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo on February 3, 2026. (AFP) Lindsey Vonn will attempt to defy the odds and compete at the Winter Olympics despite a ruptured knee ligament, the US ski icon insisting Tuesday that she will be at the starting gate when the women’s events get underway at the weekend. Vonn’s Olympic return after eight years, at the age of 41 and with a titanium implant in her right knee, has been one of the storylines of the Milan-Cortina Games. And she has been forced into another fightback after her other knee bore the brunt of a heavy crash in a World Cup downhill in Crans Montana, Switzerland, on Friday. After gingerly making her way into a press conference in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where the Olympic women’s alpine skiing events will be held, Vonn told reporters that she had “completely ruptured” her anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL. She added that she had also suffered bone bruising and meniscus damage from her fall in a race which was abandoned early due to awful conditions which caused two other crashes. “Today I went skiing and considering how my knee feels, I feel stable, I feel strong,” said Vonn. “My knee is not swollen and and with the help of a knee brace, I am confident that I can compete (in the downhill race) on Sunday. “This is not obviously what I had hoped for… I know what my chances were before the crash and and I know my chances aren’t the same as it stands today. “But I know there’s still a chance, and as long as there’s a chance I will try.” The women’s programme gets underway with the downhill, the discipline in which Vonn won her sole Olympic gold in 2010 and in which she was hotly tipped to repeat the feat 16 years later. Vonn has finished on the podium in every World Cup downhill race this season, including two victories in St. Moritz and Zauchensee, and has claimed two more top-three finishes in the super-G. “I think this would be the best comeback I’ve done so far. Definitely the most dramatic, that’s for sure,” said Vonn. “I’ve been through a lot and this is, this is another amazing chapter. I don’t know if it’s the best chapter, but a pretty damn good comeback if I can pull it off.” Still going for medals Vonn’s has been in phenomenal form this season, against some skiers who are nearly half her age like Germany’s rising star Emma Aicher, and she insisted that she was still gunning for a fourth Olympic medal “to close out my career”. As well as the Olympic downhill, Vonn said she is aiming also to compete as previously planned in the team combined event on February 10 and the super-G two days later. “I know what my knee has felt like with previous injuries in the gym and what it’s felt like during all the physical tests. and I can say that I feel a lot better right now than I have in the past,” she said. “I feel a lot better right now than I did in 2019 for the World championships and I still got a medal there with no ACL and three tibial plateau fractures.” Her successes have been all the more remarkable because she only returned to alpine skiing in November 2024, five years after announcing the end of a stellar career which had taken her body to its very limit. She underwent surgery earlier that year to partially replace her right knee following persistent pain. But it could end up being her other knee which denies Vonn the chance of breaking her own record for the oldest Olympic medal winner in women’s alpine skiing. Vonn established that record by taking bronze in the downhill at the Pyeongchang Winter Games in 2018. “In the past, there’s always a moment where you break down and you realise… that your dreams are slipping through your fingers, but I didn’t have that this time,” said Vonn.“I’m not letting this slip through my fingers. I’m I’m gonna do it. End of story.” …
Al Duhail head coach Djamel Belmadi has underlined the importance of securing maximum points when his side takes on bottom-placed Umm Salal Wednesday at Al Khor Stadium in the Qatar Stars League.Al Duhail, last season’s runners-up, come into the match in sixth place with 20 points after being held to a 1-1 draw by Al Rayyan in the previous round. With the race for the top four intensifying, Belmadi stressed that his side must capitalise against teams lower down the table to remain in contention.“The difficulty of this match lies in the position of the opponent and the presence of a new coach,” Belmadi said. “Umm Salal will be fighting to escape their situation, and that requires us to play with full commitment and focus.”Belmadi also highlighted the challenges his team has faced this season, particularly a spate of injuries. Key absentees have included Brazilian defender Lucas Silva, captain Almoez Ali and first-choice goalkeeper Salah Zakaria, all of whom have missed significant periods.Despite the setbacks, Belmadi insisted Al Duhail are determined to push forward and finish the season as strongly as possible. Umm Salal, meanwhile, remain rooted to the bottom of the standings with nine points. The club recently parted ways with French coach Patrice Carteron and appointed Spaniard Ruben Albis, but results have yet to improve, with a 4-2 defeat to Al Arabi marking their third straight loss and 11th of the campaign.Albis acknowledged the scale of the task facing his side but said his players are determined to rise to the challenge. “We are facing a strong opponent with outstanding players, but every team has weaknesses,” Albis said. “Our focus is on mental and technical preparation, clear roles on the pitch and playing with character to fight for the three points.”Title race intensifiesMeanwhile, league leaders Al Gharafa will look to defend their narrow advantage at the top of the table. Al Gharafa, who have 31 points, face Al Sailiya on Thursday at Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium as they attempt to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat to Al Sadd in the previous round. The loss denied them the chance to take a significant step towards a first league title since the 2009-2010 season.Al Sailiya, tenth on 12 points, head into the fixture buoyed by improved form, having beaten Qatar SC 2-1 before holding Al Shamal to a goalless draw.Al Sadd, just two points behind the leaders on 29, will aim to keep the pressure on when they host Al Shahaniya at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium Thursday. The defending champions have reignited the title race with six consecutive victories, including last round’s crucial win over Al Gharafa.Third-placed Al Shamal, on 25 points, face a tricky away test against an in-form Al Arabi at Al Thumama Stadium. Al Arabi climbed to fifth with 23 points after a 4-2 victory over Umm Salal, continuing an impressive run under coach Cosmin Contra.Friday’s fixtures include a high-profile clash between Qatar SC and Al Rayyan at Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium. Qatar SC moved up to seventh with 20 points after ending a five-match losing streak by beating Al Ahli, while Al Rayyan remain fourth on 24 points following their draw with Al Duhail.The round concludes with Al Wakrah hosting Al Ahli at Saud bin Abdulrahman Stadium. Al Wakrah sit eighth on 19 points after a commanding 4-0 win over Al Shahaniya, while Al Ahli are ninth with 15 points after back-to-back defeats. Source link
The International Swing on the DP World Tour reaches its midway point as a strong field has been assembled for the 29th edition of the Qatar Masters, which will be held from Wednesday through Sunday in Doha.This week’s host, Doha Golf Club (DGC), has staged the event in 26 of its 28 editions, becoming a regular and popular stop for players. This year’s field is headlined by Race to Dubai Rankings leader Jayden Schaper of South Africa and his nearest challenger, 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed of the United States.Andy Sullivan, Julien Guerrier, Daniel Hillier and Nacho Elvira will also be looking to continue their impressive starts to the season as they vie for the Mother of Pearl Trophy. The international stars will be joined by a trio of Qatari amateurs aiming to impress – Saleh al-Kaabi, Ali al-Shahrani and Daniil Sokolov.“Twenty-nine years is an incredible run and what we always do is work closely with our friends at the Qatar Golf Association and the Qatar Olympic Committee, whose support is so crucial,” said Tom Phillips, Head of Middle East at the DP World Tour, while addressing a press conference Tuesday.“Next year marks 30 years, which will be a huge landmark, and we look forward to reaching it and celebrating properly. This tournament continues to grow stronger every year. We have seven past champions teeing it up this week, along with three winners from the Race to Dubai so far this season. Another significant milestone will also be celebrated, as three-time major champion and 2003 winner Padraig Harrington is set to make his 500th DP World Tour start, which is remarkable. We are delighted to mark that achievement here,” he added.The course, however, may present a slightly different challenge this year, with several new and upgraded tee complexes – notably at the first, sixth, eighth, 13th and 15th holes – allowing greater flexibility in set-up while enhancing turf quality and visual definition.These improvements support a more strategic test for players while ensuring consistency across all tournament rounds. Operating in a desert environment, sustainability remains a core focus of course management, with DGC utilising warm-season turfgrasses selected for heat tolerance, reduced water demand and long-term durability.Irrigation practices are closely monitored and data-driven, ensuring water is applied efficiently and only where required, while ongoing soil health programmes help minimise inputs without compromising performance.“The forecast is looking very good. There may be a bit of wind on Thursday afternoon, but for the rest of the week conditions should be sunny with very light winds. We could see a little bit of rain over the weekend, but not very much,” said DP World Tour Senior Tournament Director Mikael Eriksson.“I have been coming here for around 12 years and I do not think I have ever seen the course in such immaculate condition. I received several messages from key players saying how grateful they are to be back and to see how much the course has improved over the past few years. We are looking forward to a very good and challenging week.”Speaking about the participation of Qatari players, Qatar Golf Association General Secretary Fahad Nasser al-Naimi expressed optimism. “We have three players from our national teams and they are in very good shape. This tournament is a significant opportunity for them and we truly hope they benefit from the experience,” he said.Al-Naimi also praised the strength of the field and confirmed that DGC is in perfect condition to host the event. “The Qatar Masters is one of the most significant sporting events held in Qatar. Once again, we have a strong 144-player field featuring many regulars from the circuit,” he said. Related Story Source link
Barcelona will be without winger Raphinha for the Copa del Rey clash at second-tier Albacete today because of a thigh strain and coach Hansi Flick said something had to “change” regarding the Brazilian’s preparation.Raphinha’s injury, sustained in the win over Elche on Saturday in La Liga, is expected to keep him out for only a week, but Flick was notably upset by the issue. The winger missed two months with a hamstring injury earlier this season and is a key player for the Spanish champions. “To be honest I’m not happy with this, really, because he’s a very important player,” Flick told a news conference yesterday. “We have to see what we have to change and also what he has to change. We’ll speak about that in the next days because it’s important. “This is the important phase in the season, we need every player to be able to play and when he’s out, it’s not good.” Barcelona have not lost a match this season which Raphinha has started.Albacete defeated Real Madrid in the previous round of the competition, and Flick said he was not surprised. “This is why we love (cup games), there are sometimes unexpected results,” said the coach. “Of course it’s like that – they have nothing to lose, they have only to win.” According to Spanish reports German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, on loan at Girona, has suffered a hamstring injury which could keep him out for two months. “I didn’t speak with him but I’m very sorry for him, but we have to wait for the results and we’ll see what happened,” added Flick. Source link
A man works on a cricket bat to prepare for sale at a sports gear shop in Kolkata, India, February 2, 2026. (Reuters) Boycott deepens freeze in India-Pakistan cricket relations after Islamabad’s decision on Sunday Pakistan’s decision to boycott its Twenty20 World Cup match against India has drawn widespread support from fans and administrators who hailed the move as a long-overdue stand in a rivalry in which sport and geopolitics have collided. The government on Sunday cleared Pakistan to take part in the tournament beginning February 7 but barred the team from playing India in a February 15 group match in Colombo, a decision the International Cricket Council (ICC) said was not in the interests of the global game. The boycott deepened a long freeze in bilateral cricket between the nuclear-armed neighbours – who have not played a full series since 2012-13 and now meet largely at neutral venues – and dealt a blow to the ICC’s marquee event, with India-Pakistan matches the biggest drivers of global viewership and revenue. ‘ENOUGH IS ENOUGH’For many in Pakistan, however, the boycott was less about cricketing issues, with Pakistan forfeiting two points by skipping the match, and more about symbolism. “Enough is enough,” former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi told Reuters, accusing India’s board of politicising the ICC.“It’s time to challenge this duplicitous approach by exercising PCB’s options in alliance with Bangladesh.” The Indian government, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council did not respond to requests for comment. The ICC said it was still awaiting an official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) conveying their “position of selective participation”. “While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan,” the Dubai-based body said in a statement on Sunday. The government has not publicly detailed its reasoning, but Mosharraf Zaidi, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, linked the move to security tensions with India. “Nothing is more important than the memory of Pakistani citizens and troops murdered by Indian proxy terrorists over the weekend,” Zaidi said. “With funerals taking place today, this was the least that could be done.” The remarks followed co-ordinated attacks by Baloch separatist militants across Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province over the weekend that killed nearly 50 people. India’s foreign ministry rejected Pakistan’s accusations, calling them “baseless” and accusing Islamabad of deflecting attention from its own internal issues. Pakistan’s World Cup jersey has been branded the “Markhor Edition,” after the national animal, a symbol of resilience also used in military iconography, Geo TV reported.‘LET CRICKET JUST BE A GAME’ On the streets of Pakistan’s major cities, many cricket fans backed the boycott as a response to what they see as India’s growing influence over global cricket governance.“This arrogance of India should be broken a little,” said Mohammad Asghar, a fan in Karachi. “They should realise someone has come forward to challenge them.” Others drew parallels with Bangladesh’s earlier withdrawal from the tournament over safety concerns, a move that led to Scotland replacing them, and questioned why Pakistan should be held to a different standard.“If Bangladesh can boycott for one player’s safety, why can’t Pakistan take a stand?” said Ayaz Ahmed. The decision also sparked heated debate on social media, with users divided between calls for “self-respect” and warnings that skipping the match could further isolate Pakistan in global cricket.Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi agreed.“Cricket can open doors when politics closes them,” he wrote on X.“It’s regrettable that Pakistan won’t play India, but this is the moment for the ICC to prove it is impartial,” the former Pakistan skipper added. Source link
Paris St Germain’s Nuno Mendes celebrates scoring their second goal against Strasbourg in the Ligue 1 match. (Reuters) ‘In the end I don’t know if we deserved to win or not but it was important’ Nuno Mendes scored a late winner as Paris Saint-Germain survived the second-half sending-off of Achraf Hakimi to beat Strasbourg 2-1 on Sunday and reclaim top spot in Ligue 1. A dramatic game in Alsace saw PSG goalkeeper Matfei Safonov save Joaquin Panichelli’s early penalty for Strasbourg, before Senny Mayulu gave the visitors the lead. Guela Doue, elder brother of PSG star Desire, levelled for the home side before the half-hour mark, but Portugal left-back Mendes headed in the winner for the reigning French and European champions in the 81st minute. Luis Enrique’s team had been reduced to 10 men on 74 minutes as Moroccan star Hakimi was sent off for a high tackle on Panichelli – he was initially shown a yellow card only for the punishment to be upgraded to red after a VAR check. Having missed out on direct qualification for the Champions League last 16 in midweek following a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United, PSG bounced back here to make it six successive Ligue 1 victories.As a result, they are two points clear at the top of the table from Lens, who defeated Le Havre 1-0 on Friday. “We were fortunate to win this match when most people would have thought it was impossible,” said Luis Enrique.“It was not our best performance. In the end I don’t know if we deserved to win or not but it was very important.” For Strasbourg, the defeat was their first in four matches under new English coach Gary O’Neil, appointed last month after Liam Rosenior left for Chelsea.They remain seventh, but are only two points adrift of Lille in fifth. Strasbourg were awarded a penalty following a VAR check after PSG captain Marquinhos blocked a shot with his arm. However, Safonov dived to his right to keep out the penalty by Argentina striker Panichelli.“He is the best goalkeeper I have ever worked with when it comes to stopping penalties,” Luis Enrique said of the Russian. Mayulu then prodded PSG into the lead, only for Doue to finish off a fine move to equalise by turning in Ben Chilwell’s cross. Strasbourg must have hoped they could go on to win the game after Moroccan star Hakimi was sent off on his first Ligue 1 appearance in three months, but Mendes headed in Warren Zaire-Emery’s cross to take the points back to Paris. “I am really proud of the team but really disappointed that we somehow found a way to lose, because I thought we were excellent and created the better chances,” said O’Neil.“Many teams lose to PSG just defending but we were in the game the whole way – it does give us the belief that we can go again.” Elsewhere, Lyon continued their excellent run of form with a 1-0 win over Lille to make it 10 straight victories in all competitions and further boost their chances of Champions League qualification.Danish midfielder Noah Nartey scored the only goal late in the opening half, a first for the 20-year-old since his arrival from Brondby last month. The seven-time French champions have now won every game since losing at Lorient in early December, including five on the bounce in Ligue 1. That form has allowed Paulo Fonseca’s side – also boosted by the arrival of Brazil striker Endrick on loan from Real Madrid – to cement their grip on fourth place, which brings with it a spot in next season’s Champions League qualifying rounds.With 39 points, Lyon trail Marseille in third only on goal difference and are seven clear of Lille, for whom this was a sixth loss in seven matches in 2026.Marseille followed their exit from the Champions League during the week by squandering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Paris FC on Saturday – OM and OL are nine points worse off than PSG. Source link
Organisers of the Doha Diamond League Meeting on May 8 have confirmed that athletes who set new meeting records at the 2026 event will be awarded a $5000 bonus, an innovative concept that was first introduced in 2025.The Diamond League series broke new ground in 2025 with $9.84mn awarded in prize money across the series as a whole, the largest prize pool in Diamond League history.While the introduction of meeting record bonus payments in Doha provided another welcome incentive for athletes, the high standard of past-performances meant that only Bahrain’s Olympic silver medallist Salwa Eid Naser came close. Her winning time of 49.83 in the women’s 400m matched the meeting record set by Allyson Felix of USA in 2008, but it wasn’t quick enough for the outright best required to meet the criteria for the $5000 bonus payment.Mohammed al-Fadala, Qatar Athletics Federation president, said: “The Doha Meeting has established itself as one of the leading Wanda Diamond League fixtures and feedback from our athletes, their coaches and their managers, repeatedly tells us that our exceptional hospitality is a key factor in them wanting to return.“As Mutaz Barshim said in last year’s press conference, track and field isn’t an easy job, so it’s very important that we value our athletes and take care of them, as well as providing the perfect stage for top quality competition. By continuing to award bonus payments for new meeting records we are incentivising athletes to perform, but we are also rewarding them for their efforts.“Mutaz acknowledged that change is positive and that as a meeting, and across the sport as a whole, we were moving in the right direction. We in Doha remain committed to innovation and change and that remains crucial if we’re to continue to grow our reputation and profile globally.”Earlier, multiple Olympic, world and European champion Mondo Duplantis of Sweden confirmed he will compete in Doha. The 26-year-old, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and six-time world champion, is also the meeting record holder in Doha with 6.02m, set in 2022. He arrives following another standout season, having broken the world record for the 14th time, most recently with 6.30m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.Duplantis is unbeaten in this Doha Diamond League fixture, but it’s been far from plain sailing. The 2020 event was postponed due to the pandemic (he won the rescheduled competition with a best of 5.82m), while in 2022 the men’s pole vault was delayed by one day and moved indoors due to high winds. Duplantis cleared 6.02m for the win on that occasion – a mark that still stands as the meeting record.“We’ve had a couple of challenges in the past for sure, but I’ve always loved coming to Doha,” said the 2025 World Athlete of the Year. “Last year was amazing for me. I ticked off a couple of really big goals, stuff that was high up on my bucket list, but my hunger and motivation is still 100% there. My training has gone well over the winter and I’m looking forward to competing indoors – it’s important to have something new to aim for, and for me, I want to successfully defend my European title. Doha will follow and it’s the perfect meet to kick off my outdoor season. I definitely prefer the warm weather to the cold, so hopefully conditions will be conducive to jumping high, challenging my meeting record, and setting a solid benchmark – and new goals – for the year ahead.”The azzraty Doha Meeting is the opening meeting of the 2026 Wanda Diamond League. The series comprises 15 of the most prestigious events in global track and field across four different continents. It concludes with a single final across two days in Brussels on September 4 and 5. Related Story Source link
Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the touchline during the Premier League against Leeds United at Elland Road in Leeds. (AFP) Mikel Arteta said Arsenal are “actively looking” for a replacement for the injured Mikel Merino in the closing hours of the transfer window. Merino, who has been a valuable contributor in midfield and attack for the Gunners, could miss the rest of the season with a fractured right foot that requires surgery. Arteta stressed how significant the Spain international’s absence as Arsenal compete to win four trophies. The Arsenal boss hopes his club can come up with a new signing to fill the void before Monday’s 1900GMT deadline. “We are actively looking at options and we will continue to do that,” Arteta told reporters Monday. “When you lose a big player like this with four months to go, and all the competitions to play for, you need to look and we need to do everything we possibly can to see if a player is available.” The loss of Merino has been tempered by the return to fitness of Germany forward Kai Havertz. There was further good news for Arsenal as Arteta revealed an injury that kept England winger Bukayo Saka out of Saturday’s 4-0 win over Leeds is only minor. “Today, he (Saka) was better. Let’s see how he responds. It doesn’t look like something too serious,” Arteta added ahead of today’s League Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea“Whether he is available for tomorrow or the weekend, we will have to wait and see.” Arsenal remain on course for an unprecedented quadruple. Arteta’s side hold a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League, have progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League and face third-tier Wigan in the FA Cup fourth round. But the Spaniard is focused on reaching the League Cup final as his side’s first opportunity to end a six-year trophy drought. Arsenal hold a 3-2 lead over Chelsea ahead of the second leg on home soil at the Emirates Stadium. “The next one is always the most important one. And it is the closest, at least, to reach a final,” said Arteta. “We really need to create the atmosphere, the energy, the belief that we’re going to do it.” Related Story Source link