LONDON: Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, admitted that his team needs to reach an almost perfect level if they want to catch up with the leaders of the English Premier League, Liverpool, who are now far ahead.

After an inconsistent start to the season, Arsenal returned to form with an emphatic 5-1 win over Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League in midweek.

Before that, they also ended a four-match winless drought in the league by defeating Nottingham Forest 3-0.

Victory over West Ham, early this Sunday morning is expected to propel Arsenal to second place in the league, at least before the important action between Liverpool and Manchester City at midnight on Sunday.

Speaking in a pre-match press conference today, Arteta said his team’s main focus was to maintain consistency.

“If Liverpool continue to be at this level, they will be difficult to catch. But, our focus is on our own performance. Consistency will open up opportunities for us to win more matches,” he said.

Arteta also praised the team spirit of his players after recording two important wins after the international break.

“The win gave new energy and confidence to the team. Now, it’s a matter of maintaining the momentum, especially with a tight schedule every three days,” he said.

MADRID: Barcelona said yesterday they are delaying their return to action at Camp Nou until mid-February at the latest as the iconic stadium undergoes modernization and expansion work.

The Spanish giants released a statement stating that their La Liga home games against Valencia and Alaves, scheduled for January 26 and February 2 respectively, will be held at their current stadium, the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.

Barcelona said UEFA rules prevent clubs from changing stadiums during the early stages of the Champions League and “logistical problems and additional costs” if they use two stadiums at the same time.

Camp Nou may host the Catalan club’s next match against Rayo Vallecano on February 16.

Barcelona said last month they were aiming to return to Camp Nou at the end of 2024 with an initial capacity of 62,000.

The stadium is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2026 with a capacity of 105,000, when the project dubbed “Espai Barca” is completed and the stadium roof is installed.

Modernization work at Camp Nou began in June 2023 but it was delayed due to permit constraints and complaints about working conditions.

Therefore, Barca requested to extend the contract for the use of Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys until March 31, 2025 as a precautionary measure.

MANCHESTER: Ruud van Nistelrooy’s assistant at PSV Eindhoven, Andre Ooijer, revealed that the former interim manager of Manchester United was disappointed when he had to leave Old Trafford.

The former Dutch and Blackburn defender said that his best friend wanted to remain as an assistant coach at Man United.

Van Nistelrooy took charge of the 13th-placed Premier League club on an interim basis after Erik ten Hag was sacked last month.

He recorded three wins and a draw in four games under his charge, before Ruben Amorim took over the Man United squad.

Amorim also brought his coaching line and Van Nistelrooy had to leave Old Trafford after his name was not in the plans of the former Sporting Lisbon manager.

“Ruud wants to stay as an assistant. He will say something if he is not interested in working with Amorim.

“Ruud had the opportunity to become a manager at another club, but he chose to work at the club he loves the most.

“Don’t forget, Ruud was brilliant (as a manager) at United, drew against Chelsea and won the other three games. You can see the fans love him.

“He excels in difficult situations. He has never lost as a manager.

“If Amorim fails to get good results in the first few games, the fans will definitely ask Ruud to come back,” said Ooijer.

Amorim will be tested in his first game as United manager against Ipswich on November 24.

LONDON: England captain Harry Kane criticized several players who withdrew from the national team ahead of the League of Nations action against Greece and Ireland, stating yesterday that the country must always come before the club.

England face Greece in Athens early tomorrow morning followed by Ireland three days later at Wembley but nine players, some in the starting line-up, have been called up while boss Lee Carsley pulls out through injury.

Manchester City’s Jack Grealish and Phil Foden, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill, Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite have all withdrawn from the squad.

Kane said that didn’t happen when Gareth Southgate was in charge because he created an atmosphere where players couldn’t wait to get into the England training camp.

“The joy of playing for England, I think he sparked it. Every camp, the players are excited to come, the players want to play for England and that’s the most important thing. I think England is more important than the club,” Kane told ITV Sport.

“It’s the most important thing you do as a professional footballer. Gareth is good about it and he’s not afraid to make a decision if it starts to deviate from certain players.

“It’s been a shame this week. Obviously I think it’s the toughest period of the season now and maybe some have taken a bit of advantage of it. I really don’t like it to be honest… I think England have to come first before anything else.”

While Kane is currently enjoying a winter break from football following his move to German giants Bayern Munich, the player at the English club faces a busy festive season.

New England manager Thomas Tuchel will only take over in the new year but he has no chance to work with the squad until the next international break next March.

Carsley said the withdrawal from the squad gave other players a chance to impress the new coach.

“Harry has his own opinion but I can only work with what’s in front of us,” said Carsley, who will end his interim spell against Ireland on Sunday.

LONDON: Enzo Maresca shouted a warning to Arsenal that Chelsea’s management is now different from the squad that was beaten 5-0 by the club when under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino.

Maresca will face Mikel Arteta’s men looking to prove his squad’s ability against the top flight since replacing Pochettino last summer.

Chelsea have lost to Manchester City and Liverpool this season, and drew with Manchester United last weekend.

Although Cole Palmer is not fit enough to start the game, Maresca believes his men are capable of challenging Arsenal at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.

“I didn’t know during the last two years how he felt. But now, I’m sure we can compete and beat any team.

“We are on the right track. I hope this Sunday we can give the fans a good day.

“Arsenal is so close to the best team in England, Manchester City. I want to win a game like this.

“From the beginning I stressed, I will analyze the performance rather than the result. You think we should lose to Liverpool?

“I hope we can win on Sunday. We were so close against Liverpool and City. We shouldn’t have lost,” Maresca said.