Mikel Arteta defended his decision to play Bukayo Saka as the Arsenal winger limped out of their Champions League defeat to Lens.
The Gunners had taken the lead through Gabriel Jesus but Adrien Thomasson levelled following a David Raya error before Saka hobbled out of the game.
Lens would go on to win 2-1 courtesy of a second-half strike from Elye Wahi but it was the injury to Saka that will have concerned Arteta more.
Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City visit the Emirates Stadium in five days and Saka’s involvement is now in doubt with the England forward having been forced off in the last three games.
Asked if he regretted picking Saka following his issues against both Tottenham and Bournemouth, Arteta replied: “No. It was a knock that he had the other day and he was perfectly fine. It was a back-heel, an action that can produce that kind of injury.
“Let’s see what the extent of it is and afterwards it’s too late. The last few were more knocks than anything else.
“He hasn’t really missed games. We gave him a break against Brentford (in the Carabao Cup) last week and that was all.
“He tried to backheel a ball in the first half and felt something muscular. He felt uncomfortable to carry on so we had to take him off.
“We don’t know anything more. It was big enough not to allow him to continue to play the game and that’s a worry for us.
“He was really looking forward to playing like every player. It was a big Champions League night. I painted a picture and the type of scenario we were going to face today and they all knew about it.
“But this Champions League is so difficult to win away from home. Today we take a big lesson.”
The defeat ended a forgettable 24 hours for Arsenal after bad weather grounded Arteta and his players at Luton airport for five hours on Monday as their journey to France was delayed.
Now their hopes of avoiding a bumpy ride in qualifying for the knockout stages have also suffered a setback after a turbulent night at a rocking Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
“No, let’s not put excuses,” Arteta said when asked if the preparations for the game had impacted on a poor team performance.
“First of all, congratulations to Lens. They are a really good side. Really well coached. We knew it was going to be a really tough match.
“In the boxes we had four or five chances we didn’t put away and we didn’t defend the boxes well enough.
“It’s true there were moments in the second half we struggled to be more threatening in the final third and find spaces.
“They defended with those numbers really good. That’s something to take for the next game.”
Lens had started the season slowly but won their two Ligue 1 games leading into a first Champions League home game in 21 years and defender Kevin Danso was delighted with the outcome.
“We gave it our all today in front of our own fans,” he said.
“It was a difficult game, Arsenal had a lot of quality and made us sit back really deep, but we kept defending and kept our concentration. Luckily we won the game.
“At home we know how strong we are, in front of our fans. That’s what we always try to do: win at home. I’m a bit gutted about the clean sheet, but we’ll take the three points definitely.”
Nagelsmann sticking to winning Nations League formula against Netherlands
Continuity is key for Julian Nagelsmann, as the Germany head coach revealed he would make minimal changes for their Nations League encounter with the Netherlands.
Nagelsmann, who watched on as his side swept aside Hungary 5-0 last week, confirmed he will be without Euro 2024 hero Niclas Fullkrug, though.
The 31-year-old scored two goals at the European Championships and was again on target for the Nationalelf in their Nations League opener.
Fullkrug was replaced in the 60th minute by Maximilian Beier, registering an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.11 to Germany's 3.71 total against Hungary.
However, Nagelsmann confirmed the West Ham United striker suffered an Achilles tendon injury that will rule him out of Tuesday's fixture in Amsterdam.
"It is not yet clear whether he can play," Nagelsmann said ahead of kick-off, but revealed he would not be making wholesale changes from their 5-0 win over Hungary.
“We are not thinking about changing much," Nagelsmann said.
"There are certainly things we can do similarly. But it is a different opponent with a different style of play."
Germany's win over Hungary also marked their first encounter without a number of their recent heroes following their retirement after Euro 2024.
Ilkay Gundogan, Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer, who have 451 caps between them, hung up their boots after their run to quarter-finals in their home tournament.
It offered the opportunity for players to stake a claim in the first-team squad, none more so than Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Ter Stegen made 41 appearances for his country but has been second choice to Neuer at major tournaments, and the 32-year-old returned to the international stage with a clean sheet, albeit only facing one shot on target against Hungary.
"Marc played a very good game against Hungary," Nagelsmann said.
"He is a very important player for us because he has been with Barcelona for years and has a responsible position there as captain."
Although in March, Nagelsmann had told Ter Stegen it would be Neuer who would start at the European Championships, despite missing 21 games for club and country with injury.
"The conversation wasn't particularly pleasant. Marc took it well and accepted the decision," Nagelsmann said.
"But I was briefly concerned that he would say I'm not going along with it. That would have been a shame."
Koeman insists Depay has Netherlands future after Corinthians move
Ronald Koeman said there is still a place in the Netherlands team for Memphis Depay after reportedly agreeing a deal with Brazilian giants, Corinthians.
Depay, who has 98 appearances for his country since his debut in 2013, was not picked for the Oranje's Nations League fixtures against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany this month.
The 30-year-old started all six of the Netherlands' fixtures at Euro 2024, scoring against Austria and notching an assist in their quarter-final win over Turkiye.
He struggled with injuries during his final season at Atletico Madrid, missing 18 games in all competitions, but still managed nine goals in 31 appearances.
But Koeman's comments come after denouncing the move of Steven Bergwijn to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad, saying his decision to move to the Middle East had closed the book on his international career.
“I disapproved Bergwijn to Saudi, with Memphis it can be different," Koeman said.
"The level of the league in Brazil is different, so yes, he can still be part of the national team, but it depends on his fitness and if he reaches his level.”
Koeman's side will be hoping to maintain their winning start to their Nations League campaign against Germany in Amsterdam on Tuesday.
The Netherlands put five past Bosnia last week, with Joshua Zirkzee, Tijjani Reijnders, Cody Gakpo, Wout Weghorst and Xavi Simons all on target.
Despite registering 28 shots, with nine of those on target, along with an expected goals (xG) total of 4.09, two lapses in concentration from Matthijs de Ligt were punished by Bosnia.
Ermedin Demirovic capitalised on some poor positioning by the Manchester United defender, who was then caught ball-watching as veteran Edin Dzeko capitalised.
But Koeman again jumped to the defence of the 25-year-old, confirming that De Ligt would be starting against Germany.
"We have discussed it," Koeman said. "He did not get his footwork right. It was a bad individual moment for a defender.
"You have to learn from that, it is clear that these kinds of moments need to be improved. But we should not be dramatic about it and put too much emphasis on it."
Media expert calls for increased media training and branding for developing athletes
In today's fast-paced and competitive sports environment, where an athlete’s brand can be just as valuable as their on-field performance, mastering media skills has become essential for career success. Recognizing the importance of effective communication in sports, media expert Stacy-Ann Smith is calling for increased media training and branding for developing athletes, particularly in Jamaica.
Speaking at the recently launched "Malta Holistic Workshop," an initiative spearheaded by Malta in collaboration with Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL), Smith, with nearly 25 years of industry expertise, emphasized the critical role media training plays in shaping an athlete’s public image and opening doors to greater opportunities.
"Any youngster serious about pursuing a path to success should be keen to show up well—on and off the field," Smith said. "Being able to handle media interviews is just as important as good sportsmanship. In an ever-shrinking world where interviews and videos can go viral at the speed of light, a well-done interview can position an athlete for huge opportunities—be they scholarships, contracts, or endorsements."
Smith pointed to several athletes who have used effective media communication to enhance their brand and public image, such as Jamaican sprint queen Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and U.S. sprinter Noah Lyles. "Whether that image is loveable—like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce—or makes them the guy everyone loves to hate—like Noah Lyles—how an athlete presents themselves creates an impression that increases visibility and often translates to bigger, more valuable contracts," she explained.
Beyond the immediate financial rewards, Smith highlighted how strong media skills can extend an athlete's career well into retirement, with many former athletes transitioning into roles as commentators, analysts, or securing lucrative endorsement deals that involve public appearances and speaking engagements.
Smith urged sports organizations and educational institutions to integrate media training into their development programmes, saying, "Athletes and sports organisations need to prioritise media training as a foundational skill. Brands that recognise the value of strong partnerships and endorsement deals should invest in media training to expand the pool of athletes they can leverage for marketing campaigns."
Owen Hill, CEO of the PFJL, echoed Smith’s call for press training in youth development programmes. "Media training equips our athletes with the tools they need to effectively communicate their stories and represent themselves and their clubs with professionalism. With the support of Malta's partnership and initiatives like the Holistic Workshop, we are equipping our footballers with essential media skills. This not only strengthens their brands but also elevates the profile of Jamaican football as a whole."
Looking to the future, Smith envisions Jamaica becoming a global hub for sports commentators and analysts. "If we are deliberate about it, Jamaica can become known not just as the 'sprint factory of the world,’ but also as a ‘global curator of sports commentators’—churning out analysts who are knowledgeable, witty, and engaging speakers that can enthrall audiences anywhere in the world."
With initiatives like the Malta Holistic Workshop, Jamaica is taking steps towards that goal, empowering young athletes with the skills they need to succeed both on and off the field.
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