Summary

  1. How Jesus has struggled for scoring consistencypublished at 09:06 Greenwich Mean Time

    Arsenal 3-2 Crystal Palace

    Gabriel Jesus salutes the Arsenal fans after scoring a hat-trick against Crystal PalaceImage source, Reuters

    Gabriel Jesus joined Manchester City from Palmeiras in January 2017 so had five full seasons with the Blues before joining Arsenal in the summer of 2022.

    The Brazil striker is now in his third season with the Gunners and the 27-year-old has claimed a total of 73 goals and 40 assists from 225 appearances in the Premier League.

    Jesus has made it into double figures for league goals on three occasions:

    • 2017-18 - 13 from 19 appearances with Man City
    • 2019-20 - 14 from 34 appearances with Man City
    • 2022-23 - 11 from 26 appearances with Arsenal
  2. get involved

    Get Involved - Will hat-trick give Jesus 'spark'?published at 09:01 Greenwich Mean Time

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Arsenal supporters need to lower their expectations. The January transfer window is notoriously difficult. The quality of striker often mentioned is unlikely to be available at this time, let alone affordable in an overly inflated market. Arteta will stick with what he’s got and wait until the summer.

    Simon, Cambs.

  3. What's to come?published at 08:55 Greenwich Mean Time

    We're set to hear from three Premier League managers today, with Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler the first scheduled to speak to the media from 09:00 GMT.

    News conferences with Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo and Brentford boss Thomas Frank are scheduled for this afternoon.

  4. get involved

    Get Involved - Liverpool beat managerless Southamptonpublished at 08:48 Greenwich Mean Time

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    Couldn't have gone worse for Liverpool. Some 1st teamers involved and a win meaning 2 extra games in January.

    Alan, an exasperated Liverpool fan

  5. I think my hard work has paid off - Jesuspublished at 08:43 Greenwich Mean Time

    Arsenal 3-2 Crystal Palace

    Arsenal

    Gabriel Jesus scores against Crystal PalaceImage source, Getty Images

    Gabriel Jesus acknowledged his problems in front of goal after Wednesday's game: "I have scored a lot of goals but sometimes I have this problem with a lack of goals.

    "I can create, I can make assists, I can run and help the team defending. When I score everyone sees, but when I don't they want their striker to score goals and I agree with that.

    "That is why I am working a lot in training, finishing more, putting myself in a good position to finish the action. I think my hard work has paid off."

  6. How hat-trick hero Jesus broke his Emirates scoring droughtpublished at 08:39 Greenwich Mean Time

    Arsenal 3-2 Crystal Palace

    Gabriel Jesus shot map for Arsenal against Southampton

    Gabriel Jesus went into Wednesday's Carabao Cup quarter-final with just one goal to his name this season - from a 3-0 win at Championship side Preston in an earlier round of the competition.

    His first goal against Crystal Palace came from a cool dink over goalkeeper Dean Henderson, while the second and third were fired in across goal from a similar spot on the corner of the six-yard box.

    Amazingly, they were the Brazil striker's first goals at the Emirates since 17 December 2023.

  7. get involved

    Get Involved - Will hat-trick give Jesus 'spark'?published at 08:31 Greenwich Mean Time

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    It's good that Jesus figured out how to score again, but we need a longer term option, the past year showed he isn't the future.

    Martin

  8. 'Brentford were terrible... it was a non-event'published at 08:26 Greenwich Mean Time

    Newcastle United 3-1 Brentford

    Chris Waddle
    Former Newcastle & England winger on the Football Daily podcast

    I was surprised that Eddie Howe said that they worked hard and what a good side Brentford are. Maybe on some weeks they are but tonight they were terrible.

    He should have said 'I'm surprised Brentford turned up'. I would have expected more. It's the quarter-final of the League Cup - you lose, you go home, you're out.

    [Thomas Frank] brought in Bryan Mbeumo alongside Yoane Wissa up front for the last 15 minutes, they started to create a little bit - up until then it was a non-event. It was just one team that had turned up.

  9. get involved

    Get Involved - Liverpool beat managerless Southamptonpublished at 08:20 Greenwich Mean Time

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    Couldn't have gone better for Southampton, a good performance to boost morale, but now free to focus on staying in the league.

    J in Cardiff

  10. Tonali 'showing all the qualities we knew when we signed him'published at 08:16 Greenwich Mean Time

    Newcastle United 3-1 Brentford

    Newcastle United

    Newcastle manager Eddie Howe hugs Sandro Tonali after he scored twice against BrentfordImage source, PA Media

    Eddie Howe speaking about Newcastle's win over Brentford on the Football Daily podcast: "Yeah, really pleased, a good performance from the players. It was a difficult game, every game brings a unique challenge, Brentford were everything we thought they would be, they're a strong team but we scored some really good goals."

    On Sandro Tonali: "It was great to see Sandro score the two that he did. We are starting to see the best of him. The tweak in position has definitely helped him, he is a lot more comfortable when he is deeper on the pitch. He is showing all the qualities that we knew when we signed him. It is just about finding the right balance for him and the team."

  11. get involved

    Get Involved - Will hat-trick give Jesus 'spark'?published at 08:10 Greenwich Mean Time

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    It’s great that Jesus got some goals, but he’s not going to suddenly turn into the prolific striker Arsenal need. My fear is that Arteta will put all his faith into Jesus thinking he’ll get the goals we need and as a result we won’t buy a striker in January

    Steve

  12. 'Saudis target Rashford'published at 08:06 Greenwich Mean Time

    Tottenham v Man Utd (20:00 GMT)

    The Daily Telegraph

    If Marcus Rashford does move on in January, where would he go?

    The Daily Telegraph is reporting that "the Saudi Pro League will offer Marcus Rashford a way out of Manchester United."

    Lead sport page of the Daily Telegraph on 19 December 2024Image source, Daily Telegraph
  13. Rashford not expected to be involved at Spurspublished at 08:02 Greenwich Mean Time

    Tottenham v Man Utd (20:00 GMT)

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

    Marcus Rashford was absent from the Manchester United squad that boarded the train south yesterday afternoon for the Carabao Cup trip to Tottenham.

    It is possible Rashford got on at a different station but the rest of United's squad were at Stockport and the expectation is the forward will not be involved when Ruben Amorim's side look to seal a semi-final spot.

    It is not known whether Rashford has been disciplined by Amorim for the interview on Tuesday in which he said he was 'ready for a new challenge'.

    Asked about the interview ahead of the game, Amorim said he would have probably sought out the manager first if he had a problem during his playing days.

    "It's a hard situation to comment [on]," he said. "If I give a lot of importance it will have big headlines in the papers and if I say it's not a problem then my standards are getting low."

  14. What did Rashford say?published at 07:58 Greenwich Mean Time

    Manchester United

    Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford told football writer Henry Winter:, external "It's disheartening to be left out of a derby, but it's happened, we won the game so let's move on. It's disappointing but I'm also someone, as I've got older, I can deal with setbacks. What am I going to do about it? Sit there and cry about it, or do my best the next time I'm available."

    He added: "For me, personally, I think I'm ready for a new challenge and the next steps.

    "When I leave it's going to be 'no hard feelings'. You’re not going to have any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That's me as a person.

    "If I know that a situation is already bad I'm not going to make it worse. I've seen how other players have left in the past and I don't want to be that person. When I leave I'll make a statement and it will be from me."

    Marcus Rashford applauds Manchester United fans after a Europa League gameImage source, PA Media
  15. Rashford should have talked to me - Amorimpublished at 07:53 Greenwich Mean Time

    Tottenham v Man Utd (20:00 GMT)

    The Sun

    Back to today's newspapers, and the Sun mentions Arsenal's hat-trick hero Gabriel Jesus and Mykhailo Mudryk, but leads on Marcus Rashford.

    The striker was left out of Sunday's Manchester derby win at City and then spoke to a journalist about how he feels about his situation at Old Trafford.

    United's head coach Ruben Amorim feels the 27-year-old should have spoken to him, though, rather than the media.

    Back page of the Sun on 19 December 2024Image source, The Sun
  16. get involved

    Get Involved - Will hat-trick give Jesus 'spark'?published at 07:49 Greenwich Mean Time

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    As much as I like Jesus for Arsenal and appreciate his hard work for the team. I hope this hat trick doesn’t stop us from getting a more clinical striker in January. We need to go big or we will have another trophy-less season

    Guy, Nottingham

    What do you think, Arsenal fans? Should Mikel Arteta persevere with Gabriel Jesus after his hat-trick? Is there hope that he may be the goal-machine you need? Or should you be actively looking for a replacement in January?

  17. Mbappe scores as Real Madrid win Fifa Intercontinental Cuppublished at 07:45 Greenwich Mean Time

    Real Madrid 3-0 Pachuca

    Alex Brotherton
    BBC Sport journalist

    Real Madrid lift the Fifa Intercontinental Cup after beating PachucaImage source, Reuters

    Also on Wednesday, Real Madrid eased to victory against Mexican side Pachuca in the Fifa Intercontinental Cup final in Qatar.

    Kylian Mbappe's first-half strike at Lusail Stadium - the venue where he scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final exactly two years ago - set Real Madrid on their way before Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr scored after half-time.

    Mbappe gave Madrid the lead late in the first half, tapping home from close range after Vinicius had rounded Carlos Moreno in the Pachuca goal.

    Rodrygo doubled Madrid's lead seven minutes into the second half with a sublime curling strike from the edge of the box.

    A day after being named men's player of the year at the Fifa Best awards, Vinicius added a third from the penalty spot after Lucas Vazquez was brought down by Oussama Idrissi.

  18. 'Dysfunctional' Man City brushed aside by Barcapublished at 07:40 Greenwich Mean Time

    Barcelona 3-0 Manchester City

    Emma Smith
    BBC Sport

    Aitana Bonmati celebrates scoring for Barcelona against Manchester CityImage source, Reuters

    Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor described his side as "a little bit dysfunctional" as they lost at Barcelona in the Women's Champions League.

    Trophy holders Barcelona dominated the game and earned the comfortable win they needed at the Olympic Stadium to top Group D.

    Inspired City goalkeeper Khiara Keating kept the hosts out until the 44th minute, when Claudia Pina slammed into the bottom corner following a goalmouth scramble.

    Barcelona needed to win by two clear goals to finish above injury-hit City in Group D, having been beaten 2-0 in Manchester in October.

    They got the second goal they craved early in the second half when Aitana Bonmati shrugged off Leila Ouahabi and finished through the legs of Keating.

    The third arrived in the 69th minute as substitute Alexia Putellas scored with a low shot from long range past the unsighted Keating.

  19. Arsenal have 'belief' to go far in Women's Champions Leaguepublished at 07:36 Greenwich Mean Time

    Arsenal 3-2 Bayern Munich

    Charlotte Coates
    BBC Sport

    Mariona Caldentey celebrates scoring for Arsenal against Bayern Munich with Alessia RussoImage source, PA Media

    Interim Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers believes they can go all the way in the Champions League after coming from behind to beat Bayern Munich.

    Mariona Caldentey scored a late penalty to send the Gunners through to the quarter-finals as Group C winners after an enthralling win over the German champions.

    Slegers' side came into the game knowing only three points would put them top of the group, in a match that was moved from Emirates Stadium because of a clash with the men's Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace.

    After coming from behind to level in the second half, Spain forward Caldentey stepped up in the 86th minute to convert the spot-kick, which was won after her initial strike hit the hand of defender Tuva Hansen.

    When asked by DAZN if Arsenal can reach the final, Slegers said: "We need to have that belief and we have that belief, especially after today.

    "There are things we can do better in the game, but it was the same against Liverpool. We don't play our best game but still we found ways to win and that is a sign of a top team.

    "The eight teams that are going through will be top, top teams. It's positive to see how women's football has grown and the football being played."