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It feels like 2020 has thrown up several curveballs...and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang not scoring goals for fun has been another surprising situation.

The Arsenal captain has had a disturbing run of not scoring with the usual regularity in 2020/21 after largely carrying Arsenal in the preceding campaign.

Not only has the Gabon star looked forlorn but he isn’t getting into positions or having the required luck either.

Case in point was how, after ending a barren run without scoring against Southampton, he then picked up an injury that’s ruled him out of defeats vs Everton and Manchester City.

Nearly everything looks to have deserted Auba in the blink of an eye and how he recovers in 2021 will determine how the Gunners fare in the second half of the ongoing season.

Aubameyang: The story of 2020

Unquestionably, the first half of the year was amazing for the frontman. Having verbally committed his immediate future to the club when reports of an exit surfaced in January, the Gabon star finally signed a bumper three-year extension in September.

Before putting pen to paper, though, the talismanic forward played a decisive role in the club’s FA Cup-winning run post-lockdown.

Aubameyang scored hugely important braces against Manchester City in the semi-final and Chelsea in the decider, games the North London side won 2-0 and 2-1 respectively.

After ending the Premier League season only one goal short of Golden Boot winner, Jamie Vardy, who netted 23 times in 19/20, observers tipped the Central African attacker as one of the favourites to top the scoring charts in 20/21.

However, the regression in Auba’s numbers have been stark; he’s netted only three times in the Premier League all season, with only two goals coming from open play.

For a player who’d scored a goal every 106, 124 and 143 minutes respectively in 17/18, 18/19 and 19/20, his scoring frequency of a strike every 389 minutes this season is beyond striking.

It remains to be seen if the former Borussia Dortmund striker will take to the pitch again this year but the alarming decline in the second half of 2020 has been astonishing.

Aubameyang: Any transfer rumours?

Given he only recently signing a three-year extension in September, the chances of clubs lining up for the Arsenal man are slim.

Even if there were interested sides, the forward’s current paucity of goals could deter them from making a move for someone badly off-form in front of goal.

Aubameyang: One big hope for 2021

Odd as it sounds, it has to be a rediscovering of the goalscoring touch that made the Arsenal talisman one of Europe’s most prolific strikers.

Only that can even make Mikel Arteta’s side consider achieving their primary target of returning to the Champions League via a top four finish in the PL or winning the Europa League.

Aubameyang: One big fear for 2021

What if Auba’s lull in front of goal doesn’t disappear and Arsenal fail to climb the table as many expect over the coming months?

This will be shocking in every sense of the word and many will wonder what happened to one of Africa’s best forwards of the 2010s.

Manchester United "can win any game", according to Steve McClaren, who has insisted that the Red Devils are "definite title contenders".

The first half of the 2020-21 campaign has been a roller coaster journey for United fans, with mixed fortunes endured on both domestic and European fronts.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side slipped into the bottom half of the Premier League table after a home defeat against Arsenal on November 1, having only managed to record seven points from their opening six fixtures.

Promising signs were shown during Champions League group stage victories over Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig though, and a consistent streak has gradually been developed amid the congested fixture schedule caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

United ultimately exited Europe's elite competition after losing their Pool H decider against Leipzig, but have risen to third in the top-flight over the past two months, winning six of their last seven matches.

A 6-2 thrashing of Leeds United at Old Trafford on Sunday saw Solskjaer's team move to within five points of leaders Liverpool with a game in hand, with a crucial trip to the King Power Stadium to take on second-placed Leicester City up next.

The Red Devils warmed up for that Boxing Day encounter by knocking Everton out of the Carabao Cup at the quarter-final stage on Wednesday, and McClaren was encouraged by what he saw at Goodison Park.

The former United assistant coach has no doubt that his old club can push Liverpool all the way in this season's title race, with it his belief that Solskjaer's men are capable of beating anyone when they're in full flow.

McClaren told talkSPORT: “The way that they’re playing at the moment, the way that they blitzed Everton for the first half an hour…

“The way that they absolutely dismantled Leeds – they overran them, they were more physical than them – not many teams will do that to Leeds. Not many teams will do that.

“They’ve got the players, they’re getting fit. I heard Ole saying how their fitness is improving – that wasn’t there at the beginning of the season.

“But the quality of the players they’ve got, they’ve got goals in the team. They can win any game.

“They are right up there, believe you me. They are definite title contenders.”

Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze has reflected on his journey to stardom, including how he was released by Premier League giants Arsenal at the age of 13.

The midfielder was born in Greenwich to Nigerian parents and started developing his talent in football at a young age, playing for a number of clubs and age-grade competitions.

Eze then got an opportunity to kick-start his football career with Arsenal but only spent a short time with the side before he was released.

The disappointment of his release by the Emirates Stadium outfit overwhelmed him as he cried for days along with his mother.

The midfielder got a respite when he got another opportunity with Fulham to relaunch his career and grabbed the chance with both hands.

Eze also spent time with Reading and Millwall before he signed for Queens Park Rangers’ youth setup in 2014.

The midfielder was promoted to the first team in 2016 and went on to make 104 league appearances for QPR, bagging 20 goals, amid other dazzling displays.

Eze’s eye-catching performances soon caught the attention of a number of Premier League clubs last season before settling for Crystal Palace in the summer.

The midfielder wasted no time to adapt to the English top-flight and soon became a consistent performer for the Selhurst Park outfit. 

Eze has now made 14 appearances for Palace across all competitions and in November, he was named the club’s Player of the Month.

The 22-year-old versatile midfielder revealed his previous struggles in life has helped him develop into a better player. 

"It wasn’t the easiest but we knew we wanted to enjoy life as much as we can and that we didn’t want to be in the position we were in. So it was important we worked hard and did everything we could to give ourselves the best chance we could,” Eze told Premier League Productions.

"Me and my brothers played [football] at every opportunity we could with our friends and neighbours around the area. I think that’s the first proper look at football we all got; we wanted to play football to enjoy it.

"There was never any pressure, anything, just the idea of going out to play with our friends. The longer I held on to that, the easier it was for me to be at clubs and still try to have that mentality.

"I got scouted by a few clubs and that’s when I first went to Arsenal. At a young age, it was hard, especially being released. Me and my mum cried, everyone was so upset – that’s all you know at that age.

"But looking back at it now, that’s the start of my journey and I’m grateful to God that’s how it went. If it wasn’t for that, I may not have got the resilience, bravery, to go and be who I want to be elsewhere. It’s shaped me to be who I am today.

"I was coming to terms with how difficult it was going to be. That’s what it was for me, realising this is going to be a lot harder than I may have thought, getting a pro contract somewhere and becoming what I want to become. I knew that was a bit further than I once thought."

Eze will be expected to feature for Crystal Palace when they take on Aston Villa in a Premier League game on Boxing Day.

Lionel Messi remains fully “engaged” at Barcelona despite the speculation surrounding his future, says Ronald Koeman, with the Liga giants looking to keep their captain happy and firing on all cylinders.

As things stand, the talismanic presence at Camp Nou will hit free agency in the summer of 2021.

He will be able to discuss pre-contract terms with any suitors from January, with the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain said to be heading that queue.

Barca, though, have not given up on the thrashing out of fresh terms, with Messi admitting to feeling “fine” at Camp Nou on the back of a testing summer transfer window for all concerned.

Koeman has seen no letting up from the Argentine in what has been a difficult campaign in Catalunya so far, with a six-time Ballon d’Or being handled with care now that he is 33 years of age.

“If he is fit to play and good enough then he will play, but of course he is older than before, although he's a player who still wants to be in games and especially to win them,” Koeman told Barcelona’s official website of Messi, who has broken Pele’s record for most goals scored at one club.

“He trains hard every day. He's very engaged.

“As I coach I like to speak to my players and I also speak to him about this and other things because he's also team captain.

“There are squad matters, rules, and we speak about a lot of things, not just the way we play.

“That's part of a coach's day-to-day, you need to be in communication with your players.”

While eager to keep Messi for as long as possible, Barca do have a number of exciting youngsters on their books that could step into the shoes of an all-time great at some stage.

Koeman added on that potential: “It's always nice to talk about youngsters.

“What Ansu Fati and Pedri have done aged just 17 or 18 in such a big team as Barcelona is something very big.

“Pedri has come from Las Palmas very young and is already playing games against teams like Real Madrid and Juventus, doing so fantastically.

“It is important for a club to have youngsters and for them to get chances.

“You need to switch the team around little by little. You still need the older players, but they won't be around forever and you need to plan changes in good time, calmly.

“Pedri has earned his place in games because of his work in training. He has shown me what a good player he is and that he is able to play in a team like Barcelona.”

Koeman’s debut campaign at Camp Nou has not gone entirely to plan, with Barca currently sat fifth in La Liga, but he is confident that ultimate targets can be hit.

The Dutchman said of his ambition: “At a club like Barcelona, you have to win things and I think our ultimate purpose is to win games and trophies.

“You get no prizes for finishing fourth, you need to be first. That's the mentality that this team must have, we can't settle for anything less.

“We know that this is a season with a lot of changes, the club are in a difficult financial situation, with issues regarding the players' salaries.

“This is a very delicate situation for football clubs because of COVID-19.

“But, Barcelona are still a team that need to win, with the awareness that changes need to be made but still aspiring to the highest level and making the biggest demands.

“That has been the mentality here and always has to be the mentality.”

Mikel Arteta is trying too hard to impress and entertain at Arsenal, says Paul Merson, with the under-fire Spaniard urged to rein in his ambition and make the Gunners harder to beat.

The north London outfit have become far too easy to swat aside this season, with eight defeats suffered through 14 Premier League outfits.

Having become stuck in a serious rut, Arsenal find themselves languishing just four points above the relegation zone.

Things are not about to get any easier either, with a derby date with London neighbours Chelsea next up on Boxing Day, with Merson struggling to see how Arteta’s side can take anything from that contest.

For the former Gunners winger, too many mistakes are being made on and off the field at present, with those at Emirates Stadium needing to worry more about substance than style.

Merson told Sky Sports heading into a home date with Chelsea: “You'd be shocked if Arsenal won, and that's where this has got to. That can't be right. I can't even make a case for Arsenal winning.

“I watched them against Southampton and I was thinking how many Arsenal players would get into the Saints team. Burnley went to the Emirates and fancied it, Wolves went there and experimented! They played four at the back which they never did before.

“Of course, confidence isn't great at Arsenal and that can play a major part. Man United look a different team with confidence, but Arteta needs to go back to what brought Arsenal success - the tactics against Man City in the FA Cup semi-final, the game against Chelsea in the final.

“They need to go back to that way of playing, but he's in a position now as a young manager new in the game, he feels he needs to keep impressing.

“He has to go back to being hard to beat, using pace on the counter-attack. At the moment, it feels like Arteta is shying away from using what are seen as negative tactics and is focused more on trying to entertain - it's no good.

“Leeds are like the old Arsenal of the past eight or nine years. Arsenal didn't win anything but everybody loved them because you knew you would watch a good game.

“Arteta needs to go back to what brought him success at the first time of asking. They beat a very good Man City team at the time and Arteta needs to show the players that video and get back to that.”

Tottenham are not heading into an easier run of Premier League fixtures despite their recent string of tough encounters with fellow big six outfits, says Jose Mourinho.

Spurs sealed their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Wednesday against Championship outfit Stoke City, to resume their winning fortunes after consecutive top-flight defeats.

Back-to-back reverses against champions Liverpool and fellow title contenders Leicester - who sit first and second in the Premier League respectively - has dented Spurs' own ambitions of a maiden crown.

Tottenham would be able to arguably take heart from an upcoming slate of games with theoretical lower-grade opposition after taking seven points off successive games with Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal over late November and early December.

But speaking ahead of his side's clash with Wolves on Sunday, Mourinho played down the notion of there being any simple fixtures in the Premier League, while noting that Nuno Espirito Santo's side could feature in the top-four race this term.

"I believe [Wolves could challenge the top six]," the Portuguese noted. "But it's very hard in this league to have consistent runs, because every game is very difficult.

"We were in a period where we had to play against the considered top six teams, we got them all in a row, and now some people will say we are going to get an easier run of matches.

"What is easier? Going to Wolves, playing Fulham and Aston Villa is easier? It's not easier. We should be very happy [with where we are], and not sad with that, because it's a fantastic league, I believe."

Spurs will be without Giovani Lo Celso during their festive fixtures, but Mourinho is confident captain Harry Kane will be able to play a full part after overcoming a knock at the start of December.

Kane, who started against the Potters in midweek, needs one more goal to become just the fourth Englishman to reach double figures in seven straight Premier League campaigns, after Michael Owen, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney.

"Gio will not be fit," said Mourinho. "I really don't know [how long he will be out]. He will not be playing in this period of Christmas, New Year's, that's for sure.

"I hope that [Kane] plays all of the next matches again. The next match is Sunday. I believe that a player like him that works well, takes good care of himself with a great professional life, I believe that he will be ready to play against Wolves."

Jurgen Klopp has spoken out on the speculation surrounding Mohamed Salah's future at Liverpool.

Salah has been nothing short of sensational since his €42 million (£38m/$51m) move to Anfield from Roma in the summer of 2017.

The Egypt international slotted perfectly into Klopp's team from the off, with the German able to instantly bring the best out of a man who had failed to convince in his previous spell in the Premier League at Chelsea.

Salah has hit 110 goals in his first 173 appearances for Liverpool, getting his hands on the European Cup and Premier League trophy in the process, while striking up a deadly alliance with Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane in the final third.

The 28-year-old has been at his prolific best once again in the first half of the 2020-21 season, scoring 13 goals in the Reds' first 13 top-flight fixtures to help them return to the top of the table.

However, former Egypt midfielder Mohamed Aboutrika caused a stir earlier this week when he suggested that the English champions are considering selling Salah amid reported interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Goal has learned that Liverpool are certain to offer a prized asset the chance to extend his current contract beyond 2023, but he seemed to leave the door open to a transfer during a recent interview with Spanish publication AS.

Ahead of the Reds' home fixture against West Brom on Sunday, Klopp was asked to comment on Salah's situation, and he moved to quash ongoing rumours once and for all.

"We never speak about deals, why should we start now?" the Liverpool manager told a pre-match press conference. "Mo is in a good mood, a good moment, really good shape so that is the most important thing.

"You would have seen him laughing a lot in training, he enjoyed the session.

"All the rest is nice for all of you to write about but internally, no."

Klopp added on Salah's recent scoring streak, which continued as he came off the bench to net twice in a 7-0 drubbing of Crystal Palace at the weekend: "I think all these things to talk about, he didn’t start the last game, all the things I heard after and then he came on and scored two.

"His first season he came on against Stoke and scored two. All the boys were in a good moment, that is why we had the points we have so far.

"That is why we have to keep going. The toughest point of the season is ahead of us. The Xmas period is always tough so we have to make sure we get through this."

Salah has scored five times in his last four games for Liverpool, but in stark contrast, Mane has found the back of the net just once in his previous seven Premier League outings.

Mane's scoring drought came to an end when he fired home against Palace, but Klopp insists the Senegalese winger brings far more to the team than just goals.

"Honestly, I would have lost everything if I had to bet on it how many goals scored Sadio Mane in the last 10 games," he said. "It would have been the last one I went for, he only scored once.

"We have one of the best players in the world and he didn’t score for a while. Who cares?

"He played exceptionally well, is in really good shape, really difficult to defend. Scoring is for the boys really important.

"Bobby scored two weeks ago and since then he scored three or four goals and if Sadio starts scoring I have no problem with it."

Premier Soccer League (PSL) outfit Chippa United has withdrawn the appointment of Belgian coach Luc Eymael. 

This comes after complaints from the South African Football Association (Safa) and the Eastern Cape government given the 61-year-old tactician’s alleged previous racist remark during his time with Tanzanian giants Young Africans.

The Chilli Boys released the following statement on Thursday afternoon as they moved swiftly to withdraw the decision:

"The Club would like to formally announce that it has withdrawn the appointment of Belgian, Luc Eymael. When processes are complete, a new coaching announcement will be made in due course," a club statement read. 

"After having announced Mr. Eymael's appointment until the end of the season on Wednesday, 23 December 2020 - the Club has considered public outrage. There was also the reputational damage caused to our brand, and that of our stakeholders, partners as well as our sponsors."

"We would like to clarify that the initial decision to make this appointment was based on Mr. Eymael's coaching track record, where we felt he was the best person to take the Club towards our desired top half finish in this PSL season."

"Outside of the written reports, there was no formal instruction — to us or to any other team- to not employ Mr. Eymael. However, as the Pride of Eastern Cape, we represent the legacies of world-renowned anti­discrimination heroes that come from our Province."

"The Chilli Boys play an influential role in our surrounding communities through football and through our philanthropic work. We have people that look up to us and on the responsible decisions that we take.

"Our withdrawal of this appointment is an acknowledgement of our stance on such matters, with the Club also having fully informed Mr. Eymael and his representatives on our position." 

Eymael was appointed by Chippa following the departure of coach Lehlohonolo Seema, who was recently dismissed by the club chairman Siviwe Mpengesi with the team struggling in the PSL this season.

The Eastern Cape-based side is currently placed 14th on the league standings having failed to win their last five matches.

Chippa's next game is against a high-flying SuperSport United side in Pretoria on January 6.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his Manchester United squad are not listening to early talk of a Premier League title challenge as they work on continuing to improve.

United travel to Leicester on Boxing Day with the Red Devils one point behind Brendan Rodgers’ side, who have played a game more, and a win would take them up to second to temporarily close the gap on leaders Liverpool to just two points.

Their recent run of good form, where they have gone unbeaten in their last seven league games, has sparked discussion of an unlikely title charge.

United have not won the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club in 2013 and Solskjaer’s third-place finish last season was the second-highest league position, after Jose Mourinho’s 2017-18 squad claimed second, since then.

But, Solskjaer is not getting carried away.

“There is noise around Man Utd anyway so for us it’s about improving as a team, taking one game at a time and we have to, that’s the name of the game,” Solskjaer said.

“That is the only way that you are going to challenge for anything at the end of the season anyway so it’s not something that we talk about.

"The only thing that we talk about and focus on is improving day by day and learning how to deal with certain situations and maybe now at the moment we are getting praise and that’s another thing to learn to deal with.”

The United manager did have a warning for their rivals, though, in that he is expecting their forward line to get even better.

Injuries, suspension and illness mean Solskjaer has not been able to play his favoured front three of Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial together too often but, with the three back and thriving, he is expecting bigger and better things.

“He (Martial) has made important contributions lately, he has assists, scored goals, he is getting fitter, he showed it against Leeds, and he knows that I am on to him about this, and his running stats from that game set a new standard for him, which I want to see more of,” Solskjaer explained.

“He’s always going to have the quality and maybe his confidence has been bruised a little bit by what happened earlier on in the season with the red card [against Tottenham] and he has had some criticism but Anthony is going to get better and better and, when we get Mason, Marcus and Anthony firing on all cylinders, we will be more of a threat for teams.”

Solskjaer will be hoping his forward line, whoever he selects, is firing at the King Power on Saturday as he expects a tough test from Leicester, despite United’s win there on the final day of last season which secured Champions League qualification.

“It’s game by game now, we have to think that way," said Solskjaer. "We have had some very good games against Leicester, very tight games, they are a very good side with a very good coach and I have enjoyed watching them under Brendan, so it was a big test for us to go to their stadium in the summer and we passed that one with flying colours.

“We played a controlled game and I know it will not be the same now because it’s a different time of the season but they have got some threats that you have to look for and we will just have to sit down and think about it and who is fit and not fit.”

Real Madrid loanee Takefusa Kubo must "earn" minutes at Villarreal, says Unai Emery, who has insisted that the winger "won't get 10 games in a row if he doesn’t perform".

Kubo joined Madrid on a five-year contract last year after being snapped up from FC Tokyo.

The Blancos decided an immediate loan move was the best option for the 19-year-old's continued development, with Mallorca bringing him onto their books for the duration of the 2019-20 campaign.

Kubo scored five goals and laid on four assists in 35 La Liga outings for Mallorca, but couldn't prevent them from being relegated to the Segunda Division.

The Japan international impressed during his time at Son Moix, and returned to Madrid in July with a view to forcing his way into Zinedine Zidane's plans.

However, with the Spanish champions still unable to guarantee the teenager regular football at Santiago Bernabeu, they ended up accepting another loan offer, this time from Villarreal, in the summer transfer window.

Kubo's first few months at El Madrigal haven't gone as smoothly as he or Madrid might have hoped, with coach Emery reducing the youngster to a bit-part role on the bench.

He has only started four La Liga games for Villarreal to date, and it has been suggested that his parent club may look to cut his loan deal short in the new year.

Emery has come out to defend his treatment of Kubo this week, claiming the Madrid attacker still needs to prove he is capable of delivering the goods week in, week out.

"We are not here to give a player 10 games in a row if he doesn’t perform," Emery told reporters.

"He is given a match and he must earn more. It is valid for the young players and for everyone. There is a requirement here and that is to win."

Kubo was an unused substitute during Villarreal's 1-1 draw at home to Athletic Club on Tuesday night, which marked their final fixture before the winter break in Spain.

That result ensured that Emery's side finished the year in the top four, two points ahead of fifth-placed Barcelona having played a game more.

Madrid, meanwhile, are sitting in second place in the Liga standings behind Atletico Madrid, with a 2-0 win against Granada on Wednesday extending their recent winning run to five matches.

Arsenal made a mistake in allowing Emi Martinez to leave, says Ian Wright, with a proven goalkeeper now worth “a lot more” than the £20 million ($27m) the Gunners brought in from his sale.

The Argentine goalkeeper worked his way into contention for regular game time towards the end of the 2019-20 campaign, with an unfortunate injury suffered by Bernd Leno leaving a door open.

Martinez made the most of his opportunity, catching the eye in Premier League outings and a triumphant FA Cup run.

Leno was, however, restored to the number one role at Emirates Stadium when back to full fitness, forcing his competition to look elsewhere.

Wright admires Martinez for putting his career first and pushing for a switch to Aston Villa, but admits he would have preferred to see the South American remain in north London.

Arsenal have lacked reliable cover in his absence, with Runar Alex Runarsson making a costly mistake during a rare outing against Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Martinez, meanwhile, has been thriving at Villa, keeping seven clean sheets to lead the Golden Glove race and see his transfer value soar.

On the Wrighty’s House Podcast, an Arsenal icon said of the Gunners’ inability to keep a useful option on their books in what is shaping up to be a testing campaign: “The thing with Emi is, I always look at players like that, he’s 26, 27, and he’s just said ‘I’m leaving’, it’s about me, and I admire that.

“I think that, even though towards the end I went to Burnley and I went to Scotland because it was a great experience to go to Scotland at that stage of my career, but during the meat and bones of my career, I don’t think I would have had that in me to say I’m leaving.

“You have to admire that, now look at him, he’s one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League.

“In the end, the money we got for him, you had to take, but he’s worth a lot more than that now.”

Martinez has claimed that Arsenal went back on their word before he headed for the exits, with assurances offered to him that he would be a favoured option between the sticks even with Leno fit.

His decision to walk away has been justified, with those he left behind at the Emirates hitting a serious slump this season to see uncomfortable questions asked of leading figures on and off the field.

Gor Mahia assistant coach Patrick Odhiambo is confident with a proper game plan his charges will get a positive outcome against CR Belouizdad.

The East African outfit will be away to Algeria in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the Caf Champions League. K'Ogalo have been facing internal wrangles but the former Sony Sugar coach is confident of a good outing.

"l know it is going to be a tough match [against Belouizdad]," Odhiambo said ahead of the Saturday, December 26 game.

"It is going to be a very tactical game but with a good game plan, we will get positive results."

His sentiments have been echoed by defender Joachim Oluoch. He has conceded the North Africa side are a good team but stated K'Ogalo are ready for the game.

"We have been training, and we are hopeful we will come back from Algeria with good results," the experienced defender stated.

"They, [Belouizdad, are a good side, but we are ready for them."  

Gor Mahia have confirmed they have secured a flight to Algeria to honour their Caf Champions League match against CR Belouizdad on Saturday.

The Kenyan champions were due to travel to Algeria on Sunday for the first leg meeting on Wednesday, but they requested the Confederation of African Football (Caf) to push the game back as they cited a lack of proper preparation owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

While Caf had refused to push the game on the first request, the African body later changed its mind and postponed the game to December 26, and also offered Gor Mahia optional flights they can use to reach the country.

Gor Mahia have now confirmed they have secured a Qatar Airways flight to Algeria on Thursday, December 25, and they will arrive in the North African country a day before the match that will be played at Stade du 5 Juillet 1962 Stadium.

The last time Gor Mahia played against an Algerian opponent was in 2019 when they were drawn to face USM Alger in the same competition.

USM Alger came to Nairobi and beat K’Ogalo 4-1 and returned home in Algiers to win the return leg 2-0 and advance to the next round with a 6-1 aggregate scoreline.

The two teams also met in the Confederation Cup in the 2018 season with the first leg staged in Kenya ending in a 0-0 draw before USM Alger won the return leg 2-1 at home to advance 2-1 on aggregate.

Tijani Babangida has denied questioning William Troost-Ekong and Kenneth Omeruo’s invitations to the Nigeria national team.

There is a report making the rounds that the 47-year-old met with Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr to ask the reason behind the continuous invitations of the defenders to the team.

Troost-Ekong has been a consistent member of the national team since he made his debut for the West African country in 2015.

The defender, who is currently the team’s vice-captain, has featured in 44 games for the side and helped the team finish third at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

In an effort to continue his consistent performances for the Super Eagles, he teamed up with Championship side Watford and has been delivering fine defensive showings.

Omeruo, meanwhile, remains one of the longest-serving Super Eagles members, having made his debut in 2013 at the age of 19.

The versatile defender has featured in more than 50 games for the three-time African champions and starred for the side at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and at Afcon 2019.

Omeruo has been with Leganes since 2019 when joined the club after ending his seven-year stay with Premier League side Chelsea.

In the 2020-21 season, the 27-year-old has featured 10 times for the Cucumber Growers to help the club continue their push for a return to the Spanish top-flight.

Babangida, who is the President of Professional Footballers in Nigeria, has rated Troost-Ekong and Omeruo as the best for the three-time African champions.

“Well, it’s very unfortunate with what I saw this morning that a journalist wrote that I said Ekong, Omeruo and even Jamilu Collins should not be in the national team. I do not think we can boast of better players than these,” Babangida told AOI.

“So if a journalist wants to have a catchy headline to sell his papers, then he writes what I did not say because that isn’t what I said so he obviously wrote against what I said. I am very disappointed and that’s not my meaning to this.

“The said journalist has however to come out to apologize for what he wrote. If he has better players than the aforementioned guys, then he has to come out and introduce them to us.”

Babangida made 36 appearances for the Super Eagles during his playing years, scoring five goals before his retirement.

Manchester United need to sign a new centre-half but are unlikely to do so in January, claims Dimitar Berbatov.

The Red Devils have invested heavily in that area over recent years, doing big-money deals for the likes of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is, however, considered to still be lacking the left-sided option that would offer greater balance to United’s back line.

At the opposite end of the field, useful pieces of a trophy-chasing puzzle are being cobbled together.

The Red Devils have shown that they can be a match for anyone as an attacking force, with Edinson Cavani slotting in alongside Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood.

Former United striker Berbatov has no concerns when it comes to firepower, but he would like to see Solskjaer freed to spend again on defensive reinforcements – rather than ignore pressing issues in the middle of what could be a productive 2020-21 campaign.

“Manchester United would probably prefer to go under the radar for a little bit longer in the Premier League title race,” Berbatov told Betfair.

“Nobody has paid much attention to how United have steadily climbed the table so that all of a sudden they're third, with a game in hand, and playing like title contenders.

“On Sunday, Leeds gave United lots of space at Old Trafford which the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford were able to exploit.

“There are games when everything goes your way and this was one of them for United. They scored great goals, Scott McTominay was outstanding in midfield and clinical with his two chances. In that kind of form, United are capable of winning the league.

“They should be aiming to bring the title back to Old Trafford, especially in an unpredictable season when there is so much movement near the top and it is so tight.

“The transfer window is about to open but, the way Manchester United attacked against Leeds and Sheffield United, I wouldn't say the Red Devils need to bring in anyone up front.

“I still think they need a centre-back but don't expect anyone to come in next month.”

United have kept only three Premier League clean sheets this season, with leaks at the back continuing to spring up, but they have moved to within five points of leaders Liverpool and still boast a game in hand on the defending champions.

Real Madrid playmaker Isco would “definitely help Arsenal”, says former Gunners midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong, while Arsene Wenger’s vast experience could be put to good use at Emirates Stadium if the decision is taken to part with Mikel Arteta.

Change on and off the field is being mooted in north London amid struggles to establish any kind of momentum in 2020-21.

Arsenal have made their worst start to a league season since 1974-75, while another route to major silverware has been shut off after slipping out of the Carabao Cup at the quarter-final stage.

January will present the Gunners with an opportunity to bolster their ranks, as another transfer window swings open, and Frimpong believes that Isco could be a useful addition as he struggles for regular game time in Spain – although the plugging of defensive leaks is considered to be a top priority.

The Arsenal academy graduate told PlayOJO: “We need a centre-back and a full-back and midfielders.

“It’s very important we get some players in because I feel in defence we are weak. When teams attack us, we look vulnerable.

“We’ve had this issue for many years and we haven’t sorted the situation out. Quality signings are the only thing that going to help the team at the moment.

“Isco is a proven player, he’s won the Champions League and played for Spain and could definitely help Arsenal, but the problem isn’t attacking players, its defensively we need help.”

Frimpong added on the need for Arsenal to raise collective standards and the struggles currently being endured: “It’s down to a lack of competition in the squad. The players are not good enough.

“When I was at Arsenal, there was what you could call mediocre squad players, even at clubs like Real Madrid you have this structure, but at the moment, when you at looking at the Arsenal team, who are the stars? There are no stars in the team. There is no player in the Arsenal squad where you think ‘I’m going to get off the sofa and go watch this guy play’ and that’s the problem.

“The players are just not good enough for a club like Arsenal. Until we bring in new players, the club is going to continue to struggle.

“The problem isn’t the manager, it’s that some of the players aren’t good enough for a club like Arsenal.”

While Frimpong wants to point fingers of blame in the direction of underperforming players at the Emirates, Arteta is facing some uncomfortable questions regarding his ongoing presence.

The chances of the Gunners turning to a familiar face, one that spent 22 years in their dugout before walking away in 2018, are unlikely, with the expectation being that a Spanish tactician will be given time to get things right.

Frimpong, though, said on the value of enticing Wenger back: “I hope it does work out with Mikel, but I would take Arsene back due to his experience.

“He has the capability of bringing very good players in because he has the respect and he would attract very good players.

“However, I don’t think Arsene has any intention of coming back to Arsenal as a manager. We just need to move forward we what we have and that is Mikel and I believe he is good enough for the job.”

Timo Werner’s position at Chelsea could come under threat once Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech are fully fit and back up to speed, says Mark Schwarzer.

The Blues invested heavily in another proven frontman over the summer.

Value was expected to be found in a £47.5 million ($65m) deal for Werner, with the Germany international attracting interest from across Europe with his prolific exploits for RB Leipzig.

He has hit eight goals for Chelsea since moving to England, but a nine-game barren run is seeing questions asked of his value and end product.

Werner’s confidence has taken a hit during his struggles in the final third, with a number of opportunities that he would be expected to snap up suddenly passing him by.

Frank Lampard has plenty of alternative options available to him if he wants to shuffle his pack at Stamford Bridge, with the likes of Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud competing for a central striking berth.

In wide areas, United States international Pulisic and Moroccan playmaker Ziyech have shown that they can be important parts of the fold, while Callum Hudson-Odoi is eager to see more game time.

Schwarzer believes Werner could be the one to drop out when Chelsea are at full strength, with the 24-year-old failing to stake a serious claim to retaining his role.

The former Blues goalkeeper told Stadium Astro: “If he’s contributing by doing a lot of work in the game, helping the team be successful, getting in the right areas, helping with assists, then I can understand why he stuck with him.

“Don’t forget as well that Frank has had to balance some injuries – whether it is Pulisic, Ziyech in and out of the side.

“If we had a fully fit Pulisic and Ziyech, it may be a different situation for Timo Werner. He may find himself on the outside.

“I think it is only a matter of time. Add Hudson-Odoi to that mix, he has struggled with injuries. Timo Werner is the only one out of those four that has been fit all the time.”

Chelsea, with fitness issues still clouding their plans, will be back in Premier League action on Boxing Day when they take in a derby date with out-of-sorts London neighbours Arsenal.

Thomas Tuchel has been sacked by Paris Saint-Germain just hours after their comprehensive win over Strasbourg, Goal can confirm.

The 47-year-old's two-and-a-half-year reign at Parc des Princes is over, with the French champions taking the decision to make a change in the dugout following a mixed start to the 2020-21 campaign.

PSG picked up their 11th Ligue 1 win of the season by thrashing Strasbourg 4-0 in midweek, but still find themselves trailing Lyon and Lille by a point in the table.

And Tuchel has now paid the price for his team's inconsistency, with sporting director Leonardo and club president Nasser Al Khelaifi informing the German of his dismissal on Wednesday night.

Tuchel leaves a lasting legacy at PSG after delivering six domestic trophies and overseeing the club's run to a first-ever Champions League final.

The Parisian outfit picked up Ligue 1, Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue honours last season before appearing in European football's showpiece event, only to lose 1-0 against Bayern Munich.

Tuchel was forced to defend himself after the Strasbourg game amid the fallout of an interview published by SPORT 1, during which he was quoted as saying he felt "more like a sports politician or sports minister than a coach" in his first season in France.

"I didn't say it's more about politics than sport, nor that I lost the fun of training. This is not true," he told Canal Plus. "It is possible they translated incorrectly.

"Watch the video interview. I just said that PSG are unique and that it's a big challenge for me. It's always been like that. I like this challenge and nothing has changed."

PSG will now look to appoint a new head coach before their next fixture against Saint-Etienne at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on January 6.

The squad will take in a well-earned rest over the winter break before preparations for that fixture begin, with former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino reportedly the favourite to pick up from where Tuchel left off in the second half of the season.

Despite their erratic domestic form, PSG still have multiple trophies to play for in the new year, including the Champions League, with a huge round-of-16 tie against Barcelona scheduled to take place in February.

Asante Kotoko interim head coach Johnson Smith believes the club's qualification hopes for the Caf Champions League second round remains alive despite falling to Al Hilal of Sudan in a first round first leg fixture on Wednesday.

The Porcupine Warriors ambitions suffered a home setback as Vinny Bongonga netted in the 70th minute to give visiting Hilal a 1-0 triumph at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Kumasi-based Kotoko moved to adopt Accra for their home matches this season due to ongoing renovation works at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

"We are psyching the boys after yesterday’s defeat. There are more games to come.The next game is the most important," Smith told West Gold Radio.

"We struggle in games at the Accra Sports Stadium.

"The Al Hilal side is matured and very disciplined. I believe we will get a positive result and qualify in Omdurman."

To qualify for the next round, Kotoko must beat Hilal away when the two clubs meet for the return leg in the first week of the New Year.

The Ghanaians won the last of their Champions League titles in 1983.

"Asante Kotoko are disappointing. They lack quality and no creativity," former Ghana goalkeeper Abukari Damba told GTV Sports Plus on Kotoko's performance on Wednesday. 

"I was surprised with the statistics at the end of the game but it is difficult to say but this Kotoko team has a long a way to go.

"They are disappointing and if they will continue like this, it will be a disaster.

"They can go away and win there also but its very difficult at the moment.

"They will have to play with more hunger and commitment in Omdurman.

"It's not an impossible task for Kotoko but they will have to work hard."

Kotoko, who beat Nouadhibou of Mauritania in the preliminary round of the Champions League, have set their sights on progressing to the second round and ultimately to the group stage which they last reached in 2006.

Last season, the Porcupine Warriors' quest ended early as they were bundled out of the competition in the first round by Tunisia club Etoile Sahel. 

Napoli boss Gennaro Gattuso has revealed his struggles with an auto-immune disease, while claiming that "when I eventually die, I want to go where I lived, on a football pitch.".

Gattuso wore an eye patch on the touchline during Napoli's 2-0 defeat to Lazio in Rome on Sunday, and also sported specialised glasses as his team drew 1-1 with Torino in their final game of 2020 on Wednesday.

The former Milan and Italy midfielder suffers from an auto-immune disease known as ocular myasthenia.

It is a condition that causes the muscles that control the eyes to weaken and the eyelids to droop, while it can also lead to severe fatigue and double vision.

Nevertheless, Gattuso has carried on, but the Napoli head coach concedes the condition has taken its toll its recent weeks.

"I admit I've not been myself for the last 12 days," Gattuso told a news conference, having skipped media duties for the club's previous outing.

"I want to make an appeal to all those, especially kids, who look in the mirror and see something that looks odd or not quite right: life is beautiful. Embrace it all.

"The lads suffered too seeing me like this, I know that, but I'm alive. I've had myasthenia for 10 years, this is the third time it has flared up this badly, but it'll pass and my eye will return to normal.

"It's not just that it looks bad, this condition makes you feel really exhausted, plus seeing double 24 hours a day really takes it out of you. Only a crazy person like me would keep going.

"However, this is my life and there are worse things. I know some out there already assume I've got a month left to live, but I can assure you, it's fine. When I eventually die, I want to go where I lived, on a football pitch."

Napoli enjoyed a strong start to the season, though have tailed off in recent games, winning just one of their last five outings in all competitions.

The draw with Torino leaves the Partenopei sitting fifth in the Serie A standings, nine points behind leaders Milan, though with a game in hand on the Rossoneri. 

Gattuso's men will return to action after the winter break when they take in a trip to Sardegna Arena to face Cagliari on January 3.