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Eddie Howe has spent a season not mentioning the Champions League. “I actually can’t pronounce it, it goes funny against my lips,” he said. He may soon have to expand his vocabulary to include the phrase. Newcastle United’s fixture list seems set to take on an extra dimension next season. Which, it is safe to say, will be greeted with glee on Tyneside. Newcastle was a club mired in depression and which is now engulfed in euphoria. Optimism has returned, and at a ground with the size, centrality and presence to feel still more integral to a city’s identity than most. There may be more of a mixed reception elsewhere, and not merely if Newcastle eject Manchester United or, more probably, Liverpool from next season’s Champions League. For those of a certain age and with a nostalgic bent, their return to such a stage may stir memories of Tino Asprilla’s hat-trick against Barcelona. For others, there might be a distaste about Newcastle’s owners, at the sense that it is an endorsement of the Saudi Arabian government or a triumphant sportswashing project. And, in some quarters, there will probably be the suggestion a top-four finish was the inevitable consequence of spending. Which it isn’t. Or not this season, anyway. The provenance of Newcastle’s funds can remain an issue but the moral and the financial are very separate situations. Their rise has an ominous element for some of their new peers and there may be a time in the future when Newcastle can fairly be accused of buying success, when their expenditure dwarves everyone else’s, with the possible exception of Manchester City and, depending on a possible Qatari takeover, Manchester United. But not yet. For now, this is overachievement; relative to talent, to the salaries and even the transfer outlay. It is what will render a top-four finish a genuine footballing feat. When Leicester visit St James’ Park on Monday, in a game that could send one team down and another into the Champions League, it is a moot point which club has the higher wage bill: possibly Leicester, unless Newcastle’s players are on hefty bonuses for Champions League qualification. At around £250m over three transfer windows, progress has not come cheap; Newcastle have spent far more than they could in the past, but not as much as some of their peers and from the lower base of a club who were in danger of relegation when they started to buy. Tottenham have spent similar sums over the last 18 months, Manchester United paid out more last summer and Chelsea, ludicrously, have contrived to burn through £600m to get what will almost certainly be a bottom-half finish. Newcastle have proved the anti-Chelsea, faring better than anticipated with astute recruitment, finding value for money when a windfall could have led to wild spending. The starring role against Brighton, in the win that took Newcastle to the brink of a top-four spot, came from Kieran Trippier, who cost £12m. The second goal came from Dan Burn, who arrived for £13m. The goalkeeper – along with Alisson, the best in the Premier League this season – is Nick Pope, who was priced at £10m. They are different cases, but each is a bargain. Bruno Guimaraes and Sven Botman belong in the next bracket up, of signings in the region of £35-40m. But the Brazilian has established himself among the division’s classiest holding midfielders; the Dutchman has ranked among the best centre-backs this season. Each is worth rather more than he cost. The club record fee of £63m went on Alexander Isak; when he was injured in autumn, Newcastle had a negligible return on it. But the Swede was instrumental in a spring surge; a summer beckons in which there will be too few top-quality strikers on the market for the number of clubs who want one. United can sit it out, enjoying the prospect of Isak’s potential. Anthony Gordon’s has scarcely been an auspicious start; a fringe figure may be overpriced or prove another who kicks on. Newcastle certainly paid over the odds last January for Chris Wood, though they did well to recoup much of that £25m fee a year later. Matt Targett excelled on loan but has lost his place since signing permanently. But bring in enough players and no record is unblemished: Newcastle’s strike rate is higher than most, with six hits out of nine already. Go back 15 years and City’s initial business was rather more erratic. Perhaps it always needed a combination of Newcastle’s overperformance, in both the transfer market and on the pitch, and unexpected frailties elsewhere to propel them so far and so fast. Chelsea are having a historically terrible season; Tottenham and Liverpool have been below par, even if Jurgen Klopp’s team can still eye salvation. Yet their fate is out of their hands. Newcastle have had the billing of the world’s richest club for the last 18 months, but as they are headed for the riches of the Champions League, it is not because they spent more money than everyone else but they spent better than virtually everyone else. Read More Eddie Howe knows Newcastle will have to carefully manage European football Manager of the season contender Unai Emery ‘trying to improve every day’ Eddie Howe says Newcastle win ‘huge’ but warns still work to do in top-four hunt Football rumours: Arsenal preparing £90million swoop for West Ham’s Declan Rice Sam Allardyce refuses to criticise Leeds’ Patrick Bamford despite penalty miss Police charge Leeds fan with assault over Eddie Howe confrontation

Frank Lampard has revealed he tried to sign Erling Haaland for Chelsea during his first spell as the manager at Stamford Bridge. The Manchester City striker came up against Lampard’s team in a pre-season friendly in 2019 while he was playing for RB Salzburg in Austria. He scored 28 goals in 22 matches that season before signing for Borussia Dortmund the following summer, but Lampard said he attempted to bring him to west London instead during his 18-month spell in charge between 2019 and 2021. Ultimately competition for the Norway international’s signature, together with the fact not everybody at Chelsea was convinced that a bid for Haaland would have been the right move, meant that Lampard was left frustrated. His 36 Premier League goals for title-chasing City this season mean he has scored as many times in the league as the entire Chelsea squad have, with the two teams meeting at the Etihad on Sunday as City look for the victory they need to seal the title. Chelsea by contrast remain in the bottom half of the table, with their struggles in front of goal this season having shown no sign of easing in recent weeks. “I’ve got huge respect for him as a player, he’s a player I tried to bring to Chelsea the first time I was here,” said Lampard. “I was really keen to get him here but obviously that couldn’t happen. His level at that point was very clear, we played against him in a pre-season game for Salzburg. “Credit to him, I love seeing players of that level, I love seeing players of that personality and hunger to play and be the best which he’s proved himself to be. In terms of having to deal with him you have to have obviously a plan and an idea, but players of that level can make anything happen at any moment. “I think he’s special, I thought he’d adapt straight away just (because of) his level. I think with the level of players and his record of scoring, firstly in Austria then for his country and in the Bundesliga – which is not an easy league – to come into a really good unit already. “The rest is just credit to himself and the team around him. I did expect that, it’s not just an easy hindsight answer, I’ve got real respect for the player. “I don’t know whether he would have decided to come here anyway but I was a big fan. There are some of those that happen that people don’t know about that could have been this way, people talk a lot about mistakes and the things that could have been in football. “Whether he would have come I don’t know, but I was pushing big, and for a couple of other players as well. But he was the outstanding one. “From our point I was pushing it, I’m not sure what the appetite everywhere else in the club was to do it. The competition was big to take him because he was an outstanding player. I think there was a buyout clause at the time which I think was relatively reasonable given the player (he joined Dortmund for around £17million). I don’t have enough detail to say how close it was.” Lampard has two matches left of his interim spell in charge, with Manchester United at Old Trafford and Newcastle at Stamford Bridge to come after City. He has won only once during his eight games in the job, a 3-1 victory at Bournemouth earlier in May, with six defeats having come in that time including a Champions League exit to Real Madrid. Mauricio Pochettino is expected to be confirmed as the permanent successor to Graham Potter, who was sacked on April 2, in the coming days, and he will have a huge rebuild on his hands after a disastrous season for the club. Despite the poor form, Lampard said he has no regrets about agreeing to take over in the short-term from Potter. Whether he would have come I don’t know, but I was pushing big, and for a couple of other players as well. But he was the outstanding one Frank Lampard “I have enjoyed it, I get asked it a lot,” he said. “You want to always get results but you have to be realistic in football. When I came into this, the Champions League dream that everyone talked to me about, (saying) it’s been done before, can we do it again? “The realistic answer was we were where we were in the league for a reason. Our view was to try and beat Real Madrid then possible City to get to a final. In terms of the rest of the job, it’s been how many small wins can I try and impact behind the scenes. You can’t always impact results. “Generally there’s a lot of work to do here. I can have a certain impact with certain individuals within the group because I have a big feeling for the club.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Pep Guardiola compares Man City’s title push to serving for Wimbledon glory Jurgen Klopp hails departing quartet with special praise for Milner and Firmino Wigan deducted four points for next season after failing to pay players’ wages

Wigan will start the League One season in August with minus-four points after the English Football League issued its latest sanction against the club for a failure to pay players’ wages. The EFL said a further four-point deduction was suspended until the end of the 2023-24 season. That suspended sanction will kick in if club owner Abdulrahman Al Jasmi fails to deposit an amount equal to 125 per cent of the club’s forecast monthly wage bill into a designated account by May 24. The additional four-point deduction would also be activated if the club fail to pay players on time at any point between now and June 2024. The club’s 2022-23 season points tally has also been reduced by three points, even though the Championship regular season is already over. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh loves the type of players Nick Saban produces at Alabama.John Harbaugh regularly looks to build up his Baltimore Ravens roster with one former Nick Saban Alabama standout after another.Mark Inabinett of AL.com expounded on the Alabama/Baltimore conne...

A final flash of his bright smile and Roberto Firmino will depart Anfield for the last time on Saturday, marking the end of a chapter in the story of Jurgen Klopp’s tenure as manager. There will be few Liverpool fans who do not wish him well. He has been one of the most beloved members of the team and led the forward line to their first league title in 30 years in 2020. An entire generation of Reds supporters have grown up watching the Brazilian No 9, and at least a few will surely shed a tear when he leaves the club at the end of the season after eight years. Some will criticise Klopp for his efforts and ultimate failure, after it emerged the manager wished and was unable to keep Firmino for another season, but it seems to be a fitting time to mark the end of an era. After all, Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz have all been signed since January 2022 with an eye to the future. Firmino is one of just five senior Liverpool players whose arrival on Merseyside pre-dated German manager Klopp, and one of two to be departing this summer. James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will also leave when their contracts expire at the end of the current season. For Firmino, he joined the club as a 23-year-old in 2015 for a reported £29m, becoming the club’s then second most expensive player as Liverpool tried to re-establish themselves in the top four. Having been signed as an attacking midfielder, and one who started life out on the wing under Brendan Rodgers, it was a slight surprise when he ultimately thrived in the middle of a front three. His eight years have spanned the rise of the club from being rooted outside the Champions League places to Premier League and European champions. The years in between also included a global pandemic and the dismal behind-closed-doors fixtures. Ahead of Liverpool’s match against Aston Villa on 20 May, it is worth looking at the numbers. Firmino has scored 109 times in all competitions: 80 in the league, and has notched up 72 assists. The figures show that Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah would undoubtedly not have been as prolific as they were without Firmino, who set up the Egyptian 22 times and Mane 17. There are moments that will live far longer in the memory than others, however. He slotted seamlessly into Liverpool’s most prolific strike force for decades alongside Mane and Salah, winning every major domestic trophy and the Champions League and Club World Cup during his eight years on Merseyside. Fans will be divided over their favourite Firmino moment, and there are a few to choose from. Would it be his hat-trick in a comeback 5-1 win over Arsenal in December 2018? His last-gasp winner against Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League group stages the year Liverpool went on to lift the trophy? His extra-time strike to see Liverpool crowned Club World Cup champions for the first time, with a 1-0 win over Flamengo in 2019? The forward has already received one farewell from the fans, when he was serenaded throughout the final minutes of Liverpool’s 3-0 win at Leicester on Monday, despite not stepping onto the field, but it will be the final Anfield departure that will truly feel like the end of an era. Read More Jurgen Klopp given touchline ban by FA after comments over referee James Milner came to Liverpool and won the lot - an era ends with his departure Liverpool confirm departures of midfield trio Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson anticipating new challenge as midfield overhaul begins Liverpool captain Henderson ready for new challenge as overhaul begins On this day 2016 – Liverpool lose to Sevilla in Europa League final Liverpool confirm departures of midfield trio

Thomas Frank said Ivan Toney’s future will be at Brentford after the striker was handed an eight-month ban for gambling offences. The 27-year-old was found by the Football Association to have committed 232 breaches of its betting rules between 2017 and 2021. It means Brentford’s top scorer will now not play again until January 2024, with the suspension also prohibiting him from working with his team-mates at the club’s training ground until September. The FA indicated on Thursday it will apply to FIFA to have the ban extended worldwide, thereby ruling out the possibility of Toney being loaned abroad for the duration. He has scored 20 of Brentford’s 54 Premier League goals this season as well as having made his debut for Gareth Southgate’s England side in what has been a breakthrough year for the former Peterborough forward. Despite the suspension, Frank indicated that Toney will still have a future at the Gtech Stadium, though the club are awaiting clarification on the finer points of the punishment. “I’ve been in contact with him. He’s disappointed and sad about the situation,” said Frank. “His future is with Brentford, there’s no doubt about that. “We are waiting for the information so we know what we can do. What he’s allowed to do, especially for the first four months. “One thing is for sure, we will do everything to be there for him, support him and be aware of the mental health in it. “He’s made some mistakes, but we need to be there, and want to be there, for him and help him. We just need to know what we are allowed to do.” Toney was first charged with 262 betting offences in November and December, with the FA later withdrawing 30 of the charges. He admitted to the remaining 232 in February, but it took a further three months for the punishment to be decided upon. The charges stretch back to when he was a Newcastle player on loan at Scunthorpe and cover his time at Peterborough and his first years at Brentford. Frank was asked for his views on the link between football and the gambling industry, particularly since Brentford carry the name of an online gambling site on their shirts. He said that owing to the length of the ban, it was important that the club consider the mental health implications for the England striker. “It is a challenge, for me personally, all the advertising for gambling done by clubs (and) individuals in the game, I think that’s an issue,” he said. “I don’t know the full details of how much support or education the authorities provide. I know the Premier League and FA have a lot of initiatives in place that try to educate people out there. “Education is the key thing. Across the world, education is the number one thing if you want to change a culture and mindset. That takes a lot of hard work and patience. “We need to be aware of the mental health in this. Ivan is a footballer but he is also a human being that has family, a partner, young children, a mum and dad, siblings and friends and he has been on the front pages quite a lot. “We need to do whatever to support him in that aspect.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Michael Vaughan to return to BBC cricket coverage this summer Concerns raised over Sheikh Jassim’s bid to buy Manchester United Michael Vaughan to return to BBC cricket coverage this summer

Shares of Foot Locker Inc plunged 25% premarket on Friday, after the footwear retailer cut its annual sales

Manchester United could again be without Marcus Rashford for their Premier League trip to Bournemouth on Saturday. The forward missed last weekend’s victory over Wolves with a leg injury but has trained all week and had been expected to be available before going down with illness. Manager Erik ten Hag said: “Rashy trained well the whole week but today he reported he doesn’t feel well, so he is ill. We have to see how he recovers during the day and then see tomorrow.” Defeats against Brighton and West Ham prior to the victory over Wolves coupled with Liverpool’s strong finish to the season have put United’s Champions League hopes in some jeopardy. They have a one-point advantage and a game in hand on their big rivals but can ill afford any more slip-ups. Ten Hag only has to look across the city to see the level United are aspiring to return to, but he knows finishing in the top four is key to everything. “When I see this project, first of all it’s important to get in the Champions League,” he said. “I don’t think today at that standard, I look to the next game, and that’s Bournemouth. When I see this project, first of all it's important to get in the Champions League Erik ten Hag “We have to win that game to get in the Champions League. We have everything in our hands so focus on the game, the games coming up, the first game is the most important.” The ongoing takeover process is also creating a cloud of uncertainty over United’s plans for next season, but Ten Hag said only of the club’s hierarchy: “We are talking every day.” Bournemouth hovered near the bottom of the table for much of the season but have pulled themselves out of trouble impressively, boasting recent wins over Liverpool and Tottenham. Ten Hag praised the job done by Gary O’Neil, saying: “As far as I can see, I think it’s really brilliant a club as Bournemouth, they are in the Premier League and already three games before the end of the season they are definitely next season in the Premier League as well. “It’s a massive performance from them. It’s a good team, there’s a really good structure. You can see clear patterns, so well done.” Scott McTominay is expected to be available to face Bournemouth but on-loan midfielder Marcel Sabitzer will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. Asked whether the Bayern Munich player could have a future at Old Trafford, Ten Hag said: “We will see. It’s not our main focus, the main focus is Bournemouth.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Sam Allardyce wants positive Patrick Bamford response to social media threats Roberto De Zerbi: Brighton will be ready for fixture pile-up next season A look at the greatest comebacks in sporting history

Leeds boss Sam Allardyce has urged Patrick Bamford to respond to threats made on social media by scoring the winner at West Ham on Sunday. Allardyce also wants “the police to do a lot more” after Bamford’s penalty miss in last week’s home draw against Newcastle prompted online abuse directed at both the striker and his family. Leeds issued a statement this week condemning the threats posted on Twitter and Allardyce said: “He’s been OK, he’s obviously extremely upset about the situation. It’s something which leaves a very, very bad taste indeed. “I would like the police to do a lot more, but it appears when it’s social media, they rule and run the world and can say and do what they want unfortunately, which is why the world is in such a big mess, isn’t it? “He’s handled it pretty well, I think the club gave him as much support as he needed, particularly security-wise. “It wasn’t just about him, it was about his family. The best way to respond is to go out on the pitch on Sunday, perform to his highest level, try and score. “And it would be even greater if he scored the winner. Hopefully it won’t affect his performance.” Leeds are desperate for all three points at West Ham in their bid to climb out of the relegation zone and cling on to their top-flight status. They sit third from bottom, one point from safety, with Sunday’s trip to the London Stadium followed by a home game against Tottenham on the final day. West Ham reached the Europa Conference League final with victory over AZ Alkmaar on Thursday and Allardyce hopes his former club’s success could play to Leeds’ advantage. He said: “They’ve got a final to think about, haven’t they? Subconsciously, you’ll never know whether that may affect the players in terms of when they go out and play. “They’ll go out and play and try their best, (but) subconsciously, they won’t want to get injured. “So they might be a little more tentative, who knows? But my job is about my team playing to the best they possibly can play.” Leeds will be without suspended defender Junior Firpo on Sunday, but skipper Liam Cooper has returned to training and could be included in the squad. Tyler Adams (hamstring), Luis Sinisterra (ankle) and Stuart Dallas (fractured femur) remain long-term absentees. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Roberto De Zerbi: Brighton will be ready for fixture pile-up next season A look at the greatest comebacks in sporting history Mikel Arteta: Granit Xhaka’s future at Arsenal to be decided at end of season

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi is confident his players will be ready for a first European adventure if they manage to grasp the prize dangling before them. The Seagulls suffered a setback on Thursday evening when they went down 4-1 at Newcastle in the battle of the Premier League’s top-six gatecrashers. However, they return to action against relegated Southampton on Sunday knowing wins in two of their last three games – against the Saints, champions elect Manchester City and Aston Villa – will secure a place in the top six and the rewards that would bring. Reflecting on a bruising evening on Tyneside, De Zerbi said: “We are not used to playing three games in a week and we suffered a lot. “There are many players – for example Moises Caicedo, Pervis [Estupinan] in the first half – they didn’t play well, but I love them. They have to learn to play two games in four days. “Next year we will be better, we will be ready to play every day.” The defeat at St James’ Park came in Brighton’s fourth game in 15 days, a run which includes famous victories over Manchester United and Arsenal, but also a 5-1 home drubbing by Everton. De Zerbi felt he had no option but to leave on-loan Chelsea defender Levi Colwill out of the matchday squad in the north east with Alexis Mac Allister, Julio Enciso and Evan Ferguson starting on the bench. With injuries biting deep into his squad – he was also without Solly March, Adam Lallana, Adam Webster, Joel Veltman, Jakub Moder, Jeremy Sarmiento, Enock Mwepu and Tariq Lamptey – the Italian admitted he had been presented with a selection headache. However, he added: “Yes, but we have to be strong in a difficult period, a tough period. I don’t like making any excuses, but we have eight, nine, I don’t know, I don’t remember how many injuries we have now. “We are playing four games in 12 days. The first XI today, Colwill wasn’t available to play, Mac Allister can’t play 90 minutes today and 90 minutes on Sunday, Welbeck, Buonanotte, Gilmour and Undav the same.” De Zerbi expects to have 20-year-old Colwill, who was rested at Newcastle as a result of fatigue, back in the fold for Sunday’s game. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Eddie Howe has admitted Newcastle will need two XIs of equal quality to cope with the rigours of European football next season. The Magpies secured a Europa League campaign at worst with Thursday night’s 4-1 Premier League victory over Brighton, and will play in the Champions League if they win one of their two remaining games of the current campaign, which continues with struggling Leicester’s trip to St James’ Park on Monday. Asked what that would mean for the summer transfer window, Howe, who has been allowed to spend in excess of £250million to date, replied: “It’s a good question. We need to figure that out. “If you have a strong squad, rotation will be important. Rotation is going to be important, utilising the whole squad is going to be important. “We haven’t felt the necessity to necessarily do that on a consistent basis because we’ve been in one competition – of course, we had the cup run. We have rotated to a degree, but maybe not in the numbers that we might need to next year. “If you’re going to do that, then the squad needs to be strong enough, so if you put out two XIs, they’re of equal strength.” The strength of Howe’s current squad could be put to the test on Monday evening with his midfield resources stretched severely in the aftermath of an energy-sapping clash with the Seagulls. Joe Willock was helped from the pitch in some discomfort with a hamstring injury which the Magpies fear will end his season with two games to go, while Bruno Guimaraes has been nursing a persistent ankle problem in recent months. Howe said as he conducted his pre-match press conference: “Today I’ll be going straight to the physio room, to be honest, after this to see how everybody is. We’ve got a few concerns. “The lads gave so much yesterday to the game, they’ve given a lot to the season physically and I just hope there’s no serious effects. “It looks like Joe Willock may be in trouble with his hamstring – we might lose him for the season, but that’s unclear as I sit here now. Fingers crossed our team will still be strong.” He succumbed to that brick wall last night, it seemed to hurt him. Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe Even redoubtable Brazilian Joelinton is feeling the effects of a gruelling campaign after running himself into the ground in the club’s cause. Howe, who is not anticipating having either Sean Longstaff or Jacob Murphy back available to face the Foxes, said: “He’s a machine. He’d literally – it’s a well-used phrase in football – run through a brick wall for the team, the club and I think he does every game. “He succumbed to that brick wall last night, it seemed to hurt him, but we hope he’s okay. He’s just been incredible for us this year.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Mikel Arteta: Granit Xhaka’s future at Arsenal to be decided at end of season Sean Dyche: The only table that matters is the one at the end of the season Julen Lopetegui thrilled with Wolves progress since his first clash with Everton

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has insisted discussions over the future of Granit Xhaka will wait until the end of the season. Xhaka has been central to the Gunners’ title bid this campaign but is approaching the final 12 months of his deal at the Emirates Stadium. Bayer Leverkusen are interested in taking the Switzerland international back to Germany, where the midfielder played for four years with Borussia Monchengladbach before he moved to England in 2016. It has been a rollercoaster journey for Xhaka at Arsenal but his manager is eager to finish strongly in the final two games before he switches his attention to a number of contract scenarios. Arteta said: “The clarity is there. He is a player that has played I think every minute since I have been the manager. “He is an incredibly respected figure at the club. He has a great story around him with what he has achieved at the club in going through very tough moments and he is a key and very important part of us. “Whatever happens is something we will discuss, certainly not now.” Second-placed Arsenal have faced some criticism this week after their 3-0 defeat at home to Brighton left Manchester City on the brink of a fifth Premier League victory in six years. Pep Guardiola’s side can defend their crown this weekend if the Gunners lose at Nottingham Forest on Saturday or if City can beat Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium a day later. Arteta, in a thinly-veiled dig at their detractors, stated they have been up against one of the best teams ever. “We have shown this season,” Arteta replied when asked if Arsenal can be title contenders again next season. “We’re still there, with two games to go we can still be champions against probably the best team in Premier League history. “For 10 months we’re still there. There’s two games still to go and we’re not going to bottle that for sure. “What happens next season will depend on what we do, how we evolve and how we start. That prediction is very difficult to do today.” Quizzed on the level of the squad, with Champions League football to come next term, Arteta conceded improvements will need to be made before Arsenal return to Europe’s top competition. “At the level that we want? No. We didn’t have the capacity to do that as well with the Europa League so it’s part of that evolution,” he explained. “We have made a lot of good steps and strong steps in that journey and we have to continue. That never ends. “We want to be better and the rest will be better, then the margins will be higher and we have to start to live with those standards and improve and be smarter.” We’re still there, with two games to go we can still be champions against probably the best team in Premier League history. Mikel Arteta Arsenal received positive news on Thursday when Aaron Ramsdale agreed a new long-term deal with the club. It will keep Ramsdale contracted to the Gunners until the summer of 2026, the PA news agency understands. Arteta is confident the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and William Saliba will follow. He added: “Delighted with the news for Aaron. He fully deserves that new contract, that extension and we want to keep our talent at the club and we want to build on that. “There are a few more who are very relevant for us to continue with that relationship. We’re working on that. “We are trying (with Saliba). We are having conversations and we are trying to maintain the talent we have at the club as I said before, but things take time. “You have to agree it. There are different parties involved. I think everybody’s intention is the same and hopefully we’ll find the right solution.” Meanwhile, Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) and Gabriel Martinelli (ankle) will not feature again this season. “Gabi’s is a pretty nasty injury, we need to assess in the next week how long he’ll be out for,” Arteta said. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Eddie Howe knows Newcastle will have to carefully manage European football Sean Dyche: The only table that matters is the one at the end of the season Julen Lopetegui thrilled with Wolves progress since his first clash with Everton