Bukayo Saka has solidified his place in Arsenal history as the club’s youngest player to score 50 Premier League goals.

At just 23 years and 52 days old, he broke Thierry Henry’s record, marking this achievement during Arsenal’s intense 2-2 draw against Liverpool.

Saka’s early goal gave Arsenal the lead, though Liverpool fought back with an equalizer by Virgil van Dijk.

Mikel Merino restored Arsenal’s advantage before Mohamed Salah equalized once again, leading to a hard-fought draw.

Saka’s accomplishment is remarkable when considering the ages at which other Arsenal legends reached this milestone.

For instance, Robin van Persie scored his 50th Premier League goal at 27 years and 162 days, highlighting Saka’s early impact in comparison to his predecessors like Theo Walcott and Freddie Ljungberg.

Interestingly, Saka and Henry share a unique connection, as both scored their milestone 50th goal against Liverpool.

However, the overall Premier League record for the youngest player to reach 50 goals is still held by Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler, who achieved it at just 20 years and 252 days old in 1996.

Saka’s achievement underscores his growing legacy at Arsenal and his bright future in the Premier League.

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Manchester City’s goal machine, Erling Haaland, has won back-to-back Premier League Golden Boot awards, joining an elite club in the process.

After clinching the prestigious prize in his first season in England by netting a record 36 goals in 35 appearances, the Norwegian superstar has now won the award for a second consecutive season, scoring 27 goals in 31 matches. This feat contributed significantly to City securing their fourth successive Premier League title with a 3-1 victory over West Ham on the final day.

Two seasons. Two titles. Two Golden Boots.

Too easy for Erling Haaland 😏 pic.twitter.com/ZOgYQzeQT1

— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 19, 2024

At just 23 years old, Haaland becomes only the seventh player in Premier League history to win the Golden Boot in consecutive seasons. He joins an exclusive group that includes legendary names such as Thierry Henry, Mohamed Salah, Michael Owen, Alan Shearer, Robin van Persie, and Harry Kane.

Former Arsenal great Thierry Henry holds the record for the most Golden Boot awards, having won them in the 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, and 2005–06 seasons. Haaland, with his prolific scoring record, will undoubtedly have his sights set on challenging Henry’s record in the coming years.

The Norwegian international will now enjoy a well-deserved break before returning to action for pre-season games, as Manchester City is set to travel to the US in July.

Avec 2⃣7⃣ buts inscrits cette saison, @ErlingHaaland termine meilleur buteur de @premierleague pour la deuxième année consécutive 👏 pic.twitter.com/FMYMITf6tD

— Manchester City (@ManCityFra) May 19, 2024

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According to reports, PSG have sacked head coach Christophe Galtier, with Julian Nagelsmann set to be drafted in as his replacement.

PSG football adviser Luis Campos informed Garthier of the club’s decision on Tuesday morning, according to Le Parisien, after which a formal announcement would be made. Gaultier remained in the spotlight at the Parc des Princes for just one season despite winning the Ligue 1 title in 2022/23 before losing to Bayern Munich in the round of 16 of the Champions League. After that, it was severely criticized.

Galtier became PSG’s seventh permanent manager after signing a two-year deal last summer since Qatar took over in 2011. Under the Frenchman, the French giants managed to defend their Ligue 1 title, finishing one point behind runners-up Reims. But he suffered setbacks on the European stage, struggling to get the most out of superstar names like Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Gaultier also faced accusations of racism stemming from his time as Nice manager in April and gradually lost the credibility of the club’s leadership after PSG ended their final season on a whim.

Former Bayern Munich coach Nagelsmann is the favourite to fill Galtier’s shoes in the Parc des Princes training park, with Foot Mercato reporting that the German is in advanced talks with PSG officials.

Nagelsmann, who has been out of work since being ruthlessly sacked by Bayern in March, could be joined by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry. The Qatar properties see Henry as the perfect candidate for the role of Nagelsmann’s assistant as he previously held the same position alongside Roberto Martinez in the Belgian national team.

Galtier isn’t the only one to make it past the Parc des Princes exits this summer. PSG have also confirmed Messi’s departure, with the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner eyeing a return to Barcelona as a free agent.

He has also been closely linked with moves to Saudi Arabia and the MLS but has yet to announce where he will play next season. Sergio Ramos is also leaving when his contract expires at the end of the month, and Neymar is said to be pushing for a move after being targeted by PSG extremists outside his home.

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The Premier League Hall of Fame has officially honoured Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger as its inaugural managers.

The duo won 16 Premier League titles between them across respective long-term spells with Manchester United and Arsenal.

Ferguson is the most accomplished manager in the competition’s history with 13 of their championships. He is the first manager to have achieved the Premier League’s Triple Title on two separate occasions.

Ferguson said: “I’m truly delighted to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame. It’s an honour when you receive recognition like this. However, it’s not just about me as a person. It’s about the job at Manchester United and the bond we had over many years, so I’m also proud for the club, the staff and my players.

“My job was to send the fans home happy. United’s history and my own expectations were the things that drove me, and I then had to try and develop all my players with the same expectations and make sure we could go out and achieve them.

“I feel Arsene is a very worthy inductee as he transformed Arsenal Football Club fantastically. They became a tough team to compete with and we both wanted to win, which motivated us further. Through the years since retirement, we’d go for dinner together in a little restaurant he knows well in Switzerland. He is a really interesting man and I enjoy his company, but it is still my job to pick the wine!”

👑 The greatest.

Sir Alex Ferguson has been inducted in the @PremierLeague Hall of Fame 👏#MUFC || #PL

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 29, 2023

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Wenger arrived in England as one of the Premier League’s first foreign coaches in 1996, swiftly proving sceptics wrong by converting Arsenal into title winners and influencing the culture of English football with his scouting and culinary skills.

At Arsenal, he won three Premier League titles, including an unbeaten ‘Invincibles season in 2003/04.

Wenger said: “I am very grateful to have been selected for the Premier League Hall of Fame. We always wanted to give something special to the fans and when you have players capable of remarkable things, the most important thing for me is the obligation of perfection.

“I’d like to be known as someone who loved Arsenal, who respected the values of the club and left it in a position where it can grow and become even bigger.

“To share this with Sir Alex is a great honour for me. It’s like two boxers, you fight like mad and go the distance together. At the end of the day, you have respect and it will be a great opportunity to meet with him, share a good bottle of wine and memories of our old battles.”

🥁 Our latest inductee to the Premier League Hall of Fame…

It’s a special entry, Gooners 🙌

🏆 One gold trophy
❤️ One Arsene Wenger pic.twitter.com/iNsBbe1A9t

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 29, 2023

In addition to Ferguson and Wenger, there are 16 other inductees in the Premier League Hall of Fame.

When the Hall of Fame was established in 2021, Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry were the first two individuals to be inducted. During that year, they were followed by David Beckham, Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Dennis Bergkamp, and Steven Gerrard.

Inductees for 2022 were Ian Wright, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, Didier Drogba, Vincent Kompany, Patrick Vieira, and Sergio Aguero.

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France’s record goalscorer, Olivier Giroud, insists he will not be following Karim Benzema and Raphael Varane into international retirement.

The experienced forward, who has a record-breaking total of 56 goals in 120 games for his country, is now 36 years old.

Giroud is, however, still going strong at club level with Serie A giants AC Milan and believes he has plenty to offer Les Bleus on the back of a gut-wrenching defeat to Argentina in the final of the 2022 World Cup.

Giroud has told France 2 when asked if he plans on ruling himself out of contention for future call-ups from national team coach Didier Deschamps: “No, no, it’s not over. Emotions, I hope there will still be some to come.

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I’m not ready to hang up [my boots], to take off this blue jersey which is close to my heart. I have the motivation to continue and the physique too, I feel good. For the moment I am still selectable and a player of the France team.”

At the World Cup finals in Qatar, Giroud passed the iconic Thierry Henry to become France’s top scorer, and since then, players like Benzema, Varane, and the victorious 2018 captain Hugo Lloris have retired from international competition.

With Giroud intending to play on, he will hope to figure prominently for France when they get their Euro 2024 qualification underway against the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland in March.

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According to reports, Arsenal Football Club plans to build a statue of legendary manager Arsene Wenger outside the Emirates Stadium

Wenger spent 22 years in charge of Arsenal between 1996 and 2018 and despite leaving in controversial circumstances – which he later described as ‘unjustified’ and ‘very brutal’ – he is still considered one of the best managers of all time.

In a hugely successful spell for the north London club, he led Arsenal to three Premier League titles, culminating in 2003-04 when they finished the top-flight season unbeaten. He also guided the team to seven FA Cup victories.

The Frenchman, who is currently the FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, revolutionized English football’s scouting, training, and diet while serving as the Gunners’ longest-tenured manager in club history.

He never wavered in his loyalty to Arsenal, turning off bids from Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and England while playing for the club. Since leaving the Gunners, he has also turned down two Premier League offers.

His legacy, however, took a hit toward the end of his reign as the club’s fans and board drove him out after the fans became weary of settling for Premier League fourth-place finishes.

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Wenger departed Arsenal in 2018 after overseeing 1,235 games. Because of the circumstances of his departure and the hurt he felt, he did not return to the club until this week, more than four years later.

One Arsène Wenger ❤️ pic.twitter.com/agQln82HFC

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 26, 2022

But current boss Mikel Arteta, one of Wenger’s former captains, was keen for the 73-year-old to return and he was given a joyous reception by Arsenal fans during the 3-1 victory over West Ham on Boxing Day.

Following the victory, Wenger was also seen returning to the home dressing room with Arsenal players. Now, according to The Telegraph, the team is preparing to erect a statue honouring him in front of the Emirates to recognize his achievements.

Outside the club’s stadium, Arsenal already has statues of former players Thierry Henry, Tony Adams, and Dennis Bergkamp, as well as former manager Herbert Chapman, and Wenger was reportedly opposed to the idea of adding himself.

But Wenger appears to have had a change of heart after his recent return to the Emirates and has now given the green light for the statue to be built, which could be erected as early as 2023.

‘I’ve been involved in the process but it’s about him, the timing he needed,’ Arteta said about Wenger’s return to Arsenal after more than four years.

‘Hopefully he’s going to leave here and be willing to spend more time with us because he is such an influence: for me personally, in my career, the way I see the game, but as well for this football club.’

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Since his tragic penalty miss for England in the Euro 2020 final, Bukayo Saka has stated that Thierry Henry, the legendary former Arsenal player, has been in regular communication with him.

The Three Lions’ hopes of winning a major trophy for the first time in 55 years were dashed when Saka missed the game-winning kick against Italy, but he instantly gained praise by exercising incredible bravery to take a penalty at the age of 19.

The Arsenal winger quickly moved past his setback and had a fantastic 2021/22 season. Saka, who has three goals to his name after scoring the decisive goal in Sunday’s 3-0 victory against Senegal in the round of 16, has also been in excellent form for England throughout the World Cup.

Saka has talked favourably of the goodwill of former World Cup champion and Arsenal’s record scorer Henry, who first contacted him when a message from an unknown number appeared on Saka’s phone. Saka is currently expecting to knock France out of the competition in the quarterfinal round.

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“Thierry was in touch,” Saka said. “It meant everything. He’s shown a lot of his character to get my number and to reach out to me. “It’s not just from that moment. After most Arsenal games, he reaches out to me and he’s still so passionate about the club and he’s an amazing person.”

He continued: “I know how much my dad loves him and how much everyone at the club loves him and I know what he did for the club, of course.

“Thierry and Robert Pires have been around the club and spoken to me and helped me and they have supported me to this day, so I’m grateful to them. Of course, on the pitch, they delivered and they were magnificent and they delivered silverware for Arsenal, so they will be legends, always.” 

Saka also played down comparisons to Kylian Mbappe’s World Cup form in 2018 and revealed whether or not he’d be prepared to take another penalty for England.

“First of all, thank you for the compliment … but no. There is only one Kylian Mbappe – and at the same time, there is only one me,” Saka replied. “I have progressed and matured as a player and a person since that moment [at Wembley].

“I would not have stepped up the times I have stepped up for Arsenal with penalties if I was not confident, so if the moment comes and if I am set to take it, I will be more than happy to.” 

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Before their World Cup quarterfinal matchup against France, Luke Shaw cautioned England that it would be “naive” of them to concentrate on stopping Kylian Mbappe.

Mbappe has been the tournament’s star performer and is now in the lead for the Golden Boot with five goals through four games, coupled with two assists for good measure.

Although Shaw has warned his England teammates that France is the current world champions for a reason—they are more than just a one-man show—despite being the game’s clear danger man.

“Obviously after his performance (against Poland) there’s going to be even more chat about him but we know he’s a world-class player,” Shaw said. “I think it would be very naive of us to focus purely on him. They’re reigning world champions for a reason and we need to focus on them as a whole team.

“They have brilliant players over the whole pitch so we’re not going to fully focus on him, but it’s an amazing tie to be involved in and that’s why we’re here.”

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Alongside Mbappe, France has relied on excellent performances from Antoine Griezmann, Adrien Rabiot and Olivier Giroud, the latter of whom has overtaken Thierry Henry to become the leading scorer in the history of the national team.

“It’s obviously not going to be easy. They are reigning world champions and they are that for a reason,” Shaw continued. “It will be a very tough game and mentally we have to be ready and focused because we have to be at 100% to win this game and we know that.”

The Man Utd left-back added: “It’s been an amazing tournament, an unbelievable one to watch and it shows no game is easy.

“We always speak before about the favourites and this and that and when you come to a World Cup it’s always different – the atmosphere, the game, the heat.

“It’s all things you need to get used to and I think you’ve seen with a couple of the big names you maybe think should be through are not and that shows we’re obviously doing the right things at the moment, but I think we need to step up another level because France are a very good team.”

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Olivier Giroud made history as he became France’s all-time top male goalscorer with his strike against Poland at the World Cup.

On the verge of halftime, the seasoned Frenchman scored his pivotal 52nd goal for Les Bleus with an extraordinarily deft finish, turning the ball over Wojciech Szczesny for a 1-0 victory in the round of 16.

Importantly, the goal allowed him to surpass none other than Thierry Henry in the standings, allowing him to achieve the remarkable feat.

Giroud made his international debut with France in 2011, but he wouldn’t score his first goal for Les Bleus until February 2012, when he scored against Germany in a friendly.

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After 116 appearances, he currently holds the record for goals scored and, despite being 36 years old, still has the look of a striker of the highest calibre.

He was able to tie Henry’s record by scoring twice against Australia on matchday one of the Qatar World Cup, but he has since had to wait for the goal to grab the lead.

But, with France likely to go deep into the tournament and Karim Benzema out of the tournament, Giroud has a brilliant chance to extend his lead as France’s all-time scorer before the World Cup comes to an end.

It comes after a standout period at AC Milan. Giroud contributed significantly to the team winning their first Scudetto in ten years after joining in the summer of 2021, scoring 14 goals in all competitions. He has continued his prolific play into the 2022–23 season without Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

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France defeated Poland 3-1 on Sunday to progress to the World Cup quarterfinals thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe.

Early on, Giroud appeared destined to score first as he approached a back-post cross from Ousmane Dembele into an open goal, but he was unable to make it in time. Giroud, however, would not be deterred, putting France in front after 44 minutes with a brilliant turn and shot.

It was his 52nd goal for Les Bleus and gave him the opportunity to surpass Thierry Henry as the nation’s all-time leading scorer for men.

In the 75th minute, Mbappe doubled France’s lead with a strong strike before adding a second with an incredible curling finish into the far top-right corner—his fifth of the competition.

Robert Lewandowski’s penalty gave Poland a late consolation goal. Lewandowski scored after Poland’s striker missed his first effort after referee Jesus Valenzuela demanded a second attempt.

The outcome means that France will meet the winners of England and Senegal, who play later on Sunday, in the quarterfinals to begin their World Cup championship defence.

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After Mbappe’s initial attempts failed to produce clear chances, France took control of the game before ceding it in an effort to carve out space behind the Polish defence.

Poland’s composure was almost rewarded when Lloris parried Piotr Zielenski’s oncoming shot in the 38th minute. Theo Hernandez blocked the midfielder’s second attempt as it then returned to his path.

The next player was Jakub Kaminski, but Raphael Varane stopped his shot inside the goal line. However, France’s strategy paid off with one minute remaining in the half.

Giroud was given an inch of space to clip the ball past Szczesny and score his third goal of the competition after Mbappe attracted the defence to him and slid the ball through into his path.

After scoring twice in the defending champions’ 4-1 victory over Australia in their opening Group D match, the 36-year-old Giroud, who went without a goal in Russia four years prior, had tied Henry for the group’s lead with 51 goals.

France was careless, especially Mbappe, but the striker produced a spine-tingling rising shot that slid under the bar before curling another jaw-dropping goal into the top corner one minute into stoppage time.

Mbappe scored his fourth and fifth goals in Qatar, becoming the first player to reach nine World Cup goals before turning 24. He now has as many goals as Lionel Messi of Argentina.

Dayot Upamecano’s handball offered Lewandowski a chance to score a consolation goal with a penalty, which Lloris initially saved before being retaken and scored because the goalie did not have his feet on the line.

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While praising Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi’s World Cup performances, England’s Jack Grealish named Brazil as the World Cup standout squad in Qatar.

Of the 24 teams who have played two group games, only World Cup holders France have taken the maximum points.

The 2022 campaign of Didier Deschamps’ team got off to a rout against Australia, while Mbappe’s magnificent double helped them defeat Denmark.

Mbappe scored twice against Denmark to bring his tally to 31 goals in international play, 20 goals shy of Olivier Giroud and Thierry Henry’s 51-goal total from four years ago in Russia.

Argentina, however, lost shockingly to Saudi Arabia in their tournament opener and was aware that a loss to Mexico on Saturday would have meant elimination.

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At the Lusail Stadium, Messi once again worked his magic to break the tie and put Argentina on the road to a crucial victory after a tense opening hour.

After his heroics against Mexico, Grealish called Messi “unbelievable,” but the Manchester City player still thinks Brazil, Argentina’s South American opponents, are the favorite in Qatar.

Brazil will look to make it two wins from two when they face Switzerland on Monday, having beaten Serbia last time out.

Asked to assess some of England’s biggest rivals in Qatar, Grealish told talkSPORT: ‘I watch all the games to be honest. We have screens all over the place at the hotel and it’s just nice to have games on all day.

‘I was watching Messi [against Mexico], unbelievable. He just showed what he’s about in that second half but then again so did Mbappe.

‘I think there are lots of brilliant teams, some teams have that one player who’s just unstoppable but I think Brazil are one of the most impressive I’ve seen so far.

‘They have so much talent, especially in those attacking areas. If you’re asking me who the biggest threat is, I’d probably say Brazil.’

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Hugo Lloris, the captain of France, praised Olivier Giroud and referred to him as “an inspiration to never give up.”

Giroud scored a brace as France defeated Australia 4-1 to start their World Cup defence, becoming the team’s all-time leading scorer alongside Thierry Henry.

If Karim Benzema’s pre-tournament injury hadn’t occurred, the Milan striker might not have even started the match. Lloris is pleased to see that his unwavering persistence has paid off.

“I think Olivier Giroud deserved a lot of credit,” Lloris said after the match. “He is an example of football to never give up.

“The last few months he was in and he was out but he never lost focus and it is important. It is a big achievement to equal Thierry Henry and I hope he will go ahead. For all the team it is a good start and for the striker two goals is great.”

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Particularly in the first half when Australia unexpectedly took the lead early, France had to battle hard for victory.

Lloris, though, says the fact France were able to come back so strongly is a testament to their character.

“I think we have got the credit of a good reaction and we stepped up and started to control the game, he said. “We can be pleased with the performance but we know we have to improve game by game.

“The key was to stay cool after going behind. We have a lot of young players but we have some with experience so we have a good mix and we can feel it on the pitch.

“It is one very good step into this World Cup and now we are going to focus on preparing for Denmark.”

France will face Denmark in their second game before ending the World Cup group stage against Tunisia.

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