ARSENAL analyst Miguel Molina was SLAPPED by his Aston Villa counterpart after the Gunners' last-gasp victory at Villa Park.
Molina was embroiled in a post-match squabble with rival analyst Victor Manas that continued into the tunnel.
Molina eventually removed himself from his seat but not before inflaming the situation by blowing kisses at his rival, who continued to rant loudly.
And SunSport understands they clashed again in the players’ tunnel immediately after the final whistle before being pulled apart and begrudgingly agreeing to shake hands.
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- Kiro Evans
Xhak's Not On
GRANIT XHAKA picked up his 56th Premier League yellow card at Aston Villa – but his latest came AFTER being substituted off.
The Arsenal midfielder, 30, is well used to being told off by referees during his career in England. And he was in the book again after celebrating a late own goal by Emi Martinez.
Xhaka sprinted across the Villa Park pitch to the corner in front of the jubilant away supporters and joined his team-mates in the huddle.
However, a Twitter video shows as the men in black slowly trotted back to their own half for the restart, Xhaka made his way directly across the pitch to the away dugout.
And as he made his sheepish journey back, Hooper brandished the yellow card.
- Kiro Evans
Goal Dry
After an impressive run of goalscoring form after replacing the injured Gabriel Jesus, the strikes have dried up of late for Eddie Nketiah.
It's no goals in his last five games now with big chances missed against Everton and Aston Villa.
Although he did win the penalty against Manchester City.
Eddie Nketiah will be looking to end his mini goal drought when Arsenal go to Leicester next weekCredit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images - Kiro Evans
'Danish Fernandes'
Arsenal have got their eyes on Eintract Frankfurt star Jesper Lindstrom.
The star, dubbed the 'Danish Bruno Fernandes', is of interest to the North London club according to Sport1.
The 22-year-old has been at Eintract since 2021 and has been a regular presence in their team this season.
- Kiro Evans
Slap Happy
Arsenal analyst Miguel Molina was SLAPPED by his Aston Villa counterpart after the Gunners' last-gasp victory at Villa Park, writes SunSport's Mark Irwin.
Molina was embroiled in a post-match squabble with rival analyst Victora Manas that continued into the tunnel.
He left the Arsenal dressing room with a large red mark on his face after being slapped on the cheek by fellow Spaniard Manas, who previously worked for the Gunners during Unai Emery’s time in charge.
They clashed in the stands in the immediate aftermath of Arsenal’s stoppage-time winner, with Manas taking exception to Molina’s celebrations as they exchanged furious insults in Spanish.
- Kiro Evans
All Eyes on United
Manchester United's hot form means this may not be a two-horse title race.
A win today for the Red Devils against Leicester means they will go back to within 5 points of the Gunners, albeit having played a game more.
With both Arsenal and Man City dropping points in recent weeks, it's probably worth keeping an eye on Erik ten Hag's side who continue to rack up the points.
- Kiro Evans
Jor Dropper
He's had his fair share of critics since signing his Arsenal contract has Jorginho.
Gunners fans were wary of yet another ex-Chelsea star joining the Emirates are failed signings of the likes of Willian and David Luiz.
He also did not get off the best start after watching Everton score at Goodison Park only minutes after coming on as a sub.
But he made his mark yesterday and woke up this morning knowing he is the reason why Arsenal are top of the table.
- Kiro Evans
Big Tests Ahead
Arsenal look to be back on track after the brilliant win at Villa Park yesterday. But they still have some big games ahead against Prem big dogs before their can taste the silverware.
These are the dates to keep in the diary.
Saturday 8th April – Liverpool (A)
Wednesday 26th April – Man City (A)
Saturday 29th April – Chelsea (H) - Kiro Evans
Breaking his Duck
Oleksandr Zinchenko hit the second Arsenal equaliser yesterday – and ended his extraordinary goal duck.
The Ukrainian had not found the net in a league game since 2015.
This run included all 77 Premier League appearances for Manchester City and his previous 15 league outings for Arsenal.
Oleksandr Zinchenko rifled home to make it 2-2 and set up yesterday's dramatic finishCredit: Andrew Orchard/Andrew Orchard sports photography - Kiro Evans
The £120m Man
It will take at least £120m to prise Marcus Rashford out of Old Trafford, according to reports.
The star’s current contract expires in June 2024 and clubs like Arsenal are reportedly monitoring the situation.
The Daily Star report that while United have no intention of letting him go, they have a valuation in mind for the England international.
In-form Rashford has 14 goals in his last 16 games.
- Kiro Evans
Golden Boy
Bukayo Saka produced the goods again as Arsenal came from behind twice to beat Aston Villa in a rip-roaring game yesterday.
The 21-year-old was kicked all over the park but produced a stunning first-half volley to get Arsenal going.
It was his 10th goal in all competitions this season and he is now the Gunners' top scorer.
Bukayo Saka continues to be Arsenal's man for the big momentsCredit: Andrew Orchard/Andrew Orchard sports photography - Kiro Evans
Keeper Crisis
Ex-Arsenal manager Unai Emery was left unhappy when his ex-Arsenal keeper Emi Martinez went up for a last minute corner.
His decision led to the Gunners getting a fourth goal to seal victory over Villa and Emery did not hide his fury.
Emery said: "I've never told my goalkeeper to go score in the 90th minute. He decided, I told him it was not my idea.
"I don't like it. I told him… maybe [goalkeepers] can score in the history one or two times, there's more goals scored against you.
The manager added ominously of Martinez: "He knows now. For his career, he knows."
- Kiro Evans
Box-ing Match
Arsenal and Aston Villa staff members scuffled in the press seats after the Gunners' dramatic stoppage time winner this afternoon.
While it is customary for journalists not to ever celebrate goals in the press box, some club staff members also sit there.
When members of the Gunners' staff wildly celebrated their side's winner, they upset some of their Villa counterparts.
A scuffle subsequently ensued, with stewards having to break up warring analysts Victor Manas of Villa and Miguel Molina of Arsenal.
- Kiro Evans
Arteta on the Comeback
Mikel Arteta has given his reaction to Arsenal's outstanding comeback at Villa Park yesterday.
He said: "We showed a lot of character and resilience to get back twice in the game and end up winning it.
"We have to take some lessons from today because especially in the first-half we didn't do the simple things right.
"But we talked at half-time, [saying] 'If we raise individual standards and start to deliver what they have to do, we're going to win this game.
"In the second-half I think we outplayed them, we created chance after chance, we dominated absolutely the game."
- Kiro Evans
'The Basics'
Jorginho has lifted the lid on Mikel Arteta's half-time team-talk that helped fuel Arsenal's comeback against Aston Villa.
The Gunners went in at the break down 2-1, after conceding brilliant goals by Ollie Watkins and Philippe Coutinho either side of a Bukayo Saka strike.
Arteta's men came out rejuvenated for the second period and equalised through Oleksandr Zinchenko before two late goals won them the match.
Jorginho told BT Sport: "It's a very important [win], after the last results we had and the start wasn't easy. We were not producing our game.
"But we came in at half-time and had a talk, and then we went back to doing the basics that we needed to do, and we changed the game."
- Kiro Evans
Ratings
It was quite the afternoon yesterday after Arsenal came from behind twice to beat Aston Villa 4-2.
In a game full of drama, twists and bonkers moments throughout, it may have been hard to work who exactly flourished and who stumbled in the high-octane match.
But look no further than SunSport's match ratings as we sort out the wheat from the chaff for Arsenal.
- Kiro Evans
Two Lessons
Mikel Arteta believes his side learnt two lessons after their wild win at Villa Park yesterday.
The underpar Gunners went behind twice in the first-half before improving drastically and grabbing a late win.
And boss Areta told the BBC: "Today I think we can take two big lessons.
"One in the first-half that we did a lot of simple things wrong and give two shots away and concede two goals and didn't do enough especially with the ball.
"And [the second lesson] was in the second-half when we raised individual levels and started to do the simple things right, change a few things, get momentum, play the game that we wanted to play and merit the win."
- Kiro Evans
A Thriller at Villa
A gripping and dramatic win at Aston Villa might turn out to be just the tonic to get Arsenal's season back on track.
The Gunners trailed twice but managed to pull through to bring their stuttering form to an end.
A long-range effort by Jorginho led to a winner after the ball bounced off the woodwork and then off the back of ex-Arsenal keeper Emi Martinez.
The win gave Arsenal victory over their former gaffer and later fans would see Man City drop points at Forest, cementing their place as league leaders.
Saturdays don't get much better than that.
- James Orr
Good morning Gooners
Arsenal are back on track after a last-gasp 4-2 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Ollie Watkins opened the scoring for Villa after just five minutes, but Bukayo Saka levelled things up 11 minutes later.
Philippe Coutinho then put Unai Emery's side back in the driver's seat on 31 minutes.
Oleksandr Zinchenko levelled things up in the 61st minute before Emiliano Martinez's own goal and Gabriel Martinelli's strike during stoppage time led to the Gunners' dramatic victory.
Arsenal and Villa staff members scuffled in the press seats after the North Londoners’ dramatic stoppage time winner.
The two sides were locked at 2-2 going into the closing stages at Villa Park when Mikel Arteta's men grabbed a fortunate winner in the 93rd minute thanks to Martinez's own goal after Jorginho's shot
- Kostas Lianos
Mikel Arteta's advice
Ex-Arsenal ace Emmanuel Frimpong has revealed how manager Mikel Arteta would help him with his technique in the gym when they were team-mates.
Frimpong told Midnite: "One thing I remember of Mikel Arteta is he used to give me a lot of advice in the gym.
"I used to have really bad technique in the gym with things like weights, Arteta would come over and tell me 'don't lean back' and 'hold it like this'.
"That's the memory I have of Arteta, he was always wanting to give information out to the players, no matter who it was.
"Arteta was very vocal and hated to lose, it's no surprise to me that he's gone into management and done really well"
Credit: Getty - Kostas Lianos
Top Thierr
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has admitted that he does want another crack at management.
Asked about the rumours while appearing as a pundit on CBS Sport's Champions League coverage, Henry said: "Would I put my name in the hat?
"First and foremost it is a tricky one to talk about here [on TV]. Roberto Martinez went to coach Portugal and I’m not going to follow him.
"Being a number two is not something I would like to do anymore."
On getting back into management, Henry added: "I would love to have a crack at it again"
- Kostas Lianos
Unai Emery praised
Arsenal legend Alan Smith has suggested that Unai Emery was not the right fit for the Gunners during his time at the club but insisted that the Spaniard is a "talented coach".
Smith told Sky Sports Football Podcast: “It’s funny isn’t it because there are perceptions of managers and as you say he’s lost his last two, but there’s still a feelgood factor there with Unai Emery.
“People can see what he’s trying to do and that he’s a really good coach.
“It was obviously the wrong fit at Arsenal, the wrong place at the wrong time, but what he did when he went back to Spain speaks for itself. He’s obviously a very talented coach”
- Kostas Lianos
Spurs fan banned
A Tottenham fan has been banned from matches for four years after kicking Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Joseph Watts, 35, was held after tensions flared at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last month after the North London derby.
Ramsdale, 24, was booted in the back as he went to get his gloves and bottle from the side of his goal.
Watts, who admitted he was drunk, had clambered onto an advertising board to aim the kick at the England international.
Uxbridge Magistrates' Court was told the thug was seen desperately scrambling through the throng of Spurs fans trying escape
- Kostas Lianos
Souness' title prediction
Graeme Souness has backed Manchester City to win the Premier League title ahead of Arsenal, because of Mikel Arteta's hothead personality.
Souness wrote: "Arsenal have looked a very nervy bunch for a whole month now – and in part that stems from Mikel Arteta and his antics on the touchline.
"The wild celebrations. The falling out with rival managers. The conduct towards officials.
"All of this will have had an impact on his players, both live and when they've seen it played back.
"Arteta has gone overboard because this is all new to him. As a player, he bordered on being son-in-law material – you wouldn't be unhappy if you walked through the door with your daughter – and I can never remember him aggressively going after anyone.
"Yet he's now turning up on a match-day with an angry head on. I don't believe this is helping the cause"
- Kostas Lianos
Art and minds
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has declared his team the People’s Champions and claims most of the country wants them to win the title.
Arteta said: “People want us to win the title because they have a lot of sympathy for us, for our players and the way we have done things. But I don’t think we have ever been the favourites and that hasn’t changed.
“Manchester City have been the No1 candidates from day one because they have been in that position for most of the last five years. Before this season, if you had to bet your house on one team, I don’t think a lot of people would have put their money on us.
“But when you see the team performing and winning matches like we have been doing this season, there is more enthusiasm to try to achieve something bigger. We have not had many situations to win the title recently, but we want to be in the mix.
“It doesn’t happen overnight and we cannot control what other teams will do, so the only challenge is to win our next game because what happens in the table this weekend is going to change in three weeks’ time, that’s for sure”
- Kostas Lianos
More from Cech
Arsenal hero Petr Cech explained his decision to change his legendary number after becoming a hockey player.
Cech told the Mail: "When I was a kid, I wanted to be an ice hockey player.
"For some reason when you see the goalies with the gear, the pads, the gloves, it resonated with me.
"Don't get me wrong, I love football. But in terms of playing, I felt being an ice hockey goalie was more fun.
"But as a family, we couldn't afford to buy all the equipment – the stick, the pads, helmet, gloves, everything. It was super expensive.
"So my dad [Vaclav] took me to football. The timing collided and in the end, football won"
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