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Arsenal overwhelms Aston Villa in the second half and remains at the top of the table

The match between Arsenal and Aston Villa was the big top game at the end of 2025 in the Premier League. But the Villans were unable to build on a strong first half and were then overwhelmed by the league leaders.

At the end of the year, the Premier League once again hosted a top match between league leaders Arsenal and the team of the moment, Aston Villa, who had won eleven games in a row across all competitions and were only three points behind Arsenal in third place.

Nevertheless, coach Mikel Arteta’s Gunners were the favorites. The Spaniard made two changes after the recent 2-1 win against Brighton and Hove Albion, bringing in Gabriel and Timber for Rice (not in the squad) and Lewis-Skelly (bench). In addition, Havertz took his place on the bench again after a long period of suffering, having undergone knee surgery after the first matchday and been sidelined ever since. Villa coach Unai Emery saw a need for action after the 2-1 win at Chelsea FC during the busy English weeks and made five changes.
On the one hand, he had to do without Cash and Kamara, who were suspended after receiving yellow cards, and on the other hand, Maatsen, McGinn, and Malen were on the bench for the time being. Bogarde, Digne, Onana, Sancho, and Watkins started in their place.

Balanced duel in the top match

The picture was as expected at the start. While the Gunners tried to overload the left side with overwhelming possession, the Villans initially remained deep and were rather passive. Gyökeres had the first good chance, heading the ball onto the roof of the net after a Hincapie cross (7′). But the visitors weathered the initial storm and subsequently became dangerous through good ball wins and strong counterattacks, as demonstrated by Watkins in the 13th and 18th minutes. The game ebbed and flowed. A period of pressure from the hosts was usually followed by a period of pressure from the other side. It was only after almost 25 minutes that Arsenal regained control and took the lead again through Gyökeres, who narrowly missed with a header after another cross from the impressive Trossard (36′). At the end of the first half, Saliba had to clear a pass from Sancho in front of Watkins in desperation after another quick counterattack from the visitors (45′).

Arsenal overwhelm Aston Villa in the second half

However, the second half began with the home side breaking the deadlock. After the Gunners’ first corner, Gabriel beat Villa keeper Martinez, and the ball bounced off the defender’s thigh and over the line to give the Gunners the lead. Arsenal came out of the dressing room much more present, while Villa was completely overwhelmed. Just a few minutes later, the home side struck again and defeated Emery’s team with their own weapons: after an early ball win, Ödegaard played a perfect pass to Zubimendi, who kept his cool in front of Martinez and made it 2-0 (52′).

Arsenal then wanted to seal the deal, dominating their opponents in every aspect of the game, with the blossoming Ödegaard (63′, 66′) and Timber (61′) coming close to sealing the victory on several occasions. The goal finally came shortly afterwards when Trossard fired the ball low and uncompromisingly into the bottom corner from just under 18 meters (69′).

Gabriel Jesus also scores

However, there was no time for the visitors to catch their breath, even though goalscorer Gabriel had to make another desperate save against a shot from Watkins shortly afterwards (75′). Birmingham couldn’t find their rhythm again, and instead conceded a fourth goal. Gabriel Jesus, who had come on as a substitute shortly before, scored his first goal of the season with a curling shot after a counterattack (78′). Nevertheless, it remained entertaining until the end, partly because Saka fired the ball over the bar for the Gunners (80′) and Malen, despite the clear deficit, only hit the post at the other end (90’+2).

However, it was Emery’s team that had the last word, with Watkins somehow stumbling the ball into the goal (90+4) after Malen had hit the post again. Nevertheless, the Villans’ eleven-game winning streak came to an end with a clear 1-4 defeat at league leaders Arsenal, who will remain at the top of the table at the end of the year.

The new year gets underway for both teams on Saturday. Arsenal are away to AFC Bournemouth at 6:30 p.m., while Aston Villa host Nottingham Forest shortly before that (1:30 p.m.).

For a “more offensive and attractive” game: Infantino open to offside revolution

The 2025 soccer year was also marked by numerous, sometimes lengthy VAR interruptions due to the review of close offside decisions. FIFA President Gianni Infantino is now bringing a possible rule change into play.

Especially in the final sprint of the 2025 soccer year, numerous offside decisions in the Bundesliga caused fans and officials to shake their heads and express their lack of understanding. Whether it was Gladbach’s Frank Honorat’s supposed opening goal against RB Leipzig (final score 0-0), where the striker was standing a few millimeters in the forbidden zone, or the case of Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav, whose offside position in the match against Werder Bremen (4-0) was barely visible to the naked eye. In both cases, it took a long time before a final decision was made – and this long delay in decision-making bothered many.

Interruptions to be reduced

Now FIFA President Gianni Infantino has brought a further development of the offside rule into play, which is intended to reduce interruptions of this kind “to a minimum.” “We are looking at the offside rule, which has evolved over the years and currently requires the attacker to be behind the last defender or level with them,” Infantino explained, adding that “in the future, the attacker may have to be completely in front of the defender” for it to be considered offside.

In other words, there would no longer be offside if only one leg or arm is in front of the last defender. The focus is therefore also on the millimeter decisions made by semi-automatic offside technology, which have been discussed several times recently in the Bundesliga.

It remains to be seen whether such a rule change would actually reduce the number of offside decisions, as it can be assumed that it would then be necessary to check whether a player was behind the last defender with his entire body in the event of an offside position – or perhaps not. Essentially, the only thing that would change is the location where the offside line would be set during a review. On the other hand, it could also be argued that fewer offside decisions would be called in general, which could lead to a reduction.

However, reducing decisions of this kind through the potential rule change is not the only goal that the FIFA president has in mind. Furthermore, the rule is intended to make soccer “more offensive and attractive.” The Swiss said this at the World Sports Summit in Dubai.

Further tests and analyses

The plan is not new; FIFA director Arsene Wenger has been pushing for it for some time. The issue is also on the agenda of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which is responsible for the rules of the game. In October, the IFAB advisory committee voted in favor of “further analysis and additional tests.” The next IFAB meeting is scheduled for January 20 in London.

Three years after leaving Barça: Pjanic officially announces retirement

In his heyday, Miralem Pjanic was one of the best midfielders in Europe. Now, at the age of 35, he has announced his retirement.

During the World Sports Summit in Dubai, Pjanic gave an interview to the Italian newspaper Tuttosport in which he confirmed that he had ended his career. “I’ve stopped now,” said the 35-year-old. “I’m enjoying spending time with my baby and my role as a father.”

Pjanic had been without a club since the summer, most recently playing for Russian club CSKA Moscow. Now he wants to “think about it calmly” and decide what he wants to do with his life after his professional career. He has not yet made a decision. When asked whether he would soon be seen in a new role in Italy, he simply replied: “Maybe, who knows.” He is in no hurry. Pjanic enjoyed his most successful period as a professional in Italy. In 2011, the Bosnian moved from Olympique Lyon to AS Roma and promptly became the driving force in the “Eternal City.” In 2016, after an outstanding season with Roma in which he scored 20 points, he moved to Juventus Turin. With the Old Lady, Pjanic was a key player in midfield, winning the Italian championship four times in a row and the cup twice.

Grew up in Luxembourg, legendary status in Bosnia
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In 2020, the set-piece expert moved to FC Barcelona for a transfer fee of €60 million, but failed to make his breakthrough there. After a loan spell at Besiktas Istanbul, Pjanic moved to the United Arab Emirates in 2022, where he has been based in Dubai ever since. The midfielder had already announced the end of his career with the Bosnian national team in the summer, playing the last of his 115 international matches in the spring of 2024. Pjanic, who was born in what is now Bosnia-Herzegovina but grew up in Luxembourg and played for the small country’s youth national teams, achieved legendary status in his country of birth when he led the Bosnian national team to qualification for the 2014 World Cup—to date, the only World Cup the country has ever participated in.

Girona coach fuels speculation: “Everyone would like to have ter Stegen”

Girona coach Michel is fueling speculation about a winter transfer of Marc-André ter Stegen to the 18th-placed team in the Spanish league. The national team goalkeeper must decide in the next few days how he will proceed with regard to the World Cup.

When Girona’s Madrid-born coach Michel received an award from the Catalan Football Federation on Monday evening for his integration in Catalonia, he was unable to avoid questions about his club’s possible interest in signing Marc-André ter Stegen in the winter.

Although the 50-year-old did not want to confirm or deny the media reports, he made his admiration for the German national goalkeeper clear at the award ceremony, saying succinctly: “He is a top player. Everyone would like to have ter Stegen.”

Ter Stegen needs playing time

Ter Stegen no longer has a future at FC Barcelona, and Joan Garcia is coach Hansi Flick’s number one. In order to gain playing experience ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, a transfer in the winter seems realistic.

National coach Julian Nagelsmann also made this clear recently. “It’s important that he plays,” said Nagelsmann, “whether that’s at a top European club or not is not the decisive factor.” But: “Of course, it would be good if he also plays reasonably well.”

Ter Stegen must therefore decide in the next few days how to proceed with his future. It may well be that his future lies in Catalonia, where FC Girona, currently 18th in the table and one point behind safety in La Liga, is fighting to stay up.

Ter Stegen could excel in Girona. With 33 goals conceded in 17 games, the defense is the worst in the league. In addition, Girona is only about 100 km north of Barcelona. Ter Stegen, who is separated from his wife, would therefore not be far from his two sons.

Barca vice president remains silent

Barca vice president Rafa Yuste, who was also at the award ceremony, did not answer any questions about the 33-year-old keeper, unlike Michel. He simply said: “I wish Michel good luck, because they are not having an easy time at the moment, but I am sure that Girona will remain in the Primera Division with him as coach.”

According to consistent reports in the Spanish media, Barca is currently in intensive negotiations with Girona over a loan deal until the end of the season. FC Barcelona would then probably have to cover a large part of ter Stegen’s salary. The long-time captain is under contract with Barca until 2028.

Schröder suffers another heavy defeat with the Kings – Lakers stand no chance against Detroit

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Dennis Schröder suffered another painful defeat with the Sacramento Kings. The Los Angeles Lakers collapsed against the Detroit Pistons, and the Philadelphia 76ers celebrated after overtime in Memphis.

NBA: Clippers shoot down Sacramento

Another nasty defeat for the Kings, who remain stuck at the bottom of the Western Conference. Sacramento suffered their heaviest defeat of the season against the Clippers, having previously lost by 41 points in Memphis. Their 90 points were also their lowest tally of the season. Dennis Schröder went down with the team, scoring 11 points (4/10 FG) and four assists in 25 minutes. The visitors’ top scorer was rookie Nique Clifford with 18 points (7/12), who got plenty of playing time due to the clear outcome of the game. On the Clippers’ side, Kawhi Leonard still played almost 33 minutes and added 33 points (11/19 FG) after his 55 points against Detroit. James Harden scored 21 points, while Swiss rookie Yanic Konan Niederhäuser distinguished himself with 15 points and six rebounds.

NBA: Rookie Edgecombe shoots Sixers to victory

What a spectacle in Memphis, but in the end the hosts were left empty-handed. In overtime, a four-point lead was not enough for the Grizzlies. Instead, the Sixers had the last possession at 136:136 and Tyrese Maxey found V.J. Edgecombe in the final seconds. The rookie stepped up from the three-point line and sank his fifth three-pointer of the evening to seal the win. The guard scored 25 points, providing excellent support for the two stars Maxey (34 points, 12 assists) and Joel Embiid (34 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists). The Grizzlies, on the other hand, were not rewarded for their comeback. With two minutes left in regulation, Memphis was still trailing by seven points before the outstanding Ja Morant (40, 16/22) forced overtime with a floater and a small fadeaway.

The guard received support primarily from Cedric Coward, who recorded 26 points and ten rebounds. With the buzzer sounding, the rookie had another chance to tie the game, but his three-pointer missed the mark. Memphis remains ninth in the West, while Philly cements its fifth place in the East.

White sets NBA record – Lakers don’t stand a chance

Two places ahead are the Boston Celtics, who won in Salt Lake City. Derrick White was particularly outstanding, scoring 13 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter. And that’s not all: the guard recorded seven blocks, tying the NBA record for most rejections in a game by a point guard. Jaylen Brown (23, 10 rebounds) also delivered important production in the fourth quarter, but his 30-point streak came to an end. Anfernee Simons contributed 20 points coming off the bench. Keyonte George (37, 13/24) and Jusuf Nurkic (26, 8 assists) were the top scorers for Utah. In the middle of the third quarter, everything was still even (79:79), but then the Pistons pulled away thanks to their deep bench. Backups Marcus Sasser (19, 5 assists) and Isaiah Stewart (15) were X-factors for the visitors, and Cade Cunningham (27, 12/19, 11 assists) once again had an outstanding game.

For the Lakers, on the other hand, Luka Doncic (30, 9/22, 11 assists, 8 TO) was too often the sole entertainer, and LeBron James (17, 6/17) didn’t do much on his 41st birthday either. The star duo accounted for 13 of the Lakers’ 20 turnovers, and with the exception of Jaxson Hayes (13), there was almost no production from the bench. Maxi Kleber went scoreless in just under five minutes and grabbed at least one rebound.

“Anyone weighing over 70 kg has a problem”: Tall MotoGP riders at a disadvantage

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MotoGP lacks a crucial rule on combined minimum weight – The lack of a compensation rule forces the tallest riders to follow strict diets

Unlike the Superbike World Championship, Moto2, and Moto3, MotoGP does not have a combined minimum weight for the motorcycle and rider. In theory, these regulations are intended to compensate for the disadvantage of taller and heavier riders.

In Moto3, the minimum weight for the motorcycle and rider is 152 kilograms, and in Moto2 it is 217 kilograms. The Superbike World Championship is a special case. There, the minimum weight of the motorcycle is 168 kilograms. In addition, there is a correction factor for the weight of the riders. Including equipment, 80 kilograms is used as the reference value. For lighter riders, 50 percent of the difference is added to the motorcycle as ballast.

For example, if a Superbike rider weighs 68 kilograms with equipment, the difference from the reference value of 80 kilograms is twelve kilograms. This means that six kilograms of ballast must be added to the motorcycle.

There is no such rule in MotoGP. The minimum weight of the prototype is 157 kilograms. There is no compensation for the difference between heavier and lighter riders. Nevertheless, all riders pay attention to their weight. “We are the elite of motorsport and we work on every detail,” emphasizes former world champion Jorge Martin. “And one of those details is weight. We are all really, really thin and try to be strong and have good endurance, but with less weight.”

However, the Spaniard also clearly states: “It’s always a struggle to find that balance. And yes, the guy who weighs more than 70 actually has a problem.” At 63 kilograms and 168 centimeters tall, Martin is one of the lightweights in the MotoGP field.

Luca Marini in favor of minimum weight rule

At the other end of the scale is Luca Marini, who was the tallest rider in the field in 2025 at 184 centimeters. Nevertheless, according to Dorna information, the Italian weighed only 69 kilograms without equipment.

“I weigh 70 kilograms,” says Marini himself on the subject. “But it’s always been the case that those who are lighter ride faster and use less tire wear—like Pedrosa. In my opinion, a minimum weight rule should be introduced, as in any other sport.

”Ultimately, that’s the only thing missing in MotoGP,“ Marini believes. ”But it’s always easier for lighter riders to gain weight. You just train or eat more. For heavier riders, at a certain point it becomes impossible to get below a certain weight.”

Four riders were taller than 180 centimeters last season. They were Marini (184 cm), Joan Mir (181 cm), Fermin Aldeguer (181 cm), and Alex Marquez (180 cm). Alex Marquez, in particular, emphasized as runner-up in the world championship that this was not a serious disadvantage.

Because height can also be an advantage, as Alex Marquez explains: “If you have a lot of changes of direction, height, or being taller, can be an advantage because you have more strength and can shift your weight to the sides at the right moment.”

That’s why the Gresini rider believes that the advantages and disadvantages of taller and shorter riders more or less balance each other out. Because: “It’s true that, for example, the weight of all MotoGP riders is now more or less the same.”

“We all weigh between 65 and 70 kilograms, more or less,” says Alex Marquez, who is roughly correct. “So you don’t feel those five kilos that much, and I don’t think height will be a problem for me.”

No rider weighed more than 70 kilograms last season. In 2026, another tall rider will join the fray in the form of Toprak Razgatlioglu. Yamaha states his height as 182 centimeters and his weight as 72 kilograms.

Suzuka sells asphalt: When Formula 1 history becomes tangible

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A piece of the race track for your home: Why Suzuka is selling its asphalt and what the first pictures reveal about these collector’s items

Formula 1 fans have the opportunity to secure a piece of the legendary Suzuka International Racing Course. The venue for the Japanese Grand Prix is being resurfaced in sections ahead of the 2026 race, and parts of the existing track surface are being sold. However, the price is still to be determined.

The race track wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “As part of the construction work on the West Course, we are offering the asphalt on which numerous major races such as Formula 1 and the Suzuka 8 Hours have been held for sale.”

The X post features several pictures showing how asphalt cylinders are being removed – in the area of the chicane before the start and finish, which has been the scene of many special moments in Formula 1 history. It was here in 1989 that the famous collision between McLaren title rivals Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna took place, which led to Prost winning the world championship.

However, the Suzuka International Racing Course’s post received mixed reactions on social media. One user wrote: “If you want to, you can really turn anything into a product these days.” Another said: “Please produce a large quantity of these and set a low price.” Another commented: “That’s the core, right? About 20 centimeters thick? Surprisingly massive!”

The post does not explain why the famous Formula 1 track is being partially resurfaced before the next Grand Prix. It is probably a routine measure. There had been no problems with the track surface at Suzuka recently, but there were interruptions to the Formula 1 race due to grass fires next to the track.
Suzuka has been the venue for the Japanese Grand Prix since 1987 and was only absent in the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to the coronavirus pandemic. Suzuka was also absent from the Formula 1 calendar in 2007 and 2008, when the Japanese Grand Prix moved to Fuji for two years – a track owned by the Toyota Group. Suzuka is owned by Toyota’s competitor Honda.

Gabriel Bortoleto reveals: Max Verstappen’s simple formula for success

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Max Verstappen takes Gabriel Bortoleto under his wing – the world champion gave the rookie a crucial tip for dealing with mistakes

Gabriel Bortoleto has a prominent advocate and advisor at his side in his still young career: Max Verstappen. The four-time Formula 1 world champion is not only a friend to the young driver, but also his mentor.

Especially in a rookie season, where the pressure is enormous, one piece of advice from the Dutchman was particularly valuable to Bortoleto – namely, how to deal with the inevitable setbacks.

“He gave me a lot of advice. It’s hard to pick just one piece,” says Bortoleto when asked about the most unexpected tip he received this season. “But I’ll take one that I heard from him recently.”

It was mainly about the mental approach to mistakes. “The point is that I was in my rookie season and had already achieved a lot. And that I shouldn’t worry too much if mistakes happen,” explains Bortoleto.

Verstappen’s advice: See mistakes as learning opportunities

The philosophy that Verstappen imparted to the youngster is simple but effective: perfection is not possible right away, and mistakes are part of the growth process. “Mistakes are the moments when you learn the most,” Bortoleto quotes his mentor. “And they will happen to everyone.”

Particularly important for Bortoleto was the message not to beat himself up after a mishap. “I shouldn’t beat myself up just because I’ve made a mistake once or twice,” the Brazilian continued. “They’re bound to happen at some point. I just have to learn from them and move on.”

Although this wisdom sounds like a standard saying in motorsport, for Bortoleto, it’s who said it that makes the difference: “It’s a simple thing that many people say. But when you hear it from someone who has achieved so much in the sport, I think it means a lot more.”

No excuses based on past successes

For a perfectionist like Bortoleto, however, putting this advice into practice is not always easy. After a solid season overall, it could be tempting to dismiss poorer weekends by pointing to the good performances. But that’s exactly the kind of thinking he rejects.

“I’ve always been like that, ever since I was very young,” he explains. “I don’t really care about what happened in the past. I know how the season went and I’m proud of it. But I’m very focused on where I am right now.”

Even if he can look back on some great races, that doesn’t serve as an excuse for a slip-up. “When you have a difficult race, I don’t say to myself, ‘Okay, I had a difficult race, but I had 18 others that were fantastic. So I’ll just forget about this one,’“ Bortoleto clarifies. Instead, he demands a harsh analysis of himself: ”I think I should see my mistakes and try to learn from them to do better next time.” He doesn’t want to accept or justify his mistakes just because he has “done better things” in the past. “Every race should be considered a race in its own right. I’ll learn from it and just move on. And hopefully I’ll do better next time,” Bortoleto concludes.

Is Max Verstappen facing the same fate as Vettel? Günther Steiner dismisses the idea

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Is Max Verstappen facing the same fate as Sebastian Vettel in 2026? Günther Steiner doesn’t think so and sees a crucial difference

Former team boss Günther Steiner does not believe that four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is facing a similar crash in 2026 to that experienced by former Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel after his fourth title win and the subsequent rule change.

“No,” Steiner replies to a question on this topic in The Red Flags podcast. “I think that’s because Vettel was always in the dominant car. Max, on the other hand, has shown that he can do it even when he’s not in the dominant car, because Red Bull wasn’t the best car out there this year.”

Verstappen secured four consecutive titles with Red Bull from 2021 to 2024, following in the footsteps of Vettel, who also won four consecutive championships with the Milton Keynes-based team from 2010 to 2013. However, after the German won his last title in 2013, he had a winless year with Red Bull in 2014 and moved to Ferrari for the 2015 season. When comparing the two four-time Red Bull world champions, Steiner comes to a clear conclusion. “As much as I respect Vettel and what he has achieved, I think Max is in a different league. Vettel came to Ferrari and he didn’t make much of an impact there. He won races, but it was never a Michael Schumacher success story. So I think Max is simply in a different league.”
Steiner also does not believe that Verstappen is facing a similar fate to Fernando Alonso, who was often in the wrong team at the wrong time during his career and therefore won no more than two world titles.

“I don’t think Max will make that mistake because his father Jos and Raymond [Vermeulen, manager] will make sure they get him into the right car. So I don’t think we need to worry about that. Max will be in the best car or, if not, the second-best car.”

That was the cause of Joshua’s accident

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According to preliminary investigations, a burst front tire led to the fatal crash. The vehicle was traveling at excessive speed.

A burst tire caused the serious car accident in which former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua (36) was injured and two people were killed in Nigeria on Monday.

According to a statement released on Tuesday by the traffic safety authority TRACE, the front tire on the passenger side burst while the vehicle was traveling at excessive speed. The vehicle then lost control and crashed into a parked truck at high speed.

“The preliminary investigation clearly shows that the SUV in which Anthony Joshua was traveling was traveling at excessive speed,” TRACE spokesman Babatunde Akinbiyi told the AFP news agency. The accident occurred on Monday morning on the main road between Lagos and Ibadan in Ogun State.

Joshua was taken to hospital after the accident

Professional boxer Joshua survived the accident and was taken to a hospital in Lagos for examination. Two of his close associates, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, were killed. According to police, they died at the scene of the accident. Social media footage showed the Briton leaving the car with a pained expression on his face. Joshua’s family comes from the city in southwestern Nigeria. He is known to visit them when he is in the country.

Joshua sent Wladimir Klitschko into boxing retirement in a spectacular duel in 2017 and then dominated the heavyweight division for a time, but in recent years the 2012 Olympic champion has suffered numerous setbacks. Most recently, Joshua won a fight of little sporting significance against influencer Jake Paul. The fight earned him a purse of at least $30 million.