Sport
Emmanuel Petit Questions Why Arsenal Chose Watkins Over Isak or Osimhen
Emmanuel Petit, the former Arsenal midfielder, has raised eyebrows over the Gunners’ decision to focus on signing Ollie Watkins instead of pursuing more established strikers like Alexander Isak or Victor Osimhen this January.
Recent reports revealed that Arsenal made a £60million bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, but Villa swiftly rejected the offer. Petit, however, believes that the Gunners should have prioritized Isak or Osimhen over Watkins, who he described as more of a backup option.
Arsenal has been grappling with inconsistent finishing in the final third, a key area where they have struggled to find the back of the net. This has led to speculation about potential signings to boost their attacking options, with numerous strikers being linked to the club.
Petit, speaking to Metro, shared his thoughts on the club’s approach: “The pursuit of Ollie Watkins seems like a bit of a panic move. He wasn’t necessarily their first-choice target, and with the transfer window winding down, they were forced to act quickly.”
While he acknowledged Watkins’ attributes, Petit made it clear that Arsenal would likely have preferred a different striker. “I do like Watkins as a player. He has a competitive edge, a strong desire to score, and brings real energy to the attack. His pace and physicality would bring something fresh to the Arsenal frontline,” Petit said.
However, he emphasized that players like Isak and Osimhen would have likely been at the top of the Gunners’ list. “Isak has everything Arsenal would need in a striker: the right technical ability, intelligence, and composure. He’d be a great fit for their style of play,” he continued.
French football pundit Walid Acherchour has named Lamine Yamal as his pick to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, sparking reactions among football fans.
Acherchour’s choice came as a surprise to some fans, who expected him to support fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappé instead.
Speaking about his prediction, Acherchour expressed confidence in Yamal’s chances of winning the prestigious individual award.
“For me, Lamine Yamal, he is going to get it [2026 Ballon d’Or]. For me, there’s no doubt anymore,” Acherchour said, as quoted by Actu Foot. That start to the season shows that in fact, he was injured during the World Cup. He was the best player in La Liga, and he won the World Cup.
“Even if, for me, in fact, he doesn’t have the Ballon d’Or unanimously because his World Cup was average, even being average, he won it with Spain. He won La Liga with Barça.”
Former Manchester City player David Silva has shared his thoughts on the 2026 Ballon d’Or and revealed who he believes could win the prestigious award.
During a recent interview, the former midfielder was asked who he thinks will win the award, and he named Fabian Ruiz.
Silva’s choice sparked reactions from fans, especially as he did not mention Barcelona star Lamine Yamal as one of his picks.
“For me, teamwork is the most important thing, because without it you cannot win. If I had to give the Ballon d’Or to someone, it would be Fabian, because he has won the most titles in the last two years.
“He does not get enough recognition, I do not know why, because he is a wonderful player. I admire him a lot.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s future with the Portugal national team remains uncertain following his sudden departure from the squad ahead of the team’s Nations League match against Denmark.
The 41-year-old forward left the national team camp after he was left on the bench during Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway and was informed that he would not start against Denmark. Ronaldo later said he would explain his decision to leave the camp at a later time.
Portugal coach Jorge Jesus has since said the door remains open for Ronaldo to return to the national team. Jesus said the decision ultimately rests with Ronaldo, while the Portuguese Football Federation has also described the situation as a misunderstanding.
Ronaldo remains Portugal’s all-time leading scorer, with 146 goals in 234 appearances, and his next decision could determine how his international career ends.
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