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The top stories and transfer rumours from Wednesday's newspapers... England legend Alan Shearer has placed Fabian Hurzeler at the top of his shortlist of three potential replacements should United decide to part ways with Michael Carrick - Daily Star Bruno Fernandes has questioned Manchester United's coaching staff's decision not to adopt a man-to-man pressing approach during their humiliating 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como - Daily Mirror Manchester United fear that striker Benjamin Sesko could be sidelined until the new year - The Sun Manchester United could trigger the 12-month extension clause in Lisandro Martinez's contract so that they can recoup a fee for the Argentina international as they prepare to rejig their backline - Daily Mirror Manchester United have been warned by former player Ashley Young that things would get messy if they appointed Antonio Conte as manager - The Sun Vinicius Junior was serious about joining Arsenal this summer - but his heart made him stay at Real Madrid - The Sun Champions League: Three things we learnt from Arsenal's draw at Bayern Munich WSL news, transfers, rumours, gossip and women's football latest Bayern Munich 2-2 Arsenal: Declan Rice secures draw for Gunners in Champions League after Harry Kane penalty European football news and transfers: Barcelona, Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern Munich latest and more Ballon d'Or: Harry Kane says 'it would be incredible' to win award Paper Talk: Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes criticised after Como humbling Kyle Walker has admitted he would probably wipe his 'four in a row' leg tattoo if Manchester City are stripped of their Premier League titles - Daily Mail Former Premier League boss Alan Pardew fears Eberechi Eze is unable to deliver what Mikel Arteta demands from either a No 10 or a left winger - Daily Star Paper Talk is a review of the sports headlines from the national newspapers, every Monday to Friday, live on Sky Sports News from 10.30pm. Missed the show? Catch up on the latest news with the Paper Talk podcast. Cristiano Ronaldo successfully fought to reduce his punishment for walking out on a Portugal training camp, after saying publicly that his sanction should be imposed "without mitigating circumstances" - The Guardian Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty have been tipped to leave Celtic for a move to England by former USA international Brek Shea - Scottish Sun

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Declan Rice scored a superb 82nd-minute equaliser as Arsenal fought back to draw 2-2 with Bayern Munich in a thrilling Champions League encounter at the Allianz Arena. Arsenal were heading for a first defeat in 14 league phase or group stage games before a slick passing move involving Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres allowed Rice to race into the box and fire a clinical finish beyond Manuel Neuer from an acute angle. Earlier, Eberechi Eze had scored the opener in similar style from a Martin Odegaard pass after replacing Bukayo Saka, who was forced off injured early on, but Harry Kane inspired Bayern's recovery. The former Spurs striker, who is one of the leading contenders to win the Ballon d'Or at Monday's ceremony, set up Alphonso Davies' leveller with a superb through-ball before converting their second goal from the spot after Jurrien Timber had handled. Kane's goal was his 16th in 22 appearances against Arsenal and made him only the second player after Cristiano Ronaldo to score in 10 consecutive Champions League games. Bayern were missing Michael Olise due to suspension and Joshua Kimmich due to a death in his family but still created numerous chances, with David Raya brilliantly saving the best of them when he clawed away a close-range header from Davies. But Arsenal were a threat too, despite Saka's withdrawal. Bayern needed a superb piece of goalkeeping from Manuel Neuer to prevent a Bruno Guimaraes header from crossing the line after half-time. Kane's penalty, after his shot had struck Timber's arm, arrived not long afterwards, but it was his England team-mate Rice who ended up having the final say on a dramatic night. Arsenal faced criticism of their playing style after their 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest. Their performance against Bayern Munich, at one of the toughest grounds in Europe, was a suitable riposte. Many expected Mikel Arteta's side to sit back and try to frustrate Bayern, who hadn't lost in 39 home league phase or group stage games. Instead, they went blow for blow with them. They allowed the hosts more chances than Mikel Arteta might have liked. But they created plenty too, showing attacking intent from the early stages of the game right until the end, when their perseverance was rewarded by Rice's superbly-worked equaliser. Arsenal finished the game having had more shots and more possession than Bayern in their own back yard. They might have had a win to show for their efforts, too, if not for some Neuer heroics. Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane to TNT Sports : "A little bit of disappointment, but I think a draw was a fair result. "We looked like the team that was going to go on and win it. They then put us under a bit of pressure and got the goal. "We can't be too disappointed. We take the point and move on." On his penalty: "I wouldn't say never in doubt! A lot of practice and hard work goes into penalties. It was nice to get on the scoresheet. I always seem to get penalties against Arsenal!"

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Aston Villa made it three wins from three in the Champions League with a 3-1 win over Viking at Villa Park. Ross Barkley headed Unai Emery's side in front midway through the first half and Emiliano Buendia's penalty made it two before the break. Alysson's run led to an own goal for the third with only Peter Christiansen's late volley taking Villa off top spot. Bayern Munich struggled against the Norwegian champions last week but Villa were in control from the start despite a makeshift look to the side with Joao Gomes at right-back. The Brazilian had a cross deflected against the underside of the bar early in the game. Ibrahim Mbaye's corner from the other flank was nodded in by Barkley soon after before Buendia came close with two good headed chances. The Argentine made amends from the penalty spot when a VAR check ruled that Alysson had been clipped inside the box. The young winger was the best player on the pitch, producing surely his best performance in a Villa shirt. He was instrumental in the third goal too, racing through from deep. Henrik Heggheim could only divert his cross past his own goalkeeper. That was the goal that took Villa into top spot in this league phase. The crowd knew it too, chanting 'We are top of the league' afterwards. But Peter Christiansen's brilliant late volley - awarded after a VAR check - dropped them back to second behind PSG. The tifo unveiled in the Holte End before kick-off pointed out that Villa have conquered before and are prepared for more. There are more fancied sides in this Champions League but few boast the clarity of purpose that Emery brings. Villa are building again. Arsenal transfer news, rumours and gossip: Live updates and latest on deals, signings, loans and contracts Bayern Munich 2-2 Arsenal: Declan Rice secures draw for Gunners in Champions League after Harry Kane penalty Reading 1-0 Leyton Orient | League One highlights Aston Villa vs Viking! Champions League score updates, news, prediction and line-ups Champions League: Three things we learnt from Man United's loss at Como - can Michael Carrick turn things around? 23 - GOAL! Barkley headed Villa in front from a corner 37 - GOAL! Buendia made it two from the penalty spot 62 - OWN GOAL! Heggheim turned in Alysson's cross 84 - GOAL! Christiansen's volley brings consolation

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Who was to blame for Manchester United's miserable 4-1 defeat at Como in the Champions League? Bruno Fernandes criticised the tactical plan of the Man Utd coaches. Michael Carrick questioned the motivation of his players. If only Man Utd's performance on the pitch in Italy was as forceful as the post-match interviews. After losing at Atletico Madrid last time out in the Champions League, Lisandro Martinez hit out at the club's hierarchy, calling out technical director Jason Wilcox for failings in the transfer window. This time captain Fernandes took aim at the club's coaching staff in a stinging take-down of their pressing plan. Asked by TNT Sports about a lack of cohesion in United's work out of possession, Fernandes defended his team-mates and put the blame on Carrick and his coaches. "It's a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave a little space in behind and try to get the ball in the first moment, to wait for them, to give them the ball," he said. Como completed 594 passes, the most by a team in a Champions League game against Manchester United since Barcelona in April 2019 (725). "But sometimes when you give too much the ball to these teams they get confident, they have so many bodies behind the ball that make you run a lot, make people get frustrated, and then obviously when you recover the ball the legs are, and the brain, much more difficult to make it work." Was that tactical idea what cost Man Utd in Como? "That's on the manager and on the staff to see it, it's not on me," said Fernandes. "I just said, I think sometimes we have to be more brave on the pressure, trying to take a risk of getting that press very high and making them uncomfortable - as they did to us." A meeting between Carrick, Martinez and Wilcox repaired relations after the centre-back's comments in Madrid. But Carrick gave a blunt response in his post-match press conference on Wednesday when Fernandes' thoughts were put to him. "We half pressed man-to-man in the second half and ended up conceding a goal from that," he said. "Whatever tactics you play, if you don't run back, you ain't going to win." Carrick is usually measured in front of the media but he made his feelings clear after the club's winless run stretched to seven games with this loss. "I'm really angry," he said. "For us to play in that way is not acceptable." Manchester United are the first English team ever to concede inside the opening two minutes of back-to-back major European games (47 seconds vs Atletico Madrid, 118 seconds vs Como). For all United did wrong in the game, it was the application of his players which was prominent in his post-match assessment. "I'll definitely look at what we've done [as a coaching staff] or if it's the motivation and the intention and the purpose and the intensity of a game of football you have to bring," he said. "We didn't bring that today. "You can't turn it on and off and you can't choose when you want to perform or when you don't want to perform or when you give absolutely everything or when you maybe don't," he told TNT Sports. Carrick, who apologised after the game to United's travelling support, later added in his press conference: "It wasn't just the goals. It was the manner we went about that was the difficult thing to watch. It's not about me right now. The results can come and go, but you've got to do it in a certain way. That wasn't it." It's now two defeats in three Champions League games this season. Fernandes, Carrick and United will have to show the solutions to their problems at home to Bournemouth on Sunday, live on Sky Sports , if their winless streak is to end in the Premier League this weekend.

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Michael Carrick's Manchester United were ripped apart in a dreadful 4-1 defeat at Como in the Champions League, as their miserable run of results stretched to seven without a win. The pressure continues to pile up on Carrick and this United side as their start to the season lurches from bad to worse - and on Wednesday night they were humbled by a Como team which delivered more intensity and quality in Italy. The first attribute should be a non-negotiable but, despite United's application being in the spotlight, they were once again outworked by their opposition. Static in midfield, allowing Como players to run off them, losing markers... this was a shocking show of United's big failings out of possession. The tone was set just two minutes in when Man Utd went behind early on - again. They are the first English side ever to concede in back-to-back Champions League games so soon and never got to grips with Cesc Fabregas' impressively coached team. Nico Paz brought the class for the hosts. The talented Argentina international stuck the opener into the top corner when Harry Maguire gave him too much space and then slotted in a third after catching Carlos Baleba in possession. Paz set up another Como goal, too, playing in Tasos Douvikas, who ran away from a disoriented Matthijs de Ligt to find the net inside four minutes of the second half. This was De Ligt's first start in 325 days due to back problems and came due to a wider spate of injuries at the club. But excuses for this United performance may wear thin quickly for the travelling support who stood in the pouring rain to watch this dismantling. United's own star, Bruno Fernandes, was anonymous again, with just one goal involvement now in his past nine appearances for the club. His head-shaking summed up the mood before a sweeping Como fourth, which saw unmarked centre-back Jacobo Ramon head in, underline the vast gap between the sides on the night. Joshua Zirkzee's injury-time goal was of little consolation. With just three points from their first three games, United have an uphill battle to make it out of the league phase in this competition. More immediately they are in desperate need of a better performance and win at home to Bournemouth on Sunday in the Premier League, live on Sky Sports. "They've got to start winning matches. The problem with Manchester United is we still live in the age of when it was Rooney, Ronaldo and people like that. "We're caught by the name - one of the biggest clubs in the world. But they're not one of the biggest teams in the world. They're far from it. "Everybody judges them on when they had superstars. I don't see it as a shock. I look at their players and I don't go, 'oh this is a surprise'. I didn't expect them to beat Leeds. Absolutely not. I didn't expect them to beat Como. That's where they are. "Rooney, Ronaldo, Keane... they're a million miles away." 2: BIG MISS! Diogo Dalot takes a Matheus Cunha cross down in the box but his left-foot shot flashes wide of the far post. 2: GOAL! Nico Paz curls Como's opener into the top corner after Harry Maguire gives him too much space. A similar chance to Dalot's - a different result! 17: WIDE! Harry Maguire heads wide from a Bryan Mbeumo cross. 39: BIG MISS! Tasos Douvikas blazes over after stepping into the United box, failing to capitalise on static defending. 41: OFFIDE! A let-off for Senne Lammens and Man Utd as an offside flag goes up against Douvikas after he is brought down in the box by the goalkeeper. HT: SUBS! Michael Carrick makes two changes at the break with Amad Diallo and Carlos Baleba sent on for Andrey Santos and Matheus Cunha. 49: GOAL! Man Utd concede at the start of the second half, too, as Paz plays in Douvikas, who runs off Matthijs de Ligt before firing in. 54: CLOSE! Lucas da Cunha blasts a left-foot shot wide from inside the box when he looked primed to add a third. 57: GOAL! Baleba makes an ill-advised turn in his own half with no cover behind him and Paz takes the ball and races in on goal to add a third. 64: CHANCES! But Amad can't connect with Fernandes' clipped pass into the box to pull one back for United. Moments later he sees a shot tipped over. 76: GOAL! Centre-back Jacobo Ramon heads in to finish off another sweeping Como move. 90+1: GOAL! Joshua Zirkzee is narrowly onside to grab a late goal for Man Utd, finding the net after controlling Amad's cross.

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Pascal Struijk’s red card has been so divisive that two independent panels have now disagreed over whether the Brighton defender deserved to be sent off, adding to the confusion of former Premier League referees and Sky Sports pundits. Struijk was dismissed for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity in the second half of Brighton's 2-0 win over Sunderland earlier this month when he was adjudged to have fouled Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor as he tried to latch onto a pass that ran through to goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. Neither referee Thomas Bramall nor his assistant gave a foul but VAR Neil Davies intervened and recommended an on-field review. Bramall watched several replays before changing his decision and showing Struijk a red card. However, Brighton appealed on grounds of wrongful dismissal and an independent regulatory commission, which is convened through the FA to consider disciplinary matters, overturned the red card and subsequent one-match ban. But disagreements over the decision have continued after the Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel voted 3-2 that the VAR intervention was correct. The Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel provides an independent assessment of key decisions in every Premier League match. It is an independent group of five members: three former players or coaches, one representative from the Premier League, and one from Pro Ref, the organisation responsible for refereeing in England. Two KMI panellists supported the on-field call, deeming it unlikely Isidor would get possession of the ball as it ran through to Verbruggen. The KMI panel ruled that Struijk committed a "cynical foul clearly impacting the attacker's ability to gain possession of the ball which should have been penalised by the referee". But two KMI panellists believed the VAR intervention was incorrect because it was subjective whether Isidor would have gained possession. The Premier League said the KMI panel and an independent regulatory commission can reach different conclusions because they are "entirely separate bodies with different purposes and processes". Red cards for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity are rare after a VAR review because they are so subjective. It happened only three times last season when Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai and Crystal Palace's Maxence Lacroix saw red, but Marcos Senesi escaped after referee Jarred Gillett rejected VAR advice that the then-Bournemouth defender should have been sent off. VAR is also operating with a "lighter-touch" approach this season to avoid re-refereeing on-field decisions, so former Premier League referee Mike Dean said it wasn't a clear mistake that needed rectifying. "I don't think it's a sending off, it's very harsh," he said. "There's a slight barge but the ball has gone through to the goalkeeper. Isidor is never going to get the ball, so the on-field decision is correct. "It's not clear and obviously wrong so why should the VAR get involved? It's a free-kick but not a red card. It's the wrong call." Dermot Gallagher, another ex-Premier League referee, felt the incident could be deemed a "possible" goal-scoring opportunity. "It's a foul. If the referee whistles at that point, pulls out a yellow card, and it all goes away," he said. "VAR got involved because they felt that the player would gain control of the ball. With the goalkeeper there, I wonder if it goes from obvious to a possible goalscoring opportunity. If it does, it's a yellow." Dawson said: "I wasn't sure whether Isidor was going to get the ball. "I'd have stayed with the on-field decision. It's not clear and obvious, it's subjective. If a red card was given on-field then no problem." Bothroyd added: "I think the keeper is getting there. At the bare minimum, the goalkeeper is competing. It is not obvious that Isidor is going to get there; I don't think it should be a red card."

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The VAR who incorrectly awarded Erling Haaland's winner in last month's Manchester derby has been reinstated to Premier League duty. Matt Donohue and assistant Blake Antrobus failed to judge that Manchester City midfielder Enzo Fernandez was offside and interfering with play during the incident at Old Trafford on September 13. Donohue is set to return to the Premier League and will serve as assistant VAR when Coventry host Fulham on Saturday. He has not featured in any of the three match rounds since the incident, while Antrobus made his first appearance since the derby as an assistant referee for Newcastle's home fixture against Aston Villa last Saturday. Donohue has officiated in the EFL since the derby, refereeing Championship matches between Derby and Wrexham on October 10 and Southampton vs Bolton last weekend. Pro Ref's chief refereeing officer Howard Webb said Donohue developed "tunnel vision" by focusing on whether Haaland was offside, and added that the team around him should have helped pull him out of it. Sky Sports News reported United received an apology over the incorrect VAR decision. In the 59th minute, Haaland tapped in a cross to give 10-man Man City the lead, but the goal was ruled out on-field after the assistant referee signalled for offside on the striker. The semi-automated offside technology ruled Haaland onside, so the goal stood, but City midfielder Enzo Fernandez was clearly offside when he dived to reach the same cross. Although he didn't touch the ball, Fernandez's movement appeared to affect Man Utd's Lisandro Martinez's defending before Haaland's back-post finish, which, under the laws of the game, should have meant the goal was disallowed. In their post on X explaining why the goal was awarded, the Premier League Match Centre wrote: "VAR checked the referee's call of no goal for offside - and determined that Haaland was in an onside position and recommended that the goal was awarded. "The VAR also deemed that while in an offside position, Fernandez didn't play the ball." However, in a statement released hours after Man City's win, Pro Ref said it had contacted Man Utd to acknowledge an "error of judgment" and that the VAR "should have recommended an on-field review" for Haaland's winner. A Pro Ref spokesperson said: "Following the incident in the 60th minute of Sunday's Premier League fixture between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford, we can provide clarification regarding Erling Haaland's awarded goal. "The on-field decision was offside against Erling Haaland - that was checked by VAR and he was found to be in an onside position. "In the same attack, it was established that Enzo Fernandez did not play the ball and therefore that makes any offside offence subjective, however, on this occasion, the VAR did not recognise the likely impact of his position and should have recommended an on-field review. "Contact has been made with Manchester United this evening to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement. A review of the incident will take place." On Match Officials Mic'd Up , Webb said he was "really disappointed" by the decision and added: "The on-field decision was not against Fernandez; it was against Haaland. When the VAR starts their check, they see that Haaland is actually onside by three centimetres. "The VAR gets super focused on Haaland. He establishes he is onside but when he runs it through the full APP (attacking possession phase), he doesn't truly evaluate the full impact of Fernandez. "In that moment, he gets tunnel vision but it is down to the rest of his team to pull him out of that tunnel but unfortunately, that did not happen on this occasion. This goal should have been disallowed." Assistant referee: " I'm going to go offside, Haaland." VAR: " Checking the on-field decision of offside against Haaland. He's tight. He's onside, so now we need to check the full attacking possession phase (APP). "Haaland's in an onside position, but I need to check the full APP. Go back to see if [Iliman] Ndiaye is onside when it is flicked. Yes. Go, go, go, so it should be a goal. "No touch there [from Enzo Fernandez], confirm no touch. Clear gap. It's not a touch there, is it? Goal. "Michael, confirming that you need to change your decision to goal. Haaland is in an onside position. Final decision is goal; check complete." "It's a really strange one. They'll recognise they got that wrong." "It seems to me they've become obsessed with Haaland being onside. They haven't gone into as much detail with Fernandez in the middle and understanding of his impact on it." "They got the Phil Foden decision wrong, and they got this decision wrong. How can you not say Enzo Fernandez is challenging for the ball? Of course he is. "I've been in that position as a defender where any slight movement can make the difference for going for the ball or not, so of course it affects him. They've got it so wrong." "Their line is good. Fernandez is offside, and he goes to play the ball, so United are getting punished for good defending."

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Paris Saint-Germain winger Kvicha Kvaratskhelia is set to have surgery after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the French club have confirmed. The 25-year-old, who was named the Champions League's best player last season, was injured in Tuesday's 4-2 home win over Barcelona. The European champions have said Kvaratskhelia will have an operation "in the coming days" but gave no timeline for his recovery. The injury raises serious concerns over whether Kvaratskhelia will play again this season, but he will definitely miss PSG's Champions League trip to Aston Villa on December 8. Kvaratskhelia has been nominated for the 2026 Ballon d'Or after a stellar campaign last season as he helped PSG earn back-to-back Champions League titles as well as Ligue 1 glory. The Georgia captain's injury setback is a major blow for PSG, who are in pursuit of a third straight Champions League crown. Kvaratskhelia has emerged as one of the world's leading forwards since joining the French champions from Napoli for £59m plus add-ons in January 2025. PSG also lost Ousmane Dembele , the reigning Ballon d'Or holder, and captain Marquinhos to injury against Barca. The French club's statement says both players have thigh injuries and "will remain under treatment for the next few weeks". Another key player, Nuno Mendes , is also injured after missing the win over the Spanish champions following an injury in PSG's Ligue 1 win at Strasbourg on Saturday. PSG have been in scintillating form in Europe this season since defending their title in May, beating Manchester City and Barcelona by the same 4-2 scoreline this month. Luis Enrique's side are top of the 36-team league table after three wins from three, while they sit second in Ligue 1, level on points with leaders Lyon. PSG paid a high price for Tuesday's thrilling Champions League win over Barcelona, losing captain Marquinhos, Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to injury. Unfortunately for the latter, his season is over. Not only is that a massive shame for the supremely talented Georgian, but a significant blow to PSG and fans of football more broadly. Kvaratskhelia is the type of player you happily pay to watch, whether you have an affinity to PSG or not. He's played a key role for the double European champions over the past two seasons, including 16 goal involvements last year, and has earned a place on the Ballon d'Or shortlist - the recipient of the prize will be confirmed on Monday. PSG of course have plenty of talent to cover the 25-year-old's absence. Desire Doue is doing marvellous things this season and I also like what Maghnes Akliouche offers. But this is a setback for Luis Enrique. It won't end PSG's chances of a famous European three-peat. But it makes the task much harder.

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Arsenal scored a Premier League-high 25 non-penalty set-piece goals on their way to winning the title last season. But have 'Set-piece FC' lost their not-so-secret edge? Seven games into the new campaign, the Gunners are one of only four sides, along with Liverpool, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, yet to score a non-penalty set-piece goal. Arsenal's total last season included a record 19 from corners and made it five straight Premier League seasons in which they have scored at least 15 non-penalty set-piece goals. The improvement coincided with addition of Nicolas Jover to their backroom staff in 2021. The set-piece coach has been described as a "genius" and remains an active presence on the touchline. So why have the set-piece goals dried up? Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta put it down to luck in comments made earlier this month. "My personal opinion is that we've done better things than last year in the first five games, but we have scored no goals. I think that's the reality of set-pieces. Sometimes we score a goal, or they score an own goal, and it's a set-piece goal, but we didn't do things well. "It's an element of luck sometimes and I think this season we should have scored four and we haven't. So, if we maintain that, I think throughout the season we'll be in really good numbers, especially if we generate the amount of situations that we do." Arteta had a point on Arsenal's wastefulness. According to Opta, they rank as one of the Premier League's biggest underperformers relative to their set-piece expected goals this season. The underlying data shows the Gunners have had set-piece chances worth 2.50 expected goals. Only Liverpool and Nottingham Forest have underperformed by a bigger margin. There were examples during Sunday's win at the City Ground, where Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes headed good set-piece chances over the bar from Declan Rice deliveries. Earlier this season, Riccardo Calafiori missed an excellent chance from a Martin Odegaard free-kick against Chelsea. There was another notable opportunity against Aston Villa, when Zion Suzuki saved Rice's header from a Bukayo Saka corner. It was a different story last season, when Arsenal ranked at the other end of the scale for expected goal performance, scoring nearly four goals more than expected, based on chance quality. Arteta believes their luck will turn soon. The underlying data offers encouragement on that front. But like all sides, Arsenal are also having to adapt to the Premier League's clampdown on grappling, holding and blocking from corners this season. The guidance to referees was intended to make the game easier to officiate and stop players from gaining an advantage by impeding opponents rather than playing the ball. One consequence is a higher percentage of corners leading to free-kicks for defending teams. "You have to adjust to the rules and what is allowed and what is not," said Arteta. "But that opens another window to do things that we want to do. Sometimes you have to give credit to the opponent as well. They defend better, they put more attention on that." The clampdown may have impacted effectiveness. But Arsenal's corner delivery has mostly stayed consistent. While they have taken 15 per cent of their corners short, up from nine per cent last term, all of those short corners came on the opening day against Coventry. Arsenal continue to send the majority of their corners into the six-yard box, albeit a higher percentage to the near post than last season, and a lower percentage directly onto the goalkeeper, who is now receiving more protection from officials. While Arsenal are offering much more of a threat from set-pieces than their goal total suggests, their underlying numbers compared to last season do show a fairly significant drop-off, from 0.56 set-piece expected goals per game to 0.36 per game. But another factor is that they are simply getting fewer corners. Arsenal's average of 4.7 per game, seven games into the season, is lower than in any of the previous nine campaigns. It represents a 17 per cent decrease from last season, when they averaged 5.7, and a roughly 30 per cent decrease from the two seasons before that, when they averaged nearly seven. A return to a more typical volume of corners, coupled with some better finishing, could transform Arsenal's set-piece scoring output. But Arteta has talked up the importance of scoring in "many ways" and in the meantime they are showing improvement in open play. There was little evidence of it against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, admittedly. Arsenal laboured before Noni Madueke's late winner. But overall this season there has been a shift towards possession and passing. Arsenal are scoring and creating more in open play. But Arsenal's dead-ball threat has not disappeared. The evidence points to the goals returning soon - albeit not, perhaps, to the record-breaking levels of last season.

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A message on my phone buzzes. "I pick you up at the station." It is Erik ten Hag offering a lift in his car once my train from Amsterdam arrives in Enschede, in the east of the Netherlands. It is delayed, but he doesn't seem to mind. Soon after, he pulls up in a silver Range Rover and gets out to exchange a handshake. He has finished a day's work at FC Twente's stadium, De Grolsch Veste, where he is technical director. A short while later, he is driving us through picturesque Dutch countryside on the way to Ros van Twente, the hotel he co-owns with his brothers, Michel and Rico, and John Berghaan and Anita Stappenbeld, who run it. "They got married two weeks ago as a surprise," says Ten Hag, grinning.

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Como's rise has been remarkable, but the ambition is to make their success last. The club's journey from Italy's lower leagues to Serie A and Champions League qualification is an extraordinary story. Yet what makes it so compelling is the speed of their progress, combined with a determination to establish themselves as a force in Italian football for years to come. In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News , Como sporting director Carlalberto Ludi reflects on the club's transformation, the influence of head coach Cesc Fabregas and an unlikely reunion with Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes. To understand Como's recent history, look at the transformation since Fabregas joined the club in 2022. The former Spain international arrived towards the end of his playing career, with Como in Serie B. He subsequently retired, joined the club's academy coaching staff and eventually became head coach of the senior team. In the four years since his arrival, Fabregas has helped Como secure promotion to Serie A for the first time in 21 years before guiding them to Champions League qualification last season for the first time in the club's history. Ludi believes the Spaniard's influence extends far beyond the pitch. "Cesc made a big difference. Not only on the field, but also off the field, in my opinion - the culture of the club, everything. The professionalism, everything, to be honest," he said. "He brought his mentality into the club and that's one of the reasons why we improved and grew so quickly. Thanks to him, we are fantastic, to be honest. "We have been fantastic on the field, but thanks to him we also improved our mentality, so we were ready to compete for the Champions League." Fabregas' presence was evident at his news conference ahead of Como's meeting with Manchester United. Sitting alongside summer signing Nico Paz, he fielded questions on a range of subjects, including whether he could one day become United's head coach. The composure with which he handled the questions reflected the authority he has established at Como. While the word 'aura' is often overused in football, it is difficult to ignore the impact Fabregas has made on the club. Ludi is particularly impressed by the 39-year-old's willingness to keep learning. "He's very young, but he's so open-minded, to be honest. He's the first who wants to improve and learn," he said. "That, in my opinion, is one of his best qualities and he's making a difference. "Our team is Cesc Fabregas on the field. Courage, intelligence, talent, talented players. We are trying to do the same with our team. The way Cesc is and the way Cesc was as a footballer is what we want to be as a team." Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Ludi share a similar journey through Italian football, having both experienced the climb from Serie B towards the Champions League. The pair shared a dressing room at Novara when Fernandes was just 17, with Ludi serving as his captain as the teenager began his professional career. Asked what the young Fernandes was like, Ludi smiled before describing him as "phenomenal". Fernandes went on to play for Udinese and Sampdoria before moving to Sporting Lisbon and eventually Manchester United. Ludi, however, still remembers the teenager who is now set to lead United against Como. "I'm really happy to speak about Bruno," Ludi said. "We met each other when he was a kid, literally a kid. He was a kid in a professional environment, so he probably wasn't ready to join a professional environment. "At the beginning, I needed to guide him in our dressing room in order for him to understand what being a professional meant. "But then, to be honest, it was fantastic because I met a fantastic guy, a humble person, a top footballer, but an open-minded guy, always ready to support, ready to help, ready to enjoy, ready to have fun with all of us. "He's a very nice guy, so I was so happy and I always celebrated his improvement because he deserves it. "I imagine it'll be nice to see him, maybe after the game, but to be honest, it would be fantastic to meet him in the Champions League. It's something I never expected, and it would be just fantastic. "It was just one season but a great season for all of us, and I think that I met one of the best people I've ever met in my life." There have been defining moments in Como's recent history, not least the draw against Cosenza in May 2024 that secured the point they needed for promotion to Serie A. That achievement laid the foundations for the club's subsequent rise to the Champions League. But hosting Manchester United represents another landmark in a journey that has exceeded expectations. Spending time around the club in the build-up to the game, the excitement is palpable. There is a sense of disbelief, pride and appreciation at the prospect of welcoming Michael Carrick's United side. For Ludi, who joined Como in 2019, the scale of the transformation is particularly striking. "Yeah, it's incredible, to be honest," he said. "I started to work here in 2019 and there was nothing. "Now we have the Champions League, we have Man Utd at home, and it's something that is amazing, literally amazing. "Sometimes it's good to look behind, because sometimes we forget what we did. In football, every day there is something to achieve, there is a reason to step forward. "I don't want to be arrogant, but we are here to write the history of Como, and this is another page, a big page of our history. "We want our fans to be proud of us and we want to compete, to fight, in order to write another page. First of all, it will be another nice page in the history of Como."

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The top stories and transfer rumours from Wednesday's newspapers... Manchester United will revisit a deal for Newcastle and England left-back Lewis Hall , while Bournemouth and France defender Adrien Truffert is also a target as plans for a defensive overhaul set in motion - i newspaper Man Utd defender Lisandro Martinez could be heading for the exit next summer as the club prepare for a major defensive overhaul - Daily Mail Manchester United's hierarchy acknowledge they should have done more to strengthen the squad during the summer transfer window - talkSPORT Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is open to joining Manchester United during the January transfer window - talkSPORT Mikel Arteta came close to becoming Newcastle United manager in 2019, just months before joining Arsenal - The Telegraph Aston Villa midfielder Emiliano Buendia , 29, is set to sign a new contract, while talks with Sweden's Victor Lindelof , 32, and 19-year-old Englishman George Hemmings are also progressing - The Athletic Liverpool 4-3 Villarreal: Rio Ngumoha stars and Florian Wirtz scores as Reds come from two down to win in Europe Liverpool: Rio Ngumoha LIGHTS UP Anfield! What else did we learn from Reds' Champions League comeback against Villarreal? No Erling Haaland...no problem? Three things we learnt from Man City's Champions League display against AEK Athens Tottenham transfer news, rumours and gossip: Live updates and latest on deals, signings, loans and contracts Man City 5-1 AEK Athens: Phil Foden bags hat-trick as Enzo Maresca's side claim second Champions League win Liverpool: Andoni Iraola heaps praise on Reds' Champions League comeback star Rio Ngumoha Paper Talk is a review of the sports headlines from the national newspapers, every Monday to Friday, live on Sky Sports News from 10.30pm. Missed the show? Catch up on the latest news with the Paper Talk podcast. Tottenham are prepared to spend €100m to sign Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis next summer - A Bola Referee Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez has been removed from officiating the upcoming El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona - Marca Real Madrid are demanding that six Premier League clubs pay their share of the costs associated with the European Super League project - The Athletic

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Terry Devlin denied Wolves victory just as the hosts' inspired substitutions again looked to prove decisive as Portsmouth drew 1-1 at Molineux in the Championship. Four days after Tawanda Chirewa came off the bench to score the winner at Burnley, substitute Jordan James' strike looked like it would prove the difference for Wolves. But right-back Devlin popped up with a superbly taken equaliser to give Pompey an unlikely share of the spoils. The scoreline was harsh on Wolves as Chirewa hit the bar and was denied another goal, while Mateus Mane and Fer Lopez missed chances in a dominant second-half performance. Portsmouth failed to hit the target until Devlin struck in the 86th minute. In a forgettable first half, Andre had the only Wolves chance. The Brazil midfielder lofted a bouncing shot just wide from 25 yards after Devlin beat Marshall Munetsi to head away Mane's cross. Portsmouth's only chance of the opening half came in the 36th minute. Wolves failed to deal with Adrian Segecic's deep free-kick and after Nasser Djiga missed the header and Ebou Adams' angled effort was blocked, Rocco Shein's low shot was a few feet wide. Wolves made a double change at half-time to spark some life into the game - Chirewa, Friday's matchwinner at Burnley, and James replaced Sean Neave and Munetsi - and it worked, with a much-improved display. Bristol City 0-1 Sheffield United: Ollie Arblaster nets only goal in Blades win Birmingham 3-0 QPR: Liam Millar scores twice in win for in-form Blues West Brom 3-2 Blackburn: Baggies hit back to win in five-goal thriller Swansea 0-1 West Ham: Divine Mukasa nets winner as Hammers sink Championship leaders Derby 0-1 Stoke: Luke Graham nets winner for Potters Southampton 0-0 Bolton: Saint held at home by Trotters Chirewa, who scored the winner within 21 seconds of his arrival at Turf Moor, quickly rattled the bar with a tight-angled, rising shot after turning inside his man. Mane dragged a low, angled drive well wide, then Lopez volleyed wide from Rafiki Said's inviting cross as Wolves continued to probe for the breakthrough. That came in the 62nd minute from James, who slammed home a fierce low first-time drive after starting the move with a one-two with Lopez, beating Nicolas Schmid at his near post. Pompey missed a good chance to equalise when Adams headed over substitute Marezi's corner from five yards while substitute Tommy Doyle's teasing cross just missed the sliding Chirewa as Wolves sniffed a second goal. But Devlin struck when he chested down and volleyed right into the corner of the net after Marezi's free-kick had been headed clear. Chirewa's low shot was clawed around a post by Schmid as Wolves desperately pushed for a winner at the death and both benches had to be pulled apart at the final whistle as tensions briefly boiled over before order was quickly restored.

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Phil Foden bagged a hat-trick as dominant Manchester City cruised to a 5-1 win over AEK Athens to claim their second Champions League victory of the campaign. Foden had waited 10 months for a goal before four arrived in back-to-back outings, adding to his strike against Ipswich at the weekend with three tidy finishes, the first two from Rico Lewis assists. Man City had far too much quality for their Greek visitors despite leaving Erling Haaland in the stands, with Enzo Maresca allowing 17-year-old Floyd Samba to deputise in his place. Maresca proved his point in doing so: City have many other means of scoring beyond Haaland. Elliot Anderson was also on target in a dominant first half that included 10 efforts on Alberto Brignoli's goal, with Allan striking the crossbar and Rayan Cherki going close. AEK failed to land a shot on target until Stavros Pilios pulled a goal back early in the second period. But their hope was short-lived. Cherki scored City's third five minutes later to kill any suggestion of a comeback and Foden issued another timely reminder of his class by completing a statement hat-trick. The last time Foden scored three times in the same game was April 2024. It's felt like a lifetime since the City Academy graduate, a known favourite of Pep Guardiola, was anywhere near his dazzling best. His latest display was somewhere close to perfect. 12: GOAL! Anderson steers home the rebound from Enzo Fernandez' free-kick for his first club goal. 23: CROSSBAR! Allan crashes a fierce effort off the woodwork as City threaten again. 34: GOAL! Foden combines neatly with Lewis and stabs beyond Alberto Brignoli. 52: GOAL! Pilios gives AEK a lifeline with a well-taken strike across Gianluigi Donnarumma. 57: GOAL! Cherki finds the bottom corner to kill any AEK momentum. 65: GOAL! Lewis tees up Foden and he guides the ball into the top corner with a wonderful finish. 76: GOAL! Ryan McAidoo offers Foden the chance to complete his hat-trick with an easy tap-in. On Foden : "I've said since day one, I consider him one of the best English players. For different reasons, in the last two years, he was not good enough. But I know how good he is. We are trying to help him because we are sure he's going to help us." On the performance : "It was not easy, especially after the PSG game. We had two games that we certainly needed to win, and we did our job. "I'm also happy because some of the players have not been playing many minutes, but they were ready. This is important. It is the best feeling for any manager when you make many changes but the performance is still good." Man City forward Phil Foden to TNT Sports: "I enjoyed that a lot. We showed determination again; it wasn't pretty at times, giving sloppy passes away, but I thought we stuck at the game plan, we kept going, and in the end we broke them down. "I've still got a long way [before I'm back at my best], but I'm going in the right direction and scoring along the way. It definitely helps. "I just want to keep working hard and trying to be the best I can for the manager and for the team." "We didn't want to sit back and try to survive, like I said before the game. We wanted to be dangerous with the ball. "But of course the quality in the finishing phase from City was brutal. These guys were much better in the final third than us. They punished every mistake. A deserved victory for City. "AEK is only playing Champions League group phase for the second time in 20 years; we're trying to compete. Maybe we showed too much respect for our opponent."

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Barcelona were handed their first defeat of the season as they lost 4-2 to Paris Saint-Germain in a Champions League classic. In a game that saw a total of 40 attempts on goal, it was the reigning European champions who were able to outgun the visitors in a contender for match of the season. The pair traded goals, with Desire Doue's strike and Lucas Hernandez's header each being cancelled out courtesy of youngster Xavi Espart and the irrepressible Lamine Yamal. Seconds after Barca's number 10 levelled things for a second time, Vitinha restored PSG's lead as Barcelona ran out of gas. Fabian Ruiz put the icing on the cake five minutes later with a tap-in as Hansi Flick side tasted defeat for the first time in 12 games this season. There were some sour notes on an otherwise exhilarating evening. Ballon d'Or holder Ousmane Dembele came off with a suspected hamstring injury inside the opening 20 minutes. Team-mate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was also helped off in the second half after picking up a knock. Dani Olmo was also withdrawn in the first half for Barcelona, who are already struggling with an injury crisis. It adds another blow for the LaLiga leaders, who visit Real Madrid in the first El Clasico of the season on Sunday. 2: POST! Kvaratskhelia smashes the woodwork in less than 120 seconds. 5: SAVE! Garcia denies Dembele and Doue in quick succession. 10: CHANCE FOR GORDON! Ball drops to Englishman in good position, but he fails to make the most of it. 14: JUST WIDE! Olmo misses target in Barcelona's first meaningful attempt. 19: INJURY! Ballon d'Or holder Dembele comes off with suspected hamstring issue. 25: HUGE MISS! Substitute Torres denied by Garcia from close range. 27: INJURY! Olmo replaced as Barca's injury list grows. 29: CHANCES GALORE! PSG squander three brilliant attempts in a matter of seconds. 38: GOAL! Doue finally puts PSG ahead after Lamine Yamal mistake. 40: SAVE! Nearly immediate response from Barca as Fermin is thwarted by Safanov. 51: SAVE! Hakimi denied as PSG miss more chances. 55: GOAL! PSG punished as Espart equalises. 59: INJURY! Kvaratskhelia is helped off the pitch on the hour. 71: POST! Torres misses again as he strikes the post from close range! 72: GOAL! A set-piece does the job as Hernandez's header restores PSG's lead. 79: GOAL! Lamine Yamal smashes Barca level from a tight angle. 81: GOAL! Vitinha hits back immediately from edge of the box. 86: GOAL! Ruiz seals the deal as Barca run out of steam. Barcelona forward Anthony Gordon speaking with TNT Sports: "I think it was quite predictable that it was going to be high-scoring and a good spectacle for people to watch. I was hoping we would come out on the right side of that, but unfortunately we didn't. "They deserved it. They were the better team and had the better moments with real quality. Athletically, they were able to sustain the pressure and intensity for longer than we were. They've been the team to beat for two years and tonight they gave a great example as to why. "I think we can take great positives because we played well. It was a competitive spectacle. We've still got work to do and that's a good position to be in. They've been the team to beat for two years. We need to do enough work, analyse the game and try and become that." "I covered PSG's 5-4 win over Bayern Munich last season. It was a breathless game and one of the greatest I had ever witnessed. "While tonight might not quite have been at that level, it was in a very similar bracket. Two of the best teams in the world with full belief in themselves and only one intention: outscore the other. "No one could've blamed Barcelona if they came to the French capital and decided they were going to shut up shop and try to stop the potent PSG attack. "Their approach was the complete opposite. They had faith that their attack was as lethal. In the end, they fell short, but they can hold their heads high. "As a neutral, these are the types of games you dream of watching. It makes you feel things only free-flowing football can. "If you want a demonstration of what two heavyweight giants playing each other should look like, it is this. Blow for blow, haymaker for haymaker.