Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has hit back a barbed swipe from Lebanon coach Miodrag Radulović on Monday night aimed at youngster Patrick Yazbeck, who is set to make his debut for Australia on Tuesday night.
Yazbek was born in Sydney but has Lebanese heritage, and was eligible to represent either nation.
But he rebuffed approaches from Radulovic’s Cedars and is now a “more than 90 per cent” chance to make his debut in Canberra’s FIFA World Cup qualifier, according to Arnold.
“He’s Australian first and foremost,” Arnold said of the 21-year-old, who plays in Norway with Viking FK. “It’s the blood and the heart and the passion.
“His mum and dad are from Lebanon, and he’s got that in him as well. But he’s a fantastic kid. He will more than 90 per cent get match minutes tomorrow night and make his debut against Lebanon, I think it’s a great thing for him and his family that they’ll never forget.”
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It came just minutes after Radulovic claimed Yazbek should have chosen to represent Lebanon instead.
“I think it would be better to be one of the leaders in our team than sitting on the bench (for Australia), but this is his decision,” Radulovic said.
“I’m not interested anymore.”
Graham Arnold anticipated sweeping changes to the Socceroos XI.Source: Getty Images
Arnold signalled Yazbek’s likely debut while stating there would be “four or five” changes to the starting XI that beat Lebanon 2-0 on Thursday night in Sydney.
Some of the decisions have been made for him, with left wingers Riley McGree and Jordy Bos both injured in Thursday’s win, while defensive midfielder Keanu Baccus is suspended. All three have left camp early to return to their clubs.
But in a boost to the team, veteran winger Craig Goodwin is fit and ready to start after missing the first match with a virus picked up during the long trip down under from England.
“It was quite frustrating as I started the travel to come over, I started feeling a bit sick and had some symptoms on the plane,” Goodwin said.
“I landed, spoke to the doctor and went and got seen and had a bit of a virus so I had to sit tight to not bring it into the camp and affect more players and affect the games that we’ve got.
“I’m here now and I’m ready to go and looking forward to the game.”
He’s likely to jump straight into the starting side after the injuries to McGree and Bos.
“Hopefully, they’re okay. But hopefully, I can come in and fill that void that’s been left on the left-hand side now,” Goodwin said.
Craig Goodwin is set to return.Source: Getty Images
Ajdin Hrustic’s impressive performance off the bench on his return has the playmaker poised to make a first Socceroos start since September 2022, having subsequently gone through a torrid 18 months marred by injuries and a dramatic exile from former club Hellas Verona in Italy.
Now at Heracles Almeda in the Netherlands – and crucially, back on the field regularly – his return to form is a significant boon for Graham Arnold and the Australian set-up.
Arnold indicated he is likely to persist with a 4-4-2, with in-form Kusini Yengi expected to retain his place as one of the two strikers. Adam Taggart was the other starting centre-forward on Thursday, but competition for places at the head of the attack is fierce, with Arnold naming a full six strikers for this squad.
“It’s about playing the players to their strengths,” Arnold said. “At the moment we’re short for wingers and we’re playing lopsided.”
Besides Yazbek, Central Coast Mariners midfielder Josh Nisbet, 24, could also make his debut off the bench after a standout run in the A-League Mens.
Winger Samuel Silvera will be hoping for a chance to prove himself in the absence of a number of familiar faces in that role, including the injured pair of Martin Boyle and Marco Tilio as well as the fresh injuries to Bos and Goodwin.
Elsewhere, defenders Thomas Deng and Gethin Jones could get a look-in if Arnold looks to rotate his stocks.
The Australian squad features a 36-year-old in Bruno Fornaroli as well as three uncapped players, one of whom was eligible to play for another nation but was poached by the Aussies.
There are a number of key absences, including injured veterans and some surprising omissions, while the team represents a bold mix of youth and experience as Arnold looks to the future and the road to the 2026 World Cup.
And there’s one young gun who is the big winner from a late rule change.
Here are all the major talking points ahead of the tournament opener on January 13.
Fresh off two wins in World Cup qualifying last month, the Socceroos are preparing to chase just a second-ever Asian Cup crown.Source: Getty Images
Drastic squad overhaul as Arnold eyes 2026 World Cup
Graham Arnold has repeatedly made clear that his major focus is the 2026 World Cup – and rightly so.
Arnold said Friday: “I’ve got one eye on the Asian Cup but I’ve got two eyes on the World Cup (2026) and qualifying directly.”
Though the World Cup is the top priority, the Asian Cup stands behind that tournament as the biggest trophy available for the Socceroos.
It’s also the last tournament that Arnold has not experienced success in, having enjoyed a record-breaking 2022 World Cup with the Socceroos and guiding the Olyroos (under 23s) to an impressive showing at the Tokyo Olympics. Only the Asian Cup, where the defending champion Socceroos were dumped out in the quarterfinals in 2019, remains as a mark on his record.
The need to forge a team capable both of immediate success and long-term development on the road to 2026 presents a difficult balancing act for Graham Arnold.
The result is a squad where veterans, like recalled 36-year-old Bruno Fornaroli, have been mixed with young players – almost on a one-to-one basis.
12 of the 26-man squad were part of the World Cup last year – 13 if you count Martin Boyle, who was ruled out of Qatar through injury but remained in the camp for the tournament as ‘Chief Vibes Officer’.
That’s a significant turnover in a 12-month period, which reflects just how aggressively Arnold is approaching the redevelopment of his squad for the long term. 14 of the 26 players in this squad have fewer than ten caps, including three potential debutants – midfielder Patrick Yazbek, right-back Gethin Jones, and striker John Iredale.
It’s not the first time that Arnold has overseen a dramatic rebuild, having done the same thing when he took over the role following the 2018 World Cup. Arnold inherited a very thin squad in terms of depth after losing players like Tim Cahill and Mile Jedinak to retirement.
“It was about really starting again” he says of those early days.
Five years later, and he’s got depth in spades – with the coach revealing he considered “70-75” players for selection.
While Arnold will be desperate to erase the failure of 2019 and win just a second-ever Asian Cup for the Socceroos, the squad shows a refusal to sacrifice long-term development.
It’s not an easy task – but the rewards should come on the long road 2026.
How Arnold pulled off yet another poaching raid
Of the three potential debutants in the 26-man squad, Gethin Jones is perhaps the most intriguing. Jones was born in Perth before moving to England, where he was part of Everton’s Academy before churning through a series of clubs on loan and in permanent transfers. Now 28, the right-back has established himself as a consistent performer at third-tier English League One side Bolton. Having played for Wales up to the under-21 level, Jones is just the latest in a long line of players that were eligible to represent multiple nations but were convinced by Arnold to pledge allegiance to Australia.
The list of recent recruits includes Martin Boyle and Harry Souttar, who have become two key members of the Socceroos unit, as well as Alex Robertson, Alessandro Circati and Jason Cummings (all omitted from this squad). Arnold is also confident that he will eventually win the back-and-forth over the international future of 20-year-old Cristian Volpato, who currently plays for Italy’s under-age teams.
Harry Souttar headlines the list of Socceroos stars that were eligible for multiple nations – but chose Australia.Source: Getty Images
Arnold said of Gethin Jones: “He’s one we’ve had our eye on for the last couple of years. He wasn’t hard to convince but it takes time to get through the FIFA regulations to change his registration.”
“I went and watched him when I was in the UK. Very impressive. Obviously with the Ryan Strain injury it gave us our opportunity.”
He added: “He’s always wanted to play for Australia, he has played for Wales at a junior level.”
Bringing in players at the peak of their careers – like 28-year-old Jones – means they can adapt quicker to the unique pressures of international football compared to a promising teen talent.
Arnold’s ability to convince so many players to don the green and gold is quickly becoming a trademark of the Socceroos coach, and if Jones has half the impact of Souttar or Boyle in the years to come, his recruitment could prove another Arnold masterstroke.
The striker conundrum amid ‘concern’ over veterans
No position sums up the squad overhaul with an eye on 2026 quite as much as the striker role, which Arnold labelled “a concern.”
36-year-old Bruno Fornaroli earned a recall on the back of undeniable form in the A-League Mens competition – 12 goals and an assist in just eight games. Even though the two-cap forward is ageing like a fine wine, the 2026 World Cup looks a step too far. Mitch Duke, the other veteran striker selected, is 32 years old and is a risk for 2026. Jamie Maclaren, who missed out this time, is also 30 years old. Other forwards Mat Leckie, Martin Boyle, and Craig Goodwin are also all 30 or older.
Arnold said: “That’s why I’m searching, that’s why I’m looking. It’s no secret when you look at that squad that we’ve got some older players up front that might not make 2026.”
There are the two youngsters selected this time around – 24-year-old Kusini Yengi who debuted last month and uncapped 24-year-old John Iredale. Iredale plays for Wehen Wiesbaden in Germany’s second tier, and is a strong physical presence coming into his own at the newly-promoted Bundesliga 2 club.
Arnold said that Iredale had been on his radar for many years, and offers versatility since he can play across the frontline and also in a playmaking No. 10 role.
“He’s one I’ve admired for a long time because he’s got that strength and skill and he’s starting to do well in the Bundesliga 2,” Arnold explained.
Kusini Yengi has been excellent for Portsmouth this season.Source: Getty Images
But when it comes to the veterans – including those who missed out this time around – Arnold says that he’s not running a line through their World Cup hopes.
“That’s not my choice, that’s theirs. At the end of the day, the older boys – the (Craig) Goodwins, the Dukes, the Boyles and all these – they’ve got to be performing at their club and fit.
“This is the whole reason, in a way, for Leckie that I’ve left him out. I just want him to get fit and get his body right. He does that, he’ll have a chance – I do believe he’s got a chance of getting to the next World Cup.
“You don’t rule any of those senior players out. It gets down to the club form, it gets down to injuries, match minutes, how much passion they’ve got to get there and how hard they want to work to get there. That’s the biggest thing.”
But he said: “I do plan for the bad scenario or the bad side and make sure we’ve got players ready just in case.”
Leckie has hardly played in the last six months, but Arnold says he’s still a chance of playing in the 2026 World Cup.Source: Getty Images
Olympics balancing act over young guns
When Arnold announced his squad, two players in red-hot form were surprise omissions: Alex Robertson and Alessandro Circati. 20-year-old Robertson is a technically gifted midfielder who plays for third-tier Portsmouth on loan from Manchester City, and made his Socceroos debut in March against Ecuador.
Circati is a 20-year-old centre-back who plays for Italian second-division team Parma, and debuted for the Socceroos in October against New Zealand.
While both were deserving of a call-up based on form, other factors are at play. Both are in teams top of their respective leagues and chasing promotion. Robertson, for example, could miss as many as eight games for Portsmouth if he was selected for the Asian Cup. And the Under-23 Asian Cup is also a key factor in Arnold’s thinking. That tournament takes place in April-May and doubles as qualification for the Olympics in Paris later in the year. Clubs are not required by FIFA to release players for the U23 Asian Cup, so Arnold not selecting those youngsters now increases the chances that their clubs will release them for the Olyroos team in the coming months.
Circati was outstanding on debut in October.Source: Getty Images
Arnold acknowledged there were no guarantees from the clubs around the two players being released for U23 tournaments, but said: “It gives us a better chance. I’ve had great conversations with them and I’ve got to be honest, we’ve got depth in those positions.
“What’s better for the kids at the age of 20? Coming away in a tournament situation and maybe getting a couple of minutes here and there, or staying at their clubs at this age and playing eight competition games and enhancing their future?
“We’ll get rewarded in six months’ time (in Paris).”
But on the other hand, Arnold called up uncapped midfielder Patrick Yazbek, a 21-year-old who has been in incredible form for Viking FK in Norway.
Yazbek racked up two goals and five assists from 28 appearances (all competitions) – but crucially, the Norwegian season just concluded, so Arnold is actually helping the club by giving the youngster high-level training and match minutes.
And when it came to Jordy Bos, Australia’s long-term left back, Arnold simply couldn’t leave the 21-year-old out of the squad.
Bos has been excellent for the Socceroos since debuting in March.Source: News Corp Australia
New Asian Cup rules could revive exiled gun’s career
This week, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) decided to expand squad sizes from the traditional 23 players to 26 for the first time ever. It wasn’t even announced in an official press release (unlike, for example, revealing the official match ball). But it’s an important change – and one Socceroo is the biggest winner.
Versatile 21-year-old forward Marco Tilio moved to Scottish giants Celtic in June for a reported A-Leagues record £1.5 million (A$2.8m), but struggled to adjust to the intensity of the Scottish League and also battled injuries. He has played just twice since the move for a total of 28 minutes. The extra three places available in the Socceroos side means Tilio can train in an environment he is familiar with, having made seven international appearances already, and also hopefully get much-needed match minutes.
“I can be honest here and say that if it stayed at 23 there was probably a good chance that Marco wouldn’t come,” Arnold said.
“But the fact that it got extended to 26, it enables us to have someone completely different that can play at left wing, right wing, number 10.
“He’s got that experience of being at major tournaments with me at the Olympics in 2021 and also the World Cup (last year). Also, I do believe this can help his Celtic career.”
Tilio in action for the Socceroos in March.Source: Getty Images
That could mean Tilio gets his chance to show club coach Brendan Rodgers what he is capable of – or potentially earn him a loan move for the second half of the season. But as Arnold says, it’s also about getting him back in form with the Olympics looming.
Arnold said: “Tilio, I’ve looked at how we can also help that Olympic campaign. Conversations with Brendan Rodgers, at the end of the day Tilio hasn’t played much at Celtic but we know what he can do.
“He can bring that bit of difference as an impact player as well and be with us to get that smile back on his face and get him ready for Celtic, but also available and fresh and fit for the Olympic campaign as well.”
England face China while Denmark play Haiti – with all four teams still able to progress.
England have six points and Denmark and China three, with Haiti on zero.
And England enjoyed a dream start with Alessia Russo scoring her first goal of the tournament in just the fourth minute, assisted by Lauren James. It was a beautifully-taken instinctive finish from just inside the top of the box that nestled into the bottom corner.
Meanwhile Denmark scored even earlier only for their goal to be ruled out for offside in the build-up.
As it stands, England will top the group with Denmark second – meaning Australia will face Denmark next Monday in the Round of 16.
Australia will be hoping to avoid England, the reigning European champions who before this tournament were appointed second-favourites by the bookies, only behind two-time reigning champions USA.
England made three changes to their starting side, after Kiera Walsh’s injury forced a significant reshuffle and a change of formation.
Arguably the world’s best midfielder, Walsh is out with a knee injury and may miss the remainder of the tournament. The team is already without their captain from last year’s Euro triumph, Leah Williamson, and the top scorer from that competition Beth Mead. Both of those players weren’t fit enough to make the squad for this tournament.
Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly drop out of the team too, with Katie Zelem and Jess Carter coming into the starting team.
Lauren Hemp was dropped for the Denmark game but returns to the starting line-up for Kelly, who has been impressive so far and will almost certainly feature off the bench.
The Netherlands have smashed Vietnam 7-0 in the biggest win of the tournament so far to leapfrog two-time reigning champions the United States and claim top spot in their group.
The USA were held to a goalless draw by tournament debutants Portugal, who delivered a massive scare as substitute Ana Capeta hit the post in stoppage time in search a staggering upset.
A Portugal win would have dumped the world’s number one team out of the tournament at the group stage for the first time in history. Even finishing second was a shock for the four-time champions, who have only once before failed to top their group.
The match was played in front of 42,958 fans in Auckland’s Eden Park, the biggest ever football crowd (men or women) in NZ history.
Never in their history have the US women’s team faced such a do-or-die scenario to reach the knockouts, and the immense pressure was clear on the faces of every player and staff member – with the team playing well below their best against a spirited Portugal team ranked twenty places lower.
Winning just one of their three group stage games – 3-0 over Vietnam – was also a new low for the dominant team in women’s football history, with their four goals scored another low.
American superstar Alex Morgan said: “It’s tough to be second… this team gave everything, we just didn’t put the ball in the back of the net.
“We had to get the result and move on, and now we move forward.”
She added: “It’s not the result we wanted but we’re moving forward.”
It means the USA will likely play world number three and Olympic silver medallists Sweden in the next round, a blockbuster worthy of a grand final.
Sweden finished third at the last World Cup and have been performing significantly better so far this tournament than the struggling US side.
But the result turns the tournament schedule on its head, with the US expected to win the group and given a knockouts path which included games early in the day Australia/NZ time – a perfect timeslot for fans back home.
But FIFA’s plan backfired with the US now scheduled to play in the evening local time, meaning in the middle of the night in the US.
There’s another blow for the USA, with midfielder Rose Lavelle picking up a second yellow card of the group stages which will see her suspended for the next match.
She said she was “obviously disappointed in myself” for the incident.
It was a different story for the Dutch, who crushed debutants Vietnam from the opening minute. Esmee Brugts and Jill Roord both scored twice, while the Netherlands took 42 shots in total and struck four times in the opening 23 minutes.
Lieke Martens grabbed the first goal with eight minutes played when she lobbed her marker and Vietnamese goalkeeper Thi Kim Thanh Tran.
Forward Katja Snoeijs made it 2-0 three minutes later when she stroked her effort inside the post past the stranded Tran.
After Brugts’ superb third, Roord volleyed in a cross for her first goal on 23 minutes.
With half-time approaching, Tran put in a superb save to deny Roord, but midfielder Danielle van de Donk was on hand to slot home the rebound to make it 5-0 at the break.
Tran was replaced in the Vietnam goal by Thi Hang Khong for the second half, while 17-year-old Wieke Kaptein came on to make her third appearance for the Dutch.
Brugts scored again, from outside the area, when she fired into the opposite corner with a fierce 104km/h strike that gave Khong no chance.
Martens had a goal ruled offside by the VAR before Roord, who had also clattered the woodwork, headed in the seventh goal with seven minutes left.
Fowler finishes ‘attacking masterclass!’ | 00:30
AUSSIE STAJ STEPS DOWN
Philippines coach Alen Stajcic has left his post after the national team’s exit from their first Women’s World Cup, the Philippine Football Federation said on Tuesday.
The Philippines have shaken off their status as regional minnows since Aussie Stajcic’s appointment as coach in late 2021 — they have jumped from 68 in the FIFA rankings to a best-ever 46th.
The Philippines were not expected to get out of their group, but caused a major upset by beating co-hosts New Zealand for a historic first World Cup win before a 6-0 defeat to Norway on Sunday ended their adventure.
The Philippine Football Federation said Stajcic and assistant coach Nahuel Arrarte had “decided to explore other options” at the end of the World Cup campaign.
“Coach Alen Stajcic’s appointment as Philippine Women’s National Team head coach brought women’s football in the Philippines to new heights and hope,” PFF president Mariano Araneta said in a statement.
“Coach Alen showed full dedication to hone the Filipinas into a fighting team. He will long be remembered as the coach who trained and dared the team to win at any international competition,” Araneta said.
VAR drama amidst Tillies emphatic opener | 00:28
Under Stajcic, the Philippines made the semi-finals of the Women’s Asian Cup in early 2022, where they lost to South Korea but secured a historic World Cup berth.
They followed it up with bronze at the Southeast Asian Games last year, then won the regional AFF Women’s Championship on home soil.
Stajcic was a major reason for the Philippines’ improvement. He brought a wealth of experience after a playing and coaching career in Australia.
He coached Australia at the 2015 World Cup and took the Matildas to as high as fourth in the FIFA rankings, but was dumped despite guiding them to the 2019 tournament.
After the Philippines’ loss to Norway, Stajcic said he was “proud of the heart and spirit” of the team, but ducked questions about his future as coach.
“We will reflect on that for now and in the coming days we will start making plans for the future,” he said.
Stajcic has been linked to a swap to A-League Mens team Perth Glory.
Arsenal recovered from conceding the second fastest goal in Premier League history as Reiss Nelson’s stoppage-time strike gave the Premier League leaders a thrilling 3-2 win over Bournemouth.
Mikel Arteta’s side were trailing by two goals with just over half an hour left.
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But the Gunners showed they can cope with the pressure of the title race with a remarkable comeback that kept them five points ahead of second placed City.
“I’m incredibly happy. It was just mad. It was a really special win and it took until the last second to earn it,” Arteta said.
Arsenal hadn’t even touched the ball when Philip Billing gave second-bottom Bournemouth the lead after just 9.11 seconds with a clinical finish from inside the Gunners area.
The quickest goal in Premier League history was scored by Shane Long after 7.69 seconds for Southampton against Watford in 2019.
Arsenal fell further behind in the 57th minute as Marcos Senesi escaped Thomas Partey to glance a header past Aaron Ramsdale from a corner.
Reiss Nelson celebrates after scoring the winner for Arsenal deep in stoppage time. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Partey made amends for his slack marking five minutes later when he reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from Emile Smith-Rowe’s header.
Underlining their desire to win a first title since 2004, Arsenal seized the momentum and equalised through Ben White’s powerful finish from Nelson’s cross in the 70th minute.
Nelson completed Arsenal’s incredible revival in the seventh minute of stoppage-time when the substitute produced a superb finish from 20 yards to spark scenes of wild celebration all around the Emirates Stadium.
“They never gave up. We want to stay there (at the top) for as long as possible,” Arteta said.
Nelson’s late goal ensured the Gunners’ five-point lead at the top of the league remained intact. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)Source: AFP
CITY IN SCRAPPY WIN OVER TOON AS HAALAND FIRES UP
Earlier on Saturday, City rode their luck in a 2-0 win over Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium.
Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva scored the goals for the champions, who were let off the hook by a series of glaring misses from the visitors.
Sean Longstaff, Callum Wilson and Joelinton were all guilty of not even forcing Ederson into a save as fifth placed Newcastle suffered another blow to their hopes of a top-four finish.
“It was an incredibly good result for us because it was a tricky game,” City boss Pep Guardiola said.
It was a feisty occasion from both sides, with star striker Erling Haaland involved in a push-and-shove with towering Newcastle defender Dan Burn after the Norwegian took umbrage with Burn’s tackle on Jack Grealish.
Haaland and Burn got into it. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)Source: AFP
PRESSURE EASED ON POTTER AS $124M MAN SAVES BLUES
Wesley Fofana eased the pressure on Chelsea boss Graham Potter as the French defender sealed a 1-0 win against Leeds at Stamford Bridge.
Fofana put Chelsea in front with his first league goal for the club seven minutes after half-time, the former Leicester centre-back rising to head home from Ben Chilwell’s corner.
It was Chelsea’s first goal in 396 minutes and just their second in seven games in all competitions.
The 10th placed Blues held on for just their third win in their last 16 games in all competitions.
Ending a run of three successive defeats will give Potter a little breathing space ahead of Chelsea’s bid to overturn a 1-0 deficit in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against Borussia Dortmund.
“We’ve had to suffer. It’s been a challenging period. We were a team who had something to lose so it was great character from the players. It gives us something to build on,” Potter said.
Wesley Fofana scored Chelsea’s first goal in over 400 minutes of action. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
ELSEWHERE AROUND THE GROUNDS …
Fourth placed Tottenham’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League was rocked by a 1-0 defeat at Wolves.
Just days after losing 1-0 at second tier Sheffield United in the FA Cup fifth round, the north Londoners were beaten again as Adama Traore struck in the 82nd minute, driving the rebound in off the bar after Raul Jimenez’s effort was saved.
Brighton kept West Ham in relegation trouble with a 4-0 victory at the Amex Stadium.
Aston Villa beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at Villa Park, with Eagles defender Andersen scoring a 27th minute own goal before Palace’s Cheick Doucoure was sent off for two bookings in the second half.
Mikel Arteta admitted Premier League leaders Arsenal were “overwhelmed” by their emotionally draining 3-2 win against Bournemouth on Sunday (AEDT).
Arteta’s side fell two goals behind against lowly Bournemouth before battling back to secure a thrilling victory which keeps them five points clear of second placed Manchester City.
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It is the first time in over a decade that the Gunners have recovered from a two-goal deficit to win a league game.
Thomas Partey and Ben White struck to made it 2-2 before substitute Reiss Nelson netted deep into stoppage-time.
“Everybody is overwhelmed. It was madness from the first seconds with that routine and we defended so poorly,” Arteta said.
“Then we had to climb a mountain against 10 men behind the ball. We tried in every single way, we didn’t score and suddenly we are 2-0 down from a set play.”
Bournemouth led through Philip Billing, who scored the second-fastest goal in Premier League history as he turned home with just 9.11 seconds on the clock.
Reiss Nelson’s 97th-minute winner sparked jubilant scenes amongst the Gunners. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)Source: AFP
Marcos Senesi doubled the advantage after the break at the Emirates Stadium, but Arsenal showed the attitude of champions to secure a win that could prove a defining moment in the title race.
Nelson, 23, is out of contract this summer and was introduced off the bench for his first appearance since November 12, having also been sidelined with a thigh injury.
“It’s been a rough couple of months for me, just coming back from injury and when that goal went in it was a great moment for me,” Nelson told Sky Sports News.
“I have been here all my life. It means a lot to me. It was a great strike. I’m delighted with the goal and hope it is the first of many.”
Nelson set up White’s equaliser before scoring a superb 20-yard winner with the last meaningful kick of the contest as Arteta revealed he now has a selection headache.
“I always saw the potential (of Nelson). The talent and the desire for him to do it, but he’s at a different level right now. I think emotionally, the experiences that he had helped him,” Arteta said.
“Football-wise, it was my decision in the last two games not to play him because we had other options.
“But he was knocking on the door. He’s been training really good and it’s a good lesson for me and for the coaches that we need him and that he can be really important for the team.”
