Unai Emery concedes Arsenal struggled in their 1-0 win over Newcastle United but felt a collective team effort led to an ultimately deserved three points.

Arsenal came away from St James Park with a slender victory on Sunday thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang s strike just before the hour mark.

Aubameyang made the most of some slack defending from Newcastle to score what proved to be the winning goal in a game of few clear-cut chances.

After equalling last season s away clean sheets tally in their first match of the 2019-20 campaign, Emery targeted more shutouts if Arsenal are to improve on their fifth-place finish from last time out.

C L I N I C A L |

— Arsenal (@Arsenal)

I want to win. I want to score and I want to keep a clean s…

Kyle Walker says there is a family atmosphere within the England camp and that has played a big part in their march to the World Cup semi-finals.

For the first time in 28 years – and only the third time in history – an England team will be present in the last-four at football s global showpiece, Gareth Southgate s team having seen off Sweden in Saturday s quarter-final.

Croatia stand in the way of the Three Lions and a place in the final, the two nations going head-to-head in Moscow on Wednesday to earn the right to face France or Belgium.

England s progress is a long way from their group-stage exit at the last edition of the World Cup in Brazil, and their shock defeat to Iceland in the Euro 2016 round of 16.

And Walker says the spirit within the squa…

Erik ten Hag’s blushes were spared as Manchester United edged out Newport in the FA Cup fourth round on a day when crowd trouble marred the Black Country derby.

United raced into a two-goal lead at Rodney Parade as Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo struck inside the opening 13 minutes.

Sky Bet League Two side Newport battled back as a long-range deflected Bryn Morris effort halved the deficit before the break and Will Evans levelled two minutes after the restart.

But a strong United side fought back as Antony’s first goal of the season and a stoppage-time Rasmus Hojlund effort earned a 4-2 win.

The Football Association has launched a swift investigation as play was suspended during Wolves’ visit to rivals West Brom.

Play at The Hawthorns was…

The United States did well to recover from their opening match defeat and beat Cameroon 4-1 in their second game at the 2009 World Youth Championship.

USA went into half time with a 1-0 lead thanks to a 45th-minute goal from Bryan Arguez, and needed only two minutes after the break for Tony Taylor to double the advantage.

Dilly Duka added a third in minute 67, although a penalty goal from Banana Yaya restored the original gap nine minutes later.

The fourth and final American goal came from 19-year-old midfielder Brian Ownby near the full time whistle.

The US are now in second place in Group C, a point behind leaders Germany.

…

Ponte Preta have confirmed that Brazil youth international Leandrinho has signed for Napoli in a €600,000 deal.

The 18-year-old winger had spent time training with Maurizio Sarri s side this month after completing a medical ahead of the move.

Ponte have now ratified his departure, reaching an agreement with Napoli over a compensation fee.

President Vanderlei Pereira and I have been in Italy in person and after lengthy negotiations we have secured the payment which will be paid to Ponte in February, financial director Gustavo Valio told the club s official website.

Since the player didn t want to play for Ponte anymore and opted for the Italian team, we made every effort to ensure that Ponte s rights were respected and, once the sum is paid, we will wi…

the signing of Barcelona defender Lucas Digne after weeks of speculation. The 25-year-old will be joining the Merseyside club on a five-year deal that is believed to be worth around £18 million, although that could eventually rise to £20 million. The Toffees haven t been particularly busy so far this summer when it comes to bringing in new faces, but Digne signifies a huge sign of intent from the club as they attempt to force their way back into European competition.

Digne s main source of development really came during his eight years with Lille, during which time he worked his way up from the youth system to the first team. Following that he made the jump to Paris Saint-Germain which included a loan spell to Roma before the Spanish giants came calling in 2016. Digne was un…

In what was a pulsating affair from the Bernabeu on Tuesday night, Manchester City mounted a second-half comeback as they secured a first-leg 1-1 draw away at Real Madrid.

With all eyes falling on the Spanish capital for a blockbuster Champions League showdown, Pep Guardiola’s side were desperate to claim some European revenge following last season’s infamous semi-final exit.

However, with Brazilian ace Vinicius Junior recording his seventh Champions League strike of the season as the 22-year-old opened the scoring nine minutes before the break, it was far from plain sailing for the English giants.

Nevertheless, although the Sky Blues might have had to go about things the hard way in Spain, it was midfield talisman Kevin De Bruyne who eventually dragged City…

Marcus Rashford is a major doubt for Manchester United’s match against Wolves on Saturday, handing Erik ten Hag a new injury headache just as Raphael Varane returns after a month out.

Ten Hag said that Rashford, United’s top scorer this season with 29 goals, is struggling with a leg injury and is “more than doubtful” to play in a fixture United need to win to keep Liverpool at bay in the fight for a top-four place.

The injury comes at a time when United have been struggling for goals anyway, with only six in their last nine games.

“He’s a big question mark for tomorrow but we are happy Rafa is back,” the manager said.

United have a fresh injury concern ahead of Saturday. ||

— Manchester United (@ManUtd)

Varane has been …

Aston Villa s quest to end a 57-year drought without FA Cup success starts with a tricky third-round encounter against Sheffield United.

Only three teams can boast more FA Cup triumphs than Villa s haul of seven, but you have to go back as far as 1957 for the last time the club lifted the iconic trophy with a 2-1 victory over Manchester United.

The Midlands outfit did reach the final in 2000 under the management of John Gregory, but fell to a 1-0 defeat versus Chelsea courtesy of Roberto Di Matteo s second-half strike.

Manager Paul Lambert is charged with the task of bringing cup glory back to Villa, and the Scot will be hopeful of doing better than last year s effort when the side fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Millwall in the fourth round.

Villa head int…

Tottenham Hotspur have joined the race to sign Southampton full-back Nathaniel Clyne, .

The south-coast club are desperate to keep hold of the 24 year old, whose contract is set to expire in twelve month’s though a host of their Premier League rivals are keen to secure his services.

Manchester United and Chelsea have been linked with a move for the England international, who has forty appearances in all competitions for Saints this season, and now Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, who worked with the defender for one and a half seasons at St Mary’s, has thrown his hat into the ring.

Since signing from Crystal Palace in 2012, Clyne has played one hundred and two times in all competitions, scoring five goals, while he has been capped four times for his…