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Socrates Papastathopoulos believes Arsenal have been unlucky with VAR this season. Sokratis Papastathopoulos reckons Arsenal have been "unlucky" with VAR decisions this season. Papastathopoulos’ comment came after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was shown a red card in their 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace. The Gabon international, who broke the deadlock with his 14th Premier League goal of the campaign in the 12th minute, received a red card in the 67th minute after a VAR review overturned the initial yellow card - shown by referee Paul Tierney - following the rash tackle on the Crystal Palace midfielder. The incident took place after Palace had equalised through a deflection effort from Jordan Ayew. "VAR is there to help the referees," Sokratis told BT Sport after the London derby at Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon. "I didn't see the action but we are disappointed this year because we are a little bit unlucky from the VAR, we lost many points. "It's not against VAR or the referee, just we are unlucky."

Aubameyang, who broke the deadlock at Selhurst Park, was shown a straight red card for his foul on Meyer. Mikel Arteta says Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's rash challenge on Max Meyer in their 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace on Saturday "looked nasty". The Gunners boss believes the Gabon international had no intention to injure midfield star Meyer. Aubameyang, who broke the deadlock with his 14th Premier League goal of the campaign in the 12th minute, received a red card in the 67th minute after a VAR review overturned the initial yellow card following his rash tackle on the Crystal Palace player. "I just watched it and it looked nasty, to be fair," Arteta said after the draw at Selhurst Park. "Knowing Auba, there's no intention to make such a tackle. "Hopefully he hasn't been injured and we are sorry for that. The decision was made and we have to accept it."

Barca were thrashed 3-2 by Atletico in the Supercopa semi-final. Luis Suarez says Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde was not the reason why they lost to Atletico Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana. Two late goals helped Rojiblancos seal an impressive 3-2 win over the LaLiga champions in Saudi Arabia on Thursday. The result fuelled speculation suggesting Valverde could be on the brink of getting the sack at the Camp Nou, but Suarez leaped to the 55-year-old's defence. "[Valverde] is not to blame, the mistakes were ours and we can't make them," Suarez said as Marca reported. "I do not know if they are defeats that help us grow, [but] this defeat shows that there are things to correct. "It shows us that there are mistakes that cannot be committed because we were in control of the game and we have allowed them to hit us on the counter-attack."

The 19-year-old is one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe after shinning for Salzburg - where he scored 28 goals in 22 matches this season. Marco Reus has heaped praise on his new Borussia Dortmund team-mate Erling Braut Haaland. The Germany international believes Haaland has the attributes to become a world class striker like Robert Lewandowski. The 19-year-old is one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe after shinning for Red Bull Salzburg - where he scored 28 goals in 22 matches this season. Premier League giants Manchester United, Serie A champions Juventus and RB Leipzig were among the clubs said to be interested in the 19-year-old before Die Borussen eventually sealed his services for a reported fee of €20million. "He's very open-minded and it's important to get to know everyone first - a training camp like this is ideal," Reus told Sky Deutschland. "Now it's about getting really fit, arriving properly. It will take time, we'll give it to him. He just gives us another input, another way we can play. "I don't think we have had this type of player since Lewy [Lewandowski]. He gives us the opportunity to be more flexible and able to react to different scores. "It makes us feel good. Now he has to get well and get to know everyone properly - we have to, too. We have to go with him and his strengths, but that will all happen over time. "Paco [Alcacer] really boomed at the beginning, then he was injured longer. Then the coach decided differently. "As I said, Haaland gives us many opportunities to play football, but ultimately the coach has to decide who will be used. "For me and other players, we have new options with Haaland, sometimes long balls. In football it's important to be flexible and we have achieved that. "We have now got a very good striker and with it new options, so we're well positioned."

The north London side have been linked with a few players across Europe including Gedson Fernandes and Krzysztof Piatek. Jose Mourinho is hopeful Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy can secure a "solution" as they will be without star striker Harry Kane for a few months. Mourinho is optimistic the Spurs chairman can find a player who can fill the void left by the England international - who has been sidelined until April due to a hamstring injury. The north London side have been linked with a few players across Europe in the current transfer window, with Gedson Fernandes of Benfica and Milan striker Krzysztof Piatek rumoured to be key targets. Mourinho's side have been able to secure only one win in five matches across all competitions. Speaking ahead of Saturday's clash with Premier League leaders Liverpool, he said as the Evening Express reported: "Even the coaches without injuries, without problems in the squad, the coaches with the best squads – let's say Jurgen [Klopp, Liverpool manager], with the best team, with amazing players and an amazing squad, he was happy to get a new player [Takumi Minamino]. "We [managers] are all the same, but the reality is when I came here two months ago, I knew the situation. "I didn't know that of course I was going to be without Kane and Moussa for so long, but I knew that the situation was about trying to get the best out of the players we have, and that doesn't change, so I'm focused on the work, the game. "If the boss [Levy] arrives with a solution that can help us to face these difficult months that we are going to have ahead of us, so be it, that's welcome, but if we don't find the right solution, right opportunity, then we are going to wait for the next summer to make the right decisions for the evolution of the team. "January is a strange market, it's not an easy market to be in. It's a market of opportunity, a market where an opportunity arises and you have the conditions to do it or you do not do it. We have to be calm and not think about the market – let the market think about us."

Two goals in the final nine minutes helped Rojiblancos seal a 3-2 win over Barca in Saudi Arabia. Diego Simeone praised his Atletico Madrid warriors for securing the "almost impossible" to beat Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana semi-finals. Two goals in the final nine minutes helped Rojiblancos seal a 3-2 win over Barca in Saudi Arabia on Thursday as they booked their place in the finals of the competition [against rivals Real Madrid]. "I think we must live it with calmness, that we qualified for the final. It is important for the supporters, it is important for the club, it is important for the players," the Argentine said as Goal reported. "It was a very tough game against one of the best teams in the world. They are the best when it comes to possession, and to attack with it. "We suffered quite a lot during the first half. I think the second half was different, they kept their intensity and had chances until the 75tth minute, when something appeared that will always distinguish Atletico Madrid – the heart, the strength and the belief. "We faced a difficult situation, almost impossible. But, we had the feeling that if we could get an equaliser, we could win the game, and that's what happened."

The most expensive defender in the world is set to return to the Manchester United team to face The Canaries. Harry Maguire could be in the Manchester United side that will face Norwich City on Saturday despite reports suggesting the England international could be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a hip injury. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed in his pre-match news conference on Friday that the most expensive defender in the world is set to return to the United team that will face The Canaries at Old Trafford tomorrow afternoon. "He's got a chance for tomorrow," Solskjaer said as the Evening Express reported. "It was a minor thing. "I don't know where the reports are coming from, you might've mistaken him for Harry Kane. No, he has a chance. We'll go through training and see how he reacts. "It's not a surprise [that Maguire may be ready to play]. He's a warrior and if there's a minor problem he'll put himself up to play. That's what he did against Wolves. At half-time he was feeling discomfort but was adamant he'd be fine. "He was close to playing against City, just not fit enough, but he's got a chance now."

Rumours suggest that Young could be on his way to Serie A side Inter Milan once his current deal expires at the end of the season. Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hasn't had a conversation with Ashley Young regarding reports linking the defender with a move away from Old Trafford. Rumours suggest that Young could be on his way to Serie A side Inter Milan once his current deal expires at the end of the season. While the Mirror reported today that the former Watford winger is unhappy with the club's chiefs after they blocked his transfer to Inter during the current transfer window. Speaking ahead of Saturday's clash against Norwich City at Old Trafford, Solskjaer didn't have much to say about the speculation surrounding the 34-year-old. "He's one of our players," Solskjaer replied when quizzed for an update on Young's future as the Mirror quoted. "He's our captain. "There's loads of speculation and we've just got to handle it - we're getting used to that in the club - and Ashley's been very professional and focused, so I don't think that's going to change. "That [Young's future] is a discussion that me and Ash will have if something comes up. We haven't got too many players fit and ready, so we need the ones we have. "Ashley's been very, very good for this club, he's been a very good captain this season, so let's see where we are in June and see where we are in February as well."

Vidal won three straight Serie A titles playing for Juventus under now-Inter boss Antonio Conte. Inter Milan chief executive Giuseppe Marotta has admitted they are interested in securing the services of Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal this January. The 32-year-old, who has made just four LaLiga starts this season, has been linked with a move to the Serie A club. However, Marotta reckons signing the Chile star is one of Inter's objectives. "Vidal? It is one of Inter's objectives," he said as time24news reported on Thursday. "In this month, the most important things close at the end of January. We are working to raise the quality level of our group. "You need to hit important goals and this means having great difficulties." Vidal won three straight Serie A titles playing for Juventus under now-Inter boss Antonio Conte.

The 27-year-old had reportedly agreed terms with Hertha Berlin, but Arteta seems to have changed the Switzerland international's mind. Mikel Arteta has finally convinced Granit Xhaka to stay at Arsenal after telling the midfielder that 'he could enjoy in this football club playing under me'. Xhaka was eager to leave the Gunners this January after he was replaced as club captain by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang following a confrontation with the Arsenal fans at the Emirates in October. According to widespread reports, the 27-year-old had reportedly agreed terms with Hertha Berlin, but Arteta seems to have changed the Switzerland international's mind. "The first message for him was that I wanted to understand how he was feeling, why he was feeling that way," Arteta said as the Metro reported. "I wanted him to hear from me my opinion on him, and that I was ready to support him and that I was ready to push the club to be supportive of him too, because I thought he could be a really, really good player for us and he could enjoy in this football club playing under me. "I tried to convince him that way. He thought about it, he had a very positive response afterwards and I think he changed his mind."

The Foxes are under no pressure to cash in on Maddison. James Maddison will remain at Leicester City beyond this January, according to Brendan Rodgers. The midfielder has been constantly linked with a move to Manchester United in recent months but Rodgers says the Foxes will not let the England international leave in the current transfer window. "There's no pressure to sell and no need to sell," Rodgers told reporters as the Daily Mail reported. "James is a very talented player and he will be here in January and beyond. "He's a player we're keen to remain here and help us on this journey over the next years. James and his representatives are speaking with the club and these things take time. "We want to add to the squad if we can. It all comes down to availability. We've got a really strong squad and lots of them are young players evolving. "We want to [sign players] but if we can't we'll continue with the squad we've got and look to reinforce in the summer."

Pep Guardiola's Citizens have a 3-1 advantage over rivals Manchester United. Marcus Rashford has issued a rallying cry to his Manchester United teammates, asking them to draw inspiration from their Champions League comeback win against PSG last season in order to book a place in the EFL Cup final. Pep Guardiola's Citizens have a 3-1 advantage over their rivals United, just like the Reds found themselves in March last year when they travelled to face Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain in a last-16 tie after losing 2-0 at Old Trafford. On that night at the Parc des Princes, Rashford's penalty sealed a 3-1 win as United progressed to the quarter-finals on away goals. However, Rashford, who pulled one back for United last night, is hoping they can turn the result (against City) around when they visit the Etihad Stadium in three weeks time. "It is a different game with different players, but what we found in Paris we have to find that within us again," he told the club's official website. "We have to go there, score goals and win the game. I think we are capable of doing it. But let's just focus on [Saturday's Premier League game against] Norwich for now and hopefully we can put this result behind us to bring the positivity back."