Arsenal have opened contract talks with Jurrien Timber, with head coach Mikel Arteta hailing the 24-year-old’s contribution as “phenomenal”. The Netherlands international has been one of Arsenal’s most consistent performers this season. More from @gunnerblog.bsky.social ⬇️

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente says he took “zero risks” with Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal’s fitness during the September international break. More from @dermotmcorrigan.bsky.social ⬇️ 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Should Adam Wharton have been named in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the games against Wales and Latvia?

The start to Ange Postecoglou’s tenure is the worst of any permanent Nottingham Forest manager in a hundred years. The City Ground’s first taste of European football in three decades was meant to be much sweeter than this. 🔗 https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6685370/?source=bsky_uk

England have named their squad for games with Wales and Latvia with no places for Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden or Jack Grealish. 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

FIFA will charge both sellers and buyers a 15 per cent fee on its official 2026 World Cup ticket resale platform, which launched on Thursday and almost immediately had some tickets listed for tens of thousands of dollars. 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Samsunspor's Zeki Yavru went down in the 90th minute, with the Turkish side winning 1-0. Legia Warszawa's Artur Jedrzejczyk was unimpressed and started to drag him off the pitch so the game could resume.

Ange Postecoglou has become the first permanent Nottingham Forest manager for 100 years to fail to win any of his first six games in charge of the club. [@OptaJoe.com]

Nottingham Forest's first home game in Europe since 1996 ends in defeat. It means after six games in charge, Ange Postecoglou is still looking for his first win since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo.

FT: Feyenoord 0-2 #AVFC Three wins in seven days and Villa are getting back what they had previously. An exceptional 2nd half display against the Eredivisie leaders. Intelligent changes and gameplan, helped by taking chances. The spine was impressive-Bizot, CBs, Kamara, Buendia

Excellent from #AVFC. Killed the atmosphere, controlled the game, flattened Feyenoord's attacks & spirit. Pau shows good composure initially but then it's all about Malen - he tussles with the booked Ahmedhodzic & drives into the box. The ball falls to mcGinn who slots it in. 2-0

HT: Feyenoord 0-0 #AVFC Villa lucky to go in goalless in a generally flawed half. Feyenoord have had 13 shots to 3 & threaten but can be vulnerable out of possession, unsure of defending Villa's 10s. Emery has to adjust at HT, build more controlled & just be sharper all-round

Marco Bizot is saving Villa, here. #AVFC simply have to heed their multiple warnings. Stop playing loose passes centrally... What is quite frustrating is that Villa can be threatening if they managed to string a few passes together

Nottingham Forest are 2-1 down to Midtjylland in the Europa League. And as seen with Ange Postecoglou's sides before, both goals were conceded from set pieces.

Crystal Palace begin their European campaign with three points against Dynamo Kyiv — and set a new club-record unbeaten run of 19 games 🦅

❌ Artem Dovbyk ❌ Artem Dovbyk ❌ Matias Soule Three times Roma took their penalty against Lille. Each time, Berke Ozer saved it.

Full-time in Lublin and Palace have a first ever victory in a major European competition. Palace 2-0 Dynamo Kyiv The travelling supporters are absolutely loving this #CPFC

Crystal Palace have the lead against Dynamo Kyiv at half-time. Daniel Munoz's terrific header has given Oliver Glasner's side the advantage in Poland.

Half-time: Dynamo Kyiv 0-1 Palace Palace not troubled by the hosts so far but haven't created a huge number of clear chances themselves #CPFC

The latest projections for this season's Champions League are in — and after matchday two, Arsenal are favourites to win the tournament. 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

🚨 Alisson likely to return for Liverpool after November international break following hamstring injury. 33yo had scan today & set to spend ~6wks out - could see Brazil goalkeeper miss #CFC #MUFC #RMFC #MCFC. #LFC yet to confirm 🚨 @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

GOAL! Great cross from Yeremy Pino to the back of the area and Daniel Munoz loops a header across goal into the back of the net. Fantastic header too. Dynamo Kyiv 0-1 Palace #CPFC

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson will likely be out until the November international break after sustaining a hamstring injury. Alisson could miss games against Manchester United, Real Madrid and Manchester City. More from @david-ornstein.bsky.social & @greggevans40.bsky.social

A former Football League assistant referee has been sentenced to 13 and a half years in prison after he pleaded guilty to 16 sexual offences against three 15-year-old girls.

Barcelona’s next home Champions League match will be played at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Montjuic, with the Camp Nou still not an option. More from @polballus.bsky.social ⤵️ 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

👊 PSG's statement win over Barcelona 🏆 World Cup ticket prices unveiled (spoiler: they're expensive) 👀 LAFC's big MLS Cup chance @philhay.bsky.social is here with today's TAFC - your essential guide to the news and views around the global game ⤵️

Nick Woltemade's Champions League debut for Newcastle was another riposte to the hubbub that has surrounded his move to St James’ Park. His quality will take some unlocking, but Eddie Howe and the club know they have a star on their hands. 📝 @georgecaulkin.bsky.social 🔗 bit.ly/4nBOWI0

🛑 Nine games, three goals conceded, just one from open play. For all the analysis of Arsenal’s new-look attack, their defensive record is what provides them with the potential platform for success. @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Despite the chaos in the last minute, Manchester City's performance at Monaco was actually their most calm and controlled performance of the season to date. Yet there are still a few too many moving parts to achieve the consistency over a full match. That is still to come. 🔗 bit.ly/4nBOxFu

Across nine competitive matches this season, Arsenal have conceded just three goals and just a single goal in open play, scored by Erling Haaland. Generally, it takes something special to breach this Arsenal defence. ✍️ @gunnerblog.bsky.social 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

FIFA tightly guarded 2026 World Cup ticket prices. Now, The Athletic reveals costs for each game, at each venue, at every stage of the tournament.

The vast majority of 2026 World Cup tickets will cost fans hundreds of dollars, and most upper-deck seats at the final cost either $2,790 or $4,210, according to fans who won the opportunity to purchase tickets on the opening day of sales. 🔗 https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6680752/?source=bsky_uk

Liverpool are waiting to learn the extent of the hamstring injury sustained by Alisson against Galatasaray in the Champions League. The Brazil international is set to undergo a scan on Thursday amid fears he could miss some crucial fixtures later this month.

Just as Manchester City looked like they were at the finish line, VAR intervened in the 89th minute to hand Monaco a late penalty. The French side tested Gianluigi Donnarumma on several occasions, and were rewarded in the closing minutes when Nico Gonzalez was penalised for a high boot.

Goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka in stoppage time gave Arsenal their first home win against Olympiacos since 2012. Mikel Arteta's side have now won each of their last six games in the group/league phase of the Champions League, their longest run since December 2004 and November 2005.

Rasmus Hojlund is enjoying the service he is getting in Naples. Kevin De Bruyne twice assisted the Manchester United loanee as Napoli beat Sporting CP 2-1 at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. It's now three goals in five games since the Dane made the switch to Campania.

No Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratshkelia, Marquinhos, Joao Neves... Yet Paris Saint-Germain were still able to beat Barcelona away from home. A hugely impressive victory from Luis Enrique's side — Goncalo Ramos' 90th-minute strike proved the difference.

Was Nuno Mendes fortunate not to receive a second yellow card for a foul on Lamine Yamal?

Federico Gatti's overhead kick drew Juventus level away against Villarreal. Not bad for a centre-back. Juve now lead 2-1 courtesy of Francisco Conceicao.

Erling Haaland had just seven touches in the first half of Manchester City's Champions League clash against Monaco. His first was a goal. His second was him taking kick-off following Monaco's equaliser. His seventh saw him double his tally for the evening with a fine header.

Kevin De Bruyne picked up the ball on the edge of Napoli's penalty area, surged to the halfway line and played in Rasmus Hojlund, who finished with composure to give his side the lead against Sporting. The Manchester City legend and Manchester United loanee are linking up well in Naples.

Nuno Mendes' driving run ends with him playing in Senny Mayulu, who equalises for Paris Saint-Germain against Barcelona. The 19-year-old, who scored PSG's fifth in the Champions League final against Inter, is deputising for Ousmane Dembele to great effect.

Erling Haaland's 51st Champions League goal in 50 appearances gave Manchester City the lead against Monaco, but it did not last long. Jordan Teze's stunner just three minutes later has brought the home side level.

Gabriel Martinelli has given Arsenal the lead against Olympiacos at the Emirates Stadium. The Brazilian has three goals in his last four games, having now scored in both Champions League games so far this season.

Ferran Torres, denied a few minutes before by Illia Zabarnyi's magnificent last-ditch block, puts Barcelona in front against Paris Saint-Germain. The Spaniard finishes Marcus Rashford's sublime pass with aplomb — he is one shy of 50 goals for Barca.

Luis Figo is at Barcelona vs. Paris Saint-Germain this evening. Barca supporters still haven't forgiven him for leaving the club for Real Madrid in 2000.

Olympiacos have beaten Arsenal on each of their last three visits to the Emirates Stadium. You have to go back to 2012 for Arsenal's last home win against the Greek club, with Gervinho, Lukas Podolski and Aaron Ramsey on the scoresheet in a 3-1 win in the Champions League.

Two Anthony Gordon penalties, a combined effort from Sandro Tonali and Nick Woltemade and Harvey Barnes' strike see Newcastle United earn three points away against Union Saint-Gilloise. It's their biggest Champions League win in the competition proper.

Newcastle United lead Union Saint-Gilloise — Sandro Tonali's deflected effort finds its way into the back of the net. Did Nick Woltemade get any sort of touch? The travelling fans won't care...

Manchester United are exploring the possibility of playing a mid-season friendly in Saudi Arabia. Talks with relevant stakeholders are at an early stage and there is no guarantee a game will be arranged. Exclusive from @lauriewhitwell.bsky.social ⤵️ 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/662...