Bukayo Saka hailed Arsenal’s thrashing of West Ham on Sunday as a “statement” win in their title challenge.

Having seen rivals Liverpool and Manchester City win a day earlier, the Gunners ensured the gap at the top remained at two points as they recorded their biggest Premier League away win with a 6-0 victory at the London Stadium.

Saka scored twice, including a penalty having missed a crucial spot-kick in the same game last season, while William Saliba, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Magalhaes and former West Ham captain Declan Rice completed the rout.

It was one of the most eye-catching performances of Mikel Arteta’s reign as Arsenal boss and Saka feels it also sent a message to those in the title race.

“We knew this was a big game and it was real…

Inter Milan defender Francesco Acerbi continues to be assessed after limping out of Saturday’s 4-2 Serie A victory at Roma.

The 36-year-old Italy international has undergone tests which have identified a “slight muscle strain” and his condition will be monitored ahead of Friday’s league clash with lowly Salernitana and the Champions League showdown with Atletico Madrid which follows next Tuesday.

A statement on the club’s official website said: “Francesco Acerbi underwent medical tests this morning (Monday) at the Istituto Clinico Humanitas in Rozzano.

Francesco Acerbi s condition

— Inter (@Inter_en)

“The Nerazzurri defender has a slight muscle strain in his right leg. His condition will be assessed over the coming days.”

…

The Seattle Sounders kept their playoff hopes alive by salvaging an important point in their 1-1 draw against Cincinnati on Tuesday.

Cincinnati were the better of the two sides based on expected goal data, tallying 1.98 expected goals compared to just 0.36 for Seattle in front of their home fans.

The visiting side took the lead in the 24th minute when Brandon Vasquez was able to take advantage of the Sounders high defensive line, slipping a ball through for Brenner to run onto and he made no mistake with his one-on-one, calmly side-footing it inside the far post.

Seattle nearly equalised through a set-piece in the 35th minute, with Will Bruin rising well to send his header towards the bottom-left corner, only for Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano to deny him …

Karim Benzema has been the target of significant criticism from Real Madrid fans in the last few years, but his former coach Zinedine Zidane was grateful for the striker s selflessness.

Benzema started to come under fire during the 2016-17 season, when he only managed to score 11 LaLiga goals, 13 fewer than he managed in the previous campaign.

Things only got worse for Benzema last term, as he netted just five times in the league and was the subject of jeers from Madrid fans on several occasions.

Following the pre-season departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema already appears to be rediscovering his touch in front of goal, having scored four in three LaLiga outings.

33 Karim Benzema has scored against every 33 teams he has faced in his career in La Liga (…

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has played down rumours the club are interested in a move for Southampton s Victor Wanyama.

Kenya international Wanyama has impressed since joining the south-coast club from Celtic in 2013, and has often been linked with a switch away from St Mary s Stadium.

Media reports on Friday claimed that the midfielder had become a top priority for Arsenal, but Wenger scotched such talk in a news conference ahead of the weekend s Premier League meeting with Aston Villa.

I rate the player but we are not on the case, he said.

We will see what is there [in January]. We have a whole December to go first.

The rumours surrounding Wanyama come at a time that has seen Arsenal ravaged by injuries, with the likes of Mikel Arteta, San…

Arsenal close on Aleksandr Kokorin

Russian daily newspaper that Arsenal are stepping up their efforts to sign Dynamo Moscow star Aleksandr Kokorin.

With several star players currently sidelined through injury, the Gunners are on the lookout for attacking reinforcements and they appear to have reignited the interest in their long-term target.

Namely, with Kokorin s current contract due to expire at the end of the season, Dynamo have no choice but to sell in January and they would reportedly settle for €6 million.

Izvestia claims that the two clubs are currently in talks over the transfer fee, and an agreement could be reached soon.

Aleksandr Kokorin has been one of Russia s leading players for several years now and he has 50 goals and 26 assist…

France coach Raymond Domenech on Monday announced his World Cup squad from which only one player, likely to be a defender, will be omitted in the coming days.

A 24-man squad, whittled down from a list of 30 revealed last week, will next week take part in a three-day training camp at altitude in the French ski resort of Tignes.

Domenech is scheduled to announce his definitive 23-man squad on May 27, prior to their departure for a second training camp in Tunisia.

Among the most notable absentees from the 24-man squad are Marseille striker Hatem Ben Arfa and Lille goalkeeper Mickael Landreau.

Defenders Adil Rami and Rod Fanni, midfielder Yann Mvila and striker Jimmy Briand were also among the six players stripped from the 30-man squad.

Among those r…

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored with three minutes remaining to give Manchester United a thrilling 3-2 victory over Southampton in the EFL Cup final.

A dramatic contest at Wembley was settled when Ibrahimovic headed in Ander Herrera s cross just as the game appeared destined to move into extra time.

A controversial and thrilling match saw Southampton have Manolo Gabbiadini s strike wrongly ruled out for offside before Ibrahimovic struck with an impressive free-kick at the other end.

Jesse Lingard got the second, finding the bottom-right corner after a neat team move to net on his third consecutive Wembley appearance for United, before Gabbiadini got a goal that did count in first-half stoppage time.

Gabbiadini made it five goals in three Saints matches with hi…

Emile Heskey has dismissed Liverpool s title chances because he fears they will be unable to keep pace with relentless Manchester City.

The Premier League returns this weekend, with City already flying high and on the coat-tails of early leaders Arsenal.

Pep Guardiola s City team are undefeated with five wins and two draws so far, plus a league-high goal difference of plus 17, six better than any other side.

By contrast, Jurgen Klopp s Liverpool have won only two of six games to date, struggling to match the high standards they set when pushing City all the way to the final day in last season s championship.

Former Reds striker Heskey declared Liverpool are probably not in this season s title race, telling Stats Perform: I think their main focus is top fo…

Porto striker Jackson Martinez has completed his move to Atletico Madrid, his agent Luiz Henrique Pompeo has revealed.

The Colombia international currently in action at the Copa America in Chile had looked set to join Milan, with Premier League side Arsenal also apparently interested.

However, amid speculation of a bid from Atletico, Pompeo has stated the deal has been finalised, with the Spanish club having this week seen striker Mario Mandzukic head for Juventus.

It was finalised today, Pompeo told AS on Tuesday.

We want to thank Milan for their interest right up the end, we feel very honoured by it, but you can t be in two places at once.

[Atletico is] a very big club, which has done important things in the league and in Europe. Jackson …