Aaron Ramsey has been appointed as the manager of Cardiff City until the end of the season, becoming the latest former Arsenal player to transition into a managerial role.

Ramsey was widely regarded as one of the standout performers during his time at the Emirates Stadium, where he played between 2008 and 2019. His departure from Arsenal was a challenging moment for both the club and its supporters, as efforts were made to retain him. Ultimately, however, the midfielder left on a free transfer to join Juventus.

Following his move to the Italian giants, Ramsey endured a difficult period marked by inconsistency and fitness struggles, which impacted the latter stages of his playing career. In 2023, he returned to Cardiff City, the club where he began his professional journey. Since his return, however, he has continued to deal with ongoing fitness issues that have limited his time on the pitch.

Despite those setbacks, Ramsey has now been named as the club’s caretaker manager. Cardiff City currently find themselves in a perilous position, sitting 23rd in the Championship table, just one place above the bottom. With only a few matches remaining, the team faces the daunting task of needing to win their remaining fixtures to have any hope of avoiding relegation.

As cited by Metro Sports, the club is placing its faith in Ramsey to inspire a turnaround. There is hope that his leadership, experience, and connection to the club could galvanise the squad at this crucial stage of the season.

Liverpool is undoubtedly keeping a close eye on the Premier League title race, with Arsenal continuing to apply pressure at the top of the table.

Although the Reds require just six more points to secure the title, Arsenal have been the one team to consistently challenge their dominance this season. The Gunners have provided stern competition throughout the campaign, ensuring that Liverpool has not had an easy path to the top.

In recent weeks, Arsenal have dropped points in the league, largely as a result of shifting their focus towards success in the UEFA Champions League. Nevertheless, their domestic form for the majority of the season has been commendable, and many neutrals would acknowledge the role they have played in keeping the title race competitive and compelling.

As the season enters its final phase, Mikel Arteta’s side is expected to continue pushing Liverpool until the very end. Despite the mounting pressure, Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai insists that his team are not overly concerned with Arsenal’s progress and remains focused on its own objectives.

As cited by the Liverpool Echo, Szoboszlai stated:

Arsenal could find themselves in direct competition with Real Madrid this summer, as both clubs look to strengthen their squads with key additions from La Liga.

The Gunners have held a long-standing interest in Real Sociedad midfielder Martín Zubimendi, who has emerged as one of the most coveted central midfielders in Europe. Arsenal considers the Spaniard a perfect fit for Mikel Arteta’s system and has been monitoring his development closely for months.

However, Real Madrid are now reported to be strongly considering a move for the 26-year-old as they seek long-term replacements for their ageing midfield stars. With several top clubs also tracking Zubimendi, Arsenal may find it difficult to win the race for his signature unless they act decisively at the end of the campaign.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are also pursuing another Spanish talent in Espanyol goalkeeper Joan García. The 23-year-old has impressed with his performances in La Liga and is seen as one of Spain’s most promising young shot-stoppers.

According to COPE, Arsenal were close to signing García last summer, and the club have maintained their interest ever since. However, Real Madrid have now joined the race, reportedly viewing García as a potential future replacement or competition for Andriy Lunin, should current number one Thibaut Courtois struggle to regain form after injury.

Viktor Gyökeres continues to enhance his reputation as one of Europe’s most prolific strikers, attracting attention from several elite clubs ahead of the summer transfer window. The Swedish international has been in blistering form this season, and his ability to find the net with remarkable consistency has made him one of the most sought-after players in European football.

Clubs across the continent are monitoring his situation closely, and it is no surprise that Premier League giants are among those keen on securing his signature. Gyökeres boasts an extraordinary goal return, having scored more goals than games played for Sporting CP in the current campaign. That level of output naturally appeals to top-tier teams looking to bolster their attacking options.

Arsenal is one of the sides leading the charge. The Gunners have tracked Gyökeres for months and view him as the ideal candidate to strengthen their forward line. With questions over the long-term suitability of Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz in the number nine role, Mikel Arteta’s side is expected to invest heavily in a top-class striker. The Swedish forward fits the profile, combining physical presence with sharp finishing and intelligent movement.

However, Arsenal are not alone in their admiration. Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea have all been linked with a potential move for the prolific forward. Despite the widespread interest, recent developments could work in Arsenal’s favour.

According to TeamTalk, Chelsea have already made contact with the striker’s representatives, only to be informed that Gyökeres would prefer a move to clubs such as Arsenal, Liverpool, or Manchester City. This revelation significantly strengthens Arsenal’s position, effectively removing one of their main domestic rivals from the competition for his signature.

Rio Ferdinand has made the bold suggestion that Manchester United could have secured the signing of Declan Rice ahead of Arsenal, had they taken the opportunity more seriously. Arsenal shattered their transfer record to acquire the England international last summer, and he has since proven to be an exceptional addition to Mikel Arteta’s squad.

Rice has made a significant impact since his arrival at the Emirates Stadium. His influence has been evident in both domestic and European competitions, including a standout performance in the Champions League quarter-finals against Real Madrid. He played a pivotal role in the first leg, which Arsenal won, and continued his strong form in the second leg, earning the Man of the Match award as the Gunners secured their progression to the semi-finals.

Given Rice’s consistent quality and ability to perform in crucial moments, there has been little criticism of the club’s decision to invest over €100 million in securing his services. On the contrary, he has quickly become one of the most important players in the squad and is widely regarded as worth every penny.

While Arsenal successfully fended off competition from Manchester City and other top clubs to land Rice, Ferdinand believes Manchester United missed a golden opportunity. As quoted by the Daily Mail, Ferdinand stated: “I think, and I will stand by this, if Man United had come to the table with a chequebook and said, ‘we’ll match what Arsenal pay’, I think Declan Rice would have chosen Man United.”

Ferdinand’s comments have sparked debate, but Arsenal supporters will be confident that Rice made his decision based on footballing reasons rather than financial motivations. The midfielder has consistently expressed satisfaction with his development under Arteta, and the environment at Arsenal appears to suit his playing style and ambitions.

In January, Arsenal made a formal approach to Aston Villa in an attempt to secure the signing of Ollie Watkins. However, according to Aston Villa, the striker was not available for transfer at the time. The Midlands club had already sanctioned the sale of Jhon Durán and were determined to retain Watkins for the remainder of the season. As a result, no financial offer from Arsenal was enough to convince them to part ways with their star forward.

Watkins has long been admired by the Gunners, and reports suggest he would be open to a move to the Emirates Stadium. With the summer transfer window approaching, Arsenal are expected to revisit their interest, potentially testing Aston Villa’s resolve once again.

Nevertheless, the Gunners may no longer be the only side pursuing his signature. As cited by Football Insider, Liverpool is now also interested in signing Watkins and is preparing to compete with Arsenal for the striker when the transfer window reopens. The Merseyside club could look to refresh their attacking options, with speculation suggesting that Darwin Núñez and Diogo Jota may be moved on at the end of the current campaign.

Liverpool’s reported interest in Watkins reflects his rising status as one of the most consistent and effective forwards in English football. His performances for Aston Villa this season have further enhanced his reputation, making him a desirable option for any top Premier League side seeking a reliable goalscorer.

As clubs prepare to reshape their squads during the summer, Watkins is likely to attract serious attention, not just from Arsenal and Liverpool, but potentially from other elite teams as well. However, if Arsenal remain firmly interested, their longstanding admiration for the player, coupled with his reported affinity for the club, could place them in a strong position.

Arsenal’s recent domestic performances suggest a shift in focus, with the Gunners appearing to prioritise their Champions League campaign. Having advanced to the semi-finals of Europe’s elite competition, Mikel Arteta’s side seems intent on achieving continental success, even as their league form begins to waver.

The Gunners have dropped points in recent Premier League matches, allowing rivals to close the gap below them in the standings. Meanwhile, Liverpool has continued to collect victories, and as things stand, they could potentially be crowned Premier League champions as early as this weekend. This scenario reflects the consequences of Arsenal’s inconsistent league form in recent weeks.

Although Champions League glory is clearly a major objective, Arteta would still want his team to remain competitive domestically. A strong league finish is crucial, both in terms of securing Champions League qualification for next season and maintaining momentum ahead of the European semi-finals.

This weekend, Arsenal travel to face Ipswich Town, a fixture that could present challenges if the Gunners adopt a complacent approach. Ipswich, who are still battling in the lower half of the table, have everything to play for and are expected to put up a determined fight.

Former Gunner Paul Merson has urged the team to take the match seriously and avoid dropping further points. Writing for Sportskeeda, Merson stated: “I think Arsenal should just try to get maximum points from their remaining games even if they can’t win the Premier League title anymore.

Arsenal are set to face Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town in the Premier League this weekend, with the Gunners aiming to return to winning ways in domestic competition. Recent results have seen Mikel Arteta’s side lose ground in the title race, raising questions about whether they have shifted focus toward their Champions League ambitions.

While competing on multiple fronts is no easy task, Arsenal’s recent dip in form has come at a critical stage of the campaign. With dropped points in recent fixtures, they now risk slipping further down the table, potentially falling out of the top three should the trend continue. Securing a strong league position remains vital, not only for pride but also for ensuring qualification and momentum ahead of their European fixtures.

Ipswich find themselves in a precarious position near the bottom of the table. A defeat to Arsenal, combined with unfavourable results elsewhere, could see them relegated from the top flight. As such, the urgency and motivation for Ipswich to deliver a result are unquestionable.

Despite the challenges facing his side, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna remains determined to inspire a positive performance. As cited by Arsenal Media, McKenna commented: “We have full respect for them. Of course we have to prepare thoroughly and we know the game is going to take a lot, but also we’ve shown against some of the better teams this year that we can be competitive against lots of teams in this division.

“We’re excited for the game, three more at Portman Road in the league this year and we want to try to finish on some really big performances and hopefully big results. They wouldn’t come much bigger than what we’re trying to get on Sunday.”

At some point—most likely at the end of the season—I will be reviewing the various outlets that provide football content.

However, while watching Wednesday’s Champions League tie, TNT’s presentation was so poor it could not be ignored.

To begin with, viewers were left wondering why the official was walking over to the monitor, with the commentators unable to fill in the gaps—you know, like they are paid to do!

Then, despite VAR taking minutes to review two penalty claims, none of the commentators were willing to take a firm stance on whether a foul had occurred. Two out of three of them were ex-footballers—again, that is literally their job!

Then came the full-time analysis…