Arsenal Defender Gabriel Could Return against Everton, Says Boss Arteta

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Arsenal - London Stadium, London, Britain - November 30, 2024 Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley/ File Photo
Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Arsenal - London Stadium, London, Britain - November 30, 2024 Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley/ File Photo
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Arsenal Defender Gabriel Could Return against Everton, Says Boss Arteta

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Arsenal - London Stadium, London, Britain - November 30, 2024 Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley/ File Photo
Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Arsenal - London Stadium, London, Britain - November 30, 2024 Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley/ File Photo

Arsenal center back Gabriel Magalhaes has participated in training and could be available for Saturday's Premier League game against Everton at the Emirates Stadium after recovering from a hamstring injury, manager Mikel Arteta said on Friday.

The 26-year-old Brazilian, who was replaced in the second half of their 5-2 victory at West Ham United in November, has since missed a 2-0 home win over Manchester United, a 1-1 draw at Fulham and a 3-0 Champions League home victory over Monaco.

Arsenal have also been without new signing Riccardo Calafiori after the 22-year-old Italy defender went off with an injury against West Ham.

"There is a possibility with one of them to be available. He trained today. It's Gabriel," Arteta told reporters, Reuters reported.

On Calafiori, Arteta said: "We're just respecting the times that the medical department has set. We monitor him every day."

Third-placed Arsenal, who trail leaders Liverpool by six points with the Merseyside club having a game in hand, have been hit by injuries to defenders Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu and Arteta was hopeful that the squad's availability was going to get better.

"I never expect January (transfer window) to be super busy but some surprises always come," Arteta added.

But the injuries have meant youngsters, including 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, who plays as a midfielder or left back, have stepped up.

Lewis-Skelly played a key role in winger Bukayo Saka's opener against Monaco on Wednesday.

"You always take a chance. It doesn't matter the experience or age. He was surrounded by very experienced players. We believed he could help the team to win the game and he certainly did that," Arteta said.

Arteta, who played for Everton between 2005-2011, had kind words for his former club.

"The human quality and then how deep the feeling is towards the club. The club has been through very different phases in its history, but I love the way they get all together and they face the storms," the Spaniard said.

Everton, in 15th place, have had extra rest days after their Merseyside derby with Liverpool last weekend was postponed due to adverse weather conditions.

"That's the context. We are so used to playing every three days. The boys are really fired up and looking forward and understanding we'll have to be really good to beat them," Arteta said.



Saudi U15 Girls' National Team Begins Training Camp in Jeddah

The camp runs through November 19 as part of the team's preparations for upcoming competitions - SPA
The camp runs through November 19 as part of the team's preparations for upcoming competitions - SPA
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Saudi U15 Girls' National Team Begins Training Camp in Jeddah

The camp runs through November 19 as part of the team's preparations for upcoming competitions - SPA
The camp runs through November 19 as part of the team's preparations for upcoming competitions - SPA

The Saudi U15 girls' national football team begins its training camp today in Jeddah. The camp runs through November 19 as part of the team's preparations for upcoming competitions.

The camp aims to enhance the players' technical and physical readiness and strengthen team cohesion through a training program developed by the coaching staff, SPA reported.

The program is designed to improve performance and prepare the team for the next phase.

The camp is part of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation's development plan for the U15 girls' national team.


Sport Ministry Launches Ticketing Platform Accreditation Service Through Riyadhi Platform

Sport Ministry Launches Ticketing Platform Accreditation Service Through Riyadhi Platform
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Sport Ministry Launches Ticketing Platform Accreditation Service Through Riyadhi Platform

Sport Ministry Launches Ticketing Platform Accreditation Service Through Riyadhi Platform

The Saudi Ministry of Sport announced on Sunday the launch of a service to accredit platforms that sell and resell tickets for sports competitions and events in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The service is available through the ministry’s Riyadhi Platform (riyadhi.sa) and aims to regulate ticket sales and resale in accordance with ministry-approved regulations while streamlining accreditation procedures for investors and platform operators, according to SPA.

The ministry previously granted ticketing platform operators a 90-day grace period, starting from October 26, when the regulations governing ticket sales for sports competitions and events were issued, to update their systems and align their operations with the approved technical and regulatory requirements.


Sabalenka Apologizes for Outburst During Loss to Svitolina

13 November 2026, US, Indian Wells: Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka in action against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina during their women's singles group stage match of the FAGE WTA Finals tennis tournament at Indian Wells. Photo: Charles Baus/CSM via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
13 November 2026, US, Indian Wells: Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka in action against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina during their women's singles group stage match of the FAGE WTA Finals tennis tournament at Indian Wells. Photo: Charles Baus/CSM via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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Sabalenka Apologizes for Outburst During Loss to Svitolina

13 November 2026, US, Indian Wells: Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka in action against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina during their women's singles group stage match of the FAGE WTA Finals tennis tournament at Indian Wells. Photo: Charles Baus/CSM via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
13 November 2026, US, Indian Wells: Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka in action against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina during their women's singles group stage match of the FAGE WTA Finals tennis tournament at Indian Wells. Photo: Charles Baus/CSM via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Aryna Sabalenka apologized on Saturday for her angry outburst during her defeat by Ukraine's Elina Svitolina at the WTA Finals.

Television footage appeared to show the Belarusian swearing during Friday's round-robin match, with some social media users interpreting her remarks as being directed at Svitolina or Ukrainians. The loss eliminated Sabalenka from the season-ending tournament.

"My comment was not directed at Elina," Sabalenka said in a social ⁠media post.

"I was ⁠frustrated with a small group of spectators who were aggressively cheering my mistakes, and I reacted emotionally in the moment.

"That said, I should have handled my frustration differently, and I apologize to anyone I offended.

"Elina played a great match, ⁠and I wish her all the best for the rest of the tournament."

Svitolina did not shake hands with Sabalenka after the match, maintaining her policy of not doing so with Russian or Belarusian opponents following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow launched with Belarus as a staging ground.

Asked about her reaction to Sabalenka's apology, Svitolina called for mutual respect, acknowledging that fans' passions ⁠can ⁠sometimes run high.

"We've played many times with Aryna. She has her fans, I have my fans," she told reporters after her semi-final win over Linda Noskova on Saturday.

According to Reuters, she expressed hope that matches between the two of them would be respected, "because yes, sometimes in some matches that we've played, also been not great comments towards me in regards of the war."

Svitolina, the 2018 WTA Finals champion, faces Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva in Sunday's final.