Gunners boss speaks out on Porto boss row amid claims he insulted Porto manager’s family

Tony Mogan reports for Metro that Mikel Arteta says there was ‘absolutely nothing’ in his row with Sergio Conceicao, with the Porto boss accusing him of ‘insulting his family’.

Arsenal booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in 14 years after beating the Portuguese giants on penalties at the Emirates on Wednesday night.

During the Arsenal celebrations, Conceicao and Arteta were in a heated exchange on the pitch, with the Porto head coach refusing to shake hands and angrily gesturing at the Gunners boss.

In his post-match press conference, the Portuguese said, ‘What Arteta says or doesn’t say… During the game, he turned to the bench in Spanish and insulted my family, and in the end, I told him that whoever he insulted was no longer with us.

‘Let him worry about training his team with a lot of quality to play more.’

When Portuguese media asked Arteta what sparked the issue, he remarked ‘absolutely nothing’ before being quizzed again in his post-match press conference.

When asked what happened between him and the Porto boss at full-time, Arteta responded, ‘No comment,’ before quickly exiting, getting up from the table, and ending the presser.

Conceicao’s comments quickly began to circulate further following Arteta’s media obligations. The Daily Telegraph reports that Arteta strongly denied the accusation after being informed of the details behind Conceicao’s claim.

Tensions between Arteta and Conceicao were already high heading into Tuesday’s game. The Spaniard was critical of Porto’s approach in the first leg, insisting they had ‘no intention of playing.’

Conceicao returned to Arteta’s assessment in his post-match interview two weeks ago, commenting: ‘It’s an opinion. They wanted to play; we wanted to win.’

Leandro Trossard leveled the tie in the first half of Tuesday’s clash at the Emirates, which went to penalties.

David Raya was the Arsenal hero, saving two spot kicks with Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Declan Rice, and Bukayo Saka all converting theirs.

Arsenal is entering the last eight of the Champions League, joining Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester City.

The winners of Borussia Dortmund vs PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Madrid vs Inter Milan will join those sides in Friday’s draw.

Owen Hargreaves hails ‘ridiculously good’ Barcelona defender

Owen Hargreaves tipped Pau Cubarsi as Barcelona’s future star after his performance in the 3-1 Champions League win over Napoli on Tuesday evening, Chris Davie reports for Metro.

Xavi’s side drew 1-1 with Napoli in the first leg, but goals from Fermin Lopez, Joao Cancelo, and Robert Lewandowski secured Barca’s place in Friday’s Champions League quarter-final draw.

Cubarsi, meanwhile, made his Champions League debut, and the 17-year-old delivered a brilliant performance against Napoli’s star striker, Victor Osimhen.

‘He [Cubarsi] was the show’s star,’ Hargreaves told TNT Sports after Barcelona’s win.

Yamal is different because he’s the winger. This kid [Cubarsi] was picking out passes for fun, and he made it look so easy.

‘He was physical when he needed to be, for a Spanish centre-back to be as physical against somebody like Osimhen is quite rare.

‘I thought his awareness, everything, he was just… 17 and his first start, he played ridiculously good.

‘That is a star, now and a star of the future.

‘I thought with Yamal he was the best player on the pitch.

‘He’s completely different from [Carles] Puyol. [Gerard] Pique was brilliant, but I think his long-range passing is better than either.

‘He’s unique. I think he’s very special. For 17 to play like that in a knockout game is rare.’

Former England manager Glenn Hoddle, working as a pundit alongside Hargreaves for TNT Sports, added: ‘Incredible performance, that.

‘We watched him all night; we were so impressed with him.

‘Look at this for a pass. It’s just top quality if that’s Ronald Koeman at his best, incredible, for 17.

‘As a defender to have that maturity, to cut across people, using his body to lean into them, he was shrewd, for 17 [he was playing] way above his age.’

After a brilliant cameo & assist vs Napoli

Barcelona legend Gerard Piqué took to social media on Tuesday evening to express his appreciation for former teammate Sergi Roberto, Conor Laird reports for GSFN.

Xavi and co., of course, marked their return to action a short time ago, welcoming Italian champions Napoli to Catalunya’s capital for the second leg of the Last-16 tie between the clubs.

When all was said and done, despite giving up many presentable opportunities at the back, the Blaugrana’s attacking flair ultimately proved enough to give rise to a 3-1 triumph.

Much of the scoring came courtesy of goals from Fermín López, João Cancelo, and Robert Lewandowski.

The latter proved critical in all but ending the hopes of a dangerous Napoli outfit. Frontman Lewandowski may have converted it, but the credit, in truth, went to the aforementioned Sergi Roberto.

Introduced off the bench during the second half, midfielder Roberto enjoyed a stellar cameo. His fine burst and assistance teasing Barca’s third came as a reward.

And, as alluded to above, quick to send a message of appreciation to Barcelona’s club captain was Gerard Piqué, who took to his official ‘X’ account to unveil the following simple post:

As Barcelona roars back to the Champions League quarter-finals after win over Napoli

Napoli stars’ quest to remain in line for a €10m bonus payout by club boss Aurelio De Laurentiis went up in smoke in Montjuïc with their 1-3 loss to La Liga giants Barcelona in a UEFA second leg quarter-final tie.

Yet Victor Osimhen and Co. knew in advance before the Partenopei’s trip to Catalunya of the Napoli president’s promise to manager Francesco Calzona’s players of earning a €10 million incentive should they qualify for the 2025 Club World Cup.

According to AP News, Barcelona returned to the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the first time in four years with a 3-1 win over Napoli on Tuesday.

The report anchored by the Irish Examiner claims that Fermín López, João Cancelo, and Robert Lewandowski scored for Barcelona, which advanced 4-2 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Italy three weeks ago.

Napoli scored in the 30th, and Rrahmani found the net with a low left-footed shot for his first European goal.