Petr Cech believes Arsenal are ready to relish the high stakes in tonight’s Europa League final against his former club Chelsea.

When Shkodran Mustafi joined Arsenal, they went 19 games undefeated when he was in the starting XI.

Belgium are currently the number one ranked side in world football, overtaking superpowers like Brazil who they eliminated from last year’s World Cup. Simply put, no country per capita is remotely producing as many top footballers as they are. So what’s their secret?

Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not be involved in the Europa League final after Arsenal confirmed he would not travel with the squad.

It is among the great sources of regret in professional football, the lost connection between players and fans.

It’s very early days but the possibility of Ireland staging games at the World Cup Finals has moved at least one step closer to becoming reality, with confirmation that the FAI is joining forces with the associations of the four ‘home nations’ to consider making a joint bid for the 2030 tournament.

The FAI were making no comment yesterday on Sepp Blatter’s suggestion that the UK and Ireland could jointly host the 2030 World Cup.

Ten-man Hamburg were relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time today, sparking angry fan demonstrations.

Ger McCarthy looks at what we learned from Atletico Madrid v Arsenal

Tonight’s Europa League semi-final first leg between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid brings together two teams and clubs who are mirror opposites in many ways — including the personalities and philosophies of managers Arsene Wenger and Diego Simeone.

My gambling career, while undeniably short-lived, was pretty momentous.

Arsene Wenger is concerned Henrikh Mkhitaryan may have suffered a hit to his confidence after a largely-disappointing stint at Manchester United.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan last night described his move to Arsenal from Manchester United as a “dream come true”.

Arsene Wenger believes the Manchester United team who will head to the Emirates Stadium this evening are now a true Jose Mourinho outfit.

Liverpool showed their two faces again last night, throwing threw away a three-goal lead as Sevilla fought back to earn a dramatic 3-3 draw deep into stoppage time.

Yesterday’s report by World Rugby’s Technical Review Group was fulsome in its praise for three “outstanding candidate submissions” and the IRFU was particularly keen to cling on to the remark that all of them could host a “successful” tournament.

The feelgood factor around Denmark’s recent footballing renaissance has cranked up a notch following their World Cup play-off pairing with the Republic of Ireland, admits Danish Eurosport commentator Peter Piil.

Burton boss Nigel Clough insists he can see similarities between his father Brian and Jose Mourinho.

Man Utd 2 Leicester 0

Romelu Lukaku could not turn down the chance to join Manchester United after hearing Jose Mourinho’s plan to “rebuild the club”.

Manchester United defender Eric Bailly has received a three-match European ban after he was sent off in May's Europa League semi-final against Celta Vigo.

Manchester United have completed the signing of striker Romelu Lukaku from Everton.

Celtic winger Gary Mackay-Steven is confident he can force his way into Brendan Rodgers’ side next season.

Ajax, creators of their own legend, were largely authors of their own downfall in Stockholm last night, writes Liam Mackey.

Ajax 0 - Man United 2: IT was Jose Mourinho’s fourth European final victory in four attempts, a personal triumph for Paul Pogba and a victory that led Manchester United into the promised land of next season’s Champions League.

A NATION’s strength lies not in its armed forces but in the capacity of its citizens to overcome the horror of barbaric acts through togetherness, compassion and even humour.

There are men with a foot in both camps for tonight’s Europa League final. Daley Blind is one, another is Wesley Sneijder.

There’s no other way to spin this: Manchester United offered to buy Liam Brady’s mother a washing machine if her son would sign for the club.

Chris Hatherall ranks the clubs ahead of the final day of the Premier League season.

Southampton 0 Manchester United 0: Jose Mourinho indicated David De Gea has played his last match of the season for Manchester United after the Spanish goalkeeper missed last night’s draw at Southampton.

Manchester United’s “crazy” schedule is taking its toll mentally and physically ahead of the Europa League final, leaving Jose Mourinho facing a fixture pile-up unlike anything he has experienced.

And so they left with a bang not a whimper, as Spurs said goodbye to White Hart Lane after 118 years in emphatic style, playing Manchester United off the park, sealing second spot in the Premier League, and showing why they are considered the most exciting young side in the country.

Jose Mourinho says he has worked “harder than ever” during his first season at Manchester United.

In the present, it appears Jose Mourinho still has to convince even some of his own club’s supporters he is the man to restore Manchester United to the top of the English and European game.

Manchester United 1 Celta Vigo 1 (Man Utd win 2-1 on aggregate): It wasn’t pretty, it was more mechanical than magical and got even uglier with a late double sending-off, but Manchester United may have taken a massive step in the post-Ferguson era after they reached the Europa League Final by drawing 1-1 with Celta Vigo — to put both silverware and place in the Champions League in their sights.

Jose Mourinho described Eric Bailly as "naive" and admitted the defender will be a big miss in the Europa League final following his sending off against Celta Vigo.

Arsenal 2 Manchester United 0: Success at last for Arsene Wenger against Jose Mourinho and, more significantly, fresh hope for Arsenal in their quest for a top four place. 

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists Mamadou Sakho does not have to regain his trust after a difficult four months but may have a tough time finding his way back into the team.

Stephen Kenny will be in Poland tomorrow to watch Legia Warsaw host Piast Gliwice as Dundalk accelerate preparations for their huge Champions League play-off games against the Polish champions at Aviva Stadium on August 17 and in Warsaw on August 23.

The new signing said: "I've come to one of the biggest clubs in the world."

Eoghan O'Connell scored for Celtic in their 1-1 draw with Leicester City as Kolo Toure watched from the stand at Parkhead.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

Liverpool 1 Sevilla 3: Liverpool’s whirlwind development under Jurgen Klopp has taken a painful and significant knock after they were demolished by Sevilla in the second half of a Europa League Final in Basel, underlining that sheer character alone may not be enough to recreate former glories at Anfield.