Arsenal extended their Premier League lead to nine points with victory over Everton, where Max Dowman became the youngest-ever goalscorer, while Fabio Vieira pushed back on Hamburg transfer talk
Abbie Meehan Sports Writer U-35s and Neil Docking
10:23, 17 Mar 2026Updated 10:23, 17 Mar 2026
Mikel Arteta
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Mikel Arteta's Arsenal are flying high
Arsenal stretched their advantage at the summit of the Premier League table with a 2-0 victory over Everton at the weekend.
Manchester City's failure to secure three points at West Ham meant the Gunners' cushion at the top expanded to nine points. This will have swiftly been put aside for Mikel Arteta, though, as they host Bayer Leverkusen for the second leg of their Champions League round-of-16 encounter at the Emirates Stadium today. Robert Andrich found the net first in the German outfit's home leg, but Kai Havertz threw his side a lifeline with an 89th-minute spot-kick to restore parity.
The tie stands perfectly balanced at 1-1 ahead of the return fixture on Tuesday evening. Arteta is eager for his squad to address their shortcomings before the knockout showdown. Speaking about the strategy for the second leg, he said: "We will look at the things that we have improved, the situations that we can create and try to be especially much more efficient in a lot of simple things that today we didn't do so well." Here's all the latest news from the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta is ready for Arsenal's Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen
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Mikel Arteta is ready for Arsenal's Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen
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Vieira deflects transfer speculation
Fabio Vieira remained tight-lipped about a possible switch to the Bundesliga after he delivered another crucial contribution for Hamburg over the weekend.
The midfielder found the back of the net as Hamburg claimed a 1-1 stalemate with Koln to maintain their nine-point buffer above the drop zone.
Vieira has netted five goals in the Bundesliga this campaign, providing four assists whilst on loan. The 25-year-old moved to Hamburg for the season last summer and has confessed to "feeling like the old Fabio again".
Fabio Vieira of Hamburg
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Fabio Vieira has enjoyed a productive loan spell with Hamburg(Image: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Earlier in March, BILD reported that the club are eager to finalise a permanent arrangement for Vieira but would prefer a reduction in the transfer fee. The Gunners are seeking around £17million, having purchased him for an initial £30m potentially climbing to £34m, but Hamburg would need this figure lowered.
Following the Koln draw, Vieira was determined to dismiss speculation surrounding a permanent move. He said: "It was a great goal. I knew it was a big step for me to come here and rediscover my true potential.
"Everyone knows I still have a contract with Arsenal. So let's wait until the end of the season. Then we'll talk about it and see what we can do."
Max Dowman's dad hits back
Max Dowman's dad has launched a furious rant
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Max Dowman's dad has launched a furious rant(Image: Getty Images)
Max Dowman's father Robert has lashed out at Temisan Williams as he alleges the coach is simply seeking "attempted self-promotion".
The 16-year-old became the Premier League's youngest goalscorer at the weekend during Arsenal's 2-0 victory over Everton.
Williams featured on talkSPORT alongside Gabby Agbonlahor and Ally McCoist and was introduced as a former coach of the teenager. He discussed Dowman's progression through the academy and his attributes.
However, Robert wasn't pleased with this appearance and took to social media to criticise Williams. He stated: "Listening to this guy Temisan Williams claiming he was any part of Max's journey is a really sad piece of attempted self-promotion.
Temisan Williams spoke about Max Dowman on talkSPORT
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Temisan Williams spoke about Max Dowman on talkSPORT(Image: https://www.youtube.com/@talkSPORT)
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"I have asked him previously to refrain from doing so, but still he pops up on talkSport this morning... I remember him putting the cones out at training a few times, but that's about it. We have so many fabulous coaches who we are so grateful to. He is certainly not one of them.."
Regarding Dowman, Williams told talkSPORT: "It's an incredible thing that Max has done, it's brilliant for his family, the academy, the club and the fans. He should just enjoy the moment, which I know he did.
"I should start by saying, scouts have done a fantastic job. I was the Under-12s assistant coach. I was also able to see Max for two years, so a small part of his journey, but Max has always had that super strength of being able to carry the ball. That's always been something he's enjoyed, something he's strong at and something we saw in training."