Viktor Gyokeres produced his finest performance in an Arsenal shirt as his second-half double inspired a comprehensive 4-1 north London derby victory over Tottenham.
The Sweden international was instrumental at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, delivering a display hailed by pundits as his best since joining the club.
Mikel Arteta’s side remain firmly in the title conversation following a dominant showing against their fiercest rivals.
A complete centre-forward display
While Eberechi Eze also netted twice for the visitors, Gyokeres offered a focal point that dismantled the Spurs defence throughout the contest.
The former Sporting Lisbon forward registered more touches than in any of his previous appearances for the Gunners.
Crucially, that increased involvement translated directly into a match-winning output in the final third.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville believe the striker has hit a new level.
“I thought it was his best moment of the season,” Neville told Sky Sports.
“Not just because he scored two in a game against the biggest rivals and had a wonderful celebration over there with the Arsenal fans, but because his general performance from start to finish is what you would expect from him.”
Clinical finishing proves decisive
Gyokeres signaled his intent early on, curling a first-half effort narrowly wide after finding space behind Radu Dragusin.
He made no mistake shortly after the interval, firing from the edge of the box to restore Arsenal’s lead at 2-1.
The 27-year-old revealed that the specific move had been rehearsed repeatedly at the training ground.
“We do that move a few times in training,” said Gyokeres.
The striker noted that he had taken inspiration from Eze’s finishes in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign.
Partnership with Eze
Eze, operating in the number 10 role, insisted his own brace would not have been possible without the striker’s selfless work off the ball.
The England midfielder highlighted the space created by his team-mate’s relentless running.
“Vik was doing it all game, you can see his work ethic,” said Eze.
“He helps the team, not just with his goals but the effort he puts in. It gets players like me in the best positions and it helps a lot. He’s got his two goals today which he deserves.”
The victory ensures Arsenal maintain momentum heading into the critical run-in of the 2025-26 Premier League season.
Gyokeres now boasts more league goals than any other player in the division since the turn of the year.
AC Milan midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been taken to hospital for tests after being stretchered off wearing a neck brace during a Serie A defeat by Parma.
The former Chelsea player was involved in a heavy collision with opposing goalkeeper Edoardo Corvi just minutes after entering the field of play.
Loftus-Cheek remained conscious following the incident, though blood was visible on his face and reports in Italy suggest he sustained damage to his teeth.
He was subsequently transported to a local hospital for further examination following the match at the Ennio Tardini Stadium.
Double blow for Milan
It proved to be a costly afternoon for the Rossoneri, who also lost defender Matteo Gabbia to a physical issue during the warm-up.
The defeat leaves Paulo Fonseca’s side second in the Serie A table, trailing city rivals Inter Milan in the race for the Scudetto.
No official timeline has yet been given for the Englishman’s recovery, though he is now expected to face a spell on the sidelines.
International resurgence halted
The injury serves as a frustrating setback for the midfielder, who had recently forced his way back into the international picture.
Having moved to Italy in 2023, his consistent form at the San Siro earned a surprise recall to the England squad under Thomas Tuchel earlier this season.
That call-up ended a nearly seven-year absence from the national team setup, dating back to a friendly against the United States in November 2018.
The Lewisham-born player has previously spoken about the mental resilience required to overcome long-term setbacks, specifically regarding an Achilles rupture suffered in 2019.
“When I ruptured my Achilles, I was on such a high [before it happened], so after that I had a hard time mentally,” Loftus-Cheek said in September.
“But I was still young, I still had time to come back, so I wasn’t too low.”
Martin O’Neill has suffered his first domestic defeat since returning to Celtic after Hibernian secured a dramatic 2-1 victory to damage the champions’ title retention hopes.
Substitute Kai Andrews struck a winner three minutes from time to earn the visitors their first triumph at Celtic Park since 2010.
The hosts were forced to play the final 17 minutes with 10 men after defender Auston Trusty received a straight red card for violent conduct.
This damaging result leaves the Hoops trailing league leaders Hearts by six points ahead of a pivotal run of fixtures.
Discipline costs champions dear
The home side made the worst possible start to proceedings in Glasgow.
Felix Passlack opened the scoring for the Edinburgh club after just 24 minutes, heading in a sublime cross from Nicky Cadden.
It could have been worse for the champions moments later, but Martin Boyle wasted a clear opportunity to double the lead instead of squaring to unmarked team-mates.
Celtic responded to the wake-up call with a barrage of pressure before the interval.
In-form midfielder Benjamin Nygren eventually levelled matters on the stroke of half-time, diving to head home a deflected Kieran Tierney cross for his 18th goal of the campaign.
Late drama stuns Parkhead
O’Neill’s men emerged for the second half with renewed intensity, launching wave after wave of attacks.
However, the momentum shifted decisively in the 73rd minute due to a moment of indiscipline.
Trusty was dismissed for punching Jamie McGrath in the arm during a corner, leaving his team-mates to battle with a numerical disadvantage.
Hibs sensed an opportunity to snatch all three points and duly capitalised in the 87th minute.
Andrews, on loan from Coventry City, combined well with fellow substitute Arne Suto before calmly dispatching the ball into the bottom corner.
Title race implications
The defeat marks a significant setback for the Glasgow giants as they attempt to chase down Hearts at the summit of the Scottish Premiership.
The pressure now intensifies for O’Neill ahead of a testing schedule involving four consecutive away fixtures.
Next on the agenda is the Old Firm derby against Rangers at Ibrox, a match that has now taken on even greater significance for the title race.
Holders Chelsea overcame Manchester United in extra time to reach the Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals, joining fellow heavyweights Arsenal and Manchester City in the last eight.
Defender Naomi Girma proved the unlikely hero for the Blues, tapping in a 99th-minute winner to settle a tight contest.
The United States international reacted quickest to prod home from close range after the visitors failed to clear a corner.
It was a cruel blow for Marc Skinner’s side, who had shown resilience to force the extra period at Kingsmeadow.
Australian forward Sam Kerr had initially put the hosts ahead, coming off the bench to steer home Veerle Buurman’s knockdown.
However, substitute Simi Awujo responded for the Red Devils, arriving at the back post to equalize with nine minutes of normal time remaining.
The result gives Sonia Bompastor’s team a significant psychological advantage before the two sides meet again in next month’s League Cup final.
Top-flight giants ease through
While Chelsea were forced to work hard for their progression, 14-time winners Arsenal enjoyed a more comfortable afternoon.
The Gunners claimed a 3-0 victory over Bristol City, with captain Kim Little scoring in a second successive FA Cup tie.
Victoria Pelova and Frida Maanum added second-half goals to secure the result for the north London club.
However, the win was marred by a head injury to winger Olivia Smith, who required a stretcher to leave the field.
Current Women’s Super League leaders Manchester City were equally ruthless elsewhere, dispatching second-tier Sheffield United 4-0.
Gareth Taylor’s side raced into a three-goal lead within 22 minutes, powered by two close-range finishes from England winger Lauren Hemp.
Aoba Fujino added a low drive before Laura Coombs poked home a fourth in the dying moments to cap a dominant display.
Vidosic returns for Brighton victory
In another all-WSL tie, Brighton secured a 2-1 win at West Ham as manager Dario Vidosic returned to the dugout.
The 38-year-old had been in Australia for the past month following the passing of his father, Rado.
Veteran playmaker Fran Kirby produced a commanding first-half performance, contributing a goal and an assist to welcome her manager back with a win.
West Ham attempted a late fightback through Leila Wandeler’s 75th-minute strike but could not find an equalizer.
Outside the top flight, Birmingham City recorded the biggest win of the round with an 8-0 thrashing of Chatham Town.
Oceane Hurtre starred for the Blues with a hat-trick on Friday night.
Charlton Athletic also progressed, edging out fourth-tier Oxford United thanks to a late penalty from Lucy Fitzgerald.
When is the quarter-final draw?
The draw for the last eight will take place on Monday, 23 February at 19:00 GMT.
Fans can watch the draw live on TNT Sports 1 and the Adobe Women’s FA Cup YouTube channel.
The quarter-final ties are scheduled to be played on Sunday, 5 April.
Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres has come agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock against Tottenham Hotspur, firing a powerful effort just wide of the post in the early stages of the North London Derby.
The Gunners have started the encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the front foot.
Mikel Arteta’s side created the first clear opening of the game through their prolific frontman.
Gunners dictate early tempo
Picking up possession in a dangerous area, the Swedish international carved out space for a shot against the home defence.
He unleashed a venomous, arrowed strike that looked destined for the bottom corner.
However, the effort whistled narrowly past the upright with the goalkeeper seemingly beaten.
It signals a statement of intent from the visitors as they seek to seize the initiative against their fierce local rivals.
Tottenham have been forced to absorb significant pressure during the opening exchanges as Arsenal press high up the pitch.
Alexis Mac Allister struck a dramatic late winner to earn Liverpool a victory at Nottingham Forest, despite Jamie Carragher labelling the result a “robbery”.
Arne Slot’s side snatched all three points at the City Ground to spoil Vitor Pereira’s league debut in the dugout.
The Argentine World Cup winner slammed home from close range amid a goalmouth scramble to break Forest hearts.
Mac Allister rifled the ball past the goalkeeper after Virgil van Dijk knocked down a Dominik Szoboszlai cross.
Carragher slams ‘robbery’ and Salah struggles
The midfielder had earlier seen a goal disallowed for handball after the ball struck his elbow following a clearance by Ola Aina.
Despite the celebrations in the away end, former Reds defender Jamie Carragher felt the visitors were incredibly fortunate.
“That’s one of the biggest robberies I’ve seen in the Premier League this season,” Carragher told Sky Sports.
The pundit was particularly critical of the performances delivered by Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo.
Carragher contrasted their displays with the impact of substitute Rio Ngumoha.
“[Substitute Rio] Ngumoha did more in 15 minutes than Salah and Gakpo did before that,” he added.
“He changed the game and needs to be starting games.”
Wirtz injury blow as Reds chase top four
The result puts the Anfield club firmly back into Champions League contention.
Liverpool have moved level on points with fourth and fifth-placed Chelsea and Manchester United following the win.
However, the afternoon began with concern as summer signing Florian Wirtz suffered an injury during the warm-up.
The German playmaker was forced to withdraw from the starting XI and was replaced by Curtis Jones.
Slot’s team ultimately overcame the disruption to maintain their reputation for late drama.
“There’s no-one better in getting last-minute winners in the Premier League – and that is Liverpool,” concluded Carragher.
Evann Guessand scored a dramatic late winner to earn Crystal Palace a vital victory over 10-man Wolves and ease the mounting pressure on manager Oliver Glasner.
The forward struck in the final minute of normal time at Selhurst Park to secure his first goal for the club.
Victory lifts a sour mood in south London, with the hosts having won just one of their previous 15 matches across all competitions prior to kick-off.
Henderson heroics and Krejci dismissal
While Guessand provided the decisive moment, Crystal Palace were indebted to their captain for keeping them in the contest during the first half.
Dean Henderson guessed correctly to dive to his left and save Tolu Arokodare’s 43rd-minute penalty.
The spot-kick had been awarded following a VAR check on a challenge by Adam Wharton, but the England goalkeeper ensured the sides went into the break level.
The dynamic of the match shifted significantly just after the hour mark when the visitors were reduced to 10 men.
Ladislav Krejci received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away, having been booked for the first time just moments earlier.
Toxic atmosphere at Selhurst Park
The three points provide much-needed respite for Glasner, who entered the fixture facing intense scrutiny from the stands.
Supporters in the Holmesdale Road end displayed a banner reading “opportunities missed – board inept” and “Glasner finished”.
Fans also used a break in play to chant about “staying humble”, mocking comments made by the Austrian boss following a disappointing midweek draw in the Conference League.
Glasner had challenged the fanbase to remain grounded, suggesting that critical supporters were “not humble anymore”.
Eagles squander early chances
Before the late drama, the Eagles had struggled to capitalise on their opportunities.
Yeremy Pino wasted a glorious opening early on, intercepting a loose back pass from Yerson Mosquera only to completely misdirect his lob.
The Spain international later clipped the post after being teed up by Wharton from a short corner routine.
Wolves defended resolutely following the red card, but their resistance was finally broken by Guessand’s late intervention.
Crystal Palace supporters made their discontent with Oliver Glasner clear by unveiling a banner declaring the manager “finished” during Sunday’s Premier League victory over Wolves.
Despite a stoppage-time winner from Evann Guessand securing three vital points, the atmosphere at Selhurst Park remained toxic.
A section of the home support displayed a banner reading “Fans disrespected, Glasner finished”, highlighting the fractured relationship between the dugout and the stands.
Summer exit already confirmed
The Austrian has already announced he will depart the club when his contract expires this summer.
However, doubt persists over whether he will see out the remainder of the campaign following a severe dip in form.
The Eagles have tumbled down the table and recently suffered an FA Cup elimination at the hands of non-league Macclesfield.
Frustration mounted further on Thursday following a 1-1 draw with Bosnian side Zrinjski Mostar, where away fans called for the manager to be sacked.
Glasner calls for humility
The hostility follows controversial comments made by the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss regarding the club’s stature.
Responding to criticism earlier in the week, the 50-year-old suggested supporters should “never forget where they came from”.
“They can say and sing whatever they want. I know what I am doing. I would say the most important thing is stay humble. I think it’s the same for the fans.”
“Stay humble. Never forget where you’re coming from. I think a few who are so critical in this situation are not humble any more. Forget where you are coming from and usually in life you are punished for this.”
Transfer market frustrations
Tensions initially began in the summer after the South London club sold key playmaker Eberechi Eze.
The hierarchy subsequently sanctioned the departure of captain Marc Guehi in January, a move the manager had strongly opposed.
Glasner admitted that the squad has struggled to cope with the schedule following these high-profile exits.
“I’m always realistic, and we’re not in the best moment right now. I understand and I take responsibility for everything because I’m responsible for the whole team.”
“Right now, I’m just not good enough to replace the players we sold. I’m just not good enough to integrate the new players in a way to play the same way like we did.”
Despite the off-field turmoil, the win over Wolves has created some breathing room between Palace and the bottom three.