Oxford are looking for a new head coach after sacking Matt Bloomfield, while Aaron Ramsey is also believed to have interest from Wales if Craig Bellamy moves on.

Aaron Ramsey is in advanced talks to become the new head coach of Oxford United, with the former Arsenal midfielder ready to take the first significant step in his managerial career.

Oxford are looking for a new head coach after sacking Matt Bloomfield at the weekend. Bloomfield was appointed in January 2026 and oversaw a second half of a season that ended in relegation to League One, leaving the club to reset quickly before the new campaign.

Ramsey’s name has also been discussed in relation to the Wales job should Craig Bellamy leave to take over at Burnley, but the 35-year-old is believed to prefer beginning his managerial career in club football rather than stepping straight into a national-team role.

That would fit with what Ramsey said only a few months ago, when he confirmed that coaching was now his intended path after announcing his retirement from playing in April. His brief spell as interim head coach at Cardiff City only focussed that ambition, rather than making him hesitate after three games without a win.

“That [managing Arsenal or Wales] would be the dream,” Ramsey admitted (via The S*n). “I know there is a long way to go before then. It’s time to go into coaching now. 100 per cent.

“I managed Cardiff for a few games but that just made me realise it’s definitely the next step for me. That will be on the cards next.

“I’m really excited. I’ve had some coaching exposure around the Wales set-up, working with some unbelievable staff there and I’ve done some work with Cardiff’s u18s so I’ve been keeping myself busy.”

Oxford may now offer the route into that future.

Ramsey played 369 times for Arsenal, but the wider arc of his career was altered on 27 February 2010, when Ryan Shawcross went through the teenager at the Britannia and caused a double fracture of the tibia and fibula in his right leg.

The injury was horrific, players were visibly distressed, and Ramsey required immediate surgery before beginning a recovery that was both physically and psychologically gruelling. He was out for almost a year.

Ramsey made it back, and returned to the elite level, but his career was irreparably damaged. Successive loan spells were needed to rebuild him, and although he became a hugely important player for Arsenal, the injury pattern of his career had already started to form.

Now Ramsey is preparing for the next part of his football life.

Oxford, newly relegated and in need of direction, may offer that platform. For Arsenal supporters, it would be the start of a coaching journey that Ramsey has already admitted he hopes might one day bring him back to the Emirates.

  • Arsenal international limps away from World Cup match in new injury scareDeclan Rice left England’s game against Ghana with a limp on Tuesday night, with the player seemingly suffering an injury to his calf.Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice featured for England against Ghana on Tuesday, which was initially taken as a positive thing by supporters.Rice had been substituted in England’s opening World Cup match against Croatia last Wednesday with an upper hamstring issue, so there were doubts over whether he’d be able to feature in their second game less than a week later.The fact the midfielder completed the full 90 minutes against Ghana was therefore a boost, up until he was seen limping through the mixed zone away from the game.Rice was seen with strapping on his left calf, suggesting his hamstring isn’t the only thing giving him trouble at the moment.David Ornstein reports that the severity of the injury is unclear at this stage, but it’s certainly a concern ahead of England’s final World Cup group game against Panama.The best option could be to rest Rice for the match, considering the four points England have already accrued will likely be enough to progress to the knockouts.A win against goalless Panama would probably be enough to top the group, barring a big win for Ghana (who have one goal in two games) over Croatia.The Telegraph had reported pre-game that Rice had been managing neural pain in his hamstring for six months, with the player himself confirming as much.In better news for England and Arsenal, Thomas Tuchel told the media ahead of the Ghana game that Bukayo Saka is now playing without pain and was “able to do both our training sessions at the highest level the last two days”.Saka didn’t end up starting the Ghana match, and he’s yet to start any match for England this summer. But it seems he’s getting closer to that milestone now.
  • Arsenal sign Real Betis Head of RehabBetis are understood to view Angulo’s departure as a major loss, with the rehabilitation specialist accepting an offer from the Premier League champions.According to ABC in Spain, Arsenal have strengthened their medical and performance department by signing Eneko Angulo, the head of rehabilitation for Real Betis’ first team.Angulo leaves Betis after 12 years with the Spanish club, where he had worked across the youth academy before taking responsibility for first-team set-up.Mateo Gonzalez reports that Angulo accepted a “lucrative offer” from the Premier League champions and Champions League finalists.Angulo had initially developed his work at Betis as an assistant in Manuel Pellegrini’s first-team set-up, after previously gaining experience in the academy. His rise through the club made his farewell a particularly emotional one, and he marked his departure with a long message to Betis.“It’s not easy to say goodbye to you,” he wrote on X. “My arrival was as unexpected as my departure has been. Twelve years have passed between that young man who walked through your doors to do an internship in a newly created rehabilitation department at the youth academy and the person who says goodbye today. “I never imagined the path we would travel together. I had the privilege of growing with you, of reaching the first team, of fulfilling dreams that seemed unattainable, of living moments and experiences I never could have imagined. “I leave with millions of memories that I will never forget . It’s hard for me to accept that our paths are diverging. It’s hard for me to imagine my daily life away from you. You have been more than a club, more than a team, more than a job. “You have been my home. Those who have shared this journey with me know this well. You were the place where I grew professionally, but also where I grew as a person. Where I found colleagues who became friends, people who will mark my life, and memories that will stay with me forever.”“Today I leave with the peace of mind of having given everything I had. With mistakes, successes, better days and worse, but always with the same intention: to help, to contribute, and to represent you with the utmost commitment. I take with me much more than I leave behind. I take with me lessons learned, experiences, friendships, and a part of myself that will always belong to this place. “Thank you to everyone who has made this chapter an unforgettable adventure. Thank you to every teammate, player, and staff member I’ve been fortunate enough to work with over these years. I take with me people and friends for life.“Today I close a chapter that has been the most important of my professional and personal life. I do so with sadness for what I leave behind, but also with a deep sense of gratitude for everything we’ve experienced. Because although our paths diverge today, a part of me will always remain here. Thank you so much for everything. I love you, Betis.”In response, Real Betis replied, “Thank you so much for these twelve years of dedication, work, and love for this club! We wholeheartedly wish you all the best, both personally and professionally, and tons of luck for what’s to come.”There will, however, be a swift reunion. Arsenal are due to face Betis in Dublin on 5 August.Arsenal have already let their doctor, Dr Zaf Iqbal go, while recruiting heavily from Aston Villa‘s medical department as they look to put an end to the number of injury problems they have suffered over recent years.
  • Ex-Gunner in advanced talks for vacant managerial positionOxford are looking for a new head coach after sacking Matt Bloomfield, while Aaron Ramsey is also believed to have interest from Wales if Craig Bellamy moves on.Aaron Ramsey is in advanced talks to become the new head coach of Oxford United, with the former Arsenal midfielder ready to take the first significant step in his managerial career.Oxford are looking for a new head coach after sacking Matt Bloomfield at the weekend. Bloomfield was appointed in January 2026 and oversaw a second half of a season that ended in relegation to League One, leaving the club to reset quickly before the new campaign.Ramsey’s name has also been discussed in relation to the Wales job should Craig Bellamy leave to take over at Burnley, but the 35-year-old is believed to prefer beginning his managerial career in club football rather than stepping straight into a national-team role.That would fit with what Ramsey said only a few months ago, when he confirmed that coaching was now his intended path after announcing his retirement from playing in April. His brief spell as interim head coach at Cardiff City only focussed that ambition, rather than making him hesitate after three games without a win.“That [managing Arsenal or Wales] would be the dream,” Ramsey admitted (via The S*n). “I know there is a long way to go before then. It’s time to go into coaching now. 100 per cent.“I managed Cardiff for a few games but that just made me realise it’s definitely the next step for me. That will be on the cards next.“I’m really excited. I’ve had some coaching exposure around the Wales set-up, working with some unbelievable staff there and I’ve done some work with Cardiff’s u18s so I’ve been keeping myself busy.”Oxford may now offer the route into that future. Ramsey played 369 times for Arsenal, but the wider arc of his career was altered on 27 February 2010, when Ryan Shawcross went through the teenager at the Britannia and caused a double fracture of the tibia and fibula in his right leg. The injury was horrific, players were visibly distressed, and Ramsey required immediate surgery before beginning a recovery that was both physically and psychologically gruelling. He was out for almost a year.Ramsey made it back, and returned to the elite level, but his career was irreparably damaged. Successive loan spells were needed to rebuild him, and although he became a hugely important player for Arsenal, the injury pattern of his career had already started to form.Now Ramsey is preparing for the next part of his football life. Oxford, newly relegated and in need of direction, may offer that platform. For Arsenal supporters, it would be the start of a coaching journey that Ramsey has already admitted he hopes might one day bring him back to the Emirates.
  • Arsenal face 19yo decision after Swedish club make contactThe young Dane is returning to Arsenal after a positive senior loan, but reports of a free transfer may not be accurate.Lucas Nygaard has been linked with a move to Halmstads BK, with the Swedish club reported to have made initial contact over a deal for the 19-year-old Arsenal goalkeeper, who turns 20 on 26 June.According to Expressen, HBK want to sign Nygaard as they search for a replacement for William Lykke, who has returned to Nordsjaelland. Oscar Linnér had initially been in the frame, but the focus may now shift towards the young Danish goalkeeper, who the media in the country say could form part of a goalkeeping pair with 27-year-old Tim Rönning.Nygaard spent last season on loan at Brabrand IF in Denmark’s third tier, making 13 appearances and keeping three clean sheets. His spell there will not be extended, with Brabrand sporting director Andreas Rasch-Christensen confirming the decision before the loan comes to an end.“He’s going back to Arsenal now, we’re not extending the deal,” Rasch-Christensen told Tipsbladet. “What’s going to happen after that, I don’t actually know.”That should not be read as a sign that the loanwent badly. Brabrand appear to have been more than satisfied with Nygaard’s development, while Arsenal are said to have wanted the goalkeeper to gain experience in senior football before taking the next step.“We have been really happy with the collaboration – Arsenal have been too,” the sporting director added. “The intention was for Lucas to have more hair on his chest through some senior football, and he has got that.“[Extending the loan] hasn’t really been part of the discussions. My impression has been that they want to take some further steps with Lucas. We had been open to extending the agreement…it has been Arsenal’s wish that something else should happen.“We have been happy with the level he has shown, especially in the matches. We have been really satisfied with it. He has also saved points in some matches. His greatest strength is on the line, he is fast, a top-class shot stopper.”Expressen report that Nygaard’s Arsenal contract expires at the end of the month and that he could therefore be available on a free transfer. That, however, does not appear to be correct. Arsenal are understood to rate the goalkeeper highly, and it seems unlikely they would be willing to lose him for nothing just two years after bringing him to the club.For Arsenal, the decision is now whether Nygaard’s next step is another move into senior football, a step-up to the senior Arsenal side, or a permanent transfer if the right offer arrives. Brabrand have done what Arsenal wanted them to do, giving him senior experience and a clearer sense of the demands beyond academy football.HBK may now offer the next opening, but the key point is that Nygaard’s loan ending does not necessarily point towards the end of his Arsenal career. On the evidence of Brabrand’s comments, Arsenal are still very much invested in his development.
  • World Cup 2026: How Football Fans Pick Betting SitesWorld Cup 2026 is quietly reshaping where football fans betThis is a strange summer. The World Cup has arrived in three countries at once, 48 teams are in the draw for the first time in history, and 16 Arsenal players are scattered across 10 national squads.What gets less attention is how the betting and platform landscape that surrounds football has shifted more between Qatar 2022 and now than it did in the previous decade. Anyone signing up to a new operator this summer is walking into a market that looks nothing like the one fans last touched four years ago.Sixteen Gunners, ten nations, a unique summerArsenal’s footprint at this World Cup is enormous. As Daily Cannon’s roundup of Arsenal’s World Cup call-ups shows, the title-winning side will send 16 players to North America across 10 nations, from England and Spain through to Norway, France, Brazil, Germany, Belgium, Sweden and Ecuador. For the supporter who has spent the last nine months watching this side win the league, the tournament is essentially nine concurrent Arsenal mini-stories playing out under different flags.That changes how people watch. A fan in north London is no longer following one country. They are watching Saka and Rice on Tuesday, Ødegaard on Thursday, Saliba on Friday, and trying to keep half an eye on Brazil’s group stage at the same time. Multiply that across the millions of supporters who follow Premier League clubs, and you get a fragmented, attentive audience engaging with this tournament far more actively than at any previous one.Why fans are doing their homeworkThis is the quiet shift that most coverage misses. Fans are not picking platforms off the back of a TV spot anymore. They are opening three or four tabs, comparing welcome offers, checking which platforms accept their bank’s debit card, and reading what other players have actually experienced.This kind of pre-signup research used to be the preserve of professional bettors. It is now ordinary fan behaviour. Anyone signing up for the first time this summer is doing what previous tournaments rarely saw: comparing operators side by side and reading online casino reviews before committing to a deposit. The reason is simple. Once your money is sitting on a platform that pays out slowly, or denies a withdrawal on a technicality, the welcome offer that pulled you in stops looking clever.The platform explosion since QatarThe market reaching for that attention has also changed beyond recognition. In 2022, most football fans who wanted a flutter on a World Cup match picked between a handful of well-known UK bookmakers, opened an account, took the welcome offer, and got on with it. The choices in 2026 are not comparable.Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket have moved from crypto-curiosity to mainstream sports markets, with line-by-line outcomes priced like financial instruments. Crypto sportsbooks settle bets in seconds and pay out in stablecoins. Traditional bookies have layered in cash-out tools, bet-builder products, and partner offers across casino and slots. New offshore operators have launched specifically to capture World Cup traffic. Social prediction games on X and Discord are pulling in fans who would never have opened a sportsbook account a few years ago.For the average supporter, the question of where to play is no longer obvious. There are too many options, with too many different trade-offs, to default to the first ad that runs during the match. Pew Research Center’s analysis of prediction market activity through May 2026 found that trading on Kalshi and Polymarket has surged in recent months, with sports the single largest category by volume on Kalshi. The tournament is accelerating a shift that was already underway.What this looks like for England fansBring it back to football. England open against Ghana, Croatia and Panama in the group stage. Arsenal contribute four players to Thomas Tuchel’s squad, and the way Saka, Rice, Eze and Madueke have now linked up with the rest of the camp means that almost half of England’s first-choice rhythm has run through the Emirates this season.That matters for what people are looking at on a bet slip. The Eze top-scorer prices have been moving on a couple of platforms in the last week. Rice’s anytime-assist lines look generous on others. Tuchel’s tactical preferences in the warm-up friendlies have already shifted markets. None of this would have been visible to a casual fan five years ago. Now it sits one open tab away. With Arsenal’s title-winning core scattered across North America, the multi-team interest from Gunners supporters at this tournament is unusually high.A different kind of summerThe World Cup is a sports event first. It is also, increasingly, a stress test for the entire online economy that surrounds the sport. Fans are getting choosier. Platforms are getting more numerous. The space between a fan deciding to back England against Ghana and that bet being placed is filling up with new tools, new operators, and considerably more research than ever before. The sensible thing to do this summer is the thing most fans are already starting to do. Look around before you sign up.

Source: Dailycannon.com