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Arsenal 3-0 AFC Wimbledon: Eddie Nketiah’s Flicked Finish Helps Gunners

Arsenal 3-0 AFC Wimbledon: Eddie Nketiah’s flicked finish helps Gunners into Carabao Cup fourth round

Eddie Nketiah’s superb, back-heeled flick helped Arsenal claim a 3-0 win over AFC Wimbledon at the Emirates Stadium as they set up a Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Leeds United.

Alexandre Lacazette opened the scoring for the much-changed Gunners when he converted from the penalty spot after Gabriel Martinelli had been brought down (10).

Arsenal were made to wait to extend their lead, the League One visitors defending resolutely, but substitute Emile Smith Rowe finally turned home a loose ball (77) before Nketiah’s moment of inspiration capped the victory (80).

Cedric Soares’s cut-back was slightly behind the striker but he quickly adjusted his feet to flick the ball beyond AFC Wimbledon goalkeeper Nik Tzanev using the heel of his right boot.

The win, Arsenal’s third in a row in all competitions, ensures the Gunners maintain their momentum ahead of the north London derby against Tottenham, live on Sky Sports on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta made 10 changes from Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Burnley on Saturday, with Thomas Partey the only player to keep his place in the side as other members of the squad were given the chance to impress.

One player who looked eager to seize his opportunity was Martinelli. The Brazilian was a menace on Arsenal’s right and used his pace to win the early penalty after latching on to Nketiah’s through-ball.

Lacazette, wearing the captain’s armband on what was his first start of the season, converted the spot kick coolly, finding the bottom corner and sending Tzanev the wrong way in the process.

Arsenal dominated possession but did not create another meaningful opening until much later in the half, when Martinelli again sprung the visitors’ offside trap, this time from a Lacazette pass, only for Tzanev to rush off his line and force him away from goal.

Tzanev almost cost his side a goal not long after that when he pushed an awkward high ball onto the crossbar and back into the six-yard box. It fell to Nketiah a few yards out, however he couldn’t force it in.

Partey enjoyed a productive run-out in midfield as he continued to build up his fitness following his return from an ankle injury, and he was next to go close when his rising drive was pushed over the bar by Tzanev shortly before the hour-mark.

That turned out to be his last contribution of the game, the Ghanaian withdrawn with Sunday’s north London derby against Tottenham in mind, and his replacement, Smith Rowe, would go on to score Arsenal’s second.

Before that, Nuno Tavares, impressive at left-back for the hosts, struck the post with a downward header from a Martinelli cross.

Many of the home fans were growing frustrated at that point as their side struggled to convert their dominance into goals but Smith Rowe was soon joined on the pitch by Bukayo Saka, who combined with Lacazette to set up Smith Rowe for their second.

Nketiah then caused the Emirates Stadium to erupt in celebration for a third time with his ingenious finish, and Arsenal went close to extending their lead further in the closing stages, with Saka firing narrowly wide then seeing another effort well saved by Tzanev.

By then, however, they had already done enough. Their attention now turns to Sunday’s north London derby.

Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah (left, facing) celebrates with team-mates after scoring their side’s third goal of the game during the Carabao Cup third round match at the Emirates Stadium

Afterwards, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: “As long as we were 1-0 up, they were obviously still in the game and any situation like a set-piece, you can concede a goal, so we knew that we had to close the game down. We did that at the end and it looked comfortable, but it was always a tough game.

“To have 50,000 fans in the Carabao Cup on a Wednesday night is pretty special and it doesn’t happen in many places. The players notice that and obviously that raises the level of demands. They made the night more special.

“They are here to support the team and they want to see the team winning. It is a natural thing. They have always been with the team and now they are at a different level, and we need them at an even higher level on Sunday because we’re going to need them and hopefully we can enjoy a beautiful day together.

What’s next?
Arsenal are at home to Leeds in the next round of the Carabao Cup with the fourth round ties due to be played on October 26 and 27.

Before that, the Gunners resume their Premier League campaign against north London rivals Tottenham, live on Sky Sports on Sunday.

AFC Wimbledon return to League One action with an away game against Shrewsbury Town on Saturday.

 

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EFCC seals Kaduna hotel for breaching money laundering act

The Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, of the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has sealed up Hampton Hilton Hotel and Apartments, Kaduna, for non-compliance with the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022 and Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regulations of the Financial Action Task Force, FATF for Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions, DNFBPs.

The entity was found to have committed multiple infractions in the course of the first evaluation carried out on it, on June 4, 2024, leading to the issuance of administrative sanctions to it by SCUML.

It was also found to have committed further infractions following the compliance evaluation of June 13, 2025, for which it was slammed N2,300,000.00 (Two Million Three Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, payable within seven days and with instruction to ensure full compliance with the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022 and AML/CFT regulations or face further consequences.

While it refused to pay the fine, it, as well, dishonoured SCUML’s invite to show up for compliance evaluation, resulting in the sealing of the premises.

The Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, ensures DNFBPs’ compliance with Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022 and AML/CFT regulations.

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Buhari could have long been dead if he had chosen to be treated in Nigeria -Fmr aide Adesina

Former spokesperson to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina, has defended the decision of late President Buhari to always seek medical attention abroad before and after he left office.

In a chat with Channels TV this morning, Adesina who served as the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Buhari said;

‘’Buhari always had his medical in London, even when he was not in office. So, it’s not about the time he was president alone. He had always had it in London and then, you have to be alive first to get certain things corrected in your country. If he had said, ‘I will do my medical in Nigeria just as a show-off or something,’ he could have long been dead because there may not be the expertise needed in the country but he needed to be alive to lead the country to a point where we will have that expertise”

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Buhari’s body arrives in Daura from Katsina for final burial

The remains of Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has arrived in his hometown of Daura from Katsina ahead of his burial later today.

The body, which was flown into the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina from the United Kingdom earlier in the day, was received with full state protocol by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda, and members of the late president’s family.

From the airport, the late leader’s remains were transported by a specially prepared ambulance under tight security to Daura, a journey marked by solemnity and respect, with hundreds of residents lining parts of the route to pay their final respects.

Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s Head of State from 1983 to 1985 and returned as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023, died in London on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 82 after a brief illness.

According to Islamic tradition, he will be buried later today at his private residence in Daura.

Dignitaries, traditional rulers, political leaders, and sympathizers from across Nigeria have already gathered in Daura for the Janazah prayers and final interment, with security operatives deployed across the ancient town to ensure a peaceful ceremony

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