Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi has said fellow new signing Lucas Perez will be a tough crack for Premier League defenders. Former Valencia defender Mustafi is confident fellow Lucas Perez has all the attributes to be a success in England and warned Premier League defenders they face an "uncomfortable" experience. However, Mustafi – who has played against Perez in La Liga – believes the forward will be a success at Arsenal. “He is uncomfortable to play against,” The German said “He’s a good striker – he has everything a striker needs. “He’s someone you can play well with. He doesn’t just run around and wait for someone to give him a pass to score a goal. “He works a lot for the team as well and he creates chances. “He’s in the right place at the right … [Read more...]
Granit Xhaka sent-off as Switzerland beat Portugal
Granit Xhaka’s was sent off as European champions Portugal suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Switzerland in their opening 2018 World Cup Group B, earning his seventh red card since April 2014. Breel Embolo opened scoring for the host at St Jakob-Park after 24 minutes, before Admir Mehmedi fired in a second on the hour mark. Switzerland finished the match with 10 men win in stoppage time, when Granit Xhaka picked up a second caution for a needless foul on Joao Mario. Having initially been booked for catching Portugal midfielder Adrien Silva on the thigh with a high foot. Xhaka’s sixth red card in his last 78 matches and his seventh since April 2014 for both club and country. Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic said: "For me, they were two half-yellow cards, which … [Read more...]
Arsenal Star Returns To Training After Injury Spell
Arsenal starlet Alex Iwobi has returned to training and should be available against Southampton on saturday's game according to mirror. The starlet has not featured for Arsenal after sustaining muscle strain in his thigh against Liverpool in the opening of game of the season. The Nigeria star player as previously stayed at london after the international break in other to regain full fitness and it appears he would be an option for Arsene Wenger for Saturdays game against Southampton. The youngster enjoyed a successful time last season, having his best performance ever making a total of 21 appearance in all competition. Arsene Wenger knows Iwobi has lots of potential and at twenty has his peak career way ahead of him. The youngster already as shown his … [Read more...]
Kanu delighted to make a difference in Arsenal Legends match
Arsenal legend Nwaknkwo Kanu earned the adoration of the Emirates once more with his performance in Saturday’s Legends game but the former Nigerian international was more concerned with the good he was doing off the field. Kanu scored the hat-trick he had promised pre-match as an Arsenal Legends side ran out 4-2 winners over a star-studded Milan Glorie XI in front of Emirates crowd. The match was the cornerstone of the Arsenal Foundation’s bid to raise over £1million, with which they intend to build football pitches in Jordan, Somalia and London. For Kanu, whose own heart foundation aims to provide life-saving surgery to youngsters across Africa, it was the results off the pitch that mattered more than his own display. “I had that feeling that it … [Read more...]
Bremen ‘creative’ with Serge Gnabry deal amid Bayern talk – Lemke
Werder Bremen acquired Serge Gnabry from Arsenal in a “clever and creative” manner, according to a member of the club’s supervisory board. Gnabry’s exit from Arsenal on deadline day came as a surprise after Arsene Wenger had set he hoped to agree a new deal with the 21-year-old, whose contract at the Emirates was set to expire at the end of the season. Ultimately Arsenal accepted a bid of between £4-5 million from Bremen but speculation in Germany has claimed that German champions Bayern Munich had a part to play in the deal and may have an agreement in place with their fellow Bundesliga side. Whilst Wili Lemke did not confirm any involvement from Bayern in the deal, a suggestion that Bremen themselves deny, he did confirm that general manager Frank … [Read more...]
Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil wants Jack Wilshere’s No 10 shirt
Mesut Ozil has spoken of his desire to wear the Arsenal No. 10 shirt in the absence of Jack Wilshere, amid talks with the Gunners over a new contract. The 27-year-old has taken over wearing No. 10 for Germany after Lukas Podolski's retirement and has admitted that he would like the same shirt back at the Emirates Stadium. With Wilshere joining Bournemouth on loan for the season, Ozil says that he now has the opportunity to lock down the number he desires. "It has become free and I will definitely have it," Ozil told German newspaper Express. "I did a few years ago have this number [with Germany], but Lukas Podolski wanted it. He had more matches than I did. Now I have access. "Of course I've previously given those in charge [at Arsenal] a signal. The … [Read more...]
Jamie Vardy: Why it was an easy decision to snub Arsenal
Jamie Vardy has revealed the pain felt by England’s stars at their Euro 2016 humiliation and how he made the tough decision to turn down a move to Arsenal before bumping into Gunners boss Arsene Wenger during the tournament. Despite winning the Premier League with Leicester, being named footballer of the year by the Football Writers’ Association and getting married, Vardy was also part of the England squad which crashed out of the European Championships to Iceland. Add to that a high-profile bid from Arsenal, which the forward would go on to snub, and it was an off-season of mixed emotions for the 29-year-old. Vardy, who will start on the bench for Sam Allardyce’s first game in charge of England in Sunday’s World Cup qualifier in Slovakia, … [Read more...]
Olivier Giroud has ‘no problem’ with Wenger over limited game time
Olivier Giroud insists he does not have an issue with his failure to start a match for Arsenal this season, saying he understands Arsene Wenger’s reasons. France striker Giroud has been limited to just 12 minutes of first-team football this season with Wenger giving his quartet of Euro 2016 semi-finalists an extended break. However, with Laurent Koscielny rushed back into the side at Leicester to shore up a struggling backline, Mesut Ozil also found himself recalled to the starting line-up for the win at Watford last weekend. Giroud was back in action for his national side in a 3-1 win over Italy in Bari on Thursday, scoring France’s second goal in an impressive victory. Speaking after the match he insisted that he had no concerns over his place at … [Read more...]
United’s Anthony Martial and Arsenal’s Giroud score as France beat Italy
Olivier Giroud, Anthony Martial and Layvin Kurzawa scored as France ran out 3-1 winners over Italy in a friendly at Stadio San Nicola. France extended their strong record on Italian soil with a 3-1 win in Bari in Giampiero Ventura's first match in charge of the Azzurri. First-half goals from Anthony Martial and Olivier Giroud, either side of a fine equaliser by Graziano Pelle put France ahead before Layvin Kurzawa's late strike wrapped up a match that exposed Italy's defensive frailties. Ventura lined Italy up with Fiorentina's Davide Astori in a back three that was missing Leonardo Bonucci due to the Juventus player's family commitments, and a mistake from Andrea Barzagli allowed Martial to score easily after 17 minutes. Italy enjoyed long spells of … [Read more...]
Bournemouth sign Jack Wilshere on season-long loan deal
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has joined Bournemouth on loan for the rest of the season as he tries to revive his career by getting more playing time away from the Emirates Stadium. Both clubs confirmed the deal on Wednesday evening after Wilshere, 24, opted for the south-coast club over Crystal Palace or Roma. Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake told his club's official website: "Jack is a fantastic addition to the club. "He is a player that needs no introduction and one that, quite rightly, our supporters will be excited to see in a Bournemouth shirt. "He will bring a wealth of international and Premier League experience, so we are delighted to be able to welcome a player of his calibre to the club." The wait is over, @jackwilshere is … [Read more...]
Werder Bremen sign Serge Gnabry from Arsenal
Werder Bremen have completed the permanent signing of Olympic silver medallist Serge Gnabry from Arsenal. Serge Gnabry has left Arsenal and completed a permanent switch to Werder Bremen. Germany Under-21 international Gnabry, who won a silver medal with his country at Rio 2016, came through the academy at Arsenal before making 10 Premier League appearances for the club. After spending last season on loan at West Brom, the winger has now transferred to Werder, despite reports he would sign for Bayern Munich and move to the north west on loan. Gnabry revealed Arsenal team-mates Per Mertesacker and Mesut Ozil spoke positively of their respective spells at the Bundesliga club, helping convince him to sign. Upon his presentation to the media on … [Read more...]
Werder Bremen set to sign Arsenal foward Gnabry
Werder Bremen are on the verge of completing a permanent deal for Arsenal starlet Serge Gnabry, according to the Bundesliga club's director of sport Frank Baumann. The 21-year-old German forward, who scored six goals for his country as they clinched a silver medal at the Olympic Games, is out of contract next summer and set to return to Germany. Reports on Wednesday had claimed German champions Bayern Munich were set to land the Gunners youngster and immediately loan him to Bremen. But Baumann dismissed those rumours and said he expects Gnabry to arrive in northern Germany on Wednesday before putting pen to paper. "We've got an agreement with the player and we're confident it will go through," he said at a press conference on Tuesday. "We have … [Read more...]
Arsenal sign Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia
Arsenal have completed the signing of Germany defender Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia for a reported fee of £35 million. Mustafi, 24, is the third major signing for manager Arsene Wenger this summer after central midfielder Granit Xhaka joined in May from Gladbach and £17m striker Lucas Perez arrived from Deportivo La Coruna on Tuesday, taking the club's spending to over £90m in this transfer window. The German solves a defensive crisis for Wenger's men after Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista were injured in preseason. While 20-year-old Rob Holding has impressed in the team's first three games, Mustafi is expected to earn an immediate starting role alongside Laurent Koscielny in Arsenal's back four. Mustafi will join up with his new teammates after … [Read more...]
Former Arsenal midfielder Rosicky rejoins Sparta Prague
Former Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky has returned to his home town to join Sparta Prague. The 35-year-old left the Gunners in July after a ten-year spell in the Premier League and, despite making only one appearance last season, was included in the Czech Republic squad at Euro 2016. He retired from international football following the tournament and has now agreed a two-year contract with Sparta, the club with whom he began his senior career in 1998. A statement published on the Czech side's website said Rosicky had trained with his new team-mates for the first time on Tuesday afternoon. He won the FA Cup during his time with Arsenal and clinched the 2001-02 Bundesliga title with Dortmund. He is set to return to England when Sparta, who finished … [Read more...]
Arsenal complete signing of Deportivo La Coruna striker Lucas Perez
Arsenal have completed the £17.1million signing of striker Lucas Perez from Deportivo La Coruna, with Shkodran Mustafi set to follow. The 27-year-old enjoyed a prolific season in La Liga in 2015/16 where he scored 19 goals in all competitions, including 17 in the league. This included a spell when he scored seven goals in seven successive games, matching the record of former Brazilian striker Bebeto. He also scored in the opening game of this La Liga campaign, against Eibar. Lucas began his career in Spain with Atletico Madrid C and then Rayo Vallecano. Spells with Karpaty Lviv in Ukraine and PAOK in Greece followed, before he returned to his home region of Galicia with Deportivo La Coruna in 2014. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger told the club’s official … [Read more...]
Arsenal willing to loan out Jack Wilshere
Arsenal are willing to loan out Jack Wilshere in a bid to kickstart the midfielder's career, according to reports. The Gunners academy graduate has played just 37 mintues of action this season, and there is no clear route to the Arsenal first-team for the England international. With a number of injury problems behind him, head coach Arsene Wenger is keen to send the midfielder out on loan, so he can prove his fitness and kickstart a stuttering career. Considered one of the brightest talents of his generation, Wilshere spent the majoriry of last season injured, and his lack of game time resulted in the 24-year-old missing out on a call up to Sam Allardyce's first England squad. Wenger believes Wilshere still has a future at the Emirates, but feels he … [Read more...]
Ozil convinced Mustafi to join Arsenal
Shkodran Mustafi is set to join Arsenal this week, and he has revealed how Mesut Ozil convinced him to join the Gunners from Valencia. Mustafi was part of the youth setup at both Hamburg and Everton, before becoming a first team regular at Sampdoria, and joined Valencia in 2014. “I did not see Per for a long time because he quit international football but I talked to Mesut,” Mustafi told Sky Sports in Germany. “He told me everything I wanted to know. Everything was positive, so I was convinced very fast. It did not take much. The 24-year-old stated that Arsenal’s attractive style of football was another factor in his desire to join the club. “I have always loved Arsenal, I like how they play here, it is not typical English. “The game here is … [Read more...]
Shkodran Mustafi, Lucas Perez passed Arsenal medicals – Wenger
Arsene Wenger saw his Arsenal side win their first Premier League game of the season with a comfortable 3-1 victory at Watford before insisting there is more to come from his players as they close in on two new recruits. An early Santi Cazorla penalty was added to by Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil as the Gunners raced into a commanding first-half lead at Vicarage Road. They visibly tired after the interval and Watford pulled a goal back as club-record signing Roberto Pereyra scored a debut goal, but the hosts could not find a way to set up a grandstand finish. The victory follows an opening-day defeat at home to Liverpool and a goalless draw at champions Leicester and, with the double signing of Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi and Deportivo's Lucas … [Read more...]
Arsenal beat Watford to claim first win of the season
Arsenal recorded their first win of their Premier League season with a resounding 3-1 win against Watford at Vicarage Road. Having lost at home to Liverpool and drawn 0-0 at champions Leicester, Arsene Wenger saw his side dominate the first half at Vicarage Road, as an early Santi Cazorla penalty was added to by Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil. Watford, still looking for a win under Walter Mazzarri, looked better after the break as club-record signing Roberto Pereyra came off the bench to grab a consolation. The Gunners, who are likely to add defender Shkodran Mustafi and forward Lucas Perez to their ranks in the coming days, were ahead in the ninth minute after Nordin Amrabat crashed into the back of Sanchez and, after a delay, referee Kevin Friend … [Read more...]
Belgium name Henry as Martinez’s assistant manager
Thierry Henry will join the Belgium national team's coaching staff as Roberto Martinez's assistant. Former France international Henry had been working as coach of Arsenal's under-18 side before leaving last month after Arsene Wenger told him he could not continue in the role unless he quit his work as a TV pundit. However, he will now work with former Wigan and Everton boss Martinez as Belgium look to rebuild following a disappointing Euro 2016 campaign. Roberto Martínez: "@ThierryHenry has been in the situation to change the spirit into winning something" #belesp #cypbel #tousensemble - BelgianRedDevils (@BelRedDevils) August 26, 2016 Henry, 39, won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with France. Honoured to be assistant coach @BelRedDevils. … [Read more...]
Wenger ’99 per cent confident’ on completing double swoop
Arsene Wenger has confirmed Arsenal are closing in on signing striker Lucas Perez and centre-back Shkodran Mustafi but says the deals are yet to be completed. "We are working on the deals," Wenger said on Friday at a news conference. "We are not close enough to announce to you today that they will sign for us. Will we sign anybody before the end of the transfer window? I'm 99 percent confident [we will]." Arsenal moved on Thursday to trigger a £17 million release clause for Perez, the Deportivo La Coruna striker who had also been a target for Everton. British media then reported Thursday evening that the Gunners had also agreed a £35m fee for Mustafi, the Valencia defender, after lengthy talks with the Spanish club. The boss reveals the latest transfer … [Read more...]
Champions League: Pep in Barcelona return as Arsenal face PSG
Pep Guardiola will return to the Camp Nou after Manchester City and Barcelona were drawn together in the Champions League group stage on Thursday. Guardiola spent the majority of his playing career with Barcelona and led them to two European titles as manager in 2009 and 2011. And now in his first season as City boss, he will face off against his former club in Group C, along with Borussia Monchengladbach and Celtic, when the group stage begins next month. The Spanish champions beat City in the round of 16 in both 2014 and 2015, and the teams completed a transfer of goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to City just hours before the draw. The draw featured some other blockbuster matchups, as defending champions Real Madrid play Borussia Dortmund in Group F, Paris … [Read more...]
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