Four Sporting Lisbon players – including midfielder William Carvalho – have rescinded their contracts with the Portuguese outfit, according to reports in The Telegraph on Tuesday morning, and Arsenal fans have urged their club to bring the 6ft 3in tall beast to the Emirates Stadium.
The Telegraph says that the Euro 2016 winner – along with teammates, Bruno Fernandes, Gelson Martins and Bas Dost – have all filed notice that they are to break their contracts with Sporting, claiming “just cause” after supporters attacked some players at the training ground last month after they failed to qualify for the Champions League.
Meanwhile, new Gunners boss Unai Emery, who should move quickly to sign a 6ft 3in England international whose future is in doubt, may well be looking to strengthen his options in the middle of the park ahead of the new season, and bringing in a player who can protect the back four and help to strengthen their leaky backline could be a priority.
Arsenal supporters were quick to have their say on Carvalho’s potential availability on a free transfer via social media, and while one described him as “better than Elneny and Xhaka”, another said “he is the player we desperately need in midfield”.
Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…
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As reported by The Daily Star Sunday, Arsenal have joined the race to sign Leicester City talent Riyad Mahrez this summer.
What’s the story?
Mahrez was the subject of intense transfer speculation towards the end of the January window after the Foxes were reported to have knocked back a £60m bid for the winger.
That’s resulted in the player failing to turn up for training in the wake of deadline day, throwing into doubt his future at the former Premier League champions.
The Daily Star Sunday report that Arsenal are a number of clubs chasing his signature this summer, claiming that Arsene Wenger has been keeping close track of his progress, even going so far as to asking about how he trains and his character.
Will he improve Arsenal?
There’s no doubting that Riyad Mahrez has been an impressive force in the English Premier League over the last few seasons. During Leicester’s title-winning campaign, he was almost unplayable in the top flight, contributing an unbelievable 17 goals and 10 assists. This season alone he has provide nine goals and nine assists for his club.
However, it’s not as if Arsenal are lacking creative talent of their own and after securing Mesut Ozil to a new contract and bringing Henrikh Mkhitaryan to the club, they have two creative kings that can provide the assists and goals that the Gunners need to compete at the top end of the table.
With direct striking talent like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette at the club too, there’s fierce competition in the team’s front four.
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Shelling out what it would take to Mahrez doesn’t seem like smart business from Arsene Wenger’s perspective and perhaps this is one reported race they should bow out of.
With a depleted squad, poor form, lack of confidence and edginess from the majority of the club’s fanbase, all the signs pointed towards yet another demoralising defeat for Arsenal against Manchester City as they watch their Premier League campaign crumble before their very eyes. But they proved the majority wrong, fighting admirably from one goal behind and producing the kind of football fans at the Emirates are used to in order to claw the game back. For some it may be seen as a turning point, for others it merely papers the cracks. I fall into the latter category.
The game began in the fashion most expected it would. City came out of the blocks fastest, and as Arsenal are prone to doing, they conceded possession far too easily. City dominated the ball and found themselves rightly ahead as Lukas Podolski gave away the ball, with the result of a City counterattack eventually ricocheting over the line from David Silva. But for that, City remained in the ascendency without creating many clear-cut chances.
The second half saw a marked improvement in the Gunners’ play. They looked more composed in possession and seemed more determined in 50-50 challenges. Mathieu Flamini’s equaliser came just moments after a deflection took the ball off Per Mertesacker’s knee, just past his own post. If it wasn’t for a stroke of luck, the game could have been beyond doubt. As it happened, City took their foot off the gas and Arsenal took charge, going close through Podolski just minutes after the equaliser. The second half performance showed what Arsenal can do when needs be.
But unfortunately, the first half demonstrated the same recurring problems when playing the better sides. Keen on pressuring Man City whilst still in possession, Arsenal overloaded the attacking third. When Arsenal were dispossessed in the middle-third of the field they found themselves quickly having to recover their positions. The full-backs, in particular, are guilty of this. For City’s goal both Kieran Gibbs and Bacary Sagna found themselves too high up the field. Once the ball reached Arsenal’s penalty area, they were nowhere to be seen. Had City capitalised in the way Chelsea or Liverpool did in these situations they could have taken the game beyond Arsenal inside the first 45 minutes.
Surely Arsenal were aware of the early intensity City were going to play with. The attacking potential they have at their disposal with the likes of Silva, Samir Nasri, Yaya Toure and Jesus Navas should have provided enough of the focus of Wenger’s pre-match planning and his team-talk. With players like Navas in wide areas, it should have been the focus of Arsenal’s full-backs to prevent them from having an early influence. Instead, they approached the game in a similar fashion and, in all honesty, rode their luck greatly. City may not have been as clinical as Arsenal’s previous opponents, but Arsenal were no better than they were on those days. They were mightily lucky to hold out.
Once more, the City game further highlighted the squad depth issues that Arsene Wenger is having to contend with at the moment. Having to use the same nucleus of players week after week is beginning to take its toll. They have very few game-changers to bring off the subs bench and had to rely on much of the game for players like Flamini to add a bit of attacking intensity. This isn’t to put a downer on the performances of Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky, who both performed excellently in the second half. But the lack of options threatens to undo much of the work done earlier in the season. Players are beginning to look fatigued, and with key games upcoming against Everton and Wigan in the FA Cup, there isn’t a worse time for the Gunners to be short on numbers.
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Fortunately for Arsenal, games against the ‘big’ sides are done and dusted until next season. But their experiences this season should pose as a reminder for the distance they still have to overcome before being able to challenge at the very top. The squad depth, highlighted in recent weeks, should be of real concern to Wenger in the next few games too. Some people may be able to paint the City result in a positive light, but they shouldn’t ignore the negatives that came from it too. And if Arsenal do, it could be even more damaging.
The main thing which annoyed in the aftermath of England’s 5-0 win over San Marino was the amount of people who analysed the performance. I don’t believe for a second that how badly or brilliant you played against a semi-professional outfit will impact what happens when you face real opposition.
The joint worst team in the history of international football set out with their variation of a 10-0 formation hoping and praying to keep the scoreline respectable. While I’m not suggesting for a second the minnows had an obligation to attack the Three Lions, I don’t see the point in allowing an exercise and encouraging a game where only one team have the resources to win. The irritation is it’s a match-up everyone’s seen plenty of times before, when the slightly superior Andorra come to Wembley they are similarly restricted in the ways they can approach the game and often, rarely venture further than 30 yards from their goal in numbers.
I just don’t see the point in continuing to persist with these dreadful events, due to the population of these miniscule nations, they are never going to be at a level where they can compete with the major teams, so make them qualify in a preliminary round and against teams closer to their level to stop these pointless exercises twice every qualification round. Some minnow nations have improved Republic of Ireland travel to the Faroe Islands expecting a tough match today, but some still offer little and can’t provide a stern enough test at international level to anyone, like San Marino.
As a self-confessed football addict, there is virtually no football match I could not find a point of interest in. Whether it’s a lower-league game showcasing a young talent or a chance to see the expensively assembled League Two outfit Fleetwood Town. Nearly all football matches are going to appeal to me in some way. This England versus a team with the population of a big town fixture is a definite exception. I learn nothing more about Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain because he can curl past a goalkeeper standing comically out of position. We are no closer to knowing whether Kyle Walker will emerge as the England right back for the next ten years, because the opposition are far too miserably inept to test him. Plus the San Marino goalkeeper’s recklessness and inexperience injured Theo Walcott. This is another strong case for stopping these miserable match-ups, people can get hurt. How our amateur footballers supposed to cope with players used to playing at a pact they’ve never seen before?
This game seemed to generate more of a buzz than other non-events between England and part-timers perhaps the excitement of guessing how many England should put past San Marino got people through their last day of work that week. Regardless the same people eager to sweepstake the number of goals scored, then moaned about England only winning 5-0 and not looking overly impressive against a team who set out to do nothing but a damage limitation exercise. I’ve been accused of pessimism in the past, but being upset at your team looking unimpressive in a glorified training exercise is simply ridiculous. This game didn’t teach us anything about England or San Marino and shouldn’t be taken any further than that. Those who got angered watching it perhaps need a reminder of the ease at which England swept aside Estonia a month earlier. Only to then be incapable of raising their level against real opposition in the shape of Ukraine.
If you replace these meaningless games with friendlies or even training camps, it will allow younger players to get a greater understanding of the England set up and perhaps, further push through that next generation that England so desperately need to replace the aging stars of the last decade. But welcoming them into the squad in such meaningless fixtures doesn’t benefit them or the national team. Put an end to these pointless fixtures and quickly please.
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Nottingham Forest fans seem to be pleased by the the rumours linking them to Benfica duo Diogo Goncalves & Joao Carvalho, who play as a winger and a midfielder, respectively.The transfer links have been reported by Portuguese newspapers A Bola.ÂThe key to the deal appears to be Forest’s newfound relationship with world-renowned agent, Jorge Mendes. Mendes operates in a similar role with Championship champions Wolverhampton Wanderers and his relationship with them was key to the signing of Portuguese stars Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota.This relationship, and the prospective signing of Portuguese youngsters has led Forest fans into a frenzy, many expecting a similar run in the Championship in the upcoming season. Both are expected to be permanent signings, with the Portuguese starlets expected to be a significant upgrade on the stars already available to Aitor Karanka.Below is a selection of the best reactions from Forest fans..
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Tottenham have at least 17 games left to play before the end of 2017/18. And yet, the next five, taking place between now and the 13th of February, will have the most significant impact on determining the success of their campaign.
It will be an invaluable litmus test of how competitive this Tottenham side is, how resourceful Mauricio Pochettino is and whether players linked with summer moves to alluring destinations are as focused and dedicated as they were during the last two seasons when Spurs pushed hard for the Premier League title. It will also tell us whether, over the course of this term, Tottenham have improved or worsened.
That’s not least because there are so many games in such close proximity. From hosting Manchester United on Wednesday night to travelling to Juventus Stadium in two Tuesdays’ time, Spurs will have five games in the space of a fortnight – roughly one every three days. Much more than simply a question of durability for a club that has used just 24 players in the Premier League this season (two of which have now left on loan), the third-lowest amount in the top flight, however, is the manner in which the next five games combine the only three fronts Tottenham have left this season.
Soccer Football – Champions League – Real Madrid vs Tottenham Hotspur – Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid, Spain – October 17, 2017 Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo with Tottenham’s Harry Kane after the match REUTERS/Paul Hanna TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
A good run in the Champions League will be something of a bonus for Tottenham, who have already produced some of the most unforgettable nights in the club’s history this season – holding Real Madrid to a draw at the Bernabeu, romping them at Wembley and ripping apart Borussia Dortmund in the Group Stages. Likewise, although their initial encounter proved to be a niggling, awkward affair, the wide expectation is that Newport County won’t be able to repeat their FA Cup heroics in the Fourth Round replay on Tottenham’s patch – the pitch will be wider, the atmosphere will be different and Spurs are unlikely to be so complacent twice.
But that FA Cup clash is nonetheless an added obstacle at the worst possible time, coming three days after a visit to Anfield and three days before the north London derby. It gives Tottenham less time to recover and less time to prepare; even if Pochettino fields a much-weakened side against Newport as expected, his attentions will inevitably be directed elsewhere during a make-or-break period of their Premier League campaign. What’s more, if Pochettino doesn’t give the FA Cup his full focus, Tottenham’s only likely chance of silverware this season will evaporate against League Two opposition.
That’s where Tottenham’s fates in all three competitions suddenly appear to intertwine. It’s a delicate balancing act for Pochettino, and the consequences could be devastating. If Tottenham are knocked out by Newport County, all the worse in extra time or penalties, they’ll have just three days to recover physically and mentally for the North London derby, knowing their season – at least in terms of trophies – is over already. Pochettino prides himself on always fighting to the end, but we have seen Tottenham collapse before when they know the jig is up – it was vastly different circumstances, but the obvious example is the 5-1 defeat to Newcastle at the end of the 2015/16 season.
Of course, losing to Newport County is a very big if, one that Tottenham fans won’t spend too much time fretting over. But Tottenham’s three next Premier League fixtures, two coming before the end of this week, are vitally pivotal as well – especially now that the north Londoners are looking upwards at the top four, sitting two points behind Liverpool. In terms of the race of Champions League qualification, their next three games are all invaluable six pointers that could either put them in the driving seat for a top four finish or leave them marooned in the Europa League positions.
In addition to that, however, each game will tell us something about where Tottenham are at right now and whether Pochettino has provided the improvements you’d expect of a manager with an exponentially rising reputation. Perhaps the most significant of those is the trip to Anfield, not least because Tottenham appear to be in a direct battle with Liverpool for fourth; during his time in north London, Pochettino has masterminded just one Premier League victory against a big six side away from home, also losing 11 of 18, while Klopp has just lost once at home to the same calibre of opponent since replacing Brendan Rodgers. To get something on Merseyside, Spurs will have to remedy a four-season habit.
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Upon facing Manchester United too, Tottenham will need to arrest misgivings from earlier in the campaign. When Jose Mourinho reduced their meeting at Old Trafford to a one-goal game, it was the Red Devils who held their nerve and took the late chance that came their way.
There is every likelihood the Portuguese will try the same trick at Wembley, a ground where Spurs have struggled at times against sides defending deep this season. Spurs have only actually scored two goals or more on four out of 12 occasions at Wembley in the Premier League and there was a common approach between the sides they’ve failed to beat there this term – Chelsea, Burnley, Swansea, West Brom and West Ham all claimed at least a point with less than 33% possession.
And then there’s the north London derby, another encounter where Tottenham will look to make amends after losing the reverse earlier in the campaign. That was billed as a definitive moment for Spurs, one where they would announce themselves as the new kings of north London, but Pochettino’s team didn’t truly turn up at the Emirates Stadium and the performance felt like something of a choke. Suffer defeat again to the Gunners, and Spurs could quickly find themselves dragged into a battle to avoid sixth place.
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It all creates a tapestry of make-or-break for Tottenham’s 2017/18, but the ramifications could be felt far beyond this season. With Harry Kane and Pochettino reportedly in Real Madrid’s sights, Dele Alli the object of admirations from many rivals, Toby Alderweireld’s contract situation yet to be resolved and Danny Rose’s fate uncertain, these next two weeks and the questions they pose of Tottenham’s credentials as a major force could well determine whether they see their immediate futures in north London or elsewhere.
If Spurs fall flat and their season unravels by the end of their Champions League clash with Juventus on February 13th, the summer transfer window won’t come soon enough for some.
Liverpool came out on top in a thrilling 5-3 Premier League victory at the Britannia Stadium against Stoke City.
Here’s how Twitter reacted as both sides just couldn’t stop scoring…
5 minutes: Liverpool take an early lead as Cissokho’s long-range effort takes a wicked deflection off Ryan Shawcross and in…
32 minutes: Luis Suarez capitalises on some woeful Stoke defending to double Liverpool’s lead…
39 minutes: But Stoke get themselves back in it when Peter Crouch finds himself unmarked to head home against his former club…
45 minutes: And another former Liverpool player, Charlie Adam, pulls Stoke level with a screamer from 18 yards…
51 minutes: Liverpool take the lead via Steven Gerrard penalty after Raheem Sterling softly went down in the Stoke area…
71 minutes: Substitute Daniel Sturridge sets up Luis Suarez for the Uruguayan’s 22nd goal of the season…
85 minutes: But Stoke give themselves hope of another comeback when Jonathan Walters slides home with five minutes remaining…
87: But Daniel Sturridge marks his return from injury with a goal just two minutes later to restore Liverpool’s two goal cushion and secure all three points for the Reds…
Arsenal have made it two wins from two Champions League games on Wednesday night with a 3-1 victory over Olympiakos at the Emirates Stadium.
Gervinho continued his recent strong goalscoring form with the opener on 42 minutes, but Kostas Mitroglou equalised on the stroke of half-time for the visitors.
Lukas Podolski put the Gunners back into the lead midway through the second 45, with Aaron Ramsey’s late strike securing all three points.
Steve Bould praised Olympiakos after the game, and was happy with the win.
“It was tough,” Bould told Sky Sports.
“They made it really tough for us and I thought they defended really well.
“We kicked the game off not too badly, but then we looked a little nervous. Maybe the result from the weekend drained us a little bit and we lost a bit of confidence, but overall it was just a fantastic result.
“They’re a good side, technically very sound and they made it really hard.
“We’ve watched tapes and we knew they were very good technically and they set the 4-1-4-1 with the big fella sat in front of the back four.
“Santi [Cazorla] couldn’t get on the ball in the first half and we tried to correct that at half-time, and I thought we improved,” he concluded.
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Arsenal top Group B after Schalke and Montpellier drew 2-2 in the other pool match.
Jamaal Lascelles has once again been snubbed by Gareth Southgate’s England, and Newcastle fans are not happy about it.
Sky Sports reported on Sunday evening that James Tarkowski has withdrawn from England’s World Cup standby list, as the Burnley defender requires surgery on a groin problem.
Newcastle fans were furious when both Jamaal Lascelles and Jonjo Shelvey were denied spots in Southgate’s original squad, and Lascelles has still not been called up to the standby list despite the Tarkowski injury.
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According to a further report from Sky Sports, it is “unlikely” that Southgate will call anyone else up to the standby list, as nearly every footballer that isn’t on international duty is already off on their holidays.
England’s standby group now consists of just Tom Heaton, Jake Livermore, Lewis Cook and Adam Lallana, so it is certainly surprising to elect against adding an emergency defender to the list.
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Today marks three weeks until England’s opening group game against Tunisia, and Southgate has until June 4 to submit his official squad list to FIFA.
Newcastle fans have been giving their verdict on the England’s boss’ decision, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions below…
As reported by The Scottish Sun, Celtic are not interested in signing experienced international defender Dusko Tosic this January.
What’s the story?
Celtic had earlier this week been linked with a move for the Besiktas man by Turkish media outlet Aksam, with the Hoops thought to have even tabled a bid for the UEFA Champions League stopper.
However, latest reports from The Scottish Sun suggest that not to be the case.
The paper say there is absolutely no interest in the player from the Scottish champions, shutting down the prospect of the Serbian international arriving in Glasgow this month.
Rated at £1.8m by Transfermarkt, the player could have been a cost effective solution to the Hoops’ defensive problems this season, but it seems Brendan Rodgers is either happy with what’s available or will look to new targets.
Do Celtic need a player like him?
On paper, Tosic certainly appeared to fit the bill for the Hoops. With over 200 appearances for clubs in France, Serbia, Turkey and elsewhere in his career, he’s consistently played at a level that would suggest he could make an impact in the Scottish Premiership.
He also has extensive European experience and has shone for Besiktas in the group stages of the Champions League this season, helping his side into the last 16 of the competition.
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If not him, then Celtic should be looking at players who have similar experience and quality. Perhaps new signing Marvin Compper will play a similar role, but with defensive improvement needed, bringing in another senior first team defender at that level can only be a benefit to the treble winners.