Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta “will always be grateful” to Pep Guardiola for the time they spent together at Manchester City.
Arteta was Guardiola’s assistant for three years before taking the top job at Arsenal in 2019.
The duo now find themselves going head-to-head at the top of the Premier League, with the Gunners leading the way, one place ahead of chasing champions City.
Arsenal travel to Southampton on Sunday looking to restore their four-point advantage following City’s 3-1 win against Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.
Speaking ahead of the game at St Mary’s, Arteta expressed his gratitude for his time at City and the things he learned working under Guardiola.
“I learned a lot about being at the top from Pep,” he said. “The standards that are set at the club are not only to win, but to win in a certain way every three days, and be extremely demanding and critical, and at the same time supportive, so it’s a good mixture.
“It was incredible to be part of that team and the evolution and how that team was built. I will always be grateful.”
The Spanish pair still speak regularly, but Arteta revealed: “Obviously we are not going to be talking about things related to our teams but of course we can speak about football as we did in the past and that’s not going to change.”
Arsenal have surprised many with their impressive start to the campaign, following up throwing away Champions League qualification at the end of last season to start this one with nine wins from 10 Premier League games.
They head to the south coast having won their last eight in all competitions, and Arteta explained how he manages to stay relaxed about everything.
“First of all, I try to sleep well. Rest is really important,” he said. “I try to look after my diet as much as I can. I don’t exercise as much as I should do, I have to be very critical of myself in that sense.
“And then I have to keep a clear mind and to do that, spending time with my loved ones is something that really helps me, my wife, my children. And really thinking, meditation, something like that helps you.”
Granit Xhaka’s volley ensured Arsenal secured qualification for the Europa League’s knockout stages with two games to spare, firing the Gunners to a 1-0 home win over PSV.
Mikel Arteta selected a strong side as Arsenal looked to ensure their progression from Group A on Thursday, but PSV appeared likely to make them wait after producing a resolute defensive display.
Walter Benitez kept Arsenal at bay until the 70th minute, but Xhaka expertly diverted a right-wing delivery into the bottom-left corner to seal the hosts’ progress.
While Arsenal are now assured of a place in the Europa League’s knockout stages, a point in next week’s return fixture will guarantee them top spot and a bye to the competition’s round of 16.
Xhaka and Gabriel Jesus both dragged left-footed efforts wide as Arsenal laid siege to PSV’s goal in the early exchanges, with Kieran Tierney also sending a wild volley over.
Fabio Vieira then whipped a free-kick wide of the bottom-left corner after 41 minutes, with Arteta’s team failing to manage a shot on target before the break as PSV stood firm.
Arsenal improved after the restart, but Benitez made an excellent one-on-one save to deny Bukayo Saka after 53 minutes before turning Jesus’ effort away following a slaloming run from the Brazilian.
Eddie Nketiah then smashed an effort narrowly wide of the left-hand post.
But just when Arsenal appeared to be running out of ideas, Xhaka had the final say.
The Switzerland international swivelled on Takehiro Tomiyasu’s delivery to drill a right-footed effort beyond the dive of Benitez from just inside the area, ensuring Arsenal’s progress.
What does it mean? – Perfect Gunners progress
Arsenal began their Europa League campaign with three successive victories for the fifth time in as many seasons competing in the competition. In only one of those previous instances, however, had the Gunners gone on to win their fourth group game (in 2020-21).
Arteta demonstrated his desire to seal a top-two spot with time to spare by selecting a strong team, and Arsenal dominated throughout as they managed 25 attempts to PSV’s four, the Gunners’ chances worth 2.6 expected goals (xG).
Xhaka’s goal was the least the Gunners deserved after remaining patient at the Emirates, and Arsenal will now be supremely confident of securing first place in Group A.
Xhaka continues redemption arc
Few players have enjoyed a turnaround as spectacular as that of Xhaka; once deemed surplus to requirements and maligned by his own supporters, the tenacious midfielder has emerged as a leader in Arteta’s bright young team.
Xhaka has now scored as many goals this campaign (three) as in his previous three seasons combined, while Thursday’s goal represented his first for Arsenal to not be scored with his left foot.
Ruud welcome for Van Nistelrooy
PSV coach Ruud van Nistelrooy did not exactly enjoy facing Arsenal as a player. The former striker only scored twice in 12 meetings with the Gunners as a Manchester United player, his worst goals-per-game rate against any side he faced more than five times with the Red Devils (0.2).
Unfortunately for the Dutchman, his team did not fare much better in front of goal on Thursday, recording just one shot on target and failing to seriously test Matt Turner in the Arsenal goal.
What’s next?
Arsenal will look to maintain their scintillating start to the Premier League campaign at Southampton on Sunday, while PSV travel to Groningen for an Eredivisie encounter on the same day.
Arsenal have been charged by the Football Association (FA) with failing to control their players during a controversial ending to their 1-0 win over Leeds United on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta’s team moved four points clear of Manchester City at the Premier League summit as Bukayo Saka scored the only goal of the game at Elland Road, though they required two huge reprieves.
Patrick Bamford drilled a penalty wide following a handball by William Saliba on the hour mark, before a VAR review overturned a stoppage-time red card for Gabriel Magalhaes – as well as another spot-kick for Leeds.
Arsenal’s players reacted furiously to Chris Kavanagh’s original decision to dismiss Gabriel for a perceived kick at Bamford, leading the FA to take action.
An FA statement released on Thursday read: “Arsenal FC have been charged with a breach of FA Rule E20.1 following their Premier League fixture against Leeds United FC on Sunday 16 October 2022.
“It’s alleged that the club failed to ensure that their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion during the 92nd minute of the fixture.
“Arsenal FC have until Monday 24 October 2022 to provide a response.”
Asked for his opinion on the incident after the win, Arteta said: “I have not seen it, but everyone is saying the decision was clear.
“Thank God they made the system work, that delay was worth it, because without VAR, I don’t know what would have happened!”
95′ Bamford and Gabriel collide, the Arsenal defender kicks out at the Leeds striker, referee gives a penalty and a red card, VAR steps in, the penalty is not given and rescinds the card. 0-1
Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner says he feels no pressure to replicate Aaron Ramsdale as the USMNT shot stopper pushes to assert his place with the Gunners.
The 28-year-old joined Mikel Arteta’s side from New England Revolution ahead of the 2022-23 campaign, but has so far been restricted in his minutes by the superb performances of his team-mate.
England hopeful Ramsdale has kept four clean sheets in the top-flight this term, a figure only exceeded by Three Lions team-mate Nick Pope with Newcastle United and Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.
His form has helped Arsenal emerge as title contenders, leading the Premier League ahead of champions Manchester City – but Turner says he does not feel as if he must mimic the former Sheffield United man to improve.
“I definitely don’t feel any pressure,” he stated. “He’s his own person. He approaches the game the way he does. Before games, I like to take time, just be mindful.
“Most of my banter comes with Aaron. It’s just normal banter like you would have with anybody. It’s America versus England, the Revolutionary War, stuff like that. That’s more me joking about it!”
The duo are in line to potentially meet at the Qatar 2022 World Cup later this year in Group B, with both men expected to be included when England and the USMNT announce their squads.
Turner’s lack of match-time in domestic competition has presented Gregg Berhalter with a potential headache over his inclusion, though his rich form in the Europa League should dash any doubts over his place.
Either way, the shot stopper is unconcerned about his inclusion, and says he can only support whatever eventual call is made by his international boss.
“I’m just focused on what I can control and what I have before me,” he added. “I think I’m in a good position to play at the World Cup.
“But at the end of the day, if Gregg decides than Zach [Steffen] is the way forward, I stand behind the decisions that he makes. Obviously I want to play. But you can only control so much.”
Williamson has made four appearances for Arsenal in all competitions this season
England captain Leah Williamson will be out of action for “several weeks” with a footinjury.
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall confirmed that Williamson will undergo further assessment, but it is not likely she will need surgery.
The 25-year-old centre-back was ruled out of England’s friendlies against the United States and the Czech Republic after sustaining an injury in training.
She is set to miss England’s November fixtures against Japan and Norway.
Williamson’s defensive partner, Rafaelle Souza, is also expected to miss several weeks with a fractured foot.
The Brazilian, who is also unlikely to need surgery, has played in Arsenal’s first two Women’s Super League (WSL) games this season, scoring in the 4-0 north London derby win against Tottenham.
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Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney believes the unity that has characterised the Gunners’ flying start to the new season has been years in the making under Mikel Arteta.
Sunday’s thrilling 3-2 win over Liverpool at Emirates Stadium ensured Arsenal moved back to the top of the Premier League, where they lead Manchester City by a solitary point after nine games.
The Gunners have won eight of their opening nine games in a top-flight campaign for just the fourth time in their history, having also done so in the 1947-48, 2004-05 and 2007-08 seasons.
Meanwhile, the last time Arsenal led the Premier League at a later stage of the season was on December 10, 2016, when they did so after 15 games.
Arsenal’s form represents quite the turnaround for Arteta, who has come under fire at various points during his three-year stint at the club, but Tierney believes recent campaigns laid the foundations for their current run.
Asked about the atmosphere around the club, Tierney told Arsenal’s website: “I’d say it’s the best since I’ve been here and I think that’s a credit to all the fans, and the players and the staff.
“It just feels like it has clicked – everybody has come together. You hear reactions after we concede goals, you very rarely hear that in football.
“Our fans ended up drowning out the Liverpool fans after they scored, just to try and cheer us on, go again and try and get another goal. I think you need that.
“It’s been building, even last season you could see it’s been getting better and better between the players, the staff and the fans, and this season it’s all just come together and we’re one club, one unit.”
Arsenal’s victory over Liverpool – their eighth successive home league win – put them 14 points clear of last season’s runners-up in the early-season standings, but Tierney is refusing to set any targets for his side.
“It’s only been nine games and you can’t say anyone is anything after nine games,” the Scotland international added. “If you look at last year, we were down in the table and we climbed our way up, so there’s a long way to go and there’s no point in even thinking like that.
“You want to stay [at the top] of course. I’ve got a bit of experience at Celtic when we were expected to be at the top and stay on the top as well, so it is familiar in that way for me that the pressure is on you to stay there.
“The other teams are chasing you, and we want to keep that going as long as we can. Progress is the main thing. We’ve progressed every year, so we want to keep progressing well.
“You just want to finish up as high as possible, and we know what we want and we’ll keep working towards it.”
Jurgen Klopp has effectively conceded defeat in the Premier League title race following Liverpool’s underwhelming start to the season.
The Reds went into the weekend ninth in the table and will finish Sunday in the bottom half if they lose to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Klopp’s side have taken just 10 points from their opening seven league outings, winning only twice, and neither of those wins were in their three away games.
Not since the 2010-11 season under Roy Hodgson have the Reds failed to win any of their first four matches away from Anfield in the league.
They will do well to beat an Arsenal side who have won seven out of a possible eight fixtures to this point.
Despite Arsenal’s strong start, Manchester City are most people’s strong favourites for the title, particularly given Erling Haaland’s form.
Even if Liverpool win at Arsenal, they will need to make up a 10-point deficit on City – whom they face next weekend – and Klopp seemed to accept that is not going to happen.
“We still have the chance to create something really special from this point,” he said ahead of the game.
“Does it look at the moment that we will be champions at the end of the year? Unfortunately not.”
Klopp added: “But in all other competitions we’re not out yet.
“Nobody knows where we will end up in the league yet so let’s just give it a go, that’s it.
“Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No. That’s enough. So let’s just go from here.
“Did I think we’d be ninth after matchday seven? No, but this is the base where are now and we must go from here.”
Liverpool have won their previous four league matches against Arsenal, but they have never beaten the Gunners fives times in a row.
Jurgen Klopp hopes Mohamed Salah is close to “exploding” into a rich vein of goalscoring form, but believes comparisons with Manchester City talisman Erling Haaland are unfair.
Salah shared the Premier League’s Golden Boot with Son Heung-min after scoring 23 goals in the competition last term, but has only found the net twice in seven outings this season.
The Egyptian’s diminishing returns have mirrored those of his team, with Liverpool sitting 13 points behind City – with a game in hand – ahead of Sunday’s trip to Arsenal.
Haaland’sarrival has taken City to new heights this campaign, with the Norwegian hitting 15 goals in his first nine Premier League games, and Klopp believes any comparisons with Salah would be unhelpful.
“With Mo, I hope it’s like us, we are close to exploding,” Klopp said. “Whose season was it yet? From our side, nobody.
“Mo is like this, even when his goalscoring numbers aren’t crazy, often he’s involved, it’s just the problem that if you don’t score around that, nobody appreciates that.
“Nobody in the world can cope with the [Erling] Haaland situation, it’s crazy what he’s doing.
“He’s an exceptional player in an exceptional team and I don’t think we should compare anyone with that at the moment.
“Mo wants to score goals desperately, 100 per cent, that will never change. Call him in 20 years, it will be the same.”
Liverpool approach their trip to the Emirates Stadium having recorded two draws and one defeat in their first three away outings of the Premier League campaign.
Not since 2010-11, under Roy Hodgson, have Liverpool failed to win any of their first four away league games in a single season.
Meanwhile, Saturday represented the seventh anniversary of Klopp’s appointment at Liverpool, and the German left each of his two previous posts – at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund – before bringing up an eighth year at the helm.
Seven years ago today, Jürgen Klopp became a Red, and we’re so glad! 🥰🎶
Klopp, however, insisted Liverpool’s struggles have nothing in common with those of his former clubs, saying: “The situation in the clubs was very different.
“A seven-year spell was not planned or because I lost energy or these things. I was manager at Mainz and after three years, we got promoted to the Bundesliga then three years later we got relegated.
“We tried one more year and the club needed a change. Players left us for the Bundesliga, so they needed a fresh start, definitely.
“I was full of energy. I went directly to Dortmund and it was all fine. [It was] seven years and it was just a situation that players constantly got bought by other clubs.
“It was a really hard job to do, instead of developing a team, constantly making two steps back. It was really intense and really exhausting.
“I can understand that I left after seven years, and now we are in a difficult situation, but, if you think twice about it, you realise the situation is completely different.
“Being here for seven years is intense, no doubt about it. But it’s nice as well, I got so many things back. If there’s one club that has a chance to go through it together, it’s us.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says defender Ben White can “make the step up” to be part of England’s 2022 World Cup squad.
The 24-year-old centre-back was left out of Gareth Southgate’s last England squad for the Nations League games against Italy and Germany.
Right-back Kyle Walker’s groin injury has opened up the possibility of a World Cup recall for the versatile White, who has played that role with the Gunners this season.
“Ben would be very comfortable playing on the right side of a back three as well as in the middle or as a full-back,” Arteta said.
“If you ask me if he is ready to make that step [to England], then the answer is yes because he is a very confident boy, he gives you absolutely everything, he is always available and he has the courage to play under real pressure.”
White, who has four caps for England, was a replacement for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold in the Euro 2020 squad after initially missing the cut.
Alexander-Arnold will be part of the Liverpool side to face Arsenal on Sunday and looms as one of the strongest contenders for the England right-back role.
“He is a very special talent,” Arteta said about Alexander-Arnold. “What he adds offensively to the team every year is difficult to find in that position.”
White, who was Brighton and Hove Albion’s Player of the Season in 2020-21 before joining Arsenal, has made eight Premier League starts this term.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta felt his team “lacked consistency and domination” despite cruising to a 3-0 victory over Bodo/Glimt to move top of their Europa League group.
Eddie Nketiah and Rob Holding struck in the first half before Fabio Vieira added a late finish to end a run of three consecutive home games in European competition without victory for Arsenal.
The Gunners are now two points clear of second-placed PSV at the top of Group A, while also leading the Premier League after a brilliant start which has seen them win nine out of their first 10 games in all competitions for just the third time in club history.
However, Arteta had mixed feelings over his team’s performance against Bodo, telling BT Sport: “I’m really happy with the win, six points and a clean sheet.
“But we lacked connection between the players, we lacked consistency and domination through the game.
“There were eight changes and a lot of players that haven’t played a lot of minutes, and you could feel that, the timing was missing.
“In the final third we looked very dangerous, the goals we scored were good goals.”
Bodo started the second half brightly and Arteta reacted by making a number of substitutions, bringing on the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus, the latter of whom provided a brilliant assist for Vieira.
Arteta explained the alterations were necessary due to some of the starters’ fitness, saying: “A few players, you could see they had a different intensity, not enough exposure in terms of minutes, so we had to make changes.”
Thomas Partey has made the Premier League Team Of The Week of former England skipper, Alan Shearer.
Partey was named along with three other Arsenal players after a strong performance in their 3 – 1 win over the weekend against North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspurs.
The Black Stars deputy skipper made Shearer’s midfield along with teammate, Granit Xhaka, Phil Foden of Manchester City and Maddison of Leicester City.
Shearer’s defence had two Arsenal players, White and Saliba along with Coady.
Pickford in goal and a three forward of Almiron (Newcastle United), Erling Haaland (Manchester City) and Trossard completed the 1 – 3 – 4 – 3 formation by the English Premier League great turned pundit.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was also picked as coach of Week
Arsenal defender William Saliba has revealed he is in talks over a new contract at the Emirates Stadium after making a fine start to the season.
Having returned from a loan spell at Marseille ahead of the 2022-23 campaign, Saliba has started all eight of Arsenal’s Premier League games this season, seven of which have ended in victory.
Saliba has formed a fearsome defensive partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes during Arsenal’s best start to a Premier League campaign since 2007-08 – when they went on to finish third after taking 22 points from their first eight matches.
The France international’s current deal runs until 2024, and he is hopeful of reaching an agreement to extend his stay.
Asked whether he could agree fresh terms after impressing in Saturday’s 3-1 derby win over Tottenham, Saliba said: “Yeah, we will see. They [the club and his representatives] talk a little bit.”
Saliba believes Arsenal are growing in confidence with each victory, adding: “You have to wait every time and I waited a long time for my first North London Derby. I enjoyed it from the first minute to the end, and now I am so happy.
“We are so happy to win at home against Tottenham. It was a hard game, but we were focused all the game. We deserve this win.
“We play against the best players in the world. It is good for young players like me, and I learn a lot.
“The more we win, the more we are confident. We want every week to win, to win, to win — and that’s it.”
Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has watched Saliba’s development from close quarters in the season’s early weeks, and has described him as a “Rolls-Royce” of a defender.
“He has fit in really well,” Ramsdale said. “It is a credit to him that he has been put straight into the team. He is a bit of a Rolls-Royce with the way he moves, and he has never seemed fazed.
Both clubs’ supporters view the other as their main adversary, and many people consider the derby to be one of the most storied and competitive derbies in the world.
Former Barcelona and Arsenal midfielder, Alex Song has gifted his wife, Olivia Song a huge mansion as she marks another milestone in her life.
The mansion is part of his ‘Nokay 17 Residences’ company located in Yaounde, Cameroon.
Song revealed on Instagram that the apartment is in memory of a ‘small house’ they lived in London, while also recalling a ‘cheap’ bag he bought Olivia as her first birthday gift after they married.
“Happy birthday to my best friend the love of my life the most wonderful mother, you are my source of motivation, thank you for all the support you give me for so many years. I remember in 2006 in London when we lived in a small two-bedroom apartment, the first time I gave you a gift for your birthday, I went to a shop called tkmax, and from there I bought you a purse that had not cost me much thing. that day you were so happy to receive it, your eyes were shining, you had thanked me a thousand times while this bag had only cost me 250 €. you took it every time we went out and it touched me so much to the point where I asked you the question:[ what can I offer you that will please you if I have the means] and you answered me saying:[ if you have the mo yens I wish that you offer me a Hermès bag] and I had asked you the price, you had told me: [it’s expensive it’s not our level because it costs about €3000] and exactly I had told you that day that: [I would never buy a bag at this price ????????????????]. but thanks to God I have offered you several bags over the years, I am so proud of the journey we have traveled together.”
In his emotional message to celebrate her wife, Song who currently plays for AS Arta/Solar7 in Djibouti stated that gifting her the mansion is a dream.
“Thank God it was not easy for me to do this project without you knowing who is the instigator. I had to make you understand that this building located in the middle of the golf just 50m from the US Embassy in Yaounde is in the continuation of NOKAY17, and I knew you could never doubt it, that in fact, this building is for you Tinted. It was my dream to offer you this gift olibooboooooo apartments in memory of our small apartment in London, in a building where it was not obvious to us, here’s how I was able to realize this dream today, and I am proud of it. You are everything to me, MY ONLY ONE LOVE FOR LIFE. make this building what you want, you have no account to report to anyone, neither me nor your children, eat, spend, run, jump, it’s up to you, make yourself happy, make this what you want, part even to Baden Baden with or even to tcholéré, in short, it’s you to do this How good does it look to you. @olibooboosong.”
Alexander Song had a staller career in England and is highly regarded at Arsenal as one of the best midfielders the club has ever had. However, a move to Barcelona in 2012 did not turn out to be what he envisaged as it cause the decline of his career.
Antonio Conte described reports linking him with a return to Juventus as “disrespectful” ahead of Tottenham’s North London Derby clash with Arsenal.
Spurs are unbeaten in their seven Premier League games this season and trail the Gunners by just one point ahead of Saturday’s trip to the Emirates Stadium.
Should Tottenham avoid defeat at the home of their local rivals, it will be just the second time they have gone unbeaten through their first eight games of a Premier League season, having previously done so in 2016-17.
Conte’s work with Tottenham has seen him linked with a return to Juventus, who he led to three consecutive Serie A titles between 2011-12 and 2013-14.
Bianconeri boss Massimiliano Allegri is under pressure after they recorded just two wins in their opening seven Serie A matches this season, but Conte has rubbished speculation he would be tempted by a return to Turin.
“This is incredible. In this period I think this is disrespectful for the coach that works in Juventus and for me working in Tottenham,” Conte said on Thursday.
“We have just started the season. Many times I have spoken about this topic and I’ve always said I’m happy and enjoying my time with Tottenham.
“We have the whole season to find the best solution for the club and for me, and for sure I’m enjoying my time at Tottenham. I have a great relationship with the owner [Daniel Levy] and [sporting director Fabio] Paratici.
“I don’t see any problems at the moment in the future. We both signed the contract. I don’t want to listen to someone speaking about this.”
Tottenham overcame Arsenal in a tense battle for Champions League qualification last season, going on to claim fourth place after beating the Gunners 3-0 in May.
Conte, however, believes Mikel Arteta’s side have improved since then, adding: “For sure Arsenal had a fantastic start, they lost only one game against [Manchester] United. They are showing to be a really good team.
“In the summer they made good signings and improved the team that, don’t forget, before the last three games of last season, were four points up on us.
“We are talking about a really good team that, last season, we did a really good job to overcome in the last three games.
“At the same time, I know the quality of this team, that they are working with Arteta for many years. For me, he’s a really good coach. He can have in front of him a great career.”
Both Hugo Lloris and Dejan Kulusevski are reportedly doubtful for the trip to Arsenal with minor injuries, and Conte believes the punishing nature of the schedule between now and the World Cup will reveal which sides are genuine title contenders.
“I have seen that many clubs are having big problems with players that played these two games [in the international break], and for sure Tottenham is one of these clubs,” he added.
“You have to understand this was the last game [for the players] to show they deserve to play the World Cup, also for the coaches it was the last period to call the players.
England goal number 51 for Harry and 90 minutes for Eric 🦁
“For sure, to play so many games before the international break, and then again now to play 13 games in 43 days, it’s crazy, it’s crazy.
“For sure, we have to face it with injuries. In this period, you understand which are the really competitive squads.
“This is the moment in which you understand who are the title contenders and the teams that are competitive for Champions League.”
Saturday’s match will be the first North London Derby since December 2007 to begin with one of the sides sitting top of the Premier League.
Should Spurs win, it would be the first time in top-flight history that either of the teams has beaten the other to replace them at the top of the table.
Due to an injury, Partey was unable to participate in the Black Stars’ friendly matches against Brazil and Nicaragua.
The midfielder, who just just overcame a thigh issue, was set to play against Brazil last Friday but was taken off the pitch during warmups after feeling uneasy.
Alex Song, a former footballer for Barcelona and Arsenal, gave his wife Olivia Song a sizable mansion as she reached yet another significant life milestone.
The mansion is a part of his Yaounde, Cameroon-based “Nokay 17 Residences” business.
Song explained on Instagram that the space was inspired by the “little house” they once shared in London, as well as the “cheap” bag he gave Olivia for her first birthday after they got married.
“Happy birthday to my best friend the love of my life the most wonderful mother, you are my source of motivation, thank you for all the support you give me for so many years. I remember in 2006 in London when we lived in a small two-bedroom apartment, the first time I gave you a gift for your birthday, I went to a shop called tkmax, and from there I bought you a purse that had not cost me much thing. that day you were so happy to receive it, your eyes were shining, you had thanked me a thousand times while this bag had only cost me 250 €. you took it every time we went out and it touched me so much to the point where I asked you the question:[ what can I offer you that will please you if I have the means] and you answered me saying:[ if you have the mo yens I wish that you offer me a Hermès bag] and I had asked you the price, you had told me: [it’s expensive it’s not our level because it costs about €3000] and exactly I had told you that day that: [I would never buy a bag at this price ????????????????]. but thanks to God I have offered you several bags over the years, I am so proud of the journey we have traveled together.”
In his emotional message to celebrate her wife, Song who currently plays for AS Arta/Solar7 in Djibouti stated that gifting her the mansion is a dream.
“Thank God it was not easy for me to do this project without you knowing who is the instigator. I had to make you understand that this building located in the middle of the golf just 50m from the US Embassy in Yaounde is in the continuation of NOKAY17, and I knew you could never doubt it, that in fact, this building is for you Tinted. It was my dream to offer you this gift olibooboooooo apartments in memory of our small apartment in London, in a building where it was not obvious to us, here’s how I was able to realize this dream today, and I am proud of it. You are everything to me, MY ONLY ONE LOVE FOR LIFE. make this building what you want, you have no account to report to anyone, neither me nor your children, eat, spend, run, jump, it’s up to you, make yourself happy, make this what you want, part even to Baden Baden with or even to tcholéré, in short, it’s you to do this How good does it look to you. @olibooboosong.”
Alexander Song had a staller career in England and is highly regarded at Arsenal as one of the best midfielders the club has ever had. However, a move to Barcelona in 2012 did not turn out to be what he envisaged as it cause the decline of his career.
Arsenal are through to the group stage of the Women’s Champions League after Vivianne Miedema’s goal gave them victory over Ajax.
With the Gunners held to a 2-2 draw at Meadow Park in the first leg of the second-round qualifier, they had to win in Amsterdam to progress.
Miedemafired into the bottom corner in the second half to set Arsenal on their way, although Ajax carried a threat.
The hosts enjoyed a spell of pressure late on, which made for a nervy ending.
It was a slow start to the match, which took place after officials and ground staff had to adjust the height of the goalposts, which were found to be uneven before kick-off.
Jonas Eidevall’s visitors were not as fluent as they have been so far in the Women’s Super League this season and were often sloppy in possession.
Fresh from their victory over rivals Tottenham, Arsenal were hoping to put in a similar performance to keep their European hopes alive.
But it was Ajax who had the first chances of the night when Ashleigh Weerden’s dangerous cross failed to find a team-mate, before Chasity Grant poked wide when through one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Stina Blackstenius had a couple of chances to test Ajax goalkeeper Lize Kop in the first half, while Miedema fired over the bar.
Ajax, desperately chasing an equaliser in the final 20 minutes, came close when a backheel from Nadine Noordam set up Tiny Hoekstra but she could not provide the finish.
It was a wet night in Amsterdam, where England manager Sarina Wiegman was watching on 24 hours after naming her squad for their upcoming friendlies with the USA and the Czech Republic.
She will have been concerned by the sight of England forward Beth Mead, on as a substitute, going off after a collision to the face.
There was further injury worry for Arsenal as key Brazilian defender Rafaelle Souza was forced off with an ankle injury in the first half.
Arsenal are reportedly plotting a double raid on Juventus for star striker Dusan Vlahovic and playmaker Fabio Miretti.
The Gunners have started the season superbly thanks to a summer spending spree, with Mikel Arteta’s side entering the international break top of the Premier League.
And Calciomercato claim the Spaniard is ready to splash out £100million to bring in two of the Old Lady’s brightest talents.
Vlahovic, 22, only arrived in Turin in January and has 13 strikes in 27 outings for his new employers after bursting onto the scene with Fiorentina.
He would add extra firepower to a Gunners frontline that added Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira and Marquinhos in the last window and also includes the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
The report adds that Arteta is also keen on 19-year-old central midfield prospect Miretti, who has been a key figure in Juve’s engine room this season.
He is an Italy Under-21s international and would provide depth in an area where Arsenal are short of bodies.
Convincing Juve to sell their main goal threat and a rising star could prove difficult, however, as they try to restore their status as Serie A’s dominant side.
The Daily Mail claim Emirates chiefs have also opened talks with Eintracht Frankfurt over a £17m move for Denmark winger Jesper Lindstrom.
Fabio Miretti is an Italian youth international with bags of potential
In other news
Reports in Italy claim Roma boss Jose Mourinho is keen to raid former club Chelsea to sign Trevoh Chalobah, 23, in January.
Newcastle have not given up on James Maddison and will renew their attempts to prise him from Leicester in January, according to the Leicester Mercury.
Chelsea and Manchester City are set to battle for the signature of £100m-rated AC Milan star Rafael Leao, claim the Manchester Evening News.
Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal have a “good chance” of mounting a serious challenge for the Premier League title this season, and has praised Mikel Arteta for returning a sense of identity to the club.
Arsenal hold a one-point advantage over Manchester City and Tottenham at the top of the Premier League table, having won six of their first seven games this campaign.
This represents just the third time Arsenal have won six of their first seven games in a Premier League season, having previously done so under Wenger in 2004-05 and 2007-08.
While City and Tottenham have joined Arsenal in remaining unbeaten so far, last season’s runners-up Liverpool have struggled, posting their lowest points tally after six games of a season since Jurgen Klopp took charge (nine).
Wenger, who won three league titles during his 22-year spell with the Gunners, believes his former club could capitalise on other sides’ struggles to make a push for silverware.
“I think they have a good chance this season, because I don’t see any super dominating team,” he told Sky Sports.
“I believe that there’s a good opportunity this season to do it, and of course, it’s a bit of a special season as well because you have the World Cup in the middle.
“You don’t know how much that will affect the performances of individual players in the teams, and overall, I believe there’s a good opportunity there.”
Arteta was named the Premier League’s manager of the month after leading Arsenal to a perfect August, but Wenger believes his most impressive achievement has been to establish an identity at the Emirates Stadium.
“I personally think that Mikel Arteta was very conscious of the values of the club, because he has been educated at Arsenal, he was captain of my teams, and he wanted to restore the values of the club,” Wenger added.
“Overall, I think he has done that well. After that, you need to create the belief and a sense of belonging, that you belong to something special, something bigger than you that you want to serve.
“On that front, I believe he has done well. I’m still in touch with them and overall, I believe they are going the right way.
“Arsenal is a special club, with special values. There’s a good balance between tradition and forward-thinking, and overall I think they are doing that well again now.”
Arsenal will face a major test of their credentials when the Premier League resumes after the international break, as they host Tottenham in the season’s first North London derby on October 1.
As Arsenal breezed past Brentford with an emphatic 3-0 victory on Sunday, September 19, 2022, a product of the Gunners’ well-renowned academy was making history as the youngest footballer to play in top-flight English football.
By subbing him on in the 91st minute, Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta made Ethan Nwaneri the youngest player to ever kicked a ball in a Premier League match.
With 15 years and 181 days, Nwaneri has etched his name in English football history as the youngest player ever.
The attacking midfielder has been a constant feature for Arsenal’s under 18 and Under-21 and has been billed to take football by storm.
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta says he listened to his ‘guts feelings’ by adding him to the squad and bringing him on to make history.
“It was a pure gut feeling, I met the kid and I liked what I saw. He has trained a couple of times with us and I had a feeling yesterday that if the opportunity came I would do it. But I think it sends a strong message about who we are as a club. I told him yesterday he would be with us and he had to be ready. He is ready. When he went on I said ‘congratulations and enjoy it. I don’t know what it is. When I met him, when I looked at him, I had that feeling.”
The Spaniard said: “We want to give opportunities When there is talent and personality and when players love what they do, and when they have no fear, the doors are open for them to explore where they can go.
“All the decisions that we take, that I take, are for the club. It’s not for me, it’s not for the player. It’s because we believe he has a talent that has to be developed incredibly in the next few years and we’ll see how we manage that. Normally it’s not us, normally the players tell you and they mind you, how far you can go on that.”
Who is Ethan Nwaneri
The attacking midfielder was born on March 21 2007 and has risen through the Arsenal academy rapidly.
He made his under-18s debut aged 14 and scored. Last month, he scored for England’s under 17s after coming off the bench.
The youngster is believed to be of Nigerian descent with his parents being Nigerians.
Gabon striker Aubameyang, 33, scored 13 goals in 24 appearances for Barca after joining the Spanishclub in February from Arsenal.
Left-back Marcos Alonso has left Chelsea by mutual consent and is expected to sign for Barcelona.
Chelsea have the option to sign Zakaria on a permanent deal.
The 25-year-old Switzerland international only joined Juve from Borussia Monchengladbach in January.
When Aubameyang signed for Barca he had a buyout clause of 100m euros (£83.4m) in his contract, but has only played eight minutes this season. Barcelona have been looking to offload players after spending almost £200m on new arrivals despite being more than £1bn in debt.
The deal for Aubameyang means Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly has spent £255.3m in his first transfer window since buying the club from Roman Abramovich – the highest amount any English club has spent in a single transfer window.
Aubameyang said: ‘I’m really happy. It’s an honour to be part of this team and I can’t wait to start. I have some unfinished business with the Premier League so it’s good to be back and really exciting.’
He scored 92 goals in 163 games in all competitions for Arsenal, but left on a free transfer after falling out with manager Mikel Arteta.
That departure played a big part in the Gunners documentary All or Nothing.
Only four players have scored more Premier League goals than Aubameyang’s total of 68 in the period since 31 January 2018 – the date he joined Arsenal.
Aubameyang played under Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel at Borussia Dortmund between 2015 and 2017.
He scored 79 goals in 95 games in that time, 38 more than under any other manager.
Denis Zakaria, like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, had only joined his team earlier this year
This summer the Blues have brought in nine players, including Leicester’s French defender Wesley Fofana for a fee in the region of £70m, Spain left-back Marc Cucurella from Brighton for £62m, England forward Raheem Sterling from Manchester City for £50m, Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli for £34m and English midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka from Aston Villa for £20m.
Boehly said: ‘Pierre-Emerick is an elite striker with a proven track record in the Premier League and his arrival strengthens our squad, giving us new attacking options. We are thrilled to have Pierre-Emerick on board with us in the new era at Chelsea and we’re really looking forward to working with him.’
The transfer market will close until January if Premier League clubs don’t make any new signings by Thursday at 11 p.m. (BST).
The likes of Chelsea and Manchester United are expected to be busy as they desperately try to get more deals over the line.
And at the other end of the table, teams like Evertonand Aston Villa are on the lookout for reinforcements after poor starts to the season.
It is sure to be an exciting end to the window.
Keep this page bookmarked to stay up to date with all the Premier League ins and outs during the summer transfer window.
Arsenal
In:Marquinhos (Sao Paulo, £3m), Fabio Vieira (Porto, £30m), Matt Turner (New England Revolution, £5.8m), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City, £45m), Oleksandr Zinchenko (Manchester City, £30m)
Out: Konstantinos Mavropanos (Stuttgart, £3m), Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon, free), Jonathan Dinzeyi (released), Joel Lopez (released), Jordan McEneff (released), Harry Clarke (Stoke, loan), Omar Rekik (Sparta Rotterdam, loan), Tyreece John-Jules (Ipswich, loan), Mika Biereth (RKC Waalwijk, loan), Jordi Osei-Tutu (VFL Bochum, undisclosed), Daniel Ballard (Sunderland, undisclosed), Nikolaj Moller (Den Bosch, loan), Matteo Guendouzi (Marseille, undisclosed), Zak Swanson (Portsmouth, undisclosed), Ovie Ejeheri (Chelmsford City, loan), Auston Trusty (Birmingham, loan), Omari Hutchinson (Chelsea, undisclosed), Marcelo Flores (Real Ovideo, loan), Ryan Alebiosu (Kilmarnock, loan), Arthur Okonkwo (Crewe, loan), Nuno Tavares (Marseille, loan), Mazeed Ogungbo (Crawley, loan), Bernd Leno (Fulham, undisclosed), Charlie Patino (Blackpool, loan), Lucas Torreira (Galatasaray, undisclosed), Pablo Mari (AC Monza, loan), Alex Runarsson (Alanyaspor, loan), Brooke Norton-Cuffy (Rotherham, loan), Tom Smith (Bromley, loan), Salah-Eddine Oulad M’hand (Hull, loan), Nicolas Pepe (Nice, loan)
Aston Villa
Philippe Coutinho has joined Aston Villa from Barcelona on a four-year deal
In: Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona, £17m), Boubacar Kamara (Marseille, free), Diego Carlos (Sevilla, undisclosed), Robin Olsen (Roma, undisclosed), Rory Wilson (Rangers, undisclosed), Ludwig Augustinsson (Sevilla, loan with option to buy), Ewan Simpson (Hearts, undisclosed)
In: Ryan Fredericks (West Ham, free), Joe Rothwell (Blackburn, free), Marcus Tavernier (Middlesbrough, £10m), Neto (Barcelona, free), Marcos Senesi (Feyenoord, £12m)
Out: Gary Cahill (released), Brennan Camp (released), Ryan Glover (released), Connor Curran-Browne (released), Luke Nippard (released), Owen Palmer (released), Aaron Roberts (released), Jack Seddon (released), Gavin Kilkenny (Stoke, loan), Aji Alese (Sunderland, loan), Zeno Ibsen Rossi (Cambridge, undisclosed)
Brentford
In: Aaron Hickey (Bologna, undisclosed), Keane Lewis-Potter (Hull, £20m), Thomas Strakosha (Lazio, free), Ben Mee (Burnley, free), Mikkel Damsgaard (Sampdoria, undisclosed), Mathias Jorgensen (Free)
Out: Ben Hockenhull (Tranmere), Hans Mpongo (released), Mads Bidstrup (Nordsjaelland, loan), Gustav Mogensen (Sarpsborg, undisclosed), Christian Eriksen (Manchester United, free), Paris Maghoma (AFC Wimbledon, loan), Dominic Thompson (Blackpool, undisclosed), Lachlan Brook (Crewe, loan), Marcus Forss (Middlesbrough, undisclosed), Ellery Balcombe (Crawley, loan), Tariqe Fosu (Stoke City, loan), Myles Peart-Harris (Forest Green, loan)
Brighton
In: Julio Enciso (Libertad Asuncion, undisclosed), Benicio Baker-Boaitey (Porto, undisclosed), Simon Adingra (Nordsjaelland, undisclosed), Levi Colwill (Chelsea, loan), Luca Barrington (Manchester City, undisclosed), Pervis Estupinan (Villarreal, undisclosed)
Out: Jayson Molumby (West Brom, £900,000), Tudor Baluta (released), Adam Desbois (released), Lars Dendoncker (released), Ulrick Ella (released), Ayo Tanimowo (released), John Lucero (released), Jaami Qureshi (released), Fynn Talley (Cliftonville, loan), Yves Bissouma (Tottenham, £25m), Alex Cochrane (Hearts, undisclosed), Simon Adingra (Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, loan), Carl Rushworth (Lincoln, loan), Haydon Roberts (Derby, loan), Abdallah Sima (Angers, loan), Aaron Connolly (Venezia, loan), Leo Ostigard (Napoli, undisclosed), Taylor Richards (QPR, loan), Marc Leonard (Northampton, loan), Jensen Weir (Morecambe, loan), Reda Khadra (Sheffield United, loan), Teddy Jenks (Crawley, loan), Andi Zeqiri (Basel, loan), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea, undisclosed), Shane Duffy (Fulham, loan), Kjell Scherpen (Vitesse Arnhem, loan), Lorent Tolaj (Salford, loan), Matt Clarke (Middlesbrough, undisclosed), Kacper Kozlowski (Vitesse Arnhem, loan), Neal Maupay (Everton, undisclosed)
Chelsea
In: Eddie Beach (Southampton, undisclosed), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City, £50m), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli, £33m), Omar Hutchinson (Arsenal, free), Gabriel Slonina (Chicago Fire, £12m), Carney Chukwuemeka (Aston Villa, undisclosed), Marc Cucurella (Brighton, undisclosed), Cesare Casadei (Inter Milan, £12.6m).
Out:Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid, free), Andreas Christensen (released), Danny Drinkwater (released), Charly Musonda (released), Jake Clarke-Salter (QPR, free), Lucas Bergstrom (Peterborough, loan), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan, loan), Nathan Baxter (Hull, loan), Ethan Wady (Woking, loan), Ian Maatsen (Burnley, loan), Henry Lawrence (MK Dons, loan), Tino Anjorin (Huddersfield, loan), Gabriel Slonina (Chicago Fire, loan), Levi Colwill (Brighton, loan), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig, £25m), Malang Sarr (Monaco, loan), Emerson Palmieri (West Ham, £13m), Ross Barkley (released), Callum Hudson-Odoi (Bayern Leverkusen, loan)
Crystal Palace
In: Malcolm Ebiowei (Derby, free), Sam Johnstone (West Brom, free), Cheick Doucoure (Lens, undisclosed), Chris Richards (Bayern Munich, undisclosed), Kofi Balmer (Larne, undisclosed)
Out: Martin Kelly (released), Jaroslaw Jach (released), Luke Dreher (released), Rian Jamai (released), Kanye Jobson (released), Nya Kirby (released), Joseph Ling (released), Sean Robertson (released), Sion Spence (released), Aidan Steele (released), James Taylor (released), Dylan Thiselton (released), Reece Hannam (Bromley, loan), Remi Matthews (St Johnstone, loan), Tayo Adaramola (Coventry, loan), Sean Robertson (Forest Green, free), Christian Benteke (DC United, undisclosed), Scott Banks (Bradford, loan), Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Charlton, loan), Malachi Boateng (Queen’s Park, loan), Cheikhou Kouyate (Nottingham Forest, free), Daniel Quick (Dorking Wanderers, loan), Luke Plange (RWD Molenbeek, loan), Jake O’Brien (RWD Molenbeek)
Out: Edinson Cavani (released), Juan Mata (released), Paul Pogba (Juventus, free), Jesse Lingard (released) D’Mani Mellor (released), Reece Devine (released), Lee Grant (released), Paul McShane (released), Connor Stanley (released), Paul Woolston (released), Nemanja Matic (Roma, free), Dean Henderson (Nottingham Forest, loan), Dylan Levitt (Dundee, undisclosed), Andreas Pereira (Fulham, £8m), Alvaro Fernandez (Preston, loan), Alex Telles (Sevilla, loan), Ethan Laird (QPR, loan), Dermot Mee (Altrincham, loan), Hannibal (Birmingham, loan)
Newcastle
In: Alex Murphy (Galway United, undisclosed), Matt Targett (Aston Villa, £15m), Nick Pope (Burnley, undisclosed), Sven Botman (Lille, undisclosed), Charlie McArthur (Kilmarnock, undisclosed), Jude Smith (East Fife, undisclosed), Alexander Isak (Real Sociedad, £60m)
Out: Oisin McEntee (Walsall, undisclosed), Mo Sangare (Accrington, free), Isaac Hayden (Norwich, loan with obligation to buy), Lewis Cass (Port Vale, undisclosed), Freddie Woodman (Preston, undisclosed), Dan Langley (Gateshead, loan), Jeff Hendrick (Reading, loan), Ciaran Clark (Sheffield United, loan), Dwight Gayle (Stoke, undisclosed)
Nottingham Forest
In: Ryan Hammond (Millwall, undisclosed), Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, £17.5m), Dean Henderson (Manchester United, loan), Giulian Biancone (Troyes, £5m), Moussa Niakhate (Mainz, £8.5m), Omar Richards (Bayern Munich, £10m), Neco Williams (Liverpool, £17m), Wayne Hennessey (Burnley, undisclosed), Brandon Aguilera (LD Alajuelense, undisclosed), Harry Toffolo (Huddersfield, undisclosed), Lewis O’Brien (Huddersfield, undisclosed), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United, free), Orel Mangala (Stuttgart, £12.7m), Emmanuel Dennis (Watford, £20m), Cheikhou Kouyate (Crystal Palace, free), Remo Freuler (Atalanta, £8.5m), Morgan Gibbs-White (Wolves, £25m), Hwang Ui-jo (Bordeaux, undisclosed), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid, loan)
Out: Tobias Figueiredo (released), Carl Jenkinson (released), Gaetan Bong (released), Marcelo Valencia (released), Josh Barnes (released), Baba Fernandes (released), Sam Sanders (released), Morgan Thomas-Sadler (released), Joe Watkins (released), Mohamed Drager (FC Luzern, loan), Jayden Richardson (Aberdeen, undisclosed), Ethan Horvath (Luton, loan), Brice Samba (Lens, undisclosed), Tyrese Fornah (Reading, loan), Will Swan (Mansfield, loan), Jonathan Panzo (Coventry, loan), Fin Back (Carlisle, loan), Lewis Grabban (released), Riley Harbottle (Mansfield, loan), Brandon Aguilera (Guanacasteca, loan), Nicholas Ioannou (Como, undisclosed), Xande Silva (Dijon, undisclosed), Braian Ojeda (Real Salt Lake, loan), Nuno da Costa (Auxerre, undisclosed), Richie Laryea (Toronto, loan), Baba Fernandes (Accrington, loan), Nicky Hogarth (Falkirk, loan), Joe Lolley (Sydney, free), Hwang Ui-jo (Olympiacos, loan), Alex Mighten (Sheffield Wednesday, loan)
Southampton
In: Alex Iwumene (Sutton United), Gavin Bazunu (Manchester City, undisclosed), Mateusz Lis (Altay SK, free), Armel Bella-Kotchap (Bochum, £8.5m), Romeo Lavia (Manchester City, £10.5m), Joe Aribo (Rangers, £10m), Sekou Mara (Bordeaux, undisclosed)
Out: Harry Lewis (Bradford City, free), Fraser Forster (Tottenham, free), Caleb Watts (Morecambe, loan), Kazeem Olaigbe (Ross County, loan), Shane Long (Reading, free), Dan Nlundulu (Cheltenham, loan), Will Smallbone (Stoke, loan), Thierry Small (Port Vale, loan), Kegs Chauke (Exeter, loan), Benni Smales-Braithwaite (Barrow, free), Will Ferry (Cheltenham, undisclosed), Nathan Tella (Burnley, loan), Kayne Ramsay (Harrogate, undisclosed)
Tottenham
Croatian wing-back Ivan Perisic was Tottenham’s first signing of the summer
In the Premier League, the summer transfer market is still open for business.
There have already been a lot of significant signings, with championship contenders Manchester Cityand Liverpool spending big on Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez, respectively.
Raheem Sterling just signed with Chelsea, while rivals from North London Tottenham and Arsenal, as well as teams like Aston Villa, Leeds, and Nottingham Forest, have also been active.
But there is still a lot of work to be done before the window closes on Thursday, September 1 at 11 p.m. (BST).
To be informed of all the Premier League happenings during the summer transfer window, bookmark this page.
Arsenal
In:Marquinhos (Sao Paulo, £3m), Fabio Vieira (Porto, £30m), Matt Turner (New England Revolution, £5.8m), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City, £45m), Oleksandr Zinchenko (Manchester City, £30m)
Out: Konstantinos Mavropanos (Stuttgart, £3m), Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon, free), Jonathan Dinzeyi (released), Joel Lopez (released), Jordan McEneff (released), Harry Clarke (Stoke, loan), Omar Rekik (Sparta Rotterdam, loan), Tyreece John-Jules (Ipswich, loan), Mika Biereth (RKC Waalwijk, loan), Jordi Osei-Tutu (VFL Bochum, undisclosed), Daniel Ballard (Sunderland, undisclosed), Nikolaj Moller (Den Bosch, loan), Matteo Guendouzi (Marseille, undisclosed), Zak Swanson (Portsmouth, undisclosed), Ovie Ejeheri (Chelmsford City, loan), Auston Trusty (Birmingham, loan), Omari Hutchinson (Chelsea, undisclosed), Marcelo Flores (Real Ovideo, loan), Ryan Alebiosu (Kilmarnock, loan), Arthur Okonkwo (Crewe, loan), Nuno Tavares (Marseille, loan), Mazeed Ogungbo (Crawley, loan), Bernd Leno (Fulham, undisclosed), Charlie Patino (Blackpool, loan), Lucas Torreira (Galatasaray, undisclosed), Pablo Mari (AC Monza, loan), Alex Runarsson (Alanyaspor, loan)
Aston Villa
Philippe Coutinho has joined Aston Villa from Barcelona on a four-year deal
In: Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona, £17m), Boubacar Kamara (Marseille, free), Diego Carlos (Sevilla, undisclosed), Robin Olsen (Roma, undisclosed), Rory Wilson (Rangers, undisclosed), Ludwig Augustinsson (Sevilla, loan with option to buy), Ewan Simpson (Hearts, undisclosed)
In: Ryan Fredericks (West Ham, free), Joe Rothwell (Blackburn, free), Marcus Tavernier (Middlesbrough, £10m), Neto (Barcelona, free), Marcos Senesi (Feyenoord, £12m)
Out: Gary Cahill (released), Brennan Camp (released), Ryan Glover (released), Connor Curran-Browne (released), Luke Nippard (released), Owen Palmer (released), Aaron Roberts (released), Jack Seddon (released), Gavin Kilkenny (Stoke, loan), Aji Alese (Sunderland, loan), Zeno Ibsen Rossi (Cambridge, undisclosed)
Brentford
In: Aaron Hickey (Bologna, undisclosed), Keane Lewis-Potter (Hull, £20m), Thomas Strakosha (Lazio, free), Ben Mee (Burnley, free), Mikkel Damsgaard (Sampdoria, undisclosed), Mathias Jorgensen (Free)
Out: Ben Hockenhull (Tranmere), Hans Mpongo (released), Mads Bidstrup (Nordsjaelland, loan), Gustav Mogensen (Sarpsborg, undisclosed), Christian Eriksen (Manchester United, free), Paris Maghoma (AFC Wimbledon, loan), Dominic Thompson (Blackpool, undisclosed), Lachlan Brook (Crewe, loan), Marcus Forss (Middlesbrough, undisclosed), Ellery Balcombe (Crawley, loan), Tariqe Fosu (Stoke City, loan)
BrightonIn: Julio Enciso (Libertad Asuncion, undisclosed), Benicio Baker-Boaitey (Porto, undisclosed), Simon Adingra (Nordsjaelland, undisclosed), Levi Colwill (Chelsea, loan), Luca Barrington (Manchester City, undisclosed), Pervis Estupinan (Villarreal, undisclosed)
Out: Jayson Molumby (West Brom, £900,000), Tudor Baluta (released), Adam Desbois (released), Lars Dendoncker (released), Ulrick Ella (released), Ayo Tanimowo (released), John Lucero (released), Jaami Qureshi (released), Fynn Talley (Cliftonville, loan), Yves Bissouma (Tottenham, £25m), Alex Cochrane (Hearts, undisclosed), Simon Adingra (Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, loan), Carl Rushworth (Lincoln, loan), Haydon Roberts (Derby, loan), Abdallah Sima (Angers, loan), Aaron Connolly (Venezia, loan), Leo Ostigard (Napoli, undisclosed), Taylor Richards (QPR, loan), Marc Leonard (Northampton, loan), Jensen Weir (Morecambe, loan), Reda Khadra (Sheffield United, loan), Teddy Jenks (Crawley, loan), Andi Zeqiri (Basel, loan), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea, undisclosed), Shane Duffy (Fulham, loan), Kjell Scherpen (Vitesse Arnhem, loan)
Chelsea
In: Eddie Beach (Southampton, undisclosed), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City, £50m), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli, £33m), Omar Hutchinson (Arsenal, free), Gabriel Slonina (Chicago Fire, £12m), Carney Chukwuemeka (Aston Villa, undisclosed), Marc Cucurella (Brighton, undisclosed), Cesare Casadei (Inter Milan, £12.6m)
Out:Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid, free), Andreas Christensen (released), Danny Drinkwater (released), Charly Musonda (released), Jake Clarke-Salter (QPR, free), Lucas Bergstrom (Peterborough, loan), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan, loan), Nathan Baxter (Hull, loan), Ethan Wady (Woking, loan), Ian Maatsen (Burnley, loan), Henry Lawrence (MK Dons, loan), Tino Anjorin (Huddersfield, loan), Gabriel Slonina (Chicago Fire, loan), Levi Colwill (Brighton, loan), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig, £25m), Malang Sarr (Monaco, loan)
Crystal Palace
In: Malcolm Ebiowei (Derby, free), Sam Johnstone (West Brom, free), Cheick Doucoure (Lens, undisclosed), Chris Richards (Bayern Munich, undisclosed), Kofi Balmer (Larne, undisclosed)
Out: Martin Kelly (released), Jaroslaw Jach (released), Luke Dreher (released), Rian Jamai (released), Kanye Jobson (released), Nya Kirby (released), Joseph Ling (released), Sean Robertson (released), Sion Spence (released), Aidan Steele (released), James Taylor (released), Dylan Thiselton (released), Reece Hannam (Bromley, loan), Remi Matthews (St Johnstone, loan), Tayo Adaramola (Coventry, loan), Sean Robertson (Forest Green, free), Christian Benteke (DC United, undisclosed), Scott Banks (Bradford, loan), Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Charlton, loan), Malachi Boateng (Queen’s Park, loan), Cheikhou Kouyate (Nottingham Forest, free)
Out: Edinson Cavani (released), Juan Mata (released), Paul Pogba (Juventus, free), Jesse Lingard (released) D’Mani Mellor (released), Reece Devine (released), Lee Grant (released), Paul McShane (released), Connor Stanley (released), Paul Woolston (released), Nemanja Matic (Roma, free), Dean Henderson (Nottingham Forest, loan), Dylan Levitt (Dundee, undisclosed), Andreas Pereira (Fulham, £8m), Alvaro Fernandez (Preston, loan), Alex Telles (Sevilla, loan), Ethan Laird (QPR, loan), Dermot Mee (Altrincham, loan)
Newcastle
In: Alex Murphy (Galway United, undisclosed), Matt Targett (Aston Villa, £15m), Nick Pope (Burnley, undisclosed), Sven Botman (Lille, undisclosed), Charlie McArthur (Kilmarnock, undisclosed), Jude Smith (East Fife, undisclosed)Â
Out: Oisin McEntee (Walsall, undisclosed), Mo Sangare (Accrington, free), Isaac Hayden (Norwich, loan with obligation to buy), Lewis Cass (Port Vale, undisclosed), Freddie Woodman (Preston, undisclosed), Dan Langley (Gateshead, loan), Jeff Hendrick (Reading, loan), Ciaran Clark (Sheffield United, loan), Dwight Gayle (Stoke, undisclosed)
Nottingham Forest
In: Ryan Hammond (Millwall, undisclosed), Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, £17.5m), Dean Henderson (Manchester United, loan), Giulian Biancone (Troyes, £5m), Moussa Niakhate (Mainz, £8.5m), Omar Richards (Bayern Munich, £10m), Neco Williams (Liverpool, £17m), Wayne Hennessey (Burnley, undisclosed), Brandon Aguilera (LD Alajuelense, undisclosed), Harry Toffolo (Huddersfield, undisclosed), Lewis O’Brien (Huddersfield, undisclosed), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United, free), Orel Mangala (Stuttgart, £12.7m), Emmanuel Dennis (Watford, £20m), Cheikhou Kouyate (Crystal Palace, free), Remo Freuler (Atalanta, £8.5m), Morgan Gibbs-White (Wolves, £25m)
Out: Tobias Figueiredo (released), Carl Jenkinson (released), Gaetan Bong (released), Marcelo Valencia (released), Josh Barnes (released), Baba Fernandes (released), Sam Sanders (released), Morgan Thomas-Sadler (released), Joe Watkins (released), Mohamed Drager (FC Luzern, loan), Jayden Richardson (Aberdeen, undisclosed), Ethan Horvath (Luton, loan), Brice Samba (Lens, undisclosed), Tyrese Fornah (Reading, loan), Will Swan (Mansfield, loan), Jonathan Panzo (Coventry, loan), Fin Back (Carlisle, loan), Lewis Grabban (released), Riley Harbottle (Mansfield, loan), Brandon Aguilera (Guanacasteca, loan), Nicholas Ioannou (Como, undisclosed), Xande Silva (Dijon, undisclosed), Braian Ojeda (Real Salt Lake, loan), Nuno da Costa (Auxerre, undisclosed), Richie Laryea (Toronto, loan), Baba Fernandes (Accrington, loan), Nicky Hogarth (Falkirk, loan), Joe Lolley (Sydney, free)
Southampton
In: Alex Iwumene (Sutton United), Gavin Bazunu (Manchester City, undisclosed), Mateusz Lis (Altay SK, free), Armel Bella-Kotchap (Bochum, £8.5m), Romeo Lavia (Manchester City, £10.5m), Joe Aribo (Rangers, £10m), Sekou Mara (Bordeaux, undisclosed)
Out: Harry Lewis (Bradford City, free), Fraser Forster (Tottenham, free), Caleb Watts (Morecambe, loan), Kazeem Olaigbe (Ross County, loan), Shane Long (Reading, free), Dan Nlundulu (Cheltenham, loan), Will Smallbone (Stoke, loan), Thierry Small (Port Vale, loan), Kegs Chauke (Exeter, loan), Benni Smales-Braithwaite (Barrow, free), Will Ferry (Cheltenham, undisclosed), Nathan Tella (Burnley, loan), Kayne Ramsay (Harrogate, undisclosed)
Tottenham
Croatian wing-back Ivan Perisic was Tottenham’s first signing of the summer
Black Stars midfielder, Thomas Partey was in action for Arsenal on Friday, August 5, 2022, as the Gunners started off the new English Premier League season on a good note.
The 2022/23 English Premier League season has officially started with many actions expected to happen over the weekend.
In the opening match of the campaign, Thomas Partey started for Arsenal when the team traveled to Selhurst Park to take on London rivals Crystal Palace.
On the matchday, the highly-rated midfielder excelled in midfield and helped Arsenal to cruise to a delightful 2-0 win at the end of the 90 minutes.
It was all thanks to a first-half strike from Gabriel Martinelli and an own goal from Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi late in the second half.
For the losers, Ghana duo Jordan Ayew and Jeffrey Schlupp played for the team. Their performance however could not save the hosts from defeat.
In the curtain raise of the season, the Eagles hosted the Gunners at Selhurst Park on Friday night.
The Gunners maintained their impressive pre-season form with an energetic performance that was rewarded when Gabriel Martinelli nodded in a 20th-minute opener from new signing Oleksandr Zinchenko’s headed assist.
It took Palace most of the first half to adapt to the visitors’ tempo, but once they did Odsonne Edouard forced Aaron Ramsdale into a save after Joachim Andersen’s header found him in the six-yard box.
Buoyed by a vibrant home crowd, the Eagles poured forward in search of a leveler but it was Arsenal who found the net again, Marc Guehi inadvertently heading Bukayo Saka’s fierce cross into his own goal late on.
Despite the defeat, Jordan Ayew put up a decent performance for the side.
The 30-year-old completed six (6) successful dribbles against Arsenal and lasted the entire duration of the game.
Jordan and his Crystal Palace teammates will be hoping to cause an upset when they visit Liverpool next weekend.
Arsenal managed to grab the 2022 Emirates Cup at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Ghana’s Eddie Nketiah played a role in Arsenal’s 6-0 win over Sevilla.
Eddie Nketiah joined his team on the pitch in the 79th minute to replace Bukayo Saka.
Saka opened the scoring from the penalty spot after he was brought down in the area, before Jesus doubled the hosts’ lead, firing home Granit Xhaka’s low cross.
He added a third just two minutes later, and Saka matched him before the 20-minute mark, pressing high and finishing well.
Xhaka went close to a fifth before Jesus grabbed his third from close range. Nketiah completed the scoring a minute from time.
Arsenal’s victory over Sevilla ends a successful pre-season campaign, during which Brazilian Gabriel Jesus scored seven goals after his £45m move from Manchester City.
Arsenal kick off the 2022/23 Premier League campaign against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Friday before welcoming Leicester City to Emirates Stadium for their first home league game on Saturday, August 13.
This season, Arsenal will play in pink for the first time with the launch of their brand new third kit for the 2022-23 campaign.
While pink has been chosen for both goalkeeper strips and as decorative trim before, the Gunners have never used the rosy hue as a main colour for an outfield jersey until now.
Along with the westward facing cannon and the Latin motto “Victoria Concordia Crescit” (Victory grows out of harmony), the ermine pattern was originally revealed as part of the Gunners’ new badge when it debuted in the first matchday programme of 1949-50 season. It was then discarded in 2002 when the club presented their new, streamlined crest — that is still found on their shirts to this day.
As well as the handsome pink shirt, the 2022-23 third kit is completed by contrasting navy trim, plus navy shorts and matching pink socks.
Available now at Arsenal Direct, https://t.co/OblCU7YfdX and selected retailers 👇
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 29, 2022
As with this season’s home and away kits, Arsenal are continuing to celebrate their local community through the launch of the third strip. The pink and navy ensemble serves as a visual salute to the passionate support base they have in north west London and in particular the more creative members of the district.
From musicians to DJs and producers, to skaters and even aspirating young urban gardeners, Arsenal are celebrating the passions of their supporters.
The 2022-23 home kit was launched as part of a project that saw £5 from every club shop sale donated straight to the Arsenal Foundation (which supports a plethora of local community-focused initiatives.)
Meanwhile, the corresponding away kit, which was launched while the Gunners were on tour in the U.S. in July, featured a film starring fan Aston Mack, who founded the Orlando Freedom Fighters organisation after first coming to prominence while wearing an Arsenal replica shirt during a Black Lives Matter protest in Orlando in the summer of 2020.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said new signing Gabriel Jesus “creates chaos” after the Brazil forward scored in a 2-0 friendly win over Everton.
The £45m signing continued his impressive pre-season form by firing home from a 33rd-minute corner at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
Jesus, who scored twice against Nuremberg this month, helped set up Bukayo Saka for Arsenal’s second.
“He creates uncertainty and he’s always on your shoulder,” said Arteta.
“He’s a real threat and this is what we need. He’s very versatile, but obviously the way we would like to develop him is in that [number nine] position.”
Arsenal face Orlando City and Chelsea in Orlando next week.
Chelsea began their pre-season campaign with a 2-1 win over Mexican side Club America at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Chelsea took the lead in the 55th minute when Timo Werner converted the rebound after his initial effort was blocked by team-mate Michy Batshuayi.
Club America drew level in bizarre fashion as Reece James played a blind backpass that evaded keeper Marcus Bettinelli.
Mason Mount scored a superb winner with seven minutes remaining, shifting the ball away from a defender before curling in from 20 yards.
Chelsea face Charlotte FC in North Carolina on Wednesday before meeting Arsenal on Saturday, while Club America face Premier League champions Manchester City in Houston on Wednesday.
Black Stars vice-captain, Thomas Partey, will travel with the Arsenal squad to the United States for their pre-season tour.
Partey had been earlier reported to miss out on the pre-season camp away from London having missed out on the initial one in Germany.
However, the club confirmed he will be part of the team which will travel to the US to continue their preparations ahead of the 2022/23 season.
The 29-year-old played 45 minutes in the 5-1 win over Ipswich Town on his return after a thigh injury suffered in April.
The Gunners will play Everton in Baltimore, Maryland, on Sunday followed by games against Orlando City four days later and Chelsea a week on Saturday, both of which are in Orlando, Florida.
Below is the full travelling squad:
Goalkeepers: Aaron Ramsdale, Bernd Leno, Matt Turner, Arthur Okonkwo, Alex Runarsson.
Defenders: Kieran Tierney, Nuno Tavares, Gabriel, Pablo Mari, Ben White, Rob Holding, William Saliba, Hector Bellerin, Cedric Soares, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Reuell Walters.
Midfielders: Mohamed Elneny, Lucas Torreira, Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Granit Xhaka, Martin Odegaard, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson.
Forwards: Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Jesus, Nicolas Pepe, Bukayo Saka, Folarin Balogun, Marquinhos.
Porto say they have agreed to sell midfielder Fabio Vieira to Arsenal in a 40m euro (£34.2m) deal.
The Portuguese club released a statement saying Arsenal would pay an initial 35m euros (£29.9m) for Vieira with the rest in potential add-ons.
Vieira, 22, has yet to win a senior cap for Portugal but was voted player of the tournament at last year’s European Under-21 Championship.
He provided a league-high 14 assists in the Primeira Liga last season.
Vieira also scored six goals in 27 league outings as he helped Porto claim the top-flight title in Portugal.
He has been capped 21 times by Portugal Under-21s and will become the Gunners’ third summer arrival, following USA goalkeeper Matt Turner and teenage Brazilian forward Marquinhos.
Will Manchester City or Liverpool be champions? Can Tottenham seal a Champions League spot ahead of north London rivals Arsenal? Which of Burnley or Leeds are heading for the Championship?
These are the main questions to be answered on what promises to be a dramatic and emotional final day of the 2021-22 Premier League season.
It is the first time in 10 years that the title, top four and relegation are all still to be fully decided before the final day.
BBC Sport takes a detailed look at everything at stake on what promises to be a gripping and tense finale.
The BBC will be providing the usual coverage on Sunday, with live text commentary on all 10 games on the BBC Sport website and Radio 5 Live audio commentary on Manchester City v Aston Villa, with updates from around the grounds.
As a special bonus, Final Score will be showing the goals and best action from the seven Premier League games not being shown live elsewhere – those being the matches at the Etihad, Anfield and the Brentford Community Stadium.
City’s title to lose
Manchester City hold a one-point advantage at the top of the table after their draw at West Ham and Liverpool’s victory at Southampton in the penultimate round of games.
Few people expect the defending champions to surrender their lead, and not just because no side has ever started a Premier League final day top and not ended it there.
The main reason is that City have been simply superb this season, winning 28 games to stay out in front despite Liverpool clawing back what was at one stage a double-digit lead.
Pep Guardiola’s men host Aston Villa on Sunday, knowing a win would make Liverpool’s result at home to Wolves academic and seal a fourth league title of their Spanish manager’s six-season reign.
Claiming the league crown would put some salve on the wounds inflicted on City in the latter stages of this season by the Reds, who beat them in the FA Cup semi-final, and Real Madrid, who stunned them with a late comeback in the Champions League last four.
It would also deny Jurgen Klopp’s side a shot at a historic quadruple, with the Carabao and FA Cups already in the Anfield trophy cabinet and the Champions League final to come.
All Liverpool can do is beat Wolves at home and hope Villa can do them a favour at the Etihad, with a draw no good for them because of their goal difference, even if City lose.
This season is the third time in four campaigns that the pair have claimed the top two spots. If they match each other’s result on Sunday, it will be the second time, after 2018-19’s gripping race, that they have been separated at the top by just a point.
North London tussle for fourth spot
Spurs are often mocked for doing things described as ‘Spursy’ – meaning throwing away leads and grasping defeat from the jaws of victory.
It would take something especially ‘Spursy’ for them to miss out on a Champions League spot this season.
Their hard-fought win over Burnley on Sunday, followed by Arsenal’s deserved defeat at Newcastle the following day, means Tottenham go into the final day two points ahead of their fierce rivals.
With their vastly superior goal difference, Antonio Conte’s side can afford a draw at relegated Norwich.
Only a win will do for Arsenal, who are at home to an Everton side now assured of Premier League football next season. If the Canaries can provide a dead cat bounce at Carrow Road and beat Spurs, a win will see the Gunners nick it.
There is also an outstanding European issue still to be settled a bit lower down the table, as Manchester United and West Ham fight it out on Sunday to decide who will be playing in the Europa League and who in the Europa Conference League.
The sixth-placed Red Devils can end a disappointing season by sealing a Europa League spot with a win at Crystal Palace. Anything less, though, leaves the door open for the Hammers, who trail by two points in seventh but have a vastly superior goal difference.
David Moyes’ side are at Brighton on Sunday, hoping to get another shot at a competition in which they reached the semi-finals this season.
Below this there will be the usual jockeying for league placings on the final day, with each place higher in the division worth an estimated extra £3m.
For a club like Aston Villa, for example, it could mean an extra £12m if they can lift themselves from 14th to 10th on the final day.
Burnley or Leeds for the drop?
At half-time at Goodison Park on Thursday, it looked as though three sides would be battling it out to avoid joining Watford and Norwich in the Championship next season.
But Everton’s remarkable comeback win over Crystal Palace leaves Burnley and Leeds to duke it out for survival on the final day.
The pair are level on 35 points but the Clarets have the edge courtesy of a vastly superior goal difference, meaning they only need to match Leeds’ result on the final day to stay up.
Mike Jackson’s side also have home advantage on Sunday, albeit against an in-form Newcastle side hoping to seal a top-half finish.
Golden boot, gloves and the rest
Manchester City and Liverpool are not just battling it out for the title – their respective goalkeepers are also locked in a tussle for the division’s golden gloves.
City’s Ederson and Liverpool’s Alisson both have 20 clean sheets to their name.
There is a very close race taking place at the top of the Premier League goalscorers charts too, with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah currently one ahead of Tottenham’s Son Heung-min.
Golden boot 2021-22
Player
Team
Goals
Mohamed Salah
Liverpool
22
Son Heung-min
Tottenham
21
Cristiano Ronaldo
Manchester United
18
If Salah prevails, it will be his third English golden boot after he came out on top in 2017-18 and 2018-19. For Son, it would be a first.
With 18 goals to his name, it would take something truly special for Cristiano Ronaldo to muscle his way in, although the Portuguese has been performing remarkable goalscoring feats for much of his career.
Speaking of Ronaldo, could Sunday be the final time we see him in Premier League action?
The summer arrival of Erik ten Hag as Manchester United’s new boss is expected to mean a major overhaul at the club, with speculation that the 37-year-old could be one of those moved on.
One player who will definitely be saying farewell to his club’s fans is Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger, who has agreed to join Real Madrid this summer.
The West Ham fans at Brighton’s Amex Stadium will be seeing the last of the retiring Mark Noble and the soon-to-be-out-of-contract Andriy Yarmolenko in a Hammers shirt.
Will Sunday be the last Arsenal appearance of Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah? Could Christian Eriksen be saying ‘thank you and goodbye’ to Brentford? Will cult hero Divock Origi get a last run-out at Liverpool?
Potential answers to these questions and more will be provided on what promises to be a gripping Premier League 2021-22 finale.
Arsenal striker Vivianne Miedema has signed a new contract with the Women’s Super League club.
The 25-year-old Netherlands forward has scored 117 goals in 144 games since arriving from Bayern Munich in 2017.
A WSL winner with Arsenal in 2018-19, Miedema is the league’s record goalscorer and was named the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2021.
BBC Sport understands Miedema’s new deal is for one year, keeping her at the Gunners until next summer.
It is a further boost for Arsenalafter boss Jonas Eidevall signed a contract extension earlier this month.
“I think the most beautiful thing about the game is building something with a team and with people around you that you really want to be around,” said Miedema, who scored 14 goals as Arsenal finished a point behind champions Chelsea in the 2021-22 WSL.
“I do feel like I have got that at Arsenal. I feel like for me, winning titles with Arsenal will mean a lot more to me than winning them with another club at the moment. And that’s what I obviously hope to achieve with Arsenal.”
Miedema, who has only won one WSL title and one FA Cup with the north London club, had been heavily linked with a move to European champions Barcelona after five years with the Gunners.
“Viv is a stellar talent and a hugely important player for this team, so it’s fantastic news that she is staying with us,” Eidevall said.
“As a club, our ambition is to win titles and compete at the highest level – we know Viv’s own ambitions are the same, and together we will give everything to achieve that.”
Anita Asante, a British footballer of Ghanaian descent has announced that she will draw down the curtain on her 19-year professional career at the end of the 2021/2022 Women’s Premier League season.
Asante made her retirement announcement on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, with her final game set to be against Birmingham this weekend.
”It was a difficult decision to make and I’m enjoying my season with Villa at the moment. But every journey must come to an end and for me, I think it’s the right time to hang my boots up and give thanks to everyone who’s helped me along my journey,” she said as quoted by skysports.com.
Here is a look into her 19 years of professional career
Clubs career
Anita Ama Asante, born on April 27, 1985, turned 37 years on Wednesday, April 27, 2022.
She was born and bred in the UK and thus spent a chunk of his career in the European country.
Asante started her club career at Arsenal. She joined the youth team in 1998 and made her debut for the first team in 2003.
The center back played for 9 different clubs, amongst them, Arsenal was her longest-serving club. She spent 5 spells with the team, where she achieved most of her successes.
Asante joined rival London club, Chelsea in 2008 before traveling abroad to join US-based Sky Blues.
During her time in the US, she played for Saint Louis Athletica, Chicago Red Stars, Washington Freedom, and back to Sky Blues all in the space of two years.
She then moved to Sweden in 2012, spending five seasons in the Swedish league- one season at Goteborg and four seasons at FC Rosengard/Malmo.
She then return to England, joining Chelsea in 2018 before a move to Aston Villa in 2020, where sj=he will call it a wrap.
International career
Anita Asante served the English national team for 11 years after playing at all levels in the youth team, including being named as the captain of the U19.
She made her senior debut in 2004 when she came on as a substitute in a game against Iceland.
She played at four different major tournaments for England, namely Euros- 2005, 2009, 2013, and the World Cup in 2011.
She made a total of 71 appearances for England. Her 50th game was a 1-0 win over Japan at the 2011 World Cup.
Anita scored one goal in her international career, her goal gave England a 1-0 win against Norway in a friendly in 2005.
Honours
Asante is one of the most decorated female British players. She is a Quadruple winner and a double winner.
At Arsenal, she won the UEFA Women’s Cup (Arsenal) in 2007 the FA Women’s Cup 3 times -2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, the FA Women’s National Premier League 4 times 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and FA Women’s Premier League Cup 3 times 2005, 2005, 2007.
She won the quadruple with Arsenal in 2007 (UEFA Cup, League, League Cup and FA cup) and a double in 2006 and 2008 all at Arsenal – League and FA Cup.
Her spell in Sweden also landed her four trophies, the Svenska Cupen in 2012 and Svenska Supercupen in 2013 while at Göteborg. She won the same trophies with FC Rosengard/Malmo in 2015 and 2016.
Coaching Career
Anita Asante has sight at coaching right after retirement. She has revealed that she is on the verge of completing her UEFA B coaching badge.
“I’m currently completing my UEFA B [coaching] badge at the moment, and I hope to continue that journey and explore it.” she said.
Black Stars midfielder, Thomas Partey, has won Arsenal’s player of the month in February.Â
Partey beat the competition from Martin Odegaard and Boukayo Saka to win the accolade for the first time since joining the club in 2021.Â
The Ghanaian since joining Arsenal after the 2022 African Cup of Nation has been immense, playing a key role in the club’s three wins in February.
He won one man-of-the-match award and recorded one assist in the three games he played.Â
He was the brightest spot in the middle for Arsenal in all three hence the fans rewarded his effort with a 49 percent vote.Â
Thomas Partey shielded Arsenal’s defense in their 1-0 away win over Wolves when the Gunner ended the match with a man down.Â
He followed it up with a dominant performance against a 2-1 win over Brentford at the Emirates. Partey assisted the winner. Â
The Black Stars deputy captain capped an amazing month with yet another magnificent performance in Arsenal’s hard-fought 2-1 win over Wolves at home.
Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey showed his free kick prowess in a preseason game on Tuesday where his effort came off the crossbar.
The 28-year-old came on as a substitute as Arsenal lost 2-1 to Scottish side Hibernian. But, he made a good account of himself with his passing and free kick prowess.
Although his effort did not find the net, it gave Arteta something to think about ahead of the start of the new campaign.
Arsenal midfielder, Thomas Partey, could be heading back to Atletico Madrid according to reports.
The Ghana midfielder joined the Premier League giants from the La Liga side last summer.
The Gunners triggered Partey’s €50m release clause on the transfer deadline day.
However, the 27-year-old’s journey at the club has been soiled with injuries since switching to the Emirates.
A report by Todofichajes says Diego Simeone is planning to launch a two-prong attack on Arsenal with Real Madrid loanee, Dani Caballos, the other player on his radar.
Partey has managed just 20 league appearances, starting 15 of them this season but without a goal, and sources have also claimed that the midfielder could be making a return to his former club, Atletico.
Partey was in action on Thursday as Arsenal failed to progress to the finals of the Europa League against Villarreal.
Arsenal star, Thomas Partey has shown off the team’s iconic kit worn in the 1992 season which has been released by kits sponsors Adidas.
Arsenal and Adidas have lined up a very special Christmas gift for every avid Arsenal fan: a limited-edition re-release of iconic cult classics the Gunners wore during the early 1990s.
The Arsenal x Adidas Originals collection brings back Arsenal’s old logo that was used from 1949 until 2002.
Specifically, the collection includes a remake of Arsenal’s 1990-92 home shirt, a tracksuit, a hoodie, and a lifestyle jacket that are all closely inspired by the original looks.
To fit this narrative all items also feature Adidas’ old trefoil logo.
Thomas Partey is among other Arsenal stars such as Aubameyang and Ainsley Maitland Miles who modeled in the jersey.
Thomas Partey joined Arsenal on the transfer deadline from Atletico Madrid in the summer.
He has made five appearances for Arsenal since joining the club.
Arsenal’s Thomas Partey suffered a recurrence of a thigh injury in their 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, manager Mikel Arteta said.
The Ghana international, who moved to Arsenal from Atletico Madrid for €50 million during the summer, injured his thigh last month and only returned to the side on Sunday.
Partey pulled up injured shortly before half-time and was standing on the touchline when Spurs broke from their own box. Arteta then urged him back on to try to stop the counter-attack but the midfielder could only run a few yards before stopping.
Ahead of Partey, Spurs striker Harry Kane finished off Spurs’ sweeping attack, handing the Premier League leaders their two-goal cushion.
“I was trying to push him but I don’t think he realised the gravity of the situation when he left his position but that was probably because he was in a lot of pain,” Arteta told reporters.
“Suddenly they are coming to attack us and Thomas is walking to me and I was trying to push him. I haven’t spoken to him so I don’t know exactly how it happened or if he felt something really serious.”
Partey’s absence will be a cause for concern for Arteta amid a busy schedule where Arsenal, 15th in the league, play eight games in 23 days.
Ex-Real Madrid striker Emmanuel Adebayor will love to have a career swansong at Ghana Premier League giants Asante Kotoko.
The former Togo captain, who resides in the Ghanaian capital Accra, is also ready to serve in management or on the board.
Adebayor is available on a free transfer after terminating his contract with Paraguayan side Olimpia in July 2020 on mutual due to the complications of the coronavirus pandemic.
The 36-year-old was spotted at the official media briefing of Asante Kotoko’s partnership deal with Hisense on Saturday, 14 November 2020.
When asked if he would consider playing for Porcupine Warriors before hanging up his boots, Adebayor gave the club followers a glimmer of hope.
”In life when I was young I never thought I will play for Real Madrid in my whole entire life. I never thought I would even be once on the TV in my life but at the end of the day, I have been there,” Adebayor said.
”Playing for Kotoko is a team and I already have one friend there now. I have family, I know the CEO so I will never say never.
”I may decide to retire in Ghana or I may decide to be part of the board.”
Adebayor played for some high profile clubs in Europe including Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
He also had a stint in Turkey with Istanbul Basaksehir and Kayserispor.
Former Manchester United captain, Roy Keane sees imposing similarities between Thomas Partey and ex-rival Patrick Vieira after the Ghanaian’s outstanding performance for the Gunners in their 1-0 win at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Thomas Partey highlighted his importance to Mikel Arteta’s team after a man-of-the-match performance that saw the London club secure a first win in 14 years at Old Trafford.
Roy Keane, who had several midfield battles with Patrick Vieira during his playing days believes Partey could reach the heights set by the Frenchman.
“He was outstanding. He’s obviously no mug having played in big games. When you watch a player live that’s when you can judge a player and the more I look at him the more I wish he was in the United midfield. He’s big, strong and aggressive – and he can pass it forward. He can deal with the ball,” Keane told Skysports.
“I had my battles with Vieira and I think this kid has got a chance of matching what Patrick used to do.”
Thomas Partey was making only his third Premier League appearance for the Gunners since joining on transfer deadline day.
Granit Xhaka has been raving about the qualities new signing Thomas Partey will bring into Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal team.
Partey joined the Gunners from Atletico Madrid after they matched his £45 million release clause on the European transfer deadline day this month.
On Saturday, the Ghana international made his Premier League debut against Manchester City after replacing Xhaka as an 83rd-minute substitute.
Although Partey’s arrival provides more competition in the midfield, Xhaka believes the 27-year-old would improve Arsenal squad with his experience and mentality.
“He will be the guy who is important for me and as well for the team. Everyone in the club can be happy because he has great quality,” Xhaka told the club website.
“He will bring a good mentality, a good balance in our game because this is what we need a bit more: the mentality to win.
“He played at Atletico Madrid, a different type of football, and he will bring a lot of good quality and mentality.”
Partey is in line to make his full Arsenal debut when Mikel Arteta’s men travel to Rapid Vienna for their Uefa Europa League opener on Thursday.
Meanwhile, former Arsenal scout Francis Cagigao described the Black Stars midfielder as a long-time target and ‘the final piece of the jigsaw’ which makes the North London outfit title challengers.
“He is a player that we pursued for a long time and strongly recommended over the last few years,” Cagigao said.
“I first watched him about six years ago playing for Almeria on loan from Atletico Madrid and he was more box-to-box, attacking even. I think we will see him with the shackles off because he did very much play in a constricted midfield unit [at Atletico].
“He could be the final piece of the jigsaw that makes Arsenal challenge for the title.â€
Ghana superstar, Thomas Partey has revealed why he kept his move top Europe from his friends with the exception of his father.
The midfielder left Tema Youth at a very tender age to join Atletico Madrid for trials.
So to make sure nothing could jeopardise his dream move, he kept it secret from all of his friends and family, with the exception of his father.
“My dad knew about it but then I told him not to tell anyone,” Partey said. “There was a saying that when everybody knows about your move, they can disturb you. That’s mostly in Ghana because I was playing with my friends and you never know what someone is thinking, so we just had to keep it secret until everyone saw it.
“I wanted to play outside Ghana and I was focused on playing with the great people we saw on TV because we used to watch La Liga, the Premier League, so many leagues. All my inspirations played in that league.
“Moving to Spain taught me a lot and I’ve learnt a lot from it, how to take decisions on my own, how to be perfect, how to try to go through hell. But then you know that after the hell, you have important things ahead that you can enjoy.
“I’ll always take those challenges and I know that with all these challenges, you’ll be able to make it.”
Partey made his debut on Saturday against Manchester City.
Thomas Partey has explained why he has chosen to use his first name and not surname on the back of his Arsenal jersey.
The Ghana international claims fans of the game are more familiar with his first name
Partey used Thomas during his spell at Spanish side Atletico Madrid.
He said: “I’ve seen that there are Parteys everywhere and even the photographer asked me why I don’t use Partey on my shirt. I said it’s because I started with Thomas and people are familiar with Thomas, so I need to go with Thomas.
“I’ve seen that everyone has been excited and everyone is willing to win something and all the trophies that come their way. I think that’s the goal and objective for everyone here and that’s my goal also.
“It’s something that is difficult and we all know that it’s difficult, but we’re working towards it and I think we are ready. We have to go all out and try to achieve all of that ourselves.
“I think it was a new challenge for me. I’ve always wanted to play in the top leagues and the Premier League is one of the top leagues, so I’m happy to be here.
“I think it’s a great challenge, I want to experience new challenges and also in a great family like Arsenal, I am ready to give it my all and try to help this great club come back to where they belong.”
Partey sealed a £52 million switch to the Emirates Stadium on transfer deadline day last week.
Newly-signed Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey will join the Ghana squad in Turkey on Tuesday ahead of the double header friendlies against Mali and Qatar.
The 27-year-old left Atletico Madrid to join Arsenal after his £45 million release clause was triggered by the Gunners on transfer deadline day.
Partey underwent a successful medical examination in Madrid on Monday before putting pen to paper on deal until 2025, and will pocket £250,000 as weekly wages.
After finalizing the dream move, the former Real Mallorca midfielder will now shift his focus on the forthcoming friendly games against Mali and Qatar.
He will join his Ghana Black Stars teammates at their base in Antalya on Tuesday to prepare for the Mali match on Friday.
Partey is the deputy skipper of the West African nation hence his absence would have been a big blow to new coach Charles Akonnor as the team is already missing the services of Ajax Amsterdam poster-boy Kudus Mohammed through injury.
Arsenal new-boy Thomas Partey will commence training at the club next week after the international break.
The 27-year-old will ply his trade in the Premier League after the Gunners were able to complete a £45 million, four-year deal with the option of an additional season.
Arsenal had been linked to Partey for some time, with negotiations with Atletico Madrid proving difficult for the Emirates Stadium outfit.
But on transfer deadline day, Mikel Arteta got his man, paying the midfielder’s release clause to finally complete a deal for the Ghana star.
Partey will however not step foot in Arsenal’s Hertfordshire training ground up until next week as he will be on international duty with Ghana.
The midfielder is expected to touch base with the Ghana squad in Antalya, Turkey, on Tuesday after completing the Arsenal move on transfer deadline day.
He is the deputy captain of the four-time Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winners.
Tema Youth president Wilfred Kwaku Osei Palmer is backing their former player Thomas Partey to excel at his new club Arsenal.
Partey sealed his move to the English Premier League side before the transfer deadline.
This was after the Gunners invoked an automatic transfer by paying the full buyout clause of £45m from Spanish side Atletico Madrid.
The 27-year-old has signed a five-year contract to end months of speculation over the move.
Partey underwent a successful medical examination in Madrid on Monday before putting pen to paper on deal until 2025, and will pocket £250,000 as weekly wages.
Osei, popularly known as Palmer, took to Twitter to celebrate Partey’s move to the Emirate Stadium by posting: ‘Congratulations @Thomaspartey22 !! Great addition to the Arsenal set up. I wish you well.’
Ghana international Thomas Partey has been given the No. 18 jersey at English club Arsenal.
Partey joined the Gunners after his £45 million release clause was triggered by the Gunners on transfer deadline day.
Partey had been with Atletico since 2012, making 188 appearances, in which time he won both the Europa League and Super Cup in 2018, and was a Champions League runner-up in 2016.
Last season, Thomas made 46 appearances for Atletico, playing a key role in their third-placed finish in La Liga and reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
He will join up with coach Mikel Arteta and his new team-mates next week after he returns from international duty with Ghana.
Ghana superstar Thomas Teye Partey has become the 7th most expensive African footballer after completing his move to Arsenal FC.
Arsenal were able to sign Partey after triggering the €50 million release clause in the midfielder’s contract with Atletico Madrid.
The 27-year-old midfielder made 188 appearances for Atletico having been with them since 2012.
Partey won both the Europa League and Super Cup in 2018, and was a Champions League runner-up in 2016.
The Ghana international made 46 appearances for Atletico in all competitions last term and was a key member of the team when they finished 3rd in La Liga and also reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
He has also enjoyed successful loan spells in Spain with Real Mallorca (2013/14) and UD Almeria (2014/15).
(Partey has made 29 international appearances for Ghana scoring 10 goals since making his debut on 5 June 2016.
He was Ghana Player of the year in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
Partey was named in the 2018 CAF Team of the year at the CAF Awards.
Here is a list of Most expensive African footballers
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