Arsene Wenger admits he must sell before he can buy at Arsenal.
The Gunners have only added two players this summer – Sead Kolasinac and Alexandre Lacazette – and their shortcomings, particularly defensively, were exposed as Arsenal lost 1-0 at Stoke on Saturday evening.
Wenger has not ruled out more signings before the transfer window closes at the end of the month, but his immediate priority is to move out unwanted players rather than add new ones
I expect to sell players first,” he said. “We have too many players. It is not manageable. Many clubs are in this situation – that is why the transfer market is quiet. We have 33 players at the moment. We have too many players.”
Regarding arrivals, Wenger said he could not get into “transfer mode” in the immediate aftermath of the loss at the bet365 Stadium.
Arsenal outplayed Stoke for long spells and were aggrieved not to gain at least a point after a strong penalty appeal was rejected and a goal disallowed. They spurned a host of other chances.
Hector Bellerin felt he should have been awarded the spot-kick after being brought down by Mame Biram Diouf in the first half. Jese Rodriguez compounded their frustration by scoring a superb debut goal for the Potters early in the second period.
Arsenal finished strongly with Alexandre Lacazette rifling home a fierce shot but he was ruled marginally offside.
Wenger conceded his side, who despite their dominance were vulnerable to counter-attacks, were caught out, but dismissed the general criticism of the defence that has grown since last week’s frantic 4-3 win over Leicester.
“Last week we conceded two goals on corners and they only had three shots on goal, so I don’t believe we defended so badly,” he said. “On set-pieces, yes. But here I say we could look at ourselves and, on the goal we conceded, we were 100 per cent guilty.
Kylian Mbappe has moved a step closer to the Monaco exit door after reports in France the striker was involved in a furious training ground bust-up with team-mate Andrea Raggi.
The phrase: “Founded 1945” adorns the circular emblem of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Barcelona technical secretary Robert Fernandez has played down recent speculation linking Lionel Messi with a sensational move to Manchester City, assuring that the Argentine international will soon put pen to paper on his new deal.
On 5 July, the La Liga giants announced an agreement for five-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi to continue at the Nou Camp until 2021.
“FC Barcelona and Leo Messi have agreed on a contract renewal that will keep the Argentinian at the club until June 30th, 2021,” a statement from the club confirmed. “The deal will be signed in the coming weeks, when Messi returns to the team for pre-season training.”
However, Messi is yet to sign the new contract following a frantic summer in which Barcelona have lost Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain in a €222m (£202m, $260m) world-record transfer.
Messi would be available to make a free-agent move at the end of next season and reports from France over the weekend claimed that Manchester City were considering meeting his €300m release clause as soon as this summer.
Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta added more fuel to the speculation on Twitter, saying that Messi could eventually leave if current chief Josep Maria Bartomeu continues at Barcelona.
“If we want Messi to continue to be happy here at Barcelona then we need to get rid of Bartomeu immediately,” Laporta wrote on Twitter following those links with City.
But Barcelona’s technical secretary has allayed the fears of supporters, suggesting that Messi’s new deal is only a formality.
“The agreement with Messi is total,” Fernandez told beIN Sports. “We are just looking for the right time for the signature.”
It has been said that Messi wants Barcelona to fill the gap left by Neymar with some high-profile players before committing his future to the club.
Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho and Borussia Dortmund winger Ousmane Dembele have been identified as the two main targets, but the Catalans are yet to sign either of them with just 10 days of the transfer window remaining.
Fernandez said that the club are still trying to bring in some world-class players but conceded that it will not be easy due to the demands of their clubs.
“We are trying to bring in high-quality players but they do not have a (release) clause and that naturally leads to long negotiations with their clubs,” he added following Barcelona’s opening La Liga victory over Real Betis.
“Playing at Barcelona is not easy…it is a different dynamic and players will need to know they are playing games. It was important we started well (against Real Betis) following two defeats (to Real Madrid).”
Nigerian prospect Chuba Akpom is set for a permanent move from Arsenal with either of Leeds United or Celtic as the choice destination.
Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos believes English referees are more lenient than their Spanish counterparts and has asked La Liga match officials to take a leaf out of the Premier League book after being sent off in Sunday’s 3-0 win at Deportivo La Coruna.
Rafael Nadal described as “unbelievable” his climb back to the world number one spot for the first time in three years and confirmed in the latest ATP rankings released on Monday.
Nadal, who learned he was going to reclaim the ATP summit a week ago, last topped the men’s charts in July 2014.
The 31-year-old Spaniard, who won his 15th Grand Slam title this year at Roland Garros, deposes Britain’s Andy Murray, who withdrew from the tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati with a hip injury.
Nadal, who has spent 141 weeks in the top spot, has struggled with knee injuries since first becoming No. 1 in August 2008 after a Cincinnati semi-final run. He has admitted doubting he could ever regain the number one spot after so many years.
“Being No 1 after all the things that I have been going through the last couple of years is something unbelievable,” the Spanish great told the ATP.
Nadal, knocked out in the Cincinnati quarter-finals last week by Australian Nick Kyrgios, had slipped to as low as 13th in the ATP rankings midway through 2015.
And his path back to the top one week before the closing Grand slam of the season at the US Open was hailed by Chris Kermode, ATP Executive Chairman and President.
“To regain the No 1 ranking nine years after having first reached it is unprecedented,” he said.
“Rafa has been setting records throughout his remarkable career and this one is as impressive as any. It shows incredible dedication and longevity, and we congratulate him on this amazing achievement.”
Kyrgios’s progress to Sunday’s Cincinnati final earned him a five-rung rise to 18th with the man who beat him, Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, breaking into the top 10 in 9th.
Latest ATP Tour rankings:
- Rafael Nadal (ESP) 7.645
- Andy Murray (GBR) 7.150
- Roger Federer (SUI) 7.145
- Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 5.690
- Novak Djokovic (SRB) 5.325
- Alexander Zverev (GER) 4.470
- Marin Cilic (CRO) 4.155
- Dominic Thiem (AUT) 4.030
- Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 3.710
- Kei Nishikori (JPN) 3.195
- Milos Raonic (CAN) 2.870
- Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 2.690
- David Goffin (BEL) 2.525
- John Isner (USA) 2.425
- Roberto Bautista (ESP) 2.425
- Pablo Carreno (ESP) 2.385
- Jack Sock (USA) 2.345
- Nick Kyrgios (AUS) 2.325
- Tomas Berdych (CZE) 2.310
- Lucas Pouille (FRA) 2.210
Mayweather vs McGregor is almost here. After several weeks and months of negotiating, trash talking, posturing, training and more, we’re only a few days away from the main event itself.
On Saturday the once-retired all-time great boxer Mayweather will take on UFC’s biggest star McGregor in Las Vegas with thousands watching at the T-Mobile arena and millions more watching around the world.
After all the speculation about whether we would have the fight, the last few months have seen much name-calling and animosity on both sides, as the rivalry intensifies ahead of the big day.
Depending on your point of view, it will either be boxing match of the millennium or a cross-code money-spinning abomination. Whichever camp you’re in, here’s everything you need to know about the fight between a boxer with a 49-0 record facing a man who has never taken part in a professional boxing fight.
What date is the fight and at what time?
The fight is happening on Saturday 26 August. While the times haven’t been announced, it will certainly be a late night or very early start for viewers in the UK, so expect to be up well into Sunday 27 August, and possibly calling in sick on Monday 28. It’s likely to be after 4am BST, but may start closer to 5am.
Where is the fight taking place?
The bout will be housed in the T-Mobile arena on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada. The venue has held major fights in the past, including UFC 202, in which McGregor beat Nate Diaz on points.
Carlo Tavecchio is “happy” with VAR in Serie A and has called for a reduction to 18 teams, as well as the return of relegation playoffs.
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