Category Sports
Sportz – Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta expects a tough test against Everton this weekend
Mikel Arteta: Wary of former club Everton
Sky Bet
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta admits his old club Everton will test their title credentials this weekend.
Arteta, 31, left Goodison Park on transfer deadline day in August 2011 following six seasons on Merseyside, where he had become a key player.
The Spaniard is glad to see the Toffees have not come unstuck since Roberto Martinez took over from David Moyes, whom he beat with an impressive 1-0 away win at Manchester United on Wednesday night.
Everton are in fifth, behind Liverpool on goal difference, and trail leaders Arsenal by seven points after the Gunners’ midweek win over Hull.
And Arteta knows his old side will provide a stern test of just how far Arsene Wenger’s men can go in 2014.
“Everton are having a great season and they have got great results against top teams, which is not easy.”
Mikel Arteta on Everton
“Everton are having a great season and they have got great results against top teams, which is not easy,” noted Arteta.
“It was a big result (at Manchester United), it was massively important for them and will boost their confidence, so we are going to face a really difficult team for sure.”
Arteta added: “I know the fundamentals of the club and I was happy with the way they dealt with the transfer window.
“I think they did really well and improved the team compared to where they were before. They deserve to be (up) there.”
Arteta believes the competition for places in Arsene Wenger’s side has helped Arsenal get off to such a good start in the Premier League.
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Live Super Sunday
Arsenal vs Everton
December 8, 2013, 3:30pm
“We have struggled in the last years a little bit to do that because of the numbers and injuries and now we have almost everyone fit, apart from Lukas Podolski and Alex (Oxlade-Chamberlain), that is a very good sign,” added Arteta.
“I think it (competition for places) is great. Everybody has to be on their toes and everybody is important.
“We are going to need everybody if we are going to achieve something. I think it’s a good thing.”
Arteta believes the lack of experience of winning trophies in the current Arsenal squad will not damage their chances of finally ending their trophy drought which stretches back to 2005.
“Does it matter we don’t have the experience of winning the title before? No – as long as you have the quality, the ambition and togetherness that we have, I think we are in a good position to do it,” concluded Arteta
Sportz – Yaya Toure hoping to help Manchester City make history
Yaya Toure: Remains fully committed to the Manchester City cause
Yaya Toure is happy at Manchester City and says it is his intention to help the Premier League club ‘make history’ in Europe.
The Ivory Coast midfielder has already etched his name into City folklore, having netted the winning goal as the club’s long wait for a major trophy ended in the 2011 FA Cup final.
He then played a leading role in the 2011/12 campaign as the Blues landed their first league title in 44 years.
Player Profile
42. Yaya Toure
- Appearances 21 (2)
- Goals 9
- Assists 3
- Yellows 6
- Reds 0
- Current Season
The target now is to take the UEFA Champions League crown, and Toure says his move from Barcelona in 2010 was driven by the desire to help an ambitious outfit become the best they can be.
Toure told the Sunday Mirror: “Winning the Champions League was why I came to City. God willing, it will happen because that is what this club was working towards when they signed players like Kun Aguero and David Silva.
“With important players like that, I am sure that, in the next few years, we will win all the important trophies.
“I have come to City to make history, to achieve big things. I don’t like losing and that’s why what happened last season really hurt me. When you are so close to an important achievement and you lose out because of mistakes, it is difficult to take.
“It took me a long time for that disappointment to stop moving around my head. We are all working hard to achieve great things for City and, while it is a big achievement for us to qualify from the group stages of the Champions League for the first time, that can’t be enough.
“For us, the target is to go a long way. We want to test ourselves against the best teams in the biggest games and we have a manager now with a fantastic record in Europe, with coaching skills that are unbelievable.”
Respect
Toure has also sought to rubbish any suggestion that he is unsettled in England, with former City striker Rodney Marsh claiming recently that the 30-year-old has looked disinterested at times.
He added: “When you get the respect of the fans, it’s very hard not to be happy.
“I have the respect of the manager, I’m vice-captain of the club.The fans sing my name around the world. When I meet fans, they ask, ‘How are you? All good with your family?’
“How am I going to want to leave all that?
“The club have shown confidence in me, renewing my contract, giving me more confidence, showing they want me to stay a long time. I want to spend the rest of my career here and do a lot more for this club. I have played at a lot of big clubs, but what City and the fans have given to me is massive.
“I have to give back. I will never find another club like this and that’s why I see my job here as being more important than just what happens on the pitch. I try to be a good example to the young lads in the junior teams. I speak to them and give them advice.
“We have won a Premier League and the FA Cup, but I want to help change the image of the club permanently, so that people know it as a big club.
“The Champions League would be a massive step towards that – the club and players are working on that. We want to make incredible history.
Yaya Toure hoping to help Manchester City make history
Sportz – Former South African leader Nelson Mandela has died at the age of 95
We pay tribute to Nelson Mandela, who sadly passed away aged 95.
Former South African leader Nelson Mandela has died at the age of 95.
The anti-apartheid icon had been receiving medical care for a lung infection at his home.
Mandela spent his final months surrounded by family after being released from hospital following a three-month stay and passed away peacefully.
In a televised address, South African president Jacob Zuma said: “Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father.
“What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves.”
South Africa president Jacob Zuma
“What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves.”
One of the world’s most revered statesmen, Mandela led the struggle to end apartheid and establish a multi-racial democracy in South Africa, spending 27 years in jail before being released in 1990.
He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and was elected his country’s first black president in 1994.
A year later he provided one of the defining sporting images of the 20th century at the 1995 Rugby World Cup – the first major sporting event to take place in South Africa following the end of apartheid.
The hosts beat New Zealand 15-12 in the final, but the result itself would become a footnote.
Inspiration
Before the match, Mandela urged black South Africans to get behind the team and stunned the crowd and television audience by walking onto the field in a Springbok jersey – the old symbol of oppression – inspiring chants of ‘Nelson! Nelson!’ around the stadium.
He was on the field again after the game, presenting the William Webb Ellis trophy to South Africa skipper Francois Pienaar in a symbolic moment of racial unity that had been unthinkable just a few weeks before.
Mandela, who repeatedly said sport had the power “to change the world … to inspire … to unite people”, had ensured just that.
He didn’t stop there; Mandela was personally involved in the campaign to bring the 2010 World Cup to South Africa.
The tragic death in a car crash of his 13-year-old great-granddaughter, Zenani, prevented him from being present at the opening ceremony in 2010, but the tournament was a huge success, with large crowds and none of the predicted organisational problems.
By now Mandela’s health was deteriorating, but he was at the closing ceremony to wave to the crowd and celebrate the biggest sporting event Africa had ever seen.
He was treated in hospital several times in his last three years, having had long-standing respiratory infections after contracting tuberculosis while in jail on Robben Island in the 1980’s.
Sportz – VIDEO Arsenal, Man Utd, Spurs and Liverpool beware! Chelsea starlet nets Madrid wondergoal
Blues U16s sqaud member Mukhtar Ali smashed in an impressive 40-yard goal [YouTube]
Blues U16s squad member Mukhtar Ali smashed in an impressive 40-yard goal in the final of the recent International Youth Tournament against Real Madrid.
Ali capitalised on the keeper being off his line, taking it on himself to plant a glorious long range drive which flies into the back of the net.
Held at Warwick University last weekend, Ali opened the scoring in amazing fashion which also featured talented youngsters from the likes of Ajax, Manchester City, Marseille, Arsenal, Real Betis and Wolves.
Chelsea went on to win seal the win and the trophy with a 2-0 victory
Sportz – FIFA U-17: Honduras 2 – 1 Sweden
Sweden fought back from a goal down to beat Honduras 2-1 in the final day of action at the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium. The Scandinavians, playing in their first FIFA U-17 World Cup, are now through to the semi-finals where they will face either 2011 runners-up Uruguay or mighty Nigeria for a second time at these finals.
The last game from the peaceful desert oasis of Al Ain began slowly. The Swedes, who’ve played three of their four games in Al Ain, had most of the possession. The Hondurans sat back deep waiting for the right moments to burst into the counter-attack and make best use of their superior speed.
Sweden got the first chance after 17 minutes. A long cross from the left was missed by centre-back Anoal Hernandez, and Valmir Berisha just missed making it 1-0 as he failed to make contact while sliding at full-stretch for the ball. Ten minutes later and again it was the Scandinavians going close when Captain Linus Wahlqvist rose highest in the penalty area only to smack his powerful header against the bar.
Those misses came back to haunt the Swedes too. Predictably Honduras’ opener came on the break. A long, hopeful ball from deep in midfield picked out Brayan Velasquez racing into space. He muscled his way past Erdal Rakip and Johan Ramhorn couldn’t quite cover the danger, as his sliding challenge was too late. Velasquez clipped the ball into the top corner from a tight angle while off balance. It was the Central Americans’ first shot on goal.
The Hondurans came out in the second half trying to slow the game down and protect their slim lead. But after 68 minutes, Swedish patience and determination paid off. Pressing at the edge of the Honduran box, Gentrit Citaku flicked a delicate through ball into the penalty area for Erdal Rakip, who made no mistake with a cool slotted finish past Hernandez to draw the scores level.
Sweden coach Roland Larsson decided to go straight for the jugular, making an attacking double substitution minutes after his side drew level. In came Anton Saletros and Carlos Strandberg just before the goal fell to inject a little extra pace. And they had an immediate, and profound, impact on the proceedings.
Strandberg broke up the right and put a cross-field ball over to the left for Saletros, wbo pulled it back across the face of goal. The service was a little behind Berishia, but the combative forward who models his game after Zlatan Ibrahimovic, let it run through his legs and flicked home into the side netting with his heel.
Honduras pressed and pressed in the dying minutes of the game, but they couldn’t find the goal that would have kept their Cinderella run here in UAE going. Instead, it’s the debutant Swedes who are heading for dreamland and a date with either Uruguay or Nigeria in the semi-finals
Sportz – Fulham VS Manchester United
Fulham 0
Man Utd 3Antonio Valencia 9′ van Persie 20′ Rooney 22′
- 22 mins
Barclays Premier League
- Venue: Craven Cottage
- Date: Saturday 2 November
Continue reading the main story
Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (0)
Fulham
- 01 Stekelenburg
- 27 Riether
- 15 Richardson
- 28 Parker
- 04 Senderos
- 35 Amorebieta
- 24 Dejagah
- 07 Sidwell
- 09 Berbatov
- 10 Ruiz
- 08 Kasami
Substitutes
- 11 Kacaniklic
- 13 Stockdale
- 14 Karagounis
- 18 Hughes
- 19 Taarabt
- 23 Boateng
- 39 Bent
Manchester United
- 01 De Gea
- 02 Rafael
- 03 Evra
- 23 Cleverley
- 06 Evans
- 15 Vidic
- 25 Antonio Valencia
- 04 Jones
- 20 van Persie
- 10 Rooney
- 44 Januzaj
Substitutes
- 12 Smalling
- 13 Lindegaard
- 14 Hernández
- 17 Nani
- 18 Young
- 26 Kagawa
- 31 Fellaini
Ref: Lee Probert
Match Stats
Possession62%38%22minsFulhamManchester United
Shots
2 4
On target
1 3
Corners
2 0
Fouls
0 2
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Sportz – Premier League: Newcastle United 2 Chelsea 0
Yoan Gouffran and Loic Remy gave Newcastle United a 2-0 win over Chelsea as Jose Mourinho’s poor St. James’ Park record continued.
The Chelsea manager entered the match with just two points from his previous three visits to Newcastle, and watched on as his side wasted a chance to move to the top of the Premier League table on Saturday.
Chelsea controlled a first half devoid of clear-cut chances – their best effort saw John Terry hit the crossbar with a header – but were left reeling when Gouffran headed in an inviting Yohan Cabaye free-kick in the 68th minute.
Substitutes Willian and Samuel Eto’o went close for Chelsea in the latter stages, but Remy hammered home Vurnon Anita’s cut-back with two minutes left to seal Newcastle’s win.
The loss was Chelsea’s second of the league campaign, meaning Arsenal could go five points clear if they beat Liverpool on Saturday.
Mourinho made two changes from the side that beat Manchester City in their last Premier League fixture, with Juan Mata and David Luiz replacing Andre Schurrle and Gary Cahill respectively.
Newcastle also made two alterations, with defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa returning from suspension and Shola Ameobi selected, as Hatem Ben Arfa and Paul Dummett (hamstring) made way.
In a scrappy first half, Chelsea came close to an opener when Terry’s thumping header hit the bar in the 13th minute.
Chelsea begun strongly but failed to create a clear openings until the captain’s chance, which came when he rose above Mike Williamson to nod Mata’s corner against the woodwork, while Branislav Ivanovic’s follow-up deflected onto the top of the bar.
Another Terry header almost led to a goal, with his effort cleared off the line by Davide Santon, and at the other end, Moussa Sissoko – scorer of two goals in Newcastle’s 3-2 win over Chelsea in February – forced a smart save from Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech at the near post seven minutes before the break.
Newcastle skipper Chieck Tiote limped off with an apparent thigh injury eight minutes after the break but that did not stop them from enjoying a terrific spell around the hour-mark.
Sissoko was first to go close, forcing Cech to tip wide when released by Mathieu Debuchy, before Remy shot straight at the goalkeeper from close range.
Gouffran had a good effort saved by Cech at the near post in the 66th minute and three minutes later, Newcastle’s pressure told, with the Frenchman breaking the deadlock by nodding in Cabaye’s excellent free-kick.
They quickly went in search of a second, with Terry making an excellent sliding tackle to deny Remy after he linked well with Sissoko, before Eto’o had an effort deflected wide by Yanga-Mbiwa.
A clever Oscar cut-back let Willian in with 10 minutes remaining, but his shot was well saved by Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul, and a follow-up from Eto’o hit Debuchy and went wide.
And Newcastle wrapped up their victory in the 88th minute, as Remy produced a powerful finish to convert Anita’s clever assist
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Sportz (Transfer) Galatasaray to offer Drogba new deal
Galatasaray to offer Drogba new deal
The Ivorian joined the Istanbul giant in January on an 18-month deal, but the club is confident he will opt to extend his stay in Turkey.
Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba is set to be offered a contract extension, the club’s president Unal Aysal has revealed.
The former Chelsea and Marseille forward joined the Turkish side in January on a year-and-a-half deal which is due to run out in June 2014.
Aysal is ready to offer fresh terms to Drogba who has scored four goals in 10 games for the Super Lig champion this season, and is confident the 35-year-old will opt to stay in Istanbul.
“Drogba has talked about issues related to the future,” Aysal told GSTV. “He wants to extend his career as a player. I told him that, at Galatasaray, you can play as long as quality is evident.
“We are definitely going to offer him a [new] contract. I also do not think he will reject it.”
Galatasaray currently sits second in Group B of the Champions League on four points, with a home tie against Juventus and visits to Real Madrid and Copenhagen to come.
In the Super Lig, Roberto Mancini’s men sit seventh after eight games – nine points behind league leader and arch-rival Fenerbahce
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Sportz – (Transfer) Manchester United boss Moyes open to Zaha loan
By Alex Young
1
The 20-year-old is yet to play a single minute of Premier League football since joining the Red Devils, and the manager has now admitted a temporary move is an option.
Manchester United manager David Moyes has admitted he could send Wilfried Zaha out on loan in January in search of regular first-team football.
The 20-year-old has yet to taste Premier League football after joining up with the United squad in the summer – with his sole outing for his new side coming in the Community Shield.
Zaha would prefer a move to Newcastle if the chance for a temporary move is afforded to him, and Moyes is now seemingly open to such a switch.
“I’ve said if I couldn’t get him a game I would look at it in January,” he is quoted as saying by The Sun. “I really thought when he came in he needed to be here for six months to see how we work. There is competition in the wide areas with Nani, Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, Adnan Januzaj and even Shinji Kagawa – that makes it one of the areas where we are strong.
“It’s not because Wilf has not done enough, it’s because we have got big, big competition and there are a lot of players to give some playing time to. Unfortunately we’ve not been able to do that with Wilf. If I can’t do a lot for him by January then I will look at it. We’ve not had the right opportunity to introduce him as much as we’d like but he’s very much in my plans.
JIMMY ODUMUYIWA @le_visibilitybloG 