Arsenal have been hit by the news that Samir Nasri has been ruled out for a month after a knee injury that has seen him undergo minor surgery. The Frenchman also missed the start of last season after breaking his leg in pre-season.”Samir’s injury is a blow for us and a blow for France as well,” Wenger said on Arsenal’s website on Thursday. Added to this Frimpong, an 18 year old Ghanian, has been ruled out for nine months following an injury sustained whilst training. The promising youngster had impressed in the summer break and was expected to challenge fello African Alex Song for a starting place in central midfield.
The Gunners face Blackpool this weekend in their first match at The Emirates this season. Unlike last weekend, Fabregas is expected to take to the pitch after an extended break due to his World Cup triumph with Spain. Van Persie is also likely to start this time and Denilson and Song could also be part of the squad.
Pic : This is London
Liverpool, Juventus and Manchester City are the three top-rank teams of the Europa League that are hoping to avoid an early blow to their European ambitions on Thursday.
A welter of high-profile clubs from across the continent will compete in the first-leg matches of the tournament’s play-off round, all gunning for one of 37 slots in the group phase alongside defending champions Atletico Madrid.
Roy Hodgson was on the losing side in last year’s final after leading Fulham to a surprise appearance in the decider, but the experienced English coach has since jumped ship to Liverpool.
His new employers continue their assault on this season’s competition against Trabzonspor, and Hodgson said he will select holding midfielder Javier Mascherano to face the Turkish side despite his desire to leave the club.
“Of course I would play him on Thursday,” said Hodgson, whose side drew 1-1 at home to Arsenal in their Premier League opener on Sunday.
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Martin O’Neill resigned from his post as Aston Villa’s manager five days before the start of the Premier League season.
The 58-year-old Northern Irishman announced his decision in a joint statement with chief executive Paul Faulkner on the club website (www.avfc.co.uk).
“I have enjoyed my time at Aston Villa immensely. It’s obviously a wrench to be leaving such a magnificent club,” O’Neill said.
“I pay tribute to the Villa players, my coaching staff and the Villa supporters for all the support and encouragement they have given both the club and me personally during my time as manager.”
Reserve team manager Kevin MacDonald will take caretaker charge for the club’s opening game of the season at home to West Ham United on Saturday.
Former Villa striker Gary Shaw criticised O’Neill’s decision to quit.
“I don’t know what has happened but the timing is not great. It’s a bit naughty of Martin to leave the club in this situation, just a few days before the start of the season,” Shaw told Reuters.
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Spain and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres’ surname and no. 9 jersey was the most popular to feature on replica Premiership shirts printed worldwide last season.
It is the second successive season the Spaniard has been top, while Anfield team-mate Steven Gerrard was second in the top 10 list compiled by SportingiD.
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney moved up one place to third.
Figures are based on the number of official club shirts sold domestically and internationally.
Arsenal duo Cesc Fabregas and Andrey Arshavin were fourth and fifth, followed by Chelsea pair Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.
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Fernando Torres is glad to be back at Liverpool after his World Cup-winning summer with Spain, dismissing suggestions that he was seeking a transfer in a bid to find Champions League football. “I am really happy to be back, really happy to stay with all my team mates. My commitment and loyalty to the club [...]
Mark Hughes is set to be unveiled as the new manager of Fulham later today. The ex-Manchester United star was fired as the manager of Manchester City last December after failing to impress the club’s Middle Eastern owners. Fulham have been without a manager for almost a month, hardly a position a Europa league finalist [...]
Diego Maradona, ousted Argentinian manager has accused Argentina football chief Julio Grondona of lying and team manager Carlos Bilardo of treason in a bitter tirade. According to Maradona the two bosses conspired to cause his downfall. “Grondona lied to me. Bilardo betrayed me,” said an emotional Maradona, whose colourful and controversial reign as Argentina coach [...]
It’s been 16 years since Real Madrid gave a 17-year old Raul a chance and he will always be loyal to the club for this, he says after saying his farewells to the Santiago Bernabeu. The Real captain was a key part of one of the club’s most successful sides ever, winning three Champions League [...]
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba underwent surgery to his groin which will sideline him for 3 weeks. He will most probably miss the Community Shield clash with Manchester United and their Premier League opener. The Ivory Coast international, who was troubled by the groin problem during Chelsea’s Premier League and FA Cup double-winning campaign last season, [...]
European and Itallian champions Inter Milan and Rafael Benitez are after the signature of Bafana star and current Everton player Steven Pienaar. Pienaar, who left the country two days ago after an extended holiday following the World Cup has been under the radar of new Inter coach Rafael Benitez, who is believed to instructed Inter [...]
