AS Roma soccer legend Francesco Totti has joined to celebrate long time Italy national team goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. The club executive, who celebrated his own 40th birthday in 2016 before going on to retire, thereby spending his whole life at Roma, joked that he would give Buffon a time machine as a birthday gift.

Totti admits that they have both aged. They have been close since they feature in the Italy Under-15 squad before becoming Serie A legends. (more…)

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright believes that Mesut Ozil will be a better player at Manchester United than at Arsenal.  Ozil Is out of contract in the summer, and he has yet to sign a new contract with the Gunners. This has given rise to many speculations with several clubs in England and Europe interested in the German international.

It is reported that Jose Mourinho is interested in bringing the player to Manchester United. Mesut Ozil played for Jose Mourinho during his time at Real Madrid and would be interested to be reunited to his former manager.
(more…)

German Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund want £60 million for 28-year old Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, according to reports. Arsenal are keen on signing the player to boost their goalscoring chances after releasing Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United and Theo Walcott to Everton FC.

The embattled Gabon international is also very open to leaving Germany for England. Arsenal submitted a bid of £50 million but Dortmund rejected it. Having not made headway with the striker, they are willing to listen to offers but only from £60 million. (more…)

Antonio Conte has given a word of advice for midfielder Cesc Fabregas to have a regular place in the Chelsea first-team. The Spaniard was surprisingly preferred over Nemanja Matic, who ended up leaving the club for Manchester United in a £ 40 million deal. However, Chelsea have quickly strengthened the competition in the middle of the park by bringing in Danny Drinkwater from Leicester City for £ 35 million. As a result, Fabregas is expected to have a tough competition in the midfield with the likes of N’Golo Kante and Tiemoue Bakayoko fighting for a place alongside the newly recruited Drinkwater.

Fabregas has been quite impressive in the first few weeks of the season. He was sent off in the first weekend and did not take part in the match against Tottenham. However, he came up with the opening goal in the win over Everton during the weekend. Even though his passing accuracy was not his usual self, it was still an impressive performance. Yet, manager contract claims that the Spaniard should start working more off the ball. He has pointed out to the workrate provided by N’Golo Kante as the ideal performance he is expecting from his midfielder.
(more…)

Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger continues to insist that the club would not release star player Alexis Sanchez this summer.

The player has less than a year left on his current deal and the contract renewal standoff has been frustrating for the north London side.

Wenger says the 28-year old Chile international would run down his deal than join rivals like Manchester City or Chelsea. The player is expected to remain with the club all through the season and move on for free next year. He would likely sign pre-contract with Etihad from January, ahead of the move. He missed pre-season as he had to sort out his future plans and then reported abdomen issues has sidelined him from the team but he is set to make a return soon.

Arsenal posted a picture of another disgruntled player MesutOzil on their social media platform, prompting talks that the German might finally sign a contract extension. Ozil is set to receive up to £280,000 per week in the new deal, making him one of the highest paid players in the league. (more…)

Arsenal trio of MesutOzil, Alexandre Lacazette and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were pictured having fun at their ongoing pre-season training in Shanghai.

The players were Kung-Fu fighting as a song played in the background.

The team was at a fan party where they were to unwind before the next season resumes. The trio put up a dance classic with fans and teammates cheering them on. They had gathered at the Manderin Oriental Hotel as part of the pre-season tour in China – one half of the pre-season plans aside Australia.

Arsenal are set to face German champs Bayern Munich on Wednesday while they battle local rivals Chelsea on Saturday.

The team has been bonding as calm filters in. MesutOzil is likely to agree a deal with the north London side while ending the long drawn speculations that have trailed his next move. After the pre-season tour, the World Cup winner is expected to put pen to paper. (more…)

Arsene Wenger has recently opted to make a formation switch which is something extremely rare for the French manager as he has traditionally only used the same 4-2-3-1 formation for the past 20 years.

It wasn’t until a few weeks ago that after a string of mediocre results and performances that Wenger decided to reinvent himself and his team by using a different team structure by implementing a 3-4-2-1 and a 3-4-3 both of which are similar formations but just slightly distinctive.

This change of formation has forced Mesut Ozil on having to perform in a spot which is not his natural or more preferential one as the German has had to slip into the right wing position instead of his traditional attacking midfielder center role.

The 28 year old German player has stated that he still has not gotten accustomed to his new position at the Emirates Stadium and it´s not his favored central position but that the former Real Madrid player is willing to do this sacrifice in favor of the success of the Premier League club. (more…)

Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil says that his future is not important and that finishing in the top four is the biggest priority at the moment.

The midfielder is out of contract in less than 18 months, and he has been linked with a move to Manchester United or away from the Premier League. Ozil remains one of the biggest signings made by Arsenal in the club’s history after having moved from Real Madrid for a whopping £42 million in 2013. He has divided opinion amongst Arsenal fans in the last four years. However, there is a widespread consensus that the club may need to keep him in order to attract more top class players.

Ozil has so far been silent on his contract issue while it has been reported that the player would extend his current contract at Arsenal only if Arsene Wenger decides to stay at the club. (more…)

Arsene Wenger did not know what starting XI he was going to field when he turned up at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday as there was uncertainty in his mind about the body-condition of his players.

Arsenal had had a top-flight game on the New Year day as well and then after merely 50 hours or so, they found themselves going into a game again and to make the scenario worse, it was an away game.

It put Wenger in a state of indecision. He had no idea how big a risk it would be to insert those players who already had 90 minutes on Sunday, how many of them could get through it for the second time in two days.

It’s only after he saw the team go through the pre-match drills that he made the mind whom he could go with again.

Wenger left the likes of Chamberlain and Paulista in the wings as he feared he would be forcing them to injuries by putting them out there for any bit of time. A couple of other guys were unfit anyway. (more…)

Everton manager Ronaldo Koeman would have to make the best use of the January transfer window as he hopes to reinforce the squad.

It is one important period for the manager if he hopes to end his debut season on a high.
There are some top class acts that are available in the Premier League, and Everton’s 7th position should be able to convince players to join them. Koeman, already liked for his managerial capacity and exploits, and the kind of management at Everton can help the team lure some out-of-favour decent players from top sides.

Manchester United would definitely be a decent place to raid for Koeman. Players like Luke Shaw, Morgan Schneiderlin, and Memphis Depay would be able to get a top side that would provide them with regular playing time and a bid to show they still got it. Bastian Schweinsteiger is another option but the German legend might not consider remaining in the Premier League if he agrees to leave Old Trafford.

Shaw would be a decent back-up plan for Leighton Baines, and Gareth Barry could have relief if Koeman can convince Cesc Fabregas to make the switch. Idrissa Gueye would leave to play in the African Nations Cup in January – a critical time for Everton. At least funds might not be too much of an issue, and United should be willing to release the players, even if it is a loan deal. Kevin Mirallas and Aaron Lennon would definitely be on their toes if Depay decides to save his name after agreeing a move to Goodison Park.

Koeman with his wealth of experience in football – having played for all top three giants Feyenoord, PSV and Ajax, and managed the three, aside Premier League experience with Southampton – and should know when to tap into a great opportunity. This is one.