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Arsene Wenger tips “special” Arsenal to challenge for Premier League title next season

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Arsene wenger tipped Arsenal to challenge for the Premier League title next season without him despite seeing their dire away form continue after Konstantinos Mavropanos saw red.

Wenger took charge of his penultimate match at the King Power Stadium as his 22-year reign comes to an end.

His side’s night started badly they fell behind to Kelechi Iheanacho’s early 14th minute opener.

And it swiftly got worse as his team’s hopes were hit by the sending off youngster Mavropanos just 60 seconds later.

But Wenger was heartened by the 10-man Gunners’ fighting back to level after the break through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Yet the home team ran out easy winners as Jamie Vardy struck from the spot 15 minutes from time.

Riyad Mahrez then made 3-1 in the 90th minute after a composed finish.

Arsenal’s French manager Arsene Wenger gestures on the touch line (Image: AFP)

It means the Gunners are still yet to win away in the Premier League this year which doesn’t bode well for Wenger’s final game at Huddersfield on Sunday.

But Wenger insisted: “If you look at our season we have championship-winning home form and away from home we have the consequences of many things.

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“A lack of confidence causes a few bad results and after that we neglected some games because we were in the Europa League.

“But the quality is there and the spirit is exceptional.

“I think if the team get one or two good away results next year they will play for the Premier League next season, I am convinced.

“There is something in special in that team that will come out next season and I am convinced Arsenal will be one of the contenders next year.”

The Foxes opened the scoring after Christian Fuchs clipped a pass to the back post, Fousseni Diabate touched it back and Iheanacho rifled in.

It was Iheanacho’s seventh goal, just his second in the top-flight, for the club since his big-money £25million move from Man City last summer.

Wenger predicts good times ahead for the Gunners (Image: Plumb Images)

The Nigerian international was then involved in Mavropanos’ dismissal when he charged down the defender’s clearance and sprang clear.

Rookie Greek stopper Mavropanos,20, pulled Iheanacho back and was swiftly shown a straight red by referee Graham Scott.

Arsenal keeper Petr Cech had a busy first half making saves from Harry Maguire, Adrien Silva and Iheanacho.

After the break the game started to open up as Shkodran Mustafi had to clear off the line from Diabate.

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But Aubameyang smashed in his ninth goal at the second attempt in the 53rd minute with his left-foot after being denied by Eldin Jakupovic following great work by Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

Yet the Foxes prevailed after Henrikh Mkhitaryan was penalised for connecting with sub Demarai Gray in the box.

Contact was minimal but Vardy thumped in the spot-kick emphatically for his 18th Premier League goal this term.

Mahrez then grabbed his 12th of the season in the last minute to give Claude Puel his first win in five matches and leave Wenger bemoaning Scott’s display.

Leicester were too good for the Gunners (Image: REUTERS)

The Frenchman added: “I disagreed with the red card because he wasn’t the last man.

“The penalty is very creative, imaginative from the referee.

“I have watched it again and it is a nice dive”

But Wenger admitted he was touched by the whole stadium singing: “One Arsene Wenger” late on as he got an ovation.

“I am grateful for the reaction of the crowd,” he said. “But overall I am frustrated after we lost the game as usual when we lose a game.”

 

 

 

 

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Osimhen Crowned 2023 CAF Footballer of the Year

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Victor Osimhen has been named the 2023 African Footballer of the Year, cementing his status as one of the world’s top players.

Osimhen surpassed competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah for the prestigious award.

The Super Eagles forward concluded a remarkable year in the imperial Moroccan city of Marakesh, ending Nigeria’s 24-year wait for Africa’s top individual prize, last won by legendary Kanu Nwankwo in 1999.

During the event, Osimhen expressed gratitude, acknowledging the impact of Nigerian legend Emmanuel Amuneke, who coached him at the U-17 level, and the support from fans and fellow players.

“It’s a dream come true for me. I want to thank everyone who has seen me through life’s journey, in achieving my dreams and goals. I appreciate Nigerians and Africa for their unwavering support and encouragement,” he said.

Osimhen recognised the influence of Emmanuel Adebayo, Solomon Kalu, and other African legends, expressing gratitude to his role model, Didier Drogba.

The award reflects Osimhen’s outstanding performances with Napoli, where he played a pivotal role in their Serie A title run, scoring 26 league goals and becoming the first African to win the top scorer award, breaking George Weah’s record in the Italian top-flight.”

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Lionel Messi Secures Historic 8th Ballon d’Or Triumph

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Lionel Messi, the renowned Argentine football icon, clinched the coveted 2023 Ballon d’Or, setting a new record for the 2022 World Cup champion.

In a glamorous event held in Paris, Messi, who now plays for Inter Miami, received the prestigious award on Monday night. This achievement is widely seen as a well-deserved recognition for his pivotal role in guiding the Abiscelete to World Cup victory in the previous year.

Aged 36, Messi succeeded Karim Benzema as the recipient of this award, which acknowledges his exceptional performances during the last season when he inspired Argentina to triumph at the World Cup.

His remarkable displays in Qatar, where he led his nation to a historic victory, enabled him to surpass strong competition, notably from Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. Haaland secured the second spot in the final voting, with Mbappe finishing third and Kevin De Bruyne taking fourth place.

Messi, a former Barcelona superstar, left an indelible mark at the World Cup, scoring seven crucial goals. His exceptional performance led to him being named the tournament’s best player, especially after Argentina’s victory over France in the final.

While Messi’s World Cup heroics were undeniable, his final season with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) was relatively lackluster. Subsequently, he made a move to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

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His former PSG teammate, Mbappe, made a strong case for the Ballon d’Or with his outstanding World Cup performance, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals, including a memorable hat-trick in the final for France.

Norwegian striker Erling Haaland had a remarkable season, scoring an incredible 52 goals in 53 games for Manchester City. This stellar performance played a pivotal role in helping Pep Guardiola’s team secure a historic treble in the English Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.

Both Haaland and De Bruyne were nominated for the Ballon d’Or from their exceptional contributions to the success of Manchester City.

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“B Sample Reveals Presence of Testosterone in Pogba’s Test Results”

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Juventus and France midfielder Paul Pogba’s ‘B’ sample has confirmed the presence of testosterone, a source close to the case told AFP on Friday.

The 30-year-old former Manchester United player, a World Cup winner in 2018, faces a ban of up to four years.

The original test by the Italian anti-doping agency (Nado) showed the presence of testosterone metabolites.

On Friday, Pogba learned that the analysis of his B sample, carried out on the previous day, had produced the same result.

The player’s entourage declined to comment.

Under the World Anti-Doping Code, Pogba is liable to a four-year suspension, which could be halved if he proves that he was not at fault.

The ban could even be limited to a few months if the use of the substance took place “out of competition and is not related to his level of performance”.

Pogba’s representatives said last month that the testosterone came from a food supplement prescribed by a doctor he consulted in the United States.

Testosterone promotes muscle development.

Contacted by AFP, Nado was unable to confirm this information “due to a decision by the Italian privacy authority”.

Pogba has seven days to submit his defence to Italy’s National Anti-Doping Tribunal, which will investigate his case and request a sanction, a process that could take several weeks.

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In addition to the proceedings of the Italian sports justice system, a judicial investigation will be opened by the Turin public prosecutor’s office, as doping is a criminal offence in Italy.

Since the announcement of his positive test, Pogba has been unable to train with Juventus, the club to which he returned in July 2022 after six seasons with United.

The announcement came shortly before Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri’s press conference on the eve of the Turin derby against Torino, at which he simply said he was “sorry for Paul”.

Contacted by AFP, the club, which has also suspended payment of his estimated annual salary of 8 million euros (8.4 million dollars), did not respond.

Pogba started the season attempting to bounce back from string of injuries last season and from summer surgery.

His sample was reportedly taken at his club’s opening match of the Serie A season, a win at Udinese on August 20, during which he was an unused substitute.

After the first sample tested positive on September 11,  Pogba’s agent Rafaela Pimenta said she was “awaiting the second sample and cannot have an opinion before the results”.

“What is certain is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break a rule,” she added.

 

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