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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang trains with his Arsenal team-mates for first time ahead of Everton match despite his illness

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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang linked up with his new Arsenal team-mates on the training ground for the first time on Friday, ahead of the Gunners’ weekend clash with Everton.

The Gabon international, who Arsenal signed for £56million on deadline day, trained by himself at London Colney on Thursday, in a bid to get match fit for Saturday’s fixture.

Aubameyang could make his debut for the north London club against the Toffees, and link up with his former Dortmund team-mate Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Ahead of the match, here are five questions that need to be answered.

Arsenal trained on Friday ahead of the Everton game (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

1. Will Aubameyang be playing on Saturday?

We’ll start with the elephant in the room; will Arsenal’s new £56million signing make his debut at the Emirates, and perhaps more importantly, will he hit the ground running?

The fact the Gabon striker hit the training ground all by himself on Thursday, before doing it all again with his team-mates on Friday, suggests he will definitely be playing for the Gunners on Saturday.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang linked up with his new Arsenal team-mates (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

But Wenger threw this into doubt in his press conference, when he announced that the player has been suffering with illness.

“Certainly Mkhitaryan will start,” said Wenger on Friday. “That’s a possibility, yes. Aubameyang, I have to assess how he is physically today and how well he feels.

The Gabonese is a doubt for Saturday with illness (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

“He had sickness, a fever. He couldn’t train a lot, he started yesterday. He was still not completely well so I have to assess and see with the medical department how well and how fit he can be.”

Whether he will start – or come off the bench – on Saturday remains a mystery, but it seems that regardless of what fate has in store for the 28-year-old, he is desperate to play.

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2. Will Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang rekindle a partnership?

Another big question that Arsenal will be hoping is the case; will Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang get on like they did all those years ago at Dortmund?

Things have changed since then, of course, but there is no denying that the duo struck up a partnership in Germany, that worked to the Bundesliga giants’ favour on more than one occasion.

When asked the killer question on Friday, Wenger said: “I hope so, yes. They know each other well. We are an offensive team, hopefully they can recreate that understanding.”

Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in training on Friday (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Back in the 2015-2016 season Aubameyang found the back of the net 39 times while Mkhitaryan, who usually played a little deeper, scored 23.

If the duo can get anywhere near these figures at Arsenal then Gunners fans are in for a few treats from here until the end of the season.

One potential issue is that both players – who you’d think will be regulars in the first team – are attack-minded, which could leave Arsenal short at the back.

The talented duo played alongside each other at Dortmund (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Speaking about this on Sky Sports, Gary Neville said: “Those four are so attacking I can’t think of a defensive mind among them. I watched Mkhitaryan at United, he doesn’t defend.

“Ozil, when he wants to he can, but he doesn’t really want to put it in defensively. They’re going to leave huge spaces.

Arsene Wenger is hoping the players can rekindle their partnership (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

“The situation poses Wenger a problem he will have to try and resolve on the training pitch. That is the problem – how do you fit all four in the same team?

“I’m not quite sure that will happen. It doesn’t look like a natural fit, so Arsene Wenger has got some big challenges on the training field to make those four into a unit that works.”

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3. What does the future hold for Lacazette?

The France international promised the world when Arsenal spent £52million on him in the summer, making him the most expensive purchase in their history.

But just a few months later and Wenger – who of course was forced to react to losing Alexis Sanchez – delved into the transfer market once again and spent even more on Aubameyang.

These next few months are make or break for Alexandre Lacazette (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

The two players are similar in that they’re out-and-out forwards with plenty of pace and – when in form – have the ability to score goals for fun.

So you’d think Wenger will be looking to play one over the other, which doesn’t look good for the 26-year-old former Lyon forward.

The France international has real competition for a place in the first team (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

What’s more Wenger refused to give the Frenchman any clarity over his future at the club in his Friday press conference, telling the media: “I don’t reassure people. We are in a competitive world.

“We have also chosen a job where there is competition, you have to fight for your place.”

4. What can we expect from Ozil?

For so long Mesut Ozil’s future has been up in the air; will he sign a new contract at Arsenal, will he return to Spain, will he join Manchester United?

The German put all the speculation, rumour, and nonsense to bed this week when he penned a new £350,000-a-week contract at the Emirates – much to the delight of Gunners supporters.

The deal will see him remain an Arsenal player until 2021, and means that the Gunners will enjoy the playmaker in his prime years.

Mesut Ozil recently signed a new big-money deal at Arsenal (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

So what now? Well, the German has previously been accused of ‘being lazy’ or ‘going missing’ in big games, which was used as apparent evidence that his mind was elsewhere and that he was going to leave.

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This notion can no longer be thrown about, meaning fans will expect better and more consistent performances from the German.

Wenger is expecting the German to lead Arsenal back to glory (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Not only this but because he’s now being paid £350,000-a-week – making him the highest paid player at the club by some margin – the board will expect the same.

Wenger confirmed the pressure to perform is now definitely on Ozil’s shoulder on Friday, saying: “Many predicted he wouldn’t commit and not sign.

Ozil has been made the highest paid player at Arsenal (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

“It is good news for us – if you can keep a player of that calibre is of course good news.

“He has committed his future to the club at a period where we are in a tricky period. [Now] we expect him to take responsibility to lead the club to success.”

5. Will Cech bounce back against Everton?

The goalkeeper, who hasn’t been in the best of form for a while now, had a game to forget in Arsenal’s embarrassing 3-1 defeat to Swansea City last time out.

Against the Swans, Nacho Monreal threw the ball back to Shkodran Mustafi, who laid it back to a hurried Cech in the Arsenal goal.

The shot-stopper could only scuff his clearance though, and a grateful Jordan Ayew prodded the loose ball into the net.

Petr Cech had a game to forget against Swansea City (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

To make matters worse, Arsenal have since been linked with a move for Atletico Madrid keeper Jan Oblak.

The Slovenian is widely regarded to be one of the best shot-stoppers in the world, and would command a hefty transfer fee.

The shot-stopper must improve in Arsenal’s clash with Everton (Image: REUTERS)

But the Gunners have proved this January that they’re now willing to spend cash on transfer fees and pay large wages.

Cech needs to bounce back against Everton for the sake of his future at the club, or he might just find himself on the scrapheap come June.

 

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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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