Sports
Arsene Wenger reveals Arsenal aren’t close to any more transfers
ARSENE WENGER says Arsenal aren’t close to any transfers because they “signed a Greek boy”.
The Gunners boss added that he “looks good in training” after the 4-2 FA Cup shock at Nottingham Forest.
Wenger was referring to 20-year-old Konstantinos Mavropanos, who joined on from PAS Giannina a few days ago.
He said: “No. I can’t give you any news on any transfer because we are not close to signing anyone.
“We signed a Greek boy, who looks quite good in training. But apart from that we are not on anything.”
The Gunners boss also refused to discuss Nottingham Forest’s “double-kick” penaltyafter his side were dumped out of the FA Cup.
The defending champs fell to a 4-2 defeat at the City Ground on a miserable day for the Gunners, heightened by a spot-kick scored that should not have stood.
Everton loanee Kieran Dowell slipped as he ran up, with the ball hitting hit right foot after being kicked with his left.
It looped the opposite way to where he was aiming, beating David Ospina in the Arsenal goal to make it 4-2 and game over.
Wenger was watching the game from stands as he serves a three-match ban after admitting “abusive behaviour” towards referee Mike Dean after being furious at conceding an 89th-minute penalty in the Premier League draw with West Brom.
And in their last Premier League match against Chelsea, a 2-2 draw, the Frenchman was seething at Eden Hazard winning a penalty following a challenge from Hector Bellerin.
But after today’s demoralising defeat, Wenger refused to talk about Forest’s penalty.
Speaking after the game he said: “I don’t want to talk about that anymore, I’m a bit tired of that.
“We have to respond quickly on Wednesday we have a big game, focus on that one, semi-final for the league cup, we have to respond quickly.
“You never put disappointment behind you, the only thing that can help is to focus on the next game.
“We have won the FA Cup three times in four years, it’s a competition we love.”
Eric Lichaj had put Forest into an early lead before Per Mertesacker levelled the game just three minutes later.
But Lichaj, once of Aston Villa, volleyed in a sublime 25-yarder for 2-1 a minute before half-time.
Ben Brereton scored from the penalty spot in the second half after a clumsy challenge from Calum Chambers for 3-1, but Danny Welbeck bundled home for the Gunners to bring them to within a goal.
But five minutes from time ex-Arsenal defender Armand Traore was fouled in the box by Mathieu Debuchy, and Dowell stepped up to fire home, controversially.
Wenger was, however, honest in his assessment of how the game went.
He added: “I believe that overall we played against a Nottingham team who were sharp and dominated us from the front.
“We were a bit unlucky, but overall they were sharper and more dominant in the challenges, we lost too many challenges.”
The Chairman of Agbele Sporting, Hon. Ponmile Omidiji, has rejoiced with and extended warm felicitations to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Remo Stars Football Club, Hon. Kunle Soname, on the occasion of his birthday.
This was contained in a statement personally signed by Omidiji and made available to journalists in Ibadan on Sunday.
The statement reads: “It is my greatest pleasure to felicitate with you, the man of the masses and a philanthropist par excellence, on your day of birth.
“You are a morale booster and a great motivator to this generation. You always utilise any position you occupy for the benefit of others. Indubitably, you are a good man and worthy of emulation,” he added.
Omidiji also seized the opportunity to commend Hon. Soname’s contributions and tireless efforts towards the development of football in Nigeria and beyond, noting that such commitment is truly appreciated.
He offered heartfelt prayers for the celebrant, praying that Almighty God would continue to bless and protect him, that God’s grace would abound in his life, and that all his concerns would be firmly in God’s hands. He further wished that the world would always be kind to him.
Christian Chukwu, former captain and head coach of Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, has died at the age of 74.
The football icon passed away in the early hours of Saturday, though the exact circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear at the time of reporting.
The news of his demise was confirmed by his longtime friend and teammate, Chief Olusegun Odegbami, who spoke to Channels Television. Odegbami, who played alongside Chukwu in Nigeria’s triumphant 1980 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) squad, expressed deep sorrow over the loss.
“I just received the news that between 9:00 and 10:00 this morning, ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu, MFR, my bosom friend and teammate, one of the greatest football players in Nigeria’s history, has passed on,” said Odegbami.
“Babuje, Emmanuel Okala, MON, gave me the sad news a few minutes ago. May ‘Onyim’ find peace with Our Creator in Heaven and console his family,” he added.
Born on 4 January 1951 in Enugu, Chukwu carved a legendary career in Nigerian football, notably captaining Enugu Rangers to numerous domestic triumphs and leading them to continental glory in 1977 with victory in the now-defunct African Cup Winners’ Cup.
He made history in 1980 as the first Nigerian captain to lift the African Nations Cup trophy following a 3–0 win over Algeria in the final held in Lagos.
Chukwu went on to contribute to Nigeria’s football success off the pitch, serving as assistant to Dutch tactician Clemens Westerhof during the Super Eagles’ victorious 1994 AFCON campaign and their debut appearance at the FIFA World Cup the same year.
As head coach, Chukwu led the Super Eagles to a third-place finish at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia. His tenure as national coach lasted from 2002 to 2005, ending during the qualification phase for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
Nicknamed “Chairman” for his commanding presence on and off the pitch, Chukwu also played a role in Nigeria’s youth football development, working as assistant coach during the 1985 FIFA U-16 World Cup, which Nigeria won in China.
In 2019, he battled prostate cancer, which affected his mobility. A public appeal for support was launched, and Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola stepped in to cover his overseas medical expenses, reportedly donating $50,000 for his treatment.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim believes Marcus Rashford was unable to see football “the way I see it” before the unwanted England striker was shipped out of Old Trafford.
The 27-year-old Rashford fell dramatically out of favour with the Portuguese boss and spent seven weeks on the sidelines until he was loaned to Premier League rivals Aston Villa during the transfer window.
“I couldn’t put Marcus to see the way you’re supposed to play football and to train the way I see it,” Amorim said on Thursday.
“And sometimes you have one player that is really good with one coach, and the same player with another coach is different.
“I just wish the best to Rashford and to (Aston Villa coach) Unai Emery, and they can connect because he’s a very good player.”
Amorim, whose team face Leicester in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday, said his focus now is on turning around a wretched season.
“Guys, in the summer… like we said before, we are fighting for our jobs until the summer,” he said.
“So, I am just focused on these games. Thankfully about Marcus he is in Birmingham now with Unai, so you can take these questions to another coach. We are just focused on our players at the moment.”
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