Sports

Lucas Torreira trains with Arsenal for the first time: Here’s five things we noticed

Published

8 years ago

July 31, 2018

The Arsenal team have returned to London from Singapore and were back in training on Monday ahead of the new season, despite the jetlag.

The squad were joined by new signing Lucas Torreira, who was allowed to miss the pre-season trip to Asia to rest following his participation at the World Cup.

Here’s five things we noticed from the Gunners’ latest session.

1. Lucas Torreira introduces himself to Arsenal

The Gunners splashed out £22million on the Uruguayan this summer, following his exploits at the World Cup.

In actual fact Unai Emery had his eye on the midfielder for quite some time, but allowed Torreira to focus all his attention on this summer’s finals before swooping for him.

Lucas Torreira trained with his Arsenal team-mates on Monday (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

In training on Monday the Arsenal coaching staff got a first good look at the player, and it seems they like what they saw.

The holding midfielder should slot straight into the first team, and at just 22, will likely have a long a prosperous career in north London.

2. Matteo Guendouzi has his eyes on the prize

Guendouzi featured twice for the Gunners in their pre-season tour of Asia after joining from FC Lorient, and already looks to have settled in.

The 19-year-old is now itching to be a part of the first team going into the new season, and recently sent Emery a message of his intent.

Matteo Guendouzi has impressed in pre-season (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

“I hope to play a few games. It’s a great environment to work in, we’re working really well in training and we’re playing well in the matches,” he told AP. “But it’s only the start. Hopefully this will be a big adventure with Arsenal.”

Of course the hard work starts in training, but the sky is the limit for the teen.

3. Emile Smith Rowe is also making noises

Like Guendouzi, Smith Rowe stormed onto the scene in pre-season for Arsenal, introducing himself to more than just the Gunners supporters.

The youngster was compared to Kevin De Bruyne after starring in Arsenal’s victory over Boreham Wood.

Emile Smith Rowe was a stand out player during Arsenal’s tour of Asia (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

He then netted in the Gunners’ defeat by Atletico Madrid, before featuring prominently once more in the win over Paris Saint-Germain.

Smith Rowe looks like a part of the furniture in north London, and again, as with Guendouzi, the sky is the limit.

4. The Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang show

A positive atmosphere in the camp is vital going into a new season.

It suggests the team is together, confident, and raring to get off to a great start – even if the first game of the new term is against Manchester City.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang epitomises the good mood in the camp (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Compared to other Premier League clubs who have endured a slightly disjointed pre-season, Arsenal’s looks like it’s been a blast.

The young players are blending in well, along with the new signings, and everyone is picking up Emery’s unique style. The above picture of Aubameyang epitomises the mood inside the camp.

5. I don’t care if you are new!

Emery made a lot of time for his new recruit on Monday, after he met up with his team-mates for the very first time.

But after getting the introductions out of the way, it was straight down to work.

Unai Emery and Torreira get down to work (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

We are just weeks away from the start of the season now, and it looks as if Torreira will be a starter for the Gunners from day one.

So with that in mind, it’s time to learn the law of the land.

Sports

‎Oseni Mobilises Supporters with Free Tickets for Shooting Stars’ Victory ‎

Published

7 days ago

August 29, 2026

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Engr. Aderemi Oseni, has congratulated Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan on their 2-1 victory over newly promoted Inter Lagos in the opening fixture of the 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.
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‎The Oluyole Warriors began their campaign on a winning note at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, on Friday, securing three points in front of their home supporters.
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‎Ahead of the encounter, the lawmaker mobilised hundreds of supporters to the stadium and provided free tickets for fans to enable them to watch and cheer the Ibadan-based club.
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‎The mobilisation, led by members of his youth wing, contributed to the strong home support for Shooting Stars as the team battled the Lagos-based newcomers in an entertaining opening-day encounter.
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‎In a statement issued on Friday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, who represents, Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency said he was delighted with the victory and commended the players, coaches, management and supporters of the club for starting the new season on a positive note.
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The statement added that the gesture was a reflection of Oseni’s passion for sports and his belief that sustained support from the fans could inspire the team to greater achievements during the season.
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“ Oseni is a lover of sports and passionate about Shooting Stars. This is one of the ways, among others, that we can support the team and encourage them in their quest for victory,” the statement stressed.
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It further explained that the free tickets were provided to encourage more supporters to fill the stands and give the players the backing they needed, particularly in their first home game of the season.
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According to the statement, Oseni believes that sports provide an important platform for youth engagement, development and community pride, stressing that Shooting Stars remains a club with a strong place in the identity of Ibadan and Oyo State.
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‎On the pitch, Lucky Emmanuel put Shooting Stars ahead in the 15th minute before Inter Lagos equalised through Uchenna Njoku. Sodiq Ibrahim restored the home side’s lead from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time, with the score remaining 2-1 until the final whistle.
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‎The APC chieftain urged the Oluyole Warriors to build on the victory and maintain their winning mentality throughout the season, assuring the team of his continued support and encouragement.

Sports

Oyo APC Demands Probe of N5.5bn Lekan Salami Stadium Renovation

Published

3 weeks ago

August 18, 2026

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The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other anti-graft agencies to investigate the N5.5bn reportedly spent on the renovation of the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, by the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde.

The party made the call following the reported rejection of the stadium by the Confederation of African Football as a venue for Shooting Stars Sports Club’s continental campaign.

Shooting Stars secured qualification for continental football after about 28 years but will reportedly play its home matches in Abeokuta after the Ibadan stadium failed to meet CAF’s requirements.

In a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Tuesday, the Oyo APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, described the development as disappointing and embarrassing to the state.

The party alleged that the CAF decision had raised questions about the quality of work carried out at the stadium and the funds reportedly committed to its renovation.

Sadare said the state government should explain why a facility said to have gulped N5.5bn could not secure approval to host a continental competition.

He said, “Everyone in the state should ask Governor Makinde to explain the circumstances surrounding the stadium’s failure to secure approval for the CAF Confederation Cup and provide details of the funds committed to its renovation and upgrading.”

The APC also criticised what it described as the alleged delivery of substandard projects by the Makinde administration, citing the recent erosion that reportedly damaged part of a road project in Bodija shortly after its commissioning.

The party said the stadium’s failure to host Shooting Stars’ continental fixtures was particularly unfortunate because the club’s return to African competition after nearly three decades should have provided Oyo State with an opportunity to showcase its sporting infrastructure to a wider African audience.

The APC therefore urged the EFCC and other relevant anti-graft agencies to investigate the award and execution of the stadium project, establish how the funds were spent and make anyone found culpable to face the law.

It also called on the state government to urgently address the deficiencies identified at the stadium and ensure that the facility is upgraded to meet international standards and capable of hosting major continental competitions in the future.

Sports

UCL Final: ‘I hope last year’s loss to PSG still hurts’ – Wilshere messages Arsenal

Published

3 months ago

May 28, 2026

OAdmiN

Former Arsenal star, Jack Wilshere, has sent a message to the Gunners ahead of their UEFA Champions League final with Paris Saint-Germain.

Arsenal will take on the French Ligue 1 giants in the Champions League final this year in Budapest on Saturday evening.

Mikel Arteta’s side had lost 3-1 on aggregate against PSG in the Champions League semi-final stage last year.

Speaking on TNT Sports (via GOAL), Wilshere remembered Arsenal about their last year’s defeat to PSG and urged them to use it as a revenge to get a win against Luis Enrique’s side when both sides meet again this weekend.

“Now that the Premier League is over the line, I know that the Premier League was the one. I know that Mikel wanted that. I know that the boys wanted that,” Wilshere said.

“Now you have to go through some tough times and learn from it. I hope that the Champions League semi-final [PSG 3-1 Arsenal] last year hurt them enough that they can go on and use that [against PSG].

“I think when you are on the pitch, and you are playing against your direct opponent, you learn so much about them. And to face them next year, they will be better for that.”