Arsenal given names of five players to sign for Arteta

 

Former Arsenal midfielder, Michael Thomas, has urged the club to sign five new players for their manager, Mikel Arteta, this summer transfer window.

The five players are Achraf Hakimi, Ryan Bertrand, Yves Bissouma, Martin Odegaard, and a left-winger.

Thomas stated this ahead of Arsenal’s Europa League clash against Slavia Praha on Thursday night.

“I don’t think Arsenal need to be thinking about a new manager just yet,” Thomas told CaughtOffside.

“A new manager will experience the same issues until they have their own team of players in place to produce what they want.

“I think Arteta needs to finish the season on a high with the Europa League and try and get more of his own players integrated into the team.

“If then he cannot get his group of players to perform, then Arsenal as a club will have to decide where they go from there.

“I would say a minimum of five signings are needed: a right-back (Achraf Hakimi), left-back (Ryan Bertrand), central midfield (Yves Bissouma and Martin Odegaard), and a left-winger.”

 

Sport Chelsea, PSG, Real Madrid, Man City players named in Champions League team [Full list]

 

Four Chelsea players have been included in the UEFA Champions League team of this week.

UEFA released the Champions League team in a post on its website on Thursday following the conclusion of the week’s quarter-final first-leg games on Wednesday.

The four Chelsea players are César Azpilicueta, Edouard Mendy, Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell.

Chelsea players made the list alongside Paris Saint-Germain stars, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Marquinhos.

Recall that Chelsea defeated FC Porto 2-0, thanks to goals from Mount and Chilwell.

Below is the UEFA Champions League team after the conclusion of this week’s last-8 matches:

Goalkeeper:

Edouard Mendy (Chelsea)

Defenders:

César Azpilicueta (Chelsea)

Marquinhos (PSG)

Ben Chilwell (Chelsea)

Midfielders:

Marco Asensio (Real Madrid)

Mason Mount (Chelsea)

Kevin De Bruyne (Man City)

Phil Foden (Man City)

Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)

Forwards:

Kylian Mbappé (PSG)

Neymar (PSG)

Ben Chiwell hails Chelsea’s Kovacic, Jorginho after Porto win

 

Chelsea left-back, Ben Chilwell, has singled out two Blues players for praise following their Champions League quarter-final first-leg 2-0 win over Porto on Wednesday.

The two players are Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho.

Chelsea defeated Porto in Spain, thanks to two goals from Mason Mount and Chilwell.

“Massive win. We knew the kind of game it was going to be, tough game, they are a physical side and they showed that with their physicality, wanting to try and be aggressive with us which we knew would be the case and I think we matched them,” Chilwell told Chelsea TV.

“They are a great side, a top team in Portugal, you are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, so you know you are going to be up against a tough team whoever you play, and that was the case.”

He added, “I think the midfield was brilliant. “Kova [Mateo Kovacic] and Jorgi [Jorginho] played brilliantly, dictating the midfield.

“When we came under spells when we were under pressure, they were brilliant at keeping the ball and just giving us a bit of a breather.”

Lineker, others praise Chelsea’s Mason after 2-0 win over Porto

 

England legends, Gary Lineker, Rio Ferdinand and Glenn Hoddle have singled out Chelsea midfielder, Mason Mount for special praises following the Blues’ 2-0 away win over Porto in the Champions League quarter-finals first leg on Wednesday.

The football legends cannot also believe the criticism being faced by the England star as the Chelsea midfielder once again proved his quality against Porto

The former England U21 midfielder opened scoring for the Blues after an impeccable turn on the edge of the 18-yard box before firing a shot across Porto goalkeeper Marchesin.

The England international has been a regular since Thomas Tuchel took over at Stamford Bridge but has often received criticism with his spot in the team for both club and country questioned by critics.

Lineker hit back at Mount critics on BT Sport saying, “You still see it don’t you on social media.

“Social media as we know is full of people who know everything about football

“But the Mount misunderstanding is weird. He’s really good isn’t he? It was brilliant.”

Ex-Chelsea manager, Hoddle, added, “He’s a top player, a top, top player and that turn was sensational.

“But it was a great ball as you say, Jorginho, protected side, you’re being marked on one side and the pass actually beat him but the skill was excellent.”

And Manchester United legend, Ferdinand also spoke about the player, describing his goal as “An exquisite finish.

“They were patient, this was one of the main times they pinned back the Porto team.

“This ball here, but the turn was just immaculate, the finish may be a bit of fortune from the goalkeeper just sticking his leg out. But a fantastic finish in the end.”

Chelsea now has a huge advantage going into the second leg next week at the neutral venue in Sevilla, Spain.

Police exhume body of CDC Chairman buried alive

 

The Rivers State Police Command has exhumed the decomposing body of the Community Development Chairman of Kereken-Boue community in Khana Local government of the State.

The CDC Chairman, Prince Deeka was said to have been buried alive by certain criminals for some unknown reasons.

The DPO of Bori Police Station, SP Bako Angbashim led his team to a thick forest between Andoni and Bonny local government areas of the state, where Deeka, was buried.

The 10-year son of the murdered community leader was among the team who visited the forest so he could identify his father.

While the State Police Command is yet to issue a statement to that effect,  reports that a few weeks ago, some youths broke into the home of the CDC Chairman and took him away to an unknown location

Ondo community as assailants attack, raze 15 houses

 

Asere community in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State has been thrown into turmoil following an attack on the riverine village by gunmen.

The assailants who also appeared to be arsonists had in their numbers attacked the community and set ablaze 15 houses.

It was gathered that the arsonists who were known to the residents of the community attacked the community after the locals allegedly tipped off security agencies about their activities and movement.

Angered by the move of the arsonists, women in the community who protested the attack and destruction of the community, called on security agencies to arrest the gang members.

According to the protesting women who identified the suspected gang members as Kutu Mone aka MK; July Mone; Best Oniwei; Iyemiyelawei Mone; Mathew Suku Polobubou; Dedewei Mone and Bado Ogbudugbudu said the gang have been operating in the riverine area for a while until security operatives started clamping down on them.

One of the protesters, who simply called herself Faith said the ringleader of the gang, Kutu Mone, who hails from Asere, invaded the community alongside his gang members because he felt his people were giving security men tip-offs about their activities.

On his part, the Paramount ruler of Agadagba Kingdom, Oba Zachueus Doubra said he received a report that one of his subjects, who he described as a ‘recalcitrant boy’ invaded Asere to burn down the community.

Reacting to the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Tee-Leo Ikoro, said the Police is on top of the situation, urging the people to back to their normal businesses.

“Our men have taken over the area and with no time, MK and his gang would be arrested and be prosecuted as well.”

 

Morrison tells Tuchel Chelsea player that shouldn’t make starting XI again after 2-0 over Porto

 

Former Premier League star, Clinton Morrison, has told Chelsea boss, Thomas Tuchel to keep Timo Werner out of the team.

Morrison said the Germany International ‘needs time out’ of the Chelsea team after the striker struggled again in the game against Porto in Sevilla last night.

Werner has endured a difficult season at Chelsea, scoring just eight goals in 38 appearances for the Blues in all competitions.

The 25-year-old was subbed off by Tuchel in the second-half of Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Porto on Wednesday.

“Chelsea have got other attacking options – it just depends on how long Tuchel wants to stick with Timo Werner,’ Morrison told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“Listen, Werner is not a bad player. You don’t become a bad player overnight. It’s just at the moment, he’s getting into positions and not being clinical.

“Maybe he needs a bit of time out of the team and he can make an impact coming off the bench.”

The Blues have one foot in the semi-finals of the competition after an impressive 2-0 victory over the Portuguese champions.

Two goals, one each from Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell (their first Champions League goals) gave the Blues the needed confidence going into the second leg at the same venue (Sevilla) next week.