Category: Sports news

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been accused of dictatorial handling of his squad following the recent issues with ex-captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Arteta stripped Aubameyang of the Arsenal captaincy after the 32-year-old Gabon international returned from a sanctioned trip a day later than scheduled. As further punishment, Aubameyang was banished to individual training and training with the under 23 team while also being excluded from the last four Arsenal squads.

Many fans and pundits have praised Arteta’s move to strip the former Borussia Dortmund striker of the captaincy but a few more have come out to criticise Arteta for allowing the punishment to go on as long as it has.

Former Good Morning Britain host and celebrity Arsenal fan, Piers Morgan, was one of the first people to criticise the Spaniard for the measures taken against Aubameyang. Morgan was one of the first to highlight the reason for Aubameyang’s absence and has not stopped in his criticism of Arteta since the incident came to light.

“Shameful decision by Arteta. What a disgusting way to treat a man who went – with the club’s full knowledge & permission – to help his sick mother,” Morgan tweeted on the day Aubameyang was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy.

Morgan’s tweets and criticisms have now sparked some form of public sympathy for the Gabonese striker. Many fans now believe that Arteta’s point has been proven and that the striker should be integrated back into the team.

However, it does not look like Aubameyang will be getting his chance at redemption any time soon as he is also set to be omitted from the Arsenal squad to face Norwich City on Boxing Day.

Arteta urged to give Aubameyang a break by ex-Aston Villa man

Gabriel Agbonlahor is the latest to come out with comments against Arteta’s approach to the issue. The former Aston Villa captain has described the Arsenal manager’s actions as being ‘way over the top.’

Arteta meted out the same treatment to Mesut Ozil, who many believed was frozen out of the squad by Arsenal and Arteta for political reasons after the midfielder publicly criticised the treatment of Uighur Muslims in the Xinjiang province of China.

Agbonlahor, in his recent interview with Football Insider, criticised the way Arteta deals with players in general using the Aubameyang issue as a case study.

“Arteta has done well as a manager but I think his treatment of players can be a bit too wild for me,” he told Football Insider.

“For the offence Aubameyang has committed I think he’s been overly punished. It’s been overkill. You’d think he’d committed a massive crime.

“Stripped of the captaincy might have been overkill but you understand it. Get someone else in there who is always going to obey the rules and not do anything wrong. Aubameyang was never a captain for me, he’s not captain material. No problems with that.

“Miss a game, ok. It’s a bit harsh but you’re ok with that.

“But then you banish him to train on his own is massive overkill. That’s crazy. It’s like Arteta’s on a power trip. They’ve been winning games so he’s thought ‘Ok, I’m just going to keep him out’.

“It’s too much, to be honest. If he’d been caught having a covid party with 100 people enjoying life, partying and drinking, that’s different, I’d understand. He’s gone to get his mum, for goodness sake, give the guy a break.”

“I am not a dictator,” Arteta says in defence of decision

In the press conference ahead of the trip to Norwich, Arteta was asked about the Aubameyang situation and his thoughts on the comments criticising him for ‘taking things too far.’

The 39-year-old former Manchester City assistant manager furiously defended his decisions to the press, saying his actions were about teaching ‘respect and commitment’.

“I do not establish my authority by being dictatorial or ruthless. I just ask for one thing: respect and commitment,” the Arsenal boss said.

“At this level, if I don’t get that, I will pack my bags and go somewhere else because that is the minimum I can ask for.

 

“To be successful you have to be passionate about something and want to represent a club of this size, with its history. That is the minimum standard you have to bring.

“I am not going to ask anybody to put the ball in the top corner every time they hit it, but I will ask them to do the right things every single day for this club.”

 

 

Erling Haaland has a new potential destination next summer in Liverpool according to new reports.

The Reds’ interest is not a surprise as the striker is the hottest property in world football currently. However, their move for the Norwegian is being influenced by one of their own, Mohamed Salah, who is reported to have made this transfer request to the club’s hierarchy.

Mohamed Salah is currently discussing a contract extension at Anfield and one of his conditions is the strengthening of the Liverpool squad with the Borussia Dortmund man.

After two seasons with the club, Haaland’s contract buyout clause of €75 million will come into effect in June 2022. Many clubs including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus will be expected to try and outbid each other for Haaland’s signature.

Sky Deutschland now claims that Salah has asked Liverpool to beef up their squad in order to make the team even more competitive in the future, and is pointing at Haaland as an option.

Hence, Liverpool have now inserted themselves in the race for the 21-year-old former Red Bull Salzburg man and are leading it – together with PSG who could be losing star man Kylian Mbappe this summer – as they seek to make Mohamed Salah happy.

Jurgen Klopp was asked if Liverpool had any interest in Haaland back in August. “Sooner or later, [Haaland] will be on the agenda of the big clubs,” Klopp told Bild, who asked him the question at an interview.

“I don’t know if it will be next year, but Dortmund will have to face it. I don’t have his phone number. He is just a very interesting player. I like his energy, but he will be observed by most teams.”

Liverpool, however, do not have the financial capabilities as many of the clubs in the race for the striker, but they are reportedly willing to do what they can to pull off the signing for the sake of Mo Salah’s contract signing.

Liverpool urged to let go of Salah for Haaland instead

Meanwhile, Liverpool have been urged to allow Salah to leave Anfield to be able to secure the funds needed to bring Haaland to Anfield in his stead.

His buyout clause of €75 million is a bargain in comparison to the market valuation of Salah himself. The Egyptian, 29, is going to be on the wrong side of 30 by the end of his current contract and Andy Goldstein of talkSPORT has urged the Reds to cash in on Salah right now for the long-term option of Haaland.

 

Salah and Haaland’s form in front of goal has been comparable since the young striker rose to prominence in 2018 with Salzburg. However, while Age is on Haaland’s side to keep going, Salah could be fading out soon, per Goldstein.

Speaking on talkSPORT Drivetime, he said: “Mohamed Salah is one of, if not the best player in the world right now. There’s no doubt about that.

“But Haaland’s 21, Salah’s 29. Apart from Messi and Ronaldo, it’s very rare you get a player that when they become the best player in the world, they stay there for a long, long time – like Luka Modric.

“I don’t think Salah will continue these numbers… for him to continue this as he gets older is going to be very difficult… I’d say it’s a no-brainer.”

Salah, however, wants to retire at Liverpool. “If you ask me, I would love to stay until the last day of my football career, but I can’t say much about that – it’s not in my hands,” Salah told Sky Sports earlier in the season.

“It depends on what the club want, not on me.

“At the moment I can’t see myself ever playing against Liverpool. That would make me sad. It’s hard, I don’t want to talk about it, but it would make me really sad.

“At the moment I don’t see myself playing against Liverpool but let’s see what will happen in the future.”

 

Chelsea are facing a potential stumbling block in their race to renew Thiago Silva’s deal beyond the summer in the form of an unnamed middle eastern club.

Chelsea have begun discussions with the 37-year-old defender whose body language seems positive, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano who announced via his Twitter page that Thiago Silva’s Chelsea future was “not in doubt”.

The new deal, if signed, will keep the Brazilian at Stamford Bridge for one more summer.

However, this move is now being challenged by a very lucrative offer from a club in the middle east to Thiago Silva.

Transfer insider, Ian McGarry, revealed this on his podcast, The Transfer Window Podcast. “It is our information that we have obtained here at the Transfer Window that Thiago Silva has a significant financial offer to continue his career in the Middle East,” he said.

“Which of course in terms of money would be attractive because it would be tax-free and the leagues of course are not overly competitive.

“But Silva himself is extremely competitive.”

Meanwhile, Duncan Castles, speaking on the same episode of the podcast where Ian McGarry revealed the real situation of things with Chelsea and Thiago Silva, claimed that Chelsea could allow the defender leave.

According to Castles, the Blues will only allow the defender leave on one condition. The condition is if the Brazilian expresses a wish to quit the club.

“I would be surprised if Chelsea allowed him [Thiago Silva] to leave easily,” Castles told the Transfer Window Podcast.

“Obviously, if the offer is so substantial that it’s difficult for them to match and they put it to Thiago Silva that you are going to have to take less money if you want to remain in the top tier of European football, then perhaps they will allow him to go if that’s his wish.”

Chelsea hoping to speed up transfer for Kounde; Borussia Dortmund inquire about Ziyech

Elsewhere, Chelsea are making moves to sign long-term defensive target, Jules Kounde, from Sevilla. The Blues reportedly have an agreement in place to sign the player in the summer, but new reports that the club is exploring options to sign him in January have emerged.

Chelsea is not expected to be busy in the January window but the new reports now suggest otherwise, as Kounde himself is reportedly also pushing for the move to happen in January.

Duncan Castles believes that all that stands between Kounde and a January move to Stamford Bridge is the agreement of a transfer fee before the window is up.

Chelsea could also be receiving a bid from Borrusia Dortmund for Hakim Ziyech.

Erling Haaland is all but officially done with BVB and in the summer, should be moving on to another club. Dortmund, who are trying to keep the Norwegian at the club by offering him double of his current salary are also preparing for the event that Haaland leaves.

Ziyech has emerged as a replacement for the striker according to latest reports.

Barcelona and AC Milan are reportedly eyeing a move for the former Ajax forward and now, Dortmund are throwing their hat in the ring for the Morrocan according to Italian outfit, Calciomercato.

Ziyech has failed to impress at Stamford Bridge to the chagrin of fans. Speaking about Ziyech last month, manager Thomas Tuchel said: “I think there is space to improve in his decision making, connections on the pitch, where to be more consistent. 

“We always rely on his work rate, counter-pressing and awareness. It is a huge part of his performances.

“He can still be more clinical and maybe grow more into the rhythm, but I think his shoulder injury hurt him a lot.”

Fiorentina striker, Dusan Vlahovic has made some demands that may see him spend more time than he would like in Fiorentina.

The Serbian hotshot’s demands coupled with Fiorentina’s valuation of the striker has put him in danger of being priced out of a January move to the Premier League.

Vlahovic reportedly wants to earn £200,000-a-week – after tax – wherever he ends up, and Fiorentina wants nothing less than £70 million for the striker who is still under contract at the club until 2023.

Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City have been heavily linked with a swoop for the 21-year-old ex-Partizan Belgrade forward.

Manchester City lost Ferran Torres to Barcelona recently and will be needing a replacement. However, City boss Pep Guardiola has come out on Thursday to cut the links to Vlahovic, claiming that the club is not replacing Torres in January.

City are still linked to Harry Kane and Erling Haaland, however, which could be the reason that Guardiola has come out with the statement.

Premier League clubs unwilling to match Fiorentina and Vlahovic demands

Vlahovic has reportedly rejected a new deal at Fiorentina as he seeks new challenges and a title-winning project.

Manchester City is the club with the strongest financial standing to pull off the deal for Vlahovic in January. But with Guardiola’s statement, the door of opportunity for other interested clubs is now wider.

Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea are all interested in the 21-year-old but are equally reluctant to alter their respective wage structures to accommodate Vlahovic’s demands.

Outside the Premier League, Juventus and Internazionale are the only Serie A clubs with a reported interest in the Serbian.

Juventus are also struggling with their current wage caps and may not be able to find the funds to take Vlahovic from Fiorentina in January. Meanwhile, Inter is only monitoring the situation to see what they may be able to get out of it if the other clubs fail to land the striker.

Manchester City make serious enquiries about Haaland

Elsewhere, Spanish outlet Sport has reported that City have gone ahead to make serious enquiries about bringing Erlina Haaland to the Etihad.

The Citizens have played without an out-and-out striker in two seasons. They tried to rectify it by going after Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane but failed, instead spending the £100 million budget set aside for Kane on Jack Grealish.

They will also be losing Ferran Torres, who has played in the striker role to great effect since signing from Valencia in 2020, to Barcelona in a couple of days.

It is now understood that City is not willing to lose out on a player as valuable as Haaland following their transfer failures.

The striker’s transfer demands as well as his club’s and agent’s demands make the deal a bit of a hassle for all clubs involved, including City. However, they’re willing to make it work.

City’s bid will also be helped by the fact that Real Madrid, the only other club to make a serious enquiry for Haaland so far, is more focused on signing Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe.

Willian has opened up about the circumstances surrounding his exit from Arsenal at the beginning of the season.

Social media abuse targeted at Willian, his former clubs and his family contributed to the major reason why the Brazilian chose to leave the Emirates and England for Brazil.

The 33-year-old now lines up for Brazilian Serie A side Corinthians and has been enjoying a new lease of life as he helps the team towards their objectives this season.

Willian first came to Europe from his boyhood club Corinthians and has enjoyed a trophy-laden career since then playing in Russia, Ukraine and England.

After a turbulent time at Arsenal, he has returned to where it all began to possibly see out the rest of his career. In a tell-all interview with Rio Ferdinand’s Vibe with Five podcast.

Willian left a three-year contract behind and a £20 million pay out just to get away from the constant abuse he suffered at the hands of Arsenal fans.

Arsenal fans were initially excited about his signing and Willian gave them something to be excited about after a hat trick of assists in his first game.

The following games were hellish for Willian, who struggled for confidence which eventually cost him the love he earned with performances from the first game.

The Gunners fans immediately resulted to abuse, targeting the player, his family, his past achievements and his career in general. It also didn’t help as his form led to his place in the team being usurped by Bukayo Saka who, frankly, has been one of Arsenal’s best performers in the past two seasons.

“I received a lot of messages on social media from them,” Willian told Rio Ferdinand on his Vibe with Five podcast.

“I think it’s also because I came from Chelsea. I think if I came from another club, it maybe could have been better.

“I came from Chelsea, where I did perform well and everything was happy, so I always thought about that and thought ‘I have to go’.”

“I was not happy”, Willian says

The attacking midfielder said to Ferdinand that his poor form led to confidence issues and made him begin to withdraw mentally from Arsenal.

“I was not happy, that’s why I didn’t perform. I don’t want to go into the details, but I wasn’t happy,” the 33-year-old explained.

“So, when I arrived there I was happy, from the beginning I was motivated, I wanted to do well, new club, new mates, new projects.”

“After three months, I told my agent ‘please, I want to go’. I don’t want to speak bad about the club because it is a big club, has a big history in football, big players played there before it’s a big club.”

At the end of the season, Willian had become so disenfranchised that he chose instead to leave the club and abandon earnings in the range of £20.5 million, according to Sky Sports.

Willian is now enjoying life with Corinthians and is feeling a lot more confident about his football since leaving Arsenal and England