Wenger Signs New Arsenal Contract

Arsene Wenger has ended speculation over his future by signing a new three-year deal at Arsenal.

The Frenchman’s existing contract was due to expire at the end of the season, but he has now agreed a new deal to keep him at Emirates Stadium until 2011.

Wenger’s future has been the subject of conjecture all summer, following the departure of former vice-chairman David Dein in April.

The 57-year-old has always insisted he was fully committed to Arsenal and he has now put pen-to-paper on his new contract.

“My heart is tied to this football club so signing a new deal was always my intention,” Wenger told the club’s official website.

“Arsenal is the club of my life.

“I have been entrusted with complete freedom to implement and execute my plans on what will make the team successful and that means I have a responsibility to the fans to deliver silverware and also a responsibility to the players to help turn our potential into prizes.

“This club has deep-seated roots and a tremendous heritage and it is my aim to uphold these important values and help create new history for future generations to recount.”

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood was delighted with Wenger’s decision to extend his stay at the club.

“It is wonderful news for Arsenal Football Club that Arsene has signed an extension to his contract,” said Hill-Wood.

“We have been at Emirates Stadium for a year now and go from strength to strength off the pitch.

“With Arsene continuing to manage the team, I am sure we can look forward to more exciting football and success on the pitch.

“Arsene has a special ability to develop talented players and turn then into world class stars, a quality that is admired here at the club and indeed around the world.”

Double Boost For England

England have been handed a double boost after Steven Gerrard and Owen Hargreaves both took part in training on Friday.

The midfield duo have been rated doubtful for this weekend’s Euro 2008 qualifier because of injury.

Gerrard is hampered by the broken toe he suffered last month with the Liverpool skipper missing training earlier this week.

Manchester United’s Hargreaves missed training on Wednesday with a thigh problem and Steve McClaren admitted he was a doubt for the Wembley encounter with Israel.

However, both players reported for training on Friday and should they come through that unscathed they are likely to start against Israel.

McClaren is keen to have the pair available as he is already without Frank Lampard and David Beckham because of injury.

Football Rumors-Wednesday Round-Up

Tottenham winger Wayne Routledge is being chased by Sheffield United of the Championship. Sheffield United are the leading football club to capture the winger on loan.

Two of Millwall’s young and talented academy football players are the subject of a bid from Portsmouth. The two young players, Tom Kilbey, who is 17 and goalkeeper Sam Walker who is 15 are both expected to have bright futures in football.

West Brom striker John Hartson is considering quitting the football club and joining home town team Swansea. The former Wales star isn’t happy at The Hawthorns.

Arsenal manager says that he will sign anew contract at the football club because of the young talent that has come through into the first team squad. He wants to stay and help the youngsters improve their game. With the likes of Theo Walcott and Cesc Fabregas still having their whole football careers ahead of them it is exciting times at Arsenal.

Former referee Graham Poll has insisted that Liverpool and England striker Peter Crouch is a marked man around Europe

Football News

Gerrard may be played without Rafa’s permission

Rafael Benitez may have his decision not to allow Steven Gerrard to play in England’s crucial qualifier against Israel on Saturday ignored by England boss Steve McClaren.

Steven Gerrard may be given a series of pain killing injections to relieve the pain in his broken toe but Rafael Benitez has ruled that method out.

Gerrard injured his toe in the win over Toulouse last month and is recovering well without any help. McClaren is hoping he has recovered in time to play in the crucial qualifiers but has not ruled out ignoring Liverpool manager Rafa Benitezs’ advice not to play him. Gerrard is also very keen to play in the matches and help England have a chance of qualifying for the Euro 2008 football tournament.

Steve McClaren has said that if the injury does not heal on its own then an injection in the toe will have no long term complications but McClaren has to decide whether to go against Benitezs’ decision and risk the midfielder.

Terry praises SWP

Shaun Wright-Phillips has been praised by Chelsea captain John Terry for the way he has fought his way back into the Chelsea squad.

The football player who joined the club two season’s ago from Man City has been frustrated at the lack of games he has played and was linked with several moves away from the football club. But the winger has now put that to the back of his mind and has played some blinding performances for the club in the opening stages of the season.

His reward for his good performances in the Chelsea team is a call up to the England squad and a possible start in the starting 11. Terry thinks this success is all down to how hard Wright-Phillips has worked over the summer.

Terry said that Wright-Phillips told him in America that he wanted to stay at Chelsea and fight for his place. Terry thinks he has done that without a shadow of a doubt. Terry also said that the winger has been ‘awesome’ from the start of the season.

Eastwood out to get Lehmann

When Wales and Germany meet on Saturday there will only be one thing on Wales’ striker Freddy Eastwood’s mind, scoring a goals past Germany keeper Jens Lehmann.

Eastwood, should he start the game, will win his second Wales cap, his first being in the 1-0 win in the game against Bulgaria last month in which he scored the only goal. Eastwood has had a great start to life at new football club Wolves following a £1.5 million move from Southend. He has scored four goals in five matches.

However Germany goalkeeper Lehmann has already made tow big mistakes for Arsenal in games against Blackburn and Fulham. Eastwood thinks that Lehmann is Germany’s weakness and will try to pressure on Lehmann and try to add to his one Wales goal.

Football Rumors-Tuesday Round-Up

Nicky Shorey will be offered the biggest pay deal in Reading’s history to stop him from moving to West Ham in the January transfer window.

Both Celtic and Southampton are scouting Colchester defender George Elokobi.

Bolton Wanderers star Ivan Campo has turned down a move to Sheffield United on loan.

Norwich City have given a trial to Cameron international football player Lucien Mettomo.

Wolves have extended keeper Graham Stack’s loan deal from Reading for four months more.

Even if England lose their next two crucial qualifiers England boss Steve McClaren will not quit as manager.

Football News

N’Zogbia signs new Toon deal

Newcastle football player Charles N’Zogbia has signed a new five year contract with the football club.

The youngster was recently called into the France Under-21 team and has now put an end to the rumors about his future by committing to The Magpies until 2012.

After he the French player was a bit part player in Glenn Roeder’s squad he was linked with a move to Arsenal.

This season the Frenchman has made a great start to the season in the Newcastle team, playing as an emergency left back for new manager Sam Allardyce after he had a defensive crisis. He has now being rewarded with a new contract for his heroics in the first team.

N’Zogbia said that he is delighted to have signed a new contract and thinks Newcastle is a huge football club. He did however admit to being unhappy at not being a regular in the first team last season and had thoughts about finding a new club. But after Newcastle changed their manager he decided to stay and fight for his place in the football team.

Wenger to sign new contract

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will make an announcement on his contract extension on either Thursday or Friday.

Wenger and Arsenal have being in contract talks for the past few weeks. The Frenchman’s current contract runs out in 2007-08 and Arsenal are keen to get him to sign a new contract.

It looks increasingly likely that Wenger will sign a new deal after he had hinted he would. Wenger said that he feels he has a duty to help the young players grow into a talented unit.

Arsenal, who have started the season with flying colours are unbeaten. Some people say this is because Arsenal have sold Thierry Henry, and this sale has meant the younger players having to be more grown up on the football field.

Giggs remains realistic

Manchester United winger and long term player Ryan Giggs has admitted that manager Sir Alex Ferguson is looking to the future of the football club.

Giggs is set to be offered a new deal at the end of the current season but the Welsh star admits that with all the young talent at the football club, they will be the new stars of the team.

Giggs who is known as a Manchester United legend has played more than 721 games for the football club. He is only 38 games from beating Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of games at Old Trafford.

Giggs understands that to continue playing in the first team for United he will have to play to his best ability with the likes of Nani and Anderson chomping at the bit for a starting role.

He does however see the young players that have being brought to the club as been the future of Manchester United and he says they can all become star players.

Ballack out injured

Chelsea have not named Michael Ballack in their squad for the opening group stages of the Champions League.

Michael Ballack who is injured was not named on last Friday’s team sheet to play in the group stages of the Champions League. This is because the Chelsea medical team could not be sure he would be fit enough to take part in any of the matches.

Chelsea have matches home and away against Valencia, Schalke and Rosenborg. The group stages end on 11^th December and Ballack might not be fully fit until after then. However Chelsea are hopeful that Ballack will play some part in the last stages of the competition should they reach that far.

Football Rumors-Monday Round-Up

In the next week or so Birmingham City will have to decide whether they want to sign former Monaco striker Mohammed Kallon.

New Portsmouth striker David Nugent is the subject of a loan bid by Championship football club David Nugent.

David Beckham, who wants a move back to England at the end of the MLS season on loan will have any attempt by any football club blocked.

After Wayne Routledge rejected a last minute move to Celtic, he is reported to be leaving the football club.

Tottenham are also willing to let Phil Ifil move on loan to a club after Paul Stalteri didn’t leave the club during the transfer window.

Football News

Bent rubbishes West Ham talks

New Tottenham signing Darren Bent has rubbished reports he had talks with West Ham but rejected them because he didn’t want to work with his old Charlton boss Alan Curbishley.

It is rumored that West Ham and Charlton agreed a fee for Bent but he chose to move to White Hart Lane to play his football so he didn’t have to work with his old boss. Bent has said that the rumor is complete rubbish. He added that he thinks Curbishley is a great manager and made him the football player he is at the moment. He also added that it was a football career decision to move to Tottenham rather than West Ham.

Bent who was not picked for the World Cup in 2006 and was instead replaced by Theo Walcott hopes that his form so far for Tottenham will earn him a recall to the England squad and a chance to play in Euro 2008. He said that he was hurt at not being picked for the World Cup but used the situation to score more goals and help him get a chance at playing in Euro 2008.

Mourinho predicts harder season

After watching his side lose to Aston Villa yesterday Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has said that the Premiership will be the hardest it has being since he joined Chelsea.

Mourinho thinks that football clubs that were last season challenging outside the top four have strengthened and will provide better competition for the top four clubs.

If Chelsea had drew or won at Villa Park they would have being top of the league. Mourinho isn’t reading anything into the football table so early in the season.

Mourinho said that there are some great teams in the league and there have been lots of improvements to smaller clubs which means more of a challenge for the top four football clubs.

After watching his football club concede the killer second at Villa Park Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich left the game early. Mourinho said that it is up to the owner when he leaves the football ground.

Fabregas praised by Wenger

After Arsenal’s midfielder Cesc Fabregas’ recent performances Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has likened the player to Paul Scholes.

Fabregas has already scored two goals this season the same number as he scored last season in 38 Premiership performances. Fabregas scored in Arsenal’s impressive win against Portsmouth on Sunday and Wenger has praised the young Spaniard for his great start to the new football season.

Wenger thinks that a video has played a major part in Fabregas’ great start to the season. Wenger made Fabregas a video tape of some of his games last season and showed him all the chances he missed. He hopes this will have an impact on the player this season. It certainly has done so far.

Wenger also thinks Fabregas is like Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes. He said that he uses his brain well and is a very intelligent player on the football field.

Cesc Fabregas’ goal against Manchester City.

Football Rumors-Sunday Round-Up

New LA Galaxy signing David Beckham says he wants to move back to England on loan to play football once the American season has finished. The reason behind this is so he can reach 100 caps for the England team as he currently sits on 97 caps.

New Everton midfielder Phil Jagielka could be set for a shock move back to his old football club Sheffield United.

After they reportedly had a bid for Eidur Gudjohnsen rejected in August, Portsmouth will try to sign the Barcelona striker in the January transfer window.

Celtic pair Derek Riordan and Bobo Balde both rejected chances to move to English football clubs on the last day of the transfer window. Striker Riordan rejected a move to West Brom of the Championship and Bobo Balde rejected a move to Premiership new boys Sunderland.

Celtic were also rejected by a trio of players on the last day of the summer transfer window. Aston Villa’s Shaun Maloney, Tottenham’s midfielder Wayne Routledge and Khaleem Hyland all rejected moves to the Scottish champions.

Football News

Glazers deny United sale

Manchester United owners have stated that the football club is not for sale after reports of an overseas takeover was suggested.

The Glazer family took over Manchester United in 2005 after a long battle to become major shareholders. Many Man Utd fans were angry at the takeover and some set up a new football club called FC United. Now it has been rumoured that groups from Dubai and China were going to make massive bids for the football club. Both groups were said to be ready to bid £1 billion for the Premiership champions.

The Glazer family who have only been in charge of the football club for two years have said the club is not for sale and anyone interested in the football club can forget any takeover happening.

A Glazer spokesman said that the football club is not for sale and the family are not in talks with any interested parties.

Terry to continue playing through injury

Chelsea and England star John Terry will play through the pain barrier in order to continue playing football for the two teams.

John Terry has a broken toe and has been taking pain-killing injections so that he can continue to play football. Terry missed one game for Chelsea after the injury and has played a full 90 minutes for England against Germany in a friendly.

Terry is determined to give Steve McClaren a boost ahead of the two crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers against Russia and Israel by being fit and ready for selection.

Terry said that the pain–killers will numb the pain for four or so hours. It could take four or more months for the big toe to recover fully. Terry concluded that players will play through painful injuries just so that they don’t lose their place in the squad.

Sissoko commits to Liverpool

During the summer Liverpool midfield dynamo Mohamed Sissoko was given the chance to join Serie A football club Juventus but rejected the offer.

Sissoko rejected the move because he said that Liverpool are a much bigger football team than Juventus.

Sisso

ko has committed his future to The Reds even though there is huge competition for places in the middle of the field with Benitez having lots of options for the centre of the park.

Sissoko’s agent was in talks with the Italian club after they bid £10 million for the Malian but he said that he always wanted to stay at Liverpool.

Sissoko admits that he faces tough competition to play games at Liverpool but is happy at the football club and is enjoying his time.

Premiership Football Results

Liverpool showed Derby that life in the Premiership isn’t all that its cracked up to be with a display of pure class. Liverpool hit six past Derby with no reply from the newly promoted football club.

On 27 minutes Xabi Alonso hit a free kick which started the rollercoaster afternoon going. New Liverpool signing Ryan Babel made it 2-0 just before half time when he hit a shot from the edge of the 18 yard box.

On 56 minutes Fernando Torres shoed his class when he went on a determined run and smashed in his first of the game and Liverpool’s third. Alonso then hit his second of the game on 69 minutes and substitute Andrei Voronin smashed in the rebound from Kuyt’s shot on 76 minutes. Torres rounded off the scoring when he scored his second as he rounded keeper Bywater and rolled the ball into an empty net.

Roy Keane’s return to Old Trafford with his new Sunderland team was an unhappy one. Sunderland lost in a scrappy game 1-0 to the Premiership champions. Louis Saha, making his first appearance of the new football season headed in Nani’s cross on 70 minutes to win the match for United.

Everton were repaid the faith they showed in Yakubu when they signed the striker as he took 11 minutes to open his Everton account. He tapped in a Andy Johnson cross to make it 1-0. Bolton hit the bar through Mikel Alonso and then Nicholas Anelka equalized on 55 minutes with a sweet volley. In the last minute of the game Joleon Lescott rose in the box to head home the winner.

Tottenham and Fulham fought out a fierce derby in an end to end football match that ended in a 3-3 draw. Younes Kaboul scored his first ever Tottenham goal as he pounced on a mistake by Niemi in the Fulham goal. Tottenham went two up through prolific striker Dimitar Berbatov who smashed a volley past Niemi. Fulham pulled one back just before half time through Clint Dempsey. Gareth Bale then made it 3-1 to Spurs but Alexei Smertin again pulled a goal back to make it 3-2. Diomansy Kamara made sure Fulham got a share of the points as he scored a tremendous overhead kick in the dying stages of the football match.

Newcastle beat Wigan 1-0 at St James’ Park. Michael Owen scored his first goal since way back in December 2005. Owen headed a Martin’s cross into the net near the end of the game. Wigan had Kevin Kilbane sent off just after the second half had kicked off.

Middlesbrough beat Birmingham 2-0 at the Riverside. Andrew Taylor played an inspirational role to help his team win the match comfortably. Taylor made a darting run to set up David Wheater for him to head home the first goal on 12 minutes. Taylor then crossed for George Boating who knocked it back to Stewart Downing who made it 2-0 on 37 minutes.

After six minutes Craig Bellamy had West Ham a goal up at Reading. Bellamy then played a one-two with Etherington who then scored the second from the edge of the 18 yard box. Etherington then scored the third and his second in the last minute of the match as he ran from the half way line and hit the ball past the Reading keeper.