FOOTBALL: Former Arsenal star Paul Merson says Wenger must be sacked if Leicester City or Tottenham beat them to the title.

Former Arsenal star Paul Merson says manager Arsene Wenger must be sacked if Leicester City or Tottenham beat them to the Premier League title.

Arsenal have not been crowned champions since 2004 and are five points adrift of Leicester following Sunday's 3-2 defeat at an injury-hit Manchester United, while Spurs stayed within two points of Claudio Ranieri's surprise leaders after a 2-1 comeback victory.

Wenger's men take on Swansea on Wednesday before a crucial London derby against Spurs, and Merson – who played in the Frenchman's maiden season at the Gunners helm in 1996-97 – feels the 66-year-old's near 20-year tenure at Arsenal should come to an end if they lose out to this year's shock title contenders.

"If Man City don't win the league and Tottenham or Leicester do then Arsene Wenger has to go," he told Sky Sports.

"If you're sitting there telling those fans – loyal Arsenal fans – that they don't need any new players at the start of the season and then you don't win the league in front of Leicester or Tottenham then I don't see how you can justify it.

"If Man City win the league he can turn around and say 'they've got all the money in the world and can go and buy whoever they want, so would whoever I bought have made much difference?'.

"But if Leicester or Tottenham win the league after he said they didn't need any players then I don't see how he can keep his job.

"People may say there's nobody better than him, but there's a thousand managers who could come in and get Arsenal in the top four.

"A thousand managers would come to Arsenal and say 'don't give me a penny, but if I get Arsenal in the top four then pay me 10 million quid'.

"Every football manager in the world would take that deal. Arsenal are always going to get in the top four.

SOURCE: GOAL.COM

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's 92nd birthday to be marked with £550,000 festivities

Robert Mugabe who has been in power in Zimbabwe for 36 years turned 92 this week and staff at his office presented him with a huge cake to mark the occasion. A bigger party will be held this weekend in the city of Masvingo featuring a huge 92kg cake and the whole party costing £550,000.

The 'thank you' bash for the world's oldest head of state will see banners and billboards carry the slogan 'Thank you, Bob, for giving us a voice to be heard'. Mugabe's birthday has been a public celebration since 1986 and while officials are reticent to disclose costs, past festivities have been said to run up to $1million for the transportation, accommodation and feeding of thousands of guests.
The state-run Sunday Mail published a 16-page supplement to celebrate this year's occasion with posters in the newspaper reading 'Mugabe's birthday is like that of Jesus Christ'.

With Zimbabwe in the midst of a drought that has left over 3million people reliant on food aid supplied mainly by the United States and the European Union, opponents of the president have criticised the lavish celebrations at a time of hardship but supporters insist they must party on.
Ruling party members and business people paid between $5000 and $100000 for a table of 10 at a sold-out dinner this weekend to raise funds for the festivities.

Outside the banquet, some Zimbabweans were bitterly critical of the birthday plans.

'Maybe they have no shame, openly feasting amid such hunger,' said Denias Munongoza, 27, a college graduate who sells cigarettes and condoms to feed his family. 'This year the president should have said `no.''

 

'Mugabe and his cronies are planning to feast instead of attending to the resuscitation of the comatose economy and addressing the effects and impact of the drought,' said Obert Gutu, spokesman for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change-T.

source: lindaikejisblog.com

FOOTBALL: Unfortunate Casillas nets own goal to decide tie

Borussia Dortmund sealed their place in the last 16 of the Europa League with a 1-0 victory over Porto at Estadio Do Dragao on Thursday, after Iker Casillas netted an unfortunate own goal.After a bright start to proceedings it was the visitors who netted an important away goal to put themselves out of sight. Marco Reus, found space inside the box to unleashes a thumping volley that Casillas did well to save to save at the first attempt.However, the Spaniard could only push the ball into the path of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, whose close-range shot deflected off both the crossbar and the goalkeeper before rolling into the back of the net.Porto piled piled on the pressure after conceding as Evandro went agonizingly close to finding an equaliser before Dortmund stopper Roman Burki pulled off a magnificent one-handed save to deny Varela’s header.

source: goal.com

FOOTBALL: Alex Song celebrated Barcelona's win over Arsenal with Dani Alves

Alex Song was a notoriously divisive figure during his time at Arsenal and he is unlikely to have gone up in the estimation of Gooners after footage emerged of him celebrating Barcelona's victory at the Emirates Stadium with Dani Alves on Tuesday.

The West Ham midfielder and part-time fashionista moved from north London to Barcelona in the summer of 2012 and went from one of the linchpins of Arsenal’s midfield to a serial benchwarmer in Catalunia.

Sporting typically garish headwear, Song, on loan at Upton Park from Barcelona for a second successive season, captured himself on camera with Alves bopping along to Fifth Harmony’s smash hit 'Worth It' after Lionel Messi had secured a 2-0 first-leg victory in the Champions League last 16.

source: goal.com(see video here)

FOOTBALL: "Forget about Barcelona or I'll axe you"- Ranieri

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has warned Riyad Mahrez to forget about joining Barcelona - or face the axe from his starting line-up.
The 25-year-old has played a pivotal role in his side's terrific campaign, hitting 14 league goals as the Foxes lead second-placed Tottenham by two points in the chase for an unlikely Premier League title.
Mahrez has attracted the interest of many admirers, including reports of a potential move to Barca, and refused to rule out speculation linking him to the Liga giants during an interview withGoal in February.

Yet ahead of a vital clash with Norwich City on Saturday as the Foxes look to bounce back from a defeat to Arsenal, Ranieri fired a warning for the Algeria international to remain focused.
He told reporters: "If Riyad plays as well as Riyad [can play], he continues to play. 
"When I see Riyad think about other teams he [can] come with me on the bench."

source: goal.com

FOOTBALL: Former Arsenal and France star Robert Pires has announced his retirement from football

Former Arsenal and France star Robert Pires has announced his retirement from football at the age of 42.The winger also played for Metz, Marseille, Villarreal and Aston Villa before finishing his career with Indian Super League side Goa, who he left last March.And the midfielder has revealed that his career, which began in 1993, has come to an end.

"I am 42 years old and now must be the time to say stop – my last experience was in India," he told L'Equipe. "Above all it is necessary give way to the young players."

He won the 1998 World Cup, Euro 2000 and two Confederations Cup titles with France, for whom he last played in 2004.

At club level, Pires enjoyed significant success at Arsenal between 2000 and 2006, winning two Premier League titles including in the club's 2003-04 Invincibles season and picking up three FA Cup medals.

One trophy that eluded him was the Champions League, with the Gunners losing the 2006 final to Barcelona in what proved to be his final match for the club before joining Villarreal.

SOURCE: GOAL.COM

FOOTBALL: Mata goal v Shrewsbury should not have stood

Juan Mata’s controversial goal against Shrewsbury during Monday’s FA Cup fifth round tie should not have stood, the Premier League has confirmed.
The Spaniard’s 45th minute free-kick put his side 2-0 up and all but booked Louis Van Gaal’s men a place in the quarter final against West Ham. 
But the goal and, more specifically, the deployment of a three-man wall comprised of Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Daley Blind in front of Shrewsbury goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler, caused controversy and confusion in equal measure.
As a result the Premier League has written to clubs this week in order to clarify that the tactics used by United should have resulted in Mata’s goal being chalked off.
A statement read: “The Premier League has this week written to its clubs to provide guidance regarding the offside law. The guidance is in relation to players standing in an offside position when a free-kick is taken.

“Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) issued this guidance to clear up misunderstandings that arose following the goal awarded to Manchester United in their FA Cup fifth-round tie against Shrewsbury Town on Monday night.

“PGMOL consulted the International Football Association Board (IFAB) as to whether there was an offside offence or not. As a result the PGMOL guidance below clarifies the situation.

source: goal.com

FOOTBALL: Anthony Martial has been ruled out of Manchester United's Europa League second-leg clash

Anthony Martial has been ruled out of Manchester United's Europa League second-leg clash
with Midtjylland, after the France striker picked up a hamstring injury in the warm-up. 
Martial had been down to start the match at Old Trafford, with the Red Devils looking to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg in Denmark. 
But Louis van Gaal's side have now been presented with another obstacle as young striker Marcus Rashford comes in to make his debut for the club. 
The striker receives his first senior outing in the crucial clash having only featured for the club's under-18 and under-19 sides before, never previously turning out for the under-21s.

Van Gaal had already been forced to make several awkward selection choices for Thursday's starting XI, fielding Michael Carrick and Daley Blind as a makeshift centre-back pairing.

SOURCE:GOAL.COM

Man Utd cruise past FC Midtjylland in the 2nd leg of Europa Cup

Manchester United youngster Marcus Rashford scored twice on a dream debut to help his side to a 5-1 victory over FC Midtjylland in the Europa League on Thursday.
Anthony Martial had been selected to start only to pick up a hamstring injury in the warm-up, forcing Louis van Gaal into selecting academy graduate Rashford as their only striker.
Yet Pione Sisto shocked United fans by opening the scoring just before the half-hour mark, skipping past Michael Carrick and Joe Riley before firing low past Sergio Romero.
The hosts were shortly back in the game - and the tie - when Nikolay Bodurov turned the ball into his own net in an attempt to clear a teasing cross from Memphis Depay.
And United came close to taking the lead after Morgan Schneiderlin hit the post with a header.
 
Shortly after, however, they were gifted the chance to make it 2-1 when Andre Romer fouled Ander Herrera inside the area, yet a tame penalty from Juan Mata was palmed wide by Mikkel Andersen.

Mata went some way to redeeming himself after assisting for young striker Rashford to score on his debut.

Rashford's dream debut continued as he doubled his lead and put United 4-3 ahead in the tie with a simple finish at the back-post following a cross from Guillermo Varela.

Herrera scored from the spot minutes before Andre Roemer was dismissed for a second bookable offence, leaving Memphis to wrap up a comprehensive second-leg victory with a fifth goal late on.

source:goal.com

Adam Johnson denies having oral sex with underage girl, says they only kissed but he can't remember getting aroused

Footballer Adam Johnson was in court today and denied having oral or penetrative sex with a 15 year old girl. He admitted to only kissing the girl and when asked by prosecutor Daniel Thomas if he was sexually aroused by the kiss,  Johnson said he had 'no specific recollection' of being sexually aroused but admitted it was a 'possibility'.

Johnson arrived at Bradford Crown Court today without his girlfriend Stacey Flounders, the last time she appeared in court with him was on Tuesday last week.

 The court heard last week that Johnson twice met a 15-year-old in January last year after she befriended him on Facebook.

At the first meeting, the girl got into Johnson's Range Rover Sport, where he signed two football shirts for her.

The pair then exchanged messages online, at which Johnson spoke about getting a 'thank you kiss' from the girl, the jury heard.

When he met the teenager in his car for a second time, she says she performed a sex act on him and he put his hand down her trousers, an allegation the football staunchly denies.

The Englishman already sacked by his club Sunderland for admitting to child sex offences of grooming and kissing an under age girl , also confessed in court today that as at when he was kissing the girl , he and his partner Stacey Flounders were having a rocky relationship and he also sent sexual messages to different women in their 20s. 

 

He told the jury: 'I wasn't being a good person to my girlfriend or my daughter. I was talking to people I shouldn't have.' 

Prosecutor Johnson's QC Orlando Pownall asked him: 'You pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child and meeting a child following sexual grooming. Did you accept kissing [the girl)?'

Johnson replied: 'Yes.'

Mr Pownall continued: 'Did you interfere with her or indulge in oral sex with her?'

He answered: 'No, I never.' 

The court has previously heard that Johnson searched 'legal age of consent' online just days after he met the girl.

Johnson said today that the online search was as a result of a changing room conversation his teammates had. 

He said the Sunderland players were discussing a TV programme and the 'foreign lads' didn't know the law.

Johnson told the court: 'We were having a discussion in the dressing room about a programme that was on a couple of days ago about different ages and things like that.

'There are a lot of players in our team from all sorts of countries and we were having a discussion about laws and ages and things in different parts of the world.'

He said he knew kissing the girl was an offence but did not realise that communicating with her with the intention of kissing her prior to meeting was also an offence.

Mr Pownall asked: 'Were you contemplating any kind of sexual encounter with her?'

Johnson replied: 'No.'

He said he asked for the teenager's number because she had been asking for signed shirts.

When asked why he told her not to tell anyone she was messaging him, he said: 'Loads of reasons, i had a girlfriend, I knew what could be made of speaking to a girl that age, I didn't want her to tell her friends and them to come and ask me for shirts as well.'

The court was also read a statement Johnson made to police after his arrest in March last year.

In it, he says: 'I recognise my behaviour was wholly unacceptable. I accept the stupidity of my actions.

'I wholeheartedly apologise to [the girl]. She is a child and ought to have been safe in my company.' 

source: lindaikejisblog.com