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Sunday, 3 August 2014

Frank Lampard joins Man City on loan

Former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard will be part of Manchester City’s Premier League squad for the new season on a six-month loan from MLS expansion team New York City FC.  Frank Lampard joins Man City on loan
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini confirmed the deal on Saturday after the club’s International Challenge Cup defeat on penalties against Olympiakos at the University of Minnesota. “From next [this] week, on Wednesday, he’ll start working with our team,” Pellegrini said.

Reports: Arsenal will make one last £30m bid for Real Madrid midfielder Khedira

Arsenal will try to sign Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira one more time before giving up and turning their attentions elsewhere if they are unsuccessful.
The Germany World Cup winner has 12 months left on his contract with the Champions League holders but he is currently locked in transfer negotiations with the Spanish side and looks like he will leave.
Premier League duo Arsenal and Chelsea have been heavily linked to the midfielder throughout the transfer window although it had been believed that the former were closer to signing him.
However recently the North London side have been frustrated by Khedira’s wage demands and the deal appears to have stalled.
Now the Mail report that the Gunners will make one more attempt to bring the midfielder in before turning their attention to compatriot Lars Bender.
After the Emirates Cup victory over Benfica on Saturday manager Arsene Wenger hinted that there would be more signings but suggested they would be in the defensive area. Sami Khedira

Overreaction Theatre: Sanogo’s celebration fail

Overreaction Theatre: Sanogo’s celebration fail               Yaya Sanogo, Arsenal’s goalless striker, surprised everyone with his four-goal haul as Arsenal thrashed Benfica 5-1 in the Emirates Cup on Saturday.
The young Frenchman, who looked shorn of all confidence after joining the Gunners from Auxerre last summer, seemed to be a completely different player as he led the line with Joel Campbell. Cue social media explosion.
Of course this was a pre-season friendly, meaning the pressure which negatively impacted Sanogo last season was well and truly off. Also, many of these reactions were tongue-in-cheek. But let’s have a collective irony bypass and enjoy them at face value…
First up, despite scoring four goals, the player himself was brought back down to earth with this hilarious botched celebration:

Alexis, Debuchy and Chambers: How did Arsenal’s new boys do?

Alexis, Debuchy and Chambers: How did Arsenal’s new boys do?
Sanchez rates as one of Arsene Wenger's most exciting signings of the past 20 years and a fan-base reared on Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie is desperate for the Chile international, brought to the club from Barcelona for £32 million, to etch his name into Arsenal history alongside his predecessors. Sanchez was purchased as a lightning-quick and versatile forward, who would either perform on the right of the attack as he did for Barcelona, or through the centre as he more often does for his national team, and in spells for both Barca and Udinese. Sanchez has been purchased to add an element of magic and penetration to an Arsenal attack lacking a true attacking talisman.
The reality:
Having made a bright yet brief debut against Benfica in the central striker's role, Sanchez moved to the right to accommodate Olivier Giroud and promptly saw the Frenchman waste two of his perceptive passes early on. Sanchez looked to move the ball quickly and venomously and supplied the kind of cultured passes that Theo Walcott cannot. However, with Monaco proving rather more tricky than Benfica, his enthusiastic first-half contribution produced little in terms of decisive end product, even if a couple of clever flicks drew gasps from the crowd.
Arsenal immediately looked a more dangerous proposition when he moved to a central role at half-time, with Giroud coming off, as Sanchez sometimes took on the false nine brief, dropping off the front into deep or wide positions, and sometimes played on the last shoulder, looking to run in behind. He also held his own in the air, winning two early aerial battles against Monaco's centre-backs, and then wasted a fine opportunity as he thrashed the ball wide from a pass from Santi Cazorla. But that was the best chance to come his way before Chuba Akpom took his place in attack with 16 minutes remaining.

MATHIEU DEBUCHY: How did Arsenal’s new boys do?

Alexis, Debuchy and Chambers: How did Arsenal’s new boys do?
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Bar a notable dip in form in the 2012-13 season, Bacary Sagna was the very model of consistency for Arsenal and a solid Wenger consigliere - a man to rely on, a man to to do the dirty work, even if he spoke at a barely perceptible whisper. To many, his loss to Manchester City and the subsequent recruitment of Debuchy from Newcastle ranks as a minor downgrade. Not that Didier Deschamps would agree, preferring the younger, debonaire Debuchy for France. Though something has been made of Debuchy's attributes in the air compared to Sagna, and a cautious few expect an improvement on his predecessor, most would merely hope the line of succession remains unbroken in terms of applied consistency, and Debuchy represents more of the same.
The reality:
Pretty much what you would expect. Debuchy just makes sense in this Arsenal team. He slotted in quickly and comfortably and was a solid presence in the first half. The Frenchman did not demonstrate the dynamism shown by youngster Hector Bellerin 24 hours previously, but in Lucas Ocampos he was presented with a dangerous opponent and he also dropped in to help deal with Falcao on occasion.
In the second half he executed a successful yet rather inadvisable bodyswerve in his own box to slip between two Monaco players, but it was a showy moment otherwise out of keeping with a disciplined performance.

Manchester United battling Bayern over Di Maria

The Sunday Times reports that United face a new hurdle in signing Argentina's Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid for £55m: interest from Bayern Munich. FFP rules appear to have ruled PSG out of the bidding, but Bayern "have asked about the forward’s personal terms… and it is understood that Di Maria would choose them ahead of United."Surely this is the point that United must start looking at other targets instead. As good as Di Maria is, there's no chance of him turning his nose up at a chance to star for a club that is not only in the Champions League, but has an excellent chance of winning. The possibility of two European winners' medals in as many years will be far too strong a lure for Di MariaAngel Di Maria (Real Madrid)

Arsenal go head-to-head with United for Hummels

The Daily Mirror reports that the German defender is still available for around £30m despite denials from Borussia Dortmund and claims that, "the Gunners are ready to challenge Manchester United for the signature of the Germany World Cup winner."Mats Hummels (AFP)

Pochettino to move for Eto'o

The Sun on Sunday reports that Tottenham are to hijack West Ham's attempts to land Samuel Eto'o. The paper quotes a "friend" of the Cameroon star saying, "Tottenham have been in contact with Samuel’s agent and they asked about what his situation is. Talks have been ongoing all week with West Ham, though, who have made the most serious proposals so far. But Spurs coming in suddenly has made it far more interesting for Samuel."What is this, 2008? Eto'o showed beyond any doubt last season that, while he still has the odd flash, he is well past his sell-by date. That sort of a deal might work out for goal-shy, striker-deprived, relegation-battling West Ham, but Tottenham would be crazy not to aim their sights higher

Barcelona move in for Vermaelen

The Mirror reports that, "Barcelona have emerged as favourites to land Arsenal skipper Thomas Vermaelen for £10m," with new Barca coach Luis Enrique believing the 28-year-old to be "perfect for his rebuilding job". Arsenal's Belgian defender has been a target for Manchester United all summer, but Arsene Wenger would be thrilled to sell to a club who aren't likely to be duking it out with the Gunners for a Champions League spot come next May.

Southampton target Rodwell, but face Napoli battle

The Star reports that the Saints are finally trying to spend some of the money they've raised in transfers so far this season, and have alighted on Manchester City's 23-year-old midfielder Jack Rodwell. The problem is that Rafa Benitez has long admired Rodwell as well and wants to take him to Italy. Rodwell has far too much to offer to spend another season trying to escape the gravitational pull of the City reserves side. It's just a question of how far south he wants to move - but assuming he doesn't mind the idea of the dolce vita in Italy, then he'd be crazy to walk away from an offer by a club enjoying Champions League football this season.Jack Rodwell (PA Sport)