Ozil signs for Arsenal

Mesut Ozil has sealed a spectacular 40 million pound move to Arsenal after signing a five-year contract.

The Gunners have smashed their transfer record to land the Germany international, who underwent the second part of his medical in Munich on Monday after agreeing personal terms with the club.

“We are extremely pleased to have signed Mesut Ozil,” Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger said. “He is a great player, with proven quality at both club and international level. We have watched and admired him for some time as he has all the attributes I look for in an Arsenal player.”

Goal has learned that Ozil has signed a deal worth £130,000-a-week that will run until 2018 after Real Madrid gave the green light to his departure.

He has comfortably become Arsenal’s highest-paid player as well as the club’s record signing, after Wenger sanctioned the first £20m-plus transfer in their history.

Goal revealed on Sunday that Arsenal was in advanced discussions with Real to sign Ozil before Monday night’s transfer deadline.

The two clubs agreed a £40m fee before Ozil’s representatives began discussing personal terms with senior Arsenal officials.

An agreement was reached late on Monday morning, as was revealed by Goal, before Ozil underwent medical tests in Germany, where he had been based as the national team prepare for their forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.

“I am thrilled to be joining a club of the stature of Arsenal and am looking forward to playing in the Premier League,” Ozil said. “It will be great for my own personal development as a player and I am particularly looking forward to working with Arsène Wenger.”

Goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano passed a medical on Monday morning, and agreed the terms of a season-long loan from Palermo.

source: Goal.com

Arsenal Complete Capture of Goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano on a season-long loan deal from Palermo.

The 27-year old, who has six Italy caps to his name, spent last season on loan at Fiorentina where he made 32 Serie A appearances, having joined from Inter Milan in 2012.

Viviano has also previously had spells at Brescia and Bologna, and he is a goalkeeper that Arsene Wenger has followed for some time.

The Arsenal manager told the club’s official website: “Viviano is a player that we have rated for some time and we are very pleased to have signed him on loan.

“He’s experienced and has proved himself at a high level, and provides us with excellent cover to our existing goalkeepers.”

The deal for Viviano could be the first of three signings that Arsenal are hoping to complete before the transfer window closes at 11pm.

Arsenal are also understood to be interested in a loan deal for Chelsea striker Demba Ba and are also trying to finalise a club record deal for Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Ozil.

source: myjoyonline.com

‘Essien is not using Ghana to revive his career’

Ghana Football Association President Kwesi Nyantakyi sharply disagrees with the asserting that Black Stars returnee Michael Essien is taking advantage of Ghana to revive his career which seems to be faltering.

The Chelsea midfielder took a break from international football following injuries he sustained playing for Ghana- first was at the 2010 Nations Cup.

The 30-year-old, who is yet to play in the premiership for his club side Chelsea after returning on a season long loan from Spanish side Real Madrid this season has been described as an opportunist and is only returning to the Black Stars because he wants to revive his career by some football pundits.

But Nyantakyi who doubles as chairman of the Black Stars management committee disagrees.

“We should appreciate the fact that Essien has gone through a lot, the two career threatening injuries that afflicted his life all occurred during his time with the national team,” said Nyantakyi.

He added: “I don’t agree with that suggestion because there is no guarantee that if he plays for the national team it will enhance his career opportunities, I do not think that is the motivation for him to come back and play but is out of the love he has for his country.

“All the players are patriotic Ghanaians and that is why they have decided to come and play for Ghana, if you read ulterior motives to their actions you may not be fair to them.”

source; ghanaweb.com

World Cup Qualifier: Kevin arrives tonight

Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng is expected to arrive in Accra on Monday night to rejoin the Black Stars ahead of their deciding World Cup qualifier against Zambia on Friday.

The 26-year-old made his debut for Schalke in their 2-0 win over Bayern Leverkusen on Saturday following his move from AC Milan a day earlier.

The versatile midfielder is now expected to get a huge reception on his return to join the Black Stars haven rescinded his decision to quit international football.

Boateng shocked the world over two years ago when he announced his premature retirement from the Black Stars.

He however wrote to the Ghana FA last month to declare he was available for national team selection after several consultations.

Boateng will however miss Ghana’s opening training session which begins on Monday evening at the Accra Sports Stadium at 4pm local time.

Captain Asamoah Gyan has already arrived to lead the team in the opening training session on Monday.

He will be joined in training by Kwadwo Asamoah, Christian Atsu, Fatau Dauda and Mahatma Otoo.

Others to train on Monday include Razak Braimah, Rashid Sumaila, Awal Mohammed, Mubarak Wakaso and Albert Adomah.

source: ghanaweb.com

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Black Stars get down to work in Accra

The Black Stars held their first training session on Monday in Accra, marking the beginning of a key week for Kwesi Appiah’s men.

Ghana take on Zambia on Friday in Kumasi in the last match of the second round qualifier for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

With the Black Stars sitting top of the Group D standings and looking to confirm their place in the third round stage, twelve players turned up for training on the first day at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Captain Asamoah Gyan, Albert Adomah, Rashid Sumaila, Mahatma Otoo, Kwadwo Asamoah, Jonathan Mensah, Razak Braimah, Fatau Dauda, Rabiu Mohammed, Christian Atsu, Mubarak Wakaso and Awal Mohammed were all present on the first day.

Also joining in was Michael Essien, who took part during the groups running sessions but remained on the sidelines when the ball work started.

Kwesi Appiah expects more player arrivals for Tuesday’s double session.

The Black Stars are in first place and one point better than Zambia on the table ahead of their final meeting at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

Winners of the second round stage will advance to the final round where ten sides will be paired off for the final stage during October and November with the winners of the five home-and-away ties qualifying for Brazil 2014.

source: modernghana.com

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Juan Mata holding talks with PSG

Spanish footballer Juan Mata is presently holding talks with French football club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The French television station Infosport Plus is confirming that Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata is presently holding talks with PSG.

‘Signing the Spaniard would, in my eyes, make perfect sense for Laurent Blanc’s team. The French champions may be getting consistent results in Ligue 1, yet they continue to appear disjointed with no obvious link between midfield and attack. ‘Their current playmaker Javier Pastore has been operating as part of a midfield three of late, with Ibrahimovic, Cavani and Lavezzi in attack, but the Argentinian – who certainly hasn’t set the capital alight following his £35m move from Palermo in 2011 – is struggling badly this season and has been jeered at the Parc des Princes in the last two home games.

 

source: modernghana.com

Asamoah, Atsu and others to arrive tonight ahead of Black Stars opening training session on Monday

Kwadwo Asamoah and Christian Atsu will be arriving on Sunday night to join the Black Stars camp ahead of the opening training session towards the deciding World Cup qualifier against Zambia on Monday.

Asamoah boarded a direct flight to Accra in Amsterdam earlier this morning after helping Juventus to an emphatic 4-1 win over Lazio in the Serie-A the night before.

The talented midfielder was joined by Christian Atsu on the same flight in Amsterdam haven completed his Chelsea medical at Vitesse Arnhem and signed for the Blues 24 hours earlier.

The duo’s arrival will swell the numbers of already confirmed arrivals for national team duty.

Captain Asamoah Gyan was the first to arrive on Saturday morning after playing for Al Ain in their UAE Super Cup defeat to Al Ahli on Friday night.

Gyan’s confirmed arrival was followed by that of Fatau Dauda, Mubarak Wakaso and Mahatma Otoo.

With Asamoah and Atsu set to arrive on Sunday night, Ghana coach Akwasi Appiah will have an appreciable number of players to work with on Monday as other unconfirmed arrivals are expected tonight.

The Black Stars will begin training towards Friday’s deciding 2014 World Cup qualifier against Zambia with an opening training session at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday at 4pm local time.

The Black Stars camp is expected to have recorded a near full house by the time the team takes to the pitch on Monday evening.

Ghana is determined to beat Zambia by a resounding margin on Friday despite needing only a draw to progress in the qualifiers for next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

The Black Stars currently lead Group D by just a point and remain on track towards qualifying for a third successive World Cup finals.

source; ghanasoccernet.com

Real Madrid signs Bale for world record fee

Real Madrid has confirmed the signing of Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur for a reported 100 million euros.

The Wales international succeeds new teammate Cristiano Ronaldo as the game’s most expensive player after penning a six-year contract with the Liga giant.

“I am not sure there is ever a good time to leave a club where I felt settled and was playing the best football of my career to date,” Bale said in a statement published on the Tottenham website. “I know many players talk of their desire to join the club of their boyhood dreams, but I can honestly say, this is my dream come true.”

Bale first came to prominence as a 16-year-old with Southampton before joining Tottenham in 2007.

The then fullback initially struggled at White Hart Lane but he flourished after being converted into a winger, winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 2010-11.

“I am well aware that I would not be at the level I am today were it not for firstly Southampton and then Spurs standing by me during some of the tougher times and affording me the environment and support they have,” Bale said. “Tottenham will always be in my heart and I’m sure that this season will be a successful one for them. I am now looking forward to the next exciting chapter in my life, playing football for Real Madrid.”

Bale collected the same prize last year, after scoring 26 goals in 44 appearances in all competitions.

His fantastic form was not enough to earn Spurs a place in the Champions League but the 24-year-old will now feature in the competition this season after finally completing his drawn-out move to Madrid.

source: Goal.com

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Magical Mkhitaryan fires Klopp’s side top

Two terrific goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan handed Borussia Dortmund a 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday, moving the club to the top of the Bundesliga. The Armenian struck either side of Vaclav Kadlec’s goal to see Jurgen Klopp’s side leapfrog Bayern Munich with its fourth win in four league games against a spirited Frankfurt side.

Dortmund made one change from a 1-0 win over Werder Bremen last week, with Sven Bender replacing Sebastian Kehl in midfield.

For the home side, recent signings Stephan Schrock and Kadlec both featured in the starting lineup as Armin Veh’s men went in search of consecutive Bundesliga wins.

Frankfurt started brightly and created an early chance when Japan international Takashi Inui tested Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller.

At the other end, Marco Reus set up Jakub Blaszczykowski, but he could only fire straight at keeper Kevin Trapp.

Dortmund did score an early goal though, as Armenian Mkhitaryan calmly slid home a through ball.

Blaszczykowski slipped the ball in behind the Frankfurt defense and Mkhitaryan did the rest, timing his run well before slotting a left-footed effort past Trapp.

Kadlec had a terrific chance to level proceedings but was denied by good defending from Marcel Schmelzer, before Weidenfeller kept out the dangerous Czech forward moments later.

Kadlec was a constant threat though, and opened his Frankfurt account 10 minutes before the break after reacting quickly to a loose ball, knocking home the rebound from Stefan Aigner’s cross to send the sides level into the break.

Parity was not to last long, however, as Mkhitaryan fired home his second of the afternoon within 15 minutes of the restart. The attacking midfielder cut in from the right before dribbling along the edge of the penalty area and striking powerfully past Trapp.

Dortmund almost scored a third goal shortly after, but defender Neven Subotic saw his header hit the post.

The visiting side enjoyed good spells of possession in the latter stages but could not find another goal to kill the game off.

Dortmund held on for victory though, as Jurgen Klopp’s men – who have lost just two Bundesliga matches on the road since Sept. 2011 – made it four wins from as many games this season, leapfrogging champion Bayern Munich into first place in the table.

source: Goal.com

Giroud strike downs big-spending Spurs

The France international struck the only goal of the game midway through the first half after cleverly clipping home Theo Walcott’s low cross.

Arsenal made two changes to the side that beat Fulham 3-1 last week, with Laurent Koscielny and Jack Wilshere coming in for Bacary Sagna and the injured Lukas Podolski, while new signing Mathieu Flamini – in his second spell with the club – was named on the bench.

Erik Lamela was among the Tottenham substitutes, although fellow new additions Vlad Chiriches and Christian Eriksen were not included in the squad.

Arsenal seized the early momentum almost immediately and twice came close to going ahead in the opening five minutes. Santi Cazorla forced Hugo Lloris into a fine save with a curling free kick before shooting narrowly wide from another set piece shortly after.

The home side’s dominance looked to have come to an end as Tottenham began to dictate the game and press forward.

However, Andre Villas-Boas’ men were undone on the counterattack after 23 minutes, with Giroud meeting a low near-post cross from Theo Walcott to prod home from point-blank range.

Arsenal wasted no time in attempting to add to the lead, Walcott again causing problems as he burst free down the right wing only to be denied by another athletic save from Lloris.

Aaron Ramsey fired over from distance on the half-hour mark before Lloris had to be fleet of foot to race out of goal and win the ball after Walcott had again broken through the Tottenham back line.

Villas-Boas will have been disappointed by his team’s performance at both ends in the first half, with Andros Townsend the only player to force Wojciech Szczesny into a save with a tame effort.

Flamini’s comeback came earlier than expected for Arsenal, the Frenchman thrown into the action two minutes before the interval after Jack Wilshere was forced off through injury.

Arsenal’s superiority waned somewhat after the break, although Spurs still struggled to create any meaningful chances, Nacer Chadli sending a free kick way over the bar in the early stages of the second period.

Tottenham’s lack of creativity was nearly punished again by Giroud, the France international denied by compatriot Lloris, who produced a superb finger-tip save to push the striker’s left-footed shot wide of the post.

Lamela was introduced midway through the second half, the former Roma man brought on for Townsend, while Brazilian midfielder Sandro was also thrown into the fray after Etienne Capoue was taken off on a stretcher with an ankle injury.

Spurs had their best chance of the game moments later as Szczesny kept out a vicious volley from substitute Jermain Defoe from the edge of the area, with Roberto Soldado’s followup blocked by Giroud.

Giroud almost turned provider as Arsenal launched another excellent counter, the 26-year-old pulling back for Walcott only for Lloris to keep the deficit at one goal with another fine stop.

source: Goal.com

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