President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday led other senior members of the government to the National Arcade in Abuja to participate in the Wreath Laying Ceremony, marking the climax of 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration.
[Nation]
Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar can plan for the remainder of Arsenal's summer transfer window in the knowledge that two key deals have been completed and a verbal agreement is in place for another.
Whilst new signings to improve the first-team squad are, of course, important for the Gunners to challenge for the Premier League title once again next season, it's equally imperative to tie down their best players. Already this calendar year, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka have put pen to paper on new deals.
William Saliba is expected to follow suit shortly as football.london understands the Frenchman has verbally agreed to sign a new four-year contract, keeping him at the Emirates Stadium until 2027 at the latest and all that remains is for his signature and therefore an official announcement.
With the trio aged either 22 or younger, it is safe to say they will play a huge part in the club's quest for success in the present and in the future, although they all must be registered in Arsenal's 25-man Premier League squad in order to be eligible for the competition next season.
This marks a change from last season when they were classed as 21 or under which allowed them to be part of the separate list. But Under-21 players for the 2023/24 campaign must be born on or after 1 January 2002, Saka, Martinelli and Saliba will be considered 'homegrown' along with Benjamin White, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Rob Holding, Aaron Ramsdale, Reiss Nelson, Arthur Okonkwo and Folarin Balogun.
As this ruling will result in a minimum of three new names being registered in the Gunners' Premier League squad for next season, what impact will it have amid talk of an imminent double announcement with regard to Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber joining to push the club's spending past the £200million mark?
Well, Rice would be considered homegrown taking the overall number to 11 but this scenario would only allow for 14 overseas players to be named - usually 17 is the limit - and as things currently stand, the Gunners will have to make space in order to register Timber and two others.
This is because Gabriel Magalhaes, Mohamed Elneny, Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Jorginho, Jakub Kiwior, Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Leandro Trossard, Matt Turner, Granit Xhaka, Oleksandr Zinchenko, new signing Kai Havertz, Runar Alex Runarsson, Cedric Soares, Nuno Tavares, Auston Trusty, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nicolas Pepe fall into the overseas players' category.
Having said that, Arsenal have already begun the process of avoiding a squad registration issue as football.london understands Xhaka, Balogun, Pepe and Trusty are all expected to depart this summer as could Okonkwo, Runarsson, Cedric, Tavares and Lokonga with regular first-team football by no means a guarantee next season.
So assuming Rice and Timber sign but the aforementioned nine players are let go, the Gunners would be left with nine homegrown and 15 overseas players thus successfully adhering to the Premier League rules when permitted to name a 25-man squad when the summer transfer window closes at the beginning of September.
[football.london]
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka could complete his long-awaited move to Bayer Leverkusen this week as Declan Rice’s arrival nears.
Bayer Leverkusen may finally snap up Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka in the coming days with a £20million deal close.
That is according to The Mirror, who report that there is real hope that Xhaka’s move will finally go through.
Xhaka has been linked with Leverkusen for months now and had something of a farewell on the final day of the Premier League season.
That was more than a month ago now and there has been little movement on Xhaka’s expected departure.
However, it’s now thought that Xhaka could be just days away from completing his return to Germany.
The former Borussia Monchengladbach star has been identified as a key target for Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso – a former midfielder himself.
A £20million deal now seems to be nearing completion with Xhaka bringing his seven-year spell at Arsenal to an end after joining for £30million in 2016.
Arsenal may be waiting for Declan Rice arrival to green-light Granit Xhaka deal
Arsenal are on the verge of adding another midfielder this summer with Declan Rice set to join from West Ham United.
The Gunners do have Kai Havertz on board from Chelsea and the German may well be deployed in a midfield role at times.
Rice is the key though, giving Arsenal an option to play deep but also in a box-to-box role – just like Xhaka.
Arsenal getting closer to signing Rice and rumours of Xhaka’s deal being close again don’t feel like a coincidence.
The Gunners would hate to lose Xhaka without having Rice either on board or on the verge of arriving.
This really signals a new era for Arsenal’s midfield, and Xhaka at least leaves as an Arsenal favourite – something which didn’t seem likely back in the 2019-20 season.
[hitc]
Completing a successful loan spell at Osasuna, Ez Abde is set to return to Barcelona with newfangled motivation and an increased reputation. The Catalan’s need for a direct left-wing profile has been well documented by now, with attempts previously being made for Carrasco.
However, owing to drained finances, Abde is expected to fill that void in the squad. Mundo Deportivo has come out to share Abde’s official departure from Osasuna as the Moroccan leaves a heartfelt message, recollecting memories from his time in Pamplona.
“Thank you. I have felt at home and I have enjoyed myself like a small child“, the 21-year-old speedster wrote on Instagram, a public platform where he has amassed nearly two million followers.
Abde morphed into a regular team player, chiming in with important contributions on an array of occasions. He particularly thanked his teammates and the coaching staff, led by Jagoba Arrasate, “for having received me as one of the family. I just have to say thank you again.“
Despite going out on loan in unfamiliar territory, the player settled in well and managed to convince Barcelona of his skill set warranting increased patience.
The Moroccan sensation has appeared in 35 league games and contributed four goals to Osasuna’s seventh-place finish. Abde was instrumental in the Copa del Rey with his two goals against Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla, which provided the squad with the opportunity to play in their second final after a whopping duration of 18 years.
He now leaves with a positive atmosphere accompanying him as fans of Osasuna appreciate his short but memorable spell. As the Catalans gear up for a crucial season, they will look forward to retaining Abde, unless an offer worth studying comes their way. Interest from the English and Spanish League certainly lingers in the background.
[Barcanewsnetwork]
Arsenal are set to follow up the signing of Declan Rice by launching a surprise move for his West Ham team-mate Ben Johnson as Mikel Arteta continues to look for ways to improve his squad. The Gunners are expected to complete a record transfer for Rice in the coming days after finally agreeing a fee with their London rivals, and reports suggest they are not finished raiding David Moyes' squad with another move in the pipeline.
Rice has agreed to sign a long-term contract ahead of his £105million transfer, with Arsenal paying £100m up front and a further £5m in add-ons. It would represent the highest fee spent on a British player and the second-most expensive deal in English history behind Chelsea's signing of Enzo Fernandez.
And he could be joined by a familiar face in swapping one side of London for the north, with reports suggesting Johnson is a shock target for Arsenal.
The 23-year-old made 17 appearances in the Premier League last season, nine of which were starts, as he was used intermittently by Moyes throughout the season.
However, he has had to settle for a deputy role behind first-choice right-back Vladimir Coufal and has been tipped to leave the club this summer.
But according to The West Ham Way, Arsenal have joined Everton in the race to sign the defender, who can play as a full-back or centre-back. His current deal is set to expire in 2024 and the academy graduate is yet to agree terms on a contract extension, with his wage demands too high in comparison to regular starters.
That could force West Ham to sell him this summer for a cut-price fee, with interest from elsewhere in the Premier League. The Guardian reported recently that Everton were keen on the youngster, but Arsenal could now rival them for his signature.
Johnson may be regarded as a backup option by Arteta with Gabriel, William Saliba and Ben White all regarded as important members of the squad. He may be needed as Rob Holding is likely to leave the club, with Express Sport exclusively reporting the centre-back is in talks over a loan to Besiktas.
Arteta has wasted no time in identifying improvements for his squad after narrowly missing out on the Premier League title to Manchester City. They finished second behind Pep Guardiola's men, having led the treble winners by eight points before collapsing in the final weeks of the campaign.
And with the £65m signing of Kai Havertz from Chelsea already confirmed and Rice and Jurrien Timber set to join him at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal's spending is set to soar past £200million.
[Express.co.uk]
France captain Kylian Mbappe has called for an end to violent protests that erupted in the country after the fatal shooting of a teenager by police.
The 17-year-old boy, named publicly only as ‘Nahel M’, was shot at a traffic stop in the Parisian suburb of Nanterre on Tuesday. The killing triggered consecutive nights of demonstrations across the capital and in other parts of France, many of which descended into violent clashes with police and vandalism and looting of businesses.
Protests have continued despite the police officer concerned being detained and charged with voluntary homicide on Thursday. But Mbappe has taken to social media to appeal for calm on behalf of the French national team.
“Like all French people, we were marked and shocked by the brutal death of young Nahel,” he wrote. “Firstly, our thoughts go out to him and his family to whom we extend our sincere condolences.
“Obviously, we cannot remain insensitive to the circumstances in which this unacceptable death has taken place.
“Since this tragic event, we have been witnessing the expression of popular anger whose essence we understand, but whose form we cannot endorse.
“With many of us coming from working-class neighbourhoods, these feelings of pain and sadness, we also share them.
“But to this suffering is added that of assisting powerlessness to a real process of self-destruction.
“Violence solves nothing, even less when it inevitably and tirelessly turns against those who express it, their families, loved ones and neighbours.”
The statement concluded with a plea: “The time of violence must end to make way to that of mourning, dialogue and reconstruction.”
Mbappe, who was raised in Paris suburb of Bondy, had on Wednesday expressed his heartbreak at what he called an “unacceptable situation”, but given the escalation which has forced the French government to deploy 45,000 police officers, the call for calm from someone as influential as Mbappe will be welcomed by authorities.
Despite that, Friday night saw more unrest with the cities of Lyon and Marseille particularly chaotic. Mbappe and the government will be hoping his message helps defuse matters over the weekend.
Napoli star Victor Osimhen, currently enjoying his vacation in Lagos, has again shown his unwavering connection to the Italian champion with a symbolic social media post that keeps his Italian fans engaged.
The Nigerian forward took to social media to share photos of himself donning the iconic Buitoni shirt Napoli wore during their first championship victory.
To add a touch of nostalgia, Osimhen proudly sported the revered number 10 on his back, paying homage to the legendary Diego Maradona.
Osimhen’s post has already generated thousands of reactions from fans.
While rumours swirl about his future, Osimhen remains focused on his affiliation with the blue club, seemingly undeterred by transfer speculation.
Last season, the talented striker played a pivotal role in Napoli’s triumphant campaign, netting an impressive 26 goals in the league and providing four assists. The club clinched
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has been urging Osimhen to stay in Naples and aim for another Scudetto, following in the footsteps of the late Argentine legend.
Osimhen’s fondness for Napoli further hints at the possibility of extending his stay in Serie A.
However, it is no secret that the Nigerian forward harbors dreams of playing in the Premier League, with Chelsea and Manchester United emerging as prominent contenders to secure his services.
As Osimhen’s future hangs in the balance, many eagerly await his decision, pondering whether he will embark on a new challenge in England or continue his journey in Italy, aiming to replicate the feats of his revered predecessor.
The Nigerian women’s football team, Super Falcons, will today fly to Australia to step up their preparations for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced the nine-time African champions will depart Abuja for a 15-day training camp in Australia, before the World Cup with their base at Brisbane, which is also the venue for two of their group matches.
The team were hosted to a farewell dinner last night at the Transcorp Hotel Abuja with the First Lady Oluremi Tinubu in attendance.
The World Cup, featuring 32 teams, will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand between July 20 and August 20.
Nigeria’s opening match is against Olympic champions Canada at Melbourne’s Rectangular Stadium on July 21, before matches against co-hosts Australia and Republic of Ireland on July 27 and July 31 respectively at the Lang Park in Brisbane.
[Leadership]
Cesc Fabregas ex-Arsenal star has announced his retirement from football at the age of 36.
The Spaniard will move into coaching with Italian side Como, which was the Serie B club he played for last season.
During his spell, he played for Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea and Monaco.
Fabregas said, “It is with great sadness that the time has come for me to hang up my playing boots.
“From my first days at Barca, Arsenal, Barca again, Chelsea, Monaco and Como, I will treasure them all.
“From lifting the World Cup, and the Euros, to winning everything in England and Spain and nearly all the European trophies, it has been a journey that I’ll never forget.
“All those who have helped me, my team-mates, coaches, directors, presidents, owners, fans and my agent. To all my family, from my parents and my sister to my wife and kids, I cherish your advice, mentorship and guidance. To my opponents who tried to knock me, thank you for making me stronger.
“It has already been more than worth it with all the great memories and friends that I have made on the way. I’ve also learnt 3 languages and became more compassionate and wiser along my travels. I lived experiences that I never thought in a million years I would even come close to.”
Fabregas joined Barca’s La Masia Academy in 1997 when he was 10.
He played Premier League matches for Arsenal between 2004 and 2011 and won the FA Cup before leaving for Barcelona.
After three years in Barcelona, he moved to Chelsea in 2014.
He won the European Championship in 2008 and 2012 and was part of the golden team that lifted Spain’s first World Cup in South Africa.
Katerina Siniakova captured her fourth career title and first of the season after defeating Lucia Bronzetti 6-2, 7-6(5) in the final of the Bad Homburg Open. The victory capped off a stellar week for the reigning Doubles No.1, who was playing just her third tournament since recovering from a wrist injury that ruled her out of most of the clay season.
Siniakova entered the week ranked No.52 in singles and had not won a singles match since Indian Wells. At the Miami Open, she sustained a right wrist injury in her first-round match against Claire Liu and did not play again until Roland Garros.
Her first-round win in Bad Homburg over Elisabetta Cocciretto snapped a four-match losing streak, and she carried that momentum into her first Top 20 win of the season, defeating No.2 seed Liudmila Samsonova 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.
Playing her first singles final since winning 2022 Portoroz, Siniakova maintained complete control over the 65th-ranked Italian from the start. Not even a delayed start due to rain or a prolonged interruption after the first set could deter Siniakova, who came into the final having lost just one set all week.
Siniakova's only wobble came as she served for the win at 6-2, 5-3. Siniakova struck two double faults and two unforced errors in a disastrous service game to let the Rabat champion back in the set. In all, Siniakova lost 13 consecutive points before settling herself to hold to 6-5.
Having rediscovered her range, Siniakova sealed the victory in the tiebreak. After seeing Bronzetti save three match points, the Czech closed out her first grass-court title after 1 hour and 36 minutes. Siniakova finished the match with 16 winners to 27 unforced errors.
[wtatennis]
Daniil Medvedev feels World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz will win up to five Wimbledon titles in his career.
The Russian No. 1 has had a terrific start to the 2023 season, winning five ATP singles titles before traveling to Paris for Roland Garros. However, since his first-round defeat at the Paris Major, Medvedev has struggled for form.
In a recent conversation with the ATP, Daniil Medvedev opined that Alcaraz could win up to five Wimbledon titles, given the way he operates on every surface. However, he also added that it is tough to say because grass is 'a tough surface'.
“In my opinion, the way Carlos plays on every surface, he can win maybe five Wimbledons, but you never know. It's a tough surface to play on," he said.
The Russian went on to recall playing against the Spaniard and said that this year the 20-year-old has improved on grass.
"When we played [in 2021], he was not the same player, so I managed to get the best of this match," Medvedev said. "Last year, I think he improved [on grass] already, played this four-setter against [Jannik] Sinner [in the fourth round]. I remember it was a great match."
The 2021 US Open winner mentioned that grass is really tough for the players, but he feels Carlos Alcaraz's potential is 'really high' on this surface.
“So I think his potential is really high on any surface, but grass is a tough surface for many players. Let's see how he handles this task," Daniil Medvedev added.
The two-time Australian Open finalist also expressed his admiration for Alcaraz for playing so well on grass despite the perception that his style of play does not suit the surface.
“Then there is going to be someone else [like Alcaraz], where you say in your mind that while his game is not really suited for grass — maybe he doesn't go to the net that often and stuff like this — and then he plays so well on grass, and he says it himself that it is his best and favorite surface. That's where it's surprising," he concluded.
Wimbledon 2023: Daniil Medvedev to play Arthur Fery in 1R; Carlos Alcaraz to lock horns with Jeremy Chardy
Daniil Medvedev will kickstart his 2023 Wimbledon campaign by taking on Britain's Arthur Fery in the first round. The Russian was barred from participating in 2022 due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In his last appearance in 2021, Medvedev reached the fourth round of the tournament, where he lost to Hubert Hurkacz.
Carlos Alcaraz, on the other hand, will play against France's Jeremy Chardy in the opening round of Wimbledon. The top seed recently won his first grass-court title at the Queen's Club Championships. In 2022, at Wimbledon, he lost to Jannik Sinner in the fourth round of the tournament.
[sportskeeda]
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[PHOTO] Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu And Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat Sworn In For Second Term In Office
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Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu (middle) being congratulated by Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba (left) while the wife of the governor, Dr (Mrs) Ibijoke watches in admiration, during the inauguration of Governor Sanwo-Olu for second term in Office, at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, on Monday, May 29, 2023.
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, signing his Oath of Office while his wife, Dr (Mrs) Ibijoke (second left) and their children, watch during the inauguration of Governor Sanwo-Olu for second term in Office, at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, on Monday, May 29, 2023.
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu (fourth left), followed by his wife, Dr (Mrs) Ibijoke; wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Oluremi Hamzat; Dr Obafemi Hamzat; Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba (left) and family members during the inauguration of Governor Sanwo-Olu/Deputy Governor Hamzat for second term in Office, at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, on Monday, May 29, 2023.
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu (left) and Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat congratulate each other after being sworn-in for second term in Office, at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, on Monday, May 29, 2023.
The second daughter of the Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, Zina has been called to the Nigerian bar.
The former Abia State governor took to his Facebook page on Tuesday to celebrate Zina as she was called to the bar on Tuesday.
Kalu shared photos from the ceremony on his page, showering prayers on his daughter.
The Abia State former governor wrote, “Congratulations to our beautiful daughter Zina, on her call to the bar. May God keep blessing you forever and always. Your hard work finally paid off.
We feel so proud of you sweetheart.”
[NaijaNews]