Mesut Ozil has claimed he is usually the player to be singled out when Arsenal are struggling, but insists his record speaks for itself.
The Germany international has fallen short of producing his best form during a disappointing season for the Gunners, who crashed out of the Champions League after a 10-2 aggregate loss to Bayern Munich and may yet fail to qualify for the 2017-18 competition.
The future of manager Arsene Wenger, who is out of contract at the end of the campaign, has been the subject of intense speculation, while Ozil and star striker Alexis Sanchez have both been tipped to seek an exit from Emirates Stadium.
Ozil seemingly feels he has been blamed, at least in part, for the difficult predicament the north London side are in.
People kn…
The race is heating up for Neymar.
With Paris Saint-Germain reportedly willing to part with the world s most expensive player, two LaLiga giants are set to go head-to-head.
Will Neymar end up at former club Barcelona or bitter Spanish rivals Real Madrid?
TOP STORY – BARCA AND MADRID FIGHT FOR NEYMAR
A return to Barcelona and a blockbuster transfer to Real Madrid both appear on the cards for Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar.
Hola, aquí os dejamos la portada de este jueves
— Mundo Deportivo (@mundodeportivo)
According to Mundo Deportivo, Madrid are reportedly ready to pay €130million for Neymar in a deal which would also include either James Rodriguez or Gareth Bale.
But Globo Esporte says Neymar – w…
Frank Lampard admits Olivier Giroud has given him a really nice problem as the France striker pushes for a regular Premier League start.
Four goals against Sevilla in the Champions League on Wednesday showed Giroud can have a big part to play for Chelsea this season.
Tammy Abraham has led the line for Chelsea recently in the Premier League, and it remains to be seen who Lampard turns to for Saturday s Stamford Bridge clash with Leeds United.
Giroud has continued to contribute consistently for France, even when sidelined at Chelsea, and Lampard knows he has a player raring to be unleashed in the domestic competition.
With the delayed Euro 2020 finals coming up next year, Giroud naturally wants to be as match sharp as possible, but Lampard cannot a…
Rangers’ Champions League hopes are in the balance after PSV Eindhoven came from behind twice to draw 2-2 in a pulsating play-off first-leg tie at Ibrox.
Gers attacker Abdallah Sima curled in a terrific opener just before the interval with the Dutch side punished for sloppiness.
However, the visitors levelled through impressive midfielder Ibrahim Sangare just after the hour mark.
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague)
Substitute Rabbi Matondo scored his first Light Blues goal in the 76th minute before PSV captain Luuk de Jong levelled with a header four minutes later, to repeat last year’s score at the same stage of the competition.
The two sides drew 2-2 at Ibrox before Rangers scrambled a 1-0 win in Eindhoven and Michael Bea…
Serbia midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic would have accepted knowing a win in their final Group G game against Switzerland would likely be enough to secure progression to the World Cup knockout stages.
Dragan Stojkovic s side have taken just one point from their two games so far, coming in a 3-3 draw against Cameroon last time out, but are still in with a chance of going through, although they need Cameroon to lose to Brazil.
Assuming that happens, a Serbia win would be enough with Switzerland requiring just a draw.
They find themselves in a perilous position but Milinkovic-Savic insists it is not a surprise. Asked if he would have taken this situation beforehand, he said: Of course. When we saw the draw and the schedule, we knew that everything would depend on …
Thomas Tuchel wants Borussia Dortmund to qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League when they host Qabala on Thursday before turning their focus to the derby against Schalke.
The Bundesliga outfit have been in fine form in Europe so far this campaign and top Group C with seven points from three games played, holding a three-point lead over second-placed Krasnodar.
BVB recorded a 3-1 win over Qabala in Baku last month and another victory at the Signal Iduna Park could see them book their spot in the next round if Krasnodar beat PAOK.
It is not starting to itch just yet, but we are obviously looking forward to the derby against Schalke, Tuchel told reporters earlier this week.
We have a Europa League game against Qabala coming up first, though.<…
Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert says December s 3-1 victory at Anfield will count for nothing when they host Liverpool on Sunday.
Villa put in one of their best performances of the season that day and will fancy their chances of completing a double over Brendan Rodgers side after winning two consecutive league games for the first time.
Although the former Norwich manager admitted his side are in good shape going into Sunday s match, he is refusing to get carried away.
I don t know if you ever get a complete performance but, that day, we played very, very well, he told reporters.
Periods like that make you stronger when you re getting beat and beat. You just know it s in your abilities to win a game but sometimes you need a break to do so.
The Anf…
Rory McIlroy has added his voice to those wishing a speedy recovery to legendary former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, who remains in hospital following a brain haemorrhage.
Ferguson underwent emergency surgery on Saturday and no medical update has since been released.
United boss Jose Mourinho told a news conference on Wednesday that he was confident of a swift recovery, but was reluctant to go into further detail.
McIlroy is a well-known Red Devils fan and once spoke of how a speech from Ferguson ahead of the 2014 Ryder Cup left him in a trance .
And, addressing the media ahead of the Players Championship, McIlroy offered his best wishes.
I was shocked to hear the news last weekend that he d been to hospital, I m just glad he s pullin…
PSV coach Phillip Cocu has hailed the role of Diego Simeone in Atletico Madrid s recent successes ahead of the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in Eindhoven on Wednesday.
Simeone has guided Atletico to La Liga, Europa League and Copa del Rey triumph since taking charge at the Vicente Calderon in December 2011 and Cocu has nothing but respect for the Argentine s work.
Atletico Madrid are nothing like the team they were when I played in Spain, the Dutchman said. They have a different coach and different players, but it s nice to see how Simeone has built a good team again and I can surely appreciate that.
It s nice to see how Simeone transmits his character onto his players. They have lost some players, but their identity remains the same. Th…
Everton s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri believes managing the Toffees is one of the most difficult jobs in football.
Carlo Ancelotti s appointment as Everton s new boss was confirmed on Saturday, before interim manager Duncan Ferguson secured a goalless draw with Arsenal in his final match in charge.
Ancelotti was unveiled to the media on Monday, having taken over with Everton sitting just four points above the relegation zone a fortnight after Marco Silva was sacked.
Moshiri knows the Italian has a tough task on his hands, but believes Ancelotti s experience gives him the ability to cope with the expectations at Goodison Park.
Everton is a very difficult job, because you are two home losses from being disowned by the fans, Moshiri, who invested i…