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Thursday, December 31, 2020
बिग बास लिगको पहिलो खेलमा सन्दीप लामिछानेले खेल्ने
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Mikel Arteta challenged by ‘disaffected’ player at Arsenal team meeting
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta appears to have turned a corner after back-to-back victories over Chelsea and Brighton but tensions continue to simmer beneath the surface, with one star reportedly challenging the Spaniard at a recent team meeting.
Arteta made a statement by leaving Mesut Ozil out of his Premier League and Europa League plans at the start of this season and the 38-year-old expects ‘a lot of players’ to leave this January as he looks to ruffle a few feathers and cut the deadwood from his squad.
However, many unhappy and frustrated squad members including Ozil – still the club’s top earner on eye-watering wages of £350,000-a-week – will remain in north London until the end of the season which has inevitably caused friction.
According to The Daily Mirror, one ‘disaffected’ senior player even challenged Arteta in front of his stunned team-mates. It’s claimed the unnamed individual questioned why other first-team stars have been treated differently this term.
It paints a picture of a worryingly fractured Arsenal dressing room, despite the team’s recent upturn in form.
On Thursday, Sead Kolasinac completed a six-month loan move to former club Schalke and several others are expected to follow the Bosnian out the exit door at the Emirates this winter.
Central defenders Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Calum Chambers are among those deemed surplus to requirements and both are hoping to secure moves before the January transfer window closes.
Arsenal will be desperate to get 2021 off to a positive start when they take to the field against 19th-placed West Brom this weekend.
The Gunners can it three wins from three for the first time in the Premier League this campaign but Arteta is anticipating a ‘tough test’ at the Hawthorns.
Asked what he’s made of the Baggies under new manager Sam Allardyce, Arteta said: ‘Well, two very different matches.
‘The first one against Liverpool, when they had a really clear plan and they executed it really good.
‘I think even going 1-0 they didn’t really change anything at all. They knew they were gonna have their moments. They grew and they got into the game, and were much more efficient in the second half and put Liverpool in trouble.
‘Sam is very efficient at what he does. He has a very clear philosophy of playing, he always picked up results, he always made it really difficult for you and it’s not gonna be different.
‘His teams are always organised and they know exactly what to do so, it will be a tough test again.’
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Manchester United are a concern to Liverpool, admits club legend Steve Nicol
Manchester United are a concern to Liverpool in the race for the Premier League title, admits club legend Steve Nicol, as the champions drop points again on Wednesday night.
The Reds have now drawn their last two games after the goalless encounter with Newcastle on Wednesday followed the surprise 1-1 draw with West Brom at the weekend.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are still three points clear at the top of the table, but United are second with a game in hand over their rivals and are building momentum after a string of good results.
A 1-0 win over Wolves on Tuesday, thanks to a very late Marcus Rashford goal, increased their chances of making the title race competitive and Nicol admits they will be a genuine concern to his former club.
‘You look at Liverpool’s result and Man Utd’s result, the performance from one team that dominated the game, should have won very, very comfortably but yet end up with one point and then you’ve got a team in United coming up on the rails who pretty much didn’t deserve anything,’ Nicol told ESPN FC.
‘There’s no way they deserve to win this game [against Wolves] but they end up winning and getting three points. So that has to be a concern.
‘At the end of the day, Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp will be looking at themselves, try not to look elsewhere, and just get the job done. But you have to be concerned with United because regardless of how they play right now, they’re getting victories.’
United are back in action on Friday evening at home to Aston Villa when they will have the chance to go level on points with Liverpool, while Everton are also playing on the same day and can go within one point of their local rivals by beating West Ham.
MORE : Michael Owen ‘astonished’ Sadio Mane didn’t do more to win Liverpool a penalty against Newcastle
MORE : Jurgen Klopp should play Jordan Henderson at centre-back, says Liverpool hero Danny Murphy
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Mikel Arteta: Arsenal manager says offloading players is January priority
Arsenal will prioritise offloading players in the January transfer window, says manager Mikel Arteta.
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Motherwell: Stephen Robinson resigns as manager
Stephen Robinson resigns as manager of Motherwell after Wednesday's defeat by Kilmarnock left his side third bottom of the Scottish Premiership.
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John Coleman: Accrington Stanley boss says season must be extended
Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman says the 2020-21 season must be extended - after having six games postponed so far by Covid-19.
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Mikel Arteta confirms a number of Arsenal players will leave in January transfer window
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admits his squad is too big and a number of players will have to leave the club in the January transfer window.
The Spaniard signed the likes of Willian, Gabriel and Thomas Partey last summer but he was frustrated in the club’s inability to trim down the wage bill.
Mesut Ozil, Sead Kolasinac, Sokratis and Callum Chambers are all considered surplus to requirements, while the club are keen to loan out a number of talented youngsters.
Arteta hopes to add to his selection next month but the Spaniard admits the club’s ‘priority’ is to reduce the number of players in the first team squad first.
‘Well, we have a large squad. We knew that,’ said Arteta.
‘A lot of things that should have happened in the summer we could not accomplish them for different reasons. There are a lot of players that are going to go on loan. They are going to leave.
‘That’s the priority at the moment because we cannot sustain the numbers that we have in certain positions. We are looking to do that. And then we will see if we have the right opportunities in the positions that we need some more help we are working with the club to try to address them.’
Kolasinac is expected to join former club Schalke, though Arteta was unwilling to confirm the Bosnian’s move to the Bundesliga outfit.
Arsenal have been in talks with Ozil’s representatives to cut short his contract at the club, as his deal expires at the end of the season.
The German is the club’s top earner on £350,000-a-week and his wages are preventing the club from bringing in new players.
Money is tight at the Emirates but Arteta admits he does want to add new faces to his squad.
‘Obviously financially, it’s not only us, it’s every club in the Premier League that have been in hit with big numbers,’ said Arteta.
‘We know that this is not going to change in the last year or so. That we are gonna have to add somehow if we’re going to improve the team in different ways financially with some support.
‘We will decide whether this is with loans or buying players in relation to the opportunities we will have in the market.’
MORE : Mikel Arteta provides Bukayo Saka injury update ahead of West Brom vs Arsenal
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Mikel Arteta explains Reiss Nelson’s recent absence for Arsenal
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Reiss Nelson has been nursing a minor muscle injury and that’s why he has been absent for Arsenal of late.
The winger impressed in several Europa League clashes for the Gunners this season, registering a goal and assist in just three starts in the competition.
His energetic displays earned him a few cameos in the Premier League but he hasn’t featured in a senior matchday squad since December 3.
Nelson has been linked with a loan move away from the Emirates in the January transfer window with fellow wingers Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Willian and Nicolas Pepe all seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order.
However, speaking ahead of Arsenal’s clash against West Brom on Saturday, Arteta admitted that the only reason for the 21-year-old’s absence is down to the fact that he hasn’t been fully fit.
‘He had a little niggle he’s not been 100 per cent,’ Arteta said.
‘He’s had a muscular issue. He’s been in and out of training, he’s not been 100 per cent.
‘It’s a shame because I felt he was getting into his performance levels, he started to have some really good games and he was starting to build that momentum.
‘This little injury set him back a little bit. But I think he’s been much better.’
When asked whether he’s being saved for a January move, Arteta replied: ‘No. Only it’s my mistake then not clarify the situation what is happening.
‘But yeah, he’s not been 100 per cent fit. That’s the reason why he’s been out and he’s not been featuring with the squad.’
MORE : Ray Parlour identifies Mikel Arteta’s ‘good headache’ and rates Arsenal’s top-four chances
MORE : Rob Holding sets out target for Arsenal after Brighton victory
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Mikel Arteta provides Bukayo Saka injury update ahead of West Brom vs Arsenal
Mikel Arteta is optimistic Bukayo Saka will be fit for Arsenal’s Premier League match against West Brom on Saturday after the increasingly influential winger picked up an ankle injury in the win over Brighton earlier this week.
The England international created the winning goal for Alexandre Lacazette and was awarded the man-of-the-match award for another eye-catching display.
Saka’s involvement in the game was ended prematurely, however, when he landed awkwardly on his ankle and was replaced by Dani Ceballos with nine minutes remaining.
The Gunners travel to the Hawthorns this weekend, looking to record a third consecutive victory and Arteta is hopeful he will be able to count on the services of his teenage superstar.
He said: ‘I hope he is available we will see today with training or not. He’s played a lot of minutes as well, and I’m confident that he will be OK for the game.’
After slipping dangerously close to the relegation zone following a calamitous run of results, Arsenal are now looking up the table following back-to-back victories.
A return to winning ways has coincided with Arteta placing his faith in youngsters Gabriel Martinelli, Emile Smith Rowe and Saka. Arsenal have another clutch of academy graduates champing at the bit but the Gunners boss has guarded against placing too much expectation on such an inexperienced core.
‘We know that our club has a history of bringing players through the academy and it’s in our DNA,’ he said.
‘We want to keep doing it and I think I’ve done it since the day I came through that door. But they need the right process, they need the right players around them and you have to respect the timing of their development.
‘There is nothing worse than rushing those players when they are not ready. If they are ready and they respond, then keep doing it.
‘You don’t have to hold them back because you know their energy, their passion and what they want to do. They can run and sprint and do whatever they want, but they need [experienced players] as well.
‘Eleven kids is impossible. When you have the right mixture then these kids start to become more senior players and they start to have a little bit more experience and they are in a good development phase, let’s go for it. But you have to be cautious as well.
MORE : Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinic set for Schalke return
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Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinic set for Schalke return
Sead Kolasinic is set to leave Arsenal in the coming days after agreeing to return to Schalke, according to reports in Germany.
The 27-year-old has played just one game in the Premier League this season with Mikel Arteta preferring Kieran Tierney and Bukayo Saka on Arsenal’s left flank.
Kolasinac joined Arsenal on a free transfer from Schalke in 2017 and has helped the Gunners win the FA Cup during his time at the club.
But according to Sky Germany and Bild, Kolasinac is now on the verge of returning to the Bundesliga.
The Bosnia-Herzegovina international, who is reportedly earning £100,000 a week at Arsenal, has agreed to take a pay cut in order to seal a move back to Schalke, while the Gunners will still be paying part of his salary.
Kolasinac will join Schalke on a loan deal until the end of the season, however the move could become permanent if the club avoid relegation from the Bundesliga.
After a poor start to the season, Schalke have registered just four points from their opening 13 games and are seven points off safety.
Kolasinac made his professional debut at Schalke in 2012 and spent six years with the German club before leaving to join Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Arsenal remain keen to offload Mesut Ozil before the midfielder’s £350,000-a-week contract expires at the end of the season.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos has also been made available by the Gunners after failing to secure a place in Arteta’s Premier League and Europa League squads.
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Best Scottish Premiership strikes of the year
A selection of the best thunderbolts and free-kicks from 2020 in the Scottish Premiership. (UK only)
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Michael Owen ‘astonished’ Sadio Mane didn’t do more to win Liverpool a penalty against Newcastle
Michael Owen claimed he was ‘astonished’ Sadio Mane didn’t do more to try and convince referee Paul Tierney to award a penalty in the closing stages of last night’s match against Newcastle following his tussle with Karl Darlow.
The Magpies’ goalkeeper was in superb form during the stalemate at St James’ Park, producing a string of fine saves to frustrate the champions who were forced to settle for a second successive draw.
Darlow, however, was fortunate not to have been penalised with 10 minutes remaining when he grabbed hold of the Liverpool forward and prevented him from beating Fabian Schar to the ball and scoring what would have been, almost certainly, the winning goal.
While Owen praised Mane for his honesty, the former Liverpool striker believes Jurgen Klopp will be ruing the Senegal international’s decision to stay on his feet and making the referee’s job far harder than it might have been had he gone to ground.
He said: ‘I’m astonished that Mane didn’t shout and ask the referee why it’s not a penalty and I’m surprised he didn’t go down because he’s quite clearly grabbed by both arms.
‘One certainly touches and the other grabs him. It’s open to debate whether he would have tapped it in without getting grabbed there, possibly not. But whatever the situation you can’t grab someone’s legs and he’s quite clearly grabbed his right leg there and prevents him from swinging it.
‘As a centre forward what most players try to do is make it more obvious to the referee which is why we were surprised he didn’t go down.
‘We should applaud honesty as well, we see so many times this season players going down when there’s hardly been any touch or no touch at all, so I think we should applaud it.
‘But I’m sure Jurgen Klopp would be thinking tonight if he went down, he can’t come out and say it, but I’m sure he’s thinking if he went down we would’ve got a penalty there.
‘It just goes to show it’s virtually impossible for a referee to give a penalty unless you go down. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again referees don’t mind, in fact they prefer, if you go down and it gives them a decision to make.
‘In that instance everyone can say what they like ‘oh yes, it should have been a penalty’ but no referee will give that. So it’s almost better for a referee if you go down, give them a decision to make.’
MORE : Jurgen Klopp should play Jordan Henderson at centre-back, says Liverpool hero Danny Murphy
MORE : Peter Crouch says Liverpool star was ‘non-existent’ in dour Newcastle draw
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Jurgen Klopp should play Jordan Henderson at centre-back, says Liverpool hero Danny Murphy
Jurgen Klopp should drop Nathaniel Phillips and play Jordan Henderson at centre-back, believes Danny Murphy, after watching Liverpool draw with Newcastle on Wednesday night.
The Premier League champions stayed top of the table, but were disappointed to be held to a goalless draw by the Magpies at St James’ Park.
With Joel Matip joining Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez on the injured list, Phillips partnered Fabinho in central defence, and although the Reds kept a clean sheet, the inexperienced defender looked a bit shaky at times.
Murphy certainly wasn’t impressed with his performance and, despite being a central midfielder by trade and rarely playing at the back, would rather see Henderson alongside Fabinho in defence.
‘I think he [Phillips] struggled a bit at times. He got the booking in the second half when he was out of position a couple of times,’ Murphy told Stadium Astro.
‘He looked a bit nervy tonight, I think in the forthcoming games we’ll probably see a change there. I’d be surprised if he keeps his place, to be honest.
‘I know he gives that aerial presence, but depending on who you play against, I don’t think you can only be in the team for that, you need a little bit more.
‘He has played Rhys Williams, he’s played Jordan Henderson there, we’ll have to wait and see.
‘I think he was a bit in awe of Wilson at times, a bit in fear of him, you could sense it. I felt uneasy when he was around Wilson. They still kept a clean sheet, to be fair to them.’
Murphy feels that Klopp has enough good options in midfield, now they have returned from injury, to warrant moving Henderson back.
‘I’d play Henderson there in a big game, alongside Fabinho at the moment,’ continued the former England international.
‘I know he likes to trust the young lads and give them a go, but with the other midfield options, with [Georginio] Wijnaldum, Thiago [Alcantara], [Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain, Milner, I’d play Henderson there.
‘He’s quick, experienced, nobody’s going to run him, he can leap, that’s what I’d do, personally.’
MORE : Peter Crouch says Liverpool star was ‘non-existent’ in dour Newcastle draw
MORE : Jurgen Klopp assesses Thiago Alcantara’s performance on Liverpool return vs Newcastle
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Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Burnley takeover: ALK Capital completes deal by buying 84% controlling stake
American investment group ALK Capital completes its takeover of Burnley, buying an 84% stake in the Premier League club.
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Football in 2021: Make your predictions for the new year
As we enter 2021 it's time to predict what's going to happen. Aston Villa topping the Premier League? Scotland winning Euro 2020?
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January transfer window 2021: Who could be on the move?
No winter break and a shorter season means clubs may dip into the transfer market, BBC Sport takes a look at players who could move in January.
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Mark Clattenburg: Ex-Premier League referee says VAR could save a career
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg on the video assistant referee, social media and his tattoo collection.
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Fantasy football tips: Postponements and the importance of 'filler' players
BBC Radio 5 Live's Alistair Bruce-Ball gives his fantasy football tips for gameweek 17 and asks: is there any way to plan for postponements?
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Highlights: Celtic 3-0 Dundee United, Scottish Premiership
Celtic put three past Dundee United without reply in their final Scottish Premiership match of 2020 (UK only).
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Swansea City to investigate pre-match booing as players took the knee
Swansea City will investigate after booing was heard outside the stadium while players took the knee before their draw against Reading.
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Highlights: St Mirren 0-2 Rangers, Scottish Premiership
Scottish Premiership leaders Rangers leave Paisley with all three points after securing victory over St Mirren (UK only).
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Peter Crouch says Liverpool star was ‘non-existent’ in dour Newcastle draw
Peter Crouch felt Liverpool were ‘disjointed’ in their 0-0 draw with Newcastle on Wednesday night and said Mohamed Salah was ‘non-existent’.
It was a frustrating night for Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League title leaders, who have now suffered back-to-back draws against bottom half sides.
They drew 1-1 with relegation-threatened West Brom on Boxing Day and were similarly frustrated at St James’s Park in their final game of 2020.
Newcastle goalkeeper Karl Darlow was the star of the night, denying Salah with a particularly smart first-half save – a chance Crouch felt he should have scored.
And the former Liverpool striker was generally disappointed with the Egypt international’s display.
‘Let’s be honest, it didn’t click,’ Crouch told Amazon Prime after the match.
‘I think certainly Mane in the first half… Salah was non-existent.
‘Having said that, Salah had the best chance of the game and it was unlike him.
‘Nine times out of ten you expect him to bend that in. He didn’t quite get the curl on it that time.
‘A little bit disjointed.’
Liverpool midfielder James Milner was left frustrated by the result.
‘I thought they defended well and the keeper obviously played well but I thought we played well as well,’ he told BBC Sport.
‘We had enough opportunities to win the game but tonight it would not go in for us.
‘We had a lot of chances and a few situations where the final cross or ball was not good enough.
‘As a team we didn’t finish off our situations well enough and that was disappointing. It didn’t happen for us tonight.’
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Jurgen Klopp assesses Thiago Alcantara’s performance on Liverpool return vs Newcastle
Jurgen Klopp thought Thiago Alcantara was ‘brilliant’ for the majority of his return to Premier League action but admitted he struggled a bit with the ‘intensity’ against Newcastle.
Thiago’s quality was there for all to see as he casually sprayed balls around St James’ Park on Wednesday night in a 20 minute cameo.
It was the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona midfielder’s first appearance for the Reds since a knee injury sustained against Everton in October’s Merseyside derby and Klopp was pleased with how he settled back into proceedings.
But he warned it will take time for the Spain international to get back up to speed.
‘We signed Thiago because we thought he’s a good player and we’d like to have him in the team, that’s clear,’ said Klopp in his post-match press conference.
‘But what the other boys did in the time when he was not available was absolutely incredible and James Milner for example tonight played a super game in midfield really.
‘So yeah, it’s good. He’s a super player. From the 20 minutes, 12 round about were brilliant and then he felt the intensity but that’s normal.
‘He’s only trained twice with the team so there’s still some physical work to do, still some rhythm to get but Shaq is back – that’s, by the way, the best news tonight, the boys are back and as far as I know nobody got injured which is very important thing which means we can go with the same squad to Southampton.’
He added in an interview with Match of the Day: ‘We could see a lot of moments how good a footballer he is.
‘Now we have to see how he reacts and all that stuff. We have another game in four days.’
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Transfer rumours: Aarons, Wijnaldum, Haaland, Sancho, Isco, Messi
Man Utd target Norwich defender, Wolves eye Liverpool midfielder, plus more.
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Match of the Day analysis: 'What a performance' - Pundits praise Darlow
Match of the Day pundits Jermaine Jenas and Stephen Warnock praise Newcastle's Karl Darlow after his performance helped his side to a 0-0 draw with champions Liverpool at St James' Park.
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Ray Parlour identifies Mikel Arteta’s ‘good headache’ and rates Arsenal’s top-four chances
Ray Parlour says Mikel Arteta has a ‘good headache’ when it comes to the wealth of attacking options vying for game-time at Arsenal but believes the club have left themselves with too much to do in the race for a top-four finish, with sixth place ‘probably the best they can get’ this season.
The Gunners came away from Brighton with all three points thanks to Alexandre Lacazette’s second-half strike at the Amex Stadium on Tuesday night and the result meant Arteta’s men have won back-to-back Premier League games for the first time since September.
Promising young trio Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe have all led from the front versus both Chelsea and Brighton and club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returned on the south coast after missing Arsenal’s previous three matches.
It leaves Arteta with several selection dilemmas ahead of this weekend’s trip to West Brom, with the likes of Aubameyang, Lacazette, Saka, Martinelli, Smith Rowe, Willian, Nicolas Pepe and Eddie Nketiah all pushing for opportunities in Arsenal’s offensive positions.
‘It’s a good headache to have and the next four games – I’m going to take the FA Cup game out of that – are all winnable,’ ex-Arsenal midfielder Parlour told talkSPORT.
‘West Brom away, Palace at home, Newcastle at home… so I’m sure Arteta will look at it and say, “we’ve hit the ground running now and hopefully we can carry this on for the next three games”.
‘And suddenly you can be in sixth place, this is how bad the league is!’
Arsenal’s return to form sees them just six points off London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham in the table but Parlour has played down his former club’s chances of finishing in the top four.
‘They won’t get in the top four, they’re too far behind and they’ve given themselves too much of a hill to climb,’ he added.
‘I know the other teams above them are slipping up as well but I just can’t see it.
‘There’s four better teams than Arsenal at the moment. For me, sixth place is probably the best they can get.’
Parlour continued: ‘At the start of the season, after winning the FA Cup, they made some good signings.
‘Thomas Partey’s not really been in the team at the moment. He’s going to make a big difference in that midfield area, a bit more mobility.
‘Look at the teams. You could argue Liverpool, Manchester City, Spurs are going okay, Chelsea will come good again when they’ve got their players back, Leicester, Manchester United so it’s going to be difficult.’
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MORE : Emile Smith Rowe reveals what Mikel Arteta said at half-time to inspire Arsenal win over Brighton
MORE : Ian Wright names three stars who have ‘turned it around’ for Arsenal
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