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      Arsenal 5 Chelsea 0: Gunners boost title hopes by humiliating sorry Blues as Pochettino handed heaviest defeat as boss

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      ARSENAL wiped away the April blues with a centurion display to keep their title charge at full throttle.Leandro Trossard netted the Gunners’ 100th goal of the season, followed by a Ben White and Kai Havertz double in a rampant second-half blitz to get them back on track after a few bumps in the road this month.Kai Havertz scored twice against his former teamCredit: AFPMartin Odegaard was the architect as Arsenal ran rampantCredit: PABen White had a night to remember as he found the net twiceCredit: PAThe league loss here to Aston Villa 10 days ago and a Champions League quarter-final exit to Bayern Munich have been forgotten. All roads now lead to an epic three-way title race.Meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino was left feeling blue yet again – perhaps regretting suggesting in the build-up that his Chelsea side are NOT Cole Palmer FC.Without their clinical 20-goal Premier League superstar Palmer to produce moments of magic, the West Londoners were torn apart by an Arsenal outfit smelling blood at the Prem summit.Four points clear of Manchester City in third. Three points clear of Liverpool in second. A goal difference of +55 that is 11 better than City and 12 better than Liverpool.READ MORE ON ARSENALMikel Arteta can sit at home with his feet up for a few days and hope for top-flight madness to ensue.Chelsea were in this at half-time but it is custom for Poch’s men right now to blow up and go missing just when the going is looking half decent.Four goals in 18 second half minutes embarrassingly ended this as a contest, and ended a run of eight Prem games without defeat.How different it could have been had Palmer been well enough to take the field, with Malo Gusto also missing through injury, replaced by academy boy Alfie Gilchrist.Most read in FootballIn the nitty-gritty stages of a title run-in, Arteta has honed his inner ‘Tinkerman’, in particular at left-back, rotating between Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu.Arsenal outplayed Chelsea in every departmentThe Blues were barely in the gameBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERTomiyasu got the nod this time, while a surprise in midfield saw Thomas Partey pair up with Declan Rice for the first time since August’s Community Shield.Gabriel Jesus dropped out for Kai Havertz, back in his seemingly favoured No.9 position, and he was in behind after just 30 seconds with Benoit Badiashile scrambling backwards.Forgotten Arsenal star Jurrien Timber scores screamer just 8 minutes into return from serious injuryA sign of things to come, Trossard drove low and hard through the legs of Djordje Petrovic just minutes later, finishing off Declan Rice’s drive from deep with Chelsea’s backline backing off in fear.How Pochettino wishes Chelsea had managed to get a deal for boyhood Blues fan Rice over the line before his arrival. Instead, the £105m Emirates lure proved too much last summer.Ironically, Arsenal made desperate attempts to sign Mykhailo Mudryk and Moises Caicedo in the past 18 months before they ended up at Stamford Bridge for a combined £182m.You wonder what Chelsea actually paid for with that duo, especially Ukrainian winger Mudryk, who made it clear last night that tracking back simply is not for him.Bukayo Saka was running rampant down the right with Ben White on the overlap, leaving Marc Cucurella chasing shadows. Mudryk did not look overly bothered.VAR then incredibly chose not to check a horrific studs-up challenge from Nicolas Jackson into the shin of Tomiyasu. Ref Simon Hooper also chose not to act.With Chelsea’s hot-heads losing their cool, Arsenal were picking up chances easier than at an Emirates box buffet.Havertz latched onto a defensive mistake but opted to pass instead of shoot. Moments later, he made the right decision only for Petrovic to come to the rescue again with a tremendous double save, also stopping Axel Disasi from prodding into his own net.Odegaard cut Chelsea open time and time againHavertz put in a masterful performanceDeclan Rice got into advanced positions on the leftWasteful Arsenal were giving Chelsea a lifeline and they should have been punished. Badiashile’s flicked header from a corner was begging to be tapped in at the far post.Jackson was giving William Saliba a good battle, forcing him back down the left only for his tightly-laced finishing boots to come into the equation yet again before heading wide from Conor Gallagher’s pick out.Noni Madueke beat Tomiyasu on the other side and his cross found Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez, both failing to properly test David Raya.Arsenal went into the break looking nervy, but emerged defiant and lethal. Having wasted a few early chances, White begun the hammering in the 52nd minute, curling in from close range from a badly defended corner.Martin Odegaard’s defence-splitting pass put Havertz in five minutes later and this time the German did not disappoint. He got his second in the 67th minute, in off the post having drifted into the box with complete ease.To top it all off, White – who had two Prem goals this season before tonight – grabbed a spectacular second in the 70th minute, volleying a chipped Odegaard pass into the top corner.The Englishman produced a cheeky grin, embarrassed it managed to go in.READ MORE SUN STORIESDon’t worry Ben, you weren’t the only one embarrassed at the Emirates last night.Pochettino will be hanging his head in shame and disbelief.Chelsea suffered their heaviest defeat under Mauricio PochettinoCredit: EPA More

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      Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea LIVE RESULT: Ben White and Kai Havertz at the DOUBLE as Gunners extend lead at top of Premier League

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      ARSENAL have cruised to a 5-0 victory against London rivals Chelsea.The Gunners took the lead with four minutes on the clock after Leandro Trossard’s near-post strike.Arsenal doubled their advantage through Ben White’s close-range finish early in the second half before Kai Havertz made it 3-0 against his former employers.Just after the hour mark, the German doubled his tally against his ex-side with a superb strike for 4-0.Ben White also claimed a stunning double on the night to cap off a 5-0 win in the London Derby and extend the Gunners lead at the top of the Premier League table.
      Match result: Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
      Live stream: discovery+
      Arsenal team: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Havertz, Trossard
      Chelsea team: Petrovic, Guilchrist, Disasi, Badiashille, Cucurella, Caicedo, Enzo Fernandes, Gallagher, Madueke, Jackson, Mudryk
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSFollow all the action from the Emirates Stadium with our live blog below…Match report
      Arsenal wiped away the April blues with a centurion display to keep their title charge at full throttle.
      Leandro Trossard netted the Gunners’ 100th goal of the season, followed by a Ben White and Kai Havertz double in a rampant second-half blitz to get them back on track after a few bumps in the road this month.
      The league loss here to Aston Villa 10 days ago and a Champions League quarter-final exit to Bayern Munich have been forgotten. All roads now lead to an epic three-way title race.
      Meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino was left feeling blue yet again – perhaps regretting suggesting in the build-up that his Chelsea side are NOT Cole Palmer FC.
      Without their clinical 20-goal Premier League superstar Palmer to produce moments of magic, the West Londoners were torn apart by an Arsenal outfit smelling blood at the Prem summit.
      Four points clear of Manchester City in third. Three points clear of Liverpool in second. A goal difference of +55 that is 11 better than City and 12 better than Liverpool.

      Copy linkCopiedPals to foes
      Zinchenko seemingly teasing Sterling towards the end of tonight’s game.
      The pair were former teammates at Manchester City.

      Copy linkCopied’Perfect night’
      Leandro Trossard got the scoring started early in this one.
      And he says his side are on track for a big end to the season but can only focus on their own job.
      He told TNT Sports: “I think the early goal helped us and after that we played so well. We had a lot of chances and we turned them into goals. It’s a great night.
      “They say clean sheets help you win games. We know if we score the goal we can win 1-0. But, obviously, we want to go for more. Today is the perfect night. I think everyone works so well and hard. I am really happy to be here.
      “We can only do our own job and that’s winning games. We are on track now and we will try and win the rest of the games and we will see what happens.”
      Copy linkCopied’Not nice’
      Mauricio Pochettino says his team weren’t clinical enough and admitted watching the performance was ‘not nice’.
      He told TNT Sports: “I think we started the game not so well. We concede the goal and then it was difficult for us to recover from this goal. I think in the first half we compete after 10, 15 minutes.
      “We could not approach the game like we started in the first half and we didn’t compete the way we needed to compete and then when they scored the third it was easy for Arsenal to control the game.
      “I think you need to be clinical. Like against Manchester City three days ago, we were not clinical and then today the same thing happened. D
      “Difficult performance because it is not nice to see your team play like this when you are mean to have full energy. After three days when you play a fantastic game against Manchester City, today we are disappointed with the performance.”
      LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 23: Chelsea Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Emirates Stadium on April 23, 2024 in London, England.(Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
      Copy linkCopiedEnjoy tonight
      Mikel Arteta says his side will enjoy the win tonight but then it’s straight back to focus on a crunch North London derby at the weekend.
      He added: “It is a big London derby and we know what it means for the fans. We will enjoy it and rest and get ready for the next one.
      “What I would like is that the players can manage themselves in the dressing room. You have to leave them some space. They know what they are playing for. That’s what holds the team together. My role is to demand them and also in the right moments make them believe they can do it.
      “We have a lot of games coming up. Let’s enjoy tonight and let’s go back to work.”
      Copy linkCopiedArteta speaks
      Mikel Arteta admitted his side weren’t disciplined enough in their first half showing but a half time talk sorted that out.
      He was also full of praise for his captain Martin Odegaard.
      He told TNT Sports, per the BBC: “Very happy with the win, with the amount of chances and goals we scored. And with the clean sheet as well it shows the consistency.
      “We weren’t disciplined enough with some stuff we did in the first half and we needed to be more disciplined and we did that in the second half.
      “We agreed Odegaard was a player with huge talent and he could grow with us. We were convinced he could add something special to the team.
      “That’s always a question: How are you going to handle a different role? He has done it so naturally and he is loved by everyone. With the love that he has, it is enough for everyone to want to follow him.”
      Copy linkCopiedWhere they go next
      While we wait to hear what the managers say, here’s what’s to come for both sides in the league.
      Two tricky away days on the way next….

      Copy linkCopiedNow he’s honest….
      Ben White has come clean on his second goal.
      He told Match Of The Day: “The first goal I was just in the right place at the right time. The second one was a bad touch and it went in.”
      Copy linkCopiedFeeling all White
      Ben White says he’ll let everyone else decide whether or not he meant his second goal.
      He told TNT Sports: “We know we can score goals and today it was a quick game and it was important to put the ball away when we had the chance.”
      On his second goal and whether he meant it, he added: “I don’t know. I’ll let everyone else decide!
      “It’s not just the defence keeping the clean sheets, the wingers track back as well.”
      Copy linkCopiedBiggest win
      A damning stat against Chelsea tonight.
      That comes after Arsenal recorded the most shots in the first half against Chelsea in the league since 2003/04.
      5 – Arsenal recorded their biggest ever victory against Chelsea across all competitions (5-0), while this was the Blues’ heaviest defeat in a London derby since losing 6-0 to Queens Park Rangers in March 1986. Domination. pic.twitter.com/VONJBb6hCU— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 23, 2024

      Copy linkCopiedNew standings
      A look at the Premier League table now after that.
      Arsenal stay top and now pull clear of Liverpool and Manchester United….for now.
      They’re both in action in midweek though Arsenal’s goal difference looking a touch healthier than those two at the moment.
      Chelsea stay ninth.

      Copy linkCopiedBlue what?
      Nicolas Jackson avoided punishment for a dangerous challenge on Takehiro Tomiyasu.
      The forward collided with Tomiyasu just nine minutes into the match, catching his lower leg studs-up.
      Arsenal full-back Tomiyasu immediately went to ground after rolling his ankle as a result of the challenge.
      The Gunners were subsequently awarded a free-kick, but Jackson escaped a yellow card.
      Many fans believed he should have been sent off following the challenge.
      One person took to X to write: “How is this not a red card for Nicolas Jackson? Not even a yellow!!! Shocking from the officials again.”

      Copy linkCopiedNumbers at full time
      Chelsea with more of the ball and more passes.
      But doing absolutely nothing with it.
      Arsenal with 27 shots on goal in the end. Nearly one every three minutes!

      Copy linkCopiedFT: Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
      It was actually a decent contest in the first half too.
      But that second half showing from Chelsea was absolutely embarrassing.
      Arsenal ran all over the top of them. Quicker, more powerful, stronger, pacier and just so much better.
      Chelsea’s midfield two costing a quarter of a billion pound? Give me a break.
      Arsenal brilliant, particularly after the break and will be gutted not to have scored more!
      Copy linkCopiedFULL TIME!
      Chelsea finally put out their misery.
      Five-star Arsenal extend their lead at the top!
      ARSENAL 5-0 CHELSEA

      Copy linkCopiedArsenal 5-0 Chelsea
      90+6. It should’ve been six.
      Martinelli is sent clean through, with no defenders in sight whatsoever.
      He opens his body looking for the far corner but gets his finish all wrong and strikes his straight at Petrovic.
      Copy linkCopiedArsenal 5-0 Chelsea
      90+5. Sterling gets in behind on the left and has Jackson to pick out in the middle.
      His cross is straight at the defender who clears.
      Copy linkCopiedArsenal 5-0 Chelsea
      90+2. Sterling turns well on halfway to skip away from White.
      But his pass through for Jackson is easily cut out.
      Copy linkCopiedArsenal 5-0 Chelsea
      90+1. Sterling with an absolutely pathetic pass out from the back, right onto the head of Vieira.
      He nods it into the path of Martinelli on the edge of the area who takes a snap shot at goal which he drags wide of the left post.

      Copy linkCopiedArsenal 5-0 Chelsea
      89. Chelsea well short of leaders. Even now, only Thiago Silva on the pitch now you’d consider one. And it’s absolutely showing right now.
      SEVEN MINUTES ADDED ON.
      Copy linkCopiedArsenal 5-0 Chelsea
      87. Almost six again for Arsenal!
      Odegaard and Vieira somehow create an opening against the back five of Chelsea. The Norwegian with the overlap creates confusion and Vieira’s smash at goal hits the sidenetting.
      Copy linkCopiedArsenal 5-0 Chelsea
      85. Decent build-up play from Chelsea. But every pass being cheered by Arsenal fans!
      It’s worked out to the right but the hopeful cross into the box from Gallagher is straight at Raya who finally has something to do.

      Copy linkCopiedArsenal 5-0 Chelsea
      What a goal that would have been!
      82. Exceptional reverse pass from Gabriel Jesus to find Rice inside the box on the left.
      Rice opens his body up and curls an effort which cracks off the far post and back into play. Odegaard’s shot at goal is blocked before the offside flag goes up.
      That showed the qualities Gabriel Jesus does have, for all that he’s not a good goal scorer. That pass was magic.
      Copy linkCopiedArsenal 5-0 Chelsea
      Another Arsenal change for the final 10 minutes.

      OFF: Saka
      ON: Vieira

      Copy linkCopiedArsenal 5-0 Chelsea
      78, Arsenal keeping the ball for fun as Gabriel is fine to come back on.
      Chelsea now in a back five, looking to contain Arsenal. Damage limitation.
      Copy linkCopied More

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      ‘Someone explain that to me please’ – Ferdinand baffled as Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson avoids red for shocking challenge

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      NICOLAS JACKSON avoided punishment for a dangerous challenge on Takehiro Tomiyasu during Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Arsenal.The forward collided with Tomiyasu just nine minutes into the match, catching his lower leg studs-up.Nicolas Jackson avoided punishment for a bad challenge on Takehiro TomiyasuCredit: TNT SportsThe forward went studs-up into Tomiyasu’s ankleArsenal full-back Tomiyasu immediately went to ground after rolling his ankle as a result of the challenge.The Gunners were subsequently awarded a free-kick, but Jackson escaped a yellow card.Many fans believed he should have been sent off following the challenge.One person took to X to write: “How is this not a red card for Nicolas Jackson? Not even a yellow!!! Shocking from the officials again.”Read More on FootballAnother added: “That should be a red card for Nicolas Jackson. That’s an awful challenge on Takehiro Tomiyasu.”A third said: “Nicolas Jackson should be sent off. Goodness me that was a bad challenge.”While a fourth commented: “Wow, that Nicolas Jackson challenge was horrendous. Clear red all day long.”TNT Sports revealed at half-time that the incident was looked at and cleared by VAR.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSRio Ferdinand was left in disbelief when he found out the challenge went unpunished.He said: “Someone explain that to me please!”Forgotten Arsenal star Jurrien Timber scores screamer just 8 minutes into return from serious injuryArsenal took an early lead in the match through Leandro Trossard in the fourth minute.Chelsea came close to equalising before half-time, but the Gunners doubled the advantage after the break.Ben White netted from close range after a clever short corner from Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.And Kai Havertz scored twice against his former club to extend Arsenal’s lead.White scored again with a fantastic volley to claim the Gunners’ fifth.Mikel Arteta’s side went on to win the match 5-0, extending their lead at the top of the table to three points. More

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      EFL fans in hysterics as ‘absolutely golden’ Neil Warnock returns to live TV with brutal dig at his former players

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      FANS were left in hysterics after Neil Warnock made a hilarious dig at his old players.The legendary manager was on punditry duty as Leicester took on Southampton in a mouthwatering Championship clash.Neil Warnock made a hilarious dig at his old playersCredit: Sky Sports Fans loved seeing him back on screensCredit: GettyRussell Martin is hoping to guide the Saints straight back to the Premier League with his possession-based approach.Talking tactics on Sky Sports, Warnock laughed he never had the players to implement passing out from the back.He said: “He [Martin] has that philosophy. That’s what he wants to do.”He’s fortunate because I have never had defenders that could pass water let alone a football.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”It’s difficult, you have to adapt, you go to a club and you have to find a system that suits the players you’ve got. I have had to go in everywhere and put fires out.”Fans loved it, saying: “Warnock is absolutely golden man.”Another added: “Quality as always.”Warnock claims he has “categorically retired” and has a “bucket list” to get through after 1626 games and eight promotions as a manager.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERHis last job was a month-long stint at Aberdeen in Scotland.Warnock said: “It’s a good time to stop when I look at VAR now.”Neil Warnock loses it with Rangers BALL BOYS after losing first match in charge of AberdeenHe was joined in the Sky Sports studio by fellow ex-Prem boss Nigel Pearson.And the 75-year-old had plenty of banter with the former Leicester manager.Warnock joked ten minutes before matches Pearson would “have a whiskey or glass of wine with his feet up”.Fans enjoyed the banter, with one commenting: “Lovely to see old school managers in Warnock and Pearson.”More reacted: “Pearson and Warnock on the same panel, this is going to be the best half-time ever.”Warnock’s promotions

      Scarborough: Conference League title 1987
      Notts County: Third Division play-offs 1990 and Second Division play-off 1991
      Huddersfield: Second Division play-off 1995
      Plymouth: Third Division play-off 1996
      Sheffield United: Championship runner-up 2006
      QPR: Championship title 2011
      Cardiff: Championship runner-up 2017 More

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      Man Utd ‘in talks with Disney over multi-million-dollar documentaries deal’… but series will buck recent trend

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly in talks with Disney over a multi-million-pound documentary deal.The idea was first proposed to the Red Devils a couple of seasons ago.The documentary series will focus on Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign at the clubCredit: APAnd now talks are in the advanced stages, though Disney are yet to meet United’s demands in terms of a fee, with the current proposal in the low seven figures according to The Athletic.United are hoping for several million to show off their club to the world in a series of documentaries.Disney+ would focus on Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign at the club, a 26-year period in which United won 38 trophies.The series would include exclusive interviews with Fergie, 82, as well as members of his best teams including Bryan Robson and Peter Schmeichel.READ MORE ON MAN UTDThat trio are yet to formally agree to the proposals made by Disney, but it is expected United will agree to make their archive footage available to use.However the Premier League giants will retain editorial oversight, as is custom for English clubs.Manchester City, Tottenham and Arsenal have all been subject to their own Prime Video All or Nothing series.But the proposed documentaries will not cover United in the same way – there will be no such live access or a behind-the-scenes look into the current squad and Erik ten Hag’s dressing room.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSPrime Video are set to release a one-off documentary about United’s Treble success in 1999 to mark the 25th anniversary.A trailer for the film was released earlier this month and contains some familiar faces like Teddy Sheringham and Dwight Yorke.Erik ten Hag admits Manchester United ‘got away with it’ in shootout win over Coventry More

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      Arsenal cult hero tried to play for FREE after wife’s intervention and now earns 2,000 times less than Cristiano Ronaldo

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      ARSENAL hero Santi Cazorla has revealed he would be more than happy to play football for FREE if he was allowed to.Cazorla, 39, returned to boyhood club Real Oviedo, the club he joined when he was only eight years old, last summer after 20 years away.Santi Cazorla has revealed he would play for free if he was allowed toCredit: GettyThe Spanish midfielder is back at Real OviedoCredit: GettyThe midfielder was promoted through the Spanish sides ranks before moving to Villarreal.His career took him through Recreativo Huelva and Malaga before he arrived in north London in 2012, where he stayed for six years.A return to Villarreal was followed by a stint in Qatar with Al-Sadd before he linked back up with Oviedo, near where he grew up.Cazorla, a two time European Championship winner with the Spanish national team, always wanted to play for the Carbayones when growing up, but was never able to due to the club being in crisis. READ MORE ON ARSENALHowever, that has all changed now, and Cazorla is relishing every minute of being back home. Indeed, in an interview with The Guardian, he revealed how he had the best feeling when scoring a goal for Oviedo in Spain’s second tier against Alcorcón, only for the goal to be ruled out by VAR.He said: “The goal I’ve lived with most feeling. And I had already celebrated.”He (the referee) said: ‘I’m really sorry to rule this out.’ He was from Huelva and said: ‘We have great memories of you.’ Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”But, you know what? Nothing can take that moment away, even if VAR did. “I’ve spoken to people in the stands and the experience was so real, so authentic, it will always be there. Arsenal’s top targets in the summer transfer window”My first professional goal in this shirt: I’d waited a very, very long time.”Cazorla has been waiting all his career to return, but when making his return it took a suggestion from wife, Ursula Santirso, to help him seal the deal.He said: “I would play for free but you’re not allowed.”They made a good offer. My wife said: ‘No, no, you’re not going to Oviedo to earn, you’re going home to enjoy it, to help, to give.’ “I called my agent: ‘I don’t want any money.’ I told the president: minimum salary, 10% of shirt sales to the academy. It was done that night.”His minimum salary still works out at a handy £80,000 a year, but that figure is some way off the £173million Cristiano Ronaldo earns per year at Al-Nassr – more than 2,000 times as much.Cazorla’s career
      Villarreal
      330 games, 57 goals, 57 assists
      Arsenal
      180 games, 29 goals, 45 assists, 2x FA Cups, 2x Community Shield
      Al Sadd
      97 games, 39 goals, 36 assists, 2x Qatar league titles, 2x Qatar Cup
      Malaga
      42 games, 9 goals, 8 assists
      Recreativo Huelva
      34 games, 5 goals, 0 assists
      Real Oviedo
      21 games, 0 goals (1 disallowed), 3 assists
      Spanish National Team
      81 games, 15 goals, 11 assists, 2x European Championships

      Cazorla is now embarking on his “greatest challenge” of returning Oviedo to the Spanish top flight for the first time since 2001. And after a rough start to the season which saw the team second bottom and Cazorla miss the opening five league games, he admits the responsibility of it weighs on him.He said: “I’ve been treated so well everywhere – at Arsenal everyone loves me, at Villarreal the same, at Recre, at Málaga … but the feeling and responsibility is deeper. “People called it a step back, nothing to gain, but it’s the complete opposite. The responsibility is being up to that. “I don’t want to be the guy who came to sell shirts or because he was a symbol of the academy; I want to be a footballer.“That responsibility weighs. I was a bit scared at first. You don’t know if you’re good enough, which still happens: I’m not at the same level, especially physically. I called my agent: ‘I don’t want any money.’ I told the president: minimum salary, 10% of shirt sales to the academy. It was done that night.Santi CazorlaThe Guardian”You come at 38, from three years in a lesser league. I had a pubis problem, hardly did pre-season, and the team was struggling. I felt even worse because I couldn’t help.”Oviedo are now just outside the playoff spots, sitting in seventh and denied sixth due to a worse head-to-head record against Sporting Gijon.Cazorla also opened up on his time at Arsenal, revealing he saw the potential of Mikel Arteta before everyone else.He said: “Injured, watching games together, he would get the remote and pause it. ‘What are you doing?’ “He would say: ‘Go back, go back’, rewind 30 seconds, and ask: ‘What do you see?’ ‘I see a paused screen! What do you want me to see?!’ “He would say: ‘Look at this guy here, how badly he’s positioned. If he goes here, and he goes there, this space opens’. Every game, pausing every 20 seconds. READ MORE SUN STORIES”The match has finished and we’re still in the 20th minute. I’m thinking: ‘What’s with this guy?’ He sees it. I love football but I don’t. I think it’s a gift.”Reflecting on his time at Arsenal, where Cazorla won two FA Cups, he said: “I owe them a lot, they hold a special place.”Mikel Arteta’s striker shopping listBy Jordan Davies
      ARSENAL are stepping up plans to sign a world-class striker in the summer after their Champions League heartbreak.
      Mikel Arteta splashed out £204.5m last summer on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber.
      But the Spanish manager accepts he needs a proven goalscorer to take the club to the next level.
      And here are the players he is looking at to get the Gunners firing:
      BENJAMIN SESKO (RB Leipzig, value £40m-£45m)
      One for the future at 20 years old. Scored 16 goals for RB Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga last season and the Slovenian has carried on that good form in Germany with Leipzig this campaign.
      VIKTOR GYOKERES (Sporting Lisbon, value £60m-£80m)
      Been scouted several times this season. The Swedish striker, 25, is more of a traditional No 9 so may not suit Arsenal’s demand for flexibility but would bring a physicality that boss Mikel Arteta craves.
      ALEXANDER ISAK (Newcastle, value £75m-£85m)
      Impressed in his first two seasons in English football. The Swede, 24, has the pace and finesse to match his finishing ability, and Eddie Howe’s Toon may need to sell to balance the books this summer.
      JOSHUA ZIRKZEE (Bologna, value £45m-£50m)
      Dutch wonder  is attracting the attentions of clubs across Europe. At 6ft 4in the 22-year-old forward would have no trouble adapting to the Premier League and already has an eye for goal.
      XAVI SIMONS (RB Leipzig, value £70m-£80m)
      An incredible talent in the Bukayo Saka mould, currently on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. The future of the Dutch attacker, 20, depends on how much money his parent club want to make from him. More

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      Premier League legend-turned-manager talks about being in trouble with his wife in ‘box office’ interview

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      FORMER Chelsea star Damien Duff joked about being in trouble with his wife during a “box office” post-match interview.The Shelbourne manager did not hold back in an honest interview after his side drew 0-0 in a Dublin derby against Shamrock Rovers.Damien Duff joked about being in trouble with his wife in a post-match interviewThe former winger played for Chelsea and FulhamCredit: GettyDuff, 45, got off to a flyer this season as Shelbourne won nine of their opening ten games.But after a dip in form which included back-to-back defeats the Irishman was asked how he got a good performance out of his boys in the goalless draw.He responded saying: “Sometimes a bit of tough love, harsh words earlier on in the week.”Later on in the week I probably wasn’t even speaking to them – they weren’t speaking to me.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”It’s probably what my wife does to me when I’m in trouble and she gets a better husband at the end of it.”Just honesty. That’s all I’ve ever given them and they’ve bounced back.”Shelbourne sit top of the League of Ireland – three points ahead of Shamrock Rovers having played a game more.Duff’s side will be aiming to return to winning ways when they take on St.Patrick’s Atheltic on Friday, and the former winger warned one of his players Shane Farrell that he must improve after his red card.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERHe added: “Regarding Shane, here, I am always honest privately and in public. He knows he has let everyone down.“I used to laugh about his diet, in year one, the chicken fillet rolls, whatever.Chelsea’s top summer transfer targets”That time has passed now. How you live your life off the pitch, how you train usually gets shown up on a match night and it did.“I get he’s a fan’s favourite and what have you, but he hasn’t deserved to play.”Not one bit. Flashes. I could go on and give you a flash. I’m 45 and I can’t walk.“It’s a 100-minute game nowadays, so flashes aren’t good enough for me.” More

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      Rebekah Vardy ‘furious’ after footballer ex and dad to one of her kids Luke Foster jailed for running cannabis factory

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      REBEKAH Vardy is said to be furious after her footballer ex was jailed for running a cannabis factory.Luke Foster, 38, got three years last month after admitting charges with two others.Rebekah Vardy’s footballer ex, Luke Foster, has been jailed for running a cannabis factoryCredit: Nigel Bennett – The SunFoster dated Rebekah between 2007 and 2013Credit: GettyThe ex-Oxford United and Preston North End defender is serving his jail term at HMP Nottingham.He dated Becky for six years until 2013 and the pair have a son together.But their bitter split — with Becky meeting Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy months later and marrying him in 2016 — saw repeated clashes in the media.Yesterday, a source said of Foster’s conviction: “This is devastating for Becky — she’s only just found out about this, and of course she’s furious. It’s outrageous.READ MORE ON REBEKAH VARDY“Her sole concern is to protect her son — making sure he’s surrounded by people who love him and that this has zero impact on his education and anything else that could affect a teenage boy.”Foster also faces a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing in July.Foster met Becky in 2007 while signed to Oxford and the pair welcomed a son – but split in 2013, months before she met Premier League winner Jamie while she was working as a nightclub promoter – marrying in 2016 at Peckforton Castle, Cheshire.Speaking in 2017, when his ex was a contestant on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, Foster claimed: “Becky liked the finer things in life. Most read in Football“She wanted the biggest house on the street, expensive handbags.“She drove my Merc, I had a Picasso. “She wouldn’t even let me drive my own car.“I’d pay for things I couldn’t really afford. “I’d get another credit card… eventually it all came crumbling down.”But responding in a statement at the time, a spokeswoman for Becky insisted: “It’s upsetting Luke felt the need to sell yet another untrue story on the mother of his son.Football’s 10 richest wags including music stars and millionaire models“He has already made these claims via a friend in another newspaper over 18 months ago and Mrs Vardy made it very clear then she had separated from Mr Foster months before meeting Jamie Vardy, although as a good mother she kept their family together in the same house for another couple of months so that the children had a ‘normal’ Christmas without being uprooted and disrupted.“Mr Foster has a new girlfriend and a new baby, he should put his efforts into focusing on them instead of still trying to hurt Mrs Vardy and in turn hurt his son who will no doubt hear about this story at school.”READ MORE SUN STORIESBecky had been married twice before, to an electrician Mark Godden which lasted just six months before she had a brief fling with singer Peter Andre, and a second time to timeshare businessman Steve Clarke which ended 10 months later after he was jailed for two years after killing two people in a head on collision.Last night a spokesman for Becky declined to comment. More