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    Kopa Trophy 2022 nominees for best young star include England’s Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham on 10-man shortlist

    THE top ten Kopa Trophy 2022 nominees for the best young star have been revealed and it includes England stars Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham.Saka enjoyed a standout campaign with Arsenal last term, scoring 11 and assisting seven in the Premier League – helping the Gunners return to European football.
    Saka is on the shortlist for the Kopa Trophy 2022Credit: Rex
    Dortmund’s Bellingham is also in the running for the prestigious awardCredit: Getty
    The 20-year-old’s impressive form has attracted attention from a number of top clubs.
    Liverpool and Manchester City have been linked with moves for Saka in the past.
    As for Bellingham, the 19-year-old starred for Borussia Dortmund last term alongside Erling Haaland.
    Bellingham netted three times and assisted eight in the Bundesliga last term and also took up a more prominent starting role for England.
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    He started three of England’s four Nations League games in June.
    Eight other top young stars from across Europe join the England duo on the shortlist for the Kopa Trophy 2022.
    Bellingham’s new Dortmund team-mate Karim Adeyemi has been shortlisted.
    Bayern Munich new boy Ryan Gravenberch has also been recognised for his time at Ajax.
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    Bundesliga stars Jamal Musiala, Josko Gvardiol and Florian Wirtz are also in the running.
    Paris Saint-Germain’s Nuno Mendes is representing Ligue 1 and stood out last season in what was a largely unsuccessful campaign for the Parisians.
    Barcelona’s Gavi and Champions League winner Eduardo Camavinga are also strong contenders. More

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    Arsenal star ‘dressed up as woman in sexy lingerie while wearing lipstick in X-rated Babestation video call’

    AN ARSENAL footballer allegedly paid a Babestation dominatrix £1,000 to let him don lipstick and dress up as a woman during a kinky call.Chloe Gray has gone from being 10p overdrawn to now owning a Range Rover due to her success in dominating men.
    Chloe Gray is a hugely successful Babestation dominatrixCredit: Instagram @chloe.grey.babestation
    She has revealed how an Arsenal player paid her to let him wear lipstick and dress up as a womanCredit: Instagram @chloe.grey.babestation
    The 27-year-old, from Dorset, has now revealed that one of her clients was a Premier League ace for Arsenal.
    And she insisted that being asked to humiliate the unnamed Gunners footballer was all just part of the job.
    Speaking to the Daily Star, Chloe said: “Nothing really surprises me because they call me the queen of fetishes and there’s nothing really that I don’t cover.
    “Nothing shocks me because I’ve been doing this for so many years and it’s become more of a hobby than a job.
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    “It’s always the high-end people like lawyers, footballers and police officers who call up.”
    Recalling the memorable video call with the Gunners ace, Chloe continued: “He spent around £1,000 and he wanted to dress up like a girl.
    “He had a full set of white lingerie on and he had full blown lipstick, a wig, the works.
    “With the footballers calling in I always think it’s crazy how they can go from having such a high-powered job and being so professional to then in their private lives being in front of a screen for something that is a complete taboo.”
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    Another Babestation model, Jess West, previously told the Daily Star, how footballers call her sex line with some mistaking her for an escort.
    The Essex babe said: “I’ve had famous people call me on Babestation and you get footballers, particularly the younger generation, calling up and saying they play for so and so.
    “They ask how much it would be to book me and I’m always like ‘you can’t book me, this is phone sex’.
    “It was always the footballers who would call and straight away drop in who they are.
    “They say things like, ‘oh you are so beautiful I just couldn’t help but talk to you’ and they ask to go on a date. Again I say it’s phone sex, it’s not like that.
    “But because they are footballers and we are on the TV and a lot of us are models they just think ‘oh I like her’ as if it’s a catalogue they can choose from.”
    Gray insisted that she was not fazed at all by the player’s saucy callCredit: Instagram @chloe.grey.babestation More

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    Mikel Arteta will be SACKED by Arsenal if they don’t get top four after summer transfer spree, says William Gallas

    ARSENAL manager Mikel Arteta could be sacked if he fails to make it to the top four in the Premier League table this season.That is according to former Gunners star William Gallas, who claims Arteta has to deliver after being backed in the summer transfer window.
    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may be sacked if he fails to get top fourCredit: AFP
    Former Arsenal ace William Gallas insists Mikel Arteta has to deliverCredit: Getty
    The North Londoners signed Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Matt Turner and Marquinhos.
    Gallas insists Arteta should at least seal Champions League qualification with the squad he currently has at his disposal.
    But if the Spanish tactician misses out on the top four, like he did last season when Arsenal collapsed in the final stages, then he could be dismissed by the club.
    Gallas told Genting Casino: “Of course he will be in trouble. Arteta has been asked to make the top four and he didn’t do it last season.
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    “If Arsenal don’t play in the Champions League next season, it would cause a lot of drama.
    “They have to have a great season, possibly win the Premier League, but definitely to qualify for the Champions League.

    “They have just bought new players, it’s in the hands of Arteta and the players.
    “It will be a big problem for all of them if they don’t do their job to qualify in the Champions League.”
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    Arsenal kicked their Premier League season off on the right foot as they beat Crystal Palace 2-0 at Selhurst Park in their opening match.
    The Gunners are now set to take on Leicester on Saturday at the Emirates in their first home league game of the season. More

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    Hector Bellerin ‘offers himself to Barcelona on free transfer’ as right back negotiates Arsenal contract termination

    ARSENAL right-back Hector Bellerin has reportedly offered himself to Barcelona on a free transfer as he looks for a way out of the Emirates.The Gunners defender spent last season on loan at Real Betis, making 32 appearances for the LaLiga outfit.
    Right-back Bellerin is expected to leave Arsenal this summerCredit: Getty
    It seemed as though a permanent move to Betis was on the cards after he helped them win the Copa del Rey in April.
    But it has now emerged that the club are suffering from major financial problems, which makes registering new players a difficult task.
    And according to Mundo Deportivo, Bellerin is now open to looking at other options, with a move to Barcelona thought to be among the top priorities.
    The Spaniard came through Barca’s youth set-up before leaving for Arsenal in 2011.
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    Now he could be set to return to the Catalan giants as he looks to have his Arsenal contract terminated.
    Bellerin has one year left on his current deal with the North London outfit.
    However, Arsenal have shown in the recent past that they are willing to allow big players to leave for free – with Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both having their contracts ripped up.
    If he is allowed to depart then that would enable Barca to afford him despite their own financial crisis.
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    Xavi is said to be in the market for a right-back but missed out on Cesar Azpilicueta after he agreed a new deal with Chelsea.
    Now Bellerin could fill that void and – as a bonus – also join a club playing in the Champions League.
    He has been linked with a move to Atletico Madrid and Roma, but Betis and Barca remain the frontrunners.

    Bellerin has made 239 appearances for Arsenal across ten seasons at the club.
    He has won the FA Cup three times and also reached the League Cup final in 2018. More

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    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta continues clearout as defender Pablo Mari completes loan transfer to Monza

    ARSENAL defender Pablo Mari has completed a loan move to Monza.Mari, 28, will join the newly-promoted Serie A club on a season-long deal.
    Arsenal have completed a move to send Pablo Mari to Monza
    There reportedly includes an obligation to buy clause if the Italians avoid relegation.
    Arsenal released an official club statement reading: “Pablo Mari has joined Serie A side AC Monza on loan for the 2022/23 season.
    “Everyone at Arsenal wishes Pablo well in Italy with AC Monza during this next stage of his career.
    “The deal is subject to the completion of regulatory processes.”
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    Mari has been at Arsenal since 2020 but is now deemed surplus to requirements having fallen down the pecking order at centre-back.
    The Spaniard has made 22 total appearances for Arsenal, scoring one goal.

    He also spent time away from North London last season, being loaned out to Udinese, also in Italy’s top tier.
    Monza are looking to bolster their defensive options ahead of their first ever season in Serie A.
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    The minnows are owned by Silvio Berlusconi, the ex-owner of AC Milan and a former prime minister of Italy.
    Remarkably, Mari is the club’s NINETEENTH signing of the summer.
    Mari follows midfielder Lucas Torreira out the Emirates door after the Uruguayan joined Galatasaray in a £5.5million deal.
    Goalkeeper Bernd Leno also recently departed the club to link up with Fulham for £8m in his quest to play first team football.
    Meanwhile left-back Nuno Tavares was allowed to leave on loan to Marseille.
    And Striker Folarin Balgoun was snapped up by Reims. More

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    Piers Morgan slams Mikel Arteta for ‘humiliating’ Aubameyang which ‘cost Arsenal top four’ amid Chelsea transfer links

    PIERS MORGAN has accused Mikel Arteta of “humiliating” Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Arsenal amid reports he could be set to join Chelsea.The 33-year-old saw his Gunners contract terminated back in January after several disciplinary issues.
    Aubameyang is being linked with a move to Chelsea this summerCredit: Getty
    Morgan leapt to the defence of Aubameyang on social mediaCredit: The Mega Agency
    He joined Barcelona for the second half of last season, scoring 13 times in 23 games.
    But now he is rumoured to be on his way back to the Premier League as Chelsea eye him up as a replacement for Romelu Lukaku.
    A potentially swift exit from the Nou Camp led to a tweet from @GoonerTalk who said: “Piers Morgan went on and on about Arsenal offloading ‘world class striker’ Aubameyang, just for Barcelona to try to get rid of him 6 months later.
    “If a player is rumoured to be problematic and then two teams bin him within 6 months, you can take those rumours as gospel.”
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    To which SunSport columnist Piers replied: “No reports of [Aubameyang] being anything but exemplary at Barca, and a goal machine.
    “Now he may go to Chelsea, managed by [Thomas] Tuchel who managed him at Dortmund & loved him so much he wants to work with him again.
    “So every part of this tweet is utter twaddle.”
    Another social media user then slammed Aubameyang’s inability to attend meetings on time.
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    With Morgan snapping back again, saying: “He’s a poor time-keeper, big deal.
    “Tuchel managed him superbly, Arteta chose to humiliate him and give him away – costing us top four.”
    Aubameyang was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy in December last year after returning home late from a trip abroad.
    Explaining the decision at the time, Arteta said: “The decision we have taken as a club is very clear.
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    “It is because we believe he has failed to be committed as the level we all expect and agree. It is as simple as that.
    “What I expect from any person in this football club, that is representing this badge, is passion and that he gives absolutely 100%, that he puts the club in front of any personal interests and is able to do anything to fulfil the badge we have on the chest.
    “Apart from that, you can listen to individuals and you can understand different cultures, but that commitment and passion has to be there. Unfortunately, it wasn’t.”
    Aubameyang was axed by Arteta in January as Arsenal terminated his contractCredit: PA More

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    Arsenal ‘in talks with AC Milan over shock Albert Sambi Lokonga transfer’ with star down midfield pecking order

    ARSENAL are reportedly in talks with AC Milan over a shock transfer exit for Albert Sambi Lokonga.Football Italia claims the Belgian midfielder has emerged as Stefano Pioli’s top choice to replace Franck Kessie, who joined Barcelona on a free transfer earlier this summer.
    Arsenal and AC Milan are in talks over a transfer for Albert Sambi LokongaCredit: Getty
    Lokonga, 22, only signed for Arsenal a year ago from Anderlecht in a £17million deal.
    But, despite making 24 appearances in all competitions, he struggled to make a lasting impression in Mikel Arteta’s system.
    Lokonga now finds himself at the bottom of Arteta’s midfield pecking order.
    And an escape to Milan could be on the cards this month.
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    The Italian champions have already splashed £30m on Club Brugge forward Charles De Ketelaere.
    They also raided Liverpool to snap up Divock Origi for nothing.
    But they are yet to land a replacement for Kessie, a driving force in last season’s historic title win.
    Lokonga displays many of the characteristics required to replicate the Ivorian’s box-to-box role.
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    And Pioli reckons due to his young age, Lokonga has the potential to become a leading European midfielder.
    Should Arsenal sell Lokonga, it could open the door for them to finally land Youri Tielemans.
    The Leicester ace is out of contract next summer and available for £30million.
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    But Arsenal are hoping to drive the asking price down as the transfer window nears its end.
    And with Lokonga gone, there will be adequate space for his compatriot to fit in Arsenal’s squad. More

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    Arsenal set to offload another flop with Alex Runarsson in talks with Turkish side Antalyaspor over loan transfer

    ARSENAL goalkeeper Alex Runarsson is reportedly on the verge of signing for Antalyaspor.The 27-year-old is unlikely to feature in Mikel Arteta’s squad this season.
    Runarsson is set to leave Arsenal before the transfer window closesCredit: Getty
    New boy Matt Turner, who arrived in a £5.75million transfer from New England Revolution in June, has muscled in as back-up to first choice keeper Aaron Ramsdale.
    As a result, Runarsson has not been considered in the club’s plans for the upcoming season, so he is set to depart before the transfer window closes next month.
    According to The Evening Standard, Antalyaspor have been in talks with Arsenal over a potential loan deal.
    However, The Gunners are eager to move him on permanently.
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    Football journalist Mark Mann-Bryans has claimed that a permanent transfer to the Super Lig could be on the cards, which would be Arteta’s preferred deal.
    Runarsson joined Arsenal in 2020 as a replacement for Emiliano Martinez, who transferred to Aston Villa after an eight-year stint in North London.
    He made six appearances during his first season for the club, but he fell down the pecking order when Ramsdale arrived in 2021.
    Last summer, he was sent out on a season-long loan to Belgian side OH Leuven, where he kept two clean sheets in 20 appearances.
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    The Iceland international is now set to be moved on again due to the growing competition between the sticks at Arsenal.
    Former first-choice keeper Bernd Leno joined Fulham in an £8m transfer last week.
    Arteta currently has Ramsdale, Turner and 20-year-old Karl Hein at his disposal, while Arthur Okonkwo is out on loan at Crewe Alexandra to gain more experience. More