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      I’m a former Arsenal star – now I cycle to training every day after ditching London for sunny Spain

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      FORMER Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin has opened up about how his life has changed since joining Real Betis.The 28-year-old left north London in 2022 and struggled to settle at a new club.
      Hector Bellerin has revealed that he now cycles to trainingCredit: Getty
      Bellerin spent nine years at Arsenal before leaving in 2022Credit: Getty
      He spent a year at Barcelona but was limited to just seven appearances before joining Sporting Lisbon on a six-month contract.
      Bellerin returned to Real Betis last summer, having previously spent a season-long loan there from Arsenal, and has since flourished.
      On the pitch he is an established first team player.
      And off it he is a big advocate for tackling climate change.
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      The Spaniard now rides his bike to and from training rather than use his car.
      And he believes more footballers should be doing the same where possible.
      Speaking to The Times, Bellerin said: “I understand that [if you’re playing] on the other side of Europe, it needs planes.
      “We need to start slowly. In sport there are so many things that we do because of tradition, that I think we need to adjust.
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      “We wear a new shirt every game. We get loads of planes.
      “Promote trains, or taking a bus, rather than flying, especially in private planes.
      I slide tackled Arsene Wenger and Thierry Henry on my Arsenal trial – I couldn’t believe manager’s reaction
      “With Arsène Wenger, if we went to Manchester or Liverpool, we went by train.”
      He added: “With consuming, I always take my time. We are very used to buying things in the moment, from impulse. I take months before I make a purchase.
      “What’s the best decision for sustainability, for the planet, and as a consumer?”
      Discussing his delight at joining his boyhood club, Bellerin said: “Every Christmas I would get Betis presents.
      “Since the moment I arrived here I knew I wanted this to be my home for the long term.
      “It’s also important for me personally to be part of a club that has a commitment, not just to sustainability but also with their community.
      “A club that puts systems into place for fans and workers, players and staff to make it easier for us to have a greener lifestyle. It’s an inspiration.” More

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      Ex-Arsenal star Granit Xhaka scores incredible goal before pranking terrified boss Xabi Alonso with his celebration

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      GRANIT XHAKA pranked his own manager with a goal celebration as brilliant as his stunning strike.Xabi Alonso went from ecstasy to terror on the sideline as the former Arsenal midfielder lashed into the back of the net only to immediately grab his hamstring.
      Granit Xhaka scored a screamer for LeverkusenCredit: Sky Sports
      Xhaka gave boss Xabi Alonso a scare after the goal
      Alonso’s joy turned to fear on the touchlineCredit: Sky Sports
      Alonso couldn’t help but smile when he realised it was a prankCredit: Sky Sports

      But it turned out the Liverpool target was the only one not in on the joke as the Bundesliga leaders went 11 points clear of Bayern Munich with Friday’s 2-1 defeat of Mainz.
      Fans loved the comical caper after the Swiss star scored for the first time in 25 matches since quitting the Gunners for Alonso’s side.
      Xhaka went from hardman to funny man – despite the tension at the top of the German top flight as Leverkusen bid to dethrone Bayern.
      He’s certainly had a long time to plan something special for his first goal.
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      And his moment arrived after he skilfully shifted his body to thunder home a first-time left-footer from 25 yards in just the fourth minute.
      Xhaka wheeled away to rejoice – but quickly pulled up, clutching the back of his left leg and grimacing.
      Team-mates encircled the 31-year-old to salute his goal.
      And gradually Xhaka as well as wing-back Jeremie Frimpong turned the leg-holding into a celebration – as they danced off, lifting their knees in unison, while their colleagues grinned knowingly.
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      Xhaka held his hamstring and all his team-mates were in on itCredit: Rex
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      Ex-Liverpool midfield stylist Alonso was pictured on the Leverkusen bench with a worried expression that turned into a burst of laughter as looked on with his coaching team.
      One fan on social media responded: “I died laughing” while another wrote: “The reaction of the staff lol.”
      Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta targets win over Newcastle to recover from defeat to Porto
      Other viewers hailed Xhaka’s antics with comments like: “He faked his coach lol” and “Lol I thought he was going to twerk”.
      And one observer even compared the Leverkusen levity to other epic celebrations.
      He posted: “The video has everything to become iconic. The goal, celebration, the commentators who were fooled and Alonso who holds back the trainers.”
      But if Xhaka had the first laugh, Mainz keeper Robin Zentner was the victim of the last one – with a costly cock-up.
      Dominik Kohr had headed a shock leveller for the lowly visitors in only the eighth minute.
      And although Zentner produced a string of classy saves, he then fumbled in a Robert Andrich shot for Leverkusen’s winner midway trough the second half.
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      One fan labelled the German stopper a “Karius clone” – a hars reference to Lorius Karius, who gifted Real Madrid two goals in Liverpool’s 3-1 Champions League final defeat six years ago.
      Friday’s triumph means Leverkusen have now gone a club record 33 games unbeaten in all competitions. More

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      Porto 1 Arsenal 0: Galeno scores 94th-minute screamer as wasteful Gunners’ Champions League last-16 woes continue

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      NEW Arsenal. Same old Champions League anxieties.This was a chance for the Gunners to banish those last-16 demons of years gone by, to plonk one foot into this competition’s quarter-finals for the first time in 14 years.
      Galeno netted the winner with a late screamerCredit: Reuters
      Porto take a lead to North LondonCredit: Getty
      Arsenal’s Champions League knockouts curse continuedCredit: Reuters
      It was the first time they failed to register a shot on target in two yearsCredit: Rex
      Instead of finally putting that hoodoo to bed, this North London crop have emphatically breathed new life back into the beast.
      A nervy, below-par night from Arsenal at the Estadio do Dragao without a single shot on target ended with the hosts landing a spectacular last-minute sucker punch through Galeno’s long-range beauty.
      It seemed to hang in the air for an eternity before looping over David Raya’s outstretched dive and nestling into the bottom corner. Having missed a sitter in the first half, the Brazilian celebrated his redemption wildly.
      Next month’s second leg at the Emirates is now do or die for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta in a competition that often throws surprises and early exits their way.
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      From 2011 to 2017, they lost seven two-legged ties in a row at this stage of Europe’s grandest tournament. 
      Arteta will be livid. The Spaniard spoke glowingly pre-match of his dreams to win the Champions League at Wembley in June.
      On this performance alone, those fantasies need to be parked. Back in 2010, Arsenal lost 2-1 to Porto in the last 16 before winning 5-0 in North London. A similar result will have Arteta believing again.
      Arsenal started slow, hesitant in their approach, their minds seemingly elsewhere.
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      Declan Rice picked up a needless yellow in the second minute, forced into a wayward lunge having taken his eye off William Saliba’s pass. Gabriel then lost control moments later.
      Maybe it had just dawned on this young squad where they were, the stage they were playing on, and those in red in white in past years who had consistently failed to make that next step.
      David Raya shows off his plaster-covered ‘abnormal shovel’ hands that got him from non-league to Arsenal
      For so many European campaigns, the familiar faces left them bruised and beaten: Lionel Messi of Barcelona. Arjen Robben of Bayern Munich.
      In a desperately poor first half for the visitors, Galeno of Porto should have joined that pantheon of players still giving Arsenal fans nightmares earlier than expected.
      You will not see a miss like the Brazilian’s in the 20th minute for the rest of this season, or any season for that matter. It is hard to think of a worse one in recent European history.
      Gabriel half-cleared a cross with the ball spinning into the air inside the six-yard box. Saliba froze, allowing Galeno to breeze past him and connect with a fierce half volley.
      It smacked Raya’s right post and back into the path of Galeno, the Spanish keeper rooted to his own line, but the rebound was somehow fizzed wide of the opposite post.
      The majority of the stadium believed it had nestled into the bottom corner, rather than smacking the advertising boards. The stadium DJ briefly blasted some celebratory music.
      Arteta gestured to his players to stay calm, even if inside he was livid with his side’s apparent lack of urgency to break Porto down.
      It should have come as no surprise to Arsenal or Arteta that Porto would be defensively efficient, especially at home. In the Primeira Liga, they have not conceded in front of their own fans since December 9.
      Faltering from open play, even Arsenal’s trusted set-piece routines – usually orchestrated and executed to perfection – were falling flat, even if Saliba did come close with a header.
      Porto were gaining confidence up the other end as Evanilson tested Raya from a tight angle just before the break. Arteta welcomed the half time whistle with open arms.
      Arsenal’s efforts to build momentum were being disrupted by their opponents’ desire to win cheap fouls and earn the likes of Kai Havertz and Jakub Kiwior more harsh yellows.
      In the 55th minute, a corner routine finally came off but Rice’s skimmed pick-out of Leandro Trossard at the far post was blazed over. Gabriel headed over a free-kick late on.
      That was as good as it got for Arsenal, failing to score in a match in all competitions for the first time since January 7, and then came Galeno who took charge and fired in from around 30 yards. 
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      The quarters are still in sight, but Arteta knows more than most that Champions League second legs and Arsenal rarely go well together.

      The return leg against Porto is on March 12. More

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      Horror as Premier League star is threatened by troll who vowed to come to his house and kill him & his family

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      A PREMIER League star has revealed he was threatened by a troll who vowed to come to his house and kill him and his family.Neal Maupay, 27, scored a last-minute winner for Brighton & Hove Albion against Arsenal in June 2020.
      Brentford’s Neal Maupay was threatened by a troll who vowed to come to his house and kill him and his familyCredit: Rex
      The striker scored a last-minute winner for Brighton & Hove Albion against Arsenal in June 2020Credit: PA
      The Frenchman also unintentionally injured goalkeeper Bernd Leno during the gameCredit: AP
      The Frenchman, who is now on-loan at Brentford from Everton, also unintentionally injured goalkeeper Bernd Leno during the game.
      He then received a tidal wave of threats on social media, the BBC reported.
      “I got home and got a phone call from the club saying, listen, there’s a lot of stuff going on online,” he told the BBC Radio 4 podcast, Why Do You Hate Me?.
      “We advise you to switch off your social media and deactivate your accounts if you want to.”
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      The striker got a message from an anonymous account which warned that his “loved ones would go through suffering”.
      It also threatened to harm him and said: “Your family will be attacked later in the day just watch.”
      Maupay recalled: “It was very disturbing. I called the club and I said, we need to do something, because what if that guy is really coming to my house?”
      He blocked the account, but the person created another profile.
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      The next message read: “You think by reporting my account you’re safe? I will kill you and your family.”
      Tim Cooper, who leads the Premier League troll-busting unit, said: “We don’t often see repeat infringers – the same person sending the same messages.
      “We often see it as one outburst, rather than a real spiral of abuse aimed at one particular individual.
      “So it’s quite a unique case with Maupay where it was one user and then a follow up.”
      Maupay was one of the first players to refer abuse to Cooper’s team.
      “I had to do it because I wanted to make sure we were reporting these people and trying to get them punished for it,” he said.
      “I think it’s my responsibility as a person and as a football player to report it and try to change it. I think to ignore it is not the solution.”
      Cooper’s team were able to trace the comments to a 19-year-old based in Singapore, Derek Ng De Ren.
      Ng was an Arsenal fan and blamed his team’s loss on Maupay injuring Leno.
      The teenager was eventually handed a nine-month probation order.
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      The Premier League said it was the first time it was able to successfully work on a case of abuse from overseas.
      Watch Why Do You Hate Me? Hunting Premier League Trolls on BBC iPlayer or listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds. More

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      Luis Suarez reveals Arsenal ‘had Karim Benzema transfer all done’, before his bite on Chiellini changed everything

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      LUIS SUAREZ has claimed his infamous bite on Giorgio Chiellini caused Arsenal to lose out on signing Karim Benzema. The year was 2014 and Suarez was looking to leave Liverpool with both Real Madrid and Barcelona interested.
      Luis Suarez infamously bit Giorgio Chiellini in the 2014 World CupCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Karim Benzema was close to joining ArsenalCredit: Rex
      And Madrid already had Benzema on the way out and Suarez lined up for a replacement during the World Cup.
      But after the Uruguayan was caught biting Chiellini, he claimed Madrid lost interest.
      He instead decided to join Barca, meaning Madrid kept Benzema and Arsenal were left empty handed.
      He told La Mesa: “Before the 2014 World Cup, Real Madrid wanted to sign me and everything was on track.
      READ MORE ARSENAL NEWS
      “They were planning to sell Benzema to Arsenal, it was all done. “When the World Cup started, Barca joined the race, and obviously I preferred Barca.
      “With the bite situation, Madrid lowered their interest, and Barca became more interested.
      “In the end I had both options and I chose Barcelona because it was my dream.”
      Suarez was caught on camera biting into Chiellini’s arm during a group stage match between Uruguay and Italy.
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      It came just a year after he did the same to Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.
      Suarez was banned for nine international games by Fifa but his move to Barca still went through.
      Watch moment star gets booked for throwing Luis Suarez’s boot off the pitch as former Liverpool star rolls around
      He would go onto win four league titles and lift the Champions League during his time at the Nou Camp.
      And now Suarez is back with team-mates Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets at Inter Miami.
      But Suarez did reveal plans to retire, saying: “Yes, I cannot be more sincere and the family already knows. The date is not yet set, but this is the last step.
      “I am prepared for this last challenge but it is also exhausting and I have to think about having a quality of life afterwards.
      Suarez opened up on retirement after signing for Inter MiamiCredit: Reuters More

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      Former Chelsea and Arsenal star Willian announces plans for career change

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      FULHAM star Willian has revealed he wants to become a football agent when he eventually retires, not a coach. Willian, 35, has been around the block having spent seven succesful seasons with Chelsea before making the shock decision to move to Arsenal in 2020.
      Willian has created no less than 30 chances this seasonCredit: Getty
      Willian said he wanted to ‘put something back’ to footballCredit: Getty
      When things were not working out as planned he returned to boyhood club Corinthians in Brazil, only to do a U turn a year later.
      Back in his old stomping ground of South West London Willian has become a vital cog in Marco Silva’s game and very much a fan favourite amongst the Cottagers.
      The Fulham star told The Telegraph his plans to become a football agent in the future were mainly driven by a desire to help and ‘put something back’ to football.
      But first, he reckons there is more football to be played and wants to remain at Fulham next season.
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      Contrary to reports, the Brazilian disclosed his current deal ‘is just one year’ and does not have the option for another season – but he is happy to wait until summer to find out what the future holds.
      Modestly, he said: “I don’t know if they want me to stay!”
      “We are going to decide at the end of the season.
      “Now, I just want to be focused on playing well and training well and giving my best to the club.
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      “Then we will see what we can do, what we are going to do.”
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      It seems likely Fulham will want him to stay given his talent but even if they don’t, Willian revealed the last things he wants is to retire.
      He said: “Yes, I am coming to the end of my career. I think I maybe have four, five years to play.”
      New footage reveals why Harry Maguire was fuming before Man Utd’s penalty over Fulham in FA Cup
      “Everyone says to me ‘how’s it possible that you are 35? You can’t be!’ It’s good to hear that.”
      Going on to reveal the secret to his longevity he jokingly said: “The most important thing is sleep!”
      Willian has been integral to Fulham this season
      Fulham are currently sitting 12th in the table and are set to play fifth place Aston Villa at Craven Cottage on Saturday. More

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      Incredible timelapse video shows Premier League clubs’ £27.5BN player sales since 1993 with Chelsea biggest selling club

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      AN incredible timelapse video shows which English teams have made the most money through selling players since the Premier League’s inception.And the results in recent years are perhaps the most surprising.
      Chelsea top the charts for spending in recent years, with Todd Boehly going through a high turnover of playersCredit: Reuters
      The club’s sale of Eden Hazard in 2019 helps them top the chartsCredit: Getty – Contributor
      As well as selling Abramovich-era players to rivalsCredit: AFP
      The graph showing player sales was generated by football finance expert Kieran Maguire, and posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).
      Chelsea have topped the charts for most money made through player sales since 2016, and have only extended their “lead” at the top since Todd Boehly took over the club from Roman Abramovich in 2022.
      That’s seen Boehly put his own stamp on the side by spending £1billion in transfer fees during his year-and-a-half in charge so far but also led to a culling of players from the previous regime.
      Mason Mount was sold for £60million to Manchester United and Kai Havertz sold to London rivals Arsenal for £65m as Boehly brought in the likes of Moises Caicedo for a British record £115m.
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      The Blues also shot up the chart in 2019 when they sold Eden Hazard for £130m to Real Madrid – despite him only having a year remaining on his contract.
      Chelsea have generated over £1.4bn in player sales which dwarfs the second highest sellers Liverpool, who have made £915.6m from selling players.
      Liverpool were handed a huge bump in their player sales in 2018 with the sale of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for £105m, the then second most expensive transfer of all time.
      It allowed the Reds to reinvest and build a dynasty for Jurgen Klopp which has them sitting top of the table today, with the bulk of the Coutinho money being used to sign Virgil van Dijk.
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      The sale of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona was transformative for Liverpool, and helps them to second on this listCredit: AFP or licensors
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      Another team that have consistently generated income through player sales down the years are Arsenal.
      Arsene Wenger admitted that top stars would have to be sold to help finance the Emirates Stadium, which was built in 2006, and this led to a period of lean years where the club lost the likes of Ashley Cole, Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie, and Samir Nasri to either Premier League or Champions League rivals.
      The club topped the list for money generated through player sales in 2008, having sold £184.8m worth of players.
      Interestingly though, Arsenal have dropped to fifth in player sales in recent years, suggesting not only is their Emirates move now paid off and generating income, but the club have stopped selling their biggest players.
      The Gunners spent big on the likes of Declan Rice and David Raya this summer, which left them limited in January due to FFP regulations – suggesting that selling good players to generate revenue is no longer part of the plan.
      They now sit fifth on the list with £779.4m in player sales.
      Their North London rivals Spurs featured consistently since 1993 as being one of the club’s that have made the most money through selling players.
      Arsenal’s signature of Declan Rice might indicate a change in tactic at the EmiratesCredit: Getty
      Spurs’ sale of Gareth Bale among other superstars sees them rank highly on the listCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The club topped the chart at the beginning of the graph and have largely stayed in the top six of selling clubs since then.
      The club’s MO until recently was to develop players and sell them for big profits with players like Dimitar Berbatov, Luka Modric and Gareth Bale all examples of that.
      Harry Kane aside, that seems to have changed in recent years, with Spurs still signing young players with high potential, but now fighting tooth and nail to keep them at the club.
      They now sit fourth in the table on £896.4m, being overtaken by Manchester City – indicating a change in approach from Spurs.
      City shot up on the table from 14th when Sheikh Mansour took over the club in 2008 with £55.3m in player sales to third in 2024 with £880m revenue generated.
      The club have never sold a star during the Sheikh’s reign so their appearance near the top is a little surprising – but their ranking on the list is largely down to selling academy products.
      The financial capital invested in the academy by the club’s UAE owners means City’s academy products pop up all over world football, Pedro Porro’s £42m transfer to Spurs last year saw City benefit from a sell-on clause for example.
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      The club have also done well in selling the likes of Jeremie Frimpong to Bayer Leverkusen, who looks set for a mega money transfer at the end of the season – and the £42.5m sale of Cole Palmer to Chelsea also benefitting the club’s bottom line.
      The sales have aided their ability to splash the cash within the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules and sign the likes of Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for £100m – but the club remain under investigation by the Premier League for their spending.
      City selling Cole Palmer led to a bump in revenue for the Manchester clubCredit: Getty More

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      Juventus targeting swoop for Arsenal star to be their ‘mother hen’ but Mikel Arteta BLOCKING midfielder’s exit

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      JUVENTUS have been trying ‘for years’ to sign Arsenal midfielder Jorginho, but Mikel Arteta is blocking the way. According to Calciomecato, the Italian club have been on Jorginho’s trail ‘for years’ and could make their move this summer, when his contract at Arsenal runs out.
      Mikel Arteta is not ready to commit to renewing Jorghino’s contractCredit: Rex
      Jorginho has long been linked with a move to JuventusCredit: Getty
      Arteta appears to back Jorginho and it looks unlikely the Gunners will let a player of his quality slip away.
      Arteta sung the praises of the 32-year-old when he said: “He is a very intelligent player, and the most important quality of him is that he makes those around him better. 
      “He knows how to connect his teammates, he knows how to read the game and manage it, it’s incredible.
      “I always say that he is an example, a model for everyone in the club.”
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      In spite of the manager’s gushing praise, Arsenal are apparently not ready to fully commit to the midfielder for next year because there are ‘many variables still to evaluate’.
      The club’s indecision is leaving a wide open gap for Juventus to swoop into.
      The Italians are currently waiting and watching in the wings amidst the uncertainty coming from the North London direction.
      Director of football, Cristiano Giuntoli has apparently been keeping a close eye on the Italian midfielder for years and ‘knows all about him’ .
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      Jorginho has long been linked with a move to Juventus and the idea now is that the Italian would be a ‘mother hen’ for the younger players were he to move to Italy.
      He would also offer different characteristics to leading player Manuel Locatelli, 26.
      Top ten greatest Premier League players of all time as Kevin de Bruyne and Cristiano Ronaldo both miss out on top spot
      The idea of offering him a short term contract has also been floated, although Arsenal would still have to give the green light which does not look that likely at the moment.
      Jorghino has recently reached sky high approval from Gunners’ fans after he helped persuade Arteta to play 15-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, now the youngest Premiere League player ever, against West Ham.
      Jorginho will be a ‘mother hen’ to the young Juventus players
      Arsenal are seemingly getting stronger and stronger, beating Liverpool 3-1, thrashing West Ham and Crystal Palace 6-0 and 5-0 respectively.
      It would have been a run of fantastic form of late if they had not let Fulham get two goals past David Raya in the 2-1 loss on New Year’s Eve. More