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      I’m an Arsenal legend who scored winner in FA Cup final with a broken nose… now I run a plumbing company

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      ANDY LINIGHAN is the retired FA Cup final goalscorer who is now unblocking toilets for a living.Linighan scored a historic winner for Arsenal in their 1992-93 Cup final replay with Sheffield Wednesday.
      Andy Linighan won the 1992-93 FA Cup final with ArsenalCredit: REX
      Linighan scored a 119th-minute winner against Sheffield Wednesday with a broken noseCredit: REX
      Linighan now spends his days unclogging pipes and toiletsCredit: REX
      His 119th-minute header saw the Gunners run out 2-1 winners and become the first English club to win the Cup Double.
      Linighan’s commitment to getting his head on the ball was made even more remarkable by the fact he was nursing a broken nose from a controversial Mark Bright elbow.
      And after his playing days came to an end in 2002, he committed himself to ensuring people’s pipes and toilets were unblocked.
      Shortly after hanging up his boots, Linighan set up Linighan Plumbing Service – which is based in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.
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      It’s not surprising that Linighan decided to become a plumber after retiring as he learned the trade as a teenage apprentice.
      A Twitter account allegedly belonging to the 61-year-old describes himself as: “[A] retired football player who has now got a profound love for plumbing.
      “Currently run Linighan Plumbing Services. Average footballer, Excellent Plumber.”
      Rumours circulated that Linighan used the “Average footballer, Excellent Plumber” motto on the side of his van.
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      Andy Linighan celebrates scoring the winning goal with Tony AdamsCredit: REX
      But he dispelled them by saying: “I bumped into Ray Parlour at the last game at Highbury.
      “I think I made a joke or something about this van and sign and the next thing talkSPORT are calling to ask if it’s true.
      “Ray Parlour. Cheeky chappie. I don’t even have a van.”
      Linighan has fond memories of his FA Cup final heroics for George Graham’s side.
      Recalling the moment – in which he had to once again battle in the air with Bright – Linighan told The Daily Mail: “John Jensen took a shot and it went for a corner, a minute left.
      “John says to me, ‘Big man, it was going for the top corner’. This is John Jensen who scored one goal for Arsenal.
      “Paul Merson takes the corner, plenty of pace on it. We did this corner at Norwich before I joined where I’d stand on the edge of the D with Ian Butterworth.
      “He’d spin round and I’d attack the middle. I headed it flush and that was that.”
      Linighan and his Arsenal team-mates, unsurprisingly, celebrated their Cup triumph by partying into the early hours of the morning.
      He revealed: “That night we went to Sopwell for a big party. I left with some friends at 2am and we got pulled over.
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      “The bobby put his head in the car, saw me sleeping in the back and said, “He scored the winning goal tonight.
      “‘On you go son.’ That was a good night.”
      Andy Linighan and his Arsenal team-mates partied until the small hours of the morningCredit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS LTD More

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      Mikel Arteta knows what FA Cup pressure feels like as Arsenal face Liverpool with the spotlight on him once again

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      MIKEL ARTETA is used to feeling the heat before an FA Cup game.It is four months shy of a decade since the Spaniard captained Arsenal to victory at Wembley – coming from 2-0 down to beat Hull City 3-2.
      Mikel Arteta captained Arsenal to the FA Cup under Arsene Wenger in 2014Credit: AP:Associated Press
      Arteta lifted the trophy as manager in 2020 to ease pressure during his reignCredit: Getty
      It was a victory that ended the club’s nine-year wait for a major trophy, easing the pressure and strain on legendary boss Arsene Wenger.
      Arteta smiled when recollecting: “The feeling in that dressing room, we wanted to do it for Arsene. I remember talking about it with a lot of the players.
      “They were a few difficult years and we wanted to deliver for him. It was a way of giving something back.”
      Six years later, Arteta emulated the great Frenchman by leading Arsenal to more FA Cup glory, this time as manager – at a time when his own position was being questioned.
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      Coming from behind again, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s second half winner saw off Chelsea 2-1, albeit at an empty Wembley in the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak.
      Arteta recalled: “I was very nervous. You are so willing to make that next step and bring silverware to the club. We didn’t want to let anyone down. It was really reinforcing.”
      And so, here we are again. Another FA Cup clash and another testing period in Arteta’s North London reign, with questions being asked once more.
      Two successive Premier League defeats have seen Arsenal drop from a Christmas Day top spot to fourth – with current leaders Liverpool in town on Sunday looking to inflict more pain in the cup.
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      The chance to take a dent out of a title rival is on offer, as well as the incentive of not playing again in the league until January 20th – a potentially vital break for Arsenal before getting back down to business and regaining their place atop the Prem summit.
      But Arteta is refusing to be drawn into the narrative of sending Liverpool a message, insisting his only focus is on rebuilding momentum and raising spirits after losing to West Ham and Fulham.
      Arteta said: “I don’t know where that confidence is – we cannot measure it. It is not a fact. It is more perception.
      “All I have done is told the players how good they are, accept we haven’t hit the levels that we wanted and we move on. We need to believe again and be consistent.
      “There were periods in the game against Fulham where we didn’t hit the levels that we wanted to earn the right to win a football match.
      “We want to continue on that road that has taken us so far, much further than a lot of people expected or imagined and we need to continue to do that.”
      Arteta will be keen to avoid a replay later this month – scuppering his plans to take his players and their families to Dubai for some winter training in the sun.
      In that respect, he is expected to put out a near full-strength team with Oleksandr Zinchenko in contention to return after missing the New Year’s Day loss at Fulham.
      Arteta added: “We have to give opportunities to certain players, that’s for sure.
      “We have to decide whether Sunday is the right moment and environment to do that. That’s a question we will have to resolve in the next two days.”
      Read more on The Sun
      Arsenal earned a draw on Merseyside in the Prem on December 23rd, and on whether the Emirates can ever be as hostile as Anfield, Arteta said: “It will be our own one. We are really happy with the atmosphere that we have created.
      “Can we tweak it and make it even more hostile? I think we can. That’s the next step. Sunday is going to be another big one.” More

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      Arsenal lining up transfer swoop for Dutch wonderkid Jorrel Hato, 17, who has already captained Ajax

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      ARSENAL are plotting a move for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato, according to reports.The 17-year-old wonderkid has already captained the Dutch giants twice this season.
      Arsenal are plotting a move for Ajax defender Jorrel HatoCredit: Getty
      Mikel Arteta is understood to be keen to bolster his defensive options in the transfer market.
      He remains without summer signing Jurrien Timber, who is expected to be out until at least April with a knee injury.
      Meanwhile, Oleksandr Zinchenko is a current injury doubt and Takehiro Tomiyasu is now on international duty at the Asian Cup.
      According to the Telegraph, Hato has now been identified as a potential target by the Gunners.
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      The teenager is predominantly used in central defence but can also play at left-back, with his versatility appealing to Arsenal.
      However, the report adds that a summer move for Hato is being considered instead of a January transfer.
      Hato has been a standout performer for Ajax this season in an underwhelming campaign for the 36-time Dutch champions.
      He has already made 40 first-team appearance before his 18th birthday as well as wearing the captain’s armband on multiple occasions this term.
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      Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman also handed him his senior international debut back in November.
      Elsewhere, Arsenal continue to be strongly linked with Brentford’s Ivan Toney.
      The forward is seen as the preferred target in Arteta’s search for a new striker.
      Brentford, and manager Thomas Frank, remain determined to keep hold of their man this month. More

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      How Arsenal star Declan Rice was on verge of joining Celtic in shock transfer before sliding doors moment

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      BRENDAN RODGERS has revealed Declan Rice came close to signing for Celtic. The England international was subject to heavy transfer interest over the last few years with Chelsea, Manchester United and City all linked.
      Brendan Rodgers revealed Declan Rice came close to signing for CelticCredit: Rex
      Eventually, Arsenal won the race last summer after prising Rice over to North London in a £105million deal.
      But it could have been so different.
      Because Celtic boss Rodgers revealed in his first spell with the club – which ran from 2016-2019 – Rice was set for a move to Scotland.
      He said: “The club will do absolutely everything we can to support what we need and what the team needs.
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      “There is lots of work going on in the background, and I’m pretty sure that in this early period of the month, we can have some joy and get one or two in.
      “Ideally you’d want to get them in (early). Deals can be complicated and things that might have been there for three or four months can fall away.
      “That’s always the challenge – it only takes one injury to a player who was lined up to come in.
      “I remember when I was here the first time, we spent about three months looking for Declan Rice to come in.
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      “Declan was all set to come in and then all of a sudden they (West Ham) had an injury, he stayed and got in the team and the rest is history.
      “That’s not the club’s fault – it’s just the way it goes.”
      Rice made his senior West Ham debut in May of 2017 aged just 18.
      The following season, he made 31 appearances and established himself as a regular in the first team squad.
      Rice, 24, would later captain the Hammers and played 245 times, scoring 15 times.
      He led West Ham to the Europa Conference League trophy before bowing out to join Arsenal. More

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      Three ways Ivan Toney would improve Arsenal instantly and why Mikel Arteta should make striker his No1 transfer priority

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      LAST summer Arsenal spent big on the likes of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz – in the hope they would help them win the Premier League.However, at the halfway stage of the season, they have hit a trough in form, and the goals have dried up.
      Ivan Toney is being heavily linked with a move to ArsenalCredit: Getty
      Toney could enhance the way Mikel Arteta is trying to playCredit: Alamy
      Toney scored 20 Premier League goals last season
      The most obvious move in the January window would be to buy a top striker – and Brentford and England star Ivan Toney is the clear favourite.
      The 27-year-old is currently serving an eight-month ban for betting on football matches, but the suspension expires in the middle of January.
      The question for Arsenal fans is whether Toney would fit their current team and whether coach Mikel Arteta would have to change his tactical system to accommodate the English striker.
      SunSport have detailed three main reasons why Toney would be a great signing for Arsenal this window.
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      Aerial power
      Toney has a reputation for being an aerially dominant forward despite the fact that he is only 6ft 1in.
      He plays in a way that makes him appear bigger than he is due to his anticipation and sense of timing when challenging for aerial duels.
      And his athleticism allows him to get great elevation when he leaps to challenge for the ball.
      Toney’s dominance aerially and his ability to disrupt opposition defenders would add an extra level to the Arsenal attack.
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      At the moment, Arsenal are struggling to break teams down as they have a very structured approach to how they attack.
      Under Arteta’s coaching, Arsenal look to dominate and control matches but there is a sense that they are missing a second option and the ability to play in a more direct fashion to a striker.
      Toney starts wide and times his movement inside to challenge for the ball, winning the aerial duel and nodding it into space for a team-mate
      Having the option to play a more direct pass does not mean that Arsenal would have to resort to playing route one or long ball football.
      Having the option of a more direct pass in moments of transition in particular can allow you to turn the opposition and to play quickly into dangerous areas.
      A player like Toney would then be effective in terms of being able to receive the ball and bring others into play as they make forward runs to support the attack and get around the ball.
      Toney’s ability in the air would also be a good addition for Arsenal with his threat in the penalty area.
      He is the kind of striker who creates fear through his positioning, movement and anticipation in the opposition penalty area.
      Toney draws defenders towards him, which in turn would create more time and space for Arsenal’s other attacking players.
      Eddie Nketiah should be the favourite to win the ball but he loses the aerial duel and Fulham maintain pressure
      While Gabriel Jesus is underrated in the air, this is still something that Arsenal are lacking in their attacking options.
      Eddie Nketiah is more of a poacher and, while his movement is good and he can drag defenders out of position, he is not the type to receive the ball with his back to goal and bring others into play.
      Toney would definitely add an extra dimension to the Arsenal attack.
      Creativity
      While Toney has a reputation for being physical and strong in the air, there is far more to his game than meets the eye.
      This is why the interest from Arsenal in Toney’s signature actually makes a lot of sense.
      Toney is a mobile striker who has a balanced profile.
      He is comfortable playing with his back to goal and receiving the ball with defenders tight to him, or when looking to peel off to attack the channels and make runs behind the defensive line.
      When he receives the ball in the opposition half he has the ability and quality to find passes that break the last line to play team-mates through on goal.
      His partnership with Bryan Mbuemo is based on the way that the two of them link together in the final third.
      Toney draws opposition players in before he turns and sees Mbeum as he plays the ball through the defensive line
      The ability of Toney to receive the ball deep and bring others into play would work extremely well for Arsenal because of the way they attack in the final third.
      This is especially true with the movement from the wide areas into the central spaces from the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
      While Jesus has the capacity to drop into space and link play ahead of him, the same cannot be said of Nketiah.
      With Jesus also capable of playing on the left of a striker, Toney would add to Arsenal’s attacking options.
      Gabriel Jesus drops deep, gets on the turn and finds the through ball
      The technical quality and ability of Toney to play effectively in these deeper areas would work well for Arsenal.
      Presence in the opposition area
      While Toney is capable of dropping off the front line to receive the ball in the opposition half of the pitch, he is equally adept at finding space and creating danger in the area.
      Toney is not a striker who is overly quick or dynamic and he relies on his movement and timing in the area to create space.
      Toney would enhance the way Arsenal play as there are times when Jesus drops out of the penalty area to link play.
      Having a striker that can remain central and act as the focal point for the attack would bring an extra dimension to Arsenal.
      How Arsenal’s two main strikers compare this season
      Toney has the instinct to pull off the last defender at the back post and finish off the cross
      While Jesus and Nketiah are competent forwards, when it comes to their movement in the area there is a case to be made that Toney’s all-round game and balanced profile makes him a stronger option to lead the line for Arsenal.
      Arsenal attack from the right while Jesus is positioned in a deeper central area
      Toney is the type of striker who can come in and enhance the best parts of the way that Arsenal attack.
      It would be hugely beneficial for Arsenal to have an attacking player who can make the most of the crosses and passes that Saka delivers into the area.
      Toney is a more reliable striker than Jesus or Nketiah, so it makes sense for Arsenal to recruit him.
      Conclusion
      While Arsenal’s interest in Toney adds up from a tactical perspective, the deal is not set to be easy for Arsenal to push through.
      Toney will start to lose his value as his contract is up at the end of the 2024/25 season, but Brentford are not the kind of team to give up a key player on the cheap.
      Read more on The Sun
      It is likely Arsenal will have to pay a significant fee to the striker – but he could very well be worth it.
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      Forgotten Arsenal star set to have loan contract ripped up six months early after playing just 149 minutes all season

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      MARQUINHOS could see his spell in France come to a premature end after playing 149 minutes this season.The forgotten Arsenal star was loaned out to FC Nantes in the summer window after failing to assert himself in north London.
      Marquinhos could have his loan move brought to an early end in JanuaryCredit: Getty
      Since arriving in Ligue 1 things have not gone according to plan for the 20-year-old with a lack of form impacting his game time.
      Marquinhos has featured just seven times in the league this season and has started only once.
      And now French outlet L’Équipe have reported that the winger may leave FC Nantes in January, despite his contact lasting until the end of the season.
      They cite a lack of playing time as one of the potential reasons behind the early termination.
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      Marquinhos has failed to score and provided just one assist so far this season.
      He wants to take part in the South America pre-Olympic tournament from January 20 to February 11, which Nantes are against, and this is being used as one of the reasons for the early end to his loan spell.
      If he was to be sent back to Arsenal it’s unlikely he would be any use to Mikel Arteta with the Gunners having previously placed him out on loan.
      In addition, Arsenal already possess ample talent in his position, in the form of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and a resurging Kai Havertz.
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      Marquinhos played six times for Arsenal’s first-team, registering a goal and an assist on his 2022 debut, which came in a Europa League win over FC Zurich.
      However, he wasn’t able to hold down a starting spot, racking up just one minute of Premier League football.
      The Gunners’ then loaned him out to Championship side Norwich in the second half of last season, where he made only 11 appearances.
      He had spent his career at Brazilian side Sao Paulo before his switch to England, playing 42 times for his boyhood club.
      Marquinhos won the Campeonato Paulista with Sao Paulo in 2021 and the Pan American Games with Brazil U23s last year. More

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      Ivan Toney’s sell-on clauses revealed with Premier League rivals set for huge windfall if Arsenal seal £100m transfer

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      NEWCASTLE and Peterborough are set for huge windfalls if Arsenal sign Ivan Toney.The Brentford striker has been strongly linked with a move to the Gunners this month.
      Newcastle are set for a transfer windfall if Ivan Toney leaves Brentford this monthCredit: Getty
      Peterborough would pocket £30million from a £100million transfer thanks to their sell-on clauseCredit: Rex
      Arsenal face competition from Chelsea and Tottenham, though, with Toney reportedly valued at a massive £100million by the Bees.
      A deal worth that amount would see both Newcastle and League One Peterborough pocket millions thanks to their sell-on clauses.
      According to Sky Sports, Posh have a 30 per cent clause included in the £5million deal that took Toney to Brentford in 2020.
      Meanwhile, Newcastle would receive 30 per cent of that amount after selling the forward to Peterborough two years earlier.
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      Those clauses would see Darren Ferguson’s side receive £30million if Toney is sold for £100million, with the Magpies then cashing £9million from that figure.
      Newcastle previously received £1.5million from Toney’s 2018 move to Brentford.
      He has since scored 32 goals in 66 top flight appearances for the club, who are desperate to keep hold of him ahead of his return to action.
      Manager Thomas Frank warned off clubs ahead of his side’s weekend defeat at Crystal Palace.
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      He told reporters: “As far as I know Ivan is a Brentford player. I want to keep him and I’m looking forward to him playing with us.”
      Toney, who has just 18 months left on his contract, can return to competitive action from January 17 after serving an eight-month gambling ban.
      Toney has been strongly linked with a move to Arsenal ahead of his Brentford returnCredit: Getty More

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      Ghana boss reveals why Arsenal star Thomas Partey has NOT been called up to squad for Afcon 2024

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      ARSENAL have received a boost this month with the news Thomas Partey will NOT join up with Ghana at the African Cup of Nations.The Gunners midfielder has been out since October following surgery on a thigh injury – one that Ghana boss Chris Hughton has described as “substantial”.
      Thomas Partey has been left out of the Ghana squad for the Africa Cup of NationsCredit: Getty
      Chris Hughton described the midfielder’s injury as ‘substantial’Credit: Getty
      There were hopes Partey, 30, would be back this week to be involved in Sunday’s FA Cup third round clash with Liverpool – in time to join up with his Ghana team-mates at AFCON ahead of their opening group game against Cape Verde on January 14.
      However, the decision has been made between the Arsenal medical team and Black Stars head coach Hughton not to risk Partey out in the tournament’s host country Ivory Coast as he continues recovering from the “biggest injury” of his career.
      In a press conference announcing his 27-man squad, Hughton explained: “Thomas Partey for sure, and I say this not in a detrimental way to the squad that we have, but he is one of our most important players.
      “This we know and, withstanding his injury, he certainly would be in the squad. We know the quality of player that he is. This is a player that has a substantial injury.
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      “I’ve spent a lot over this period of time with Thomas and also engaging with the medical staff at Arsenal Football Club. 
      “They will treat this injury with caution, and so will the player. This is a big injury for him and the biggest injury that he’s had.
      “The most important thing for me as head coach and our association is to give him the support that he needs through this period of time. 
      “From all the information that we’ve been given, the timelines of his recovery and the caution that will be taken, will not meet our timelines for the AFCON.”
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      Partey has recently returned to light training and was due to be in contention to make the squad to face Jurgen Klopp’s Reds at the Emirates this weekend.
      It would be his first appearance in all competitions in an Arsenal shirt since October 8 – the 1-0 victory over Manchester City.
      He will then have further time to recover and get up to speed with Arsenal’s next clash not until January 20 when they take on Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
      Arsenal have also welcomed back Takehiro Tomiyasu from a calf injury, but Fabio Vieira (groin) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) remain out. More