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      Former Arsenal and Liverpool starlet wakes up a free agent after ripping up contract with League One club

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      FORMER Premier League star Ovie Ejaria is unemployed after seeing his contract ripped up at Reading.The 26-year-old came to an agreement with the League One club to mutually end his deal ahead of the January transfer window.
      Ovie Ejaria is now a free agentCredit: Getty
      Ejaria has not played this season due to injury problems and managed just eight league games last term.
      His contract was set to end this summer but it has been “amicably” terminated early.
      Reading have been keen to reduce expenditure and they will now save money on his wages.
      Ejaria was tipped for big things as a youngster and was on the books of both Arsenal and Liverpool.
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      He made eight senior appearances for the Reds and his debut came in 2016.
      The midfielder was subsequently loaned out to Sunderland, Rangers and Reading.
      He then moved to the Royals permanently for £3.5million in 2020.
      Ejaria also earned one cap for England’s Under-21s back when he was dubbed a wonderkid.
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      And he was part of a star-studded Under-20s squad that won the World Cup in 2017, which featured the likes of Dominic Solanke, Fikayo Tomori, Ademola Lookman and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
      Reading are currently 23rd in League One and are in the midst of a relegation battle. More

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      Jubilant Arsenal fans beg ‘inject it into my veins’ as Gunners make massive signing from Real Madrid

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      JUBILANT Arsenal fans rejoiced as they landed a massive signing from Real Madrid.And Mikel Arteta will be desperately hoping he can hit the ground running in North London.
      Mikel Arteta has got Paulo Xavier as his new South America scout from Real MadridCredit: Alamy

      According to The Athletic, the Gunners have managed to snap up Paulo Xavier.
      Xavier was Los Blancos’ Latin America scout.
      But after taking the job in September 2017, it is understood he has already left the 14-time European champions and started in his new role – although it is yet to be formally confirmed.
      The report adds that Xavier will operate in South America alongside two other Arsenal scouts.
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      He was a key member of the scouting team headed up by Juni Calafat with Real Madrid.
      And he played an important role in the Spanish giants securing the transfers for youngsters Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and the £60million Endrick – dubbed the heir to Neymar’s throne.
      So Gunners supporters are very excited about the new recruit and the gems he could unearth in South America.
      One said: “Inject it in my veins. We are massive.”
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      Another wrote: “Waooo great move.”
      A third added: “We are cooking on and off the pitch.”
      And a final user replied: “This team has finally brought joy in my heart.”
      Before his Bernabeu gig, Xavier had a short stint with Manchester United which followed two years with the Brazilian Football Confederation.
      Arsenal’s sporting director Edu was also with the CBF at the time and oversaw the new appointment at the Emirates.
      And the Emirates chief has plenty of his own intel in the market Xavier will be working in thanks to his Brazilian connections.
      The Gunners found compatriots Gabriel Martinelli and Marquinhos as teenagers.
      Brazilian Edu is sporting director at ArsenalCredit: Reuters More

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      Kai Havertz is finally winning argument with Arsenal fans and proving why the ‘snowflake’ has had £135m splashed on him

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      HE’S cost around £135million in combined transfer fees.He’s scored the winner in a Champions League final.
      Kai Havertz joined Arsenal from Chelsea this summer for a fee of £65millionCredit: ARSENAL
      The Germany international struggled during the early stages of the seasonCredit: GETTY
      But the 24-year-old appears to have finally found his feet at the EmiratesCredit: REX
      At 24, he’s played for the current leaders of the Bundesliga and the Premier League and he’s been a European and world club champion elsewhere.
      Supremely versatile, he operates as a centre-forward, a No .10, a central midfielder and last month he scored an international goal while playing at left-back.
      He is genuinely two-footed, good in the air, stands at 6ft 4in but possesses a velvet touch and a rare footballing intelligence.
      We are talking about Kai Havertz, a man who suffered dog’s abuse from a sizeable proportion of his own supporters after his £65m summer move from Chelsea to Arsenal.
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      After four goals in his last seven games (and it would have been five but for a questionable VAR call at Villa Park), the German is starting to win over that difficult crowd at the Emirates.
      And while Declan Rice is rightly hailed as the summer signing most likely to turn Arsenal from contenders into champions, Havertz is showing he can also play a significant role.
      Many wondered why Mikel Arteta shelled out such a vast sum on Havertz, when an out-and-out goalscorer appeared the more obvious hole in Arsenal’s squad.
      And what is Havertz exactly? What does he do? Where is his best position?
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      Kai Havertz has scored four goals in his last seven gamesCredit: PA
      Personally, though, I’ve always had a great appreciation of Havertz.
      The bloke who sits next to me when I go to cover Chelsea sometimes uses this as proof of my inability to properly understand football.
      But football is a game of opinions and just because my colleague’s opinion on Havertz is wrong, he’s perfectly entitled to hold it.
      Ed Sheeran has sold more than 150million records worldwide. So people are often wrong.
      Havertz, who scored Chelsea’s goal in the 1-0 Champions League final win over Manchester City in 2021, is an acquired taste.
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      He’s one for the purists. And he’s a throwback too. Watch most Premier League matches live and you will marvel at the extreme tempo — the pace, the athleticism and the appetite of players are constantly improving.
      But Havertz isn’t about all that. He is a player who can slow things down, pick a pass and manipulate a football like Dimitar Berbatov and few other players to have ever graced the Premier League.
      Like the great Bulgarian before him, he operates best when given the tactical freedom to knit play together.
      He’s a drifter and he’s an artist.
      While most players in the English top flight possess a manic work-rate and a demonic desire to run, Havertz can appear languid and waft around the pitch.
      He can be regarded as a luxury player. A snowflake.
      In such a rarefied environment as the Premier League, he can look like the sickly child who usually brings in a sick note to avoid PE.
      Unless, like Gunners boss Arteta, you know what you’re looking for.
      Kai Havertz is finally rewarding Mikel Arteta for keeping the faith in himCredit: ALAMY
      The Arsenal fans who wondered about Havertz and criticised him early on were not entirely wrong.
      The former Bayer Leverkusen man suffered a difficult start and, like pretty much every player who spent last season at Chelsea, he was low on confidence.
      Most players take time to settle at a new club and while Rice was always likely to hit the ground running after his £105m switch from West Ham, it was unsurprising that Havertz needed more patience.
      But a midfield trio of Rice, Havertz and Martin Odegaard is one capable of winning the Premier League.
      And when the top two in the table meet at Anfield on Saturday, with the winners taking the Christmas No 1 spot, that Arsenal threesome can prove it.
      Liverpool, as always, will attack with thunderous intensity and press like men possessed.
      And there will be times out there when Havertz might appear like a lost soul.
      But watch closely and he’ll do something special.
      Read more on The Sun
      On current form, he will do something game-changing.
      Because you don’t have £135m spent on you and you don’t win the Champions League and you don’t start for the Premier League leaders without being a seriously good player. More

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      Jose Mourinho gives brutal Premier League title prediction as Arsenal fans tell Arteta ‘play this in the changing room’

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      JOSE MOURINHO has ruled Arsenal out of the Premier League title race with a brutal prediction.The Gunners pose as serious contenders to win the Prem for the first time since their legendary Invincibles campaign in 2004.

      Jose Mourinho doesn’t expect Arsenal to win the Premier League titleCredit: X/obionepodcast
      Arsenal fans think Mikel Arteta should show Mourinho’s prediction to his players for motivationCredit: Getty
      In fact, the North Londoners are top of the table with one point separating them from second-placed Liverpool and five ahead of Manchester City, who are fourth behind Aston Villa.
      However, Mourinho is adamant this season’s title race is a two-horse race between City and the Reds.
      And the Roma boss, who knows all about the Premier League having won it three times with Chelsea, has zero confidence in Mikel Arteta’s men lifting the trophy in May.
      Mourinho told The Obi One podcast when asked for his title prediction: “Man City 51 per cent and Liverpool 49 per cent [chance of winning the title].”
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      The Portuguese head coach was asked: “No Arsenal?”
      Mourinho responded: “Nah… It is not the rivalry, is it the right moment?
      “Honestly, rivalry apart, I would like them to win. Of course, Chelsea and Man United are not going to win it.
      “Out of these three, I would be happy for Arsenal to do it. I would be really happy for them to break that thing.
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      “It is because when the cumulation of matches starts coming, Man City have two teams.”
      But Arsenal fans are adamant their team should use Mourinho’s bleak prediction as fuel to push them to the title.
      In fact, some Gooners even advised Arteta to show that clip to his players just like he did with Brentford star Ivan Toney’s “kick about” tweet.
      One fan tweeted: “Arteta is going to play this video in the changing room like he use that Toney tweet.”
      Another commented: “We like it like that, underestimate us at your peril.”
      A third wrote: “We will come back to this at the end of the season.”
      This fan said: “I will bookmark this, will come back to it in May.”
      And that one stated: “Arteta > Jose.” More

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      Supercomputer predicts Champions League winners after last 16 draw as holders Man City land dream Copenhagen tie

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      MANCHESTER CITY have been backed to retain the Champions League trophy following their dream draw. The English and European champions face Copenhagen while rivals Arsenal play Porto.

      Following the draw, OLBG’s supercomputer ran its algorithm after compiling data from all group stage results.
      And they tip Pep Guardiola’s City with a huge 49 per cent chance of winning it all.
      Bayern Munich – with star striker Harry Kane in fine form – come in at second with just an 18 per cent chance.
      Real Madrid are placed third with 14 per cent while Arsenal are fourth at nine per cent, above even PSG.
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      The Gunners’ current squad will be in unfamiliar territory despite the club’s affinity with the last 16 under Arsene Wenger.
      North London’s Arsenal last competed in the last 16 in 2017 but they have failed to make it beyond that stage since 2010.
      City have made two of the last three finals and are looking to become the first English side since Nottingham Forest in 1979 and 1980 to win the title in back-to-back seasons.
      The last time they failed to progress past the round of 16 was in 2016/17, Guardiola’s first season in charge.
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      Elsewhere, ex-Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham will be returning to Germany to face RB Leipzig with Real Madrid.
      Bayern and Kane will be up against Lazio in their own tie.
      And there is also a tasty tie between last season’s Serie A and La Liga winners in Napoli and Barcelona. More

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      Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta puts forward Ivan Toney transfer alternative if striker opts to stay with Brentford

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      ARSENAL have identified an alternative to Brentford striker Ivan Toney, according to reports.The Gunners want to increase their firepower in January and have been strongly linked with Toney.
      Ivan Toney was in attendance at Brentford’s clash with Aston Villa yesterdayCredit: Getty
      The Bees ace is set to be available again on January 16th after completing his betting ban.
      Toney, 27, will have 18 months remaining on his Brentford contract next month and is said to be “excited” by the prospect of moving to the Emirates.
      Arsenal face competition from Chelsea and Tottenham for Toney’s signature.
      While Brentford will likely try to keep hold of their star man.
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      Should the Gunners fail to land Toney, the Star claim that they could turn to Bournemouth star Dominic Solanke.
      The one-cap England international has had a quietly superb season, notching eight goals in 16 Premier League outings.
      Bournemouth are said to value Solanke, 26, at around £50million.
      The Cherries signed him from Liverpool back in January 2019.
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      He has since developed into an excellent Premier League centre-forward and has bagged 65 goals in 193 appearances.
      Arsenal could be rivalled by West Ham in the race to sign Solanke.
      Hammers boss David Moyes is said to be eager to recruit another forward, but will have to offload players in order to add to his squad.
      Dominic Solanke has impressed this seasonCredit: Getty More

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      Arsenal news transfer LIVE: Gunners linked with £30m Gutierrez, Ivan Toney chase, Thomas Partey injury latest

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      ARSENAL are said to be in competition with Manchester City for Girona defender Miguel Gutierrez. The Spaniard could cost in the region of £30million.
      The Gunners are also reportedly monitoring Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio.
      Meanwhile, Ivan Toney remains a top transfer target for the Gunners and they are reportedly favourites to sign the striker ahead of Chelsea.
      Meanwhile, manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that Thomas Partey is making ‘good’ progress on his injury as he edges closer to a return.
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      Follow ALL the latest news from the Emirates with our live blog below…
      Arsenal fans react to draw
      Arsenal fans have been reacting to the Champions League draw on social media
      One fan posted: “One of those teams that are exceptionally fiddly to eliminate but you’d make Arsenal strong favourites.”
      A second wrote: “Lol we are winning this comfortably at home.”
      Another added: “They’ve got some decent players. Good keeper. Won’t be easy.”
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      Read more Arsenal stories on our amazing WhatsApp Channel.
      AC Milan to come back for Kiwior
      AC Milan are still reportedly interested in Jakub Kiwior.
      The Italian club had been linked with a loan move for the Arsenal defender.
      The Daily Mirror has claimed that AC will make a fresh move for the Polish international.
      Up next for Arsenal
      The Gunners face Liverpool in their next Premier League game.
      The club then competes 2023 with back-to-back London derbies against West Ham and Fulham.

      Yorke on Rice
      Dwight Yorke has insisted that Arsenal have still overpaid for Declan Rice despite his impressive performances.
      He told MegaDice.com: “Declan Rice needs to win a couple of trophies before I change my tune. I know he scored important goals against Luton and Man United, but that’s what you’d expect when you spend such a large fee.
      “Scoring a few important goals doesn’t mean much if you finish second at the end of the season. That’s not what I want my £100million man to be doing – I want him to win major trophies. 
      Credit: Reuters
      “People think that’s unfair, but the fee is a hell of a lot to spend to finish second. People may think there’s more to it, but you have to bring success to the club if you’ve joined for that amount of money. There’s no point otherwise.
      “Rice can score important goals, but it means nothing if Arsenal don’t win trophies. I expect Rice to be like a modern Roy Keane and drag his team to silverware. If he does that, then I’ll have no issues with his fee. 
      “I think Rice is a damn good player, but I don’t see £105million in him. I suppose that’s just the market, though. If Rice delivers success, then I’ll be the first one to congratulate him.”
      Terry snubs Arsenal
      John Terry has backed Real Madrid over Arsenal to win the Champions League title.
      Following the draw, he said: “I think team-wise you have to look at Real Madrid.
      “For me, I think they have been fantastic, probably for the last seven or eight years in the competition and are always there.
      “I think Bellingham has been incredible as an individual and they obviously have a fantastic manager in Carlo who I worked alongside for many years at Chelsea.
      “He’s a great man manager, so the players love him, great tactically and I think they will go a long way.”
      Credit: AP
      Arteta on Champions League progress
      Mikel Arteta has hailed Arsenal’s “positive” Champions League campaign.
      He said: “Overall, I think, very positive.
      “Having not been in the competition for six or seven years and having a team that hasn’t got that much experience, I think we’ve competed really well.
      “I really liked the approach of the team in every single game, the way we’ve tried to play. We had some big results and big experiences, like the one we had in Seville or Lens, or even today looking at how the team can act and how fair it is to give certain players that exposure when you make so many changes.
      “Overall finishing first with a game to play we have to be really happy. Now we have to now close that chapter until February and make sure that when that chapter opens up again that we’re in the best place to compete against another top side.”
      Credit: PA
      More from Edu
      Edu has also insisted that Arsenal need to “maintain” the performances in order to progress in the competition.
      He added: “The most important thing for us is to maintain our performances and the way we are playing.
      “That’s our focus, that’s where we want to be and want to keep growing, so let’s see how far we can go in the competition.
      “We want to try and go as far as possible, but we are very much concentrating on playing well, performing well and playing the best football we can, and then we’ll see how far we go.”
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      Edu reacts to draw
      Edu has reacted to Arsenal’s draw against Porto in the Champions League round of 16.
      Speaking after the draw, he said: “We are going to play against a club that is very used to playing in the competition because they play in it every single year and they have a lot of players as well with big experience.
      “We have to understand how are we going to play and respect them as much as we can. We will play our game and see if we can go through this stage.
      “We can see how they are playing, how organized they are, and the players that they have. Porto is a club that you have to be really prepared to play against or we’ll have problems, so what we have to concentrate on is maintaining our levels and the way we are playing.”
      Credit: Sunday Times
      Champions League top scorers
      Despite not making it past the group stages, Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojund is among the Champions League top scorers.
      The Danish striker netted five times in the groups, equal to Alvaro Morata, Antoine Griezmann and Erling Haaland.
      Who will finish the campaign with the most goals?

      Top assister
      Bukayo Saka has impressed in his debut campaign of the Champions League.
      The Arsenal star has assisted the most amount of goals [4] in the competition.
      `Will he impress in the knockout stages?

      Jesus’ Champions League dream
      Gabriel Jesus has previously admitted that he wants to win the Champions League with Kai Havertz, having lost out on the cup to the German in 2021.
      He said: ”A lot, we are always joking that he [Havertz] won the Champions League against me and I always say I want to win one with him!”
      ”We always joke [about it], but now I want to win with him and Jorginho as well. He is an amazing player and the way he plays he is so strong and tall, with his quality as well he helps us a lot.
      ‘Quietly like me, he is always fighting and helping the team and the way this guy has arrived is massive. We are very happy we have him.”
      Credit: Getty
      When will the draw be confirmed?
      Uefa have confirmed that the exact date and times of the round of 16 matches will be announced this evening.
      Credit: Reuters
      Vieira homecoming
      Fabio Vieira will face some familiar faces when Arsenal take on Porto.
      The midfielder joined the Gunners from the Portuguese giants in 2022.
      Credit: Getty
      More fan reaction
      Football fans have been left fuming after the Champions League draw for the Last 16 was picked this morning.
      Supporters suggested that the random draw was “rigged” after Manchester City were picked against the “easiest” team in the pot and Arsenal were handed a tough tie.
      The Cityzens were drawn against Copenhagen while Arsenal will face Porto who won the competition back in 2004.
      Copenhagen are ranked as the 37th best team in Europe according to Uefa’s own club coefficient.
      While Manchester City are considered the best team in Europe off the back of their Champions League success last season.

      More on Porto’s CL history
      The Portuguese giants have won the Champions League twice in the club’s history.
      Porto first won the tournament in 1987 and again in 2004.
      The second victory was when the club was managed by Jose Mourinho.
      Credit: Getty
      Arsenal fans react to draw
      Arsenal fans have been reacting to the Champions League draw on social media
      One fan posted: “One of those teams that are exceptionally fiddly to eliminate but you’d make Arsenal strong favourites.”
      A second wrote: “Lol we are winning this comfortably at home.”
      Another added: “They’ve got some decent players. Good keeper. Won’t be easy.”
      Lord Bendtner
      Credit: Twitter
      Draw in full
      Here is the draw in full…
      Porto v Arsenal
      Napoli v Barcelona
      PSG v Real Sociedad
      Inter Milan v Atletico Madrid
      PSV v Borussia Dortmund
      Lazio v Bayern Munich
      Copenhagen v Man City
      RB Leipzig v Real Madrid
      Second draw
      The second tie will see Napoli play LaLiga giants Barcelona.
      The Catalonians have won the tournament five times.
      Arsenal get Porto
      The first club out of the draw is FC Porto, they will face ARSENAL.
      Here we go
      Uefa Deputy Secretary General Giorgio Marchetti and Terry are set to start drawing clubs for the round of 16.
      Quick reminder
      Here is a quick reminder of the teams in the pots for the round of 16 draw.

      Draw is getting close
      The ceremony for the Champions League draw is underway in Nyon, Switzerland. More

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      Arsenal fans say ‘Arteta needs to show this tweet in the changing room’ after Ian Wright’s shock MOTD exit announcement

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      MIKEL ARTETA has been urged to use Ian Wright’s shock Match of The Day exit as extra motivation in the Premier League title race. The Arsenal legend, 60, first appeared on the hit TV show while still playing back in 1997.
      Ian Wright announced his shock Match of The Day exitCredit: PA
      And he has been a regular on the programme alongside host Gary Lineker and fellow pundit Alan Shearer since hanging up his boots.
      But the ex-England striker announced on social media that this will be his last season working on MOTD.
      In one emotional post, he wrote: “I’m really looking forward to my last months on the show and covering what will hopefully be an amazing Premier League title race.”
      Arsenal finished second last season to Manchester City and currently trail leaders Liverpool by a point.
      READ MORE ON IAN WRIGHT
      So winning their first league title could be the perfect way farewell present for Wright in fans’ eyes.
      One said: “Arteta needs to show this tweet in the changing room – do not let Wrighty leave MOTD without his last show being Arsenal winning the title.”
      Another added: “We have to win the league now for Ian Wright’s last show.”
      One followed up: “All the best Wrighty, gonna miss you, but if we win the league what a way it will be for you to sign off.”
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      Wright broke the news on Sunday, posting a statement that read: “After my debut show whilst still a player in 1997 and many more memorable years, I’ll be stepping back from BBC MOTD at the end of this season.
      “I feel very privileged to have had such an incredible run on the most iconic football show in the world.”
      “Anyone that knows my story knows how much the show has meant to me since I was young boy. MOTD is my Holy Grail.
      “On my first ever show, I told Des Lynam, ‘This is my Graceland’. It will always be my Graceland and I will always be watching.”
      Wright retired from playing in 2000 and began working as a regular pundit two years later and has enjoyed two spells on Match of the Day.
      The first was from 2002 until 2008 and then he returned in 2015. 
      Back in May this year, Wright also made history when he appeared alongside Shaun Wright-Phillips as they became the first father and son punditry team to appear on the show. More