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      Jermain Defoe reveals Arsenal legend who used to PINCH him during matches as ex-Spurs ace says ‘I loved it

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      JERMAIN DEFOE claims Arsenal legend Martin Keown “pinched” and “headbutted” him – but the ex-Tottenham striker “loved it”.Defoe has revealed his shock at the “mad” baptism he revealed as a teen breaking into the Premier League against no-nonsense defenders.
      Jermain Defoe punched above his weight as a West Ham kid but fears other players could have been ruined by the same treatmentCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Martin Keown was named by Defoe as one of the harsh defendersCredit: Getty
      The former England star, 40, only quit playing last year after a second spell with Sunderland.
      But he vividly remembers the unexpected suffering he endured during his early days with first club West Ham.
      Defoe says he was “buzzing” with excitement but soon “stinging” with pain.
      Buzzing – from playing against greats like Thierry Henry amid the Gunners’ peak years under Arsene Wenger.
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      And stinging – from the treatment he got from ex-Three Lions centre-back Keown.
      He told BBC podcast Defoe & Deeney Football Firsts: “He’d be standing behind me.
      “He’d pinch your back or he’d headbutt the back of your head – mad stuff like that.
      “Remember, you’re not getting this in the youth team.
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      “So when he started doing it I was like, ‘what is going on here?'”
      Defoe thinks Keown’s behaviour actually inspired him – but wonders if other personalities would have buckled.
      He said: “It fuelled me. But if you are a different sort of character you are done.
      “In a funny sort of way I loved it because I’m buzzing anyway.
      “I’m playing at Highbury – Thierry and that all that lot playing there. I was buzzing, so when he (Keown) did it I loved it but it was mad.
      “The pinches would hurt, you know. It felt like someone had punched me – the sting and the little headbutts.”
      More than just grin and bear it, Defoe reckons Keown’s actions fired him upCredit: Getty More

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      William Saliba reveals Mikel Arteta’s new mealtime rule and says ‘it really helps when you’re on the pitch’

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      WILLIAM SALIBA claims a new eating rule from boss Mikel Arteta has brought Arsenal’s players closer together than ever – even on the pitch.The France defender believes Arteta’s clever meal deal has boosted friendships and communication within the title-challenging squad.
      Mikel Arteta brought in a new eating policy to unite playersCredit: Getty
      The Spaniard unveiled the core of his plan in the Big Apple during the Gunners’ pre-season tour of the USA.
      Arsenal rolled out promising displays in New York and Los Angeles as Arteta introduced his meal-time trick.
      Saliba explained how the manager strengthened the unity of the travelling party by making them sit next to someone new at every food break.
      The 22-year-old told Arsenal’s media team: “We do a lot of things to be closer and closer and to learn about each other.
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      “The coaches will speak to us about how important it is to be a unit and to be together, not just with the fans, but as a team as well. 
      “An example is when we were on tour in America. For every meal we mixed the tables. We don’t choose the table where we sit at lunch or dinner.
      “We get to speak to the coaching staff, to other players and I really like that. 
      “There might be a player there who you speak to less and it’s a chance to know them more, to be together.
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      “That all helps as a team when you are on the pitch too. It really helps when you are on the pitch.”
      Judging by the Gunners’ unbeaten start to the season, they certainly look hungry to compete for each other.
      The biggest cherry on the cake so far came last time out – a 3-1 home win over Manchester United to send Arsenal into the international break fifth-placed in the Premier League. More

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      Arsenal fans beg Mikel Arteta to drop Kai Havertz as Gunners benchwarmer scores STUNNER on international duty

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      ARSENAL fans have begged for Kai Havertz to be dropped after Leandro Trossard’s impressive showing for Belgium tonight.Belgium went 2-0 up against Estonia with Trossard scoring their second goal.
      Leandro Trossard scored the fine solo goal against EstoniaCredit: AP
      The winger is playing on the left of a front three completed by Romelu Lukaku and Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku.
      And his 18th minute strike to make it 2-0 was a fine one indeed.
      The winger received the ball on the edge of the area before beating three men and finishing with a rasping knuckle ball strike.
      Trossard impressed in pre-season for the Gunners but has barely featured in the Premier League so far.
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      He has made just two appearances from the bench in games against Nottingham Forest and Fulham for a total of 62 minutes across both games.
      And Gunners fans have contrasted Trossard’s fine form for Belgium with the struggles of Havertz in an Arsenal shirt – and demanded that the Belgian is given a chance.
      One fan on Twitter said: “This guy was cooking in preseason can’t believe we haven’t seen more of him, great finish.”
      Another wrote: “But Arteta would leave him stuck on the bench and play Havertz no matter what.”
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      A third commented: “Need to unleash this at Arsenal. Must be best ball striker in the team currently.”
      And a fourth added: “Great goal by Trossard. Need to get him in the team, either for Havertz or Martinelli. Can’t take out Saka or Odegaard and don’t think the middle of the front 3 is right for him either.”
      In contrast to Trossard’s star-turn for Belgium tonight, Havertz has been dropped by his national side.
      The midfielder was left on the bench for tonight’s friendly against France.
      Rudi Voller is in temporary charge of the German national team after Hansi Flick’s dismissal this week. More

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      Arsenal starlet who once infuriated Thomas Partey agrees Middle East transfer as fans moan ‘another talent lost’

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      ARSENAL youngster Tim Akinola has left North London to sign for Qatari side Al-Bidda.The 22-year-old leaves the Gunners having failed to make a first-team appearance for Mikel Arteta’s men.
      Tim Akinola was a regular for Arsenal’s Under-21sCredit: Getty
      Akinola did train with the first team on occasion, however, and even upset senior player Thomas Partey.
      During a session in November 2021, Akinola reportedly went flying into a 50-50 challenge with the Ghanaian.
      Partey is claimed to have initially reacted angrily towards the over-exuberant youngster.
      But the 30-year-old’s stance later softened, going on to describe Akinola as the “strongest” player he’d played with.
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      The midfielder joined Arsenal from Huddersfield in the summer of 2020.
      He became a regular for the Gunners’ Under-21s, and twice went out on loan.
      Akinola played one game for Dundee United in 2022.
      He then featured 31 times for National League side Chesterfield last term.
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      Arsenal chiefs approved a move to Qatar for Akinola.
      Al-Bidda play in the Qatari second tier and are based in Doha.
      Some Arsenal fans were upset to see Akinola go.
      One tweeted: “Another talent gone.”
      While a second wrote: “Talents are finished in England.”
      A third pointed out: “Arsenal keeps on selling their youngsters.”
      Another added: “Best of luck to Tim Akinola at his new club! He is a talented player and I am sure he will be a success.”
      Academy graduates Folarin Balogun and Ainsley Maitland-Niles left the Emirates over the summer.
      While fellow youngsters Marcelo Flores, Ryan Alebiosu, Matt Smith and Nikolaj Moller also departed.
      Folarin Balogun left Arsenal during the summer transfer windowCredit: Getty More

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      How £72m Arsenal flop Nicolas Pepe is STILL costing Gunners money despite joining Trabzonspor after contract ripped up

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      NICOLAS PEPE is still set to cost Arsenal a further £10million, despite joining Trabzonspor earlier this week.The Gunners agreed a deal to fork out a then club-record £72m for Pepe in 2019.
      Nicolas Pepe played 112 times for ArsenalCredit: Reuters
      To do the deal, Arsenal pledged to pay the transfer fee in instalments.
      Mikel Arteta’s side are understood to still owe Lille the final £10m of the fee – with Pepe’s absence not changing the structure of the initial deal.
      Right winger Pepe fell down the pecking order at the Emirates soon after the emergence of Bukayo Saka in the same position.
      The Ivorian hasn’t played for the Gunners since May 2022, scoring 27 goals in 122 appearances in total.
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      After being left as an unused sub in their first two matches of last season, Pepe was sent out on loan to Nice.
      He played 28 times for the Ligue 1 side, scoring eight times.
      Arsenal boss Arteta refused to re-integrate Pepe into his first team squad during pre-season, despite no suitors emerging.
      After failing to secure a transfer fee for their former record signing, the Gunners agreed to terminate his contract in order to let him join Trabzonspor for free.
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      Pepe, 28, has signed a one-year contract with the Turkish side.
      He has become the latest Arsenal outcast to have their contract terminated during Arteta’s reign.
      The winger follows in the footsteps of Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Shkodran Mustafi, Sead Kolasinac, Willian and Hector Bellerin.
      Arsenal spent over £200million on new signings this summer, including a club-record for £115m for Declan Rice.
      They only managed to recoup around £57m, however, with Folarin Balogun joining Monaco and Granit Xhaka moving to Bayer Leverkusen.
      Pepe, 28, spent last season on loan at LilleCredit: Getty More

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      Inside Eddie Nketiah’s incredible rise from Chelsea heartache to Arsenal and England star via brutal cage football

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      EDDIE NKETIAH has gone through a lot to make sure he succeeded in having a career at the top of football.The striker has become a regular for Arsenal despite enduring some tricky periods earlier in his career.
      Eddie Nketiah has become a star at ArsenalCredit: Getty
      He has managed to make it to the England senior teamCredit: Getty
      Nketiah was one of many young stars in the Chelsea academy
      Nketiah, 24, started his career at Chelsea but was rejected by the club when he was 14.
      A decade later, he had become a regular member of the Arsenal first team under manager Mikel Arteta.
      The forward’s form and impressive start to the 2022/23 Premier League season saw him earn his first call-up to the senior England team by boss Gareth Southgate.
      Nketiah had featured regularly for the Three Lions youth sides and even managed to net 16 goals in 17 appearances for the U21s.
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      Chelsea heartache
      Nketiah was one of a number of promising players in the club’s academy in 1999.
      The striker joined the likes of Mason Mount, Declan Rice, Conor Gallagher and Reece James.
      He joined the club when he was nine and was prolific in the youth sides.
      During this time when he would play away from club training, Nketiah would play football in a small caged pitch near his family home in South East London.
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      He told Gaffer Magazine: “It was really hard playing in the cage.
      “There’s a lot of pride there and everyone wants to show how good they are and what they can do.
      “There’s a lot of trash talk going on in the cage and you’ve just got to have thick skin to get through it and show how good you are.”
      However, despite being a prolific goalscorer, Nketiah was released when he was 14 due to concerns over his height as the club preferred team-mate Tammy Abraham.
      Arsenal beginnings
      Nketiah scored his first goal for Arsenal against Norwich in 2017Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Nketiah was given a lifeline as he was picked up by Arsenal after being spotted by youth scout Ian Gilmour.
      Gilmour had spotted the striker while scouting watching his son Charlie play against him for the Gunners’ academy.
      Nketiah was approached by Arsenal just two days after his release from Chelsea and quickly got the move sorted out.
      Gilmour was not concerned over Nketiah’s height however as he told The Athletic: “He had the power, he had the pace.
      “Size doesn’t matter if you’ve got the power and the pace. And technically, he was so good.”
      After rising through the ranks in Arsenal’s academy he eventually became a squad player in the first team in 2017 under legendary manager Arsen Wenger.
      He made his debut for the club that year at just 18 in the Europa League win over BATE Borisov and he followed that with his second appearance coming against Norwich in the League Cup the following month.
      Nketiah netted an equaliser within 15 seconds of coming on, endearing him to the Arsenal faithful.
      He continued to make the occasional appearance and was eventually loaned to Leeds in 2019.
      However, his loan was cut short in January 2020 due to a lack of game time and then saw a swap to Benudesliga outfit Augsburg canceled due to an injury to Danny Welbeck.
      Arsenal struggles
      Nketiah struggled to hold down a starting spot at ArsenalCredit: AFP or licensors
      Nketiah continued his career at the Gunners with managers Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta opting to keep hold of him after he impressed in training.
      However, Nketiah was never given the starting role as he would continue to star in the cup competitions but fail to be prolific in the Premier League.
      Nketiah had continually found himself behind more established strikers such as Olivier Giroud, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
      In January 2022, Crystal Palace were very keen on signing Nketiah as his contract only had six months left to run at Arsenal.
      Nketiah had hardly played that season and it seemed that his time at the Emirates was coming to an end.
      However, a move never materialised and he stayed at the club he was expected to leave the club in the summer window on a free transfer.
      That was until he agreed on a new five-year contract to stay at the club till at least 2027.
      But it seemed that his problems would persist as Arteta signed Manchester City star Gabriel Jesus that summer and made him the first-choice striker for the 2022/23 season.
      Arsenal breakthrough
      He made a breakthrough during the 2022/23 seasonCredit: EPA
      Despite the arrival of the Brazilian international, Nketiah stayed put and fought for his spot.
      The Englishman managed to get his chance in the Europa League as he started all six group games, scoring twice.
      During this run, he made his 100th appearance for the club and was then buoyed as Jesus picked up a lengthy knee injury.
      Nketiah made sure not to let the chance slip through his fingers as he would lead the attack for an extended period.
      He would finish the season with nine goals and three assists in 39 appearances in all competitions.
      While not the most impressive of numbers his attitude and contribution was enough to maintain Arsenal’s title challenge against Manchester City.
      Nketiah then started the 2023/24 season in an improved manner as he netted twice in the club’s first four games.
      The striker was in turn described as a “role model” by Arteta as he cemented his spot as an Arsenal player.
      England call-up
      Nektiah’s good form earned him a call-up to the England teamCredit: Getty
      Nketiah had opted to represent England despite being born to Ghanaian parents.
      His improvement for Arsenal saw him earn national recognition in August 2023 as he was called up to the senior England team for the first time in his career.
      Southgate hailed Nketiah’s pedigree after giving him the call for the fixtures against Ukraine in the Euro qualifier and Scotland in a friendly.
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      He said: “With Eddie coming in, it is an area where we want to have a look at him.
      “Young player with a lot of pedigree, really good finisher, and the record goalscorer in the Under-21s.” More

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      Barcelona plotting to raid Arsenal for free transfer with chiefs set to repeat Ilkay Gundogan tactic

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      BARCELONA are looking to repeat their Ilkay Gundogan transfer tactic to grab Arsenal midfielder Jorginho on a free, according to reports.The Italian midfielder’s contract is set to expire next summer where he will be able to move to another club as a free agent.
      Barcelona are plotting a move for Arsenal midfielder Jorginho on a free transferCredit: Alamy
      Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo report that the Catalan side are looking to use the free agency market as a way around the financial issues that have plagued them in recent years.
      Barcelona beat Arsenal to the signing of Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer this summer after identifying him as a long term target.
      The Catalan club are now keen on Jorginho as they look for a midfielder that can help control the tempo of the game and maintain posession.
      With Jorginho’s contract expiring next summer, Barcelona will be able to approach the midfielder in January to sign a pre-contract at the club.
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      Arsenal’s signing of Declan Rice has seen Jorginho fall further down the pecking order at Arsenal, but the injury to Thomas Partey could see Arteta rely on the Italian more after the international break.
      Jorginho had been linked with a move to Fenerbache in the closing days of the summer window but his agent, Joao Santos moved to quash the rumours.
      He told Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli: “This year he stays at Arsenal, then we can’t know what will happen next season.
      “For now he is focused on playing two very important competitions such as the Premier and Champions League with the Gunners. Italy is always in our hearts, never say never.
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      “If there is an Italian team that needs Jorginho and his characteristics we will see what will happen. A possible future for Juve? In modern football you can’t say he will be playing for one team or another.
      “We can talk to all the teams looking for a player with his characteristics.”
      Jorginho will likely be looking for a move if his playing time at Arsenal does not pick up after Thomas Partey’s injury.
      Luciano Spaletti left Jorginho out of his first Italy squad since becoming national team manager last week.
      Jorginho has been virtually an ever-present member of the national side since his first call-up in 2016 and will be looking to get back into the squad ahead of next summer’s Euros. More

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      Nicolas Pepe FINALLY quits Arsenal as he wears new kit on private jet with Gunners set to take huge loss on £72m flop

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      NICOLAS PEPE has finally left Arsenal after posing on a private plane in a Trabzonspor kit.The winger became the Gunners most expensive player in 2019, following his move from Lille for £72million.
      Nicolas Pepe left Arsenal after posing on a private plane in a Trabzonspor kit.
      But he failed to fit in at the Emirates and managed just 27 goals in 112 Arsenal matches.
      Pepe fell out of favour with manager Mikel Arteta but the club struggled to sell him.
      And it is understood Gunners bosses have decided to cut their losses on the player and terminate his £150,000-a-week contract, which had one year left to run.
      And Pepe has now agreed a move to Trabzonspor in Turkey, posing in the club’s colours as he jetted in to sign.
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      As revealed by SunSport, Arsenal warned the forward he would NEVER play for them again even if he failed to find a new club.
      Pepe was ordered to train alone after returning from an unsuccessful loan spell at Nice.
      He did even have a squad number after his number 19 shirt was handed to Leandro Trossard at the beginning of the year.
      His lack of activity cost him his place in the Ivory Coast squad for their forthcoming games against Lesotho and Mali.
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      Turkish title contenders Besiktas and Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia were also interested in signing him.
      But Pepe will be hoping his move to Turkey will spark a fresh start.
      He beamed after joining Trabzonspor and pointed towards the club’s badge ahead of his transfer.
      Declan Rice has since become the Gunners’ record buy, after signing from West Ham for £105m this summer. More