Europa League

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      Arsenal can get into Champions League spots AND win FA Cup and Europa League this season, insists club legend Lauren

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      ARSENAL can still make the top four AND win both the FA Cup and Europa League, according to Gunners legend Lauren.
      The Gunners have staged a revival under boss Mikel Arteta after hovering above the relegation zone just a few weeks ago.

      Mikel Arteta has overseen a change in fortunes for his Arsenal sideCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

      Defender Lauren spent seven years at Arsenal after arriving in 2000Credit: Action Images – Reuters

      The North Londoners have taken 13 points from a possible 15 in their last five Premier League games and have climbed into the top half of the table.
      And former right-back Lauren, 44, believes the men at the Emirates can still make the Champions League spots despite being seven points off the pace.
      He told GentingBet: “There has been a big change at Arsenal since the New Year.
      “The team have been getting results, beating Chelsea, playing very good attacking football – I think that Arsenal have shown enough that they can finish in the Champions League positions.

      “A successful season for Arsenal this year is getting into the Champions League positions.
      “This season, Arsenal didn’t start as expected and have lost many games that they should have won.
      “Because I like to think with great ideas, I believe that a club like Arsenal have to focus on achieving the greatest targets.
      “Therefore, I am looking at the Champions League places as a target for this season.”

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      Lauren won three FA Cups under Arsene WengerCredit: AFP – Getty

      Ahead of Arsenal’s FA Cup fourth round tie at Southampton on Saturday, Lauren – who won the tournament three times under Arsene Wenger – believes the Gunners should still be bringing home silverware.
      Arteta’s side are the defending champs and will also face Benfica in the Last 32 of the Europa League next month – with the team capable of winning both trophies, according to the Cameroonian.
      The Invincibles hero added: “At a club like Arsenal, you can’t sacrifice any trophy – you need to go out to win them all and fight for everything.
      “You have to go out to win every competition that you enter. By setting those standards, that’s the only way that you can win things.

      Arsenal have the quality to win the Europa League this year.”
      Lauren

      “You can’t go into a season only focusing on one competition because no one knows how that might end – you might get nothing as you put into players mind that other competitions aren’t as important.
      “Arsenal have the quality to win the Europa League this year.
      “There are still some good teams left in the competition but if Arsenal keep all their players fit, Partey, Saka, Xhaka, Aubameyang, Lacazette, Emile Smith Rowe.
      “And the fact that Arsenal have been keeping clean sheets, winning the ball high up the pitch and more efficient in attack – all of this points to the fact that Arsenal can go on to win the Europa League. Why not?”
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news from The Emirates

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      Champions League and Europa clashes can go ahead as government gives sporting exemption after ‘travel corridor’ closure

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      ARSENAL will have a sporting exemption to travel and face Benfica in the Europa League following the Government’s strict new travel restrictions.
      Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the current ‘travel corridors’ will be closed from 4am on Monday except for those who have had a negative Covid test in the previous 72 hours.

      Champions League and Europa League games can go ahead after the Government confirmed a special sporting exemptionCredit: Reuters

      The decision means Arsenal will be able to travel to play Benfica in the Europa LeagueCredit: Kevin Quigley-The Daily Mail

      All arrivals to the UK will have to self-isolate in quarantine for ten days.
      But the Government confirmed to SunSport there will be an exemption for elite sports which follow Covid-19 protocols.
      That means Arsenal, as well as the six other Premier League sides due in European action next month, WILL be free to travel — and rugby union’s Six Nations has also got the green light.
      There had been fears the dispensation would not apply to Portugal after the clampdown introduced to guard against the Brazil mutant strain.

      That would have led to the two Europa League games against Benfica being moved to a neutral venue where no restrictions apply.
      Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are due to travel to Lisbon for the first-leg of their last-32 clash on February 18 with the Portuguese team visiting London a week later.
      The Government action is similar to the approach taken in November when they banned arrivals from Denmark, putting England’s Nations League clash with Iceland at risk.
      But the FA negotiated a last-minute exemption with authorities for the Wembley clash to go ahead.

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      Elsewhere, Ray Parlous still dreams Arsenal will sign ‘special talent’ Wilfried Zaha.
      Ex-Gunners boss Unai Emery claims he wanted the Crystal Palace attacker ahead of Nicolas Pepe in August 2019 – and Zaha himself admits he would ‘love’ to have joined.
      Parlour told Stadium Astro: “I’m sure Emery would have loved to have someone like Zaha but again it’s down to the board and money available.
      “Pepe, they did that in a staggered way, probably paying £15million a year, which suited the French side where he came from.
      “Probably Crystal Palace wanted the money up front, which Arsenal couldn’t have done at that time, because if you lose your best player you need to replace him.”
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news from The Emirates

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      Arsenal want Sevilla midfielder Joan Jordan in £32m January transfer as Mikel Arteta bids to rescue season

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      ARSENAL want Sevilla midfielder Joan Jordan to sort out their stuttering start to the season.
      Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has identified the Spaniard, 26, as the answer to his team’s struggles, with the North Londoners having tracked his progress for three years.

      Joan Jordan is being considered as a possible option to strengthen Arsenal’s midfieldCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Sevilla have put a £55million buy-out clause on the all-action midfielder but the LaLiga side are ready to listen to offers of around £32m.
      And that is a price Arsenal will be willing to pay to fire up their floundering campaign and start giving Arteta and his side the “identity” they crave.
      Fans have never hidden their disdain for Granit Xhaka, whose low stock plummeted even further with a series of lacklustre displays and a red card against Burnley, despite a fine free-kick in the Boxing Day success over Chelsea.
      On-loan Dani Ceballos has failed to impress and injury-hit star summer signing Thomas Partey has made just four Premier League starts since his £45m move from Atletico Madrid.

      That has seen Arteta pushing for a January recruitment drive — and he has placed the former Eibar man at the top of his shopping list.
      Jordan made 40 appearances in his first season at Sevilla after a £13m move from Eibar.
      That included starts in all four of their Europa League knockout ties, which brought victories over Wolves and  Manchester United, en route to a final triumph over Inter Milan.
      Jordan — full name Joan Jordan Moreno — has remained a key member of Julen Lopetegui’s side this season.

      But it is understood  the chance of a move to the Premier League,  especially under fellow Spaniard Arteta, would appeal to him.
      Jordan is a combative central midfielder, willing to mix it when required.
      But he has also  displayed passing vision and the ability to switch play, linking up with  former Manchester City man Jesus Navas on the right and Tottenham star Sergio Reguilon, when he was at Sevilla last season, on the opposite flank.

      Joan Jordan’s tenacious Sevilla performances have attracted Mikel Arteta’s interestCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      He can also shoot from distance and has good dead-ball delivery.
      That ability to lead and inspire has seen him catch Arteta’s eye.
      The Gunners chief is out to prove his Arsenal vision can succeed once he gets a squad of his own choosing together.
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news from The Emirates

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      Europa League overtakes Champions League as premier competition with 13 league leaders left – and NONE in top tournament

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      EUROPE’S premier footballing competition may no longer be the Champions League.
      Incredibly, there are NO league leaders in the competition.

      Spurs are currently on top in the Premier League but play on Thursday nights in EuropeCredit: Reuters

      While there are a massive 13 table-topping sides in the supposedly inferior Europa League, ESPN revealed.
      Jose Mourinho’s Spurs are currently top of the pile in the Premier League but play on Thursday nights in Europe.
      Tottenham celebrated clinching sixth-place and a Europa League spot on the final day of last year’s league season and now somehow appear to be plying their trade in the tournament full of the best current sides.
      Spain also has a surprise LaLiga leader with Real Sociedad flying high.

      They face Manchester United in the Europa League knockout stage with Chelsea’s Champions League last 16 opponents Atletico Madrid in second spot.
      In Serie A, Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s AC Milan are leading the way with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus down in fourth as they look to make it TEN Scudettos in a row.
      Even reigning Champions League champs and favourites for this year’s crown, Bayern Munich, are not on top of the Bundesliga.
      Instead, Europa League group winners Bayer Leverkusen are out in front.

      Just seven players have managed to score a hat-tricks of CL hat-tricks

      Similarly, French giants Paris Saint-Germain are one point behind Lille in Ligue 1.
      So perhaps Thursday night really is the new Tuesday or Wednesday?
      Not all fans were convinced though.
      One tweeted: “Thursday night will never be “where it’s at” delete this immediately.”
      It is still early on in proceedings across Europe’s major leagues and not everyone in the Europa League is excelling domestically – just ask Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

      Man Utd get horror draw against La Liga high-flyers Real Sociedad as Arsenal face Benfica and Spurs take on Wolfsberger More

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      Europa League draw LIVE REACTION: Man Utd face Real Sociedad, Arsenal visit Benfica, Tottenham take on Wolfsberger

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      THE Europa League draw has been made and there are challenging ties for Arsenal and Manchester United. But there are gentler ties for Tottenham, Leicester and Rangers who face Wolfsberger, Slavia Prague and Antwerp respectively. Europa League draw Wolfsberger vs Tottenham Dynamo Kiev vs Club Brugge Real Sociedad vs Man Utd Benfica vs Arsenal Red […] More

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      Man Utd get horror draw against La Liga high-flyers Real Sociedad as Arsenal face Benfica and Spurs take on Wolfsberger

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      MANCHESTER United and Arsenal were both handed horror Europa League draws as Uefa gave Spurs a much-easier early Christmas present. United, still reeling from their Champions League exit at the hands of Leipzig, must face surprise La Liga leaders Real Sociedad. And Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, having a desperate time after four successive home Prem […] More

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      Giroud taunts Chelsea chief Cech about Europa League final goal he scored against him in last ever game for Arsenal

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      OLIVIER GIROUD has rubbed further salt in the wounds of Arsenal supporters by stating his goal in the Europa League final was the best header of his career.
      The former Gunners fan favourite opened the scoring for Chelsea against the North Londoners in the eventual 4-1 win in Baku on May 29, 2019.

      Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud broke the deadlock against Arsenal in the Europa League final in 2019Credit: Reuters

      Chelsea chief Petr Cech failed to claim silverware in his last game in goalCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      His comments may also not go down well with Blues chief Petr Cech, who was between the sticks for Arsenal in what was his last appearance before retiring.
      Following the match he returned to Stamford Bridge to become the club’s technical and performance advisor.
      Giroud broke the deadlock with diving header after latching onto the end of Emerson Palmieri’s delivery.
      In an interview with Chelsea’s website, Giroud spoke of his aerial attributes where he was asked to comment on the best headed goal he’s scored technically.

      He said: “There are a few! I liked that one against Liverpool (at Stamford Bridge in 2018) because it was not easy.
      “I liked the one in the Europa League final.
      “I like diving headers because it means you come with pace and you have the force of your body.
      “Petr can tell you I maybe couldn’t have had a better connection.

      “I went 100 per cent for it and didn’t even think my friend Laurent Koscielny could put his foot and hit me.
      “This was definitely one of the best.”
      Giroud has been in fine form for the Blues this season, despite playing second fiddle to Timo Werner in West London.
      The World Cup winner has found the back of the net on seven occasions from 12 games.
      But with his contract to expire next summer, he could be sold in January, with Inter Milan a possible destination.
      ⚽ Read our Chelsea live blog for the very latest news from the Bridge

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