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      Mesut Ozil was the final member of 2014 FA Cup winning team to leave Arsenal… but where are they now?

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      MESUT OZIL finally ended his Arsenal saga in January when he moved to Turkey.The German midfielder, 32, was been frozen out under Mikel Arteta for the best part of a year, despite collecting £350,000 a week.
      Mesut Ozil left Arsenal for Fenerbahce in JanuaryCredit: Getty
      Mesut Ozil celebrates with his Gunners team-mates at Wembley in 2014Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      Ozil agreed to give up a chunk of his remaining salary in order to leave the club on good terms.
      His departure meant he was the last of the 2014 FA Cup winners to leave the Emirates.
      Ozil bid farewell to his Gunners team-mates and staff and it was current boss Arteta who captained the North Londoners to glory at Wembley seven years ago.
      SunSport takes a look at what happened to all of Ozil’s fellow Cup winners after they mounted a comeback to beat Hull City 3-2 after extra time.
      Lukasz Fabianski
      Polish shot-stopper Lukasz Fabianski left Arsenal as his contract expired in the summer after the FA Cup win. He joined Swansea where he spent four years before signing for West Ham for £7million in 2018.
      The 36-year-old is now David Moyes’ No1 at the London Stadium and kept a clean sheet against Southampton at the weekend.

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      Bacary Sagna
      Another to leave the summer after winning the Cup, Bacary Sagna made 284 appearances for the Gunners in a seven-year spell.
      He joined Manchester City on a free and told Goal last year: “I didn’t knock at the club’s door to change contract, I respected my contract, but the way I left was a bit dirty.
      “I didn’t like it, I didn’t feel comfortable anymore. Something broke inside my head.”
      Sagna retired from the game in 2020 after leaving Club de Foot Montreal.
      Per Mertesacker
      German giant Per Mertesacker finished his playing career at Arsenal in 2018 before being named head of the club’s academy.
      He is coming up to three years in the role and previously filled in as an interim assistant coach to Freddie Ljunberg after Unai Emery was sacked in November 2019 and he now works as pundit for DAZN in his homeland.
      Laurent Koscielny
      Former skipper Laurent Koscielny angered Gooners by ripping off the Arsenal jersey in his unveiling at Bordeaux in 2019.
      It took him a year for him to apologise to Arsenal fans in 2020.
      The 36-year-old now captains the French club.
      Arsenal’s players parade the 2014 FA Cup trophyCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Kieran Gibbs
      England international left-back Kieran Gibbs left Arsenal after a decade in North London in 2017.
      He signed a four-year deal at West Brom with a transfer fee in the region of £7m and still turned out for Baggies last season.
      This summer he moved to America to sign for Inter Miami.
      Mikel Arteta
      Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta captained the victorious Gunners from central midfield at Wembley nearly seven years ago.
      He retired in 2016 and then spent three years as Pep Guardiola’s No2 at Manchester City before returning to the Emirates as manager in December 2019.
      Aaron Ramsey
      Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey made 371 appearances for Arsenal before leaving for Juventus on a free in 2019.
      Ramsey earns a cool £400,000 a week in Serie A.
      And despite speculation he would leave, the star remains in Italy..
      Santi Cazorla
      Spaniard Santi Cazorla left Arsenal in 2018 after a horrific Achilles tendon injury in 2016 looked like it could have ended his career.
      Cazorla returned to Villarreal after eight operations and a skin grant and enjoyed something of a renaissance before signing for Qatari side Al Sadd in 2020, where he still plays.
      Mesut Ozil
      Ozil is the last of Arsenal’s 2014 FA Cup winners to move onCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Mesut Ozil did not play for Arsenal again after the 1-0 win over West Ham in March 2020 having been axed by Arteta – who left him out of both the Premier and Europa League 25-man squad last season.
      He is now enjoying his football again in Turkey at Fenerbahce.
      Lukas Podolski
      German forward Lukas Podolski joined Galatasaray from Arsenal in 2015, before moving to Japanese side Vissel Kobe two years later.
      The Polish-born star bagged 31 goals in 82 appearances for the Gunners and returned to Turkey with Antalyaspor.
      This summer he headed to Poland to join Gornik Zabrze.
      Off the pitch, the 36-year-old is quite the businessman after opening SIX Kebab shops in Germany – with hungry crowds flocking to try his meaty offerings.
      He also owns a boozer, an ice cream parlour and a clothes shop as Podolski diversifies his income with a view to life post-football.
      Lukas Podolski owns SIX Kebab joints in GermanyCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Olivier Giroud
      Olivier Giroud crossed London to join Chelsea from Arsenal in January 2018 and went on to win the World Cup with France that summer.
      The 34-year-old haunted his old side with a goal and an assist in the 4-1 defeat in the 2019 Europa League final.
      He left Chelsea after a lack of game time this summer for AC Milan after helping them to Champions League glory.
      The Gunners celebrate overturning a 2-0 deficit to beat Hull and lift the FA CupCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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      Jack Wilshere
      English midfielder Jack Wilshere left Arsenal for West Ham in 2018.
      But he quit the Hammers in the summer after his £100,000-a-week contract was ripped up and signed a six-month contract at Bournemouth.
      He is currently without a club.
      Tomas Rosicky
      Legendary Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky left Arsenal to return to boyhood side Sparta Prague in 2016.
      He retired a year later and is now sporting director at the club.
      Yaya Sanogo
      Talented striker Yaya Sanogo left the Gunners for Toulouse in 2017.
      But he was released by the French side in the summer after netting just 12 goals in three years is currently without a club after a short stint at Huddersfield in the Championship last season.
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from The Emirates
      Mesut Ozil makes trip to rainy Emirates to say ‘farewell’ after Arsenal ‘agree’ to terminate contract More

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      Watch as James Maddison stops to take selfie with pitch invader mid-game during Leicester’s win over Man City

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      LEICESTER CITY’S James Maddison took a break from the action in Saturday’s Community Shield clash to take a selfie with a fan who managed to get on to the Wembley pitch. The 24-year-old played 71 minutes in the game as the FA Cup winners beat Premier League champions Manchester City 1-0 thanks to a late Kelechi Iheanacho goal.
      James Maddison takes a selfie with a fan during Leicester’s win over Manchester City
      Maddison returns the favour at full time and smiles for a picture in front of the Leicester fans at WembleyCredit: Getty
      But just before the hour mark a Foxes fan spotted his chance to snap a selfie with the Leicester star.
      As Maddison trotted towards the corner flag to take a set-piece, a fan managed to break past security and onto the pitch to grab a picture with the one-cap England man.
      And Maddison was more than happy for the picture to take place, stopping in his tracks to smile for the camera before the fan was wheeled away by Wembley security.
      The incident occurred just before the hour mark, with the score still 0-0 at Wembley.
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      There have been concerns in recent weeks about the security at the stadium after fans forced their way inside before the Euro 2020 final between England and Italy, and this incident only adds to those fears.
      Maddison has been widely linked with a move to Arsenal this summer, as Mikel Arteta seeks a playmaker like Maddison as a long-term replacement for Mesut Ozil.
      But ITV pundit Roy Keane has warned Maddison against the move, warning the former Norwich man against a switch to a side who finished below Leicester in the Premier League last season.
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      Speaking on ITV ahead of the Community Shield between Leicester and Manchester City, he said: “Maybe he might just fancy a bit of change, maybe just fancy a bit of London? I don’t know.
      “It’s a difficult one, [Jamie] Vardy had an opportunity to go to Arsenal, he turned it down.
      “He got big money, turned it down, he got big money at Leicester, let’s not kid ourselves. But Leicester, the group of players they have, they’ve [also] got a new training ground.
      “If he’s leaving Leicester, I don’t think Arsenal is the right option. If I was him I’d sit tight.”
      It’s believed that the Foxes are holding out for around £60million for their star man, and with three years left on his contract they’re in a very strong bargaining position.
      Football London claim that homegrown talents Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah could all be on the table in a player-plus-cash swap deal, but the Foxes are not thought to be interested in a swap deal and would prefer a lump sum.
      But for now Maddison is a Leicester player and he will be hoping to add to the eight goals he scored and seven assists he provided in the 2020/21 Premier League season, as he looks to help Leicester into the top four spots after the Foxes agonisingly missed out on Champions League football in the last two seasons.
      James Maddison sits with the Community Shield after win over Manchester CityCredit: Getty
      Maddison in action at Wembley yesterdayCredit: Getty
      James Maddison adds the Community Shield medal to his collection after winning the FA Cup with the Foxes last yearCredit: PA More

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      Eight positive Covid cases recorded out of 30,000 fans who attended FA Cup matches and Carabao Cup final

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      JUST eight positive coronavirus cases have been recorded from the 30,000 fans that attended the Wembley pilot test games.A report on the first phase of the Government’s Events Research Programme has shown that there were no substantial Covid-19 outbreaks.
      There have been just eight confirmed coronavirus cases from the three Wembley pilot eventsCredit: Reuters
      On April 17, 2,800 supporters were in attendance to watch Leicester’s FA Cup semi-final victory over Southampton.
      A week later, 7,200 fans watched Manchester City beat Tottenham in the Carabao Cup final.
      Before 21,000 spectators gathered to watch the Foxes secure a shock victory over Chelsea on May 15 at the Home of Football.
      In total, there were 28 confirmed coronavirus cases from the 58,000 that attended sporting and cultural events in April and May.
      Six of those positive cases were recorded at the World Snooker Championship that welcomed 10,000 fans over 17 days.
      The news will come as a welcome relief for Boris Johnson and Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin ahead of England’s clash against Germany.
      There will be 45,000 supporters in attendance at Wembley for the Euro 2020 last-16 clash on Tuesday,
      And the semi-finals and final at Wembley will be packed out with 60,000 fans on July 6, 7 and 11.
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      It will be the highest attendance at any event in the UK since the first lockdown was enforced in March 2020.
      Ceferin said: “It is great news that so many fans will be able to watch the final three matches of the Euro 2020 at Wembley.
      “The last 18 months have taught us – both on and off the pitch – how integral fans are to the fabric of the game.
      “This tournament has been a beacon of hope to reassure people that we are returning to a more normal way of life and this is a further step along that road.
      “I am grateful to the Prime Minister and the UK Government for their hard work in finalising these arrangements with us, to make the tournament final stages a great success in Wembley.”
      More than 60,000 fans confirmed for Euro 2020 semi-final and final at Wembley More

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      Fabrice Muamba claims Christian Eriksen being fitted with ICD heart starter is ONLY way he will ever play again

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      EX-BOLTON star Fabrice Muamba believes Christian Eriksen must be fitted with a heart-starter device if he wants to continue playing.The Denmark star has suffered a cardiac arrest – the same medical emergency Muamba endured nine years ago.
      Christian Eriksen is recovering in hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest at the EurosCredit: Reuters
      Former Premier League star Fabrice Muamba suffered the same medical emergency during an FA Cup tie nine years agoCredit: AFP
      Speaking to ITV, Muamba said: “He has to remember he has a family now.
      “Is it worth taking the risk to come back and play again [on having heart starting ICD implant]?
      “I think that’s the only way that any football club will be able to sign him again.”
      Eriksen had to be resuscitated on the pitch after collapsing during Denmark’s Euro 2020 opener against Finland.
      Muamba was forced to retire from professional football in March 2012 when he suffered a cardiac arrest in a televised FA Cup tie between Tottenham and Bolton at White Hart Lane.
      The ex-England U21 international’s heart stopped for 78 minutes before he was resuscitated.

      The world held its breath after Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch
      Denmark’s team doctor Morten Boesen has confirmed Eriksen will be fitted with an ICD (Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator).
      Boesen said: “After Christian has been through different heart examinations it has been decided that he should have an ICD.
      “This device is necessary after a cardiac attack due to rhythm disturbances.
      “Christian has accepted the solution and the plan has moreover been confirmed by specialists nationally and internationally who all recommend the same treatment.”
      Christian Eriksen’s life was saved by the fast reactions of team-mates and medics

      But it’s far to early to say whether the 29-year-old, who is currently recovering in a Copenhagen hospital, will be able to continue playing professionally for Inter Milan.
      Former Manchester United defender Daley Blind had an ICD fitted in December 2019 and has continued playing, helping Ajax win the Dutch title last term.
      The 31-year-old is also part of Holland’s squad for Euro 2020.
      But ex-England cricketer James Taylor was forced to retire after being fitted with an ICD in 2016.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand says playing after Eriksen collapse ‘not the right decision’ More

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      James Maddison shows off incredible FA Cup tattoo as Leicester star commemorates stunning Wembley win over Chelsea

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      JAMES MADDISON commemorated Leicester’s dream FA Cup win with a new Wembley tattoo.The Foxes midfielder lifted the famous trophy in May with a 1-0 win over Chelsea.
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      It was Maddison’s first major trophy and he marked the occasion by getting inked at Artemis Studio by tattooist to the stars Dale McGovern.
      The design features a young Maddison holding a football next to the trophy on the Wembley pitch, with the phrase: “Dreams really do come true.”
      McGovern revealed on his Instagram a signed shirt gifted from the Leicester No10 following the creation.
      Maddison, 24, came off the bench in the final after Youri Tielemans’ long-range strike for the only goal.
      Immediately after the victory, Leicester faced Chelsea again in the Premier League and the England international took the opportunity to remind the Stamford Bridge faithful of the result.
      Taunts unfavourably comparing him to Mason Mount led to Maddison miming his team’s trophy lift to a section of Chelsea fans.
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      James Maddison helped Leicester win the FA Cup in MayCredit: GettyWIN £50,000 with Dream Team EurosDream Team Euros is HERE!

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      McGovern’s studio is no stranger to hosting Premier League stars.
      Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Brandon Williams and Jesse Lingard have all been pictured getting inked at the Manchester studio.
      In fact, England striker Rashford was even recently entrusted with tattooing his own signature on McGovern’s leg.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Mum who’s addicted to getting tattoos all over her body shows off ink More

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      Leicester release NINE players after missing out on Champions League with 2015-16 title heroes Morgan and Fuchs out

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      PREMIER LEAGUE side Leicester City have released NINE players after failing to qualify for the Champions League.Among those leaving the FA Cup winners are Wes Morgan and Christian Fuchs – two members of their iconic title-winning team.
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      Wes Morgan and Christian Fuchs are set to leave Leicester this summerCredit: Getty
      Joining the aforementioned icons on the released list are youngsters Azeem Abdulai, Dempsey Arlott-John, Darnell Johnson, Layton Ndukwu and Darragh O’Connor.
      Matty James is the final player set to leave Leicester after making just 15 Premier League appearances in the last six seasons.
      The 29-year-old was a part of the squad that won promotion to the Prem in 2013-14 and played a role in keeping them up, making 27 league appearances.
      But a serious knee injury at the end of the Foxes’ first season back in the top flight ruled him out for more than a year – meaning he did not play a minute of their historic title-winning campaign.
      James has since spent time on loan at Barnsley and Coventry City, making 23 Championship appearances for the latter this term.
      All nine players – bar the retiring Morgan – can still be retained by Leicester yet if the club decides to offer them a new deal.
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      Morgan, 37, has called time on his professional career after making more than 750 appearances for club and country.
      The 30-cap Jamaica international spent the first half of his career at Nottingham Forest, making more than 400 appearances in all competitions before joining Leicester in January 2012.
      The Foxes are believed to have paid just £1MILLION for the defender – and what a signing he proved to be.
      Morgan went on to make more than 300 appearances for the club, helping them win the Championship, Premier League and FA Cup.

      And Fuchs has also enjoyed a wonderful career at the King Power stadium.
      The 35-year-old featured 36 times in the Prem during their title-winning campaign, becoming a fan favourite in the process.
      Leicester finished fifth in the Premier League this season, missing out on Champions League football on the final day for the second year running.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
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      Community Shield returns to free-to-air TV for first time in nine years with Man City to face Leicester on ITV

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      THE Community Shield will be broadcast on free-to-air TV for the first time in nine years with ITV to show Manchester City’s match against Leicester.Premier League champions City take on FA Cup holders Leicester at Wembley on August 7.
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      Leicester’s Community Shield clash against Manchester United on August 7 will be shown on ITVCredit: AP
      The encounter between the two teams will take place a week before the start of the 2021-22 top-flight campaign, with the kick-off scheduled for 5pm.
      BT Sport have held the rights for the traditional season curtain-raiser since 2013, but they surrendered them two years ago, along with the FA Cup rights.
      The last time the Community Shield was shown on terrestrial TV was in 2012 where the Citizens beat Chelsea 3-2 at Villa Park.
      And Pep Guardiola’s side will be hoping for the same outcome when ITV – who showed that tie nine years ago – broadcasts the first piece of silverware up for grabs in August.
      Guardiola is eyeing up his third Community Shield having scooped the trophy in 2018 and 2019.
      Meanwhile Leicester are looking to win the trophy for the first since 1971 when they beat Liverpool.
      Remarkably, Leicester were only involved in that game as double winners Arsenal were involved in a pre-season tour that clashed with the fixture.
      So FA Cup runners-up Liverpoool and second division champions Leicester were invited to take part.
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      Key dates for start of 2021-22 season
      August 7 – Community Shield – Manchester City vs Leicester
      August 11 – Uefa Super Cup – Chelsea vs Villarreal
      August 14 – Premier League 2021-22 season starts

      The Foxes lost to Manchester United in the 2016 Community Shield as goals from Jesse Lingard and Zlatan Ibrahimovic secured a 2-1 victory.
      Fans will have just four days to wait after the 2021 Community Shield for the next piece of silverware.
      Champions League winner Chelsea pit their wits against Europa League victors Villarreal on August 11.
      The tie will be held at Belfast’s Windsor Park after the Irish Football Association confirmed the fixture on Thursday.
      A statement read: “The 2021 UEFA Super Cup final will be played at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park in Belfast on August 11.
      “After recent speculation that the game would be switched to Istanbul, UEFA has today confirmed that the showpiece fixture between Champions League winners, Chelsea, and Europa League winners, Villareal, will remain in Northern Ireland.”

      Inside Chelsea’s Champions League celebrations as Abramovich meets Tuchel for first time and hugs stars More

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      Man City draw Leicester in Women’s FA Cup quarters with Arsenal facing Tottenham

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      MANCHESTER CITY will go head-to-head with giant-killers Leicester in the final eight of this year’s Women’s FA Cup. And Arsenal will take on North London rivals Tottenham in a derby clash to see which of the sides will reach the contest’s semi-finals. 
      Leicester will play Man City in the quarter-finals of the 2021 Women’s FA CupCredit: Rex
      Man City will hope to win the FA Cup for the second year in a row after their 2020 triumphCredit: AFP
      Both ties are the prime picks of the quarter-final round of this year’s contest with Brighton hosting Charlton and league champs Chelsea set to travel to Birmingham. 
      And the Blues, who retained their WSL crown and picked up a Conti Cup, are aiming to win their third FA Cup to notch up a trophy treble. 
      Leicester, managed by Jonathan Morgan, will compete in the women’s top flight for the first time in their history this year.
      And they will take heart from their shock defeat of Man United when they face a City side who won the 2020 trophy.
      The Foxes, who won the Women’s Championship crown, will look to pull off another surprise after beating the Red Devils 3-2 in the fifth round.
      And the newly promoted WSL outfit gave the Citizens a run for their money the last time the rivals faced each other in the competition.
      That FA Cup quarter-final encounter between City and a Foxes side skippered by Morgan’s sister Holly ended in a narrow 2-1 home loss for Leicester. 
      Meanwhile, Rehanne Skinner’s Tottenham will be looking to pick up their first win against the Gunners in a derby. 
      Before then the club will embark on a squad rebuild this summer, having released 11 of their players before the 2021-22 season.
      They will face a tough away challenge against Arsenal, who hold the record for the most trophy wins in the competition with 14 triumphs. 
      And their rivals have strengthened their attacking ranks by signing Japan forward and World Cup winner Mana Iwabuchi. 
      However the Gunners are thought to be facing a battle to keep hold of top striker Vivianne Miedema, 24,  with Lyon interested in bringing the Netherlands star to France. 
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      Arsenal will host Tottenham in their quarter-final FA Cup clash in SeptemberCredit: Rex

      And the rumoured deal could see England and Lyon goal machine Nikita Parris move to Arsenal as part of a swap.  
      However, Miedema’s agent Leoni Blokius has reportedly denied her client will leave the WSL this summer despite her having just a year left on her current contract.
      Blokius told Dutch newspaper AD: “Vivianne will remain, as it looks now, at Arsenal next season. That is her last contract year.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Vivianne Miedema’s agent has dismissed reports linking her with a summer move to European giants LyonCredit: Zuma Press
      Watch Vivianne Miedema hit her 50th WSL goal to become the league’s all-time record scorer More