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      Mikel Arteta begged Arsenal to give me a job after retiring.. so I repaid the favour, reveals Per Mertesacker

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      PER MERTESACKER has revealed that when Mikel Arteta left Arsenal in 2016 he wrote a note telling the club to hire him.The message was sent to Gunner’s chief executive at the time Ivan Gazidis and urged him to find a spot for Mertesacker in the club.
      Mikel Arteta told Arsenal to hire Per MertesackerCredit: Getty
      Mertesacker returned the favour when the Arsenal manager job was availableCredit: Getty
      The German hung up his boots in 2018 and was appointed as the club’s academy manager, where he is still working.
      And five years on, he is now working with his former team-mate, who is the manager of the first team.
      He told the Evening Standard: “When [Arteta] left us, he left Ivan Gazidis a note saying: ‘You can’t lose this guy’,
      “[It was] in terms of: you are losing me now, you are asking me too late. Because he had promised to go to City.
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      “He told Ivan: ‘You can’t lose this guy. Just put him somewhere’. That was kind of the start, and we kept tabs.
      “And then between him and Unai [Emery], that was the situation.
      “I put a good word in for him, without knowing how good he was as a coach. I knew how good he was as a human being and how much I trusted him.
      “He called me when he didn’t get the job to say: ‘Thank you, I know you put my name forward’. A year and a half after when he then came, and Edu came, it felt like the right time.
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      “From there it has been a feeling of trust, that we both do the best for the club and it is pretty much aligned.”
      The 2018 World Cup winner with Germany had a taste of coaching following the sacking of Unai Emery in 2019.
      He was part of the team that worked with interim coach Freddie Ljungberg.
      But the three weeks in the coaching staff was enough for Mertesacker to know he wanted to continue with his role in the academy.
      He said: “I had the three weeks with Freddie Ljungberg and that was kind of the shock experience of my life, basically.
      “When I had to support him, that’s when I felt it was a bit overwhelming, almost coming back to my 15-year playing career – every week something is on the line, every result you have to take. I felt that was not something I wanted to pursue.”
      Arteta was then hired as manager and has led the club on a rebuild and has taken them to the top of the Premier League a year and a half after Mertesacker put in his good word. More

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      Meet Man City and Arsenal’s Wags, from a British Airways flight attendant to a reality TV star, as the teams face off

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      ALL eyes will be on the Premier League’s biggest game of the season on Wednesday at the Etihad.Man City play Arsenal in a crucial match that could have huge significance in where the title ends up.
      Ines Tomaz will be cheering on Man City
      Tomaz with her partner Bernardo SilvaCredit: Instagram
      The hosts know a victory would put them in pole position for their third consecutive championship in a row.
      While a Gunners win would reignite their challenge, after stumbling of late.
      Glued to the action, like the rest of us, will be the team’s amazing Wags.
      From a flight attendant to a reality TV star, here’s the beauties who will be watching the drama unfold – starting with the hosts…
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      Ines Tomaz/Bernardo Silva
      Model Ines Tomaz, 24, and Silva met in 2020 and announced their engagement just two years later.
      She has amassed over 100,000 followers on Instagram.
      She often posts pictures of her in swimwear on the platform and likes to promote brands that are friendly to the environment.
      Ines is currently signed to NXT management, a modelling agency based in Portugal.
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      Sasha Attwood/Jack Grealish
      Sasha Attwood is a model and influencerCredit: Instagram @sasha__rebecca
      Attwood is the longterm girlfriend of Jack GrealishCredit: https://www.instagram.com/sasha__rebecca/?hl=en
      Sasha’s stock rose when partner Grealish signed for Man City for £100million.
      The 26-year-old is a model and influencer, who has starred in huge ad campaigns.
      Most recently, she scored a massive deal with online fashion retailer boohoo.
      And she appeared to drop a massive hint to Jack about their future – modelling a range of maternity wear.
      Taylor Ward/Riyad Mahrez
      Taylor Ward starred in Real Housewives of Cheshire
      Riyad Mahrez and Ward got secretly married last year and had a baby together

      Man City vs Arsenal – all you need to know ahead of the massive Premier League showdown.
      Reality TV beauty Taylor, 25, ‘secretly married’ Mahrez last year, according to reports.
      She appeared in Real Housewives of Cheshire alongside her mum Dawn and former footballer dad Ashley Ward.
      Taylor, 24, was once linked to City legend Sergio Aguero, before she began dating Mahrez – who popped the question with a £400,000 ring in 2021 on a romantic holiday in Mykonos.
      Last year they welcomed a daughter together called Mila.
      Isabel Haugseng Johansen/Erling Haaland
      Isabel Haugseng Johansen is the reported girlfriend of Erling Haaland
      Haaland met Isabel when he played for ByrneCredit: Alamy
      The pair, who keep their relationship hush-hush, were recently spotted in London’s West End together.
      The 19-year-old brunette is a footballer herself, having played for Byrne in Norway where she met hotshot Haaland.
      The pair grew up together at the club’s academy and it’s believed they began dating during his time at Dortmund.
      Sara Arfaoui/Ilkay Gundogan
      Sara Arfaoui sparked fury when she slammed the Manchester restaurant sceneCredit: Instagram
      Ilkay Gundogan and Sara married in 2022
      Italian model Sara, 28, met Man City star Ilkay Gundogan in 2021.
      They were engaged later that year, before marrying last year in a private ceremony.
      Sara was born in France but moved to Italy when she was young, where she worked as a TV presenter.
      She once sparked fury when she called the Manchester restaurant scene “horrible”.
      Georgina Irwin/Aaron Ramsdale
      Georgina Irwin is a flight attendant and has worked for British Airways
      Aaron Ramsdale and Irwin got engaged last year
      Georgina, 27, met goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in 2019, and they have since become engaged.
      The blonde stunner is a flight attendant who has worked with British Airways.
      She has since become a huge favourite on social media and boasts over 18,000 followers.
      Georgina loves travelling – often sharing glam photos lapping up the sun at go-to destinations like Miami Beach or Tulum in Mexico.
      Vlada Zinchenko/Oleksandr Zinchenko
      Vlada Zinchenko is now an avid Arsenal fan after her husband moved to the Gunners from Man CityCredit: Instagram
      Vlada is a TV reporter for the Ukraine’s Premier League coverageCredit: Instagram
      Beautiful Vlada, 27,  is a TV presenter and journalist in Ukraine for their Premier League coverage.
      Back in 2020, she caused a stir when she criticised Pep Guardiola’s tactics following a shock Champions League elimination to Lyon.
      But since her husband swapped City for Arsenal, she’s become an avid Mikel Arteta fan.
      Don’t expect her to get booed by the home support.
      Gabrielle Figueredo/Gabriel
      Brazilian beauty Gabrielle Figueredo shows off her amazing bikini body
      Figueredo is married to Arsenal ace GabrielCredit: Instagram
      Gabrielle, 25, was born in Rio de Janeiro, and comes from a religious family.
      But that hasn’t stopped her from pursuing a career in modelling – often showing off her curves in an array of bikinis on social media.
      Gabrielle has her own fashion brand and is a make-up and beauty expert.
      She is popular on Instagram – having amassed over 100,000 followers.
      Milly Adams/Ben White
      Milly Adams is a model from Hertfordshire
      Adams is engaged to Arsenal defender Ben White
      Last summer, romantic White got down on one to propose to goddess Milly, 25.
      A model from Hertfordshire, she graduated from Nottingham Trent University.
      Their whirlwind romance began last year, when they showed their love for one another with matching ‘I Love You’ wrist tattoos.
      Her Instagram is full of adventure and romantic getaways with the defender.
      Tolamo Benson/Bukayo Saka
      Tolami Benson is Bukayo Saka’s rpeorted girlfriendCredit: Instagram
      Benson joined Saka at the World Cup in Qatar to cheer him onCredit: PA
      Saka is believed to be in a relationship with Tolami Benson, who at 22 is one year old than her footballer beau.
      The pair are thought to have started dating in late 2020 but have kept their relationship secret until recently.

      They do not share pictures of them together, and don’t even follow each other on social media.
      However, she was spotted alongside Three Lions Wags in Qatar for last year’s World Cup. More

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      A Dream Team XI of players who have increased in price the most this season – featuring three Brighton stars

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      THE Dream Team stock market can be a volatile environment.Take your eye off the ball and all of a sudden one of your under-performing assets has shed £1million in value and you’re therefore limited in terms of potential replacements.
      Conversely, pick an underrated gem at the right time and in no time you’ll be “banking reddies” as Danny Dyer would say.
      Here we’ve assembled a workable XI of players who have increased in price the most from the start of the season to this point in time.
      GOALKEEPER: Nick Pope £2.5m > £4.2m
      A bargain ahead of Game Week 1Credit: GETTY
      Newcastle’s custodian started the campaign as the most-popular asset in his position as Dream Team gaffers recognised that £2.5m was a generous starting price.
      The England international had been relegated with Burnley the previous season but joining Eddie Howe’s organised troops instantly improved his clean sheet prospects.
      In fact, only David de Gea (£3.9m) has kept more Premier League clean sheets at this stage and the Spaniard is just one ahead of Pope on 14 in the race for the Golden Glove.
      DEFENDERS

      Kieran Trippier £3m > £5.6m
      Lewis Dunk £2m > £4.1m
      Nathan Ake £3m > £4.8m

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      Newcastle’s unexpectedly parsimonious defence is evidenced again here but the Magpies’ vice captain has carved out a bracket of his own among defenders because of his contributions at both ends of the pitch.
      Set-piece specialist Trippier has provided eight assists and claimed eight Star Man awards en route to 214 points at this stage of the season – his closest rival is 71 points adrift.
      Again, with the power of hindsight, a price of £3m prior to Game Week 1 was too good to pass up.
      Praise for a consistent performerCredit: GETTY
      Brighton’s midfielders have earned plenty of headlines this season – more on them in a moment – so it’s easy to overlook the fact their skipper has more than doubled in price.
      An ultra reliable performer, Dunk has contributed to 13 clean sheets in 2022/23 and he’s been on a tear of late, registering 68 points across the last 12 Game Weeks.
      Completing the back three is Manchester City’s Dutchman, who deserves plenty of credit for his efforts in recent months.
      Having been a peripheral figure in his first two seasons at the Etihad, Ake has been a regular starter this term and a key contributor to a side still chasing a historic treble.
      The 28-year-old certainly won’t start as cheap next season.
      MIDFIELDERS

      Solly March £1m > £4.6m
      Kaoru Mitoma £1.5m > £4.8m
      Miguel Almiron £1.5m > £3.6m
      Mathias Jensen £1m > £2.8m

      Brighton’s long-serving midfielder is the player who has increased in price the most this season!
      March was not much more than a useful utility player under Graham Potter while Mitoma was virtually unknown just a few months ago but the pair have thrived and enthralled under Roberto De Zerbi.
      With 17 goals and 16 assists between them in all competitions, the Seagulls’ assets have to be considered among the standout performers of the Dream Team season based on their performances against pre-season expectations.
      Full credit to any gaffers who picked either of them up for cheaper than £2.5m.
      One of many underrated gems at BrentfordCredit: GETTY
      Nobody can criticise us for giving Almiron a modest starting price.
      The Paraguayan winger works his socks off but he didn’t make much of a splash in the world of Dream Team during his first four years at Newcastle.
      With 11 to his name this season, he’s bagged more Premier League goals in 2022/23 than his first four seasons combined.
      Brentford may be on the beach now but a comfortable mid-table position is evidence of yet another campaign in which they have performed above the level expected of a club with their resources.
      In this hypothetical XI, Jensen symbolises the Bees as a whole – a consistent performer who rarely grabs headlines but who opponents underestimate at their peril.
      The Danish midfielder started among the joint-cheapest players in the game but he’s notched ten goal involvements in the league and plenty of 7+ ratings.
      FORWARDS

      Marcus Rashford £3.5m > £7m
      Ollie Watkins £3.5m > £6.4m
      Erling Haaland £7m > £9.9m

      It’s easy to forget that Manchester United’s No10 endured a torrid 2021/22.
      Rashford mustered just five goals in 32 appearances last season with many pundits wondering whether a transfer was needed to reinvigorate his career.
      As it turned out, a change of head coach at Old Trafford did the trick as the 25-year-old has reached a new peak under the guidance of Erik ten Hag – his season tally of 28 goals is a career best already.
      The contrast between where he was a year ago and now is the reason he’s increased £3.5m in price since Game Week 1.
      Rashford’s form this season compared to 2021/22 is night and day
      Aston Villa’s top scorer has scored 11 goals in his last 13 games, a prosperous streak that has catapulted his price upwards.
      Many gaffers will feel £6.4m is too pricey for Watkins but it’s simply a reflection of the undeniable fact that’s been one of the league’s best players in recent months.
      Last but not least, it’s Man City’s ominous poacher.

      Haaland started the season among the game’s most-expensive players but his game-breaking exploits have pushed every boundary that exists in Dream Team.
      The prolific Norway international has plundered 386 points with plenty more fixtures yet to fulfil. More

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      Ex-Man Utd star urges Erik ten Hag to SNUB Harry Kane transfer and move for his England team-mate to solve striker woes

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      FORMER Manchester United star Dion Dublin has urged the club to snub a move for Harry Kane and go for his England team-mate.The Red Devils reportedly view the Tottenham star as their priority for the summer transfer window.
      Harry Kane is wanted by Man Utd this summerCredit: Getty
      Dion Dublin thinks Man Utd should go for another Premier League star, not Harry KaneCredit: Getty
      The club have already started to make moves to bring him in and are ready to give Kane £300,000-a-week.
      However, Dublin, who played 15 times for Man Utd, thinks that the club should instead go for Brentford captain Ivan Toney.
      Dublin told William Hill: “In my opinion, he is good enough to go and play for Manchester United, and I think he’d only get better if he went there.
      “Erik ten Hag likes a big striker and they need a proven goalscorer so maybe they should take a look at Ivan Toney.”
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      The forward has been in impressive form this season, helping the Bees mount a challenge for a European finish.
      He has netted an incredible 19 goals in 30 Premier League matches this term.
      The 27-year-old has been linked with a move to Man Utd in the past and the club were reportedly monitoring him.
      However, rumours suggest that a transfer could be prevented by Toney expecting to a receive a lengthy ban after betting breaches.
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      He has pleaded guilty to as many as 232 charges and the FA investigation continues.
      Brentford have reportedly put a £50million price tag on his head.
      Chelsea have also been linked with the striker.
      Ivan Toney would suit Man Utd, claims Dion DublinCredit: Getty More

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      I’m a former Premier League star and Wrexham director of football… now I have a very normal job

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      A FORMER Premier League star and Wrexham director of football has revealed that he now has a very normal job.Barry Horne made 136 appearances for his beloved local team and enjoyed a successful career with a number of premiership sides, spanning almost 20 years.
      Barry Horne made over 200 premiership appearances in his playing daysCredit: Alamy
      He is best known for saving Everton from relegation with a 30-yard screamer in 1994Credit: Getty
      He turned out over 100 times for both Southampton and Everton during the height of his career in the mid-’90s as well as captaining Wales.
      He is perhaps best remembered for his wondergoal against AFC Wimbledon on the final day of the 1993-94 season.
      The 30-yard screamer saved Everton from relegation and secured their place in the league.
      Despite hanging up his boots in 2002, his love for Wrexham never waivered and he returned in 2011 when the club was taken over by the supporter’s trust.
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      He served on the board of directors until 2016.
      However, after his retirement, the legendary FA Cup-winning midfielder went into a very different field.
      Barry now works as a science teacher at King’s School in Chester, Cheshire.
      He already had a background in science, with a first-class degree in chemistry and materials science.
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      In fact, he was halfway through a PhD when he joined Wrexham in 1983.
      He also serves as the school’s director of football, coaching up the talent of the future.
      As well as his teaching work, he has regularly appeared in the football media, including Sky Sports and Match of the Day, to provide punditry.
      He writes a regular column about Everton for the Liverpool Echo.
      It comes after a fellow former football star revealed that he had tried everything from pro golf to dog breeding to claw back some cash after losing millions in his divorce.
      Meanwhile, another ex-pro explained his radical career change as he traded boots for batter as he set up a pancake shop making 150 tasty treats a day.
      The former Wales captain now works as a science teacherCredit: Alamy More

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      Frank Lampard set to STAY as Chelsea boss until end of season despite Spurs legend Mauricio Pochettino closing in on job

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      FRANK LAMPARD is set to keep his caretaker role at Chelsea despite the looming presence of Mauricio Pochettino taking over as permanent boss.Pochettino is deep into talks with the club and even though nothing is formally arranged, the former Tottenham manager is the runaway favourite to become the next head coach at troubled Stamford Bridge.
      Frank Lampard will stay on as Chelsea manager until the end of the seasonCredit: Getty
      Mauricio Pochettino is in line to take over as permanent manager in the summerCredit: Getty
      Even so, there are no plans at present to relieve Lampard of his duties after he signed a deal until the end of the season.
      That means he will be in charge for the foreseeable future – starting with tomorrow night’s home clash with Brentford.
      Lampard, 44, is eager to avoid a fifth straight defeat since taking over on a temporary basis earlier this month.
      Pochettino is out of work since being sacked by French side Paris Saint-Germain last July so is free to take a new job at a moment’s notice.
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      But while negotiations are progressing well, there is still work to do before the Argentine is expected to become the fifth boss under controversial new Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly.
      The American sacked Thomas Tuchel last September, appointed Graham Potter as his successor, ditched him and made coach Bruno Saltor interim boss before then turning to ex-Chelsea midfielder Lampard to bail out the team which is in tailspin.

      They are 11th in the table and five points behind rivals Brentford ahead of the game at Stamford Bridge.
      Pochettino has faced competition to become new manager from ex-Spain boss Luis Enrique and recently sacked Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann.
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      But it is now widely expected that Pochettino will be offered the job in the coming days before taking up the position in the summer. More

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      People are just realising what Nottingham Forest’s badge means and where it came from

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      NOTTINGHAM FOREST are one of the most historic clubs in English football.Forest returned to the Premier League after 23 years last spring – and are hoping their comeback won’t be shortlived.
      Nottingham Forest’s famous badge has a beautiful story behind itCredit: Getty
      Nottingham Forest’s badge was designed after a competition and has great symbolismCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      The Tricky Trees have a heavy legacy to live up to with Brian Clough and co dominating back in the late 1970s.
      Nottingham won the First Division title in 1978 and two European Cups in 1979 and 1980.
      And all of that success took place shortly after the club adopted the badge they still don to this day.
      In February 1973, the Nottingham Post launched a competition to design a new crest.
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      The publication received over 800 entries from participants across the city and beyond, someone even tried their luck from as far as Australia.
      But it was David Lewis, a young designer from Cossall who was working at Nottingham Polytechnic – now known as Nottingham Trent University – who prevailed just two months later.
      Over the months that followed, Lewis honed his design alongside then club secretary Ken Smales.
      The final version soon followed and so the Tricky Trees were officially born.
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      Lewis drew the famous tree, which symbolises Sherwood Forest as a tribute to Robin Hood’s famous legend.
      He added three wavy lines, which represent the river Trent, and soon two stars followed after the club’s back-to-back European titles.
      Forest are now hoping to do the badge proud this season amid a fierce relegation scrap. More

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      Five top Chelsea stars who could be sold this summer to fund Mauricio Pochettino’s transfer rebuild including Sterling

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      CHELSEA could be set for a fire sale of players this summer in order to fund a rebuild for potential manager Mauricio Pochettino.The Argentine coach is in pole position to land the top job at Stamford Bridge this week.
      Mauricio Pochettino could sell some of Chelsea’s fringe players this summerCredit: AFP
      And the ex-Tottenham boss, 51, believes he can transform the struggling Blues into Prem title contenders next season.
      He is likely to bring long-serving assistants Jesus Perez, Toni Jiminez plus sports scientist son Sebastiano with him to the club.
      However, to achieve this it is thought that he would look to trim down the swollen Chelsea squad that boasts over 30 players.
      Here are five players that could be sold this summer in order to fund moves for Pochettino’s targets.
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      Raheem Sterling
      Raheem Sterling could leave Chelsea this summerCredit: Rex
      The England international has failed to live up to the hype following his move from Manchester City last summer.
      The winger has netted seven times in 32 Premier League appearances this season.
      Sterling cost the Blues £50million and it is thought he would not have his wage cut should the club fail to qualify for European football next season.
      Marc Cucurella
      Marc Cucurella has failed to impress since his transfer from BrightonCredit: Getty
      The former Brighton star has flopped so far at Chelsea.
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      Expectations were high for Cucurella after the club finally signed him from the Seagulls for £62m.
      However, he has failed to cement himself as the club’s first-choice left-wing-back, having only made 24 appearances in the Premier League.
      Mason Mount
      Mason Mount is yet to sign a new deal at the clubCredit: Getty
      The Cobham Academy graduate has been a club star over the last couple of seasons, but like many, his form has dropped this year.
      Mount is also set to enter the last year of his contract, and if he does not extend terms, then he could be set for the chopping block before he can walk away for nothing.
      Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United have all been touted to have an interest in the England midfielder.
      Christian Pulisic
      Christian Pulisic could be set for an exit from ChelseaCredit: Getty
      The American forward is another player who has had a reduced role this season as he has only made 21 appearances in the league.
      And he has not been effective when he has been on the pitch, scoring only one goal.
      He has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich following the appointment of former manager Thomas Tuchel
      Edouard Mendy
      Edouard Mendy has been on the fringe of the squad this seasonCredit: Getty
      Mendy has found himself playing second fiddle to Kepa Arrizabalaga this season.

      The Senegalese goalkeeper has only made 11 appearances in all competitions this season and is keen for more game time.
      Mendy was recently reported to have been told he can leave the club this summer after he snubbed a new six-year contract over the salary offered – which did not rival Kepa’s. More