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      Emi Martinez joins pals at the casino in London’s Mayfair on break from Aston Villa training

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      ASTON VILLA keeper Emi Martinez rocked up to a London casino for a night with friends.The World Cup-winning shot-stopper, 30, enjoyed a brief break from club training as he headed out with his pals in Mayfair on Thursday.
      Emi Martinez headed to a London casino in MayfairCredit: BackGrid
      He looked somewhat tired as he was snapped on the night outCredit: BackGrid
      Martinez is known to be one of the biggest characters in the Premier LeagueCredit: BackGrid
      Villa will need him to be at his best when they face Man City this weekendCredit: BackGrid
      He was snapped heading into The Palm Beach Casino for a fun evening out – which he left at around midnight.
      Martinez’s outing comes a few days before their trip to champions Manchester City on Sunday.
      Villa have won five of their nine games in all competitions since manager Unai Emery took over from Steven Gerrard.
      The positive run of form has seen them move up to 11th in the Premier League table, just one point adrift of the top half.
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      But Villa have failed to beat Man City in any of their previous 14 meetings.
      And they may well need all of Martinez’s gamesmanship tactics if they are to take anything away from the Etihad.
      The Argentina keeper hit the headlines during the World Cup when his confrontational approach helped his country to beat France on penalties in the final.
      Last season, he managed something similar against Manchester United when he dared Cristiano Ronaldo to take a spot kick, before Bruno Fernandes stepped up and missed.
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      After taking charge at Villa Park, Emery insisted he would have a word with Martinez about his antics after he goaded France’s Kylian Mbappe by holding a baby doll with the star’s face on it during Argentina’s World Cup victory parade.
      The former Arsenal boss said: “I want to speak with him when he will come here next week but I am thinking more about his performance and his win, than his celebration.
      “The celebration is for the supporters, with really big emotions. It’s not really a good moment as a coach to identify why.
      “I prefer to be focused on how he performed and how he is going to win with us afterwards. I am going to speak with him because I want to control him about that as well – his emotions.
      “We have to have values, we have to focus on behaviour when we are together and with the opposition players.
      “We can speak in 90 per cent of the cases about very good things, and be very proud of him, for his performance, for his win. It is about more than small details like celebrations.”
      Martinez’s antics at the World Cup cause outrage for some fansCredit: Getty
      Emi Martinez has become a star performer at Aston VillaCredit: Getty More

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      Why are Man Utd playing against Leeds twice in a row in the Premier League?

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      MANCHESTER UNITED and Leeds face off for the second time in LESS than a week – and SunSport has the reasons why.The Red Devils failed to make up some ground on noisy neighbours Manchester City when Leeds held them to a draw at Old Trafford.
      Jadon Sancho rescued a point for Manchester United in the first matchCredit: Alamy
      However, United will be eager to immediately put things right at Elland Road.
      And they won’t have to wait much longer to do so.
      Why are Man Utd playing against Leeds twice in a row?
      The entertaining 2-2 draw at Old Trafford was rescheduled from September due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
      And Manchester United’s domestic cup success this season further complicated the matter.
      Read more on Man Utd
      Erik Ten Hag’s men have qualified for the Carabao Cup final where they will be taking on Newcastle at Wembley.
      Furthermore, United are yet to play West Ham in their fifth round FA Cup encounter.
      And the Red Devils go up against La Liga giants Barcelona in the last-32 stage of the Europa League.
      When is Man Utd and Leeds’ second Premier League fixture?
      Manchester United travel to Leeds for round two of this mouth-watering Premier League double header on Sunday, February 12.
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      It is scheduled to get underway at 2pm GMT
      Elland Road is the allocated arena for this encounter and it can host approximately 37,792 fans.
      Jadon Sancho’s substitute strike saw the reverse fixture end 2-2 on Wednesday. More

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      THIRD manager REJECTS Leeds as Arne Slot decides to stay with Feyenoord leaving club scrambling to replace Jesse Marsch

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      ARNIE SLOT has become the third manager to reject Leeds as their desperate search for a new boss continues. Jesse Marsch was sacked earlier this week as boss of the Yorkshire club amid their relegation battle.
      Slot has been in charge of Feyenoord since 2021Credit: Rex
      And the club have scrambling to find someone to fill his boots ever since.
      Following the apparent failures to land Carlos Corberan and Rayo Vallecano boss Andoni Iraola, attention had turned to Feyenoord manager Arne Slot.
      But the Dutch coach publicly revealed he shot down the chance to move with Feyenoord currently top of the Eredivisie.
      He said: “It is true that I will stay with Feyenoord, I can say that with this one. That is clear, fans do not have to be afraid.
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      “It was a compliment that a club like Leeds was interested, but we are doing something great with Feyenoord.
      “We are in a great position in the league, the cup and Europe. There is no disappointment. It’s certainly not a punishment to stay here.”
      For a few days intense speculation linked West Brom manager Corberan to the role.
      But he then signed a new long-term deal with the Championship club to shut down rumours.
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      Iraola, 40, was then elevated to favourite for the role, but that also appears to be dead in the water.
      But it is believed Leeds director of football Victor Orta is still keen on him and is desperate to revive a deal.
      Michael Skubala will continue on in interim charge as Leeds welcome Man United to Elland Road on Sunday.
      The pair duelled at Old Trafford earlier this week in the first game of Skubala’s interim with the Whites emerging with a credible 2-2 draw. More

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      Paul Merson believes Arsenal ‘would have won the league’ if they had beaten Everton last weekend

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      ARSENAL legend Paul Merson has declared the Gunners “would have won the league” with three points last weekend.Mikel Arteta’s table toppers were beaten 1-0 at Everton in Sean Dyche’s first game in charge.
      Arsenal suffered just a second Premier League loss of the season against EvertonCredit: Getty
      Merson believed the Gunners would have “wrapped up” the title with a win at Goodison ParkCredit: Getty
      A win would have seen Arsenal end the weekend eight points clear with a game in hand on Manchester City, as Pep Guardiola’s side were beaten by Tottenham on Sunday.
      As it stands the gap is five points, with the Gunners having played a game less than City, and the two sides set to face off next week.
      But Merson reckons the title race would already be over if the Gunners had taken all three points against Everton.
      Writing for Sky Sports, he said: “Arsenal would have won the league on Saturday with a win at Goodison Park.
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      “With what happened with Man City at Tottenham on Sunday, it would have all been wrapped up in my opinion.
      “They are the fine margins you are dealing with at this stage of the season.”
      However, Merson suggested it is “no time to panic” for the Gunners, who have still lost just two Premier League games this campaign.
      Arsenal remain in a strong position at the top of the table to secure a first league title since the 2003-04 Invincibles.
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      Merson wrote: “This is no time to panic for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta.
      “It was the perfect game for Everton and the worst possible game for Arsenal. Goodison Park was back to what it was like when I used to go there in my career.
      “It was always a hard place to go, and they were always in your faces, never giving you any time on the ball. But if Eddie Nketiah scores his first-half chance, it’s a different game.
      “I think Arsenal go on to win the game from there. That’s what we always talk about, though. It is very thin margins at the top level.
      Arteta and Co host high-flying Brentford on Saturday before the mouthwatering clash with City on Wednesday. More

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      Juventus star Manuel Locatelli’s brother reveals real REAL reason why midfielder rejected Arsenal transfer

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      THE brother of Juventus star Manuel Locatelli has revealed why he turned down a move to Arsenal.The Italian midfielder, 25, joined the Serie A giants on a two-year loan deal from Sassuolo in 2021.
      Manuel Locatelli has impressed since joining Juventus on loan in 2021Credit: Getty
      And Juventus have a clause in the transfer which means they are obligated to buy him permanently for £30million this summer.
      However, before joining the Turin-based outfit, he was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal.
      But his brother Mattia has now explained that the love Locatelli has for Juventus made it an easy decision.
      Speaking to Calcio Mercato, he said: “I still remember the negotiation [with Juventus]. For him it was very long.
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      “There was also Arsenal, but he wanted Juventus. The clubs kept meeting, but without reaching an agreement.
      “Every day I looked at the Gazzetta to check. In Sassuolo he trained separately, in him the desire to change. A real emotion.
      “On the day of his debut, he sent us a photo with the shirt and the words ‘I made it’.”
      Continuing to describe Locatelli’s love for Juve, Mattia added: “He gives everything for Juve. He loves those colours.
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      “The first days? It didn’t seem real to him. And then I realised there was a reason he was there with them.
      “Manuel is very happy to be there. Many guys with whom he has bonded, from Chiellini and Bonucci to Morata and De Ligt.”
      Locatelli has made 68 appearances for Juventus, scoring three goals and assisting another five.
      He has become a regular in Max Allegri’s side, starting 17 of their 21 Serie A games so far this season.
      However, Juventus’ 15-point deduction for orchestrating a transfer scam has left them down in 10th place, 13 points adrift of the top four.
      They are also out of the Champions League after finishing below Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain in the group stage.
      Allegri’s side have dropped down into the Europa League where they will face Nantes in the play-off round. More

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      Arsenal star Zinchenko explains why he kicked off at his ex-Man City team-mates after FA Cup clash

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      OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO has lifted the lid on why he kicked off with his old team-mates the last time he faced them.The Gunners star was involved in a fracas with former Manchester City pals after they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Nathan Ake’s goal as City won 1-0.
      Kyle Walker taunted Oleksandr Zinchenko after Man City beat ArsenalCredit: Reuters
      Zinchenko was far from ecstatic about the jokesCredit: Reuters
      And he appeared to lose his coolCredit: Alamy
      Post-match Kyle Walker went up to the Ukrainian with a beaming smile, something which only seemed to worsen Zinchenko’s mood after being on the end of defeat.
      Zinchenko was visibly annoyed at Walker and Co and was seen appearing to lose his cool as he tried to move City stars away from him.
      However, ahead of their rematch next week, Zinchenko shed some light onto the incident.
      Speaking to Vbet News, he said: “I still keep in touch with most of them; we are friends and always will be.
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      “Yeah, they won that match, and they were joking with me. But I hope we will get revenge next Wednesday.”
      Before leaving the field after the game, Zinchenko swapped jerseys with Walker.
      That game was seen by many as a warm-up for the real dance to come in the Premier League, as Pep Guardiola faces his former student Mikel Arteta to see who can clinch this year’s title.
      Arsenal and City both lost last weekend to Everton and Tottenham respectively.
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      The results ensured Arsenal’s five-point lead at the top of the table remained intact.
      Both are once again in action this weekend, but City have the added backdrop of having been charged with over 100 breaches of financial rules between 2009 and 2018.
      Guardiola has come out in a bullish defence of City’s innocence, while Arteta refused to comment on the dealings of his former club.
      Man City’s financial charges More

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      Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink tells Chelsea to snub permanent Joao Felix transfer and sign striker who will ‘guarantee goals’

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      JIMMY-FLOYD HASSELBAINK has urged Chelsea to ditch loan star Joao Felix this summer.Felix, 23, joined the Blues on loan until the end of the season last month.
      Joao Felix has made one appearance for ChelseaCredit: Rex
      Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink thinks the Blues should ditch FelixCredit: Getty
      He was subsequently red carded on his debut, and has since had to serve a three-match ban.
      The Atletico Madrid loanee is now available for selection again and has been backed to shine by boss Graham Potter.
      But former Blue Hasselbaink thinks Felix should just be a short-term option… and wants Chelsea to launch an ambitious summer bid for Harry Kane instead.
      Speaking to Casinos En Ligne, the Dutchman said: “Chelsea need a striker.
      READ MORE CHELSEA NEWS
      “Harry Kane might not want to come but Chelsea should try to persuade Harry Kane to join them.
      “He might say no, but at least they would have tried.
      “With Kane, he will guarantee you goals wherever he goes. There is still a chance that it might happen.
      “If Tottenham aren’t in the Champions League and even if Chelsea aren’t in the Champions League – their chances are slimmer than Spurs of making the top four at this moment in time.
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      Harry Kane has less than 18 months left on his contractCredit: Getty
      “But over the years to come, Chelsea has got a bigger chance of winning trophies and being in the Champions League, this is where Spurs have struggled.
      “Kane has [18 months] left on his contract so they won’t be in a position to ask for £100million, it will be less.
      “Joao Felix is also not worth the reported £124million fee Atletico Madrid are asking for at this moment in time.
      “He might be getting there, I do rate him as a player, but he hasn’t played a lot of football, even for Atletico Madrid.
      “That also means that they don’t rate him, so they can’t ask £124million for him.”
      Chelsea splashed out £9m to loan Felix until the end of the season.
      Speaking to Spanish paper AS about his future, the Portuguese star recently said: “I’ve only been here a few weeks, a month. I am learning everything. I am very comfortable but nobody knows the future.
      “I was already looking for a change of scene a while ago because it was difficult to get used to the way of playing.”
      We see his quality every day and he’s a player who can make a difference for usGraham Potter
      Felix is set to return to action as Chelsea travel to West Ham tomorrow lunchtime.
      Speaking about his star’s upcoming comeback, Potter gushed: “It’s great. We all saw the impact he had in the 60 minutes before his red card.
      Read More on The Sun
      “We see his quality every day and he’s a player who can make a difference for us.
      “At the same time, it’s about helping him get integrated into the team and to the team-mates around him, and for him to understand what we’re trying to do. But the signs are really positive.”
      Graham Potter is looking forward to having Felix available againCredit: Getty More

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      Man City vs Aston Villa LIVE SCORE: Latest as Pep’s men look to close gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal

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      MANCHESTER CITY entertain Aston Villa in a huge Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium.Pep Guardiola’s men failed to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal after losing 1-0 against Tottenham last weekend.
      But the City boss will be expecting an immediate response against Villa who recently lost to Leicester.

      Kick-off time: Sunday 12, 4:30pm GMT
      Live stream: NOW TV
      TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League

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