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    Fans convinced Leandro Trossard was handed unique punishment by Arteta after Arsenal star’s red card against Man City

    ARSENAL fans are convinced Leandro Trossard has been handed a unique punishment by Mikel Arteta.The winger was sent off against Manchester City on Sunday after being shown two yellow cards.Fans are convinced Leandro Trossard has been handed a unique punishment for his red cardCredit: ReutersThe winger was seen carrying drink coolers as he arrived at Arsenal trainingCredit: x / @ArsenalHis second booking came when Trossard booted the ball away and delayed the restart.The Gunners had been leading 2-1 during the closing stages of the first half when Trossard saw red.However, they went on to concede an equaliser deep into second half injury time as the match ended 2-2.Trossard is understood to have later told his team-mates in the dressing room that he had not heard the referee’s whistle.READ MORE ON ARSENALMeanwhile, fans have speculated on social media that Arteta has handed out a unique sanction to the Belgian for his dismissal.The 29-year-old was spotted arriving for training at the club’s London Colney base this week.Unlike his team-mates, though, Trossard could be seen carrying a pair of drink coolers as he walked into the building.Although unclear if it was his own choice, fans were quick to joke he has been made waterboy as a punishment.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAfter seeing footage of Trossard’s arrival, one supporter wrote: “Is he on ice cooler duty cause of his red card?”Another added: “Can’t believe the punishment is so hilarious.”Arsenal vs Manchester City: Player Ratings BreakdownHowever, despite fans joking about Trossard’s coolers, it is thought he simply carried them into the training ground of his own accord.The former Brighton man will be available for selection again this weekend after serving his one-match suspension in midweek.Having missed the Carabao Cup win over Bolton, he could return against Leicester on Saturday.The Gunners are looking to continue their unbeaten start to the season, which has them fourth in the table and two points behind leaders City.Trossard has appeared in each of their five league matches, starting the last three, and scored off the bench against Aston Villa in August.Trossard was sent off during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Manchester CityCredit: Getty More

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    Newcastle chief Darren Eales, 52, stepping down after being diagnosed with chronic form of blood cancer

    NEWCASTLE CEO Darren Eales is set to step down from his role after being diagnosed with cancer.Eales, 52, will continue to lead the club’s executive team until a successor is appointed.Newcastle CEO Darren Eales has been diagnosed with cancerCredit: GettyNewcastle shared the update on X and said their thoughts are with Eales after he was diagnosed with a chronic form of blood cancer.Eales also released a statement which reads: “Being CEO of Newcastle United is an extraordinary privilege and I am incredibly proud to be part of the club’s exciting journey.”However, it has become apparent to me that now is the right time to make this decision so that I can prioritise my health and my family.”In the short term, it will be business as usual in terms of running the club’s day-to-day operations, and I will give my full support to a transitionary period that will enable the board to carefully assess and appoint my successor.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”I want to extend my sincere thanks to the club’s supporters, ownership, players and staff. I’m proud of what we have collectively achieved and I’m excited to see what’s ahead for everyone as the club builds towards a future of sustained success.”Eales joined the Magpies in August 2022 – ten months after the Saudi owners took over.Newcastle qualified for the Champions League during his first year at the club and reached the Carabao Cup final, losing to Manchester United.He has been playing a huge role in plans for the stadium redevelopment as well as the on-field success under Eddie Howe.Most read in FootballNewcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan shared his sadness at the news and provided an update on when a new CEO could be appointed.He said: “All of us who are connected with Newcastle United are very saddened by this news. Our thoughts are with Darren and his family and we send him every good wish for a full recovery.Yasir Al-Rumayyan has sent his thought to his colleagueCredit: Getty”On a personal level, Darren has been a great partner to me and to our fans, players, ownership and staff.”On behalf of the club and its owners, I want to thank Darren for his service and dedication to Newcastle United. He has made a significant contribution to the club’s progress during his time as CEO, helping to build a strong foundation for Newcastle United’s success. We fully understand the difficult decision he has made.”We will work closely with Darren to hand over the CEO role at the appropriate moment following a carefully considered search process, and he will continue to have the full support of the board and the Newcastle United family now and in the future.”League Two side AFC Wimbledon, who received a £15,000 donation from Newcastle for their destroyed pitch, offered their well wishes.They wrote: “Everyone at the Club sends our best wishes to Darren and our friends at @NUFC 🖤🤍” More

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    Man Utd welcome new signing weeks into season after officially snapping up wonderkid Chido Obi Martin, 16, from Arsenal

    MANCHESTER UNITED have completed the signing of Chido Obi Martin.The 16-year-old has joined the Red Devils after leaving Premier League rivals Arsenal.Manchester United have completed the signing of Chido Obi MartinCredit: GettyAccording to Fabrizio Romano, United have now received approval from the league to complete the deal.It follows a five-step process with the Premier League before the transfer could be finalised.The report adds that the teenage forward has already completed his medical and is now set to sign his United contract.However, due to missing out on the club’s pre-season schedule, Obi Martin is set to be given time to reach full fitness and get used to his new surroundings.READ MORE ON MAN UTDUnited pursued the striker’s signature throughout the summer following his exit from Arsenal.Obi Martin had spent two years in the Gunners’ youth system after joining from Copenhagen in 2022.He starred for the North London side’s academy, catching the eye by scoring 10 goals in one match against Liverpool.Meanwhile, his 32 goals in 18 matches saw him scoop the under-18 Premier League golden boot last term.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThat tally included a seven-goal haul against Norwich, five goals against West Ham, four strikes in back-to-back games with Crystal Palace and Fulham as well as two more hat-tricks.The youngster also showed off his finishing ability on social media during the summer with footage from the training pitch.Man Utd player ratings: Joshua Zirkzee hooked again as Lisandro Martinez saves Erik ten Hag’s blushes (2)Obi Martin is eligible for Nigeria but has so far represented both England and Denmark at youth level.Already a Danish under-18 international, he also scored twice as he helped his country reach the semi-finals of the under-17 Euros in May.Obi Martin scored 10 goals in a single match against Liverpool for Arsenal’s academyCredit: GettyThe 16-year-old was the U18 Premier League top scorer last season with 32 goalsCredit: Getty More

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    Alejandro Garnacho’s brother gives clear reason to back Erik ten Hag and slams Man Utd flops

    ALEJANDRO GARNACHO’S brother has backed Erik ten Hag and pointed to the real reason behind Manchester United’s failures.The Red Devils have drawn their last two games, including being held at home in the Europa League to FC Twente.Alejandro Garnacho’s brother came out in defence of Ten HagCredit: GettyUnited have just two wins from five Premier League games and are 11th in the table, sparking criticism of Ten Hag.But Garnacho’s brother Roberto has launched a defence of the Dutchman, arguing the players should be able to beat a side like Twente regardless of the manager.He also highlighted poor finishing against Palace as the reason why United failed to win, and pointed to an individual mistake which led to Twente’s goal.Roberto wrote on X: “Btw you all blame Ten Hag, but 11 United players not being able to smash them at home, I don’t think that’s on Ten Hag mate.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”We literally dominated the whole game, we couldn’t score more than a goal, individual mistake makes them score, what’s he supposed to do?”They were not even getting into our box, if we are not able to score more than a goal against Twente, it is not on him (their goal was a mistake from one of our players too).”Same last game btw, dominated but couldn’t score a goal, somehow last week it was the wingers’ fault, this one Ten Hag’s.”If last game we would have gone 2-0 at half-time and won (attackers’ fault because they couldn’t score their chances) you all would say he is being perfect, same today.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSMan Utd player ratings vs FC TwenteMANCHESTER UNITED’S Europa League campaign got off to a less than ideal start with a miserable 1-1 draw against FC Twente at Old Trafford.That result dealt a big blow to their chances of finishing in the top eight and avoiding two extra fixtures.See how the players rated on an underwhelming night at Old Trafford.Andre Onana – 6Good save to push a free-kick from Sem Steijn to safety but might be disappointed to be beaten at the near post for Twente’s goal.Diogo Dalot – 6Early mistake near the corner flag could have been costly but he caused problems at the other end in build up to Christian Eriksen goal.Harry Maguire – 6Missed his tackle to put United on the back foot for the equaliser but almost won it late on with a header cleared off the line.Lisandro Martinez – 7Made several important clearances but one wild challenge on edge of his box could have proven costly.Noussair Mazraoui – 6New boy looks solid. Vital early tackle and another one later to stop Twente going in front.Christian Eriksen – 7Fourth successive start – and the veteran still looked sprightly. What a strike to give United the lead but then spoiled it with mistake for equaliser.Manuel Ugarte – 6A few good tackles from the new boy but might be disappointed not to clear his lines as Twente broke away for equaliser.Marcus Rashford – 8Much improved display in front of watching England interim boss Lee Carsley. Full of energy, a few tricks and a couple of dangerous crosses. More like his old self.Bruno Fernandes – 6Skipper had a hand in the opening goal and was so close to winning it with curler from the edge of the box.Amad Diallo – 6His pace was too much to handle for the visitors at times but not much of an end product this time and made way for Alejandro Garnacho midway through the second half.Joshua Zirkzee – 5A few good moments and forced a flying save from the visitors’ keeper after nice link up with Diogo Dalot – but then hooked for the fit-again Rasmus Hojlund.Find out how the Man Utd subs rated hereGarnacho was brought on as a substitute against Twente shortly before they scored, and pundit Ruud Gullit believes he did not want to listen to the final instructions Ten Hag dished out.Gullit said: “Ten Hag wanted to have a meeting with Garnacho, but he didn’t feel like it at all.Jill Scott ‘reveals’ Roy Keane’s phone pass code leaving Man Utd hardman looking embarrassed “Garnacho was preparing to come on and Ten Hag kept talking to him.“You can just see it when a player thinks: ‘Dude, leave me alone, man!’” More

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    Taylor Swift helps former Chelsea manager Graham Potter get over ruthless sacking as he drops major hint over next job

    GRAHAM POTTER has opened up on his Chelsea exit and admits Taylor Swift helped him get over the brutal sacking.The 49-year-old left Brighton for Stamford Bridge two years ago when Thomas Tuchel was axed by Todd Boehly just seven games into the season.Graham Potter has opened up on his brutal Chelsea sackingCredit: GettyThe gaffer admits Taylor Swift helped to ease the painCredit: The Mega AgencyChelsea forked out a world-record £21.5million to hire Potter and his backroom team.But the English tactician struggled to impress as Blues chiefs embarked on a fresh £300million transfer splurge in the January window.Potter ended up winning just 12 of his 31 games at the helm and was sacked in April 2023 with Chelsea in 11th place.He has since kept a low profile after being linked with several jobs including French side Nice and even Manchester United.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut Potter has now returned to the limelight by revealing how he coped with his Stamford Bridge exit.He admits watching pop sensation Swift was one way he eased the pain.While Potter also spent some time with England rugby boss Steve Borthwick.And the gaffer has even dropped a huge hint over his next job in football after taking up a new hobby.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSPotter told The Telegraph: “It’s a bit like a grieving process in a way, it gets better with time. You have to try not to beat yourself up, but you can’t just blame everything on somebody else. “I was sacked after seven months of a five-year contract after being taken from Brighton, so there’s all that on a human level you have to deal with.Chelsea player ratings from 5-0 win over BarrowPotter spent time with England rugby boss Steve BorthwickCredit: GettyHe also opened up on potentially replacing Lee Carsley as England bossCredit: Alamy“I don’t have any regrets over doing it, but, at the same time, when anybody loses their job, there’s an element of frustration, anger and maybe bitterness at some point.“The most important thing was to be with my family and friends, just connect with them. “I spent some time with Steve Borthwick at England rugby. I went to the US and saw some sports over there, some organisations. “I went to the Falklands and did a leadership talk, and, much to the horror of my 14-year-old boy, I went to see Taylor Swift in concert. He’s not as much of a fan as me.”Potter also hinted his next job could be in LaLiga after taking Spanish lessons.He added: “As the brain gets a bit older it’s not easy to do. I needed to create routines in my life and when I was off, part of it was the gym and part of it was Spanish lessons.“I had a tutor. I’ve had a bit of a break from that now, but I’m doing the apps and studying.“I’ll see how that goes over the next few weeks, months, see what happens work-wise. It’s more for the brain and to learn a language.”However, Potter doesn’t seem overly keen on taking the England job should interim Lee Carsley not get it permanently.He added: “I like the day-to-day and the building process of club management. READ MORE SUN STORIES“International management is a different rhythm and there are pluses for that. It’s more intense when it’s on, but you’ve got a bit more breathing space in between. “It’s nothing that I’ve ruled out, but at the same time I do like the day-to-day bit of working with the players and being in at the club and trying to build and make a difference.” More

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    England coach and Premier League title winner set to make drastic career change to become a DJ

    A PREMIER LEAGUE title winner is set to make a drastic career change away from football.The ex-defender retired in 2017 and has since worked as a coach within the England set-up.A former Premier League title winner is hoping to become a DJCredit: GettyHowever, he has now revealed he hopes to become a DJ after falling in love with the buzz it gives him.The former Three Lions star even admitted “it’s the closest thing I have to playing” as he opened up on his new passion.After a handful of gigs over the summer, he is still training on the decks in his hopes of launching the new career.The wannabe disc jockey is none other than former Manchester City man Joleon Lescott.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe was asked about pursuing a DJing career by Gary Lineker during an appearance on the Rest is Football podcast.Lescott explained: “Yeah, that is a thing, real ambition to do.”I had some gigs in the summer but when you get this call from a friend who says ‘do you want to be part of the England set-up?’ I kind of had to park it.”But, yeah, I still train. It’s the closest thing I have to playing, in terms of the feeling it gives me.”Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAs for the genre of music he plays, the 42-year-old added: “House now, like deep house and stuff.”So, you kind of have to recognise what most of the younger generation listen to.Exclusive: Lescott tips Guardiola to follow Klopp’s lead when he leaves Man City despite links with vacant England jobJoleon Lescott won two Premier League titles with Manchester CityCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdHe is now part of Lee Carsley’s England coaching teamCredit: Getty”I grew up on garage but there’s not many people listening to that now.”Lescott won two Premier League titles with City as well as an FA Cup and League Cup during five years at the Etihad Stadium.He also won 26 caps for the Three Lions, with his only international goal coming at Euro 2012.The centre-back retired aged 34 in 2017 following spells with West Brom, Aston Villa, AEK Athens and Sunderland.Lescott has since gone on to join former Everton team-mate Lee Carsley’s England coaching team as assistant manager.He first worked with his under-21 side, joining in 2022 and winning the Euros a year later.READ MORE SUN STORIESHowever, Lescott stepped up to the senior side with Carsley in August after he was named interim manager.The pair teamed up earlier this month for the Nations League wins over Ireland and Finland.Lescott won 26 caps for the Three Lions and scored at Euro 2012Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

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    Arsenal ‘want Florian Wirtz as they join transfer battle with Real Madrid and Man City for Leverkusen superstar’

    ARSENAL are interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz, according to reports.The midfielder has attracted plenty of suitors and he is on the radar of Real Madrid and Manchester City.Arsenal want to sign Florian WirtzCredit: GettyWirtz was a key part of Bayer Leverkusen’s success last season as they won the Bundesliga for the first time in the club’s history.Xabi Alonso’s side did not even lose a single game and almost went all the way in Europe too, reaching the Europa League final.Wirtz caught the eye with 18 goals and 20 assists in all competitions, and followed that up with two goals at the Euros, including an equaliser in Germany’s defeat to Spain.He has started this season on fire too with six goals in seven games, sparking interest from Arsenal.READ MORE ON ARSENALAccording transfer guru Christian Falk Arsenal want to sign Wirtz, who reportedly wants to leave Leverkusen next summer.However the Gunners may have to spend big to land the 21-year-old as he has a price tag of £125million.And with several big hitters interested he could cost even more, with City and Real Madrid not afraid to spend heavily to get the targets they want.Wirtz could also be enticed by another German side, Bayern Munich, who are also linked to the attacking midfielder.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSWirtz was a stand-out player in the Bundesliga last seasonLast season former Arsenal youngster Jermaine Pennant suggested Wirtz would be perfect for the Gunners, highlighting his football IQ.Pennant said: “I think Arsenal should have gone for Wirtz, his footballing IQ is off the charts.Mikel Arteta insists Ethan Nwaneri will get more chances for Arsenal this season “He’s not a speed merchant but he’s clever on the ball and he seems to always pick the right pass.“His assists are great, he has an eye for goal and I think he’d be a fantastic addition to Arsenal, he’d fit in perfectly there.” More

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    Referee ‘banned’ from officiating Liverpool games for an entire year to make return in Wolves clash on Saturday

    A REFEREE who was effectively banned from officiating Liverpool games for an entire year will return for their match at Wolves on Saturday.Arne Slot’s men have made a flying start to the season, winning four of their five matches and conceding just one goal.Liverpool will be reunited with a familiar face against Wolves on SaturdayCredit: AlamySpirits are high following Jurgen Klopp’s departure.And Anfield fans are quietly hopeful of putting in a strong title challenge should Liverpool’s form continue.The league’s second-place team visit basement boys Wolves this weekend.Gary O’Neil’s men are yet to win a game and have taken just one point while shipping 24 goals.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHowever, Liverpool are set for an awkward reunion with a referee who hasn’t laid eyes on them in 12 months.Darren England will take charge of Saturday’s clash at Molineux.And it will see him officiate a Liverpool match for the first time since last October’s infamous VAR error in the Reds’ 2-1 defeat to Tottenham.Referee’s body PGMOL admitted there had been a “significant” human error after Luis Diaz had a goal ruled out for offside when he was clearly onside.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSEngland was on VAR duty and had been tasked with drawing up the lines.But he accidentally gave a “check complete” to back up the original decision after forgetting what it was.Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Bold £84m Bid for NantesDarren England will be the fourth official after last season’s VAR blunderCredit: AlamyHe wrongly disallowed Luis Diaz’s goal in Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat at SpursCredit: GettyReplays showed Diaz was clearly onside after England drew up the VAR linesAnd by the time England realised his error, the game had already continued — meaning the match could not be brought back for Diaz’s goal to stand.It took seven months from that game before England was given another VAR role, despite him being back on referee duties just weeks after the incident.And he will now take part in a Liverpool match for the first time in a year after being named as the fourth official against Wolves.Anthony Taylor will be the referee for the game.While Michael Salisbury is in charge of VAR in a move which is sure to put Liverpool fans at ease.After England’s mistake last year, ref chiefs issued a grovelling apology to the Reds.A statement said: “PGMOL acknowledge a significant human error occurred during the first half of Tottenham Hotspur Liverpool.”The goal by Luis Diaz was disallowed for offside by the on-field team of match officials.”This was a clear and obvious factual error and should have resulted in the goal being awarded through VAR intervention, however, the VAR failed to intervene.READ MORE SUN STORIES”PGMOL will conduct a full review into the circumstances which led to the error.”PGMOL will immediately be contacting Liverpool at the conclusion of the fixture to acknowledge the error.” More