Alan Shearer tells Emery to forget Premier League title, reveals what should be his target

Newcastle United legend, Alan Shearer, has told Arsenal manager, Unai Emery, to focus on finishing among the top four in the Premier League this season.

He also said the Spaniard should try to win the domestic cup in his first season in charge.

Shearer, a Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer and regular pundit said the former PSG manager should quash any hope of winning the Premier League title this season.

Emery took over at the Emirates from Arsene Wenger, who left Arsenal after 22 years in charge.

Arsenal had stagnated under Wenger and finished last season in sixth place – their lowest finish since 1995.

Arsenal did reach the League Cup final but were beaten 3-0 at Wembley by Premier League champions, Manchester City.

“It’s been a difficult start to the season for Arsenal. I don’t see them being anywhere near contending for the league title, that is there for everyone to see,” Shearer told Coral.

“They have some decent players but it isn’t going to be enough to push the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool.

“Their aim has to be to try and break back into the top four and maybe challenge for one of the cup competitions.

“It is never easy when a new manager comes in to replace someone who has been there as long as Wenger was.

“It is going to take a long time for everyone at the club to adjust to a new way of doing things.

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Unai Emery provides update on Arsenal players ahead of Chelsea clash

Arsenal boss, Unai Emery has provided update on some of his players ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Chelsea on Saturday.

Emery’s side is facing a defensive crisis at left-back, with Sead Kolasinac and Ainsley Maitland-Niles on the sidelines due to injury, while Spain international, Nacho Monreal is still battling with fitness.

The Gunners head to the game at Stamford Bridge against the Blues after losing 2-0 to Manchester City last weekend in their EPL opener at Emirates Stadium.

Emery, however, disclosed that Monreal and Lichtsteiner are the two players in contention for the defensive role against Chelsea.

”The first injury with Kolasinac was important because I think he was playing well in pre-season. But we needed to play with another player like Ainsley [once Kolasinac was injured]. His performance can improve, he can get better in his career in the team,” Emery told Arsenal’s official website.

”Maybe not especially at left back, but he was playing well in the first 25 minutes on Sunday. After this injury, I tried with Lichtsteiner, who is a player with experience. He can play at left back but his position in the team is more at right back.

”This week Nacho Monreal is working every day, training every day with us. The two options we have now are Nacho Monreal and Lichtsteiner to continue in this position,” he said.

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Transfer: Arsenal goalkeeper arrives in Napoli for transfer deal

Arsenal goalkeeper, Daniel Ospina, has arrived in Naples to seal a loan move to Serie A side, Napoli.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the Colombia international is expected to undergo routine medicals on Thursday, before putting pen to paper.

Ospina had made only 11 appearances for the Emirates club in the last three seasons.

The shot-stopper was left out of Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.

Petr Cech started in goal, while summer arrival Bernd Leno was on the bench.

Goals from Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva, ensured that City defeated Unai Emery’s men at the Emirates Stadium.

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Popular American soul singer, Aretha Franklin has been reported dead.

The 76-year-old legendary singer was diagnosed with cancer in 2010 and announced last year she was retiring from music.

She was admitted into the hospital on Monday after being in a critical state after which she died on Thursday at her home in Detroit.CNN reports.

Franklin held the record for the most-charted female artist in Billboard history for nearly 40 years, with 73 titles in the Hot 100.

She also racked up 18 Grammy Awards over the course of her career, and in 1987, she was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

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Atletico knock out Real Madrid to claim 2018 UEFA Super Cup

Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, beat city rivals Real Madrid 4-2, to win the UEFA Super Cup at the A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, Estonia.

Diego Costa put Atletico ahead in the first minute of the game, lashing past Keylor Navas from a narrow angle.

Karim Benzema levelled before the break, heading in Gareth Bale’s cross.

Real took the lead for the first time in the game, after Sergio Ramos calmly slotted his penalty in the 63rd minute. But Costa struck again with 10 minutes left, to level the game.

In extra time, Saul Niguez and Koke scored for Diego Simeone’s men, to take it beyond the game out of Real’s hands.

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Ramos hits back at Klopp over comments on Mohamed Salah’s tackle

Madrid captain, Sergio Ramos has slammed Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp over comments made after the UEFA Champions League final in May this year.

Forward, Mohamed Salah was forced off with a shoulder injury following a challenge from Ramos, and the Los Blancos went on to win the Reds by a 3-1 score line in Kiev.

Klopp was unhappy with the tackle, claiming that Ramos had been ‘brutal and ruthless’.

Ramos, however, has taken his opportunity to respond to Klopp’s comment.

“It’s not the first final he’s lost, [maybe] he wants to use that as an excuse for losing,” Ramos was quoted by Sportmole saying at a pre-UEFA Super Cup press conference in Tallinn.

“Some of us have been operating at a very high level for many years, not sure Klopp can say the same.”

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Transfer: Barcelona director speaks on LaLiga club signing Pogba

Barcelona director, Ariedo Braida, has said the club is not likely to sign Paul Pogba from Manchester United, with Rafinha set to stay at the Camp Nou for now.

On Sunday, Barca president, Josep Maria Bartomeu left the door open to a move for Pogba, while vice president Jordi Mestre told ESPN FC that the club would be open to any “big opportunities” between now and the end of August.

“I don’t think we’re going to move for Pogba, but he’s a great player,” Braida told Radio Sportiva.

Rafinha’s future could be linked to whether or not Barca make any more summer signings.

“Rafinha, quite probably, will stay at Barcelona.

“He’s someone with a lot of quality, a player that can decide games with the way he handles the ball – he can go far.

“Last year, he came back from a bad injury, but when he recovered he did great things [on loan] at Inter. He’s a player who has impressive technical skills and he suits Barca very well,” Braida added.

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Saraki has disclosed why he met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Senate President, Bukola Saraki has disclosed why he met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo  behind closed doors.

Saraki, speaking to newsmen after the meeting on Monday evening, said he was with Obasanjo to make up for his absence during the formal inauguration of the Presidential library held last year.

He said: ”You know I missed the official opening of the library and that is why I have decided to come and see the place and honestly it is beautiful we are very proud of what he has done here”.

When newsmen further questioned him on the crisis in the National Assembly and when the lawmakers will reconvene, Saraki kept mum and hurriedly entered his vehicle.

The meeting between both leaders held at the former President’s pent house, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta

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Pogba will leave Manchester United this month – Allan Shearer

Newcastle United legend, Alan Shearer has admitted that Manchester United midfielder, Paul Pogba will leave the club this month.

Shearer said he will “not be surprised” if Pogba, who has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, left Old Trafford this summer.

While the English transfer window closed last Thursday, players from the Premier League can still be sold until the end of August.

The legendary Premier League striker told The Sun UK, “I’ve read this week about Pogba wanting to leave before the European transfer deadline at the end of the month and in truth that wouldn’t surprise me.

“We saw the best of Pogba in the World Cup. Didier Deschamps managed to get top performances out of him in the games he played in the summer and he played very, very well.

“He has to replicate that for United but it’s also Mourinho’s job to get the best out of him. ‘Pogba did his bit on Friday in the 2-1 opening win over Leicester.

“He played well, scored the penalty – showing real confidence – but now he has to do that every single week.”

Shortly after Manchester United’s victory over Leicester at Old Trafford, Pogba posted a cryptic message on Instagram. He said: “I’ll always give my best to the fans and my teammates no matter what’s going on.”

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Real Madrid announce squad against Atletico Madrid [Full list]

Real Madrid have announced their squad for Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup clash against Atletico Madrid.

A total of 29 players will travel for the game, which will be played at the A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, Estonia.

Luka Modric has been included, despite heavy links with Serie A side Inter Milan.

New signings Vinicius Junior, Thibaut Courtois and Alvaro Odriozola also make the cut in a strong squad to take on Diego Simeone’s men.

One player not travelling is 19-year-old Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard, who looks set to go on loan again.

REAL MADRID SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Navas, Casilla, Luca, Lunin and Courtois.

Defenders: Carvajal, Vallejo, Ramos, Varane, Nacho, Marcelo, Odriozola, Reguilón, Javi Sánchez and S. López.

Midfielders: Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, M. Llorente, Asensio, Isco, Ceballos and F. Valverde.

Forwards: Benzema, Bale, Lucas Vázquez, B. Mayoral, Raúl de Tomás and Vinicius.

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U-20 WWCup: Falconets Draw 1-1 With China, Qualified for Quarter-Finals

Nigeria’s Falconets have qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2018 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France reports Completesportsnigeria.com.

Paul Danjuma’s side played out a 1-1 draw with China in their final group game played at the Dinan-Lehon Sltadium.

It was the seventh time the Falconets have reached the quarter-finals of the tournament.

An individual effort from Zhang Linyan gave China the lead in the 41st minute after she skipped past two Falconets defenders before sending the goalkeeper,Chiamaka Nnadozie the wrong way.

Rasheedat Ajibade tapped in a cross in additional time to send the Falconets through to the final eight of the tournament.

Falconets’ Peace Efih was denied a goal from close range after her shot was saved by Xu Huan in the opening stages of the game.

China also had two good chances in the first half with Shen Mengyu denied by the crossbar with a shot and Wang Linlin headed wide a cross from Zhao Yujie.

In the second half, the Chinese team were more solid in defending denying the Nigerian side a chance at goal.

The Chinese team also came close to adding a second in the 85th minute when Yujie’s shot was parried.

Opeyemi Sunday also cleared out a goal bound header in additional time of the game.

In the other group game, Germany defeated Haiti 3-2 to seal top spot in group D

Germany won the group with nine points while Nigeria finished second with four points from three games and a superior goals difference over China who came third. Fourth placed Haiti recorded no points after three games.

The Falconets will face the winner in Group C, Spain on the 16th of August.

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THE SECRET PATH TO SUCCESSFUL LIFE

Everybody wants to succeed at everything, they want to be successful at their jobs, their business, their academics and so on. Nobody wants to fail, although some people being successful means being rich.
True success entails being successful in not only wealth but in health, relationship and spirituality. Success doesn’t come through cheating, wish and just dreaming. Here are the paths that lead to achieving success.


Work hard to achieve your dream
Some people have dreams but they leave at that. They do not work towards achieving that dream even when they do at the first sign of trouble they turn tail and run. Achieving your dreams may not be easy, it may not be a straight path. There might be detours along the way but they will still take you to where you want to be. But it needs determination, hard work and perseverance.

Find your strength
The reality is that your strength may not lie in what you dreamt or aspired to become. Some people have dreamed and then discovered they had a strength and even passion in something else entirely, they quickly got over their disappointment and forged a different path for themselves using their strong points.

Do not make excuses
Everybody has limitations. Nobody is perfect. But that does not mean accepting to try again when something fails. No matter the snag, determine to win, do not stop trying. “If it is important to you, you will find a way, if not, you will find an excuse”-Frank Bank.

Deal with fear
Fear is something that niggles at the bravest of minds, fear of failure. Giving fear free reign can give rise to anxiety and depression. Rather exchange that fear for courage and forge ahead.

Forgive
Forgiveness is not as easy as said. But in the path of success, people will wrong you and you will wrong people. Forgiveness polishes all the other great quality in you that will drive you to greatness.

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Senators Welcome Saraki At National Assembly After DSS Invasion

Wild jubilation erupted at the National Assembly after the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki entered the complex this afternoon after DSS invasion earlier in the day.

Saraki greeted the Senators and members of the House of Representatives of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP who have been laying siege at the entrance of the Senate and House of Representatives chambers.

The lawmakers while welcoming Saraki, also chanted songs of praises as show of solidarity.

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