London, June 5, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Arsenal have signed Swiss defender Stephan Lichtsteiner from Italian champions Juventus on a free transfer, the Premier League club said on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old made more than 250 appearances for Juve, winning the Serie A title in each of his seven seasons at the club.
He was named captain of Switzerland in 2016 and has earned 99 caps for his country.
He is new Arsenal head coach Unai Emery’s first signing since taking over from Arsene Wenger last month.
“Stephan brings huge experience and leadership to our squad. He’s a player with great quality with a very positive and determined attitude.
“Stephan will improve us on and off the pitch,” Emery said in a statement here
Lichtsteiner began his senior career at Swiss club Grasshoppers Zurich in 2001 and played for Lille in France, as well as Lazio in Italy before joining Juventus in 2011. (Reuters/NAN)
London, May 23, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Unai Emery paid a glowing tribute to the legacy of former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger as he held his first news conference hours after being named as the Frenchman’s successor on Wednesday.
Speaking in stilted English after being introduced to the media by club CEO Ivan Gazidis at the Emirates Stadium, the Spaniard also said he was proud to follow in Wenger’s footsteps.
“It’s a big challenge but I’ve worked also with other big projects and for me I am proud to be here and to work after Arsene Wenger,” he told reporters.
“In my career every year I grow up with new challenges and for me the challenge is a dream come true.”
Arsenal’s first new manager since Wenger, who was also 46 at the time, was introduced to a quizzical media in 1996, Emery spoke highly of the man he has replaced.
“Thanks Arsene Wenger for your legacy, for all the coaches in all the world he is revered and I learn with him all the things in football,” he said.
Emery was one of eight candidates who went through an extensive interview process, Gazidis said.
The Spaniard won three consecutive Europa Leagues with Sevilla before spending two years at Paris St Germain, winning a domestic treble this past season.
“He is a very good fit,” said Gazidis. “In the personal meetings Unai was incredibly impressive, he had a detailed knowledge of the club and was very well prepared.”
Emery, who has won eight trophies since 2013-14, opted against discussing individual players such as Jack Wilshere who is out of contract.
However, he did offer some clue as to what kind of football Arsenal fans can expect.
The club, under Emery, would try to regain its place in England’s elite after missing out on the top four for the second successive season.
“In my career I am very demanding of myself as well as the people at the club and the players,” he said.
“The history here is one thing, they love to play with possession of the ball. I like this personality and when we don’t have the ball I want a squad to play with intensive pressure.
“Two important things are possession of the ball and pressing when you haven’t got it.”
Emery faces an important close season of squad tweaking but without the huge sums of money available at PSG.
He was not afraid to set lofty targets, though.
“I believe we can grow with the players we have. The objective is to work hard together and with these talented players to work,” he said.
“It’s very important for the club, after two years outside the Champions League, to work to be the best team in the Premier League and also in the world.” (Reuters/NAN)
Deal
Kigali, May 23, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Rwanda has signed a sponsorship and tourism promotion deal with English football clubside Arsenal, the country’s government said on Wednesday.
With the deal, the East African country has established a commercial bond with President Paul Kagame’s favourite football club.
Tourism is the biggest foreign exchange earner in Rwanda, which is trying to lay to rest memories of a genocide in which some 800,000 ethnic Rwandans were slaughtered by Hutu extremists.
From August, the “Visit Rwanda’’ tourist board logo will be emblazoned on the left sleeve of all players in Arsenal’s first, under-23 and women’s teams, the government said in a statement.
Rwanda said the three-year deal would highlight its “growing numbers of wildlife, including black rhino, lions, zebra, chimpanzees and the famous mountain gorillas’’.
However, the country did not disclose how much it would pay.
The tourism deal is not the only link between Rwanda and the north London side.
Many of Kagame’s critics compare his prolonged stay in power to that of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who retired this year after 22 years in charge.
Kagame came to power after the 1994 genocide and has recently changed the constitution to allow him to stay until 2034.
He posted a plaintive message this month about Wenger’s departure from “my beloved club Arsenal’’.
Arsenal chief commercial officer Vinai Venkatesham described the deal as an exciting partnership which would allow Rwanda to fulfil the ambitions of its tourist industry.
The country hopes to bring in $440 million (330.3 million pounds) this year from foreign visitors.
Many of the tourists will be coming to visit its population of endangered gorillas in forests along the border with Democratic Republic of Congo.(Reuters/NAN)
KIA/ERO/OLAL
=============
Arsenal appoint Emery as new manager to succeed Wenger
Appointment
By Kayoed Adebiyi
London, May 23, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Arsenal have appointed former Paris St Germain coach Unai Emery as the new manager of the club, with the Spaniard succeeding the long-serving Arsene Wenger, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.
Emery, who joined PSG in June 2016, left the French club at the end of this season, having led them to a domestic treble.
The 46-year-old had previously guided Spanish side Sevilla to three Europa League titles.
“Unai has an outstanding track record of success throughout his career.
“He has also developed some of the best young talents in Europe and plays an exciting, progressive style of football that fits Arsenal perfectly,” Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis said in a statement.
“His hard work and passionate approach and his sense of value on and off the pitch make him the ideal person to take us forward,” Gazidis said.
Wenger departed the North London club at the end of last season after nearly 22 years at the helm, helping the team capture three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups. (Reuters/NAN)
KIA/SA
Edited by Salif Atojoko
=================
Values
London, May 10, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Arsene Wenger used his farewell news conference as Arsenal manager on Thursday to urge his successor to “respect the values of the club”.
The Frenchman departs after a final game at Huddersfield Town on Sunday and was in reflective mood as he contemplated his 22 years in charge.
Speculation is intensifying over who his successor will be with British media reporting that Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri and former Arsenal captains Mikel Arteta and Patrick Vieira among leading contenders.
Asked for his advice to the new man, Wenger said: “Respect the values of the club. I would like him to bring his own ideas.
“It’s a chance for the players to see something different. But, on the other hand, I will say respect what has been built here.”
In spite of his many achievements, Wenger will depart on a low with Arsenal losing a seventh consecutive away game on Wednesday, 3-1 at Leicester City
It was their worst run in more than half-a-century.
On Sunday, Arsenal are looking to end their embarrassing record of being the only side in the top four tiers of English football not to pick up an away point this year.
Wenger, however, still believes the club is in good shape for his successor.
“The players’ attitude was great last night,” said Wenger. “They were fantastic. There is a special bond in this team.
“There is something waiting to come out that is special. Hopefully that will come out next season.”
Wenger said he is unsure about his immediate plans, but has been linked with a position as general manager at Paris St Germain (PSG).
“When you stay for such a long period, you question if it is time to go now or not,” he said.
“We live in a society where people want big change always, you know. I don’t know what I will do. Maybe go to Russia.
“I have some work to do in France (next week) on Monday, Tuesday. On Thursday, I will come back and clear my office. After that, I don’t know.”
Wenger also used the occasion to look back, saying that while he considered his 2004 ‘Invincibles’ team the best of his reign, he was at his most productive between 2006-2015.
The ‘Invincibles’ went through the 2004-2005 season unbeaten. (Reuters/NAN)
KIA/OLAL
=========
(Edited by Olawale Alabi)
London, May 6, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Arsenal thrashed Burnley 5-0 at the Emirates on Sunday to pay their manager Arsene Wenger the kind of tribute he would have wanted in his final home game after 22 years in charge.
Arsenal put their midweek exit from the Europa League – and any hope of Champions League football next season – behind them with a pair of goals from Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Sead Kolasinac, Alexandre Lacazette and Alex Iwobi also found the net in what turned out to be a rare rout from the London club.
Wenger was given a guard of honour from both teams and the match officials before kickoff, and received roars of support throughout the match from the home fans.
Arsenal backroom staff and most of the fans donned their complementary red or white “Merci Arsene” T-shirts.
Burnley, who narrowly avoided relegation last season but are now preparing themselves for their first season of European football since 1967, had been hoping to pull level on points with Arsenal.
Instead the result means the Gunners will finish the season in sixth place, with Burnley one place behind them in seventh.
Wenger, with his own giant image paraded on a floating flag behind him, spoke quietly with genuine emotion, ending with the message: “I will miss you.”
With giant letters spelling out the day’s main message “Merci Arsene” behind him, he waved one final goodbye as he disappeared down the tunnel. (Reuters/NAN)
London, April 26, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) A late equaliser from French striker Antoine Griezmann gave 10-man Atletico Madrid a precious away-goal advantage over Arsenal in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final at the Emirates.
A night which looked like Arsenal’s ended with a 1-1 draw on Thursday.
Arsenal were given a huge boost after 10 minutes when Atletico defender Sime Vrsaljko was sent off for stamping on Alexandre Lacazette’s foot.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone was also sent to the stands for his furious reaction to the decision.
Arsenal missed a number of clear chances before Lacazette broke the deadlock in the 61st minute, heading Jack Wilshere’s cross down into the corner to put the home side in front.
Atletico seized back the initiative in the 82nd minute, however, when Griezmann sped past Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny.
The Frenchman collected his rebounded shot off keeper David Ospina and calmly lifted the ball into the roof of the net.
The teams head back to Madrid for the second leg next week when Atletico, second in Spain’s La Liga, should have talismanic striker Diego Costa back in their line-up. (Reuters/NAN)
Wenger
London, April 22, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Arsenal scored three goals in the final eight minutes as manager Arsene Wenger marked his penultimate home English Premier League match in charge.
Wenger’s side ended the day with a crushing 4-1 win over West Ham United in a London derby at the Emirates on Saturday.
Defender Nacho Monreal put Arsenal ahead six minutes into the second half when he fired low past Joe Hart at a corner kick to bring the match to life after a dull first half.
Marko Arnautovic equalised 13 minutes later when substitute midfielder Manuel Lanzini fed him on the left and the striker shot past the diving David Ospina into the bottom far corner.
Aaron Ramsey put Arsenal ahead again in the 82nd minute.
This was when a mistake in the Hammers defence allowed his effort from the left edge of the box to sail into the far side of Hart’s net.
Minutes later, Alexandre Lacazette added the third and fourth goals.
Hart had previously kept West Ham in the match with diving saves from Xhaka and Danny Wellbeck, but Arsenal climbed within six points of fifth-placed Chelsea on 57.
West Ham, on the other hand, remain in relegation trouble six points above the drop zone on 35. (Reuters/NAN)
KIA/OLAL
=========
London, April 20, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger is to leave at the end of the season after a reign of almost 22 years that made him the most successful boss in Arsenal’s history.
“After careful consideration and following discussions with the club, I feel it is the right time for me to step down at the end of the season,” the Frenchman said in a statement issued by the Gunners on Friday.
Wenger, 68, has been with the North Londoners since October 1996 and is by far the longest-serving current manager in English soccer.
Arsenal are currently a distant sixth in the league but are in the semi-finals of the Europa League, which represents their only realistic route to the Champions League next season.
“I am grateful for having had the privilege to serve the club for so many memorable years.
“I managed the club with full commitment and integrity,” said Wenger, who urged the fans to stand behind the team to end the season on a high.
Arsenal’s majority owner Stan Kroenke said it was “one of the most difficult days we have ever had in all our years in sport.
“One of the main reasons we got involved with Arsenal was because of what Arsene has brought to the club on and off the pitch,” he said.
“His longevity and consistency over such a sustained period at the highest level of the game will never be matched.”
Wenger won three Premier League titles, including going unbeaten for an entire season, seven FA Cups and took Arsenal into the Champions League for 20 years in a row.
They won the league and FA cup double in 1998 and 2002.
The club said a successor would be appointed as soon as possible with German Thomas Tuchel, out of work since leaving Borussia Dortmund almost a year ago, installed as the early bookmakers’ favourite. (Reuters/NAN)
London, April 8, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Danny Welbeck’s second goal of the game gave Arsenal a 3-2 win on Sunday and cost Southampton a draw they would have deserved in their struggle against relegation from the Premier League.
Southampton’s defeat kept them in the bottom three, three points behind Crystal Palace but with a game in hand.
Shane Long gave them the lead after 17 minutes, nipping in ahead of defender Shkodran Mustafi.
Arsenal equalised 11 minutes later through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, playing a one-two with Danny Welbeck.
Welbeck then cut inside onto Alex Iwobi’s pass to give Arsene Wenger’s side a barely-deserved halftime lead.
Substitute Charlie Austin equalised barely a minute after coming on, but with nine minutes left, Welbec headed in Alex Iwobi’s cross.
In a wild last few minutes Mohamed Elneny and Southampton’s Jack Stephens were sent off in separate incidents. (Reuters/NAN)
