Eduardo Fit For Portsmouth's Visit To Arsenal

The Croatian international is ready to face Pompey on Saturday.

Arsenal have this afternoon confirmed that Eduardo da Silva is fit to lead the line for the Gunners when they welcome Portsmouth to The Emirates this Saturday in the Premier League.

The official Arsenal news service also confirms that Tomas Rosicky will not be making his long-awaited comeback against Pompey, and Theo Walcott's back problem continues to keep him on the sidelines, though the young Englishman might well return in time to face Manchester United. Samir Nasri, Johan Djourou and Lukasz Fabianski are also still out.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger also confirmed today that the north Londoners have ended their interest in signing Fulham's Norwegian centre-back Brede Hangeland, a player with whom Arsenal have been heavily linked over the summer.

“No, we are not on this [Hangeland] case," Wenger told reporters at his Friday press conference.

Xabi Alonso:I Will Always Be Grateful To Liverpool

27-year-old says he is happy with life at Madrid.

Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has told AS that he will always be grateful to Liverpool after learning a lot at the Merseyside club.

Alonso joined Liverpool from Real Sociedad in 2004 and won the Champions League in his first season, scoring Liverpool's equalizer in the memorable final against Milan in Istanbul. During his time at Anfield the Basque midfielder made 199 appearances including two Champions League finals.
"I will always be grateful to Liverpool, it is a very special club. I have learned a lot about the history and philosophy of the club," said Alonso.

"I have grown personally and professionally. The experience helped me to grow on the field, and I learned from the experience of playing in Europe and fighting for titles."

Alonso now looks to the future with Madrid, after making a €34 million switch earlier this month and says he is keen to play and let his ability on the field show his value to his new employers.
He also spoke of hs admiration for similar midfielders like former blanco Fernando Redondo and Pep Guardiola, now manager of rivals Barcelona. Alonso says he learned a lot watching these players.
"Both players made their mark with Madrid and Barcelona. They played in the same position as me and i noted a lot of things they did," he added.

DOES PELE SOUTH AFRICA PREDICATION SPELL DOOM FOR SUPER EAGLES

The king of football has tipped Nigeria to surpass Africa’ s Best records and reach at least the last four at next year’s World Cup in South Africa, but is predictions are also known to go horribly wrong.

Cameroon and Senegal are the only African countries ever to reach the quarter-finals of the world Cup, but Pele has said the Super Eagles could go past this stage at next year’s tournament to be played on African soil.

Nigeria’s best performance at the world cup has been a second round finish, both in 1994 and 1998.
“With adequate preparation, it will not be surprise to see and African team surpass even the quarter-final and get to the final of the World Cup next year in South Africa, and Nigeria can do it” Pele disclosed on a recent visit to Nigeria.

“Ten years ago I started mentioning about how football in Africa will grow and get better and better”.
“I was here some time ago and I was a good team. I hope with Nigeria’s Excellent players in Europe, that is still the case.”
However, Pele has often been off the mark as regards his predictions.
For example, the widely acclaimed King of football crowned Spain as one of the favourites to win the 1988 World Cup in France only for them to fail to go past the first round.

For 2002 World Cup, Pele predicted the Argentina and France will play the final. Both teams were dumped in the first round.
And only recently, he predicted that Italy will beat Brazil at the FIFA Confederations Cup. Brazil Spanked the Italians 3-0

EAGLES STARS HELP OUT

Super Eagles strikers John Utaka and Ikechukwu Uche took some time off during their summer holidays to visit there SOS villages in Lagos and Aba, respectively.

Utaka, who visited three SOS villages in Lagos says his visit there is borne out of the desire to give to people who truly are in need.

Utaka presented food and cash donations to the village Director, Odesanya Matthew while promising to send the village Football Team a set of football kits and balls.

“This is just my introduction and I will continue to do this every time I come for holidays”Utaka Said.
“Now that I’ve got your contact, I will make sure I send you a complete football kit as well as balls for the team.
“I feel so honoured to be around these children and I promise to come visiting again sooner that you think.

“it made me feel sad that these children have lost their parents but they seem really happy in the village and they all have big ambitions for when they grow up.

On the other end, in Aba, the birthplace of Spain-based striker Ikechukwu Uche, continued a five year trend by visiting the Ngwa Road Motherless Babies Home, in Aba.

The soft-spoken Uche presented food and cash donations there as the appreciative children swarmed around him. This motherless home is one of all ‘Nine Homes’ the Super Eagles regularly donates to in his home town state of Aba, donations he often made in and anonymous position.
“I consider my self to be very lucky in life and where else to spend my holiday than with people who are not as fortunate as myself,” Say Uche.
“ The truth is these kids don’t have parents, so who cares? I guess we need to put ourselves in their shoe for a day.

NIGERIA PLAYERS ARE MOVING ON NEWSPAPER PAGES

Gone are those good, old days when Nigeria players were hot cakes on the European transfer market.
In those days, Austin ‘jay Jay’ Okocha switched from Turkey to PSG for a record fee of $17 million, Sunday Oliseh turned up at Juventus, Finidi George Delivered a fortune to Ajax when he transferred to Real Betis in Spain and Victor Ikpeba pitched tent with Borussa Dortmund after an eventful time at Monaco.

You really have to go back a few years to recall major transfers in Europe concerning Nigerian players.
Why are Nigerian players no longer much sought after in Europe?
It must be admitted that the market is a lot more competitive these days with a lot more options from lesser European countries and Brazil. It is therefore a titanic battle for Nigerian players to carrying European Union Passport to find their way at a time attempts are being made to restrict the influx of foreign player to these leagues.

Lack of success at full international level has equally dealt a serious blow on the ambitions of Nigeria players in Europe. Against most expectations, the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

And so while so of the Eagle stars were probably on some exotic Caribbean island beaches on holidays, some were watching the World Cup on television back home, leaving the Ivorian and Ghanaian counterparts to strut their stuff on the biggest shop window in world football.

This therefore clearly underscore the importance of Nigeria qualifying for next year’s wWorld Cup in South Africa.

Some respite came the way of the Nigeria player in 2007 when the country’s Under 17 team won the FIFA World Cup for the third time. That afforded some of the country’s youngsters like Macauley Chrisantus, Rabiu Ibrahim and lukman Haruna to also move to Europe.

Chrisantus has now had to go down t tier lower in Germany so as to enjoy first team football, which he did not get at Hamburg. Haruna had made the most progress after he played a handful of games for Monaco last season, Rabiu Ibrahim is knocking on the door of the main team at Sporting Lisbon.

These youngsters could well figure in major moves across Europe in some time to come. This would probably have been as early as this year had the FIFA World Youth Champion in Egypt been played during the transfer market window period and not in September, when the transfer window has long been shut.

The National team Coach, Shuabu Amodu, took a lot of stick when he described his team as a bunch of average players . But, if the truth be told, that is what most of these players really are. Take away the hype associated with sport these days and what you are left with are just some useful players, who earn far more than their better gifted predecessors could only dream of.

The domestic league ought to be a steady conveyor belt of young talent to the international market. But the standards are disgraceful even in Nigeria Premier League that more often than not, you come away from watching a league game wondering what has really become of the National Sport.
Football academies have mushroomed across the country, but the are yet to be regulated and so are often the contraption of some businessman whose only driving force is not to develop football at the grassroots, but to see how many raw youngsters he can ship out of the country for some quick hard currency.

Players from the Nigeria Premier league are very rough diamonds, so much so that they have to be taught basic tactics when they some how find their way into any of the national teams.

A coach with one of the national teams complained to me recently:”I wonder what most of these players are taught at their clubs. When we get them, they are very raw, they don’t know what to do when they are not with the ball, which is most of the game. We are force to teach them from the scratch”.

It is therefore not far fetched why some of these players do not get contracts when the move out of trials abroad.
That may well explain why the Norwegian league has in the last few years proved to be very successful “football finishing and re-education school” for some of Nigeria’s finest young stars –Mikel, Ogbuke-Obasi and, only recently, Odion Ighalo.

Ighalo spent less than 10 months at Lyn Oslo before he was snapped up by Udinese for more than 10 times what it cost the Norwegians to get him from Nigeria.

It is therefore imperative that we have to address head-long the problems at home, from the poor standards of the Local League to a proper monitoring of the rash of so-called football academies springing up almost everyday.

Before then, the newspaper men armed with their fertile imagination and good sense of humour, will continue to amuse us with some will speculations about Obafemi Martins moving to Arsenal or Seyi Olofinjana swapping Stoke City for Monaco.

Now the joke is on us all of us.

WENGER: WIN DESERVED DESPITE LUCK

Arsene Wenger admits it took two lucky goals to beat Celtic in the first leg of their Champions League play-off at Parkhead - but the Arsenal boss insists they deserved their good fortune.

Two minutes from the end of an enthralling first half, Cesc Fabregas' drive from 30 yards took a wicked deflection off William Gallas' back to send the ball spinning past helpless Celtic keeper Artur Boruc.

The Gunners put one foot in the group stages in the 71st minute when Celtic skipper Gary Caldwell put the ball past Boruc in his attempt to cut out a Gael Clichy cross.

Wenger, however, insists his side deserved their win on the night regardless of how it came about.

He said: "It was a fierce battle.

"We dominated the game but Celtic were always fighting and counter-attacking and in the end, despite being in control, we scored two lucky goals.

"But yes, of course, we merited the good fortune.

"I concede that we were lucky with the goals but we had plenty of opportunity in the first 15 minutes of the second half.

"We needed a very strong Arsenal side to win the game.

"The crowd was up for it and the team was up for it and if it had been an average performance from Arsenal we would not have won the game.

"The atmosphere was better than the Premier League and people were fair.

"Celtic were organised and even at 2-0 they never gave up."

Wenger was at pains to stress that his side will not take the second leg for granted.

He said: "We have a good advantage, but it is 180 minutes and we are in front after 90 minutes.

"You want to play well for 180 and that is our purpose.

"We have to make sure we win the game at home, we have to take it serious and it is a massive game."

Wenger claimed his side did well to survive some robust play from the home side who had Danny Fox, Glenn Loovens and Landry N'Guemo booked.

"There were some bad fouls," Wenger said.

"The referee took some time to intervene and we had some harsh treatment. But I am very happy with the commitment of my team despite the physical approach of some Celtic players.

"I could understand that from Celtic's point of view but what made it more interesting is how we respond to that and I believe we did that well."


Wenger's opposite number Tony Mowbray bemoaned the nature of Arsenal's goals but insisted his side can still reach the group stages.

"The nature of the goals was very disappointing, it sort of knocks the stuffing out of what you're trying to do," Mowbray told Sky Sports.

"But Arsenal were very good on the night; exceptional with the ball but brilliant without the ball. It was a frustrating night.

"We've got to go there next week and score the first goal and if we do that it might make it interesting."

Caldwell believes Arsenal's performance provided a guide for where Celtic need to be if they are to really challenge in Europe.

"They were better than us, they passed the ball better," Caldwell said.

"We've seen how far we have to go to get to that level. They're one of the best teams in the Champions League."

WENGER: WIN DESERVED DESPITE LUCK

Arsene Wenger admits it took two lucky goals to beat Celtic in the first leg of their Champions League play-off at Parkhead - but the Arsenal boss insists they deserved their good fortune.

Two minutes from the end of an enthralling first half, Cesc Fabregas' drive from 30 yards took a wicked deflection off William Gallas' back to send the ball spinning past helpless Celtic keeper Artur Boruc.

The Gunners put one foot in the group stages in the 71st minute when Celtic skipper Gary Caldwell put the ball past Boruc in his attempt to cut out a Gael Clichy cross.

Wenger, however, insists his side deserved their win on the night regardless of how it came about.

He said: "It was a fierce battle.

"We dominated the game but Celtic were always fighting and counter-attacking and in the end, despite being in control, we scored two lucky goals.

"But yes, of course, we merited the good fortune.

"I concede that we were lucky with the goals but we had plenty of opportunity in the first 15 minutes of the second half.

"We needed a very strong Arsenal side to win the game.

"The crowd was up for it and the team was up for it and if it had been an average performance from Arsenal we would not have won the game.

"The atmosphere was better than the Premier League and people were fair.

"Celtic were organised and even at 2-0 they never gave up."

Wenger was at pains to stress that his side will not take the second leg for granted.

He said: "We have a good advantage, but it is 180 minutes and we are in front after 90 minutes.

"You want to play well for 180 and that is our purpose.

"We have to make sure we win the game at home, we have to take it serious and it is a massive game."

Wenger claimed his side did well to survive some robust play from the home side who had Danny Fox, Glenn Loovens and Landry N'Guemo booked.

"There were some bad fouls," Wenger said.

"The referee took some time to intervene and we had some harsh treatment. But I am very happy with the commitment of my team despite the physical approach of some Celtic players.

"I could understand that from Celtic's point of view but what made it more interesting is how we respond to that and I believe we did that well."


Wenger's opposite number Tony Mowbray bemoaned the nature of Arsenal's goals but insisted his side can still reach the group stages.

"The nature of the goals was very disappointing, it sort of knocks the stuffing out of what you're trying to do," Mowbray told Sky Sports.

"But Arsenal were very good on the night; exceptional with the ball but brilliant without the ball. It was a frustrating night.

"We've got to go there next week and score the first goal and if we do that it might make it interesting."

Caldwell believes Arsenal's performance provided a guide for where Celtic need to be if they are to really challenge in Europe.

"They were better than us, they passed the ball better," Caldwell said.

"We've seen how far we have to go to get to that level. They're one of the best teams in the Champions League."

WENGER: WIN DESERVED DESPITE LUCK

Arsene Wenger admits he is surprised at how quickly Thomas Vermaelen has settled in to his Arsenal defence.

The Belgian international, who reportedly cost the Gunners £10million when he was signed from Ajax in the summer, made a scoring debut last Saturday in the 6-1 win over Everton at Goodison Park.

Vermaelen, 23, was again impressive in Tuesday night's 2-0 Champions League play-off win over Celtic at Parkhead which puts the Gunners well on the way to the group stages ahead of the second leg at the Emirates.

The Arsenal boss said: "Yes, I am surprised but we saw that he had the physical strength and mentality to cope and when he was needed he came in.

"I believe he has a good mix of the physical and technical for a centre-back and it is interesting to have a left-footed player because he gives you angles for the pass which are very important for the midfielder."

Wenger also described defender William Gallas as "in the best form of his last two years," and praised midfielder Alexandre Song.

"In the last two games Song has played extremely well," said Wenger.

"He can win the fight, not only with the physical strength but he has that sense, he can nick the ball from the opponent without fouling and that is an interesting quality."

Indeed, Wenger was generally pleased with all his players in the victory at Parkhead even though admitted that the two goals which should take the Gunners in to the lucrative group stages were lucky.

The visitors took the lead two minutes before the break when Gallas inadvertently diverted a Cesc Fabregas free-kick past Artur Boruc, and Celtic skipper Gary Caldwell put through his own net in the 71st minute.

Wenger, however, insists his side deserved their win on the night regardless of how it came about.

He said: "It was a fierce battle.

"We dominated the game but Celtic were always fighting and counter-attacking and in the end, despite being in control, we scored two lucky goals.

"But yes, of course, we merited the good fortune.

"I concede that we were lucky with the goals but we had plenty of opportunity in the first 15 minutes of the second half.

"We needed a very strong Arsenal side to win the game.

"The crowd was up for it and the team was up for it and if it had been an average performance from Arsenal we would not have won the game.

"The atmosphere was better than the Premier League and people were fair.

"Celtic were organised and even at 2-0 they never gave up."

WENGER: WIN DESERVED DESPITE LUCK

Arsene Wenger admits it took two lucky goals to beat Celtic in the first leg of their Champions League play-off at Parkhead - but the Arsenal boss insists they deserved their good fortune.

Two minutes from the end of an enthralling first half, Cesc Fabregas' drive from 30 yards took a wicked deflection off William Gallas' back to send the ball spinning past helpless Celtic keeper Artur Boruc.

The Gunners put one foot in the group stages in the 71st minute when Celtic skipper Gary Caldwell put the ball past Boruc in his attempt to cut out a Gael Clichy cross.

Wenger, however, insists his side deserved their win on the night regardless of how it came about.

He said: "It was a fierce battle.

"We dominated the game but Celtic were always fighting and counter-attacking and in the end, despite being in control, we scored two lucky goals.

"But yes, of course, we merited the good fortune.

"I concede that we were lucky with the goals but we had plenty of opportunity in the first 15 minutes of the second half.

"We needed a very strong Arsenal side to win the game.

"The crowd was up for it and the team was up for it and if it had been an average performance from Arsenal we would not have won the game.

"The atmosphere was better than the Premier League and people were fair.

"Celtic were organised and even at 2-0 they never gave up."

Wenger was at pains to stress that his side will not take the second leg for granted.

He said: "We have a good advantage, but it is 180 minutes and we are in front after 90 minutes.

"You want to play well for 180 and that is our purpose.

"We have to make sure we win the game at home, we have to take it serious and it is a massive game."

Wenger claimed his side did well to survive some robust play from the home side who had Danny Fox, Glenn Loovens and Landry N'Guemo booked.

"There were some bad fouls," Wenger said.

"The referee took some time to intervene and we had some harsh treatment. But I am very happy with the commitment of my team despite the physical approach of some Celtic players.

"I could understand that from Celtic's point of view but what made it more interesting is how we respond to that and I believe we did that well."


Wenger's opposite number Tony Mowbray bemoaned the nature of Arsenal's goals but insisted his side can still reach the group stages.

"The nature of the goals was very disappointing, it sort of knocks the stuffing out of what you're trying to do," Mowbray told Sky Sports.

"But Arsenal were very good on the night; exceptional with the ball but brilliant without the ball. It was a frustrating night.

"We've got to go there next week and score the first goal and if we do that it might make it interesting."

Caldwell believes Arsenal's performance provided a guide for where Celtic need to be if they are to really challenge in Europe.

"They were better than us, they passed the ball better," Caldwell said.

"We've seen how far we have to go to get to that level. They're one of the best teams in the Champions League".

REDS REJECT BENITEZ SPECULATION

Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow has rubbished reports that boss Rafael Benitez is on the brink of quitting Anfield.

Bookmakers suspended markets on the Spaniard's future prior to Wednesday night's 4-0 home victory over Stoke as speculation suggested he was set to leave.

Liverpool's title credentials were called into question following a 2-1 defeat at Tottenham in their first game of the season, sparking fresh rumours Benitez was to resign.

But Purslow, who has joined the Reds to take over many of the duties of outgoing chief executive Rick Parry while a full-time replacement is found, has dismissed the conjecture.

"It's 1000 per cent rubbish. I had dinner with Rafa and the fact I had not heard the rumours should tell you everything about how true they are," he said in The Sun.

Benitez also insists he remains fully focused on helping Liverpool end a 20-year wait for a league title.

Benitez said: "I remain 100 per cent committed to the club, the fans and players."

REDS REJECT BENITEZ SPECULATION

Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow has rubbished reports that boss Rafael Benitez is on the brink of quitting Anfield.

Bookmakers suspended markets on the Spaniard's future prior to Wednesday night's 4-0 home victory over Stoke as speculation suggested he was set to leave.

Liverpool's title credentials were called into question following a 2-1 defeat at Tottenham in their first game of the season, sparking fresh rumours Benitez was to resign.

But Purslow, who has joined the Reds to take over many of the duties of outgoing chief executive Rick Parry while a full-time replacement is found, has dismissed the conjecture.

"It's 1000 per cent rubbish. I had dinner with Rafa and the fact I had not heard the rumours should tell you everything about how true they are," he said in The Sun.

Benitez also insists he remains fully focused on helping Liverpool end a 20-year wait for a league title.

Benitez said: "I remain 100 per cent committed to the club, the fans and players."

Benitez hails young Reds

Rafa Benitez has lavished praise on his young defenders for their attacking display after Liverpool's 4-0 defeat of Stoke at Anfield.

The Reds got their season back on track with the win which included youngsters Emiliano Insua, Daniel Ayala and new signing Glen Johnson across their back line.

With Jamie Carragher schooling the players throughout, Johnson and Insua got forward in abundance on both flanks as Liverpool thumped the Potters with two goals in either half.

However, despite the goal feast, Benitez was keen to point out the importance of the clean sheet after conceding two at the weekend.

"I feel really pleased because we have a clean sheet," Benitez told Sky Sports.

"We knew it was important to score the early goal and then change the game so we continue with the same game plan and the second goal was really important because they needed to go forward."

Johnson
Benitez was delighted with the attacking display, particularly from Johnson who scored one and set up another on a fine home debut for the £17million signing.

Johnson netted the second goal of the evening when he acrobatically finished the rebound from a Dirk Kuyt header following Steven Gerrard's corner.

"We wanted a player with quality who could score and create goals.

"He attacks very well and had a fine game. Against teams who defend deep

against us, he can change games.

"I was also pleased with Lucas Leiva, he has taken a lot of unfair criticism

from the pundits which is not fair. He is a fine professional and a very good

player, our best in pre-season."

18-year-old Ayala was also making his home debut after coming on in the defeat to Tottenham at the weekend and although he looked nervous at times, Benitez is happy with his showing.

"I think he (Ayala) was quite good in the air sometimes, winning really well," Benitez added.

"Sometimes he looked a little nervous but the first time in the Premier League in Anfield for a very young player it is not easy. He has a little bit more experience now."