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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has refused to rule his side out of this season’s Premier League title race despite dropping more points.Wenger’s side now trail league leaders Manchester United by six points and dropped to third after they threw away a 3-1 lead at Tottenham on Wednesday in an exciting 3-3 draw.

A win could have cut the margin to four points, but with Arsenal still to play the leaders, who also play Chelsea, Wenger remains hopeful.

“It is completely open,” Wenger said.

“This team has a remarkable attitude, even if at the moment we are not rewarded with the number of points.”

“We are remarkably consistent. We are on a 16-match unbeaten league run but we have had too many draws.”

“It is open. Chelsea are back in the race and they play Man United and Spurs. It is down to us to keep our faith and keep battling. We will not always draw when we score three goals.”

Wenger bemoaned the fact his side had to play Liverpool on Sunday and then back it up with another hugely important match just four days later.

“It is a massive disadvantage to play two games of such stature in a matter of days,” he said.

“The Liverpool game had a bearing. Physically we dropped in the second half, which explained why they equalised and why there was room to score goal numbers four and five.”

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp sang the praises of his side after their fight-back allowed them to claim a point, but concedes Manchester City are now the favourites to finish fourth in this season’s Premier League, which would give them a spot in Champions League qualifying next season.

“I’m so pleased with the character we showed, there is a spirit in this football club now that we never give in,” Redknapp said.

“We have come back from losing positions so many times and you need players with real character to do that.”

“They (Manchester City) were favourites at the start of the year, because of the squad and because we finished above them last year and they went out and spent about 150 million pounds to try and get above us.”

“Obviously they are favourites, but I can’t ask any more than to have a team that plays like they did tonight.”

Juventus midfielder Alessandro Del Piero is eyeing further trophies after signing a one-year contract extension with the club on Thursday.The 36-year-old has been at the club since 1993, winning five Serie A titles to go with his Coppa Italia and UEFA Champions League crowns.

Del Piero, a 91-time Italy representative, is also a World Cup winner after the Azzurri claimed the 2006 title in Germany.

He said settling the deal with the club was an easy process, despite talks going on since last autumn.

“It wasn’t difficult to reach an agreement. There wasn’t that much to discuss. What needed to have been done was done,” Del Piero said.

“We chose today to do it and it is a nice day.”

Despite his glittering success at the club, Del Piero said he still had more to achieve with Juventus.
“This team and this club should always have the maximum ambition and it is right to always think about winning,” he said.

The veteran said it was a nice surprise to sign at the club’s new stadium with his previous contract due for expiry next month.

Even at 36 years of age, Del Piero said he shared a similar passion for the game as he did when he was first starting at Juventus.

“The sensations are excellent, beautiful, just like they were in 1993,” Del Piero said.

“I’m happy to be here because as I have always said, I wanted to play for another year. The passion and love with which I train and play has helped me a lot and will continue to help me.”

Club president Andrea Agnelli reaffirmed the simplicity of the deal between Juventus and one of their club legends.

“Alessandro told me that he wants to continue to be the captain of Juventus and wishes to win another Scudetto in the new stadium,” Agnelli said.

“These words made me happy. Today’s signature is just a physical action. Del Piero can still give a lot on the pitch and send a message of the club’s values to his teammates.”

“He will also help us a lot next season, which for us will be one of redemption.”

Del Piero’s former youth coach Antonello Cuccureddu said a loan deal was moments away from being organised for Del Piero when former manager Giovanni Trapattoni was in charge.

He remembers watching him while he impressed for Serie B side Padova.

“It’s hard to imagine a career like he has had, but there was that hope back then when you saw what he could do. Innate class, he made the difference,” Cuccureddu said.

The mud is well and truly being flung between FIFA officials following the announcement to suspend two officials last night. Jack Warner has claimed he is set to unleash his own Tsunami exposing corruption within that will undoubtedly open a huge can of worms in the coming days.

In the papers this morning there have been a mixed bag of stories that includes United targeting Modric; Ba pricing himself out of a move to Everton, while Ramsey calls on Arsene Wenger to splash the cash.

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Blatter to face media as Warner unleashes his ‘tsunami’ – Guardian

Valcke: email suggesting corruption is genuine – Daily Telegraph

Now is time for Wenger to splash cash, says Ramsey – Independent

United target Modric as Ferguson plans to overhaul his squad – Daily Mail

Ba pricing himself out of move to Everton – Mirror

Barton: Newcastle want to replace me – Guardian

QPR owners condemn ‘insulting’ offer – Guardian

Kop that! Mascherano dedicates Barca’s Euro triumph to Liverpool fans – Daily Mail

Flo wants Blues Guus chase – Sun

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Lille star set for Newcastle switch, says boss – Mirror

Vaughan: I’d be catch for Cats – Sun

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Borussia Moenchengladbach will remain in the Bundesliga after a come-from-behind 1-1 draw at Bochum in the relegation playoff on Wednesday.Lucien Favre’s side earned a 1-0 win at home on May 19 in the first leg, which proved to be the difference after forward Marco Reus struck a 73rd-minute goal to force a draw in Bochum, and a 2-1 win on aggregate for the Bundesliga side.

It came after Moenchengladbach defender Havard Nordtveit put the ball into his own net midway through the first half to level the tie.

Reus’ goal was worthy of a tie-clincher as he was put through after a fine build-up, smartly placing his left-foot finish into the bottom corner of goalkeeper Andreas Luthe’s net.

Both teams struck the crossbar in a first half that saw Bochum have more of the play, but their inability to take their chances will see them remain in the 2.Bundesliga for consecutive seasons, having been relegated from the top flight in 2009-10.

The United States will enter the CONCACAF Gold Cup on the back of a comprehensive 4-0 defeat to World Cup winners Spain on Saturday.The US were given a lesson by the reigning world and European champions in an international friendly at the Gillette Stadium, Massachusetts.

Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas and Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta began on the bench, while Iniesta’s club teammates Xavi Hernandez and Carlos Puyol were absent.

There was still plenty of talent throughout the team, with Barca’s Champions League winners Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets and David Villa starting alongside Real Madrid men Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos.

But it was two of the less familiar faces who seized their opportunity to impress, with Villarreal’s Santi Cazorla and Sevilla man Alvaro Negredo netting the first three goals between them.

Spain, who dominated from the kick-off, had a goal disallowed in the ninth minute before Negredo hit the crossbar four minutes later.

Manchester City’s David Silva crafted the breakthrough goal on 28 minutes, putting through fellow forward Cazorla for his first international strike since September 2009.

Centre forward Negredo made it 2-0 just four minutes later, picking up a trademark Alonso pass before beating Everton’s Tim Howard in the US goal.

And there was time for a third goal before the break. After waiting 22 months to hit the net again in a Spain shirt, suddenly Cazorla had two, collecting Silva’s cutback to beat Howard at close range.

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres made it 4-0 off Borja Valero’s through ball with 17 minutes remaining in the second half.

In other friendly matches on Saturday, beaten World Cup finalists the Netherlands played out a 0-0 draw away to Brazil.

The hosts finished the match in Goias with 10 men after Chelsea midfielder Ramires recieved a second yellow card 11 minutes from time at the Estadio Serra Dourada.

The Czech Republic also played out a goalless draw in their friendly against Peru in Japan.

As with any collection of athletes who bare the Three Lions on their chest, the Under-21 branch of English footballers fizzled out of the European Championships in Denmark with late heartache against the Czech Republic a few weeks back. Several individuals within the team are held in high regard and have commanded staggering transfer fees of recent – not unlike their senior counterparts – but Stuart Pearce’s charges scored just twice in three games and returned to these shores having failed to record a single win.

With this debacle still fresh in our minds, here is a list of the ten most promising talents currently making waves for the Under-17s and Under-19s who will be pushing for consideration when the next Under-21 tournament transpires in two years….

Click on Alex Henshall to see the TOP TEN…

[divider]

List compiled by Josh Sheridan

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Liverpool finally sealed the deal for Stewart Downing as the Reds took their summer spending through the £50m barrier. Kenny Dalglish clearly believes buying the best of British is the ideal way to restore the club to its former glories, despite the premium cost that comes with it.

In the papers this morning there have been a mixed bag of stories that include; Toure eyes title for Manchester City; Chelsea set to bid £30m+ for Modric, while a friend of Fabregas calls on Arsene Wenger to stop acting like a clown.

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Corinthians make new Tevez offer – Sky Sports

Chelsea to up Modric bid beyond £30m – Guardian

Friend of Fabregas tells Wenger to stop ‘acting like a clown’ – Daily Mail

Just call me Yaya glory – Sun

Downing completes move to Liverpool – Guardian

Peacemaker Barton calms Newcastle louts as violence mars pre-season friendly – Daily Mail

Liverpool urge Uefa to look into City’s Etihad deal – Guardian

Tottenham miss out on their own Chicharito – Mirror

Arsenal on cusp of signing Costa Rica starlet Campbell – Daily Mail

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Chelsea want to buy Parker rather than borrow him – Mirror

United’s Sneijder bid hits rocks – Daily Telegraph

Essien blow gives Josh his chance – Sun

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Wesley Sneijder is refusing to rule out the possibility of joining Manchester United this summer. The Dutch playmaker has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford, with Fergie himself conceding that he will be happy to sign him providing he conformed to the wage structure that is currently in place. Reports at the weekend suggested that United have issued him a take it or leave it ultimatum, as the club are refusing to meet his current demands.

In the papers this morning there have been a mixed bag of stories that include Harry Redknapp dismayed by crazy wages; Alonso believes Liverpool will make the top four, while Joey Barton unleashes another twitter rant about Newcastle.

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Manchester United move still a possibility, admits Sneijder – Guardian

Redknapp dismayed by ‘crazy’ wages of players – Guardian

KO fear for Wilshere – Sun

Barton in Newcastle Twitter rant – Daily Telegraph

QPR boss Warnock to inherit transfer war chest with takeover imminent – Daily Mail

FA plan South America tour in 2013 to give players flavour of football in Brazil – Daily Mail

Wayne’s in the money at Swans – Sun

Xabi Alonso: Liverpool will be top four this season – Mirror

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Baines: We cannot use Arsenal pursuit of Jagielka as excuse – Mirror

Chelsea to launch third bid for Modric this week – Mirror

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Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong believes his club’s victory in the pre-season Dublin Super Cup bodes well for the campaign ahead.City defeated a League of Ireland XI 3-0 on Saturday, before seeing off Serie A runners-up Inter Milan by the same score-line a day later.

Set to compete in the Champions League for the first time and now seen as genuine challengers for the English Premier League title, De Jong can sense the optimism among his teammates.

“Everybody’s excited to start the new season, especially after the win at the tournament today,” De Jong said.

“We just have to see how it goes and like I said everybody’s excited for the new season and we have to fight for every competition.”

“We’ll see at the end if we get some silverware.”

The newest addition to City’s expensively assembled squad is Argentina forward Sergio Aguero, who joined from Atletico Madrid last week for a reported fee of 35 million pounds.

Netherlands international De Jong believes such a costly outlay is an indication of the club’s intent to compete on all fronts in 2011/12.

“It’s a big signing,” he said.

“It’s a statement as well that we are serious contenders for every competition we’re in.”

“Every year is the same pressure for us. With spending money comes high expectations so we know that as a group and we just have to make sure we stick together.”

“And you need to add some extra power to your squad as well if you want to remain and fight in every competition.”

The biggest cloud on City’s horizon is the uncertain future of striker Carlos Tevez, who captained the team last season and finished as top scorer.

Tevez has sought a move away from Manchester to be closer to his family in Argentina.

Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure has sympathy for his teammate, but remains hopeful the 27-year-old can contribute to the City cause in the coming season.

“We all know his situation with his family and when he plays he’s not enjoying it because he’s not happy without his family,” Toure said.

“It’s a difficult situation. I don’t want to express my feelings about that, but if Carlos Tevez stays with us it will be fantastic as we’ve signed Aguero who plays in the (Argentina) national team with him.”

Wayne Rooney has sprung to the defence of new Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea after a number of high profile mistakes in the early part of the 2011-12 season, and feels the Spaniard will be an excellent signing.

The Premier League champions signed the 21-year-old from Atletico Madrid for £18.3 million in the summer as a replacement for outgoing Edwin van der Sar, and the England forward has been impressed with the new stopper.

“David is obviously a good shot-stopper. I hadn’t seen much of him before he signed, but that was something I saw immediately. Also his passing out from the back is alongside Edwin’s. He rarely kicks long to a forward,” the striker told The Daily Mail.

De Gea made mistakes to gift goals to Manchester City and West Brom in the first two games of the season for the Old Trafford outfit, but has appeared to bounce back in recent fixtures.

“He is still young and has probably got a lot to learn, but he is working hard and doing well in training. He is a strong character. After the Manchester City game, and then West Brom, he didn’t seem to be affected.

“He was on the training pitch the next day, working hard. The last couple of games he’s done well for us and he will only get better the more he plays,” Rooney concluded.

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