Emiliano Martinez confirms Arsenal exit with emotional message to club and fans

Emiliano Martinez has sent an emotional message to Arsenal fans and the club as he prepares to leave after a decade in north London. 

The Argentine goalkeeper is expected to join Aston Villa in a £20m move, despite starring for the Gunners in their run to the FA Cup final last season and as they won the Community Shield against Liverpool last month. 

Martinez has been at the club since 2010 and has largely been an understudy for various other goalkeepers, but finally got his chance to shine after Bernd Leno was injured at the back end of last season. 

The 28-year-old feels that all his hard work paid off, with his chance to play and star in the first team, and now it is time to move on with Leno returning and his place under threat again. ‘I always had that feeling that I would have my chance at Arsenal,’ Martinez said in an Instagram video. 

‘Season after season I was always trying to come back to the club I love [from loan] to try and have my chance. ‘I waited, I worked past the frustration because football is not always easy, like everyone thinks. 

‘I’m proud to overcome my frustration and show the Arsenal fanbase what they missed 10 years ago, because I knew I could do the same thing years before.

‘I truly believe that keepers go at different times and on different paths. 

For me, it was hard, but I knew there was light at the end of the tunnel.’

Martinez is thrilled with the response he has had from the Arsenal fans and thanked them for their support. 

‘With my family I decided, 11 years at the club, 10 years worked so hard, I leave through the front door today,’ said the stopper. 

‘For me I could not be happier to leave through the front door with the Arsenal fanbase supporting me and the club. 

‘I’m very grateful for the 11 years at Arsenal, even if it was a hard road for me. ‘Today I’m happy and I tried to show all the young goalies that hard work pays off. 

‘When you work hard you’re not going to be happy the whole time, there’s going to be frustrations and bad times, but you have to work past that and you’re going to see the light.

Martinez was emotional after winning the FA Cup (Picture: Getty Images)

‘That’s what I saw when I won the FA Cup and the Community Shield, I saw blue sky and it is the right time for me to step up. 

‘They all understood at Arsenal and they support my decision. The Arsenal fanbase were always there for me, I felt the love. ‘Even when Bernd got injured I was receiving loads of messages saying, 

“Emi we trust you. You are our goalie. We know you’re going to do so well.” 

‘That made me confident, made me win games, made me the keeper I am today. ‘They understood my story, they loved the way I worked hard in the club and I’m so grateful to be part of the Arsenal family for 11 years.’ 

Martinez is expected to be confirmed as an Aston Villa player in the very near future.

Willian dazzles on debut as Gunners start Premier League season with a win

Arsenal kicked off the new Premier League season in style. The Gunners smashed London rivals Fulham 3-0 at Craven Cottage and new signing Willian was the star of the show. 

He provided a hat-trick of assists inside 60 minutes.  

The first set-up Alexandre Lacazette's 8th-minute tap-in, while his second was the cross that fellow debutant Gabriel headed in shortly after half-time.

Willian's third assist was the pick of the bunch. 

The Brazilian curled a beautiful ball into the path of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and the striker took three touches before curling a beauty past Marek Rodak.

What a way to make your debut. Take a bow, Willian. He wasn't the only one that impressed either.

Mikel Arteta will be very happy with how his Arsenal side performed on Saturday afternoon. They dominated Fulham from start to finish. 

This looked like a real statement from the Gunners - they are a team to take seriously this season. 

Aubameyang and Lacazette renewed their deadly partnership up top and with Willian forming part of that new trio, all three forwards look dangerous. 

Behind them, the makeshift midfield partnership of Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny were strong, while the back three kept a clean sheet. 

All in all, it was a very comfortable win for Arsenal against newly-promoted Fulham. 

There will be tougher tests ahead for Arteta's team, but that shouldn't take anything away from this impressive performance. 

The Gunners have their first three points of the season in the bag and there's plenty to suggest this could be the start of a special season at the Emirates. 

CHELSEA bercita2 besar

BERBANDING rata-rata pasukan Eropah yang terkesan akibat pandemik Covid-19, Chelsea sebaliknya berbelanja besar sekitar £200 juta (RM1.06 bilion ) untuk menyaingi Liverpool dan Manchester City di tangga teratas liga.

Pengendali Chelsea, Frank Lampard berjaya menandatangani pemain berbakat Eropah iaitu Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech.

Dengan kejayaan menyambar pemain baru, Lampard mengharapkan penamat yang berbeza berbanding tempat keempat musim lalu.

"Harapan saya berbeza berbanding tahun lalu kerana kami kini di dalam situasi berbeza. Saya tidak hadir ke kelab ini untuk menamatkan saingan di kedudukan keempat," katanya.

Lampard perlu membuktikan pemilihannya selaku pengurus Chelsea untuk musim ketiga adalah tepat terutamanya dalam usaha bersaing dengan Liverpool dan City.

"Kami ketinggalan banyak mata sejak dua musim lalu, jadi kini kami perlu merapatkan jurang dan membina keyakinan semula.

"Kami perlu bekerjasama dengan pemain dan tugas saya adalah untuk memahami barisan pemain baru bagi membolehkan mereka menyesuaikan diri bersama pasukan.

"Tugas itu bermula sekarang," kata Lampard.

 Chelsea akan berkunjung ke Brighton untuk menghadapi perlawanan pertama awal pagi Selasa dan mereka tidak boleh mencicirkan mata bermula daripada perlawanan itu jika mahu mencabar Liverpool dan City.

AUBAMEYANG bantu ARSENAL julang Piala Komuniti

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a superb goal and netted the winning penalty in a shootout as Arsenal beat Premier League champions Liverpool in the Community Shield at an empty Wembley Stadium.

Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster, brought on in stoppage time, hit the crossbar with his penalty - the only one not converted in the shootout.

Aubameyang's curling strike gave FA Cup winners Arsenal the lead in the first half before Liverpool substitute Takumi Minamino equalised after the break.

Minamino's flicked pass to Mohamed Salah bounced back kindly for him to slot home from close range.

There was a quick VAR check for handball by Salah but the replay showed no clear contact.

It is the second year in a row Liverpool have lost on penalties after Manchester City's victory in 2019.

Aubameyang leads Arsenal to move silverware

Aubameyang's importance to Arsenal was once again shown in another impressive performance.

The Gabon international, who scored twice in the FA Cup final at the same stadium this month, cut inside from the left and whipped the ball into the far corner in emphatic style to open the scoring.

He continued to terrorise Liverpool's defence, exposing young right-back Neco Williams.

And when Aubameyang stepped up to take the final penalty, with the score 4-4 in the shootout, there was no way he was going to miss.

He has netted 71 goals in 110 Arsenal appearances and no Gunners player has scored more than his five goals at the venue.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said on Friday he was "pretty confident" the skipper will sign a new contract after a long, painful wait for supporters.

After lifting their second piece of silverware in a month, it would cap off a very pleasing summer for Arsenal if Aubameyang does eventually put pen to paper.

Stuttering Liverpool fall short again

Liverpool were without regular starters Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson but they fielded a side many would feel were capable of beating Arsenal.

They started off on the front foot, with Sadio Mane getting in behind on numerous occasions on the left and linking up with full-back Andy Robertson.

But sloppiness crept into their game as the first half wore on - Virgil van Dijk berated Georginio Wijnaldum and Fabinho on separate occasions for giving the ball away too easily in midfield.

Arsenal's Ainsley Maitland-Niles was impressive and caused problems, while Bukayo Saka was busy in and around the Liverpool box.

However, Liverpool had plenty of chances to score. An unmarked James Milner headed over the bar, Van Dijk almost got on the end of a Mane flick-on and Roberto Firmino had the ball in the net, only for it to be ruled out for offside.

Liverpool grew more dominant in the second half - Minamino deservedly drew them level with more than 15 minutes to play - but they could not find a winner.

Arsenal's Joe Willock had a brilliant chance to make it 2-1 with five minutes to go when he miscued his header following Cedric Soares' cross from the right.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp brought off Wijnaldum, who had his penalty saved in last year's shootout by City, and replaced him with 20-year-old Brewster, but the England youth international crashed his spot-kick off the bar.

There is certainly no need to panic but the air of invincibility Liverpool had throughout most of the 2019-20 league campaign has worn off in recent months following a patch of two defeats and a draw in seven games at the end of the season.

'You never get used to winning' - what they said

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to BT Sport: "You never get used to winning. I knew the challenge we faced today against this incredible opponent. Thank you very much to the players for the effort and performance.

"The courage of the team, how aggressive we were without the ball and against the Liverpool press. I am pleased and knew in the second half we would suffer. But in the penalties we had courage to do them right.

"In the last 10 minutes we took the ball and played in the final third. I am pleased how they competed. It creates belief."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, speaking to BT Sport: "We deserved the equaliser and could have scored more but we didn't do that.

"When you play against a formation like this then you need to be really fresh in the final third and you need to force it, create angles. The rhythm for that fell a little bit. Today it was not enough."

Man of the match - Ainsley Maitland-Niles

SEVILLA juara liga Eropah (UEL)

SEVILLA memenangi mahkota Liga Europa buat kali keenam ketika sepakan gunting Diego Carlos terkena kaki Romelu Lukaku untuk gol kemenangan mengatasi Inter Milan, 3-2 dalam aksi final menarik di Cologne.

Wakil Sepanyol itu antara kelab kedua terbanyak memenangi kejuaraan berkenaan berbanding kelab lain.

Dua jaringan menerusi tandukan Luuk De Jong menafikan gol penalti awal Lukaku dan gol penyamaan Diego Godin buat Inter ketika empat gol dihasilkan pada babak pertama.

Penantian 114 tahun Spezia berakhir

KELAB Itali, Spezia berjaya menempah tempat beraksi di Serie A buat kali pertama selepas 114 tahun menunggu apabila berjaya memenangi aksi playoff yang diadakan secara tertutup tapi ribuan penyokong mereka berkumpul di luar stadium.

Pasukan yang dikenali sebagai 'Eagles' berasal dari bandar tepi laut di La Spezia di Liguria, bahagian tenggara Genoa.

Serie A sekarang ini bakal menampilkan tiga kelab dari Liguria, Spezia, Sampdoria dan Genoa.

"Tahniah Spezia, anda mencipta sejarah, sekarang nikmati keseronokan. Jumpa anda nanti," jelas jurulatih Sampdoria, Cludio Ranieri di Twitter.

Walaupun tumpas 1-0 pada aksi kedua di tempat sendiri ketika berdepan Frosinone dan menyaksikan kedudukan agregat terikat 1-1, Spezia layak ke Serie A berdasarkan kedudukan lebih baik berbanding lawan di Serie B.

Mereka menamatkan saingan liga di tangga ketiga, manakala Frosinone yang dilatih pemain antarabangsa Itali, Alessandro Nesta di kedudukan kelapan.

Spezia akan menyertai Benevento dan Crotone ke saingan utama, manakala Leece, Brescia dan SPAL tersingkir ke Serie B menjelang musim baru yang bermula 19 September depan

Maguire serang polis

KETUA pasukan Manchester United, Harry Maguire ditahan di pulau pelancongan di Greece, Mykonos kerana didakwa menyerang dan mengasari pegawai polis.

United dalam satu kenyataan ringkas berkata, mereka mengetahui insiden yang membabitkan Maguire di Mykonos semalam.

"Kita sudah berhubung dengan Harry dan dia memberi kerjasama sepenuhnya dengan polis di Greece.

"Buat masa sekarang kami tidak akan memberi sebarang komen lanjut," jelas kelab berkenaan.

Seorang pegawai polis di Syros, mengesahkan suspek kejadian berkenaan membabitkan tiga lelaki Britain termasuk salah seorang darinya adalah pemain bola sepak namun tidak menyebut nama Maguire.

Menurut pegawai polis berkenaan, empat anggota polis Mykonos mengalami kecederaan ringan selepas pergelutan itu.

Suspek juga dituduh menentang penangkapan, menghina dan mengugut secara lisan pegawai yang menahan mereka.

Pegawai polis itu berkata, polis Mykonos dihubungi untuk meredakan pergaduhan membabitkan dua kumpulan sebelum itu.

Agensi Berita Athens (ANA) berkata, pergaduhan berlaku membabitkan pelancong Britain di luar bar.

ANA mengesahkan antara suspek berkenaan ialah Maguire dan adiknya bersama seorang rakan mereka.

Kata ANA, polis mengarahkan kesemua suspek untuk ke balai polis dengan menggunakan van namun sebaik saja tiba di tempat yang ditujui mereka cuba melarikan diri.

Piala FA umpan Auba kekal

LONDON – Pengurus Arsenal, Mikel Arteta berharap kejua­raan Piala FA yang dimenangi musim ini dapat meyakinkan kapten pasukan, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (Auba) untuk menandatangani kontrak baharu dan kekal di Stadium Emirates musim depan.

Sebagai rekod, Aubame­yang muncul wira buat skuad The Gunners apabila meledak dua gol untuk membantu pa­sukan menang trofi Piala FA
dengan menewaskan Chelsea 2-1 di Stadium Wembley awal pagi semalam.

Kata Arteta, tiada perkembangan mengenai perbinca­ngan dengan ejen Aubamenyang mengenai tawaran kontrak baharu buat masa ini kerana kami mahu fokus meraikan kejayaan menjuarai trofi Piala FA buat kali ke-14.

“Saya ada berbincang dengan Aubameyang mengenai kemungkinan untuknya kekal di sini (Arsenal) tetapi ia masih lagi pe­ringkat awal. Buat masa ini, kami mahu fokus meraikan kejayaan menang Piala FA.

“Pasukan sangat berterima kasih dengan apa yang Aubameyang lakukan sepanjang kempen Piala FA musim ini. Saya harap ini adalah permulaan dan Aubameyang akan terus menjadi kapten untuk menjulang trofi buat Arsenal,” katanya.

Mengulas lanjut, Arteta me­ngakui pihak pengurusan perlu berusaha untuk menawarkan kontrak lumayan buat pe­nyerang antarabangsa Gabon itu bagi memastikan dia terus me­mimpin Arsenal untuk tempoh beberapa tahun akan datang.

“Perlawanan yang penting perlukan penyudah pemain berkelas dunia dan Aubameyang telah melakukan perkara tersebut di final dan separuh akhir. Disebabkan itu dia dihormati oleh rakan-rakan sepasukan,” katanya.

Kejayaan Arsenal menang Piala FA telah memberi tiket automatik ke saingan Liga Europa musim depan. – AGENSI

Liverpool juara EPL, akhiri kemarau 30 tahun

LIVERPOOL dinobatkan juara Liga Perdana Inggeris tanpa menendang bola selepas Chelsea menewaskan Manchester City 2-1 awal pagi tadi sekali gus menamatkan penantian 30 tahun gelaran Inggeris itu.

Skuad Jurgen Klopp mengesahkan gelaran ke-19 kelab dengan rekod baki tujuh perlawanan selepas City di tangga kedua ketinggalan 23 mata.

Liverpool hanya memerlukan dua mata untuk mengakhiri kemarau mereka selepas membelasah Crystal Palace 4-0 di Anfield, semalam

Selepas kemenangan ke-28 daripada 31 perlawanan musim ini, bintang Liverpool, Mohamed Salah menegaskan 'sekarang detik untuk kami menjuarai liga' dan 24 jam kemudian hajatnya tercapai.

Liverpool mendapat apa yang diimpikan selama ini daripada Chelsea di Stamford Bridge.

Penalti Willian pada minit ke-78 selepas bola terkena tangan Fernandinho mengakhiri penguasaan City selama dua tahun sebagai juara bertahan. Tuan rumah sebelum itu terlebih dahulu di depan hasil jaringan Christian Pulisic sebelum disamakan Kevin De Bruyne.

Liverpool juga kelab paling awal mengesahkan kejuaraan berbanding juara Liga Perdana yang lain mengatasi rekod baki lima perlawanan dikongsi bersama City dan Manchester United.

Jose Mourinho helps Tottenham distrube fresh food

Special delivery? Jose Mourinho helps Tottenham distribute fresh food from their training ground to local communities in coronavirus fight - as manager and club look to bounce back from criticism for breaking social distancing regulations

• Jose Mourinho has made his first weekly food delivery for local communities
• Spurs boss helped carry food produced at the club's training ground
• Spurs are transporting produce to their stadium which is a food distribution hub

Tottenham Hotspur have been making headlines for all the wrong reasons in relation to the coronaviurs in recent times but with the help of manager Jose Mourinho they are stepping up their aid in the fight against Covid-19.

Formerly known as the 'Special One', Mourinho was on hand to make the first of his special weekly deliveries of food produced at the club's Kitchen Garden, located at their training ground, towards local communities.

In pictures posted on Instagram he is seen wearing PPE while carrying produce such as spinach and rhubarb away from Hotspur Way, which usually produces food for the first-team, before delivering it to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Baiknya Salah bantu orang kampung

IKON bola sepak Mesir, Mohamed Salah menderma beribu tan makanan dan daging segar di tempat asalnya di Nagrig, Bassioun bagi membantu keluarga yang terkesan dengan pandemik Covid-19.

Bapanya, Salah Ghaly berkata, anak lelakinya itu berharap penduduk kampung kekal sihat dan berada dalam keadaan selamat.

Salah juga menggesa penduduk agak tidak menghadiri perhimpunan besar serta mengikut segala arahan kesihatan berkaitan pandemik itu.

Kata Ghaly, dua anak lembu juga akan disembelih dan kemudian dagingnya diagihkan kepada penduduk kampung serta kawasan sekitarnya.

Jelas Ghaly, yayasan amal Salah akan terus membantu menghulurkan bantuan kewangan serta barangan asas kepada majoriti keluarga di kampung itu.

Dilahirkan di Bassioun, Salah sebelum ini sering menderma untuk pembangunan projek di kampungnya itu.

Pada Disember 2018, Salah menderma untuk membangunkan sebuah Hospital di Bassioun. Bersama bapanya, Salah juga mendermakan lima ekar tanah untuk mendirikan loji rawatan kumbahan bagi membolehkan penduduk kampungnya menerima sumber air yang bersih.

Pada Ogos tahun lalu, Salah mendermakan AS$3 juta (RM13 juta) kepada Institut Kanser Kebangsaan Mesir (NCI) bagi membangunkan kembali fasiliti bangunan itu selepas diserang pengganas.

United Nations (UN) pada Februari lalu memilih Salah seagai duta pertama Instant Network Schools, iaitu program bagi membantu pelarian peluang mendapatkan pelajaran berkualiti secara dalam talian.

Berita Sana Sini: C.Ronaldo wujudkan unit ICU

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WATFORD 3-LIV 0 : Rekod tanpa kalah Liverpool lebur!

Ismaila Sarr brace and Troy Deeney strike sees unbeaten Premier League record come crashing down as Jurgen Klopp's side lose for the first time all season

• Premier League strugglers Watford pulled off a sensational victory over Jurgen Klopp's high-flying Liverpool
• Ismaila Sarr opened the scoring and poked home as Watford took a shock lead on the 53rd minute of play
• Sarr then doubled the lead by chipping Alisson with calm and composure as the Hornets broke on the counter
• As Liverpool surged forward to respond Troy Deeney scored Watford's third goal after a defensive mistake
• The only negative for Watford was the loss of forward Gerard Deulofeu, who left the field on a stretcher 

Ismaila Sarr was the star as Liverpool’s unbeaten season came to an end at Vicarage Road, with Watford recording a famous 3-0 win against the leaders.Watford were rewarded for a bright start hit by an injury to Gerard Deulofeu with two early second-half goals through Ismaila Sarr.

The opener came on 54 minutes, when Abdoulaye Doucoure reacted quickest to tee up Sarr to tap in.Sarr doubled the advantage six minutes later, running on to Troy Deeney’s pass before lifting the ball over Alisson. On 72 minutes, Sarr returned the favour, finding Deeney, who finished beyond a stranded Alisson. A first win in six matches lifts Watford out of the bottom three on goal difference.

Liverpool's 44-match unbeaten run, and their 18-match winning sequence, end as they stay on 79 points, 22 points above Manchester City.

Watford (4-2-3-1): Foster 7; Femenía 7, Kabasele 7, Cathcart 7, Masina 6; Hughes 8, Capoue 7; Sarr 8(Pussetto 82 6); Doucouré 7; Deulofeu 7(Pereyra 37 6); Deeney 7.5

Subs: Gomes, Dawson, Welbeck, Chalobah, Gray, Pussetto, Pereyra

Bookings: None

Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson 5; Alexander-Arnold 5, Lovren 5, Van Dijk 6, Robertson 6; Oxlade-Chamberlain 5(Origi 65 5), Fabinho 5, Wijnaldum 6; Salah 5, Firmino 5(Minamino 79 6), Mane 5.

Subs: Adrian, Minamino, Lallana, Origi, Matip, Jones, Hoever

Bookings: None

Referee: Michael Oliver

MOTM: Sarr

Attendance: 21,634

When can Liverpool win the Premier League?

Liverpool are marching toward a first league title in 30 years, an incredible 22 points clear -- the biggest lead in top-flight history -- with only 39 left to play for.

But when will they be confirmed as Premier League champions? And who might have to give them the guard of honour? Here, we take a look through the possibilities.

How many wins guarantees Liverpool the title?

They are 22 points clear with 39 available, so Liverpool need 18 points from 13 games, and the quickest way to do that is with six victories.

Liverpool play Norwich (a), West Ham (h), Watford (a), Bournemouth (h), Everton (a), Crystal Palace (h) in their next six matches.

If both Liverpool and Manchester City win all their upcoming fixtures, then the Reds will be champions on March 21 against Palace.

The guard of honour would then come at reigning champions Man City in the first round of games in April (date TBC).

However, March 21 is reserved for FA Cup quarterfinal ties, so the Palace game may be postponed to a later date. If that is the case, Liverpool's sixth game would come at the Etihad -- and they could win the title with a draw at Man City, then the guard of honour would come at home to Aston Villa.

Who holds the record for the earliest title win?

Man United won the title on April 14 in 2001. It will take quite a change in fortunes for that record not to be broken.

Both United (2000-01) and Man City (2017-18) have won the title with five games to spare. If Liverpool claim the trophy at Goodison, they will do it with eight matches in hand.

Xhaka kekal di Arsenal

JURULATIH Arsenal, Mikel Arteta menyatakan Granit Xhaka akan kekal di kelab itu selepas pemain tengah Switzerland itu menghasilkan persembahan terpuji ketika membantu kelab itu menang 2-0 ke atas Manchester United, awal pagi tadi.

Xhaka dikecam hebat awal musim ini selepas dia berang terhadap penyokong yang mengejeknya apabila dia dikeluarkan ketika seri 2-2 di laman sendiri dengan Crystal Palace, Oktober lalu.

Insiden itu juga menyebabkannya dilucutkan lilitan kapten dan menyaksikannya diketepikan oleh pengendali terdahulu Unai Emery selama sebulan.

Xhaka memulakan enam daripada lapan aksi terakhir Arsenal dalam liga namun akhbar Britain, The Times melaporkan kelmarin dia mahu berpindah bulan ini, menyatakan pemain berusia 27 tahun itu menyasarkan untuk menyertai kelab Bundesliga, Hertha Berlin.

Arteta bagaimanapun menegaskan pemain tengah itu memberitahunya dia mahu kekal di utara London, selain memuji persembahannya menentang United, yang juga kemenangan pertama Arsenal dalam lima perlawanan sekali gus melonjak ke tangga ke-10.

“Saya fikir dia akan kekal. Saya amat sukakannya. Jika kami dapat mengekalkannya dia boleh menjadi pemain terbilang buat kelab ini,” kata pengendali dari Sepanyol itu pada sidang akhbar.

“Saya sukakan caranya. Dia seorang pemain bola sepak hebat. Hari ini dia cemerlang mengekang hantaran lawan dan dia juga melakukan banyak hantaran tepat. Saya suka betapa fokusnya dia, keinginannya untuk belajar.”