Portsmouth 0 - 1 Man City

Emmanuel Adebayor kept up his record of scoring in every league game this season to help Manchester City maintain their 100% start to the season.
The Togo striker rose above the Pompey defence to thump in a header from Gareth Barry's excellent corner.
Micah Richards had a goal ruled out for offside as City turned the screw.
After the break, John Utaka fizzed a shot narrowly wide, while fellow substitute David Nugent hit his volley straight at City goalkeeper Shay Given.
The win pushed City up to fourth in the table with nine points out of nine, three points behind Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur who lead the table with 12 points from four matches.
With wealthy owners at the helm of each club - Pompey's takeover by Sulaiman Al Fahim going through only on Thursday - it was a fascinating meeting between two sides who represent the new wave of the Premier League.
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City, though, are 12 months into their new ownership and further down the road of realising their potential.
As a result, the big name stars they have attracted - and the team's greater cohesion - proved too strong for a much-changed Portsmouth side.
While it will take a while for Pompey to stabilise after a period of uncertainty - and to bed in new players - City are showing signs that their revolution is gaining momentum.
Adebayor was once again in excellent form, providing the fulcrum for his side's attacks, and Joleon Lescott - finally making his league debut for City after a protracted move from Everton - gave an assured performance.
Initially, however, Pompey more than held their own, despite fielding a team with five changes from their last league game.
Tommy Smith and Michael Brown had completed their moves to Fratton Park in time to make their debuts and were immediately drafted into the starting line-up.
And for a time, the hosts were the better side, passing the ball around neatly and went close through a rasping shot from Frederic Piquionne.
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Yet there was always the feeling that once City settled, they would pose more of a threat.
That possibility became a reality when Barry swung in a corner from the right and Adebayor nodded home powerfully.
City thought they had doubled their lead when Richards converted a low cross from Craig Bellamy, who started ahead of Robinho, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
After the break, the imposing Adebayor continued to cause Pompey problems and one moment of magic saw him drag the ball between two defenders before forcing a fine save from Asmir Begovic.
And Stephen Ireland lashed a shot over the bar as a Portsmouth struggled to keep their opponents out.
All seemed to be going City's way but they suffered a blow when Richards limped off injured and watching England boss Fabio Capello will share City's concern, as he may want to pick the defender for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Croatia.
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It signalled a change in fortunes for Pompey and they began to create a few chances - a Hayden Mullins shot was deflected wide and Younes Kaboul headed over.
Utaka went agonisingly close with a fierce drive that flew just past the post and Richard Hughes wasted a great chance when he volleyed wide from 12 yards.
Parity really should have been restored soon after but Nugent hit his shot into the ground and an upright Given saved the ball with his shoulder.
In the end, City did just enough, while Pompey will hope results will pick up when their new signings are eligible and the team starts to gel.
Portsmouth manager Paul Hart:"It is tough at the moment. But we played very well today.
"We restricted City to only a few chances and we should have nicked a draw at the death.
"We played with spirit and discipline against terrific players and went about our job in a proper way. If we can keep doing that we can turn things around."
Manchester City boss Mark Hughes:"We are keeping clean sheets and that always gives you a chance of winning games.
"Fratton Park is a hard place to come and get something but we were always in control of the game. We took the lead and we should really have had a second goal, which we deserved.
"Micah Richards' goal was chalked out for offside, wrongly in my opinion.
"But we have come out of the blocks and made a statement and three wins out of three league games is great for us."

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by tuan.blogger.hettien ~ Sunday, August 30, 2009 0 comments

Hibernian 0 - 1 Celtic

Celtic were reduced to 10 men in a thrilling win over Hibernian at Easter Road in the Scottish Premier League.
A Georgios Samaras header put Celtic ahead four minutes from half-time after Andreas Hinkel had crossed in.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men when Aiden McGeady was shown a second yellow after a Paul Hanlon challenge.
Artur Boruc kept Celtic in the match by saving Hanlon's blistering 25-yard shot and Hibs goalkeeper Graham Stack kept out a late Samaras solo effort.
Less than 60 seconds after kick-off, Samaras was caught late by Patrick Cregg, to set the tone for a hotly-contested match.
Hibs had the first real chance of the match when David Wotherspoon fired in a cross from the right and Glenn Loovens was forced to clear.
McGeady then completed a sweeping move through the Hibs midfield but blasted his long-range effort over the bar.
The pace quickly picked up, with good build-up play at both ends, including a Samaras header that clipped the top of the Hibs bar from a corner.
McGeady was lucky to escape a red card in the 22nd minute when he felled Derek Riordan after the striker had broken free down the left.
However, the former Celtic man failed to convert the resulting free-kick, inching it past Artur Boruc's right-hand post.
A Danny Fox free-kick shortly after the half hour mark looked promising, but Samaras miscued his shot and the ball was finally cleared.
The stalemate was broken four minutes from the break when Samaras headed in from close range after Hinkel powered down the right and flighted in a searching ball for the Greek international.
Following the restart, Boruc was forced into a double-save from Riordan's 18-yard shot and subsequent corner.
Celtic looked confident on the counter-attack, with Maloney sending a ball across the face of the Hibs goal in the 55th minute with which Samaras failed to connect.
Souleymane Bamba missed an opportunity to level the scores as the hour mark approached, sending the ball over from six yards out with only Boruc to beat.
In the 63rd minute, McGeady was issued his second yellow of the day and sent in for an early bath following a challenge from Hanlon.
Referee Dougie McDonald decided that no contact had been made and the Republic of Ireland international was dismissed for simulation.
Moments later, Wotherspoon blasted in a spectacular half-volley from 25 yards out that Boruc pushed on to his right-hand post.
Riordan was again denied by Boruc from a searching corner, when the Polish keeper parried a curving shot after the ball landed at the feet of the Hibs striker.
Hibs keeper Stack was forced into a similar save late in the match from a Chris Killen shot as 10-man Celtic piled on the pressure.
Samaras could have sealed the points in the dying minutes when he broke free with only Stack to beat, but he fired his shot straight at the English keeper.
A frantic period of added time produced some heart-stopping goalmouth scrambles, but Celtic's defence held out to deny their hosts a point.
Hibernian manager John Hughes:
"It was end-to-end stuff, and we were a bit cavalier - that was my disappointment.
"Even at 11 v 10, we were We were a bit open, but we gave it plenty, so I'm disappointed not to take anything from the match.
"Celtic were in front in the first half, and we only got an advantage when Aiden McGeady was sent off, and we were unfortunate not to take advantage of that.
"I can't ask any more of the boys' commitment, on another day, something might have fell for us.
"People get booked for nothing, and if we keep going the way we're going, we'll be playing with slippers on.
"It's a contact sport, and you need to get stuck in. Tackling is an art.
"Even if Aiden McGeady take a dive, is it not just a case of saying 'let's get on with it'?
"Where's the common sense? It spoils the game.
"You never want to see that, especially with a talent like Aiden McGeady.
"I'm the opposition manager, I want to see him doing his stuff and see if my boys can handle him."
Celtic manager Tony Mowbray:"I was disappointed with the quality of my team today, but we stood our ground.
"I hope as we go along, we're going to build a reputation as a team that can not only win battles, but a team that can play you off the pitch.
"There was a lot of things that weren't right today, not just from our team, but things on the pitch.
"We've all made a patch about not criticising officials, but for me it's an understanding of the game. I've been shown it in isolation. McGeady ran 40 or 50 yards before the incident and skipped past a couple of tackles - a third tackle has come in and he went down before he anticipates the challenge and gets a sending off.
"If you put it into context of the week we've just had with the Eduardo sensation, if we hadn't had the week we've had in the media. I would suggest the referee would never have made it a sending off.
"It was right in front of me. I saw it and I know exactly how it happened. In my opinion, it's a lack of understanding of the game from an official who is a very honest guy, who gives his best the way the players give his best, but he made a wrong decision regarding Aiden McGeady."

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Chygrynskiy to seal Barca switch

Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy has arrived in Barcelona to undergo a medical ahead of completing a£22m move from Shakhtar Donetsk.
The 22-year-old defender has agreed a five-year deal and will be officially presented by the club on Monday.
Chygrynskiy played has last game for Shakhtar on Friday, when they lost 1-0 to Barcelona in the European Super Cup.
He joins former Inter Milan pair Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Maxwell as new summer arrivals at the Nou Camp.
Chygrynskiy arrives with a burgeoning reputation, having won 19 caps for his country.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has been keen to strengthen his squad in the summer, despite them having won the Spanish League and Cup and Champions League last season - his first season in charge.

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Shevchenko agrees return to Kiev

Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko has rejoined former club Dynamo Kiev on a two-year contract.
The Ukrainian club announced the move on Saturday following Shevchenko's decision to quit Stamford Bridge.
The 32-year-old failed to settle in London, scoring just four goals in 30 Premier League games, following a record £30m transfer in May 2006.
"Sheva didn't have the possibility to play consistently," Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday.
Shevchenko signed a four-year deal with the Blues but spent last term on loan at his old club AC Milan.
Now his return to Kiev sees his career come full circle, having first emerged through the youth ranks with the Ukrainian club.
Shevchenko, capped 79 times for his country, left Kiev 10 years ago for AC Milan where he became an immensely popular figure, scoring 127 goals in 208 appearances before joining Chelsea.
Owner Roman Abramovich was instrumental in bringing him the former European Footballer of the Year to the club - and although Shevchenko managed 14 goals in all competitions in his first season, his tally fell to eight the following year.
This season, Ancelotti has opted for the forward partnership of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka and has Daniel Sturridge and Salomon Kalou available to provide further striking options.
And although he made a recent substitute appearance against Sunderland in a 3-1 win at the Stadium of Light, Shevchenko looked unlikely to be given a major role in the long-term.
"He would like to play with continuity here for me," Ancelotti explained.
"But it is difficult for me to give him the possibility to play a lot of matches and he will take the right decision for him."
Meanwhile, Ancelotti also denied that Chelsea have made a £57m bid for Bayern Munich's French striker Franck Ribery.

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Ronaldo in winning start for Real

Cristiano Ronaldo scored on his La Liga debut for Real Madrid in a 3-2 victory against Deportivo La Coruna.
The £80m Portuguese - one of eight summer 'galactico' recruits - netted the second goal, but Real had to rely on Lassana Diarra for the winner.
Raul put Real ahead while Riki equalised for Deportivo, before Ronaldo drilled home a 35th-minute penalty after Raul was fouled by Aranzubia.
Juan Carlos Valeron levelled, only for Diarra to fire home on the hour.
"We created a lot of chances, but the most important thing was to achieve the victory," said £65m signing Kaka. "It wasn't an easy game."
Usain Bolt, fresh from his record-breaking exploits in the 100m and 200m at the athletics World Championships, was presented to the Bernabeu crowd prior to kick-off and launched president Florentino Perez's latest 'galactico' era with the ceremonial first kick.
Perez spent about 250m euros bringing in the likes of Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso to the Spanish capital, and they were all included in new coach Manuel Pellegrini's starting lineup.
Perez is keen to dislodge archrival Barcelona from the pinnacle of European football after the Catalan club became the first Spanish team to win the treble - the Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey - in a season.
Although Real looked disjointed in the early stages, they took a 26th-minute lead when veteran Raul finished easily after Karim Benzema's shot was deflected onto the near post by Daniel Aranzubia.
Ronaldo should have made it 2-0 three minutes later but his header from fellow debutant Xabi Alonso's free-kick went over the bar.
Deportivo equalised from an almost identical situation, when Juca launched a free-kick into the box and Riki, the former Madrid youth-team player, got in between two defenders to direct a header past Iker Casillas from seven yards.
The equaliser fired Real into action and the spotlight was on Ronaldo when Raul had been sent sprawling by Aranzubia.
The Fifa World Player of the Year, Real Madrid's record signing, showed no signs of nerves as he drove his spot-kick just inside the post.
Real missed a few chances and were punished for their profligacy when, a minute after the break, Deportivo equalised again.
Andres Guardado's cross to the edge of the box found Valeron unmarked and the veteran had sufficient time to control the ball and fire past Casillas.
Ironically, given the publicity surrounding the high-profile signings this summer, Pellegrini had former Portsmouth player Diarra to thank for getting Real off to a winning start.
The midfielder took aim with a low 25-yard shot which crept inside the far post and handed Pellegrini's men the points as they seek to challenge Barcelona.

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Life in the old dogs yet

Sir Alex Ferguson claims he may ride off into the sunset with Arsene Wenger when the curtain comes down on the Premier League's most enduring managerial rivalry.
It might be stretching reality to breaking point to describe the old stagers as the game's version of Noel and Liam Gallagher - but their turbulence, talent and creative tension may be even more sorely missed than anything Oasis had to offer when the credits finally roll.
Unlike Oasis however, Ferguson and Wenger are not going anywhere yet and on the evidence of the latest eventful instalment in this drama, football should be thankful.
Manchester United took the honours in fortuitous fashion at Old Trafford - and mixed emotions were the order of the day for Wenger as loser and even Ferguson as winner.
Wenger's mood, almost buoyant and certainly good-humoured, in the Old Trafford media theatre was easily explained after an Arsenal performance that suggests his optimism about their title hopes this season is built on increasingly solid foundations.
Arsenal were in untroubled control courtesy of Andrey Arshavin's wonderful goal until Manuel Almunia gifted Wayne Rooney a penalty - described as "Old Trafford-ish" by Wenger but undisputed in reality - and Abou Diaby decided to defy all laws of football logic and dispatch the most clinical of headers beyond his own goalkeeper.
Galling stuff for Wenger and exacerbated when he was pointlessly sent from his technical area by referee Mike Dean on the say-so of the fourth official after he kicked a plastic bottle in frustration when Robin van Persie's injury-time strike was chalked off for offside.
Wenger's reaction was human nature and his needless dismissal only created a chaotic scene that could have been avoided with only 30 seconds to go - especially as he actually had nowhere to go when he was ordered away from the touchline.
He looked as bemused by the conclusion to his evening, arms outstretched amid baying United supporters, as he was by the result of a game that should have gleaned Arsenal at least a point.
Arsenal looked a more cohesive, unified team than last season. Thomas Vermaelen is a sound defensive addition and Arshavin adds fantasy.
The tiny Russian is a wonderful footballer - and a source of much inspiration for Arsenal fans when it comes to less-than-flattering songs dedicated to Emmanuel Adebayor.
Arshavin's slight frame lurks with intent throughout, that rolling and sometimes disinterested gait disguising his lethal talent, and a world-class ability to surprise with strikes delivered with little or no backlift. It was a tribute to his ability that Old Trafford suffered collective anxiety attacks when he was anywhere near the danger zone.
Whether this is enough to sustain a serious title challenge is still open to debate - the fact remains they lost this game and Arsenal still have a habit of losing composure when all seems under control.
The return of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri will add to the air of goodwill around the Emirates, but Wenger must ensure losing games they should have won does not become a damaging habit.
For all Arsenal's good work, Manchester United achieved a feat that was beyond them in the Premier League last season by overcoming the Gunners. And they showed one of the tried and trusted trademark of champions by beating a top four rival without coming within a country mile of their best.
But even in victory, and in case we forget a very important one, United have just as many questions to answer as Arsenal.
Ferguson's initial team selection was a source of much debate and not something that could be described as an unqualified success, even with three points as the reward.
Wayne Rooney shouldered huge responsibility through the middle as he was flanked on either side by Nani and Antonio Valencia. Michael Owen and Dimitar Berbatov were restricted to the bench.
Berbatov made an erratic appearance as substitute, and it is worth posing this question: what does it say about your £30m striker if you wave off £100m-plus worth of attacking talent in the shape of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez and he is not an automatic pick for a game against a team regarded as one of your closes title rivals?
There is no mistaking the fact that United have had a major dimension of their game removed with the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo, and this means Rooney is an even more pivotal figure.
Ferguson can relax safe in the knowledge that Rooney is up to the pressure of the task and it was his sheer force of will that kept United above water. He is a reassuring presence for United's manager and their supporters - how they must keep everything crossed that no misfortune befalls him.
Rooney is now Old Trafford's talisman, but the help he receives from others is likely to shape United's hopes of success this season. The season is in its infancy, but the jury remains out.
A word too for goalkeeper Ben Foster. He was at fault for Arsenal's goal, despite the velocity of Arshavin's strike, but he effectively saved the game for United with a priceless block from Robin van Persie just after the interval that prevented his side going two behind.
Ferguson used his programme notes to insist once more that he will not be buying again in this transfer window, light-heartedly suggesting the £80m raked in for Ronaldo "seems to be burning a hole in the pockets of lots of fans."
He added that it was "an insult" to suggest he could lose faith in his current crop of players overnight.
This is a man who knows, who has been over course and distance many times, so it is not a safe occupation to contradict him. The silver-lined career gives him the right to spring selection surprises - but you sense retaining the title for a fourth successive season will be tough work.
Lest this be seen as a wide-ranging questioning of United's credentials, and even their most ardent fans might just accept they may need to take step back to move forward with Ronaldo gone, the simple statistic of victory still marks them out as the team to finish above this season.
The "Pizzagate" days may be a thing of the past and the once icy relationship has thawed - but the competitive edge remains and Old Trafford witnessed compelling evidence of why Ferguson and Wenger will never go quietly while titles are up for grabs.

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Angola in race against time

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by tuan.blogger.hettien ~ Friday, August 28, 2009 0 comments

Diving me crazy

Did you see that swarm of angry bees at the Emirates on Wednesday night?

What a terrible away kit that is, my Celtic friends - pipped only by the knockdown ebay deckchair fabric on offer when Newcastle United come to visit.

Any road, Scott Brown, Snr Donati and all were desperate to get their stingers into one Eduardo da Simulata's face after he plunged to the turf in the box. It was such a sentimental piece of play-acting I could almost smell the whiff of the caps in me cowboy gun going off as he hit the deck.


There are many of us who suspect that football is becoming a non-contact sport and looking at the Boruc-Eduardo incident I've not changed me mind. For the record the regulars at The Blue Bell love it when Celtic play 'cos you can always strike up the same conversation with an irregular in the pub:
Celtic's Scott Brown was unhappy with Eduardo's antics

"Excuse me mate. What's the name of the Celtic keeper?"
"Boruc"
"All right, mate I only asked!"

I tell you it's a laugh a flaming minute down our gaff.

Wenger adjusted his official line of 'I didn't see it' to 'he was probably trying to get out of the way what with his horribly shattered leg only just being fixed 'n' that'.

It's a persuasive argument. I'd use it meself if he was my kid playing in my team. I don't want to even think about the state of that lad's leg ever again.

But the fact is that Eduardo's headlong theatrical plummet was symptomatic of a great malaise in our game. Namely that a forward passing a prone keeper is pretty much programmed to go down these days - even one who can appreciate how lucky he is to still be playing the beautiful game.

An onrushing goalie makes 'em stumble just as surely as Pavlov's dogs used to salivate. The fall is as inevitable as the sulk of a defeated Benitez or the jeers of a temporarily let-down Aston Villa fan.

So what to do about this flagrant and cowardly conmanship?The Scots are up for banning folks for a couple of matches - and Eduardo has now been charged by Uefa - but the point with the Gooners is that the damage has been done. The lad stepped up and slotted the pen and it was Game Over.

Anyway, what you want to do is change the players' behaviour and to me there is only one route: humiliation. Here's how I'd go about it:

1.If someone is pretty much proved to be a diver then they should be treated as one. Don't ban them. Make them play the next game in mask and flippers. Forty-five minutes of Eduardo togged up like Jacques Bloomin Cousteau charging up and down the left flank should make him change his ways.

2. If you do want to enforce a ban then don't let the sneaky little oik have the afternoon off. Clad him out in the wetsuit and the oxygen tanks and make him watch the game through the walls of a water-filled glass cube on the touchline.

Maybe Noel Edmonds could do that hilarious filling the tank with gunk thing that he used to do on House Party. Lord, I miss Edmonds. Covering someone with tons of funny-coloured paint is just about as hilarious as life can get!

3. Send the offender to primary schools across the local area and get them to look into the Disney innocent eyes of the child-fans and get him to explain what the hell he was trying to do as he flopped on to the floor like some two-bit model onto a mattress in a cut-price bed commercial. See how they respond when some naive waif with teary eyes bleats "Say it ain't so, Eduardo".

4. Pursuing the diving theme, give them a good five-game ban and get them to spend that time joining in with one of them macho muppets that makes nature TV programmes about Wild And Dangerous Creatures.

In short, get them swimming with sharks in just their underpants. None of this iron cage on a cable rubbish either. Just the cheating little tumbler and a pack of toothy cartilaginous killing machines and a numpty with an in-mask mike shouting "Isn't this Brilliant, Stevie G!?" To be fair Mr Gerrard has on at least one occasion been marked by one J Barton so it's hardly going to terrify the lad to be submerged in the company of a Great White.

5. A Tom Daley masterclass - from the highest board you can find (brown trunks obligatory I would guess).

6. Failing this we must acknowledge and embrace the concept of simulation within the game and allow each team to nominate their designated diver. (A regular poster invented this term - please take the credit yourself son or I'll start telling everyone that I was the genius that came up with it).

One of our divers is missing - Ronaldo has moved on
The designated diver would be the only player allowed to collapse like a half-price self-assembly bookcase. Everyone else would be ignored if they got clogged in the box but the designated diver, subject to the scores proffered by a panel of nine faceless judges, could earn penalties for his side by legitimately cheating. Could be a winner.

I haven't passed comment on goings-on at Upton Park this week. There's not been a lot of hooliganism at the Riverside for the last 10 years or more. I was caught square in the face by a rogue parmo two years back - the hot cheese left a nasty blister and the garlic sauce doesn't half sting your eyes. That's the least the Irons and Miwwaww 'fans' involved deserve.

I'd use the CCTV pics to ID them and then the whole bunch of 30-something, beer-gutted brain-dead no-mates with no moral compass can become the guinea-pigs for a prototype floating prison.

Push 'em off at Falmouth - no prison officers need be involved bar locking them in - and let em drift towards God knows where while the rest of us watch the football.

(Although we could let some of em - if they behave well - jump into the ocean with errant Arsenal forwards and those lovely sharks)

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Arsenal's revival faces Man Utd test

Arsene Wenger's confidence in Arsenal is almost set in concrete - unbreakable even under the greatest strain. And yet it has rarely been as hopelessly misplaced as it was before a meeting with Manchester United last May.

Wenger watched Arsenal being outclassed in the Champions League semi-final first leg at Old Trafford and used this flimsy (make that non-existent) evidence to announce victory would be theirs in the return - even inviting one cynic to meet him at his triumphant media conference.

A slight problem then arose. United exposed a rather glaring failing in Wenger's optimism by scoring twice in the first 11 minutes at the Emirates, transforming what was meant to be a glory night into what the Arsenal manager confessed was the worst moment of his career.

Arsenal meet Manchester United again at Old Trafford on Saturday and Wenger once again travels with great hope after a virtually flawless start to the season, recording four emphatic victories.

It is not hope without foundation because circumstances, and more significantly personnel, have changed. Cristiano Ronaldo, the two-goal tormentor of Arsenal that night at the Emirates has gone to Real Madrid, and Wenger has gone some way to addressing a flaw in his side's make-up.



Arsene Wenger will fancy his side's chances against Manchester United

Wenger accepts confidence is a crucial commodity to take on your journey to Old Trafford. He never travels without it - and Arsenal should also have a plentiful supply after impressive opening exchanges in the new campaign.

It is a game laced with intrigue on both sides. Too much can be written into early defeats or victories, but this will undoubtedly prove a test of Wenger's renewal of his Arsenal team after last season fizzled out - and also an examination of United's potency post-Ronaldo.

And as the first meeting between two of the Premier League's four accepted heavyweights, points are to be made, markers to be laid down.

Wenger has already promised a positive approach, accepting Arsenal's passive nature undermined their hopes of winning the Champions League games.

In his own words Arsenal are "structured to go forward" - but he has also made what, on first evidence, looks to be a typically shrewd investment at the back in Belgian Thomas Vermaelen. The £10m paid to Ajax for Vermaelen and the £16m raked in from Manchester City for Kolo Toure seems a fair exchange.

Vermaelen, while not a giant in defensive terms, has played with reassuring authority and even got on the scoresheet against Everton. It will, however, be a test of him as well as Arsenal against Manchester United.

The question mark over Arsenal's start comes with the quality of opposition. Everton were a broken team almost before they took the field at Goodison Park as a result of the Joleon Lescott transfer saga - although it is churlish to undermine the quality of the football that brought a deserved 6-1 rout.

What cannot be underplayed is the excellence of the 2-0 win at Celtic. Giants have fallen on that hostile territory and a team with a faint heart does not win Champions League games at Celtic Park.

Wenger also drew on his time-honoured mantra about the potential of Arsenal's side, although four years without a trophy suggests this has also been used as a cover for under-achievement.

He revealed somebody told him (a keen statistician presumably) that Arsenal's average age against Celtic on Wednesday was only 23.9 - a figure that he believes ensures greater strength and improvement as the season progresses.

Vermaelen will be put to the test by Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and perhaps Michael Owen but he has the appearance of an unruffled individual.

Wenger will also have been delighted that Arsenal emphasised a vast gulf with Celtic while keeping Robin van Persie in reserve and only introducing Andrey Arshavin for 19 minutes. Their inspiration will be needed at Old Trafford, especially if Cesc Fabregas is still out with a hamstring injury.


Michael Owen scored his first Premier League goal for Manchester United in the 5-0 triumph at Wigan

If Arsenal can take at least a point, or even better, back to London on Saturday then the somewhat pessimistic predictions about their Premier League ambitions may be revisited, albeit marginally.

For United, it is an opportunity to reassert the authority that has been questioned after the sale of Ronaldo and the loss at Burnley. The 5-0 win at Wigan went some way towards addressing those questions, but it should be placed in the context of a display by Roberto Martinez's side that was as compliant for 45 minutes as Everton were for 90 minutes against Arsenal.

Arsenal's agonising defeat over two legs against United in the last four of the Champions League last season will still be fresh in Wenger's memory. It is easy to recall that pained expression as he sat in the Emirates media theatre that night and a win will go some way towards easing that lingering pain.

For United, a convincing win again against an Arsenal team that may yet emerge as a potential threat to a fourth successive Premier League title will be regarded by Sir Alex Ferguson as an important statement of intent.

This season may be in its infancy - but the stakes will be as high as ever at Old Trafford.

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Wenger angry over Eduardo charge

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has accused Uefa of conducting a "witch-hunt" after it charged Eduardo with diving in the Champions League clash with Celtic.

Striker Eduardo appeared to dive to win a penalty last Wednesday and Uefa could ban him for up to two games when its disciplinary body meets on 1 September.

"I find it a complete disgrace and unacceptable," said Wenger.

"It singles out a player to be a cheat and that is not acceptable. We will not accept the way Uefa has treated this."

If Eduardo is suspended he would miss Standard Liege away on 16 September and the home match with Olympiacos on 29 September.

And Wenger added: "I believe you can debate whether it is a penalty or not. But this charge implies there was intent and a desire to cheat the referee. Having seen again the pictures again, nothing is conclusive.

"It's a witch-hunt that we see and not an objective judgement of a case."

Wenger said the Croat may have taken evasive action in light of the career-threatening broken leg he sustained two seasons ago.



And the Frenchman added that European football's governing body would have difficulty proving the 26-year-old intended to deceive the referee.

"We will defend our player as far as we can because he is not being treated fairly," said Wenger.

"It's funny in football because you can break the legs of players and it doesn't make a debate for anybody.

"I'm the first to say that it doesn't look like a penalty but it's another thing to say that he went down with intent. I wish good luck in proving that having seen the pictures again."

In charging Eduardo, Wenger claimed Uefa had set off down a dangerous path whereby any decision made by an official can be contested after the match.

He said: "There is completely lack of logic in this case. Why? Because people have reacted emotionally.


Eduardo wins a penalty after going down in the penalty area

"This case has been ruled by the media and emotionally by Scotland, by the Scottish FA and by Scottish people working at Uefa.

"I've fought my whole life against cheating and I've seen some obvious cases where Uefa didn't intervene. On and off the pitch things have happened where no action was taken.

"But now the existing rules of football have been changed just for one case so we will from now on challenge every single decision that is made in Europe by the referees.

"This is the first time since I've been in football that the judgement made by the referee is not accepted by the football bodies."

There appeared to be no contact between Eduardo and Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc but referee Manuel Gonzalez still gave a penalty midway through the first half.

After Eduardo converted the resulting spot kick, the Gunners went on to win 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium. They won 5-1 on aggregate to secure a spot in the group stages.

Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith has called for the Brazil-born Eduardo to be banned.


"Eduardo showed disrespect to the game by his actions," he said.

"We have shown courage to use retrospective punishment when it comes to simulation. I'd urge Uefa to do so."

Uefa president Michel Platini believes additional assistant referees behind each goal line would combat diving.

He said: "One day players will give up simulating because refs will see them. I am convinced that you have referees nearby, then you will stop this."

Celtic had travelled to the Emirates 2-0 down from the first leg in Glasgow, when Arsenal had been the better side but had scored with a deflection and an own goal.

The first goal in London, then, was likely to be crucial and Boruc was incensed when Gonzalez pointed to the spot.


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Video evidence can help referees - Benitez
And Boruc's team-mate Danny Fox congratulated Uefa for taking action against Eduardo and said he would welcome a ban for the Gunners player.

"It shows that it doesn't matter who you play for and who you are, if you are going to bring the rules into disrepute you should be made an example of, and fair play to Uefa for doing that," said the Celtic defender.

"You can't do anything about the game but I think a ban to make an example of him would stop other players doing it. No-one likes to be done by cheating.

"If you ask any of the Arsenal players honestly, they will way it wasn't a penalty either."

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Sunderland snap up Lyon's Mensah

Sunderland have completed the loan signing of Ghana defender John Mensah from Lyon until the end of the season.

The 26-year-old joins new signings Paulo da Silva, Lee Cattermole, Lorik Cana, Fraizer Campbell and Darren Bent at the Stadium of Light this summer.

The Black Cats will have the option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season.

"John is relishing the challenge of making an impact at Sunderland," boss Steve Bruce told the club website.

Mensah added: "I'm very delighted to join Sunderland today, it's like a dream come true for me because it's not easy to play in England.

"I want to tell my fans that they should not expect magic from me but that I will be giving my best.

"I have a lot of experience from Italy and Europe, while I have played a lot of games for my country and competed in the World Cup and the African Nations Cup.

"Because of this it is not difficult for me to play in England. Now I hope I can do well here in Sunderland and I will listen and do whatever the coach tells me to do."

Mensah has also had spells in Italian football with Modena, Chievo and Genoa, as well as Rennes in France.



The defender was a key player of the Ghana squad - along with Chelsea's Michael Essien, and Sulley Muntari of Inter Milan - which reached the 2006 World Cup finals.

Bruce added: "I'm a huge admirer of John having seen him on a number of occasions. I'm delighted to have added him to our back line.

"He's a solid, uncompromising defender who adds that extra steel that I believe is essential to have in the top flight."

Mensah will now compete for a place in the Black Cats' rearguard with Anton Ferdinand, Danny Collins, Nyron Nosworthy and Paulo Da Silva.

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Barcelona seal Super Cup triumph

Barcelona warmed up for the new season by lifting the European Super Cup as Pedro's extra-time goal earned them a 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.

The substitute played a one-two with Lionel Messi and slotted home five minutes before the end of the game.

It was an uninspiring contest on a pitch that cut up badly at the Stade Louis II in Monaco and both teams struggled to create opportunities.

Julius Aghahowa forced Victor Valdes to save, but Shakhtar rarely threatened.

Barca, who became the first team to win the treble of Champions League, La Liga and Spanish Cup last season, open their league campaign on Monday against Sporting Gijon.

They fielded summer signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front, but the £60m Swedish striker had a quiet start to his Barca career in a disjointed match on a poor pitch in the principality.



The Catalans - missing the injured Andres Iniesta - struggled to find their rhythm as passes uncharacteristically went astray on a regular basis.

Uefa Cup winners Shakhtar were content to contain and offered little in the way of an attacking threat, with striker Luiz Adriano starved of possession.

Barca thought they should have had a penalty just before the break when Messi's free-kick appeared to strike an arm, but referee Frank De Bleeckere waved away their appeals.

It was much the same story after the interval as chances failed to materialise, Ibrahimovic in particular toiling as he began the lengthy process of trying to justify his lofty price tag.

Messi went on a couple of jinking runs at the heart of the Ukraine side's defence, but even the Argentine wizard was being frustrated in his attempts to open the game up.

Ibrahimovic shot wide from 20 yards when he should have teed up Thierry Henry, and the Swede's miserable night was compounded when his penalty appeals were turned down shortly before being he was taken off by coach Pep Guardiola.

With time running out Henry missed his kick at the far post when it seemed easier to score, but extra-time loomed large - a scenario not ideal for either team, especially on such an energy-sapping surface.


Messi and Srna have a disagreement

Shakhtar captain Darijo Srna was obviously not best pleased at the prospect as he appeared to headbutt Messi in injury time - though the Croatian avoided punishment as Messi was booked for his furious reaction.

When the extra period started Shakhtar improved, substitute Aghahowa latching on to a clever pass and hammering in a shot that Victor Valdes parried away from danger.

But Barca's class eventually told and after Messi twice went close from range he brilliantly teed up Pedro to slot past Andriy Pyatov.

The Catalans' celebrations after the goal and on the final whistle left observers in no doubt whatsoever about how keen they were to get their hands on the trophy - the fifth Guardiola has won in only 14 months as a manager.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Barcelona: Valdes, Dani Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal, Xavi, Toure Yaya (Busquets 100), Keita, Messi, Ibrahimovic (Pedro 81), Henry (Bojan 96).
Subs Not Used: Pinto, Gudjohnsen, Maxwell, Muniesa.

Booked: Messi, Pedro.

Goals: Pedro 115.

Shakhtar Donetsk: Pyatov, Srna, Kucher, Chigrinsky, Rat, Ilsinho, Gai (Kobin 78), Hubschman, Willian (Aghahowa 91), Fernandinho (Jadson 78), Luiz Adriano.
Subs Not Used: Khudzamov, Gladkyy, Polyanskyi, Chyzhov.

Booked: Ilsinho, Srna, Kucher, Kobin.

Att: 17,000.

Ref: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium).

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Mendes warns of tough Euro test

Rangers midfielder Pedro Mendes has warned supporters not to underestimate the club's Champions League opponents.

The Ibrox outfit have been drawn to face Sevilla, Stuttgart and Romanian champions Unirea Urziceni in Group G.

"We could've been drawn against bigger clubs but the teams we will face will still be very tough," Mendes told the Rangers website.

"We know that Sevilla and Stuttgart will be very strong. I think it will be a very competitive group."

Mendes conceded that he knew little about the Romanians, but said he was looking forward to facing all three sides in Group G.

"We have to look forward to the games and if we prepare ourselves well, which I'm sure we will, we'll be ready for the challenges ahead, anything is possible," the Portuguese added.

Mendes said he knew Sevilla "very well" and will come up against former Spurs team-mate Freddie Kanoute.

"Freddie is a terrific striker, very powerful, skilful and he can score goals," said the Rangers midfielder.

"He's now one of the top forwards in Spain, a fantastic player.

"We'll have to watch him but all over the pitch Sevilla are strong and I look forward to facing them.

"The main thing will be the home games anyway, they will be massive for us."

Rangers chief executive Martin Bain said everyone at Ibrox was looking forward to the group games
"Sevilla are Uefa Cup winners twice in the last five years," he said.

"Stuttgart have now qualified for the Champions League three times and each time have been drawn to face Rangers. We beat them at Ibrox and lost in Germany on both occasions.

"So, hopefully we can go one better this time."

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British clubs avoid Euro giants

The five British clubs in the Champions League were handed favourable draws for the group stage of the competition.

Last season's finalists Manchester United take on CSKA Moscow, Besiktas and Wolfsburg in Group B.

Liverpool face Lyon, Fiorentina and Debrecen while Chelsea play Porto, Atletico Madrid and APOEL Nicosia.

Arsenal have been drawn against AZ Alkmaar, Olympiakos and Standard Liege, while Rangers will play Sevilla, Stuttgart and Unirea Urziceni.

The four English clubs were all in pot one - and avoided Real Madrid and Inter Milan in pot two.

Big-spending Real Madrid have been drawn in Group C, along with AC Milan, Marseille and Zurich.


Chelsea were defeated last season by an injury-time Andres Iniesta goal in their semi-final against eventual champions Barcelona.

"We start again and are always looking to get one step further," said Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon after Thursday's draw in Monaco.

"There are no easy games or groups but overall not too much travel and we have managed to avoid one of the big ones."

Manchester United will return to CSKA's Luzhniki Stadium, where they beat Chelsea in the 2008 final, and chief executive David Gill said: "Overall we have got to be happy with our draw.

"We are looking forward to going back to Moscow after those great scenes in 2008."

However, boss Sir Alex Ferguson played down his side's chances, telling the club's website: "These are difficult ties, especially the trips to Russia and Turkey.


Manchester United will return to the site of their 2008 title win
"CSKA have developed strongly in the last few years, and games in Turkey are always difficult.

"We also know the quality that we're up against with Wolfsburg, with what they achieved in the Bundesliga last season."

By contrast, Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow said his club were "pretty happy" with their group.

"We have two very well-known European opponents, who will not bring us any surprises," he said.

Reds legend and club ambassador Kenny Dalglish added: "It could have been worse but it could have been easier as well.

"You never dismiss Italians - they will be well-organised and very effective, and Lyon have had great success in this competition."

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis was also wary about the opposition his side face in Group H.

"Some might look at it and see it as an automatic pass but we don't see it like that," Gazidis said.

"We think it will be very tough. But we won't lose our focus. We have a very determined group."

Rangers, in pot two, could have faced any of the English clubs but appear to have been handed a relatively favourable draw that includes the unknown quantity of Unirea Urziceni.

The Romanian side, along with Wolfsburg, Rubin Kazan, AZ Alkmaar, Standard Liege, Debrecen, APOEL Nicosia and FC Zurich, make their Champions League debut in this year's tournament.

Gers chief executive Martin Bain said: "It's a good group. Sevilla are Uefa Cup winners twice in the last five years.

"Stuttgart have now qualified for the Champions League three times and each time have been drawn to face Rangers.

"We beat them at Ibrox and lost in Germany on both occasions, so hopefully we can go one better this time."

There are 32 teams left in the competition, split into eight groups of four, with the first matches to be played on 15/16 September.

United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Rangers all reached the first round automatically, while Arsenal eased to a 5-1 aggregate victory over Celtic in qualifying to clinch their place in the lucrative stages of Europe's premier competition.

The eight group winners plus the runners-up go through to the knockout stages of the competition, while the teams finishing third go into the Europa League.

Real Madrid's Bernabeu Stadium will stage the Champions League final on Saturday, 22 May 2010

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Bayern Munich agree Robben deal

Real Madrid have agreed to sell former Chelsea winger Arjen Robben to Bayern Munich for a reported £22m.

Robben will have a medical on Friday and Bayern chief Uli Hoeness hopes the Dutchman will be able to play against champions VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday.

The 25-year-old had been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu since the arrivals of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, with Tottenham reportedly interested.

Hoeness said: "He will make our team even more attractive."

Robben earned a reputation at both Chelsea and Real as an exciting playmaker but one who was easily injured, and he only played 50 matches in two seasons in Spain. He has 43 caps for the Netherlands.

606: DEBATE
Robben to Munich, Ribery to Chelsea?

bluedroog
Hoeness, Bayern's general manager, added: "He's one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe. He's always been one of the players we wanted.

"Our intention is to have Robben play on the right and Franck Ribery on the left. If it all goes perfectly and without any hitches, it would be theoretically possible for him to play on Saturday."

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Aston Villa 2 - 1 Rapid Vienna (agg 2 - 2)

Aston Villa were denied a place in the Uefa Europa League after Rapid Vienna knocked them out of the competition on the away-goals rule.

Ashley Young twice won first-half penalties and although his first effort was saved, James Milner levelled the aggregate scores with the second.

John Carew extended Villa's lead with a low strike early in the second half.

But minutes after Nikica Jelavic had missed from six yards, the Croatian scored the decisive goal from 10 yards.

Villa had 15 minutes left to find the goal that would give them a 3-2 aggregate win but it was the visiting team who looked the most likely to score again, with the heavily involved Jelavic somehow failing to convert another good opportunity.

The result means Martin O'Neill's team, who defeated Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League on Monday, miss out on Friday's draw for the inaugural Europa League.

The attendance suggested Villa's exit will not weigh too heavily on the club's supporters. The match was played in front of a half empty Villa Park but the Vienna fans, many waving their shirts around rather than wearing them, made plenty of noise throughout.


The away fans had relatively little to encourage them during a low-key opening to the tie, although Stefan Hoffmann went close with a curling free-kick.

It took Villa a while to threaten, although Milner should have produced a more telling cross after breaking down the right with eight minutes gone. In plenty of space, the midfielder blasted his cross beyond a completely unmarked Emile Heskey.

Villa only sporadically threatened, but the home team won their first penalty following a run of tremendous determination by the increasingly influential Young.

The winger was brought down outside the Vienna area but regained his feet as the referee played an advantage and surged into the box, where he was fouled was Markus Heikkinen.

Helge Payer saved Young's disappointing penalty with a dive to his right but could do nothing to stop Milner's crisp spot kick high to his left after 38 minutes.

The second spot kick followed another surging run into the Vienna area by Young, although there did not appear to be much contact with Andreas Dober.

Vienna rallied either side of the break and almost equalised through Hoffmann but his crisp strike was brilliantly headed off the line by Carlos Cuellar. The clearance was made even more impressive by the fact Hoffman's strike took a slight deflection on its way to goal.

But the home team took the lead in the tie when Carew, making his first appearance of the season, cut in from the right, wrong footed his marker with a crisp turn and drilled a low strike beyond Payer.


Rapid Vienna players celebrate their famous result
Vienna needed only an away goal to regain the advantage and introduced 6ft 7in striker Stefan Maierhofer, who soon had the ball in the net but saw his effort ruled out for a foul on keeper Bradley Guzan.

Villa had opportunities to kill off the tie - and Milner should have slotted home but missed the target after Payer parried a shot across goal from Young.

Vienna continued to press and should have equalised through Jelavic after Guzan parried a spectacular overhead kick from Maierhofer into the Croatian's path.

Jelavic was unmarked six yards from goal but missed the target. His profligacy went unpunished, however, as he did convert another gilt-edged chance with 13 minutes left.

Another Guzan parry fell invitingly and this time Jelavic slotted home into the bottom corner from 10 yards.

Villa rallied, with Fabian Delph going close with a curling shot and Heskey narrowly stabbing over after a clever near-post run, but the final clear opening of the tie fell to Vienna.

Jelavic got the ball stuck under his foot yards from goal and saw his two efforts blocked by Guzan. The second ran invitingly to Hoffmann, who blazed over from 14 yards

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Clubs await Champions League fate

Five British clubs will discover their Champions League opponents when the draw for the group stage is made at 1700 BST on Thursday.

Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Scottish champions Rangers will all be involved.

The 32 teams will be split into eight groups of four, with the first matches to be played on 15/16 September.

The four English sides are among the top seeds, with Rangers in the second tier with Real Madrid and Inter Milan.

That means Rangers could face any one of the English quartet, while United could meet Madrid - and their former star Cristiano Ronaldo.

United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Rangers all reached the first round automatically, while Arsenal eased to a 5-1 aggregate victory over Celtic in qualifying to clinch their place in the lucrative stages of Europe's premier competition.

Wolfsburg, Rubin Kazan, AZ Alkmaar, Standard Liege, Unirea Urziceni, Debrecen, APOEL Nicosia and FC Zurich will make their Champions League debut in this year's tournament.

The eight group winners plus the runners-up go through to the knockout stages of the competition, while the teams finishing third go into the Europa League.

Real Madrid's Bernabeu Stadium will stage the Champions League final on Saturday, 22 May 2010.

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Eduardo defended over dive claims

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has refused to condemn Eduardo after the striker was accused of diving in the Champions League win over Celtic at the Emirates.

There appeared to be no contact between Eduardo and Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc but referee Manuel Gonzalez still gave a penalty that Eduardo converted.

Following the 3-1 win, Wenger said: "I do not go as far to say Eduardo dived.

"He went down, for what reason I do not know. Having seen it again on television, it doesn't look a penalty."

The Gunners boss added: "I believe really that it was not a penalty but I am also not sure that the keeper didn't touch him with his right knee, having seen it again.

"I do not think he (Eduardo) would have complained if the penalty was not given.

"Is it acceptable? I never asked in my life any guy to dive to win a penalty but sometimes the players go down because there is no other way to escape the tackling of the keeper. Sometimes they dive."

Wenger attempted to shrug off controversy by claiming that the Gunners were the dominant side as they booked their place in the group stages of the competition.

"I must still say that we were likely always to score the first goal because Eduardo had a great chance before the penalty," he said. "We always looked in control of the game."

He also felt Arsenal had been the victims of dodgy penalty decisions in the past, recalling an incident in the Champions League defeat against Liverpool in 2008.

"We got a penalty two years ago in the quarter-final of the Champions League at Liverpool that made the difference when Ryan Babel dived," said the Frenchman.

"Nobody ever apologised to us. It was a blatant dive and nobody spoke about it."


Celtic manager Tony Mowbray admitted that the penalty was not a key factor in the overall result.

"The referee has given it. But, if the TV pictures show it should not have been given, so be it," he said.

"Over the two legs, Arsenal had more quality and deserved to go through."

The result and performance against Celtic delighted Wenger, who felt it was the perfect preparation for Saturday's Premier League trip to Manchester United.

"We are now in the top, top league in Europe, with all the big names," he said. "Our team here was an average age of 23.9 years. That means if we can get out of the group stage, then in six months we can be even stronger.

"That is what we want to focus on, to continue to improve our team play, the speed of our game and show that we have made big improvements come Saturday. I am happy to go to Old Trafford because it is the first big, big test.

"You want always to have a high level of confidence when you go to Old Trafford, we have that at the moment. For us, it is most important to recover physically because Manchester United did not play in the League Cup tonight."

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Boro defender Huth set for Stoke

Middlesbrough defender Robert Huth has undergone a medical ahead of a club-record transfer to Stoke City.

BBC Radio Stoke also understands that the Premier League side are weighing up a deal to sign fellow Boro star Tuncay, in a deal worth a combined £10m.

"Robert came over here early in his career and did well at Chelsea and Middlesbrough," Stoke assistant manager Peter Reid told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We know all about him, he has plenty of experience in the Premier League."

The fee for Huth is expected to eclipse the £5.5m that Stoke paid Reading for striker Dave Kitson in June 2008.

The 25-year-old has won 17 international caps for Germany, scoring two goals.

Tuncay, 27, has scored 15 goals in 58 appearances for Turkey, and finished as Boro's top scorer in the 2008-09 season, netting eight times in 33 starts.



Tuncay was Boro's top scorer in 2008-09 with eight goals in 33 games
Stoke manager Tony Pulis is desperate to strengthen his squad before the transfer deadline, with Dean Whitehead their only major arrival during the summer.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has been keen to keep the nucleus of his squad together, following their relegation from the Premier League in May.

England midfielder Stewart Downing, Egyptian striker Mido and goalkeeper Ross Turnbull have been the only high-profile names to leave the Riverside during the close season.

Stoke hope to complete the deals for Huth and Tuncay in time for both players to be involved in the Premier League game against Sunderland at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

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Midfielder Dikgacoi joins Fulham

Fulham have completed the signing of South Africa international Kagisho Dikgacoi for an undisclosed fee.

The 24-year-old midfielder has joined the club from Durban-based Golden Arrows on a two-year contract.

The deal was completed after Dikgacoi, who had been on trial at Craven Cottage, was granted a work permit.

"I have been given a wonderful chance to be part of a fantastic team playing in one of the best leagues in the world," he told the Fulham website.

"This is something very special to me and an opportunity that I am going to grab with both hands."

The move to Fulham will provide Dikgacoi with valuable experience before next summer's World Cup, which South Africa will host.


He has so far won 28 international caps and has been named in the squad for a friendly international against Germany on 5 September.

"I am so happy that my transfer to Fulham has been finalised.

"I have spent most of the summer training with the players and getting to know them and all of the coaching staff," he said.

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