Mertesacker: First 20 minutes crucial for Arsenal

After losing their first Premier League match to Aston Villa, the Gunners centre-back feels that a solid start against Fenerbahce will be vital for their Champions League hopes

Per Mertesacker believes that a solid start will be vital to Arsenal's hopes against Fenerbahce.

The Gunners lost their first Premier League game of the season at home to Aston Villa on Saturday and, with injuries prevalent, are set to include four young rookies in their squad for the Champions League third qualifying round match.

The German defender feels that his side need to quieten the infamously raucous Turkish crowd if they are to secure a good result.

"It is absolutely fantastic over there, so you have to be aware of the opening 20 minutes," he told Arsenal's official website. "You have to keep [the home fans] as quiet as possible, which is very hard.

"You have to play consistently over the whole 90 minutes and it is very important to be very focused on the first 15 to 20 minutes. We need to be ready and defend properly.

"The first big target of the season is to qualify for the Champions League group stage. I know that it will be very, very tough - especially away from home.

"We need to go through with good form and be at our best. We want to show our fans at home that we are ready for the Champions League this season.

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Luka Modric ‘targeted by Man United’

Manchester United could turn their attention to Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric after it appeared increasingly likely that Old Trafford target Cesc Fabregas would stay at Barcelona, according to the Times.

GettyImagesModric has been on United's radar before.

- Brewin: What's keeping Ed?

The paper reports that United are preparing to bid £25 million for former Tottenham Hotspur star Modric as manager David Moyes looks to add to his midfield options.

Modric has been unable to command a regular first-team place since moving to the Bernabeu in 2012, and had interested United during his days at White Hart Lane.

Midway through last season, Modric had said he would welcome a return to the Premier League – but the change of management in Madrid, where Carlo Ancelotti has taken over from Jose Mourinho, could offer him the chance of a fresh start.

Speaking at the weekend, Moyes said he was confident United would make more signings before the transfer window closed - but revealed he was unsure whether they would attempt a third bid for Fabregas after seeing two previous offers turned down.

"I couldn't tell you if there will be another bid," he told a press conference in Hong Kong.

"I never at any time said I knew we would get him. I just said we had made offers. They have been rejected. We will take stock from there and decide what we are going to do next.

"But what we have here is a really good squad of players already. You mustn't forget about the quality that is already here at Manchester United.”

United have also failed in attempts to bring in Thiago Alcantara, who joined Bayern Munich, and Everton left-back Leighton Baines, while Moyes has also been linked with Modric, Marouane Fellaini and Yohan Cabaye.

He added: "Undoubtedly we are hoping to add to it [the squad]. I am quite confident we will do, certainly before the window shuts. We have got until September 2."

So far, United's only summer signings are winger Wilfried Zaha - whose £15 million move from Crystal Palace was arranged by Sir Alex Ferguson before his retirement - and Uruguayan youngster Guillermo Varela.

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MANCHESTER UNITED vs Kitchee (5-2) All Goals and Full Highlights 29/07/2013

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Tottenham considering bid for Edin Dzeko

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Evening Report | July 29:
Tottenham could launch a bid for Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko this summer, according to reports. The Bosnian international is the club's back-up plan, should a move for first-choice target Roberto Soldado fall through.

Arsenal are set to make an improved bid for Liverpool striker Luis Suarez. The Gunners have already had two bids rejected, but reports claim they're ready to submit a third offer worth up to £42.5m as they look to push through a deal for the Uruguayan international.

David Moyes says Manchester United are "taking stock" over a third bid for Cesc Fabregas after Barcelona announced that the midfielder would not be sold. Moyes refused to rule out another offer for the Spain international, and revealed he still intends to add to his squad in the coming weeks.

Martin Montoya feels Barcelona are in good shape after hammering Valerenga 7-0 on Saturday. The Barca full-back is confident his side will adapt quickly to Gerardo Martino's tactics following the appointment of Tito Vilanova's replacement.

Jose Mourinho has admitted Eden Hazard has a lot of talent, but wants the Chelsea star to add more goals to his game. The new Blues boss says he will help Hazard transform his great talent into more goals, assists and big-game performances after an impressive first season in the Premier League.

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Rio Ferdinand backs current Manchester United squad to win trophies

he Premier League champions have only signed two new players since last season but the 34-year-old is confident that they are capable of winning trophies under David Moyes

Rio Ferdinand believes that Manchester United's squad is good enough to retain the Premier League title without further signings.

The Red Devils have failed with two bids to sign former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona and also missed out on Thiago , who opted to join his former boss, Pep Guardiola, at Bayern Munich.

Goal exclusively revealed on Monday that United are considering a move to trigger Marouane Fellaini's £22 million release clause at Everton, with Fabregas looking increasingly likely to remain at Camp Nou, but Ferdinand is confident ahead of the new campaign regardless of what David Moyes does between now and end of September.


"We're confident. If we had to go into the season with the players that we've got now, I'd be more than confident and have high hopes of doing well and winning trophies," he told Sky Sports News.

"If the manager adds to that and chooses to add to that, then great - but it remains to be seen."

Moyes also seems pleased with the options at his disposal after United ended their pre-season tour of Asia with a 5-2 victory over Kitchee on Monday.

"I'm taking away a great experience of my first trip with Manchester United in general and what the football club means around the world," Moyes enthused, "but I've also had a chance to get to know the players, try and settle into my new environment and the players to get to know me as well.

"They've been working with a great manager for a long time, a lot of them, so it's going to take time but I've enjoyed working with them - they're incredibly professional and I can see why they're champions.

"The way they conduct themselves and go about their business, I've been very impressed by the
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The Red Devils are weighing up a bid to meet the Everton star's release clause, having lost heart in their pursuit of the Barcelona midfielder

EXCLUSIVE 
By Paul Clennam 

Manchester United are set to turn their attentions to Marouane Fellaini as their hopes of luring Cesc Fabregas away from Barcelona continue to fade.

The Premier League champions are considering a move to trigger the Everton star's €25.5 million release clause, with Fabregas continuing to look likely to remain a Camp Nou player ahead of talks with coach Gerardo Martino.

Fellaini, who was seen dining at Rio Ferdinand's Rosso restaurant in Manchester over the weekend, will see his release clause increase on August 1 and, as such, United are quickly readying an offer.

Sources close to the club have also indicated that new boss David Moyes is considering a move for Fellaini's team-mate Leighton Baines in what would be a double raid on his former employers. The left-back, who was targeted by Sir Alex Ferguson last summer, is understood to be available for between €17.5m and €23.3m.

The Belgian currently earns €87,000-a-week at Goodison Park and Old Trafford officials are willing to sanction a salary package upwards of that if they submit a bid for his signature. 

Moyes, who brought the former Standard Liege star to the Premier League in 2008, is keen to bolster his central-midfield options, with Paul Scholes having retired and Darren Fletcher's ongoing recovery from illness.

United are understood to be losing heart in their pursuit of Fabregas, who emerged as the the club's top summer target after they missed out on Thiago Alcantara, who joined Bayern Munich earlier in July. 

Barcelona officials have long insisted that the former Arsenal captain is not for sale this summer, despite repeated and public enquiries from United.

Fellaini is seen as a cheaper alternative in central midfield, and hinted that he would be open to following his former boss to the Premier League champions in May. 

"I only want to go to a club where the manager ­really wants me," said the 25-year-old. "In 2008, Everton did everything to convince me, especially David Moyes. He made me the player I am now."

The Toffees star has impressed United in recent years, scoring twice in his last three games against the Old Trafford side.

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Chelsea vs ARSENAL 2-1

EPL : Chelsea vs ARSENAL 2-1 English Commentary by MRLooka

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Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United 1-1

EPL : Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United 1-1 by MRLooka

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Liverpool vs Norwich 5:0 MOTD

Liverpool vs Norwich 5:0 MOTD by UCL2410

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Manchester City v Reading

Manchester City v Reading by dm_50d65852b8efa

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Newcastle vs Reading 1:2

Newcastle vs Reading 1:2 MOTD by UCL2410

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Wigan vs Sunderland 2:3

Wigan vs Sunderland 2:3 MOTD by UCL2410

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West Ham vs QPR 1:1

West Ham vs QPR 1:1 MOTD by UCL2410

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West Brom vs Aston Villa 2:2

West Brom vs Aston Villa 2:2 MOTD by UCL2410

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EPL : Swansea City vs Stoke City 3-1

EPL : Swansea City vs Stoke City 3-1 by MRLooka

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Never again: Wayne Rooney has taken his last Manchester United penalty claims Keane

Roy Keane claims Wayne Rooney will never take another penalty for Manchester United because Sir Alex Ferguson will be "fuming" about his latest miss.

Rooney blazed a spot-kick over the bar in Wednesday's FA Cup win over West Ham, and has missed five of his nine penalties for the club over the last 12 months.

The striker has staggeringly fluffed 10 out of 27 spot-kicks for United since moving to Old Trafford in 2004.

Fergie's reaction to Rooney's miss during United's narrow 1-0 FA Cup win on Wednesday said it all as he turned his head away in disgust.

Keane claims his former team-mate has shown he is not up to taking penalties and expects Ferguson to hand the spot-kick duties to fellow hitman Robin van Persie.

"He [Ferguson] will be fuming," said the United legend. "I think that will be the last penalty Rooney takes for United.

"He could have made things a lot easier. The last thing the manager would have wanted was for the game to go to extra-time.

"Wayne has missed 10 now and that is far too many. Clearly he is not up to to it in terms of taking penalties. Van Persie I'm sure will be delighted to take over that role."

While Keane was typically brutal in his criticism of Rooney, team-mate Ryan Giggs was more sympathetic.

Giggs, who is United's only player with a 100 per cent record from the spot this season, shrugged off Rooney's failures.

He does not see it as a major problem, and United have won all five games in which they have missed penalties this season.

"I think it's one of those things," said Giggs. "Wayne, under pressure, has scored so many crucial penalties for us.

"I mean, it's not so bad when it doesn't alter the result or it doesn't really matter on the night, but Wayne will be concerned because he wants to score goals."

Spotty herberts: Manchester United's penalties this season

Taker                      Date and game              Scored?   Result

Robin van Persie     Sept 2 v Southampton   No           Won 3-2

Javier Hernandez    Sept 15 v Wigan             No          Won 4-0

Nani                       Sept 19 v Galatasaray     No          Won 1-0

Robin van Persie     Sept 23 v Liverpool        Yes         Won 2-1

Ryan Giggs             Oct 31 v Chelsea            Yes         Lost 5-4

Wayne Rooney       Nov 3 v Arsenal               No          Won 2-1

Wayne Rooney       Nov 7 v Braga                 Yes          Won 3-1

Wayne Rooney       Dec 1 v Reading             Yes          Won 4-3

Wayne Rooney       Jan 16 v West Ham         No            Won 1-0

Despite their five FA Cup successes under Fergie, United have not lifted the Cup since 2004 and Giggs admits this is not good enough.

"We haven't done as well as we should have done over the last 10 years," said Giggs, who, along with Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher, is the only current member of the United squad to have won the FA Cup with the club.

"We had a great record in the 1990s and we want to get to that final.

"We want to have a chance of winning it because there are so many players who have won a lot in that dressing room, who still haven't won the FA Cup, so we want to go far."

* WILFRIED ZAHA is ready for the Premier League NOW – according to the manager who put the Crystal Palace star on the road to fame, writes Alan Nixon.

Manchester United are closing in on a deal, and Dougie Freedman believes the youngster can cope with the big time immediately.

Freedman, who will send his Bolton side into action against Zaha this weekend, said: “In my opinion Wilfried Zaha is ready to step into the Premier League and a top-four side now.

“There is no doubt in my mind that he can play for a team like that. He went into the England set-up and did the same.

“I have known him since he was 12. He is a wonderful young guy who has really dedicated himself to the game.

“He has arrogance on the pitch and is very humble off it, a wonderful combination.”

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QPR Rumors: Loic Remy, Yann M'Vila Double Signing Would Bolster Hoops' Attack

Queens Park Rangers are in the process of bolstering their side as they try to make a run at staving off relegation. 

Marseille forward Loic Remy and Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila both appear to be joining the Harry Redknapp's struggling side. 

The BBC tweeted the news on M'Vila:

BBC Sport

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@BBCSport

QPR boss Harry Redknapp also confirms that a deal to sign France international Yann M'Vila is 'very close'.#bbcfootball

16 Jan 13

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The BBC also passed along this quote from Redknapp that shows how close things are to being done with Remy:

BBC Sport

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@BBCSport

QPR boss Harry Redknapp on @bbc5live: "Loic Remy has had a medical and I think that's all sorted now."#bbcfootball

16 Jan 13

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This is a real coup for QPR. For starters, they have seemingly stolen Remy from the clutches of Newcastle.

The Daily Mail's Colin Young shed some light on that situation with this report on the dealings involving Remy:

It is understood Rangers offered double the wages Newcastle did to put together an £80,000-a-week package for Remy, who was Alan Pardew’s No 1 target following the sale of Demba Ba to Chelsea.

Both of these are important and necessary moves for QPR. They are currently last in the EPL with just 14 points, and it has been a dismal campaign that leaves them likely staring at relegation. 

At 17, QPR is tied for the fewest goals scored in the EPL. Their defense has shown real flashes, but the offense has largely been a lost cause. Both of these probably new players will instantly bolster that attack. 

Relegation is not a fate the club need to yet accept, and these moves are a clear sign they are going to try and make a run at avoiding it by capitalizing on some recent momentum. 

QPR has taken four points from their last two EPL matches, which have come against top competition. Last time on the EPL pitch, they held a powerful Tottenham squad to a scoreless draw. And in the EPL match prior to that one, they earned a big upset win over Chelsea. 

These moves will bring a nice infusion of explosive talent, and it will ensure that the enthusiasm within the team from their recent success is built upon

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