While might have eventually missed out on a Champions League return back in May, the Gunners have really come flying out of the traps this time around.

Laying down another marker over the weekend as they breezed their way to a 3-0 romp away at Premier League returners Bournemouth, Arteta s youngsters have won each of their opening three top-flight contests.

Enjoying what has been a stellar summer in north London and watching the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko make an immediate boost since arriving at the Emirates, Arsenal have gained plenty of early-season praise.

However, despite already splashing the cash this summer, it has been reported that Arteta is not done there.

Along with stating on Monday that Arsenal are planning a late swoo…

According to a recent report from Gazzetta dello Sport, Cristiano Ronaldo has opted to remain at Juventus for the 2021/22 season.

There had been great speculation as to what Ronaldo would do next with his career after a few years with the Old Lady. Now, it seems as if his immediate future has been guaranteed, although there’s no doubt in our mind that a similar question will be raised next summer if this deal does in fact go through.

Ronaldo still maintains his position as one of the best players in world football today and regardless of whether he stays or goes, we can’t see that changing anytime soon.

CR7 knows just how valuable he is to the Italian giants and he also knows that if he decided not to stay on their books, a parade of other clubs would be lin…

Antonio Conte believes Gary Cahill should be named in England s World Cup squad despite dropping the defender for Chelsea earlier this season.

Cahill was an unused substitute for matches against Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Barcelona over recent months.

The 32-year-old was also left out of Gareth Southgate s England selection for the March friendlies against Netherlands and Italy, with untried duo James Tarkowski and Alfie Mawson picked instead.

But he has returned to Conte s first XI for the past four matches and put in assured performances at the heart of the back three, a switch from the position on the left of the centre-backs that he filled during last season s Premier League title triumph.

It is that sort of pedigree that makes …

Chelsea coach Frank Lampard confirmed Antonio Rudiger and captain Cesar Azpilicueta discussed the alleged racist abuse by Tottenham fans towards the former with Premier League officials after Sunday s match.

The Blues ran out 2-0 winners at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but the contest was marred by an incident in the second half.

Spurs Son Heung-min was sent off for kicking out at Rudiger and the German reported to Azpilicueta that he had been targeted by racist chants soon after.

Lampard subsequently confirmed the pair raised the issue with Premier League officials after the fixture, while Spurs have launched their own investigation.

My understanding is that there was a racist comment, gesture or whatever that may be, Lampard told Sky Sports.

…

Southampton made it six games unbeaten in all competitions as they held Premier League champions Leicester City to a 0-0 draw at the King Power Stadium, though Charlie Austin missed a golden chance for the visitors in the second-half.

After an indifferent start to the season, Claude Puel s side have been in terrific form of late and frustrated Leicester for large spells of Sunday s clash, with Austin hitting the woodwork early on.

Claudio Ranieri s men did look dangerous in parts, with Jamie Vardy guilty of squandering a gilt-edged opportunity before half-time.

Austin showed similar profligacy with a misjudged chip midway through a second half of few clear-cut chances, with substitute Shinji Okazaki also flashing a header wide at the other end.

Howe…

Steve McClaren is reportedly close to re-joining Derby County as boss

According to reports from , Derby are in negotiations with former boss Steve McClaren with a view to him returning to the club.

There are reports that the discussions are going well. Those same reports suggest that McClaren could be re-appointed as Rams boss today at some stage.

It seems a very strange move for the Rams I must say considering the circumstances of his exit last summer.

McClaren has already been sacked by Derby

Steve McClaren was sacked by Derby in May 2015, after the Rams failed to make the Championship play-offs. The fact that County failed to make the play-offs was made all the more galling because they were in the top-six of the table for most of the campaign…

Turkish Super Lig outfit Sivasspor have announced the capture of John Utaka on a two-year deal.

The 31-year-old had been without a club since leaving Montpellier in July following the expiry of his contract with the French side.

And he has now elected to move to Turkey with Sivasspor, who are managed by former Brazil international and Real Madrid full-back Roberto Carlos.

Utaka began his career with Enugu Rangers in his native Nigeria before stints in Egypt and Qatar.

A five-season spell in France with Lens and Rennes followed, with the forward s form over that time securing him a move to the Premier League with Portsmouth.

The Nigeria international lifted the FA Cup with the English team, but would return to France with Montpellier after his contract with …

According to Spanish radio station La Cadena SER, could include Alvaro Morata in their offer for ’s Mauro Icardi.

Morata, whose career so far had its ups and downs, scored 15 goals in 48 games on all competitions for Chelsea in 2017/18. Nevertheless, his stint in London has hardly been a successful one. Considered an extremely high-profile signing, the Spaniard had notable difficulties in filling up the void made by the departure of his compatriot Diego Costa. There were times when Eden Hazard was deployed in his place as a classic striker, and since Olivier Giroud came in from Arsenal, he was also occasionally preferred by manager Antonio Conte.

Obviously unhappy, Morata has been linked with leaving the club for a while now. A return to Juventus, where he spent two …

Juventus goalkeeper Mattia Perin must wait for his move to Benfica after the Portuguese champions postponed the transfer following a medical on Thursday.

Perin, 26, was set for a €15million switch to Benfica after Gianluigi Buffon s return to Turin left the two-time Italy international behind the veteran goalkeeper and Wojciech Szczesny in the pecking order.

However, the shot-stopper only underwent shoulder surgery in April and a longer than expected recovery will see his move to Benfica delayed.

Sport Lisboa e Benfica informs that in the medicals aftermath, held today, was concluded that the goalkeeper Mattia Perin has a higher than expected recovering process, of approximately four months, a statement from Benfica read.

In this regard, there was a…

Manchester United and Chelsea, who faced off in the 2008 Champions League final, can put a collective foot in the second phase of this season s edition on Wednesday if they add to opening day group wins.

But the English Premiership giants take on Germany s Wolfsburg and Cypriots Apoel Nicosia respectively after highly contrasting weekend fortunes.

Whereas United won at Stoke to cement their good run of form since a shock loss at Burnley, Chelsea lost the chance to go three points clear after losing at Wigan, a reverse which infuriated Blues skipper John Terry.

The least we expect from every player is that we work hard and fight and we did not do that, Terry admitted to The Sun newspaper Monday.

Carlo Ancelotti, twice a European Cup winner as player and …