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Sunday, 6 September 2015

'Arsenal Will Be Lucky To Finish Fourth This Season'| See Why

Arsenal will be lucky to finish fourth in the Premier League, according to British rap artist Lethal Bizzle, who thinks Arsene Wenger is on borrowed time at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners have not failed to qualify for the Champions League since the 1997-98 - Wenger's second season in charge of the north London club having taken over in August 1996.

But aside from poaching goalkeeper Petr Cech from rivals Chelsea early in the summer, Arsenal fans had relatively little to get excited about in this summer's transfer window as deadline day passed by with a whimper.

The transfer inactivity has riled famous diehard Gunners fan Lethal Bizzle - real name Maxwell Ansah - who is concerned that last year's third-placed team will be nowhere near the top of the table in 2015-16.

"I don’t know what Wenger’s playing at, he’s very stubborn," the grime musician toldtalkSPORT. "I just think if we really want to challenge for the title he needs to pull his finger out and adapt to the whole wage system.

"If we want something quality, we’re going to have to pay £30 million, £40m or £50m to get a top player in. I think he’s so stuck in his ways and he’s so reluctant to do that. Until we manage to do that, we’re way off the title, Chelsea are the champions and they’ve strengthened.

"I thought with Cech, he’s actually going for it now and I thought he was going to nick Karim Benzema. Didn’t happen. And then take at least a defensive midfielder. Didn’t happen. We definitely needed a centre-back. Still hasn’t happened.

"I don’t know if he sees something we don’t because he always does pull off miracles, we have over-achieved quite a few times and we always make the Champions League.

"But I don’t think the team is strong enough to challenge for the title this season. We’re way off and I think we’ll be lucky to get fourth this year. It’s inevitable we’ll get injuries - that’s football.

"January is the most panic-buying window so I don’t know if we’ll manage to get anyone by then. It’s a real shame. I think Arsene Wenger could be counting his days."

International friendly: Chile 3 vs 2 Paraguay| Highlights Download

Alexis Sanchez was again the hero for Chile, as Jorge Sampaoli's men celebrated their Copa America triumph with a 3-2 win over Paraguay.

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Sweden suffered a blow in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign during Saturday's clash with Russia as Zlatan Ibrahimovic picked up a suspected back injury which could rule him out of Tuesday's clash with Austria.

With Russia already 1-0 up, the 33-year-old was taken off at half time and replaced by Ola Toivonen.

Ibrahimovic appeared to receive the knock during the first half when he clashed with Alan Dzagoev and he admitted that he is unsure if he will be fit for their next game.

"I immediately felt that I had been struck in the ribs," he told reporters. "I will see on Sunday how I feel."

Coach Erik Hamren revealed that the striker was determined to stay on, but that the discomfort became too much for him.

"I do not know exactly how bad it is with him yet," the coach told Kanal 5. "But he wanted to continue and run on, but felt more and more pain.

"I have not talked to the medical team so don't know yet if he can play against Austria."

It comes as the second injury problem the attacker has suffered this season, having missed the start of Paris Saint-Germain's Ligue 1 campaign due to a knee injury.

Russia went on to win the game 1-0, which leaves them just one point behind Sweden who currently sit second in their Euro 2016 qualifying Group G.

International Friendly: Brazil 1 vs 0 Costa Rica | Highlights Download

A first-half strike from Hulk was enough to give Brazil a 1-0 win over Costa Rica in Saturday's international friendly in New Jersey...

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#USOPEN2015: Rafael Nadal Loses To Fabio Fognini In Third-round

World number eight Rafael Nadal is out of the US Open after losing a five-set, third-round thriller to Italian Fabio Fognini at Flushing Meadows.

Spaniard Nadal’s 10-year streak of winning a Grand Slam singles title was ended by the world number 32, who won 3-6 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4.

It is the first time that double US Open winner Nadal, 29, has lost in a Grand Slam having been two sets up.

Fognini, 28, faces Spain’s Feliciano Lopez in round four.

#Euro2016 Qualifiers: SAN MARINO 0-6 ENGLAND| Highlights Download

England captain Wayne Rooney equalled Sir Bobby Charlton's goalscoring record in a 6-0 win away to San Marino, securing the Three Lions' place at Euro 2016 with three games to spare.

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Antonio Conte says it is difficult to find the words to describe Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon ahead of his 150th Italy cap.

The 37-year-old, who played with Conte at Juventus and then under his tutelage when the former midfielder took over the Bianconeri first team, has been a key player for the Azzurri for the last 18 years, leading them to World Cup glory in 2006.

The shot-stopper will reach a new milestone of appearances when he takes on Bulgaria in Sunday's Euro 2016 qualifying clash and Conte was full of praise for him.

“Finding the words to describe Gigi is tough," Conte told reporters. "He is such a champion. I admire him as a player and as a man. He was my team-mate, my goalkeeper at club level and now for Italy.”

After Thursday's 1-0 win over Malta, Italy are top of qualifying Group H but were criticised for the performance and Conte insists his side will work hard to win over the doubters.

“I am not disappointed by criticism - it's part of the game. The national team is on its own. It’s open to criticism more than any other team. We will try to silence the critics with hard work."

The coach revealed that he is not entirely sure of the condition of his squad heading into Sunday's game and refused to reveal if Andrea Pirlo would feature.

“We will evaluate who has recovered well in tomorrow's training session.

“You’ll find out my line-up tomorrow evening. There are many players who can play in Pirlo's position, like Claudio Marchisio, Daniele De Rossi, Riccardo Montolivo and Mirko Valdifiori.

“Simone Zaza can play up front with Graziano Pelle, but also with Ciro Immobile."

#Euro2016 Qualifiers: SPAIN 2-0 SLOVAKIA| Highlights Download

Manchester City playmaker David Silva was the pick of the bunch as Vicente Del Bosque's Spain side eased to a 2-0 Euro 2016 qualifying victory over Slovakia, overturning the result from the reverse fixture, when Jan Kozak's men ran out 2-1 winners in 2015.

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