Alexis Sanchez Joins Elite List Of Arsenal Players

Sanchez joins an elite list of Arsenal players—including Nigeria great Nwankwo Kanu—who have struck in both the Champions League and the Europa League/Uefa Cup.

According to Opta, Sanchez and Kanu are two of only eight Arsenal players to have found the net in both of Europe’s major continental competitions.

As well as the duo, Lee Dixon, Marc Overmars, Ray Parlour, Freddie Ljungberg, Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry all also netted in both the UEL and the UCL during their careers.

During Kanu’s six seasons at Arsenal, he competed in Europe on five occasions—amassing 53 appearances and scoring six goals.

In fact, the Super Eagles legend netted in both the Champions League and the Uefa Cup during his first Arsenal career, scoring against Barcelona in the UCL group stage, and then netted against Deportivo La Coruna and Racing Club de Lens after the Gunners dropped into the secondary competition.

While Kanu never achieved continental success under Wenger, he was a Champions League winner with Ajax in 1995, and also claimed the Uefa Cup with Internazionale three years later.

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Cristiano Ronaldo mocks Lionel Messi with El Clasico goal celebration

Barcelona star Messi held his shirt up in the air following his win against Real Madrid last season - and Ronaldo did the same
 


Cristiano Ronaldo mocked Lionel Messi's iconic goal celebration - but it backfired spectacularly minutes later.
Ronaldo held up his shirt to the Barcelona supporters just as Messi did to the Real Madrid fans when he scored the winner in the La Liga clash between the two sides last season.
But his Spanish Super Cup evening at the Nou Camp ended in disaster as he was shown two quick yellow cards.
The first came for taking his shirt off in the aforementioned goal celebration after he put Real 2-1 up in the closing stages.

Ronaldo was celebrating his sensational strike late in the game (Image: REUTERS)

Ronaldo held up his shirt just as Messi did last season (Image: AFP)

Messi held his shirt up in celebration at the Bernabeu last season (Image: REUTERS)

And it proved costly as he was given a second booking for an alleged dive in the box just two minutes later.
Frustrated by the decision, Ronaldo petulantly pushed the referee after he was shown the red card.

Ronaldo was booked for his trademark celebration (Image: AFP)

The yellow card proved costly for Real Madrid (Image: REUTERS)

Ronaldo will now definitely miss the second leg of the Super Cup against Real, but could face further action for his reaction.

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Why Neymar Had to Leave Barcelona

There were a few reasons behind Neymar's decision to consider a future elsewhere, but one major moment that sparked this sequence of events was when Lionel Messi signed a new contract at Barca to extend his stay until 2021.

There is no suggestion that any problem exists between Neymar and Messi. In fact, the opposite is true as they have a very good relationship both on and off the pitch.

However, Neymar had been weighing up his chances of being the best player in the world and knew this was becoming more problematic.

From Neymar's point of view, he was not going to become the best player in the world if he was not even the best player at Barcelona. And for the next four years, that was going to be the case.

He came to the realisation that if he is to become regarded as the globe's No. 1 player, he would have to move on.

One of the other reasons Neymar became so intrigued by a switch to PSG was the Brazilian bond that already exists within the walls of the club.

Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Lucas Moura and now Dani Alves are all on board in Paris.

Such factors can mean a lot to players when considering a transfer, and this was clearly an important issue in Neymar's decision-making.

It is also thought the ambition and direction of PSG became appealing at a time when some issues with Barcelona officials were starting to bother Neymar and his father.

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Lukaku Scores First Goal For Manchester United And Mourinho Is Happy For Him

The new signed striker of Manchester United, Romelu Lukaku, has scored his first Manchester United goal as Jose Mourinho’s side overcame Real Salt Lake 2-1 in a friendly in Los Angeles. Lukaku, 24-year-old Belgian player, who signed from Everton for £75m, got the winner seven minutes before half-time to add to Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s equaliser. Reacting to his first goal, Mourinho said “is nice for him but not important for me.” “I told him I love what he does.

 He assists, he moves. He holds the ball well. I like everything he does” However, United lost Juan Mata to injury and Antonio Valencia was then sent off for a tackle on Saucedo, referee Allen Chapman speaking to Mourinho before belatedly dismissing the Ecuadorian. “The delay was because the referee asked me to change the players and I didn’t because I don’t agree with the card,” added the Old Trafford boss. “Saucedo was really aggressive with what happened to Mata and some other actions where he was a bit dangerous. It’s pre-season so no problem – it’s a good experience.”

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