An emotional Luke Shaw admitted he was ‘stunned’ to hear he had been called up to the England squad for Wednesday’s friendly with Denmark, reports Sky Sports.
The 18-year-old was named in Roy Hodgson’s 30-man squad as he steps up his preparations for the summer’s World Cup.
Shaw only made his Premier League debut in November 2012, but has since been a shining light for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, and has been strongly linked with big money moves to Chelsea, and Manchester United.
“It’s a very proud day for me, I still cannot believe it,” Shaw told Southampton’s website.
“I’m only 18. I cannot believe it. I am really excited. It’s a massive confidence boost for me.
“Roy rang me this morning and told me I was in the senior team, and that I was there on merit. I wasn’t expecting it. I didn’t know what to say.”
Shaw is the latest star to emerge from Southampton’s famous academy, which has produced the likes of England stars Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in recent years.
“I saw (speculation about a senior call-up) on Twitter over the past month but I tried to ignore it,” he added.
“I was always thinking I was going to be called up to the U21 squad but to get a senior one is unbelievable.”
With Ashley Cole struggling for first team football at Chelsea, Shaw has a decent chances of being selected alongside Leighton Baines for the summer’s tournament.
But when asked whether thoughts of playing in Brazil this summer had crossed his mind, Shaw said: “No, nothing.
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“There is a friendly and hopefully I will get some game time and keep up the performances I have been having at Southampton and then who knows what will happen.”
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Chris Hughton chalked up his first Premier League win as Norwich boss after Grant Holt scored the only goal against Arsenal at Carrow Road.
The Canaries had failed to taste a victory in the seven games since Hughton arrived from Birmingham to replace Paul Lambert but finally broke their seasonal duck against the subdued Gunners.
Arsene Wenger knew his side had to take maximum points if they were to remain in contention with the top four but they now find themselves 10 points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea.
Jack Wilshere’s return to the squad provided a major a boost ahead of the game as the England midfielder returned from 14-months on the sidelines to take a place on the bench and Wenger resisted the temptation to bring him on as Arsenal struggled to break down a resolute home side.
Norwich started promisingly with Anthony Pilkington sending a warning shot across the bow before Holt capitalised on an error from Vito Mannone to score his third goal in as many games. The 31-year-old was quickest to react and poke the ball home after Mannone had palmed Alexander Tettey’s stinging long-range drive into his path.
Having conceded nine goals in their last two games Hughton sought to tighten his leaky defence and their disciplined display only served to frustrate the Gunners and Wenger as the almost fell further behind after Michael Turned headed Pilkington’s corner just wide. The away side’s best chance fell to Oliver Giroud but he failed to connect properly as attempted to hook the ball over John Ruddy.
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was thrown on just after the hour in an attempt to turn the game in Arsenal’s favour but he lasted just nine minutes before having to go off following a heavy challenge from Sebastien Bassong. Holt then thought he’d wrapped up the points for Norwich but his ambitious chip didn’t have enough on it to beat Mannone.
Liverpool were defeated in the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday night, losing 3-1 to Real Madrid in Kiev.
It was a difficult night for supporters, who had to endure their star player Mohamed Salah going off injured and goalkeeping howlers from Loris Karius that ultimately cost them the trophy.
After such a stellar season, especially since the turn of the year, it was a sad way to end things.
Still, supporters will already be looking forward to next term and many believe they now have a squad in place to compete for all the major honours next season.
Fans were particularly impressed with Andy Robertson’s performance on Saturday, who stood up to the challenge of Madrid’s superstars well, keeping Cristiano Ronaldo especially quiet. He executed an inch perfect tackle on the Portuguese in the second half to deny him a goal.
Just 24 years old, he has plenty of improving to do and many are excited about what his future holds, with some even tipping him as a future captain, such was the passion and determination on display.
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Supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts…
According to reports in The Mirror, West Ham United target and Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin is the subject of a £12m bid from La Liga side Valencia.
What’s the word, then?
Well, The Mirror reported earlier on Monday that the Irons were keen on the Frenchman as manager David Moyes has made bringing a new central midfielder to the club during the January transfer window a priority.
However, a report by The Mirror later on Monday says that Valencia have made an offer of £12m for the 26-year-old, who was left out of the Gunners squad as his side were beaten 4-2 by Nottingham Forest in the third round of the FA Cup at the City Ground on Sunday.
The report adds that Coquelin is keen to move on to get more game time and get his career back on track, with Wenger confirming on Tuesday that an exit is a “possibility”.
How has Coquelin done this season?
He has struggled to get regular minutes on the pitch.
The Frenchman has fallen down the pecking order with Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka often preferred in the centre of the pitch, with Jack Wilshere also seemingly in favour once again in recent weeks.
The 26-year-old has made 13 appearances in all competitions, although he has only featured for a total of 155 minutes across seven outings in the Premier League and was hampered by a hamstring injury earlier in the campaign.
Would he be a good signing for West Ham?
Well, the Frenchman never seems to have really impressed with Arsenal and certainly isn’t a fans’ favourite, and it still seems unclear what his best position actually is.
While Wenger sees him as a defensive midfielder, he often seems to lack the discipline to play in that role as he always appears to be looking to run forward rather than hold his position.
That said, he has plenty of Premier League experience and has also featured in the Champions League, and he obviously has plenty of quality if he has done that, and could prove to be a shrewd buy for the Irons.
Will they get him?
It’s difficult to say.
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While West Ham may be interested in Coquelin and a potential £12m price tag, the Frenchman may not be Moyes’ first-choice midfield target, and if that is the case then Valencia may have something of a free run at getting the 26-year-old.
From a personal perspective, it’s a bitter blow. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is now almost two seasons removed from his debut at Arsenal where he made such an impression against Manchester United and AC Milan. For Arsenal, it’s another setback in their quest for honours at the end of the season.
This was predicted to be a big season for Oxlade-Chamberlain, his breakout following a predominantly uneventful sophomore campaign in north London. At 20 years of age, he’s already made a mark in the Premier League, been capped on multiple occasions for England, and scored against Brazil in the Maracana. But those accomplishments offer little comfort when injury hits. At this stage, the youngster’s World Cup hopes are in jeopardy, and like his fellow Arsenal teammates, he’s looking to trace the same difficult steps that many of them faced during their development at the club.
It’s a disappointment for Arsene Wenger, of course. The interest was clear when Oxlade-Chamberlain was at Southampton, but shelling out close to £15 million for an untested teenager shows how highly Wenger rated him. There is still time to find a steady course for the midfielder’s development; there’s absolutely nothing, as it stands, preventing him from becoming one of Arsenal and England’s most important players over the next decade. But if Arsenal needed reinforcements in the New Year, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s injury setback mean it’s vital new faces are brought in via the market.
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The trip to Manchester United before the international break was the biggest indicator that many of the key players in the Arsenal team are running on empty. Olivier Giroud is the biggest concern, but due to injuries, the squad lacks pace and variation. Besides Aaron Ramsey’s contribution, goals from midfield is a concern. Arsenal are already making do without two proven goal scorers in Theo Walcott and Lukas Poldolski, and Oxlade-Chamberlain’s versatility is also sorely missed.
This squad is not far from being the complete package, but such is the delicate nature of it at present that the good work put in thus far into the season could be for nothing if lessons aren’t learnt from previous campaigns.
The similarities to the 2007-8 season are obvious. Prior to the start of that season, it was also expected that Arsenal would finish outside of the top four due to the departure of Thierry Henry – though many in the media has wrongly predicted that outcome prior to the start of every season, so it doesn’t really say too much.
But the squad and the mentality of the squad is notably similar. The players, namely the younger stars, have been released from the duty of working for one star player. Where it was Thierry Henry in the past, now the absence of Robin van Persie has allowed others to flourish. Notably, last season for Arsenal could have been seen as write-off due to the uncertain nature of the club as a whole. Based on what we’re seeing now, though, in hindsight it looks more like a “bridge season” for those who were new to English football.
But there’s a unity and a desire to win. Importantly there is also a belief, as if the players are determined to defy those who wrote them off. But Wenger needs to do his part too. So far, he’s extracted an awful lot out of Giroud, Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny in particular, with Ramsey also being among the names who have hardly been out of the team or put a foot wrong. The players need an extra lift and something to refuel the engines for the final stretch of the season.
The lack of activity in January 2008 played a part in Arsenal’s downfall, though no one could have foreseen the horror injury suffered by Eduardo, as well as the loss of key players like Mathieu Flamini and Bacary Sagna towards the end of the campaign.
There is no reason Arsenal shouldn’t be in the market this time around. The funds are clearly there, while Wenger himself understands the importance of another forward, as told by his pursuit of Demba Ba on deadline day in the summer.
Those who are out for the long term – Walcott, Podolski and Oxlade-Chamberlain – will come back and offer a lot to this team. But stepping away from the cliché is vital: these players are not like “new signings.” Further additions are needed. It helps to keep players fresh physically, but there’s no substitute for the mental boost a new face can offer in a season as important as this.
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Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has admitted that his side are eager to put forward a bid for the Premier League title.
The north London side finished third last season, but the France international feels that Arsene Wenger’s men can challenge for top spot this term.
“We will keep going and stay confident for the future. I think we have a very interesting role in this championship,” The Daily Mail quote Giroud as saying.
The frontman has taken time to adjust to his new environment after a summer move from Montpellier, but scored against West Ham at the weekend and is starting to feel more confident.
“I expected it to be difficult at first because the Premier League is a level higher and I have had to adapt.
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“It is nice to have scored my first goal, that will give me a lot of confidence for the future. I feel good about this team and I am confident that I will score more goals. Why not a dozen like in my first season at Montpellier?” he concluded.
Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta played his final match for the club on Sunday to bring an end to his 22-year association with the La Liga giants, and Liverpool fans have urged their club to sign the veteran 34-year-old this summer.
The Spaniard announced last month that he would be leaving the Camp Nou when his contract expired this summer, and he made an emotional final appearance in the 1-0 win against Real Sociedad at the weekend.
The 2014 World Cup winner has hinted that he may look for a move away from Europe, but that obviously hasn’t deterred the Anfield faithful who were impressed with the 82 minutes they saw from the midfield legend before he was replaced by Paco Alcacer.
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Liverpool supporters, who have also urged the Merseyside outfit to sign a former Manchester United flop this summer, were quick to have their say on Iniesta via social media, and while one said “sign him up for two years Jurgen”, another said “I’d happily sign him”.
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Manchester United fell further behind English Premier League leaders Manchester City on Saturday, dropping points away to Leicester City in a 2-2 draw.
With City destroying Bournemouth 4-0 earlier in the day, Jose Mourinho’s side really needed all three points in the late kick-off, but were denied by a determined Leicester performance and a last minute Harry Maguire equaliser.
The Red Devils were up against it early when Jamie Vardy opened the scoring, but a double from Juan Mata looked set to bring them all three points before Maguire popped up in stoppage time to deny the visitors.
It was a game that Mourinho’s team should have won, with their attacking players squandering a number of chances created by striker Romelu Lukaku.
Despite not scoring, fans had sympathy for the Belgian international, who saw his teammates fluff their lines after good work from the striker, also failing to play him in when he found himself in great positions.
Fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts on his performance…
Carlton Cole is hopeful that he can prove his worth to West Ham and stay on beyond this winter.
The burly forward recently re-signed for the Hammers, after being released by them over the summer, on a short-term deal that expires in January.
Cole was allowed to leave Upton Park at the end of last season, and was expected to make a move to France.
However, he was unable to find a new club.
Meanwhile, West Ham boss Sam Allardyce found himself short of attacking options with Andy Carroll sidelined through injury.
Cole was invited back to train with the club and eventually proved his fitness before penning a three-month deal to solve the Londoners’ issues.
Despite the contract being a particularly short one, the 30-year-old is hopeful that he can play his way to an extension.
“If I’m doing the business, doing well and making a difference in the team, we are in good shape and the manager and the Chairmen want to keep me on, I’ll always be available and hopefully we can crack on after that,” Cole told talkSPORT.
“Of course me and the fans have been through thick and thin with this club. I’ve been here for quite a while and I know the emotions of us getting relegated and getting back up.
“It wasn’t all roses, but I will always have a special bond with the club because we’ve been through everything together. I think the fact they realise I am a fan and will always be here means I will earn their respect a second time and make a positive impact on the team.
“I’ve always wanted to prove myself and hopefully, with this second chance at West Ham, I can help the team. That’s all I want to do. I want us to stay in the top league where we deserve to stay.”
Despite possessing a questionable goalscoring record in recent years, Cole is still a fans’ favourite at West Ham.
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The tie of the round in the Capital One Cup has got to be at Old Trafford where Premier League heavyweights Manchester United and Newcastle United clash in hope of a cup run and some much needed silverware.
United lost out on all of their major trophies last season and so a run in the Capital One Cup may be exactly what they need, whereas Newcastle have won very little over the past few decades and so it is surely about time they lifted some silverware. Expect an extremely competitive fixture.
Here are the three key battles that could win or lose the game for their side.
Michael Carrick v Yohan Cabaye
Two of the best passers of the ball in the Premier League, Carrick and Cabaye go about their work quietly and efficiently for their sides and the game could well be decided on which of these two keep possession for their sides the best.
Carrick got on the scoresheet in the Champions League last week and has started the season well alongside Paul Scholes in the United midfield. However the likes of Tom Cleverly and Darren Fletcher seem to be returning from injury at a crucial time for the Red Devils to put pressure on Carrick to impress.
Cabaye hasn’t had his midfield partner Cheick Tiote to back him up this season but he is coping well, pulling the strings to release the pacey Newcastle attack that is as good as any in the league. With a lack of quality central midfielders, Cabaye is a key player and will hope to keep Carrick quiet.
Rafael v Hatem Ben Arfa
Manchester United’s right back has improved greatly over the past 12 months or so but that is mainly in attack. Due to dominating games possession-wise United’s full backs are able to constantly push forward but that may not be the case on Wednesday night as Newcastle’s three pronged attack will need to be constantly looked after.
Ben Arfa has dazzled us over the past year or so with his trickery and pace and going forward, few right backs can deal with him. In partnership with Papiss Cisse and/or Demba Ba, Ben Arfa is able to drift inside and lose his marker so Rafael will have to be alert to track him and let him know he is there. On the other hand Ben Arfa will have to go with Rafael when he steams forward, something Ben Arfa may be lacking in his game, so this battle could definitely shape the outcome of the tie.
Robin van Persie v Steven Taylor
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Last season’s Premier League top goalscorer Van Persie has already bagged goals for United this season and doesn’t look to have lost any of that penalty area instinct that earned him such high praise and a move to United. The loss of Wayne Rooney may well have put pressure on the Dutchman to score more goals and with Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez eager to get a look in, you can see why.
Steven Taylor missed the majority of last season with a serious knee injury but is relishing being back in his beloved Newcastle’s side. Injuries have left the Toon squad a bit bare at times this season but having one of their own playing week in week out can only help the side in the long term. Taylor will be confident of coping with Van Persie, but if United decide to start with two up front, it may be an uphill challenge for the inexperienced Newcastle defence.
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