'I've loved every second' - long-serving Cameron departs
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Times
32 minutes ago
- Times
Rusty Viktor Gyokeres not a concern for Mikel Arteta after defeat
Within days of joining Arsenal, Viktor Gyokeres has broken records for the sales of his No 14 jersey once worn by the club legend Thierry Henry. On Wednesday night, supporters turned out in replica kit for their first proper look at the club's new £64 million striker, hoping that he will convert the chances that might have made a difference in last season's campaign, where they were Premier League runners-up and Champions League semi-finalists. Yet there is work to do with 11 days to go before Arsenal begin their new campaign at Old Trafford. Gyokeres looked understandably rusty, short of fitness and his team-mates were not always in sync with his direct runs as Arsenal lost 3-2 to Villarreal at Emirates Stadium. Juan Foyth, formerly of Tottenham, tackles Gyokeres MARC ATKINS/GETTY IMAGES The most notable names on the scoresheet did not include Gyokeres. Nicolas Pépé, the forward who in 2019 became Arsenal's record signing at £72 million, opened the scoring for Villarreal and Christian Norgaard showed he quickly adapted to Arsenal's trademark set pieces by heading in Gabriel Martinelli's corner at the far post. While Arsenal conceded three poor goals, Gyokeres's best chance arrived after half-time, when he was released at an acute angle and shot at Luiz Júnior's goal. Early on he could not climb enough for a cross and mistimed a scissor kick. Twice he drifted left to create space for a dribble and shot. Gyokeres had a frustrating summer as he worked alone to build up his fitness as Arsenal and Sporting Lisbon haggled over the £8.6 million in potential add-ons on top of an initial £54.8 million transfer fee. He has only had a few training sessions at Arsenal after meeting the squad during their tour in Asia. Mikel Arteta said he has no doubts Gyokeres will be mentally ready, at least, by the start of the season. 'Mentally and understanding what he needs to do, it will be 100 per cent or more because he's so willing and so confident as well that he can deliver straight away,' Arteta said. Pépé didn't celebrate at the Emirates after scoring the opening goal of the friendly EDDIE KEOGH/GETTY IMAGES 'I have no doubt that he will be in a really good place. I hope days [for team-mates to get used to him] and every day in training he's getting a really good feeling. His fitness level, he hasn't really trained with the team for two months.' Gyokeres will play in the friendly against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, although it is unclear whether a slight muscular issue will rule Kai Havertz out as it did last night. The 15-year-old Max Dowman impressed again as a substitute, winning a penalty that was converted by Martin Odegaard for 3-2. Gyokeres went off after 62 minutes and Arsenal searched for an equaliser with Mikel Merino up front, like last season. Pépé tapped home from close range after his initial shot rebounded off the post and Jakub Kiwior was outmuscled trying to clear the loose ball. Pépé's Arsenal contract was terminated in 2023, with a record of 27 goals in 112 games. Karl Etta Eyong converted from close range after David Raya parried Alberto Moleiro's shot. Arnaut Danjuma, the former Bournemouth winger, capitalised on further poor defending to fire across Kepa Arrizabalaga, who came on in the second half. 'The result is painful, we've been naive, especially defending open spaces,' Arteta said.
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
'Sonny in LA' - Son joins LAFC in MLS record deal
LOS ANGELES, Aug 6 (Reuters) - South Korean forward Son Heung-min said he is "here to win" after he joined Los Angeles FC for a record Major League Soccer transfer fee, ending a decade-long stint at Tottenham Hotspur. Son was introduced at LAFC's BMO Stadium on Wednesday, where he was greeted by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and city officials amid chants and drumming from supporters' group 3252. "What can I say, dream come true. LA, what a city," Son told reporters at his unveiling. Financial details of the transfer were not disclosed by either club but the Athletic reported LAFC paid a fee in the region of $26.5 million for the 33-year-old. Son revealed LAFC was not his initial preference, but credited the club's co-president and general manager John Thorrington with persuading him to make the switch. "He just changed my mind, heart, he changed my brain. He showed me the destination where I should be and right now I'm here and I'm so, so excited," said Son, who attended LAFC's 2-1 win over Tigres UANL on Tuesday night. "I'm here to win, I will perform and I will definitely show you some exciting football, and we will definitely have success," he said. The move is expected to resonate with Los Angeles' sizeable Korean community, with LAFC's stadium located just south of Koreatown. Son follows in the footsteps of other international stars who have joined LAFC, including Carlos Vela, Giorgio Chiellini, Olivier Giroud, and former Tottenham teammates Gareth Bale and Hugo Lloris. Son, who joined Tottenham from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, led the north London club to their first trophy in 17 years with a 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League final in May. The former Spurs captain made 454 appearances for the team and scored 173 goals, winning the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2021-22 season. Reflecting on his departure from Tottenham, Son described the move as 'very emotional.' "I felt like I needed a new chapter, I needed a new challenge and I chose LAFC," he said. "I think you could say I'm old but I still have good physicality, good legs, and still have a good quality. "Obviously I'm here to perform but I also want to give some advice to some young players for improvement. "I can't wait... Let's do it together and win the trophy." It was not immediately clear when Son will make his debut for the Black and Gold, who are currently sixth in the Western Conference and travel to face Chicago Fire on Saturday. LAFC's Thorrington called signing Son an "historic" day for the club. "Sonny is a world class talent, a global icon of football and we're thrilled that he has chosen to write the next chapter of his remarkable career with us here at LAFC," he said. Son, capped 134 times by South Korea, joins LAFC after an emotional farewell to Spurs during a friendly against Newcastle United at Seoul World Cup Stadium. "Sonny has given so much to this club, both on and off the pitch, and for that we are forever grateful," Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said in a club statement. "We wish him all the best for the future, and he will always be welcome back as a beloved and cherished member of our Spurs family."
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Why thousands now face travel misery at popular airport
Flights at Birmingham Airport were suspended for over five hours on Wednesday following an emergency landing by a light aircraft. The incident, involving a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, occurred due to landing gear problems, leading to the runway's closure from 2:40 PM until shortly before 8 PM. Three people on board the aircraft were assessed by West Midlands Ambulance Service, with one person sustaining minor injuries. The emergency caused significant delays for passengers, both those departing from and arriving at Birmingham, even after the runway reopened. The Air Accidents Investigations Branch (AAIB) has launched an investigation into the incident, with a team of experts dispatched to the scene.
