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Daily Mirror
32 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Arsenal team-mates were fighting like animals on training ground - 'We couldn't break them up'
David Bentley recounted his experience of witnessing what he described as the best fight he saw on the training ground between ex-Arsenal defenders Kolo Toure and Pascal Cygan David Bentley revealed that nobody at Arsenal could break up a savage training-ground scrap between Kolo Toure and Pascal Cygan, who fought like "animals". The former footballer began his career with the north London side but made just nine appearances before he was sold to Blackburn Rovers in 2006. While he featured just once in the Gunners' Invincible Premier League season, Bentley was part of the first-team squad and was entrenched in the intense atmosphere that existed within Arsene Wenger's team. Intense may be an understatement given the ex-Tottenham Hotspur star's recollection of just how competitive things were in training, admitting he was at times left bruised and bloodied. Speaking on the Undr The Cosh podcast, Bentley rattled off a list of the uber-tough characters that were in the Arsenal dressing room at the time. "Everyday was a fight," he said. You got Ray Parlour, loves it, lunatic. "You got Martin Keown, Bergkamp's an animal. [He] kicked the c*** out of everyone. Van Bronckhorst. I came out with black eyes. I used to play up against him, used to elbow the life out of me. I had bloodied eyes." Bentley added: "Pascal Cygan and Kolo Toure, the best fight I've ever seen on the training ground. Two animals going at it. The whole team tried to break it up; it was hard to break it up." Despite being just 19 years of age during Arsenal's title triumph, Bentley wasn't afraid to stand up for himself and said he even confronted Thierry Henry. "I squared up to Thierry Henry, whipped off my gloves, 'Come on, let's have it'. "The coaching staff used to put on seven-a-sides every day. The dressing room was more concerned about winning the seven-a-side tournaments than the game on Sunday." His bravado and cheeky personality, however, once saw him face the wrath of then-captain Patrick Vieira after playing a joke on the Frenchman. "We used to go to Austria to this training camp where they always wanted to go up in the mountains, out the way," he said on the podcast. "And I had no idea, it was my first time. We've come down for breakfast, and what happened at Arsenal – it probably happens everywhere – was you had a French table, the English table, everybody used to kind of sit with people they get on with. "I've come down, me being me, I'm just wanting to be friends with everyone. I think I'm mates with everyone. French tables there, I think there's [Sylvain] Wiltord, [Robert] Pires and whoever. And there's a seat and I went, 'I'm sitting there.' So I've stepped in, and I've sat down and I went, 'Morning lads, you alright?' You know, 'What you up to last night? Have a good w***?' And all that, trying to be their mate. "And cause I don't like silence as well, I thought they can do that can't they? Be all calm. And as I've sat there, I've looked around and these lot are smirking. I'm going, 'They're on me here, I'm going to have to back myself up. They're mugging me off.' "And I just got a big slap, and I'm sat and I've looked up and Patrick, club captain... 'Get out my seat. You're in my seat.' And do you know when you're like, 'Ah f***, I'm red.' In that moment, I thought, 'If I say yes, I'm going to look like a right mug, and if I say no, I'm going to look like a right mug. I can't win.' So I went with the option of, 'No.'" While he admitted the pair are now friends more than 20 years on, there was an immediate punishment doled out to Bentley for his antics. "But for three, four months, I wasn't allowed to go on lads' nights out," he said. "I was kicked... honestly, every training session he'd snap me. I used to love it, I used to play with it. I used to go, 'Patrick, where we going tonight son?!' I think I turned up a couple of times, 'I know I'm not invited, but shut up!'"
Metro
7 hours ago
- Metro
Man Utd tipped to sign £60m striker despite Benjamin Sesko transfer
Stewart Downing believes Manchester United could buy another striker before the transfer deadline despite the £74m signing of Benjamin Sesko. Sesko completed a big-money move to Old Trafford last week after turning down fellow Premier League club Newcastle United. The 22-year-old Slovenia international looks set to be Ruben Amorim's first-choice striker this season and could make his debut in Sunday's Premier League opener against Arsenal. Amorim sanctioned United's move for Sesko following Rasmus Hojlund's struggles since his £72m move from Atalanta. As well as signing Sesko, Manchester United also brought Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to the club this summer. Metro's new weekly football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it's an open goal. United's focus for the final two weeks of the transfer window looks set to be on outgoings rather than incomings, with Amorim hoping to offload Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Antony. But ex-England winger Downing reckons Manchester United could pull off one major signing before the transfer window closes. 'Who knows, Ollie Watkins could end up at United too,' Downing told Flashscore. 'You never know late on, and then Man United all of a sudden become a lot better team than they are.' Watkins was linked with a move to Old Trafford before Manchester United spent £74m on Sesko. Aston Villa rejected a bid for Watkins from Arsenal in January and would want around £60m were they to sell the England international this summer. As well as tipping Watkins for a move to Manchester United, ex-Premier League star Downing believes he would be a shrewd signing for Newcastle. St James' Park bosses have been linked with a number of forward after Alexander Isak told the club he wanted to leave. Newcastle initially insisted Isak would not be sold but appear to be softening their stance given the 25-year-old has effectively gone on strike to force through a move. 'I think he'd definitely be a good signing for Newcastle to replace Isak,' Downing added. 'I like Ollie Watkins, he's done really well. 'There were the links with Arsenal last year and it sounded like he wanted to go and Villa were probably happy for him to go. 'I don't know why that didn't get over the line because I actually thought if Arsenal get him, that's a good signing. The way they play, obviously runs the channels, he's getting in behind, gets a goal. More Trending 'If Newcastle can get him, then you're thinking, well, hang on a minute, it might not be so bad but I've got a feeling that they sell Isak and then the window shuts and they don't get anybody in. 'Newcastle have got to be strong. They've got to say to Isak, you're not leaving. Or if he leaves, we have to go out and get Watkins because we have to replace Isak. 'You don't know what goes on behind the scenes but I think if Isak goes, they must surely have a plan in place. Because if he doesn't, it will be a lot tougher without him.' Newcastle were without Isak for their Premier League opener against Aston Villa, which finished goalless. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Troy Deeney claims £65m star will keep Viktor Gyokeres out the Arsenal team MORE: Manchester United contact former star about transfer return after private 'tip-off' MORE: Chelsea respond to West Ham's £42m bid for midfielder after Arsenal approach
Scotsman
10 hours ago
- Scotsman
Who is presenting Match of the Day today? Full line-up
Match of the Day has confirmed who will present first show of the 2025/26 season 👀📺 Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Match of the Day is entering a brand new era. The show will be hosted by a rotating cast of three presenters. But who is on duty for the first Saturday of the season? Football is back and it marks a new era on the Match of the Day. For the first time in decades, Gary Lineker will not be the main host of the BBC's flagship highlights show. The ex-England international announced his departure from the show earlier in the year, before leaving the Beeb altogether in May. He is set to return to host a show on ITV. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A trio of new presenters will share hosting duties of MOTD and its spin-off shows in the 2025/26 season. Here's all you need to know: Who is presenting Match of the Day today? Match of the Day hosts: Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates | BBC / Charlie Clift Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates, and Mark Chapman will front Match of the Day's Saturday and Sunday programmes (now unified under one name) on rotation, as well as the newest addition to BBC Sport's football highlights line-up, Match of the Day: Champions League - bringing energy, insight and personality to millions of viewers each week. Fan favourites and returning stars forming the guest line-up include Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Wayne Rooney, Ashley Williams, Danny Murphy, Dion Dublin, Ellen White, Joe Hart, Martin Keown, Nedum Onuoha, Shay Given, Steve Warnock, Steph Houghton and Theo Walcott. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad For the first weekend of the Premier League season, the line-up has been announced. According to Radio Times , Mark Chapman will be the host tonight (August 16). He will be joined by analysts Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer. The games set to feature include: Aston Villa v Newcastle United Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City Liverpool v Bournemouth Brighton & Hove Albion v Fulham Sunderland v West Ham United Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley Gaby Logan is set to host Match of the Day tomorrow (August 17). Kelly Cates was on duty for MOTD Premier League Preview on Wednesday (August 13). Mark Chapman said: 'It's about watching football and then talking football with people who know a lot more about it than I do, and who have played it, and that I'm jealous of because they've played it to a great level and I never could. So, it's just fun, which is how it should be.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Alex Kay-Jelski, BBC Director of Sport, added: 'You know the feeling. That buzz in your stomach. That hopeful voice in your head 'this could be our year.' The highs, the heartbreak, the glorious unpredictability of it all. 'From the first whistle to the last-minute drama, we're right there with you. On the edge of our seats, refreshing the live page, wincing at referees or VAR, shouting at the TV, arguing in the group chat. 'We are fans. Just like you. And that's what this new era of football on BBC Sport is all about… you.' If you love TV, check out our Screen Babble podcast to get the latest in TV and film.
