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Arsene Wenger says Mesut Ozil’s hunger to play again must be “absolutely enormous” on the back of his struggles at Arsenal, with a player who remains leader of the “orchestra” being tipped to thrive at Fenerbahce.

A deal that will see a World Cup-winning midfielder link up with the club he supported as a boy is close to being completed.

Ozil is in Turkey ahead of his proposed switch, with the 32-year-old eager to get going again after being frozen out of Mikel Arteta’s plans at Emirates Stadium.

Wenger, the man who took an enigmatic talent to north London in 2013, has been left surprised by the difficulties endured by a proven match-winner at a Premier League heavyweight.

He has never doubted the qualities of a playmaker that he handed a prominent role and lucrative contract to, with a change of scenery and fresh start expected to serve Ozil well as he seeks to get a faltering career back on track.

“I'm sure that he's frustrated at not having played. His hunger must be absolutely [enormous] to play football again,” Gunners great Wenger told beIN SPORTS.

“Mesut is a guy who needs a warm environment and I believe he will find that more than anywhere else in Turkey. Overall, he can provide the balls that the strikers need to win football games. If they do that well, they have a good chance of winning the league.

“I will follow that with great attention.”

Wenger added on Ozil, who took in three FA Cup triumphs under his guidance: “Mesut is like if you imagine an orchestra in music. He's a guy who plays the ball at the right time.

“The timing of his pass is exceptional, but the creativity of his pass is as well. In every situation he confronts, he gives the right answer and that is genius.

“I must say he can provide the assists, the key pass. I remember he was the first one, the quickest one to break the number of assists in the Premier League. In 2015-16 he had 19 assists in the league. That is absolutely amazing.

“If the moment is right around him, the timing of the pass will be perfect and the quality of the pass will be perfect. He's the kind of player strikers love, always.”

Wenger believes it will not take long for Ozil to hit his stride with Fener, despite his last competitive appearance for Arsenal coming back in March 2020.

He added on a divisive character:  “There are two things that are very important in the quality of your performance. First of all your basic fitness, you can get your basic fitness if you work well in training and if you practice well.

“Personally, at the moment I don't know what kind of shape he's in. The second part is competitive fitness and that is linked with the number of games you play. On that front, he has a handicap.

“If his basic fitness in training is good, it will only take him three or four games to be at his best.

“The quality that he has is… vision in depth. He sees quickly, he decides quickly and he realises quickly what he sees. That is a quality you don't find too often in our game.”

Dimitar Berbatov has expressed his hope that Paul Pogba remains at Manchester United and puts a long-running transfer "soap opera" behind him.

Pogba's future at United has been the subject of intense speculation over the last couple of years.

The World Cup winner has struggled for consistency in the famous red shirt, while also battling against a string of injury problems.

He has also fueled rumours of a move away from Old Trafford by admitting that it is his "dream" to play for Real Madrid one day, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's faith in the playmaker has seemingly never wavered.

Pogba has won plenty of his critics around since returning to full fitness in November, playing a key role in United's rise to the top of the Premier League standings.

Berbatov has been impressed by the Frenchman's recent resurgence and hopes he will now commit to staying in Manchester for the long-term, with his current contract set to expire in 2022.

"It's been a long time since I've seen him open on the pitch fighting, intercepting, reading the game," The former Red Devils striker told Stats Perform News.

"In the game against Liverpool, again, he continued on that trend for me. He was solid on the pitch again, trying to read and control the game, defending and intercepting.

"The chance that fell to him was because he was again in the box trying to score, though it didn't happen this time. Next time, it's going to happen.

"But as I said many times before, I hope that the TV soap opera over him - whether he's going or staying - is going to end, and we're not going to speak about that.

"I would like him to stay because I knew him back in the day, he was coming to train with us when he was still very young. You could see the talent straight away.

"If he's concentrated 100 per cent for the team, then he's on a level I think not many players can reach in the way he does."

Pogba put in another solid display in the middle of the park during United's 0-0 draw with reigning champions Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

He also came closest to grabbing the winner, with his point-blank effort saved well by Alisson in the Reds' net late on, as Solskjaer's side missed the chance to open up a six-point lead over their rivals in the title race.

Berbatov was encouraged by his old club's latest performance though, with the Bulgarian adding on United's disciplined approach to the game: "United had a good game, a solid game.

"I think I said before the game to a couple of reporters that for them it was going to be important not to lose," said the Bulgarian, who won the Premier League twice during his time at United.

"They had good chances to score in the game as well, especially Pogba. That chance was probably the best one in the game, one where I was almost screaming, but it didn't happen.

"But it was a solid performance, especially in defence, tactically the discipline was there on the pitch. As I said, a couple of chances to score came up, as well.

"Probably, if you look from the perspective of a neutral, you can say that the draw was okay for both teams."

Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula has claimed his team is suffering to win matches in the FKF Premier League because they still don’t have luck.

Homeboyz’ poor start to the season continued on Sunday after they suffered a 4-3 defeat against Bandari in a match played in Mombasa.

The defeat meant Homeboyz have only managed one win from seven matches and are now lying in 14th position of the 18-team table with five points.

It is a contrasting performance from the team which almost won the league title in the 2019-20 campaign as they were neck to neck with Gor Mahia before the season was prematurely ended owing to the coronavirus outbreak with the latter being declared champions by virtue of leading the table.

Despite the poor start, Shimanyula is still not ready to press the panic button yet insisting his team has been playing well but only luck is not on their side.

“I don’t think we need to be worried about the start, no we are playing very well, we are possessing the ball and moving it forward but all we don’t have now is luck,” Shimanyula told Goal on Tuesday.

“For example, if you watched our game against Bandari, we took control of the game from the first whistle despite playing away from home, we dictated the proceedings, and even after going 2-0 down, we managed to level matters at 2-2 before we eventual lost.

“It shows you the fighting spirit is there from the boys, they are working very hard to win matches, they are pushing themselves very hard but until now we are lacking that luck to drive us through and soon when we discover it, you will see what I am talking about.”

On whether the problem could come from the technical bench, Shimanyula said: “No…I don’t think so, because we only beefed up our squad with an assistant coach a week ago.

“It is not about the technical bench, it is all about the team winning another match and you will see how the next matches will unfold, a win will give the boys the boost they are lacking, it will open their eyes and we will start winning matches.”

Homeboyz will next take on promoted Bidco United at Bukhungu Stadium.

Mandla Ncikazi believes his unbeaten Golden Arrows side have it within them to inflict defeat on Orlando Pirates.

Arrows take on the Buccaneers in a league encounter at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday evening, 5 pm kickoff.

Abafana bes’Thende are flying high in fourth position (18 points) on the standings after beating Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila last weekend, and together with Mamelodi Sundowns and Swallows FC, are one of the three unbeaten clubs in the top-flight this term.

Bucs meanwhile have been battling for consistency and have lost two of their last four outings, including a 0-2 reverse away game to Black Leopards on Sunday.

And while Ncikazi is wary of Bucs’ quality, and the depth of options they have, he’s also optimistic over his side’s chances.

“A tough match against tough opponents, Pirates are a good team, a playing team. Maybe lets not read anything from their previous result,” the Arrows mentor told the media.

“The only threat with them, they can change the formation, many a time in one match. And also the personnel. I’m not sure what will happen after the [Leopards] loss, whether they will change personnel, whether they will change the formation.

“But with Pirates, just expect a tough match irrespective of what happened with them. But mainly I focus on our team, we are prepared to defend well. And if we defend well and use the ball well, come out cleanly in attack, we are going to get a positive result.

“I’m confident, based on what I have seen thus far in our team,” Ncikazi concluded.

Midfielder Nkosinathi Sibisi, one of the key men for the Durban side this term, says his side is remaining grounded but are also eyeing victory over the Sea Robbers.

“We are taking it one game at a time, we will try and get maximum points,” Sibisi said.

“It's another crucial game for us, we need to collect points as fast as you can, we’re trying to get maximum and hopefully it will go our way on Wednesday.”

Bucs are in fifth place with 17 points, eight behind joint leaders Sundowns and Swallows. Last season's two league matches between Arrows and Pirates both ended 0-0.

Azam FC management has come out to clarify they will not allow keeper David Mapigano to leave the club before his contract expires.

The Chamazi-based club confirmed the signing of another keeper – Mathias Kigonya from Forest Rangers in Zambia – before the mini-transfer window closed on January 15, and the arrival of the Ugandan has cast doubt on the future of Mapigano.

Mapigano, who signed for Azam at the start of the 2020-21 season from Kenyan champions Gor Mahia, has been the team’s first-choice keeper for the better part of the first round but with the arrival of Kigonya, many feel he will not be able to keep his position.

Azam Media Officer Zakaria Thabit has now cleared the air by stating they don’t have plans to do away with Mapigano because the arrival of Kigonya will give him the competition he needs to do even better.

“Usually for goalkeepers to concede goals does not mean that you are not a good keeper, it is part of the game, even top keepers in the world concede goals and Mapigano is not an exception,” Zakaria said as quoted by Sokalabongo.

“His potential is great as you can't forget that there were times during the first round when he was able to do well in a row and made the team remain unbeaten for seven matches and even stayed at the top of the log.

“What he is going through at the moment is part of the job and our faith is to have him return to his level best, there is no plan to remove him from the squad.”

On leaving Forest Rangers, Kigonya penned an emotional message to the club by stating: “It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to you,” the former Sofapaka and Kakamega Homeboyz goalkeeper said.

“I cannot thank you enough for the lessons you’ve taught me and the friendship you’ve so freely given. Absolutely, like any great team, you encouraged me, assisted me, and made me better at what we do.

“Thank you for sharing the wins and losses, the triumphs and the tribulations. Working with you has been a true privilege.

“I leave with friends, memories, and lessons learned from each of you. It’s been a pleasure getting to know and working with you during my time in Zambia.”

Apart from Kigonya and Mapigano, other keepers at Azam are Benedict Haule and Wilbol Kaseke.

Uganda midfielder Abdul Karim Watambala is delighted to have been involved in their Chan game against Rwanda despite settling for a goalless draw.

The 2019 Cecafa Senior Challenge champions played their neighbours Amavubi in the Group C game hoping to get maximum points. However, it was their opponents who played a good game, especially in the first half and even struck the woodwork twice.

The Vipers SC player is happy to have been given the opportunity by coach Johnathan McKinstry to make his debut in Africa's second-tier competition.

"It has been my first time in Chan, and I am delighted to have played for the entire 90 minutes," Watambala told Goal.

"I have learned many things because when you are playing big teams every time you learn new things. I am looking forward to delivering in my second game [against Togo] if given the opportunity."

The Venom has also opined on their game that was played at Stade de la Réunification in Douala. 

"We played our first game against Rwanda [on Monday] expecting a win but we did not get the result we wanted," Watambala continued.

"We did not get most chances for scoring a goal, now it is back to the drawing board and we hope going forward we will score goals but if we create enough chances."  

McKinstry believes his players did not push themselves to the limit against their East African neighbours.

"The first half of the game was really quite frustrating I think the players and for the staff alike and the display was below the level and I know we can play better than we did," the Northern Irish coach told Goal.

"One of the things we deployed at half time is that they have to play football, they have to pass the ball.

"I felt that maybe it was through a little bit of nervousness you know for a lot of players it was their first time at this level and you know…yes it was an East African derby but it is a new level for them, Chan is a step up just in terms of pressure and so I feel some of the players felt that pressure and they were not willing to play those punchy passes especially into our attacking midfielders."

Kaizer Chiefs' Kenyan midfielder Anthony Akumu Agay says he's had no problem playing in central defence.

Agay has been switched to the middle of the Amakhosi backline for the last two matches, swapping roles with Daniel Cardoso who is now being employed as a holding midfielder.

The changes have coincided with an upturn in form for the Glamour Boys as they beat AmaZulu 1-0 to end a seven-match winless streak in the league before following that up with a 2-1 victory away at Cape Town City last weekend.

The Kenyan international says he is happy to be contributing to the recent success and is content to play wherever head coach Gavin Hunt asks him to. He also spoke of the relationship he's enjoying with captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele in the centre of the Chiefs defence.

“I’ve adapted to playing wherever coach Gavin Hunt utilises me,” he told the club website.

“Playing anywhere on the field is all about the belief that the coach and your teammates have in you.

"So, I’m comfortable with being deployed in any position that I can play. I have played in many positions as a player, so it’s not a new thing for me," Agay continued.

“Playing with ‘Rama’ and the other guys is good. Someone like Rama makes it easier because he communicates with me all the time and he’s experienced. It’s a good thing to be playing and winning.”

The Soweto giants have managed to move up into the top eight bracket after their recent run of form and are hoping to make it a hat-trick of wins when they host Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila on Tuesday evening at the FNB Stadium (5 pm).

“Winning two games in a row is a morale booster,” said Agay.  “We can continue from where we left off for the next game against TTM. If we can approach the next game in the same way we approached the last two games, I believe that we can get the maximum points we need.

“Our next game on Tuesday won’t be easy. It will be as tough as the other ones. Therefore, it’s about the right attitude and approach. I believe we can collect the three points. Whoever will be there on the pitch must be supported.”

Selangor FC have reportedly signed two players from Ghanaian side Accra Lions to their reserve team, according to the African club.

In a social media posting made on Monday, the Ghanaian second tier side announced that 20-year old striker George Attram and 19-year old defender Jordan Ayimbila have joined the Red Giants on loan with immediate effect. A photo of the duo at Selangor's training centre was also included.

"The cooperation with Selangor is part of our strategy to develop Accra Lions into a globally recognized brand. Football in Asia is a fast growing industry. It’s a good moment to leave our footprint there," team manager Ishmael Hamidu was quoted as saying.

Very little is currently known of Attram and Ayimbila, but it is believed that they will be prepared for a future as Selangor first team players in the Malaysia Super League.

The impetus behind move can be gleaned from the German connection at the two sides. Selangor's head coach Karsten Neitzel and technical director Michael Feichtenbeiner, and Accra boss Rainer Kraft are all German nationals.

Whereas for Selangor 2, it is believed that the duo's arrival will see them play with one more foreign player than they did in 2020. Last season, they only fielded one import player, Bajram Nebihi even though teams can sign a maximum of four foreigners in the Malaysian second tier. Nebihi has since left the club.

India U16 started their UAE (United Arab Emirates) sojourn on a bright note by beating 1-0 the U19 team of local side Liwa FC in a friendly encounter at the Spanish Soccer School Ground in Sports City.  

The blue colts were supposed to play their first match on January 15 against Al Hamriyah FC but the match had to be cancelled because of a few Coronavirus cases in the opposition camp. Four players in their team had tested positive. 

The Indian team management then arranged a last-minute friendly with Liwa FC.

The match started on an even keel but Bibiano Fernandes' boys gradually took control of the game as the match progressed. They were asking questions of Liwa's defence but the hosts held their fort for the first 45 minutes. 

India continued to take the initiative once the match resumed and were pressing in advanced areas. They were finally rewarded for their persistence in the 71st minute when Liwa failed to play out from the back and gave away possession in the penalty box, courtesy of some quick closing down by Ebindas. 

The midfielder snatched possession from the centre back and after a touch fired in a shot in the right top corner to give India the breakthrough. In the 77th minute, the goalscorer was substituted by Sibajit Singh as the coach wanted more fresh legs in the final quarter of the match. 

In the final 10 minutes, the hosts finally showed some attacking intent and got out of their defensive cocoon.  India's keeper Lionel Rymnei was called into action on a couple of occasions but the young shot-stopper dealt comfortably with their attempts.

Defender Amandeep made a crucial contribution with a goal-line save in the 87th minute to keep the scoreline in India's favour. 

They are set to take on UAE U16 in the final two matches of the exposure trip on January 21 and 24 respectively. 

East Bengal's unbeaten streak extended to seven matches on Monday despite playing with a man less for more than 60 minutes against Chenaniyin FC on Monday.

However, five of those have been draws for the Red and Golds. And it seemed like they were playing for an outright win against Chennaiyin in the first half. For the first time this season, the Red and Golds' attack trio of Anthony Pilkington, Bright Enobakhare and Jacques Maghoma started a match together.

German midfielder Matti Steinmann, who looked extremely tired in the previous game, though had to sit out. Robbie Fowler switched back to a four-man defence which allowed East Bengal to be more attacking right from the beginning.

The Red and Golds looked the better side in the first half hour while Chennaiyin had a couple of moments from set-pieces of their own. It looked to be evolving into an enthralling tussle but for two moments of rash play from central midfielder Ajay Chhetri. For his second bookable offence in the 30th minute, the midfielder saw red and East Bengal were facing a situation all too familiar for them.

For a third time this season, East Bengal were down to 10-men fairly early in the game. And for the third time this season, they defied their opponents to gain a draw in such a situation. The spirit is definitely there in the team and had Anthony Pilkington been a bit more clinical, they could have won the game. 

It is almost as if East Bengal have become masters of playing a game with 10-men.

Yes, in the second half, Fowler was forced to consolidate the team's midfield as Jacques Maghoma was asked to play a deeper role along with Bright Enobakhare. Both the players worked tirelessly in the midfield and made sure that East Bengal never had to face sustained spells of pressure.

Chennaiyin, on the other hand, are looking more and more like a team that is shorn of confidence when it comes to putting the ball into the back of the net. They failed to utilise the numerical advantage effectively and were not convincing in the attacking third. They were also guilty of being profligate which has now become a hallmark of this team. East Bengal goalkeeper Debjit Majumder must also be credited for pulling off a few good saves. 

The Marina Machans have lacked creativity upfront ever since their skipper Rafael Crivellaro went out of action with a knee injury. Anirudh Thapa, was asked to play an advanced role in Crivellar's absence but Chennaiyin did miss the Brazilian's authority and presence. Also, Thapa was substituted at half-time due to an injury. They would badly want Manuel Lanzarote, currently in quarantine, in the team. 

While the decision of sending Ajay Chhetri off the pitch with a second yellow card cannot be questioned, East Bengal had to suffer 18 fouls on them and yet only two Chennaiyin players were cautioned in the match compared East Bengal three yellow cards though had committed only nine fouls.

Coach Robbie Fowler looked agitated throughout the game and had even lashed out at the officials after the game.

In the end, the Liverpool legend would feel content after a moral victory over Csaba Laszlo, having snatched a point yet again in trying circumstances. 

Gary Neville outlined how he is different than his brother Phil as a manager while backing the new Inter Miami boss after his hiring was confirmed on Monday.

Phil Neville has been selected to manage David Beckhams' club, who parted ways with manager Diego Alonso after just one season in charge.

The former coach of England's women's national team, Neville's role with Miami is his first time in charge of a men's football team.

He's previously worked as an assistant under David Moyes at Manchester United as well as at Valencia under both Nuno Espirito Santo and his brother.

And, while those two spells did not go entirely to play, Gary Neville backed his brother to succeed as a manager, outlining how the two are different when it comes to how they approach the game.

"I know how much Phil thinks about football every single day," Gary Neville said on Sky Sports. "That's why I'm not a manager! It's why he [Jamie Carragher] is not a manager. They're on the training pitch, writing the sessions down every day for the last six or seven years nonstop. They adore it and love it, the passion about it. 

"That's why Scott Parker, Michael Carrick, John Terry, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Jody Morris, Ryan Giggs, all the lads we played with, they're all in good jobs because they think about it every day and live with it. 

"I don't wake up in the morning thinking about 4-4-2 or 4-3-3. I could not think of anything worse, but those lads and Phil have done it and are exactly the same. 

"He's had three or four jobs now. He's gone into women's football which was a very big step, and at times he was criticized for it, saying he shouldn't have done it. It was a brave step, and he's done it. He went and did it. 

"He worked under David Moyes at Manchester United and it wasn't the best experience but that makes him stronger, not worse. 

"At Valencia, he was taken over there by Nuno and it went pear-shaped when I went over and it had nothing to do with Phil. 

"He's had the England job the last four years and I want him to do really well because I know how hard he works at it. He thinks every single minute about his coaching, what his team will do, asking coaches all the time. I love the game, but I'm not interested in it to that level."

Gary Neville also hit out at critics that have accused Beckham of hiring Neville solely due to their relationship, which dates back to their time coming through the ranks at Manchester United.

"All I'll say is that I know my brother and I know David Beckham as well, to be fair, and he wouldn't give his mate a job if he didn't know he could do it," he said. "

"The time, money, everything he's put into that club for the past few years, he wants to make sure its a success. He needs to make sure it's a success."

The last 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) match in which Kerala Blasters had more possession of the ball than their opposition was in their fixture against East Bengal nearly a month ago. Kibu Vicuna's team claimed 59 per cent of the ball as they dominated that game in the second half and snatched a late equaliser via a Jeakson Singh header in added time. 

It was indeed a valuable point but by then, Vicuna''s patience reached a brimming point with his team dropping points in one way or another every single game. They were winless in six games after that game and it had been (and still remains) a frustrating start to the season. 

A few games after that draw, Vicuna was asked whether he is open to altering his team's style of play to fetch results. Instead of refuting such a suggestion, his response was that he had already done it in the past few games. A look at the possession stats tells us that it is indeed true. 

Kerala Blasters have gotten rid of their obsession to keep the ball at all times and have started making better use of the ball in dangerous areas. When they get the ball, there has been a refreshing change in the type of runs that their players make in behind or in front of the opposition defence, in stark contrast to how they looked clueless at the start of the season. 

Since the draw against East Bengal in December, Blasters have not had more than 50 per cent possession in any of their games, including their two victories that have come during that period. 

The change brought about by Vicuna in his team's style of play may not be a major one but it may be the right track for Blasters to take this season after the start they have had. Sergio Cidoncha's injury and Gary Hooper's form may have also forced the coach to alter his approach for the season but either way, it seems to be working. 

The style is still reliant on having the ball in the right zones but the focus has shifted to being direct as opposed to trying to carve open the opposition defence. The likes of Facundo Pereyra and Jordan Murray look set to thrive in this Blasters v2.0. 

This is visible from their last few matches and is a welcome move since play-off spots are becoming more improbable with every dropped point. It will be interesting to see if Vicuna adopts a similar approach in their next game against Bengaluru FC, a team who have five wins in sevens matches against the Blasters.

Jamie Carragher has expressed concern with the form of Roberto Firmino and feels the Brazil international is in danger of being squeezed out at Liverpool.

Firmino is part of Liverpool's vaunted front three alongside Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, who have been brilliant for the Reds for a number of seasons.

They scaled the mountain last season as Liverpool won the Premier League for the first time since 1990, but Carrager has said he was concerned with Firmino’s form last term and that he has dipped again in the current campaign.

“I am still confident Mane and Salah will start scoring goals again,” Carragher told Sky Sports.  “I must say I am worried for Firmino. 

“He has never been seen as 'the' goalscorer. That is the responsibility of the other two, but he is there to chip in.

“When they are not scoring, he has to be a bigger goal threat. 

"Yesterday (during the 0-0 draw with Manchester United) he had a couple of chances but did not quite strike the ball right.”

Although he is the spearhead of the attack, Firmino’s all-round game has been as important as his goals. But Carragher feels the other parts of his package have dipped.

“Bringing others into the game has dropped off and the counter-pressing and winning the ball back has dropped off,” Carragher said. “I’m not just saying this season, I am going back to last season when Liverpool won the league. 

“I was worried then, wondering could he turn it around.

"He is the one I am worried about more and if there is one to be phased out before the others, I probably think it would be Firmino. 

"Sooner or later that front three will have to be broken up.

"The goals have been steadily going down. What stands out as well is his possession numbers. It is a massive drop off. When he was not getting the goals and assists he was doing the other stuff, but it is a massive drop off.”

Carragher feels that at 29, Firmino is reaching a stage when forwards start to lose their zip.

"He is the one I am worried about,” Carraghe said. “Whether it be a lack of form or that slow decline as you get older, which is natural for any attacker when you get to the late 20s because they do not play as long as other players on football pitches.”

Manchester City are on a roll in the Premier League at the moment, having won five games in a row that has seen them stretch their unbeaten run to eight matches. 

The latest win, a 4-0 triumph over Crystal Palace also propelled them to the second spot on the table. They are just two points behind league leaders Manchester United with a game in hand. 

If they win their tie against Aston Villa on Wednesday, Pep Guardiola’s side will climb up to the summit. 

They have also reached the final of the League Cup, thanks to a 2-0 win over rivals United. It seems the Citizens are starting to hit top gear as the season meanders around the half-way mark. 

In the Champions League, the club has qualified for the Round of 16 with an unbeaten record that saw them finish top of their group.

In what has been a difficult year globally, the Sky Blues did not have the brightest of starts to their league campaign but as the season has progressed, they have looked sharper and stronger. 

Much of that is also down to their improved defence under the leadership of the impressive Ruben Dias and John Stones, who has improved leaps and bounds this season. 

It seems that Manchester City fans are in for a memorable season this time around. As Guardiola and team goes about in their quest for silverware, Goal brings a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Manchester City fans in India. 

In association with the club and TECNO Mobiles, Goal brings an exciting stint for Manchester City fans to get to know their club from close quarters. 

We are looking for a trainee correspondent to create content on all things Manchester City. The candidate will need to write reports, shoot videos, connect with local communities and conduct interviews around Manchester City matches. 

This will be a paid programme and the correspondent will be mentored by Goal’s dedicated Man City correspondent and regional editorial teams. 

So what are you waiting for? Apply for the role and get a chance to cover your favourite team as they look to reclaim the Premier League crown this season.

Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka are taking the Premier League by storm and they made a piece of history in Arsenal’s win over Newcastle.

The Gunners ran out 3-0 winners at the Emirates Stadium, with captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on target twice as Arsenal moved up to 10th in the table.

Saka netted the second of the three goals, with his effort assisted by Smith Rowe.

In setting up his team-mate for his goal, Smith Rowe was assisting Saka for the third time this season and in doing so the duo became the first English pair to combine for as many as three Premier League goals before either player has turned the age of 21.

Smith Rowe has taken the Premier League by the scruff of the neck since being given his chance by manager Mikel Arteta.

He has made five starts and in that timeframe, only Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United has crafted more than Smith Rowe’s 10 chances.

When made aware of the company he is in, Smith Rowe told Sky Sports: “I look up to him as a player. He is a great player and his stats are crazy so that is a good achievement.”

Smith Rowe also revealed that Alexandre Lacazette is helping him develop as a player at Arsenal.

"Playing together with him up top has helped me so much on and off the pitch,” Smith Rowe said. “He has given me so much confidence. 

“As we link up and play together he talks to me a lot and helps me off the pitch.”

Smith Rowe had spells at RB Leipzig and Huddersfield before making the breakthrough at Arsenal, and he feels those moves aided his development as a player and a person.

“I have been abroad and in the Championship and it developed me so much on and off the pitch,” the 20-year-old said. “I feel I have grown and matured into a stronger and more confident person.

"The manager is giving me a chance now. I am so grateful and want to repay him and show him I am good enough to be in this team.”

Semi Ajayi has disclosed that West Bromwich Albion are looking forward to picking all three points at stake against West Ham United on Tuesday evening.

The Nigerian centre back was among the goalscorers on Saturday as the Baggies silenced hosts Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 at the Molineux Stadium.

Sam Allardyce and his men would be hoping to claim another win on the road when they lock horns with David Moyes’ side, and the 27-year-old revealed that his team would go into that clash with a positive mentality.

“We’ll analyse their strengths and weaknesses ahead of the game and we’ll go into it with a positive attitude, just like we did against Wolves,” Ajayi told club website.

“We’re hungry to pick up another three points after winning at Wolves, but we know we will have to be on our game because West Ham are a good side and they have some very good players.

“It’s a chance for us to keep building momentum and that could be crucial for us.”

Since joining the Hawthorns giants in July 2019, the former Rotherham United man has bagged eight goals in 63 appearances.

Not minding his defensive role, Ajayi who has featured in 17 English topflight games so far in the 2020-21 campaign wants to keep getting crucial goals which will take his team out of the relegation zone.

“I’m loving the fact I’m scoring goals at the moment. I’ve scored in my last three games away from home and I want to keep scoring,” he continued.

“My job as a defender is to stop goals going in, but if I can chip in at the other end too then that can only help the team.

“It was really nice to get my first Premier League goal a couple of weeks ago at Anfield.

“It was definitely something I’ve been wanting to add to my game this year.

“I knew that I had to chip in with goals, and up until recently I hadn’t managed to do that. 

“Hopefully I can add a few more before the end of the season to help the team pick up points.”

Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he is thrilled to see AC Milan add Mario Mandzukic, quipping that there are now two goalscorers that should strike fear into opposing defences.

Ibrahimovic's incredible start to the Serie A season continued on Monday as the Swedish star fired twice to lead 10-man Milan to a 2-0 win over Cagliari.

The goals were his 11th and 12th goals of the season, with Ibrahimovic reaching that goal mark in just eight games.

The Rossoneri will have another forward option to count on soon, with the club set to sign former Juventus forward Mandzukic on a six-month contract.

And Ibrahimovic sees that signing, as well as the addition of French midfielder Soualiho Meite from Torino, as a positive for a club that is already scoring plenty in Serie A

"I am very happy," the Swedish striker told Sky. "There will be two of us to scare the opponents now!"

He added: "So far we are doing well. We are almost halfway through the league and now the games are starting to be more difficult.

"It will be a very tough season, but now with Mandzukic and Meite, and I don't know if others will arrive, we will have more players available for the coach that can rotate in."

Milan boss Stefano Pioli, meanwhile, says he is excited to see the competition between the two veteran strikers going forward.

“Ibra said he’ll take care of keeping him at bay,” Pioli joked after the match. “I’m happy, the club is ambitious, they want Milan back on top. Mandzukic’s arrival goes into this situation.

“Given the many commitments and critical issues of this season, we need many players.

“I also tell them that the quantity of minutes is not important, but the quality.

“When the club proposed it to me, I immediately said yes, I spoke to him, he’s very motivated, he’s a winner"

Ibrahimovic set a new personal best on Monday, as his two goals ensured that he has found the net in nine successive starts in a top-five league for the first time in his career.

And, after firing his brace, Ibrahimovic said it was a message to the younger players on the pitch, who have pushed him to remain at such a high level.

"Difficult game. Today it went well and with one less [player on the pitch], it's not easy to play," he said.

"These young people are motivating me, they play against me and make me run more and I don't give up."

AC Milan currently sit atop Serie A, ahead of rivals Inter who are currently in second place.

Next up for Ibrahimovic and Co. is a clash with Atalanta before the Serie A leaders face off with Inter in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.

More than 20 years into his professional career, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still setting new career-best goalscoring marks.

The AC Milan striker fired both goals for AC Milan on Monday as the Serie A contenders took down Cagliari 2-0.

Ibrahimovic now has 12 goals through just eight Serie A games, putting him level with Lautaro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku for second in the league and behind only Cristiano Ronaldo.

Yet Ibrahimovic has played less than half the games as the duo of Inter stars, with the 39-year-old striker having started the season in incredible form.

The Swedish star has found the net in nine successive starts in a top-five league for the first time in his two-decade-long career.

Additionally, Ibrahimovic's 12-goal haul from his first eight games is the most for an AC Milan player since 1992-93, when Marco van Basten fired eight goals in as many games to the start the season.

After leading Milan past Cagliari, Ibrahimovic was asked by Sky if he believes that AC Milan can win the Scudetto and the striker, in typical fashion, replied: “I believe in me, I believe in Zlatan.”

Milan currently sit atop Serie A, three points ahead of rivals Inter, who sit in second place.

By taking down Cagliari away from San Siro on Monday, Milan continued their dominance as a visiting team, having now equalled their best unbeaten streak away from home in Serie A since 1994-95 - 16.

The Rossoneri are set to face Atalanta on Saturday before then turning focus towards their Milanese rivals Inter, whom they will face in the Coppa Italia on January 28.

Ibrahimovic has been a key figure in the club's resurgence, having joined from the LA Galaxy in January 2019.

With Monday's brace, Ibrahimovic has now scored 24 goals in 33 appearances since making his  Milan return, and the striker hinted he could extend his stay past his contract's expiration this summer.

Ibrahimovic says that his stay depends on sporting director Paolo Maldini, although he admits he's enjoying life with the club.

“I am very happy,” he said. “This return to Milan has changed me and I am very happy.”