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Arsenal are hoping to allow fans back into Emirates Stadium in October.

Supporters have not been allowed inside English grounds since football was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The season was eventually restarted in June and the domestic calendar was played to a completion behind closed doors, with clubs only allowed to have a specified number of people inside stadiums, including staff, media and security.

But talks have been ongoing with the Government over how supporters will be allowed in for the 2020-21 Premier League season, which is due to get underway on September 12 with Arsenal travelling to newly promoted Fulham on the opening weekend.

And following those discussions, the club has identified the home game against Sheffield United on October 3 as a match when fans could be able to attend, albeit in numbers well below the Emirates’ full capacity of 60,000.

In an email sent to supporters, Arsenal said: “We are continuing to work hard with the Premier League and UK Government on plans to bring fans back to stadiums, initially with reduced capacities.

“We are disappointed that our home fixture against West Ham United on Saturday 19 September will be played behind closed doors, but based on current Government guidelines, we hope to be able to welcome supporters back to Emirates Stadium for the Sheffield United game scheduled for Saturday 3 October.

“We will share full information regarding fan attendance at reduced capacity matches by Wednesday 2 September.”

Getting fans back inside the Emirates is key to Arsenal, with 24 per cent of the club’s annual revenue usually being generated from matchday earnings.

The loss of matchday revenue and the knock-on effect that has had on commercial and broadcast revenue has contributed to the recent proposal of 55 redundancies across various departments at the club.

When announcing the proposed redundancies earlier this month, a statement released by managing director Vinai Venkatesham and former head of football Raul Sanllehi said: “We do not make these proposals lightly and have looked at every aspect of the club and our expenditure before reaching this point.

“We know this is upsetting and difficult for our dedicated staff and our focus is on managing this as sensitively as possible.

“These proposed changes are ultimately about ensuring we take this great football club forward, creating the right organisation for a post-Covid world, and ensuring we have the resources to return to competing effectively at the top of the game here and in Europe.”

Former East Bengal and Kerala Blasters coach Trevor James Morgan has joined Philippines Football League club United City FC as their new head coach.

The veteran coach will replace Serbian coach Risto Vidakovic, who recently announced his resignation from the club.

The former Hull City youth coach expressed his delight on taking up the new challenge. He said, "I have been given a wonderful opportunity to help take an already very successful team to the next level, and I will give everything I have to help improve our team and to further establish Philippine football as a force to be reckoned within Asia.” 

United City FC was formerly known as Ceres Negros FC. In July 2020 after the former owner and chairman Leo Rey Yanson stepped down, Emirati-Philippine sports marketing firm MMC Sportz Asia took over the club and renamed it as United City FC.

Morgan had enjoyed two stints with East Bengal from 2010 to 2013 and then again in 2016. During his first stint, the Red and Golds had won a total of eight trophies in three years which includes two Federation Cup titles, three Calcutta Football League (CFL) titles, one IFA Shield and one AIFF Super Cup. In his second stint, he had won just the CFL title.

Under the British manager's tutelage, East Bengal had also enjoyed a very successful run in the AFC Cup 2013 when they had reached the semifinals.

Morgan had also served at Indian Super League (ISL) side Kerala Blasters as an assistant coach as well as interim head coach.

Uganda coach Johnathan McKinstry has revealed he had a talk with striker Uche Ikpeazu Mubiru before he signed for Championship side Wycombe Wanderers.

The Chairboys beat Oxford 2-1 in the League One play-off final at Wembley to secure promotion to the second tier of English football for the first time and in their bid to strengthen and be ready for the stiff competition in the division, they unveiled the East African player on a three-year-deal on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters in Kampala, McKinstry has revealed the role he played in the forward's move.

“I have been in constant contact with Mubiru,” McKinstry began [as per Kawowo]. “We spoke about the prospect of moving to the Championship after he called to consult for advice and I gave him a go-ahead.

“The Championship is one of the most - if not the very best of the - competitive leagues in the world, with thrilling action week in, week out. It is definitely a great platform for Mubiru to develop further.”

Wycombe have already declared their high hopes for the forward following his successful spell in Scottish football.

"[Coach] Gareth Ainsworth has secured Wanderers’ first new signing as a Championship club, bringing Uche Ikpeazu to Adams Park on a three-year deal," the Blues announced, upon signing the player.

"The Chairboys’ new number 9 arrives from Scottish side Hearts, having earned a move to the Edinburgh club thanks to a blistering spell at Cambridge United, catching the eye in a number of appearances against the Blues.”

Mubiru was among the three new players invited by McKinstry ahead of their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against South Sudan on March 28 and 31.

The 25-year-old, born in London to a Nigerian father and a Ugandan mother, has scored two goals in 23 Scottish Premiership games last season.

He previously played in the English League One with Crewe Alexandra, Port Vale, Blackpool, and Doncaster Rovers, and he has expressed his readiness to play on the international scene with the Cranes.

Upon being called up to Cranes squad before the qualifiers were suspended owing to the effects caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Mubiru said: “It’s always been a dream to represent my country.

"I thank God for this opportunity and I’m looking forward to testing myself at international level and hopefully achieving great things with Uganda Cranes.”

Biashara United have sealed the services of Ugandan duo Cleo Ssetubba and Joseph Zziwa in preparation for the 2020/21 Tanzania Mainland League.

With the season set to start on September 9, teams are busy rebuilding to ensure they can realise their set objectives.

Both players, who were free agents, have signed two-year deals at the club.

Ssetubba became a free agent after his former side Sony Sugar let most of the players leave owing to breach of contract. The Sugar Millers were financially crippled and could not honour Kenyan Premier League (KPL) matches, and as a result, they were relegated. He has also turned out for the Ugandan Premier League side URA.

His counterpart, Zziwa, was employed at Express FC and opted against extending his stay.

"We want to have a stronger team for the new campaign and it is the reason why we are going for both quality and experience," Biashara coach Francis Baraza told Goal.

"The two players will help us have a better team in the top tier. Getting them for free is also good because it is not easy to find such quality players available." 

In an initial interview, the tactician had revealed he will release up to 10 players and bring on board five in a bid to strengthen the Tanzania Mainland League side.

United were struggling to get off the relegation zone and prior to his arrival, they were placed 17th on the table after managing to get just two wins, two draws, and six losses out of the 10 games played. The former Kenya international went on to stabilize the team.

"We have too many players in the team, which makes it difficult to manage," Baraza revealed. "For [Biashara] to do well, the number has to be trimmed from the current 31.

"I want to have about 26, 27 players for next season; we will release about 10 and sign five in the next transfer window."

The Mara-based side managed to collect 12 wins, 14 draws and 12 losses in the 38 matches played in the concluded season to finish ninth on the table with 50 points.

Marseille police have confirmed that they have reversed a decision that would have seen Paris Saint-Germain shirts banned in the city centre on Sunday.

PSG, the great rivals of Olympique de Marseille, reached the Champions League final with a 3-0 win over RB Leipzig on Tuesday and will face off against Bayern Munich at the weekend as they seek to claim their first European title.

OM are currently the only French side ever to have won the competition, despite the likes of Reims, Saint-Etienne and Monaco having previously graced the final. OM are fiercely proud of their 1993 title and many of their fans do not want to see PSG equalling that achievement.

On Tuesday, there were clashes between Marseille fans and their PSG counterparts in the city. L’Equipe reported that there were around 50 OM ultras patrolling the Old Port district of the city to disconnect televisions and threaten PSG fans. There were some violent clashes and one man was arrested.

With tensions running high in the port city, a decision was taken on Thursday to ban PSG colours in the city centre, but there has now been confirmation that this has been overturned.

“The sole purpose of this decree was to protect Parisian supporters, and in no way aimed to restrict freedom of movement,” authorities said via a statement released on Twitter. “Faced with the incomprehension that came with this decree, the prefect of police has today decided to repeal it. 

“On Sunday, there will be forces or order deployed around the area of the Old Port and they will be particularly vigilant to stop any action that may result in trouble, without exception.”

Professor Paul Cassia of the University of the Sorbonne had previously told RMC that the decree was “clearly illegal”.

“The risk of an attack has not been demonstrated,” he said. “The measure was disproportionate. On Tuesday night, 250 PSG supporters gathered in Marseille. Two of them were attacked because of the jersey they were wearing. The role of the police is to reconcile the freedom of each person.”

PSG’s clash with Bayern kicks off at 8:00pm UK time (3:00pm US ET) on Sunday.

As he concedes Khama Billiat is not having a great season so far, Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp accepts his star player needs help to regain his form in the final third.

The German manager is looking to guide his troops to glory over Stellenbosch on Sunday in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) as they look to stretch their lead at the top, he also looks at their previous results, saying they didn’t expect them.

Amakhosi got their season underway with a draw against Bidvest Wits, beat Polokwane City but succumbed to a 3-1 loss at the hands of Bloemfontein Celtic on Wednesday night.

“We know it hasn’t been a great season for Khama, but everybody knows that he has huge potential and we can only support him and put him in the next movement, and expect that he can do better,” Middendorp told the media.

The Soweto giants still enjoy a six-point lead at the summit from 25 matches, they will be gunning for a win over Stellies and Middendorp says they knew they still had to improve against Phunya Sele Sele.

“Nobody was aware of the current situation. Nobody said, ‘You have to open a book on page 85 and see what will happen at this certain time,'” he added.

“In the camp, with the experience of playing the tournament, the second and third week is the most critical.

“But nobody is aware of it. The results that we’ve seen in the past match-days is not what was expected, but it was a chance for every team [that’s chasing something] to be successful.

“We knew that not everything was complete after playing against Polokwane City.”

As he challenges the Naturena-based club to focus on their race, the former Maritzburg United boss says they didn’t look at Mamelodi Sundowns' loss to Cape Town City on Monday before facing Celtic.

“It was not a situation that since another team hasn’t picked up the points, I got carried away and thought everything was fantastic [heading into the game against Celtic]. It was not about that at all,” continued the German manager.

Meanwhile, second-placed Masandawana will look to narrow the gap to three points as they face the Team of Choice on Friday evening at Lucas Moripe Stadium and erase their loss to the Citizens.

Arsenal will not “get anywhere near the top four” without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, says Ray Parlour, with the former Gunners star hoping that “positive signs” will lead to a new contract being signed.

No fresh terms have been agreed as yet with the prolific Gabonese frontman, who has entered the final 12 months of his current deal.

Arsenal have, however, secured European qualification for 2020-21 – courtesy of Aubameyang’s match-winning brace in an FA Cup triumph – and have been locked in talks with their captain for some time.

Mikel Arteta has stated his confidence regarding an extended stay for a key man, while the player himself has dropped regular hints that he is going nowhere.

Parlour is among those now waiting on official confirmation of a compromise being reached, with Aubameyang likely to join Mesut Ozil in being handed a lucrative wage packet at Emirates Stadium.

“You can’t replace those goals that he scores. The signs are positive that he might stay, which would be great news,” ex-Gunners midfielder Parlour told talkSPORT.

“I see the relationship with the manager, which is so important. You can see when the final whistle went against Chelsea – Arteta straight over to Aubameyang. I know he scored the two goals but you can see that the relationship is pretty good.

“It’s going to come down to money, what are you going to have to pay him?

“The problem is we’ve got Ozil sitting on £350,000-a-week and Aubameyang’s going to say ‘I want the same’. His representatives can say ‘wait a minute, there’s a player out there who is not even playing so we want 350-a-week’. Whether that can do a deal at 250 or 275, I think that’s what they will be aiming for.

“If he does leave, there aren’t enough goals around the team to get anywhere near the top four.”

Arsenal are hoping to force their way back into contention for Champions League qualification as they prepare to take in a fourth successive season outside of the European elite.

Experienced Brazilian forward Willian has been acquired to help aid that quest, with the promise of more arrivals to come, and tying Aubameyang to a new deal would offer the Gunners a timely boost ahead of the 2020-21 campaign.

Angers have confirmed Rayan Ait-Nouri has contracted coronavirus and will not be involved when they take on Dijon in their opening Ligue 1 game of the 2020-21 season on Saturday.

The Black and Whites carried out health tests ahead of the kick-off of the French top-flight and the result showed the Algerian defender has tested positive for Covid-19.

The 19-year-old has been quarantined and will have to test negative before rejoining the rest of Stephane Moulin’s side.

The situation, will, however, not prevent their clash against Dijon, as clubs in the division are permitted to play, provided the number of infected players in their ranks is not more than three.

“Thursday 20 August, the Angers group had their ninth Covid-19 PCR screening test,” read a statement from the club website.

“The results are in and point to a positive case within the professional workforce - this is Rayan Ait Nouri.

“The player concerned, who did not present symptoms, was placed in 14-day isolation and the whole team, staff included, remain under the reinforced surveillance of the club doctor.

“New tests will be carried out next week and Ait Nouri will be subject to additional examinations prior to his return.

“We remind you that the training centre is closed to the public. It is everyone's responsibility to avoid contact with players and staff, including on match days.  

“We hope, like you, that this period will be as short as possible and we are counting on your understanding. The team remains united and motivated for the trip to Dijon this Saturday, August 22.”

Ait-Nouri has been with Angers since 2016 when he joined the youth setup, having previously featured for AS Val de Fontenay, ASF Le Perreux 94 and Paris FC.

He was promoted to the senior team in 2018 and has since featured in 20 league games for the  Stade Raymond Kopa outfit, including 17 in the 2019-20 season.

Ait-Nouri has featured for France U18 and U21 but he is still eligible to play for Algeria since he has not made an appearance for the Blues senior side.

Liverpool are ready to sell Marko Grujic this summer, with Hertha Berlin leading the race for the midfielder.

Grujic has spent the past two seasons on loan with the Bundesliga club, but Liverpool believe a third temporary move would not be in the player’s best interests.

Instead, they will look to negotiate a permanent deal for the 24-year-old, who is valued at around £20 million ($26m).

Hertha are keen to re-sign the Serbian international, with reports in Germany suggesting they would look to strike another loan deal, this time with an obligation to buy next summer. Liverpool, though, are aware of interest from elsewhere and would be unlikely to sanction such a move.

Two more Bundesliga clubs, Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Moenchengladbach, are keen on Grujic. Both, along with Werder Bremen, tried to sign him on loan last summer, while Champions League quarter-finalists Atalanta are another to have made enquiries.

Crystal Palace, too, are understood to have made contact with Grujic’s agent, while Aston Villa have discussed the possibility of a deal – though the Midlands club are more likely to go after Philip Billing, the Bournemouth midfielder, as they look to beef up Dean Smith’s squad.

Grujic was Jurgen Klopp’s first signing as Liverpool manager back in January 2016, joining from Red Star Belgrade in a £5m ($6.5m) deal. 

He has made 14 competitive appearances for the Reds since, the last of which came at Brighton in December 2017.

Since then, he has enjoyed a productive spell with Cardiff, who he helped earn promotion to the Premier League, and then two seasons with Hertha, where he has made a total of 54 appearances, scoring nine times.

He has settled well in Berlin, moving into an apartment in the city centre, and was a key figure under new coach Bruno Labaddia post-lockdown. Hertha finished the season 10th in the Bundesliga, having flirted with relegation earlier in the campaign.

Speaking exclusively to Goal back in January, Grujic insisted he had not given up hope of forcing his way into Klopp’s plans at Anfield.

“I know it’s going to be tough,” he said. “I’m not stupid. I know that Liverpool right now are an unbelievable team, the best team in the world. So, I know that I have to be at a very high level if I want to have a chance. Next season, who knows, hopefully I am ready to jump up with the team. That is what I hope for.”

Grujic is likely to feature as Liverpool take on Stuttgart in a pre-season friendly in Salzburg on Saturday (5pm UK time). 

Klopp is expected to give new signing Kostas Tsimikas his first run-out, while the likes of Rhian Brewster, Takumi Minamino and Xherdan Shaqiri will all be looking to catch the eye.

Youngsters Harvey Elliott, Sepp van den Berg, Ki-Jana Hoever and Billy Koumetio, the 17-year-old defender, should also be involved.

Ambitious Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Wazito FC have appointed Stephen Otieno Ochiel as their new technical director.

Ochiel is a known football agent in the country and Wazito believe his arrival will act as a catalyst to their ambition of becoming a force in the top-tier.

“Wazito have appointed him [Stephen Ochiel] as the new technical director. We believe his addition will help us accelerate our race to achieve our league targets,” a source privy to the development told Goal on Friday.

Former Harambee Stars head coach Stanley Okumbi was the last occupant of the technical director's position during the recent troubled Wazito’s time in KPL.

Ochiel has handled many players and was the one who sealed John Makwatta’s move to Zambian Super League side Zesco United.

The manager has also been mostly involved with the transfer activities of KPL heavyweights Gor Mahia.

Bernard Ondiek, Maurice Ojwang, Joash Onyango, Geoffrey Ochieng, Kenneth Muguna and Joachim Oluoch are some of the players Ochiel facilitated moves to the Green Army.

Most of the players that Ochiel handles hail from the Kisumu region but, with his widespread influence in the transfer market, he has seen them join top-tier teams away from the region.

Nzoia Sugar and Western Stima are other clubs that have mostly done transfer deals with Ochiel.

Wazito have so far completed their seventh signing in a bid to have a good campaign once the new season starts.

After promotion in 2019, the Nairobi club made big-name signings in the last two transfer windows but they failed to make much of an impact in the top league.

Jackson ‘Pogba’ Juma, a defensive midfielder and who is an alumnus of Kisumu Day High School and a former AFC Leopards star, is the latest player the former National Super League (NSL) champions announced on Friday.

Former AFC Leopards’ Vincent Oburu, Mark Otieno from Leads United, Kevin Kimani from Mathare United, former Gor Mahia winger Boniface Omondi, ex-Western Stima’s Edwin Omondi, and Kevin ‘Chumsy’ Okumu from Nairobi City Stars are the players Wazito have signed.

Cape Town City midfielder Mpho Makola has recalled how he ended up at Orlando Pirates and not Kaizer Chiefs. 

In 2012, Makola joined the Buccaneers from Free State Stars, and he admits he was also wanted by Amakhosi; the team he played for during his youth days.

Makola said he wanted to go back to Chiefs from Free State Stars but Bobby Motaung didn't answer his call on the day he was supposed to meet the Amakhosi football manager. 

He was then called in by Pirates at Mayfair and when Motaung returned his call, he couldn't answer as he was already in discussion with management.  

And looking back, Makola feels Motaung's failure to answer his phone was a blessing in disguise. 

"I grew up at Chiefs. A part of me wanted to go back to Chiefs," Makola told Far Post. 

"On the day I was supposed to meet Bobby, he didn’t pick up the phone. When he tried calling me later, I was now at Mayfair (Orlando Pirates office) and I didn’t pick up the phone. It was a blessing in disguise that Bobby didn’t answer," he recalled.

Makola would go and spend seven seasons with the Sea Robbers, and he doesn't regret that he failed to rejoin his boyhood club Amakhosi.   

"I don’t have any regrets at all. It’d have been something beautiful to return to Chiefs but I guess it was God’s way. I had the best seven seasons of my career at Pirates," he added.

The Alexandra-born midfielder was instrumental in Pirates reaching two continental finals - the Caf Champions League and Caf Confederation Cup in 2013 and 2015 respectively. 

In July 2019, Makola was released by Pirates after losing his place in the team the season before. 

He was signed by Cape Town City and remains one of the integral players of their squad despite being 34 years of age. 

In June this year, Cape Town City handed Makola a new one-year deal after doing his best for the club since the arrival of Jan Olde Riekerink last year.  

The coach who was influential in City signing Makola was Benni McCarthy but he was sacked a few months into the player's contract. 

Dietmar Hamann is confident Bayern Munich can deal with Neymar's dramatics in Sunday's Champions League final, but warned that the German giants cannot afford to slip up against Paris Saint-Germain's star players.

Although Neymar has played a pivotal role this season for Ligue 1 champions PSG, scoring 19 goals in 26 appearances in all competitions, he has not been able to shake off his reputation for being overly theatrical on the field.

Neymar's displays may be irritating for ex-Bayern midfielder Hamann, but he is aware the 28-year-old, alongside France star Kylian Mbappe, could prove devastating in the European decider if the German giants are not careful.

He wrote in a column for Sky: “What I always dislike about PSG games are Neymar's show performances, but Bayern can live with that in midfield.

“What they have to prevent is Neymar getting into dangerous positions in and around the penalty area. There he is technically just outstanding and can hurt you.

"Bayern have to make it clear to him right from the start that it won't be that easy today. The Brazilian has to prove that he can lead a team to the biggest title. I still have great doubts.

“Also, Mbappe must be prevented from starting with the ball. Then it will be incredibly difficult to control. These situations have to be nipped in the bud beforehand. Then you rob them of their great strength - but anyone who, besides Mbappe and Neymar, likes must not be forgotten is Angel Di Maria.

"The Argentine can also make the difference, RB Leipzig felt it. That shouldn't happen to Bayern.

“These three stars alone show that the individual quality as well as the speed and technique at PSG are outstanding. However, for me as a team and in interaction they don't harmonise as much as Bayern do.”

Indeed, the former Bayern midfielder believes Hansi Flick’s team will run out clear winners against their French counterparts.

He said: “It will be important that the players are wide awake and aggressive from the start against PSG. Because that's how you put PSG under pressure right from the start, force them to long balls and give the attackers little time on the ball from the start.

“In addition, Bayern then have to act safer on the ball than they did in the semi-finals. Of course, you can't afford to make slight mistakes against the top stars Neymar, Kylian Mbappe or Angel Di Maria."

He continued: “Both teams deserve to be in the final, but I don't see PSG on a par with Bayern. The performance against RB Leipzig was good. But RB also made Thomas Tuchel's team look better than they really are.

“For me, no team is fitter than Bayern. And the physical component should not be underestimated after a tight final round. In addition, no other team in Europe has a wider chest than the German record champions. Therefore, I bet on a clear 4-1 Bayern win in the final!”

Rangers have "strongly rejected" a bid from Leeds United for winger Ryan Kent, Steven Gerrard has confirmed, adding that the Premier League newcomers were "way, way off" with their opening offer.

Leeds are looking to strengthen their squad ahead of their return to the top flight, with Kent seen as an ideal recruit to increase the attacking options available to head coach Marcelo Bielsa.

However, Rangers are understandably loathed to lose a player they only signed permanently from Liverpool less than a year ago.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's game against Kilmarnock, Gers boss Gerrard confirmed Leeds' approach but made it clear that the Scottish club are determined to keep hold of the 23-year-old.

"Ryan's a player we admire very much here," Gerrard told the media.

"He's a player that we've seen develop at Liverpool for a long time. We bought him here on loan and he did ever so well, then we went and bought him and he's done ever so well and is progressing very, very quickly here. 

"He's in a good place and he's in good form. He's a player we want to keep hold of. 

"Yes, we have had contact from Leeds, and an opening bid has been really strongly rejected."

Kent managed seven league goals in the 2019-20 campaign for Rangers and has already scored twice at the start of the new campaign in Scotland.

When asked if Leeds would be given the same answer if they came back with an improved offer, Gerrard replied: "It depends on what that bid is, but they were way, way off with that opening bid.

"He's a player who is not for sale, we don't want to lose Ryan, he's a big part of what we've been trying to do here. 

"We want him to stay here for many, many years. But we know Premiership teams hold a lot of power - that's the reality, that's the way it is. We have to accept that. 

"But the message to Leeds is the opening bid is nowhere near the valuation of the player, and we obviously don't want to sell."

Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed former Everton and Super Eagles forward Daniel Amokachi as special assistant on sports.

Secretary to the federal government Boss Mustapha signed the letter confirming the 47-year-old’s appointment, dated August 17, 2020.

According to a statement from the ministry of youth and sports development, Amokachi’s new role will see him advise the president on sports-related matters.

“I am pleased to inform you that Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has approved your appointment as Special Assistant on Sports,” read the statement.

“The appointment takes effect from the 11th of August, 2020. As Special Assistant on Sports, Amokachi is expected to advise the President on all sports matters.

“The former Everton of England player was earlier in the year named Nigeria’s Football Ambassador. Although a ceremonial role, as Ambassador he is expected to mentor youngsters.”

His role was to assist the federal ministry of youth and sports development to scout and mentor players.

Amokachi enjoyed success during his playing years, where he featured for Premier League side Everton, Club Brugge and Besiktas among other clubs before his retirement.  

The 47-year-old won the FA Cup and FA Charity Shield during his time with the Toffees and lifted the Turkish Cup with Besiktas.

“Da Bull” as he is fondly called by his admirers, had 44 caps and 13 goals for the Super Eagles during his playing years.

He was part of the Nigeria national team that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and featured prominently at that year’s World Cup tournament and the 1998 edition.

Amokachi also helped the West Africans clinch the Olympic gold medal in 1996, scoring in the final against Argentina.

He was the assistant coach to Stephen’s Keshi at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, where the Super Eagles secured the title for the third time in their history.

Amokachi has also previously managed Nigeria sides Nasarawa United, Enyimba and Ifeanyi Ubah as well as Finnish club JS Hercules. 

Mikel Arteta claims Arsenal have “huge potential” and “no limits”, with the Spaniard encouraged by the progress made at Emirates Stadium during the early months of his reign.

A familiar face was returned to north London in December 2019 as the Gunners sought to find further inspiration in a coaching capacity.

With Arsene Wenger departed and Unai Emery struggling as the Frenchman’s successor, the Premier League heavyweights needed to get their latest appointment right.

Arteta has delivered FA Cup success and European qualification, while efforts are now being made to freshen up a squad in need of a serious facelift – with a deal already done for experienced Brazilian forward Willian.

Arsenal fans are daring to dream once more, with a team that has struggled for consistency over several years seemingly heading in the right direction.

Quizzed by Arsenal Digital on how he has turned things around and his hopes for the future, Arteta said: “The first thing was that I got everyone together, the staff and the players, and I told them what I thought about them and why this wasn't working. If we were going to continue like this, it was never going to work.

“The first thing we had to do was get back all together with the same agenda and with the same intentions. The foundations have to be really strong in order to create something and we started to do that. I explained my view of how we could do it, we could change things and monitor them daily, but we started to apply some things and they really started to work.

“We had to create the right culture for our club and it has to be an environment that first of all everybody has to respect each other, that we have to work together and we have to express the passion and how we lucky we are to be where we are. That's the first one to start with.

“Without that unity, we cannot drive this massive ship that we have to manage with Arsenal, and the expectations that are involved with the club. The moment we started to do that, I started to change a few things that, for me, were really relevant. The players got behind them, the staff got behind them and we started to see some results straight away.

“As well, we have to identify our weaknesses and our strengths, and they have to be aware of our weaknesses. We can have weaknesses that we have to hide but we cannot have weaknesses within our structure of our club.

“Then we have to maximise our strengths, that we have a lot of, and at that moment I didn't believe that we were doing that. We have huge potential, we have no limits, it depends on us, not the opponent or other clubs. It depends on our stats and that was something that needed to change, so that's what I was encouraging all the time, to do that.”

Arsenal have discovered their Premier League schedule for 2020-21, with a side that will have a Community Shield date with champions Liverpool to take in on August 29 set to open up a new top-flight campaign with a trip to London rivals Fulham on September 12.

Bournemouth will start life back in the Championship at home to Blackburn Rovers, while Watford host Middlesbrough and Norwich City travel to Huddersfield Town.

The Cherries were relegated after a five-year stay in the Premier League, while Watford and Norwich were also demoted in a top-flight campaign that was disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

That halt means the new Championship season starts on September 12, with beaten play-off finalists Brentford travelling to Birmingham City on the opening day, while south Wales rivals Cardiff City and Swansea City – who also made the top six – host Sheffield Wednesday and visit Preston North End respectively.

Wycombe Wanderers – playing in the second tier for the first time – welcome fellow new boys Rotherham United for their first game, while Coventry City's return to the Championship starts with a trip to Bristol City.

Derby County and Barnsley start at home against Reading and Luton Town, with Stoke City and Nottingham Forest heading to London to face Millwall and QPR.

Bournemouth host Norwich in the third round of matches, the same weekend Watford renew acquaintances with fierce rivals Luton.

Watford and the Canaries face off at Vicarage Road on December 26. Elsewhere in the traditional Boxing Day fixtures, Bournemouth host Millwall and Brentford travel to Cardiff.

In other battles between the relegated sides, Bournemouth travel to Watford on October 24, with the return fixture at the Vitality Stadium on February 27. Norwich and the Cherries will clash at Carrow Road towards the end of the campaign, on April 17.

Norwich and Watford will face off in East Anglia on April 20, with both sides hoping to be amid a battle to return to the Premier League at that point, as the fixture comes with just four games remaining of the Championship season.

The three relegated teams will hope to be in the promotion hunt come the final day on May 8, with Bournemouth and Watford at home to Stoke and Swansea, while Norwich go to Barnsley.

Brentford, who came so close to promotion to the Premier League only to be denied by Fulham at Wembley, end the 2020-21 league season away to Bristol City.

Notoriously one of the most competitive leagues in Europe, all 24 clubs in the Championship will be eyeing their final round of fixtures - along with all 45 other scheduled matches - as a possible date of celebration as they aim for elevation to the top level of English football.