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How to Win Soccer Betting Guide Book Soccer betting is a big business today. So much money is made by bookmakers every week that it is surprising how most punters continue to bet on soccer without fully understand the factors that influence the outcomes of the matches. Lesson 1: Reading Off Pitch Gossip News Lesson 2: Benefit from the last match of the week league game. Lesson 3: Overcome Asian handicap. Lesson 4: What is Suspicious Odds? Lesson 5: Identify the current high and low scoring league and gain from it. Lesson 6: Clash of the Titan. Is it wise to take all the giants? Manchester City win 3-0 on Asian Handicap on 10 August 2015 with technique from Lesson 6 Over 500 copies sold since 2012 and I am available on facebook since 2010. (effectiveness of the guide book)

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EURO 2012 Selections

I will be posting my pick on http://europeancup-2012.blogspot.sg/.

Arsenal signed South Korea Captain and move for Werder Bremen's Captain.

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of South Korea international Park Chu-Young from Ligue 2 club Monaco.

Chu-Young, 26, looked set to leave Monaco for Lille this summer only for Arsenal to swoop late for the striker's services. He has now agreed personal terms with the club and completed a medical.

Arsene Wenger said: "We are delighted to have signed Chu. He will add true quality to our attacking forces and will be a valuable addition to the squad."

Chu-Young said: "I am very honoured and I feel very happy to be at Arsenal. It is a dream to be here and I am really proud to be an Arsenal player. Now I just want to show how good I am and prove myself.

Arsenal are also in talks to sign Werder Bremen defender Per Mertesacker, with the Germany international's move to Emirates Stadium expected to be confirmed on Wednesday.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has come under pressure to bolster his squad before Wednesday's transfer deadline in the wake of his side's 8-2 Premier League loss at Manchester United on Sunday.

Wenger indicated he is in the market for a centre-back, and several names have been linked, including Mertesacker, who will also provide much-needed height and experience at the back, standing at 6' 6'' and boasting 75 international caps.

Mertesacker, 26, is the captain of the Bundesliga club and it is reported a fee of around £10 million has been agreed to bring the centre-half to Emirates Stadium as he has entered the final 12 months of his contract.

Germany boss Joachim Low said: ''Per contacted me last night and informed me (about Arsenal's interest). I told the player that I would release him for the day.''

Metesacker is now believed to have passed a medical and agreed personal terms with the Gunners.

Fenerbahce left-back Andre Santos is closing on a move, with South Korea captain Park Chu-Young signed with Arsenal, the Gunners have been linked with a host of other names ahead of Wednesday's transfer deadline, including Chelsea trio Florent Malouda, Alex and Yossi Benayoun.

Red Devils rout Gunners 8-2

Manchester United utterly eviscerated Arsenal in a one-sided encounter at Old Trafford, eventually running up an 8-2 scoreline that saw Wayne Rooney claim a hat-trick and Ashley Young run riot.

Young scored twice and Danny Welbeck, Nani and Park Ji-Sung all got themselves on the scoresheet as Arsene Wenger's side were utterly humiliated on Sunday afternoon, with Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie - who earlier missed a penalty - scoring the Gunners' two consolations.

It always looked like Arsenal would be up against it, after Wenger was forced to name youngster Francis Coquelin in an inexperienced lineup, while Sir Alex Ferguson was able to name the same lineup that comfortably beat Tottenham Hotspur last Monday.

It took just 22 minutes for United to begin their assault on the scoreboard, as Danny Welbeck opened the scoring for the hosts after taking advantage of some shocking communication between Johan Djourou and Wojciech Szczesny. Just four minutes later, the visitors had a chance to get back on level terms, however, after Theo Walcott went down under pressure from Jonny Evans - but Van Persie saw his penalty saved by David de Gea in a passage of play that changed the course of the game. Young almost immediately doubled United's lead with a beautiful curling shot from 25 yards before Wayne Rooney beat Szczesny's outstretched hand from a well-worked free-kick to make it three.

During all that action, United even had to absorb a set-back, as Welbeck was forced off after pulling up with a hamstring injury. Just before half-time, Walcott fired through De Gea's legs to give Arsene Wenger's men a glimmer of hope, but that was to prove short-lived as United came out still firing on all cylinders in the second half. In the 64th minute, Rooney got his second in almost identical circumstances to his first - this time wrong-footing Szczesny at his far post - before three minutes later Nani dinked an effort over the Poland goalkeeper while one-on-one to make it five.

Substitute Park Ji-sung then added a sixth before Van Persie finally got the better of De Gea to reduce the deficit to a mere four - although the action showed no signs of abating. Full-back Carl Jenkinson was then sent off for his second bookable offence after bringing down another substitute, Javier Hernandez, as the Mexican bore down on goal, before Rooney completed his hat-trick from 12 yards after Walcott had given away a silly penalty.

At this point Wenger had his head in his hands, but the humiliation was not quite over, with Young getting his second goal of the game in similar fashion as the 90 minutes came to a close.

Cesc seals Super Cup for Barca with 2-0 win

Cesc Fabregas scored a brilliant volley to keep Barcelona's non-stop victory parade going with a UEFA Super Cup triumph over Porto.

Fabregas, on the bench until the last 10 minutes, took Lionel Messi's pass on his chest before rifling home to spark scenes of wild celebration from his team-mates.

It means two trophies in 10 days for the former Arsenal man - who won just the FA Cup and a Charity Shield in all his years with the Gunners - with the European and Spanish champions already having the Spanish Super Cup in the bag this season and thanks to Fabregas and Messi's first-half goal, added the UEFA trophy to their cabinet.

The presence of Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez on the bench served to highlight that the best team in the world are now, frighteningly, even stronger than last season.
Yet it had been an uncomfortable start as Barca initially struggled to reach their own high standards. The often-criticised pitch in Monaco's Stade Louis II did not help Barcelona, cutting up almost immediately having been heavily watered and for the first half hour it was Porto who enjoyed the best chances.

A handball by Eric Abidal handed Porto a free-kick in a promising position on the edge of the 'D' but Hulk drifted it over, and Joao Moutinho threatened Barca's goal again with a wicked shot that Victor Valdes turned past the post at full stretch.
Some extravagant step-overs by Hulk took him past Adriano but the Brazilian bent his shot wide.
Barca had only an effort by Pedro lobbed onto the roof of the net to boast of after half an hour, but they slowly started to warm up with Andres Iniesta in particular making light of the pitch with some awesome dribbling.
Xavi had seen a 25-yard shot tipped over before Messi's goal came six minutes before half-time when Fredy Guarin ruined all his side's good work with an awful attempted backpass.
Messi had been slow to get back and he could hardly believe his luck when the ball landed at his feet, and he strolled around Porto keeper Helton for a simple finish.
Porto appeared determined not to waste their good work of the first half with two cracking efforts early in the second. First Moutinho brought another good stop from Valdes and then Guarin fired in a 30-yard thunderbolt that the Barcelona keeper tipped aside.
David Villa, earlier denied by a hasty whistle from Dutch ref Bjorn Kuipers when he should have played advantage, was put free on goal by Iniesta but for once he snatched at the shot and it was easy for Helton.
A stunning length-of-the-field run involving Pedro and Messi so nearly led to a second goal but Helton came off his line to prod the ball away.
Villa made way for Alexis Sanchez, the Chilean winger who joined from Udinese this summer, with Sergio Busquets for Adriano leaving Fabregas sweating as to whether he would get a run-out.
Busquets' misguided header over the oncoming Valdes nearly played Barcelona into trouble but Abidal stretched to clear the loose ball ahead of Kleber.
Fabregas was given 10 minutes to shine by Pep Guardiola, coming on for Pedro, almost immediately to be hacked down by Guarin who earned himself a yellow card.
Porto's hopes were all but extinguished when Rolando was given his marching orders for hauling down Messi and earning a second bookable offence.
Then came Fabregas' moment, Messi's clip over the defence, the former Arsenal skipper controlling the ball on his chest and then volleying high into the roof of net.
Guarin ended a miserable night for him personally and Porto with a straight red for a nasty lunge on Javier Mascherano.

City in the UCL group of death

Roberto Mancini's side may not have to face any domestic champions, but theirs is the standout group - with four-time champions Bayern determined to get to the final at their own Allianz Arena, Villarreal able to boast plenty of Champions League experience in recent years and Napoli emerging as one of the most exciting sides in Europe over the past 12 months, led by Marek Hamsik and Edinson Cavani.

Elsewhere, holders Barcelona will meet Italian champions AC Milan in one of the more enticing group stage match-ups, though those two will be comfortable favourites to progress from Group H, which also includes BATE Borisov and Viktoria Plzen.

Manchester United will have the chance to avenge the hurt of their 2005-06 Champions League campaign when they take on Benfica in Group C - the Red Devils finished bottom of their group six years ago after losing to the Portuguese giants in their final group game. FC Basel and Romanian minnows Otelul Galati make up what appears to be a fairly straightforward group for United, who were beaten by Barcelona at Wembley in May.

Group E provides a renewal of old acquaintances as Juan Mata makes an immediate return to Valencia with Chelsea, while former Blues midfielder Michael Ballack will be back at Stamford Bridge with Bayer Leverkusen. Belgian champions Racing Genk will face an uphill task to qualify as the group's fourth team.

Real Madrid and Lyon meet again, in Group D, as Jose Mourinho attempts to repeat the success he enjoyed against Les Gones in last season's second round, when the Spanish side won 4-2 on aggregate. Real will also be reunited with Dutch champions Ajax, whom they beat home and away in the 2010-11 group stage. Dinamo Zagreb make up the numbers.

In Group B, Inter Milan were drawn with CSKA Moscow, whom they beat in the quarter-finals on their way to glory in the competition in 2010, as well as French champions Lille and Trabzonspor.

After beating Udinese in Wednesday's play-off to progress, Arsenal will take on Marseille, Olympiakos and Borussia Dortmund in Group F, while Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit St Petersburg and APOEL will collide in Group G.

After the group stage draw, Lionel Messi was named the winner of inaugural UEFA Best Player in Europe Award for 2010-2011. Messi's team-mate Xavi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo were the other nominees.

Messi named Best Player in Europe

Lionel Messi starred again for Barca in 2010-11 and was named man of the match in the Champions League final
Messi claimed 38 votes for the newly-created award, putting him some distance ahead of Barcelona team-mate Xavi, in second place with 11 votes, and third-placed Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who received just three votes.

The UEFA Best Player in Europe Award is given to players on the basis of their performances for club and country. The award is designed to replace the old Ballon d'Or award for the best player in Europe, which has been supplanted by the FIFA Ballon d'Or award for the best player in the world.

Messi enjoyed a hugely successful season with his club, scoring 31 goals in the league to help clinch the league title and putting in a man-of-the-match performance in the Champions League final victory over Manchester United.

"I'd like to thank all the people that voted for me, and all my team-mates," Messi said. "I keep all these awards at home and I still have some space for more. It's an honour to be so successful and to come up with the goods at the right time - thanks to my team-mates for helping me achieve this.

"[My motivation] comes from being at a club that's so successful and having a structure that allows us to be so successful. That was taught to me when I moved over and I've tried my best to keep it up."

UEFA Best Player in Europe 2010-11 top ten

1 Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
2 Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona)
3 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
4 Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)
5 Falcao (FC Porto)
6 Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
7 Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)
8 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan)
9 Gerard Pique (Barcelona)
10 Manuel Neuer (FC Schalke)

Fenerbahce ban from playing in the Champions League

ISTANBUL Turkish champion Fenerbahce has been removed from the Champions League because of an ongoing match-fixing investigation.

Turkey's Football Federation says it has withdrawn Fenerbahce after meetings on Wednesday.

Fenerbahce's removal comes 24 hours before it was to take its place among 32 elite European clubs in the group stage draw being conducted in Monaco.

It is unclear how UEFA will choose a team to replace Fenerbahce, which is suspected of fixing matches to win the title last season.

Runner-up Trabzonspor was eliminated in the Champions League qualifying rounds but has also been implicated in the match-fixing probe.

Chelsea finalise Juan Mata signing

Chelsea have completed the signing of former Valencia attacker Juan Mata on a five-year deal.

The Spain international joined with his new team-mates at the club's Cobham training ground on Wednesday, and will be available for selection for the weekend's Premier League fixture against Norwich.

"Right from the first moment there have been good feelings all around me," Mata said. "Training has been great and the players are a great group to train with.

"Valencia was a big club anyway but I have left to join a bigger club and it is all about the opportunity to win trophies and I have that here."

Having spoken with Blues manager Andre Villas-Boas before completing his switch to Stamford Bridge, Mata - who is predominantly left-sided but can play across the attack, usually off a main striker - expects to be deployed in many positions to try and increase the side's attacking threat.

"He said he wanted Chelsea this season to play more attacking football, and that I would be a big part of that," he said. "Villas-Boas is someone who won almost everything last year and we are both here with the idea of winning lots this season.

"The plan is that I can play on either flank or even in the middle playing in between the lines of midfield and attack. I like to keep the ball and use it well, I am an attacking player and above all I like to set up goals and score them also."

Mata also revealed he spoke to fellow Spaniard Fernando Torres, who encouraged him to make the move to London. However, while Torres has struggled to settle in Chelsea colours, Mata hopes he can fit in immediately and bring success to the club in his first season.

"I want to adapt as quickly as possible to my new surroundings, my colleagues and this league, and I would love to win a trophy in my first season," he said. "If it can be the Premier League then great."

Mata spent four years at the Mestalla, scoring 43 times in 179 appearances.

Ferguson tells snipers to lay off Wenger

Sir Alex Ferguson has leapt to the defence of under-fire Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, claiming it is "ridiculous" that there are calls for the Frenchman to be axed.

Wenger and Manchester United boss Ferguson have had tremendous battles down the years and have often had verbal spats in the heat of battle. But there is huge respect between the pair and Ferguson has hit out at the criticism of Wenger.

With Arsenal having gone six years without winning a trophy and lost arguably their best player in Cesc Fabregas this summer, the knives are out for Wenger following a poor start to the new season.

And with the sale of Samir Nasri to Manchester City completed,the Gunners will also face a crunch Champions League play-off second leg at Udinese with a depleted squad, there have been some questioning how much longer Wenger's 15-year tenure at the club will last.

But Ferguson believes Arsenal will not find a better manager than his old rival and has urged Wenger to reach for a set of earplugs.

"It's a crazy world we're in," Ferguson said. "It's a critical world and you only need to lose a couple of games to have critics howling down at you.

"All the talk is about Arsenal and Arsene leaving. But who can replace him? It's the most ridiculous situation. The man has been simply unbelievable. He has given Arsenal platforms they never thought they'd get to.

"He should carry on. He shouldn't listen to the critics. The one thing you need in this game is earplugs."

Despite Ferguson's sympathy for Wenger, he will be looking to pile on the misery for Arsenal, who only have one point after two Premier League games this season, when his United side host the Gunners at Old Trafford this Sunday.

Liverpool plan shock return for Craig Bellamy and eye Sebastián Coates

Liverpool have moved ahead of Arsenal and Manchester City in pursuit of the towering young Uruguay defender Sebastián Coates and are ready to offer Craig Bellamy a sensational return to Anfield.

The Wales international has been frozen out completely by Roberto Mancini at City but remains at the club on a £95,000- a-week contract. Bellamy's wage has surprisingly not deterred several Premier League clubs and Celtic from trying to prise the 32-year-old from the Etihad Stadium but Liverpool are willing to offer the striker a lucrative contract providing no transfer fee is involved.

Bellamy, a boyhood Liverpool fan, spent one season at Anfield in 2006-07 but struggled to make an impact under Rafael Benítez and was sold to West Ham United for £7.5m after 27 appearances and seven goals. He was an unused substitute in the 2007 Champions League final defeat by Milan and was destined for the Anfield exit from the moment he attacked his then team-mate John Arne Riise with a golf club during a supposed team bonding exercise in Portugal.

The striker could be joined at Anfield by Coates, the 20-year-old centre-half who was named best young player at this summer's Copa América where his performances for the tournament winners Uruguay – in the same team as Liverpool's Luis Suárez – increased interest from several Premier League clubs.

As the Guardian revealed last month, scouts from Arsenal, City and Liverpool all monitored the 6ft 6in Coates in Argentina, with Arsenal also believed to have watched the defender playing for his club side Nacional, the champions of Uruguay, a dozen times last season.

Liverpool, however, with the advantage of the Suárez connection, have emerged as Coates's most likely destination in the Premier League and could cost Fenway Sports Group, the club's owners who have already sanctioned a £110m recruitment drive this year, a fee of around £12m.

Man City agree terms for Nasri

Arsenal have agreed terms with Manchester City over the transfer of midfielder Samir Nasri and he is set to undergo a medical at the club on Tuesday afternoon.

Nasri had asked to be left out of the squad to face Udinese in the Champions League play-offs as talk of a £25 million move increased and now the Gunners have revealed that a deal is almost done.

A statement read: ''Arsenal can confirm that they have agreed terms for Samir Nasri to move to Manchester City. The 24-year-old midfielder, who has spent three years with the Gunners, has been omitted from Arsenal's squad which flies to Udinese this afternoon and instead will travel north for a medical. The move will be subject to Nasri passing a medical and formal registration processes.''

Arsene Wenger said: "The summer was very difficult because we had Cesc Fabregas and Nasri on permanent transfer negotiations and that is draining in the end. We lost two great players and that's a sad side of the story but at some stage it has to be over, because you want to focus on the future.

"The decision had a logic but it is of course, as well, a business interest. But, overall, what you want is that you have players who do not play and think they go the next morning. It's not ideal as well.

"So you want players who are completely committed to the long-term, to defend our chances. We wanted to sort all these cases out very early after the summer, but it wasn't possible. And the pace is not only dictated by us, unfortunately."

Nasri, who signed for Arsenal in the summer of 2008 from Marseille for a fee of £15.8 million, had previously rejected a new £90,000-a-week contract to stay at the club and only had one year left on his current deal.

Arsenal agree Cesc deal with Barca

Despite Arsenal insisting throughout the summer that they would not sell Fabregas for less than £40 million, it is thought that a £35 million fee has finally been agreed.

Manager Arsene Wenger said: "We have been clear that we didn't want Cesc to leave and that remains the case. However, we understand Cesc's desire to move to his home town club and have now accepted an offer from Barcelona. We thank Cesc for his contribution at Arsenal and wish him future success."

Fabregas, who joined the Gunners from Barca as a 16-year-old in 2003, will now agree personal terms and undergo a medical on Monday before sealing his return to the Nou Camp.

The midfielder's move will bring an end to a saga that sparked into life last summer when Fabregas told Wenger that he wanted to return to his boyhood club. Wenger stubbornly refused to let the Spain international leave at that time, but just over 12 months later he has given up on the battle to keep the wantaway star.

It has been suggested that Fabregas is willing to take a pay cut in order to force through the move, underlining his desperation to join the Champions League winners.

He played no part in Arsenal's pre-season campaign or their Premier League opener at Newcastle, with Wenger citing a lack of focus and a niggling injury.

Fabregas, who has won 58 caps for Spain, winning Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup, made 303 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 57 goals in all competitions and claimed the record for youngest first-team player and goalscorer.

His departure will increase the pressure from fans on Wenger to use some of the transfer fee to bring in a big-name signing before the end of the transfer window. Shakhtar Donetsk claim that Arsenal have shown an interest in Brazil international midfielder Jadson, while Wenger is known to be keen to add a central defender.

It remains to be seen whether Arsenal will be able to hold on to France international Samir Nasri, a target for Manchester City and a player who the Londoners could lose on a free transfer next summer when his contract expires.

Ordinarily Nasri would have been earmarked as the natural successor to Fabregas in a central role but, with his future up the air, Wenger may be forced into the transfer market.

Chelsea fire blank.

New Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas' introduction to the Barclays Premier League proved to be a testing and frustrating affair as his side were held to a goalless draw at Stoke.

The Portuguese may have raced to the league title with Porto and also won the Europa League last season but nothing could have prepared him for the challenge he met at the Britannia Stadium.

Having withstood considerable pressure in the first half Chelsea dominated after the break but the closest they came was when goalkeeper Asmir Begovic tipped Nicolas Anelka's shot onto the crossbar.

If Villas-Boas was under any illusion about how tough English football was then he was given a typical example by Tony Pulis' terrier-like Potters.

It was not necessarily the physicality of the challenge Stoke presented but more the incessant pressure which they put their opponents under.

There was no respite, no time for players to linger on the ball and certainly no way anyone could switch off for a second as the Potters were relentless from the first whistle.

A Rory Delap throw and a couple of Jermaine Pennant corners caused some early consternation in Petr Cech's penalty area and set-pieces continued to cause problems throughout.

Late in the first half Jose Bosingwa and Cech managed to keep out Matt Etherington's inswinging free-kick under the crossbar at the near post after John Terry had stopped Kenwyne Jones in his tracks.

Terry appeared to be the centre of everything, the ball bouncing off his shoulder after Jon Walters had flicked it over him and ending in a heap with Ryan Shawcross in the six-yard box as they tussled for a corner.

But for all their endeavours Stoke's attack could not match the quality of their opponents.

Villas-Boas firmly pinned his colours to the mast by naming Fernando Torres ahead of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka and he would have been encouraged to see the Spain international starting to show glimpses of the form he enjoyed at Liverpool.

One surging first-half run from the Spaniard, who has scored just once in 19 appearances since his £50million January transfer, was reminiscent of his Anfield heyday.

His body language looked more positive and after a full pre-season his fitness worries appear to be behind him.

He was the target for some close attention, with Stoke captain Shawcross booked in only the 10th minute for clattering the striker having missed with his first attempt.

Torres responded by dragging a low shot just wide and, in first-half injury time, bundling another off target under pressure from Shawcross.

But threats came from other areas and Salomon Kalou went down in the penalty area under a challenge from Glenn Whelan only for referee Mark Halsey to wave play on.

Bosingwa's cross-cum-shot was tipped behind by Begovic while Ramires' run and cross into the six-yard box failed to pick out a team-mate.

The tide turned after the break and Jonathan Woodgate, making his Premier League debut having left Tottenham in the summer, was a key figure in keeping Chelsea at bay.

First his slide diverted Frank Lampard's shot behind and then he blocked Torres six yards out as he swivelled to shoot from Terry's downward header.

Lampard was convinced he should have had a penalty when he went down under a challenge from Marc Wilson but the England midfielder looked to be heading to ground anyway.

Begovic was then called into action, tipping over a John Obi Mikel dipping volley and touching substitute Anelka's curling shot onto the woodwork before Kalou headed straight at the goalkeeper from eight yards as Chelsea continued to threaten.

It was Kalou's last involvement as he was replaced by Drogba with 15 minutes to go.

But even with their three front-line strikers on the pitch the visitors found their opponents as obdurate as ever and Torres eventually made way for Yossi Benayoun late on.

The result secured only Stoke's second point in seven league meetings.

At the age of 33 Villas-Boas has proved he is a quick learner. What he will have discovered after an afternoon at the Britannia is that the curve gets steeper from here on in.

Arsene Wenger reveals to close friends that he is preparing for his final season as Arsenal manager

The Frenchman has three years remaining on the new contract that he signed last summer but has privately conceded that his tenure at the club is coming to an end.

The longest-serving manager in Arsenal’s history has already begun considering other options in football because he fears his powerbase will eventually be diminished by new owner Stan Kroenke and has been shocked by the growing criticism he has received from supporters over the last 12 months.

Wenger met a Manchester City delegation led by chief executive Garry Cook and football administrator Brian Marwood at a hotel in Kensington, west London, in May although there is no confirmation that the Frenchman either sought to or was asked to replace Roberto Mancini at Etihad Stadium.

Nevertheless, the Arsenal manager held informal talks with the new owners of Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain this summer to discuss the prospect of him taking over as manager at the French club.

PSG - who have spent heavily on new players, including €43 million on Javier Pastore, over the last two months - targeted Wenger as their No.1 choice to use the club’s financial muscle to restore their place at the summit of French football and establish them among the Champions League elite. The club has not won Ligue 1 since 1994.

Wenger, who owns an apartment close to PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium, rejected the opportunity although he admitted in an interview with a Strasbourg TV station in June that he has long-standing friendships with senior officials at the club. It is believed that the Arsenal manager has had a loose arrangement for many years to advise PSG on transfers and recruitment strategy.

One source said that Wenger has established a “great relationship” with the French club’s Qatari investors, who could make another move for him if PSG underachieve this season under new sporting director Leonardo and coach Antoine Kombouare.

His relationship with Arsenal supporters has become increasingly tense over the last year, particularly after the club extended their trophy drought to six years following a disastrous finish to last season.

Wenger promised that he would be “very active” in the transfer market in the summer as he pledged to rebuild a team that has faded badly in recent campaigns and, while he has spent relatively large sums on two attacking midfielders, Gervinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, with the new Premier League season about to kick off, he has yet to address the club’s chronic defensive frailties.

Gervinho and Barton both start and got into trouble with each other.

Summer signing Gervinho goes straight into Arsene Wenger's starting eleven as Arsenal take on Newcastle, with Joey Barton a surprise selection from Alan Pardew.

The Ivorian winger will play just off Robin van Persie alongside Andrey Arshavin and Tomas Rosicky. With Cesc Fabregas' departure to Barcelona imminent, Aaron Ramsey will be tasked with dictating the game in midfield alongside Alex Song.

New signings Carl Jenkinson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain both receive bench places for the Gunners, as do forwards Marouane Chamakh and Theo Walcott.

Barton had been made available on a free transfer after making a string of remarks regarding the running of the club on his Twitter account, but will start in midfield alongside new signing Yohan Cabaye as well as Cheick Tiote and Jonas Gutierrez.

Newcastle also hand a starting place to new striker Demba Ba, who will lead the attack with Shola Ameobi. Shola's brother Sammy could appear from the bench; the 19-year-old made his professional debut at the back end of last season.

The goal less game where the highlight was During 76th min where Gervinho is sent off for his rather embarrassing dive in the Newcastle box. Before that, however, the incident brought the very worst out of Barton, who goes at indulges in a bit of slap and tickle with Gervinho, before himself going down like a sack of spuds after Gervinho appears to hit him. Barton was cautioned too.
 

Newly promoted QPR trashed at home 0-4.

QPR's first top-flight game at Loftus Road since 1996 ended with a disappointing defeat by Bolton - and what appeared to be a serious injury for Kieron Dyer.

Last season's Championship winners had started brightly, summer signing DJ Campbell seeing an effort ruled out for offside, before Dyer, signed on a free transfer from West Ham, fell awkwardly and had to be carried off with a reported broken metatarsal.

Bolton took the lead on the stroke of half-time with a fine curling effort from centre-back Gary Cahill.

An own goal from Danny Gabbidon, making his debut, and Kevin Davies' deflected strike effectively had settled matters ahead of a fourth for Fabrice Muamba following a swift counter-attack with 11 minutes left.

QPR defender Clint Hill was shown a red card in stoppage time.

Some of the 15,000 home support headed for an early exit, venting their frustrations at shareholder Flavio Briatore, who could soon sell up to Lotus Formula One boss Tony Fernandes, watching from the director's box.

Things could have been so different had Campbell, who impressed for Blackpool last season, not seen his early close-range effort disallowed.

Then, on five minutes, Dyer, who has completed 90 minutes only once in his last 29 Premier League matches, stretched for a 50/50 challenge and landed awkwardly, leading to extensive treatment before the former England midfielder had to be carried off on a stretcher, his foot already in a protective boot.

Bolton, who faded badly after their FA Cup semi-final defeat last season, soon settled, with new arrivals Nigel Reo-Coker and Chris Eagles both playing well in midfield.

On the stroke of half-time, they were ahead when Eagles fed Cahill, who had stayed up from a corner.

The centre-back, a target for Arsenal, took one touch before curling a sublime effort into the top left corner.

After 56 minutes, QPR captain Adel Taarabt, who has been linked with a big-money move away during the summer, finally found some space on the edge of the Bolton area, but his shot flew wide.

Bolton, though, were 2-0 up after 68 minutes.

Davies won a free-kick when bundled over by Alejandro Faurlin just outside the area on the left.

Eagles low delivery was deflected off the wall and across the six-yard box towards the far post, where Gabbidon put the ball into his own net.

Before QPR could mount a recovery, Ivan Klasnic made it 3-0 when he drilled home via a deflected effort off Bradley Orr after a knockdown from Davies.

Warnock made a double change on 72 minutes, replacing Tommy Smith and the disappointing Taarabt with Heidar Helguson and Akos Buzsaky.

Cahill was booked for tripping Shaun Derry on the edge of the Bolton penalty area, but Buzsaky hit the free-kick into the wall, which just about summed up Rangers' afternoon.

Fabrice Muamba swept in number four after a flowing counter-attack and QPR's miserable day was compounded when Hill was shown a straight red card for pushing his head into Petrov's chest as the pair tussled on the near touchline during stoppage time.

Dalglish believe that nervousness cost them 2 points.

Kenny Dalglish believes that nerves may have affected Liverpool's new signings in their 1-1 draw with Sunderland on the opening day of the season.

Four summer signings - Jose Enrique, Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing - made their Liverpool debuts at Anfield on Saturday.

On a frustrating afternoon for Dalglish's side, the Liverpool players appeared to tire in the second-half and the Scot believes that his troops may have felt drained because of the occasion.

He said: "The four boys who came in would have had nerves. It's a big ordeal coming out to play your first game at Anfield, especially for Jose Enrique who only signed yesterday.

"I thought they all did something in the game that you will remember them for. We are happy with them and they will improve.

"I think the players were a little bit nervous. Like I said, it's a big deal making your debut at Anfield."

Liverpool took the lead in the 11th minute through Luis Suarez's glancing header but were pegged back by a fierce volley from Sebastian Larsson 12 minutes after the restart.

But Dalglish felt the key moment of the game was the award of a sixth minute penalty for the hosts after Kieran Richardson brought down Luis Suarez in the box.

The Uruguayan subsequently missed the spot-kick but Bruce felt referee Phil Dowd should have shown Richardson a red card as Suarez was through on goal.

"I suppose nine-and-a-half out of 10 referees would have sent Kieran [Richardson] off," said Bruce.

"You don't want to see people sent off. I don't know what the rulebook says but it was a clear goalscoring opportunity. Luis Suarez was one-on-one with the goalkeeper - you can't get any clearer than that.

"I think over the game, for their effort and commitment, a draw was probably about right. They worked really hard."

Schalke thrash Koln

Schalke thrashed Koln 5-1 to pick up their first points of the Bundesliga season after a 0-3 reverse to Stuttgart on the opening matchday. It was the visitors who took a surprise lead, when Lukas Podolski finished off Slawomir Peszko’s pass following a fast break. However, Schalke were level just before half-time, when Klass Jan Huntelaar stroked home a spot-kick after Kevin McKenna handled inside the area.

Within three minutes of the restart, Schalke were 3-1 up after Marco Holger set up both Huntelaar and Lewis Holtby. The scoring continued on the hour mark, when Jan Movarek found Raul inside the area, and the veteran striker made no mistake from 10 yards out. Huntelaar completed the rout five minutes from the end with a simple finish to Jose Jurardo’s cross to round off his personal treble.

Schalke starts this campaign positively compared the last season when they found themselves bottom of the league for a nearly a month.

Philadelphia Union are set to announce the signing of Freddy Adu

Freddy Adu is set to return to the MLS with Philadelphia Union
USA international Adu, 22, has endured a difficult time in Europe since leaving Real Salt Lake for Benfica in 2007, spending time out on loan with Monaco in France, Belenenses in Portugal, Aris in Greece and Caykur Rizespor in Turkey.

He is now said to have agreed a return to the MLS with the Union, and the club have confirmed on their website that "a player introduction is scheduled to take place Friday at PPL Park".

Asked about the club's efforts in the transfer market, head coach Piotr Nowak said: "We're working on it. We're working very hard to make it happen."