FSGIST

With our Europa League last-32 tie on a knife-edge going into the second leg, Mikel Arteta has urged his side to embrace the pressure of facing Benfica. Having scored a vital away goal in the first clash in Rome, our manager has called on his players to deliver again in Athens. "The away goal is always important but in this context I don't think it's that relevant," he said. "We take the game like there is everything still to play for. "It's the second half of the game and we need to go there to try to go to win the game. Another thing, without the fans, without being in our stadium, I think makes the game very tricky. "It's a big season and a really important [game] mentally and confidence-wise. It's going to dictate if we're in another competition or not for a few more weeks. This is really what we need. "It's a really tough opponent. It's a Champions League team who have been playing in these types of games for many years...

 Arsenal may have to move quickly if they want to land Sevilla winger Bryan Gil, according to Mundo Deportivo. The Catalan based publication reports that both the Gunners and Barcelona are interested in the 20-year-old but Sevilla are planning to offer the forward a new contract which would increase his release clause. Gil’s current buyout fee is €35m (£30m) but Sevilla technical director Monchi is confident of increasing it to €150m (£130m) which would put him out of the reach of interested clubs. The Spaniard is currently on loan at Eibar and a Barcelona scout, German Vaya Ballabriga, has spoken about the player in recent weeks saying he has similar qualities to Neymar: “Right now he is Spain’s best footballer and I compare him with Neymar. He can do certain things and has great versatility, as he can play at full-back in the middle or on the left-wing. It’s impressive.” Whether Gil can live up to that lofty comparison, we shall have to wait and see. For Eibar this season, the wi...

West Ham have joined Arsenal in the race to sign Bournemouth winger Ajani Burchall, according to reports in the English media. The 16-year-old has turned down a new contract at the Cherries, sparking a scramble for the young Bermudan starlet‘s signature. Burchall came through the academy at the South Coast club but he is reportedly keen to move away, even if they are promoted to the Premier League this season. The forward has already made his debut at senior level, having come on for the last five minutes of the 5-0 win against Huddersfield in the Championship back in December. Burchall became the third-youngest player to play for Bournemouth in the process, but he has only been in one more matchday squad since then; being an unused substitute in the 0-0 draw against Luton Town a week after his first appearance. In addition to the Hammers and the Gunners, there are likely to be a number of other clubs after the winger, and it remains to be seen who he will choose to join.

 Arsenal's 1-0 defeat at home to Manchester City didn't just cost them a chance to leapfrog Tottenham in the Premier League table. A loss of €1million was confirmed even before Raheem Sterling scored what turned out to be the winning goal at the Emirates Stadium inside the opening two minutes. Gunners manager Mikel Arteta sprung a surprise an hour before kick-off as he opted to drop the centre-back pairing of Gabriel Magalhaes and David Luiz from the team that started the Europa League clash with Benfica three days prior. In came Rob Holding and Pablo Mari - with the latter making his first appearance since the FA Cup third-round win over Newcastle United at the beginning of last month - and 10th in the Premier League. And by handing the Spaniard a surprise start, Arteta's decision has cost Arsenal in the region of €1m. This is in relation to the 27-year-old joining the Gunners on a permanent deal last summer after initially arriving on loan in Arteta's first transfer w...

The Gunners were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City on Sunday, but Thursday night's Europa League clash in Athens is far more likely to shape their season. It is not often you could describe Manchester City as the warm-up act, but that is what Sunday’s meeting with the champions elect was for Arsenal. The fact that Mikel Arteta made five changes for the game was a clear indicator that Thursday's clash with Benfica in the Europa League was always the clear priority for the Gunners. It would be unfair to say Arsenal waved the white flag against City, in fact the 1-0 defeat was their joint-lowest margin of defeat against Pep Guardiola’s side in their last eight Premier League meetings. But after Raheem Sterling had headed the Premier League leaders in front inside two minutes, they did not have to do too much to ensure they maintained their lead through to the final whistle. Arsenal huffed and puffed, but they never looked like getting anything from the game. They have now lost eight l...

 The 19-year-old academy graduate has taken in over 2,300 minutes of football this season, but his manager has no plans to rein him in. Mikel Arteta has vowed not to put the brakes on Bukayo Saka’s development at Arsenal despite the 19-year-old facing the threat of burnout in his second full season as a first-team regular. Another highly-rated product of the Emirates Stadium academy system has cemented a standing as a key man for the Gunners and England despite his relative lack of senior experience. Arteta continues to select the youngster whenever he can, with 29 appearances taken in across all competitions in the current campaign, and is not about to start reining Saka in. What has been said? “I think he's in a great moment, he's full of confidence,” Arteta has told reporters of Saka ahead of a Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sunday. “He's been really important in recent results. His form is probably the highest that it's been since I've been here an...

 The Police Command in Nasarawa State has arrested another suspect linked to the killing of Mr Philip Shekwo, the former State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). FSGIST had reported that the APC chieftain was kidnapped from his residence on Kurikyo road, Lafia, on November 21, 2020, and later killed by his abductors. The Nasarawa State’s Commissioner of Police, Bola Longe, paraded the suspect on Thursday in Lafia, alongside 27 others arrested for various criminal offences in the State. Longe stated that the suspect, a 30-year-old man, was arrested on February 14, from Awe, following credible intelligence. According to him, the sum of N450,000 believed to be ransom collected from a kidnap victim from Taraba State was recovered from the suspect. He explained that the suspect and four others were on the police watch-list in connection with the killing of Shekwo. The CP said that the arrest brought to four, the number of suspects linked to the crime, adding that the Polic...

  As youths across Nigeria continue to agitate for a responsive Leadership driven by youths in all public and elective offices across Nigeria, a youth group known as PARADIGM SHIFT NIGERIA “Let The Youths Take The Lead” has called on youthful governance ahead of the forthcoming 2023 general elections. According to a statement released by the leadership of PARADIGM SHIFT NIGERIA “Let The Youths Take The Lead”, which is being piloted by concern Nigerian youths stated emphatically that any leader over 50years of age should forget running for the Office of the President of The Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2023. They further stressed that the Paradigm shift for the youths to take the lead is imminent and unstoppable, especially with the recent not too young to run bill which was signed into law by the humble administration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration. They further commended the recent appointment of young and vibrant Appointees under the current administration wit...

  Arsenal are hoping to complete permanent deals for Dani Ceballos and Mat Ryan in the 2021 summer transfer window, according to a report in England. The Sun is reporting that the Gunners have secured Ceballos and Ryan’s services on loan until the end of the 2020-21 Premier League season. The same article states that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta want to sign the Spanish midfielder and Australian goalkeeper on permanent deals beyond the end of the current campaign. According to the same story, the north London side’s technical director Edu is set to work on ironing out the fine details with Real Madrid and Brighton respectively. The Sun go on to add that the Gunners could also look to reach an agreement with Real Madrid about a transfer fee for Martin Odegaard after the Norway international moved to Arsenal on loan in the January transfer window. The media outlet write that Arsenal are planning to shave their wage bill despite plans to attempt to sign Ceballos, Odegaard and Ryan. Th...

 President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed new heads for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Nigeria Correctional Service. The President replaced Abdullahi Muhammadu who retired from service after completing his term as commandant-general of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), with Abubakar Audi. Buhari also nominated Haliru Nababa as the new head of the Nigeria Correctional Service. A statement released by Mohammed Manga, a spokesperson for the interior minister, Rauf Aregbesola read; New Appointments: President Buhari Appoints Audi, Nababa as NSCDC, NCoS Bosses President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR has approved the appointment of Ahmed Abubakar Audi PhD, mni as the new Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) following the retirement from service of Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu. Ahmed Audi, emerged the top best candidate out of those that went through the transparent selection process initiated by the Ministry of Inter...

 It’s clear that the situation at Arsenal could take a few years to turn around, while the clear out in January could be continued into the summer with more senior players set to move on. The Sun have reported on the latest situation at the club and it sounds like they’re struggling financially just now, while missing out on European football would be a further blow. It means that some high earners may have to move on in the summer as Mikel Arteta is tasked with slashing more money from the wage bill, but this may surprise a few fans. The Metro recently reported that Arteta is a big fan of David Luiz for his influence on the group and there was talk of a new contract, yet The Sun claim he’s set to be released instead due to his salary of £120k per week. They do have a few centre backs and next season could finally be William Saliba’s time to shine, but it would be a huge risk to let a leader go if the plan is to put the younger players into the team. The other casualty is set to be...

The midfielder spoke out about the treatment of Muslims in China, but the club opted to stay out of the argument completely Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham has defended the club's response to Mesut Ozil's condemnation of the treatment of Uighur Muslims in China. After the attacking midfielder spoke out on social media in December 2019 about the alleged religious and ethnic persecution of Muslims in Xinjiang, the Gunners insisted they would not get involved in politics. The north London club have several business ties in China and were accused of prioritising commercial interests in their response. I don't think it's fair to say we took a commercial view," Venkatesham said at the FT Business of Football. What has been said? "I know it is how it has been reported but I don't think it is fair to say it." He added: "We were asked for comment around the situation, predominantly we were asked for a comment in China but it was generally. ...

 Arsenal legend Michael Thomas has admitted that he didn’t agree with Arsenal’s decision to make Mikel Arteta their manager, but the Spaniard has surprised him now. The Gunners made their former player their latest manager at the end of 2019 when they had a poor spell under Unai Emery. Arteta was unproven and had only been an assistant manager before his appointment. Several fans were against it, including Thomas, who admitted that he thought former Nice manager, Patrick Vieira was more suited for the job. Arteta won the FA Cup in his first half-season and also won the Community Shield some days later. He has now started reshaping the team he inherited by getting rid of players that will not help his cause. Thomas says he has been made to change his mind about the gaffer when he sees him making the tough decisions and adds that the Spaniard needs time just as Jurgen Klopp had at Liverpool. Speaking in association with the Jason Roberts Foundation, Thomas said as quoted by TalkSPORT...

  On Wednesday a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Yaba, Lagos, ordered that a 40-year-old butcher, Tunji Adeniran, who allegedly defiled his 14-year-old stepdaughter be remanded in a custodial centre. The police charged Adeniran with defilement. Chief Magistrate, P.E. Nwaka, did not take the plea of Adeniran for want in the jurisdiction. Nwaka ordered that Adeniran be remanded in the Ikoyi Custodial Centre, Lagos State, pending legal advice from the State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP). Nwaka adjourned the case until Feb. 18. NAN reports that the prosecution counsel, ASP Thomas Nurudeen had earlier told the court that Adeniran committed the offence sometime in January, at No. 1, Sadiku St., Ilasamaja area of Lagos State. Nurudeen said that the minor told her school counsellor that her stepfather defiled her. He said that the counsellor reported the case to the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development who took her to the police. The offence, he said, contravened the ...