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The Gunners are due to face Premier League rivals Chelsea in the Europa League final on May 29, but UEFA has come in for significant criticism regarding the organisation of the game, particularly after admitting it felt Baku was incapable of hosting more than 15,000 spectators “from abroad”. Europe’s governing body have given Arsenal a ticket allocation of just 6,000, while Chelsea have been allowed 5,801, meaning officially only a fraction of the 68,700-capacity Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan’s capital will be taken up by the two clubs’ supporters....

The Opposition Qarabag represent a difficult test for Arsenal, especially away from home. Travelling all the way to Azerbaijan and back is bound to cause some fatigue as well. Qarabag are a strong side at home, notably drawing with Atletico Madrid in last season’s Champions League and playing very well despite failing to qualify from the group. Manager Gurban Gurbanov will definitely send out a defensively solid side that can cause Arsenal trouble on the counter....

Aubameyang has suffered a turbulent few weeks, losing his place in the Arsenal team after being dropped by manager Mikel Arteta due to a disciplinary breach. He was also stripped of the captaincy by Mikel Arteta and, having played little football recently, was hoping to make a big impact at AFCON, which gets underway on January 9, when hosts Cameroon face Burkina Faso. Aubameyang has been named in a significant number of transfer rumors as a result of his Arsenal situation, and the AFCON tournament would present a perfect opportunity to show other clubs what he is still capable of....

Making his third competitive appearance for Arsenal, the 17-year-old earned plaudits for his performance in a 4-2 win over BATE Borisov in Europa League action on Thursday. “He showed the touches that you normally associate with Neymar,” Keown said on BT Sport. “He breezes past players, and [manager Arsene] Wenger will know the quality he has. “He had a great night, and at 17 years of age, it’s phenomenal the ability he has....

However, it didn’t take long for the hand-wringing and teeth-gnashing to set in as we struggled to break down a side that looked bound and determined to hang on by the skin of their teeth until penalties. It’s almost enough to make one pine for that time a year ago when we waltzed confidently past Wigan to – oh. Right. Anyone who expected a cakewalk to the final doesn’t get the FA Cup....

The unranked Razorbacks crushed the 15th-ranked Longhorns 40-21 in Fayetteville, Ark. They rushed for 333 yards and outgained their old/new rival 471-256. The Hogs (2-0) shut out the Horns (1-1) in the first half. Texas is still competing in the Big 12, but in July it and Oklahoma were admitted to the SEC beginning in 2025. This matchup gave UT an early taste of what to expect in the coming years....

The bill was carried by 405 to 11 votes. Though it is not legally binding, the move is a significant rebuke of the Turkish government which has long denied that the genocide happened. Another vote—which passed 403 to 16—presented a second challenge to Ankara, calling for sanctions on Turkish government officials and its armed forces in response to Turkey’s invasion of northwestern Syria to attack the Kurdish-led U.S. allies holding the region....

“I spoke with Arnold yesterday and we certainly understand his decision,” Augusta National chairman Billy Payne said in a statement (via GolfChannel.com). “It makes no difference whether he hits a drive. He is a true legend in golf and will be welcomed as usual on the first tee with the other Masters honorary starters. It will be a great day.” MORE: Arnold Palmer’s career in photos | Masters champions dinner...

In an article for The Players’ Tribune, Afflalo discussed how he sold bootleg CDs as a kid. “It got addicting,” he writes. “I would stay on the computer all night downloading songs.” MORE: When Phil Jackson offered Kendrick Lamar battle rap advice The Compton student started to get a buzz around Centennial high school because of his business. Teachers would ask him for copies of some old CDs. He also took requests from fellow students, including one who would make CDs of his own one day....

In what news would come as music to the ears of Arsenal fans, the club revealed yet another striker who will feature in the red and white kit next season. Olivier Giroud, top scorer with French Champions Montepellier, will now add more ammunition to the already loaded up Gunners side. He is now the second striker to move to the Emirates following in the footsteps of the German International, Lukas Podolski....

Starting XI: Arsenal: Szcz?sny (GK), Mertesacker (C), Koscielny, Monreal, Jenkinson, Rosicky, Özil, Ramsey, Cazorla, Flamini, Bendtner Hull City: McGregor (GK), Figueroa, Bruce, Chester, Meyler, Huddlestone (C), Livermore, El-Mohamady, Graham, Brady, Sagbo A very strong first half for Arsenal Arsenal this season have been dangerous going forward, particularly in the opening minutes of the match, this was pretty much evident in the UCL game against Marseille, with Jack Wilshere scoring in the first minute and Wilshere again going close to open the scoring in the Premier League clash against Cardiff City last week....

Dundalk acquitted themselves well in the opening half, restricting Arsenal to half-chances. The Irish champions then shot themselves in the foot when goalkeeper Gary Rogers flapped at a corner. The ball eventually deflected to Eddie Nketiah as he stabbed home the opener in the 42nd minute. The dam had burst. So when Nicolas Pepe’s cross in the 44th minute deflected to Joe Willock in space in the left channel, it was no surprise to see the latter hammer a rising shot into the net and make it 2-0 in the 44th minute....

The link makes sense when you break it down. Ginter, a young German prospect, is seen as a perfect option as 4th choice centre back and temporary deputy for Thomas Vermaelen, who is recovering from a back injury for the better part of two months. Our loan deal, sending Francis Coquelin the other way, is probably a big part of the deal, as it benefits Freiburg in the short-term, and Arsenal more so in the long-term....

The Arsenal boss said they struggled “on the mental front” in the first half of their 2-1 Premier League defeat, echoing a familiar complaint from fans in recent years about the Gunners’ title challenges which have so often flattered to deceive. Arsenal next go to runaway leaders Chelsea on Saturday knowing that if they lose and Antonio Conte’s side move 12 points clear of them then Wenger’s dream of his first title since 2004 will be all but dead and buried....

The charge relates to how Arsenal reacted to referee Graham Scott after Henrikh Mkhitaryan was adjudged to have brought down Demarai Gray in the penalty area. England striker Jamie Vardy converted from the spot before Riyad Mahrez’s late goal sealed the points in a match which saw Arsenal reduced to 10 men by Konstantinos Mavropanos’ 15th-minute red card. “Arsenal have been charged with failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion,” an FA statement read....

The Old Trafford outfit started their Premier League campaign poorly, suffering consecutive home defeats to Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur. Their Champions League exploits, however, have been more straightforward. Having been drawn in what was hypothetically the ‘Group of Death,’ many opined that Manchester United would struggle in a group also containing last year’s finalists Paris Saint-Germain and Bundesliga toppers RB Leipzig. However, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s side have put paid to those predictions with a 100% record, having followed up a 2-1 away win in Paris on the opening day with a 5-0 walloping of Leipzig at Old Trafford....

Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has demanded that his teammates learn from their 5-1 defeat to Liverpool and respond adequately by beating Manchester United on Wednesday. Szczesny was outspoken in his embarrassment after the humiliating defeat at Anfield on Saturday, with Arsenal having gone 4-0 down inside the first 20 minutes of the game, apologising to the fans for the result and performance alike. The Polish stopper has now called upon his colleagues to pull themselves together, put the defeat behind them and respond appropriately by getting back on track against beleaguered Manchester United at the Emirates....

ARSENAL INJURIES Lucas Perez could be selected in the squad after he was pictured in training following a spell out with a thigh problem, but Shkodran Mustafi and David Ospina are still out injured. “It’s basically unknown territory at the moment because yesterday [Monday] the players were on recovery,” Wenger said in his pre-match press conference. “We will have a medical check today [Tuesday] for everybody and see who is available and who is not....

A full-time job in the English department of a nearby college quickly followed. I settled into small-town life, charmed by a community where your neighbors are also your friends and no one worries about locking a door. Eventually I forgot about the big-city stress of crowds, noise and crime. I felt safe enough to keep my phone number listed so colleagues and students could reach me after hours. I was totally unprepared when I returned home one evening to an answering machine filled with incoherent and horribly threatening messages....