WAG IDOL – The Arsenal Heat

WAGS, WAGS, WAGS… the media just can’t get enough of them and as we finish the Premier League season we couldn’t resist creating our very own WAG Idol, to find out which player has the loveliest bit of skirt on his arm.

We are running a series of club heats – so please select the wag that gives your club the best chance of taking the Wag crown.

Just click on the individual images of beauties to upload their galleries, so you can get a look of them in greater detail!

Radka Kocurova – The former Miss Czech Republic is the long term partner of Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky and together they form the Posh and Becks of the Czech Republic. While Rosicky spends much of his time on the treatment table, Kocurova has spent time as a whether girl in her native country and must have brightened up the lives of many viewers. It would seem that Kocurova is also wife material for the Arsenal star even though Rosicky hasn’t exactly been the perfect boyfriend, with his misdemeanours in a hotel room generously forgiven.

Yulia Arshavin – So you’re just going to have to take my word for it when I say that Mr and Mrs Arshavin are truly the Dharma and Greg of The footballer and their Wags world. Andrei plays the Greg role, all straight laced and old fashioned conservatism, he is on record as saying that all women should be banned from driving “because they are too dangerous.” (As opposed, presumably, to professional footballers, whose collective road safety record is unblemished.) Yulie is Dharma: baggy clothing and sass, she thinks that the English are “too reserved.” She also thinks the country is “dull,” and the food “sub-standard” (in fairness, when I first read that quote I assumed she was talking about a ham and turkey six incher, all the salad and on traditional Italian white- so she might have a point on the issue of our unimaginative pallets.)

Baroness Caroline Luel-Brockdorff – It is normally the case with the modern day wag that they are only attached to the modern day footballer for their money, however Baroness Caroline (Nicklas Bendtner latest squeeze) doesn’t need the Arsenal star’s money given she has just received a divorce settlement of £400m.

Following the breakdown of her marriage Nicklas Bendtner entered the fray- displaying, it should be noted, significantly more urgency than he’s hitherto yet to display chasing down a loose ball in an Arsenal shirt- and is spotted walking and playing football in Hyde park with and her children. All very sweet, but also a useful training exercise for Bendtner: Brockdorff’s children, at sixand three, work out at roughly the same average age as the Arsenal team Bendtner will soon be again a part of, competing in the Carling Cup. And, with the ever expanding Champions’ League, it’s probably useful for him to get used to names like Luel-Brockdorff, which, give or take an ‘AK’ of ‘FC’ prefix, sounds exactly like something you expect to come across on a Tuesday night ITV2 highlights package propping up the rest of Group G.

Melanie Slade – Mel met Theo in a Southampton shopping centre in early 2006, Theo briefly becoming the most famous patron of the West Quay mall until his record was snatched from him from Trinny and Susannah (who filmed a specialepisode of their ‘Undressed’ show there in 2007). Third place isn’t bad, though, a message we can imagine has been reiterated to Walcott several times by his Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, particularly since it now removes the need to qualify for the group stages via the unseeded preliminary rounds.

This was not an altogether atypical venue for the youth of 2006 to spend their Saturdays, even when the youth of 2006 were regarded among the nation’s brightest young football stars. Indeed many have suggested that spending languid days supping slushies and fiddling with the brightness settings on his mobile phone in the food court is, give or take an Umbro provided sports jacket and a six time award winning overspill car park (including three prestigious Safe Car Park gongs), an exact precursor to his World Cup experience.

Holly Jay – long term girlfriend of Arsenal’s Mark Randall, got her “big break,” according to justarsenal.com, when she featured in Zoo magazine’s ‘Gimmie a job’ feature. “She certainly has the qualifications to go far in her chosen career,” say the website. “And we don’t mean her 10 GCSEs,” they go on to further clarify.

REMEMBER – Just click on the individual images of beauties to upload their galleries, so you can get a look of them in greater detail!

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So who do you think deserves to be Arsenal’s representative in our search for the greatest Premier League WAG?

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England "revolution" put on hold for Italy clash

After suffering an all too familiar defeat on penalties only two months ago, England have “an ideal opportunity to see some revolution” as they face Italy once more, Roy Hodgson has claimed. The implication was that this “revolution” would see a youthful side take on the Azzurri, however, the withdrawals of Theo Walcott, Daniel Sturridge, Joe Hart and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain means older players have been called up for duty.

There will still be six previously uncapped players starting the game, but the centre of midfield will be patrolled by Frank Lampard, 34, and Michael Carrick, 31, who share 112 full international caps between them. At the Euros this year, England’s midfield was built on ‘thirty-somethings’ – with Steven Gerrard, Scott Parker, Gareth Barry and Frank Lampard all in Hodgson’s provisional squads, but some pulling out due to injury. With this theme continuing into Wednesday night’s friendly, there seems to be less a glimpse of the future of England on offer, and more a stepping stone leading in the right direction.

Hodgson has never had the opportunity to pick either of these central midfielders, through injury or participation in Champions League, and will certainly be keen to analyse their performance during the game. However, while there is evidence to suggest England have real quality emerging in most areas of the side, central midfield remains a weakness. Finding a dynamic, youthful midfielder over the next few years leading up to Brazil 2014 will be crucial for England.

What do you think about England’s squad for the friendly? Are there any young players you think could make the step up to International duty? Tweet me @dudeyoungy

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Jack Wilshere making good progress

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is making good progress in his rehabilitation from an ankle injury, and has stated that he hopes to be back playing soon.

The England international midfielder picked up the knock in pre-season, and has missed The Gunners’ terrible start to the 2011-12 campaign, as he tries to get back to full fitness.

Wilshere was initially believed to be sidelined until November, but his latest post on Twitter may give Emirates fans hope that their star man may make an early return to the Premier League fold.

“Good day at football today! In the gym again! Ankle feeling a lot better hope to be back playing soon,” he stated on the social networking site.

With the summer loss of Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas, the Arsenal midfield has looked bereft of it’s usual quality, and the return of Wilshere will be sure to be a big boost for the side.

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Wilshere is set to miss a number of further games as Arsene Wenger will not want to bring him back before he is ready, but Arsenal need the playmaker as they are languishing in 17th in the table after being beaten 4-3 by Blackburn on Saturday.

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Eredivisie wrap: PSV, AZ suffer shock losses

Eredivisie league leaders PSV Eindhoven gave the chasing pack something to cheer about on Saturday, slipping to a 1-0 home defeat to ADO Den Haag.

Substitute Charlton Vicento’s cross found Wesley Verhoek unmarked at the far post in the second minute of injury time and his cool finish helped lift ADO into fifth place in the Eredivisie.

The result means reigning champions Twente trail PSV by just a single point and can overhaul the leaders if they beat Utrecht on Sunday.

Elsewhere on Saturday, relegation battlers Excelsior shocked AZ Alkmaar after coming from behind to post a 2-1 home win.

Kolbeinn Sigthorsson gave the visitors the lead after 10 minutes but Tom Vincken equalised with a penalty on 65 minutes before a freakish free-kick from Jordy Clasie sealed the three points.

Clasie’s floating free-kick from long-range deceived everyone, including Alkmaar goalkeeper Sergio Romero, and bounced inside the penalty area before crossing the line.

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VVV Venlo remain entrenched in the relegation zone despite cruising to a 3-0 win over 10th-placed NAC Breda, while Heerenveen and NEC Nijmegen played out a goalless draw at the Abe Lenstra Stadion.

Reina reveals lack of optimism

Goalkeeper Jose Reina has admitted Liverpool may have to lower their targets for next season following the uncertainty at Anfield.

The Reds will compete in the Europa League next season after finishing a lowly seventh in the Premier League table this term.

Meanwhile, the club has been put up for sale by American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett and so are unlikely to spend big in the summer transfer market.

The club's hierarchy and manager Rafael Benitez have vowed to retain their star players like Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, but keeper Reina has offered a downbeat assessment of their targets for the new season.

Reina was speaking from Spain's training camp ahead of the World Cup finals.

"As long as we build a competitive squad we do not have to fear anybody," he said.

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"But it is looking like we will not yet. We have to be less optimistic than the last few years and get ready for setting another kind of target.

"(The owners) have to move quickly and anything that happens has to be right now."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Newcastle table €4m transfer bid

Newcastle have reportedly made a bid of £3.15m for Twente defender Douglas, Sky Sports claim.

The Tyneside club are eager to strengthen their squad ahead of the 2012-13 season, and will look to build on their fifth-placed finish from last term.

With Romain Amalfitano already been added to Alan Pardew’s squad, a commanding defender is next on the Geordies’ radar.

Douglas has impressed for the Eredivisie side over the last number of campaigns, and as such has been linked with a move to one of Europe’s big leagues consistently of late.

The Brazilian centre-half has also admitted that he is ready to leave the Enschede-based side for a new challenge, but manager Steve McClaren is said to be eager to recoup a handsome price for the South American.

As yet there has been no news on whether the bid has been accepted, with Newcastle looking to build on their acquisition of Cheik Tiote, who also move to the north east from Twente.

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By Gareth McKnight

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The Top TEN Deadline Day Deals

With the final day of the transfer window drawing nearer the mad rush for that big last minute deal will soon commence. The window officially shuts at 11pm Wednesday evening and this late finish means that clubs will undoubtedly be doing their business late into the night.

Whilst fans regularly enjoy the excitement of Sky Sports News excellent deadline day coverage, for the clubs the pressure to get the right players at the right prices often means they leave their business to the last day.

With only hours left a transfer story can break and even though there looks to be no time left to complete a deal, those final hours and minutes can be crucial in a teams’ season. But what are the top ten deadline day swoops of past seasons?

Click on Luis Suarez to see the top 10 deadline deals

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Do you agree with the top ten? Have I missed an amazing last minute deal? If you want to read more of my bite size, 140 character views and thoughts follow me on Twitter @jennyk5

Dotrmund hit by Kagawa injury blow

Borussia Dortmund ace Shinji Kagawa could miss the rest of the Bundesliga season with a broken foot.

Kagawa, 21, has scored eight goals for his club this season as they continue to take all before them, currently sitting 11 points clear of Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the Bundesliga.

But the Japanese midfielder broke a bone in his foot while playing for his country in an Asian Cup semi-final against South Korea, which they won on penalties after the sides were locked at 2-2 at the end of extra time.

The loss of Kagawa will be a blow to Japan, who face Australia in Saturday’s Asian Cup final, but the news will hurt the Bundesliga table-toppers more, with a recovery expected in the final stages of the season at best.

“The news is bad. He was a prominent figure for us in the first half of the season,” Dortmund press-officer Hans-Joachim Watzke told SID.

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“The end of the season (in Germany) is three-and-a-half months away and a broken foot needs time to heal. It will be close (whether or not he plays again this season).”

The top TEN candidates for this season’s ‘Golden Boot’

While the world patiently waits for the new Premier League season to arrive, a flurry of activity relentlessly flows through every club, with players arriving and departing in equal measures. While there has yet to be a bank-breaking, marquee signing this summer, the media is awash with rumours of big name stars searching for new employers. Many of the players who receive the most coverage are star strikers. The men who pose the greatest goal threat for their respective teams are often the players held in highest regard, demanding lucrative transfer fees and generating excitement around any club. Whilst there are no doubts that there will still be a considerable amount of movement and new additions to the Premier League, these 10 players may be the most likely to claim the golden boot when next May arrives.

This list includes previous winners of the prized top scorer trophy, new signings that are untested in this league and outside bets who have shown enough talent in finding the net to acquire a place in this group of stars. While some performed admirably last campaign, some had relatively quiet seasons. Have a look at this list and see if you agree whether one of these players will add an individual trophy to their career come the seasons climax.

Click on Papiss Cisse to unveil the 10 candidates

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Football News: Liverpool line up McCourt, Spurs accept bid, Sir Alex Ferguson calls on critics to lay off De Gea

Cesc Fabregas looks to finally have got his dream move to Barcelona and a medical is taking place as we speak. It has been arguably the biggest transfer saga of the past two years and Arsenal have decided that the time is right to cash in on their talented Spaniard. £35m is the fee and the Gunners support will be hoping that Arsene Wenger will look to use the funds to strengthen the rest of the squad.

Elsewhere in the papers Roberto Mancini has called on fans to be realistic; Sir Alex Ferguson has called on critics to lay off De Gea, while Villas-Boas accuses Stoke of underhand tactics.

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Arsenal and Barcelona finally secure terms for Fábregas deal – Guardian

Mikel’s father in suspected kidnapping – Guardian

Touré to train at City before ban ends – Guardian

Mancini: fans must be realistic – Daily Telegraph

QPR need cash injection – Daily Telegraph

Record signing Carroll vows to repay Liverpool boss Dalglish’s faith – Daily Mail

Keane in race against time to join LA Galaxy after Tottenham accept £1.8m bid – Daily Mail

Liverpool line up shock swoop for Celtic’s ‘Derry Pele’ McCourt – Daily Mail

Sir Alex: Lay off De Gea – Mirror

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Villas-Boas accuses Stoke of underhand tactics – Mirror

Wenger rules out swoop for Joey – Sun

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