Enyeama's response to the NFF and other sports news making the rounds this Thursday

Super Eagles Goalkeeper has told the BBC that he was not officially invited by the Nigeria Football Federation to defend his ''uncomplimentary remarks'' about security in Kaduna ahead of June’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad. 

He further maintained that the matter was resolved in-house but surprise to find in the media that he has been invited to face the federation's disciplinary committee.

** Nigeria U-23 Coach, Samson Siasia has set Friday 26th June deadline for invited home-based players from the Flying Eagles to the Dream Team.

Captain Musa Mohammed, strikers Godwin Savior and Taiwo Awoniyi and goalkeeper Dele Alampasu, are the home-based players Siasia invited to camp, while the foreign-based players Kingsley Sokari, Musa Yahaya, Kelechi Iheanacho and Moses Simon have been given until two weeks to the African U-23 Championship qualifier against Congo to show up.

** The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed that Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kadun will host the tie between the Super Eagles and Pharaoh's of Egypt come March 23, 2016.

However, before the home game against Egypt, Nigeria will travel to Tanzania in the first week of September.

**ObisiA Nwamkpa, a former Commonwealth Welterweight boxing champion on Wednesday decried the nation’s poor preparation towards the forthcoming 11th All Africa Games to hold in Congo Brazzaville. 

Nwamkpa told News Agency of Nigeria that there was no significant arrangement in place to show that the country was preparing for major continental Games despite having about four years to prepare.

The Games are scheduled to run from Sept. 4 to Sept. 19.

** National Women’s Soccer League side, Washington Spirits, have announced the signing of Super Falcons midfielder, Ngozi Okobi, from Delta Queens.

The club signed Okobi on Wednesday but they are yet to receive her International Transfer Certificate.

Meanwhile the Spirits as they are called had earlier signed Josephine Chukwunonye from Rivers Angels after the World Cup to join Francisca Ordega, who has been with the club since the beginning of the season.

** Report has it that Ghanaian striker Asamoha Gyan has admitted he had consensual sex with the lady who claims to be pregnant for him.

Although the Al Ain player has asked for a paternity test, which will confirm if he is actually responsible for the pregnancy of Sarah Kwabla, a 22-year-old university student.

The Black Stars captain allegedly had an affair with Sarah and got her pregnant. She is now demanding for financial upkeep from the Al Ain player.

Ondo SWAN elect new executives

By Isaac Afolabi
Mr Akintunde Akinsemola has been re-elected as Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Ondo State Chapter after defeating his opponent Mr Wahab Bankole by 21 votes to 11 votes. 

The election which was held at Nigerian Union of Journalist Press Centre, Akure, witnessed the emergence of the incumbent Chairman and others who will oversea the association's affairs for the next three years.

Declaring the results, The chairman SWAN Electoral Committee, announced that Mr Ayo Ogedengbe said 2 people were returned unopposed including the Assistant Secretary , Mr Issac Afolabi of Radio Nigeria Positive FM as well as the Vice Chairman, Mr Longe Olabisi for the post of the secretary.

Mr Giwa Segun (News Agency of Nigeria) polled 21 votes defeating his Mr Francis Akinnodi who garnered 11 votes. 

In his acceptance speech, the Chairman, Ondo SWAN, Mr Akintunde Akinsemola thanked members of the association and promised to work towards the upliftment of the association in the state and beyond.

Earlier in his address, the National President of SWAN who was represented by the Vice-President, South-West Zone, Mr Muyideen Adeleke urged the sports journalists to always contribute their quota towards sports development in the country.

American Boxer Floyd Mayweather spends $6,200,000 million on three Cars

Floyd Mayweather has been making the headlines lately, not for negative reasons though.

 The undefeated American boxer recently shared a picture of his Jet and fleet of cars, and now he deems it fit to let the world know how much they cost.

 

According to a post on his official Facebook profile, three of his Bugatti classic costs over six million dollars.

 

''$6,200,000 million dollars spent for just 3 cars that don't depreciate, only appreciate''

1. Bugatti Grand Sport Chassis 088 Matte White 1 of 1 in the USA. $3,000,000 million dollars

2. Bugatti Veyron Chassis 116 White Over Soft Silver USA. $1,600,000 million dollars

3. Bugatti Veyron Chassis 101 Black Metallic/Red Metallic USA $1,600,000 million dollars

 

Some call him ''Money'' others think he's simply showing off. What do you make of this?

Sport recap 2014: Top headlines for the year

From January to December 2014, some topical issues made the headlines, please find below.

Ronaldo beats Messi, Ribery to win Ballon d'or

South Africa set to hire Keshi after Brazil World Cup

NBA: First Gay Player signs for Nets

Enyimba in, Pillars crash out of Champions League

Luis Suarez sets new Liverpool goal-scoring record

Sebastian Vettel, Bayern clinch 2014 Sports Award

Giggs, Neville, Scholes and co buy Salford City FC

BREAKING: UEFA launch Nations League

Banana Throwing Fan banned for life

Man Tattoos Bum celebrating Moyes' exit

Bye Moyes! United part ways with Manager

Copa Del Rey Final: Bale Classic wins the El Clasico for Real

Michael Phelps out of retirement to compete again?

Real Madrid is the Richest Club in the World (TOP 10 List)

Wrestling: Ultimate Warrior is dead

UCL FINAL DISASTER: 3 die, several injured in Jos Bomb Blast

Real beat Athletico to clinch 10th UCL Title

Sevilla win Europa League

Tottenham Sack Manager Tim Sherwood

Wenger Reveals Arsenal Could have signed Hazard

Nigerian Girls Abduction: Football Stars join #BringBackourGirls campaign

Suarez banned by FIFA, fined 8200 euros

Engaged! Balotelli gets a "YES" from his girlfriend

Cristiano Ronaldo is the most followed FIFA World Cup Player on Twitter

Gerrard told Suarez he's too good for Arsenal. Big Mouth?

Home Sweet Home: Lukaku returns to Everton, bags £28m record deal

English Premier League adopt vanishing spray for 2014/2015 season

Commonwealth Games: Nigerian Weightlifting Gold Medalist suspended after failing doping test

Commonwealth Games: Okagbare wins Gold, sets new new record

Home sweet Home! Drogba is back to Chelsea

Brazil beaten, humiliated and dazed by Germany (1-7)

''Make AC Milan fly high again'', Balotelli wishes Torres goodluck on his Milan loan move

Ronaldo bags Best Player in Europe award

Samuel Eto'o says goodbye to international football

Blue for Blue: ''Ambitious'' Samuel Etoo joins Everton from Chelsea

League One side MK Don hit Manchester United 4-0 to send the Reds out of Capital One Cup

Germany beat Nigeria to claim U-20 Womens World Cup

Security concerns force Libya to withdraw from hosting 2017 Nations Cup

Ebola: Nigeria pulls out of China Youth Olympics

Delta State FA boss Amaju Pinnick is new NFF President

Veteran Sports Journalist Godwin Spiff Sagbama is dead

Floyd Mayweather poses with a stack of Dollars in bed

Unbelievable! Nigerian Premier League Club Kaduna United players protest over unpaid one year salary

FA Slams Rio Ferdinand with three-match ban, £25,000 fine over Twitter taunt

AFCON 2015: Mind your business, CAF tells UEFA

Oscar Pistorius bags five years jail term

Michael Essien cries out, dismisses report that he contracted Ebola

Bayern Munich, Real Madrid Stars dominate UEFA Team of The Year nominees

FIFA names Casillas, four other Goalkeepers for FIF Pro World XI

Like Arsenal like Dolphins FC as Enyimba claim forth FA Cup glory

Cote d'voire celebrate Yaya Toure's 100th cap for the Elephants

Afcon 2015: Nigeria miss out, see countries that made it through

Ebola: Football world partner health organitions in fight against deadly virus

Super Eagles Social Media accounts records massive "followership"

Equatorial Guinea replaces Morocco as AFCON 2015 Host

Homeboy Emem Eduok scores as Akwa Ibom Stadium gets commissioned

Home Sweet Home: Fernando Torres returns to Atletico Madrid

Balotelli accepts FA punishment, tenders apology to teammates and Liverpool

Thierry Henry hangs boots, joins Sky Pundit crew

 

Enyeama Appreciates Fans,Congratulates Brahimi on BBC Africa Footballer of The Year Award

Despite not winning the BBC Africa Footballer of the year, Nigeria and Lille FC goalie, Vincent Enyeama has sent out congratulatory message to Algeria's Yacine Brahimi for winning the BBC award.

Instagram/ Vinny2908

The Super Eagles goalkeeper also thanked everyone who cast a vote for him during the selection process.

''I want to say a big thank you to everyone that made a shout out for me,that voted for me for the bbcafricnfootballeroftheyear2014.''- Enyeama said on his Instagram page.

''God bless una well well and congratulations to the Algerian guy #yacine brahimi who won it #proudlyafrica.''

Yacine Brahimi plies his trade in the Portuguese league for FC Porto and he beat Enyema and Ivorian Yaya Toure to clinch the award as voted by football fans across the globe.

In the spirit of sportsmanship, this is good.

Football fans and how they react about their respective clubs

Someone posted this on his face book account and I began to wonder how true this is, but honestly there seem to be an iota of truth in his revelation on how football fans react about their clubs and i feel i should share this.

He tags it ''FOOTBALL FANS AND THEIR ATTITUDES''

Barcelona Fans - Even though they are one of the greatest, they make no noise, this shows how mature they are.

Real Madrid Fans - They act like kings but talk less

 - They are so patient even when in trouble, they talk a little but not much

Man City fans - I don't even know if they exist 

Liverpool Fans - Claiming to be kings when they are not, though they act wisely

Chelsea Fans - Oh my goodness, they're d worst, they always talk ''rubbish'' and too arrogant, they claim to b the best and yet they have less trophies than all d mentioned teams, they hate history

because their club have none... Amos can't share the rest of the comment

Manchester United Fans - best sets of fans, though they talk, they're friendly, they are the most

successful club in England and they never give up!!!!....

The fan confirms he's a Gunner, so where do you belong and what do you think your normal reaction is when your club is being discussed ???...

Amos says ''So this guy is an Arsenal fan, hmmm, okay lets see how positive this argument will end for him. Hahahaa.... I also feel this is related to Nigerian football fans or what do you think? 

Congo vs Nigeria: They say it's ''do or die'' against the devils

By Amos Joseph
It is reported that Super Eagles of Nigeria will depart Nigeria for Congo Brazaville on Thursday to keep a date with the Red devils of Congo on Saturday in the AFCON 2015 qualifying match billed for Saturday 15 November.

Google Image

The spirit is high, the fitness of the boys is at satisfactory level and they are ready to battle for a place in the competition which is scheduled for next year with the host unknown at the time of publishing. That's what hear from the camp of the team in the nation's capital city, Abuja.

Of course the Super Eagles want to avoid the dire consequences of losing a point in the remaining two games - Congo and South Africa. Victory is non-negotiable, so to speak. That is the situation the Eagles find themselves, after losing to Congo in Calabar, Falcons of Sudan in Khartoum, and securing a draw with South Africa on away soil before coming home to beat Sudan 3-1 at home.

The Team still has a chance of qualifying especially after the spirited 3-1 win over Sudan which placed the Eagles in third spot on the group log. They fought hard, played hard, kicked hard and won the hard way. 

It could be recalled that the Coach of the Nigeria senior national team, Stephen Keshi was then relieved of his position but was later reinstated after ''interference from superior authority'' as the news made the rounds. And now that he's back along with his assistants ''to continue from where they stopped'', hard ball is what Nigerians expect, may be a replica of the last performance against Sudan. 

Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, Keshi expressed his confidence and positive attitude in the squad. ''The boys are focused and of course they know why they are here; it’s the business and so we have to go and do what we need to do.'' Said Keshi.

''We just have to be ready. This is African football.

 ''It is not European football and so I always tell my players that once they leave Europe they must switch from the European to African mentality''. 

Nigeria currently has four points, trailing South Africa who are on eight and Congo on seven, and that explains the reason why the Eagles must play hard ball. 

As the November 15 date approaches, without any pessimism, Nigerians should bear in mind that the head of the Congolese delegation Claude Leroy has always had his way with the Super Eagles, from his days as coach of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun. Just a note anyway, it doesn't make him Lord but the Eagles must prepare for counter his tactics.

''Ba ba gunyan ninu ewe ba sebe ninu epo epa eni mayo mayo'' - Yoruba Proverb

That proverb can simply be translated as ''dire situations can be advantageous'', however, one can only be patriotic and wish that the Eagles get the best of the challenge and come out satisfied with the result from Pointe-Noire.

Another book of lamentations by Wenger after Arsenal loss at Swansea

Swansea came from a goal down to defeat Arsenal 2-1 in Sunday's premier league game which sa the Gunners taking the lead and losing it again.

Arsenal took the lead after in-form forward Alexis Sanchez fired home from a Danny Welbeck pass before Gyfil Sigurdsson leveled through a spectacular free-kick.

Bafetimbi Gomis came from the bench to grab the winner for Swansea.

It could be recalled that Arsenal lost a three goal lead to Anderlecht in the Champions League last week, however, the Gunners boss agreed that his team lacked ''some spark or killer instinct'' to seal off games right now.

''It’s disappointing to throw a game away like we did. We were 1-0 up and had to be tight defensively and wait for that second chance. But you have to credit Swansea who didn’t give up,'' Wenger told BBC Sport.

''Football you can believe anything is possible, any minute you can concede. Bafetimbi Gomis is good in the air and it can happen. You have to accept that Swansea will fight until the last minute. We eased off at 1-0 and let them back into the game.

''Football is down to performances. People can say what they want. We are here to produce performances, and didn't do that right until the end of the game.

''We lacked some spark or killer instinct to take the game away from Swansea.''

''If you want to challenge the Premier League we have to be more realistic than we were today.''

LMC postpones final day Glo Premier League matches

The League Management Company (LMC) has announced the postponement of all Match Day 38 games in the Nigeria Glo Premier League which was earlier scheduled for this weekend.

According to report on the league body's website the decision was taken to quell all matters arising from teams which may influence the finishing points. 

The Chief Operating Officer of LMC, Salihu Abubakar said a decision has been reached to shift the end games by another week.

''Some of the protests will affect the final declaration of position of clubs on the log and we are aware that Confederation of African Football (CAF) has issued a November 30 deadline for return of entries for representatives of member federations seeking to play in any of the continental club championships'', Abubakar explained.

''The LMC is committed to protecting the integrity of all match results and will therefore await pronouncement of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) relevant committees on the outstanding protests in the coming days. This way there won’t be any spill over games after the final day of matches'', Abubakar further clarified.

He said the LMC regrets any inconveniences arising from this but insisted it was the right decision to have taken in the circumstance.

Yaya Toure: The only African on Forbes Best paid Athletes in the World, Floyd Mayweather tops list

Ivory Coast and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure is the only African who made the list of top 100 best paid athletes in the world for 2014 released by American Business Magazine, Forbes.

Google Image

Yaya tops the Africa soccer scene as the highest earner, gets $334,000 a week salary and makes $2.5m from endorsement, ranks 59th on the list of top paid athletes in the world, 

Floyd Mayweather also known as ''Money Man'' is number one on the list earning so much in the year with just two fights within a year which saw him pocket about $105 million for the two bouts thanks to his role as both pugilist and promoter. 

The Forbes top 100 best-paid athletes in the world

1.            Floyd Mayweather          £65.6m Boxing

2.            Cristiano Ronaldo             £50.0m Football

3.            LeBron James    £45.2m Basketball

4.            Lionel Messi       £40.4m Football

5.            Kobe Bryant       £38.4m Basketball

6.            Tiger Woods       £38.3m Golf

7.            Roger Federer   £35.1m Tennis

8.            Phil Mickelson   £33.3m Golf

9.            Rafael Nadal       £27.8m Tennis

10.          Matt Ryan           £27.4m NFL

11.          Manny Pacquiao              £26.1m Boxing

12.          Zlatan Ibrahimovic           £25.3m Football

13.          Derrick Rose       £22.9m Basketball

14.          Gareth Bale        £22.8m Football

15.          Radamel Falcao £22.1m Football

16.          Neymar                £21.0m Football

17.          Novak Djokovic £20.7m Tennis

18.          Matthew Stafford           £20.6m NFL

19.          Lewis Hamilton £20.0m Racing

20.          Kevin Durant      £19.9m Basketball

21.          Fernando Alonso             £19.4m Racing

22.          Mahendra Singh Dhoni  £18.8m Cricket

23.          Dwyane Wade  £18.7m Basketball

24.          Carmelo Anthony            £18.4m Basketball

25.          Wladimir Klitschko           £17.5m Boxing

26.          Peyton Manning              £16.9m NFL

27.          Amar'e Stoudemire        £16.7m Basketball

28.          Dale Earnhardt, Jr.           £16.2m Racing

29.          Dwight Howard £15.9m Basketball

30.          Cliff Lee                £15.8m Baseball

31.          Joe Mauer          £15.5m Baseball

32.          Miguel Cabrera £15.4m Baseball

33.          Zack Greinke      £15.3m Baseball

34.          Maria Sharapova              £15.3m Tennis

35.          Derek Jeter        £15.2m Baseball

35.          Rory McIlroy      £15.2m Golf

37.          Chris Paul            £15.1m Basketball

37.          CC Sabathia        £15.1m Baseball

39.          Prince Fielder    £14.9m Baseball

40.          Darrelle Revis    £14.9m NFL

41.          Li Na      £14.8m Tennis

42.          Jimmie Johnson                £14.7m Racing

43.          Wayne Rooney £14.6m Football

44.          Sergio Aguero   £14.6m Football

45.          Usain Bolt            £14.5m Track

45.          Dirk Nowitzki     £14.5m Basketball

47.          Blake Griffin       £14.4m Basketball

48.          Alex Rodriguez  £14.3m Baseball

48.          Johan Santana   £14.3m Baseball

50.          Mark Teixeira    £14.2m Baseball

51.          Matt Kemp         £14.1m Baseball

52.          Joe Johnson       £14.1m Basketball

53.          Geno Atkins       £14.0m NFL

53.          Ryan Howard     £14.0m Baseball

55.          Aaron Rodgers  £13.8m NFL

55.          Serena Williams                £13.8m Tennis

57.          Chris Bosh           £13.6m Basketball

57.          Pau Gasol            £13.6m Basketball

59.          Yaya Touré          £13.6m Football

60.          Robinson Cano  £13.4m Baseball

60.          Adrian Gonzalez               £13.4m Baseball

62.          Joe Haden           £13.4m NFL

63.          Fernando Torres              £13.3m Football

64.          Henrik Stenson £13.3m Golf

65.          Vernon Wells     £13.2m Baseball

66.          Canelo Alvarez  £13.1m Boxing

66.          Drew Brees        £13.1m NFL

66.          Eli Manning         £13.1m NFL

69.          Julius Peppers   £13.0m NFL

70.          Cole Hamels       £12.9m Baseball

70.          Jason Peters      £12.9m NFL

70.          Justin Verlander               £12.9m Baseball

73.          Tim Lincecum     £12.9m Baseball

74.          Carl Crawford    £12.8m Baseball

75.          Matt Cain            £12.8m Baseball

75.          Barry Zito             £12.8m Baseball

77.          Felix Hernandez               £12.7m Baseball

77.          Albert Pujols      £12.7m Baseball

79.          Deron Williams  £12.5m Basketball

80.          David Ortiz          £12.4m Baseball

81.          Robin van Persie              £12.2m Football

82.          Russell Westbrook          £12.0m Basketball

83.          Sebastian Vettel               £11.9m Racing

84.          Carlos Dunlap    £11.8m NFL

84.          Zach Randolph  £11.8m Basketball

86.          Steven Gerrard £11.7m Football

86.          Jeff Gordon        £11.7m Racing

88.          Rudy Gay             £11.6m Basketball

89.          Larry Fitzgerald £11.6m NFL

89.          Mesut Ozil          £11.6m Football

91.          Branden Albert £11.5m NFL

92.          Franck Ribéry     £11.4m Football

93.          Alfonso Soriano                £11.3m Baseball

94.          Jairus Byrd          £11.3m NFL

95.          Adam Scott         £11.1m Golf

96.          Terrell Suggs      £11.0m NFL

97.          Brandon Marshall            £10.9m NFL

97.          Jayson Werth    £10.9m Baseball

99.          Matt Holliday     £10.9m Baseball

100.        Luis Suarez          £10.8m Football

Courtney Dike refuses Nigeria’s $7,000 world cup Bonus, so what?

By Amos Joseph
Facts have shown that players request or riot over unpaid allowances is more rampant among African nations as clearly exhibited during the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup. This show of shame tells the world how football is being administered in this part of the world when it comes to remuneration which could either be allowances or tournament reward.

Ghana, Cameroun and Nigeria were at the fore of this dismal show as players held their national teams to ransom while in competition mood, which however cannot be extricated from the performance of the team at that time.

 

Courtney Dike

How money can be a huge distraction.

When the news broke that a player who represented Nigeria at this year’s FIFA Under 20 Women’s World Cup turned down the monetary reward offered her by the Nigerian Football Federation, it quickly spread like a conflagration owing to its oddity.

Simply put, we are not used to this kind of news when it comes to sports in Nigeria. Courtney Dike was born and bred in the United States of America, plays for Oklahoma State Football Team, she preferred to represent fatherland for ‘’patriotism sake’’ since she refused the $7,000 World Cup bonus handed her which sent shock down our spines.

Courtney told the Nigerian officials who called her that playing for Nigeria was enough, and that she prides over monetary reward. What a mentality you may want to say. But please don’t forget where she is coming from.

For arising as a compatriot and heeding to Nigeria’s call, she and her family deserve all the plaudits they are getting right now, it is an uncommon act that will send a message around the world of how a Nigerian can damn the ‘’papers’’ all in the name of patriotism. (Nigeria’s national anthem capture the story of her action)

Courtney Dike

Bringing this home, how many of our players (Women, Men including foreign based) can show such bravery when it comes to matters such as this? Please try not to count because you may just find no one. The reason is not farfetched as our players receive peanuts as salaries which come in trickles, save for a few clubs.

How can bread winners of families have their ‘’bread’’ held by their employers an yet expect them to give their best? How can players who are being owed for several months afford to take care of their family, and then reject monetary rewards when they come to the national team? How can players Travel for most part of the year by road in a bid to represent their clubs in the league almost every week? The questions are endless….

Based on these numerous questions demanding answers, it could however be said that Courtney Dike’s perception has been greatly influenced by the values she has been inculcated with while growing up. The economic situations are not at par and this send a message to our leaders and administrators

It is crystal clear that the society where Courtney was brought up has left us behind and we are playing catch up, that’s if we can.

All pictures in this report are from Google.

It’s a ''happy moment'' for Lionel Messi after Barcelona star equaled Raul’s 71 UCL goal-mark

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has tagged his new goal-scoring feat as ''happy moment'' having hit Raul Gonzalez’ 71-goal record in the UEFA Champions League.

For Messi who grabbed the double which saw Barca triumph over Ajax on Wednesday night, the victory was more important though he relish his new feat.

''It’s a happy moment for me,'' he said.

''I think it’s great but the most important thing was to get the three points so that we will be able to qualify for the next round.

''We secured the points, therefore I’m happy.''

''I don’t remember one goal especially. I always want to score and in the end it’s the sum total of them all that I will remember,” he said.

''As I’ve always said, goals in finals are the best and most powerful memories.''

Messi has however beaten Cristiano Ronaldo to the record, who surpasses it? Time shall tell.

Ancelotti says Ronaldo will score when he wants

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has expressed joy over the victory recorded against Liverpool and also defended forward Cristiano Ronaldo stating that the player will score at will.

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Quoting report on the club website, the manager was speaking at a post-match press conference, where he aired his contentment with the his side’s 1-0 win over Liverpool and said that Ronaldo will score in subsequent games when he wants to.

"It was a good match, we did not play at a high tempo because we did not need to.

Ronaldo has scored a total of 70 UCL goals and was aiming to equal the 71-goal UCL record currently held by former player of the club Raul Gonzalez, while Lionel Messi is on 69 goals.

"Cristiano was focused on the game, he didn't score but we didn't talk about records together. 

''He did not score but he will in the next match. He wasn't frustrated not to have scored.

Wenger ''angry and disappointed'', says Arsenal defended poorly

Manager of Arsenal has aired his view on the three goals his side lost to Anderlecht in the Champions League return leg on Tuesday night saying they were poor defensively.

The Gunners took a 3 goal lead before the Belgian side rallied back to ensure the match ended in a stalemate.

''You have to give them [Anderlecht] credit because the fought until the end and we had a poor defensive performance from the first to the last minute today. - said Wenger in a post-match press conference. (Quoting from club website)

''We never felt comfortable and somewhere we got punished because of bad luck. 

''The first goal was offside but defensively our performance was not good enough to do it. 

 ''It's very disappointing but overall over the two games we got four points.''

Arsenal offer Theo Walcott new Contract Papers

Theo Walcott is set to pen down a new deal with Arsenal which will see him stay put at the Emirates for another 2-years.

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The England international recently returned from an injury that kept him out for over 10 months, playing his first game in saturday's 3-0 victory over Burnley by the Gunners.

The player's current deal expires at the end of this season and the Gunners are keen to have their the 25-year old remain in their fold.

"We are starting to sit down with him," manager Arsene Wenger said.

"I think he has one and a half years to go on his contract in December and it is never an easy job with him, you know."

Since joining Arsenal as a teenager from Southampton in 2006, Walcott has scored 45 goals in 195 league appearances and has established himself as a key man for both club and country.

"Will he be at his peak in the next few years? He should be, yes," Wenger said.

"He is 25. It is the best years now so hopefully we can profit from that."