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Chelsea youngster Charly Musonda joins Real Betis

2016-01-31T07:46:00.006+00:00

Real Betis have signed Chelsea midfielder Charly Musonda on loan for the rest of the season.

The 19-year-old won the Under-21 Premier League, UEFA Youth League and FA Youth Cup with Chelsea.

Musonda, a Belgium Under-21 international, said on www.realbetisbalompie.es: "I'm very happy to be here and excited to start. I want to give my best for myself, for the team and for the fans.''

Tottenham's Pochettino out to change Spurs' history

2016-01-31T07:46:00.000+00:00

LONDON -- Mauricio Pochettino says he wants to "change Tottenham's history" by winning a trophy this season, starting with a victory at Colchester United on Saturday.

Spurs travel to League One's bottom club in the FA Cup fourth round, having not won the competition for a quarter of a century.

After their last triumph in 1991, no English club had won the FA Cup more times than Spurs, with eight, but they have since been surpassed by Manchester United (11) and neighbours Arsenal (12), who retained the trophy last season.

By contrast, Spurs' last trophy came with the 2008 League Cup, but Pochettino has rotated his side heavily for the domestic cups, with his strongest team reserved for the Premier League and Europa League.

The Argentine is again expected to rotate his squad for the trip to the Colchester Community Stadium, but he insists the FA Cup is important for Tottenham.

"We are focussed in every competition, in every game," Pochettino told a news conference on Friday.

"The players feel that every game is a good opportunity to go far in different competitions. We have a very good mentality. All the players want to be fit to play and for tomorrow, all the players want to play. I need to pick the right players to try to win the game. All are available and excited to play. It's not a priority to play in the Premier League or Europa League. The FA Cup is a priority for us too.

"In every club where I was a player or manager, they knew the historic importance of the cups -- of all the history. Our objective is to go as far as possible in the FA Cup, the Premier League, the Europa League. We are Tottenham.

"It's not easy to win titles. When you fight with big, big clubs, too. We are here for that, to try to change the history and try to win some titles. This is our challenge."

Pochettino's squad was reduced in numbers this week after Andros Townsend departed for Newcastle United in a reported £12 million deal.

The winger has suggested that England boss Roy Hodgson advised him to leave White Hart Lane, a detail that does not surprise Pochettino.

"It didn't surprise me because if you're a manager of the national team, you care about your players and try to give them good advice. If that happened, I think it's normal. It's his point of view and you need to always respect it."

"Always it's about moments. He [Andros] is a very good player, he's young but it's about dynamics. Last season, he played a lot. He played the Capital One Cup final and was an important player for us.

"This season, he was injured from the beginning and another player took his place. It was difficult to get back in the team. It's all about confidence and it was difficult for him to take his place again. When the player wants to play, he believed it was better to move."

Arsenal's Mohamed Elneny 'not a monster,' will fit team well

2016-01-31T07:45:00.000+00:00

Arsene Wenger says Mohamed Elneny is "not a powerhouse" but will rely on his agility and stamina rather than pure strength in his role as a ball-winner for Arsenal.

Elneny is set to make his Arsenal debut against Burnley in the FA Cup on Saturday, in what Wenger promised would otherwise be an experienced lineup against the Championship side.

Elneny was brought in from Swiss club Basel this month to provide cover for injured holding midfielder Francis Coquelin, who is now back fit and also available for selection on Saturday. But unlike many defensive midfielders, Elneny doesn't rely on size and strength to do his job, Wenger said.

"Winning the ball is not only down to power. It's to switch on at the right moment, it's a technique," Wenger said. "You have players who are muscular and they lost fights against small players who are very slim because the small players they switch it on at the right moment. When do you switch your muscle on? It's when the guy is in a weak position. It's a real technique."

Elneny has been on the Arsenal bench against Stoke and Chelsea in the team's past two Premier League games, getting his first look at the physical English game.

"I think he was surprised by the intensity of the game, and by the challenges," Wenger said. "At the start the [foreign] players are surprised by the fact that the referee lets it go. In England you will often hear the referee say 'Get on with it, get on with it.' In the other countries you get a whistle."

Arsenal are the two-time defending FA Cup champions, but Wenger has promised not to take Burnley lightly at the Emirates Stadium. Aside from Elneny, he said he would play a "Premier League team" rather than rotating heavily and letting some of the club's youngsters get a start.

After getting just two points from the team's last three league games, including a 1-0 loss to Chelsea last weekend, Wenger said it's important to regain some momentum right away.

"First of all we lost last Sunday, and it's important not to drop our confidence level. And secondly, we want to do well in the FA Cup," Wenger said. "We don't win with kids anymore, unfortunately, even against championship teams."

Mario Suarez seals move to Watford

2016-01-31T07:44:00.002+00:00

Watford have completed the signing of Mario Suarez from Fiorentina for an undisclosed fee.

Suarez, who had joined Fiorentina from Atletico Madrid in the summer, has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with Watford.

The 28-year-old midfielder, who has played for the Spanish national side three times, worked with Hornets boss Quique Sanchez Flores at Atletico.

"I'm very happy and I'm really excited to be a Hornet," he said. "I hope we live very good moments together."

He added on his Twitter account: "I'm officially signing for @WatfordFC. Thank you @acffiorentina and their fans for the support. I will give my all in the @premierleague."

The Press Association reports that Suarez cost Watford around £4 million.

Watford had handed full debuts to fellow January signings Costel Pantilimon and Nordin Amrabat in Saturday's 1-0 FA Cup victory over Nottingham Forest as they seek to build on an impressive start to the season that sees them sitting 10th in the Premier League.

Alexis Sanchez seals Arsenal FA Cup progress

2016-01-31T07:42:00.001+00:00

Alexis Sanchez scored the winning goal in his first start since November as Arsenal saw off a resolute Burnley 2-1 to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Sanchez, who had been sidelined for more than two months with a hamstring injury, laid on Calum Chambers for the opening goal of the game.

Sam Vokes then stunned the Emirates Stadium when he hauled Burnley level with a header after 30 minutes, but Sanchez completed a fine move shortly after the interval to seal the win.

Arsene Wenger vowed to field an experienced side for the fourth-round tie, but the Frenchman made nine changes to the team which started the 1-0 defeat against Chelsea last Sunday.

Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny were the only survivors as Mohamed Elneny made his debut while Francis Coquelin was also back in Wenger's side following a two-month injury lay-off.

Sean Dyche's side, relegated from the Premier League last season, are bidding to bounce straight back into the big time. And for much of the opening half, they showed why they may do just that.

Andre Gray latched on to a Vokes header, but his effort sailed high and wide of David Ospina's goal. They then should have taken the lead when Gray capitalised on a mistake by Koscielny, but his shot was straight at Arsenal's goalkeeper.

It had been a slow start for the Gunners, but the hosts -- bidding to win the FA Cup for a third consecutive season -- were soon in control, and after 19 minutes came the breakthrough.

Sanchez drifted in from the left-hand side before sliding in Chambers and the former Southampton man, somewhat of a peripheral figure at the Emirates these days, bended the ball round Tom Heaton. It was only his second goal for Arsenal -- both have come against Burnley.

Arsenal were enjoying more of the possession, but the visitors looked dangerous on the counter-attack and 15 minutes before half-time they found themselves level.

The Arsenal defence failed to clear their lines and, after Coquelin slipped, Tendayi Darikwa's pinpoint cross was met by a Vokes header. It was no more than the Championship side deserved, and suddenly Arsenal found themselves in a game.

As the half-time whistle blew, while Arsenal had enjoyed greater possession, they had mustered three shots on target -- only one more than the visitors.

Arsenal were slow out the blocks in the second half and it was Burnley who brought Ospina into action. Scott Arfield was allowed to coast into the Arsenal area, but his shot was saved at the second attempt by the Colombian.

Tomas Rosicky then made his first appearance of the season after he replaced the impressive Iwobi with 20 minutes remaining before Sanchez stung the hands of Heaton with a fine free kick.

Sanchez was given a standing ovation by the home fans when he was substituted with 11 minutes remaining, and while Burnley pushed for an equaliser -- the best chance falling to Gray in the closing seconds -- it was the Gunners who booked their spot in the fifth round.

Dynamo Dresden – Kiel

2014-08-26T17:34:00.002+01:00

Auxerre – Nancy

2014-08-26T17:11:00.000+01:00

Erbil T&T Ha Noi

2014-08-26T16:59:00.000+01:00

Zenit – Standard

2014-08-26T16:51:00.000+01:00

MHC Spartak – HC Riga

2014-08-26T13:30:00.003+01:00

Felda Utd – Pulau Pinang

2014-08-26T13:24:00.004+01:00

Kitchee – Ninh Binh

2014-08-26T13:02:00.000+01:00

Lions XII – Johor

2014-08-26T12:58:00.003+01:00

Persipura – Al Kuwait

2014-08-26T08:27:00.003+01:00

Rayo Vallecano – Atletico Madrid

2014-08-25T21:01:00.002+01:00

Manchester City – Liverpool

2014-08-25T19:44:00.000+01:00

Bochum – Union Berlin

2014-08-25T19:18:00.000+01:00

Fenerbahce – Galatasaray

2014-08-25T18:50:00.000+01:00

Real Madrid – Cordoba

2014-08-25T18:48:00.001+01:00

Panthers – Storm

2014-08-25T09:51:00.004+01:00

Barcelona – Elche

2014-08-24T19:47:00.000+01:00

Chi White Sox – NY Yankees

2014-08-24T18:23:00.000+01:00

Biarritz Olympique – Aurillac

2014-08-24T18:14:00.002+01:00

Biarritz Olympique – Aurillac

French Pro D2. 24 August 2014 at 17:30.

Osijek – Hajduk Split

2014-08-24T17:55:00.000+01:00

Osijek – Hajduk Split

Croatian Prva HNL. 24 August 2014 at 18:00.

PAOK – Kallonis

2014-08-24T17:21:00.000+01:00