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Arsenal are "crying out for a player like" Mesut Ozil, according to David Seaman, who says Mikel Arteta is letting a "quality" midfielder's talent go to waste.

Ozil was initially brought back in from the cold when Arteta was handed the managerial reigns at Emirates Stadium last December, having fallen out of favour under previous manager Unai Emery.

The ex-Germany international featured prominently in the Spaniard's starting XI up until the 2019-20 campaign was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak, with his last appearances for the Gunners coming in a 1-0 win over West Ham on March 7.

Arteta has not had any use for Ozil since football's resumption in June, despite the fact the playmaker has been keeping himself in optimal condition on the training ground.

A man who moved to Emirates Stadium from Real Madrid for £42 million ($56m) in 2013 played no part in Arsenal's run to FA Cup glory, and was left out of his current manager's Premier League and Europa League squads at the start of the new season.

Ozil publicly questioned the club's loyalty in the wake of that decision, and is now being forced to run down the final few months of his contract behind the scenes with little sign of Arteta altering his stance heading into the New Year.

Seaman finds it hard to fathom that the ex-Madrid star is being left out for footballing reasons, with it his belief that the German is still more than capable of adding a much-needed creative dimension to the current Gunners squad.

“I am surprised Arteta is choosing to leave out Mezut Ozil because he’s a player of quality,” The former Arsenal goalkeeper told The Target Men Podcast.

“I feel something’s gone on personally between the two of them, because to leave him out, and on the money he’s on, is a big statement and for me it’s a bit of a waste, because he’s still a quality player.

“When you look at the Arsenal team, we’re crying out for a player like that, so why don’t you build your team around Ozil rather than just leaving him out in the field and letting him go.”

Seaman went onto assess his old club's chances of qualifying for the Champions League, having seen Arteta deliver only four wins from 10 Premier League matches so far this term.

“The way Arsenal are now, top four is going to be almost like winning the Premier League," he added.

“The team need to get a run going and gain confidence again, but I do think top four would be a great season for Arsenal.”

Barcelona’s interim president, Carles Tusquets, has admitted that he “would have sold Lionel Messi in the summer”, with some big decisions facing those at Camp Nou.

A six-time Ballon d’Or winner looked to be heading for the exits when the 2019-20 campaign came to a close.

Having grown disillusioned with life in Catalunya on and off the field, Messi stunned the football world when stating his desire to move on.

Barca moved quickly to make the Argentine aware that a release clause in his contract was no longer valid, forcing the 33-year-old to reassess his options and agree to stay put.

His current terms are, however, only due to run until the summer of 2021 and no extension has been agreed as yet.

Messi will be free to speak with his many suitors from January, with Barca’s next round of presidential elections not due to take place until the 24th of that month.

It could that whoever takes the reins finds themselves overseeing the end of an iconic spell for a modern-day great, with free agency beckoning.

The likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are said to be already jostling for position at the front of a recruitment queue, with a remarkable agreement potentially in the offing.

Tusquets believes Barca should have avoided any threat of Messi walking away for nothing by bowing to his demands in the last window and sanctioning a big-money sale.

He has told RAC1: “Economically speaking, I would have sold Messi in the summer.

“It would have been desirable for the money you would’ve received and the money you would’ve saved. La Liga requires wage limits.”

While Tusquets would have been willing to draw a line under Messi’s trophy-laden and record-setting spell at Camp Nou, plenty of those looking to take his place in the boardroom hold a different opinion.

Many, including the likes of Joan Laporta and Victor Font, have stated a desire to keep an all-time great in his current surroundings, with there a confidence on their part that fresh terms can be thrashed out.

For now, though, Barca are looking for Messi to spark their 2020-21 campaign into life, with Ronald Koeman taking to resting the South American over recent weeks for the bigger challenges to come.

Sacking Zinedine Zidane would be a “very hasty” decision by Real Madrid, says Hugo Sanchez, with the Blancos urged to stick with their current coach despite recent struggles for form.

The reigning La Liga champions have found the going tough in 2020-21 at home and abroad.

Inconsistency proved to be an issue at times last season, only for a remarkable post-lockdown run to deliver another domestic crown.

Defending that prize is not going to be easy, with Zidane’s side dropping 13 points through 10 games.

Struggles are also being endured on a European stage, with Madrid in danger of missing out on a place in the last-16 of the Champions League.

A 2-0 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk last time out has the Blancos sat third in Group B with one game left to take in – against table-topping Borussia Monchengladbach.

Real’s fate remains in their own hands there, while time is on their side in La Liga, but questions are being asked of Zidane’s ongoing presence and his ability to build on successes of the recent past.

He has vowed not to walk away from Santiago Bernabeu, with there a desire on his part to put things right, and Sanchez believes faith should be shown in an iconic Frenchman.

The legendary former Blancos striker told ESPN when quizzed on whether Zidane should be sacked: “No, I don't think so yet; it would be very hasty right now.

“You have to wait until after the remaining [Champions League group] game, which is complicated by being dependent on others. 

“There will be a certain pressure, nervousness and obviously waiting for the result against Borussia Monchengladbach, too.”

While calling for patience from Real, Mexican legend Sanchez – who hit 208 goals in 283 appearances for the Blancos in his playing days – concedes that standards are slipping in the Spanish capital.

He added: “There have been serious criticisms of Zidane.

“He is bearing it stoically, but I note his nervousness because his players aren't rising to the expectations placed upon Real Madrid players.”

Real will be back in domestic action against Sevilla on Saturday, before then taking in a crucial home date with Monchengladbach on December 9 which will determine their continental fate.

Fred has posted an Instagram message after his sending off against Paris Saint-Germain, admitting it "wasn't the best night" for him or Manchester United.

United suffered their second Champions League defeat of the season on Wednesday as PSG ran out 3-1 winners at Old Trafford to leave Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side in a precarious position in Group H.

The Red Devils are still top of the pool ahead of the French champions and RB Leipzig on goal difference, but they must now travel to Germany on matchday six knowing that a defeat will send them crashing out of the competition.

A Neymar brace and a Marquinhos strike gave PSG their victory in Manchester, with Marcus Rashford's deflected effort ultimately amounting to nothing more than a consolation for the hosts, who were reduced to 10 men when Fred was shown a second yellow card 20 minutes from time.

The Brazilian's first bookable offence came early in the first half, but he was somewhat fortunate not to be given his marching orders by referee Daniele Orsato for headbutting Leandro Paredes off the ball.

He was walking a tightrope from that moment onwards, and although Solskjaer had five substitutions at his disposal on the touchline, the Norwegian head coach decided against hauling him off at half-time.

Asked if made a mistake by keeping Fred on the field, Solskjaer told reporters post-match: "Fred has played really well. We spoke about staying calm and on your feet [at the break].

“The second yellow card was nowhere near a foul. Ander knows that. Fred shouldn’t put his head towards Paredes [but] I don’t think he touched him. He was a bit lucky to stay on."

United will have to make do without Fred when they head to RB Leipzig next week, but the Brazil international did not offer any sort of apology when taking to social media to address his followers on Thursday.

"It wasn't the best night, but we kept working for the best. Always strong mind. We are United! #MUFC" he wrote on Instagram.

Fred will, however, be back in contention for a place in Solskjaer's line up when the Red Devils make the trip to the London Stadium to take on West Ham on Saturday.

United are currently sitting ninth in the Premier League standings, but could move into the top four if they beat the Hammers and other results go their way this weekend.

Ex-Chelsea star Didier Drogba has paid an emotional tribute to Argentina legend Diego Maradona, who passed away in November.

The Albiceleste superstar died of a heart attack at the age of 60 and farewell messages across the world have poured in for the former Barcelone star.

Maradona was famous for his dribbling skills and ability to cut open defences during his playing years and helped Argentina win the 1986 World Cup.

The forward also enjoyed success at club level, winning a number of accolades with Boca Juniors, Barcelona and Napoli among others.

Drogba, who holds Maradona as his role model, also had a great career during his playing years, clinching a number of laurels during his time with Marseille, Chelsea and Galatasaray before his retirement from professional football.

The former Ivory Coast has paid a tribute to the football icon, recollecting his only meeting with him in 2018, which he described as the best day of his life.

“The day I quit my playing career, it was like my childhood dream was over. This ‘little death’ had been hard to live with, because all of a sudden, we find ourselves a little naked, without a horizon, without a goal to reach, without a dream to exceed,” Drogba told France Football.

“There, with your disappearance, it is much more than a child's dream which vanishes, it is the end of ‘my’ football, of the idea that I have always had and of which you were at the same time the symbol, the model and the spokesperson. Football is full of life, daring, mischief and freedom. 

“The funny thing is that my first World Cup match was against Argentina. And that I even scored. On this occasion, I saw you from afar but I had not dared to approach.

“I am shy although it is not always visible. All of a sudden, I, the captain of the Ivorian selection and Chelsea player, felt like a very small boy in front of ‘my God’.

“The only other person who impressed me so much was Michael Jackson. He too, I only saw him from afar, but what a shock!

“In 2008, I almost ran into you for good, but you chose the Africa Cup of Nations period to come visit the Blues! When I knew that you had been able to meet all my teammates while I was in Ghana, I was crazy!

“Finally, I was able to meet you in 2018, on the occasion of the World Cup. I'm not afraid to say it was the best day of my football career.

“I will always remember that you kissed me and said: ‘Drogba, bomba!’ I don't know if you realized it, but I was no longer touching the ground. And it took me a while to come back down. It was a bit like my Ballon d'Or. 

“In recent years, of course, I felt sorry to see you. I thought I could guess sadness and regret in your often lost gaze.

“It's crazy because I only spoke to you for ten seconds and I still have the impression that I know you so well. Now we'll have to learn to love football without you. It's like continuing to love life after a loved one is gone. Obviously, it is possible, but it will take time. Goodbye Diego, I loved you so much.”

AFC Leopards head coach Tomas Trucha has resigned following threats on his life, Goal can report.

Trucha’s resignation comes after the club’s chairman Dan Shikanda claimed a few members had resorted to threats towards the coach and his agent.

A close source at the club has now revealed to Goal that the former Orapa United head coach has left the club and Anthony Kimani, his hitherto assistant, is set to take charge.

This will be the second time Kimani is taking over the club on an acting capacity as he had to fill the void when the former Rwandan head coach Casa Mbungo left in December 2019 citing financial struggle.

“It is true Trucha has resigned,” the source stated on Thursday.

“He left on Wednesday following numerous threats on his life and the people around him. The coach felt the environment had become so poisoned and thus he could not go on with his job.

“Trucha had good intentions for the club and his efforts to turn AFC Leopards into a strong side had already been felt. But some people, it seems, were not happy with what was happening.”

Shikanda had stated the coach's issue was a serious matter that they had even planned to engage the police.

“There is a serious issue with the coach,” Shikanda told reporters on Wednesday. “We shall do a press conference on Thursday and from here we will go and organise to get the nitty-gritty.

“We are taking the threats seriously and we shall write a statement with the police. We are handling that because the coach feels he is not safe.

“He is in Kenya to help us and add skills to the team.”

The chair also claimed the said members have a major target of rocking the club due to the good job done by the National Executive Committee.

“It is unfortunate that some people who call themselves our members are trying to destabilise our team. They have seen us doing well and they are surely not happy," he added.

“We have beaten Tusker in the first match and there are no comments on our social media pages had we lost that match, you could have seen a lot of negative comments.

“But we know we have people who masquerade as AFC Leopards' members and fans but in the real sense, they are not.

“They are trying to kill the club and are trying to kill the work that the National Executive Committee has done.”

Ingwe will host Football Kenya Federation Premier League debutants Bidco United on December 6 for the second tie of the season.

Wilfred Zaha "would be a good addition to Arsenal", according to David Seaman, who hopes the Gunners will revive their interest in the Crystal Palace star next year.

Zaha was heavily linked with a move to Emirates Stadium in the summer of 2019, off the back of his best season yet at Selhurst Park.

The Gunners were reportedly weighing up a club-record move for the Ivorian, but ultimately ended up making Nicolas Pepe the most expensive signing in their history instead, with the 25-year-old completing a £72 million ($97m) move from Lille to north London in August of the same year.

Zaha opened up on the failed switch to Arsenal back in June, admitting that he was flattered by the interest from a club he has supported avidly since his youth.

“It was nice,” said the Ivorian. “Supporting them and having them wanting you at the same time, leaves you thinking: ‘this is amazing.’

“But things never worked out so you just have to move on as quick as possible. I was thinking this may happen. But my whole family was watching and it just didn’t work out.”

The Palace star has continued to prove himself as one of the best players outside the top six at the start of the 2020-21 campaign, and Seaman thinks his old club could use a man with his talents in the final third of the pitch.

“I think Zaha would be a good addition to Arsenal because he’s a proven goalscorer,” the legendary former Gunners goalkeeper told the Target Men Podcast.

“I don’t know the reason why it hasn’t happened as he obviously wants to come.  

"Whether it’s the agents and clubs not agreeing certain things, that must be the reason, but he’s made it clear that he wants to come as he’s an Arsenal fan.  

“He would be a good addition to the squad, no doubt at all.”

Zaha missed the Eagles' last two Premier League outings after testing positive for coronavirus, but has been cleared to return to action ahead of a trip to West Brom on Sunday.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are currently preparing for a Europa League meeting with Rapid Vienna on Thursday night, which comes three days before a crucial north London derby clash against Tottenham.

Georginio Wijnaldum admits Liverpool are barely training as they seek to manage their way through a gruelling fixture list that has already delivered a number of untimely injury blows.

The Anfield treatment room is seeing plenty of footfall at present, with barely a week going by that does not see another name added to the list of walking wounded.

A Merseyside derby date with arch-rivals Everton got that unfortunate ball rolling in October.

Virgil van Dijk suffered knee ligament damage which required him to undergo surgery, while Thiago Alcantara is another who has not been seen since that eventful trip to Goodison Park.

Joel Matip, Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Alisson and James Milner have all picked up knocks since then – with some still stuck on the sidelines.

That is forcing Jurgen Klopp to get creative with his selections on matchdays and his pre-game preparations.

The German tactician has been vocal in his opposition to some of the scheduling calls made this season, with the games continuing to come thick and fast, and Wijnaldum concedes that the reigning Premier League champions have little time in which to get themselves ready.

“I don’t really have anything to complain about. I am blessed to stay fit during this period,” the Netherlands international, who is one of the fortunate ones not to have been laid low, told reporters in the aftermath of a 1-0 Champions League win over Ajax.

“I hope I can hold on until the end of the season. That’s going to be very difficult, but I’m confident.

“It’s really just playing matches and resting at the moment.

“There’s not really any training because there’s not a lot of time for that.”

Liverpool have slightly longer to prepare for their next outing than they have done for recent fixtures, with a Tuesday night clash with Ajax set to be followed by a home date with Wolves on Sunday.

They will head into a meeting with Nuno’s men buoyed by progress through to the last 16 of the Champions League, with Wijnaldum pleased to have crossed that European line.

He added: “We knew that Ajax has a very good football-playing team and it would be tough.

“A match against Ajax is not an easy one. It makes it extra nice that we were able to win the match.

“I think Ajax has played two very good matches, but of course you can see that we are very grown up. I think that's why we won the matches.

“In the Premier League you play such matches more often, then you have to be very mature to win them, even if you don't play well. We did that twice against Ajax.

“I must say we created more chances than in Amsterdam. I think Ajax has done very well in two matches. “

Joe Cole believes Chelsea are fast becoming serious Champions League contenders due to the difficulties being endured by others.

Frank Lampard’s side are safely through to the last 16 in continental competition this season, with a four-goal salvo from Olivier Giroud seeing them crush Sevilla in their last outing.

Serious momentum is being established at home and abroad by an exciting young squad.

Big money was pumped into the Stamford Bridge squad over the summer, with an immediate return now being offered on that investment.

Chelsea have positioned themselves among the early frontrunners in the Premier League, while Champions League glory could be there to aim at.

Cole sees no reason why the west London giants cannot come into the mix there, with Juventus considered to be “in a bit of disarray” while Barcelona are “a mess”.

There is still time for heavyweight outfits to rediscover their punching power, allowing them to become serious threats in the knockout stages, but for now there are few clubs that can claim to be progressing as positively as Chelsea.

“There's a fearlessness about them. Second youngest squad in the Premier League,” the former Blues star told BT Sport.

“And those names you see. You might think: ‘Ah, Juventus are still there and so are Barcelona’, but if you look at each club individually at the moment, Juventus are in a bit of disarray, Barcelona's a mess, Real Madrid, the manager is hanging on in there. 

“It’s open to anyone. Manchester City, Liverpool. We could even have a situation where all four English teams are in the last four. 

“I look at those teams that are through already and none of them scare me. And I think Chelsea are right up there with the form teams, 15 games unbeaten and it's looking rosy for them right now.”

Chelsea will be back in action on Saturday evening when they play host to Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds United.

Their Group E campaign in Europe will be wrapped up with a home date against Krasnodar, with Lampard’s side already preparing themselves for the last-16 draw.

Kaizer Chiefs have announced that their upcoming Caf Champions League match against PWD Bamenda could be postponed.

The Soweto giants are scheduled to host the Cameroonian club in the preliminary round second-leg encounter at the 2010 Fifa World Cup final venue, FNB Stadium on Friday.

Bamenda are trailing 1-0 on aggregate after losing at home in the first-leg encounter which took place at Limbe Omnisport Stadium in Cameroon on Sunday.

Chiefs released the following statement on Thursday afternoon indicating that Bamenda have written to the Confederation of African Football (Caf) and asked for their match to be postponed.

"Cameroonian side PWD Bamenda have requested through CAF a postponement of our CAF CL 2nd Leg Prelim match scheduled for tomorrow, Friday 4th December," a club statement read.

"Developing story. Further updates will follow."

This comes after reports indicating that Bamenda are yet to arrive in South Africa on Thursday emerged. 

South African Football Association (Safa) competitions official and general manager‚ Mlungisi Ncame explained that Chiefs will handle the media inquiries regarding the possible postponement of the match.

“It’s Chiefs' home match and it’s Chiefs who should be dealing with all [media] inquiries about that Bamenda request‚” said Ncame when speaking to Sowetan.

Amakhosi's communications manager Vina Maphosa then disclosed that they are willing to move the match to Saturday. 

“Chiefs can only play the match on Saturday‚ 5 December," Maphosa told the same publication. 

The Soweto giants are now waiting for Caf to respond to their request as they look to advance to the next round of this season's Champions League.

Gavin Hunt's side will progress to the first round if they avoid a defeat against Abakwa Boys in the second-leg clash.

The winner on aggregate between the two teams will face Angolan outfit CD Primeiro de Agosto in the first round tie. 

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s lucrative new contract at Arsenal is not responsible for the striker’s form “falling off a cliff”, says Alan Smith.

The Gunners made the agreeing of fresh terms with their talismanic captain a top priority over the summer.

Eventually, having added another FA Cup and Community Shield to their trophy cabinet, the north London outfit got the deal they were hoping for.

Aubameyang is now tied down until 2023, with Arsenal looking for him to spearhead more quests for major silverware.

The Gabon international has, however, found himself stuck in a rut this season, with just two Premier League efforts forming part of a four-goal haul across all competitions.

Questions have been asked of 31-year-old’s mindset after seeing the Gunners break the bank to keep him, but Smith believes “lacklustre” showings are the result of a collective slip in standards.

The former Arsenal striker told Sky Sports of Aubameyang: “He's only human. He comes across as a really happy guy, whose confidence would be difficult to knock. He has great confidence in his ability. But you can see he has been affected by his overall game. He's been lacklustre.

“In an effort to try and change things, they've put him through the middle. I don't think he's necessarily always suited to playing through the middle; when the team is functioning properly, and he's coming in from the left, he can find space easier from that position. But I can see why they'd try through the middle, because they're trying everything at the moment.

“Some people point to him signing his new bumper contract and his form falling off the edge of a cliff, but I'd be reluctant to say that has been an influence. He does strike me as someone who lives for goals, but I'd be surprised if he's eased off because he's signed his new contract.

“His form is a symptom of Arsenal's lack of form going forward. Mikel Arteta had to change the way they played, he had to make them more robust, harder to play against, more solid at the back.

“Wherever Arsenal are on the pitch, they always make sure that should they lose the ball, they are not exposed. They've always got that in mind. Arteta works quite hard on that in training. And yes, it's taken away some of that joie de vivre, if you like, that Arsenal have always been associated with going forward.”

Aubameyang is not the only Gunners star to be struggling for a spark either, with Mikel Arteta’s collection of attacking weapons all failing to fire at present.

Smith added: “Alexandre Lacazette has been suffering, Willian hasn't reproduced his Chelsea form, Nicolas Pepe is hot and cold. It has been a combination of things.

“Aubameyang and Lacazette are great pals off the pitch. He's looked laboured, almost looked not fit enough, but I've been through a spell like that, and when confidence is low you can't run like you do when you're playing well.

“And when you're not scoring goals it does have an effect on your physical output.”

Arsenal will be in Europa League action on Thursday against Rapid Vienna, having made positive progress through their continental campaign to this point, while a north London derby date with arch-rivals Tottenham awaits them on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta knows he will be “judged on results”, says Nigel Winterburn, with the Spaniard being backed to pull through the pressure that is mounting on him at Arsenal.

FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs over the summer, which came within a matter of weeks, had many believing that the Gunners had rediscovered their mojo.

More shrewd transfer business was also said to have been carried out, with the likes of Willian, Gabriel Magalhaes and Thomas Partey mixing youth, experience, graft and guile.

Old habits die hard, though, for Arsenal and inconsistency has become an issue once again.

The north London giants are off to their worst start to a season in 39 years, with catch-up already being played in the race for top-four finishes in the Premier League.

Questions are inevitably being asked of Arteta as a rookie manager desperately seeks a winning formula, with the 38-year-old learning quickly how difficult life at the top can be.

Winterburn admits that Arsenal are doing their boss few favours at present, but he believes the right man is at the helm to deliver a reversal in fortune and become a better coach along the way.

The former Gunners left-back told FreeSuperTips: “Mikel Arteta is a new manager with very limited experience. I like what he's trying to achieve at Arsenal, but most people would agree that this is going to be his most tricky period so far. 

“He’s realistic, he knows that he's judged on results, particularly the way that we report things now, especially with social media, punditry podcasts, every game is analysed. It’s so stringent, and he knows if this poor form continues, the pressure will mount on his shoulders.

“He has to learn on the job here at Arsenal, and this involves going through periods where things are not plain sailing.  From my point of view, I wish we were winning every game and sitting top of the league. 

“If Arteta can come out the other side of this difficult period, it will allow him to develop as a manager, and tell him a few things about the players that he's got at the football club as well. It's not just him, it's down to the players also to try different things and come up with the right combinations.”

Part of the problem for Arsenal appears to be that they do not know which system and personnel suits them best, with Winterburn eager to see Arteta revert back to a five-man defence.

He added: “When Mikel Arteta first came to Arsenal, he selected a back five to make us more stable defensively, but his preferred option is actually to play with a back four. However, I’m not convinced Arsenal are good enough to play with a back four. 

“It’s not only about the back four, it's also not being sure about the protection in front of the defence as well as the midfield combinations of late.

“I still believe when Thomas Partey comes back, we’re going to be significantly stronger. Although people talk of him as a holding midfield player, we've already seen in a couple of games that he’s able to take the ball off the defence from deep positions and get us moving forward, quicker. 

“We need to move forward with the ball a lot quicker than what we're doing at the moment. It all feels a little too structured and slow of late.”

Alphonso Davies has returned to full training with Bayern Munich after recovering from an ankle injury which has seen him sit out most of the first half of the season.

Davies has been out of action since limping off during the early stages of Bayern's commanding 5-0 home win over Eintracht Frankfurt on October 24.

Hansi Flick subsequently revealed that the Canada international had sustained serious ligament damage, and confirmed that the defender would be forced to undergo a rehabilitation programme which could take up to eight weeks.

The 20-year-old has missed eight matches in total over the past two months, including Bayern's 3-1 win away at Stuttgart last weekend and their 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid at Wanda Metropolitano in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

He could, however, now come back into the squad ahead of a crucial Bundesliga clash with RB Leipzig this weekend, having been involved in the club's latest practice session.

Bayern officially welcomed Davies back into the fold via their social media accounts, writing on Instagram and Twitter: "More good news to start the day - Alphonso Davies was back in team training today!!"

Lucas Hernandez has been filling in at left-back in the Canadian defender's absence, but Flick now has the option to recall a man who played a key role in Bayern's run to the treble last season, with Leipzig arriving at Allianz Arena on Saturday.

The reigning German champions are currently sitting two points clear of Julian Nagelsmann's side at the top of the Bundesliga standings, having recorded seven wins, one draw and one defeat from their first nine fixtures.

After their latest domestic outing, Bayern will turn their attention back to the Champions League as they look to wrap up their Group A campaign on a high note against Lokomotiv Moscow next Tuesday, with their place in the round of 16 already confirmed.

With five of six matchdays now complete in the 2020-21 Champions League group stage, nine teams have already qualified for the last 16.

To celebrate the best players in the tournament so far, EA Sports is releasing the Team of the Group Stage in FIFA 21.

This will feature upgraded versions of players who have stood out during the five matchdays, rewarding players who have consistently impressed during the group stage.

On this page

What is FIFA 21 Team of the Group Stage?

Each year, FIFA 21 reveals the Team of the Group Stage for the Champions League, containing the best performers from the tournament so far.

The Team of the Group Stage (TOTGS) also includes some players from the Europa League, but contains a majority of players from the Champions League.

Players who have received Champions League Road to the Final (RTTF) cards are usually not included in the Team of the Group Stage as these players will get an upgrade if their team qualifies for the knockout stage.

When is the FIFA 21 Team of the Group Stage released?

The FIFA 21 Team of the Group Stage will be released on Friday, December 4.

TOTGS players will be available in packs from 6 pm GMT on December 4, while additional upgraded players will also be available from Objectives and Squad Building Challenges.

There may be two TOTGS squads this season as previous promotions in FIFA 21 featured staggered release dates where all the promotional cards were not released at the same time.

A separate batch of TOTGS players for the Europa League is also expected to be released on Monday, December 7.

Which players will be in the FIFA 21 Team of the Group Stage?

The Team of the Group Stage usually contains the top scorers from the tournament so far as well as players from teams who have qualified for the last 16.

This season's top scorers are Marcus Rashford, Erling Haaland and Alvaro Morata, so expect them to be included.

Olivier Giroud's four-goal performance for Chelsea may have come too late for him to make the first squad, but he could be rewarded with a special moments card for his showing against Sevilla.

Kevin De Bruyne and Juan Cuadrado have contributed the most assists so far in the competition and are likely to feature.

Expect players from Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona, Sevilla, Juventus and Porto all to feature as they have qualified from their groups.

What players are available in Objectives and Squad Building Challenges?

As well as the players available that can be found in packs, additional Team of the Group Stage players will be awarded for completing certain Objectives and Squad Building Challenges (SBCs).

These Objective and SBC players are untradeable and cannot be found on the transfer market or in packs bought on the store.

The SBCs also have a limited timespan for completion, which means they are only available for a short time during the TOTGS promotion.

Objective players can be earned by completing a set of goals for the week, which usually involves scoring or assisting with players from certain leagues or nationalities.

Arsenal will be “concerned” at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s lack of goals, admits Nigel Winterburn, but the Gabonese striker’s struggles are not considered to be a “major shock” as the Gunners are failing to create as a collective.

Struggles in the final third are proving to be a major stumbling block for Mikel Arteta’s side at present.

Inability to carve opponents open has contributed to the Gunners making their worst start to a season in 39 years.

Aubameyang was supposed to be the man that prevented such a slump from happening, with the 31-year-old having been a prolific presence throughout his career to date.

He has, however, failed to sparkle on the back of signing a lucrative new contract, with the target found just four times through 12 appearances across all competitions – with only two of those efforts coming in the Premier League.

Winterburn admits that Arsenal need to find a way of bringing the best out of their captain, with positional tinkering clearly not working, with it up to everybody at Emirates Stadium to start pulling in the same direction.

“We are concerned because he’s a player that's always scored goals for Arsenal. Whether he was playing at centre-forward or the wing,” former Gunners defender Winterburn told FreeSuperTips of Aubameyang.

“When things started to go wrong, we thought it was time to move him into the middle, but that is not where he has scored most of his goals for Arsenal. A lot of his goals came from the left-hand side.

“It's all about confidence. It’s all about the chances you create and the chances that your team-mates provide for you. 

“It's not a major shock that Aubameyang is struggling to score goals because we're not creating enough chances within the game.

“The Wolves game was slightly different. Arsenal got into the final third a lot more, but the quality of the final passes across just wasn’t good enough. 

“If you continue to do that than anybody that's playing upfront for Arsenal is going to struggle to score goals consistently.

“If you ask strikers, they’ll tell you that when they’re super confident, they score goals. Instinctively they’ll move into the right positions, the ball falls for them and they score. 

“When out of form and not scoring, strikers will overstretch for chances or delay before taking an opportunity, then the opportunity is gone. It’s very worrying for the team for this to be the case, but that’s what Arsenal have to deal with at the moment.”

The Gunners will be back in Europa League action on Thursday against Rapid Vienna, before then returning to a Premier League stage in a north London derby date with arch-rivals Tottenham on Sunday.

Pele has described Diego Maradona as "incomparable", while expressing his belief that the death of his "great friend" should teach the world to "admire each other more" and spread a little more love.

The sporting world was shaken last week when Argentina great Maradona died at the age of 60 after suffering heart failure.

Former Brazil superstar Pele, who is now 80, intimated he was tired of being compared to Maradona, with the South American pair having been widely regarded for many years as the greatest players of all time.

The likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have entered that conversation in recent times, but Pele says looking for winners during such debates can stifle appreciation levels.

In a new tribute to Maradona, Pele wrote on social media: "Many people loved to compare us all their lives. You were a genius that enchanted the world. A magician with the ball at his feet. A true legend. But above all that, for me, you will always be a great friend, with an even bigger heart.

"Today, I know that the world would be much better if we could compare each other less and start admiring each other more. So, I want to say that you are incomparable."

The mercurial Maradona won 91 caps for his country between 1977 and 1994, scoring 34 goals at international level.

Pele was sorry he did not have a chance to say goodbye to Maradona in person, but he said the 1986 World Cup winner had managed to be influential, even in death.

In his message, posted to Instagram, Pele added: "Your trajectory was marked by honesty. And in your unique and particular way, you taught us that we have to love and say 'I love you' a lot more often. Your quick departure didn't let me say it to you, so I will just write: I love you, Diego."

He illustrated their friendship with a series of photographs, dating back decades, beginning with an early encounter when a young Maradona watches Pele play the guitar.

"My great friend, thank you very much for our entire journey," Pele wrote. "One day, in heaven, we will play together on the same team.

"And it will be the first time that I raise my fist in the air in triumph on the pitch without celebrating a goal. It will be because I can finally embrace you again."

Arsenal need to be dropping “negative” Willian for a derby date with Tottenham, says Ian Wright, with Mikel Arteta urged to shuffle his pack in a contest that has a Gunners great feeling “afraid”.

North London rivalries are set to be rekindled at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

Both teams have Europa League fixtures to take in before then, but attention is already starting to shift towards a heavyweight Premier League encounter.

Spurs head into the weekend sat the top of the English top-flight table, with Jose Mourinho inspiring a potential title challenge, while Arsenal have made their worst start to a season in 39 years and find themselves languishing down in 14th spot.

Wright admits something needs to be done in order for the Gunners to turn the tide, with a change of approach required from Arteta.

Experienced Brazilian forward Willian is among those who could see their position fall under threat, after making a slow start to his time at Emirates Stadium, and youthful exuberance may be the answer for Arsenal.

A Gunners legend has told Wrighty’s House Podcast: “I’d try to throw something else into the mix, Reiss Nelson or even [Bukayo] Saka on the right.

“But Saka’s going to be on the left so I’d put Reiss Nelson on the right instead of Willian because we know what Willian’s going to do.

“For me he’s been a little bit negative with the way he’s been playing, a lot of backwards passing.

“You need somebody who can at least get back and progress the ball.

“If Saka can go and really put pressure on [Serge] Aurier, that’s where I think, if we’re going to get any kind of joy, then I think Saka’s got to go up there and put pressure on him, then [Granit] Xhaka can pull in on the left, just to put that body in there, then [Mohamed] Elneny should hold.”

Wright added on the tension that is building ahead of an eagerly-anticipated encounter: “Going into the north London derby, I’m always nervous about it simply because for me it is one of the best games, I enjoyed everything about it.

“And when I went to Arsenal it was the game which meant the most to the fans and at the time to the players because we had a lot of players who came through that derby from the age of nine or 10.

“This is the first one I’m going to where I am afraid.

“I’m afraid simply because of where Tottenham are at the moment and we can’t ignore where they are at the moment, they’re in the ascendency.

“This is as afraid as I’ve been for a north London derby as I’ve been for a while and they’ve got Mourinho managing them. He wants to embarrass us.”

Uganda U20 coach Morley Byekwaso believes his charges had revenge after defeating Tanzania 4-1 to win the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) U20 championship.

The Hippos got the goals from Richard Basangwa, Steven Sserwada, Ivan Bogere, and Kenneth Semakule while the immediate former champions scored their only goal via Abdul Suleiman. It was sweet revenge for the Hippos who had lost 4-2 to Ngorongoro Heroes in last year's quarter-finals.

"Tanzania defeated us in Uganda and beat us 4-2 in the quarter-finals last year," Byekwaso said after helping his charges to victory in Dar es Salaam.

"They celebrated a lot, we had the pain and that is why we made terrible revenge [on Wednesday].

"The boys have fought from the beginning to the end, we were expecting a hard game and we knew it was going to be tough. It being a final, it was open to anyone.

"We thank God, the almighty for what he has done for us. I am so happy and grateful, I thank God once again for what He has done for me and what He has done for the team and nation at large."

In the final game, Uganda looked a dominant side all through and got the opener in the 12th minute from Basangwa’s strike. The Ngorongoro Heroes fought back and equalised at the half-hour mark from Suleiman’s effort before Sserwada scored the second for Uganda in the 44th minute.

The Hippos came from the half-time break more determined to bag the title and deservedly added the third goal in the 61st minute through Bogere. Semakule scored the final goal in the 72nd minute to seal Uganda’s victory against the hosts.

Both Uganda and Tanzania sailed to the final lap without losing a match, setting the stage for what was expected to be an epic final game in Arusha.

After reaching the finals, the two countries sealed their ticket for the U20 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

Meanwhile, Kenya were defeated in the third-place playoffs by South Sudan when they went down 2-1 at the same venue.

It was the second loss the Rising Stars registered in the tournament after Uganda had beaten them 3-1 in the first semi-final.

South Sudan went ahead in the second minute courtesy of Phillip Biajo’s goal but Stanley Okumbi’s side fought and equalised in the 10th minute when Nicholas Ochieng found the back of the net.

Nelson Elia scored five minutes prior to the half-time break to give South Sudan the lead yet again and Rising Stars’ concerted efforts in the second half were not able to help them level matters.