Assou-Ekotto reads up on latest Tottenham arrival

 

Known for having absolutely no interest in football, Tottenham defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto may get into a spot of bother when he arrives at pre-season training.

The 29-year-old has admitted he does not know the first thing about Tottenham's latest signing Paulinho, who has arrived at White Hart Lane from Corinthians.

“I don’t know what he looks like,” Assou-Ekotto told Goal. “I don’t know him, I don’t follow this kind of news.

“It’s like two or three years ago, Rafael van der Vaart was there in training one day. I said hello to him but I didn’t know he was Rafael van der Vaart." 

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Arshavin & Gallas lead way as Premier League rejects run wild & free

 

Andrey Arshavin, William Gallas and Florent Malouda were among the names on the Premier League's list of released players which was revealed on Friday.

All will be looking for new clubs this summer, and while some may still have something to offer to the Premier League, others could be plying their trade abroad next term. 
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Liverpool set for summer holidays as top four scrap continues

 

After Arsenal and Everton both recorded wins on Saturday, the race to finish in the Premier League top four has taken another twist.

Tottenham - who do not play this weekend - have dropped to fifth as the Gunners moved up the table and closed in on Chelsea, who are in FA Cup action against Manchester City on Sunday.

Liverpool, meanwhile, look set for an early summer holiday after another goalless draw, this time against Reading, thanks to some heroic goalkeeping from Alex McCarthy. 
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Fore! Adebayor's Europa penalty reaches Tiger

 

Emmanuel Adebayor's languid penalty was the final nail in Tottenham's Europa League coffin as Andre Villas-Boas' side crashed out of the competition to Basel on Thursday evening.

The Togo striker's disjointed run-up in the penalty shoot-out was followed with an even poorer finish as the ball blazed over Basel's bar. 
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Rosicky orchestrates Arsenal top-four surge

 

The race for the top four intensified this weekend as ten-men Arsenal clung on to claim three huge points against West Brom, pushing them into the top four at the expense of Chelsea.

The Gunners' unsung squad players have driven the club forward in recent weeks, with Gervinho and 'Little Mozart' Tomas Rosicky combining well at the Hawthorns to narrow the gap to third-placed Tottenham to just a single point.

With Gareth Bale injured and Chelsea in the middle of a tiring and congested fixture list, Arsenal - who have picked up 22 points from a possible 27 in their last nine games - have the other Champions League contenders running scared.

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Tottenham hope for lucky Bale break

 

If having to come back from two goals down to salvage a draw against Basel on Thursday night wasn't bad enough for Tottenham, they were left with hearts in mouths late on as Gareth Bale crumpled to the turf, clutching his ankle and was stretchered off.

The Welshman has been Spurs' leading light this season, netting 17 Premier League goals as Andre Villas-Boas looks to steer the north London side back into the Champions League.

With many scoffing that Spurs were a one-man team with Bale in the side, many at White Hart Lane will be praying for a miraculous recovery, to avoid becoming a no-man outfit. 

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Chelsea & Benitez crack in top four hunt

 

Rafa Benitez isn't having a good time of it at the moment, and his Chelsea side suffered another setback in the race for the top four with a 2-1 defeat to Southampton on Saturday.

Benitez elected to shuffle his pack for the trip to the south coast to take on the Saints, resting Juan Mata and Eden Hazard, but the gamble backfired as a makeshift Blues side delivered a lacklustre display.

Chelsea have now won just four of their last nine matches in all competitions, and lie only two points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal with eight matches left to play.

And so while his side may deliver some late cheer with an FA Cup qaurter-final victory over Manchester United on Monday evening, at present it's looking like an unhappy easter for Rafa and his men. 
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Villas-Boas at a loss as wheels come off Spurs bandwagon

 

It couldn't happen again, could it? Tottenham's bid for a Champions League place is threatening to unravel for a second successive season after the club slipped to a 1-0 defeat against Fulham on Sunday.

Alarm bells may be starting to ring for Tottenham fans who, under Harry Redknapp last year, saw their side secure just six points from a possible 27 between February 25 and April 21 and squander their hopes of sealing qualification for the Champions League.

It is now back-to-back losses for Andre Villas-Boas, a record which the 35-year-old has not experienced since November, and with Arsenal, Chelsea and Everton all winning over the weekend, Spurs need to pick up their form in order to avoid a repeat of last season. 
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Tottenham tumble over San Siro finish line

They made tough work of it, but Tottenham stumbled over the Europa League last-16 finishing line after sneaking an away goal past Inter in extra time on Thursday evening.

Andrea Stramaccioni's side had battled back from a 3-0 first-leg defeat to even the aggregate score at San Siro and take the tie to extra time. But Emmanuel Adebayor had the final say as his goal fired Spurs through to a quarter-final clash Swiss side FC Basel. 
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Barca look to seduce Bale away from Tottenham

 

A saga that shows no sign of letting up anytime soon is the attempts from across Europe to lure Gareth Bale away from Tottenham this summer.

The Welshman is fast becoming the hottest property the Premier League has to offer, and while Real Madrid have been most closely linked in recent months, Liga rivals Barcelona have stepped up their charm offensive in the past few days.

Centre-back Gerard Pique hailed the the 23-year-old as an "unbelievable player", while also insisting the Blaugrana want to have "all the best players in our team", but will Bale's head be turned by the overtures from Catalonia? 
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Taxi for Inter! Bale & Spurs march on in Europe

 

Fans of Inter must be sick of the sight of Gareth Bale.

The Tottenham star was on target against the Serie A side again in a 3-0 win on Thursday night, almost two-and-a-half years after announcing himself on the European stage with a hat-trick at San Siro.

It was a case of 'Taxi for Maicon' during 2010-11 season, but this time the entire Inter side were powerless to stop Bale and Spurs, who put one foot firmly in the Europa League quarter-finals. 
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Changing of the guard: Spurs revel in north London derby glory

 

Tottenham extended their lead over rivals Arsenal to seven points by securing a 2-1 victory in a pulsating north London derby on Sunday afternoon that many believe represented a shift in the balance of power between the two clubs.

Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon ensured that Per Mertesacker's goal proved only a consolation for the Gunners, who have already suffered disappointing defeats in the FA Cup and Capital One Cup, with a Champions League exit in the coming weeks likely.

Spurs rose back above Chelsea into third place and took another step under Andre Villas-Boas towards changing the guard in the north of the capital as they seek to return to Europe's top competition. 

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AVB battles to fend off Barca & Real interest in Bale

 

Gareth Bale's superb Premier League form may be a dream for Andre Villas-Boas this season as Tottenham battle to earn a Champions League spot, but come the summer, the Welshman could be his biggest headache.

La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid have long been credited with interest in the 23-year-old, and his return of 10 goals since the start of 2013 will have only strengthened their resolve to sign the attacker.

Yet Villas-Boas has moved to persuade Bale not only to reject a switch to either of the Spanish sides, but also a move away from the Premier League, insisting the English top-flight is the best place for him to fulfill his potential...
 

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Ronaldo in disguise? Brilliant Bale downs West Ham

 

West Ham became the latest team to be swept aside by Gareth Bale on Monday evening, with the Welshman bagging his second double in successive Premier League games to earn a crucial 3-2 win for Tottenham.

His sublime strike in the dying minutes of the game ensured Spurs leapfrogged Chelsea into third place in the table, leading manager Andre Villas-Boas to suggest the 23-year-old should already be crowned Player of the Year.

And such an accolade is well within Bale's grasp, whose scinitillating form since the turn of the year has him following in the footsteps of former Premier League great and current Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. 

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Beckham takes centre-stage amid Deadline Day madness

 

In a typically entertaining and frantic January transfer window, if not a spending one, there were many sagas and late deals that caught the eye.

Peter Odemwingie tried, but ultimately failed, to take his transfer into his own hands by effectively abandoning West Brom, only to be refused entry to QPR - despite Harry Redknapp showing his desire to flash the cash once again.

Tottenham's chase for a striker was unsuccessful, though north London rivals Arsenal managed to sneak a late signing in the shape of full-back Nacho Monreal, while Anzhi proved their muscle with a deal for Willian which broke the £30 million barrier.

However, there was only ever going to be one winner for the move of the window award when PSG announced that David Beckham was joining them until the end of the season - and is donating the wages from his five-month contract to charity.

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Premier League casualties pile up during week of Cup giant-killings

 

It may well be a cliche but the 'magic of the FA Cup' returned with a vengeance at the weekend as Premier League clubs far and wide found themselves dumped out of the competition by lower league opposition.

Millwall got things started on Friday night, adding to Aston Villa's woes by sending Paul Lambert's men packing with a 2-1 win at The Den.
Saturday saw yet more surprises with MK Dons thrashing QPR and non-league Luton upsetting Norwich at Carrow Road.

And Sunday saw yet more shocks with Leeds humbling Tottenham, Brentford holding European champions Chelsea and Liverpool booted out of the competition by Oldham.

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Bale too hot for Spurs as he begins escape to Madrid

 

It looks like we'll have another never-ending transfer saga on our hands soon as Gareth Bale is primed to tell Tottenham that he wants to join Real Madrid.

Goal.com revealed on Friday morning that the Wales international feels that the time to leave White Hart Lane is next summer, but Jose Mourinho will have to part with £50 million in order to land the winger.

With Luka Modric having already left for the Bernabeu in August, will Andre Villas-Boas be able to keep hold of another prized asset when the Spanish club come calling again?

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MADebayor goes from hero to villain with north London derby red

 

Emmanuel Adebayor went from hero to villain in the space of eight minutes on Saturday, with his sending-off in the north London derby kickstarting Arsenal's 5-2 comeback victory over Tottenham.

The Togo striker had handed Spurs the lead against his former side after 10 minutes, yet was quickly given his marching orders shortly afterwards following a reckless lunge on Santi Cazorla.

Down to 10 men, the floodgates opened as the Gunners romped to victory, leaving Adebayor to apologise to Tottenham fans for his moment of madness...
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Manchester United legends Giggs & Ferdinand crumble against Tottenham

 

Tottenham sent shockwaves around the Premier League on Saturday by beating Manchester United and securing their first victory at Old Trafford in 23 years.

Jan Vertonghen, Gareth Bale and Clint Dempsey got the goals as Spurs overwhelmed their hosts with blistering pace and direct running as the likes of Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand showed their age.

Giggs lasted just 46 minutes before being withdrawn in favour of Wayne Rooney, while Ferdinand endured a torrid afternoon, and was arguably at fault for all three of Tottenham's goals.

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No glove lost between Friedel and Barthez

 

Brad Friedel took to Twitter on Friday to defend himself against comments made by Fabien Barthez regarding new Tottenham signing Hugo Lloris.

"He [Lloris] is faster than Friedel, he jumps higher, and he is very strong mentally," the former Manchester United man said. "What is happening now is incomprehensible, but I am not concerned. He will become the centre-piece for the club."

Exasperated by the former France shot-stopper, the American launched a counterattack on the social networking site.

"Just saw Barthez comments," Friedel wrote. "I normally don't comment on such crap, but when disrespected by someone I don't respect I must.

"Barthez was ignorant, disrespectful and out of order to mention my name."
 

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