Author: Chronicle Editor

Former Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta, 36, is very close to becoming the club’s new manager, taking over from Arsene Wenger, after talks progressed between both parties. (Independent) Ex-Gunners captain Patrick Vieira, 41, says he has been left disappointed at the club’s “token gesture” after being contacted about the vacant managerial position. (Sky Sports) Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is ready to reject advances from rivals Chelsea as he is happy at the club. (Star) Arsenal have held talks with Nice midfielder Jean-Michael Seri, 26, who is valued at £40m by the Ligue 1 club. However, London rivals Chelsea are leading the…

North Korea has said it may pull out of a summit with US President Donald Trump if the US insists it gives up its nuclear weapons. The highly anticipated meeting between Mr Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un is due to take place on 12 June. But in an angry statement, North Korea’s vice-foreign minister accused the US of making reckless statements and of harbouring sinister intentions. He points the finger squarely at US National Security Adviser John Bolton. “We do not hide our feeling of repugnance towards him,” said Kim Kye-gwan. The groundbreaking agreement for Mr Kim and Mr…

The leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, Sheik Ibrahim El-zakzaky, has been arraigned before the Kaduna High Court. The Kaduna State Government on Tuesday arraigned the leader of Shiites who has been in detention since 2015. On 11 May, SERAP had petitioned Mr. Diego García-Sayán, UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers requesting him to use his good offices to “prevail on the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to end persistent disobedience of court rulings and orders and uphold the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and the country’s international obligations on protection of the independence…

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state has dismissed the fears that President Buhari’s electoral value would diminish if the aggrieved members of the nPDP pull out of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, government. In an interview with State House correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday, El-Rufai said President Buhari would be re-elected, with or without the threatening former PDP members. “I don’t agree and I want to go back to 2003. What are we talking about? Who are these nPDP people that are threatening? This is Kwara, Kano, Sokoto, Adamawa, Rivers but I don’t think Amaechi is part of them.…

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been named League Managers Association, LMA, Manager of the Season after a record breaking season. Guardiola’s team won a record 100 points and 106 goals on the way to winning by 19 points from nearest challengers Manchester United. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Guardiola beat off competition from five other managers to win the prize. Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp, Burnley’s Sean Dyche, Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santos, Cardiff manager Neil Warnock and Accrington Stanley’s John Coleman were also on the shortlist. Congratulations, Pep Guardiola!@ManCity's boss is the @BarclaysFooty Manager of the Season for…

Chelsea forward Eden Hazard has challenged the club to match his ambition by signing “good” players if he is to extend his contract soon. Hazard, 27, is out of contract in 2020 and has been linked with a move away from the club during a season in which he says the Blues have been “bad”. Asked what would persuade him to extend his deal, Hazard said: “I’m waiting for new players next season. “I want good players because I want to win the Premier League next season.” Despite links with a move to Real Madrid, Hazard – who joined from…

At least 100 people have been kidnapped along Birnin Gwari-Kaduna road in northern Nigeria in the past few days, officials, witnesses and relatives of the abducted told Reuters on Tuesday. “Over 120 people were kidnapped between Friday and today, Tuesday along the Birnin Gwari-Kaduna road,” said Surajo Usman, of Nigeria’s National Union of Road Transport Workers, who escaped an abduction himself. Birnin Gwari, in the northern state of Kaduna, is infamous for its lawlessness, and thick forests provide bandits with hideouts from security forces. Earlier this month, at least 45 people died in an attack on a village in the…

…Says FG committed to providing more effective security President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a total of N10 billion for the rehabilitation of communities affected by violent attacks in parts of the country, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, said during his visits to two Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Benue state. The Vice President also stated that the President asked him to oversee the rehabilitation of the affected communities. Prof Osinbajo told the IDPs in camps in Abagana and Daudu that, “I am here as representative of the President who was here in March and had asked that a study…

Chelsea Ladies secured the Women’s Super League title after a hard-fought 2-0 victory against Bristol City. The Blues, led by assistant Paul Green with manager Emma Hayes advised not to travel at this stage of her pregnancy, were rarely troubled by the Vixens. Drew Spence headed Chelsea in front, before City’s Mille Farrow fired right at Hedvig Lindahl from six yards out. Jonna Anderson fired in a late second to secure the result as FA Cup winners Chelsea wrapped up a domestic double. Ji So-yun cracked a long-distance effort against the bar in added time, with Bristol City unable to…

Goalkeeper Joe Hart and midfielder Jack Wilshere have been left out of England’s World Cup squad by Gareth Southgate, BBC Sport has learned. Hart, 31, who has won 75 caps, has had a poor season, conceding 39 goals in 19 Premier League games for West Ham – on loan from Manchester City. Arsenal’s 26-year-old Wilshere, who has had an injury-plagued career, managed 38 appearances this season. Southgate reveals his 23-man squad for the tournament in Russia on Wednesday. READ: Former Aston Villa and Bolton defender Jlloyd Samuel dies in car crash Hart has been England’s first-choice goalkeeper for the last…