Per Mertesacker (L) and Calum Chambers (2nd L) have been under fire for their form this season. Arsene Wenger has backed under-fire Arsenal center-backs Per Mertesacker and Calum Chambers after recent criticism. Mertesacker has been under scrutiny since Sunday's 2-2 Premier League draw with Liverpool for ducking as Martin Skrtel nodded home the equalizer deep into injury time at Anfield. Jami...Full Story »

Cowdenbeath's miserable week continued as they lost 3-1 to Raith Rovers. The Blue Brazil, pummelled 3-0 by Alloa last weekend and dumped out of the Scottish League Cup on penalties by Falkirk in midweek, fell behind after half an hour. Striker Mark Stewart bagged his first of the campaign, smashing home Ryan Conroy's pass into the top corner. Rovers finished the game off with two quickfire go...Full Story »

ARSENE WENGER is considering handing teenager Calum Chambers a central role for Arsenal. CENTRAL FIGURE: Chambers will be played in the middle The Gunners' £12m signing is being tipped as a future England star. Chambers, 19, played right-back at previous club Southampton and made his Arsenal debut at centre-half at the weekend. The Arsenal boss has been so impressed with the youngster's...Full Story »

Calum Chambers: Shows off his new Arsenal shirt Arsenal have signed defender Calum Chambers from Southampton for a fee believed to be in the region of £16million. The 19-year-old, who completed a medical ahead of his move to the Emirates, becomes manager Arsene Wenger’s fourth signing of the summer. Wenger has already boosted his squad with aquisition of Alexis Sanchez, Mathieu Deb...Full Story »

Calum Chambers hopes Southampton can capitalise on a nucleus of home-grown talents to mount a long-term challenge for Champions League football. The 18-year-old defender is expected to maintain his right-back berth for Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Tottenham at St Mary's Stadium. Nathaniel Clyne is still struggling with a hamstring problem, and if he fails a late fitness test the...Full Story »

ROTTERDAM, May 22 (Reuters) - Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal included four newcomers and recalled Everton defender John Heitinga when he named his 21-man squad on Wednesday for friendly international matches against Indonesia and China.Van Gaal is without 12 regulars who have been called up to the Dutch under-21 squad to play in the Euro finals in June in Israel.He called up Miquel Nelom, Leri...Full Story »

Simone Pepe: May require surgery on a muscular injury which has kept him out for most of the season Juventus winger Simone Pepe says that he may require surgery on a muscular problem which has kept him on the sidelines for the majority of the season. The Italy international has struggled for fitness since the summer, with his only appearance of the season coming in December's 3-0 win over Tori...Full Story »

No sooner had Juventus started to enjoy life back at the summit of Italian football than controversy brought them crashing back to earth yet again. Juve were crowned Serie A champions in May after going through the entire season undefeated but their title preparations were rocked two weeks ago when coach Antonio Conte was handed a 10-month ban as part of a corruption probe. Conte and his ass...Full Story »

Real Madrid defender Pepe has been handed a two-match ban while coach Jose Mourinho and midfielder Mesut Ozil have each been suspended for one game. The developmens follow Wednesday's ill-tempered La Liga match with Villarreal. Pepe, who was not sent off during the match, has been punished by the Spanish Football Federation's competition committee for comments directed at referee Jose Luis P...Full Story »

Juventus' title hopes suffered another blow as they were held to their fourth successive Serie A draw, 0-0 by Genoa in a match they had more than enough chances to win. Simone Pepe had a goal ruled out for a debatable offside decision after also hitting the post, while Mirko Vucinic also struck the woodwork twice as Juve sought to get back to winning ways. The visitors could find no way throug...Full Story »