Arsenal must improve defensively

Per Mertesacker has warned his Arsenal team-mates that they must tighten up on their defence if they are to challenge for silverware this season.



Having begun the season with three successive clean sheets in the league, the Gunners have now conceded in their last five after they slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Norwich at Carrow Road.



Former Arsenal defender Steve Bould, who was part of the formidable back four alongside Tony Adams, Nigel Winterburn and Lee Dixon in the 1990s, has replaced Pat Rice as assistant manager this season, with the view to shoring up the Gunners' backline.



But despite allowing West Ham and Norwich through in back-to-back matches, Mertesacker believes Bould's influence has seen a shift in attitude towards defence.



"He was a good defender and he is very very focused on details," Mertesacker told ESPN. "More on the defence but the defence means the whole XI, it is not only the back four or the centre backs, he is focused on our defensive game, in total.



"We have good combinations and passing sessions in our game but if we lose the ball we have to switch on straight after and quickly so we have to make sure the defence is one of the most vital things in the game."

Walker quits Twitter after abuse

Tottenham defender Kyle Walker has deleted his Twitter account after receiving abuse on the micro-blogging website about his performance in Saturday's 4-2 defeat to Chelsea.



The 22-year-old was named the Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Season last term, but has not been as consistent this year.



On Saturday the right-back dithered in injury time, allowing Juan Mata to steal the ball and play in Daniel Sturridge for Chelsea's final goal - although Walker claimed the Spaniard fouled him.



The England defender often looked vulnerable against Mata, and his cohorts Oscar and Eden Hazard, and was criticised by fans at the stadium and on Twitter as a result.



After the game he posted two angry tweets before deleting his account @kyle28walker, which had over a quarter of a million followers.



They read: "Would love to know what I'm doing so different I give 100% every game and still u (have) something to say I'm 22 and learning #embarrassing.



"If I said what I thought to these people I would get done humans make mistakes it was 90mins and I though(t it was) a foul end off (sic)!!!!"



One player who was in a much happier mood after the game was Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole, who was booed throughout the clash in north London.



The former Arsenal player ended a turbulent week on a high as he helped his team stretch their unbeaten Barclays Premier League run to eight games.



This week Cole received a record £90,000 fine for labelling the Football Association a "bunch of t**ts" in the wake of claims the left-back did not tell the truth at the John Terry race abuse inquiry.



The 31-year-old, who is often the brunt of abuse from opposing fans, made sure had the last laugh against those who heckled him, posting: "Why all you spud (Spurs) fans coming for me now, little to (sic) late aint it, I didn't know hell was silent!!!!! #CANTWAITTOGOBACK



"Big result for us today, great win once again thanks #cfc fans never gave up believing in us."

Friday's round up of the top transfer stories

- Barcelona are set to offer Lionel Messi a two-year contract extension, according to Barcelona-based radio station RAC 1.



- Santos striker Neymar, who is understood to be a target for the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Manchester United, has insisted that he has not agreed to move to Europe until 2014.



- Partizan Belgrade insist Lazar Markovic, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea, will not be sold in January.



- Liverpool teenager Suso has signed a new long-term deal after establishing himself in the first-team squad this season.



- Everton have confirmed the signing of German midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger on a short-term deal until January.



- Birmingham goalkeeper Jack Butland, who has been linked with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, could be sold in January, according to the Daily Mirror.



- Andre Ayew, who has been linked with a number of clubs including Arsenal and Chelsea, has told the official Ligue 1 website that he is unaware of any plans for Marseille to sell him in January.



- Anderlecht general manager Herman Van Holsbeeck has admitted that midfielder Lucas Biglia, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal, could be on the move in January.



- Liverpool are showing interest in PSV Eindhoven striker Jurgen Locadia, according to the Daily Mail.



- Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists he will not be looking to enlist the services of an emergency loan goalkeeper after he was plunged into a goalkeeper injury crisis earlier this week.



- Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has dismissed the latest suggestions that Yaya Toure is looking to leave the Etihad Stadium.



- Manchester City have seen an offer rejected for Portuguese starlet Bruma, according to talkSPORT.



- Tottenham look set to beat Juventus to the signature of Russia star Alan Dzagoev, according to sources in Russia.



- PSG are ready to rival Manchester United and Real Madrid for the signature of Porto star James Rodriguez.



- Montenegro star Stevan Jovetic insists he is happy at Fiorentina after hinting that he spurned interest from Manchester City and Juventus in the summer.



- Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill has revealed that James McFadden is about to sign a short-term deal with the club.



- The agent of Fulham starlet Alex Kacaniklic claims there are a number of clubs interested in his client - but says the young Swede is committed to life at Craven Cottage.



- Newcastle boss Alan Pardew says he has a list of seven central defenders he will be looking to choose from when the January transfer window opens.



- The agent of Alex Kacaniklic claims his client remains fully committed to Fulham as reports link him with a move to Italy.



- Manchester United and Chelsea are both tracking promising Italian defender Mario Sampirisi, according to reports in Italy.



- Jose Mourinho believes Nuri Sahin's loan spell at Liverpool will help Real Madrid get a larger transfer fee when the Spanish club go on to sell him.



- Christian Eriksen's agent says his client will remain at Ajax despite more interest in the talented playmaker.



- Radamel Falcao is a player who could make a difference to Manchester City and may be their top target in January, according to the club's chief scout.



- Bayern Munich chairman Uli Hoeness believes Holland international winger Arjen Robben will end his playing days at the Allianz Arena.

Kirkland attacked by fan

Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United played out a 1-1 draw, but the result of the Yorkshire derby will be overshadowed as Owls keeper Chris Kirkland was attacked by a fan.



Leeds had just levelled through Michael Tonge when a fan came on to the pitch and shoved the keeper in the face which sent him crashing to the ground.



As Kirkland lay prone on the ground, the fan dashed back into the crowd to make his escape.



Support staff were quickly on hand to attend to Kirkland who was treated for some time before playing on, although he was visibly shaken.



Owls manager Dave Jones was distressed by the incident and was far from happy with his opposite number Neil Warnock and the Leeds players for waving to their fans at the final whistle.



"It's vile, animals, whatever you want to call it," Jones told Sky Sports. "You talk about racism in the game, the chanting and everything else. It is a form of racism in itself but to then go and wave at them. No, not in my book. I've had a go at Neil. I know they are their fans, but you don't go and wave at them after that. It is an absolute disgrace.



"I thought that had gone out of the game. The authorities have got to look at it and sort it, otherwise they will keep doing it.



"We should be talking about the football, it was a great game with great intensity, but they are vile animals, that's what they are, all of them. I don't care if I get in trouble for it. We go on about racism in the game. That we need to sort and quickly as it is an absolute disgrace.



"It is upsetting that they are allowed to do it. They should be banned from every away ground now."

Suso signs long-term Liverpool contract

Liverpool midfielder Suso has put pen to paper on a new 'long-term' contract with the English Premier League club.



The 18-year-old joined the Merseyside outfit from his local side Cadiz in 2010, featuring in the youth and reserves teams before making his senior debut against Young Boys in the Europa League in September.



Suso has played for the first team on four occasions and said that manager Brendan Rodgers' belief in him was a huge factor behind his decision to sign an extension on Friday.



"I am really happy," the Spaniard told the club's website.



"Liverpool are one of the biggest clubs in the world and this is the right place for me.



"I am happy Brendan has shown trust in me. I had no questions about signing a new deal and I am really glad to have done so.



"I am comfortable here. I have played some games for the first team and I hope to continue doing that, but I need to work hard every day for that to happen.



"This is one of the best days of my life."



Rodgers had indicated on Thursday that a deal was near completion, saying he had been impressed with the youngster's technique and creativity.



The Northern Irishman reiterated his thoughts on Friday and said he was thrilled Suso had decided to extend his stay.



"We are all delighted Suso has committed his long-term future to Liverpool Football Club," Rodgers said.



"At 18, he has demonstrated outstanding technical qualities but also shown very good temperament to play for such a prestigious club.



"His commitment is very good news for all our young academy players and the excellent work taken place by the academy coaches and staff."

The top stories from papers and websites - 19 October 2012

• Brothers Rio and Anton Ferdinand will lead a boycott of this weekend's planned anti-racism campaign.


• Manchester United winger Nani is a January transfer target for Italian giants Juventus and AC Milan.


• Arsenal will watch Atletico Madrid's £14m-rated striker Adrian Lopez this weekend and are set to make him their No 1 January target.


• Norwich manager Chris Hughton wants to sign 26-year-old Stoke striker Cameron Jerome.


• Newcastle supporters are set to show their support for Sunderland's race row victim Danny Rose with a round of applause.

• Injured Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker, 32, could be sidelined until Christmas as he is struggling to recover from Achilles surgery.


• Southampton are lining up a fresh bid of £5.5m for PSV Eindhoven striker Jeremain Lens after having had an offer of £4m turned down by the Dutch club in the summer.


• Former Real Madrid and Barcelona boss Rady Antic is a shock contender to be Blackburn's new boss, while Blackpool's Ian Holloway is also in the frame.

• Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez is an £8m summer transfer target for Italian side Fiorentina.


• Barnsley's Wales international striker Craig Davies, 26, is being tracked by Stoke, Wigan and Leeds.


• John Terry has been hit with another £320,000 fine by Chelsea after finally saying sorry for abusing Anton Ferdinand.

• Defender John Terry, 31, has been told he will be sold by Chelsea if he is ever found guilty of racial abuse again.


• Juventus hope to beat Arsenal to the signature of Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente by offering the 27-year-old a deal which would make him the highest paid player at the Serie A leaders.


• Burnley, Ipswich, Birmingham and Blackpool are tracking Oldham's former Everton forward Jose Baxter.


• Sheffield United are keen on Crystal Palace midfielder Stuart O'Keefe.

• Stuart Pearce and Roy Hodgson will go head to head next summer for Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

• Liverpool hope to take advantage of the breakdown in contract negotiations between Birmingham City and 18-year-old winger Nathan Redmond.


• John Terry will retain the Chelsea captaincy and could lead the side as early as next Tuesday after he finally apologised for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand almost a year ago and announced he would not appeal against the four-match ban handed down by the Football Association.


• Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill will speak to Danny Rose to determine whether he is in the right state of mind to face Newcastle in Sunday's north-east derby after he was racially abused playing for England Under-21s in Serbia on Tuesday.


• Hull City want to sign Stoke's Honduras international Wilson Palacios on an emergency loan.

• John Terry will captain Chelsea in their Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday, just five days after finally offering a qualified apology for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand.


• Roy Hodgson, the England manager, believes that the "dogfight" his team find themselves in simply to secure a place at the 2014 World Cup finals could help, rather than hinder, their chances of surpassing expectations in Brazil.


• Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers also expects to recruit another forward in January to take the pressure off lone striker Luis Suarez.

• Tottenham defender Michael Dawson believes he still has a future at White Hart Lane under Andre Villas-Boas.

• Manchester United are contemplating re-signing Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross but will face competition from Chelsea and Tottenham.

Thursday's round up of the top transfer stories

- Chelsea are considering a January bid for Marseille striker Loic Remy as a possible replacement for Daniel Sturridge, according to the London Evening Standard.



- Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has admitted Radamel Falcao, who has been linked with Chelsea and Manchester City, could leave the club in January should his €60million buy-out clause be met.



- Real Madrid have made the first move in the race to sign Chelsea target Radamel Falcao, according to reports in Spain.



- Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez is a transfer target for Fiorentina.



- Manchester United target Arturo Vidal has quashed suggestions he will leave Juventus and insists he is happy in Turin, according to talkSPORT.



- Corinthians have dismissed reports linking Paulinho with a move to Chelsea, with coach Tite telling Globo Esporte: "I have no idea where this information has come from. We are at an important stage in Corinthians' history and this information will not disrupt us.



"Money doesn't buy everything. It could be a lot of money, but if the player is smart and has ambition like Paulinho does, then money will not be enough."



"Everyone wants him, but that changes nothing."



- Wilfried Zaha, who has been linked with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City, is worth £20million, Crystal Palace co-chairman Steve Parish has told the South London Press.



- Josip Ilicic's agent doubts the Palermo midfielder will leave the club in January and says there has been no contact with Liverpool.



- Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed teenager Suso is on the verge of signing a new, improved contract with the club.



- Manchester City has denied its alleged interest in Sergio Busquets and Cesc Fàbregas after rumours to this effect were echoed by the media.



- Michael Dawson insists he still has a future at Tottenham – despite almost being sold by Andre Villas-Boas this summer.



- AC Milan are ready to battle Arsenal for the services of Montpellier skipper Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, according to talkSPORT.



- Sky Sports understands a host of the Premier League's big guns are tracking Stoke City defender Ryan Shawcross.



- Arsenal will make a £15million offer for Spain striker Adrian Lopez when the transfer window re-opens, according to MARCA.



- Mattia Perin's agent claims Manchester City are among the clubs monitoring the progress of the on-loan Pescara goalkeeper.



- Isco is currently under contract at Málaga until June 2016. The Andalusian outfit will only consider selling him if the bidding club covers the player’s buyout clause – which amounts to €21 million.



- The agent of Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has insisted that there has been no contact from Lazio - but has refused to rule out talks with the Italians taking place in the near future.



- Juventus enter race to sign Manchester United winger Nani, according to Dailymail.



- Udinese have secured the future of Giovanni Pasquale after the left-back signed a contract extension to stay at the Serie A club until 2016.



- Midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has declared he is staying put after rumours linked him with a move away from AC Milan.



- Celtic boss Neil Lennon has poured scorn on suggestions Gary Hooper may be on his way to Liverpool as contract talks continue with the striker.