The Gunners defeated Bournemouth 2-0 at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday to bring an end to a poor run of four Premier League matches without a victory


It only needed 88 seconds of quality for Arsenal to end their four-match winless run in the Premier League and set up a mouth-watering clash with title rivals Leicester next weekend.

The Gunners beat Bournemouth 2-0 at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday afternoon thanks to two first-half goals in as many minutes from Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

It set up a comfortable victory as Arsenal defended with discipline and focus to win three much-needed points that move them above Manchester City in the table. Arsene Wenger's side are now third behind Tottenham on goal difference and five points behind leaders Leicester.

It looked like Arsenal's title challenge was starting to fall apart coming into this game, with the Londoners failing to win their previous four matches and suffering a startling drop in form in front of goal. 

In fact, they had waited five hours and 28 minutes since their last league goal before Ozil slammed the opener into the roof of Bournemouth's net in the 23rd minute following a clever knockdown from Olivier Giroud.

#

A minute-and-a-half later, Oxlade-Chamberlain fired in off the far post for his first goal in 38 Premier League appearances.

There was no room for error and this victory will be the first building block as Arsenal look to improve their confidence for the run-in.

Ozil has led Arsenal's title charge this season and his latest strike takes his record to four goals and 16 assists for the campaign. Having failed to provide an assist so far in 2016, the German's return to form has certainly come at a good time.

As Alexis Sanchez continues to work his way back to match fitness following a hamstring injury, it will be up to Ozil to inspire Arsenal once again when Leicester come to the Emirates Stadium next Sunday.

With Manchester City hosting Tottenham the same day, it could be the defining afternoon of the title race.

Arsenal supporters, more than most, are used to being put through the full gamut of emotions by their notoriously unpredictable team.
So it is impossible to say definitively that Arsenal are back on track.

But they produced a professional performance on the south coast on Sunday when there was little room for error having seen Leicester and Spurs win on Saturday.

Behind Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini played with discipline and helped the Gunners protect the scoreline.

Leicester will cause Wenger's men problems next week, but with Petr Cech in this mood they will find it difficult to score. The goalkeeper once again made top-class saves when called upon, particularly to deny Harry Arter.

He has already been worth every penny of the £8 million Arsenal paid to sign him and is proving John Terry right after the Chelsea captain said his former team-mate would be worth up to 15 points per season in north London.

18:43

The residents of Gwagwalada in Abuja woke up to this, recently.

The snake was restless, weak and unable to move after swallowing a goat. See photos below:

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter

Bhet, how come?

18:41

The Valencia coach is without a win in nine La Liga matches following Sunday's 1-0 loss at Real Betis but has vowed to soldier on

Under-fire Gary Neville is aware of the consequences of poor results but reiterated his determination to remain in charge of Valencia amid calls for his resignation.

Neville's future was placed into further doubt on Sunday after Valencia lost 1-0 at Real Betis, leaving the Englishman without a win in nine La Liga matches since his appointment in December.

The narrow defeat, which saw Jose Luis Gaya sent off in the closing stages and left Valencia just four points clear of the relegation zone, followed the embarrassing 7-0 rout at Barcelona in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals on Wednesday.

However, Neville vowed to fight on despite his winless streak.

"I said before I came that I would be judged in five months. The obituaries have already been written, I have been judged in six weeks," the former Manchester United captain told reporters.

18:39

The Etihad Stadium outfit have joined the race for the in-demand Southampton forward, who was already a target of their city rivals in January

Manchester City are set to rival Manchester United for the signature of Southampton forward Sadio Mane, according to The Sun.

Citizens' director Txiki Begiristain has identified the versatile Senegalese, who can play across the forward line, as an ideal reinforcement for incoming coach Pep Guardiola.

The club will vie with United for Mane's signature in the summer after the Old Trafford side were believed to have made enquiries about the 23-year-old's availability in January.

Mane is reportedly open to leaving Southampton for another club if they can match his wage demands for £125,000 a week and offer him a long-term deal.

18:37

The club captain hailed his team-mate following his magnificent winner at Granada while describing on-form striker Karim Benzema as "unique"

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos believes Luka Modric is pivotal to the club's ambitions this season after the midfielder scored the winner in Sunday's 2-1 win away to Granada.

Modric popped up in the 85th minute and secured maximum points for Madrid after Granada's Youssef El-Arabi cancelled out Karim Benzema's first-half opener.

The goal was Modric's first La Liga goal this season and just his second in all competitions, with Zinedine Zidane calling on the Croatia international to shoot more often afterwards.

And Ramos went on to reiterate his coach's comments, stating the 30-year-old had the potential to deliver match-winning moments and become a key member of the squad. 

"His goal today makes him more visible, but for me what he brings to the game is a must," Ramos told Movistar Plus. "He's never marked out much, but he is the backbone of the team."

18:35

The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Sunday continued his peace moves in Yorubaland with a visit to the Alake of Egbaland, Adedotun Gbadebo, and the Osile of Oke-Ona, Adedapo Tejuoso.

Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye OgunwusiPremium Times

Mr. Ogunwusi, while speaking at the Alake’s palace, said Ife belongs to all Yorubas, saying he was just selected as a custodian of the land. He also called on all monarchs not to arrogate power unto themselves.

He said his visits to his colleagues in Egbaland was a great opportunity he would forever cherish.

“In my life I will continue to worship and praise God. Example of my praise is today’s visit, I will continue to worship God.

“God loves Yoruba more than the Hebrews‎. We Yoruba don’t appreciate ourselves. I plead with all of us to always appreciate God. If there is love in Yoruba land, it is then we start appreciating each other,” the monarch said.

Mr. Ogunwusi while describing love and peace as honey for any community, said he would continue to preach peace around Yoruba land. He called on other monarchs to join him in the crusade.

In his remark, the Alake applauded the peace moves of the Ooni. He said the Ooni of Ife remained the spiritual father of Yorubaland.

Mr. Gbadebo said the Ooni has started his reign well by preaching peace.

The Egba monarch also stated that by Yoruba traditional rulers’ ratings, the Ooni remained the number one, followed by the Alaafin of Oyo, Alaketu of Ketu, Alake of Egba and Awujale of Ijebu.

He said the recent visit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to the Ooni where he prostrated was a signal to the leadership status of Mr. Ogunwusi.

“I have no doubt that at your young age, God has chosen you. In your own time, Yorubaland will be great,” Mr. Gbadebo said.

Also, the Osile of Oke-Ona while receiving the Ooni in his palace said he was happy for his intensive role towards ensuring peace in Yorubaland.

Mr. Tejuoso expressed confidence that Mr. Ogunwusi’s reign would bring permanent peace to Yorubaland.

18:34

– Senate President, Olubukola Saraki says all past leaders are guilty of mistakes.

– Saraki says putting the blames on some individuals is a wrong approach.

– Saraki assures that details of the N115bn National Assembly budget will be  made public.

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter

Senate President, Bukola Saraki

The Senate President, Olubukola Saraki, on Tuesday, February 2, said that all public office holders in the country since 1999 were guilty of the mistakes of the past that led the country to its present political and economic mess, The Punch reports.

He said this in response to a question on the secrecy of the National Assembly budget and corruption allegations leveled against it by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in a recent letter.

Saraki insisted that it was wrong for anybody to hold an individual or group of people solely responsible for the mess of the past.

He said: “We have all been here since 1999 up to the recent past when things were not done right, we are all part of it. I was there, you were there, every other political office holder in different capacities was there as well.”

The Senate President stressed that blaming the woes afflicting the country now on some individuals or an institution still remains a wrong approach, adding that what is required of all stakeholders is collective participation for the good of all Nigerians.

However, he promised that details of the N115bn National Assembly budget on a section-by-section basis would be made public this year as against the practice of one item of the past.

Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo had accused the leadership of the national assembly of not being sensitive to economic plights of Nigeria by planning to buy cars for themselves.

Obasanjo said pool cars would have been sufficient to do the committee work, given all the allowances the lawmakers have already collected since their inauguration in June 2015.

Source: Naij

13:45

Honduran former FIFA vice president, Alfredo Hawit, charged in the corruption scandal gripping world football, was placed under United States house arrest on Tuesday after posting $1m bail.

The 64-year-old was extradited to the United States from Switzerland last month following his arrest on December 3.

He denies the 12 charges against him, which include racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering.

Hawit posted $1m in bail at a Brooklyn court, of which he paid $50,000 in cash. The rest was guaranteed with property.

A judge agreed last month to release Hawit into house arrest, but he stayed in detention until he could make bail. Hawit will now stay with his daughter in Florida.

Prosecutors described Hawit as a significant flight risk and demanded that bail be set at $4m – guaranteed by either $500,000 in cash or US property.

Hawit, the suspended head of CONCACAF, the regional body for football in North and Central America and the Caribbean, is one of 39 officials and marketing executives accused of soliciting and receiving tens of millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks.

US prosecutors allege that Hawit accepted and laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes as general secretary of the Honduran football federation between 2008 and 2014.

Hawit is the fifth FIFA official extradited by Switzerland to the United States in connection with the deepening multimillion-dollar corruption scandal that has rocked world soccer since May.

SOurce: PunchNG

13:41

As health officials try to confine recent health disasters, Ebola Virus Disease, Lassa fever and Bird flu to the past, a new virus is fast becoming a major threat.

Although the virus, Zika, was discovered in the Americas, there are concerns that the disease may become a worldwide problem, especially as it is transmitted by mosquitoes.

The World Health Organisation has said that though the symptoms shown by people with Zika, which is currently found in Brazil, are only mild fever, skin rash and conjunctivitis for about two-seven days, it is a different story for pregnant women.

Zika reduces the growth of the foetus, leading to microcephaly or stunted brain growth, hence pregnant women have been advised against travelling to areas where the virus has been spotted.

In the meantime though, here are facts you should know about Zika virus, according to WHO:

1. Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.
2. People with Zika virus disease usually have a mild fever, skin rash (exanthema) and conjunctivitis. These symptoms normally last for two-seven days.
3. There is no specific treatment or vaccine currently available.
4. The best form of prevention is protection against mosquito bites.
5. The virus is known to circulate in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.

Transmission

Zika virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito from the Aedes genus, mainly Aedes aegypti in tropical regions. This is the same mosquito that transmits dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

Zika virus disease outbreaks were reported for the first time from the Pacific in 2007 and 2013 (Yap and French Polynesia, respectively), and in 2015 from the Americas (Brazil and Colombia) and Africa (Cape Verde).

In addition, more than 13 countries in the Americas have reported sporadic Zika virus infections indicating rapid geographic expansion of Zika virus.

photo source: developmentdiaries.com

Prevention

Mosquitoes and their breeding sites pose a significant risk factor for Zika virus infection. Prevention and control relies on reducing mosquitoes through source reduction (removal and modification of breeding sites) and reducing contact between mosquitoes and people.

This can be done by using insect repellent; wearing clothes (preferably light-coloured) that cover as much of the body as possible; using physical barriers such as screens, closed doors and windows; and sleeping under mosquito nets.

It is also important to empty, clean or cover containers that can hold water such as buckets, flower pots or tyres, so that places where mosquitoes can breed are removed.

Special attention and help should be given to those who may not be able to protect themselves adequately, such as young children, the sick or elderly.

During outbreaks, health authorities may advise that spraying of insecticides be carried out. Insecticides recommended by the WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme may also be used as larvicides to treat relatively large water containers.

Travellers should take the basic precautions described above to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

Treatment

Zika virus disease is usually relatively mild and requires no specific treatment. People sick with Zika virus should get plenty of rest, drink enough fluids, and treat pain and fever with common medicines.

If symptoms worsen, they should seek medical care and advice. There is currently no vaccine available.

Source: PunchNG

13:39

As health officials try to confine recent health disasters, Ebola Virus Disease, Lassa fever and Bird flu to the past, a new virus is fast becoming a major threat.

Although the virus, Zika, was discovered in the Americas, there are concerns that the disease may become a worldwide problem, especially as it is transmitted by mosquitoes.

The World Health Organisation has said that though the symptoms shown by people with Zika, which is currently found in Brazil, are only mild fever, skin rash and conjunctivitis for about two-seven days, it is a different story for pregnant women.

Zika reduces the growth of the foetus, leading to microcephaly or stunted brain growth, hence pregnant women have been advised against travelling to areas where the virus has been spotted.

In the meantime though, here are facts you should know about Zika virus, according to WHO:

1. Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.
2. People with Zika virus disease usually have a mild fever, skin rash (exanthema) and conjunctivitis. These symptoms normally last for two-seven days.
3. There is no specific treatment or vaccine currently available.
4. The best form of prevention is protection against mosquito bites.
5. The virus is known to circulate in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.

Transmission

Zika virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito from the Aedes genus, mainly Aedes aegypti in tropical regions. This is the same mosquito that transmits dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

Zika virus disease outbreaks were reported for the first time from the Pacific in 2007 and 2013 (Yap and French Polynesia, respectively), and in 2015 from the Americas (Brazil and Colombia) and Africa (Cape Verde).

In addition, more than 13 countries in the Americas have reported sporadic Zika virus infections indicating rapid geographic expansion of Zika virus.

photo source: developmentdiaries.com

Prevention

Mosquitoes and their breeding sites pose a significant risk factor for Zika virus infection. Prevention and control relies on reducing mosquitoes through source reduction (removal and modification of breeding sites) and reducing contact between mosquitoes and people.

This can be done by using insect repellent; wearing clothes (preferably light-coloured) that cover as much of the body as possible; using physical barriers such as screens, closed doors and windows; and sleeping under mosquito nets.

It is also important to empty, clean or cover containers that can hold water such as buckets, flower pots or tyres, so that places where mosquitoes can breed are removed.

Special attention and help should be given to those who may not be able to protect themselves adequately, such as young children, the sick or elderly.

During outbreaks, health authorities may advise that spraying of insecticides be carried out. Insecticides recommended by the WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme may also be used as larvicides to treat relatively large water containers.

Travellers should take the basic precautions described above to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

Treatment

Zika virus disease is usually relatively mild and requires no specific treatment. People sick with Zika virus should get plenty of rest, drink enough fluids, and treat pain and fever with common medicines.

If symptoms worsen, they should seek medical care and advice. There is currently no vaccine available.

Source: PunchNG

13:39