Arsenal top FA fines list for bad behaviour as Mesut Ozil announces retirement
Arsenal are in the midst of an international break, which gives them a chance to reflect on their eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
The Gunners are still riding high in pursuit of their first Premier League title in 19 years after picking up a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace on the weekend. They now have 10 games left to maintain their momentum and hold off perennial champions Manchester City.
Many of Arsenal ’s squad have now jetted off to join their international teams. Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale have been at St George’s Park for England training over the past few days before flying to Naples to play Italy on Thursday night. Arsenal will be keeping a close eye on their players, praying for no injuries.
Here are the latest news stories from the club.
Arsenal top fines list
Arsenal have been fined £185,000 by the FA for four separate offences this season – the most of any club in the country.
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The Gunners are one of 15 Premier League clubs to have fallen foul of the FA so far this campaign, but their total is comfortably more than the other sides.
Arsenal have been fined £20,000, £40,000, £60,000 and £65,000 for incidents in November, January and February. They came in an FA Cup match against Oxford, a very feisty Premier League clash with Manchester City that drew two fines and also saw Pep Guardiola’s side punished and in a 0-0 draw with Newcastle.
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Ozil retires
Mesut Ozil has called time on his career (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)Mesut Ozil has called time on his career, aged 34.
He wrote on social media: "I've had the privilege to be a professional football player for almost 17 years now and I feel incredibly thankful for the opportunity. But in recent weeks and months, having also suffered some injuries, it's become more and more clear that it's time to leave the big stage of football.”
Ozil started his career with Schalke and Werder Bremen before getting a transfer to Real Madrid on the back of a stellar performance at the 2010 World Cup campaign with Germany.
He joined Arsenal in 2013 in a £42.5million transfer. He made 254 appearances for the club, contributing 44 goals and 79 assists.
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Balogun still focused
Folarin Balogun has 17 Ligue 1 goals this season (VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)Folarin Balogun has insisted that he is purely focused on the here and now, performing for Stade Reims, rather than the future with Arsenal.
Balogun has been on fire for Reims this season, bagging 17 Ligue 1 goals, with only Kylian Mbappe and Jonathan David ahead of him in the French top flight charts.
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He signed a long-term contract with Arsenal in 2021, but is already attracting transfer interest from the likes of AC Milan. The 21-year-old is not thinking that far ahead yet.
“I haven't thought that far if I'm honest,” Balogun told the Daily Mail. “What I've been able to do so far, I'm sure it's making a lot of noise – not just at Arsenal but everywhere. It's just about continuing that, staying focused and helping the team.”
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