Mesut Ozil

Germany's Mesut Ozil during training on June 15. REUTERS/Axel Schmidt

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier met with football players Mesut Özil and İlkay Gündoğan on May 19 in a series of clear-the-air talks following their photos alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

AFP - Turkey's football chief Tuesday condemned as "slanderous" and "unacceptable" German criticism of a meeting between top players of Turkish origin in Britain's Premier League and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Germany internationals Mesut Ozil of Arsenal and Ilkay Gundogan of Manchester City, both of Turkish origin, met Erdogan late Sunday during his three-day visit to Britain.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger assured that the two big stars running out of contracts in the team - Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez - will not leave in the winter transfer window. A while back the experienced coach expressed quite different opinion, he said that he could sell the two in January, as there is a big risk that they will leave without money in the summer.

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette for a club record £46.5m fee on a five-year deal.

The fee - up to £52.6m with add-ons - will surpass the £42.4m Arsenal paid Real Madrid for Mesut Ozil in 2013.

Manchester United’s Paul Pogba is the highest paid footballer in England, the young French man is also the most expensive footballer in the world following his move from Italian Club Juventus to Manchester United for £100 million.

İzmir's public transport authority, ESHOT, has canceled a number of transport cards after a male student was spotted using retired footballer David Beckham's picture on his bus card, the authority has said, noting that 40 cards have been canceled on similar grounds.

Football is once again not just football in the aftermath of a bomb attack near Istanbul's Vodafone Arena stadium and a simultaneous one just a few hundred meters soon after a Beşiktaş-Bursaspor league game. 

Arsenal FC on Wednesday delivered a severe blow to Ludogorets Razgrad in a game of the Champions League's group stage in London.

A hat-trick by Mesut Özil in the second half of the game cemented the result in the 56th, 83rd, and 87th minute, with the three previous goals scored by Alexis Sánchez (12th), Theo Walcott (42nd), and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (46th).

Arsenal on Aug. 19 survived the test of a raucous Istanbul crowd and a hugely-energized Besiktas side to leave Turkey with a goalless draw and their hopes intact of advancing to the Champions League group stage.