The Poland international’s previous deal was due to expire in 2015, but he has agreed to extend his stay at the Emirates Stadium having established himself as the club’s No.1

The Poland international, who joined the club’s academy in 2006, has been ever-present this season as the Gunners sit top of the Premier League.

The 23-year-old, whose previous deal was due to expire in 2015, has now established himself as the club’s first-choice shot-stopper after briefly losing his place in the side last season.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is delighted to have secured the Pole’s long-term future and believes he will continue to play an important role for the club for the foreseeable future.

“We’re very pleased Wojciech has signed a new long-term contract,” the Frenchman told the club’s official website. “I have always believed he is an extremely talented player, with excellent reflexes and good mental strength.

“He continues to grow and improve all the time too, so he has the potential to be even better. He can be an important part of Arsenal Football Club for many years to come.”

Szczesny is thrilled to have extended his stay at the Emirates Stadium, having already been at the club for seven years, and is now targeting trophies as the Gunners bid to end their eight-year trophy drought.

“I am very pleased to have signed a new contract,” said the Polish keeper. “Arsenal is like my family and I’m so happy to be committing my long-term future here.

“I’ve been at this Club for over seven years now and I’d just like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their support towards me during my time here.

“I’m so proud to be an Arsenal player and am looking forward to helping our club towards success in the years to come.”

According to Goal

The versatile midfielder could miss the remainder of the 2013-14 campaign due to injury, but Germany remain hopeful he will be fit in time for the World Cup.

Real Madrid will possibly have to make do without the services of Sami Khedira for the rest of the season as the midfielder has suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

The 26-year-old picked up the injury in Germany’s 1-1 draw with Italy on Friday after a collision with Azzurri star Andrea Pirlo and was promptly forced to leave the pitch after 67 minutes.

Khedira visited the hospital for further examination and a series of tests have now revealed that he has suffered a torn ACL.

“Sami will have to undergo surgery. We hope that he will be healthy again at the start of the World Cup,” Germany doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt told the official DFB website.

No exact details have been given about the length of Khedira’s absence, but the midfielder is expected to be out of action for at least six months.

“This is a huge blow for Sami and the rest of the team. He’s a real fighter, though, and always remains optimistic. That will help him,” Germany coach Joachim Low commented.

“I am optimistic that he will be ready in time for the World Cup in Brazil.”

According to Goal

Les Bleus capitulated on Friday as they lost 2-0 to Ukraine in their World Cup play-off first leg, but their coach maintains they can yet turn around the tie on Tuesday.

France coach Didier Deschamps believes his side can still qualify for the World Cup despite their 2-0 defeat to Ukraine on Friday.

Deschamps’ men slumped to a disappointing loss in the first leg of their play-off in Kiev as Ukraine sealed their first ever victory over the 1998 world champions.

Striker Roman Zozulya put the hosts in front just after the hour mark, before Andriy Yarmolenko doubled their advantage from the spot seven minutes from time.

Laurent Koscielny and Oleksandr Kucher were dismissed in injury time as both sides ended the game with 10 men, but it is France who are on the brink of elimination.

However, Deschamps insisted the tie is far from settled.

“It was a fight. We had a lot of opportunities,” he told TF1.

“But the first goal gave them more strength. We made a mistake on the penalty.

“Obviously this is a very bad result for us. But we have to believe.

“The best position is that of Ukraine who have it today but we still have 90 minutes with us at home.”

France will attempt to reverse the deficit when they welcome Mikhail Fomenko’s side to the Stade de France for the second leg on Tuesday.

According to Goal

The Brazil international has revealed that he aims to end his professional career at Bahia, where he plied his trade before his move to Europe.

Dani Alves has made it clear that he does not intend to stay at Barcelona until the end of his playing career as he wants to retire at Bahia instead.

The 30-year-old started his career at the Brazilian side before joining Sevilla in 2002 and eventually moving to Barcelona in the summer of 2008.

Alves has since made over 250 official appearances for the Catalans, yet he is eager to return to the club where it all started for him toward the end of his career.

“I am not considering retiring at Barcelona because I want to end my career where I started it: at Bahia,” the Brazil international told Sport.

“It would be hypocrite to suggest that I might retire at Barca, because that’s not really an option. Bahia is where I first got my big break.

“I want to keep on playing here for many more years, but I will not retire at Barcelona.”

Alves has a contract with Barca until the summer of 2015.

According to Goal

It’s 10 years since the Argentine forward first appeared for the Blaugrana’s senior side and he has insisted he’s been living the dream ever since.

Lionel Messi has nothing but fond memories of his Barcelona debut as he is set to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of his first appearance for the Catalans.

The prolific attacker made his first-team debut in the friendly game against Porto on November 16, 2003, and he has stressed that it was a dream come true for him to join up with the senior side at the tender age of 16.

“November 16 2003 is a very important date for me, because that’s when I was able to make my childhood dream come true,” Messi told Barca TV.

“It was a very happy day for me. I’d fought hard to make that moment happen and it was really special.

“I remember that we were training with the Juvenil A team and, when it finished, [academy co-ordinator] Josep Colomer talked to me about a few things and then told me that I would be travelling with the first team.

“He told me that I should just go and enjoy the game and the experience, but when I came back I should concentrate on the Juvenil A team.”

Messi has since gone on to develop into Barcelona’s undisputed star player, yet he has stressed that his success has not changed him.

“I think that I continue to be the same person. I see things in the same way, though I have grown and learnt how to value things.”

The Argentina international, 26, is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury and is set to be out of action for the remainder of 2013.

According to Goal

The 21-year-old has nothing but praise for his Madrid team-mate and believes he deserves to be rewarded for his impressive performances.

Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro feels team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the best player in the world and deserves to win the Fifa Ballon d’Or.

The Portugal international is one of the main candidates to win the prestigious individual trophy alongside Franck Ribery and Lionel Messi.

Casemiro has stressed that it would only be logical if Cristiano Ronaldo emerged victorious following his fine performances in 2013.

“He has to win the Ballon d’Or. He is spectacular,” Casemiro told the official Madrid website.

“There is no doubt that he is the best player around right now. If he scores two goals in a match, he always wants more and keeps on giving.

“I always watch what he does. He trains well, is always happy and has always helped me.”

The Brazilian midfielder then went on to voice his admiration for former Madrid greats such as Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo.

“Zidane is the best player and a great person. Ronaldo Nazario is spectacular. It’s a dream to be at the same club as these great players, I never imagined it.”

Casemiro has made three Liga appearances so far this term.

According to Goal

The England boss says that the likes of Kieran Gibbs, Luke Shaw, and Leighton Baines are capable of filling any void left by the Chelsea man.

Roy Hodgson has hinted that Ashley Cole’s place in the England squad for World Cup 2014 is not certain.

The Chelsea left-back has been left on the bench by Jose Mourinho for the Blues’ last two games, while Leighton Baines impressed in his injury-induced absence for the Three Lions’ final two qualifying matches.

Cole is expected to face Chile on Friday but Hodgson admits that the likes of Baines, plus youngsters Kieran Gibbs and Luke Shaw, mean that the Blues man will have to fight hard to keep his place in the side.

“From an England perspective, I’m still very happy to consider Ashley Cole as a potential English left-back,” the manager told reporters, “but, as you know, the competition for that spot is particularly fierce.

“Baines is also playing well and on top of that we have Gibbs and Shaw – two younger players but who I think can definitely put these more senior ones under some pressure.

“I would definitely not be concerned, if there were no Ashley Cole or Leighton Baines, about Gibbs or Shaw playing.”

Hodgson will give the newer members of his squad a chances against Chile and Germany and the 66-year-old has warned the likes of Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez that they must impress or risk missing out in future.

“It’s going to be a big night for them if they get their chance and, unfortunately, if they do fail spectacularly and do really badly, it will be held against them,” he remarked.

“I would like to think that, if a guy gets a chance, he’ll be good enough to take it and confirm that he deserves his place in the squad in the first place.”

According to Goal