ARSENAL have been urged to take a sensational gamble on Paul Pogba.

That is the recommendation of Invincibles star Emmanuel Petit, who reckons the former Manchester United midfielder would be the perfect addition to Mikel Arteta‘s squad.

Reuters

Paul Pogba has sensationally been backed to join Arsenal[/caption]

Getty

Emmanuel Petit believes he would be a worthwhile gamble[/caption]

AFP

Pogba saw a doping ban reduced from four years to 18 months[/caption]

Pogba, 31, has abandoned the idea of retirement after seeing a drug ban sentence reduced from four years to 18 months.

The Juventus star tested positive for the banned substance DHEA, which naturally boosts testosterone production, before the suspension was reduced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Having not played since September 2023, this ruling will allow him to return to competitive action next year, being allowed to train from January before playing in a match in March.

However, he is understood to be in negotiations to leave the Turin outfit.

That has opened the door for speculation on where he could end up playing his football.

And fellow France World Cup winner Petit has recommended his former club take a punt on Pogba.

He told Jeffbet: “Honestly, Arsenal should 100 per cent gamble on signing Paul Pogba. He will give everything on the pitch.

“It will take him a few weeks to get fully fit, but he will be so eager to wash his name. There is a motivation that is priceless to a manager like Mikel Arteta.”

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS

Petit is not the only Arsenal hero to back the club gambling on signing him.

He actually echoed the opinion of French defender Bacary Sagna, who said last month: “The Premier League suits Paul Pogba – I would love to see him joining Arsenal.

“It would be great – he has experience; he loves to play with young players around him – that is when he is most efficient.  

“At the 2018 World Cup, that was when he was most efficient – he had friends around him.  

“Arsenal have a young, fresh team, and I see him performing in an Arsenal shirt. He will get love from their fans.

“Now, he can start from scratch again – he’s had time away from football, and he’ll be back with a desire to get back into a good space and play football again.”

However, Petit did admit to doubts over the prospect of Pogba playing top-level football again, despite clearly being talented enough for it.

He added to Mail Sport: “I’m very happy for him, very happy for him. But he’s right now, 31 or 32, something like that, the last time he played a proper game was a year ago, in September.

“For me, it will be a miracle if he can come back at the highest level. He’s got the quality as a footballer. Can he get the energy as a human being to fill the expectation? I’m not really convinced about that.”

Discussing his doping ban last month, Pogba told Sky Sports: “I am not a cheater.”

“I accept responsibility of taking the supplement but I didn’t triple-check it – even if it came from a professional.

“If I have to be punished, then I’m fine with it. But it should never have been four years. I will accept 12 months. When you see me, you know me. People know me.

“So even when everything happened people said: ‘We know Paul, he would never take that. If he did, he wouldn’t have known and it won’t have been on purpose’.

“And this it totally the truth. I’m an honest person, I would say it.”

Arsenal were defeated 1-0 by Newcastle on Saturday, losing ground in the title race and dropping to fifth place, seven points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.

The North Londoner’s view on a deal may have changed after bombshell news that sporting director Edu would be leaving to take up a triple-your-money position at Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis’ footballing empire.

LADBABY has broken his silence on his historic groping accusations, also revealing he was forced to call in anti-terror police after charity backlash.

Back in 2022, the influencer was accused of wrapping his arms around an unknown woman and rubbing up against her in a Nottingham club in the 18-second video shared online.

Getty

Ladbaby has broken his silence on historic groping accusations[/caption]

instagram/@ladbabymum/

He also revealed he called in anti-terror police after charity backlash[/caption]

LadBaby, 37, real name Mark Hoyle, and his wife Roxanne claim they were sent the video before it was circulated on social media, with the pair blackmailed for £10,000 to prevent it being released.

While they ignored the message, hoping the hoaxer wouldn’t keep their word, the couple were left devastated when it was published months later.

In the video, the woman danced between the man’s legs as he sat on a stool and stroked her thighs before she walked away.

There was no suggestion the touching is non-consensual.

The woman in the short clip, which was later deleted from TikTok for ‘violating its content terms’, did not appear to be Roxanne.

Speaking to The Guardian in a new interview, they both agreed that they hadn’t coped well with the fallout.

Mark said: “We were lucky we had each other – that’s what we’ve always said about LadBaby, the good and the bad.”

Roxanne added: “We’ve been accused of things before, and we’re just like, we’ll get through this one. That’s how we are now – we’re quite resilient people.”

They, indeed, found themselves at the receiving end of further allegations over the profits on their Christmas No1s.

The YouTubers have claimed the top spot on the UK Singles Chart each year from 2018 to 2022 with their novelty songs, We Built This City, I Love Sausage Rolls, Don’t Stop Me Eatin’, Sausage Rolls for Everyone and Food Aid.

Part of their success is down to profits going to the food bank charity, The Trussell Trust.

So, when unfounded claims about the destination of raised funds emerged, Mark was forced to call in the cops.

Roxanne said: “I don’t think people realise the impact of that level of trolling, where the police came to support us through that time.”

While they received threats, with trolls claiming to know where they lived, things came to a head when Mark was confronted in a pub and had to be escorted to safety by bouncers.

He reflected: “We didn’t know how to [handle] it. And quite often, you don’t want to make the situation worse, and so you don’t do anything.”

Mark began to suffer from panic attacks and, eventually, the police took the threats seriously.

And, at one point, anti-terror officers were assigned to advise the Hoyles at their home.

The mum-of-two is set to release an autobiography alongside Mark that lays bare the “obstacles they’ve overcome” to become two of the most prominent personalities on social media. 

Titled, Our LadBaby Journey: Success, Sacrifice and Sausage Rolls, it will be available for all to read on November 7. 

Roxanne and Mark have pulled back the curtain on how they came from nothing to achieve success against all odds. 

The couple shot to fame thanks to their parenting hacks and prank videos shared on social media. 

However, it hasn’t all been glamour and laughter – in fact, the couple were once living on £20 a week.

And Roxanne told Fabulous last year that she’s had to put food back on the supermarket shelves to afford nappies. 

Now, she has over 1.3 million followers on Instagram and has made a living out of being silly online with Mark and their sons – Phoenix, eight, and Kobe, six.

Taking to the app last month, Roxanne broke down in tears ahead of the big book launch. 

“To be totally honest, I still can’t believe in two weeks time a story about our life will be out there for people to read,” she penned. 

“We are a positive family and our story is about never giving up, but we’ve had obstacles we’ve had to overcome that we never thought would come from living our lives online.

“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster where we’ve laughed and cried.

“But as we get closer to everyone reading it, I realise how bloody proud I am of all we have accomplished and the mark we’ve left on the world.”

Alongside five Christmas number ones about sausage rolls, partnerships with the likes of Jet2 and Smyths Toys, and a collection of children’s books, the LadBaby brand has done a lot. 

Their tell-all autobiography is their most vulnerable project to date. 

According to Mark, he and Roxanne were “so nervous” about announcing their new book, which they’ve wanted to write “for a really long time”.

The tome will cover the pair’s rise to fame, the start of their parenting journey, their epic Christmas single successes and how they became Guinness World Record breakers.

It will also discuss Roxanne’s decision to walk away from a six-figure deal with In The Style, after releasing numerous hit ranges with the clothing brand.

Instagram

Roxanne broke down in tears on Instagram yesterday[/caption]

PA

She is releasing an autobiography with husband Mark on November 7[/caption]

TWO years ago this column smashed the Melbourne Cup – and I’m full of hope we can pull a Classic win off once again in the space of three days!

That’s because the millions of readers of my Sun column were all over Sierra Leone in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last Del Mar Saturday night. Chad Brown’s inmate hacked up having been available at 12-1 just days before the big race. Yeeehaaa!

The Times

Willie Mullins has the big one in the Melbourne Cup[/caption]

It was Gold Trip in 2022 that landed us all a big payday in the race that stops a nation – shown live on AtTheRaces in the early hours of Tuesday morning – at 20-1.

This time I’ll be supporting ABSURDE to finally win the huge handicap for Willie Mullins.

There are a lot of non stayers – at least on paper – in this year’s renewal.

Rather oddly, Absurde didn’t get home twelve months ago when seventh to Without a Fight.

Having led 2f out, Absurde gradually weakened inside the final furlong.

This time he has a cracking draw in stall 7, and Kerrin McEvoy is a huge jockey booking. The Aussi ace is the perfect man to have on our side.

Absurde, a County Hurdle winner which takes us back to the days of Vintage Crop landing the big prize as he also went over jumps, was dropped right out when scoring at Chester last time, and I suspect McEvoy will ride a patient race at Flemington and deliver as late as possible.

There is no better person to do that than Cup hero McEvoy, and a racing weight of 8st 4lb is a gift from the Gods.

Absurde eachway seems anything but absurd to me! Come on Willie, not a phrase one is able to write too often!

As far as the Breeders’ Cup is concerned we said farewell to super sprinters Bradsell and Big Evs as well as, of course, City fo Troy, who failed to cope with the dirt like so many other top turf performers.

It was quite staggering how Aidan O’Brien and the lads from Coolmore acted with the press both before and after Breeders’ Cup 2024.

Every question was answered, however inane, and done so with a smile and passion

O’Brien’s interview with me on Attheraces over Jan Brueghel gate – his horse denied a Melbourne Cup spot – was watched by hundreds of thousands around the world and while Aidan clearly made certain points clear he did so calmly.

Since the Breeders’ Cup O’Brien’s quality miler Henry Longfellow has also been retired. It just makes you realise how lucky we are to have Flat horses like Kyprios who keep on going year after year.

The key words after the Classic came from Coolmore’s MV Magnier. He said to me: “We’ll keep trying”.

Whatever you think of City of Troy, how much more boring would the game be if Coolmore didn’t attempt to do the near impossible. They have tried now 18 times and only nearly pulled it off on a couple of occasions.

But thank you lads for keep trying. It’s what makes us all gripped to this game. The hope of something miraculous happening. One day they will crack it and there will be no more stones for Aidan to look under for answers.

Of course the other horse we said farewell to was Coronation Cup heroine Emily Upjohn. To be quite frank Frankie Dettori had an absolute shocker on her in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, although like City of Troy you can’t blame the jockey as again it was a slow start that caused her all the issues.

What it did make quite clear is the nonsense of taking stable rider Kieran Shoemark off some of Clarehaven’s best horses this season.

Did it help Inspiral? No. Did it help Emily Upjohn? No. Clarehaven owners need to start realising they have a very special talent at their disposal. Luckily, Juddmonte Farms and George Strawbridge seem to get it. And they have reaped the rewards.

Ironically, in this case, Shoemark was done a favour and dodged a bullet. There is a chance Emily Upjohn would have been slowly away with him too, even though he’s conjured up some tremendous efforts from her this term. The difference being Frankie gets a pat on the back, while with Shoemark social media goes into meltdown. It’s a funny old game.

Finally, I’m just so sorry for connections of Jayarebe who passed away just after finishing the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Brian Meehan and Sam Sangster just adored this horse, and while he probably died of a heart attack – nothing is official straight away – which can happen to any animal or person at any moment it’s hard to take.

Jayarebe and Sean Levey had proved a fabulous team. The son of Zoffany banged in four of his eight starts including the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot and Group 2 Prix Dollar at Longchamp. He was Meehan’s big hope for next season. We will miss him and his untapped potential.

FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org.

---

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chases their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

SHOCKING new video has captured the moment the deadly floods in Valencia surged towards the region – leaving at least 218 dead.

Torrents of water can be seen rushing past residential blocks from out of nowhere as the flash floods sweep up almost everything in its way from cars to hundreds of helpless people.

Twitter

At first a trickle of water moves slowly down the riverbed[/caption]

Twitter

The trickle turns into a torrent with the water carrying logs and rubbish[/caption]

AP

Civil Guards checking cars for bodies in a car park Paiporta[/caption]

Authorities have already confirmed over 200 deaths in Valencia since the weather chaos first erupted but the search for bodies continues.

The death toll is expected to rise to about 400, making it Europe’s deadliest flash flood in five decades.

Harrowing footage shows how the surges of floodwater quickly washed through packed out towns and cities.

One Brit living in the quiet area of Paiporta has revealed how he was forced to helplessly listen to his neighbours’ final screams for help as they were killed by fast-flowing water.

Jerome Torres, 49, said the horrifying swamped streets of Valencia looked like something out of an “apocalyptic” horror film on Tuesday evening.

Hundreds of cars had to be abandoned in the middle of the streets as the floods came in.

Pictures showed how many of the motors were left floating in endless murky, brown streams.

Even after the water had been partially cleared cars were still left flipped over on their bonnets and smashed to pieces.

Officials say that many victims have been discovered trapped inside their cars.

Pictures of brave rescue workers searching through an underground car park shows them discovering cars bobbing above the water as they look for any survivors.

The Spanish government has vowed to “improve” their recovery efforts after a number of angered citizens kicked off over the lacklustre response and poor prior warnings.

Frustrated residents of Paiporta hurled mud at Spanish King Felipe VI on Sunday when he visited the town following the disaster.

Locals shouted “Get out! Get out!” and “Killers!” at the royal as police stepped in to keep back the crowd.

The government has now deployed 10,000 soldiers and police officers to battle the torrid conditions as officials believe 2,000 people remain missing.

AP

Rescue teams waded through deep water to continue searching for survivors and bodies[/caption]

The flood was caused by downpour in the mountains above the Spanish region of Valencia. No warnings were issued by the local authorities until two hours after the deluge tore through Paiporta.

Many roads remain blocked by piles of vehicles swept through the town by tsunami-like waters.

So far, three Brits have died after an elderly couple was confirmed dead this morning.

Don Turner, 78, and his wife, Terry, 74 were found in the town of Pedralba near Valencia.

The pair’s daughter, Ruth O’Loughlin, from Burntwood, Staffordshire, confirmed her parents’ bodies were found in their car on Saturday.

She told the BBC they had moved to Spain ten years ago as they “always wanted to live in the sunshine”.

Ruth said she had last spoken to them before they disappeared adding that her mum had been complaining about the rain.

Another Brit aged 71, died in hospital last week after he was rescued by boat from his flooded home near Malaga.

A red alert has now also been issued for Barcelona after the catastrophic flash floods.

Spain’s weather service has issued a red warning of “extreme danger” and urged people not to travel “unless strictly necessary.”

Jerome Torres

Streets were turned to rivers during the flooding[/caption]

HEAVY metal enthusiasts are jingling with excitement as they’re convinced that US band Slipnot are set to headline at Download Festival next summer.

The band have recently revealed their tour dates for 2025 and now fans seem certain that they have left a gap in their schedule, which could be filled by an appearance at the Leicestershire rock festival in June 2025.

Rex

Getty

The band are known for the headline grabbing image and scary costumes[/caption]

One person who had studied their dates said: “If my dates are correct doesn’t this mean that they could play Sunday at the festival after Swizerland?”

Another commented: “Last time they played Swizerland they played Download the day after.”

And another person added: ““I love slipknot and have never seen them before. Missed out on 25th Anniversary tickets in December. So, for me, this is great.”

Since forming in 1995, Slipknot have achieved worldwide fame, selling out arenas and producing seven studio albums.

The eight man band are known for their theatrical horror and aggressive performance style that seems to excite their fans.

At the start of 2024, the metal legends have been on a world tour celebrating the 25^th anniversary of their era defining album, SlipKnot.

Next summer they will visit a string of shows in mainland Europe, including Austria, France, Denmark, Italy and Spain.

Speaking about the upcoming shows, Shawn Crahan, known as ‘clown’ said:

 “It has been 25 years since we first played on the continent, and we’ve been back ever since. The memories I have from all those times are life changing, and we’re ready to make more.

“I’m so excited to bring our 25th year anniversary tour to Europe and the UK. Be prepared for an energy you’ve never experienced before. It’s happening.”

EPA

Frontman Corey Taylor performing at the Evil Festival[/caption]

Rex

A HOMEOWNER has left many people scratching their heads after sharing a photo taken in their front yard. Do your ...

Read more

Hot Numbers For Lunchtime Today, Tuesday, 5 November 2024 have been released in South Africa. Anyone who is a fan of UK49s may be interested in today’s UK 49s Lunchtime ... Read Full Article

The post Hot Numbers For Lunchtime Today, Tuesday, 5 November 2024 appeared first on Quick Read Magazine.

UK 49s KwikPiks For Today, Tuesday, 5 November 2024 are out in South Africa. To win UK49s, you need to match five (5) numbers plus the Bonus Ball (Booster). You ... Read Full Article

The post UK 49s KwikPiks For Today, Tuesday, 5 November 2024 appeared first on Quick Read Magazine.

Bloomberg.com was the first to report that JAY-Z and Roc Nation have officially extended their deal with the NFL. Bloomberg said that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed the extended partnership during the league’s annual owners meeting in Atlanta on Tuesday, October 15.  “It’s been a mutually positive relationship, I’m not sure either one of us really spend much time talking about […]

The post Jay-Z and NFL continue to play ball appeared first on St. Louis American.

The Springboks and Scotland have enjoyed a rich history when it comes to Tests over the years - dating back to 1906.