Arsenal have announced half-year results which show a record investment in players of some £110.5 million and an increase in football turnover to £191.1 million.

The figures for the parent holding company of the Premier League club are for the six months ending November 30, 2016.

During the 2016 summer transfer window, Arsenal signed the likes of Granit Xhaka for £38.25m, Shkodran Mustafi for £34.85m, while forward Lucas Perez arrived in a £17m deal.

There was an overall group profit before tax of £12.6 million, compared to a loss of £6.2 million for the same period in 2015.

Zola relieved

Birmingham City manager Gianfranco Zola admitted that he was relieved after his side’s 2-1 Championship win over Wolves at Molineux late Friday.

First-half goals from Maikel Kieftenbeld and David Davis earned Birmingham only their second league win in 13 matches under the control of Zola.

Birmingham had to play the final 37 minutes with 10 men after the dismissal of skipper Paul Robinson. Zola, who had lost his previous three games, said: “I am delighted because of the win and the performance.

“We have had tough times and we have been suffering so this is a very good break for us.”

Troubled Wolves have now lost four successive league games.

Pele’s son to serve prison sentence

The son of soccer great Pele turned himself in to police yesterday after a court ruled he must serve almost 13 years of a 33-year drug-trafficking sentence.

A former goalkeeper at Pele’s club Santos, Edinho was found guilty of drug trafficking and money laundering in 2005 but has been fighting the charges ever since.

A judge heard his appeal against the original 33-year sentence last week and reduced it to 12 years and 10 months.

Edinho protested his innocence and expressed confidence that “things will work themselves out”.

Koeman wants United to lift cup

Everton manager Ronald Koeman is hoping Manchester United beat his former club Southampton in today’s League Cup final because victory for Jose Mourinho’s team would boost his own side’s chances of qualifying for the Europa League.

“It is true you need help from which team will win the League Cup or the FA Cup,” Koeman said.

“In that way we hope United will win the League Cup and one of the biggest clubs wins the FA Cup, because then it’s possible seventh in the table can play a qualification for the Europa League.”

Koeman believes Everton’s involvement in Europe next season will be crucial to his plans for strengthening the squad in the off-season.

Claudio Ranieri says goodbye to players

Claudio Ranieri visited Leicester’s training ground yesterday morning to say goodbye to his former players and staff.

The 65-year-old Italian said on Friday that his “dream died” after his sacking on Thursday night, having led the Foxes to an historic Premier League title last term.

“I don’t speak with anybody, just to say thank you to the fans. They are fantastic. Thank you,” he said when asked for a quick word as he drove away.

On how he was feeling, he said: “I feel good now, because what we achieved in Leicester... I hope it will happen again, but it will be very difficult.”

When asked if it had been an emotional meeting with his players, he said it had been “normal”.

Players call strike over unpaid salaries

A strike called by Argentine players over unpaid wages overshadowed Friday’s meeting of the country’s Football Association (AFA), which was aimed at paving the way for the resumption of the league.

While AFA delegates debated constitutional issues, including the vetting of candidates for a presidential election which was set for March 29, players’ union (FAA) boss Sergio Marchi issued a statement saying members would strike over unpaid salaries.

The union’s announcement threw into doubt next month’s resumption of league matches, which have been on hold because of financial problems since February 5 when Argentina’s summer break was originally due to end.

The AFA coffers are bare owing to protracted negotiations over a payout from the government.

Xherdan Shaqiri returns for Stoke

Stoke City midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri is back to full fitness ahead of his team’s Premier League trip to Tottenham Hotspur today while defender Geoff Cameron is also back in contention after a long injury layoff, manager Mark Hughes has said.

Swiss international Shaqiri missed Stoke’s last three games with a calf problem, while Cameron has not played since October 22 due to a knee ligament injury.

“Xherdan Shaqiri is ok again now and available for selection and Geoff is very close too – the game may come a little too soon for him but at the moment he is in my thoughts,” Hughes said.

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