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Mikel Arteta urges Arsenal to ‘make a statement’ against Atletico Madrid

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Mikel Arteta urges Arsenal to ‘make a statement’ against Atletico Madrid

Mikel Arteta has told his Arsenal players to go behind enemy lines and deliver a statement victory in the opening leg of their Champions League semi-final clash against Atletico Madrid.

Arsenal are just two matches away from a first Champions League final in 20 years in their quest to make history, having never previously won Europe’s grandest tournament.

The Gunners fell at the semi-final stage last season following an underwhelming 1-0 defeat to Paris St Germain in their opening leg at the Emirates Stadium. A 2-1 defeat in Paris followed as they crashed out.

But, speaking on the eve of his side’s pivotal match in the Spanish capital, Arteta said: “This is the stage that we want to be and we have earned it through incredible work, passion and quality in the last nine months.

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“Now is the moment to make a statement and show how good we are, how much we want it and make it happen. The opportunity is in front of us and we have to attack it.

“We have prepared the game to win it. There’s no question about that. We know the difficulty of the match, but I think we have shown in Europe, in any ground, what we are capable of.

“We’ve been very consistent and tomorrow we have to play with that confidence, with that desire and that will. We have to come here to win the game.”

Arsenal’s visit to Madrid comes off the back of a morale-boosting victory over Newcastle which allowed the Gunners to reclaim top spot in the Premier League from rivals Manchester City with just four matches remaining.

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In a boost to Arteta, Eberechi Eze has travelled to Spain, despite being forced off with an injury in the second half against Newcastle.

Kai Havertz, who was also unable to complete last Saturday’s match with a knee problem, has not travelled, while Jurrien Timber remains sidelined.

Arsenal have been the nearly men in recent seasons, finishing runners-up in the league for the past three years, and, despite another impressive campaign, they are in danger of ending the season empty-handed again.

And captain Martin Odegaard admitted: “That is always going to be there until we win (a trophy) and we have to live with that and we have to draw on those past experiences and use it in a good way.

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“We are in a great position to make history and that is what we want to do. We want to take that last step and do something big and that is the biggest goal, the biggest dream and that’s what we’re working towards every single day.

“I don’t understand how you can’t enjoy it. We are ready for it.”

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Orange Order rubbish claims they will help with mortgage costs to ‘strengthen Protestant community’

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Daily Record

A message has been widely circulated on WhatsApp saying that people should be encouraged to buy a home in the Castlecaulfield area to “support and strengthen our Protestant community for the future” — but the local Orange Lodge says the message is fake

An Orange Lodge has stated that messages claiming it would assist people with mortgage costs to “support and strengthen our Protestant community for the future are “fake”.

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A message has been widely circulated on WhatsApp saying that “friends, families, and anyone with a connection to the Castlecaulfield area in Co Tyrone should be encouraged to buy a home locally in order to “support and strengthen our Protestant community for the future.”

It also alleged that, following discussions with financial advisers, the local Orange Lodge might be able to assist people with mortgage costs to live in the area.

Belfast Live approached the Castlecaulfield Orange Lodge about the message on social media, with a spokesperson confirming “the message is fake”.

Local DUP councillor Mark Robinson said the message bore similarities to one that had circulated in the area previously and believed they were intended to inflame local tensions ahead of the parade season. He also remarked that Orange Order membership would rocket if it were to begin helping people with their mortgages, reports Belfast Live.

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After seeing the message he said: “Just checked my calendar there, thought maybe it was April Fool’s Day!

“This looks like a very similar message that done the rounds before. I suspect it’s the same culprits trying to raise tensions in the area prior to local parades. Sad that some people have nothing better to do with their time.”

The bogus message stated: “Following on from our brief meeting, we’re asking all Castlecaulfield friends, families, and anyone with a connection to the area to consider the opportunity of purchasing a home locally.

“With numbers at the primary school currently lower than we’d like, it’s important we come together to support and strengthen our Protestant community for the future. Encouraging more local families to live in the area can make a real difference.

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“[Name removed] has been in touch with a number of financial advisors, and there may be support available to help with mortgage costs from the Orange Lodge. If this is something you’d be interested in, please get in touch with [Name removed], [Name removed], or [Name removed] for more information.

“We’d encourage anyone considering a move to act sooner rather than later, ahead of the upcoming developments being released. God save the king.”

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Coronation Street’s Jodie Ramsey says time on soap ‘may have ended’ in cryptic victim clue

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Manchester Evening News

Actress Olivia Frances Brown has cryptically commented on Jodie Ramsey possibly being the victim of a shocking murder on the cobbles

Coronation Street star Olivia Frances Brown has admitted her time on the long-running show ‘may have ended’ as she cryptically commented on Jodie Ramsey possibly being the victim of a shock murder on the cobbles.

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As those who follow the ITV soap will recall, Jodie’s first appearance on-screen sparked a mystery as Olivia made her debut in the role during Corrie’s epic crossover with Emmerdale, dubbed Corriedale, which featured a horror multi-vehicle pile-up, before she ended up being revealed as Shona Platt’s long-lost sister.

While not involved in the dramatic crash that was at the centre of the historic crossover, it was during her escape that she became injured, running into a tree when DC Kit Green gave chase through the woods.

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It was how she ended up in the hospital, and it was there that she was reunited with her long-lost sister, Shona Platt, who had been involved in the deadly smash with her husband, David.

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Since then, despite Shona’s unease at first, Jodie has made herself comfortable with the Platts after being invited to stay at No.8 Coronation Street. But as viewers know, Jodie has started a plan to get between her sister and her husband, while her behaviour towards other Weatherfield residents has also come into question.

But this week, Jodie is among the possible victims of a murder, alongside fellow Weatherfield villains Theo Silverton, Carl Webster, Megan Walsh and Maggie Driscoll.

A flashforward episode of Corrie, which was aired in February, first confirmed the storyline, with fans seeing the shocked and anxious teen being interviewed by detectives about finding the dead body of someone she knows. As the episode returned to the present day, Corrie viewers started to see how the behaviour of the five characters could lead to their possible death.

While the murder technically took place on April 23, this week, Corrie viewers will revisit the same day, but each episode will be seen from the perspective of a different potential victim. At the end of the week, Betsy will find one of them dead, and as the victim is finally revealed, the hunt to find the killer will then begin.

Jodie’s episode airs on Wednesday (April 29), ahead of Friday’s (May 1) big reveal, but actress Olivia has already teased that it could be the end of her time in Weatherfield.

Asked how the character has ended up one of the possible victims, and if she was surprised herself to learn that Jodie could possibly die, the new soap star told the Manchester Evening News and other press: “I would have been surprised if she wasn’t one of the victims, the way she’s been carrying on! Trouble follows her around like a bad smell.

“She is always caught up in the chaos. Whatever’s going on, if there is any chaos in the street, she’ll probably be at the heart of it. It’s the way that she is. It’s who she is. It’s the way she has learnt to deal with things. It’s the way she goes through life.”

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On how it feels to be part of the dramatic week, Olivia added: “It’s been great. To be new on the show and to be thrown right into the centre of all the drama. It’s been a really lovely experience. It’s just been like a rollercoaster from the beginning. I really don’t want it to end – but it might have ended!”

And despite Jodie’s questionable actions so far, Olivia has had quite a positive reaction to her arrival in the show. “It’s been lovely, actually,” she admitted. “It’s been nice to see how invested people have become with the character and to see how close they are watching.

“The majority of feedback that I’ve had is that people just can’t quite suss her out and figure out what she’s up to. Which is good really, because she isn’t straightforward and she’s not your typical villain. She’s a very complex, layered person. There’s a bit of a sadness to her, really.

“The things that she is doing come from a place of loneliness. She wants people to value her, she wants to feel that closeness that she can see everybody else enjoying around her. She feels like she can’t have it off her own back. She feels like she has to manipulate people around her in order to trick them into loving her, which is quite sad.”

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Inside Gorka Marquez’s BBC Strictly Come Dancing exit

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Wales Online
Inside Gorka Marquez’s BBC Strictly Come Dancing exit | Wales Online