BEIJING -- Arsenal have recovered from the stomach bug that hit the team in Shanghai this week, with only Theo Walcott a doubt for Saturday's friendly against Chelsea in Beijing.

A handful of players fell ill before Wednesday's game against Bayern Munich at Shanghai Stadium, but Per Mertesacker, Olivier Giroud, Sead Kolasinac and Aaron Ramsey both took full part in an open training session at the Bird's Nest Stadium on Friday.

Walcott, who like Ramsey finished the Bayern game feeling unwell, only...

SHANGHAI -- Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has said the decision to part company with Diego Costa was taken in January.

Costa, expected to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, said he had received a text from Conte at the end of last season to tell him he was no longer in his plans.

But the coach said he had delivered that news to Costa and in his agent in January after the striker was linked with a big-money move to China.

Speaking at a news conference, he told reporters: "In January, the Costa situation...

Liverpool will play on a pitch mostly paid for by U2 when they take on Hertha Berlin at the Olympiastadion next weekend.

U2 agreed to pay €90,000 of the total cost, reported by Bild to be €130,000, of replacing the playing surface at the stadium following their concert last week, and a spokesman has told ESPN FC the pitch will be ready for the game that will celebrate both clubs' 125th anniversary.

Christoph Meyer, a spokesperson for the Olympiastadion, said: "Nothing will slip out of...

Chelsea are among several European clubs monitoring Montreal Impact winger Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla, sources close to the player have told ESPN FC.

Tabla, 18, scored on his first MLS start for Impact in April after progressing from the reserves and has made 17 appearances so far this season.

Premier League champions Chelsea are monitoring Tabla after being alerted to his potential by Didier Drogba, who worked with him during his spell in Montreal.

Ligue 1 side Lille and Austrian champions Red Bull...

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has told ESPN FC in an exclusive interview that his manager Mauricio Pochettino is one of the best in the world and that it is an exciting time to be playing for the club.

Tottenham have not won a trophy since the 2008 League Cup and the last top flight title came back in 1961. However, they have finished third and second in the past two seasons and have a collection of top young players like Dele Alli and Harry Kane who have pushed them to another level.

Lloris,...