Stadium boost for Arsenal

Arsenal FC have secured the €530m funding they need to build their new stadium at Ashburton Grove.

Complex deal
After securing a complex finance deal the English Premiership club are now set to continue construction work at the site on a new 60,000-seater stadium which is expected to be ready for the start of the 2006/07 season. "This is exciting news. This club has such an illustrious past but this is one of the most important dates in our history," said manager Arsène Wenger.

Köln blow
Struggling Bundesliga side 1. FC Köln have been hit by an injury to striker Lukas Podolski. The German Under-21 international has a torn muscle fibre in his left calf and will be out of action for two weeks. The 18-year-old has scored three times in nine matches this season.

Andersson injury
IFK Göteborg striker Patric Andersson has picked up a serious injury in a pre-season match. X-rays have revealed that the 24-year-old has suffered cruciate ligament damage. "All I can hope is that I’ll be back as soon as possible," he said.

Shmitz loan
Finally, FC Krylya Sovetov Samara have taken Brazilian defender Rafael Shmitz on loan from French side Lille OSC. Shmitz has made 22 appearances for LOSC mostly as a central or left-sided defender. He will link up with five other Brazilians at Krylya Sovetov.