LONDON — Germany international defender Per Mertesacker and Czech playmaker Tomas Rosicky have both signed new contracts with Arsenal, the Premier League club said Tuesday. “We are delighted that Mertesacker and Rosicky have committed their futures to the Club,” manager Arsene Wenger said in a statement on the Gunners' website. “They are players of exceptional quality and experience, and have consistently proven themselves at the highest level. There is a great feeling of togetherness and belief in the group and this news will only help to strengthen this further.” The club did not give details about the length of the contracts. Mertesacker, 29, is now in his third season with the North Londoners and has served as occasional captain while Rosicky, 33, has made 209 appearances in eight seasons with Arsenal. German Mertesacker, a boyhood fan of the club, said renewing his contract had been an easy decision. “I have been here for two-and-a-half great years and feel I have great support from everyone at the Club and the fans ... we have a great team here and we all want to do our best to win trophies,” he said. Arsenal, currently third in the Premier League, has not won any silverware since the FA Cup in 2005. World Cup problems are under control: Blatter Problems with Brazil's World Cup venues are under control with just 100 days to go before the first match kicks off, FIFA President Sepp Blatter said Tuesday. “One hundred days; It's a long way to go, and it's a short way to go if there are still problems,” the Swiss told fifa.com in a video to mark the occasion. “But now all problems are under control and it will be in 100 days an exceptional good start for an exceptional competition.”
Brazil is racing against time to complete stadiums, airports, communications infrastructure and transportation systems as the June 12 opening day approaches. FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said at the weekend that the world body faced a huge challenge following delays in building stadiums. The Sao Paulo stadium that hosts the opening match is not due to be ready until May while other stadiums in Curitiba and Manaus remain unfinished. One survey in February showed the number of Brazilians who favored hosting the tournament had fallen to an all-time low, with many criticizing it as a waste of money. Support has waned since protests broke out in June last year against poor public services and the high cost of building stadiums, but Blatter was confident Brazilians would embrace the Cup when the time came. Brazil, said Blatter, was “the country of football, and they will receive this competition with open arms and full of their heart.” “The Brazilian spirit of the game and the Brazilian ability to play football makes this World Cup very, very special,” he added. “Now everybody is expecting in Brazil that Brazil will bring home this World Cup. I am sure it will be a great, great success.” Brazil, which last hosted the tournament in 1950, is the only nation to have won the Cup five times and also the only one to have played in every Finals. — Agencies
