By TRAVIS CLARK
English starlet Jack Wilshere has been rewarded for a promising start to the 2010-11 Premier League season, signing a new long term deal with Arsenal on Monday.
The 18-year-old, who has started eight times in the Premier League this season, has been at the club since he was nine years old, and has matured into a fixture with the second-place team in the English Premier League. His development has also earned the attention of Fabio Capello, and Wilshere earned his first England cap on August 11 against Hungary earlier this year.
After spending part of last season on loan at Bolton last season, Wilshere has spent time in and out of the Arsenal starting lineup this season, though he's missed the last three games after getting sent off against Birmingham City on October 16.
Here are a few other stories to get you through the day:
TIMBERS LET EIGHT GO
Preparations for MLS 2011 continued for the Portland Timbers, as the team announced eight players who won't return next season. The list included former RSL defender Ian Joy, who was the club's captain in 2010. Johan Claesson, Brian Farber, Derek Gaudet, George Josten, Ibad Muhamadu, Keith Savage and Ross Smith won't be picked up for next season either.
CASSANO FUTURE UNCLEAR
Tempermental striker Antonio Cassano's future with Sampdoria is unclear after a tumultuous weekend. The 28-year-old refused to join the club's president Riccardo Garrone at an Italian awards ceremony, and claimed that he had been frozen out of the squad after refusing to apologize for the incident.
However, new reports suggest that Cassano has apologized to Garrone and wants to stay, citing family issues that prevented him from attending the awards ceremony.
FREE KICKS
Scottish First Division club Dundee was given a 25 point penalty for entering administration for the second time in seven years. The club now has -11 points on the season, and will fight to save their season and perhaps their future.
Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans won't make the trip to Turkey for Manchester United's Champions League match against Bursaspor.
Tottenham's Rafael van der Vaart, who was withdrawn from Saturday's loss against Manchester United with an injury concern, is in training ahead of Tuesday's match with Inter Milan.
Injury plagued Bayern Munich will now be without striker Ivica Olic, set to miss six months after heading to the USA for knee surgery.
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What do you think of the news of Wilshere's re-signing? Surprised that Ian Joy won't return to MLS? Think Cassano will leave Sampdoria?
Share your thoughts below.
