Luis Suarez: We've demonstrated who we are and we did it on the pitch

Luis Suarez scored the equaliser and won the penalty which gave Barcelona a dramatic win against Valencia. The Uruguayan, though, had a tough afternoon against Valencia's central defenders, Mangala and Garay. However, he was able to play his part in the win and help Barça pick up three points which temporarily takes them to the top of the table. Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Sevilla, who began the weekend ahead of Luis Enrique's side, all play on Sunday.

Suarez, with clear satisfaction, was delighted with the win: "This win allows us to keep calm and continue believing in ourselves. Without doubt it was a tough game, which we knew it would be because Valencia always put you under pressure at Mestalla. But we’ve demonstrated who we are and we did it on the pitch. Our ambition brought us the victory today, because we didn’t drop our heads when the second goal went in and we didn’t settle for the draw. We always want to win and we’ve proven that in Valencia." 

More games: friv

Messi and Suarez continue productive relationship

It was as if the summer break was non-existent, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez kicking off the 2016/17 LaLiga season with five goals in Barcelona 6-2 rout over Real Betis.

The Uruguayan notched a hat-trick that confirmed he hasnt lost a beat of the Golden Boot-winning scoring instinct, while the Argentinian keeps evolving into a do-it-all unstoppable force.

"Having Messi and Suarez clicking on the field is great news for us," Luis Enrique said at his post-match press conference.

"I can only tell them to keep doing what theyre doing."

Even though the new signings have shown glimpses of promise and Arda Turan has started synchronising with the rest of the team, Enrique knows the Blaugrana will go as far as their vaunted front-line will take them.

The Messi-Suarez axis has been efficient enough to subdue opposing defences so far even without the presence of Neymar, who just won the Olympic gold medal on Saturday for Brazil.

Ever since the ex-Liverpool striker arrived in Catalonia in the summer of 2014, he and the Rosario native have often been spotted bonding together.

The chemistry between the two is explicit when they celebrate their goals, when they drink their beloved 'mate' or when the neighbours in Castelldefels share a car to go train at Sant Joan Despi.

Against Betis, Messi scored two majestic goals while Suarez was in the right place at the right time for his first two before capping off the evening with a magnificent free-kick goal.

The five-time Ballon D'Or winner keeps finding the net no matter how far from the box he plays, while the current 'Pichichi' has amassed 17 goals in his last six LaLiga appearances.

In spite of the aforementioned attacking arsenal, Barcelona are reportedly still pursuing a back-up forward in the transfer market.

Spanish international Paco Alcacer is the favourite to land at the Camp Nou, although negotiations with Valencia wont come easy.

Should no reinforcement arrive, Munir El Haddadi will stay at the club.

Wenger must buy or say bye to title hopes

Expect another season of mediocrity if Wenger fails to strengthen Gunners

Being older, traditionally, equates to being wiser - except in Arsene Wenger's case.

At a time when the English Premier League's arms race has already advanced to a critical stage, the Arsenal manager continues to dawdle in the transfer market.

Waiting for a supposed opportune moment which often never comes, the Frenchman remains a firm advocate of the values held by his late compatriot Edith Piaf.

Regretting nothing has become an annual occurrence at the Emirates Stadium.

That chronic failure to prepare for the harsh realities of football exposes the reasons why a long-awaited title charge has yet to be seen through in its entirety.

Hitting the ground running is the current order of business for most EPL clubs swimming in the riches of a lucrative new broadcasting deal.

A fear of being caught resting on their laurels has prompted unprecedented levels of spending.

Even in a hugely inflated market, Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham and Manchester United are among those that have added fresh dimensions to their already well-stocked attacking options with players that offer outlets of both creativity and contingency.

Firepower was once synonymous with Arsenal - from a fearsome front- line to their down to their military-inspired nickname.

Wenger, too, was a master in the market; effortlessly marrying an ability to spend big while finding bargains in the process.

Since those heady days of cut-price deals for Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Cesc Fabregas, however, he has found himself taking the cheap and cheerful route, except maybe for the signings of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Oezil.

Attempts to prise Luis Suarez away from Liverpool in 2013 saw that cheeseparing stoop to an entirely new level by tagging on a £1 coin to the end of a £40 million ($71.7m) bid in an opportunistic attempt to trigger the striker's automatic release clause.

"What do you think they're smoking over there at (the) Emirates?" Liverpool's principal owner John W Henry responded at the time.

Wenger clearly remains in a grip of that supposed haziness with his unerring belief in both caution and optimism in the market.

CONSERVATIVE

His financial conservatism continues at speed despite warnings from the club's recent past.

Last summer's solitary signing of Petr Cech saw attempts to end a 12-year wait to taste EPL success fall short at the midway point of the previous season.

The former Chelsea goalkeeper may have salvaged points, but the absence of a Plan B when injury denied them the mercurial brilliance of Sanchez was notable.

Little has changed to remedy those failings, 12 months on, either.

To date, only Granit Xhaka, a Swiss midfielder, and striker Takuma Asano have found their way into Gunners colours.

At 21, the largely unknown Japanese alone will not cure their ills when the burden of expectancy on Sanchez and others begins to take its toll.

Since the high-profile pursuit of Jamie Vardy ran cold, following his decision to remain with champions Leicester City, so have all other potential avenues.

Gonzalo Higuain and Julian Draxler remain touted as potential alternatives but speculation remains the only yardstick of intent for the sought-after pair.

With 36 goals for Napoli last season, Higuain represents a perfect fit, both as much-needed competition for Olivier Giroud and to supplement the shortfall when Sanchez, Danny Welbeck and others in Arsenal's抯 forward line succumb to the inevitability of injury.

With less than four weeks remaining before the start of the new season, Wenger is again in danger of seeing Arsenal being left behind far more than in any previous years.

Leaving it late again will only result in a season of the same, predictable outcome.

'Come back with hunger'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will give a number of his key players time off to "regenerate" before the new season - even if it limits his options for the opening Premier League game against Liverpool.

While the likes of Theo Walcott, Per Mertesacker, Gabriel, Francis Coquelin and even Jack Wilshere - just a couple of weeks after England's exit from Euro 2016 - have reported back to London Colney, Wenger is determined to afford extra holiday to those who have endured a busy summer schedule.

Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey, German playmaker Mesut Oezil and French duo Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny have all been granted an additional break following a draining European Championship campaign.

It remains to be seen how long it will take Alexis Sanchez to recover from the ankle injury he sustained in helping Chile win the Copa America in the United States.

Wenger, though, insists he will not risk the long-term impact of those returning internationals over the course of the 2016/2017 campaign, the start of which is now only a matter of weeks away.

"You consider the rest time because France was a long, long tournament and I believe that they need four weeks' holiday because they need to recover from that," Wenger told Arsenal Player.

"It takes you two or three weeks to regenerate... to recover completely, and they need to come back with hunger. That disappointment to lose a final, it takes some time to recover from that.

"I believe the club benefit from experiences at the top level, and the mental experiences as well that they have gone through with such a huge pressure. Of course, in the longer term, you benefit from that."

Arsenal are set to kick off their pre-season preparations with a friendly away at Lens on Friday, before heading out to the United States for a short two-match tour of San Jose and Los Angeles.

Wenger's squad have further warm-up games against Viking FK in Norway and then meet Manchester City in Sweden before their domestic campaign opens against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Aug 14.

Arsenal have bolstered the squad by signing £35-million ($62.8m) Switzerland international Granit Xhaka and are linked with Lyon's French forward Alexandre Lacazette, Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain, Leicester's Riyad Mahrez and German international Julian Draxler, whose club Wolfsburg have ruled out the midfielder leaving the club this summer.

Inter Milan defender Jeison Murillo and AC Milan forward Carlos Bacca are also reported targets.

Suarez refuses to be upset with Tabarez after Venezuela defeat

The Barça striker also called order to his brother, Paolo, who criticised the Uruguay coach after the Celeste's exit from the Copa America 2016.

Luis Suarez has publicly apologised to coach Oscar Tabarez after his reaction to not being substituted onto the pitch during Uruguay's 1-0 loss to Venezuela on Thursday.

The 29-year-old confirmed he wasn't able to play against the Vinotinto but is now able to face Jamaica on June 13.

"Tabarez had said previously that I couldn't play because I was not even 90 per cent," the former Liverpool striker said.

"You know me, I wanted to say this is my problem and not Taberez's.

"Everyone knows him and I'm not going to say bad things... I'm grateful to him.

"If Taberez had made me play it would've made the situation worse.

"I felt I was ok but that wasn't the case. I'm feeling better and trained on Friday, but the muscle injury is misleading."

SIBLING PROBLEMS

Suarez also took the opportunity to publicly rebuke his outspoken brother, Paolo Suarez, who he believed was too critical of Uruguay's coach on Twitter.

"I want to clarify what I have with my brother," Suarez concluded, "I have a minimal relationship with him, we speak every few months.

"He has to know that he's my brother and that anything he says may be made public.

"I apologised to [Tabarez] because it's not what I think.

"You have to be 100 per cent and you can't disrespect anyone."

Luis Suarez is the kind of ‘charismatic’ striker that Arsenal need, according to ex-Gunner Lauren

Luis Suarez is the type of ‘charismatic’ striker that Arsenal should be looking to buy, says former Invincible Lauren.

The former Liverpool striker has been known to be quite the divisive figure and the ex-Gunner said this is the type of character they need.

Arsenal tried to sign Suarez in his Liverpool days; the North London club offered £40million and a pound for the Uruguay striker in 2013. This led to John Henry, the Merseyside clubs owner, to tweet “What do you think they're smoking over there at Emirates?”

The former Cameroonian defender told Goal Suarez is the kind of players that would improve the Gunners.

"Sometimes a charismatic figure in the team can affect the rest of the players," he said. "I like South American strikers - Carlos Tevez, (Gonzalo) Higuain – players that always give full commitment.

"Suarez, too. He scores goals, he comes back to defend, he’s got ambition and hunger – the player has to be charismatic so that the players in the dressing room look up to him like he's an icon.

“We have to mix up technical quality with physical presence in some departments.

"I’ve watched many Arsenal games, I’ve been to the Emirates Stadium many times. We have to change the style of players in certain positions - centre-back, in the middle - we need more balance between physical and technical players.

"In the last few years we haven’t done that and it would be something that could improve the team. We need to buy a striker – I’m not saying that Giroud isn’t good enough – he’s done a good job, but sometimes you need a charismatic figure."

Luis Suarez cost Barcelona $91.6 million: Reports

Spanish champions FC Barcelona shelled out $91.6 million for the transfer of Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez from English club Liverpool in the summer of 2014...

Spanish champions FC Barcelona shelled out $91.6 million for the transfer of Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez from English club Liverpool in the summer of 2014, according to the contract papers leaked by online whistleblower Football Leaks on Monday.

Football Leaks, which specialises in revealing football secrets, said that the contract dated July 11, 2014, reveals that the transfer divides the payments into five instalments, of $18.32 million each, with one instalment still to be paid on July 31, reports Efe.

In addition to the player himself, the contract was signed by Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, vice-president Jordi Mestre, and Antoni Rossich, who was then the general director of the club, as well as Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre.

Suarez moved to the Catalan club in the summer of 2014, after having become top scorer in the English Premier League during the previous season with Liverpool.

His transfer came shortly after causing a huge controversy for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup.

Due to a four-month suspension, his first appearance with Barcelona was delayed until October 26, 2014.

Suarez enjoys the trust of coach Luis Enrique and has already scored 68 goals in 86 appearances in all competitions with Barcelona.

Without Messi and Suarez, Barcelona close on cup semis

Holders Barcelona overcame the absence of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez to take a huge step towards the Copa del Rey semi-finals with a 2-1 win at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.

Messi was absent due to a hamstring problem, whilst Suarez completed a two-game Cup ban, but the visitors still took control of the tie with two goals in six first-half minutes from Munir El Haddadi and Neymar.

However, Aritz Aduriz's 23rd goal of the season a minute from time handed Athletic hope for next week's second leg.

La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid also have work to do to reach the semi-finals after a 0-0 draw at Celta Vigo in their quarter-final, first leg.

"The (late) goal complicates the tie a bit for us, but I think we played a great game and now we have the return leg at home," Neymar told Canal Plus.

"There is a bit of danger because they are a good team with players that can turn the game. We need to be concentrated."

Barca will have Messi and Suarez available for the second leg next Wednesday at the Camp Nou, but their presence wasn't missed in the first half.

Luis Enrique's men had hammered a 10-man Athletic 6-0 on Sunday as well as 3-1 in last year's final, and there was a familiar feeling for the Basques despite a bright start from the home side.

The European champions went ahead on 18 minutes thanks to a brilliant team goal that started with goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and ended with Ivan Rakitic's inviting low cross being swept home by El Haddadi for his fifth goal in the competition this season.

Athletic contributed to their own downfall moments later, though, as goalkeeper Iago Herrerin missed the ball as he came flying out his goal and allowed Neymar to roll his 20th goal of the season into an empty net.

The hosts dominated the second period but looked set to end the night empty-handed when Ter Stegen made a brilliant save to turn Aduriz's header over 10 minutes from time.

However, Athletic finally got the goal their display deserved when Aduriz turned home Mikel San Jose's pass.

And Ter Stegen had to make another fine stop from Aduriz seconds later to prevent Athletic salvaging a draw in stoppage time.

"They had two chances and scored two goals, that is why they are so good," said Aduriz.

"We had a lot of dangerous situations, but we couldn't put them away."

Celta had the better of a game of few clear-cut chances at Balaidos, but Miguel Angel Moya saved Iago Aspas's effort before Atletico captain Gabi cleared off the line late on.

The sides will meet for a third time in 17 days next Wednesday at the Vicente Calderon for a place in the last four.

Gary Neville's Valencia host Las Palmas and Mirandes, the only second-tier side left in the competition, visit Sevilla in the other two quarter-finals on Thursday.