Arsenal soccer players turn fans' mean tweets into funny responses (VIDEO)

Athletes often find themselves on the wrong end of abuse from fans for poor performances and it would seem the Arsenal soccer team has had enough and attempted to debunk the mean comments they see on Twitter — literally.

A few of the players were part of a funny promotional video for Paddy Power that counters the cliched remarks with all the subtlety of a Monty Python skit.  

First, Per Mertsesacker sets out to prove his speediness after one soccer fan claimed his milk would turn quicker than the big German player.

The defender does a quick sprint as a referee test the milk before giving him the thumbs up.

Lukas Podolski was then prompted to hit a barn door after a fan suggested the forward wouldn't be able to do it.

It may have taken Podolski a few more attempts than he had hoped, but he eventually rocked the center of the door brought out on the pitch with a left-footed strike to prove the fan wrong.

Finally, Mikel Areta was introduced to a "nana" who one fan believed would take a better penalty than the star player.

Needless to say, there was little competition as Arteta swept his spot-kick into the net before putting his arm around the woman's shoulder and walking away. 

And now, for the Ministry of Silly Walks.

Soccer fan gets unfortunately detailed tattoo of Paolo Di Canio's knee-slide celebration

After Sunderland beat local rival Newcastle for the first time in thirteen years inside St. James Park April 14 — keeping their Premier League hopes alive — the surprising visiting team's victory set off a wild celebration and riots that had to be cooled down by the coppers.

Against all odds, the Black Cats managed the 3-0 win, led by their new controversial, self-proclaimed fascist manager Paolo Di Canio.

It was a crucial victory that will live long in the memory of Sunderland fans, particularly on  the left shoulder of one Black Cat supporter who has had a commemorative tattoo of the iconic suit-ruining knee-slide celebration by the Italian coach inked there.

The odd choice of an image is even more bizarre when you look closely at the crease permanently inked  in the coach's pants — and it shows a little more than the fan probably hoped for. Make that twice as much.

Politics aside, it appears that Di Canio is excited to swing to both sides.

[Via Yahoo! Sports]

Severed pig's head in locker leads to English Premier League team investigation

The English Premier League club Stoke is launching an internal investigation following reports that a pig’s head was found in the locker of one of the team’s players and led to the destruction of another player's car in a prank gone horribly bad.

The Premier League club says it “takes seriously reports of an incident” at its Clayton Wood training ground and “those responsible for any unacceptable behavior will be dealt with in accordance with the club’s disciplinary procedures.”

Stoke midfielder Brek Shea posted a graphic picture of him holding a pig’s head, which was severed down the middle, by the ears in the locker room.

Shea tweeted “locker room banter gone wild!!! #SAW.”

The British media is reporting that the pig’s head was found in the locker of striker Kenwyne Jones and the incident was seen by Stoke fans waiting for autographs outside the complex and the news spread via twitter within minutes.

Jones is a Rastafarian, so he does not eat pork.

When put to him by a Twitter follower that he had been responsible for the damage, Jones replied: "For your info I didn't do that get ur info correct."

Later,  Jones reportedly put a brick through teammate Glen Whelen's windshield in retaliation.

It was the last in a string of jokes that the soccer team had played on each other in the week building up to their final match of the season.

Michael Owen’s Mercedes was covered with egg and flour the other day — but it appears that Whelan’s decision to leave the bloody head in Jones’s locker was a step too far.

Stoke released a statement confirming their decision to hold an investigation, saying: "The club takes seriously reports of an incident at our training ground this afternoon.

"A full investigation will be carried out and those responsible for any unacceptable behavior will be dealt with in accordance with the club’s disciplinary procedures."