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Tag: Arsenal

  • Guendouzi reacts to rift between Emery, Ozil

    Arsenal midfielder, Matteo Guendouzi, has dismissed talk of tension between manager Unai Emery and World Cup winner Mesut Ozil.

    Emery had denied speculation that he was involved in a training ground burst-up with Ozil, after their 3-1 win over West Ham on Saturday.

    The German was taken off during Arsenal’s 3-2 defeat by Chelsea last week and was not in the squad for the visit of the Hammers.

    The Gunners had explained that the former Real Madrid midfielder is ill.

    Guendouzi now insisted his team-mates are focused and happy.

    “No, there are never tensions,” he told RMC Sport.

    “We know what we are capable of, we have a great squad, a great staff.

    “It’s a great club, we know we can do great things this year.

    “Of course we lost the first two matches but there were very positive things in those first two matches, it should be noted.

    “So now we won against West Ham and maybe we showed people who didn’t believe in us that we will be there this season and you have to count on us until the end of the season.”

  • EPL: Arsenal defeat West Ham in first league victory

    Unai Emery claimed his first win in charge of Arsenal as Issa Diop’s own goal and a stoppage-time Danny Welbeck strike secured a 3-1 Premier League victory over West Ham at Emirates Stadium.

    Marko Arnautovic gave the visitors a 25th-minute lead, with Nacho Monreal restoring parity five minutes later.

    An entertaining and error-strewn contest continued to flow from end to end but an injury to Arnautovic robbed West Ham of their prime attacking threat before Diop erred.

    Welbeck came off the bench to gleefully blast in from close range, ensuring Manuel Pellegrini’s fledgling West Ham tenure stands at three defeats out of three.

    Arnautovic asked constant questions of Arsenal’s high and shaky backline and had already thrashed into the side netting before he exchanged passes with Felipe Anderson to arrow a 20-yard drive into the bottom corner.

    Monreal made light of an earlier knock to slam home the equaliser when West Ham failed to clear Hector Bellerin’s cross.

    Bellerin’s mistakes at the other end remained a problem, with Sokratis Papastathopoulos forced into a desperate block from Felipe Anderson before the Spain full-back played Robert Snodgrass onside to shoot too close to Petr Cech.

    Cech stood firm to thwart Arnautovic in the 55th minute and apparent knee injury he sustained during that attack proved pivotal.

    Diop allowed Alexandre Lacazette too much room to turn and shoot, with ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski beating the shot away, and the 21-year-old centre-back was the architect of his own misery 20 minutes from time.

    A miscued clearance spiralled up in the air and Aaron Ramsey nodded down for Lacazette to drive into the goalmouth, with Diop only able to divert into his own net.

    Felipe Anderson continued to probe, flashing agonisingly across the face of goal in injury time, meaning Arsenal nerves only settled when Welbeck swivelled to dispatch Bellerin’s pass.

     

  • Arsenal: I don’t understand why there’s so much criticism – Mkhitaryan

    Arsenal midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan says he “doesn’t know why people are criticising so much” after his side’s difficult start to the new season.

    The Gunners have lost their opening two league matches for the first time since 1992 – to Manchester City and Chelsea.

    “I’m the worst critic in my football game and I don’t need extra criticism,” the 29-year-old Armenian told BBC Football Focus.

    “I know very well what I am giving to the team and what the team gives me.”

    New boss Unai Emery has picked Mkhitaryan to play in both Premier League games so far this season – a 2-0 defeat at home to defending champions Manchester City and a 3-2 loss at Chelsea, in which he scored.

    Emery, 46, was named successor to Arsene Wenger as Arsenal boss in May, having left French champions PSG after guiding them to the Ligue 1 title.

    “We have a new manager and are trying to adapt to his philosophy and also his demands,” said Mkhitaryan, who arrived at Emirates Stadium as part of a swap deal that took Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United.

    “It has been a tough start of course – we faced two good teams in Man City and Chelsea – but you don’t have any easy opponents in this league.

    “We lost the first game and the second one as well. But that’s football. We just have to stay positive and continue working hard and the good results will come.

    “We don’t feel any pressure. We are not thinking that something is going wrong because we are moving in the right way even if we lost two games.

    “I don’t know why people are criticising so much. I’m not paying attention because I know if I’ve played bad or well.”

    Mkhitaryan and team-mate Mesut Ozil have faced calls to be dropped by several pundits, including former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson.

    He was signed for Arsenal in January by Wenger before his departure after 22 years at the helm.

    Mkhitaryan said: “No-one knew he was going to leave after six months but I came here because he gave me this great chance to play for Arsenal, to play for the club I’ve been dreaming of all my life, and it’s a pity he’s not at the club but life goes on.”

  • EPL: Alonso strike late as Chelsea defeat Arsenal in five-goal thriller

    Marcos Alonso’s late strike handed Chelsea a 3-2 narrow victory over Arsenal in Maurizio Sarri’s first home match as Blues manager.

    Arsenal had come back from two goals down but with nine minutes left the Spaniard struck to seal all three points from a lively encounter at Stamford Bridge.

    Pedro put the Blues ahead after nine minutes by sweeping in an Alonso cross on the counter, before Alvaro Morata doubled the lead with a smart finish following Cesar Azpilicueta’s long ball.

    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang spurned a glorious chance just moments before Morata’s strike, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan also blazed over from a fine position in the box after the Gunners went two goals behind.

    But Unai Emery’s side continued to cut Chelsea open and they hauled themselves level in dramatic fashion, scoring two goals in four minutes as Mkhitaryan drove in fiercely from the edge of the box before Alex Iwobi converted the Armenian’s cut-back before the break.

    After half-time, Ross Barkley brought an impressive save from Petr Cech and N’Golo Kante saw a promising shot blocked by Sokratis, while Aubameyang had a goal correctly ruled out for offside on the break.

    Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga almost spilled a cross straight to substitute Alexandre Lacazette, and Kante might have done better with a close-range header in the box.

    But Alonso made no mistake with a tidy finish from close range after substitute Eden Hazard’s run and pass across goal set up the winner.

  • Emery warns Ozil, insists every player must defend for Arsenal

    Arsenal head coach Unai Emery has warned Mesut Ozil he must help his team-mates to defend as he calls for commitment from all of his players.

    The Gunners travel to Chelsea on Saturday evening on the back of a 2-0 home defeat to reigning Premier League champions Manchester City in Emery’s first game in charge.

    The Spaniard has called for full commitment ahead of Saturday’s trip to Chelsea and insists Ozil, who has been criticised in the past for a perceived lack of effort at times, will be expected to give his all when defending for the team.

    When asked about the defensive duties placed on Ozil during the defeat to City, Emery replied: “Every player needs to defend in the true moment of a match.

    “There are defensive moments and attacking moments. Every player each needs this commitment. For me, we need to start together, whether we are attacking or defending. I want that from every player.

    “The position Ozil is playing all his career like a number 10-player, like a right-winger going inside to receive the ball.

    “It’s clear he needs the ball more to give more options in the attacking moments. He needs to do it in each match, be demanding for us but defensive moments are for each and every player.”

    Emery opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation against City but has hinted his preferred system could change as the season progresses.

    “It depends on the performance and if the performance is good,” said the Spaniard.

    “I want to give them the chances in each match and maybe we need a lot of matches for the chances for every player but we started with the pre-season and every player is playing for chances and minutes and with all the competitions.

    “We only play Sunday, Sunday, Sunday but in September we will start playing Sunday and Thursday and also we are going to play more matches and I think every player will get chances to show us his performance for the team.”

  • EPL: Three big decisions Unai Emery must make ahead of Chelsea clash

    EPL: Three big decisions Unai Emery must make ahead of Chelsea clash

    After being defeated in his opening game as Arsenal manager, Unai Emery has another tough ask as he bids to claim his first win in English football when he takes his team to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea at Saturday.

    The Gunners were never really given a look-in by champions Manchester City, who eased to a 2-0 success thanks to goals from Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva, and things will hardly get easier when they travel across the capital, Metro reports.

    Chelsea were themselves in full control as they eased past Huddersfield Town in their opening game, and they could recall Eden Hazard from the start such are the options available to Maurizio Sarri.

    If Emery is to move on from last weekend’s disappointment what factors does he have to consider and how can he orchestrate his first Arsenal win since he replaced Arsene Wenger?

    Matteo Guendouzi or Lucas Torreira?

    Frenchman Guendouzi looked overwhelmed and outclassed against Manchester City – as many with his limited experience might – but it could be that his future outings are left for lower key opponents.

    If Chelsea, as expected, do throw everything at Arsenal on their own patch then bringing in Torreira both as a ball-winner and as a player capable of keeping the ball could be key to stemming the flow.

    Torreira played just 20 minutes against City and a string of fans and former Arsenal players were disappointed to see him restricted to a substitute outing. The 22-year-old’s involvement in the World Cup may be linked to Emery leaving him on the bench but the appetite for the Uruguay international to start this weekend is insatiable.

    Will Lacazette and Aubameyang play together?

    Arsenal looked an entirely different proposition going forward once Alexandre Lacazette came on to play in behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on Sunday.

    Aaron Ramsey made way and it gave the hosts a new threat in attack and though they weren’t able to register, it gave City something to think about. Can the France international keep his place? It would be bold of Emery to adopt an attacking guise this weekend and not at least attempt to match up Chelsea’s midfield three.

    Nevertheless, Emery must identify his first choice front four without much more delay.

    Arsenal fans have been debating all summer which of Aubameyang and Lacazette will lead the attack and while the Gabon man has the edge, many would like to see them play together.

    The subtext of Ramsey’s failure to agree a new contract may also play a part in the selection, with the midfielder unlikely to be happy if he is left out while fresh terms are being discussed.

    The left-back dilemma

    Such has been Arsenal’s fortunes when it has come to injuries in recent seasons Wenger would have been well-served leaving a dossier for his replacement.

    That there was a fitness concern in the first half of Emery’s opening game in charge should come as no surprise as Ainsley Maitland-Niles went off with a knee problem after a collision with Kyle Walker.

    Stephan Lichsteiner came on out-of-position at left-back but the Swiss veteran cannot be a long-term option in that position. Nacho Monreal has a knee injury and is not likely to be ready in time to face Chelsea while Sead Kolasinac has a similar problem which will keep him out for two months.

    Moving another defender to the left-side is an option, but it would leave the back-four horribly unbalanced. Rob Holding and Lichtsteiner are among the candidates, while a defensive-minded midfielder likes Mohamed Elneny could be considered as a last ditch solution.

    Nevertheless, it is a dilemma which will leaves Pedro, Willian and Eden Hazard licking their lips.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Arsenal: Stupid way of playing, Allardyce blasts Emery over loss

    Former England boss, Sam Allardyce has laid into new Arsenal boss Unai Emery for having his side play out from the back against Manchester City.

    Emery underwent a baptism of fire in the opening day weekend of the Premier League, facing off with the champions at the Emirates on Sunday.

    The Gunners fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Pep Guardiola’s charges, although it could have been a larger scoreline in favour of the visitors, who dominated proceedings throughout.

    Well known for their high pressing game, City took Arsenal to task, and Allardyce has laid the blame squarely at Emery’s doorstep.

    “It’s the manager’s fault,” the former England boss told Talksport . “Don’t ask someone to do against Manchester City what you shouldn’t do.

    “What do Manchester City do? Press, press, press, so why do you try and play out [from the back]?

    “Even the Arsenal crowd cheered when they dropped one in the opposition’s half!

    “You cannot just force ‘the only way to play is this way’ in this country.

    “We’re getting obsessed with this stupid ‘let’s play out from the back, split the centre-halfs either side of the 18-yard box and go and play from there’.

    “It’s utter rubbish to play like that all the time.”

    It was put to ‘Big Sam’ that City themselves took risks, with Guardiola’s preferred method of play also to build from the back, to which he replied:

    “When you’re the best you can do it.”

     

  • EPL: Man City begin title defence with win at Arsenal

    EPL: Man City begin title defence with win at Arsenal

    Manchester City got their Premier League title defence off to a winning start with a deserved victory over an Arsenal side playing their first competitive game without Arsene Wenger since 1996.

    Raheem Sterling put City ahead in the 14th minute when he got the ball on the corner of the box, cut beyond two players and rifled home from 20 yards.

    Riyad Mahrez went close to scoring on his league debut for City when his free-kick was saved by Petr Cech, who denied Aymeric Laporte from the follow-up.

    It was always going to be a tough first game for Unai Emery at Arsenal and they had few clear-cut chances – with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and substitute Alexandre Lacazette shooting wide from outside the box.

    City were brilliant in parts – and controlled in others – and killed off the game when Benjamin Mendy, who assisted both goals, pulled the ball back for Bernardo Silva to blast in a second.

    BBC

  • EPL: Unai Emery named Koscielny Arsenal’s main captain

    EPL: Unai Emery named Koscielny Arsenal’s main captain

    Arsenal head coach Unai Emery has named defender Laurent Koscielny as his main captain, with Mesut Ozil listed as one of four vice-captains.

    Koscielny, currently out with an ankle injury, captained the side in place of Per Mertesacker last season.

    Mertesacker retired from playing at the end of the campaign, assuming the role of Arsenal’s academy manager.

    Ahead of Emery’s Premier League bow at home to Manchester City on Sunday, the Spaniard has also named four vice-captains; Ozil , Petr Cech, Aaron Ramsey, and Granit Xhaka – one of whom will take the armband in Koscielny’s absence.

    Unai Emery’s first Premier League match as Arsenal head coach comes against champions Man City on Sunday.

    On the appointments, Emery said: “The captain of this group is Laurent Koscielny, who is injured at the moment. After Laurent, our other captains are Petr Cech, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, and Granit Xhaka.

    “I want leaders in the team – every player at every time to have the capacity to show leadership, but these are the five players who have the possibility to be captain.”

  • Stan Kroenke makes £600m offer to take full control of Arsenal

    Stan Kroenke makes £600m offer to take full control of Arsenal

    Arsenal’s majority shareholder Stan Kroenke has made a £600m offer to buy the whole of the club in a deal that would value the Gunners at £1.8bn.

    The American billionaire owns 67% of Arsenal through his company KSE, which says Alisher Usmanov has agreed to sell his 30% stake in the club.

    A KSE statement says taking the club private will help to further Arsenal’s “strategy and ambitions”.

    The buy-out announcement was made to the London Stock exchange on Tuesday.

    Despite his shareholding, Usmanov is not part of the board or the decision-making at Arsenal.

    The metal magnate made a £1bn bid to buy the Emirates outfit in May 2017 but this was rejected by Kroenke.

    In the statement to the stock exchange, Kroenke said KSE were “moving forward with this offer, leading to 100% ownership of the club” and they “appreciate Mr Usmanov’s dedication” to Arsenal.

    The statement added: “KSE’s ambitions for the club are to see it competing consistently to win the Premier League and the Champions League, as well as the major trophies in the women’s senior game and at youth level.”

    KSE said that under “its stewardship since 2011 the club has invested in major transfers, player contracts, analytics, senior non-playing football management employees” and it “expects the club to build on those investments”.

    Kroenke will be raising the capital to take control of the club with £45m of his own money and borrowing £557m, which he says will not be against the club.

    “The offer is not being funded by way of any debt finance (bank loans, payment in kind loans or other debt or quasi debt interest bearing obligations) for which the payment of interest on, repayment of, or security for any liability (contingent or otherwise) will depend on the business of Arsenal,” said the statement.

    In the offer document, each of Arsenal’s 62,217 shares are valued at at £29,419.64.

    KSE currently has 41,743 of those, with Usmanov holding a stake of 18,695, which would be worth £550m under the offer.

    Aquiring Usmanov’s shares would move KSE past the 90% threshold whereby they could compulsorily be able to purchase the remaining 1,779 shares, which are valued at £52.3m.

    Apart from Arsenal, Kroenke’s “family portfolio” of assets also include NFL side Los Angeles Rams, the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, the NHL outfit Colorado Avalanche, MLS side Colorado Rapids and Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League.

    Arsenal have a new manager in charge this season after Unai Emery took over from Arsene Wenger, who had been Gunners boss for 22 years.

    In Wenger’s final season, Arsenal finished sixth in the Premier League as they missed out on the Champions League but qualified for the group stages of the Europa League.

    The Gunners start their Premier League campaign against champions Manchester City on Sunday.

    BBC