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Tag: Arsenal

  • ‘One of the greatest’, Sir Alex Ferguson pays tribute to departing Wenger

    Departing Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been described as “one of the greatest Premier League managers” by former Manchester United coach, Sir Alex Ferguson.

    The 68-year-old Frenchman will leave at the end of the season after nearly 22 years at the club, 12 months before his latest contract was due to expire.

    Former Manchester United boss Ferguson paid tribute to his “professionalism, talent and determination”.

    Ex-Gunners striker Thierry Henry said Wenger leaves “an untouchable legacy”.

    Wenger won three Premier League titles and a record seven FA Cups, including the Double in 1998 and 2002.

    “I am pleased he has announced he is leaving at this stage of the season as he can now have the send-off that he truly deserves,” said Ferguson, who won 13 league titles in 26 years at Old Trafford, before retiring in 2013.

    “He is, without doubt, one of the greatest Premier League managers and I am proud to have been a rival, a colleague and a friend to such a great man.

    “It is great testament to his talent, professionalism and determination that has been able to dedicate 22 years of his life to a job that he loves.”

    Gunners goalkeeping legend Bob Wilson said Wenger was Arsenal’s greatest boss, and broke down in tears as he told BBC Radio 5 live how the Frenchman had helped his family.

    Wilson, whose 31-year-old daughter Anna died of a rare form of cancer in 1998, said: “I was there on the day he arrived and he is without doubt one of the three greatest men I have ever met in my life.

    “It is not just his football knowledge and the way he changed the game in this country but as a human being through difficult times for me and my wife.

    “Arsene is not only the greatest manager in Arsenal’s history, he has personally changed the face of the game in this country.

    “We had a team who enjoyed a drink and he changed everything about psychology, rehydration, training and everyone followed suit.”

    Club captain Per Mertsacker said he felt “sad and emotional” on hearing of Wenger’s departure.

    “There have been a lot of challenges, a lot of highs and lows, but how he went through tough times has taught me a lot about his character and about how to trust people and get the people in the right places to be successful,” he said.

    The Gunners are sixth in the league and set to miss out on a top-four spot for the second straight season, with their hopes of reaching the Champions League resting on winning the Europa League.

    Henry said it would be “an amazing achievement” if Wenger could sign off by winning a trophy.

    “His legacy is untouchable. Managers, fans from other teams – (they talk about) how Arsene changed Arsenal,” he told Sky Sports.

    Wenger had been under increasing pressure to step down from some fans having failed to win the league for 14 years.

    Former Arsenal midfielder Stewart Robson said he was like a “dictator” and should have left several years ago.

    “You can’t take away the good things when he came he changed the philosophy of Arsenal,” Robson told BBC Radio 5 live.

    “He was fantastic in that period but, like a lot of dictators, they think they are going down the right road – but even when people are saying you need to change, he wouldn’t change.

    “Arsenal under Arsene Wenger in the last few years have been too one-dimensional and behind the times in recruitment and physiotherapy. It is the best thing that could happen to Arsenal that he is leaving now.”

    Appointed on 1 October 1996, Wenger is the Premier League’s current longest-serving manager and has taken charge of a record 823 games.

    His team were dubbed “The Invincibles” in the 2003-04 season after going unbeaten in their title-winning campaign.

    BBC

     

  • Arsene Wenger decides to leave Emirates in the summer

    After nearly 22 years in charge of the Gunners, Arsene Wenger has announced that he will stand down as Arsenal manager at the end of the season.

    The 68-year-old took charge of the club in 1996 and guided them to three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups, although in recent years his record came under scrutiny.

    Pressure mounted on the former Nancy, Monaco and Nagoya Grampus Eight boss when he failed to lead Arsenal into the Champions League for the first time since 1996-97 last summer, and with the Gunners struggling to reach the Premier League top four once more, he has decided to call it quits.

    In a statement published on the club’s official website, he said: “After careful consideration and following discussions with the club, I feel it is the right time for me to step down at the end of the season.

    “I am grateful for having had the privilege to serve the club for so many memorable years.

    “I managed the club with full commitment and integrity.

    “I want to thank the staff, the players, the Directors and the fans who make this club so special.

    “I urge our fans to stand behind the team to finish on a high.

    “To all the Arsenal lovers take care of the values of the club.

    “My love and support for ever.”

    Meanwhile, majority shareholder Stan Kroenke expressed his thanks to the Frenchman for his service to the north London side.

    “This is one of the most difficult days we have ever had in all our years in sport,” he said. “One of the main reasons we got involved with Arsenal was because of what Arsene has brought to the club on and off the pitch. His longevity and consistency over such a sustained period at the highest level of the game will never be matched.

    “Wenger has unparalleled class and we will always be grateful to him. Everyone who loves Arsenal and everyone who loves football owes him a debt of gratitude. Three Premier League titles, including an entire season unbeaten, seven FA Cup triumphs and 20 successive years in the Champions League is an exceptional record. He has also transformed the identity of our club and of English football with his vision for how the game can be played.

    “We have high ambitions to build on Arsene’s remarkable tenure and to honour his vision by ensuring that Arsenal competes for and wins the biggest and most important prizes in the game.

    “We must now focus on making a strong finish to the season and ask our millions of fans around the world to join us in paying appropriate tribute to one of the greats of Arsenal’s history and one of the greats of the game.”

    Although the Gunners are out of contention for the top four, they can still reach the Champions League if they win the Europa League. However, they will have to overcome favourites Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals, and should they win that either Marseille or Red Bull Salzburg lie in wait.

    Arsenal, meanwhile, have indicated that they are currently working on finding a new manager and “will make an appointment as soon as possible”.

    Goal.com

  • Arsene Wenger scared of Mkhitaryan injury, out of Southampton game

    Arsenal coach, Arsene Wenger fears Henrikh Mkhitaryan could be out for a number of weeks with a medial knee ligament injury.

    Mkhitaryan was forced off in the 4-1 win over CKSA Moscow in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday.

    The midfielder will have a scan on Friday to assess the extent of the damage, but Wenger confirmed he will miss Arsenal’s game against Southampton on Sunday.

    Asked if Mkhitaryan could be out for a number of weeks, Wenger told Sky Sports News: “I fear yes, I hope I’m wrong.”

    Goalkeeper David Ospina will be out for up to three weeks, Wenger confirmed, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles is also unavailable for Sunday’s game.

    Alexandre Lacazette has not started a Premier League game in over two months, but played in place of cup-tied January signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in Arsenal’s Europa League game this week.

    Lacazette, 26, scored a brace in the victory, taking his tally to three in five days since his comeback from a knee injury.

    The £50m summer signing managed just three in his first four months with the club, but Wenger is confident there is room for both Lacazette and Aubameyang in his side.

    “Aubameyang I knew could play on the left,” said Wenger, who would not confirm if the pair will start on Sunday.

    “He played there a long time. They can play together through the middle, with Lacazette as centre-forward and Auba on the left, and with Auba up front and Lacazette behind. That’s an opportunity as well.”

    Sky Sports

  • Arsenal have recovered from crisis – Arsene Wenger

    Arsenal have recovered from crisis – Arsene Wenger

    Arsenal coach,Arsene Wenger says the club have “recovered from crisis” having won their last four games.

    Back-to-back 3-0 defeats to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and in the Premier League came in a run of four consecutive losses over February and March, with Wenger confirming fans had “hatred” towards his position as manager of the team

    Arsenal are now 13 points off the top four with just seven league games remaining, but can still qualify for next season’s Champions League by winning the Europa League.

    They play the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final against CSKA Moscow at the Emirates on Thursday, and Wenger believes his side are out of a “crisis” period.

    “We were very disappointed with our result against [Manchester] City,” said Wenger. “It takes time to grieve and to recover.

    “But because the mentality in the team is very good, strong and healthy – we’re recovered.

    “I think always you judge a team by the way they come out of a crisis. On that front I believe that is very positive on our side.

    “There’s some extra pressure on us to do extremely well in this competition but that’s part of being where we are.

    “We have to see it in a way it’s an opportunity we want to take and keep the priorities right and of course focus on how well we play together, how we want to play.”

    Arsenal have scored nine goals in their last three games in comfortable wins over Stoke, AC Milan and Watford since then, but attendances at the Emirates have dropped.

    Wenger has repeatedly been the subject of calls for him to leave from the stands, but he is unconcerned by the prospect of the atmosphere affecting his team’s performance in the first leg against CSKA before heading to Russia.

    “I’m not worried about that, the crowd when something is at stake is always behind us,” said Wenger. “What will decide the attitude of the crowd is the quality of our game.

    “I’m always concerned when our stadium is not completely full but I don’t think that will be a problem tomorrow, the problem for us is our performance.”

    Wenger also hopes Arsenal’s game against CSKA is not impacted by strained relations between UK and Russian governments.

    “Honestly nobody knows what is going on and it looks more to be diplomatic relations are a bit complicated,” he said.

    “I hope it will not affect both ties, the supporters, the Russians who come here and the English who travel there.”

    Sky Sports

  • EPL: Arsenal beat Watford to end league winning drought

    Arsenal ended a run of three successive Premier League defeats as they secured a fine victory over Watford.

    Shkodran Mustafi headed in Mesut Ozil’s left-wing free-kick to give the Gunners an eighth-minute lead, before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang collected Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s pass to add a second.

    Watford had a chance to pull one back but Troy Deeney’s penalty was saved by Petr Cech, who secured the 200th Premier League clean sheet of his career.

    Mkhitaryan sealed Arsenal’s victory, their first league win since beating Everton 5-1 on 3 February, with a shot from inside the penalty area following Aubameyang’s pass.

    The result leaves the Gunners sixth, 10 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham in the final Champions League spot.

    However, Arsenal could still qualify for next season’s Champions League if they win the Europa League, and that competition affected Arsene Wenger’s team selection on Sunday.

    With Arsenal holding a 2-0 lead against AC Milan and playing the second leg of their last-16 leg tie at home on Thursday, Wenger took a risk by making six changes.

    Aaron Ramsey and Laurent Koscielny were rested, with Jack Wilshere only on the bench, but the gamble paid off for Arsenal.

    BBC

  • Europa: Arsenal defeat AC Milan in a much-needed win match

    Arsenal put their recent problems to one side as a polished performance at fallen giants AC Milan gave them the upper hand in their Europa League last-16 tie.

    The Gunners arrived at the San Siro at arguably the lowest point of manager Arsene Wenger’s 22-year reign, yet responded to a run of four straight defeats with a confident and controlled display against their Italian hosts.

    Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s first goal for the club put the Premier League side ahead, cutting in from the left to fire in with the aid of a deflection off Milan skipper Leonardo Bonucci.

    Wenger spoke before the game about his team showing fight without compromising their attacking principles – and they delivered in a dominant first-half performance.

    Aaron Ramsey deservedly doubled their lead before half-time, collecting Mesut Ozil’s piercing pass through the centre of Milan’s defence to round keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and tap in.

    Milan tried to up the tempo after the break, wasting a clear early chance to pull one back when Giacomo Bonaventura spooned over the bar.

    But Arsenal were largely unruffled from then on, limiting the home side to half chances with a solid defensive effort.

    The two away goals now make the Gunners firm favourites to reach the quarter-finals after next Thursday’s second leg at Emirates Stadium.

     

    BBC

  • Arsenal defender, Hector Bellerin to miss Europa league clash due to knee problem

    Hector Bellerin will miss Arsenal’s Europa League clash at AC Milan.

    Arsenal right back Bellerin has not travelled to Italy because of a knee problem which could rule him out of the next few games, including Sunday’s clash with Watford.

    Bellerin, 22, was only a substitute at Brighton on Sunday and that was because of a hamstring issue, because of the knee.

    Spain star Bellerin was not dropped for the Brighton game, he was on the bench as a precautionary measure and was not upset at not starting because Arsenal tried to give him a break to be fit for AC Milan.

    Bellerin has been playing with the issue for a few weeks because he has been determined not to miss games and wanted to help the team.But the lack of a rest has impacted on the problem and he will now miss out on Milan which is a major blow for Arsenal.

    Bellerin was desperate to play at Milan but will have to stay behind and get treatment.

  • Securing my job, my ‘last worry’ – Arsene Wenger

    Securing my job, my ‘last worry’ – Arsene Wenger

    Arsene Wenger says keeping his job as Arsenal boss is his “last worry” after losing six of their 12 games in 2018.

    The Gunners host leaders Manchester City in the Premier League on Thursday, four days after a 3-0 defeat by City in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

    Arsenal are 27 points behind City and 10 adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham in the race for a Champions League place.

    Wenger, Arsenal manager since 1996, said he is “amazed I still have to answer these kinds of questions”.

    The 68-year-old Frenchman signed a new two-year contract in May 2017 after leading Arsenal to a third FA Cup triumph in four seasons, although they missed out on Champions League qualification for the first time in 20 years.

    “I’ve turned the whole world down to respect my contracts,” he added.

    “My position is the last worry I have at the moment. My worry is to get the team focused and ready for tomorrow’s game.”

    On Thursday, sixth-placed Arsenal play their game in hand over Tottenham and if they win they will be seven points behind their north London rivals – and five behind fifth-placed Chelsea – with 10 matches remaining.

    Winning the Europa League is another route into the Champions League and Arsenal face AC Milan in the last 16.

    Wenger has faced increased scrutiny over his position in recent seasons, and former Arsenal striker Ian Wright said on BBC Radio 5 live he “could not make a case” for the Frenchman to remain as manager beyond the end of this season.

    But a defiant Wenger once again hit back at questions over his future in a media conference on Wednesday.

    “My job is to focus on performing and it’s for other people to judge me,” he said. “Does it stop you sleeping that my position is certain or uncertain? The game on Thursday night is the important thing.”

    “It’s not always possible to win games. We have to live with the criticism, it’s part of the modern game. But we have to focus on the next one and respond together in a united way.”

     

    BBC

  • Former Arsenal midfielder, Samir Nasri banned for six months

    Former Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri has been banned from football for six months after undergoing intravenous drip treatment at a Los Angeles clinic in 2016.

    The treatment contravenes World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules which led to a Spanish Anti-Doping investigation.

    Nasri is currently without a club having left Turkish side Antalyaspor in January.

    More to follow…

  • Europa League Draws: Arsenal to play AC Milan in last 16

    Arsenal will play seven-time European champions AC Milan in the Europa League last 16.

    The Gunners will travel to Italy for the first leg on 8 March, with the return match a week later.

    Milan, who are seventh in Serie A, beat Bulgarian club Ludogorets Razgrad 4-0 on aggregate in the previous round.

    Arsene Wenger’s Gunners beat Swedish minnows Ostersunds FK 4-2 on aggregate in the last 32, despite a “complacent” performance in Thursday’s second leg.

    Wenger said his team “had no ideas with the ball” after they lost 2-1 at home to a side only founded in 1996, who have risen from Sweden’s fourth tier in seven years under English manager Graham Potter.

    Russian club Zenit St. Petersburg, who knocked out Scottish champions Celtic, play RB Leipzig of Germany.

    In each of their previous seven seasons in Europe, Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage.

    One of those exits – in 2012 – was in their most recent meeting with Milan.The Gunners lost the first leg at the San Siro 4-0 before winning 3-0 at home.

    Despite their European pedigree, the Italian giants have never won the Europa League – nor its predecessor, the Uefa Cup.

    Led by their former midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, they are 25 points behind Serie A leaders Napoli, despite having spent around £200m on signings in the summer transfer window.

    Europa League last-16 draw in full:

    Lazio v Dynamo Kiev

    RB Leipzig v Zenit St Petersburg

    Atletico Madrid v Lokomotiv Moscow

    CSKA Moscow v Lyon

    Marseille v Athletic Bilbao

    Sporting Lisbon v Viktoria Plzen

    Borussia Dortmund v Red Bull Salzburg

    AC Milan v Arsenal

     

    BBC