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Tag: Arsenal

  • EPL: Arteta slams controversial Arsenal penalty decision

    EPL: Arteta slams controversial Arsenal penalty decision

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said there was ‘no way’ Everton should have been awarded a penalty in their 1-1 Premier League draw on Saturday.

    Referee Darren England awarded the home side a penalty after Myles Lewis-Skelly had a coming together with Everton winger Jack Harrison in the Arsenal box.

    Iliman Ndiaye stepped up and slotted past David Raya to level the score and further dent Arsenal’s fading Premier League title hopes.

    Arteta was left furious with the decision, saying there is ‘no way’ Lewis-Skelly’s challenge was worthy of conceding a penalty.

    Speaking to the press after the game, Arteta said: “The referee decides to give a penalty that changes the course of the game.

    “I’m here to give my opinion and, after seeing it 15 times, there is no way in my opinion that is a penalty because if it is then (Jake) O’Brien has to be out, and Everton have to play with 10 men. That’s clear.”

  • EPL: Arteta defends Arsenal selection after Everton draw

    EPL: Arteta defends Arsenal selection after Everton draw

    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta defended his team selection after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Everton.

    Leandro Trossard had the Gunners ahead before a penalty won by  Jack Harrison after being fouled by Myles Lewis-Skelly was converted by Iliman Ndiaye.

    Afterwards, Arteta defended his team selection, denying he was rotating given their Champions League quarterfinal first-leg clash with Real Madrid next week.

    He said, “Everybody has to be important, has to fill in.

    “Not for what was happening on Tuesday, but what happened in training they deserved to start the game.”

    On the performance of Bukayo Saka, Arteta continued: “He is in a much better place. He has played 49 minutes today. He’s in a much better place.

    “Today we have players who have not played together. Let them have the minutes, have the understanding and we will assess who is the best combination for the game.”

    The match marked the last for former Everton captain Arteta at Goodison Park: “Well, I mean the Premier League has got a reputation all over the world for places like Goodison Park. I understand this is evolution of a football club.”

    On facing Real Madrid, he said: “One of the most beautiful games that you can play in football. Against a team that has dominated the competition for the next 25 years.”

  • Arsenal’s make-shift striker proves matchwinner against Chelsea

    Arsenal’s make-shift striker proves matchwinner against Chelsea

    Arsenal ended a three-match winless Premier League (PL) run with a narrow 1-0 victory over London rivals Chelsea, extending the Blues’ worrying away league run to seven matches without a win (D2, L5).

    Early sighters from Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli set the tone for a first half in which Chelsea largely struggled to impose themselves.

    The Blues were on the back foot for much of the period, with Arsenal having plenty of joy down the right flank as Jurriën Timber’s cutback from the byline caused a moment of panic for the visitors.

    Unsurprisingly, the breakthrough eventually came from the right, where a corner was conceded, allowing Martin Ødegaard to whip in a ball that was looped over a nervy Robert Sánchez via the head of makeshift striker Mikel Merino.

    At the other end, Chelsea’s stand-in centre forward Pedro Neto was often finding himself isolated, but his side improved as the half wore on, coming close to an equaliser when Marc Cucurella’s volley slipped through David Raya’s hands, trickling agonisngly past the far post.

    Nevertheless, Arsenal kept the Blues at bay until the break, adding a 10th HT lead at the Emirates to their tally – a league high.

    Attempting to cope in the absence of an injured Cole Palmer, Chelsea made a quiet start to the second half, failing to continue their previously growing momentum following the interval.

    With an hour played, Sánchez was called into action to prevent Merino from doubling Arsenal’s advantage, making a fine save to stop a well-taken volley from crossing the line. A rather tame effort from Ødegaard soon followed before a low-key period lacking in notable action.

    Still searching for a response, Enzo Maresca’s men pushed for a late equaliser, but ultimately to no avail as the well-organised hosts held firm.

    Closing a 12-point gap to league leaders Liverpool looks to be beyond Mikel Arteta’s side at this late stage of the campaign, but victory here does give Arsenal breathing room in their bid to secure UEFA Champions League (UCL) qualification, now 10 points clear of fifth-placed Manchester City.

    One point and one place above last season’s champions, Chelsea remain in the last certain UCL spot, although a seventh PL H2H (D2, L5) without victory will have done little to boost their confidence ahead of the run-in.

    Tribalfootball

  • Why Ben White refused England return – Arteta

    Why Ben White refused England return – Arteta

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has offered more detail on Ben White’s decision not to play for England.

    New England coach Thomas Tuchel has revealed White is now ready to return after refusing to play for the Three Lions since he walked out on the Qatar World Cup campaign.

    Arteta revealed:  “What Ben did was very brave and not a lot of people would have done it.

    “I was very involved in.

    “I know how Ben felt and it was very clear for me the reason why he made that decision.

    “It wasn’t about (letting the country down). It was about facing the situation and saying, ‘I can’t handle it now and I am not the best person to represent the country the way I feel right now’.

    “So it was completely the opposite. What a lot of people would do is hide in that environment.

    “Whatever the outcome, what I want is for Ben to be happy.

    “Knowing Ben, he won’t be influenced by somebody else.

    “And if they found that chemistry between Thomas and him, that’s great. If he wants to come and Thomas wants him, great.

    “He has the level and the potential to achieve great things with the national team.”

  • EPL: Declan Rice rescues Arsenal from defeat

    EPL: Declan Rice rescues Arsenal from defeat

    Arsenal came from a goal down to draw 1-1 against Manchester United in the Premier League (PL), the second consecutive H2H to end level after 90 minutes as the Red Devils ended a four-match losing streak in league H2Hs.

    Fresh from their sensational midweek victory over PSV Eindhoven, Arsenal looked bright in the early stages and almost had an early opener when Mikel Merino fired marginally wide in the 10th minute.

    While Alejandro Garnacho caused occasional problems down the right, the visitors largely remained in control but struggled to break through the Red Devils’ backline, with Martin Ødegaard seeing his strike from range saved by André Onana.

    Thomas Partey then became the latest visiting player to have an unsuccessful shot from outside the box. Leandro Trossard then fired wide following an improvised touch and could only divert the ball from Ødegaard’s dinked pass into Onana’s grasp.

    Despite having offered very little going forward during most of the first half, United went ahead before half time as Garnacho won a free-kick that Bruno Fernandes sent flying into the top corner with his side’s first shot on target of the match.

    Ayden Heaven came on for his PL debut ahead of the restart having joined United from Arsenal in January, and the 18-year-old settled quickly.

    The Gunners still worked opportunities from corner variations, although Ødegaard and Rice were both unable to beat Onana.

    The hosts’ wing-backs combined shortly after as Diogo Dalot found Noussair Mazraoui, who forced a brilliant save from David Raya.

    The Gunners goalkeeper then stopped an instinctive flick from Zirkzee, before Trossard’s attempt at the other end trickled harmlessly wide.

    Rice eventually added the clinical touch the visitors had been craving, sending a first-time effort from Jurriën Timber’s pass in off the post.

    There wasn’t to be a second for either team as Onana palmed Gabriel Martinelli’s strike past the post.

    Rice and Gabriel Magalhães then made vital interventions to deny Rasmus Højlund, while Raya made a brilliant save to deny Fernandes in stoppage time as Arsenal played out their second consecutive draw in the PL, which leaves the Gunners 15 points behind leaders Liverpool.

    This was also United’s third draw after 90 minutes from their last four matches across all competitions, which was enough to take them up one place.

    Tribalfootball

  • Arteta explains Arsenal letting Obi move to Man Utd

    Arteta explains Arsenal letting Obi move to Man Utd

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has explained the situation around losing teenage striker Chido Obi to Manchester United last year.

    Obi rejected pro terms at Arsenal after spending several years inside the academy ahead of leaving for United. The 17-year-old has since made three senior appearances for United.

    “Obviously, when a player decides that the best pathway for him is to leave, there’s not much you can do,” said Arteta.

    “Very unfortunate because we want to keep our players from the academy and to be very successful with the first team. But in that case, with Ayden (Heaven), we weren’t able to do that.

    “To persuade a player to stay a player has to be willing to be with us and commit to us and I don’t know specifically, both parties will feel very different about it.

    “The reality is that he has decided to move and we have moved on from that.”

    Asked about Obi’s qualities, he said: ‘‘Massive goal threat, an attitude and love to be inside the box and a capacity to score in many different ways. That was him.”

  • UCL: Arsenal hit seven to thrash PSV

    UCL: Arsenal hit seven to thrash PSV

    Arsenal demolished PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the Netherlands to take a commanding lead into the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

    The Gunners scored three goals in the first half and four goals in the second to all but confirm their place in the quarter-finals of the competition, with a trip to Madrid on the horizon.

    Ismael Saibari hit the crossbar early on for the home side but Arsenal took control after Jurrien Timber scored Arsenal’s opener in the 18th minute.

    Ethan Nwaneri doubled Arsenal’s lead just three minutes later when Myles Lewis-Skelly cleverly cut the ball back for the 17-year-old to powerfully score past Walter Benitez.

    Lewis-Skelly, who had already been booked, was fortunate to stay on the pitch shortly after when he fouled Ledezma, and Mikel Arteta replaced him with Riccardo Calafiori with 10 minutes of the first half left.

    Mikel Merino added a third following a defensive mix-up before Noa Lang pulled one back from the penalty spot for PSV after Thomas Partey fouled Luuk De Jong.

    Arsenal continued to attack with ease as soon as the second half started and Martin Odegaard made sure there was not going to be a PSV comeback when he scored from close range after Benitez pushed a cross out into the area.

    Substitute Calafiori then combined well with Leandro Trossard who chipped the ball over Benitez from close range to score Arsenal’s fifth just one minute later.

    Odegaard scored his second with an excellent individual effort before Calafiori grabbed a goal late on as Arsenal registered their record away win in the Champions League.

    In the new format, Arsenal can plot their route through the competition, and despite having next week’s second leg to come, they look set to take on either 15-time champions Real Madrid, or their city rivals Atletico.

    Real won the first leg of their last-16 tie 2-1 on Tuesday with the second leg to follow at Atletico.

    BBC

  • Arsenal ready to raise transfer cash with major clearout

    Arsenal ready to raise transfer cash with major clearout

    Premier League club Arsenal are preparing for a major clearout this summer.

    With their title push now flailing after recent results, Gunners, management are now planning for next season – and beyond.

    The Mirror says Arsenal intend to sell one of their two attackers Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, with big-money interest arriving from the Saudi Pro League.

    Defenders Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko will also be encouraged to move on and could finance the arrivals of a striker and a winger.

    Others to leave would be two players whose contracts are expiring – midfielders Thomas Partey and Jorginho.

    Jorginho is in advanced talks about a pre-contract with Flamengo.

    Tribalfootball

  • EPL: West Ham win dents Arsenal title hopes

    EPL: West Ham win dents Arsenal title hopes

    Arsenal missed the chance to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool as West Ham ended a four-match winless run with a stunning victory at Emirates Stadium.

    Jarrod Bowen got the winner against a Gunners side who later had Myles Lewis-Skelly sent off.

    Victory would have moved Arsenal to within five points of Arne Slot’s team, who visit champions Manchester City on Sunday, but they struggled badly against a Hammers side who defended magnificently and created the better openings over the 90 minutes.

    Bowen started and finished the move that led to the winner late in the first half, collecting a loose ball on the edge of his own box and feeding Aaron Wan-Bissaka before stooping low to nod the full-back’s cross into the net for his 50th Premier League goal.

    It was the first time Arsenal had trailed in a home Premier league game at half-time this season, but they showed no discernible improvement after the interval – despite pinning West Ham back for much of the second period.

    Leandro Trossard had a low shot saved by the feet of Alphonse Areola, but the Gunners’ hopes of a route back into the contest were dealt a major blow when Lewis-Skelly was sent off for a professional foul on Mohammed Kudus near the halfway line.

    Referee Craig Pawson initially cautioned the 18-year-old for dragging Kudus to the floor, but the video assistant referee (VAR) ruled that Lewis-Skelly had denied the Ghanaian a clear goalscoring opportunity and the yellow card was upgraded to a red.

    West Ham held on comfortably in the end to move 13 points clear of the bottom three and level with Manchester United in 15th – although they stay 16th because of their inferior goal difference.

  • EPL: Merino double keeps Arsenal title hopes alive

    EPL: Merino double keeps Arsenal title hopes alive

    Arsenal closed to within four points of Premier League leaders Liverpool as substitute Mikel Merino’s two late goals gave them 2-0 victory at struggling Leicester City.

    The Gunners’ striker shortage threatened to be exposed by the Foxes until Merino, on for the desperately out of sorts Raheem Sterling, stole in at the far post to break the deadlock.

    Merino’s 81st-minute goal was created by Arsenal’s outstanding player, 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who hit the woodwork twice in the second half and was their main threat throughout.

    Spanish midfielder Merino then struck again at the far post three minutes from time to wrap up a vital win and keep Arsenal’s title pursuit on track.

    It was tough on Leicester, who fought hard throughout and almost took the lead, only for Myles Lewis-Skelly to get a vital touch with Bobby de Cordova-Reid waiting to tap in Jordan Ayew’s cross.

    Arsenal’s celebrations carried an element of relief as for a long time it looked like their lack of strikers, made worse by Kai Havert’s hamstring injury sustained on their break in Dubai, was threatening to undermine them – until Merino stepped up.

    BBC