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Tag: Premier League

  • Arsenal thrash Nottingham Forest to return to top spot

    Arsenal thrash Nottingham Forest to return to top spot

    Arsenal bounced back from Thursday’s Europa League loss to PSV Eindhoven by returning to the top of the Premier League table with an emphatic 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

    Gabriel Martinelli headed the Gunners in front early on before England’s Bukayo Saka – who set up the opener – was forced off with an injury.

    Reiss Nelson, Saka’s replacement, doubled the lead four minutes after the restart with his first Arsenal goal since November 2020 before quickly adding his second.

    Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard goals added gloss to the scoreline as Arsenal restored their two-point lead over Manchester City at the summit, with Forest still bottom after an eighth defeat of the season.

  • We need goals to win games – Arteta to Arsenal strikers

    We need goals to win games – Arteta to Arsenal strikers

    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admits they need their front players to rediscover their scoring form.

    Arteta has told Gabriel Jesus he needs to start scoring again if Arsenal are to maintain their fine start to the season.

    Neither the Brazilian nor Eddie Nketiah has found the net in Arsenal’s last six games, during which time the side’s performances have started to suffer.

    Only once in that run have the Gunners scored more than one goal and they have paid the price recently, drawing at Southampton before being beaten by PSV Eindhoven on Thursday.

    “We need goals and we need goals from our front players, that’s for sure, to win the games and to give us bigger margins,” said Arteta.

    “That run of a lack of goals has to end for us to be in a position to win more matches.

    “It’s not the first time Eddie or Gabi have been five games without scoring a goal in their career, that happens to any striker I’ve known of. And you have to deal with that, it’s part of their job.”

  • Tuchel speaks for first time about Chelsea sacking

    Tuchel speaks for first time about Chelsea sacking

    Former Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel has spoken publicly for the first time about his sacking by the London club.

    Tuchel has claimed that his time at Chelsea ‘came to an end too early’ as he speaks on his exit for the first time. The 49-year-old was sacked following the Blues’ defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in their Champions League group stage opener.

    Speaking to Sports Star, Tuchel broke his silence on his ‘early’ exit from Chelsea, revealing his shock at the sacking. He said: “I loved every day at Chelsea.

    “It came to an end too early for me, but it was out of my hands. This is also what you sign up for.”

    The German was reportedly lined up to replace Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa, to which he declined.

    The former Chelsea boss shed light on his future plans.

    He said: “I haven’t made a decision yet.

    “It is now time for me to take a break. Some clubs have been calling my manager, but we agreed that he would not call me here for these past 18 days.

  • Man Utd perform better when Ronaldo plays – Dalot

    Man Utd perform better when Ronaldo plays – Dalot

    Manchester United fullback Diogo Dalot says the players are happy leaning on Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Ronaldo was dropped from the squad entirely for last weekend’s trip to Chelsea after refusing to come on against Tottenham on the Wednesday prior.

    Erik ten Hag recalled the 37-year-old for the game against Sheriff Tiraspol and Ronaldo made a goalscoring return, scoring the third in a comprehensive 3-0 victory – securing their path to the next round of the Europa League.

    Speaking after Thursday’s victory, Dalot, who has admitted his admiration for his team-mate in the past, praised Ronaldo and said that United are a stronger side with him in.

    ‘We are very happy to have Cristiano, yesterday he scored a goal, this is what he has been doing for 20 years now and every time he is on the pitch and every time he is helping us, we are a better team. We are just happy that he is here,’ the right-back told Sky Sports.

    Meanwhile, pressed on what the scope of the conversations had been following the fallout from last week’s refusal to play, Dalot said: “Obviously everything that happened is private, we want to keep it inside the locker room. We as a team, this is what should happen.”

  • Where I think Man Utd have improved – Ten Hag

    Where I think Man Utd have improved – Ten Hag

    Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is pleased with the progress of the team.

    Ten Hag, though, says he needs time to bring through the improvements needed.

    He said, “To develop the team takes time. You can’t go from zero to 100. You have to construct it from the outside, you need development before you go to the top, to the roof.

    “Unfortunately it takes time and I don’t have time, I’m really the most impatient, but I have to, it’s quite clear. Now, I think we’re getting better defending with 11.

    “Players are more and more aware of it, that we have to do it with 11. Also our build-up, I think we’re improving game to game. Now, we need to do more to develop our attacking game but it’s the most difficult part so it takes even more time.

    “You can’t increase the tempo of that process. I want it but we have to take the time for it.”

  • EPL: Jurgen Klopp will leave Liverpool – Sherwood

    EPL: Jurgen Klopp will leave Liverpool – Sherwood

    Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood says Jurgen Klopp will leave Liverpool at the end of this season.

    Sherwood claims Klopp has taken the club as far as he can and will leave Anfield in the summer.

    “The problem Liverpool have got is this team is used to challenging for titles,” he said on the Kelly and Wrighty Show. “It’s gone for them this season, they’re not going to win the Premier League, so where’s the motivation and drive from the players?

    “The club will say they cannot be out of the Champions League, but it can be tough for players when they’ve challenged for titles, and all of a sudden it’s taken away from them. I think it’s very difficult for them.

    “I don’t think Jurgen Klopp is there next season. I think there’s a conversation to be had. I’m not sure Jurgen picks them up from where they are and makes them challengers again, I really don’t. History says he doesn’t do that. He’s very good and drives teams all the way. But it’s going to be a fight to get in the top-four now. If they miss out on the top four it’s a rebuild, a total rebuild.

    “I don’t think they’ll sack him, but there will be a conversation where both parties agree that Jurgen has taken them as far as he can and they go for a new challenge. That’s just my hunch when I look at him and the team.”

  • Laurence Stewart named Chelsea global technical director

    Laurence Stewart named Chelsea global technical director

    Chelsea’s Premier League side named Laurence Stewart as the new global technical director.

    According to Tribalfootball, Stewart will join Chelsea when he completes his commitments to AS Monaco where he is currently technical director, having moved to the Ligue 1 club in June 2020. During his time at Monaco, the team recorded consecutive third-place finishes in Ligue 1 and was a finalist in the 2021 French Cup.

    Prior to his role as the technical director at AS Monaco, Stewart was the global head of scouting at Red Bull Soccer International. Earlier in his career, he was the head of performance analysis at Manchester City, senior recruitment coordinator at Everton, and was with the England national team in a performance analyst role for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    On his appointment to his new role, Stewart said: “I’m delighted to be joining Chelsea and excited about the vision and direction of the club under the new ownership group. I am excited to join them to help them build a world-class global sporting organisation to consistently win on the pitch at the highest levels and provide player pathways to help develop our talent.”

    Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly and co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali said: “Laurence is an important appointment as we plan to build a deep sporting team that will collaborate closely. Laurence is a world-class football leader who understands talent management, data and scouting, player development and performance.”

  • EPL: Arsenal held to disappointing draw at St Mary’s

    EPL: Arsenal held to disappointing draw at St Mary’s

    Granit Xhaka scored a superb early goal but English Premier League (EPL) leaders Arsenal were still held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by Southampton on Sunday at St Mary’s Stadium.

    Stuart Armstrong netted a deserved second-half equaliser for the home side, with the result moving Arsenal to 28 points from 11 games, two ahead of second-placed Manchester City.

    Southampton are 15th with 12 points from 12 games.

    The visitors looked untouchable in the opening 15 minutes as they launched wave after wave of attacks on the home goal.

    They were rewarded with an excellent opener from Xhaka, who also netted their winner in the midweek Europa League win over PSV Eindhoven.

    Bukayo Saka’s flick set right-back Ben White away down the right flank and his cross was thundered into the roof of the net by Xhaka.

    The Swiss international had not scored any goal with his right foot in his first 263 games for the North London club, but now has two in his last two games.

    “We started well and we should have scored more but we’re only human and it’s tricky,” White said, adding that they were disappointed with their second-half showing.

    “We were sloppy in possession, we didn’t win duels. It was the opposite to the first half.”

    Home goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu made a fine stop from Gabriel Jesus’s excellent acrobatic shot as Arsenal threatened a second goal.

    Jesus had another chance to score when he was sent clear by Martin Odegaard but a superb block from Mohamed Elyounoussi snuffed out the danger.

    Southampton must have been relieved to be only 1-0 down at the break, but were much brighter in the second period.

    They were deserving of their equaliser, perhaps profiting from an Arsenal side who looked increasingly weary from their midweek exertions.

    A quick counter-attack on 65 minutes drew reward when Elyounoussi slipped the ball into the path of Armstrong, who was composed with his finish past goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

    The home team looked the more likely to find the winner after that, but created only half-chances.

    They will certainly look at it as a point well earned, and perhaps a springboard to better things this campaign.

    “It was always going to be a hard game, (and) it was not the perfect start. But to get a point is amazing for us,” goalscorer Armstrong said.

    “We changed the shape quite quickly and set deeper to limit their chances. We knew on the counter-attack we could be dangerous.”

    Arsenal are at home to Nottingham Forest next Sunday, while Southampton travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

  • I was very close to leaving Arsenal – Granit Xhaka

    I was very close to leaving Arsenal – Granit Xhaka

    Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has admitted he was close to leaving the North London club last year.

    The midfielder is being celebrated this season and proved the matchwinner in victory over Europa League opponents PSV Eindhoven.

    In the summer of 2021, he was on his way when Roma pushed for a deal. Xhaka now admits that a move was imminent.

    “I was very, very close (to leaving Arsenal). And when I say very, very close… it was like you have the stuff here and I just had to take it and leave the door,” Xhaka told the BBC’s Football Focus.

    “At that moment, you don’t see anyone around you. This is the biggest problem. You sit in a dark place and feel alone.”

  • Gerrard breaks silence with personal statement after Villa sack

    Gerrard breaks silence with personal statement after Villa sack

    Sacked Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has released a statement after leaving the Premier League club on Thursday night.

    The Liverpool legend oversaw a torrid start to the season with Villa looming just one spot above the league’s relegation zone having lost six of their opening 11 games.

    Thursday’s defeat at Fulham was the last chance for Gerrard to prove he was the best man for job, and was given his marching orders by club executives before the team travelled home from London.

    The 42-year-old Englishman took to his Instagram on Friday evening to thank the club’s supporters, players, staff, and board of directors.

    Gerrard additionally proceeded to admit it “is regrettable that it didn’t work out”.

    “I would like to thank everyone connected to Aston Villa Football Club, for the support shown to me during my time there. I would personally like to thank the board of directors, the players and all the staff for their hard work.

    “To the fans, it is regrettable that it didn’t work out in the end, but I owe you a debt of gratitude for the way you welcomed me into your club, and continued to push the team on during difficult times.

    “Aston Villa is a club with a special history, I really wanted to bring back those memorable achievements, unfortunately it wasn’t to be. I wish everyone at the club all the very best for the future.

    “SG.”