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Tag: southampton

  • William Gallas slams Zinchenko

    William Gallas slams Zinchenko

    Former Arsenal captain William Gallas has slammed Oleks Zinchenko for Friday’s 3-3 draw at Southampton.

    The Gunners have dropped six points from their past three games ahead of Wednesday’s massive trip to Manchester City.

    Gallas told The Sun: “The defence was terrible.

    “Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus were below par and Thomas Partey wasn’t at his best.

    “Zinchenko was sleeping for Southampton’s third goal. It was not the first time he has been found wanting.

    “Defending is not his strength. One versus one is often a problem.”

    He added: “Zinchenko is one of Arsenal’s most experienced players and, in these types of games, you need that experience — you want to see him managing the game.

    “But we haven’t seen that. He hasn’t performed very well in the last few matches.

    “It will be difficult at City, it’ll be emotional.”

  • EPL: Super Eagles’ midfielder, Joe Aribo rated fourth best

    EPL: Super Eagles’ midfielder, Joe Aribo rated fourth best

    After a very impressive showings in his  debut season in the English Premier League (EPL), Super Eagles midfielder Joe Aribo has been rated one of the best midfielders in the Premier League in the current season.

    Aribo joined EPL side Southampton in the beginning of the season from Glasgow Rangers of Scotland for a fee within the range of €7m and has since set the ball rolling at Southampton football club.

    The 26-year-old Southampton attacking midfielder, is  known for his creativity and physical style of play, has scored two goals in 15 appearances for the Saints this season.

    The midfielder has been rated in top ten most aggressive players in the EPL, he garners 17 points and ranked fourth best midfielder in the EPL and also the player with the most possession won in the final third for Southampton this season. According to Squawka

    Manchester City attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne with 20 points ranks first on the chart, followed by Leeds United’s Jack Harrison with 19 points, and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Leandro Trossard, 18 points are ranked second and third respectively.

    The mercurial midfielder is ranked fourth and finishes above Arsenal’s Martin Ødegaard with (16)points Chelsea’s Mason Mount on 14 points and Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes on 14 points.

    The former Glasgow  Rangers of Scotland  playmaker will hope to consolidate on his fine form for Southampton when the second half of the league resumes on boxing day.

    Southampton are currently seated on 19 points on the EPL log and Aribo and his teammates will be looking forward to escaping from the relegation waters.

     

     

  • EPL: Southampton sack manager Ralph Hasenhuttl

    EPL: Southampton sack manager Ralph Hasenhuttl

    Premier League side Southampton have announced the sacking of manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.

    Hasenhuttl is axed after Sunday’s 4-1 home defeat to Newcastle United.

    Saints announced this morning: “Southampton Football Club can confirm it has parted company with Men’s First Team Manager Ralph Hasenhüttl.

    “First Team Assistant Coach Richard Kitzbichler has also today left the club.

    “Hasenhüttl, who was appointed in December 2018, departs having made a significant contribution to the club, overseeing some memorable results and also playing a key role in the development of our club infrastructure, identity, Ralph Hasenhuttl and playing squad.

    “However, we now believe it is an appropriate time to make a change.

    “Everyone involved with the club would like to express their sincere thanks to Ralph for all of his efforts, as well as the unwavering commitment he has shown throughout his time as manager.

    “First Team Lead Coach Rubén Sellés will take charge of the side on an interim basis for our game on Wednesday night. The club will be announcing a permanent replacement in due course.”

  • 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.

  • EPL: Southampton, Arsenal share spoils at Saint Mary’s stadium

    EPL: Southampton, Arsenal share spoils at Saint Mary’s stadium

    Arsenal football club have been pegged back in their pursuit of winning their first English Premier League title for the first time in many years have playing out a 1-1 draw with Southampton at the Saint Mary stadium.

    It looked certain to be another comfortable win for Arsenal after a blistering opening 15 minutes which saw them take the lead through Xhaka.

    Midfielder Granit Xhaka scored first on the 11th minute and held on to a first half win .

    Arsenal had more of the ball, but in the end they gave Southampton too many chances to get back into the game.

    Arsenal missed the chance to improve their lead and lost concentration in the second half, allowing Armstrong to equalize after a neat assist from Elyounoussi.

    Stuart Armstrong’s equalizer was his first Premier League goal in 21 appearances, since netting against Newcastle in March.

    Armstrong has always celebrated every of his goal at the Southampton stadium.

  • I hate seeing Chelsea get beaten – John Terry

    I hate seeing Chelsea get beaten – John Terry

    Chelsea legend John Terry was left disappointed with their 2-1 defeat at Southampton.

    Terry believes the current Chelsea side looks ‘unbalanced’ as the transfer window comes to a close.

    In a social media post on Wednesday morning, he wrote: “I hate seeing us get beat.

    “Southampton were very good, but we look very unbalanced at the minute. I can’t wait for the window to close and get our settled squad, team and formation.”

    In the same tweet, Terry also hailed defender Reece James – stating that the club miss the 22-year-old when he doesn’t play.

    The England international missed the game at St Mary’s due to illness.

    Terry added: “We miss Reece so much when he doesn’t play. 22-years-old and a future captain in my opinion.”

  • EPL: Fernandes scores in Man Utd narrow win at Southampton

    EPL: Fernandes scores in Man Utd narrow win at Southampton

    Manchester United ended a dismal sequence of seven straight Premier League away defeats as they secured a narrow win at Southampton.

    United manager Erik ten Hag wanted his side to build on the thrilling victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford on Monday night and they were able to do so in the face of a spirited Southampton challenge.

    Bruno Fernandes broke the deadlock 10 minutes after the break with a precise side-footed volley to give United the three points they needed so desperately.

    The Saints, who will take heart from their performance, survived an almighty goalmouth scramble in the first half when keeper Gavin Bazunu saved from Anthony Elanga and Armel Bella-Kotchap blocked Christian Eriksen’s follow-up.

    United broke through when Fernandes met Diogo Dalot’s cross and as they closed out their second successive win and first league triumph on the road since February, Ten Hag was able to introduce Casemiro, the new £60m acquisition from Real Madrid, as a late substitute.

    BBC

  • EPL: Aribo scores, assists in Southampton’s draw against Leeds Utd

    EPL: Aribo scores, assists in Southampton’s draw against Leeds Utd

    Super Eagles’ Joe Aribo scored one and assisted another to help Southampton secure a  two-all draw in the English Premier League clash against Leeds United on Saturday.

    Spain international, Rodrigo Moreno put Leeds United in front a minute after the break and added the second goal at the hour mark.

    Aribo was introduced to replace Stuart Armstrong in the 61st minute and gave the Saints their opening goal in the 78th minute before assisting Kyle Walter-Peters to get the equalizer in the match.

    Southampton are still without a win in the Premier League this season after losing their first game of the EPL by 4-1 to Tottenham Hotspur.

    Aribo’s goal is his first for the Saints in the English Premier League after joining during the transfer window from the Rangers of Scotland.

  • Liverpool sign new defender, Oludare Olufunwa

    Liverpool sign new defender, Oludare Olufunwa

    Liverpool have signed defender Oludare Olufunwa on a free to bolster their U21s squad following a successful trial.

    The 21-year-old has signed for the Merseyside club after being released by Southampton at the end of last season.

    Olufunwa featured twice for the Southampton first team last season – representing the South Coast side in the EFL Trophy.

    Olufunwa played for the club regularly in Premier League 2 during the first half of the 2021-2022 campaign.

    According to DailyMail, the center-back trained closely with Southampton’s first XI during their pre-season training camp ahead of the 2019-2020 campaign.

    He will now provide extra competition for the young Reds who are looking to secure a place in Jurgen Klopp’s team.

    Olufunwa will also look to prove his credentials while Rhys Williams and Billy Koumetio are out on loan at Blackpool and Austria Vienna respectively.

    Meanwhile, Liverpool’s first XI kicked off their 2022-2023 Premier League season with a draw against Fulham.

    The Premier League giants will have been disappointed with the result considering Fulham were only just promoted to the English top-flight.

  • EPL: Liverpool’s victory takes title race to final day

    EPL: Liverpool’s victory takes title race to final day

    Liverpool ensured the English Premier League title race will go to the final day of the season by coming from behind to beat Southampton 2-1 at St Mary’s on Tuesday.

    Joel Matip’s crucial second-half winner moved the Reds a single point behind leaders Manchester City to set up a tantalising finale on Sunday.

    Jürgen Klopp’s men knew they had to be victorious on the south coast to remain in contention to become top-flight champions for only the second time in 32 years.

    But they were stunned by Nathan Redmond’s superb solo opener.

    However, the much-changed visitors controlled proceedings for almost the entire evening and levelled through former Saints loanee Takumi Minamino.

    Then, Matip completed the turnaround with the aid of a deflection off Kyle Walker-Peters.

    The Reds, who remain in contention for an unprecedented quadruple, will welcome Wolves to Anfield in five days’ time.

    They will be hoping Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa can do them a major favour away to Manchester City.

    The defeat for 15th-placed Southampton was an eighth in 11 games.

    Klopp bemoaned the scheduling of this must-win fixture due to it coming three days after the Reds’ gruelling FA Cup final win over Chelsea.

    The German opted for nine changes from that penalty kick shootout success, with goalkeeper Alisson Becker and defender Ibrahima Konate the only men retained.

    Sadio Mane joined injured duo Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah in being given the night off.

    His rejigged side enjoyed plenty of early possession but were rocked by Redmond’s fine 13th-minute effort.

    After Lyanco dispossessed Diogo Jota just outside Saints’ box, Redmond received the ball from Nathan Tella and ran almost half the length of the pitch.

    He then cut in from the left and delightfully curled home from the edge of the area via a slight deflection off James Milner.

    Klopp felt the robust challenge on Jota was a foul and he had cause for further frustration minutes later.

    This was when Roberto Firmino’s precise headed finish from a Kostas Tsimikas free-kick was flagged for offside.

    Choruses of “God Save the Queen” rang out from sections of the home support.

    This was in view of the fallout of Liverpool fans booing the national anthem at Wembley at the weekend before the visitors soon levelled.

    Japan international Minamino claimed the 27th-minute equaliser.

    He beat recalled Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy at his near post with a powerful, rising drive into the roof of the net after being expertly slipped in by Jota.

    Liverpool were forced into a change at the break as captain Jordan Henderson replaced the injured Joe Gomez, pushing the versatile Milner to right-back.

    The enforced alteration had little impact on the flow of the game and, after going close through Jota and Harvey Elliott, the visitors decisively edged ahead in the 67th minute.

    Tsimikas’ outswinging corner-kick from the left was inadvertently flicked on by Saints winger Mohamed Elyounoussi.

    Matip held off Walker-Peters to send a looping header beyond McCarthy and into the right corner in front of the delirious travelling fans.

    Southampton rarely threatened a costly equaliser, although Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson fumbled a Redmond effort from distance late on.