Tag: arsenal

The prevailing school of thought from outside the Arsenal bubble is that they need a striker, a classic No 9 capable of scoring 20 goals a season. The January transfer window was rife with speculation to that effect, but it came and went without a high-profile signing arriving at the Emirates. Whether Mikel Arteta’s side will have the firepower to sustain their Premier League title challenge and European aspirations remains one of the key questions hanging over the remainder of the season.

Since Arteta arrived at the Emirates in December 2019, a constant presence in attack has been Eddie Nketiah, who has made 33 appearances across all competitions this season. Leading the line for Arsenal is a multifaceted job and, although the 24-year-old is comfortable with the demands, he admits it is not always easy.

“It’s a tough role, but something I enjoy playing,” he insists. “I think it all depends on the type of game and what the manager wants, where the spaces will be. You can have good days and bad days, but I try to give my best to help the team every time I step out there.

Read Also: Arteta rallies Arsenal players for title challenge

“I’m at a stage in my career where I’m comfortable dropping deeper, coming to feet and arriving in goal-scoring positions – but also being on the shoulder of the last man because I can get in behind to threaten defences.”

Arsenal have scored 70 league goals this season, five more than Sunday’s opponents Manchester City – a clash that could be pivotal in deciding the destination of the trophy. Alongside their attacking prowess, the lessons learned from the last campaign have been crucial to this title charge.

 “Mikel is always demanding and pushing us to be the best versions of ourselves,” Nketiah said. “We came close last year and we know what it is like to be involved in it so that experience is going to do us well.

“Every player that’s joined has added something in their way. All the players that were here before have developed and improved and got more experience based off last season. We’re taking one game at a time but we’re in a good place and we’re really hungry [to win] and do something for the fans.”

If Arsenal are to claim their first league title since 2004, their ability at set pieces will play a major role. Not too long ago, the idea of a ‘set-piece coach’ was ridiculed. Not anymore. Nicolas Jover has worked wonders for the north London club, turning them into one of the league’s best. Nketiah attributes their success to the squad recognising the benefits of dead-ball opportunities.

“We train a lot on it, Nico is a lovely guy, and away from the pitch we get on well. All the players have a good relationship with him,” says Nketiah, who smiles at the mention of the influential coach.

“It’s not just him though. The manager is keen on it and all the players and staff buy into it. We know it can help us and it’s something we work on so hopefully we can continue to create chances from set pieces and open play because we’ve got fantastic players who like to arrive on the end of things and players who can put in quality balls so it all helps.”

Arsenal’s unbeaten league form in 2024 has come on the back of a mid-season break in Dubai that sparked a marked uptick. Arteta’s side had one win in seven games in all competitions before it.

“Everyone was disappointed,” Nketiah concedes about the team morale. “You want to be winning matches and competing for things throughout the season so we were disappointed with the results but it was a really good time to get back together, focus on things, have a good time training and I think it’s done us well.

“It was a chance for some people to detach, come away, and get a bit of a break but also to work hard and just be together. We always have to be together through good and bad moments. Going away allowed us to have a change in environment and get that spark back. It wasn’t a crisis. We were still playing well, we just didn’t get the results we wanted. It was about being able to take our minds off football for a few days, then reattach and work hard. We had a lot of time to work in units with the forwards, do some finishing, and other things we wanted to improve.”

That effort is paying off for Arsenal with the pressure rising.

“We have to believe. We have the quality to do it and with our fans behind us, anything is possible,” Nketiah says. “You have to aim to win and we are no different.”

For Arsenal fans’ sake, they will be hoping the players can finally get the job done.

The prevailing school of thought from outside the Arsenal bubble is that they need a striker, a classic No 9 capable of scoring 20 goals a season. The January transfer window was rife with speculation to that effect, but it came and went without a high-profile signing arriving at the Emirates. Whether Mikel Arteta’s side will have the firepower to sustain their Premier League title challenge and European aspirations remains one of the key questions hanging over the remainder of the season.

Since Arteta arrived at the Emirates in December 2019, a constant presence in attack has been Eddie Nketiah, who has made 33 appearances across all competitions this season. Leading the line for Arsenal is a multifaceted job and, although the 24-year-old is comfortable with the demands, he admits it is not always easy.

“It’s a tough role, but something I enjoy playing,” he insists. “I think it all depends on the type of game and what the manager wants, where the spaces will be. You can have good days and bad days, but I try to give my best to help the team every time I step out there.

“I’m at a stage in my career where I’m comfortable dropping deeper, coming to feet and arriving in goal-scoring positions – but also being on the shoulder of the last man because I can get in behind to threaten defences.”

Read Also: Arteta rallies Arsenal players for title challenge

Arsenal have scored 70 league goals this season, five more than Sunday’s opponents Manchester City – a clash that could be pivotal in deciding the destination of the trophy. Alongside their attacking prowess, the lessons learned from the last campaign have been crucial to this title charge.

 “Mikel is always demanding and pushing us to be the best versions of ourselves,” Nketiah said. “We came close last year and we know what it is like to be involved in it so that experience is going to do us well.

“Every player that’s joined has added something in their way. All the players that were here before have developed and improved and got more experience based off last season. We’re taking one game at a time but we’re in a good place and we’re really hungry [to win] and do something for the fans.”

If Arsenal are to claim their first league title since 2004, their ability at set pieces will play a major role. Not too long ago, the idea of a ‘set-piece coach’ was ridiculed. Not anymore. Nicolas Jover has worked wonders for the north London club, turning them into one of the league’s best. Nketiah attributes their success to the squad recognising the benefits of dead-ball opportunities.

“We train a lot on it, Nico is a lovely guy, and away from the pitch we get on well. All the players have a good relationship with him,” says Nketiah, who smiles at the mention of the influential coach.

“It’s not just him though. The manager is keen on it and all the players and staff buy into it. We know it can help us and it’s something we work on so hopefully we can continue to create chances from set pieces and open play because we’ve got fantastic players who like to arrive on the end of things and players who can put in quality balls so it all helps.”

Arsenal’s unbeaten league form in 2024 has come on the back of a mid-season break in Dubai that sparked a marked uptick. Arteta’s side had one win in seven games in all competitions before it.

“Everyone was disappointed,” Nketiah concedes about the team morale. “You want to be winning matches and competing for things throughout the season so we were disappointed with the results but it was a really good time to get back together, focus on things, have a good time training and I think it’s done us well.

“It was a chance for some people to detach, come away, and get a bit of a break but also to work hard and just be together. We always have to be together through good and bad moments. Going away allowed us to have a change in environment and get that spark back. It wasn’t a crisis. We were still playing well, we just didn’t get the results we wanted. It was about being able to take our minds off football for a few days, then reattach and work hard. We had a lot of time to work in units with the forwards, do some finishing, and other things we wanted to improve.”

That effort is paying off for Arsenal with the pressure rising.

“We have to believe. We have the quality to do it and with our fans behind us, anything is possible,” Nketiah says. “You have to aim to win and we are no different.”

For Arsenal fans’ sake, they will be hoping the players can finally get the job done.

Arsenal maintained their pursuit of a first Premier League title for 20 years as they moved top of the table with an impressive away victory over Brighton.

Mikel Arteta’s side edged one point ahead of title rivals Liverpool, who face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, and Manchester City after the reigning champions beat Crystal Palace 4-2 earlier on Saturday.

The returning Bukayo Saka, absent for Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over Luton with a minor injury, kept his composure under pressure to slam in a first-half penalty awarded for Tariq Lamptey’s foul on Gabriel Jesus.

Read Also: EPL: Arsenal move to top, beat Brighton

David Raya leapt across his goal to keep out Julio Enciso’s spectacular long-range effort after 43 minutes, which represented Brighton’s first attempt on target, to protect Arsenal’s advantage before the interval.

It was the in-form Kai Havertz who gave the Gunners breathing space, slotting in from Jorginho’s cut-back to settle nerves among the travelling Arsenal support after the hour mark.

Former Brighton player Leandro Trossard was denied by Bart Verbruggen, but the substitute made no mistake later when played through by Havertz, calmly lifting the ball over the Seagulls goalkeeper to put the result beyond doubt.

Brighton dropped to 10th with defeat as their hopes of achieving European football for a second successive season were dealt a blow by wins for West Ham and Newcastle directly above them is.

Manchester City failed to break down a determined Arsenal defence as a highly-anticipated clash at the top of the Premier League failed to live up to the hype in a 0-0 draw at the Etihad.

Liverpool were the big winners yesterday  in the title race as they beat Brighton 2-1 to go top, two points ahead of Arsenal and three clear of City with nine games to play.

A share of the spoils preserves City’s unbeaten home run stretching back to November 2022 and ends Arsenal’s eight-match winning run in the Premier League.

But it is the Gunners who will be happier with a point as they prevented Pep Guardiola’s men from scoring at the Etihad for the first time in two years.

 “Defensively we were outstanding,” said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. “The next step is with the ball to have more composure to attack better.

 “They are the best team in the world by far, best manager by far, and we have to catch up. That’s the challenge for us.”

City had 72 percent possession but struggled to make anything of it against a defence that has conceded the fewest number of goals in the Premier League this season.

 “We didn’t create much but it was almost actions,” said City manager Guardiola. “It’s not easy to break them (down) but I recognise the intention was there.”

Guardiola said Liverpool were now “favourites” to win the title in Jurgen Klopp’s final season.

City are still yet to win in six matches this season against other sides in the Premier League top five and must end that run when fourth-placed Aston Villa visit on Wednesday to keep their title challenge alive.

 “Always who is first is favourite, second favourite is Arsenal,” added Guardiola. “It is not in our hands. All we can do is win against Aston Villa.”

Arsenal had also been in free-scoring form, netting 33 times during their eight-match winning streak.

However, the visitors had lost on their last eight trips to the Etihad, including a 4-1 thrashing as the title race swung decisively in City’s favour last season, and opted for a counter-attacking approach.

 “Eleven months ago we were here and the story was very different, we have to keep making steps,” added Arteta, who said his side still have to improve to match the standards City have set in winning five Premier League titles in six seasons.

 “We are improving, competing better, understanding how you have to play these games.

 “We have to come here and win. Today we draw and we still have to improve to be able to do that.”

Nathan Ake wasted the home side’s best chance in the first half when he failed to connect properly with a dangerous Kevin De Bruyne corner.

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City were already missing the key defensive duo of Kyle Walker and John Stones after both were injured on international duty with England.

And Guardiola was forced to cobble together an even more makeshift backline when Ake hobbled off on 27 minutes.

Arsenal, though, rarely tested the City defence.

Gabriel Jesus could just not stretch far enough to meet Bukayo Saka’s cross in the only sign of life from the England international.

At the other end, Erling Haaland was extremely well-marshalled by Arsenal’s solid centre-back pairing of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba.

And the Norwegian fluffed his lines when he did get a rare sight of goal seven minutes from time as he failed to connect with a corner at the back post.

Arsenal’s best chance to snatch all three points came late on when substitute Leandro Trossard fired straight at Stefan Ortega.

But a share of the spoils leaves the title race still tantalisingly poised with three points separating the top three.

Arsenal will be out to overturn their one-goal deficit against Porto in today’s  second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 clash. The match will be broadcast live on GOtv.

Galeno’s late strike gave Porto a 1-0 victory over the Gunners in the first leg, giving the Portuguese side a needed advantage ahead of Tuesday’s crunch clash at the Emirates Stadium. Tune in SuperSport Premier League (ch 66) at 9pm on Tuesday to watch the game.

Read Also: Heineken rallies fans  as Man City, others chase UCL  Q-Finals

Mikel Arteta will be hoping his side can replicate their league form in Europe. They are currently on an eight-game winning streak and sit top of the Premier League table. The Spaniard urged the club supporters to cheer the team to victory in the Champions League. “Bring your noise, bring your energy, your passion into that stadium and something beautiful is going to happen,” Mikel said on Saturday after Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Brentford.

Arsenal have won only one of their last nine matches in the Champions League round of 16, failing to secure a two-goal victory could mean they will be eliminated at this stage for the eighth time in a row. They last made a quarter-final appearance in the 2009/10 season when they faced Barcelona.

The two sides have met on seven occasions, both winning three games part and they have drawn once. Tuesday’s clash will determine which of them will go ahead in the head-to-head stats.

• Chelsea thrashed by Wolves

Arsenal rekindled their bid for a first Premier League title in 20 years by beating leaders Liverpool 3-1 at the Emirates as Chelsea succumbed to another embarrassing defeat, 4-2 at home to Wolves, yesterday.

Liverpool’s hopes of sending off manager Jurgen Klopp as a champion of England were dented as Arsenal closed to within two points at the top of the table.

Mikel Arteta admitted before the game that his side could not afford a repeat of their 2-0 FA Cup defeat to Liverpool last month if they were to keep their title hopes alive.

As in the cup tie, Arsenal dominated the opening stages but this time got their reward with the opening goal. Bukayo Saka stroked home after Alisson Becker denied Kai Havertz.

Liverpool did not have a shot on target in the first half, but levelled after a defensive mix up, Gabriel Magalhaes turned Luis Diaz’s cross into his own net.

The visitors repaid the favour after the break as Alisson collided with Virgil van Dijk as he rushed out from his goal and presented Gabriel Martinelli with the simple of tasks to roll into an empty net.

Liverpool missed the presence of Mohamed Salah in their push for an equaliser and were left with a mountain to climb when Ibrahima Konate was sent off for a second yellow card after fouling Havertz.

Leandro Trossard then took advantage of the space on the right side of the Liverpool defence as he surged forward and blasted beyond Alisson.

Defending champions Manchester City remain just five points off the top but now have two games in hand, starting with a visit to Brentford today, to overhaul Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino apologised to the Chelsea fans after Matheus Cunha’s hat-trick handed Wolves their first victory at Stamford Bridge since 1979.

The Blues were booed off by furious fans after dropping into the bottom half of the table.

Chelsea were thrashed by Liverpool 4-1 on Wednesday and their week to forget finished with an even more embarrassing loss as Wolves completed the double over the woeful west Londoners.

Cole Palmer put Chelsea ahead with a composed angled finish from Moises Caicedo’s defence-splitting pass in the 19th  minute.

But Chelsea’s lead lasted just three minutes, with Cunha’s shot taking a hefty deflection off Thiago Silva to leave Blues keeper Djordje Petrovic wrong-footed as it whistled into the net.

Pochettino wore an exasperated look in the 43rd minute when Rayan Ait Nouri’s shot deflected in for an own goal off Chelsea defender Axel Disasi.

he already fraught atmosphere turned even more toxic in the 63rd  minute as Pedro Neto teed up Cunha to drive in Wolves’ third goal.

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Cunha’s 82nd  minute penalty, awarded when he was fouled by Malo Gusto, capped a miserable afternoon for Pochettino, who took no consolation from Silva’s close-range finish in the 86th  minute.

With trips to Aston Villa in the FA Cup and Manchester City among their next three games, Chelsea could be in complete disarray by the time they face Liverpool in the League Cup final at Wembley on February 25.

 “We are not matching the history of the club,” said Pochettino. “It is a different project and it is a matter of time but it is difficult for me to always say (we need more) time.”