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  • Wenger’s future at Arsenal will be decided after FA Cup final

    Wenger’s future at Arsenal will be decided after FA Cup final

    Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, said a decision on his future at the club would be made at a board meeting after their FA Cup final against Chelsea on May 27.

    The Frenchman will be out of contract at the Emirates at the end of the campaign as he prepares for the final Premier League game of the season against Everton.

    He hopes that the club will finish in the top-four for the 21st consecutive season.

    “I don’t know what will happen in the meeting,” Wenger told a news conference on Friday.

    “There are many aspects of a football club which has to be discussed at a board meeting. One of those is what happens with the manager, the players coming in and contract renewals.

    “The most important thing is to win the football game. What happens to me after that is less important,’’ he said.

    When asked whether a decision will be announced shortly after the FA Cup final, he replied, “of course.”

    The North London club is relying on an upset to secure Champions League qualification.

    They are sitting fifth in the standings, one point behind fourth-placed Liverpool and three behind third-placed Manchester City.

    Liverpool host already-relegated Middlesbrough and Manchester City travel to Watford who languish 16th in the standings.

    Arsenal has won their last four league games and Wenger expected his side to focus on their own performance ahead of the final weekend of the season.

  • Sanchez stars as Arsenal close on top four

    Sanchez stars as Arsenal close on top four

    Olivier Giroud grabbed a brace as Arsenal bolstered their bid to gatecrash the top four with a convincing 4-1 victory at Stoke City.

    The Frenchman started and finished the scoring to take his tally to 16 for the season as the Gunners continued their rich-vein of form with a sixth win in seven outings in all competitions.

    Mesut Ozil and the mercurial Alexis Sanchez were also on target as the visitors eventually made their superiority count to move a point behind fourth-placed Liverpool with two matches to play.

    Substitute Peter Crouch had threatened to drag the Potters back into it at 2-0 when he appeared to handle the ball into the net, but a controversial moment didn’t have an impact on the outcome as Arsenal finally won at Stoke for the first time since 2010.

    View image on TwitterLiverpool still have the initiative in the race for the Champions league places, but know that any slip against West Ham on Sunday could let the Gunners in when they host already-relegated Sunderland on Tuesday evening.
    Olivier Giroud of Arsenal celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Arsenal

    Olivier Giroud of Arsenal celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Stoke City and ArsenalGetty Images

    TALKING POINT

    Arsenal’s Champions League hopes are alive and kicking – but would it be enough for the fans?

    The Gunners’ bid for a 21st straight season of dining at Europe’s top table have looked bleak in the past few months – but now they are on a charge. Liverpool have faltered and if the Merseysiders slip up at West Ham on Sunday, the door will open for Wenger to sneak into the top four once again. For most clubs finishing in the Champions League places and reaching the FA Cup final would be enough, but Gunners still feel they have not lived up to expectations. After the Bayern Munich humbling Wenger’s future looked in major doubt, but the Frenchman may well end up doing enough to fight on. Watch this space.

    MAN OF THE MATCH

    Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) – Quite simply the Gunners’ talisman. Provided a sensational pass for Ozil’s goal and scored the match-clinching third despite appearing to pick up a knock.

    Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring their third goal

    Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring their third goalReuters

    PLAYER RATINGS

    STOKE CITY: Butland 7, Johnson 5, Shawcross 6, Martins Indi 6, Pieters 6, Whelan 6, Cameron 6, Allen 6, Arnautovic 7, Diouf 5, Shaqiri 6. Subs: Berahino 7, Crouch 7, Sobhi n/a.

    ARSENAL: Cech 6, Holding 7, Mustafi 7, Koscielny 7, Bellerin 8, Coquelin 7, Xhaka 7, Monreal 8, Sanchez 8, Giroud 7, Ozil 7. Subs: Ramsey 6, Walcott n/a, Welbeck n/a.

    Matchcast: Full match stats and commentary

    KEY MOMENTS

    70′ – ARSENAL HIT THE POST. Monreal ghosts into space but sees his header from Bellerin’s deflected cross cannon back off the woodwork.

    42′ – GOAL! STOKE 0-1 ARSENAL. Bellerin sprints free on the right and puts a low cross on a plate for Giroud to tap home from close range.

    55′ – GOAL! STOKE 0-2 ARSENAL. The visitors double their advantage. Ozil plays a sublime one-two with Sanchez and coolly clips the ball over Butland.

    59‘ – STOKE CHANCE. Arnautovic surges free on the left and fires in cross that Diouf can only guide wide from six yards out. Stoke almost back in it!

    67′ – GOAL! STOKE 1-2 ARSENAL. Crouch loves playing against Arsenal – and he’s got Stoke right back in this. The towering forward gets to the near post to meet Arnautovic’s cross, but it looked like it may have gone in off his hand!

    76′ – GOAL! STOKE 1-3 ARSENAL. Sanchez restores Arsenal’s two-goal cushion. The forward was hobbling just moments ago, but takes a pass in his stride and drills a low shot in off the far post.

    80′ – GOAL! STOKE 1-4 ARSENAL. It’s four! Giroud slides Ramsey’s ball into the net after the Welshman had raced to the right of the area and cut it back for the striker.

    Mesut Ozil of Arsenal celebrates with Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud of Arsenal after scoring a goal to make it 0-2 during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Arsenal

    Mesut Ozil of Arsenal celebrates with Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud of Arsenal after scoring a goal to make it 0-2 during the Premier League match between Stoke City and ArsenalGetty Images

    KEY STATS

    Alexis Sanchez is the first player to record double figures for both goals (21) & assists (10) in the premier League this season.

    Sanchez has scored 15 away league goals this season; only Kevin Phillips (16 in 99/00) has more in a single PL campaign.

    Only Thierry Henry (83) and Ian Wright (87) netted 50 PL goals for Arsenal in fewer appearances than Alexis Sánchez (101).

    Giroud’s first goal was the first time Arsenal have opened the scoring in a Premier League game at Stoke City.

    The Sanchez to Ozil combination has provided five PL goals this season, only Swansea‘s Sigurdsson to Llorente (6) have combined for more.

    Crouch scored his ninth PL goal against Arsenal – only Wayne Rooney (11) & Robbie Fowler (10) have scored more v The Gunners.

  • Spurs dent Arsenal champions league hope, City draw against Boro

    Spurs dent Arsenal champions league hope, City draw against Boro

    Totenham hotspur add to Arsene Wenger misery with a comfortable 2-0 derby win against Arsenal at white hart lane.

    Goals from Dele Alli and a penalty converted by Harry kane sees off their north London rival, making it diffilcut for Arsenal to qualify for next season champions league

    The home side looks well perfect and composed throughout the game dominating most of the possession for full 90 minutes keeping Arsenal shut down totally and also put an end to a  22-year curse against Arsenal topping them on the league standings for the first time in 22 years this season.

    Tottenham are back in contention for the English premier league once again securing all three points today and closing gap against the leader Chelsea.

    However, Pep Guardiola side Manchester city were forced to 2-2 draw against the bottom line side Middlesbrough thanks to an equaliser from Gabriel Jesus towards the end of the game to secure a point for City.

     

  • Huth’s own goal gives Arsenal win over Leicester

    Huth’s own goal gives Arsenal win over Leicester

    Arsenal kept up their top-four chase as a late Robert Huth own-goal gave them a lone goal victory over defending champions, Leicester City.

    The home supporters at Emirates Stadium seemed set for a deflating evening before Nacho Monreal’s shot found the bottom corner via the German defender’s chest four minutes from time.

    Alexis Sanchez had rattled the bar and been denied by Huth’s last-ditch challenge in the Gunners’ best chances before the goal.

    But, Leicester also threatened, with Riyad Mahrez bringing a superb save out of Petr Cech in the first half, and then had penalty appeals turned down.

    Arsenal are now three points behind Manchester United and four behind fourth-placed Manchester City, having played the same number of games – at least one of the Manchester pair will drop points when both meet on Thursday.

    Liverpool, in third, are six points ahead of the Londoners having played two more games.

    Meanwhile, Tottenham kept up the pressure on the League leaders, Chelsea, as Christian Eriksen’s superb long-range strike secured a hard-fought victory at Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

    Spurs had struggled to break down a disciplined Palace side for much of the game and it looked like they would have to settle for a point.

    But Eriksen fired into the bottom corner from 30 yards late on to keep Spurs within four points of Chelsea with five games remaining.

    Also, Sunderland were left on the brink of relegation after losing to fellow strugglers, Middlesbrough, in the Tees-Wear derby, who registered their first victory of 2017.

  • Manchester derby may be better without referee – Yaya Toure

    Manchester derby may be better without referee – Yaya Toure

    Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure will prefer to play without a referee in Thursday’s derby with Manchester United in the English Premier League.

    The Ivorian said this on Monday while criticising the standard of officiating in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final defeat by Arsenal.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that referee Craig Pawson had ruled out Sergio Aguero’s first-half strike at Wembley.

    Replays suggested the goal should have stood and Manchester City went on to lose the game 1-2 after extra time.

    “I think the referees have to stop this,” said Toure.

    “I am very disappointed. It is not the first time, there have been a couple of times.

    “Maybe on Thursday we are going to have a better referee or maybe play without a referee, I would prefer that.”

    Officials ruled that Leroy Sane’s cross had gone out of play before reaching Aguero.

    The Argentina striker later did score to put Manchester City ahead but goals from Nacho Monreal and Alexis Sanchez sent Arsenal into May’s FA Cup final, where they will meet Chelsea.

    Defeat means Manchester City’s focus switches to the Premier League, where they are currently fourth.

    But Manchester United will leapfrog them if they win on Thursday.

    “It is a very big game, an important game,” added Toure.

    “We have to do that job and we will see what can happen. We hope to have a good referee.”

     

  • Arsenal confirm broken leg for Wilshere

    Arsenal confirm broken leg for Wilshere

    Arsenal  have confirmed that Bournemouth loanee Jack Wilshere has suffered a broken leg and is set to miss the rest of the season.

    The 25-year-old collided with Harry Kane in the second half of Bournemouth’s 4-0 Premier League defeat to Tottenham last Saturday and had to be substituted.

    Scans later showed that Wilshere sustained a hairline crack to his left fibula – a similar injury to that which kept him out for the majority of last season.

    “We can confirm that Jack Wilshere has suffered a fractured left fibula,” Arsenal said in a statement.

    “The midfielder, who is on a season-long loan at AFC Bournemouth, sustained the injury during the Cherries’ Premier League match at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. X-rays taken after the game were clear, but further scans showed a hairline crack in the fibula.

    “Jack will undergo further specialist assessments in the forthcoming days to identify more specifics regarding the injury and also to structure a rehabilitation programme. It is hoped that Jack will be fit for the start of next season.”Everyone at the club wishes Jack a speedy recovery.”

    The news is a bitter blow to the England international, who is set to hold talks with the Gunners over his long-term future at the end of the season.

    “I’m sure I’ll sit down with the boss of Arsenal and whoever it may concern and we’ll sort it out,” he told Sky Sports this month.

    Wilshere has made 29 league appearances for Eddie Howe’s side since joining on a loan deal last August – a move he made in a bid to earn regular first-team football and force his way back into the England set-up

    Bournemouth sit seven points above the relegation zone with five matches left to play this term.

  • Sanchez, Ozil rescue lacklustre Arsenal at Middlesbrough

    Sanchez, Ozil rescue lacklustre Arsenal at Middlesbrough

    Two goals from Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil were enough to rescue a win for Arsenal away at Middlesbrough, keeping alive the Gunners’ hopes of finishing in the top four

    Arsenal started the game 10 points adrift of fourth place, and Middlesbrough were six points away from climbing out of the relegation zone.

    Arsene Wenger started the match with three at the back, giving Rob Holding a rare start. While neither side impressed in the first half, Sanchez curled in a fine free-kick past a static Brad Guzan.

    In the second half, Alvaro Negredo equalised for the home side, and with 20 minutes of normal time left, Ozil won it with a low shot from close range.

    With the victory, Arsenal move into sixth on goals scored, while ‘Boro now look doomed in their attempts to stay up. Arsenal’s post match celebrations betrayed their relief after a difficult period.

    TALKING POINT

    Has Arsene Wenger tinkered too late? A drop to three at the back is hardly rocket science, but putting three central defenders helps to shore up a weak central defence, and gives more bodies in the middle of the park too. It certainly helped the side to play their three best attacking players, and gave Oxlade-Chamberlain and Nacho Monreal the chance to assist in attack and defence. It wasn’t a great performance, but it was far better than it has been.

    MAN OF THE MATCH

    Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough): While he ended up on the losing side, Downing was ‘Boro’s most threatening player, and the most dangerous player on the pitch. His deft cross into the box for Negredo created a goal, and had he seen more of the ball he could have given Arsenal’s new-look defence a tougher time.

    MATCHCAST: FULL MATCH STATS AND COMMENTARY

    PLAYER RATINGS

    Middlesbrough: Guzan 6, Barragan 6, Ayala 6, Gibson 6, Fabio 7, Clayton 6, De Roon 6, Leadbitter 6, Ramirez 6, Downing 7, Negredo 7. Subs: Friend 6, Traore 6, Gestede 6.

    Arsenal: Cech 6, Gabriel 6, Koscielny 5, Holding 6, Oxlade-Chamberlain 7, Ramsey 6, Xhaka 6, Monreal 6, Ozil 7, Alexis 7, Giroud 6. Subs: Bellerin 6, Coquelin 6.

    KEY EVENTS

    37′ – RAMSEY FOUL – Ramsey should be off. He goes in late, studs-up into Clayton’s shins. Because the contact isn’t thuddering, no real damage is done, and he isn’t even booked. Absolutely awful refereeing.

    42′ – GOAL! ‘Boro 0-1 Arsenal. Sanchez scores – Sanchez arcs a free kick from the middle of the pitch, 25 yards out, into the top corner to Guzan’s right, the ‘keeper doesn’t move. A superb free kick.

    50′ – GOAL! Middesbrough 1-1 Arsenal. Negredo scores – Downing breaks down the right wing, comes onto his left foot and clips an excellent ball into the box for Negredo to put it past Cech to equalise.

    61′ – AYALA HEADER – Ayala meets a cross from Downing after it’s headed back across goal by Friend, and it’s cleared off the line after Cech falls backwards to beat it out.

    63′ – GUZAN SAVE – Sanchez picks out Ozil with a measured through-ball, and as he sets himself to shoot, Guzan rushes out to block the run and clear the ball.

    71′ – GOAL! ‘Boro 1-2 Arsenal. Ozil scores – Sanchez floats a ball into the box gently, Ramsey deftly chests it into the path of Ozil, who whallops a shot low into the near corner.

    KEY STATS

    Middlesbrough have yet to win in 2017.

  • Arsenal to trust  Wenger with £200m transfer budget

    Arsenal to trust  Wenger with £200m transfer budget

     

    Arsene Wenger will reportedly be the man in charge of Arsenal when the club release a hefty kitty for this summer’s transfer activity.

    Plenty of fans have made it clear that they want the Frenchman to step down when his contract expires in the summer.

    Protests have been held before matches, while supporters have unfurled banners calling for Wenger to go, but it is believed that the 67-year-old could sign a new two-year deal.

    According to The Mirror, the North London outfit  are expected to have around £200m to spend this summer, and half of that will come from selling a number of first-team players.

    The report claims that Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere, Olivier Giroud, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lucas Perez and David Ospina could be among those heading out the Emirates exit gates.

    In terms of incomings, Wenger reportedly wants a deep-lying midfielder, two wingers, two full-backs, a goalkeeper and a striker, with Lyon star Alexandre Lacazette being the main target for the forward role.

    Crystal Palace wide-man Wilfried Zaha is a rumoured target of Arsenal’s, while Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney is also being eyed by the North London outfit, who are in danger of missing out on a Champions League place this season.

    Arsenal currently sit sixth in the Premier League table, seven points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City with eight games left to play.

    The Gunners meanwhile considering appointing their former player Marc Overmars as the club’s new director of football.

    The North London outfit are planning a structural change to the club this summer, but it is believed that manager Arsene Wenger is likely to stay put.

    Reports have claimed that the new director of football will oversee transfers, which is something that Wenger has been in control of during his entire 20 years as manager.

    Overmars, who spent three years of his playing career at Arsenal, is on the list of candidates for the new role at the Emirates.

    The Dutchman currently works as the director of football at Ajax.

  • Wenger faces reality as Arsenal loses 3-0 to Crystal Palace

    Wenger faces reality as Arsenal loses 3-0 to Crystal Palace

    In a season that’s featured numerous embarrassing results for Arsenal, it’s difficult to pick out one and refer to it, definitively, as the most embarrassing. Yet, there’s a very clear argument for Monday’s 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace deserving that distinction.

    Arsenal entered Monday’s match seven points behind Manchester City for fourth place in the Premier League, having gained a small bit of ground on their rivals for Champions League places by beating West Ham United last week. But City — along with Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, and Manchester United — had won over the weekend. The Gunners had to win just to keep pace, and against a relegation battler like Palace, they should have been able to do so.

    But it was Palace who dictated the pace and style of the match from the start. Arsenal had plenty of the ball, but their chances were limited, and they looked under serious threat every time Palace broke forward. Arsenal’s defending on Andros Townsend’s opening goal in the 17th minute was terrible, with their back line completely disorganized. Things didn’t get better in the second half — it was Palace who came out of the locker room with more intensity, who looked the more likely to score, and who eventually did score the game’s second goal.

    Palace’s third goal, a penalty, was perhaps a microcosm of Arsenal’s season. Not only did backup goalkeeper Damian Martinez foul Townsend, but he actually made more contact with his teammate Hector Bellerin, and was lucky not to injure him. Bellerin, it should be noted, was in good position to prevent Townsend from taking a dangerous shot before Martinez decided to clean out both of them.

    Arsenal’s goal never came. Their best chances actually came before the penalty. For the first 68 minutes, the Gunners were flat, but from that moment until the end of the game they looked completely deflated. Palace held onto their 3-0 win comfortably.

    Gooners were dissatisfied, and the wonderful #tweetyourwatchingArsenalface started popping on Twitter.

  • Tony Adams named new Granada boss

    Tony Adams named new Granada boss

     

    Former Arsenal and England defender Tony Adams has become the manager of Granada until the end of the season, the club has announced.

    Struggling La Liga outfit Granada decided to call time on Lucas Alcaraz’ third stint as coach of the first team.

    He was sacked by the Spanish outfit following the club’s 3-1 home defeat by Valencia on Sunday which left them stuck in 19th position in the league.

    Alcaraz led the side to just four wins, eight draws and 19 defeats in their opening 31 league matches.

    And Adams takes over at Granada with a very tough job on his hands as the club currently sits seven points off La Liga safety.

    50-year-old Adams is vice-president of DDMC – a company owned by Granada president John Jiang – and has been working with the Spanish outfit since November.

    A club statement on Monday read: ‘After evaluating the situation in which the team is and the sensations the team had been showing after recent results, Granada has decided to end the time of Lucas Alcaraz and his coaching staff in charge of the first team.

    ‘In his place, the club place all their confidence in Tony Adams, vice president of DDMC, as head coach of Granada until the end of the season.’

    Previous to taking up the role with Granada, Adams had spells managing Wycombe, Portsmouth and Azerbaijani side Gabala.

    The Arsenal legend also spent last season working with Chinese Super League side Chongqing Dangdai Lifan.