The Nation Newspaper

Tag: arsenal

  • I fear becoming a nobody – Sanchez

    I fear becoming a nobody – Sanchez

     

     

    Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez says the fear of becoming a “nobody” in football inspires him to fight for success in his career

    The 28-year-old has won league titles with Colo-Colo, River Plate and Barcelona, as well as two Copa America with Chile, though he has lifted only one FA Cup and two Community Shields since joining the Gunners in 2014.

    Manager Arsene Wenger has insisted Sanchez wants to stay at the club, despite speculation linking him with a lucrative move to Premier League leaders Chelsea at the end of the season.

    But Sanchez has suggested he could be tempted to leave Emirates Stadium if he becomes concerned Arsenal are sliding into obscurity.

    “Looking at everything I’ve done in my career as a footballer, at all the titles, I believe that what’s hugely important is motivation,” he told Arsenal Player. “If a footballer is well motivated and has various things to motivate him every day, he will keep achieving his goals.

    “In my case my life has changed and improved because different things have motivated me. For example, in the beginning my motivation was to help my family. Later on, my motivation was to be the best.

    “It’s the joy you get from your family and from those close to you that motivates you. That gives you the push you need to get better.

    “So even if a match has gone badly, you don’t let it get to you and you move forward. As a footballer, everything you’ve achieved can easily be lost and then you are nobody. That’s just how life is and that’s why you shouldn’t let things get you down. That’s the reason I treat every match like a final.

    “I try to do that in every game – to give 100 per cent. Life is like a set of scales. One minute you can be right up there and the next really low.

    “It’s important to try to maintain a sense of balance and that’s down to the individual.”

  • Ozil inspires Arsenal victory over West Ham

    Ozil inspires Arsenal victory over West Ham

    Mesut Ozil on Wednesday inspired Arsenal to a resounding 3-0 victory over West Ham in a midweek English Premier League (EPL) encounter at the Emirates Stadium.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Arsenal boosted their Champions League hopes with a deserved victory over West Ham, who are in relegation trouble after a fifth consecutive Premier League defeat.

    After a quiet first half, Ozil, on his 150th appearance for the Gunners, fired home from the edge of the box after being gifted possession by Jose Fonte.

    Then the German, after playing a one-two with Alexis Sanchez, crossed for Theo Walcott – captain for the day in the absence of the injured Laurent Koscielny – to turn home from eight yards out.

    This was before substitute Olivier Giroud curled in a fantastic third after being picked out by fellow substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

    The Gunners had only won one and drawn another in their past six Premier League games, to leave their hopes of Champions League qualification – having reached the last 17 tournaments – in real jeopardy.

    There were more protests against long-serving manager Arsene Wenger – with some Gunners fans not taking their seats until the 13th minute. It has been 13 years since they last won the league.

    But the protest did not distract the team too much, admittedly against an opposition in even worse form than themselves.

    Arsenal had the best of the first half, but it was after the break they took control of the game.

    Hammers keeper Darren Randolph was unhappy with Ozil’s opener as he felt Sanchez was offside and blocking his view, but referee Martin Atkinson dismissed  his appeals.

    The two Gunners stars both linked up to set up Walcott’s second, and then Giroud scored the game’s outstanding goal to clinch the match.

    The French striker, who replaced Danny Welbeck, has scored five times as a substitute in the  Premier League, a record unmatched  this season.

    Arsenal should have had a penalty in injury time when Sam Byram brought down Nacho Monreal.

    In other EPL matches also played today (Wednesday), Chelsea maintained their seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League table as two Eden Hazard goals saw off Manchester City.

    Sergio Aguero however pulled a goal back for City to make it 2-1 at the end of a pulsating encounter at Stamford Bridge.

    Tottenham produced a sensational late turnaround to beat a stubborn Swansea side 3-1 and keep intact their aspirations of winning a first Premier League title.

    Also, Joshua King scored a dramatic late equaliser for Bournemouth as Liverpool were held 2-2, dropping two crucial points at Anfield.

  • Defoe: I was never an Arsenal fan

    Defoe: I was never an Arsenal fan

     

     

    Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe has declared that  he never supported Arsenal when he was growing up but had soft spot for   legendary front man Ian Wright.

    The Sunderland marksman spent two spells with the Gunners’ arch rivals from 2004-08 and 2009-14, bagging a combined 143 goals in 363 appearances.

    But the England international – who celebrated his first Three Lions appearance since 2013 with a goal against Lithuania last month  quashed claims that he had grown up liking the Gunners, insisting he only ever had eyes for one man.

    Responding to readers’ One-on-One questions in the May 2017 issue of FourFourTwo Defoe said: “Was I a Gunner as a kid? Absolutely not! My local team was West Ham and I used to go and watch them play when I was younger. The Arsenal connection came from me saying that I loved watching Ian Wright, but I was not an Arsenal fan. I just loved Wrighty.”

    Arsene Wenger’s side as well as Manchester United  had been linked with a move for the speedster before he first signed for Spurs in February 2004.

    The 34-year-old explains, though, that while talk of joining his childhood hero’s team was exciting, he was more interested in the challenge at White Hart Lane.

    The Arsenal link was exciting because Ian Wright was my hero. Spurs was perfect because of their history of strikers. I wanted to get on that list, too “he added

  • Arsenal scout €15m Patricio

    Arsenal scout €15m Patricio

     

    Arsenal are scouting Portuguese international Rui Patricio, RMC can exclusively reveal.

    The Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper is being linked to a €15 million move to the Emirates, or at least that that’s the sum the Gunners are believed to be ready to make for him.

    Arsenal are looking for an option in goal, and have been linked with Petr Cech is getting old, while Wojciech Szczesny is on loan to Roma, but was sent there because he was struggling to fit the bill. Cech has been alternating with Ospina, who has been good despite having a penchant for the odd critical error.

    Arsenal aren’t the only European side after the 29-year-old, who has a deal linking him with Sporting until 2022. Marseille are also known to like the goalkeeper, who starred at Euro 2016.

    The Sporting man has already made 47 appearances this season, in other words 3420 minutes of play, including nine games for his country.

  • Redknapp blasts Arsenal defence

    Redknapp blasts Arsenal defence

     

     

    Arsenal defence were taken to the cleaners by Sky Sports analyst  Jamie Redknapp on Saturday describing the Gunners defence as shambolic after they were again hammered 3-1 by West Brom.

    According to Redknapp the performance is one that should get a manager sacked.

    It was the Dawson goals that Redknapp paid particular attention to, highlighting the way the defender was able to attack deliveries from corners and make a mockery of Arsenal’s zonal marking.

    The former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder accused Arsenal of having ‘no leaders’

    ‘Aaron Ramsey should be a leader and he has to pick him up, he has to get tight, block the run, instead he just goes through and it’s so easy.

    ‘[There are] no leaders. Thierry played with leaders in his Arsenal team. Nobody is in there saying: “who is marking Craig Dawson? He’s a big guy if the ball comes in to the box someone has to stop him”. It’s too simple.’

    Redknapp was more critical of the players when he spoke during the interval.

    ‘They’re playing like mutes, there is nobody saying a word,’ he said.

    ‘Someone has to take responsibility and say “that’s a massive danger – if he gets a run on this, he’s going to score.” But there is not one Arsenal player that takes the responsibility to stop him and that’s a scandalous goal against a team that’s fantastic on set pieces.

  • West Brom dent Arsenal’s top-four hopes

    West Brom dent Arsenal’s top-four hopes

    Arsenal on Saturday suffered a fourth defeat in five league games as Craig Dawson’s double helped West Brom inflict a major blow to the Gunners’ hopes of a top-four finish.

    Dawson capitalised on some awful defending from the Gunners to head both of his goals from corners – the first to give the Baggies the lead, the second to seal their win.

    Arsenal had initially rallied after falling behind, levelling through Alexis Sanchez’s close-range finish – the Chilean forward’s 18th league goal of the season.

    However, they fell behind again 10 minutes into the second half when substitute Hal Robson-Kanu rolled the ball home with only his second touch after coming on.

    Arsenal, who lost goalkeeper Petr Cech to injury, were outfought and unable to rally a second time, their challenge wilting soon after Danny Welbeck’s header from a corner struck the crossbar.

    It was an eventful encounter, both on the pitch and above it as two planes pulling banners – one pro-Arsene Wenger and the other against the Arsenal boss – made circles around The Hawthorns.

    It was the anti-Wenger camp who were most present and vocal by the end, though, holding aloft banners declaring “Enough is enough’’ and booing their beleaguered manager’s decision to substitute Sanchez, who had picked up a knock.

    Wenger’s future beyond the end of this season remains unknown, but the facts are these – Arsenal trail fourth place by five points (albeit with a game in hand).

    They must arrest a run that has seen them win just one of their last five league games if they are to continue their proud record of finishing in the top four in each of Wenger’s 20 seasons at the club so far.

    After claiming a top-two finish in every season between 1997-98 and 2004-05, Arsenal have often flirted with fifth or worse since.

    However, this is looking increasingly likely to be the campaign when they drop below the division’s premier quartet. (NAN)

  • Iwobi to entertain in China

    Iwobi to entertain in China

     

     

     

    Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi and his Arsenal teammates are scheduled to entertain  their teeming fans in china come july 19 in a friendly with bundesliga side Bayern Munich

    Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis said of the Bayern match: “It will be very special for our Chinese fans to see a game of this stature.

    “We have a fantastic following in China and the two games we are playing there this summer will be an exciting part of our build up for the new season.”

    Bayern triumphed 10-2 over two legs against Arsenal in the Champions League last 16, and they will meet again in Shanghai as part of the International Champions Cup.

    The Gunners will face Chelsea at the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing three days later, though that match will not form part of the ICC.

    The Chinese section of the ICC begins in Guangzhou with AC Milan taking on Borussia Dortmund on July 18.

    Three days after taking on Arsenal, Bayern will face Milan in Shenzhen before the competition concludes with Vincenzo  Montella’s side taking on arch-rivals Inter in Nanjing on July 24.

  • Arsenal thrash Lincoln 5-0 to reach FA Cup semi-finals

    Non-league Lincoln City’s astonishing run in the FA Cup came to an end on Saturday as Arsenal remained on course for a 13 title by reaching the semi-finals.

    Lincoln, 88 places below their Premier League opponents, held their own for much of the first half and even went close to scoring when Petr Cech saved Nathan Arnold’s curled effort.

    However, Theo Walcott’s deflected strike gave the Gunners the lead on the stroke of half-time and Olivier Giroud put the hosts in control with a clinical strike just after the break.

    Lincoln’s dreams of a fight back were dashed when Luke Waterfall scored an own goal, turning in Kieran Gibbs’ cross.

    Alexis Sanchez added a brilliant fourth, expertly placing the ball beyond Lincoln goalkeeper Paul Farman’s reach, before Aaron Ramsey completed the win when he tapped in from Sanchez’s cross.

    It was ultimately a routine victory for Arsenal and perhaps eased some of the pressure on Arsene Wenger, who is bidding for his seventh FA Cup triumph as Gunners boss.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a protest was held before the game by around 200 fans urging the club to not give the 67-year-old a new contract when his current deal expires this summer.

    The other FA Cup quarterfinals match also played earlier today (Saturday) saw Manchester City beat Middlesbrough 2-0 at the Riverside Stadium.

    Goals from David Silva and Sergio Aguero gave Manchester City a deserved win over Middlesbrough and earned Pep Guardiola’s side a place in the FA Cup semi-finals.

    City have reached the last four of the FA Cup for the first time in four years as Guardiola aims to win some silverware in his first season in English football.

    The Spanish manager also had the luxury of taking off Sane and Aguero before City play the second leg of their last-16 Champions League tie in Monaco on Wednesday. City hold a 5-3 lead after a thrilling first leg. (NAN)

  • Arsenal seek redemption in FA cup clash

    Arsenal seek redemption in FA cup clash

     

     

    It has not been a good week for Arsenal by any stretch of the imagination.

    The Gunners dropped out of the Champions League, they’ve been hit with the news that Alexis Sanchez wants to leave and manager Arsene Wenger’s future remains up in the air.

    But they have a chance to turn it all around when they take on Lincoln City in the FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday.

    And their players seemed to be in good spirits – barring one frowning Chilean forward – as they ramped up their preparations for that game.

    Reserve goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who is likely to start against the non-League side, could be seen in training pulling off a series of spectacular saves.

    Per Mertesacker could also be seen enjoying himself as the giant German continued his return from a long-standing injury problem that has hugely hindered his season.

    Mesut Ozil also looked back to his best after missing a number of Arsenal’s recent games through illness prior to his return against Bayern Munich.

    Minnows Lincoln will be confronted by a scene unlike any they have faced before when they emerge in front of a crowd of 60,000 people at the Emirates on Saturday.

    And Wenger believes that the fans can be a huge boost for any team, despite the disappointment of their 5-1 loss against Bayern.

  • Eboue: Year ban like being in prison

    Eboue: Year ban like being in prison

     

     

     

     

    Former Arsenal and Sunderland defender Emmanuel Eboue has told SFR Sport that his year-long FIFA-imposed ban from football has been “like being in prison.”

    Eboue, 33, has been unable to play or even train with any club since late March last year after he was suspended by FIFA for failing to pay a reported near-€1 million debt to his former agent, Sebastien Boisseau.

    “It’s a bit like being in prison where you can’t do anything, because FIFA said even training with any club, I can’t,” the former Ivory Coast international, who spent seven years at Arsenal, said.

    “I have lost one year of my career. I don’t play. If I don’t play, I don’t have an income. So, let me play, and when I have something, I’ll pay my ex-agent.”

    The debt came through Eboue’s move from north London to Galatasaray in 2011. After four years in Istanbul, Eboue became a free agent in summer 2015 before joining Sunderland in early March 2016 on a short-term deal.

    He was unable to revive his career, however, as FIFA’s ruling came into force later that month, meaning he was released by the Premier League side without playing a single game.

    “Sometimes when you’re lying in bed and you think about that problem, you sometimes have bad things coming into your mind. It’s very, very hard, because they stopped me doing my work,” Eboue said.

    “They broke my dream down, they damaged everything. It was hard, to be honest, it was very, very hard.

    “People that know me very well, when they see me, they know straight away that I’m not happy. I’m trying to laugh, to make people happy, but inside me, it’s hard. I never thought this would happen to me, but it’s real life. Anything can happen in real life.”