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Tag: Arsene Wenger

  • English players are masters of diving, Wenger says

    English players are masters of diving, Wenger says

    Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger weighed into the debate about simulation in the English Premier League on Thursday by suggesting that English players may have become “the masters of diving”.

    Wenger made the statement ahead of the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley, and was speaking as the fallout continued from last weekend’s 2-2 draw between Liverpool and Spurs.

    During the match, Tottenham’s Dele Alli was booked for diving and Harry Kane was accused of falling too easily to win a penalty kick under a challenge from goalkeeper Loris Karius.

    Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino had defended his players by saying part of football is about “tricking the opponent’’.

    However, Wenger believes those comments have been blown out of proportion, saying simulation was an increasing problem.

    “We have to get the diving out of the game,” the Frenchman told a news conference on Thursday.

    “I remember there were tremendous cases here when foreign players did it, but I must say the English players have learned very quickly and they might even be the masters now.”

    Alli has been particularly criticised after receiving his third caution for simulation.

    Wenger did not name the England midfielder but said there is a fine line between what is legal and what is not.

    “I don’t encourage my players to dive. But sometimes you want your players to be intelligent. They have played a little bit with the rules, they make more of it on the penalty kick case,” he said.

    “Every striker will do that. They extend a little bit of the rules. How far can you go? That is down to the referees and I think that sometimes, at normal speed, it is very difficult to determine.”

    Wenger will decide on Friday whether to play Petr Cech or David Ospina in goal as the Czech continues to recover from a calf injury.

    The injury led to his substitution in Saturday’s 5-1 win over Everton.

    “Cech or Ospina, I will make that decision tomorrow,” said Wenger. “Petr Cech has not practiced, but I will not take any risk if he is not 100 per cent fit.”

    The Frenchman also hopes to have Nacho Monreal and Danny Welbeck available for the game.

    It is the first time Wenger has taken Arsenal to play Spurs at Wembley, a ground where the Gunners traditionally thrive, winning the FA Cup final in 2014, 2015 and 2017.

    “We feel we have a good level of performance at Wembley. It gives you a good pitch to allow you to play the way you want to,” said Wenger.

    The Arsenal manager will face Spurs for the 52nd time in his 22 years as Arsenal manager.

     

  • Wenger to take late call on Aubameyang for Everton clash

    Wenger to take late call on Aubameyang for Everton clash

    Arsenal will assess Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s fitness before deciding if the striker can make his debut for the club in Saturday’s premier league clash with Everton, the club’s Manager Arsene Wenger has said.

    The London club bolstered their forward line by signing the Gabon international from Borussia Dortmund for a club-record fee on Wednesday, but Aubameyang, 28, did not fully participate in Thursday’s training session due to a fever.“ I have to assess how well he is physically today and how well he feels. He had a fever, so he could not practise a lot.

    Read Also: Party Claims: Wenger  opens Iwobi investigation

    “He started yesterday; he was still not completely well. I have to assess with the medical department how fit he can be,” Wenger told a news conference on Friday.

    The manager said that he would take a late call on midfielder Jack Wilshere, who is also unwell.

    “We hope he is capable of being in the squad; he is better. He will practise with the team today, and we will see how he feels,” Wenger added.

    The manager said that Armenian midfielder, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, another of Arsenal’s recruits in the January transfer window, is in line to start against ninth-placed Everton.

    Wenger, however, kept his cards close to his chest when asked if the attacking quartet of Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan, Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette could play together on Saturday.

    “It’s always possible. Will I do it? Maybe; I don’t know, but it is possible; yes.

    “You need at least two top strikers to play in the premier league because if one gets injured, you have a problem,” he said.

    Arsenals are sixth in the table with 42 points from 25 games.

    NAN

  • Chelsea complete Giroud signing

    Chelsea complete Giroud signing

    Chelsea have reinforced their attacking line with the signing of French striker Olivier Giroud from Arsenal FC on an 18-month contract, the English Premier League clubs confirmed on Wednesday.

    “Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League,” the 31-year-old said in a statement.

    “They have won maybe the most trophies in the last six or seven years. It’s a massive club and I am proud to sign for Chelsea, and I’m looking forward to playing.”

    Giroud has found it difficult to cement a place in the Arsenal starting line-up this season, with manager Arsene Wenger preferring to start Alexandre Lacazette as a lone striker.

    Giroud has made 16 appearances in the league, with 15 of them coming as a substitute.

    He joined Arsenal from French side Montpellier in 2012 and his goal tally has hit double figures in each of his last five seasons.

     

  • Wenger predicts hit for Weah’s life in film script

    Wenger predicts hit for Weah’s life in film script

     

    Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger says the life of Liberia President elect George Weah is worthy being an instant hit if captured in film script.

    Wenger, who recently recorded his 700th victory as Arsenal boss, also confirmed that he has been invited to Liberia for Weah’s inauguration on January 22. The 68 year old is however not likely to make the trip to Liberia considering that the inauguration date is sandwiched between Arsenal’s Premier League meeting with Crystal Palace on January 20 and the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final with Chelsea on January 24. He nonetheless jokingly said he could attend if the Football Association hand him a touchline ban following his recent comments about referees.

    But the Arsenal manager highly praised his former player: ‘When you look at his life, the life of this guy is a film. It is unbelievable. It is a fantastic film.

    ‘I saw him in Monaco, looking lost, not knowing anybody, not being rated as a footballer, yet he became in 1995 the best player in the world and now he is president of his country. It is unbelievable.

    ‘He was always strong mentally, convinced he has a mission. When he played at Monaco, it was during the time of war in Liberia and I saw how much he suffered with his country.

    ‘The love for his country and his people, and the care he had for his people. Today when I look back, I have seen him crying when the war was on.

    ‘But this is a happy story and I wish him a happy presidency. He is an example to all footballers”‘

    Weah, who played under Wenger at Monaco between 1988 and 1992, was announced his country’s next president after winning 61.5 per cent of the vote in last month’s election.

    Monaco was Weah’s first club in Europe and the striker scored 66 goals for them over four seasons before moving on to Paris Saint-Germain.

    When at Milan in 1995, Weah became the first non-European footballer to win the Ballon d’Or and he won two Serie A titles during his five years at the San Siro.

  • Wenger Congratulates George Weah as President Elect

    Wenger Congratulates George Weah as President Elect

    Though the official result of the presidential election has not been announced- at press time- but Arsenal’s manager Arsene Wenger has reportedly congratulated former football star and politician George Weah, as the president elect.

    On Thursday evening www.bbc.com reported that Wenger must have been misled by unofficial reports circulating online that the former professional footballer has won the Liberia Presidential Election.

    Mr Wenger said: “I would like to congratulate one of my former players, who became president of Liberia.”

    Recall that Wenger coached Mr Weah at French club Monaco between 1988 and 1992.  The former Fifa World Footballer of the Year has long turned a politician with aspiration to be Liberia’s President.

    Mr. Weah who is among 20 presidential candidates seeking to replace President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Tuesday’s election had contested the race two times in history.

    False reports of Mr Weah’s victory have been circulating on social media but it is not clear why Wenger thought he had won.

    “It is not often that you have a former player who becomes a president of a country,” Wenger was quoted on the online platform.

    “Well done George and I would say just for him to keep his enthusiasm and his desire to learn and to win,” he added.

    Official results have still not been announced even though the head of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Jerome Kokoya, had told the BBC that he expected the first results to be announced by 23:00 GMT on election night.

    One of Liberia’s leading political parties, the Liberty Party, has called for a halt in announcing results, citing alleged irregularities.

  • Wenger will go if I buy Arsenal, says Dangote

    Wenger will go if I buy Arsenal, says Dangote

    Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote plans to sack Arsene Wenger if his long-promised takeover of Arsenal is ever successful.

    Africa’s richest man, valued at £10billion by Forbes earlier this year, has publically expressed his desire to take over at the Emirates for several years and saw an initial bid to join Arsenal’s hierarchy collapse in 2010.

    In an interview with Bloomberg Dangote once more affirmed his desire to invest in the north London side once he completes a major oil refinery project in the Nigerian capital of Lagos.

    And any successful bid from the 60-year-old could spell doom for Wenger.

    “The first thing I would change is the coach,” Dangote said. “He has done a good job, but someone else should also try his luck.”

    It is not the first occasion in which Dangote has promised major upheaval at the Emirates, making similar comments about Wenger in May 2015.

    The Arsenal manager would fear no such challenge from current majority shareholder Stan Kroenke, with whom he agreed a two year contract extension at the end of last season.

    Kroenke insisted in May that he was a “committed, long-term investor” in Arsenal after his company had rejected a £1billion takeover bid from Alisher Usmanov, who owns a 30 per cent stake in the club.

    The offer valued Arsenal at £2bn and Dangote is convinced he could tempt Kroenke and Usmanov into selling up.

    “If they get the right offer, I’m sure they would walk away,” he said. “Someone will give them an offer that will make them seriously consider walking away.

    “And when we finish the refinery, I think we will be in a position to do that.”

    Dangote, an Arsenal fan since the mid-1980s, had been in talks with then-shareholder Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith about a deal seven years ago but saw a deal fall apart.

    The commodities tycoon is worth nearly £4bn more than Kroenke though his wealth has been eclipsed by Usmanov in recent years

  • Lacazette foresees perfect partnership with Iwobi

    Lacazette foresees perfect partnership with Iwobi

    Arsenal new import Alexandre Lacazette another Alex in Arsene Wenger’s squad, is hoping to strike a perfect tag team with Nigerian international Alex Iwobi when the new season kicks off in August.  The France international who scored in his debut for the Gunners against Sydney FC in continuation of pre-season shape up, had Iwobi to thank for providing the timely assist for the goal that saw Arsenal running away with a 2-0 victory.

    Lacazette netted within 15 minutes of coming off the substitutes’ bench to mark his arrival for a club-record fee in style.

    Iwobi made a great ground down the right before squaring for the onrushing Frenchman to slot home with a low finish.

    ”Happy to score my first goal with my new Team !! Thanks Alex Iwobi, great assist. ’’ Lacazette tweeted.

    The highly elated new arrival who joined the Emirates Stadium giants for £52 million is likely to get more time to showcase his skill as the Gunners prepare to face more teams in the pre-season tour.

    Arsenal take on Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday as in continuation of their pre-season trip to Australia.

    Lacazette who made 203 appearances for his former club Lyon between 2010 and 2017 scoring 100 goals in the bargain will be hoping to continue his exploits at the Emirates.

    His new found partner in progress Alex Iwobi on the other hand has made about 39 appearances for the Gunners with five goals to show for his effort. Iwobi who has been a Gunner through and through, graduated from the youth team into the senior team in 2015.

  • Lacazette completes £53m move to Arsenal

    Lacazette completes £53m move to Arsenal

     

    Alexandre Lacazette has become Arsenal’s record signing after joining from Lyon in a deal which could be worth up to £53m.

    The Frenchman was at Arsenal’s training centre in Hertfordshire on Tuesday to have a medical before completing his record transfer from Lyon.

    And on Wednesday afternoon the deal was completed, with Lacazette signing a five-year contract at the Emirates Stadium.

    Lacazette was in London on Tuesday to undergo his medical before completing £53m move

    He will join up with his new team-mates for a pre-season tour to Australia and China next week.

    A club statement on Wednesday evening read: ‘Alexandre Lacazette has agreed to join us on a long-term contract, for an undisclosed fee.

    ‘He is expected to travel with the tour party to Sydney this weekend and is likely to make his home debut in the Emirates Cup on July 29 or July 30.

    ‘The deal is subject to the completion of regulatory processes.’

    Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: ‘We are very happy to have Alexandre join our group. He has shown over a number of years that he can score goals and that he is a very efficient finisher.

    ‘As well, he has very interesting technical qualities and a strong character. So he is a guy who is a great addition for us, and someone who will help us challenge at the top level this season.’

    Lacazette’s transfer will smash the Arsenal transfer record which stands at £42.5m for Mesut Ozil in 2013.

    Lyon, his hometown club, will receive £46m with up to £7m more in add-ons depending on his success in north London.

    His arrival could hasten the departure of his France team-mate Olivier Giroud who is wanted by Everton, West Ham and Marseille.

    Arsenal’s first-team squad were back for pre-season training on Tuesday with the exception of those on extended international duty during the summer.

  • Wenger targets top quality’ signings

    Wenger targets top quality’ signings

     

    Arsene Wenger wants to add “top, top quality” signings to his Arsenal squad after agreeing a new two-year contract to remain as manager.

    Months of speculation over the Frenchman’s future were ended with the announcement of a new deal on Wednesday, the 67-year-old’s attention now publicly turning to next season.

    Wenger is desperate to use Arsenal’s strong end to the 2016-17 campaign, which saw them rally to lift the FA Cup – giving him a record seventh win in the competition – to make a fast start next year.

    He feels the Gunners must seek to streamline the playing group, with a focus on adding only those stars who can make a big impact on the club’s fortunes.

    “First of all, we have a very heavy squad at the moment so maybe we might lose some players,” he told Arsenal Player.

    “We want to keep the strength we have and build on that. We will work very hard to find the additions of top, top quality.

    “I believe that our squad is very strong and we will only look for top-class people who can strengthen our team now. The basis is there so we need the additions who will make a real difference.

    “We look at the top, top quality available. We have seen in the recent games against Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United that we are a very strong team.”

    7 – Arsene Wenger has won seven FA Cup trophies as a manager; the most in the history of the competition.

    Asked about which areas he wants to strengthen, Wenger said: “For us it’s very important that we only consider the players who can really make a difference, no matter where it is.

    “We forget that we have top-quality people already and, if you look closely at the players who left us, every player who came here became a better player.

    “You cannot say [that] about every player who left us. We have a very good record with the team and the improvement of the players here. We have to continue that but we are also looking everywhere to become even better.

    “We have created a dynamic that is very positive and we want to build on that and transfer that positive end of season [form] to the new season.

    “We finished the season in a very convincing way. We won 10 of our last 11 games and that is absolutely difficult. We played against all the difficult opponents, so we finished the season in a very strong way with a very strong dynamic. That’s why I told you that we want to transfer that into the new season.”

  • Wenger to get Arsenal’s riot act on Wednesday

    Wenger to get Arsenal’s riot act on Wednesday

     

    Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger is to get the club’s riot act on Wednesday when the club is expected to propose a number of changes in the way he runs the club. Some board members seriously believe that there is need for the Frenchman to effect a few changes to his method , insisting that the Gunners have all it takes to reclaim its position of pride in the EPL.

    Wenger agreed a two year deal with Stan Kroenke on Tuesday but will need to relay the decision to the board that will be expected to rubber-stamp Wenger’s two year deal.

    Kroenke, who attended Saturday’s FA Cup final, has spoken to Wenger over the past 72 hours.

    The Frenchman is understood to have told the club’s majority shareholder of his intention to stay.

    Wenger retains the owner’s backing, meaning Kroenke is virtually certain to ratify the Frenchman’s new deal.

    There remains genuine resistance from members for the Gunners board to Wenger staying – but Kroenke holds the final decision.

    As revealed by Sportsmail on Monday night, Wenger will be urged to be more assertive in the transfer market during the crunch board meeting.

    The hierarchy will propose a number of changes to the way Wenger runs the club’s football operation at Tuesday’s meeting.

    Indeed, there is a feeling from the board that Wenger lacks conviction in the final throes of potential transfers.

    In recent years, the club have found themselves frantically signing players on the final day of the summer transfer window – a scenario the club want to avoid.

    For example, with a deal agreed for Gonzalo Higuain in the summer of 2013, Wenger dropped his interest in the Argentine to pursue Luis Suarez.

    Also on the agenda at the meeting will be the proposed contract renewals of Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.

    The club’s summer transfer business will also be discussed.

    Malaga pair Sandro Ramirez and Pablo Fornals are emerging as serious targets for Arsenal.