The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Emirates Stadium

  • Arsenal charged by FA over pitch invader at Man Utd game

    Arsenal has been charged by the Football Association (FA) over the pitch invasion that occurred during Sunday’s Premier League game against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.

    The incident occurred in the 69th minute of Arsenal’s 2-0 victory, when a supporter ran on to the field to celebrate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goal and shoved United defender Chris Smalling.

    He then approached Arsenal’s players with his arms aloft before stewards escorted him off the pitch.

    The man was later arrested.

    “Arsenal FC has been charged with breaches of FA Rule E20 (a)and (b),” the FA said in a statement.

    “It is alleged the club failed to ensure that its spectator(s) conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and refrained from encroaching onto the pitch during the Premier League fixture against Manchester United on Sunday.”

    Arsenal has until March 22 to respond to the charge.

    Pitch invasions in England and Scotland over the weekend have raised fears for player safety, with those in the game warning of potential tragedy unless firm action is taken to tackle the problem.

    Before the incident at Arsenal, Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish was punched in the face by a man in a Championship (second tier) game at local rivals Birmingham City.

    While in Scotland, Rangers captain James Tavernier was attacked at Hibernian.

    NAN

     

  • Former Arsenal Chairman dies at 82

    Former Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has died at the age of 82.

    Hill-Wood, who became the chairman of the club in 1982 after joining its board in 1962, presided over the appointments of George Graham and Arsene Wenger as managers.

    They went on to win five league titles, five FA Cups, the League Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup between them.

    The club, in a statement on Friday said, “It is with deep regret that we announce the death of former chairman, Peter Hill-Wood, at the age of 82.”

    Read Also: Man Utd fights back to draw with Arsenal

    Ill-health forced Hill-Wood to step down from the position in June 2013.

    Arsenal said he was also ‘instrumental’ in the successful move from Highbury to Emirates Stadium in 2006.

    “Peter and his family’s influence on the club cannot be understated… Our thoughts are with his wife Sally and his children Sarah, Julian and Charles,” the statement, posted on the club’s website, concluded.

    Born in Kensington, London, on Feb. 25, 1936 and died on Dec. 28, 2018, Hill-Wood attended Eton College.

    NAN

  • Arsenal fans push for renaming of Emirates Stadium

     

    A petition has started to rename the Emirates as ‘Arsene Wenger Stadium’.

    As the tributes continue to pour in for Wenger following his impending departure after 22 years as Arsenal boss, some want permanent recognition of his contribution to the club.

    The longest serving Arsenal boss steered the team to unparalleled success during his tenure.

    With more than 800 Premier League games to his name and 10 major trophies, Wenger has become synonymous with the north London club.

    And the movement to rename Emirates Stadium in his honour is already gathering pace.

    Two former Arsenal players Paul Merson and Alan Smith are both in favour of the idea.

    ‘They should drop the Emirates bit – they don’t need the money – and name it the Arsene Wenger Stadium,’ Merson told Sky Sports News.

    Wenger is to leave the Gunners at the end of the season after 22 years in charge

    ‘That’s his stadium. He built that. He made that stadium. Even if they called it the Emirates Arsene Wenger Stadium. He deserves to be on that,’ he added.

    Smith agreed: ‘I go along with what Merse said. I think it’s a great shout – to name the stadium after him would be a fitting tribute.’

    ‘Obviously, clubs these days are unwilling to forego all of the millions that come with naming rights, but I think that would be fantastic.’

    Arsene Wenger’s 22-year reign as Arsenal manager will end in the summer after the Frenchman announced on Friday that this season will be his last in north London.

    His departure signals the last of the long-serving managers with Wenger’s reign more than four times longer than any other current Premier League boss.

    The 68-year-old’s reign began in the summer of 1996 when he joined from Nagoya Grampus Eight to replace Bruce Rioch and his resignation represents the end of an era for both Arsenal and the Premier League.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Iwobi, Lacazette dream victory against Chelsea

    Iwobi, Lacazette dream victory against Chelsea

    Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi and his Arsenal teammate and latest Emirates Stadium import Alexandre Lacazette will be hoping to hit target when they face Chelsea on Saturday in Beijing, China.

    The duo have been in super form scoring goals and posting impressive assist when not in a better position to personally score in the club’s on going pre-season  tour.

    The Arsene Wenger tutored side were hit by stomach bug which earlier ruled out some of the players but have now recovered ahead of the clash with Chelsea with Wenger submitting that any match between the two rival teams cannot be dubbed a friendly.

    A handful of players fell ill before Wednesday’s game against Bayern Munich at Shanghai Stadium, but Per Mertesacker, Olivier Giroud, Sead Kolasinac and Aaron Ramsey both took full part in an open training session at the Bird’s Nest Stadium on Friday.

    Theo Walcott, who like Ramsey finished the Bayern game feeling unwell, only watched the final part of the session from the sideline. Mertesacker and Giroud missed that game, while Kolasinac came off in the first half. Manager Arsene Wenger identified the illness as food poisoning in Shanghai, but the team has since changed the diagnosis to a stomach bug.

    Regardless, it should give Wenger a few more options when he picks his team for their final game of the two-week trip to Australia and China.

    “Today we had 21 players fit. Theo Walcott was not ready and I don’t think he’ll be ready for tomorrow. But there’s nothing major,” Wenger said.

    Laurent Koscielny also declared himself available after missing the Bayern game with a back problem. The French centre-back also took full part in Friday’s session to boost Wenger’s defensive options.

    “My back is better,” Koscielny said. “I had a little pain on Tuesday morning, so I did treatment. Today I trained and I was OK. Not 100 percent, but I’m OK for playing. So we’ll see tomorrow.”

    Over 50,000 fans were at the Bird’s Nest on Friday, with several hundred local Arsenal fans cheering the team on during training. Before his news conference, Wenger exchanged gifts with the local organiser, handing over a signed Arsenal shirt in exchange for a personalised Chinese stamp.

    Even though this is only a friendly, the Gunners are keen to maintain their unbeaten record on this tour — especially given the fact that their rivalry with Chelsea will pick up again at the start of the season. They play each other in the Community Shield in a fortnight and Arsenal then travel to Stamford Bridge in the fifth game of the Premier League season.

    “It’s a friendly between Chelsea and Arsenal, and that means it’s not really a friendly,” Wenger said. “There’s always some pride at stake and some London desire to have superiority.

    “We know each other very well, and it’s difficult to know how prepared Chelsea are, and how far we are with preparations but tomorrow will be a good indication. It was good against Bayern, and this is another test for us before the season.”

  • lacazette to begin Arsenal show  against Sydney FC 

    lacazette to begin Arsenal show  against Sydney FC 

     

    Fresh Emirates Stadium import Alexandre Lacazette was included in the 25-man squad jetted out to Australia and China for pre-season tour. Also included is Olivier Giroud, an indication that he is not eyeing a move out of Emirates.

    The 30–year-old striker, a target for Everton and Marseille, boarded the flight to Sydney with the Gunners’ travelling party on Sunday.

    Giroud’s future is in doubt after Lacazette’s arrival but his inclusion is a strong indication that the Frenchman wishes to stay and fight for his place.

    Alexis Sanchez, who has been linked with a switch to Premier League rivals Manchester City, and Shkodran Mustafi have both been given extended leave following their participation in the Confederations Cup while Lucas Perez has stayed behind to continue negotiations with Deportivo La Coruna.

    Arsenal’s other new arrival, Sead Kolasinac, boarded the Emirates flight via Dubai, but there was no place in the group for Mathieu Debuchy, Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson, which signals their likely departures.

    The full touring squad include; Petr Cech, Emi Martinez, David Ospina, Krystian Bielik, Cohen Bramall, Francis Coquelin, Mohamed Elneny, Olivier Giroud, Alex Iwobi, Sead Kolasinac, Laurent Koscielny, Alexandre Lacazette, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Donyell Malen, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal, Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck, Joe Willock, Granit Xhaka.

    Hector Bellerin, Calum Chambers and Rob Holding have also been given extra time off following the European Under-21 Championship while injury victims Jack Wilshere and Gabriel have both stayed behind as they continue their recoveries.

    The party includes a number of youngsters with Wenger keen to give them a taste of life as a first-teamer.

    Joe Willock, Krystian Bielik, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson and Donyell Malen have all made the 12,000-mile trip.

    Arsenal will go on to play Sydney FC at ANZ Stadium on Thursday before taking on Western Sydney Wanderers at the same venue on Saturday.

    The group will then depart on Sunday for China, where they will take on Bayern Munich and Chelsea.

  • Giroud set for Arsenal extension

    Giroud set for Arsenal extension

     

    Olivier Giroud says he is close to reaching an agreement to a contract extension with Arsenal and hopes to “continue the adventure” at the Emirates Stadium.
    The 30-year-old France striker has returned to the side in recent weeks to score four goals in as many appearances.
    Giroud’s last-minute goal helped beat Preston in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, which came after he netted in stoppage time to secure a dramatic 3-3 comeback draw at Bournemouth just two days following his “scorpion kick” effort in the win over Crystal Palace.
    While still having around a year-and-a-half left on his current deal, the forward, signed from Montpellier in June 2012, hopes to soon tie-up his long-term future with the Gunners.
    In an interview with French broadcaster Telefoot, Giroud said: “We are about to reach an agreement for an extension (to my contract).
    “It was also a gesture of confidence, I want to continue the adventure here in this family of Arsenal. I feel good here.”
    Giroud added: “When I spoke to the coach, he always told me that I was an important player.
    “I know what I am capable of. I just needed to be patient, to work in training and wait for my hour to come.”
    Arsenal are also looking to negotiate new deals with key men Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.