Premier League
Arsenal Form Worries Guardiola
Pep Guardiola expects Arsenal to be even more dangerous against Manchester City due to their wretched run of form in the Premier League, according reports monitored on soccer way.com
Arsene Wenger’s side have dropped to sixth after losing four of their last five top-flight matches, including a 3-1 defeat to West Brom before the international break.
A defeat to City at Emirates Stadium on Sunday would leave Arsenal facing an uphill battle in the race for the Champions League places and would likely prompt further calls from some fans for Wenger to walk away as manager.
Guardiola, however, believes a wounded Arsenal will pose a sterner test for his players than they would if they were enjoying a winning run.
“They are professional, Arsene is so professional and the players as well,” Guardiola told a news conference. “They want to win every game.
“When you lose a lot of games, it’s a more dangerous moment to face them. I would prefer Arsenal with a lot of wins.
“Everybody knows them. There’s quality in the side, with Alexis [Sanchez] going in perfect runs inside with (Theo) Walcott, (Alex) Oxlade-Chamberlain. Good quality. Arsenal are a top team.
“I travelled there with Barcelona and Bayern Munich and it was always so difficult. We won once or twice, sometimes we lose, sometimes we draw.
“It’s always difficult at the Emirates against a tough team [who are] always fighting to be in the top four.
“Every game is a new one, so every game is a new situation. I think against the big teams – except, I said many times, White Hart Lane (where City lost 2-0 to Tottenham) – we played good all the games and deserved more than we achieved.”
Wenger is yet to announce whether he will extend his contract beyond this season, with his position under increasing scrutiny due to the Gunners’ recent results and protests from supporters who want him to leave.
Guardiola, however, says those fans calling for his head will change their tune when Arsenal’s form improves.
“We are strong when we win and we are weak when we are not winning,” he said. “When (Wenger) goes back to winning, the fans will be happy again. I promise you, 100%.
“I’m pretty sure the fans respect what Arsene Wenger has done and what he’s doing. When the bosses decide or Arsene decides, he believes it will be the best decision for Arsene and for Arsenal.
“For the fans, and the journalists, it depends on the results – nothing else.”
Premier League
Chelsea’s Pochettino cries foul over VAR decision in 2-2 draw with Villa
A VAR decision chalking off what looked to be a late winner for Chelsea at Aston Villa on Saturday has damaged the Premier League, the London club’s manager Mauricio Pochettino said.
His side thought they have completed a remarkable comeback when substitute Axel Disasi netted in second-half stoppage time, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR review penalised a push by Benoit Badiashile in the build-up.
“Me and you and everyone in the stadium watching the game, they didn’t see a foul on the pitch and then VAR changed the decision of the referee. For me that was a normal challenge. The decision was there and that’s it,” Pochettino told broadcaster TNT following the 2-2 draw.
“For me, it damaged a little bit the Premier League and English (football). If we want to be the best league in the world it should be protecting the spectacle and the decision … (it) damaged myself, damaged my team, my players, the fans,” he added.
Chelsea were 2-0 down at the break but goals from Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher put them level before the late goal was overturned.
“The performance was very good and we played really well. It is true in the first half we conceded easy … to play Villa, who are fighting for the top four, I am pleased with the team and the players were good,” Pochettino said.
Villa boss Unai Emery said his side, who are currently in fourth spot and seven points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, still had their sights set on qualifying for next season’s Champions League. Spurs, however, have three games in hand.
“We have to try to keep being consistent with the players we have and I believe in the players … in Premier League we are fighting with Tottenham for fourth position,” he said.
-Reuters
Premier League
Salah in touchline row with Klopp as Liverpool drop points
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah appeared to have a heated exchange with manager Juergen Klopp shortly before the Egypt international was brought on as a second-half substitute in a 2-2 Premier League draw at West Ham United on Saturday.
Salah, who has not been at his best since returning from injury last month, was brought on in the 79th minute, just after the Hammers’ second goal levelled the game.
He appeared angry with Klopp on the touchline before he was introduced and continued to remonstrate with his manager as fellow substitute Darwin Nunez pushed him away from the German.
Klopp tried to play down the incident, telling reporters: “We spoke about that in the dressing room and it’s done for me, that’s all.”
But Salah seemed to have a different perspective and refused interviews with reporters in the mixed zone, saying: “There’s going to be fire today if I speak.”
Saturday’s draw further dented Liverpool’s already slim chances of winning the Premier League in Klopp’s final season with the club and leaves them reliant on rivals Arsenal and Manchester City dropping points in the run-in.
-Reuters
Premier League
Iheanacho, Ndidi back in Premier League as Leicester City get promotion
Leicester City earned promotion back to the Premier League on Friday after nearest rivals Leeds United were beaten 4-0 by Queens Park Rangers, ensuring the Championship leaders will finish in the top two in the standings.
This means that the Super Eagles duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi, both players of Leicester City again taste action in the English Premier League next season.
The result of Leed City and QPR left second-placed Leeds’s chances of automatic promotion from the second-tier Championship hanging by a thread. They trail Leicester by four points with one game left to play and are only a point ahead of Ipswich Town, who have two games in hand.
It was a dream first half for QPR as the London side scored two goals without reply.
First Ilias Chair scored with a deflected effort from outside the area, while a curled finish from Lucas Andersen midway through the first half made it 2-0.
Leeds tried to up the pressure in the second half but with little effect, with French forward Georginio Rutter pulling a shot wide from the middle of the penalty area.
Scottish forward Lyndon Dykes and Sam Field both scored headers from set pieces in the second half to complete the 4-0 win.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke turned to his bench to try and influence the game and it was one of those substitutes, striker Mateo Joseph, who came closest, seeing his close-range attempt turned wide by Rangers keeper Asmir Begovic
-Reuters
-
Nigerian Football5 days ago
NFF cuts Enyimba’ point haul by two
-
Boxing1 week ago
Nigeria sports minister set for ’bout’ with Bash Ali
-
Nigerian Football6 days ago
Finidi George becomes Nigeria’s 41st national coach
-
World Cup1 day ago
South Africa may field Nigerian against Nigeria in World Cup qualifier
-
Nigerian Football1 week ago
Remo Stars close to winning their first Nigeria Premier League title
-
Premier League1 week ago
Iheanacho, Ndidi back in Premier League as Leicester City get promotion
-
CAF Confederation Cup7 days ago
BREAKING! RS Berkane – USM Alger Confederation Cup return match is called off
-
FEDERATION CUP2 days ago
At least five Premier League clubs set to exit President Federation Cup