Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Arsene Wenger refuses to discuss his future as Arsenal fans jeer their own players Mesut Ozil distraught after Arsenal loss at Crystal Palace
Wenger refused to speak about his own future after goals from Andros Townsend, Yohan Cabaye and a penalty from Luka Milivojevic did the damage.
It was Arsenal’s heaviest Premier League defeat of the season and their worst since losing 4-0 at Southampton in December 2015. It was their fourth successive away defeat in the league – the worst run ever under Wenger.
It left them seven points outside the Champions League qualification places, with just eight games of a crumbling season left.
Wenger, who has yet to sign the two-year deal that is on the table for him, said: “I wouldn’t say that the players downed tools.
Mesut Ozil distraught after Arsenal loss at Crystal Palace
Mon, April 10, 2017Click through the gallery for the snaps of Mesut Ozil after Arsenal's defeat at Crystal Palace
Click to reveal the snaps of Mesut Ozil after Arsenal's defeat at Crystal Palace
“Honestly, I’m so disappointed tonight. It has been such a long time since we lost a game in the way we did last night, that’s very disappointing.
“It would be inconvenient for me to speak about me. It was more painful for us to lose this game in the way we lost it. The top four is very difficult now.”
Angry Arsenal fans, some of who have been protesting and calling for the Frenchman to go for weeks, once again called for Wenger to go and jeered at their hapless players, singing, “You’re not fit to wear the shirt”.
He said: “I want the fans to support the team. They are extremely disapointed and I can understand that, we all are. It is understandable. We played with a desire to win the game tonight with an offensive team. We knew what would face us. But they were sharper than us.”
Palace manager Sam Allardyce, whose team have now won five of their last six games to lift them six places above the relegation zone said: “Tactically the players were aware of how to beat Arsenal. The first thing was to defend and frustrate them, keep them playing sideways, then use the space behind the full-backs. Arsenal have been weak defensively.
“We won a lot of possession and created lots of chances. Yohan Cabaye’s goal, what a finish and that was down to pressing them. This was not a shock for me because we played Chelsea and won. We did that again and did it better. We all know Arsenal are going through their worst spell for years, but the only way to take advantage is by playing well.”
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
Saturday, April 1, 2017
Jurgen Klopp and Ronald Koeman call for axing of international friendlies ahead of derby Liverpool v Everton combined XI
The pair, who lock horns today in a battle which carries bragging rights and top-four implications, were both left missing key players after injuries sustained on international duty.
And Ronald Koeman admitted his Everton players have been restricted to just one "walking" training session yesterday ahead of one of the most important games in their fixture calendar.
"Both us and Liverpool are both in the same position," said the Toffees boss. "You get your players back on a Friday morning and play on a Saturday with a 12.30pm kick-off.
"It's crazy. We haven't even had a real training session. It's been recover, recover, recover and you just can't prepare as you would like to. We did a walking session [on Friday] which is not training."
Liverpool v Everton combined XI
Fri, March 31, 2017Click to reveal the best Liverpool v Everton combined XI ahead of this weekend's Merseyside derby
Click for the best Liverpool v Everton combined XI ahead of the Merseyside derby
Everton are missing Seamus Coleman, Ramiro Funes Mori, James McCarthy and Morgan Schneiderlin through injury. While they were stricken either in competitive matches or on club duty, the Toffees had both Belgium internationals Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas playing a friendly against Russia in Sochi on Tuesday night.
Jurgen Klopp, who lost Adam Lallana during the international break after he played against both Germany in a friendly and Lithuania in a qualifier, had sympathy for his opposite number.
"Do you really think they [Belgium or Russia] use this game for the World Cup in two years? That is not what anybody needs," he said.
"Would anyone miss international friendlies? I'm not sure but maybe we should try."
Koeman's mood has not been improved by James McCarthy this week with the Everton boss embroiled in a row with Republic boss Martin O'Neill over a hamstring injury sustained by the player on duty with Ireland.
Koeman reiterated his criticism of both O'Neill and his own player, who he accused of going against medical advice from both club and country.
"James must take responsibility too, and we have spoken about this," he said. "It's not the first time this has happened and it is really frustrating that he will now miss our game against Liverpool, our game against Manchester United on Tuesday and will not be fit again for several weeks."
Koeman's side are seeking to overturn 18 years of Anfield misery since their last victory in 1999 but their manager insists history counts for nothing when they teams step out this afternoon.
"The Everton team is a different team that Everton was last season [when they lost 4-0 at Anfield] and I hope that will bring more confidence to know what you need to do to get a good result and not to be afraid but to play face to face.
"Maybe they didn't win [since 1999] because maybe Everton's team was not the strongest team ever, I don't know. It's history and of course you like to break that history but OK, the longer it takes, the closer it comes."