Tag: Arsenal

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CARABAO CUP: ARSENAL THRASH BATTLING AFC WIMBLEDON TO PROGRESS TO NEXT PHASE

Arsenal eased into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a comfortable victory over spirited League One side AFC Wimbledon.

The Gunners have returned to winning ways of late and Mikel Arteta would have been pleased to see his side add goals to their recently-discovered guile with this 3-0 victory.

It took them until the latter stages to do so, however, with Alexandre Lacazette’s early penalty not built on until the final 13 minutes when substitute Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah wrapped up Arsenal’s place in the next round.

This was a chance to give much-needed game time to the likes of Lacazette, Nketiah and Gabriel Martinelli and, in the main, Arteta’s fringe players did well.

Arteta insists Lacazette can play a key role for Arsenal this season despite limited opportunities and his contract expiring next summer.

The Frenchman captained the side and was the man to make the breakthrough in the 11th minute, coolly slotting home from the penalty spot after Martinelli had been felled by Nesta Guinness-Walker.

If those inside the Emirates Stadium expected the floodgates to open at that point they would have been disappointed, Nik Tzanev in the Wimbledon goal going largely untroubled for the remainder of the first-half.

The visitors held their own without truly testing Bernd Leno, back in the Arsenal side having lost the gloves to summer signing Aaron Ramsdale.

The former Wimbledon goalkeeper was not even among the substitutes as Arteta made 10 changes, only Thomas Partey retained from the weekend win at Burnley as he continues to build up fitness ahead of the north London derby.

The Ghana midfielder came close to doubling Arsenal’s lead with a drive from the edge of the box which Tzanev pushed behind on the hour, with Partey making way shortly after.

Nuno Tavares saw a back-post header kept out by Tzanev as the hosts pushed for the goal to kill off the tie but Wimbledon were defending resolutely in numbers – repelling most balls in and around their box.

They could not set up a grandstand finish, however, Arteta throwing on Bukayo Saka for Martinelli with the England man immediately involved in the attack which saw Smith Rowe double the lead.

The result was put beyond doubt just three minutes later, Saka again involved as he worked the ball wide for Cedric Soares to cross and Nketiah to flick in with aplomb.

Ethan Chislett headed wide when he should have done better as the visitors chased a consolation before Saka arrowed a shot inches wide and drew a late save out of Tzanev as Arsenal progressed.

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Arsenal reach preliminary agreement with Antonio Conte

Arsenal have allegedly reached a ‘preliminary agreement’ with Antonio Conte to take over from Mikel Arteta next month.

The Gunners have made an abysmal start to the 2021-22 Premier League season, collecting zero points and zero goals from clashes with Brentford, Chelsea and Manchester City.

Arteta did deliver an FA Cup in his first half-season in charge, though, and the Gunners board are believed to retain faith in the Spaniard to turn Arsenal’s fortunes around.

However, Todofichajes reports that Arsenal director Edu has reached a ‘preliminary agreement’ with Conte to take control of the reins from October, and Arteta must make a ‘radical’ change in the next few weeks to save his job.

The report claims that Conte has agreed to become Arsenal’s next head coach so long as he does not take charge any later than October, and he was initially contacted by the Gunners following their loss to Chelsea.

Conte has been out of the game since leaving Inter Milan following their triumphant 2020-21 Serie A campaign, and he previously won 70 of his 106 games in charge of Chelsea between 2016 and 2018.

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Manchester City rout Arsenal ; Liverpool-Chelsea draw

The 5-0 loss means Arsenal is without a point, or even a goal, from its three matches so far this season.

Manchester City didn’t need Harry Kane or Cristiano Ronaldo to destroy Arsenal.

With four different scorers in the 5-0 win on Saturday, maybe the attacking options currently available to Pep Guardiola are enough to defend the Premier League title.

Or perhaps it’s just a sign of Arsenal’s frailties that City so easily dismantled a side that has now lost all three league games without scoring. And the fact City played against 10 men for 55 minutes after Granit Xhaka was sent off for a two-footed lunge on Joao Cancelo.

“That is why we did not need to buy a striker,” Guardiola said. “We tried but it was not possible. It is a fantastic squad. I have to say thank you for the players they have given me.”

It was a great end to a week where City had to give up on its attempt to bring Tottenham striker Harry Kane to the Etihad Stadium and thought it could sign Cristiano Ronaldo before Manchester United stepped in.

Having lost its opening game to Tottenham, City was already playing catch-up. But while City moved onto six points, four of the teams with perfect starts dropped points in their third games on Saturday.

Title contenders Liverpool and Chelsea drew 1-1 at Anfield. West Ham was held 2-2 by Crystal Palace and Brighton lost 2-0 to Everton. Only Tottenham is still in the running for a third consecutive win when Kane leads the London club into Sunday’s game against Watford.

It’s not only Arsenal on zero points after three games. Norwich, which lost 2-1 to Leicester after conceding goals from Jamie Vardy and Marc Albrighton, is yet to get off the mark. Newcastle picked up its first point in a 2-2 draw against Southampton. Brentford is on five points in its first-ever Premier League season after drawing 1-1 at Aston Villa, with Ivan Toney’s goal wiped out by Emi Buendia’s first since joining the hosts in the offseason.

Kai Havertz’s header was canceled out by Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah’s penalty after Reece James was sent off for handling. Liverpool’s attack lacked a cutting edge _ even with a man advantage _ as Chelsea’s defense marshalled by Andreas Christensen proved too robust to break down.

“He started in the central position and finished the game in the right position, because we decided to bring on Thiago (Silva) and stay with the back five,” Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said. “Andreas is very strong, he’s super talented. … I think he feels the trust, he knows what to do, he can absolutely help, he’s a top defender and a top guy. I have the feeling he’s growing every week in confidence and personality.”

WEST HAM HELD

West Ham twice threw away the lead secured by Pablo Fornals and then Michail Antonio, with Conor Gallagher equalizing both times for Palace. But Patrick Vieira is still waiting for his first win in charge of Palace, which has two points.

PENALTY SPAT

Everton was already leading through Demarai Gray’s first-half strike when it won a penalty after the break at Brighton. Richarlison grabbed the ball after Seamus Coleman was taken down in the box by Joel Veltman. Everton’s designated penalty-taker, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, had to convince Richarlison to hand the ball back so he could score from the spot.

COMEBACK

After Callum Wilson’s opener for Newcastle was canceled out by Mohamed Elyounoussi, the St. James’ Park hosts looked set again for a first win of the season when Allan Saint-Maximin netted in the 90th minute. But Jamaal Lascelles’ challenge on Stuart Armstrong allowed James Ward-Prowse to level for Southampton from a penalty in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

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Arsenal ease pressure with thumping Carabao Cup win at West Brom

Arsenal got their season up and running by coasting to victory in their second-round Carabao Cup tie at West Brom – with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hitting a hat-trick on his return to the side.

With pressure building on manager Mikel Arteta already after two defeats at the start of the new Premier League campaign, there was welcome relief as the Gunners smashed their hosts 6-0.

Aubameyang had been struck down by Covid on the eve of the new season, missing the loss at Brentford and coming off the bench in defeat to Chelsea.

He will not have scored many easier goals than the first-half brace he grabbed here before adding a fine third for the match ball as Nicolas Pepe, Bukayo Saka and Alexandre Lacazette also found the back of the net.

Saka was lively and Martin Odegaard impressed on his second debut for the club following his permanent switch from Real Madrid last week – but Arteta and his side will not be judged on such tests as this.

While the Arsenal starting XI boasted 348 senior international caps and three national captains in Aubameyang, Odegaard and Granit Xhaka – West Brom made 11 changes from their win at Blackburn, handing out five debuts with an average age of under 23.

Aaron Ramsdale made his Arsenal debut in goal and got off to a shaky start with his feet in front on an unfamiliar back four, which included Sead Kolasinac at centre-back.

He did, however, make a smart low save to keep out Tom Fellow’s low strike as the hosts started well – only to fall behind on 17 minutes.

Saka’s smart feet saw him evade a number of challenges before his low shot was pushed out into the feet of Aubameyang, who tucked home from close-range for Arsenal’s first goal of the campaign.

Odegaard should have marked his second debut with a goal but hit the post from a tight angle with the goal gaping.

The tie was wrapped up as Arsenal scored two in quick succession on the stroke of half-time.

First, Aubameyang doubled his tally for the night as he tapped home after Pepe hit the post following a fine Mohamed Elneny pass.

Then he turned provider, seeing his own shot saved before his acrobatic shot fell to Pepe who slid in to finish.

Saka got his name on the scoresheet soon after the restart, finishing with aplomb following a fine flick from Odegaard.

Lacazette opened his account for the season just four minutes into his first appearance, tucking home at the front post as Pepe claimed another assist.

That was the end of the rout as Arteta enjoyed a fine evening all round ahead of Saturday’s trip to reigning Premier League champions and Carabao Cup holders Manchester City.

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Mikel Arteta given five games to save Arsenal job

Mikel Arteta‘s future as Arsenal head coach is set to be decided within the next five games, according to a report.

Despite lifting the FA Cup at the end of the 2019-20 season, the Spaniard has endured a difficult reign at the helm, guiding his side to successive eighth-placed league finishes, with the latter causing the Gunners to miss out on European football for the first time in 25 years.

Arteta has also overseen a disappointing start to the 2020-21 campaign with the North London club, suffering back-to-back 2-0 defeats against Brentford and Chelsea in their opening two Premier League games.

The 39-year-old is now under increased pressure to turn the club’s fortunes around and according to the Daily Telegraph, the Arsenal boss has until the second international break in October to save his job.

Arteta’s next match in the dugout is for the League Cup second round clash at home against West Bromwich Albion tonight, before a trip to Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday.

League encounters against Norwich City and Burnley will then follow in September before they welcome North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to the Emirates Stadium later that month.

If Arteta is relieved of his duties, then Arsenal will reportedly consider the appointment of former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, who is currently out of work after leaving Inter Milan in May

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Romelu Lukaku breaks his duck as Chelsea give Arsenal the blues

Romelu Lukaku scored on his second Chelsea debut to set them on their way to a comfortable Premier League win over London rivals Arsenal.

Having failed to net in his 15 appearances during his first Chelsea spell, Lukaku needed just a quarter of an hour to make his mark as the Blues ran out 2-0 winners at the Emirates Stadium.

Reece James laid on Lukaku’s goal before scoring the second himself, with Arsenal unable to mount a serious challenge to get back into the contest.

Lukaku moved back to west London from Inter Milan last week and revealed he spoke to former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba in the build-up to this game – and he clearly took something from the conversation.

Drogba himself hit 13 goals in 15 games against Arsenal and Lukaku followed suit, sweeping home a low James cross from close range – netting his first Chelsea goal 3,648 days after his first appearance.

Arsenal had started well enough but the goal took the wind out of their sails, Pablo Mari and Rob Holding struggling to contain Lukaku with £50million summer signing Ben White absent due to a positive Covid test

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta had already lost Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Willian and Alex Runarsson to Covid ahead of an opening day defeat at newly-promoted Brentford.

He had called on the returning Arsenal fans to help bridge the gap between the club and the current Premier League elite – but rousing support was in short supply when Mason Mount picked out James inside the box and he fired home Chelsea’s second 10 minutes before half-time.

In fact, large swathes of the home fans jeered as the players trudged off in the swirling rain at the interval

The hosts should have arguably been given a chance to pull one back from the spot before then as the returning Bukayo Saka – given a warm welcome before kick-off – went down under pressure from James with neither referee Paul Tierney nor the VAR seeing enough to award a penalty.

Arsenal made a lively start to the second half, Saka forcing Edouard Mendy into his first meaningful save with a driven shot.

Holding then had a fine chance to halve the deficit with a header but could only steer his effort wide of goal.

Arteta then brought on Aubameyang for the tiring Saka. The last thing Arsenal needed at this stage was further fitness setbacks but that is exactly what happened as Kieran Tierney limped off, to be replaced by Nuno Tavares.

Chelsea once again took control of proceedings and Lukaku was denied a second goal of the afternoon when his diving header was brilliantly saved by Bernd Leno.

Gabriel Martinelli was the next Arsenal player to be forced off with injury as Folarin Balogun took his place for the closing stages.

The visitors saw out the game with ease, Leno saving well from Kai Havertz with plenty of home fans heading for home before the full-time whistle

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Arsenal close to agreeing Martin Odegaard deal

Arsenal are reportedly closing in on a €35m (£29.8m) deal to bring Real Madrid playmaker Martin Odegaard back to the Emirates.

The Norway captain enjoyed a positive six-month loan spell at the Emirates last season – contributing two goals and two assists in 20 appearances – and the Gunners have been keen to land him on a permanent basis all summer long.

After Odegaard was left out of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad to face Alaves in Saturday’s La Liga match, the playmaker’s agents reportedly flew to London in order to discuss a deal with Arsenal.

Now, The Athletic reports that Arsenal are ‘close’ to welcoming Odegaard back to the club, and the 22-year-old missed Real Madrid training on Tuesday in anticipation of a potential move.

The report adds that Real will sanction a sale for under £30m, and should the details be finalised quickly, Odegaard could be announced in time to face Chelsea on Sunday.

The former Stromsgodset starlet signed for Real Madrid as a 16-year-old in 2015 but has only made 11 appearances for the senior team, and his existing deal at the Bernabeu is due to run out in 2023

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MIKEL ARTETA ISSUES APOLOGY TO ARSENAL FANS AFTER OPENING DAY DEFEAT AT BRENTFORD

A despondent Mikel Arteta apologised to Arsenal’s baying fanbase after his side’s 2-0 defeat to Premier League new boys Brentford, saying it wasn’t ‘the result or performance’ he wanted.

The Gunners ended last season on a high with four wins on the bounce but endured a dismal return to top-flight action at a raucous Brentford Community Stadium, with Sergi Canos and Christian Norgaard netting in either half to fire the hosts to victory.

The north London outfit appeared blunt in attack in the absence of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette – who missed the clash through illness – and struggled to make inroads against Brentford’s high press across a frustrating 90 minutes.

Arsenal’s complete inability to deal with Mads Bech Sorensen’s long throw-in for Norgaard’s towering 73rd-minute header in many ways summed up the visitors’ miserable night.

Emile Smith Rowe and Kieran Tierney were two shining lights for the visitors but the Bees held firm to seal a famous and deserved win, 74 years on from their last match in the top division.

Arsenal will have to quickly find their cutting edge, with Chelsea and champions Manchester City next up in the league.

‘First of all, thank you because of the support that they are giving to the team, the travelling fans that were here,’ Arteta told reporters at his post-match press conference.

‘And after that, I apologise for the result and we know that we have to improve.

‘We have two big games coming up right now and we need to a different performance to get a different result.’

The Spaniard added: ‘We are very disappointed to start the way we did in the season.

‘We didn’t get the result or performance that we wanted.’

Arsenal have already invested heavily this summer – spending over £70million on new arrivals Ben White, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares – and there will inevitably be calls for the club to further strengthen after the loss.

But Arteta was keen to stress that he would not be hitting the panic button in the transfer market and will instead be looking to get improvements out of the players he currently has at his disposal.

‘My focus is with the players we have, try to make them play as best as possible and get the best out of the team and find a way to win football matches,’ he went on.

‘We are very clear of what we wanted to do, where our strengths are and where we can improve and I don’t think today’s performance shows anything different to what we’ve already seen.’

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BRENTFORD TOP THE TABLE AFTER BEATING ARSENAL IN PREMIER LEAGUE OPENER

The Premier League season got off to a flying start on Friday as Brentford marked their first game in the top flight for 74 years and their first in front of fans at their new stadium with an emotional 2-0 victory over a ragged Arsenal.

Sergi Canos carved his name into the west London club’s Hall of Fame when he cut inside Calum Chambers and drilled a low shot inside the near post of Bernd Leno after 22 minutes to spark an explosion of joy from the fans who have waited so long to take their place in the new 17,500-capacity home.

It was the least Brentford deserved as, revelling in their chance to take on the big boys, they took the game to an Arsenal team who looked disjointed and toothless in the absence of “unwell” strike duo Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.

Some hesitant Arsenal defending after a long throw in the 73rd minute allowed Christian Norgaard to head home the second and Brentford, the team who suffered an agonising nine playoff failures before finally succeeding last season, were in dream land.

Their red and white bedecked fans filed off into the night singing “we are top of the league” and though they are unlikely to stay there for long, nobody can begrudge them their moment in the sun.

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HAVERTZ, ABRAHAM ON TARGET AS CHELSEA BEAT ARSENAL IN PRESEASON FRIENDLY

Kai Havertz and Tammy Abraham fired Chelsea’s men’s side to a 2-1 preseason friendly win over Arsenal on Sunday in the Emirates.

In what was a double header with both the men’s and women’s teams competing to raise money for the charity Mind, Arsenal’s women’s side beat their London rivals 2-1 in the earlier game.

Havertz opened the scoring in the first half before Granit Xhaka pulled one back for Arsenal after the break. However, the lead only lasted four minutes before Abraham got Chelsea’s second.

Chelsea dominated possession for much of the match and were rewarded on 26 minutes when Timo Werner started a fast break and found Havertz whose right-footed shot went past Bernd Leno.

There was an injury worry for Arsenal on 40 minutes when Thomas Partey was forced off. Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said after the game that Partey would have a scan on Monday but “at the moment it is not looking good.”

While the Partey situation is concerning for Arsenal, the match also saw the introduction of new £50 million signing Ben White.

Xhaka scored Arsenal’s equaliser on 69 minutes when he headed home from a Nicolas Pepe cross.

The Switzerland international had been linked with a move to Roma but Arteta said after the match that he would be staying with Arsenal this season.

“Granit is going to stay with us,” Arteta said. “He is a key member of our squad.”

Chelsea weren’t down for long, though, and Abraham scored a powerful right-footed shot into the bottom corner to give them the lead on 73 minutes.

In the early kick-off between the women’s sides, Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 with goals from Katie McCabe and Freya Jupp.

Reanna Blade had levelled things for Chelsea on 80 minutes but 17-year-old Jupp — who was making her senior debut — was the star as she scored the winner for Arsenal on 83 minutes.

McCabe had given Arsenal the lead on 27 minutes but it was the younger players who impressed.

There were injury worries for both sides with Jordan Nobbs and Pernille Harder going off with knocks.