Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal have now put Robin van Persie’s departure behind them as they chase third place in the Premier League.
The Frenchman accepts that it took his side a while to adjust to life without him after their former captain and star striker moved to Manchester United last summer.
Wenger’s own position at the Emirates Stadium has even been called into question by critics at times this season, with the Gunners at one point dropping as low as 10th in the Premier League.
However, Wenger’s men have regrouped well since seemingly dropping out of contention for a top-four finish, with the Frenchman pin-pointing the Champions League win over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena as the catalyst for their upturn in form.
As a result of their improvement, third place isn’t now beyond them either heading into tomorrow’s final game at Newcastle, although they do need Chelsea to slip up to Everton.
Wenger feels it is testament to the strength of character of a squad which was rebuilt around Lukas Podolski, Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud following the acrimonious departure of captain Van Persie to Manchester United for £24million.
The Gunners boss said: “This team suffered for a very long time from a lack of confidence because you take the talisman away – Robin van Persie – and get the new players in, then you lose the first big games and suddenly we are faced with scepticism around the team. You could see that.
“That was the problem and balancing the team took a while, to find a formula to have a good balance in the team. Since this has been back, we have been very efficient.
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“The Bayern Munich away game was very important, you could feel after that we could do it, that helped.
“I never felt this team lacked focus or desire to do well but we lacked confidence for a while.”
Birmingham-born forward Rushian Hepburn-Murphy made three appearances for Aston Villa during the 2017-18 Championship campaign.
He also appeared in two cup fixtures for Steve Bruce’s side, and there is no question that the 19-year-old is highly regarded at the club.
It is his performances in Premier League 2 that have made the biggest impression, however, and he landed the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for April following some extremely impressive form, which is detailed in the tweet below.
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Hepburn-Murphy is unlikely to be involved in Villa’s Championship playoff semi-final, but the teenager is surely in the plans of head coach Bruce moving forward.
The club’s supporters, who have also recently commented on centre-back James Chester, have been reacting to Hepburn-Murphy’s recent form, and it would be fair to say that a number are very excited about his future at Villa Park.
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A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:
In September 2013 in his first speech new FA Chairman Greg Dyke set two rather ambitious targets: reaching the semi-finals at Euro 2020 and then winning the World Cup in 2022.
In the same speech back in 2013 he listed the various problems in English football, pointing out that twenty years ago 69% of all the players starting matches in the Premier League were qualified to play for England but in the 2011/12 season the figure was 32%. Two years ago in the 2010/11 just 37% of all new signings by Premier League clubs were qualified to play for England.
Whilst this figure did climb towards 40% last season, largely down to Burnley’s mainly British squad, it was nevertheless an early improvement. However, much more improvement needs to be made and the figure needs to get over the 50% mark at least if England are going to see any benefits in the long term.
Dyke’s aims could be easily derided. You could say his targets are a bit far fetched, but it is better setting a target like Dyke has done rather than sit back an accept England’s fate. He is actively trying to change things.
And obviously the target to win the 2022 World Cup is quite contentious in itself as it is quite unclear where it will be played yet due to the whole FIFA scandal.
But wherever it is, the target is so far away it does at least give England a seven year period in which players can develop and be moulded into a squad that is potentially capable of winning the World Cup.
Joe Hart will be 35 when the World Cup starts in 2022, so he may well be the ‘keeper between the sticks, or it could be Stoke City’s Jack Butland – both, by the time of the tournament, will be experienced, quality stoppers.
The England manager of the time will be able to call on Luke Shaw at left back and Nathaniel Clyne at right back, John Stones at centre back who could be partnered by Phil Jones.
Current England regulars Raheem Sterling, Ross Barkley and Jack Wilshere are all still young and by the time of that tournament will be experienced internationals and will provide the creative spark in the side.
Up front Daniel Sturridge would be 32 and a seasoned international by that point, Spurs forward Harry Kane would only be 28 and in his prime as well.
Of course this is all theoretical, as we don’t know how players will develop and who will break through, but there is at least a good nucleus for a solid England side that may be capable of winning the World Cup.
Some players that have not even been mentioned yet like Will Hughes, Jordon Ibe, Alex Pritchard, Nathaniel Chalobah or Ruben Loftus-Cheek are all promising young players who have plenty to prove and plenty of time to prove it. They could be shaping the basis of England’s side for the tournament in 2022, however we don’t know if these players will be given the time and football needed to develop and that is the problem Dyke is trying to deal with.
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But if the likes of these youngsters can get football, they could be part of the conversation to make Dyke’s dream a reality.
The cynics will say Dyke’s dream is madness and England are miles away, and they may be right. But with the tournament so far away and with so much young talent that needs to develop over the years building up to the tournament it may well prove to be good judgement.
However now it is too hard to say, but if Dyke can get more English players playing in the Premier League the England national team will be much better for it.
Olivier Giroud starts a three-match suspension following his red card against Fulham. Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (rib) is also missing, while Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski are vying for a starting spot in attack.
Manchester United are expected to bring Rio Ferdinand and captain Nemanja Vidic back into their defence. Johnny Evans is a doubt with a injury, while Michael Carrick is struggling with a knock and could be replaced in midfield by Phil Jones.
What the managers said…
“I am looking forward to our performance on Sunday more than anything else. You focus on your own team and it’s an interesting opportunity for us to achieve something special on Sunday. We want to take this opportunity. We respect Robin van Persie like every other player who has left us and came back to the Emirates. I want the player to be respected like everybody else. I always said that for every single player who left, even some of them in much more controversy than Robin van Persie.” Arsene Wenger says Arsenal will ‘respect’ Robin Van Persie (Guardian Sport)
“I don’t really bother about it and I don’t think Robin should bother about it either. There was a bit of booing when he played against Arsenal at Old Trafford and you probably expect a portion of the fans to do that. That’s the modern generation and modern society, I’m afraid. But I’m glad Arsene has done that (guard of honour) because when they came to Old Trafford some years back and Wiltord scored the only goal we did that, and that’s what great clubs should do.” Sir Alex Ferguson has told Van Persie to ignore the boos when he returns to Arsenal for the first time (Daily Mail)
Pre-match Statistic: Arsenal have scored 18 times in the final quarter of games this season, which is slightly more than Manchester United’s total of 15.
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Prediction: Arsenal 1-2 Manchester United
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BT Sport pundit Chris Sutton has rubbished the suggestion that Celtic attacking midfielder Tom Rogic would leave the club to join Southampton, despite reports linking the Australian with a move to St Mary’s.
What’s the story?
As reported by the BBC, Rogic is one of Southampton’s top targets in this summer’s transfer window, with the flamboyant 25-year-old having just over a year left on his contract at Celtic Park.
One former Hoops star is having none of it though and took to Twitter this week to call such a move a downgrade for the star, who is on his way to World Cup with Australia.
He clearly believes it isn’t going to happen, but will a move away from Celtic be enticing for Rogic as he nears the end of his current deal at the club?
The value of moving
Rogic has spent over five years at Celtic and has achieved just about everything there is to at the Scottish giants. From playing in the UEFA Champions League to scoring massive derby goals against Rangers to being part of last season’s phenomenal and invincible treble-winning side.
As footballing careers in a player’s early-20s go, Rogic has achieved a lot in comparison to most.
Still just 25 years of age, a new challenge could be good for his development and his career, despite obviously having it good at Celtic Park under the management of Brendan Rodgers.
The idea of Premier League football with Southampton, or even being part of single-season promotion bid in the Championship could be enticing and it’s clear that the Saints have lacked an attacking edge this season.
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Manchester United legend Andy Cole does not believe Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane is ready to move to Old Trafford, according to reports from the Mirror.
Kane has been heavily linked with a switch to United following an incredible breakthrough season, in which the 21-year-old scored 31 goals in all competitions.
And the Red Devils are reportedly mulling over a £40million offer for the striker, who is currently on international duty with the England U-21s.
Manchester United Transfer News | Tottenham Hotspur Transfer News
However, ex-United forward Cole insists that the pressure to play for United would be too much, and that the club should look elsewhere for a consistent goalscorer.
“There’s talk of Harry Kane,” said Cole. “He’s had a brilliant first season, but [just] half a season really good.
“But can he come to Manchester United – if it is true – for £40m and bring what the club need?
“I think the kid’s talented, but we have to be honest. He’s had half a season where everything went for him – penalties at the keeper and rebounds coming straight to his feet.
“He’s scored some goals. But to take that leap – because your second season in the Premier League is always tough – if it did happen and to leave Tottenham and come to Man United and for them to pin all their hopes on him.
“For the money, and if it did happen, that’s a helluva lot of pressure. United need to compete in Europe and for the championship as well. He [Kane] is a baby, still learning his trade.”
Cole then suggested that his former club should instead invest £60million to sign Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, whom he rates as the best in the Premier League.
“If I was being cheeky, I’d say, ‘I’ll give you £60m for Aguero’ because Aguero – when fit – is the best centre-forward in the Premier League. Fit, firing, he’s unbelievable. You can imagine him playing alongside Wayne Rooney.
“It wouldn’t be bad, would it?”
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Cole scored 121 goals during his eight years with Man United, in which he won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and one Champions League trophy.
Hamburg’s Sporting Director Frank Arnesen says the club will do everything to keep South Korea star Heung-Min Son, with a new deal forthcoming.
Son has impressed in the the Bundesliga this season and scored twice in Hamburg’s 2-1 win over Mainz on Saturday, taking his tally to 11 goals in 28 appearances.
Son, who arrived from FC Seoul in 2008, has just over a year left on his current deal but Arnesen is keen to sort out new terms and ward off interest from other clubs, with Tottenham reportedly leading the chase.
“Son, with his 20 years, is one of the players we would really like to keep hold of,” he told Sky Sports. “We are willing to push ourselves to our pain barrier for him.
“He still has a year to go on his contract and we haven’t had any offers from other clubs. We are at a good stage with him and his contract extension so I am positive that we will extend with him for the long term.
“We have to ensure that we extend his contract as quickly as possible so that he can be settled.”
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Son has been linked with a move to some of the top German sides, while scouts from Serie A, the Premier League and La Liga have also shown an interest in him this season.
Liverpool and Manchester United may have whisked away their aura of invincibility momentarily, but Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, less than 24 hours before West Bromwich Albion unexpectedly had the final say on this season’s Premier League title, reminded us all how relentlessly dominant Pep Guardiola’s side has been this season – indiscriminate of the quality of the opposition in front of them.
There’s something uniquely special about this City side. The fact they could break a succession of Premier League records before this season’s finished is evidence enough, but Guardiola has achieved something unprecedented this season. City are the first Premier League champions without that typically English powerful central core, and the first to clinch the crown without any dose of defensive pragmatism throughout the whole campaign.
Even Sir Alex Ferguson was prepared to spoil important games for the sake of the right result and even Arsenal’s Invincibles drew 12 times en route to their undefeated title. Guardiola’s faith in his own philosophy though, has never waned; City either win their way, or they don’t win at all. The thing is, their way has been so brilliantly executed they’ve won all of but five of their 33 Premier League outings so far this season. This was meant to be the only top flight in Europe where that kind of idealism could never truly triumph.
Perhaps then, the process of placing this City team amongst the Premier League’s greatest sides of all time is an inevitable one. After all, they’re on course to become the first Premier League team to breach the 100-point mark, to set a new record for goals scored and to average the most possession. But how exactly does this City team compare to the Premier League and Guardiola’s most formidable outfits? Are we all falling victim to recency bias, or is this team arguably the Catalan’s greatest manifestations yet?
The statistics say no Premier League team can hold a candle to what City have done this season. Their closest competitor in terms of points, City’s being projected based on their averages from the campaign thus far, is Jose Mourinho’s 2004/05 Chelsea team who finished that season with 95.
While Portuguese fashioned the Blues into a relentless winning machine though, a sensational achievement during his first ever season at the club, they inevitably lacked City’s aesthetic qualities – in fact, they represent the exact opposite of the spectrum, building their campaign on an exceptional defensive record (still the fewest conceded in a single Premier League season) that inevitably limited their capacity for goals.
After that, the Invincibles come into play, far closer aligned to City in ideological terms yet amassing only 90 points during 2003/04. And there is a real blotch with that Gunners team, in that so many of their games finished in draws – by the end of the season, it was more a case of preservation than the bullish approach City are set to take into their final five games. Perhaps it would be different if City hadn’t lost to Liverpool in January, ending the chance of mimicking the north London outfit’s undefeated season, but it remains a point of poignant division.
Manchester United, meanwhile, rank considerably lower in terms of both points and goals – but that uncovers a crucial caveat the statistics can never quite represent. City have pulled off the most dominant title win we’ve ever seen in the Premier League, but how truly competitive is England’s top flight at this moment in time?
ARSENAL POSE WITH REPLICA TROPHY AFTER DRAW WITH TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR GAVE THEM LEAGUE TITLE IN THEIR ENGLISH SOCCER MATCH. Arsenal pose with a replica trophy after the side drew 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur giving them the league title in their English premier league soccer match at White Hart Lane, London, April 25, 2004. Arsenal were crowned English champions for the 13th time on Sunday after their 2-2 draw at London rivals Tottenham Hotspur gave them an unassailable 10-point lead at the top of t
At the division’s summit, the quality and ambition is as great as it’s ever been – this is the era of the Big Six, after all – but at the same time, the gap between those top clubs and the rest of the division also feels as wide as its ever been as well.
There are still exceptions to the rule – West Brom provided one at Old Trafford only last weekend – but there has been a growing trend of clubs rolling over upon visiting the Big Six and settling for damage limitation. Those games were essentially won before a ball was kicked, and even Chelsea – the reigning champions at the time – were guilty of taking that mentality to the Etihad Stadium back in March, losing 1-0 without managing a shot on target.
Is that because this City side are so exceptional that even their closest rivals have been forced to accept the realities of playing them at home? Manchester United’s 3-2 comeback and Liverpool’s three wins over City this season suggests some teams could have at least posed Guardiola with a far more considerable challenge at times.
And compare this season to Chelsea in 2004/05, for example. They won the title with a record number of points the year after Arsenal had lifted it undefeated, when Manchester United were just coming to the end of the absolute height of their dominance under Sir Alex Ferguson. Likewise, when United beat Chelsea to the crown in 2007/08 it was by a single point, and they turned out to be the best teams in Europe that season as well, facing each other in Moscow’s Champions League final.
Manchester United spray champagne as they celebrate winning the FA Premiership May 16. Manchester United won the English Premier League title for the fifth time in seven seasons when they beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at Old Trafford. United finished with 79 points from 38 matches one point clear of deposed champions Arsenal who finished with 78 points after beating Aston Villa 1-0 at Highbury.DC/PS/ME
There just hasn’t been a consistent competitor to put pressure on City this season in quite the same way, at least not since during the opening few months of the campaign. Even Chelsea, last season’s champions, won the title more due to a change in formation than the actual quality of their play of personnel – they’re now on course to finish fifth. \
Furthermore, compared to a period in which English teams were consistently reaching the final stages of the Champions League, Liverpool’s run to this season’s semi-finals is a glaring exception to recent campaigns.
So there’s no denying that City have pulled off an impeccably dominant Premier League campaign, perhaps the greatest Premier League campaign of all time, but that’s not the same thing as being the greatest team. In addition to that absence of a true competitor, Chelsea and United particularly sustained their success over two or three years, and that’s probably where this City team falls short of Guardiola’s most iconic Bayern Munich and Barcelona sides as well.
Barcelona’s 2008/09 team remains the archetype that Guardiola’s Bayern and City teams could only hope to replicate, and that’s because they were as dominant in the Champions League as City have been domestically this season. They swept away United in Rome in that season’s final, with Yaya Toure playing at centre-half, to complete a stunning treble alongside the La Liga title and the Copa del Rey.
Likewise, although some of the success was in fact owed to predecessor Jupp Heynckes, Guardiola’s first season at the Allianz Arena saw Bayern win the title by a greater margin than what City are expected to achieve this season, despite their season consisting of four less games, while clinching the domestic cup, the Club World Cup and the DFB Pokal. They also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, which they would manage during each of Guardiola’s three campaigns at the club.
Football – Manchester United v FC Barcelona 2009 Champions League Final – Olympic Stadium, Rome, Italy – 27/5/09 Barcelona’s Carles Puyol, Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi celebrate victory with the trophy Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Lee Smith Livepic
For all of City’s incredible dominance and relentlessness this season, they only have two trophies to show for it, one of which doesn’t actually qualify as the national cup – winning the League Cup rather than the FA Cup. That competition saw them eliminated at the hands of third-tier Wigan.
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Perhaps their Champions League campaign would have panned out differently had they not encountered English opposition and the only team to have previously beat them in the Premier League, but the fact remains that this City team has never exceeded the quarter-finals under Guardiola. Plenty of have matched that in recent years, with far less resources.
That’s the key with judging this City side, and making sure we don’t all get a little overexcited. Yes, it’s the most dominant single Premier League campaign we’ve ever seen; but great teams are about so much more than one platform and one competition. To move onto parity with United’s treble winners, Chelsea’s ruthless winning machine under Mourinho or Guardiola’s Barcelona and Bayern Munich sides, this team still has some way to go.
But next season could be the real litmus test, should City achieve something that hasn’t been managed for a decade. The last team to successfully defend the Premier League title was Manchester United in 2008/09; with so many talented teams at the top of the Premier League and so much incredible financial muscle, that feat is worth so much more than it was ten years ago.
If City conquer that challenge, maintaining the dominance they’ve shown this season, it will be something truly special – not quite comparable with a Champions League winning treble, but nonetheless a formidable achievement in the context of modern English football.
A massive transfer fee is a burden for some players. It is something they will have to justify during their time at the club that dug deep to secure their services.
Fernando Torres never lived up to his £50million fee whilst at Chelsea, and Angel Di Maria is struggling to justify his at Old Trafford this season. And Luke Shaw is no exception. He is the most expensive teenager in the world, and his debut season as a Manchester United player has not been all he’d hoped.
But the best is yet to come for Shaw.
He may not have been the key player of the season, but when given the opportunity, Shaw has made the most of his minutes. His Manchester United debut was their home game against West Ham, and Shaw was outstanding. He came back from the criticism given by Louis Van Gaal over his fitness in pre season and proved his worth.
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Shaw has dipped in and out of the squad, and has been no stranger to injuries. But, in the first half of the season almost every United player picked up some form of injury. He has had problems with his ankle this season – a knock he picked up against Arsenal – and missed a few weeks of playing time.
Yet having not played regular football, and with Daley Blind sidelined, Shaw made his return to the side at Stamford Bridge last weekend. United may not have been able to pick up the three points, but they played exceptionally well against the league leaders. And Shaw’s performance stood out alone. With youth being dropped for experience in the last few weeks, it was important for Shaw to prove his worth, and he did just that.
Youth is a advantage factor for Luke Shaw. Whilst it is on his side, in the case of being chosen over older and more ‘tired’ legs, it is also the justification of why the media need to lay off the youngster. He is only 19-years-old, and if he isn’t putting in his best performances week in week out, there is still time for him to perfect his craft.
Although he is in the same league, he still has to adjust to a new manager, new tactics, new formations, and most importantly with Louis Van Gaal, a new philosophy.
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If he can keep fit next season, he’ll undoubtedly live up to his price tag and show why he was the world’s most expensive teenager.
Paul Lambert has hailed Gabby Agbonlahor’s renewed enthusiasm for the game as a reason why he will be a huge factor in Villa’s run in.
Agbonlahor let his head go down when he went through a barren spell at the end of last season and the start of the new campaign, but he is buzzing again after bagging four times since January.
Lambert said: “I think he has been excellent.
“I think he’s loving his football at the minute, is scoring quite regularly at the moment and when Gabby gets a run at you, there are not many people going to catch him.”
Lambert is not short of pacy options up front, although Darren Bent remains out of the frame for whatever reason at the moment, and the Villa boss highlighted Agbonlahor as one of the reasons why he remains optimitsic about the club’s chances for the rest of this season and beyond.
“He is playing extremely well at the minute and if we can keep him, Charles N’Zogbia, Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann fit, we’ve got loads of options up front,” he added.
“The one thing that was lacking in his game was goals. His stats from that point of view up to the West Brom game weren’t great.
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“But what he does bring is genuine pace to the game and a threat. He has added goals and that’s why he is enjoying it. He looks sharp in training.”