Torres to return?

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Mar 17, 2014

Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has revealed why he took a ‘selfie’ of himself, Kieran Gibbs and Lukas Podolski after the victory over fierce-rivals Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

The Gunners won the game 1-0 thanks to a 2nd minute goal from Tomas Rosicky, and after the game, Szczesny caught the eye by taking his phone onto the pitch and posing for a picture with his team-mates in front of the travelling supporters.

A ‘selfie’ is a knew-found trend where people take pictures of themselves, and after Ellen DeGeneres took one of her and a whole host of Hollywood A-listers, everyone has tried to reincarnate their own version of the moment.

The picture of Szczesny, Gibbs and Podolski has gone viral around the internet and all the Arsenal fans are loving it, and the Pole has admitted that he did it to repay the fans for their brilliant support.

“I asked Paul Johnson [our equipment manager] to bring my phone on to the pitch after the game and grabbed a selfie with the Arsenal fans, which was brilliant,” Szczesny told Arsenal Player.

“They were fantastic all afternoon. They sang their hearts out and I am sure they enjoyed themselves. It was fantastic for us too and we wanted to give something back to them.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

FA to make decision on Mourinho charge

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Mar 17, 2014

Mourinho criticised the referee Foy’s decision to send him off for walking on to the pitch during Chelsea’s ill-tempered match against Villa. His side surrendered the initiative to Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League title race after Fabian Delph’s 82nd-minute winner. “I tried to speak to Mr Foy twice. I tried to speak on the pitch, and I tried in the dressing rooms,” Mourinho said.

“In the dressing rooms I tried to ask politely, can you give me five seconds? And he refused.

“It’s a big occasion for me to know about the character of Mr Foy, because I want to know what he’s going to write about my sending off.”

When asked whether he thought he would be punished, an unrepentant Mourinho said: “Me or the ref? No, I don’t expect, because I did nothing.”

Written by Steve Milne

Bayern Munich star refuses to rule out Liverpool move

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Mar 17, 2014

Bayern Munich midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri has refused to rule out a move to Liverpool this Summer after he admitted that it’s flattering to hear that clubs are interested in his signature.

The 22-year-old has struggled to get regular first-team football in the Bundesliga, and after hearing that several teams are interested in signing him, the Swiss international refused to rule out a move away.

Liverpool are also joined by Juventus and Napoli in the clubs that are interested in the Swiss, and with Pep Guardiola only seeing him as a back-up option, a move in the Summer could be on the cards and Shaqiri has admitted that it’s interesting to read that other clubs are keen on signing him.

‘When you hear these names, of course you have to listen to the offer, but there is nothing concrete,’ he said.

‘I cannot say anything to this. I am feeling good in Munich but as a player you have to listen, if one of these top clubs is interested.

‘I hear the interest from Borussia Moenchengladbach for the first time. You have to ask Gladbach. I cannot say anything.

‘Bundesliga is the best league for me, but I also like the Premier League and Serie A. In Serie A many teams have developed well with nice players.’

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

We’re not improving, says Vertonghen

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Mar 17, 2014

Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen has admitted that the club haven’t improved from last season.

The Belgium centre-back’s future is in doubt after he revealed his plans to play in the Champions League, and after they suffered 1-0 home defeat to fierce-rivals Arsenal, a top-four spot looks highly doubtful for Tim Sherwood’s men.

Back-to-back defeats to London rivals have left Spurs seven points off fourth-placed Manchester City, who also have three games in hand, and Vertonghen has admitted that the club are not improving and haven’t got any better since last season, when they finished fifth.

“I do not want to look at the table any more because the gap (to the top four) is very big,” said Vertonghen.

“All four sides at the top are stronger than they were last year and we have stayed at the same level. If you see last season, then we did not improve.

“I think we do have the players to achieve Champions League (qualification) and I hope we can achieve it next year.”

“Of course we are all disappointed but we will try to come back with some good results,” Vertonghen said.

“It is difficult now but we have to (pick ourselves up) and go again.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Liverpool and Chelsea target Roberto Firmino

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Ben Reardon

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Mar 17, 2014

Liverpool and Chelsea both sent scouts to watch Hoffenheim starlet Roberto Firmino, as speculation grows to weather the Premier Leagie clubs will make formal bids in the summer.

22 Year old Firmino has been in superb form for the Bundesliga side, netting 13 goals in 24 Bundesliga games, including a sublime chip in Sunday’s 4-2 defeat against FC Mainz.

Firmino is regarded as one of Europe’s top talents, and his club may want around £12 million for his services.

The play-maker has attracted interest from Manchester United, both Milan clubs, Juventus and Bayern Munich, however, it appears that it is a two way tussle between Chelsea and Liverpool for the player.

By Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

We’re genuine title contenders, says Gerrard

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Mar 17, 2014

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard believes their 3-0 win at Old Trafford has proven that they are genuine title contenders this season.

The Reds eased past Manchester United yesterday thanks to a brace from the penalty spot from Gerrard and also a goal from star-striker Luis Suarez, and after the game, the club-captain stated that after winning so easily at Old Trafford, they must be classed as genuine contenders.

The 3-0 victory saw Liverpool stay second in the table but cut the gap between themselves and Chelsea to just four points, with Brendan Rodgers’ side still having a game in hand over Jose Mourinho’s men.

Liverpool go into the final few months in incredible form and they also have to face both Chelsea and Manchester City at Anfield, and Gerrard believes the title is an achievable target for the club.

“I’ve come here many times and been played off the park. They’re a fantastic team,” he told Sky Sports.

“This is one of the most difficult places to come in the Premier League so to come here and dominate from start to finish, we’re still going away slightly disappointed that we never got more goals.

“It’s a fantastic day personally, getting a couple of goals. We came here to win the game.

“I said before the game it’s difficult and we need to just take each game as they come and try and win them all.

“We’ll enjoy tonight. We need to move on very quickly because Cardiff’s going to be tough.

“I think we’ve shown today that we’re genuine contenders and we’re going to fight to the end for this.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

We’re ignoring doubters, says Rosicky

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Mar 17, 2014

Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky has insisted that all the players are ignoring the pundits who are ruling them out of the Premier League title race.

Out of the four teams that are fighting for the title, the majority of the pundits believe it’s mainly between Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City, but depite the doubters, Rosicky insists that his team-mates are not listening to what they are saying.

The Czech international scored a stunner in the second minute during yesterday’s North London Derby at White Hart Lane and it was that goal that gave Arsenal all three points and cut the gap between themselves and league-leaders Chelsea.

After the game, Rosicky was confident that the players are ready for the fight and are ignoring all their doubters.

“You cannot influence what the people around you are saying. I mean no disrespect to you (media), but I absolutely don’t care what you are saying – don’t take it negatively, but it is like that,” Rosicky said.

“Only what counts is that you come to the pitch and win the game, if you don’t win the game, obviously you are right.

“The only thing that you can influence is on the pitch, the truth is on the pitch, nothing else matters.”

Rosicky added: “Since I have been in England and playing for Arsenal, it is the first time it has been like this, with four teams basically fighting for the title.

“You can see how unpredictable it is – we lost at Stoke (last weekend), Chelsea lost at (Aston) Villa (on Saturday), so every game is very important for everyone.

“It can change very, very quickly in two games and of course you talk about Chelsea and Man City, but you have to talk about Liverpool also.”

“When we were 1-0 up in the past, sometimes these games slipped through our fingers… maybe in the past we would not have won a game like that,” he added.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Drogba admits nerves over Stamford Bridge return.

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Ben Reardon

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Mar 17, 2014

Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has stated that he is nervous about returning to Stamford Bridge with Galatasaray.

The Ivory Coast striker returns to the Bridge for the first team since leaving the club in the summer of 2012.

Drogba struck to penalty that won the Blues the Champions League that year, capping a superb eight years at the club.

‘First of all I was happy to play against my ex-club, against my friends. But at the same time it is a very special moment because I do not know what my reaction will be,’ Drogba told UEFA.com.

‘You know that I spent eight years at Chelsea, so I really don’t know, I am quite apprehensive about it.

The humble striker went onto say, in an emotional interview.

‘It’s the club where I experienced everything. It allowed me to get closer to the best players in the world.’

But despite his close affinity with Chelsea, the players and the supporters, Drogba insists he will be doing his utmost to upset the Blues faithful and send another English club crashing out of this season’s Champions League.

‘I hope that Galatasaray qualify. It will be difficult, but I think that regarding the welcome, I think I’m allowed to say that I will receive a warm welcome, because I know Chelsea’s fans and our relationship is really special,’ the 36-year-old added.

The score is currently tied at 1-1, going into the second leg.

Jose Mourinho wants ban on Chris Foy

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Mar 17, 2014

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes Premier League bosses should ban referee Chris Foy from officiating a Chelsea game ever again after he sent off two of their players during their 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa.

Willian was seen two yellows in the second-half before Foy produced a straight red for Ramires for a disgusting challenge on Karim El Ahmadi. After sending off the Brazilian, Foy then sent Mourinho to the stands for running onto the pitch to confront him.

After the game, Mourinho refused to speak about the referee as he didn’t want to risk getting into trouble with the FA, but according to reports, he did storm into the referee’s dressing room alongside John Terry straight after the game, which they are not allowed to do.

At full-time of every Premier League match, there is a 30-minute ‘cooling down’ time-slow in which no-one is allowed to communicate with the referees, and according to reports, Mourinho and Terry broke those rules.

Willian and Ramires’ red-cards mean Foy has now sent off six Chelsea players in the last eight matches he has been in charge of which involves The Blues, and Mourinho believes it’s time to ban him from being a ref for Chelsea matches.

Mourinho said: “Maybe it is helpful that the committee doesn’t send him to our matches. I don’t have the right to request that. It’s just that I think they have to analyse the situation and see.

“Every time he has Chelsea – or not every time, but many times he has Chelsea and the problems are there. I think maybe it would be a good decision.”

“Mistakes are part of the job for referees, even big mistakes which are crucial to the result.

“Normally I feel very comfortable to speak about it and say, ‘Good ref, good performance. One mistake against me, one mistake in my favour.’ But this was the kind of referee performance that I don’t want to say one single word about.

“Because if I say the first word I will say 10, 100, 1,000, and I will be charged and accused of bringing the game into disrepute. So I don’t say a word.”

“Mr Foy knew perfectly what he was doing. From minute one, he knew very well what he was doing.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Bacary Sagna tells Arsenal to cough up £20m to keep him

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Mar 17, 2014

Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has told the club to cough up £20million in order to keep him at the Emirates Stadium.

The Frenchman’s current deal expires in the Summer and due to the transfer rules, he can now officially start talking to other clubs about a possible Summer transfer, and it is believed that Inter Milan and Galatasaray are keen on signing the right-back.

The 31-year-old has already rejected two new deals from Arsenal, both rumoured to be 12-month deals worth around £60k-a-week, and in final crunch talks with the club, Sagna has asked for £120k-a-week and a three-year deal.

The talks are ongoing between the two parties, but Sagna is holding out for more money and a longer deal, and the Frenchman also wants a £6million signing-on-fee paid in monthly instalments.

It is believed that Wenger is desperate to keep hold of Sagna and he doesn’t believe Carl Jenkinson is ready to be a first-team regular.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

GARTH CROOKS’ TEAM OF THE WEEK

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Mar 17, 2014

With another exciting weekend of Premier League football over with, BBC pundit Garth Crooks has put together his ‘Team of the Week’.

Impressive wins for Aston Villa, Liverpool and Arsenal mean that some of their players have taken a role in Crooks’ team, and here is his full starting XI.

GOALKEEPER – David Marshall (Cardiff)

David Marshall’s performance at Goodison Park was so impressive it looked like Everton were never going to beat the Scotland international. Everton peppered his goal and Romelu Lukaku, Gerard Deulofeu and Kevin Mirallas all brought brilliant saves out of him in the first half.

DEFENDER – Jon Flanagan (Liverpool)

This time it was at Old Trafford in Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Manchester United and again I saw young Flanagan cope with another big occasion. At no stage in the game did Flanagan look nervous or overawed. United even got Adnan Januzaj to swap wings in order to try to get at the full-back but he got no change whatsoever.

DEFENDER – Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal)

What is causing Tottenham fans such anxiety is not the fact that Arsenal are capable of playing some blinding football on their day but their miserly defence look impregnable. Laurent Koscielny has been at the heart of that and his block to deny Nacer Chadli’s low shot and allow Arsenal to keep a clean sheet in the Gunners’ 1-0 win at White Hart Lane epitomised that.

DEFENDER – Martin Demichelis (Man City)

Demichelis seemed to take complete control of Man City’s back four and looked like a man who relished his new-found responsibility. Any more moments of madness from Kompany and Manuel Pellegrini may have to consider a longer rest for his captain and more responsibility for Demichelis.

DEFENDER – Seamus Coleman (Everton)

He maybe should have apologised to David Marshall for the fortunate strike that robbed Cardiff of a deserved point. But the Everton defender has been an extra attacking outlet for Roberto Martinez this season and was in the right place at the right time to net once again.

MIDFIELDER – Fabian Delph (Aston Villa)

They were even better at Villa Park and Delph was the star of the show. I know Guy Mowbray asked the midfielder in his post-match interview whether he meant his Cruyff flick for his goal. The look of disbelief on Delph’s face was a picture – he definitely intended it.

MIDFIELDER – Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)

Not only did his arch-rivals take his team apart, he had to watch Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard do it for the Merseyside club. After all this was someone Ferguson called “not a top, top player” in his autobiography. Not a top player? What was Sir Alex thinking?

MIDFIELDER – David Silva (Man City)

We know the Spaniard is one of the best playmakers in the country, and his assists have always been amongst the top players in the league, but if he can add a few more goals to his tally City will be in with a great chance.

MIDFIELDER – Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)

Against a Tottenham side that enjoyed long spells of possession, Arsenal needed leaders and found one in Arteta. He is proving to be the man that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger can rely on in any situation.

MIDFIELDER – Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal)

To play for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger you have to be an excellent technician. Well players don’t come much better in that respect than Tomas Rosicky. The little Czech maestro’s technique for Arsenal’s solitary goal against Spurs, in just the second minute of the game, was the telling moment and wonderful to watch.

FORWARD – Jay Rodriguez (Southampton)

The Southampton striker scored one goal in their 4-2 win over Norwich, created another and nearly broke the bar with a chance. However it was his superb lay-off in the passage of play that led to Morgan Schneiderlin’s opener that had me licking my lips.

What do you think about this side? Has Crooks missed anyone out?

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Mata promises ‘storm will pass’

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Mar 17, 2014

David Moyes has endured a disappointing first season at Old Trafford after being charged with the task of replacing the legendary Alex Ferguson, with the Premier League champions seventh in the table and facing up to the prospect of missing out on top-four finish.

United’s misery was compounded by a humbling 3-0 defeat to rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford, with a brace of Steven Gerrard penalties and a Luis Suarez strike condemning United to a fifth home defeat of the season in the top flight.

Moyes has also seen his side exit the League Cup and FA Cup this season, and United must overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit against Greek champions Olympiacos if they are to reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

Attacking midfielder Mata – who joined United for a record £37.1million fee in January – was left to reflect on another frustrating performance, but the Spain international is confident United will come good.

“The storm will pass and the sun will rise again. I have no doubt,” said Mata wrote in his personal blog.

“Besides, no one said this would be easy but this is football. It gives you fantastic moments but also very hard times you have to cope with, when you have to show pride and professionalism until the end.

“There are no words to describe your (fans) support in the stadium. In games like yesterday it makes me mad not being able to give you what you deserve.

“I know there is nothing I can say right now but at least I want you to know how I feel.”

Written by Steve Milne

David Moyes admits he doesn’t have big enough feet to fill Fergusons shoes

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Mar 17, 2014

The Premier League champions’ disappointing season took its most painful twist yesterday as Moyes’ men were ripped apart by fierce rivals Liverpool.

Wayne Rooney described the 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford as one of his worst days in football and the result has only increased the question marks over Moyes’ suitability at filling Ferguson’s shoes.

The dejected United boss admitted afterwards that following in the footsteps of the legendary Scot has proved even harder than he had envisaged.

‘The job was always going to be hard,’ he said. ‘Harder [than I thought]? Yes I would say so yes.’

So far the United fans have stuck by Moyes loyally but the former Everton manager is realistic enough to know that won’t continue for ever.

‘Results will always dictate that but I can only tell you what I’ve seen today and the supporters were terrific,’ he said.

Written by Steve Milne

Rooney describes Liverpool defeat as a ‘Nightmare’ and the ‘worst days in football’

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Mar 17, 2014