Arsene Wenger has labelled the dismissal of Jack Wilshere for second bookable offence during his side’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on Saturday as a naive decision.
The midfielder, who has just returned from an season-long injury layoff, was booked early in the first half for a poor tackle on Tom Cleverley. He then was fortunate to be given a final warning by referee Mike Dean after going in late on former teammate Robin Van Persie.
His reprieve didn’t last long and he was eventually dismissed for catching Patrice Evra on the ankle.
However Wenger told talkSPORT that he believed that the United full-back had tricked the referee into sending off Wilshere.
“It was very harsh,” lamented the Arsenal boss. “I was surprised that [the referee] gave him a second yellow card. He went for the ball and Patrice Evra made the maximum of it.
“What is unbelievable is how naïve the referee can be, when he says in front of the other players, ‘the next foul and you are out’, of course the next foul the players dive like they have been killed and that’s what happened.”
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It completed another miserable day for the Gunners who were outplayed by United and their scant consolation was a late strike by Santi Carzola. Wenger knows his side must improve for the tricky Champions League encounter at Schalke 04 on Tuesday.
Reported former Newcastle United target Eliaquim Mangala has been ruled out until the end of the season because of a knee injury, and Magpies fans have been quick to have their say on the news.
The Daily Mail reported on January 29 that United manger Rafa Benitez had enquired about bringing the £80,000-a-week star to St James’ Park on loan before the January transfer window slammed shut last month, but the 26-year-old joined Everton in a similar deal instead.
However, just two matches into his time with the Merseyside outfit the centre-back picked up a knee injury that will keep him on the sidelines until after the climax of the campaign, with Toffees boss Sam Allardyce confirming he will be out for the long-term.
Newcastle supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the injury update, and while one said “another bullet dodged”, another said “phew that was a close one”.
Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…
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With Manchester United’s midfield in desperate need of some fresh blood, the Old Trafford side have been linked with Roma star Kevin Strootman.
The 24 year-old missed the World Cup through injury, and will remain sidelined until November at the earliest. But that doesn’t appear to have deterred Louis van Gaal’s interest, having hinted earlier this week Strootman is on his radar.
Of course, the Dutch duo know each other well. The tough-tackling midfielder has been an integral part of the Netherlands first team over the last few years and is currently their official vice-captain.
Roma apparently want £79million for Strootman, who only joined the Stadio Olympico ranks last summer.
But regardless, we think the Oranje international would be perfect for Manchester United and resultantly have conjured up FIVE reasons the Red Devils must sign him…
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON STROOTMAN TO REVEAL
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THE DUTCH ROY KEANE
As mentioned on his Wikipedia page and in any article ever suggesting a move to Manchester United…
Kevin Strootman is often referred to as ‘The Dutch Roy Keane’. So what better home for him than Old Trafford?
Indeed, like the former Red Devils skipper, the 24 year-old is tenacious and tough-tackling. He came 13th in Serie A’s challenges-per-match table last season, as detailed below:
United’s midfield has lacked that energy and bite for some time, especially amid Darren Fletcher’s long-term illness. Here’s Strootman putting his boot in (amongst other things) against Ajax during his PSV days:
//www.youtube.com/embed/Ku7kIDIVos8?rel=0
FUTURE CAPTAIN MATERIAL
And thus, sharing the undying determination of Roy Keane, Kevin Strootman is undoubtedly future captain material.
He’s already taken skipper duties on a permanent basis for former club PSV, despite being just 23 years of age, and Louis van Gaal has even issued him the armband for the Netherlands on occasion too.
Interestingly enough, following the departure of Nemanja Vidic, Manchester United are on the prowl for a new captain.
Despite his freshness to the Carrington scene, I’m sure the Old Trafford faithful would much prefer Strootman donning the armband next season than Tom Cleverley, who was met with a tirade of social media abuse after being named skipper by van Gaal during United’s pre-season friendly against Roma:
CONTRIBUTION GOING FORWARD
//www.youtube.com/embed/Knpb22QSfEQ?rel=0
Despite what my adoration for Kevin Strootman’s tackling ability might initially suggest, the Oranje international is by no means a one-trick pony.
In truth, he comes with an excellent all-round game and his contribution going forward was vital for Roma last season as they staged a surprise runner up finish in Serie A. Here’s his attacking vitals for the campaign:
And a look at his equally impressive passing statistics:
As the stats suggest, the 24 year-old is a lot more than your generic holding midfielder. He’s competent on the ball and efficient in the final third, making him an ideal box-to-boxer from Manchester United’s point of view. Take this piledriver from last season for example:
That should see him fit into Louis van Gaal’s attacking philosophy perfectly as the deepest-lying midfielder.
POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH VAN GAAL
Louis van Gaal doesn’t have a positive relationship with every player he works with. Just as Rivaldo:
But the United gaffer is known to have a strong bond with Kevin Strootman, having made him a central figure in the Netherlands team and issued him 15 caps since taking the Oranje reins in summer 2012.
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And as previously stated, LVG has even handed the 24 year-old the armband on occasion, officially making him vice-captain for Holland. And as the Manchester United gaffer has continually stated in regards to the Red Devils’ vacant captaincy, that basically means you’re the son he’s never had:
VAN GAAL ACTUALLY WANTS HIM
Louis van Gaal’s transfer targets have surprised many this summer, the most notable example being the Dutchman’s apparent reluctance to sign World Cup winner Toni Kroos for an incredibly cheap £20million fee, despite Manchester United’s obvious need for greater talent in central midfield and the potential move already set up by predecessor David Moyes:
But the Red Devils gaffer has confirmed in the last few days that Kevin Strootman, despite being injured, remains on his radar:
Understandably so; LVG is planning major philosophical changes at Old Trafford and the Roma midfielder would be an ideal on-pitch general to help implement them.
Of course, the main issue – apart from Strootman’s fitness issues which will see him out until at least November – is price-tag, with the Serie A runners-up reluctant to cash-in on a player they signed only twelve months ago.
Rather ridiculously, they’ve reportedly placed a £79million valuation on Strootman:
Back in 1994 Sir Alex Ferguson was the subject of heavy criticism after deciding to field some reserve players in a Manchester United team for a League Cup encounter with Port Vale.
Such was the controversy that engulfed his selection policy it was raised as an issue at the Houses of Parliament after a petition generated by Vale fans found its way to Westminster.
Included in Ferguson’s starting line-up on that brisk September evening were relative unknowns, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Nicky Butt. United went on to win the game 2-1 with Scholes scoring twice as the quartet played starring roles.
Just a few short years later they were on the path to becoming global superstars after becoming integral figures for club and country. Amidst all the commotion around and disapproval of Ferguson’s novel approach, the players themselves gave it justification.
Over 18 years later and clubs are now urged to use the Capital One Cup to offer younger players the opportunity to hone their crafts and prove their credentials as stars of the future.
Arsene Wenger is a manager who has embraced such a philosophy and, unlike Ferguson, was lauded for utilising the competition as an avenue to blood the club’s next generation. His methods became a benchmark for others to follow.
As has been proven by Beckham and others, the League Cup has become a successful breeding ground for young talent to induct themselves into the brutal environment that is professional football. That isn’t limited to the physical side of the game but also the mental aspects that can so easily prove the biggest obstacle preventing a player from fulfilling their potential.
Acquiring that level of experience and knowledge can only be done in a practical environment and managers are now conscious of the benefits of starting their youngsters out in the safe confines of the competition.
You only have to glance at some of the names that have cut their teeth in a similar manner and gone on to become highly recognised players around the world.
Steven Gerrard, Gerard Pique, Cesc Fabregas, Giuseppe Rossi, Robbie Fowler, Joe Hart and even Emile Heskey are just a handful who have used the League Cup to launch their glittering careers.
All of them have gone on to represent some of Europe’s top clubs, play regularly for their respective national teams and pick up an incalculable amount of silverware along the way.
Fabregas, for example, arrived at Arsenal in 2003 as a 16-year-old from hometown club Barcelona and was limited primarily to League Cup ties by Wenger during his development year in North London.
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It proved to be an essential learning curve for the Spaniard and by 2008 he had risen to become the Gunners captain and heartbeat of their midfield before returning to the Nou Camp in 2011 as one of the best players on the planet.
But where Ferguson failed to convince the masses that the League Cup served a significant purpose in the growth of young players, Wenger has succeeded in changing perceptions regarding the competition during the modern era.
So prevalent have their methods become that line-ups containing mostly senior players are a rare occurrence with the focus now firmly shifted to giving budding stars the opportunity to flourish.
Nearly two decades on from Ferguson’s controversial selection policy there must be a few Port Vale fans feeling rather bashful right now. His pioneering views are now widespread across the board aided by one of his greatest rivals.
According to recent reports from The Daily Record, Palace are interested in Celtic striker Moussa Dembele.
What’s the story?
The Daily Record report that interest in the striker is hotting up, with Palace one of the main clubs in contention.
Everton are the other club to be linked with the forward, but after a £14m move for Cenk Tosun and the signing of Theo Walcott last season, it seems unlikely the Toffees will add another striker to their squad without selling first.
The other option for Dembele appears to be a move to the Bundesliga. Borussia Dortmund are reported to be linked interested, but a return to England is likely the favoured option for the Frenchman.
Britain Soccer Football – Celtic v Rangers – Scottish Premiership – Celtic Park – 10/9/16Celtic’s Moussa Dembele celebrates scoring their fourth goal and completing his hat-trickReuters / Russell CheyneLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account repres
Should Palace go after his signature?
Dembele, who is valued at £5.4m by transfermarkt.com, is exactly the kind of striker the Eagles need to be looking at in order to really push on next season. Also needing to reignite the career of Christian Benteke, who had a nightmare season last time out, signing Dembele could prove to be an incredibly shrewd move – whether that’s by increasing competition to keep the big Belgian on his toes, or forming a regular strike partnership to ease the goalscoring burden on his shoulders.
Dembele endured an injury-hit 2017/18 for Celtic and scored only 16 goals in his second season at the club, half his total of 32 the season before.
However, his quality is not to be doubted. A return to English football after two trophy-laden seasons at Celtic may be the perfect move for the 21-year-old, and his price tag of £20million should be able to be met by the South London side.
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So, Palace fans, should your club swoop for Dembele this summer? Let us know by voting below…
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Arsenal have been dealt a huge blow ahead of the latest episode of the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley on Saturday after Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld returned to first-team action in the 2-0 win against Newport County on Wednesday night to put himself in contention for a start this weekend.
The Gunners would have been hoping that they would come up against Davinson Sanchez following his horror show in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, but now Alderweireld could be lining up alongside fellow Belgian Jan Vertonghen at the heart of the defence instead after he played the full 90 minutes against the League Two outfit.
The 28-year-old made his long-awaited return against the Exiles having been sidelined with a hamstring injury he picked up in Mauricio Pochettino’s men’s 3-1 win against Real Madrid in the Champions League on November 1.
Arsene Wenger would have been hopeful that the centre-back wouldn’t have been fit enough to start against his team – and he still might not be risked from the start by Pochettino – with the French manager ready to unleash Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on their arch-rivals’ defence as they look to close the gap between the two to just one point with a win.
The Gabon international started and scored on his debut in the 5-1 win against Everton last Saturday, and he is likely to get the nod ahead of Alexandre Lacazette again this weekend too.
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Former Liverpool hero Dietmar Hamann believes that his old club will rue missing out on the Premier League title this season.
The Reds had played themselves into pole position for English football’s top prize a few weeks ago, but a 2-0 home loss to Chelsea and a dramatic late collapse which led to a 3-3 draw at Crystal Palace allied to Manchester City’s results have left them hoping for a minor miracle on the final day of the season.
Liverpool’s rise has been somewhat of a surprise, with Brendan Rodgers’ men having finished seventh last season and missed out on Europa League qualification.
In respect of that this season has been a massive success on Merseyside, but Hamann – a part of the iconic 2005 Champions League-winning team – feels that they will look back on 2013/14 as a missed chance:
“If Liverpool don’t win the title, it will be a huge missed opportunity. In football you have to take your chances when you get them.” He told the Liverpool Echo.
“Even though nobody expected them to be in this position, they are there on merit.
“It’s not as if they have punched above their weight. They won 11 games on the spin and you only do that if you are a top team.
“They deserved a shot at the title and it would be a huge opportunity missed.”
Despite the feeling of negativity at Anfield, Liverpool can still win a first ever Premier League crown by taking three points from Newcastle on Sunday as long as City slip to defeat at the hands of West Ham.
And Hamann – who also played for the Sky Blues – feels that the pressure is on Manuel Pellegrini’s side:
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“The title isn’t gone, City will still need something on the final day to be champions.
West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Clarke has expressed his delight at his side’s brilliant opening part of the season, emphasising that it was crucial to get off to a good start.
He also reiterated that it was important for him to prove that he was not just a number 2 and that he was more than capable of managing at the top level.
This is the Scot’s first managerial role after stints at Newcastle United, Chelsea, West Ham United and Liverpool on the coaching staff.
The Baggies boss has picked up 14 points from his first 8 Premier League games in charge, and is delighted with the way things have gone.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of a clash with one of his former clubs Newcastle this weekend, Clarke said: “The start was important.”
“As a group we put a lot of emphasis on starting the first week very well and we managed to do that. From there it gives you the confidence and the platform to build from.”
He also went onto speak about his own fortunes as a boss, explaining what it’s like to carry the burden of being seen as an assistant manager.
“I’m not daft and I think it was really important that I had a good start because there were a lot of people saying ‘Steve Clarke is the perennial No.2’.
“For me it was vital that we got off to a good start and it was good for the club because it showed that their appointment of me as a head coach wasn’t as crazy as it might have appeared to some people at the time,” the Scotsman added.
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Clarke will be looking to continue his promising start at St James’ Park at 15.00 on Sunday.
When a new manager arrives at a club, players need to go all out to impress the new figure, and that is no different at Arsenal.
Unai Emery will lead the North London outfit into a new era after he was appointed as successor to long-standing coach Arsene Wenger.
The Spaniard has made two signings so far in this window, including right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner and goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Other areas of the defence could do with a tweak, while the midfield also needs addressing following the departure of Jack Wilshere.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”255898″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch Arsenal’s opening fixtures for the 201819 Premier League season”]
According to The Mirror, there are five players within the squad that Emery deem ‘untouchable’, meaning that no amount of cash will persuade him into selling.
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They include Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Alexandre Lacazette, Granit Xhaka and Hector Bellerin.
Instantly, Arsenal fans noticed that Aaron Ramsey was not on the list, despite earlier reports that the ex-Paris Saint-Germain boss wanted to build the team around the midfielder.
Arsenal do not tend to be one of the busier clubs when it comes to the transfer window, but this time around, plenty of work is going on behind the scenes.
The Alexis Sanchez saga came to an end earlier this week when the Chile international moved to Manchester United.
Within the deal, Henrikh Mkhitaryan switched to the Emirates, and it seems that the Gunners’ transfer business is not done just yet.
Widespread reports have claimed that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the club’s top target.
The Borussia Dortmund hitman has not yet signed on the dotted line, and it appears that a deal could potentially depend on Olivier Giroud.
The Daily Mail reports that the Bundesliga outfit are keen on signing the French forward, but at this stage, deals for Aubameyang and Giroud are being kept separate.
The latter has struggled for a starting spot at Arsenal this season having been restricted to just one Premier League start so far.
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With a potential move to Dortmund on the horizon, fans have been debating whether the Gunners should let him go.