Sunday, 5 February 2017
Arsenal fans turn on Arsene Wenger after Chelsea dash title hopes
A pair of Arsenal fans turned on Arsene Wenger towards the end of the club's convincing 3-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Goals from Marcos Alonso, Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas put the Blues 12 points clear at the top of the table and all-but ended Arsenal's pursuit of a first Premier League crown in 13 years.
The Gunners remain in the hunt for Champions League and FA Cup silverware this season, but their failure to maintain a Premier League title challenge frustrated members of the travelling support in west London.
Two Gunners fans brandished a mini-banner which read: "Enough is enough, time to go."
Wenger's current Arsenal contract is up in the summer and the Frenchman has indicated that the club's ability to compete on the field could determine his future.
Chelsea fans were heard chanting 'Arsene Wenger, we want you to stay' as they took command of a game which had been billed as a title tussle but in truth just emphasised the gulf between both sides.
Arsene Wenger is very unhappy that Chelsea's first goal stood
Arsene Wenger has criticised referee Martin Atkinson for allowing Chelsea's first goal to stand in his side's 3-1 loss at Stamford Bridge.
Marcos Alonso opened the scoring for the Blues 13 minutes in after reacting quickest to tower over Hector Bellerin and nod the ball in from a rebound.
The Spaniard did appear to lead with his arms as he leapt and caught Bellerin in the face, leaving his compatriot groggy and needing to be replaced by Gabriel Paulista following some on-field treatment.
Wenger says that he did not have to think twice before bringing off the full-back, but believes that the officials should have spotted the infringement in the build-up to the key opener.
"The decision to take him off was very quick," he told reporters.
"You have to respect it's the head. One of the particularities of the game today is that referees are much more severe with tackles on the ground and let more go with elbows in the face.
"It is not only today. In many games I see that but it is more dangerous to hit the head. But we are maybe not good enough in possession to make our game more dangerous.
"We lost goals in positions where you cannot afford to lose it. It leaves us to focus and prepare on the next game.
It is very difficult to come out individually on players. We were not at our best in some positions."
Eden Hazard and former Gunner Cesc Fabregas went on to put Chelsea three goals ahead, before Olivier Giroud pulled one back for the visitors in added time.
Labels:
Arsenal,
Arsene Wenger,
Hector Bellerin,
Olivier Giroud
Saturday, 4 February 2017
Arsenal need more English players to win title claims Robert Pires
Robert Pires has claimed that his former side require 'more fight and more English players' if they are to end their long wait to lift the Premier League title.
The Gunners are likely to go a 13th year without prevailing in the top flight, as they currently trail runaway leaders Chelsea - who they face this weekend - by nine points.
Three defeats in their last eight outings has left Arsenal playing catch-up in the higher reaches of the division, but Pires - a member of the famous 'Invincibles' squad - insists that there could be a simple solution if the club are to finally get over the line.
"When I see the names in the squad, the quality is very high," he told The Telegraph.
"I don't know if it is better than the Invincibles but the most important for me is to win the title because this team can. They can play a very high level like the game against Chelsea at home but maybe they need more consistency.
"This is most important if you want to win the title, especially in the UK. Of course the games against Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool, Man United and Man City are very important but sometimes when you play Watford, Sunderland, Middlesbrough; it is these games.
You need to win these games. I cannot compare some players, like Martin Keown or Lee Dixon to now.
"We make a lot of difference in my time but this is the past; a great past for Arsenal. Football has changed but, in your team, you need players like them. Like Ray Parlour or Tony Adams.
So maybe Arsenal they need – maybe – more fight. Or more English players."
Arsenal have won the title on three occasions, putting them behind Chelsea (4) and Manchester United (13) in the list of most-successful teams.
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