Arsene Wenger
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PremierLeagueStories – #ArseneWenger doesn’t agree with #MikelArteta’s approach towards William Saliba #AFC

October 27, 2020
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has previously explained why he would prefer to give young defenders a chance, despite the increased risk of mistakes. Arsenal are yet to hand William Saliba his full debut since the teenager signed for the club last summer. The young, French centre-back was expected to slot straight into the heart of the Gunners' defence this season after returning from an impressive season-long loan spell at Saint-Etienne. However, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, who watched his side suffer a 1-0 home defeat to Leicester City, has been reluctant to hand opportunities to Saliba, with the 19-year-old having not yet made a single first-team appearance so far this term. Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon8Cancel His exclusion from the squad has caught some Gunners supporters by surprise, especially given the injuries to Shkodran Mustafi, Calum Chambers and exclusion of Sokratis from the Premier League squad. Arteta's decision to hold off from handing Saliba an opportunity to showcase his talents is at odds with Wenger's stance. The former Arsenal boss previously explained his philosophy that a young defender would repay the faith over time despite the initial risk of losing matches. Read More Related Articles Read More Related Articles "If I have a young central-defender of 20-years-old, I know he will cost me points in the season, and I have to stand up from that," Wenger said, at a Football Writers' Association talk. "If I play a 28-year-old centre-back, maybe less talented, he will cost me less points. "But I will not give a chance to a young player and at some stage I must say as a manager sometimes you feel lonely to stand up there and say, 'No, I want this boy to play because he deserves it.' Sign up to our Arsenal newsletter for Gunners updates By signing up for our Arsenal newsletter, you will receive a once-daily email, focused around goings-on at Emirates Stadium. You won't miss a thing when it comes to the Gunners - you'll get all you need to know directly into your inbox. We'll also send out special newsletters with any big breaking news too. How do you sign up? It's easy and only takes seconds. Simply type your email address into the box at the top of this article - or any article on the Arsenal section of football.london in fact - labelled 'Get the biggest daily stories by email' and click 'Subscribe'. And that's it, you're all set. If you decide later that you no longer wish to receive the emails, simply follow the unsubscribe link in one of the newsletters - but we don't think you'll want to. For more details, click here. "But just to deserve it I know as well that he will make mistakes, because you learn your job at the age of 23 years of age. "At 23, 24 you have a player. But until 23, he may go up and down." The closest Saliba has got to making his Arsenal debut so far is when he was named on the bench for the Gunners' FA Community Shield triumph over Liverpool at Wembley back at the end of August and the 2-0 win over Leicester City in the Carabao Cup last month.
Conor Coady
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PremierLeagueStories: #MarkLawrenson tells #JurgenKlopp to pay ‘big money’ for Wolves captain #ConorCoady #WWFC #WolvesFC

October 27, 2020
Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson believes Wolves captain Conor Coady is a 'ready-made' replacement for Virgil van Dijk. The Premier League champions will be without star defender van Dijk for the foreseeable future after he suffered a serious knee injury in the 2-2 draw with Everton. A number of players have been suggested as possible replacements for van Dijk, including Coady, and Lawrenson believes Wolves' ever-present skipper is a good shout. "I would think Virgil will be out for the season," Lawrenson told the Argus. "I think it’s a write-off because you’ve got to get match fit and that’s almost impossible nowadays because they don’t play reserve team football. Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon8Cancel "If Liverpool are going to pay big money for somebody in January, they want absolutely ready-made. Conor Coady has had loads of shouts and he is a very good organiser who has played lots of games in the Premier League." Coady, who is a lifelong Liverpool fan and came through their academy, will always have a soft spot for the Reds but he delighted Wolves supporters with his response to a wind up from Jamie Carragher recently. Speaking to Coady after Wolves had beaten Leeds last week, a straight-faced Carragher said: “Obviously you won’t be aware as you’re playing tonight but Jurgen Klopp has had his Champions League press conference and he’s mentioned you and two other players who could be a replacement for Virgil van Dijk. Would that come into your thinking?” Carragher was of course joking but Coady wasn’t to know and laughed it off live on Sky Sports. Read More Related Articles Read More Related Articles “I can’t believe you’ve just put this on me here,” he said. “Not at all, I love playing for this football club. We’ve just beat Leeds in an amazing game - so no!” But the connection is likely to keep being made with Coady now a full England international and playing some of the best football of his career. What's important for Wolves is that Coady has only recently committed his long-term future to the club by signing a new five-year contract.
jacob Murphy
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PremierLeagueStories – #JacobMurphy reveals that his goal against Wolves was down to research about #RuiPatricio #NUFC

October 26, 2020
Jacob Murphy has claimed his late equaliser against Wolverhampton Wanderers was all down to his research on Rui Patricio. Murphy netted an 89th minute free-kick at Molineux to earn Newcastle United a point after Raul Jimenez had opened the scoring in spectacular fashion. Wolves weren't particularly pleased with the award of the free-kick but Nuno Espirito Santo was furious with the way his players set up the defensive wall. “If it goes over the wall then we have to deal with that, but it cannot go that side of the goal,” said Nuno. “We made a mistake with the set-up of the wall and we conceded.” Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon8Cancel Replays showed Patricio and Leander Dendoncker, who the ball crept past on the left side of the wall, were still in discussions over its positioning moments before Murphy struck. But Murphy paid little attention to Wolves' wall in his post-match interview and suggested that his particular choice of free-kick exposed a weak point of Patricio. The winger said: “I saw the way their wall was set up and the way their goalie was positioned and last night I did bit of research on their goalie and I knew anything low and hard in the corners would have half a chance. With that gap I just though 'I'll hit that' and luckily it went in." Wolves are currently eighth in the Premier League with 10 points from their opening six games.
Nuno Espirito Santo
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories – #NunoEspiritoSanto believes it was not the wall but mistake and missed chances that costed Wolves points against Newcastle United #NUFC #WolvesFC

October 26, 2020
Nuno Espirito Santo has lamented the set-up of the Wolverhampton Wanderers wall which allowed Jacob Murphy to net a last-gasp equaliser for Newcastle United. It looked as though Raul Jimenez’s stunning strike was going to give Wolves a third successive 1-0 win but Murphy squeezed a free-kick past Rui Patricio in the 89th minute to steal a point. Patricio will be disappointed with the goal having got a hand to Murphy’s strike, but Nuno’s main gripe afterwards was with those in the wall. “If it goes over the wall then we have to deal with that, but it cannot go that side of the goal,” said Nuno. “We made a mistake with the set-up of the wall and we conceded.” Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon8Cancel Wolves missed other chances before Jimenez opened the scoring with Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence going close. But their inability to kill off a Newcastle team which created very little of their own cost them in the end. “We were patient,” Nuno added. “We played well with the ball, moved them and were able to break them many times. “All the game we were in control, managing well and always being very organised. We had good spells of possession and good moments in the second half. “It was a good goal but it’s disappointing because we made a mistake in the final moments of the game that punishes us a lot.” Read More Related Articles Read More Related Articles For the second game in a row summer signing Vitinha was omitted from the 18-man squad. The Portuguese midfielder travelled to the ground with the team but didn't make the cut. Nuno suggested post-match that it was purely a selection decision rather than an injury to the 20-year-old. "Joao (Moutinho) played last game, he played very well., and today we decided to start with Ruben (Neves). I think it’s good for us that we have two quality players to choose from."
gabriel magalhaes arsenal
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PremierLeagueStories – Former Gunner #AlanSmith praises #GabrielMagalhaes impact on Arsenal defense #AFC

October 25, 2020
Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith believes summer signing Gabriel Magalhaes has been an "unsung hero" for the Gunners so far this season. The Brazilian centre-back joined the Gunners from Ligue 1 club Lille back in August for a fee understood to be around £25million, as head coach Mikel Arteta looked to strengthen his central-defensive options. So far this term, Gabriel, who scored on his debut for the club in the opening day 3-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage last month, has racked up six appearances in all competitions. Though he has only, so far, helped the club record two clean sheets this season, signs of promise have been clear to see, with his speed and athleticism appearing as though they could be useful tools in years to come. Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon8Cancel And whilst it is often attackers, such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who lap up the plaudits, it is Gabriel who has been earning rave reviews from former Gunners ace Smith for his performances so far this term. "I want to mention Gabriel, something of an unsung hero since arriving this summer," Smith said in his Evening Standard column, as cited by the Metro. "He is one of those central defenders you do not always notice, thanks to his positioning and anticipation. "Because of that, he will often get his body in the way or head on the ball — something proper defenders always enjoy. "A great athlete, he covers the ground beautifully, which should come in handy with Vardy around. And at 22, the Brazilian will only get better. Read More Related Articles Read More Related Articles "The early signs suggest he will be around for a while." For a time, Gabriel was Arsenal's most expensive addition of the window. But following the club's decision to make a last-gasp swoop for long-term target Thomas Partey on deadline day, the Ghana international became the club's stand-out signing of the summer, signing him for £45million. Though Partey has only made two appearances for the Gunners so far, Smith has been impressed by what he has seen from the midfield ace, going as far as saying that he reminds him of former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira. Smith continued: "There was nothing sloppy about Thomas Partey, though [against Rapid Wien]. "He hardly put a foot wrong in a performance that showcased an impressive passing range that should encourage anyone in front to keep making runs. How to get our daily Arsenal newsletter Why should you sign up? In each football.london Arsenal bulletin, we'll be bringing you the latest breaking news, transfer features and comment pieces, as well as the key talking points for fans. We'll also send special newsletters when big stories break or there's a special event happening. How do you sign up? It's easy and only takes seconds. Simply type your email address into the box at the top of this article - or any article on the Arsenal section of football.london in fact - labelled 'Get the biggest daily stories by email' and click 'Subscribe'. And that's it, you're all set. If you decide later that you no longer wish to receive the emails, simply follow the unsubscribe link in one of the newsletters - but we don't think you'll want to. For more details, click here. "Holding midfielder? No, Partey is much more than that. "He proved that emphatically with some incisive play that suggested a useful understanding could quickly develop with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. "Without wishing to get carried away, the way he bossed the game, Partey brought back memories of Patrick Vieira. "For the first time since the majestic Frenchman’s time, the Gunners may now boast a dominant force in the middle of the park who can change a game as well as mix it physically."