PREMIER LEAGUE – Page 89 – Football Flame
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Arteta says Aubameyang must handle expectations at Arsenal

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates with team mate Hector Bellerin after scoring his sides second goal during the UEFA Europa League Group B stage match between Rapid Wien and Arsenal FC at Allianz Stadion on October 22, 2020 in Vienna, Austria.Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said he is not surprised that striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is facing questions over his form and believes the Gabon international must deal with the pressure that comes from being a "big player".Aubameyang ended a run of four matches without a goal by striking late to help Arsenal seal a 2-1 Europa League win over Rapid Vienna on Thursday, and Arteta said the 31-year-old must create other opportunities for himself to silence the critics."Expectations for him are that he has to score a goal every game so thi...
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David Luiz defends ‘amazing’ Bernd Leno after Arsenal error

David Luiz of Arsenal during the UEFA Europa League Group B stage match between Rapid Wien and Arsenal FC at Allianz Stadion on October 22, 2020 in Vienna, Austria.David Luiz has defended team-mate Bernd Leno after his error gifted Rapid Vienna the lead in a hard-fought Europa League tie which Arsenal eventually went on to win.Mikel Arteta named a strong side at the Allianz Stadion, where 3,000 home fans watched on, with Thomas Partey making his full debut in the Group B opener.But after a mistake by Leno gifted a goal to Taxiarchis Fountas the Gunners had to rally, with Luiz and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on target as Arsenal left Austria with a 2-1 win.Following a passive first half for both sides, Fountas struck just six minutes after the interval, capitalising as Leno's attempt to play ...
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After almost quitting football, Chelsea’s Mendy eager to fulfil potential

Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy of Chelsea looks on during the UEFA Champions League Group E stage match between Chelsea FC and FC Sevilla at Stamford Bridge on October 20, 2020 in London, United Kingdom.Edouard Mendy is relishing the chance to showcase his talent at Chelsea but the Senegal keeper says he almost gave up football six years ago after his departure from Cherbourg left him without a club and drawing unemployment benefit.Mendy’s fortunes only changed when Marseille signed him in 2015 following a trial and the 28-year-old featured in their ‘B’ team before having spells at Reims and Rennes.He secured a move to Chelsea last month on a five-year deal.“I had to take unemployment support (in 2014) so I could dedicate myself totally to football,” Mendy told reporters. “If someone had said to...
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Hakim Ziyech – Chelsea move came at perfect time for me

Hakim Ziyech of Chelsea during the UEFA Champions League Group E stage match between Chelsea FC and FC Sevilla at Stamford Bridge on October 20, 2020 in London, United Kingdom.Hakim Ziyech has revealed his relief at biding his time for his big move to Chelsea rather than joining Arsenal or Barcelona two years ago.Morocco winger Ziyech had previously talked of a "dream" switch from Ajax to the Gunners or the Catalan giants, but neither move materialised.Ziyech stayed put in Amsterdam and helped Ajax reach the 2019 Champions League semi-finals before joining Chelsea in a £40million deal this summer.Now the 27-year-old is happily installed at Stamford Bridge and chasing full fitness after a knee problem, and he admitted his delight at holding out for his big Premier League switch."Two years a...
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Rodriguez set to miss Southampton trip

James Rodriguez of Everton warms up prior to the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on October 17, 2020 in Liverpool, England.Rodriguez suffered an injury during a clash with Virgil van Dijk at the beginning of last weekend’s Merseyside derby draw with Liverpool.Although the Colombia international completed the 2-2 encounter, Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that he is unlikely to feature at St Mary’s on Sunday.The Premier League leaders are also set to be without captain Seamus Coleman, who will be sidelined for three weeks with a minor injury.“Unfortunately, James had a problem during the game [against Liverpool],” said Ancelotti.“He had a mistimed tackle with Virgil van Dijk at the beginning of the game and I think he will not be available for the game agai...
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Ben Chilwell makes claim about Chelsea FC after Sevilla draw

Ben Chilwell of Chelsea looks on during the UEFA Champions League Group E stage match between Chelsea FC and FC Sevilla at Stamford Bridge on October 20, 2020 in London, United Kingdom.Ben Chilwell has claimed that Chelsea FC’s goalless draw with Sevilla in the Champions League on Tuesday night shows that the Blues are a “very strong” team defensively.The west London side managed to keep the La Liga outfit at bay at Stamford Bridge as both sides were forced to settle for a point from their Champions League group-stage opener.Timo Werner had Chelsea FC’s best chances to break the deadlock but the Blues were unable to find a way past the Sevilla defence.The clean sheet will have been a welcome one for the Blues, with Frank Lampard’s side having been pegged back and held to a 3-3 draw by Sout...
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Mikel Arteta content with decision to freeze out Mesut Ozil at Arsenal

Arsenal's Spanish head coach Mikel Arteta (R) embraces Arsenal's German midfielder Mesut Ozil (L) on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in London on January 1, 2020.Mikel Arteta insists his “conscience is very calm” after taking the decision to axe Mesut Ozil from Arsenal’s Premier League squad.Ozil released a statement on Wednesday saying he was “deeply disappointed” not to have been included in the 25-man group and believes his loyalty to the club has not been reciprocated.The 32-year-old is the highest-paid player in Arsenal’s history but has now been omitted from both the Premier League and Europa League squads.Ozil has not played a single minute for the Gunners since March 7, having initially been a m...
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Jose Mourinho says Tottenham were ‘not Spursy’ despite letting West Ham lead slip

Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of Tottenham Hotspur during the Tottenham Hotspur training session at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Europa League Group J stage match between Tottenham Hotspur and LASK at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 21, 2020 in London, England.Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho says his side were not "Spursy" despite letting their 3-0 lead slip against West Ham on Sunday.The Hammers scored three goals inside the final 10 minutes to salvage a point against their London rivals.The 'Spursy' tag has been frequently used to describe Tottenham's supposed habit of letting leads slip or choking."We can play 50 more matches and it's not going to happen again," said Mourinho."I don't want to be sticking on this. No stories about 'Spursy' and this kind of thing. ...
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Ozil ‘deeply disappointed’ by Arsenal omission

Mesut Ozil of Arsenal during a training session at London Colney on September 22, 2020 in St Albans, England.Mesut Ozil said Wednesday he was deeply disappointed" to be axed from Arsenal's Premier League squad amid speculation he has played his last game for the London club.The 32-year-old is the highest-paid player in Arsenal's history on a reported £350,000 ($450,000) a week, but has also been omitted from the Gunners' Europa League squad.Ozil has not played a single minute for Mikel Arteta's side since March 7."This is a difficult message to write to the Arsenal fans that I've played for over the past few years," said Ozil in a statement posted on social media."I'm really deeply disappointed by the fact that I have not been registered for the Premier League season for the time being."Fo...
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Edouard Mendy is already my number one goalkeeper – Chelsea boss Frank Lampard

Edouard Mendy of Chelsea gestures during the UEFA Champions League Group E stage match between Chelsea FC and FC Sevilla at Stamford Bridge on October 20, 2020 in London, England.Frank Lampard has admitted Edouard Mendy has already become Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper.The former Rennes stopper helped the Blues secure Lampard’s first goalless draw as Chelsea boss in Tuesday’s Champions League stalemate with Sevilla.Senegal stopper Mendy shook off a thigh issue to start the Group E opener at Stamford Bridge, which left Lampard delighted with his side’s more robust shape.Asked if Mendy is already Chelsea’s number one keeper, Lampard said: “At the moment yes; he’s shown his quality.“The way he’s played, he’s played very well, that’s two clean sheets for him already.“As it stands he is (the...
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Liverpool must stay in trophy hunt for injured Van Dijk, says Henderson

Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool and Jordan Henderson of Liverpool talk prior to the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on October 17, 2020 in Liverpool, England.Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson says the loss of Virgil van Dijk is a "big blow" but he wants the Premier League champions to use his absence as an added incentive to stay in the trophy hunt.Defensive talisman Van Dijk requires surgery after suffering knee ligament damage during Saturday’s Merseyside derby with Everton.Manager Jurgen Klopp is reluctant to put a timescale on the Dutchman's return but admits he faces a lengthy absence after being clattered by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the 2-2 draw.Henderson is confident Liverpool can cope in Van Dijk's absence, even though he has bee...
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Arsenal coach Arteta accused of ‘disrespecting’ Lacazette

Alex Lacazette of Arsenal during a training session at London Colney on October 16, 2020 in St Albans, England.Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole has accused Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta of disrespecting Alexandre Lacazette by not starting the striker against Manchester City last weekend.Arsenal were beaten 1-0 by City at the Etihad on Saturday, with Raheem Sterling scoring in the first half.Lacazette was left out of the Gunners’ starting line-up, with Arteta favouring winger Willian, though the France striker replaced the Brazilian on 69 minutes.The decision not to start Lacazette irked Cole, however.“I think he is being disrespectful to Lacazette,” Cole told talkSPORT. “Willian is not a centre-forward. If you have got a centre-forward on the bench, who is your top goalscorer a...
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Deflected Jimenez strike gives Wolves narrow 1-0 win over Leeds

Raul Jimenez of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Elland Road on October 19, 2020 in Leeds, United Kingdom.A Raul Jimenez shot that took a heavy deflection off the head of Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips gave Wolverhampton Wanderers a hard-fought 1-0 away win in the Premier League on Monday.Leeds dominated possession in the opening half, firing crosses into the box at a variety of angles and threatening from set pieces without creating much in the way of clear-cut chances.For all their attacking endeavour, they were almost made to pay in first-half stoppage time when Wolves sliced them open on the counterattack, but Daniel Podence fired a powerful shot straight at goalkeeper Illan Meslier, who batted it away....
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Klopp promises to wait on Van Dijk like a ‘good wife’

Jurgen Klopp the head coach / manager of Liverpool and Virgil Van Dijk of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield on September 28, 2020 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said supporting Virgil van Dijk is his priority after the talismanic Dutch defender suffered cruciate knee ligament damage that will likely end his season.Van Dijk was on the end of a shocking challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in Saturday's 2-2 draw in the Merseyside derby that will bring to an end his run of starting the last 94 Premier League games.The 29-year-old's arrival from Southampton for a then world record £75 million fee for a defender in January 2018 has transformed Liverpool's fortunes. The Reds won the Champions League in 201...
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Spurs throw away three-goal lead as West Ham grab remarkable draw

Tomas Soucek of West Ham United is challenged by Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 18, 2020 in London, England.Tottenham somehow contrived to throw away a three-goal lead as West Ham grabbed a remarkable 3-3 draw in their dramatic Premier League clash.Hueng-Min Son scored in the opening 45 seconds and Harry Kane got two as Tottenham roared into a three-goal lead on Sunday afternoon as Gareth Bale made his second debut off the bench, but West Ham recovered in a crazy finale.West Ham barely had time to know they were playing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when Son broke the deadlock inside the first minute. A pinpoint long ball from Kane in his own half was met by the South Korea...
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Richarlison, Pickford apologise to Liverpool duo after heavy tackles

Everton's Richarlison make a awful tackle on Thiago Alcantara of Liverpool and gets sent off during the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on October 17, 2020 in Liverpool, England.Everton forward Richarlison has issued an apology to Liverpool’s Thiago Alcantara for his dangerous challenge on the midfielder towards the end of Saturday’s 2-2 draw in the Premier League.Thiago eventually got up from Richarlison’s red-card tackle and created the opening for a late disallowed goal by Jordan Henderson but later reported an injury."Everyone who knows my background knows that I was never a violent player," Richarlison said in a statement here, blaming his heavy lunge on "sheer over-dedication".“I did not enter that dispute with the intention of hurting Thiago... I ...
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Liverpool await scan results for Van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool comes off due to an injury during the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on October 17, 2020 in Liverpool, England.Liverpool are waiting for results of a scan on Virgil van Dijk after he was brought down by a heavy challenge by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.The Dutch international was on the receiving end of a wild lunge from Jordan Pickford that might have resulted in a red card had the defender not been flagged for offside.However he had to leave the pitch after the challenge and the Daily Mail believes he may not start again this season. The club are now expected to get clarification on the severity of any injury.Joel Matip and Joe Gomez would be expected to cover in the event of any extended absence, with both English a...
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Souness backs Bale to form potent partnership with Kane and Son

Gareth Bale of Tottenham Hotspur during the Tottenham Hotspur training session at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on October 07, 2020 in Enfield, England.Gareth Bale can form a lethal attacking partnership with fellow forwards Harry Kane and Son Heung-min to take Tottenham Hotspur back into the Champions League next season, former Scotland and Liverpool skipper Graeme Souness said.Welshman Bale returned to north London from Real Madrid on loan last month and was rested during the international break to rebuild his fitness. The 31-year-old is set to make his second debut for the Premier League club against West Ham United later on Sunday."When I look at Bale, I see a perfect physical specimen - speed allied to strength, as well as an aerial threat - great technique, intelligence and commi...
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VAR Controversy as Liverpool denied Victory in Merseyside derby thriller

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates with teammate Sadio Mane after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on October 17, 2020 in Liverpool, England.Jordan Henderson’s stoppage-time winner was ruled out by VAR for the tightest of offside calls as Everton held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw in a thrilling Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.Liverpool started like a team possessed and got themselves in front with just two minutes and 15 seconds on the clock through Sadio Mane – the fastest Merseyside derby goal of the Premier League era – before the big first-half talking point came when Jordan Pickford got away with a reckless flying challenge on Virgil van Dijk. The offside flag stopped a penalty being awarded, but the Everton ...
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Ziyech ready for Chelsea debut as Lampard sets goals for new signing

Frank Lampard and Hakim Ziyech of Chelsea during a training session at Chelsea Training Ground on September 25, 2020 in Cobham, England.Hakim Ziyech is in line to make his Chelsea debut - eight months after his £33.3million move from Ajax.The winger has recovered from the knee injury that ruled him of the start of the season - but will have to wait for his first competitive start.Frank Lampard confirmed Ziyech is part of his squad for Saturday’s game against Southampton - but still has to build up his match fitness after playing his last game in March before lockdown.“Hakim is in the squad, not fit to start, but fit to play some minutes we hope,” said the Chelsea manager. “We brought him here, it feels like a long time ago.“It’s a long time and he’s worked so hard and been fantastic in ter...
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