Christian Eriksen single handedly pulled Tottenham out of the mire in their 3-2 win against Southampton. The talented Dane has always been tipped to do great things at White Hart Lane but is now really demonstrating why he is a class act.
The 22 year old has always been earmarked for his play making talents but he is now adding goals to his game highlighting why he is more than capable of becoming Spurs’s most important player, taking over Bale’s crown as Tottenham’s king.
The former Ajax starlet initially struggled to make an impact but now his consistency and effortless flair are earning him the plaudits Eredivisie fans always except the Denmark international to receive in the Premier League.
In the summer Tottenham’s board will plan a fresh recruitment drive and demand a top four push next season and possibly even a title charge. Here is why they need to build any of their plans for the future around Eriksen.
1. Eriksen is capable of getting the very best out of Soldado
2. Eriksen consistently is pushing himself to be the best Tottenham player and take the lead.
3. Christian Eriksen is a player that can galvanise the supporters into believing in the team.
Following his first appearance for Arsenal in nearly two years, a Capital One Cup outing against Southampton, Arsene Wenger revealed his plans to reinvent eternally-crocked Frenchman Abou Diaby as a holding midfielder.
“I tried to develop [Diaby] in a deeper role, I think he can do it. He can be very interesting because he has all the attributes to do it,” Wenger informed reporters. “After, he must love it as well because he’s more of an offensive-minded player. I try to transform him because he was injured for a long time and he has the physical potential to win the challenges. To face the game will be easier for him than to play with his back to goal with the injuries he had.”
There are certainly some positives to take from this news. Particularly, Arsene Wenger appears to be accepting the intrinsic need for more holding options in his midfield. Mikel Arteta offers great quality in possession, Mathieu Flamini a fantastic work-rate off the ball, but both lack the natural physicality required to contest the power and strength of Chelsea and Manchester City in the middle of the park.
Measuring at 6 foot 3, blessed with relative pace and brawn, Diaby is capable of providing it, although the level of effect injuries have had on his mobility remains to be seen.
Yet, pessimistically, one can already envisage the 28 year-old’s potential performances in the holding role becoming a justification for a new contract in the summer, and Wenger deciding against investing heavily in one of the many coveted defensive midfielders, such as Sami Khedira, Lars Bender or Morgan Schneiderlin, recently linked with an Emirates move.
Diaby may be a decent option until the end of the season, seeing as, for whatever reason, Wenger had little interest in signing a holding midfielder this summer, but he can’t be considered a long-term solution to an intrinsic flaw within Arsenal’s squad that’s existed since Alex Song left for Barcelona two years ago.
And we are talking about a player who has endured no less than 40 injures since his debut for Arsenal in 2006, the most recent being an eighteen-month sideline stint with a cruciate knee ligament injury. In that time, he’s managed only 124 Premier League appearances, averaging out at just 14 per season.
Fully developing Diaby as a defensive midfielder, teaching him the tactical discipline and defensive awareness required, will take at least a couple of years, and there are no guarantees – in fact, history suggests completely otherwise – that he’ll remain in clean health for such a period. At which point, the midfielder will be the wrong side of 30 and beyond his footballing peak.
There’s also something remarkably illogical about attempting to utilise a habitual member of Arsenal’s injury list in the most physically-demanding area of the pitch. Tough tackles and robust challenges will be compulsory, yet the former France international is only ever one away from ruling himself out of contention for extended periods.
This isn’t Diaby’s first reinvention either; unquestionably more natural as an attacking force, he’s been tested in central midfield, on the left wing and as a No.10 by Wenger before with mixed results. A combination of turbulent performances and season-ending injuries has seen the 28 year-old fail to make any role his own. At this point, there’s little to suggest moving him deeper into midfield will pan out any differently.
You can understand Wenger’s temptation. He’s continually stood by the midfielder throughout his injury problems and to paraphrase the Arsenal boss, Diaby has shown enormous mental strength by refusing to hang up his boots. It’s an unfortunate situation that’s cost the club wages and resources and Diaby the best years of his career; both the Gunners and the 28 year-old deserve something positive to come out of it, even if at the compromise of a change in position.
Optimists will argue that the Gunners stuck it out with Robin van Persie during six years of continuous injury as well as Tomaz Rosicky, who once looked like he’d never kick a ball again, and eventually, Arsenal reaped the benefits of their loyalty.
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In regards to Diaby however, it feels like flogging a dead horse. And placing faith in a 28 year-old who hasn’t played regular football since 2010 is an incredibly risky strategy. One certainly struggles to envisage a similar situation coming into fruition at any other of the Premier League’s top four clubs.
I’m sure that rather taking a gamble on the crocked midfielder Arsenal fans would much prefer to see their manager invest properly in a department that’s required strengthening for the last two seasons. After all, even if Diaby proves useful as a holding midfielder, he’s still not the specialist Arsenal desperately need in that role.
And although it feels as heart-breaking as telling a toddler there’s no such thing as Father Christmas, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, it’s probably time the Gunners gave up on Diaby.
It could be worse Nando, you could be one of these guys…
Liverpool suffered yet more disappointment as they were dumped out the FA Cup thanks to a 2-1 semi-final defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday.
Despite taking the lead, it was Villa who deservedly booked their place in the final as the pressure continues to mount on Brendan Rodgers after another abject display.
Having failed to build upon last season’s success, the Reds are in serious danger of missing out on qualification for the Champions League with a seven-point deficit to make overturn with just six games remaining.
Much of Liverpool’s problems this season can be put down to their issues upfront and it’s clear they have struggled since the departure of Luis Suarez. Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini have all failed to fill the void even slightly and the trio could well be on their way out of Anfield this summer.
And with their main striker Daniel Sturridge spending much of the season out through injury it’s clear Liverpool are in desperate need of some quality reinforcements to bolster their attack.
Reports this week have linked the Merseyside outfit with a move for out of favour Manchester United striker Radamel Falcao, and despite his struggles at Old Trafford he certainly could be a good option for Liverpool and is a player they should be going all out to sign this summer.
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Having struggled for form and first-team opportunities since arriving in Manchester, it looks unlikely that United will sign the Columbian on a permanent basis following his loan deal from Monaco.
And with just four goals to his name this season, his agent Jorge Mendes is already believed to be looking for a new club for next season and has approached Liverpool to enquire about the possibility of a summer switch.
Given the fact they look unlikely to qualify for the Champions League, attracting big names could be a problem for Liverpool this summer, and so if a player of Falcao’s calibre is considering joining the club, it really is an opportunity they should make the most of.
Prior to his arrival at United, the South American was considered as one of the world’s best strikers and this alone should be enough to persuade Liverpool to take a chance. At times he has looked like he is yet to fully recover from the knee injury that saw him miss the World Cup, but the lack of match time at United has to have played a part in this.
With a full pre-season under his belt, Liverpool could offer him a regular starting place in the side, and it would be no surprise to see the 29-year-old return to the form that saw him held in such high regard not long ago. The Reds clearly require a goalscorer and Falcao is in desperate need of a club that can give him the basis to perform on a weekly basis, and so it would appear a perfect match.
Despite a lack of goals at United, it’s not as if Falcao has been littered with opportunities in front of goal when he has been given a chance in the side and this hasn’t helped the perception of the fans.
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He almost found the net at Stamford Bridge with his only real opportunity of the game against Chelsea, and was unfortunate to see his effort rebound off the post. The United players have failed to create sufficient chances for Falcao when he has been in the side, but his luck could change were he to make the switch to Liverpool.
With plenty of creative players in the side, they look like a team who could help bring the best out of Falcao as he spearheads their attack. The likes of Raheem Sterling, Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson should provide plenty of opportunities for a striker of his ability to thrive on in and around the penalty area, and their style of play would arguably suit him better than United’s that at times hasn’t been as direct as their counterparts.
It would certainly be a risk signing Falcao, but given how little their summer signings have provided this season it has to be one worth taking. It could just take a run of consecutive starts to rejuvenate the forward and Liverpool can offer him the platform to showcase just what a world class player he can be as well as show their rivals just what they are missing.
From the men who seemingly can only think with their feet to those who are always ready and willing with a witty one-liner, football is an absolute mine of verbal entertainment.
With well over a century of material to gather, here is our list of the twenty best football quotes of all time in no particular order.
‘It’s often said that football is a matter of life and death. I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it’s much more important than that.’ Legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly in 1981 explaining just what football means to him. ‘Please don’t call me arrogant, but I am European champion and I think I am a special one.’ Jose Mourinho makes himself an instant tabloid favourite by bringing out this pearler in his first press conference. ‘I wouldn’t say I am the best in the business, but I’m definitely in the top one.’ Ok, we could have done a top twenty best Clough quotes without diluting the quality, but this has to be the best of the bunch. ‘No wonder he’s in the f***ing reserves.’ If you haven’t seen this on Youtube, get there now. ‘Arry Redknapp reacts with understandable fury after being hit by a wayward football. If he was leaning out of his car window, it would never have happened. ‘Chile have three options. They could win or they could lose.’ Kevin Keegan struggling somewhat with his maths. That could explain why he rarely completed a 38-game season. ‘They were lucky to get nil.’ Len Shackleton of Newcastle commenting on sorry Newport’s performance after a 13-0 drubbing. ‘Today’s top players only want to play in London or for Manchester United. That’s what happened when I tried to sign Alan Shearer and he went to Blackburn.’ Future Blackburn manager Graeme Souness temporarily relocating his future club 230 miles south-east. ‘Sometimes you lose a game, and sometimes the other team wins.’ Otta Rehhagel nearly perfectly summing up the sport of football. If only he didn’t forget about draws. Or penalties. Or abandoned matches. Yeah, he mucked that one right up. ‘I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered.’ Football’s first playboy star George Best horrifies accountants all over the country with this quote. Aston Martin dealers in the Cheshire area were less concerned. ‘I was feeling as sick as the proverbial donkey.’ Sometimes there are just too many cliches to fit into a single press conference, so Mick McCarthy decided to economise and meld two together. Either that or he was just a bit of an idiot, but anyone who heard his Euro 2012 commentary knows that’s not true. ‘When seagulls follow the trawler it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.’ The poetic thug Eric Cantona at his post-kung-fu kick press conference bemusing and delighting journalists brought up on a diet of ‘At the end of the day I can only apologise to the gaffer, the lads and the fans that I’ve let down.’ ‘We must have had 99% of that match. It was the other 3% that cost us.’ Ruud Gullit getting his percentages hopelessly wrong. 102% as a whole? What about the other 8% Ruud? ‘If the ball had gone in, it would have been a goal.’ Joe Royle clearly failing to predict Pedro Mendes, Frank Lampard or Marco Devic’s attempts. At the time he felt foolish, now even more so. ‘I was really surprised when the FA knocked on my doorbell.’ Now I’m not entirely sure whether Michael Owen made a muck-up of this quote or the FA genuinely did knock on his doorbell. Either way, someone’s been a plank. ‘Liverpool will be thinking they should have won this 2-2.’ Ok, not the worst thing that anyone has ever heard Ron Atkinson say, but definitely one of the daftest. ‘If you can’t stand the heat of the dressing room, get out of the kitchen.’ Maybe if Terry Venables didn’t insist on a food preparation facility in every dressing room, England may have won Euro 96. ‘I never predict anything and I never will.’ Paul Gascoigne living up to his word for all of half a second. ‘For those of you watching in black and white, Spurs are the team in yellow.’ The ever-helpful John Motson differentiating between the team in grey and the team in grey. ‘Well we got nine and you can’t get more than that.’ The late, great Bobby Robson forgetting about the existence of the number ten. Oh, and 11. And all numbers above that. ‘Some people are on the pitch. They think it’s all over. It is now.’ The quote guaranteed to send shivers down the spine of any England fan came from the legendary mouth of Kenneth Wolstenholme.
There would have been some quarters of the Arsenal support who would have greeted news of Arsene Wenger to PSG not with trepidation, but with the hope of a new dawn for the club. And that doesn’t take anything away from what he’s done in the past or what he may do in the little time he has left with Arsenal. It’s a nod to the idea that maybe the time is right for something different.
You have to ask the question from the other side of the table, too. What if Wenger himself feels that he’s taken this club as far as he can; with the limitations in the transfer market and the consistency at losing his top players each summer, it becomes a frustrating cycle which can be hard to break. Should Arsenal fans begrudge Wenger if he decides PSG is the last realistic chance for glory before he moves away from the dugout for good? If anything, Wenger has earned the right to walk away when he pleases.
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What would a move to PSG mean for Wenger and his stance on big-spending clubs in Europe? I don’t think it will matter too much. This is a coach who has long had to hide the complications that exist behind closed doors at Arsenal, and much of that came through the belief that spending recklessly was wrong and Arsenal’s approach was right. It also played into Wenger’s hand nicely, that being his preference for developing talents, while also avoiding the bidding wars that were likely to spring up for the world’s most sought-after players. Going to PSG, however, will allow Wenger the freedom to move in the transfer market, still taking on his well-thought-out approach to new signings, but with far less restrictions.
What’s on the table now is the prospect of a big summer of spending, for both Arsenal and PSG, with Wenger unlikely to be in the Premier League beyond next summer. How does this work out for Arsenal? Maybe it’s best to cut ties now while the opportunity is there. Wenger talks about his commitment to contracts, and yet who could really hold that small detail against him should all parties agree that a change in direction is needed?
It’s not a campaign to push the manager out the door of the Emirates. It is, however, an acknowledgement that there is a world beyond what many Arsenal fans know. This is a topic for discussion that is absolutely certain to arise again next year should Wenger remain at Arsenal beyond this summer, and yet many may be more willing to accept the matter then rather than now. It’s about holding onto the safe and secure option. It’s the uncertainty that arises should Wenger look to accept PSG’s proposal for one last go at a league title. Who knows how far this Arsenal team are from challenging? Who really knows outside of the club whether this truly is a summer of increased and ambitious spending?
But it’s a question of blame and grudges being held. Many fans still believe Wenger to be the right man for Arsenal, one who most trust with overseeing the reshaping of the playing squad before he leaves. It doesn’t keep with Wenger’s principles to move on with the club so precariously placed. To elaborate, and to reiterate: who can really tell what this summer holds for the club?
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There will be very little blame attached should Wenger depart this summer. Most of it will come in the form of disappointment and the realisation that not everything was done to give Wenger a proper sending off. For whatever criticisms may be had over Wenger’s management – of which there are many – the real blame lies with the board and their decision to hide behind a man who most believe to be exempt from criticism.
Should Wenger leave, it may just be an admission that he’s had enough with the faults of this club that don’t necessarily lie at his door.
Imagine the perfect way to enjoy the epic highs and painful lows of your footy team in action. Imagine sitting in the company of a legend of your side, the painful intensity of another attack on your goal, the ecstasy of the ball screaming into the corner of the net, the glory of victory. Imagine if Carlsberg did Sport…
On Monday night a very special screening of the Arsenal v Reading match was held at The Carlsberg Sports Bar in the heart of London’s West End with ex-Arsenal striker Charlie Nicholas. As well as the opportunity to meet a footballing legend, football fans at the bar also received free food and drink and one lucky fan won two exclusive corporate tickets to the Boxing Day clash between Arsenal and West Ham which was presented to the winner by Charlie Nicholas & Danny Crates. The Casino at The Empire is also making a donation to the Sports Aid charity – helping young British sportsmen and women to achieve their ambitions by supporting them during the defining early years of their careers.
The Carlsberg Sports Bar have promised similar sporting surprises in the near future, so watch this space…
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Liverpool and Barcelona confirmed on Saturday night that star attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho has finally made the switch from the English Premier League to La Liga, after a transfer saga that has rumbled on for more than six months.
Coutinho joins the European giants on a five-and-a-half year deal for a reported £142m, £105m of which will be paid upfront, a British record for a sale of a player.
It’s a bitter blow for Liverpool’s season given the form the Brazilian has been in for the last few months, scoring 12 goals and assisting nine more in just 19 appearances between the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.
Fans are upset the club couldn’t continue to say no to the Catalan side until the summer, believing signing a direct replacement will be difficult in the January transfer window.
With a top four place at stake alongside progression in Europe, will Jurgen Klopp’s side be the same now he has left Anfield?
Supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts…
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has declared that the Premier League title is Chelsea’s to lose after the Gunners’ 2-1 loss to Swansea on Sunday, Mirror reports.
The Swans came from one goal down to triumph at the Liberty Stadium and Wenger has given up on his side’s chances of catching the Blues this season.
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“At the moment Chelsea are on course to get an average of 100 points this season,” he said.
“If they keep that up nobody will catch them, that’s for sure. There doesn’t look to be anybody capable to challenge them at the moment.”
Wenger’s men were still reeling from being three goals up against Anderlecht in the Champions League before drawing the game in midweek and the loss to Swansea is another disappointing result for the Gunners.
“We’ve had a very disappointing week considering the performances we produced and the end result we got,” Wenger added.
“It’s very disappointing. We were 3-0 up against Anderlecht and 1-0 up against Swansea and in the end we lose two points against Anderlecht and three points today. You have to be capable, once you are 1-0 up and a big team, of winning the game.
“I don’t know how damaging it is, but for our league position it’s very disappointing. We had an opportunity to come back into the top four in a bit more of a comfortable way. It is unfortunate that we didn’t take it.
“Did Tuesday night play a part in our mind? I don’t think so. I hope not. As for Swansea, you have to give them credit. They didn’t give up. They fought until the end, they scored a good free-kick and course that gave them momentum again.
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“In the end, we lost the three points. That’s very sad but we have to take it on the chin because we didn’t play for 90 minutes with the right rigorous attitude. We produced quite a decent performance for 75 minutes but you have to last 90 minutes.”
Villa have done well over the years to maintain their ever-present Premier League status, especially considering they’ve endured a couple of difficult relegation battles in their history.
Last year proved tough watching at Villa Park though as they narrowly avoided the drop under Alex McLeish in what was possibly the worst season in the club’s history. This season hasn’t been much better and another relegation battle is before them.
Given the chance, Villa’s fans would probably name last year’s starting XI as the worst to ever take to the field wearing the claret and blue, but looking back over the years, some names stand out that would be enough to make everyone in the Holte End shed a little tear.
Here is the worst XI signings made by Villa during the Premier League era:
Click on Villa Park below to see the Aston Villa Worst Transfer XI
Rangers managed to avoid defeat against Celtic for just the second time since Brendan Rodgers arrived in Glasgow, after a creditable 0-0 draw at Celtic Park in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.
In a match that the Hoops were expected to win comfortably, Rangers gave a spirited and determined performance to play out a stalemate.
In truth, the Light Blues could have won the match in the second half with Alfredo Morelos missing some big chances to put his team ahead.
Rangers had to defend stoutly too of course, with Rodgers’ side piling the pressure on in spells.
It was a day that supporters were proud of a defence that has had severe criticism over the last few months.
Particular praise went to youngster David Bates, who was thrown into the deep end in the first half, replacing an injured Bruno Alves.
The 21-year-old central defender helped keep Celtic’s attack quiet for most of the afternoon and even ended up winning Sky Sports’ man of the match award.
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Rangers fans took to Twitter to enthuse about his performance…