SPORT : EPL, Tim Sherwood reveals player who cost Chelsea three points against Aston Villa

 

Former Tottenham Hotspur manager, Tim Sherwood, has identified defender, Andreas Christensen, as the player who cost Chelsea three points against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Monday.

Sherwood blamed Christensen for Aston Villa’s equalizer against Chelsea, stating that the centre-back laid down on the floor like a baby instead of getting back in position to defend against the host.

Goals from Olivier Giroud and Anwar El Ghazi ensured both Chelsea and Aston Villa played a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

“When you look at Villa, when I see their team sheet come out I can pretty much guess apart from one or two players, it’s a settled team,” Sherwood told Premier League Productions.

“It’s a complete contrast to Chelsea, you don’t know who’s going to play.

“He tried to mix it up at the back no Silva, no Zouma today and it cost him. “Because Christiansen, that is not good enough.

“I would be saying to Christiansen after the game, why were you lying on the floor? Why did you not get up and prevent that goal from being scored? You weren’t hurt, what are you laying down there for trying to feign injury to come off, you have cost us the game today.

“You have cost us three points’. ‘Yes, Villa pushed on, and they deservedly got their point. ‘But that is crucial, that’s not good enough, you are a big, strong centre-back, don’t lay down on the floor like a baby, get up and get on with it for your team. Not good enough,” he added.

SPORT : Transfer, Arteta takes final decision on signing Aouar for Arsenal

 

Arsenal will not renew their interest in Lyon midfielder, Houssem Aouar, in the January window.

The Athletic reports that the Gunners will instead pursue other targets.

Mikel Arteta’s side is short of creativity after Mesut Ozil was frozen out, with a new playmaker now top priority when the window reopens.

They had been expected to make another move for Aouar, having held extensive negotiations with Lyon over the summer.

But the Frenchman has fallen down their wishlist since then.

It is understood Arsenal will not rekindle their interest in the 22-year-old and are “prioritising other targets”.

In addition to the fee Lyon would demand, Arsenal also have some “reservations” about Aouar, while the player himself has publicly committed to remaining with the club until the end of the season at least.

The Premier League have been linked with the likes of Norwich’s Emiliano Buendia, Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt and Barcelona’s Riqui Puig as alternatives.

SPORT : Brighton vs Arsenal, Arteta to be without four key players for EPL clash

 Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, will be without at least four first-team players for their trip to Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday.

A statement on the Gunners’ official website revealed that Gabriel Magalhaes, Thomas Partey, David Luiz and Willian will be unavailable for the game.

Magalhaes, who missed the 3-1 win over Chelsea, has tested positive for COVID-19.

Luiz and Willian are recovering from symptoms and will resume training later in the week.

Partey is also on the road to recovery.

“Gabriel – Has tested positive for COVID-19 and is isolating according to UK Government and Premier League protocols. We will continue to monitor and support Gabriel, and we are hoping he will be available again after our next two matches.

“Thomas Partey – Left thigh. Thomas has progressed well since the injury on 6 December. He has started to train outside and will continue with his daily assessments and monitoring.

“David Luiz – Since feeling unwell, David has returned to outside training and is due to re-join the full squad on Thursday (31 December).

“Willian – Since feeling unwell, Willian has returned to outside training and is due to re-join the full squad on Thursday (31 December),” the statement read.

SPORT : EPL, Abramovich to sack Lampard as Chelsea manager on one condition

 

Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich, will sack manager, Frank Lampard if he doesn’t deliver a Premier League top-four finish this season.

This claim was made by former Chelsea star, Craig Burley.

Lampard’s men are currently in the 6th position on the Premier League table with 26 points from 16 matches after losing 3-1 against Arsenal on Boxing Day.

“[Lampard’s] got players out of form, he’s got players that aren’t fully fit, and that is a problem,” Burley told ESPN.

“They’ve gone from looking one of the paciest, quickest sides in the Premier League, to one of the most pedestrian.

“That is a huge issue for him because you may have noticed with this owner Roman Abramovich, he does not suffer inconsistency, bad results, no matter who it is.

“So let me be clear, Lampard is back on the chopping board currently as we speak.”

Burley added: “It’s turn-up time for Lampard and these players. This cut and thrust period can make and break you.

“I’m not suggesting Abramovich is going to sack him [Lampard] in the next couple of weeks, but there is one thing they need to remember – top four. If they don’t get in the top four, he’s probably done.

“It’s a big season for him. It looked as if it was going swimmingly and now it looks like they’re sinking a little bit. They seem to have a weight around their feet. He’s going to have to find the reason to put it right.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea played a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on Monday evening at Stamford Bridge, thanks to Olivier Giroud’s strike.

SPORT : EPL, Saha names five teams that can win title

 

Former Manchester United striker, Louis Saha, has said at least five teams can win the Premier League title this season.

Champions Liverpool are currently top, but have already drawn five matches and lost once.

A number of teams are within touching distance of the Reds and Saha believes Man City, Tottenham, Man United and Chelsea will rival Klopp’s charge for the title.

Saha told Ladbrokes: “I’d probably say there are four or five teams in with a genuine chance of winning the title.

“I’d definitely put Man United in there, Tottenham in there for sure as well. Chelsea have a good chance too, as well as the obvious two.

“I’m actually loving the competitiveness of the Premier League this season. Football needs it.

“When you look at leagues like Spain and France where it is always the same one or two teams – it’s great to see such a wide-open league in England.”

SPORT : EPL, Iheanacho misses penalty as Leicester City fail to beat Crystal Palace

 

Leicester City striker, Kelechi Iheanacho, on Monday missed a penalty in his side’s Premier League 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace.

Iheanacho missed a glorious opportunity to add to his tally this season at Selhurst Park as second-half goals from Wilfried Zaha, and Harvey Barnes ensured both Leicester and Palace got a point each.

The Nigerian international was handed his second league start of the campaign against Roy Hodgson’s side but missed an opportunity to give the Foxes the lead.

Leicester were awarded a penalty in the 19th minute during the match after James Tomkins brought down Luke Thomas in the box.

Iheanacho was given the opportunity to take the spot-kick, but the former Manchester City star missed the glorious chance, failing to fire his effort past goalkeeper, Vicente Guaita.

The 24-year-old played for 72 minutes before he was replaced by Demarai Gray.

Iheanacho’s compatriot, Wilfred Ndidi, was did not play the match.

The result means Leicester still maintain the second position on the Premier League table with 29 points from 16 matches.

SPORT : Mesut Ozil in shock move to join Ronaldo at Juventus

 Arsenal are set to offload playmaker, Mesut Ozil, out in a shock move to Juventus on a six-month loan, according to Italian newspaper, Tuttosport.

The Premier League club are willing to subsidise Ozil’s mammoth £350,000-a-week salary to help seal the deal with Juventus in the January transfer window.

Ozil’s agent has also been in contact with the Serie A champions over a potential free transfer in 2021.

The move would reunite Ozil with his former Real Madrid team-mate, Cristiano Ronaldo, at Allianz.

Ozil has not played for Arsenal under manager, Mikel Arteta, since football resumed after the COVID-19 lockdown.

The 32-year-old was also dropped from Arsenal’s 25-man Europa League squad.

The ex-Germany international joined Arsenal from Real Madrid in the summer of 2013 under the regime of former Gunners manager, Arsene Wenger.