|
|
rd Mauro Icardi, Roma striker Edin Dzeko
in Allgemein 07.03.2019 14:02von riluowanying123 • 2.943 Beiträge
Manchester Citys top-four hopes are hanging in the balance after Arsenal twice fought back from a goal down to claim a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Super Sunday. City hopes dented by draw Manchester Citys Champions League chances are in doubt after a 2-2 draw with Arsenal. Sergio Aguero gave Manuel Pellegrinis men a perfect start when he scored his eighth goal in six Premier League games after eight minutes, but Olivier Giroud headed Arsenals equaliser from a corner just two minutes later.Kevin de Bruyne put City back in front with a low drive shortly after half-time, but Alexis Sanchez pulled Arsenal level again midway through the second half as the Gunners claimed a valuable point. From Citys Champions League chances to Girouds improved performance for Arsenal, here are five talking points from the game…Manchester City at risk It was Manuel Pellegrinis final home game in charge of Manchester City Manchester Citys top-four hopes are out of their hands, and they are in real danger of starting Pep Guardiolas reign without Champions League football. Manchester Uniteds 1-0 win over Norwich on Saturday left City needing three points against Arsenal, but they could now drop to fifth if Louis van Gaals side win their game in hand against West Ham on Tuesday.The home supporters at the Etihad showed their disappointment by leaving in their droves long before Pellegrinis leaving speech, and City only have themselves to blame for their current predicament. Its not just about today, its about results before today, said Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness. City were good today but if youre a City supporter watching that first half youre saying to yourself: Why are we not like that every week? City have the best players but week after week this season theyve gone out and not matched the opposition for effort. Thats why they are where they are.Welbeck injury hands Wilshere chance Jack Wilshere made only his second appearance of the season for Arsenal Arsenals Danny Welbeck looked disconsolate as he trudged down the tunnel after hurting his knee in the first half. The 25-year-old faces an anxious wait to discover the extent of the injury ahead of Euro 2016, but his departure did at least open the door to his England team-mate Jack Wilshere.Following a brief cameo against Sunderland last month, this was only Wilsheres second appearance of the season after his return from injury. Recent reports have suggested his starring displays in Englands qualifying campaign will be enough to earn him a place in Roy Hodgsons 23-man squad for the Euros regardless of club form, but this was still an important step towards full fitness. Arsene Wenger admits he is worried about Danny Welbecks chances of making Euro 2016 Wilshere produced a typically tenacious performance as he joined Mohamed Elneny and Aaron Ramsey in central midfield. There were occasional loose touches as he adjusted to the intensity of the encounter, but overall he acquitted himself well after such a long spell on the sidelines.The midfielder showed a willingness to run with the ball, contributed defensively with tackles and interceptions, and also provided sound distribution, with 25 of his 29 passes finding a team-mate - giving him the highest success rate of any Arsenal player.Cechs weakness? Petr Cech was beaten by Kevin de Bruynes long-range effort Petr Cech will not enjoy watching replays of Manchester Citys goals as he was beaten twice at his near post. The 33-year-old was not helped by the static defending in front of him, but De Bruynes strike exposed what appears to be a growing weakness from long-range shots.Only Stoke have conceded more goals from outside the box than Arsenal in the Premier League this season, and all 11 of them have come on Cechs watch. The first came from West Hams Mauro Zarate on the opening day of the campaign, and De Bruynes effort was reminiscent of Yannick Bolasies equaliser for Crystal Palace three weeks ago.It could have been a costly lapse for Arsenal, and Sky Sports pundit Thierry Henry was less than impressed. The ball goes through the legs of Gabriel but I think Petr Cech needs to do way better than he did, he said.Giroud ends his drought Giroud ended a run of 881 minutes without a Premier League goal While Cech endured an afternoon to forget in goal, there was a considerably improved display from the much-maligned Giroud at the other end of the pitch. The Frenchman ended a dismal run of 16 Premier League games without scoring when he rose to head home Elnenys corner, and his assist for Sanchezs strike was outstanding.The striker pinned Eliaquim Mangala as he received Sanchezs pass with his back to goal on the edge of the City box, and his deft flick allowed the onrushing Chilean to dispatch a clinical first-time finish beyond Joe Hart. Head boy Olivier Giroud has scored more headers (18) than any other Premier League player since his Arsenal debut in 2012. He had a great game today, his best for a while now, said Arsene Wenger in his post-match interview with Sky Sports. He was sharp, focused, and today we have seen the real Olivier Giroud. Its true that in recent games he did not have that sharpness, but goalscorers go through ups and downs and you never know when a striker will score or not.Citys defensive issues laid bare again Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho was disappointed not to beat Arsenal From a Manchester City perspective, Arsenals first goal was a defensive horror show. First, Gael Clichys ill-judged pass wrong-footed Hart and clipped his own post as it went out, then Mangalas woeful marking left Giroud to rise unchallenged and head home from the resulting corner.Mangala allowed Giroud to get the better of him again for Arsenals second goal, and Citys struggles at the back were typical of a campaign in which they have now conceded more goals (40) than in any of the last five seasons.Citys defensive issues were further exasperated by the news that captain Vincent Kompany could be facing four months out after he was forced off in their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, and a major defensive overhaul is likely to be Guardiolas first priority when he takes over in the summer. Also See: Pellegrini: Were not finished Welbeck in Euros injury scare Buy Air Max 720 Cheap .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. Air Max 720 Sale . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. http://www.cheapairmax720.net/ . Despite the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press in an interview. "We just dont know what the results from Torino will be," Budgett said. Air Max 720 Clearance . Louis Blues. Shane Hnidy joins Brian Munz for the broadcast on TSN 1290 Radio at 7pm ct. Air Max 720 Best Price . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. MILAN -- A mix between Diego Maradona and Gonzalo Higuain?Plaudits dont get much better for a Napoli player, but that is just some of the praise that is being heaped on Dries Mertens after another fantastic display on Sunday.After scoring a hat trick against Cagliari the previous week, Mertens went one better against Torino, putting four past England goalkeeper Joe Hart.Mertens completed his hat trick in nine first-half minutes and then saved the best until last -- a sublime chip into the far corner in the 80th minute.The Belgium winger is now drawing comparisons to Higuain for his number of goals and Maradona for his style of play.Indeed, Mertens fourth goal was Maradona-esque.Lets say Ive got a way to go, Mertens said when asked about the comparison.Maradona is still revered in Naples after leading the team to its only two league titles in 1987 and 1990.No one has scored successive hat tricks in Serie A since 1974, while it was the quickest treble since Andriy Shevchenko scored three in seven minutes for AC Milan in 2000.The last Napoli player to net four goals in a top-flight match was Giuseppe Savoldi on December 18, 1977 -- a gap of exactly 39 years.Mertens emergence has eased the pain caused by Higuains departure in the offseason. Higuain transferred to Juventus for an Italian-record 90 million euros ($100 million) after breaking a 66-year-old Serie A record with 36 goals for Napoli last season.Arkadiusz Milik was signed to replace him and scored seven goals in eight matches, but tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while playing for Poland in October.As a result, Napoli coach Mauurizio Sarri has been relying on a three-man forward line with Mertens as a falso nueve -- false No.dddddddddddd 9 -- flanked by Jose Callejon and Lorenzo Insigne. And the trio is starting to gel.Mertens has netted eight goals in his past three matches in all competition, and a total of 10 in the league. Not bad for a player who is not even a forward.Hes scored 10 goals like Higuain or am I mistaken? Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis said after the 5-3 win over Torino.Both players are level in the scoring charts, with two goals less than Inter Milan forward Mauro Icardi, Roma striker Edin Dzeko and Torino youngster Andrea Belotti.I feel good playing in this team, Mertens said. We are doing a great job and the coach is instilling in us his way of playing, which I think is the best for this team.Unlike previous Napoli stars who have left the club at the height of their powers in recent years -- such as Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi, who went to Paris Saint-Germain, or Higuain -- Mertens seems to have a genuine love for the city.The 29-year-old Belgian, who joined from PSV Eindhoven in 2013, often posts pictures on social media of himself around Naples, along with captions calling the city home or saying no place Id rather be. Mertens and his wife also went to a Halloween party dressed as two of his teammates -- Insigne and Marek Hamsik.The latest photo Mertens posted, on Monday morning, was of a figurine of himself -- in his Napoli kit -- looking out over the city. ' ' '
|
Forum Statistiken
Das Forum hat 8415
Themen
und
8422
Beiträge.
|
Einfach ein eigenes Xobor Forum erstellen |