Latest Arsenal News

Arsenal Legend Ray Parlour pleads with Arsenal board to back Mikel Arteta and makes bleak top-four prediction

Published

4 weeks ago

February 10, 2021

Ray Parlour pleads with Arsenal board to back Mikel Arteta and makes bleak top-four prediction

Ray Parlour has pleaded with Arsenal’s board to back Mikel Arteta in the transfer market, otherwise he fears the north London side could be waiting as long as three years to get back into the top four. The Gunners are languishing down in 11th place in the table after losing 10 of their 23 matches in the Premier League so far. Arteta’s side recently enjoyed a mini-revival but their run of good form was swiftly brought to an end with back-to-back defeats to Wolves and Aston Villa.

The board sanctioned deals for the likes of Thomas Partey and Gabriel in the summer, while the hefty wages of Mesut Ozil, Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi were all cleared from the monthly bill as their contracts were terminated in the winter window. But for the club to move forward under Arteta, Gunners legend Parlour feels an influx of investment in the squad is needed or they could be waiting a long time to finish in the top four places again. ‘He’s [Arteta’s] learned a little bit from Arsene Wenger, Pep Guardiola as well, but I would give him a chance,’ Parlour told talkSPORT. ‘It might take a couple of transfer windows, look at Jurgen Klopp, he got an opportunity. He came into Liverpool and there was a plan. ‘Arteta has got to show he’s got a plan going forward. It might take three years to try to challenge that top four or try to challenge for the league. ‘But we know money does make it easier and that’s where the board come in. ‘If they think they’ve got the right man, please give him a chance by giving him a little bit more money.’

Arteta in confrontation with match officials against Villa

The Gunners go up against Benfica in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie next Thursday, and Parlour can see Arteta fielding a strong starting XI given that winning the competition would offer them a route back into the Champions League. ‘I don’t think he’ll be playing a weakened side in the Europa League,’ Parlour added. ‘I was in Baku for the Chelsea game [a 4-1 defeat in 2019] and it was probably one of the worst performances I’ve seen in a final. ‘Arsenal knew that Chelsea were already in the Champions League, so there was more onus on Arsenal to go there and go ‘this is a massive chance for us to get into the Champions League’. ‘We know the result in the game and the disappointment. ‘I do think Arteta needs a couple of windows to get his own players in. [Arsenal technical director] Edu is going to be a big part of that.’

Latest Arsenal News

English FA explains why Arsenal were denied penalty against Burnley

Published

14 hours ago

March 6, 2021

Godsgift C Ejiama

The Premier League has claimed that Arsenal were denied a penalty against Burnley because Erik Pieters was in ‘close proximity’ to Nicolas Pepe.

The Gunners were forced to settle for a point at Turf Moor after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s early opener was cancelled out by Chris Wood, who benefitted from a huge mistake by Granit Xhaka.

However, Arsenal felt aggrieved in the 75th minute when Pepe’s touch inside Burnley’s box led the ball to hit Pieters’ outstretched arm, but Mikel Arteta’s side were not awarded a penalty following a VAR review.

Earlier this week, Fulham were involved in a similar incident as Mario Lemina was penalised for handball in the build-up to their disallowed goal against Tottenham.

But in a statement after the game, the Premier League clarified why Arsenal were not given the decision.

‘The ball has hit him from close proximity and he’s had no time to react,’ said the statement. ‘It wasn’t given on-field and the VAR didn’t think it was a clear error.’

No penalty on this play. Nicolas Pépé pleading for a handball from Erik Pieters. VAR was consulted, but no penalty was given. #BURARS pic.twitter.com/trEKckPW4J

— Fair Advantage (@FairAdvantageCA) March 6, 2021

Arteta, meanwhile, was left in no doubt that his side should have been awarded a penalty. ‘Absolutely,’ the Arsenal manager said after the game.

‘I think it is obvious and clear. I think there is no debate about that. ‘If that’s not a penalty, then someone will explain what a penalty is in this league.’

Latest Arsenal News

Just In: Xhaka apologizes to Arsenal Fans for his costly mistake against Burnley

Published

15 hours ago

March 6, 2021

Godsgift C Ejiama

Granit Xhaka is full of remorse for his horrendous display that led to Burnley goal, that cost Arsenal 2 points today.

He has come to apologize to Arsenal fans via his Official Facebook Page:

It’s class from him.

Latest Arsenal News

Match Facts: Burnley 1 vs 1 Arsenal

Published

20 hours ago

March 6, 2021

Godsgift C Ejiama

Granit Xhaka gifted Burnley an equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Arsenal, in a match which also saw Erik Pieters’ red card and an Arsenal penalty overturned by VAR.

Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang put Arsenal in control with an early finish that snuck through the grasp of Nick Pope (6). However, with Arsenal cruising and Burnley struggling, Xhaka inexplicably decided to play a pass across his own six-yard box which deflected off Chris Wood’s hip and into the unguarded net (39).

5 – Willian has more Premier League assists than any other Arsenal player this season (5), assisting in consecutive matches in the competition for the first time since March 2019 for Chelsea. Arrived. #BURARS pic.twitter.com/fzg5mQJ9hi

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 6, 2021

The game seemed to be meandering towards an uneventful conclusion but then sparked into life in the final 10 minutes.

Arsenal felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Pieters looked to have handled in the area but VAR did not deem it a clear and obvious error. Pieters – in the thick of the action – was then dismissed by referee Andre Marriner and a penalty was awarded when the defender deflected a Nicolas Pepe effort onto the crossbar. However, VAR showed that the block had come off his shoulder and Burnley had a reprieve.

8 – Since the start of 2016-17, Granit Xhaka has made more errors leading to goals (8) than any other outfield player in the Premier League. Disaster. #BURARS pic.twitter.com/VAzt53Z9sV

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 6, 2021

Arsenal still managed to create one last chance in injury-time but Dani Ceballos curled an effort off the foot of the post as Burnley managed to hold on.

Player Ratings

Burnley: Pope (6), Lowton (6), Tarkowski (7), Mee (7), Taylor (6), Brownhill (6), Westwood (6), Gudmundsson (6), McNeil (5), Vydra (7), Wood (6)

Subs: Pieters (7), Brady (6), Rodriguez (6)

Arsenal: Leno (7), Chambers (6), Tierney (7), Luiz (7), Mari (7), Xhaka (4), Partey (6), Saka (7), Odegaard (6), Willian (6), Aubameyang (7)

Subs: Pepe (7), Lacazette (6), Ceballos (6)

Man of the match: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

5 – Burnley have drawn five consecutive home league games for the third time in their history, after a run of six games ending in April 1936 and a run of five ending in October 1997. Eventful. #BURARS pic.twitter.com/a3GEEnVFpx

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 6, 2021

Opta stats

Burnley have enjoyed just one win in their last 10 games in all competitions (D5 L4), after winning three in a row directly before that.
Arsenal have kept only one clean sheet in their last 11 games in all competitions (0-0 v Man Utd in January), after keeping five in a row directly before that.
Willian has provided an assist in each of his last three games for Arsenal in all competitions (3 in total), as many as he registered in his previous 25 for the club, while he is the Gunners’ top assister in the Premier League this season (5).
Only Cesc Fabregas (18y & 236d) reached 50 Premier League appearances for Arsenal at a younger age than Bukayo Saka (19y & 182d), who played his 50th game today.
Pope played his 100th Premier League game for Burnley, the 11th player to hit that milestone for the club.