Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira has mentioned the lack of consistency and self-belief as the main reasons Arsene Wenger’s squad have not been winning trophies in the last few years.
In a fan interview for FA TV, the former midfielder pointed out that the Premier League club have the players to achieve success, but they fail to maintain the level.
“I think with Arsenal is always up and down. When they have a good day they can beat any team in the world”.
“They maybe lack of consistency to win silverware, but when you look at Arsenal’s start XI, there are fantastic players”, Vieira insisted.
For the Gunner icon, it all comes down to self-confidence on the pitch: “They may need to believe more themselves that they can win something, that’s why they don’t achieve their potential”, the Frenchman said.
The current Manchester City Football Development Executive also talked about the excitement of his role at the Etihad: “It is an honour, an unbelievable project. I’m really proud to be part of it, because where the club was 2 or 3 years ago and where they want to go…it would be a fantastic achievement”.
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Vieira was part of the last Arsenal squad that lifted a trophy, back in 2005. He won 3 Premier League titles and 4 FA Cup with the Gunners between 1996 and 2005.
Summary: Norwich were denied a crucial win in their bid for Premier League survival after Luke Moore earned Swansea a late point. Michu opened the scoring for the Swans only for Robert Snodgrass to cancel it out just before half time. Michael Turner put the home side in front only for Moore to pounce 15 minutes before the end to leave the Canaries 13th in the table and still very much in a relegation scrap.
Norwich City 2-2 Swansea City: Key moments
10 minutes: Michu thought he’d opened the scoring for Swansea, sweeping the ball past Mark Bunn but referee Michael Oliver disallows it for Luke Moore’s foul on Jonny Howson in the build-up
15 minutes: Norwich are forced into a change as a groin injury ends Bunn’ss afternoon and the goalkeeper is replaced by Lee Camp.
22 minutes: Michel Vorm keeps his side level with a brilliant save to keep out Michael Turner’s volley after good work from Robert Snodgrass to dig out a cross under pressure from Wayne Routledge.
37 minutes: GOAL! Michu wasn’t to be denied for a second time as he put Swansea in front. From a short corner Jonathan De Guzman drove to the byline and picked out a cross that gave the Spaniard the simplest task of converting his 21st goal of the season from six-yards.
41 minutes: EQUALISER! Norwich are back on level terms within five minutes and it’s Snodgrass first goal at Carrow Road since arriving in the summer. Elliot Bennett sneaks past Ben Davies on the right flank and his deliver catches Vorm in two minds leaving Snodgrass with the simplest task of touching the ball into the net.
HALF TIME
51 minutes: Routledge outfoxes the Norwich defence with an excellent ball over the top to send Moore clear but Camp is on hand to perform a goal saving block that keeps the score level.
60 minutes: GOAL! The Canaries take the lead through the unlikely source of Turner. The architect is Bennett again as he swings an inviting free-kick into the penalty area that Turner converts on the half volley with all the poise of a seasoned top-flight striker.
75 minutes: EQUALISER! A corner isn’t cleared by Norwich allowing Dwight Tiendalli to re-deliver the ball that is headed back into the danger area by Angel Rangel for Moore to lift the ball beyond Camp and into the net.
FULL TIME
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Good day for….Luke Moore: The Swansea frontman was handed a rare start by Michael Laudrup and repaid his faith with the equalising goal that ended a run of three straight defeats for the South Wales club.
Bad day for….Javier Garrido: It was a difficult afternoon for the Norwich full back up who had his hands full up against Dwight Tiendalli and Nathan Dyer but always looked suspect when engaged by the Swansea duo.
Chris Hughton said…”We wanted a win but nothing changes, we still have to get enough points from the six remaining matches to make sure we’re secure. We’re at the part of the season that makes everyone that bit anxious and you have to have belief in the players.”
Michael Laudrup said…”I think it’s important to come back with a positive result because… we have two weeks now before the next game against Southampton, which for me we have to win if we want to end up in the top 10.”
Summary: Liverpool scored six without reply to inflict Newcastle’s worst defeat at St James’ Park since 1925 and plunge them deeper into relegation trouble.
The Magpies were challenging for a top-four position at this stage of last season but have struggled to hit the same heights in the current campaign and hit a new low as Brendan Rodgers’ men ran riot on Tyneside.
Just a fortnight after being humbled by fierce rivals Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby Alan Pardew’s men needed to muster a reaction but found themselves behind after three minutes as an unchallenged Daniel Agger sprung the offside trap to head Stewart Downing’s lofted cross past Rob Elliot.
It got worse just past the quarter hour as Phillipe Coutinho released Daniel Sturridge and he slid a pass through a fractured Newcastle defence to former Black Cats midfielder Jordan Henderson to tap in to an empty net.
James Perch then headed wide Massadio Haidara’s left wing cross from close range in home sides only real opening of the half before Pardew introduced Yoan Gouffran and Hatem Ben Arfa at half time.
The change didn’t have the desired effect as Ben Arfa was dispossessed by Coutinho on the half way line and the Reds winger played in Sturridge to blast the ball beyond an overexposed Elliot. before grabbing his second and Liverpool’s fourth on the hour after Steven Gerrard and Henderson set him up to finish.
Substitute Fabio Borini capped his comeback from injury by poking the ball into the net just 60 seconds after coming on with Newcastle were then reduced to 10-man after Mathieu Debuchy was handed a second yellow for fouling Coutinho. Henderson completed the rout from the resulting free kick to leave Pardew and his players staring into the abyss.
Alan Pardew post-match…”They were very good and we were very bad. There is nothing we can do about it, we can’t turn back the clock. We have to put it right and the only way to do that is 10.30am at training on Monday morning and everyone sticking together.”
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Brendan Rodgers post-match…”As a manager you take great pride in watching your team play like that. Our concentration and focus as well as our quality was outstanding and you have to give credit to the players for that.”
Good day for…Daniel Sturridge: The Liverpool frontman proved there is life without Luis Suarez, for the next 10 games at least. A ruthless strikers performance gleaned two goals and an assist for Sturridge, who proved a constant threat to the home side and should have left Tyneside carrying a match ball or two.
Bad day for…Newcastle United: You only have to glance at the scoreline to discern what a catastrophic afternoon it was for the Magpies. Hapless at the back, creativless in midfield and a chronic lack of potency in the final third contributed to their worst home defeat since 1925 and leaves Alan Pardew sweating over his employment status.
Manchester City have opened talks with Sevilla for striker Alvaro Negredo, according to reports from The Metro.
The Citizens have turned to the Spaniard after growing frustrated in their pursuitof Napoli’s Edinson Cavani, who will cost in excess of £50million.
New City chief Manuel Pellegrini has made obtaining a front-man his top transfer priority following Carlos Tevez’s switch to Juventus.
The Argentine’s departure leaves City with only two recognised centre-forwards in Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero.
Negredo is said to match Pellegrini’s requirements, and the Chilean is confident that he can offer something new to the Premier League side’s attacking armoury.
Sevilla are far from keen to lose their star man, but are believed to be willing to business for around £24m, a figure that City can easily match.
The 27-year-old was in fine form for the La Liga side last term, but could not stop them from finishing in a mid-table position, missing out on European football.
Atletico Madrid are also keen, but Negredo could be open to following former team-mate Jesus Navas to the Etihad Stadium.
West Ham are also thought to be keen, but cannot offer the striker continental football, which is believed to be high on his list of requirements.
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Manchester City fans, could Alvaro Negredo fire your side to Premier League glory?
Sunderland are preparing a bid to bring Fernabache midfielder Raul Meireles back to the Premier League, according to the Daily Mail.
The former Liverpool and Chelsea midfielder is thought to be unsettled in Turkey, leaving Paolo Di Canio confident at securing the midfielder as his marquee summer signing.
Fulham are also thought to be interested in the man who joined Liverpool from Porto for £12million in 2010, before moving to Chelsea the following year and being part of the squad who won the Champions League.
The 30-year-old proved a relative success at both clubs, firstly at Liverpool where he grew in stature under Kenny Dalglish and went on a decent scoring run, and then at Stamford Bridge where he played an important part in famous victories over the likes of Napoli and Barcelona in the Champions League.
Di Canio has spoken of his desire to produce a player overhaul at the Stadium of Light, and would see signing Meireles as a major coup. The player is thought to be available for around £5million, a potential bargain for someone with plenty of international and Premier League experience.
Di Canio has already bought in nine new players over the course of the summer, including an £8million deal for Juventus midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini.
Juventus have moved to dismiss talk of Fernando Llorente leaving the club on loan in January, reports the Daily Express.
The Spaniard has found himself linked with a possible loan switch to a host of clubs, including Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham, Arsenal and Real Madrid.
Llorente only made the switch to the Serie A giants in the summer, joining on a free transfer from Athletic Bilbao. However reports suggest the Spaniard is struggling to adapt to life in Italy, and may already be seeking a move away.
Manchester City found themselves linked with a surprise loan bid before the end of the transfer window, and it is now thought Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea have begun to monitor the situation.
However Fifa agent Francois Gallardo suggested a return to Spain with Real Madrid would be the most likely destination for the forward in January.
“Fernando Llorente could get transferred to Real Madrid and play in the Champions League, as he is not getting minutes with Juve,” he said.
“Many people want [Radamel] Falcao, because he is the ‘best’, or Luis Suarez, who is also a great player, but Fernando is also very good, he knows the Spanish League and if he arrives on loan then the club won’t be splashing out in January.”
However Juventus have moved to put an end to the speculation, with director general Beppe Marotta claiming the player simply needs time to settle.
“There is no Llorente problem. Don’t forget that he didn’t play that regularly last season,” Marotta said.
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“When we sign a player and hand him a four-year contract, we’re evidently not looking for immediate results in the space of one or two months.
There’s something very Barcelona about this Manchester City team – and not the favourable comparison most would like to have with the Catalans.
Ahead of this season, new Barca manager Gerardo Martino insisted that his defence was strong enough for the upcoming campaign and that reinforcements were not needed. One might think it lunacy to go into a season, no matter how good your attack is, with only one fit, senior centre-back; Carles Puyol’s ability or contribution will hardly ever be questioned, but the same can’t be said for his availability.
The other side of Martino’s decision is that quite possibly he didn’t want to entangle himself in something of a power struggle for two different defensive targets over the summer. Being the fresh face in the building, fair play to him.
Manchester City are not too different. Manuel Pellegrini has a marvellous attack at his disposal headed by the in-form and always outrageously good Sergio Aguero. But there’s no stability, no real support and a lack of quality in the defensive ranks.
Martin Demichelis was seen as a gamble from all sectors – and not a very promising one. Even those who saw the veteran centre-back going through something of a renaissance at Malaga under Pellegrini last season were not too convinced that the big step up to a club like City was justifiable.
Vincent Kompany, like Puyol, has had a torrid time with injuries over the past year. During City’s title-winning campaign, he was arguably the best centre-back in the league, and currently being firmly in the prime of his career, there should be little worry about him declining as a player. The simple matter of it is that the club do not have an adequate replacement over a lengthy stretch of games.
Any title winning team has to be built from the back. Juventus didn’t have the firepower of their European counterparts, but their form was built on an excellent backline and one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Much of the same can be said for Bayern Munich, though their attack was equally as good as their defence.
Joe Hart is a problem that only furthered the case for a new goalkeeper to arrive at City following his howler in the dying minutes of the game away to Chelsea on the weekend.
It’s been said countless times that teams like Arsenal play attractive football with clever players in attack but will go nowhere without a good goalkeeper and a strong centre-back pairing. If that’s true for Arsene Wenger’s team, why does it not apply to other sides in the country? It should.
City could have won their game against Cardiff City had there been a confident figure in the backline. Would Kompany have allowed for the mistake that led to Fernando Torres grabbing the winner at Stamford Bridge on the weekend? A lot of the blame will go to Hart for that goal, but Kompany does compensate for the oft-forgotten lack of experience had in Matija Nastasic.
And then there’s the case of the full-backs. Bayern Munich’s win at The Etihad was a masterclass, but you only need to look at Thomas Muller’s goal to see that defensively Gael Clichy is far from up to scratch for a team chasing major honours.
Pablo Zabaleta has often been seen to be one of the most consistent players in the City team, but beyond him there is little in the way of quality full-backs in the team.
There are factors in Spain that will allow Barcelona to get away with the little that they currently have. Obviously one of those is that the attack will retain the ball and almost always score more than the opposition. But in Europe, some are questioning whether their lack of defensive depth will see them past teams like Bayern. The draw with AC Milan is an example.
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Manchester City have a fantastic attack. The problem, though, is that champions are rarely, if ever built from the front. The balance isn’t right in this team, and unless reinforcements are brought in during the January window, it’s difficult to see how they’ll overcome those who are more defensively consistent.
Will City’s defence stop them from winning the Premier League title?
Leighton Baines says that he is fully focused on helping Everton to knock Arsenal out on their way to lifting this season’s FA Cup.
The Toffees meet the Gunners today in their Sixth Round clash, with the winner of the tie expected to be once of the prime candidates to lift the trophy at Wembley.
Should Everton advance past their London rivals it will secure them a first appearance at the national stadium since their 2011 loss to Liverpool – also in the FA Cup – and give them a good chance of ending a 19-year wait for silverware.
Baines says that with his side almost out of the battle for a top four finish in the Premier League that they will be going all out to beat arsenal and claim the FA Cup:
“We are now outsiders for the top four because Liverpool and Tottenham are ahead of us, but the cup game against Arsenal is massive,” he is quoted by the Daily Star.
“You would be a fool to look too far beyond that but there is no denying that we want to win a trophy.
“We want that in the dressing room and, ultimately, that is the aim. We know the task is a big one but you have to set yourselves targets and that is one of them.
“All the lads know that if we can achieve something like that, if we can bring something like that home, then you go down in history and folklore.
“I think that is the driving force for a lot of us here. We are desperate to do that.”
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Everton’s last major trophy was the FA Cup, which they won way back in 1995.
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After much speculation over the past few months, Manchester United and Rio Ferdinand finally confirmed yesterday that the former England captain would be leaving Old Trafford after twelve years at the club.
With Nemanja Vidic’s transfer to Inter Milan already agreed, the club are undertaking a changing of the guard in the centre of their defence.
In a statement yesterday, Ferdinand indicated his intentions to continue playing by saying: “I am feeling fit and healthy, ready for a new challenge and looking forward to whatever the future holds for me.”
The £29.1 million defender also implied that it was his decision by declaring: “I have decided the time is right for me to move on”, although it is believed that the club decided against extending his current deal.
Regardless, many United fans took to Twitter to thank Ferdinand for his time at Old Trafford.
However, other United and general football fans were less than forgiving in their comments upon the news.
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Interest in Ferdinand is rumoured to be strong from the Middle East and MLS, whilst a move to another Premier League side hasn’t been ruled out. Wherever he ends up, Ferdinand and Vidic’s departures truly represent the end of an era at Old Trafford.
Chelsea are still sitting pretty at the top of the table, but boss Jose Mourinho is continuing to claim Manchester City are the title favourites.
They may have come unstuck at Villa Park this evening, but the Blues are still six points clear at the top of the table and have a great chance of taking the trophy back to Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho claims that City’s three games in hand are their saviour, but with the Citizens form of late it would be a shock if they went on to win the rest of their games this season with the Manchester derby next weekend.
Here is why we think Chelsea have to be considered the clear title favourites.
Fixture list
Mourinho has been banging on about Manchester City’s games in hand, but has he had a look at Chelsea’s fixture list?
To say it is kind would be an understatement.
Tough games at home Arsenal and away at Liverpool aside; the Blues are facing solely relegation battling teams. Of course, you can’t take games for granted but Chelsea should not drop too many points from now until the end of the season.
Ability to win when not playing well
When Manchester City don’t play well they don’t win. That is just the way it is.
Chelsea and Mourinho have a canny ability to grind out a 1-0 win when they need it most, when they have ten men on the pitch that is!
It may not be the most stylish, but at times it is unbelievably effective especially at Stamford Bridge.
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Experience
The majority of that Chelsea side, plus Mourinho, has been there and done it in the Premier League.
While City won the title more recently, Chelsea still have the core that has been together for a while and with the likes of John Terry, Petr Cech, Branislav Ivanovic and Frank Lampard all being vastly experienced, that should help.