Grant claims debut strike but Arsenal outgun lowly Terriers
HUDDERSFIELD striker Karlan Grant insists he will be claiming his side’s late goal in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Arsenal after making his home debut off the bench.
Alex Iwobi and Alexandre Lacazette struck for Arsenal in the first half, but Huddersfield ended their five-game goal drought with a deserved consolation in stoppage time.
Terriers’ forward Adama Diakhaby was announced as the scorer by the matchday announcer before it was credited to Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac, but Grant (above) claimed the goal was his.
“Definitely mine, 100 per cent yes,” said the 21-year-old, signed for an undisclosed fee, reported to be £2million, from Charlton last month. “It hit my knee. It definitely touched me.”
Grant, whose 14 goals for Charlton in Sky Bet League One secured his ticket to the big time, revealed he was an Arsenal fan.
He made his second Huddersfield appearance against the Gunners after stepping off the bench in last week’s 5-0 defeat at Chelsea.
“This is where everyone wants to be isn’t it? The Premier League,” he said.
“It’s every kid’s dream. It was my dream so to be playing in it is a dream come true.” Huddersfield slipped to a seventh straight home defeat — their 12th in 13 games in total — and remain 13 points from safety at the foot of the table.
Arsenal’s first league win on the road since November got their top-four hopes back on track, but for large spells at the John Smith’s Stadium boss Unai Emery cut a frustrated figure on the touchline.
“I want more every time, because in the first half the difference between them and us was two goals, and it is not enough, because if they score one they can get more,” Emery said.
“My ambition is to want them to keep the mentality and don’t concede the position to the opposition. But I know it’s easier on the bench than on the pitch.” NEMANJA Matic is optimistic about next season’s title prospects after Manchester United moved into the Premier League’s top four for the first time since the opening weekend.
Saturday saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s superb start to life as caretaker manager continue with a comprehensive 3-0 victory at strugglers Fulham.
Anthony Martial scored a su- perb solo effort in between two Paul Pogba goals at Craven Cottage, putting United back in the Champions League spots after a six-month absence.
They had been 11 points off fourth when Jose Mourinho was sacked, but Solskjaer’s side have dropped just two points since his December appointment and Matic was buoyed by this latest win.
“We knew that if we win then we will be in fourth,” the defensive midfielder said. “Of course, Chelsea have one game less, but we are happy.
“We played well, we fight for each other. Clean sheet, we scored three goals.”
United are the Premier League’s in-form side, with their upturn in fortunes seeing the likes of Matic talk up next season’s championship chances.
“To win the league you need to win the games like we did in the last seven, eight games,” said Matic, a two-time Premier League winner with Chelsea.
“So you need to win six, seven games in a row, then you can drop some points, to draw, to lose one game.
“This is the way to fight so if we play like this for the next season then we will be one of the teams who is going to fight for the title.”
United can still lift a trophy this season but face a few crucial weeks, with Paris St Germain arriving at Old Trafford on Tuesday for the first leg of a Champions League last-16 tie before a trip to face Chelsea in the FA Cup.
Solskjaer’s Reds are unbeaten in 11 matches in all competitions, with the Norwegian reaping the rewards of his good mood behind the scenes as well as in front of the cameras.