Gunners kid is Zuel of a talent
ARSENAL youngster Julio Pleguezuelo aims to start the Carabao Cup derby against Spurs after impressing on his first senior appearance in Wednesday’s 2-1 fourth round win over Blackpool.
The 21-year-old centre-back followed Cesc Fabregas and Hector Bellerin in quitting Barcelona for the Gunners six years ago.
And he hopes Unai Emery will keep faith for the quarter-final next month. “I’d love to play against Spurs,” he said. “I have to keep working and see if I can get another shot.” CHRIS HUGHTON is on today’s shortlist for Premier League Manager of the Month for October – but says he is most proud of winning three in a row.
Brighton beat Wolves, Newcastle and West Ham last month, all by a 1-0 scoreline.
So no wonder Hughton (left) is favourite for the award as his team go to Everton today sitting 11th in the table. He said: “It’s unusual to win three on the spin with no goals conceded, so let’s see. But it’s not something I think about. “What I am very proud of is to win three in a row. I was manager of Newcastle in the Premier League and Norwich and haven’t done it very often. “I certainly haven’t won four in a row. It’s a big achievement for a club like us. I’m prouder of that more than anything.” JAMAAL LASCELLES wants playing for – and supporting – Newcastle to be fun again.
Instead, he summed up the current situation as: “Defeat, train, defeat, fans on to Mike Ashley...”
There’s been nothing uplifting about the club this season. It started with a stand-off between boss Rafa Benitez and Ashley over his contract extension and transfers.
Fans, incited by the Spaniard’s unhappiness, mounted a renewed campaign against the owner (right).
Then a tough fixture list, playing all the top clubs means they have forgotten how to win. In all, 12 defeats in 16 games dating back to last season.
Lascelles spoke yesterday buoyed by a pay rise and new contract to 2024.
His intention was to lift the mood. Instead, he is facing a backlash from some supporters.
He said: “Obviously we can do our part in winning a game and that might calm a lot of things down. That’s probably why as players we feel pressure.
“When you win and you get the music on in the changing room, you go back and have a good fun week of training, you go to the next game full of confidence.
“You build that JAMAAL LASCELLES is begging Toon fans to lay off “nice guy” owner Mike Ashley.
In an explosive intervention, the defender warned the Toon are in “a big mess” if fans keep revolting against the Sports Direct tycoon (right).
The club skipper says “divides” on Tyneside are creating “bad energy” and hampering the players.
Ashley yesterday gave Lascelles a bumper pay rise as he signed a six-year deal worth around £24million.
Asked about fans protesting against the owner, Lascelles said: “I think it doesn’t help. It just creates a negative mess. If you’re always hearing negativity, it creates a bad picture.”
He added: “The meal we had last month with Mike was really positive. He’s a nice guy. He seems a normal guy. It would help if everyone came together and put all that bad energy into positive energy, helping us get three points.”