LEAGUE CUP, EUROPA LEAGUE ON ARSENAL COACH’S RADAR THIS SEASON
ven those in Arsenal’s ‘Leave’ camp might indulge Arsene Wenger’s chance to tick off missing items in his resume.
Winning the Europa League would end a sorry story in European finals: Wenger holds the unenviable record of defeats in each of the three competitions he has contested.
The League Cup has been almost as cruel, even if Wenger has used the competition as work placement for youngsters. A selection including teenagers Theo Walcott and Cesc Fabregas was eventually overpowered by a full-bore Chelsea team and a Didier Drogba winner in 2007’s final, and his team were also beaten in 2011.
“They are destroyed,” said Wenger after a communication breakdown between keeper Wojciech Szczesny and defender Laurent Koscielny allowed Obafemi Martins to score Birmingham City’s late winner.
Beating Manchester City would bury those ghosts from Wenger’s wilderness period, during which Arsenal went nine years without silverware. And winning at Wembley Chelsea midfielder Willian is good friends with former manager Jose Mourinho but will be focused solely on winning when he faces the Portuguese boss’ Manchester United team in the Premier League tomorrow.
The Brazil international joined Chelsea in 2013 under Mourinho, who was sacked two years later before taking over at United in 2016.
Antonio Conte’s team sit three points behind second-placed Manchester United in fourth position.
“He [Mourinho] is my friend. I had a great time with him, but I am at Chelsea and he is now at Manchester United,” Willian told British media. “They are difficult games. It is totally different to play in the Premier League to the Champions League. I think we can stay at this level and we can go to Old Trafford on Sunday and play another great game.” tomorrow and in Lyon in May might even convince him it is finally time to pull the curtain down.
Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte never really buried the hatchet after their big blow-up earlier in the season and with Manchester United and Chelsea clashing in a crucial showdown after a week when both were involved in taxing Champions League encounters, the managers’ interaction on the Old Trafford touchline should be fascinating. United have been criticised for their pragmatic approach in drawing with Sevilla but Mourinho will not care in the slightest as long as they come through the second leg.
He may be tempted to take the same approach against his opponents tomorrow given Chelsea find themselves three points behind and clinging on to fourth place after a poor run.
Blues revival
In the blue corner, Conte looked like he had rediscovered some of his mojo in the draw with Barcelona on Tuesday and will no doubt relish the opportunity to put one over his predecessor.
Whether Eden Hazard makes way for a conventional No. 9 like Alvaro Morata or Olivier Giroud after being surprisingly handed
Today
(UAE times) Leicester City v Stoke City (4.30pm) Bournemouth v Newcastle United (7pm) Brighton & Hove Albion v Swansea City (7pm) Burnley v Southampton (7pm) Liverpool v West Ham United (7pm) West Bromwich Albion v Huddersfield Town (7pm) Watford v Everton (9.30pm)
(GMT) Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur (4pm) Manchester United v Chelsea (6.05pm)
Tomorrow
an advanced role against Barca could determine who is left smiling come teatime tomorrow.
Tottenham, the Premier League’s form side, have collected more points (15) since the turn of the year than anyone else, and Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping they can maintain that as the season reaches its denouement.
Their recent performances in the victory over Arsenal and the 2-2 draw against Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League tie should add to Tottenham’s swagger in tomorrow’s game with Crystal Palace.