Famara spoils O’Neill return
ARSENAL ............. 2 CHELSEA ............. 0
“We practise in training and we know Ruben Neves’ ability for long passes. We believe the ball will be there and just run and try to get the final touch.”
It was a sickening blow for Claude Puel, who is struggling to keep his job as Leicester boss.
He said: “We were naive today and we must learn from that. ‘‘We needed to run the clock down when Wes scored our third goal, but we didn’t manage to do it.” A GOAL from Famara Diedhiou (below) in the 70th minute for Bristol City ruined Martin O’Neill’s return to Nottingham Forest.
“The reception I got from the crowd was emotional,” said new Forest boss O’Neill.“But it’s disappointing to lose. It’s a learning curve for me.
“I thought it was a very nervy start by us and Bristol City were the better team, but we got some momentum going in the second half.
“Maybe my players were a bit
WELL, well, Arsenal can defend properly. They can keep a clean sheet against their strong rivals – and they can aspire to Champions League football next season. The enduring image of this victory was Arsenal defender Sokratis pumping his fist with angry joy to celebrate success.
It didn’t follow the Arsenal goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Laurent Koscielny – or come at the final whistle.
No, the combative Greek defender had just snuffed out one more Chelsea attack, and he turned to the crowd to show his passion for the job.
In return, the fans roared with delight. They know this is what their club needs to challenge for a top-four place and the lucrative rewards that come with it.
Victory delivered not just three points, but real hope for the future. It lifted Arsenal back above Manchester United on goal difference and within three points of Chelsea in fourth spot.
Suddenly, there is the prospect of an intriguing and exciting race for the Champions League places.
Chelsea had most of the ball in the game. Arsenal had most of the belligerence. They constructed a wall of defiance in the second half to totally frustrate the visitors.
It wasn’t always pretty; there were plenty of big hoofs away from the penalty area.
But there was never a moment in the game when Chelsea looked like getting a result – and that must be a major concern for manager Maurizio Sarri.
There had been no English player in the starting line-up on either team, and there was no English manager in the dug-out and no English owner in the posh seats.
Many might say this reveals how English football has lost its pride and its sense of direction.
It is little wonder that teenager over-anxious to impress. Some of the performances can certainly get better, that’s for sure.”
Bubbly Bristol City are everything O’Neill wants Forest to be, and their boss Lee Johnson said: “We would have been foolish not to understand the environment we faced. For the first 20 minutes we rode out what could have been the Alamo, but we came through.’’ Callum Hudson-Odoi seems set on a move away from Chelsea to Bayern Munich, and events yesterday can only have reinforced his desire.
While he sat on the bench, Chelsea were hopelessly out of touch, second best all over the pitch to an eager and energetic Arsenal side determined to make ground on their London rivals in the table.
Chances came in a cascade for the Gunners, and they took a couple of them.
The opener on 14 minutes was scored with exquisite panache by PRESTON ripped QPR to pieces as Jayden Stockley, Jordan Storey and Brad Potts all scored their first goals for the Lilywhites, with Alan Browne also weighing in.
Preston boss Alex Neil said:
“We fully deserved to win, clinical finishing puts a shine on what was a great performance by us.’’
Matt Smith’s reply was no consolation for Rangers, and boss Steve McClaren admitted: “I couldn’t see that coming, we have to slink away and lick our wounds.’’ Lacazette (left), turning deftly in the box from a short corner routine and shooting with power and precision past the keeper.
Arsenal were 2-0 up by the break, the second goal scored by captain Koscielny, although there was a touch of fortune. He was trying a header but the cross from Sokratis hit his shoulder and looped into the net.
The home team’s dominance came from the simple tactic of pressing Chelsea midfielder Jorginho, through whom all their passing goes; and they could and perhaps should have
Nottm For 0 Bristol City 1