Insipid Arsenal draw at Norwich 10-man Dortmund spoil Klinsmann’s debut as Hertha Berlin boss
Gunners struggle in caretaker manager Freddie Ljungberg’s first game in charge
NORWICH: Caretaker manager Freddie Ljungberg could not end Arsenal’s long wait for a win as Pierre-emerick Aubameyang’s double only salvaged a 2-2 draw at struggling Norwich on Sunday. The Canaries twice led through Teemu Pukki and Todd Cantwell only for Aubameyang to level, first from the penalty spot and then with a clinical finish after the break.
But Arsenal also had goalkeeper Bernd Leno to thank for coming away with a point as the German saved brilliantly from Kenny Mclean, Pukki and Emiliano Buendia. Unai Emery was sacked as Arsenal manager after seven games without a win in all competitions that had seen the Gunners fall well off the pace in the race for a top-four finish.
Ljungberg remains a fans’ favourite from his title-winning days as an Arsenal player, but he suffered the same problems as his predecessor as the visitors’ firepower up front was needed to cover up their defensive problems. Granit Xhaka returned to the Arsenal side for the first time in the Premier League since an explosive clash with the club’s fans as he was substituted against Crystal Palace last month that cost him the captaincy among four changes from Emery’s last starting line-up in the league.
Shkodran Mustafi was surprisingly recalled for his first outing in the Premier League this season, but it did not take Ljungberg long to realise the German is not his answer to Arsenal’s problems a centreback. Ljungberg’s side had made a bright start, but fell behind to Norwich’s first dangerous attack when Mclean’s pass played in Pukki, who twisted and turned David Luiz before seeing his shot deflect in off Mustafi for his first goal in nine games.
However, Norwich have also made a habit of giving themselves a mountain to climb this season with defensive errors and gifted Arsenal a route back into the game when captain Cristoph Zimmerman handled a free-kick inside his own box.
Aubameyang saw his first spot-kick saved by Tim Krul, but was given a second chance after a VAR review for encroaching by the Norwich players and fired home the retaken penalty.
Just as Arsenal were beginning to get on top, they were again cut open with ease as Onel Hernandez’s cut-back was passed into the far corner by Cantwell to give Norwich a halftime lead. Aubameyang has now scored half of his side’s 20 Premier League goals this season as the Gunners’ new captain led by example to smash home at the back post from a corner just before the hour mark.
But it was Norwich who will feel they should have taken all three points as three big chances went begging for just their fourth win of the season. Mclean’s shot was turned onto the post by Leno, Cantwell’s strike from the edge of the area flew just wide and Pukki was denied by a fine Leno save in quick succession.
Leno had one more big stop to make from Buendia in stoppage time, but a point still leaves Arsenal seven points adrift of the top four in eighth. Norwich remain in the bottom three, but inch to within three points of safety.
WOLVES, SHEFFIELD SHARE SPOILS
LONDON: Wolves and Sheffield United edged closer towards the European places in the Premier League after sharing the points from a 1-1 draw at Molineux on Sunday.
Victory for either side would have taken them up to fifth in the table and the visitors got off to a flying start as Lys Mousset struck in the second minute to give Chris Wilder’s men the lead.
United had chances to extend their advantage, but were wasteful and they were punished when Matt Doherty headed home an equaliser 26 minutes from time.
The draw means Wolves extended their unbeaten run to nine league matches, while the Blades are now without a defeat in seven games and remain unbeaten on the road this season.
On top of sitting sixth in the Premier League, Wolves secured their place in the last 32 of the Europa League on Thursday with a 3-3 draw in Braga, but looked fatigued from their European exploits early on.
George Baldock’s cross from the right was brought down by Mousset, who then fired his shot into the bottom corner to continue his fine form of late.
Rui Patricio kept his side in the game by saving from Mousset with his foot just before the break and, after United also started the second half on the front foot, the Portuguese goalkeeper saved Wolves again by blocking David Mcgoldrick’s effort.
Those saves were crucial as Raul Jimenez’s cross picked out the unmarked Doherty to head past Dean Henderson midway through the second half.
BERLIN: Jürgen Klinsmann lost on his debut as Hertha Berlin coach, Bayern Munich were finally beaten under interim coach Hansi Flick, and Leipzig moved to the top of the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Leipzig profited from Bayern’s 2-1 shock defeat at home to Bayer Leverkusen by moving three points clear of the Bavarian powerhouse with a 3-2 win at last-placed Paderborn.
Borussia Mönchengladbach, two points behind Leipzig, can reclaim the lead with a win at home against Freiburg on Sunday.
Klinsmann’s tenure of Hertha began with a lackluster loss at home to 10-man Borussia Dortmund, which held on for a 2-1 win to ease the pressure on coach Lucien Favre.
Early goals from Jadon Sancho and Thorgan Hazard were enough for Dortmund’s first win in four games across all competitions.
Klinsmann, the former Germany, United States, and Bayern Munich coach, was hired by Hertha on Wednesday to replace the fired Ante Covic, but couldn’t prevent a fifth straight league defeat.
“It’s annoying, of course. We’d have taken a point at least. But generally I’m very satisfied with the team,” Klinsmann said. “They gave all that they have at the moment.”
Klinsmann is expected to start Hertha on its way to becoming one of Germany’s top clubs following a $250 million investment from new backer Lars Windhorst, but fans displayed a banner criticising general manager Michael Preetz for the upheaval.
“10 years, 12 coaches, one responsible!” the banner in front of Hertha’s east stand said.
“We were hoping for more,” Klinsmann later said of the result.