Fantastic Prem & GAA pullouts
MIKEL ARTETA says star striker Pierre-emerick Aubameyang can be convinced to stay after admitting he had doubts about him when he took over in
December.
The £56million
Arsenal skipper is out of contract in 2021 and on Barcelona’s wanted list.
Aubameyang struck twice against Everton to join Jamie Vardy at the top of the Premier League scoring charts with 17 goals – and was praised by Arteta for his unselfish work in defence. “Aubameyang is our
assist of the season and Arsenal were not finished. Luiz brought the ball out of defence, played in Aubameyang, and he raced clear before slotting a low shot past Pickford.
Then, in first-half injury-time, more controversy. Richarlison was booked for a late challenge on Dani Ceballos. Home fans were calling for a red card but it never was. Then you just knew Toffees talisman Richarlison would do something significant.
Moments later, Leighton Baines’ corner was not cleared, Sigurdsson’s shot into the ground created havoc, Yerry Mina headed on and Richarlison went in hard, got a faint touch, and the ball went past Leno with the Arsenal keeper coming off second best. It was crazy stuff but brilliant entertainment.
Within a minute of the restart, Ozil played Nicolas Pepe down the right wing and Sidibe allowed Aubameyang to get across him and nod into the far corner.
Arsenal looked dead on their feet in the closing stages. Leno denied Calvert-lewin and Richarlison at point-blank range. Nketiah hit the bar when Pickford got caught playing out from the back.
The final whistle brought a huge sigh of relief for Arsenal and despair for Everton. No win at any of the top six in 38 matches, a run which stretches for six years and is way too long for a club of their stature. most important player, there is no doubt about the impact he has in this team,” said the Gunners boss (above). “We will have to convince him to stay with us.
“It was an incredible amount of work Aubameyang was doing. Before I took over I had my questions about him, but he showed his commitment.
“I had two questions – he doesn’t want to do it or he cannot do it physically.
“So once I found out physically he could do it, it was just about convincing him that he needs to do it every three days. And he’s showing that.
“Other teams are completely right to want him because he’s a superb player. He completely
CARLO ANCELOTTI blamed “easy mistakes” for another Everton away defeat against a Big-six Premier League team.
The Toffees boss praised his side’s attacking play, as they fired in 17 shots and scored through Dominic Calvert-lewin and Richarlison.
But the Italian (above) raised his eyebrows in anger at conceding three sloppy goals to extend their winless streak to 38 away matches at Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham or Manchester United since 2013.
“I cannot say the performance was good because to be good, you have to attack well and we did,” said Ancelotti. “And you have to defend well. And we didn’t.
“We had a lot of opportunities to score more goals but defensively deserves to be liked by other teams, but hopefully we can convince him this is the right place for him. And he has a future here.
“It’s been tough for him, there’s been a lot of disappointments in the last few months and years because he has big expectations.
“You know he wants to play for the biggest club in the biggest tournament and be up there with the best players in the world.
“And we have to try and support him and give him everything at the club, so he really feels fulfilled here. That’s the challenge I have.”
Arsenal have now gone 10 games without defeat after winning three consecutive games.
“Sure, it is my best week,” said the Spaniard. we were poor. We conceded two goals too easily. They were easy mistakes.
“Also the third goal was an easy mistake.
“I think it was a tactical mistake in my opinion, so we have to work there.
“We have to defend better. We have two fantastic strikers and it is not easy to score two goals away. The only good thing is we know what we must do this week.”
Calvert-lewin has been tipped for an England callup, with Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford out injured. He scored after 49 seconds but missed two late chances to grab a point and extend Everton’s five-match unbeaten run.
“He is doing well but he is not enough,” Ancelotti added. “If he wants to be a top striker, he has to work harder, focus hard, work more. He is doing well but he has to learn to be focused all the time.”