Arsene Wenger hails Alexis Sanchez’ recent form and discusses his central defenders. Big Sam and Louis van Gaal mull over their options in the final third, Guus Hiddink bemoans Chelsea’s lack of focus over the run-in, whilst Rafa Benitez talks up Mousa Sissoko’s growing influence on Newcastle.
Wenger praises Sanchez’ displays on the right
Since Alex Iwobi’s rise to prominence on the left side of Arsenal’s attacking quartet, Alexis Sanchez has flourished in a change of position. Having mustered one goal and two assists from a role on the left, the Chilean has produced three goals and two assists in four appearances from the right wing and ranks joint-top among all midfielders for shots on target (seven) over that period. Discussing the upturn in output, Arsene Wenger reckons that Sanchez’s movement has improved dramatically as a consequence of the tactical change:
“He is much sharper. He is much more electric in his dribbling and much more confident. He scores goals again. He looks to me to be more comfortable in his movement, especially in his movement in behind. When he plays on the left, he likes to drift in then come back. When he plays on the right, his runs in behind are better.”
Wenger explains Gabriel and Mertesacker dilemma
In the wake of Arsenal’s 3-3 draw at West Ham, Gabriel Paulista owners had legitimate concerns that Per Mertesacker would usurp him in central defence. That didn’t come to fruition, as Arsene Wenger selected the same back four when Crystal Palace made the trip to the Emirates, though it remains to be seen whether he’ll keep his place tomorrow night when Tony Pulis’ West Brom roll up to the Emirates. Discussing the pair’s battle for minutes, the Gunners boss explained the thought process behind his selection policy:
“It’s a very tight choice. One has more pace, one has more experience and leadership qualities. It depends sometimes against who we play. For example last Saturday we expected to play against Sakho who has more pace and not especially against Carroll who is better in the air. We bought Gabriel and we have to give him a chance to develop as a player. In training he has shown signs of developing well so I gave him a chance and the team functioned well at Everton, at Barcelona and against Watford. There is not always an obvious reason to change. Ideally I want a stability there. But in some exceptional cases, when a team plays against you only on counter-attack, you can consider [change]. But normally I like to play every week with the same central defenders.”
Allardyce discusses Khazri and Watmore
Wahbi Khazri enjoyed an auspicious start to life in England’s top tier, bagging one goal and two assists in his first two starts. The Tunisian playmaker has failed to register any attacking returns since, however, and was hooked at the break against Norwich City in light of a lacklustre first-half display. Duncan Watmore filled the slot Khazri vacated and went on to record his third goal of the season, strengthening his case for more pitch time during the run-in. Indeed, Sam Allardyce declared his intention to afford the youngster more opportunities in the coming weeks as the Black Cats prepare for five fixtures in the final four Gameweeks:
“Khazri was not functioning as well as he has done. We had the Roadrunner (Watmore) back, and we needed his energy and ability. You could see what trouble he caused Norwich and I’m so glad he scored because he had so many chances or to make the right pass to Jermain (Defoe). It was a great finish in the end – cool, composed, around the keeper and in the net. Wahbi didn’t quite get to the level we know he can. We had people on the bench who came on and did a little better. When you see him (Watmore) out on that field, he doesn’t stop, he’s such high energy. He gives so much and with his ability, hopefully he can play a big part between now and the end of the season.”
Allardyce on Defoe
Jermain Defoe has been quietly impressive of late, chalking up three goals in his last five starts. Pitched at 5.1, the former Spurs poacher currently serves as the most attractive source of attacking coverage for Sunderland’s double Gameweek 37 (CHE & EVE). Now that the Black Cats have tightened up of late – recording two clean sheets in a trio of fixtures – Sam Allardyce is confident that Defoe’s goals can steer them to safety:
“The clean sheet was the first thing I have been asking for between now and the end of the season as they will keep us up. We have a goalscorer that’s into double figures in a team that’s been in the bottom three all season. If we can keep clean sheets, Jermain Defoe scores one goal and that wins us games, that’s the belief he gives us. The myth has been put to bed that he can’t play up front on his own. Since we did it – and it took me a while as everyone said he couldn’t do it – he’s continually scored goals. We have to play a different way as you can’t play off him, you have to play wide and through midfield, but he will score the goals.”
Hiddink questions Chelsea players’ mindsets
Chelsea’s 3-0 hammering at the hands of Manchester City last weekend marked their second successive defeat. Looking at the Blues’ drop-off in productivity across their last two outings, they charted joint-top for big chances conceded (seven), joint-bottom for goals (zero) and joint-third-bottom for shots on target (five). Questioned whether some of his players might be lacking intensity as they look to stay fit ahead of the Euros, Gus Hiddink admitted that it’s a concern:
“Partly true, but I cannot blame the players for having a lack of attitude. Some players might think that but I cannot look into their minds, in their brains. They might be thinking of the Euros. When there is nothing at stake then with some people there is a little bit of a lack of the ultimate work.”
Van Gaal ponders Fosu-Mensah’s best position
Although Timothy Fosu-Mensah emerged onto the scene as a full-back for Manchester United, the Holland U19 international is also comfortable operating at centre-back or in midfield. The 3.9-priced youngster convinced nearly 90,000 Fantasy managers to snap him up for the Red Devils’ double Gameweek, yet Louis van Gaal opted to rest him against Aston Villa following their midweek cup win over West Ham United. Discussing Fosu-Mensah’s recent first-team emergence, Van Gaal conceded he’s yet to pinpoint the versatile youngster’s best position:
“That’s difficult to say because it is also the vacancy in the team, where we need a player the most. You have seen this season that a lot of players have played in the full-back position because we have a lot of injuries in that position. So you cannot cope with it and then you give players a chance to show their abilities. Fosu-Mensah has played in the Netherlands in the youth systems at centre-back and also in midfield. I made him play at left and right full-back because he has the qualities to play there. Until now, he has shown his qualities, so I am very happy for him but, normally, players shall be seen everywhere with their position that they have played in youth. But it’s not like that, it’s about vacancies in positions.”
Van Gaal explains Rashford start against Villa
United’s win over Villa on Saturday saw Van Gaal ring the changes with one eye on next weekend’s FA Cup semi-final, as Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard dropped to the bench for Memphis Depay and the fit-again Wayne Rooney. Discussing his weekend team sheet, the Dutchman explained that he also considered resting weekend match-winner Marcus Rashford but opted to retain the youngster in his XI on the back of his fine recent showings, which included a wonder strike in the cup replay win at West Ham:
“I wanted to change Rashford. I have doubted for a long time because he is young and he has played the last, how many matches? You know that better than I do. At the end I didn’t want to do that because I wanted to take profit from his momentum. He said he was very positive to play. I am fit to play so then I thought I could change him before the end. The last 15 minutes is always very important for a player so I changed him because of that.”
Van Gaal on Rooney fitness
Rooney was withdrawn at the 66-minute mark against Villa, given that he was making his first league appearance since mid-February. The return of United’s skipper looks set to heighten the rotation risk of Rashford and Martial – particularly if they make it to the FA Cup final – which may well lessen the chance of pinning down a secure route into their attack for double Gameweek 37 (nor & whu). Assessing Rooney’s performance at Old Trafford, Van Gaal admitted his captain is still far from full match sharpness after his stint on the sidelines.
“Wayne Rooney hasn’t played 90 minutes in the last two and a half months. But he was angry with me because he wanted to play for 90 minutes! But you could see he was losing balls in the second half and not in the first half because he was very good in the first half. I think the goal was also his goal. It shows a good spirit when you want to play for 90 minutes. But you cannot build up your capacity in three days of training but I was very positive about his first half.”
Koeman slates Saints’ poor away form
A 1-1 draw at Everton continued Southampton’s Jekyll and Hyde performances this season. Only City and Spurs have scored more goals in front of their own fans than the Saints but on their travels it’s another story altogether – a total of 14 strikes is better only than West Brom and the bottom three. Post-match, Ronald Koeman put the onus on his side to up their output in the final third after naming his most attack-minded line-up at Goodison:
“That’s one of the reasons that maybe after today we have scored 14 away goals, and 31 at home. That difference is too big. We need to improve and we need to improve in that aspect. The team organisation is very good, we don’t concede a lot of goals, but we need to score more goals away from home. I don’t know why. Maybe sometimes we are a little bit too much reserved away but not today because Mane, Tadic, Long, Pelle all strikers. We can’t play more offensively, we can’t play with more strikers. Then you have to make that difference and that’s the responsibility of the strikers and we need to improve in that aspect.”
Pellegrini hails Aguero fitness
Following a seven-match spell in which he notched a respectable, but unspectacular, haul of four goals, Sergio Aguero reminded us of his explosive potential with a hat-trick at Chelsea. Prior to last night’s draw at Newcastle, where the City forward bagged the opener and went on to play the full 90 minutes, Manuel Pellegrini suggested that Aguero needs a consistency of starts in order to maintain his best form as the Sky Blues brace themselves for next week’s Champions League match-up against Real Madrid:
“Sergio makes the difference when he’s playing every game, every week. He is a very important player. I am sure he is the best striker in this league. The best way to arrive at a semi-final is when you are winning games, and to not only win but to win the way we did here because it was a complete performance with and without the ball. The most important thing is to keep focusing on the league as we need to play for six more Premier League points before the semi-final.”
Benitez praises Sissoko impact
Having been utilised as a wide man for the vast majority of Steve McClaren’s reign, Moussa Sissoko bagged a goal and assist over double Gameweek 34 after being shifted into a central support role by Rafa Benitez. Having dropped the likes of Jonjo Shelvey, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Georginio Wijnaldum to the bench over the last week, the new Magpies boss lauded the Frenchman’s displays and explained his decision to hand Sissoko the captain’s armband:
“I am really pleased with him because since I came here, the only thing I can say is that he’s been really good in terms of his work on the pitch, the things he is trying to do in the training sessions and also the relationships he has with a lot of the players. He is someone that they can see as a very influential player with a lot of our French players, and I think it is important because he is so good that he has confidence. It is a boost for him and also for the team. We have a lot of players who talk French, so then you need someone like him who is a big name for them and they can see he is a good player, a great player and if he is performing and working as hard as he has been working, the others have to follow him.”
