Arsene Wenger discusses the battle for Arsenal’s left-back berth. Phil Jagielka talks tactics after Everton move to 3-5-2, Michael Laudrup is confident Chico will be fit for this weekend’s trip to Norwich, Paul Lambert praises the displays of Gabby Agbonlahor, while Tim Krul and Davide Santon are included in Newcastle’s Europa League squad for tomorrow’s game against Benfica:
In an interview with Arsenal’s official website, Arsene Wenger took time out to praise the progress of Kieran Gibbs this term and elaborated on the dilemma surrounding the Gunners’ left-back spot right now:
“I think this season has been, despite the fact that he was in doubt for a while, a step up season for him. He has improved a lot, has put his personality into the games, which was sometimes a bit of a problem for him. He has authority, he is decisive going forward, and in games where we were struggling a bit like Swansea in the cup he turned up and was the one who brought the pressure on the opponent.”
The Gunners manager also spoke of the battle between Gibbs and Nacho Monreal for the left-back berth. Purchased from Malaga in the winter transfer window due to an injury to Gibbs, the latter has made an immediate impact in his new surroundings – his first four appearances harvested an assist, two bonus points and two clean sheets before Gibbs recovered from injury. With Monreal ineligible for European duties, the Englishman returned to action in the recent Champion League win in Bayern but, after suffering a slight strain, was then rested for the next league game, allowing Monreal to rack up a 15 point return at Swansea.
The new boy also got the nod for last Saturday’s home win over Reading with Gibbs forced to the bench through illness but the Spaniard limped off midway through the second-half against the Royals, placing question marks over his availability for this weekend’s trip to the Hawthorns. As of yet, then, Wenger has yet to face a situation where both are 100% fit and available for selection – hugely frustrating for Fantasy managers, given there’s a double Gameweek just around the corner. Intriguingly, though, the Gunners boss reckons he could utilise both in the same game:
He is ready for the fight. I did it because I believe you never know with only one left back. You need two…And as well because both can play one in front of the other, so there’s an opportunity to use them both in some games.”
Phil Jagielka has admitted his return to action from an ankle injury has been aided by pain-killing injections. The Everton centre-half was subbed off with a deep cut after just four minutes of the Gameweek 29 win over Reading but missed just one more match before being named in the starting XI for Saturday’s win over Stoke.
“It’s not quite healed up yet but it will get there and I can play without any problems. I’ve got to have an injection to take a bit of the pain away because there’s still a bit of scar tissue but it’s part and parcel of being a footballer. I’ve been desperate to get back training and playing with the lads. It’s a boring time being on your own, especially being injured. I’ve been there before and so it’s been nice to get back amongst it this week, even more so to play.”
The Everton centre-half also gave his thoughts on David Moyes’ decision to change to a 3-5-2 formation against the Potters, with the 1-0 win helping the hosts register their third straight victory and second clean sheet in a row:
“The manager has had a big decision to make with the players who are fit and are available. We’ve talked about doing it for many months with me, Johnny (Heitinga) and Sylvain (Distin) being fit for the majority of the season. The manager decided to do it and I think it worked quite well, mainly because of the two wing-backs who played left and right. As much as we enjoyed it as a back three, you have got to take your hat off to the two boys on the wing for doing all the donkey work. You find yourself going into different areas, especially with Sylvain and Johnny playing on the outside. I thought they both did really well and as a team we are delighted.”
With Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar both serving two-match suspensions, the Toffees changed from their usual 4-4-1-1, which allowed Jonny Heitinga to keep his place in the starting XI for the sixth time in the last seven matches, with Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman both utilised on the flanks in midfield. While Moyes may be tempted to keep the same set-up for this weekend’s trip to Tottenham, then, Fellaini and Pienaar will both be available by the time double Gameweek 33 comes around, suggesting the Merseysiders’ experiment with the new system is likely to be a short-lived one.
Michael Laudrup has played down any fears over an injury recurrence for Chico after the centre-half’s comeback from an ankle problem lasted just 65 minutes in Sunday’s home defeat by Tottenham. Speaking to the press yesterday, the Swansea boss revealed the player’s withdrawal was no more than precautionary:
“Chico got a kick. It was the same foot so he was a little worried but it’s not so bad. He should be ready in a couple of days.”
It’s good news for the Swans, then, as they attempt to halt a run which has now seem them lose four of the last five, conceding at least twice in each of those defeats. Looking at the upcoming fixtures, Laudrup will certainly be reliant on Chico’s presence alongside Ashley Williams in the heart of the back-four – after their blank Gameweek 33, the Welsh club entertain in-form Southampton before facing Chelsea, City and United in consecutive Gameweeks. The City match is also part of a double Gameweek 36 which sees Laudrup’s men also travel to Wigan – investment may be tempered, then, given the Latics’ resurgence.
While Ben Davies’ owners are likely to hold due to the double, they’ll be a little wary after Neil Taylor stepped up his recovery from injury by turning out for the club’s Under 21 side last night. It’s the second game for Taylor since returning to training following a long-term ankle injury – the left-back is expected to feature for the first-team before the season is out, placing question marks over Davies’ game time.
Paul Lambert has talked up the importance of Gabby Agbonlahor to Aston Villa’s survival bid over the final few games of the season. Despite Sunday’s home defeat by Liverpool, the midlands outfit are still seven points clear of Reading and QPR after both suffered losses last time out – Lambert’s side remain in the drop zone on goal difference alone but he’s confident the winger will have a major say over the remaining seven Gameweeks:
“”I think Gabby has been excellent. He is loving his football at the minute, is scoring quite regularly at the moment – and when Gabby gets a run at you, there are not many people going to catch him. The one thing that was lacking in his game was goals. But he has added goals and that’s why he is enjoying it. He looks really sharp in training. What he does bring is genuine pace to the game and a threat. If you have pace as a footballer, it’s a huge asset. But you’ve got to have something else to go with that. This year, he has added goals to his game which is major thing for him and us.”
Clearly, Agbonlahor’s eye for goal has been crucial for Lambert’s side – the wide man has found the net on five occasions, with Villa picking up three wins and a couple of draws across those matches. Recent strikes against both QPR and Reading have helped the midlanders secure six points and maintained a run of form which has now seen him score or assist in six of his last eight appearances.
Tim Krul and Davide Santon could be set to return from injury for Newcastle’s Europa League game against Benfica tomorrow evening. Both have been included in the Magpies’ squad for the clash – Krul has missed the last five league games since injuring an ankle on European duties, while Santon was sidelined for last week’s trip to City after picking up a thigh complaint during training with the Italy Under 21 squad in the past fortnight.
Cheick Tiote and Massadio Haidara miss out for the Tyneside team but may be fit in time for the weekend visit of Fulham, while Ryan Taylor is also closing in on a return to action after being sidelined since last August with a knee injury. The versatile defender – a real Fantasy favourite in the previous season – has played just 27 minutes this term but has revealed he is on course to return before the campaign is out:
“It’s only been seven or eight months.. It’s not that long when you think about it, but in footballing terms it’s a full season. It would be nice to put that in the past and concentrate on these last few weeks. I’m just looking to get back before the end of the season. Atromitos was the last full game I played. It’s quite astonishing, really. It does seem a long time ago.”
