The Gabonese international netted a first half brace but defensive lapses saw the Gunners drop two points in the Premier League.

Photo by Getty Images

Another error-strewn defensive performance by Arsenal has lead star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to call out his team-mates at the back.

The Gabon international forward scored twice in the first half in Sunday’s Premier League game with Watford , but lapses by Sokratis Papastathopoulos and David Luiz allowed the winless Hornets to draw level and secure a point.

The Greece international gave the ball away badly trying to play out of defence gifting the ball to Gerard Deulofeu who set up Tom Cleverley for an easy finish. His Brazilian counterpart then gave away a soft penalty by fouling Robert Pereyra who dusted himself off to slot home from 12 yards.

The defensive profligacy frustrated Aubameyang, who has now scored five goals this season.

“Obviously we didn’t expect that [the comeback],” the 30-year-old told Canal Plus .

“We knew that they were going to try and come back with good intentions, of the kind they demonstrated in the second half.

“Sadly, we were not able to deal with them well. I feel like we are literally giving goals to the opposition, it is up to us to progress in that respect.”

Sokratis apologised for his performance on Instagram, saying he blamed himself for the loss .

Despite his former Dortmund team-mate taking responsibility Aubameyang was unwilling to point fingers at specific players, instead suggesting he and his colleagues up front could have killed the game off.

“I don’t want to accuse anyone, you could say that us the attackers could have killed the game off and score a third goal, so I am not going to say it is someone’s fault,” he said.

“It is a shame to concede goals like we did… I think it [Alexandre Lacazette’s absence through injury] affects us.

“We know very well that he brings us so much in these sorts of games.”

Arsenal have welcomed three potential defensive replacements back to training this week. The trio of Kieran Tierney, Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding were photographed at London Colney and may be added to the squad in the coming weeks.

The Gunners’ next game is against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League on Thursday before Premier League hostilities resume against Aston Villa on September 22.

Source – Goal.com

Borussia Dortmund overpowered Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 on Saturday with two goals from captain Marco Reus to move into second place in the Bundesliga, a point behind leaders RB Leipzig, who drew 1-1 with Bayern Munich.

Dortmund captain Marco Reus bagged a double as his side went back to the top of the table. AP Photo/Martin Meissner

In a perfect dress rehearsal for next week’s Champions League opener at home to Barcelona, the Spanish side’s former player Paco Alcacer volleyed in his fifth goal of the campaign in the 28th minute. The Spaniard has now scored in every competitive game for both club and country this season.

Reus struck five minutes after the restart with Jadon Sancho cutting back into the box and Alcacer faking a shot but letting the ball through his legs for the Dortmund captain to fire in.

In a similar move Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky palmed a Sancho cross into the path of Portuguese Raphael Guerreiro who had no trouble tapping in the third goal after 83 minutes before Reus completed the win in the 90th.

“We defended really well today and that necessary. We knew they would have a lot of possession,” Dortmund coach Lucien Favre told reporters.

“We were patient. We defended well when needed, we stayed calm and avoided any big mistakes. We also showed we can play well on the break.”

Source – ESPN

Banners and jeers greeted the Brazilian as Thomas Tuchel included him in the starting line-up for the champions for the first time this season.

Photo by Getty Images

Neymar marked his controversial return to the Paris Saint Germain team on Saturday by scoring a sensational last-minute goal to beat Strasbourg, but was booed throughout by home fans.

The Parc des Princes faithful showed the Brazilian that they were unimpressed with his attempts to force a transfer back to his former club Barcelona during the summer.

Banners and jeers greeted the Brazilian as Thomas Tuchel included him in the starting line-up for the champions for the first time this season, but the mode changed drastically when fired in a stunning overhead kick in the final moments to win the game.

He had the ball in the net for the second time moments later but it was disallowed by the video assistant referee for offside.

There were chants and banners using vulgar language about Neymar throughout, including a reference to the €20m he had reportedly said he would pay in order to join Barcelona.

A statement before the game from the club’s supporters group warned Neymar that his actions “cannot be without consequence” after he missed the team’s first five games of the season due to the transfer saga.

Collectif Ultras Paris wrote in a statement published Saturday: “The Virage Auteuil, in which the most loyal supporters of the club are grouped, has the duty to show him that all his actions cannot be without consequence.

“Therefore, we invite all the Parisian supporters who have felt hurt at one point or another to show him that he no longer has the right to make mistakes and the path of redemption will be long… very long.

“It’s out of the question that we will penalise the team due to a single player.”

Neymar has nevertheless been a prolific figure since moving to the Parc des Princes side in the summer of 2017 for a world-record fee of €222m (£200m/$263m) from Barcelona.

He has scored 51 goals in 58 outings since moving to France but has twice missed key portions of the season due to injury.

PSG will want the attacker firing ahead of the midweek Champions League match against Real Madrid, particularly as Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe have both toiled with injury for the last month.

While the former is expected back, the latter will probably miss out against the Spaniards.

Source – Goal.com

On a night to forget for Pep Guardiola, his side slumped to a shock 3-2 loss at Carrow Road punctuated by dismal defensive errors.

Photo by Getty

The manner of Manchester City‘s 3-2 defeat to Norwich was more alarming than the five-point gap it created between the Premier League champions and current leaders Liverpool.

A newly-promoted side, shorn of 11 regulars, were sharper, stronger and braver than the title holders.

The Canaries fully deserved an unexpected victory against an error-strewn City side, who were unrecognisable from the team that has cantered to victories all over England for the past two seasons.

The deficit to Liverpool is, of course, far from insurmountable, even if both clubs have barely made a mistake in the past few months.

But Pep Guardiola must be concerned with a dismal, disjointed performance, which was far more reminiscent of his inconsistent debut season than anything that has gone on since – and every bit as shocking as the details of ‘Operation Yellowhammer’, the British government’s contingency plans for Brexit.

Defensively, they were a disaster. Vincent Kompany went at the end of last season and with Aymeric Laporte out until the New Year with a knee injury, they look short of organisation and leadership.

John Stones is majestic when he’s full of confidence – but at Carrow Road he was anything but.

Uncertain in the challenge and nervous with the ball at his feet, the England international looks to be still suffering a hangover from his troubled summer at the Nations League.

Defensive partner Nicolas Otamendi was lax throughout, caught napping for an embarrassing third goal at a time when City were looking to haul themselves back into the game.

Oleksandr Zinchenko struggled to play the simplest of passes as he became the pantomime baddie at a raucous Carrow Road and looked like a makeshift left-back rather than the natural he has become.

Kyle Walker could at least avoid criticism. But it was all very un-City like.

Norwich on the other hand were superb, playing with passion, energy, intelligence and, most notably of all, courage.

Brave teams are capable of stopping City by denying them possession but they have to be at their best to do so without paying a heavy price.

Brighton tried it at the Etihad Stadium in the game that preceded the international break but got it wrong after just a minute, and from then on, the game was gone.

Norwich were courageous too, despite being so short of numbers that they had to name two goalkeepers on the bench.

Their short, sharp passing broke the hectic press from Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan and Sergio Aguero, making it hard for the champions to maintain the sort of control to which they are accustomed.

At the back, Norwich were well-organised, squeezing the space between the backline and midfield, where David Silva works his magic, and denying room for Raheem Sterling and Bernardo on the wings.

And when they got their opportunities, they made them count.

Kenny McClean headed them in front with a near-post flick in the 18th minute. The defender took up a space that was eerily similar to the one used by Lucas Moura when he nodded home for Spurs earlier in the season and not unlike Fernando Llorente’s goal for the same team in last season’s Champions League.

Despite their relative lack of height, City have been well-organised in dead-ball positions for the past two seasons but Guardiola will need to work on a weakness that opponents have clearly identified.

Norwich’s second was worthy of anything that the Catalan has taught his side.

The home side strung together 30 passes as Teemu Pukki broke City’s high defensive line before rolling the ball into Todd Cantwell for a tap-in.

City were out of luck when Raheem Sterling smashed a header against the post from close range but they finally got the breakthrough just before half-time when Aguero finally found some space in the box to flick home Bernardo’s cross.

The Argentine became just the third player to score in a club’s first five Premier League games of the season, after Arsenal’s Jose Antonio Reyes in 2004 and Wayne Rooney for Manchester United in 2011.

But just as City threatened to get themselves back into the game, they gave away a disastrous third.

A sloppy Otamendi was caught dawdling on the ball on the edge of his own area from a back pass by Emiliano Buendia, who teed up Pukki for a simple finish.

Guardiola threw on Kevin De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus and Riyad Mahrez to try to rescue a point.

Rodri smashed in a 20-yard strike in the 88th minute but Norwich maintained their fight to get the victory over the line.

A memorable night for the Canaries, and for City too – just for all the wrong reasons.

Source – Goal.com

Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly has urged footballing authorities in Italy to expel people for life for racism and take note of anti-racism policy in the English game.

Kalidou Koulibaly suffered racist abuse last season

Romelu Lukaku was recently subjected to monkey chants from home fans during Inter Milan’s 2-1 victory away at Cagliari, later stating that football is going “backwards” on racism.

A Serie A disciplinary judge said earlier in September that he needs to see more evidence if the southern Italian side are to be punished for the incident.

The defender thinks Italy needs to apply stronger deterrents

Former Juventus forward Moise Kean was also on the receiving end of racist chanting from supporters from the same club in April, and Serie A later decided not to sanction the club.

Slurs were directed at Senegal international Koulibaly last season from Inter supporters during a Boxing Day defeat.

Carlo Ancelotti said that Napoli’s calls to stop the match were not listened to by officials.

After the incident, Koulibaly wrote on Twitter: “I am proud of the colour of my skin. Proud to be French, Senegalese, Neapolitan: a man.”

Koulibaly believes Italy should look to English football for their anti-racism policy

Regarding the recent episodes in Serie A, the 28-year-old told Corriere della Sport: “Racism in the stadiums must be defeated, but to succeed, even before the laws of sport, those of the State will be needed, deterrents that help to curb these unhealthy habits.

“I grew up reading Martin Luther King and Malcolm X.

“Taking them as models, instructors and educators, symbols of a challenge that must be lived together and, in our case, especially through the laws.”

A report released by Kick It Out in July said reports of racism in English football rose by 43 per cent – from 192 to 274 – last season.

Earlier this year, Chelsea banned a supporter for life for abuse shouted at Raheem Sterling during a clash with Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in December 2018.

Koulibaly believes similar sanctions should be adopted as the norm in Serie A.

“Let it be done like in England,” he said.

“We proceed with expulsions, even for life if necessary, otherwise we will risk being prisoners of minorities that could multiply.”

A spate of racially abusive incidents have occurred on social media platforms at the start of the 2019/20 season in the English Football League and Premier League.

Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, and Tammy Abraham are among those who have had racial abuse directed at them on Twitter.

Raheem Sterling has also called on society to “wake up” and realise footballers are “human beings just doing their jobs” as players continue to be targeted.

Anti-discrimination group Kick It Out have condemned all of these cases and have agreed to meet with Twitter for the first time, following a series of instances at the start of the campaign.

Source – Sky Sport

After an underwhelming start to his Camp Nou career, the former Ajax midfielder played a pivotal role in Netherlands’ win over Germany last week.

Photo by Getty

If Barcelona fans needed any proof of just how good Frenkie de Jong can be, they need look no further than his equalising goal for Netherlands against Germany last week.

With his side trailing early in the second half, De Jong can be seen floating on the cusp of the final third, watching the ball closely as it is played along the left flank, and quickly coming to life when he sees Ryan Babel create space for a cross.

Effortlessly guiding into the box, the 22-year-old sneaks ahead of Nico Schulz, takes a delightful first touch and coolly slots the ball past an onrushing Manuel Neuer.

Like a magician pulling a rabbit out if his hat, it was a moment of slick skill that nobody was expecting, and one that sparked his side into action as they ultimately claimed a crucial 4-2 win.

What’s more, that great piece of individual brilliance was merely the highlight of a dominant display from De Jong, who was deployed in his favoured central defensive midfield role – while also being given the freedom to roam.

Though not prolific in front of goal, the former Ajax star is a valuable asset to any attack, as he also showed against Estonia on Tuesday, when he registered a game-high pass accuracy of 95 per cent in the final third.

Barcelona fans were rightly excited when their club managed to land the man recently voted the best midfielder in last season’s Champions League.

However, after three La Liga starts, De Jong hasn’t yet put his best foot forward at Camp Nou, with Ernesto Valverde’s use of the Dutch star hardly helping matters.

While used in his favoured central defensive midfield position on his competitive debut for the Catalans, against Athletic Club, showing glimpses of his potential, he’s since been used in a wider midfield role to accommodate the return of Sergio Busquets.

Playing in the shadow of the Spanish veteran, De Jong has all but disappeared in Barca’s past two matches, with the talented Dutchman barely involved in the build-up against either Real Betis or Osasuna.

The player himself has admitted it’s been difficult to adapt to his new role.

“Things went well in pre-season, but I have to say I haven’t played my best game in the competitive fixtures,” De Jong told De Telegraaf.

“The football is very different from what I am used to. I had the fewest touches against Betis, when usually it’s the other way around.

“People panic, but I don’t. I’ve been a bit flat so far. I know I can contribute a lot more with the ball during the game. I can be a lot more dominant, so I don’t worry too much about it.”

With Busquets still only 31, it will be difficult for De Jong to reclaim his favoured position with Valverde now forced to find a way to allow both midfield maestros to meaningfully contribute.

For former Ajax and Barcelona attacker Ronald De Boer, it’s clear the Barcelona coach has so far failed to get the best out of a player that has the potential to become a true star for the Catalans.

“I saw the last games of Barcelona and Frenkie was playing almost on the wing. I don’t believe that’s his position; he should play in the centre or as a holding midfielder,” De Boer told AS.

“I don’t know what Valverde will do. What I do know is that Frenkie may have to be patient. Busquets is already getting on, although he continues to play with the same quality as always on the pitch.

“Frenkie is a different type of player to Busquets. His team-mates have to adapt to him and Frenkie to them.

“What is clear is that he has a talent that has not been seen in a long time. That is why I am convinced he will end up being a success there.

“The philosophy of Barcelona is not new to him. What happens is that the other players have to complete their understanding of his game.”

Busquets will obviously be key to De Jong’s development in Catalunya, with the two currently vying for the one central midfield position available in Valverde’s preferred 4-3-3 formation.

Though his own place in Barca’s side is now under greater pressure, the Spain international is adamant De Jong has the talent to succeed at Camp Nou.

“He must adapt to a style of football other than that of Ajax,” Busquets said. “But he will be great, both now and in the future. He can be one of the best.”

Valverde certainly needs him to be. Indeed, it will only be by helping De Jong realise his full potential that Barcelona will reach theirs.

Source – Goal.com

The introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) has been unable to prevent four wrong decisions in the Premier League matches this season, referees’ chief Mike Riley has said.

Photo by Getty Images

Riley, managing director of the official referee’s body and the man responsible for VAR in England, said technology had “added value to the game” but said there had been incidents where a referee’s decision should have been overturned.

“If you look at the four match rounds, 227 incidents have been checked. Out of that we’ve changed six decisions. We think we should have changed 10 in total,” Riley told Sky Sports News on Thursday.

“That gives you the scale of where VAR can help and add value to the game, but it also demonstrates that this is still about refereeing a game of Premier League football on the pitch.”

VAR’s guidelines state that the technology should only be used to overturn a decision if the on-pitch referee has made a clear and obvious error.

Riley explained that the technology should have been used to award reigning champions Manchester City a penalty in their 3-1 win at Bournemouth and give a spot-kick to West Ham United in their 2-0 victory at home to Norwich City.

He also said Fabian Schar’s goal for Newcastle United in the 1-1 draw with Watford should have been chalked off for an earlier handball, while Leicester City‘s Youri Tielemans should have been sent off in their 3-1 win over Bournemouth.

England’s top flight joined Germany, Spain and Italy in bringing in video technology at the start of the campaign and it has played a decisive role in the opening four rounds of games.

Manchester City had an added-time strike in their 2-2 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur ruled out for a handball by Aymeric Laporte which no-one on the pitch had spotted.

Wolverhampton Wanderers also had a goal ruled out for handball in their 0-0 draw with Leicester on the opening day after a lengthy review, prompting coach Nuno Espirito Santo to say the technology was hurting the sport’s spirit.

Source – Euro Sport

The Portuguese boss says his tenure in Spain is the one he looks back on most fondly despite success at Porto, Chelsea and Inter.

Photo by Getty Images

Jose Mourinho has revealed that he sees his time at Real Madrid as his best experience as a manager, citing the lessons learned and memories forged during his time with the Spanish club.

Having already enjoyed success at Porto, Chelsea and Inter, Mourinho joined Real Madrid in 2010 and managed the club until 2013.

During his time at the club, Mourinho won La Liga in 2011-12 while also claiming a Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana before eventually returning to Chelsea.

And, despite winning Champions League titles at Porto and Inter, it was Mourinho’s time at Santiago Bernabeu that he looks at the most fondly.

“Real Madrid was my best experience because of what I learned as a coach, as a man, because of the lessons I took in my career and in my life,” he told Portuguese TV channel 11, per Marca.

“It is the best memory of my career, it was fantastic.”

The most memorable moments of Mourinho’s Madrid tenure were his fierce battles with Barcelona, as El Clasico took on a whole new life due to the manager’s rivalry with Pep Guardiola.

Matches between the two Spanish giants were particularly tenacious during Mourinho’s tenure as Real Madrid were looking to reclaim La Liga following a sustained period of Barcelona success.

The tide began to shift at the 2010-11 Copa del Rey final as Madrid beat Barcelona 1-0 after extra time,

During the 2011-12 triumph, Real Madrid set a league record for points in a season with 100, a feat since matched by Barcelona, and the Portuguese manager says he takes pride in his successes against a team that became his fiercest rival

“What they asked me at Real Madrid went with my nature,” Mourinho said.

“They told me that we had the best team in the world on the other side, that they were crushing us and we had to reverse the situation.

“We had to prevent Barça from crushing us and that’s why the Mestalla cup final is the most important.

“From there nothing was the same. We won the league, the Super Cup, but nothing was like the [Copa del Rey] final.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to win any of the three Champions League semi-finals [I took Madrid to].”

Mourinho is currently out of work outside a series of television punditry roles having been sacked by Manchester United in December.

Source – Goal.com

Jadon Sancho’s agent met Manchester United officials during the summer transfer window, according to Borussia Dortmund’s sporting director Michael Zorc.

Jadon Sancho moved from the Etihad Stadium to Signal Iduna Park in 2017

Sancho, 19, has been linked with United as well as a host of European clubs following two successful seasons at Dortmund, in which he has scored 17 goals and made 27 assists in 60 appearances.

In August, Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke revealed he turned down an approach for the England international from a “super club” earlier this year.

Sancho now has eight caps for England after making his Three Lions debut against Croatia in October 2018

“A hot topic right now is Sancho and Manchester United,” Zorc said in the Amazon Prime documentary ‘Inside Borussia Dortmund’ which reviews the 2018/19 season.

“Both his discussions with the club and mine with the agent, a meeting did take place. Manchester United invited the agent.

“According to what I know, the agent told the club that no matter how much money they offer, we won’t let him go this summer.

“The player also has no intention of taking that step this summer [2019].”

The teenager, who scored two goals in two first-half minutes for England during their 5-3 victory over Kosovo, agreed a contract extension last year at the Westfalenstadion, until 2022.

Sancho arrived at the North Rhine-Westphalia club in 2017 in a £7m move from Manchester City.

Source – Sky Sport