Showing posts with label Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Show all posts

Wednesday, 16 March 2016

Barcelona v Arsenal - Preview

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Defender Laurent Koscielny returns from injury as Arsenal attempt to overturn a two-goal deficit against Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

The Gunners trail 2-0 from the first leg and must score twice at the Nou Camp to have any chance of progressing.

"We don't have to calculate too much, we know we have to attack and score," said Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

"The players are united to give a strong performance."

The tie was finely balanced for most of the first leg at Emirates Stadium, but two Lionel Messi goals in the final 20 minutes put the Spanish champions firmly in control.

"Our approach was not bad in the first leg but we lost our balance and got caught," said Wenger.

The Gunners boss has come in for renewed criticism as Arsenal's pursuit of trophies domestically and in Europe has suffered a series of setbacks.

But the Frenchman, 66, remains as dedicated as ever to bringing success to the club.

"I am even more motivated than the day I arrived," he said. "When you are a long time somewhere, people always question you. I don't question my dedication, it is 100%."

He added: "We have gone through a disappointing spell and it is important to remain calm and strong."

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique, whose side are aiming to become the first team to retain the Champions League trophy since the old European Cup was rebranded in 1992, had supportive words for his Arsenal counterpart.

Asked if he could imagine replicating Wenger's 20-year stay at one club, he said: "In the modern era, it is impossible.

"It means Wenger is a very good coach. No one doubts that and only the chosen ones can be such a long time in one club."

Barcelona, on a 37-game unbeaten run, are strong favourites to reach the last eight, but Enrique says his team will not take anything for granted.

"We want to be better than Arsenal on Wednesday," he said.

Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar are all expected to start for Barcelona.


Saturday, 12 March 2016

Barcelona Fire Six Past Getafe

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Lionel Messi scored one goal and figured in four more to keep Barcelona on course to retaining their Spanish league title with a 6-0 rout of Getafe, increasing their domestic record to 37 games without a loss.

The only blemish to Messi’s superb showing was a missed penalty in the first half. Otherwise, the Argentina forward led a dominant performance that does not bode well for Arsenal’s chances to overturn a 2-0 deficit in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Barcelona never looked back after an own goal by Getafe’s Juan Rodríguez. Messi then made up for his missed spot-kick by scoring to make it 4-0 before half-time while also assisting Neymar for two goals and Munir El Haddadi on another.

Barcelona enjoyed their 12th consecutive league win without Luis Suárez, kept on the bench by coach Luis Enrique before Wednesday’s match. What little fight Getafe had at the start was sucked right out of the struggling side in the eighth minute when Messi played Jordi Alba wide, and his return pass intended for Messi was turned into Getafe’s goal by Rodríguez.

Not even goalkeeper Vicente Guaita blocking Messi’s spot-kick three minutes later after Neymar was fouled by Emiliano Velázquez revived the visitors. Andrés Iniesta’s playmaking kept the action entirely in Getafe’s half, and Messi’s apparently off-target shot from Iniesta’s pass became a perfect cross for El Haddadi to head home in the 19th minute. “We didn’t have a chance,” said Getafe coach Fran Escribá. “The game was lost from 2-0.”

Guaita did well to push Gerard Piqué’s effort from another Iniesta pass off his bar, but he could do nothing to stop Neymar’s curling strike when Messi played him clear with a pass in the 32nd minute. Messi then grabbed his 22nd league goal of the season when he was given time outside the top of the box and struck a left-footed shot beyond the reach of Guaita four minutes before the break.

Messi picked up where he had left off after the restart with a pass for Neymar to beat Guaita again in the 51st minute, the Brazilian’s 20th league goal of the campaign. Arda Turan got the hosts’ sixth with a bicycle kick from close range after a corner in the 57th minute.

Barcelona lead Atlético Madrid, who were playing Deportivo on Saturday night, by 11 points at the top of La Liga. 

Third-placed Real Madrid now trail Barcelona by 15 points and visit Las Palmas on Sunday.

Sunday, 6 March 2016

Barca Widen Lead to Eleven Points

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Lionel Messi continued his impressive run by scoring two goals in Barcelona’s 4-0 win over Eibar, keeping his team unbeaten and maintaining a comfortable lead entering the final stretch of the Spanish league.

A Munir tap-in, two Lionel Messi strikes and Luis Suárez’s well-taken fourth saw off Eibar to send Barcelona 11 points clear at the top of La Liga

Messi scored with a dribble and low finish shortly before half-time and added a penalty in the 76th minute, giving Barcelona a provisional 11-point advantage over Atlético Madrid, who play at Valencia later on Sunday.

Lionel Messi has scored 15 goals in the last 10 matches, and eight in the past four. Munir El Haddadi opened the scoring in the eighth minute after a cross by Luis Suárez, who registered his league-leading 26th goal in the final stages.

It was Barcelona’s 11th successive win in the league and extended the club’s unbeaten run to 36 games in all competitions.

Javier Mascherano’s late booking means he will be suspended for next week’s game against Getafe, while Marc Bartra’s introduction moves him onto 100 appearances for the club.

The latest victory for the Catalans puts them eleven points clear of Atlético Madrid before their tricky trip to Valencia on Sunday night.


Wednesday, 4 November 2015

Adams Undergoes Minor Surgery


Tony Adams revealed he has undergone minor heart surgery in Azerbaijan, an operation the former Arsenal defender said had saved his life.

Adams, who is director of football at Gabala in Azerbaijan, went under the knife after becoming unwell.

“After feeling some acute chest pain while exercising in Azerbaijan, and liaising with Gabala club doctors, I went to the Medical Plaza hospital in Baku where I was admitted for an angiogram, and then following diagnosis of a severely blocked vein, an immediate angioplasty,” Adams said.

“The brilliant surgeons at the Medical Plaza did a fantastic job – as has been reiterated to me by my cardiologist in the UK.

“I know full well that without the brilliance of Dr Uzeyir Rahimov and his team I would not be alive now: a minor heart operation saved my life.

“I would just like to say that if you, like me, have a history of heart disease in your family and you feel chest pains, get yourself to the doctor’s now.”

After making 669 appearances and winning 10 major trophies with the Gunners, the former England and Arsenal captain moved into management with Wycombe, Portsmouth and then Gabala.

Adams, 49, is said to be recuperating with his family in the UK, while Gabala travel to Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League on Thursday.



Saturday, 30 May 2015

Arsenal v Aston Villa - FA Cup Final


Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck will miss the FA Cup final after failing to recover from a knee injury.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Mathieu Debuchy (both hamstring) and captain Mikel Arteta (ankle) are in contention after returning to training.

Shay Given is fit for Aston Villa's first Cup final in 15 years after recovering from a groin injury.

Aly Cissokho (groin), Kieran Richardson (calf) and Jores Okore (knee) have also trained but Ciaran Clark (knee) is out.

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey scored an extra-time winner last season as they beat Hull 3-2 to win their first trophy in nine years.

And the Welshman is hopeful of adding another trophy to his collection as Arsenal look to become the first team to retain the Cup since Chelsea in 2010.

Ramsey said: "To score a winner in the FA Cup final, it's everybody's dream and I managed to live it.

"To finally win something after all those years and the pressure that has been put on this club was such a nice feeling of relief to finally win something.

"We never do it easy. We've experienced what it's like now, going a few goals behind early in the game, but we still believed in ourselves and our ability to get through it.

"Hopefully it will be a bit easier this time and we won't have to put so many people through that.

"Villa are a good team, very solid and of late they've been in really good form, so we'll have to be aware of that."

Villa could have Christian Benteke available for the last time, as speculation continues to link him with a summer move.

But manager Tim Sherwood is confident of keeping Benteke, and teenage midfielder Jack Grealish, who could start after impressing in the semi-final win over Liverpool.

"Grealish has coped with the pressure up until now, when he is asked to step up he has ticked the boxes," he said.

"The bigger the stage, the better he's been. There isn't any bigger stage than this one, so I'm hoping he performs - otherwise we'll sell him!

"He is great, he loves playing. I don't think he gets nervous. He doesn't look the type. He's a terrific player and we're happy he's on our side.

"I think he realises it because he is around Aston Villa fans - Jack has never seen the club win a trophy.

"Even if he tries to get away from it, it's impossible with his family walking around with Villa shirts on every day."

Arsenal and Aston Villa have been drawn together in the FA Cup 10 times, with Arsenal winning seven and Aston Villa three.This is the first time these sides have met in an FA Cup final.

The last FA Cup meeting between these sides was in the fourth round in 2012, when Arsenal came back from two goals down to win 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal have reached the FA Cup final for the second successive year, after failing to reach this stage in the previous eight seasons. It is their 19th FA Cup final - a record for any side.

Only three clubs have lifted the FA Cup on more occasions than Aston Villa, who have won the trophy seven times. Their seven FA Cup wins came between 1887 and 1957.

This is Aston Villa's first FA Cup final since 2000, when they lost 1-0 to Chelsea at Wembley.