Month: March 2021

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta saluted his “influential” playmaker Martin Odegaard after Norwegian’s starring role in their remarkable comeback at West Ham.

Odegaard, signed in January on loan from Real Madrid, was instrumental as the Gunners came from 3-0 down to snatch a dramatic point against David Moyes’ side on Sunday.

---

READ MORE: Premier League winners and losers (mostly Steve Bruce)

---

In the second half the 22-year-old had a hand in both Craig Dawson’s own goal and Alexandre Lacazette’s equaliser.

It was a display which will have had Arsenal fans praying they can sign Odegaard permanently at the end of the season – a move Real Madrid are unfortunately not said to be considering.

“I think he had an incredible performance,” said Arteta. “I think he was very intelligent the way he read the game, the way he affected the game and again he showed how much he wanted to win.

“When everyone was a little trembling he gave us that stability and that composure on the ball and he created chance after chance.

“He’s been showing that, I think, from week one. The way he steps on the pitch, he always wants the ball, the way he commands the pressing. He’s been really influential.

“I think we’ve all been a bit surprised because he looks really shy and humble, but when he steps on that pitch he’s a real character and he loves to play football.”

The Hammers, looking for a win to move level with Chelsea in fourth, raced into a three-goal lead through Jesse Lingard, Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek.

But when Lacazette’s shot deflected in off Soucek before half-time, it gave Arsenal a foothold in the game, and they took advantage.

Dawson’s second own goal in a week made it 3-2 and Lacazette buried an 82nd-minute header to rescue a draw.

Click Here: nrl jersey sale

“You can’t do that for 45 minutes in a game and expect to get away with it,” Bowen told West Ham’s website.

“We got punished for the way we came out in the second half

“We wanted to start on the front foot again, but we didn’t and got punished for it.”

Mark Hughes thinks Man Utd could be “edging towards” a decision to sell “lost” midfielder Donny van de Beek this summer.

The Netherlands international played 64 minutes for the Red Devils as they crashed out of the FA Cup to Leicester City on Sunday.

Van de Beek once again failed to have an influence of the game with his first season at Man Utd not going to plan following his summer transfer from Ajax.

---

MAILBOX: FFS, Fred. One immediate solution to Man Utd’s midfield problem…

---

There has been lots of debate about whether the Dutchman needs more playing time but he has failed to create or score a goal in his last 17 appearances in all competitions.

In fact he has only contributed one goal and one assist all season with Man Utd legend Hughes not convinced he will be at Old Trafford much longer.

“Clearly it’s difficult, he hasn’t had enough game time and you can see that in his play,” Hughes told Stadium Astro.

“He’s wandering and not really getting on the ball, doesn’t know how to affect the game, can’t demand the ball of his team-mates because they’re not quite sure whether or not they have enough confidence in him.

“He looks like a guy who’s wandering around lost on the field. Okay, some of that responsibility he has to take on himself, he has be more demonstrative, he has to be a key player. He’s a big-money signing he’s come from a big club in Ajax so he’s used to being a top player of influence.

“But clearly, since he’s come to United he hasn’t shown anything like what the level he needs to be at to remain a Man United player.

“He can only have so many opportunities, at some point he’s going to have to take them or United will move him on. I think they’re edging towards that decision if he’s not careful.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer responded on Wednesday to fresh reports about Van de Beek’s happiness at United.

“There’s always speculation here,” Solskjaer said. “Donny has been focusing really hard, working really hard to get back available for the latter stages of the season so that’s our focus.”

 

Click Here: rc toulon rugby jersey

Arsenal players and staff members were reportedly surprised by the rigour of the police earlier this month in checking they were complying with coronavirus quarantine rules when they returned from Greece after beating Benfica in the Europa League.

The Gunners’ ‘home’ leg of their last-32 tie was played at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Athens on February 25 due to Covid-19 restrictions.

---

OPINION: Do you want a more bloated Champions League?

---

It was the first time Mikel Arteta’s side were subjected to the government’s ‘Test to Release’ scheme, whereby anyone entering England from abroad must quarantine for ten days or test negative on the fifth day of that quarantine – thereby reducing the isolation period.

Elite sportspeople are not exempt from the rule but can continue to train and play in their bio-secure coronavirus bubbles.

And The Athletic report that at least ten Arsenal players and staff receieved check-up phone calls or visits from the police at home or at work.

Refusal to follow the rules can be met with a fine of up to £10,000 but all employees are said to have complied with the government mandated restrictions.

Click Here: Bape Men 1st Camo Asnka tee

There was however some dismay due to the intense level of monitoring, seemingly limited to Arsenal among Premier League teams.

They are believed to be the only top flight team to have been subjected to the rigorous checks, with players and staff at other clubs in Europa League or Champions League competition this month – Spurs, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United – not experiencing anything like the intense scrutiny.

Arsenal’s travelling group had been tested five times in eight days before returning to England and filled out passenger locator forms.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “Where Public Health England are unable to contact individuals who have travelled to the UK from overseas, they make a referral to the relevant police force. In such instances, officers endeavour to ensure that individuals have been provided with the correct information, are complying with the requirement to stay home outside of any exempted window, have completed the required tests on the correct dates and have satisfied the ‘test to release’ criteria.”

The report claims players were sharing messages via WhatsApp explaining their shock at police officers turning up at their doors to check on them.

The following is from WWE.com:

Click Here: cutom plastic mold and molding

Get the gold or go home!
May 30, 2008

The unbridled excitement on the road to One Night Stand is building to a fever pitch and it all could explode this week on SmackDown.

Last Week, General Manager Vickie Guerrero released yet another firestorm when she announced that at the Extreme pay-per-view, the vacant World Heavyweight Championship would finally be decided in a TLC Match between Undertaker and Edge. However, Guerrero quickly made it personal when she added the startling stipulation that if The Phenom loses, he must leave WWE forever. After Undertaker won a fierce match against Chavo Guerrero later that night – with Edge, Vickie, Curt Hawkins, Zack Ryder, and Bam Neely in tow – how will “the family” react on the doorstep of the One Night Stand? With the World Heavyweight Championship hanging in the balance, rest assured that the Ultimate Opportunist and the “love of his life” will have something up their sleeve.

After Shawn Michaels’ controversial win at their last meeting at Backlash, the stage has been set for a brutal Stretcher Match between The Showstopper and Batista at One Night Stand. And, if last week’s VIP Lounge and subsequent match against Montel Vontavious Porter are any indication, HBK is going to be facing a truly irate Animal. After punishing the former United States Champion, MVP, in last week’s grueling match, who will Batista unleash his fury on two days before his pay-per-view moment-of-destiny with HBK? Will Shawn Michaels show up to personally send his own statement? Whatever happens, it is going to be one explosive Friday night.

Deuce & Domino looked to be getting back on track after winning the six-man tag along with their beautiful partner Maryse. The stunning Diva’s participation did not go unnoticed following their separation from Cherry just weeks ago. If the former tag champions can keep their momentum going, they could become a major threat to The Miz & John Morrison’s WWE Tag Team Titles.

Don’t miss all the action on Friday Night SmackDown 8/7 CT only on The CW Network.

Eight WWE Superstars Set To Switch Brands In The Draft + Full SD! *SPOILERS*