LONDON • After the final whistle, the Arsenal players trudged around the pitch for the traditional lap of appreciation to mark their final home game of the season.
The smattering of fans who had stayed back at the Emirates to bear witness to this joyless formality did at least bid hearty farewells to the retiring Petr Cech, and Aaron Ramsey and Danny Welbeck, who are leaving on free transfers, with the former heading to Italian champions Juventus.
Earlier, Arsenal said goodbye to any realistic chance of finishing in the Premier League's top four this season after a 1-1 draw with Brighton on Sunday.
The Gunners could yet make it if things get freakish on the last day of the term this Sunday - they would have to win big away to Burnley and hope Tottenham lose heavily at home to Everton to make up an eight-goal difference.
However, manager Unai Emery has accepted that the only realistic route to next season's Champions League is by winning the Europa League, with his team one step away from reaching the final after a 3-1 semi-final first-leg victory over Valencia.
Calling on his players to lift themselves ahead of the reverse fixture in Spain on Thursday, Emery said: "Our first target was (to finish in the top four) in the Premier League so we are very, very disappointed.
"But we need to keep a strong focus for Thursday in Valencia, we can still do something important."
Premier League talking points
1. PALACE'S AWAY STRENGTH
The Premier League table makes for interesting reading when it is divided into home and away results, especially from Crystal Palace's point of view.
Remarkably, only Huddersfield have picked up fewer points than Palace at home this season, with Roy Hodgson's side winning just four of their 18 Premier League matches at Selhurst Park.
But the Eagles' away form is the fifth best in the league and their win at Cardiff was just the latest example of their pace on the counter-attack.
2. FAREWELL GAME FOR JAGIELKA?
Everton captain Phil Jagielka was philosophical whether their 2-0 victory over Burnley last Friday was to be his farewell game at Goodison Park, although the appreciation from the crowd betrayed their sense that his 12-year stay looks set to end in the summer.
But the 36-year-old defender, whose contract expires in the close season, was not David Moyes' only fine bit of business in 2007. Leighton Baines, another of Everton's great servants with over 400 games, is also out of contract, and it is hoped the defender, 34, can also get a fitting farewell.
3. HAMMERS' HOME COMFORTS
Settling into a new stadium is never the easiest, especially when it was not designed to host football games. But, while West Ham fans still struggle to call the London Stadium home, things are improving for Manuel Pellegrini's players.
The win over Southampton gave them 31 points from their home turf this season, their highest total since they moved there in 2016.
THE GUARDIAN
But Arsenal will need to show more fortitude at the Mestalla than they did against Brighton if they are to preserve the two-goal lead.
Arsenal came into Sunday's game after three consecutive league defeats and, despite taking an early lead through a penalty by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, came close to a fourth loss, as Pascal Gross miskicked in the dying minutes with the goal at his mercy.
Brighton had drawn level half an hour earlier when Glenn Murray converted a penalty given away in daft fashion for a tug by Granit Xhaka, earning them their first away point at a "Big Six" team this season.
The hosts' failure to beat Chris Hughton's men also meant that Chelsea, who defeated Watford 3-0, secured their place in next season's Champions League.
The Blues, third on 71 points, cannot be caught by fifth-placed Arsenal, who are on 67, or Manchester United, a point further back.
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri also fired a warning that his team were not content to settle for just a top-four spot as the Europa League "is also a very important competition".
ALTERNATIVE ROUTE
Our first target was (to finish in the top four) in the Premier League so we are very, very disappointed. But we need to keep a strong focus for Thursday in Valencia, we can still do something important.
'' UNAI EMERY, Arsenal manager, after the 1-1 draw with Brighton on Sunday all but ended their chances of finishing in the top four of the Premier League.
Chelsea host Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankurt on Thursday after the first leg of their semi-final tie ended 1-1, and the Italian is already looking ahead to the final on May 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, declaring his players "want to win it because we deserve a trophy this season".
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, THE GUARDIAN
ROME - Napoli could finish the weekend trailing Serie A leaders Juventus by 11 points after Carlo Ancelotti's wasteful side stuttered to a 0-0 draw at Fiorentina on Saturday, as Lautaro Martinez
Napoli Stumble at Fiorentina, Martinez Gets Inter Back
Mauricio Pochettino said on Tuesday that Hugo Lloris will remain in goal for Tottenham despite a series of costly errors this season. Lloris has endured fresh criticism after his fumble led to Toby Alderweireld's decisive own goal in the final minutes of Tottenham's 2-1 defeat at Liverpool on Sunday.
Pochettino gives backing to under-fire Lloris - Breitbart
Klopp dismisses talk of Liverpool crumbling under pressure. Liverpool drew 1-1 at home to Leicester City on Wednesday prompting questions about their ability to stay the course as tension mounts
Jurgen Klopp dismisses talk of Liverpool crumbling under
Refreshed Croatia win with attack-focused play
Schalke 04 warmed-up for the Champions League visit of Manchester City with a goalless draw at home to fellow Bundesliga strugglers Freiburg on Saturday. Ten-man Schalke draw blank ahead of
Ten-man Schalke draw blank ahead of Man City clash
SINGAPORE: Singapore's national footballer Ikhsan Fandi has signed a two-year contract with Norwegian second tier side Raufoss IL, the club announced on its website on Sunday (Jan 13). The 19-year-old striker, who is the second son of local legend Fandi Ahmad, had been on trial with Raufoss for a week, the club said.
Ikhsan Fandi inks deal with Norwegian side | Goal.com
Bayern Munich could battle Chelsea and Atletico Madrid for the signing of OGC Nice star Youcef Atal. The 22-year-old has been in exceptional form for his side in Ligue 1 this season, and according to a report from The Telegraph, Niko Kovac's men could be keen to make a move this summer.
Teen Mom 2: Chelsea Gets Aubree 2 Pairs of Glasses
Man City romp into the next round of the FA Cup after putting seven past a hapless Rotherham. Goals fr
Ruthless Manchester City in seventh heaven after FA Cup win
Eden Hazard intends to remain at Chelsea this year but offered no assurances about his future beyond that. The Belgian playmaker hinted he may leave Stamford Bridge after the World Cup, yet while international colleague Thibaut Courtois has completed a switch to Real Madrid, Hazard's mooted move to the Spanish capital has not happened.
'I think it's goodbye': Hazard ready to leave Chelsea after
Could Bruno Mars' Big Night at the Grammys End Up Being a Bad Thing for His Career? song in Hot 100 history could have brought home some potentially historic to avoid pop drama pretty much
Bruno Mars Took Fans To Mars And Back At His Kl Concert
Wasteful Barca held to goalless draw at defiant Lyon LYON, France (Reuters) - Barcelona were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at Olympique Lyonnais in their Champions League last-16 first leg on
Wasteful Barca held to goalless draw at defiant Olympique
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch epl live streaming free no sign up
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch soccer online free streaming live india
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch live soccer streaming on iphone
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch champions league live streaming vk
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch premier league live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming vivo
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch premier league live streaming vk
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch soccer live stream links
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch soccer live stream app
watch live streaming soccer games
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
watch us soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch the premier league live stream
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch premier league games live stream
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch champions league live streaming match
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch champions league live streaming cricfree
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch champions league live streaming now
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch soccer am live stream
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch soccer games live stream free
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch premier league darts live stream
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming vf
cpl 2018 live streaming watch caribbean premier league t20 2018
soccer tv live net stream
watch soccer am online live streaming
watch live soccer game today
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch soccer game live now
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch premier league live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch hd soccer live streaming free
#elcasico #realmadridcf #bayervshoffenheim #gunners #battuteepiche #livesports #england #valcea #footballdubai #watchlive #transfernews #risate #cr7 #Bar #frasirap #zinedinezidane #zidane #footballschedule #GarageCafeDxb #golf #realmadrid #livestreams #arsenal #gooners #tokyo #noelgallagher #panini #paulmcartney #MyDubai #romania #arsenalfantv #bundesliga #londoncity #bayern #oudmehta #Fcb #liverpool #oasis #Sunday #freekick #manunited #girlsniteout #pagani #freekicks #lfc #soccer #championship #mancityvsliverpool #footballfans #thomasmeunier #leomessi #Liverpool #vandijk #Vip45 #rugby #frasitrap #beatifulgame #ronaldo #soccerbible #roadtrip
No comments:
Post a Comment