Wenger still hungry for more signings

24 August 2013 17:36

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed he is still eager to make new signings despite getting back to winning ways at Fulham on Saturday.

The London club made up for their opening-day 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa, beating Martin Jol’s side by the same scoreline at Craven Cottage.

A double from Lukas Podolski, to follow up an early goal from Olivier Giroud, saw Arsenal over the line despite a 77th-minute score from Darren Bent.

Arsenal also gave themselves a great chance of making the UEFA Champions League group stages with a 3-0 win away to Fenerbahce in midweek, but fans are keen to see heavy investments made in the squad before the end of the transfer window.

Yaya Sanogo remains the only addition to the ranks in the close-season, and with reports of a move for Real Madrid star Karim Benzema, Wenger has insisted their business is not yet done.

When asked whether the victory will alter his transfer plans, Wenger said: “No. We will be a bit less under media pressure maybe but that will not change exactly. I know exactly what I want to do and that will not change.

“Before next weekend? It’s possible. Honestly, I’m not the only one that can decide that because the clubs who sell the players (are involved too).

“We are on the market, you know that. I know we expect news from us. We will try to give you some but at the moment, nothing to announce.”

Wenger also confirmed that he yet to follow up an earlier bid for Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye, which was rejected and described as “insulting” by Alan Pardew.

Bundesliga: Bayern Munich 2 Nuremberg 0

24 August 2013 17:29

Second-half goals from Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben saw Bayern Munich keep up their perfect Bundesliga start against Nuremberg on Saturday.

The champions dominated from the outset at the Allianz Arena but it took until after the hour for Ribery to open the scoring, and Robben added a superb second shortly after to make it three wins from three for Pep Guardiola’s men.

Guardiola handed starts to close-season signings Mario Gotze and Thiago Alcantara for the clash at the Allianz Arena, with Gotze making his debut. Michael Wiesinger kept Hiroshi Kiyotake on the bench for Nuremberg.

Bayern unsurprisingly controlled the opening stages of the game, keeping possession from their Bavarian neighbours with ease as they probed for the opening goal.

However, it was the visitors – who have not won at Bayern for 21 years – who almost broke the deadlock against the run of play after 15 minutes as Daniel Ginczek’s thunderous strike was tipped onto the crossbar by Manuel Neuer.

Wingers Ribery and Robben both threatened for Bayern in glimpses, and the home fans thought they should have been awarded a penalty in the 24th minute. Mario Mandzukic was bundled over by Marvin Plattenhardt, but the hosts’ protests were waved away by referee Felix Zwayer.

Bayern did not have to wait long for a penalty though as the official pointed to the spot seven minutes later after Robben was brought down while chasing a throughball.

However, David Alaba’s weak effort from 12 yards was saved comfortably by Raphael Schafer.

The home side continued to dominate all aspects of the match after the break but for all their attacking intent, struggled to break down the stubborn Nuremberg defence.

Mandzukic’s aerial ability offered a major threat for Bayern as they began opting for a more direct approach. A powerful header from the Croatia international almost opened the scoring shortly before the hour mark as Guardiola’s side continued to pile on the pressure.

The Spaniard introduced Thomas Muller and Toni Kroos from the bench as Bayern looked to up the tempo and Muller was inches away from converting Robben’s searching pass shortly after.

However, a sense of relief was felt throughout the stadium as Ribery finally got the breakthrough for the hosts in the 68th minute. With Wiesinger’s men camped on the edge of their own area, a pin-point Philip Lahm cross allowed the France international to accurately guide a header past the helpless Schafer.

And Robben then sealed the three points nine minutes later with a fine solo effort. The Netherlands international coolly slotted the ball home from close range after jinking past three defenders down the right wing.

La Liga Preview: Granada v Real Madrid

24 August 2013 16:31

Asier Illarramendi could be in line to make his Real Madrid debut when they travel to Granada in La Liga on Monday.

The midfielder moved to the Bernabeu from Real Sociedad in July after Madrid met his €39million buy-out clause, but failed to make an appearance in pre-season as he recovered from muscle injuries sustained during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, which he helped Spain to win.

However, he took part in full training ahead of the game and will be a useful boost to Carlo Ancelotti’s midfield numbers.

Xabi Alonso (foot) and Sami Khedira (knee) have been absent from training recently, with the former definitely ruled out.

Khedira limped out of Madrid’s narrow 2-1 win over Real Betis last week and is likely to be replaced by Brazilian Casemiro, who came on in his place in the home victory.

Raphael Varane remains unavailable for selection due to a knee injury sustained at the end of last season, leaving Sergio Ramos and Pepe as the only senior centre-backs available to Ancelotti.

Isco is likely to continue in the creative hub for Madrid after scoring their late winner last week. Jorge Molina had given the Andalusian side a 14th-minute lead before Karim Benzema equalised shortly afterwards.

A frustrating game for Madrid looked to be heading for a draw, until the former Malaga man nodded home on his home debut in the dying embers.

Granada also kicked off their league campaign with a 2-1 success, impressively turning over Osasuna away from home.

Two goals in the space of seven first-half minutes from Hassan Yebda and Youssef El-Arabi were enough to seal the points and leave Granada one place above Madrid in the embryonic Liga table, thanks to alphabetical order.

Manager Lucas Alcaraz is likely to be without captain Diego Mainz, who was forced to sit out the win over Osasuna.

Goalkeeper Roberto will once again play through the pain of a toe injury, but experienced striker Carlos Aranda is sidelined.

Guilherme Siqueira was left out of Alcaraz’s team last week amid rumours of a move to Liverpool or Real Madrid, with the 47-year-old boss admitting that the left-back is unlikely to feature for the club unless he remains after the transfer window closes.

Premier League: Fulham 1 Arsenal 3

24 August 2013 15:39

A Lukas Podolski double helped relieve the pressure on Arsene Wenger as Arsenal eased to a comfortable 3-1 win at Fulham on Saturday.

Germany international Podolski scored one in each half after Olivier Giroud had opened the scoring early on, before Darren Bent grabbed a late consolation for Martin Jol’s men after coming off the bench for his home debut.

Fulham boss Jol made three changes from his side’s 1-0 win at Sunderland, handing a debut to new signing Scott Parker and also bringing in David Stockdale in goal and John Arne Riise at left-back.

His under-fire Arsenal counterpart Wenger, meanwhile, opted to rest Jack Wilshere in favour of Podolski, while also making two enforced changes in selecting Carl Jenkinson and Santi Cazorla in place of the suspended Laurent Koscielny and the injured Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Both sides started patiently amid torrential rain and it was Arsenal who carved out the first clear-cut chance of the game after 10 minutes when Theo Walcott was denied by Stockdale after latching on to a superb throughball from Tomas Rosicky.

But the visitors did not have to wait long to edge ahead, as Giroud opened the scoring just four minutes later.

There was an element of good fortune about the goal as Aaron Ramsey scuffed a shot from 20 yards that caught the striker’s heel and ran perfectly into his path.

However, the France international still had plenty to do and he deftly lifted the ball over the advancing Stockdale for his second Premier League goal of the campaign.

Fulham responded well to that setback, though, and Wojciech Szczesny was forced to make an outstanding double save from Adel Taarabt and Damien Duff shortly afterwards.

The hosts continued to press for an equaliser but were served a warning of Arsenal’s potency on the break when Walcott sprinted clear down the right and teed up Kieran Gibbs, only for the full-back to drag his shot wide.

Walcott was again heavily involved as the visitors doubled their advantage four minutes before the interval.

Stockdale saved the England forward’s shot well after he had been played in by Cazorla, but Podolski followed up with an unerring side-footed finish from 18 yards to send Arsenal in two goals to the good at the break.

Fulham flew out of the traps with real intent in the second half and Szczesny saved smartly from Taarabt’s drive just two minutes after the restart.

But Arsenal were again dangerous on the break, and Ramsey almost added a third in the 57th minute after Walcott had nodded Gibbs’ deep cross back to the Welshman, but his shot was deflected wide.

That proved to be a pre-cursor for the third goal, as another slick counter-attack led to Wenger’s side increasing their advantage on 68 minutes.

The ever-dangerous Walcott was again key, as he fed Cazorla down the left. The playmaker then rolled the ball back to Podolski on the edge of the area and the Germany international took a touch before arrowing a shot into the bottom corner.

Substitute Bent gave the hosts a glimmer of hope nine minutes later with a typical poacher’s finish after Szczesny had parried Dimitar Berbatov’s clever half-volley, but Arsenal held on to complete their sixth consecutive away Premier League victory.

Pellegrini expects tough Cardiff test

24 August 2013 13:42

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has warned his players to avoid complacency ahead of their trip to Cardiff City on Sunday.

Pellegrini’s side were in superb form in their Premier League opener against Newcastle last week, easing to a 4-0 win thanks to goals from David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri.

Next up for last season’s runners-up is a visit to top-flight new boys Cardiff, and the Chilean has urged his squad to make sure they keep the same level of performance against Malky Mackay’s men.

“We have a very difficult game on Sunday because Cardiff are playing their first home Premier League game,” the former Malaga manager said.

“We will not underestimate them because they are new to the division. They will be very tough opponents on their own pitch. We know we have to play our best to take the three points, but we will be focused and prepared for the challenge.”

Pellegrini went on to say it is unlikely any more players will depart the Etihad Stadium before the end of the transfer window after Scott Sinclair moved to West Brom on a season-long loan deal and Denis Suarez signed for Barcelona last week.

“I’m not certain but I doubt there will be any more players leaving,” he added.