Arsenal on worst Premier League run under Wenger

Another difficult day for the Gunners at West Brom has been highlighted by a statistic that will certainly not have pleased their manager

Arsene Wenger’s future at Arsenal grew even more uncertain on Saturday as he watched his side slump to a 3-1 defeat against West Brom at the Hawthorns – meaning he is on his worst league run since taking charge in 1996.

Although Alexis Sanchez scored after 15 minutes for the visitors, they already trailed by a Craig Dawson goal. The centre-back would later add the hosts’ third after Hal Robson-Kanu found the target shortly after the restart.

It proved to be Arsenal’s sixth defeat in their last nine matches – a spell that has seen them fall off the top-four pace in the Premier League and crash out of the Champions League in an embarrassing manner against Bayern Munich.

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The Frenchman’s side lost home and away to the Germans, while domestically they had also been defeated by Watford, Chelsea and Liverpool prior to Saturday’s game

Among this spell of wretched form, the Gunners’ only victories have come against non-league opponents Sutton United and Lincoln City in the FA Cup, as well as relegation-threatened Hull City in the Premier League.

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Conte: Chelsea need 21 points to clinch Premier League title

The Blues beat Stoke to open up a 13-point lead at the Premier League summit on Saturday, and the coach wants seven wins before the season ends

Antonio Conte has set Chelsea a 21-point target to be sure of clinching the Premier League title.

After a 3-1 win over Swansea City last month, Conte said he thought 29 points were required in order for the Blues to guarantee the return of the top-flight trophy to Stamford Bridge.

A hard-fought 2-1 victory against Stoke City on Saturday, secured by Gary Cahill's 87th-minute strike, sent Chelsea 13 points clear at the summit.

Although their advantage could be cut on Sunday with Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool in action, the Italian has revised his goal for the final 10 matches.

"This win is important, honestly. We played two games away, West Ham and Stoke, and to win both games is very important in this part of the season," said Conte.

"There are 10 games to go. I like to think that now we need to take 21 points to be sure to win the league.

"But today it is important against a strong team and in a stadium with a great atmosphere."

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Conte confirmed that Eden Hazard was left out of the matchday 18 after sustaining a calf injury during a training session.

"In the last training he felt a bit of a problem in his calf, for this reason I decided not to risk him. That is why he didn't play," the Italian said.

With 20 minutes remaining Conte replaced Victor Moses with Cesc Fabregas, switching formation from 3-4-3 to 4-2-3-1.

The Chelsea boss knew his side risked conceding as a result, but wanted to actively search out an important win in the title race.

He said: "This is not the first time [the system was changed mid-game]. This happened against Burnley.

"When you want to take more risks, to try to take three points and not only one, to try to change. For sure there is the great possibility to score the goal, but also to concede a goal.

"You must know this, but then I prefer to decide and risk to take three points. In other situations, I decide to keep the result."

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'I know what I will do in my future' - Arsenal boss Wenger to make decision public very soon

Pressure on the Frenchman has increased after a 3-1 loss to West Brom and the long-serving manager says he knows what he is going to do

Under-fire Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he has made a decision on his future that he will announce soon.

Wenger was subjected to more vocal criticism from Arsenal supporters during Saturday's 3-1 defeat at West Brom, while a plane sporting a banner calling for him to stand down flew over The Hawthorns at kick-off.

In a bizarre spectacle, another light aircraft trailed a message of support for the 67-year-old but there were few other sources of encouragement as his side slipped to a fourth defeat in five Premier League outings.

West Brom defender Craig Dawson twice benefitted from abysmal set-piece defending either side of Hal Robson-Kanu punishing poor goalkeeping by David Ospina - on as a substitute for injured Arsenal number one Petr Cech.

Wenger is out of contract at the end of the season and, although he has attempted to play down speculation over his future in recent weeks, he told a post-match news conference his mind was made up.

"I know what I will do in my future. You will soon know, very soon," he said.

"We do not necessarily worry about that. We are in a unique bad patch that we have not had for 20 years and that is more important for my future."

Arsenal are now five points behind fourth-placed Liverpool, who face Manchester City on Sunday, while Manchester United can go above them by beating Middlesbrough and a victory for Everton over lowly Hull City would bring them level with the Gunners on 50 points.

"We take all responsibility. It's obviously a big disappointment when you lose a game like that. We all have to take responsibility and prepare for our next games," Wenger said in an interview with Sky Sports.

"It's very worrying because we are not used to that [four defeats in five] and overall we have a hell of a task now to fight back.

"We need to regroup and of course focus on the games coming up because there are many big games.

"Everybody goes away now [for the international break] and we have to recover and prepare for our end of season.

"We focus on analysing where we are not good at the moment and correct what didn't work."

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Quarter-final draw

The two Spanish giants have been given tough tests, while Leicester City face Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund take on Ligue 1 side Monaco

Reigning champions Real Madrid will face Bayern Munich while Barcelona have drawn Juventus in the Champions League quarter-final draw.

Leicester City, meanwhile, will face Atletico Madrid in a daunting tie for Craig Shakespeare's Premier League champions, while Borussia Dortmund will take on Manchester City's conquerors AS Monaco.

Real progressed to the quarter-finals by virtue of a straightforward aggregate victory over Napoli, but they will have their work cut out against the German giants, who thumped Arsenal 10-2 on aggregate, winning each game 5-1.

Barca may feel that this is their year after a quite staggering victory over PSG; the Catalan club recovered from a 4-0 defeat in the first leg, prior to their amazing 6-1 win at Camp Nou.

Juventus, meanwhile, beat FC Porto 3-0 on aggregate to progress, while Leicester defeated Sevilla over two legs in one of the most historic victories in the Foxes' history.

Juventus and Barcelona faced off in the 2015 Champions League final, with Barca running out comfortable 3-1 winners, but former winger Pavel Nedved believes Juve have improved since then.

"It's a fascinating challenge, against one of the most famous clubs in the world," he told Sky Sport Italia. "It's really beautiful but we must now look to the past but the present, knowing that they are strong. The best team will win.

"In my opinion, we have definitely grown (since 2015 final). I believe that maybe this game is coming at the right moment for us. We have to respect Barcleona but not too much because that leads to fear and that's not good. I believe that our team is at the same level as Barcelona.

"Leonardo Bonucci and Paulo Dybala wanted Barca, but Dani Alves wanted to avoid them. We can be content because to be here as the only Italian team in the Champions League quarter finals makes me proud. But I would prefer if there were others. Italy needs that."

Atletico, though, present a quite different threat, as they look to again reach the Champions League final. Diego SImeone's men reached the showpiece game in both 2014 and 2016, and defeated Bayer Leverkusen to reach this stage.

Monaco produced a stunning result to beat Manchester City, winning 3-1 at home after falling to a 5-3 away defeat, meaning they progressed on away goals at the expense of Pep Guardiola's side, and they will face a free-scoring Dortmund.

Following a 1-0 defeat to Benfica in the first leg, Thomas Tuchel's men won 4-0 at home to seal their progression, and they will hope to outwit the Principality-based outfit.

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'He wanted to go to Marseille' - Kante favoured France stay over Premier League move

The midfielder may be chasing down back-to-back titles at Chelsea, but Alexandre Raineau claims a switch to Leicester City was not his first choice

N’Golo Kante was prepared to snub interest from Leicester City and head to Marseille in the summer of 2015, according to former Caen team-mate Alexandre Raineau.

The 25-year-old is currently chasing down back-to-back Premier League titles, but his career path could have been markedly different.

Kante was a relative unknown outside of his homeland when Claudio Ranieri moved to bring him to England.

With Leicester looking for added steel in the middle of the park, a £5.6 million deal was put in place for a man who would help to guide them to a remarkable top-flight crown.

A year on from that agreement and Kante was off to Chelsea for £30m, having become a full international with France and graced a home European Championship.

He was, however, hoping to link up with Marseille and remain in Ligue 1 when interest in his services first started to mount - with those dreams dashed when Leicester put more money on the table.

Raineau told SFR Sport 1’s show Le Vestiaire: "He wanted to go to Marseille, but the club did not make the same financial proposal as Leicester, so Caen said no.

“He wanted to stay in France.”

Kante may have preferred to avoid English football prior to his arrival, but he is now revelling on a Premier League stage.

On the back of his inspirational efforts at Leicester, he has made a further 31 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea this season to keep them in contention for a league and FA Cup double.

He was also recently named Premier League Player of the Year at the London Football Awards.

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'I love Man City' - Toure keen for stay after being given new lease of life under Guardiola

The midfielder has opened up on his relationship with Pep Guardiola and says he wants to prove he was right to bring him back into the team

Yaya Toure says Pep Guardiola is the reason he has been able to regain his best form at Manchester City and that he definitely wants to stay at the Etihad Stadium after this season.

The midfielder was left out of City’s plans at the start of the season after falling out with Guardiola and looked destined to leave the club.

However, Toure has been restored to the first team after apologising to his coach and now says he wants to remain at the club after his current deal expires this summer.

“Definitely. I love this football club,” he told Sky Sports when asked if he would like to stay.

“The day I will be done, I'll know myself. I know my body and I'll say, 'Yes, I'm done'”.

Toure also admitted that while the early part of the season was difficult for him, he has Guardiola to thank for managing to get him back playing again at the top of his form.

“To be honest the manager was the one who tried to get my best,” he added. “Last year I was overweight, it was a difficult situation, there were a lot of problems with my family.

“I was talking with him most of the time and people were not seeing that on the screen. Those talks will stay between him and me. He knows what I can do and what I'm capable of doing.

“Like he said, he's been honest with me. He is the guy that pushed me up, made me come back and that's why I'm feeling respectful with him and that's why I want to show him he was right.

“Psychologically he was quite hard. To manage a football player at this time is so difficult because football players have to deal with so many things.

“People have different ways of behaving. We are human beings as sportspeople and we have to understand that. He's been clever in a lot of aspects, not just with

“He is a special guy in football and I think for me it was something quite bizarre in the beginning. I knew him from.

"Barcelona and Barcelona was tough in the beginning as well because the guy is a hard worker and he wants his players at 100 per cent.

“'Just do what I want on the field and we are friends. If you don't, bye.”

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Wenger says Walcott better than ever despite England axing

The Gunner has scored 17 goals this season but was still left out of the Three Lions squad in a decision that surprised many

Theo Walcott was axed from the England squad on his 28th birthday but Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes the forward has become a more complete player this season.

England manager Gareth Southgate confirmed to reporters Walcott "wasn't chuffed to bits" to be informed he had been overlooked for this months' games against Germany and Lithuania in favour of the likes of uncapped duo Nathan Redmond and Michail Antonio.

Walcott made the point to Southgate he is one of the leading goalscorers in England and, with 17 in 29 appearances he is on target to overhaul his best ever return of 21 from the 2012-13 season.

"Theo has become more of a complete player, more efficient," Wenger said ahead of Arsenal's trip to West Brom, where he addressed Walcott's history of being snubbed for England's 2010 World Cup and Euro 2016 squads, while injury ruled him out of Brazil 2014.

"He can influence games. He is a focused player and he was not picked for the European Championship.

"Always in life, you try to get to the next level when things don’t go for you – or you think you did everything right and continue to live like you did before.

"He had the right response. He said: 'What do I need to do to get higher up?' And he did it."

Sunderland's Jermain Defoe earned his first call-up since 2013 after varying fitness issues for Harry Kane, Daniel Sturridge and Wayne Rooney left Southgate short in attack.

Wenger has previously talked up Walcott's potential to operate as a central striker but now accepts his best position is on the right wing.

"I was always convinced, because of the quality of his runs, he was a central striker," he added. "For a while he was as well but he made up his mind during the summer break and he feels more comfortable on the right.

"He is fair. He said if you want me I will play through the middle but if you give me the choice I would prefer to play on the right.

"It is his preferred position and it is true that is where he is most efficient."

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Barcelona were the only team to help Chapecoense after crash, says president

The Catalans extended a helping hand to the struggling side after their tragic accident, and the pair will contest the Gamper Trophy in August

Chapecoense's president has revealed that Barcelona were the only team in Europe to give financial aid following the tragic plane crash in November 2016. 

The club's first team was gutted when a charter aircraft carrying them to the Copa Sudamericana final went down just outside Medellin, claiming 75 lives. 

And while after the accident many teams pledged to help, president Plinio David de Nes affirmed that the Catalans were one of the few sides who followed through. 

"Only Barcelona were on our side from the very first moment," the chief told Fox Sports ahead of Thursday's Copa Libertadores clash at home to Lanus. 

"They offered us funds and in the month of August we have been invited to play the Gamper Trophy, with the proceeds shared with Chapecoense."

Nevertheless, De Nes thanked all those clubs who offered their support "in one way or another" after one of the worst accidents in football history. 

"Roma also offered to play a game against us, but we have a very packed calendar," he explained. 

"We have almost three games a week."

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What happens if Leicester City win the Champions League & Man Utd win the Europa League?

A fourth-placed finish in the Premier League could yet mean a club misses out on qualifying for Europe's premier club competition next season

The race for a place in the Premier League's top four looks set to be the most exciting for some time, with up to six sides fighting it out to finish in the three places behind champions-elect Chelsea.

But there could yet be a final twist in the tail for one of those sides even if they do secure fourth-place in the top-flight.

The winners of both the Champions League and Europa League are guaranteed participation in next season's Champions League while no country is allowed more than five participants in the competition.

That means, if both Leicester City and Manchester United go on to lift European silverware and finish outside the top four, then only the top three in the Premier League will qualify for Europe's premier club competition.

Leicester will almost certainly finish outside the top four given their domestic struggles this season, and though they are huge outsiders to go on and win the Champions League, their recent upturn in form means they will likely be a match for anyone.

United, meanwhile, sit sixth in the Premier League table despite a 17-match unbeaten run, with fixture congestion meaning they remain outsiders for a top-four finish. They are, however, heavy favourites to go on and win the Europa League.

And so while both remain in European competition, the likes of Tottenham, Manchester City and Arsenal may need to start thinking about ending up in the top three, rather than just settling for a fourth-place finish.

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Paper Talk

• Bayern Munich could make a surprise move to end Granit Xhaka's disappointing spell at Arsenal.
• Toby Alderweireld is close to sealing a new contract with Tottenham - with the deal also dropping his £25m release clause.
• Arsenal and Chelsea are ready to battle it out for Wolves' £20m-rated winger Helder Costa.
• West Ham have triggered an option to keep Adrian at the club.
• Kyle Lafferty is set to quit Norwich this summer when his contract expires with the Championship club.

• West Ham are planning to sell Andy Carroll in the summer - and replace him with Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge.
• Jose Mourinho has no strikers available for Monday's FA Cup clash at Chelsea.

• Tottenham striker Harry Kane is facing a battle to play again this season.
• Chelsea are hopeful of completing deals for wonderkids Billy Gilmour and Daishawn Redan.
• Jack Wilshere is not thinking about his Arsenal future and is only focusing on keeping Bournemouth in the Premier League.
• Pep Guardiola believes Yaya Toure will have his pick of the big clubs this summer.
• Manchester City are on red alert after Joshua Kimmich expressed frustration with his role at Bayern Munich.
• Norwich want to interview Gary Rowett for vacant manager's position - but Alan Pardew also hopes to be considered.
• Derby will target Gary Rowett to replace sacked Steve McClaren at the floundering Championship club.

• Mesut Ozil has handed Arsenal a timely boost by suggesting he could still remain in north London even if Arsene Wenger decides to end his two-decade reign this summer.
• Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has assured the club's supporters that he doesn't have to balance the books in the next transfer window and that he plans to strengthen at Anfield.

• Antonio Conte has hinted John Terry has played his last game for the club at 36.

• Lincoln City's managerial team Danny and Nicky Cowley revealed Arsene Wenger gave them 90 minutes of his time following their side's FA Cup defeat to the Gunners, while the Imps players swept out the away dressing room at the Emirates before going home.

• Liverpool target Naby Keita was rushed to hospital on Saturday after collapsing on the pitch during his club RB Leipzig's 1-0 defeat to Wolfsburg

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'Winning, success and single-mindedness' - Neville likens Mourinho to Ferguson

The former Red Devils defender has compared the Portuguese with his former boss because he is willing to do whatever it takes to win

Jose Mourinho's determination to win at all costs has drawn comparison with legendary manager Alex Ferguson from former Manchester United captain Gary Neville.

Ferguson enjoyed a trophy-laden career at Old Trafford, overseeing 38 titles in 27 years - including 13 Premier League crowns and two Champions Leagues - before his retirement in 2013.

Former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter boss Mourinho was seen by some as the obvious heir to Ferguson's throne at the 'Theatre of Dreams', but the club turned to David Moyes instead.

Mourinho was eventually appointed in May, following the sacking of Moyes' successor Louis van Gaal, and Neville sees similarities between the Portuguese tactician and Ferguson.

"Winning, success and single-mindedness to do whatever it takes to win - that is the biggest similarity between Mourinho and Ferguson," Neville told Omnisport.

Since taking the job in Manchester, Mourinho has steadily improved United and adhered to the long-standing traditions of attacking football at Old Trafford.

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly brought to the club, United have won the Community Shield and EFL Cup and are in contention to lift the Europa League and retain the FA Cup, but they are struggling to break into the Premier League's top four.

United - on a 17-match unbeaten run in the league following their frustrating draw at home to Bournemouth last time out - are six points adrift of the Champions League spots with two games in hand on fourth-placed Liverpool.

Neville, who won eight Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns after coming through the youth ranks at United, believes the club are on the right track with Mourinho at the helm.

"There are still questions to answer but they're better in terms of style of play, and the profile of player is better," the 42-year-old former England international added. "They've won a trophy again which is a positive.

"I think what needs to happen is obviously Mourinho needs more than one or two transfer windows to correct things.

"Over the last two or three years, there's been a quite a lot of players signed for the club who probably don't fit the profile that Mourinho wants or maybe United want.

"But with three or four more buys this summer, there is potential for the club to strengthen. What I would say is with the signings of Pogba, Ibrahimovic, Mkhitaryan and Bailly, United are in a far better situation than they were 12 months ago.

"I was hearing things that United won't attract the big players anymore, or the best players in the world, but that has obviously happened. So they are in a far better position as a club. I just think the issue is they aren't able to break into the top four at the moment.

"I was more worried 12 months ago where the club were going in terms of signings and the style of play. Now I'm a lot happier with the direction they're going."

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Guardiola: Yaya can play at whatever club he wants

The midfielder's contract at the Etihad expires at the end of the season and the Catalan believes he will have his pick of European clubs this summer

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes Yaya Toure will have his pick from a number of big clubs when his contract expires in the summer.

The midfielder's £220,000-per-week deal in Manchester is set to run out at the end of the season. No renewal talks have been set until then, but there are reports that a number of heavyweight clubs are interested in him. 

And while Guardiola hasn't written off the Ivorian remaining at the Etihad past his summer expiry, he believes Toure still has enough about him to warrant interest from the very top clubs. 

“He can play for big, big clubs," the City boss is quoted as saying by the Mirror.

“He can play wherever he wants. He has a big personality and this season, he is helping me by playing top, top football.

“He will play football until he decides because he loves playing. He enjoys playing and loves playing games.

“When that happens, he will decide. The focus now needs to be on winning games and competitions.

We will talk about everything else at the end of the season.”

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Petition for Barcelona's win over PSG to be replayed passes 200,000 mark

A fan has cited referee Deniz Aytekin's performance in the encounter as a good enough reason to have the remarkable comeback wiped from the record

A petition calling for Barcelona's 6-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League to be replayed has received the support of over 200,000 signatures.

Barca appeared to be on their way out of the competition after they lost 4-0 to the Ligue 1 side in the first-leg of their second round tie. However, Luis Enrique's men became the first team to overcome a first-leg deficit of that magnitude when they demolished PSG at Camp Nou.

Referee Deniz Aytekin was heavily criticised for his performance in the game, giving the home side two penalties, 

While PSG fans felt aggrieved at some of his decisions, one man, Luis Melendo Olmedo, wants the thriller at Camp Nou to be repeated.

The request was set up on Change.org, which allows people to post various petitions on issues such as women's rights, immigration, war and discrimination.

According to Olmedo, the thrilling encounter must be revisited because of "incidents that seriously damaged PSG as a result of the German referee Deniz Aytekin, who gave Barcelona an advantage with his refereeing decisions".

On Sunday, Barcelona were beaten 2-1 by Deportivo in a surprise loss that saw them surrender top spot in la Liga to rivals Real Madrid.

The Blancos - who host Barca on April 23 in the second Clasico of 2016-17 - are two points clear of Lionel Messi and Co. with a game in hand.

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Leicester confirm Ranieri's replacement is Shakespeare

The former assistant manager has been handed the reins of the Foxes until the end of the season, following the dismissal of Claudio Ranieri

Leicester City have confirmed that Craig Shakespeare will remain manager of the club for the remainder of 2016-17.

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Claudio Ranieri was sacked on February 23 as Leicester languished near the bottom of the Premier League table, just nine months after their euphoric and unexpected title win.

Shakespeare had served as Ranieri's assistant manager during their Premier League winning season, having previously held the same position under predecessor Nigel Pearson.

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Following Ranieri's departure, Shakespeare was initially handed the reins at the King Power Stadium on a temporary basis, guiding the Foxes to a 3-1 win over Liverpool in his first game in charge.

 The former Grimsby Town and West Bromwich Albion midfielder then followed that up with another 3-1 win, defeating Hull City.

Leicester vice chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha confirmed the news, praising Shakespeare's leadership of the club since taking temporary charge. 

“Craig’s skills as a coach and the high regard in which he is held by everyone the club were well known to us. We always knew the team would be in good hands when we asked him to take charge a fortnight ago," Srivaddhanaprabha told the club's official website.

“He has initiated the type of positive response that we hoped change would bring, showing great leadership qualities and composure under considerable pressure to produce two very important results. We have asked him to continue to lead the team this season and we are very happy that he has accepted.” 

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