27/01/2025

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Fuming Arteta wants red card overturned

Sunderland miss chance to go third

Ű BY JONATHAN VEAL

decisions that I’ve seen in a long time”. Arteta said he was too “fuming” to comment on it, but wants the decision overturned in the same way Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes was let off following a red card against Tottenham earlier in the season. “I am absolutely fuming but I leave it with you,” he said. “I think it is that obvious that we don’t need any comment today and hopefully the right thing will happen. “Hopefully we don’t need to (appeal the decision) and if we have to, there is a really good

precedent, what happened with Bruno this season as well. “OK, we were in a position that we shouldn’t be in, at least let’s be in a position that we should be in for the next few weeks and allow that player to continue to his job.” The Gunners overcame adversity to win the game through Riccardo Calafiori’s 74th-minute goal, four minutes after the hosts had also been reduced to 10 men when Joao Gomes was sent off. And that kept their title hopes alive as they cling on to Liverpool’s coat-tails, six points behind having played a game more.

“I’m extremely proud of the players,” the Spaniard added. “I mean, you can talk about our courage, you can talk about spirit, but as well about intelligence, the way they managed the game emotionally, it was unbelievable, especially with what we had to face and how they felt about it. “All of them just faced the situation. We went to a second half and the only message was to go out there to win the game. That’s it. “If somebody doesn’t feel it, don’t go and they certainly did it in a really convincing way.” – The Independent

Howe happy to give Isak freedom “The attitude and mindset is more aggressive. We’re building that now, credit to the players. Other teams have lost around us or drawn. We just have to keep pushing forwards.” – AFP/Agencies EDDIE HOWE said Alexander Isak will be given the freedom he needs to keep up his remarkable goalscoring form after he struck twice in Newcastle’s 3-1 win away to Southampton. The striker moved on to 15 for the season in the Premier League with two goals in the first half at St Mary’s to turn the game in his side’s favour after Jan Bednarek’s early header for Saints. Sandro Tonali added a third after half-time, the 24-year-old rivalling Isak as the game’s outstanding player with a display full of invention and control. It was an all-round excellent attacking performance as Newcastle made it seven League wins from eight, with Isak adding to his own remarkable record, scoring for the ninth match in 10. “We try to get a balance between information and freedom,” said Howe of his management of the Sweden international. “I think he’s so creative naturally that putting too many restrictions on his game in terms of where he moves would be a negative. “We give him a lot of structure on the out of possession, we certainly won’t be leaving that to chance, that’s a directive that he has to follow and he’s done it really well this year. But with the ball there is an element of freedom.” Southampton’s outlook looks increasingly bleak. Ivan Juric’s side lie 10 points from safety, now with only 15 matches remaining as they seek to avoid a record-low points return. “Of course the situation is really bad but I want to fight and create something,” said Juric. “I think today my guys gave everything they have. They are fighting well, playing well, creating chances I don’t have many negative things to say to my guys.” – The Independent Ű BY ROBERT O’CONNOR SUNDERLAND were denied third place in English football’s second-tier Championship yesterday when substitute Nathaniel Ogbeta’s last-minute equaliser rescued a 2-2 draw for basement club Plymouth. The Black Cats had trailed after Ryan Hardie gave visitors Plymouth a surprise lead just before the hour at the Stadium of Light. Wilson Isidor soon equalised and Trai Hume put northeast side Sunderland ahead in the 72nd minute. Plymouth, however, secured a point when Ogbeta scored at the far post after Sunderland failed to clear a free-kick. But Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris felt his side were fortunate to gain a draw, with the Frenchman saying: “I think we were a bit lucky to win a single point.” He added: “We didn’t create many chances, so we talked at halftime how we could create more. But during the second half, I think we made many mistakes.” Derby suffered a sixth straight defeat as late goals from Callum Robinson and Anwar El Ghazi took Cardiff to a 2-1 win. Cardiff City manager Omer Riza believes a more“aggressive”mindset has been key to their unbeaten run which has revived their bid for Championship survival. “It (the unbeaten run) is really important, coming off a run when we didn’t win in nine,” said Riza. “There was always an element of competitiveness in those games but we weren’t doing what we’re doing now. It’s important we had this block of games.

MIKEL ARTETA has called on the Football Association to overturn teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly’s hugely controversial red card in the 1-0 win at Wolves. The 18-year-old Lewis-Skelly became the third youngest player to be dismissed in Premier League history when he was shown a straight red card by Michael Oliver in the first half for taking down Matt Doherty in his own half. The decision has been met with disbelief by pundits, with Alan Shearer calling it “one of the worst

Pep praises ‘amazing’ City P EP GUARDIOLA called Manchester City’s reaction to an early error from debutant Abdukodir Khusanov “amazing” as they recovered to beat Chelsea 3-1. with us, he didn’t make absolutely anything because we came from Paris, so it was just recovery, Gvardiol, Haaland, Foden on target in come-from-behind victory over Chelsea

Take a lesson from that and the reaction from the team… the reaction was amazing.” Khusanov was replaced in the 52nd minute by John Stones, a player Guardiola is keen to get back up to speed with Thursday’s (4am Malaysian time) critical Champions League match against Club Brugge looming – for which City’s new signings are not eligible. “I made the substitution mainly for the yellow card, not just for the mistake,” Guardiola said. “Especially I need John for Wednesday, because (Omar) Marmoush, Khusanov and Victor (Reis) cannot play. I need John and John came on for the rhythm.” Chelsea have won just one of their last seven Premier League games, dropping out of the top four. “We trust Robert (Sanchez) for sure but the first one that is completely aware he is making mistakes in this moment is Robert,” Enzo Maresca said. “For sure, we continue to

recovery, recovery. And yeah, he will learn. “He’s young, he will learn, I’m pretty sure.

Khusanov, the 20-year-old signed from Lens for £33.6 million (RM185m), was badly at fault as Noni Madueke put the visitors in front just two minutes in, and moments later the Uzbekistan international was booked in a separate incident. But Josko Gvardiol brought City level

in the 42nd minute before Erling Haaland capitalised on yet another poor error from

Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to put City in front, before Phil Foden wrapped up the points late on,

sending City into the top four as Chelsea’s recent poor run continued. “ H e (Khusanov) will take a lesson,” Guardiola said. “He’s so young, he’s come for many years. “It’s not the best start of course, but dealing with all these incredible players is not easy. And I love the reaction of his mates. “He didn’t one training session make

trust Robert. We trust Robert but now we have one entire week (until West Ham visit Stamford Bridge), we see the reaction and then we decide for the next game.” Chelsea dropped to sixth, with last week’s win over Wolves their only League success since they beat Brentford 2-1 on Dec 15. “In my opinion we’re a better team than one month ago,” Maresca said. “These kind of games are going to make us better, we need to live this kind of experience. “We can be third or sixth, every game can change it a little bit. We’re focused and trying to improve game after game.”– Agencies

Manchester City’s Phil Foden (right) celebrates scoring the team’s third goal with Erling Haaland during their Premier League match against Chelsea. – AFPPIC

Iraola tells Cherries to enjoy memorable win over Forest

Ű BY ANDY SIMS

the same things.” Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo was left shellshocked by his side’s display. “I think it surprised everybody, especially the way we started the game. It was bad, from beginning to end it was a bad day,” he said. “We need to realise how we do things, how we play football. We shouldn’t allow so many spaces to quality players. The moment we lose that aspect of the game it becomes much harder. “We have to look at today and make sure not to repeat it again. It must be a warning to everybody. The players, the staff and the fans.” – The Independent

it. Enjoy today. You can look at the standings but that will not give us anything. “We have to take it game by game. You can enjoy every week. That’s how we should focus. “I think it’s a great result,” added Iraola. “A very good performance. The key was to score first – they have been winning all their games from the first half so to be ahead and make them change their approach was key. “I think Forest are having an amazing season, even after this result they are four points ahead of us. “But I will not going to change our approach and not look at the standings. Let’s keep doing

BOURNEMOUTH may be on the brink of the Champions League spots but boss Andoni Iraola is still refusing to look at the Premier League table. Bournemouth comprehensively won the battle of the European gatecrashers as a hattrick from Dango Ouattara and strikes from Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo demolished Nottingham Forest 5-0. The free-flowing Cherries are now on the cusp of joining Forest among the top four. But Iraola insisted: “The best thing is to enjoy