Klopp: Sturridge’s barren period can be ‘a good moment’

Arsenal finish second as Olivier Giroud hat-trick sees off Aston Villa | TheNews Linzer

Premier League Emirates Stadium

It has happened again. For the 21st season in succession Arsenal finished above Tottenham Hotspur, and this time the result came coated in black comedy – at least, as far as the red half of north London was concerned.

Arsenal’s victory here against the most abject Aston Villa team in recent memory was never in doubt and, when it was coupled with Tottenham’s 5-1 capitulation at Newcastle United, the Emirates Stadium crowd could laugh and gloat loudly. A few weeks ago, Spurs were vying with Leicester City for the title. But they must now reflect on having somehow trailed in third in a two-horse race. How Arsenal gloried in it all and the Emirates Stadium has not felt this happy for quite some time.

Olivier Giroud was barracked by sections of the home crowd but he still managed to score a hat-trick and the occasion was completed when Mikel Arteta, the club captain, came on as a late substitute on his farewell appearance. He almost marked it with a goal, too, but his injury-time shot came back off the crossbar, hit the Villa goalkeeper Mark Bunn and went in for an own goal. Continue reading.. Mesothelioma Law Firm,Donate Car to Charity California





Published By - Theguardian.com- Tech News, Politics news, UK and world political comment and analysis:  Sunday 15 May 2016 00.33 BST

Newcastle’s Vurnon Anita snatches brave point from Manchester City

With Cheik Tioté and Moussa Sissoko back to their best Newcastle United not only hinted at what might have been had Rafael Benítez’s appointment come a little sooner but also highlighted Manchester City’s slapdash tendencies. At the final whistle it felt like two points lost for a Newcastle team who at least confirmed that if they are to be relegated they will go down with all guns blazing but, significantly, Benítez’s players are in touching distance of Sunderland and Norwich, one and two points behind respectively.

If that pair have reason to be nervous Real Madrid – City’s Champions League semi-final opponents next week – should be quietly confident. As exceptional as Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Agüero are, Manchester United, too, have cause for cautious optimism that Manuel Pellegrini’s sublime yet at times sloppy side may yet be leapfrogged in the quest for a Champions League place.

Published By - Theguardian.com - Sports New, LifeStyle News, Politics news, UK and world political comment and analysis: Tuesday 19 April 2016 21.57 BST

Randy Lerner’s Aston Villa head for relegation woefully unprepared

With the new Premier League TV deal about to come on stream there has never been a worse time to be relegated, and Aston Villa go down a shambles. It’s brutal, relegation. If you follow a team the chances are you have suffered it at some point or another and, as Aston Villa’s supporters can probably testify, it does not matter how prepared you think you might be, or how many times it might have happened in the past, it is still a desperately numbing feeling when the guillotine falls and the players are wandering around, like zombies, not knowing where to rest their eyes. Countinue....

Published By - Theguardian.com - Tech News, Politics news, UK and world political comment and analysis: Saturday 16 April 2016 20.00