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Second-place Arsenal will hope to get their title challenge back on track when they host Bournemouth on Monday, less than 48 hours after an embarrassing 4-0 defeat at Southampton.
With leaders Leicester City having lost 1-0 at Liverpool, victory would have sent Arsenal top, but they put in a bafflingly below-par display that resulted in their heaviest defeat of the campaign.
“These players have fantastic spirit. We want to respond from the disappointment,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
“I trust my players to respond well on Monday. Bournemouth have played very well recently.”
Leicester remained top despite their first away defeat of the campaign, but on Tuesday face a taxing home game against third-place Manchester City, who returned to form on Saturday by crushing Sunderland 4-1.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side will be without captain Vincent Kompany, who aggravated a calf injury against Sunderland, but striker Sergio Aguero is likely to start after being rested.
Tottenham Hotspur moved into the top four on Saturday by beating Norwich City 3-0, Harry Kane scoring twice, and they face another promoted team on Monday in the form of Watford.
While bottom club Aston Villa — nine points from safety — and second-bottom Sunderland — four points better off — are at risk of being cut adrift, just three points separate third-bottom Newcastle United and 13th-place West Bromwich Albion, who face off at The Hawthorns.
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Fixtures (1500 GMT unless otherwise stated)
Monday:
Arsenal v Bournemouth (1730 GMT),
Crystal Palace v Swansea City,
Everton v Stoke City,
Manchester United v Chelsea (1730 GMT),
Norwich City v Aston Villa,
Watford v Tottenham Hotspur,
West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United,
West Ham United v Southampton (1730 GMT)
Tuesday (1945 GMT):
Leicester v Manchester City
Wednesday (1945 GMT):
Sunderland v Liverpool
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Chelsea boss, Guus Hiddink, has praised John Mikel Obi for bringing balance to the team following the 2-2 draw against Watford. The Nigerian set a new milestone in the game.
‘Today I liked our intensity but we also have to look for a balance in the team. It’s a very attacking-orientated team.
‘When we have a midfield with all creative players it’s beautiful but sometimes you need a balance and I thought John Obi gave us that balance. When you have the creative players such as Matic, Oscar, Willian coming inside and Cesc as well, sometimes you have to choose in a different way,’ he said in his post-match conference.
The Dutchman, who was overseeing his first game since taking charge until the end of the season, praised the spirit of the side while expressing disappointment that his team failed to take all three points.
The Blues had taken the lead through Diego Costa just after the half-hour mark, but 10 minutes later Watford equalised when Troy Deeney converted from the penalty spot after Nemanja Matic had handled.
The visitors then took the lead in the second half courtesy of a deflected Odion Ighalo strike, before Diego Costa – who will miss Monday’s game at Manchester United through suspension after picking up a late booking – restored parity with his second goal of the match after latching on to an incisive Willian pass.
Chelsea were presented with a wonderful opportunity to win it when the returning Eden Hazard, a second-half substitute, was brought down inside the box, but as Oscar stepped forward to take the resulting penalty he lost his footing, slipped and sent his kick high over the bar.
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English Premier League results on Saturday:
Aston Villa 1 (Ayew 62-pen) West Ham 1 (Cresswell 45+2)
Bournemouth 0 Crystal Palace 0
Chelsea 2 (Costa 32, 65) Watford 2 (Deeney 42-pen, Ighalo 57)
Liverpool 1 (Benteke 63) Leicester 0
Manchester City 4 (Sterling 12, Toure 17, Bony 22, De Bruyne 54) Sunderland 1 (Borini 59)
Stoke 2 (Bojan 19, Arnautovic 26) Manchester United 0
Swansea 1 (Ki 9) West Brom 0
Tottenham 3 (Kane 26, 42, Carroll 80) Norwich 0
Playing later
Newcastle v Everton (1730 GMT), Southampton v Arsenal (1945 GMT)
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Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney was dropped for his side’s pivotal Premier League match at Stoke City on Saturday.
United manager Louis van Gaal is reported to be facing the sack after a run of six games without victory in all competitions and has described the trip to the Britannia Stadium as “must-win”.
Rooney, who has scored only two league goals this season, was the only change Van Gaal made to the team beaten 2-1 at home by Norwich City last weekend, with Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera replacing him.
Asked if the decision to leave out the 30-year-old was tactical, Van Gaal told Sky Sports: “Yes, of course.”
He added: “That is always what you want, with your game plan. I think that with this game plan it was better to play with Ander Herrera instead of Wayne Rooney.”
In Rooney’s absence, French striker Anthony Martial looked likely to lead the line.
United went into the match in fifth place in the English top flight, nine points below leaders Leicester City.
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Belgium star, Romelu Lukaku, has said that former Blues boss Jose Mourinho did not force him out at Chelsea and revealed the Portuguese was the first person to send him a message of support following his move to Everton.
“Choices have been made by me. By me. Not by them,” Lukaku told the Daily Express.
Mourinho has been criticised for allowing the Belgian to leave Stamford Bridge, initially on loan for the 2013-14 campaign before the move was made permanent by Everton the following summer.
Lukaku, who has scored in each of his last seven Premier League games, admits he is saddened by Mourinho’s exit and believes the criticism surrounding the former Chelsea manager is unfair.
“Everyone says it is Mourinho’s fault, but it is not his fault because I made the decision. I went to his office to ask if I could go.
“He was the first one to say, ‘Good luck.’ When I signed the deal [at Everton] at 11 o’clock, I got a text message on my old BlackBerry saying ‘Good luck, do your best and I will see you next season.’ He was the first, nobody knows that and that is why for me he gets immense respect.
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Chelsea’s interim manager Guus Hiddink is considering blooding the club’s youngsters as he begins a new era with his first match in charge against Watford on Boxing Day.
The Premier League champions are currently 15th in the table following a poor first half to the season that saw Jose Mourinho lose his job.
Now Hiddink is at the helm for the rest of the season and while a place in the top four remains a target, it is far from probable with 11 points to make up between now and May.
But although his role is only due to be short-term, Hiddink is looking even further ahead and is considering Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ola Aina, Charly Musonda, Tammy Abraham and Jay DaSilva for first-team action starting as early as his first game.
“First of all, some youth players are participating in first-team training sessions, but I want my analysis and observations first,” said the Dutchman, who has been appointed interim manager by Chelsea for a second time.
“And it depends on the development as well and what is going on in the next few games.
“I must be convinced of their quality, first of all. I’m not going to say I’m going to bring in a 17-year-old now, but if they are competitive, I’m not against giving them an opportunity.”
Musonda, the 19-year-old attacking midfielder, seems the most likely to be given a chance by Hiddink.
“He’s a young guy I know,” Hiddink said. “I haven’t seen him so far, but there is a big reputation preceding him. Let’s give the kid time to settle and practise with the academy first and then with us.
“I have some time to give judgement to young players, but I’ll have them in the toughness of first-team training as soon as possible.
“The loan is a strategical issue, which we have to discuss in-house. It’s too early to discuss. Let’s give them time to develop.”
The match with Watford at Stamford Bridge will certainly not be an easy match, with Quique Sanchez Flores’s side currently sitting seventh, exceeding early-season expectations.
– Chelsea ‘completely different’ –
“I have a lot of respect for Watford,” said Hiddink, who saw his side beat Sunderland 3-1 last weekend in their first match since Mourinho’s dismissal.
“If you see how they play: very disciplined, very strong strike partnership, Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney, who have shown their strength frequently.
“Hopefully we can go all the way positively. We need to go into a sequence of positive results.”
Watford manager Flores is expecting a far tougher game now that Hiddink, his old mentor from the time he played under him at Valencia in the early 1990s, is in charge.
“Of course it is tougher given a team have changed the manager,” he said. “The team know they need to show for the new manager. But we are ready for the experience.
“They play well and have lots of experience and quality. We are expecting a very tough match.
“I didn’t play with Guus, but I had him for three years as a coach. I have a very good relationship with him. He is a very nice man.
“He’s always thinking about the ball, he’s worried about the players feeling free. It was 21 years ago, but things change.
“You analyse three games before (you face a team). But Chelsea are different to what they were under Jose Mourinho. It is completely different.”
Watford, who have reported no new injuries, have won their last four matches, including a memorable 3-0 win against Liverpool last time out.
“We know we have a good run, but the feeling I have in the dressing room is it’s no surprise,” added Flores.
“We have a strong mentality so it is very good for Watford.”
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Helder Postiga, Atletico de Kolkata - He was part of the treble winning squad of Porto under Jose Mourinho when they famously clinched the UEFA Cup, Portuguese league and cup in 2002-03 season. With 71 appearances for the Portugal, he has scored 27 goals and participated in 2006 and 2014 World Cups, apart from representing his side in the European Championship of 2004, 2008 and 2012.
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The Portuguese will attempt to reunite with his former Inter star at Old Trafford, if he is hired to replace the under-fire Louis van Gaal
Jose Mourinho would look to make
Wesley Sneijder his first signing as
Manchester United manager if he were appointed to replace Louis van Gaal, according to The Sun.
The Portuguese boss, who is one of the frountrunners to take over at Old Trafford should the Dutchman receive the sack, is reportedly keen to reunite with his former Inter talisman.
The pair won the treble together at the
Nerazzurri in 2010, with both Mourinho and Sneijder going their seperate ways that summer when the former was appointed Real Madrid coach.
However, the bond they forged at San Siro remains strong, and Sneijder is believed to be ready to jump at the opportunity to move to Manchester, joining a club that have often been linked closely to his signature.
It would be one final chance for the former Ballon d'Or nominee, now 31, to test himself at the highest level of the game before entering the twilight of his career.
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Nigerian referee Basil Giwa collapsed and died during south west fitness test in Ibadan. May his soul rest in peace, Amen.
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A FIFA court on Monday banned Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini for eight years after finding them guilty of abusing their positions over a $2 million payment that was made to the suspended head of European football.
Both were “immediately” banned from all football activity. Blatter, FIFA’s president since 1998, was fined 50,000 Swiss francs ($50,000). Platini was fined 80,000 Swiss francs.
A statement by the court said both showed “abusive execution” of their powers. In the case of Platini, the court said he “failed to act with complete credibility and integrity, showing unawareness of the importance of his duties.”
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The Club World Cup winners were making their way back to Spain from Tokyo’s Narita airport when the incident occurred, with Luis Enrique and Javier Mascherano forced to step in
Lionel Messi was spat at by angry River Plate fans as Barcelona made their way home from the Club World Cup final, with team-mates forced to hold back the Argentine star.
The 28-year-old, who has endured a rather fraught relationship with fans of la Albiceleste in recent years, had earlier scored in the 3-0 victory over River in the final in Yokohama to send his countrymen packing.
Barcelona were at Tokyo’s Narita airport ready to fly back to Spain with their latest trophy when the incident occurred at passport control, with a brief scuffle breaking out.
A Argentina fan insulted Messi. Luis Suarez and Javier intervened to defend Messi.
pic.twitter.com/2eHf7qwQT1
— Barcelona HQ (@BarcelonaHQ)
December 21, 2015
Reports suggest River fans began shouting abuse at Messi as the Barca team headed through the security gate, with one even spitting at the forward, who had to be held back by Javier Mascherano and manager Luis Enrique.
One of Messi’s best friends in the Barca squad, Luis Suarez, was also seen calming down Messi, who had tried to confront the angry fans.
The situation was cooled by a combination of Barcelona officials and the intervention of Mascherano and Luis Enrique, though it will have done little to improve Messi’s relationship with supporters from his home nation.
Despite the insult & spat incident, Leo Messi did not mind taking selfie with a River Plate fan
pic.twitter.com/vHUhuElxXE
— Argentina Football (@ARG_soccernews) December 21, 2015
The fracas was witnessed by media and fans looking to take pictures with the Barca stars, while River directors who were nearby immediately condemned the behaviour of the fans to Argentine media.
Barcelona picked up their fifth trophy of the year with the comprehensive win over River on Sunday, with Messi opening the scoring before Luis Suarez netted twice more – the Uruguayan ended the tournament with five goals and the Golden Ball award.
The Catalan club do not play again until December 30, when they face Real Betis, and remain top of the Liga table after Atletico Madrid surprisingly lost 1-0 to Malaga.
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Bartholomew Ogbeche: The Nigeria international continues to prove himself in the Eredivisie. His brace in Cambuur’s 4-1 win at Excelsior was his third this season, making it 11 goals for the Dutch minnows.
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Goal’s Editorial Board have decided on the ten nominees for the 2015 Player of the Year award
Voting for the Goal Nigeria Player of the Year 2015 award is now open, as the Goal team celebrate the year that was in the Nigerian game and honour the best Nigerian player of the last 12 months.
Our Editorial Board have decided on a shortlist of 10 names, the cream of the Nigerian game this year, and now it’s up to you to choose who is honoured as the Nigerian Player of the Year.
The shortlist includes the finest Nigerian stars playing their trade abroad, the pick of the home-based players, a starlet who has distinguished himself in youth competition and the star Super Eagles of the last 12 months.
Here’s the complete 10-man shortlist; check out our selection, and then cast your vote below.
Tunde ADENIJI: Led the line for an outstanding Sunshine Stars selection, and will doubtless be a key man for the home-based Eagles at the upcoming Championship of African Nations.
Fanendo ADI: There aren’t too many Nigerians abroad who won their respective domestic league this season, but Adi managed it as Portland Timbers won Major League Soccer. 18 goals in 39 outings is a fine return.
Odion IGHALO: The goalscoring sensation outscored Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo earlier in the year, fired Watford to the Premier League, and has taken instantly to the EPL.
Obafemi MARTINS: The evergreen frontman contributed 15 goals and four assists in Major League Soccer, earning a recall to the national side in the process.
Ahmed MUSA: Named as Super Eagles skipper by Sunday Oliseh, the 23-year-old came seventh in the Russian top scoring charts last season, and is a rare ray of light for Nigerian participants in the Champions League.
Victor OSIMHEN: The record breaker. Osimhen stole the show for Nigeria at the U-17 World Cup, breaking Florent Sinama-Pongolle’s long-standing goalscoring record in the tournament.
Gbolahan SALAMI: An inspirational figure for the home-based Eagles, Salami also top scored in the NPFL, finding the net 17 times.
Moses SIMON: The Nigerian Messi won the Jupiler League title with Gent, before helping the Buffalos to the Last 16 of the Champions League—becoming the first Belgian side to reach the knockout stages.
Chinedu UDOJI: The Enyimba skipper not only won the Nigerian title with the People’s Elephant, he also earned an invitation to be part of Oliseh’s Super Eagles revolution.
Anthony UJAH: Averaged just under one goal every three league games for FC Koln last season, earning a move to Werder Bremen. He’s found the net seven times in 16 outings so far this term, firing himself into the Bundesliga’s top ten goalscorers so far this term.
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The Super Eagles coach was a popular search item during the year in which he shared the podium with football stars Pedro, Anthony Martial and Memphis Depay
Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh was the 10th most searched sports personality by Nigerians on Google in 2015, according to a list of trends released by the website on Monday.
The search engine giant releases an annual list of top 10 search items to show what people were interested in knowing, or what trended online, in the course of the year.
Oliseh was the only Nigerian sports person on the list, which was topped by Chelsea midfielder Pedro, Barcelona acquisition Arda Turan and Manchester United wonderkid Anthony Martial.
The other sports people on the list are Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, Arsenal goalkeeper Peter (sic) Cech, Manchester United’s Memphis Depay, Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista. Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, United defender Matteo Darmian and Super Eagles coach Oliseh in 10th place.
The former Super Eagles captain, who took over the reins of the Nigeria senior national team in July following the sack of Stephen Keshi, is the only non-active sports person in the top 10.
Noteworthy, all nine active sports men in the list were either involved in big money transfers or transfer speculations during the summer transfer market.
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19'Arsenal get a slice of fortune when Monreal's attempted cross is ricocheted into the path of Walcott, who has Hart charging out at him. The England goalkeeper's actions are enough to prevent his compatriot from having a shooting chance.
17'The good thing for Arsenal is that Aguero has barely touched the ball in the opening quarter of an hour or so, with Koscienly doing a god job of forcing him into harmless positions. The striker's fitness will be a concern tonight - a statement that we sadly have to utter too often when discussing the brilliant Argentine.
15'Arsenal start to spread the play more, which has got City retreating back into their own half. This has been such a tightly contested game, in keeping with the general theme of recent meeting between the pair.
13'De Bruyne comes in with a mis-timed challenge on Walcott, who originally nipped in ahead of him to steal the ball. The fans aren't happy as the referee calls the Belgian over, but the only punishment comes in the form of a lecture.
11'Arsenal are starting to struggle here as Manchester City work some encouraging sequences in possession. The fans are getting a little testy here with their side having problems getting back on the ball.
9'You get the feeling that Arsenal will have some god chances on the break if they transition quickly through midfield. City's wingers have been slow to get back once or twice when an attack has broken down.
7'Arsenal switch off for a moment in defence which allows Silva the chance to take aim from the edge of the box. However, the Spaniard can't get his angles right and ends up blasting well off target
5'Arsenal turn the ball over in midfield and this allows De Bruyne a chance to run at them. He's got Aguero peeling away to the right as he glides past two challenges, but Koscielny steps forward to thwart him right at the top of the box.
3'Arsenal are dominating the ball in the opening exchanges, but Giroud is called offside after flicking on a pass from Campbell into the path of Ozil. The Gunners are looking to play off the French striker as usual.
1'Off we go then!
City meanwhile are boosted by a key return, with Sergio Aguero replacing Wilfried Bony for his first start in nearly a month. Kevin De Bruyne replaces Jesus Navas, while Fabian Delph is summoned instead of Raheem Sterling.
Alexis Sanchez is not fit enough to start this one as his Arsenal absence continues since his appearance against Norwich City in November. Therefore, it's an unchanged XI from Arsene Wenger after the Villa game, with Theo Walcott and Joel Campbell flanking Ozil, with Olivier Giroud leading the line.
Manchester City subs: Caballero, Sterling, Bony, Navas, Clichy, Demichelis, Iheanacho.
Manchester City (4-3-3): Hart; Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala, Kolarov; Fernandinho, Toure, Delph; Silva, Aguero, De Bruyne.
Arsenal subs: Ospina, Gibbs, Gabriel, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chambers, Iwobi, Reine-Adelaide.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Flamini, Ramsey; Walcott, Ozil, Campbell; Giroud.
At this stadium, Arsenal have lost only one of their last 18 against City, but have also only won one of their last six. You get the sense that a point won't be the worst result for either team, especially with the chance that Leicester will not be able to sustain their incredible pace. Although we've been saying that for months now about the Foxes.
Manchester City have recovered from that shock 2-0 loss to Stoke with a league win against Swansea and a Champions League triumph against Borussia Monchengladbach. City are one point behind Arsenal as things stand, with Leicester City a further five ahead of the Gunners, albeit with a game more played.
Arsenal come into this game on a high after a decent unbeaten run which has seen them past Aston Villa and Sunderland in the league, as well as Olympiakos in the Champions League, which secured them a spot in the round of 16. The Gunners have the best defensive record in the top flight, conceding only 13 times in 16 games. Will that record stay intact tonight?
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Premier League heavyweight clash between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Emirates. Second plays third here in the nation's capital and with no other games on the agenda, all eyes are fixed on this one. Stick with us for all the action.
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