Quique Setien:- Real Betis exposed Real Madrid weakness

Quique Setien:- Real Betis exposed Real Madrid weakness

Shockingly, Real Betis defeated Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in their La Liga game and the Coach Quique Setien is of the opinion that they were able to exploit the La Liga Champions weakness in the night.

The shock of the night was as Real Betis shocked Los Blancos with a 1-0 victory at home with a stoppage-time goal from Antonine Sanabria.

Setien has said that Betis 'had to suffer' during stages of the match, but the 58-year-old has claimed that his team 'could have been more comfortable' if they had made the most of their opportunities.

"Winning at the Bernabeu? It means a lot, makes us stronger and gives us a huge shot of confidence. We've picked up three prestigious points by winning at the Bernabeu. In order to win here, you must be prepared to suffer and have luck on your side," Setien told reporters.

"You must also know that they're a team that have weaknesses. [Antonio] Adan was superb, but we had chances and attacks. Winning here without suffering is unrealistic. I regretted our lack of precision with our finishing because [the win] could've been more comfortable for us, we could've done more damage."

The win against Real Madrid will boost the confidence of Betis as they return to La Liga game at home to Levante on Monday while Real Madrid will visit Deportivo Alaves.

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Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal: London derby ends in stalemate as David Luiz sees Red

<> chelsea v arsenal

Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal: London derby ends in stalemate as David Luiz sees Red

I've never seen arsenal defend in such a ruthless manner before, but a lucky Chelsea have manage to pull out a draw.

chelsea v arsenal

In this post we are giving you the match updates between
Despite the flurry of chances created in Sunday's London derby involving Chelsea and Arsenal, the game ended in a stalemate.

The Blues ended the game with a man less after David Luis was given a red card

ANALYSIS
Aaron Ramsey dribbled into the Chelsea penalty area, sneaking between Cesar Azpilicueta and David Luiz, and after the Welshman’s shot came back off the post an off-balance Lacazette contrived to hook the ball over the bar from five yards out.

Earlier, Danny Welbeck and Pedro had good chances to score.

Arsenal striker Welbeck headed wide from close range after being found by Hector Bellerin’s right-wing cross.


Bellerin was soon causing problems for Chelsea again, this time by getting in behind Marcos Alonso and pulling the ball back for Lacazette, whose first-time effort was kept out by Thibaut Courtois.

Keeper Courtois was then called into action again, this time to hold a firmly-struck shot from Sead Kolasinac.

At the other end, Pedro was denied by Arsenal’s former Chelsea keeper Petr Cech after being put through by Cesc Fabregas’ pass.


The visitors threatened again just after the half-hour mark when Grant Xhaka sent a 30-yard shot narrowly wide.

And they would have taken the lead had Lacazette been able to find the target after Ramsey’s effort had struck the woodwork.

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Arsenal must score first if they are to get result at Chelsea, says Paul Merson

Arsenal must score first if they are to get result at Chelsea, says Paul Merson

Arsenal legend Paul Merson believes his old side have to score first in order to have any hope of getting a good result against Chelsea this weekend.

The Gunners travel to Stamford Bridge in somewhat unconvincing form, with their only wins this season coming against Leicester City, Bournemouth and FC Cologne.

Alexis Sanchez magic compensates for early wobble vs Cologne
Arsene Wenger has a dreadful recent record away to Arsenal’s main ‘big six’ rivals, and hasn’t won away to Chelsea since all the way back in the 2011/12 season.
Merson isn’t confident the north Londoners can eschew subjugate this time, presaging a 3-0 win for the Premier League champions.
Arsenal legend expounds the only way Gunners can eschew a drubbing at Chelsea

However, the former England international says Arsenal could make it interesting if they get the first goal, as they gain confidence in those situations, whereas they simply collapse if they go behind.
‘It’s all about the first goal. If Arsenal score first you will watch and think “wow, they look decent”,’ Merson told Sky Sports.
‘They will be confident and they have good players who look decent when they are winning.

Hector Bellerin reveals the change that sparked Arsenal's comeback vs Cologne
‘But when they are losing too many of them just go completely and utterly missing. The shape goes out of the window and if they let in the first goal it could be anything.
‘People are saying to me “what a good result against Bournemouth” but if you could have handpicked any team to play last week it was Bournemouth.
‘If Arsenal score first it will be a very interesting match but I don’t think they will.’

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Arsenal 3-1 Cologne:- 5 Things We Learned from the Gunners Europa League opener

Arsenal 3-1 Cologne:- 5 Things We Learned from the Gunners Europa League opener 

Arsenal put off-field chaos behind them to come from behind and claim victory in their Europa League opener against Cologne.

Crowd trouble outside the Emirates meant kick-off was delayed by an hour with 20,000 German supporters having descended on London.
And when Jhon Cordoba fired the visitors ahead early in the piece, it looked like being a nightmare evening for the hosts.

But Arsene Wenger's side rallied in the second half with Sead Kolasinac levelling shortly after the break.
Alexis Sanchez's stunner made it 2-1, before Hector Bellerin sealed the deal nine minutes from time.

Here are five talking points from the Emirates:

1. Off-field chaos delays kick-off

Around 20,000 Cologne fans arrived in London to support their team, despite the away allocation being just under 3,000.
Stewards and police were forced to hold spectators outside the stadium amid safety fears, before turnstiles were eventually opened with a one-hour delay to kick-off announced.

Thousands of Cologne fans had managed to attain tickets in home sections of the Emirates, with some trying to gain access to the away end from inside the ground.

Four arrests were made, and it's unlikely we've heard the last of it.

2. Wenger wins game with tactical adjustment

Arsene Wenger made plenty of changes with Chelsea in mind and it was evident from the start that the 3-4-3 was not working.

At 0-1, Wenger switched it up to a 4-2-3-1 and it worked: substitute Sead Kolasinac used the ball well in deeper areas and Alexis Sanchez was able to run at Cologne from the left channel.

Will the Gunners boss be brave enough to not match up the Blues on Sunday? Or will he fall into the trap of mimicking Antonio Conte with a system that still may not entirely suit his squad.

3. All is forgiven with Sanchez

It was only a few weeks ago the Chilean was looking to move to Manchester City, with the Citizens launching a Deadline Day bid for the forward.

Arsenal were unable to sign Thomas Lemar as a replacement, meaning the 28-year-old was forced to stay put in north London.

He's since returned for the Gunners, and featured in their 4-0 hammering at the hands of Liverpool in the Premier League. His body language during the game only added to the idea he no longer wants to be at the Emirates.
But against Cologne is seems everything was suddenly forgiven.
Sanchez showed exactly why Arsene Wenger was so keen to keep hold of him with a stunning long-range strike to ensure Arsenal took all three points from the fixture. Football is a fickle game.

4. Kolasinac can become match-winner for Gunners

Whether Wenger was saving Kolasinac for Sunday or not remains to be seen, but the former Schalke star has proven to be decisive in the final third.
His strength also helps the Gunners defend better from set-pieces and his composure on the ball offers a better outlet down the left flank.
The Gunners may look for Kolasinac's quality on the ball as a mainstay of their attack and should he link up with Alexis Sanchez on a regular basis, Wenger may have the luxury of one of the best left sides in the Premier League.

5. Cologne's struggles continue

After three games of the Bundesliga season, Cologne are bottom having lost all three matches, scoring just one goal and shipping seven.

They will have seen the Europa League as a welcome distraction and a chance to turn their season around, and will have been buoyed by the early goal.

But old frailties were exploited by the Gunners after the break, and there would be no joyous return to European competition after 25 years away.

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Arsenal team news: Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and David Opsina in line to start

Arsenal team news: Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and David Opsina in line to start

Arsenal have confirmed their Europa League squad, with wantaway forward Alexis Sanchez included as expected.

Arsene Wenger has submitted 42 names, with include 14 under the age of 21, for the six group games against BATE Borisov, Koln and Red Star Belgrade.

The Gunners, entering the competition at this stage for the first time in history, are widely expected to give youth prospects a chance to shine.

Sanchez, who was close to joining Manchester City on deadline day, will not be cup-tied for the Champions League should he depart the club in January for the Eithad Stadium or elsewhere.

Gazidis appointed to Uefa’s executive committee
Uefa rules state: "One player from the above quota of three [of new additions before knockout rounds] who has been fielded in a UEFA club competition group stage match for another club in the current season may exceptionally be registered, provided that the player has not been fielded: a. in the same competition for another club; or b. for another club that is currently in the same competition."

The sole first-team squad member of note missing is Santi Cazorla, who was also omitted from the club's Premier League squad as he continues his rehabilitation from injury.

Goalkeepers
David Ospina, Petr Cech, Deyan Iliev, Matt Macey, Ryan Huddart, Hugo Keto

Defenders
Mathieu Debuchy, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Rob Holding, Nacho Monreal, Shkodran Mustafi, Calum Chambers, Hector Bellerin, Sead Kolasinac, Toljai Bola, Chiori Johnson, Tafari Moore

Midfielders
Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Mesut Ozil, Granit Xhaka, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Francis Coquelin, Mohamed Elneny, Krystian Bielik, Charlie Gilmour, Marcus McGuane, Reiss Nelson, Ben Sheaf 

Forwards
Alexis Sanchez, Alexandre Lacazette, Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck, Chuba Akpom, Pelenda Da Silva, Aaron Eyoma, Edward Nketiah, Joseph Willock

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Batshuayi strikes as Cold-blooded Chelsea cruise to six against Qarabag

Batshuayi strikes as Cold-blooded Chelsea cruise to six against Qarabag

Michy Batshuayi scored late in the second half as Chelsea made a sweet return to Champions League football on Tuesday; beating Qarabag 6-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Pedro Rodriguez set the tone for the day as he got the opening goal in the 5th minute.

The Blues did not look back from then on as new boy Davide Zappacosta doubled Chelsea's lead on the half-hour mark.

Chelsea commenced brightly at Stamford Bridge, and were ahead within five minutes. After a series of corners, a short Willian pass to the edge of the box was met by Pedro, who was on hand to curl in emphatically.
Afforded time and space to play, with passes flowing from N'Golo Kante and Cesc Fabregas, and both Chelsea wing-backs roaming forward at pace, chances came thick and expeditious for 'The Blues'. Willian was benefitting from the space in front of the box left by a Qarabag team penned back, engendering an aperture for Michy Batshuayi who could only hit the side netting.


Further spells of possession followed, afore Davide Zappacosta distributed a second for the Blues on 30 minutes. An energetic burst down the right flank optically discerned the Italian tee himself up to whip the ball in for Chelsea's forwards to assail in the box. The ball would fly in from 30 yards out on the right touchline, and despite Zappacosta celebrating proudly on his full debut, it seemed to be an unintentional goal on his component. 

Chelsea commenced off the second half where they left the first, with Spanish international Cesar Azpilicueta heading a third for Chelsea after a flurry of corners.

It was an impeccable opportunity for Conte to build the fitness of Hazard and Bakayoko, both working their way back from surgeries and given half an hour with the game as good as victoriously triumphed. The latter was on hand to net his first goal in front of the Chelsea fans, scoring from a corner after optically discerning his shot deflect over Qarabag keeper Sehic.

Willian, perhaps Chelsea's most hazardous assailant throughout the match, rattled the bar midway through the second a moiety. Chelsea would find their fifth through the industrious Batshuayi, driving a low effort towards the near post from the edge of the box. Batshuayi later celebrated what he cerebrated was his second of the night, though replays seem to corroborate the official decision to mark the goal as a Medvedev own goal after Zappacosta's fierce cross into the six yard area was bundled in for Chelsea's sixth.

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Liverpool 4 Arsenal 0: Arsene Wenger's embarrassing shambles of a team given hiding at Anfield

Liverpool 4 Arsenal 0: Arsene Wenger's embarrassing shambles of a team given hiding at Anfield

It was as bad, if not worse, than performances such as the 5-1 slaughter here three years ago, when Liverpool scored four times in the opening 20 minutes, and the brutal 8-2 defeat away to Manchester United in 2011 although at least, then, Wenger had the mitigation of a makeshift line-up.

That was not the case here. In fact he even decided to start without his two big summer recruits – record signing Alexandre Lacazette, who appeared bemused, and Sead Kolasinac. And while Alexis Sanchez took to the pitch, for the first time this season, as he still hopes to leave (as does Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, wanted by Liverpool and applauded as he was substituted, and Shkodran Mustafi) he was withdrawn before the end and had that familiar look to him that says ‘get me out of here’.

So this side finished fifth last season and the two players brought in to improve it were left out? Inexplicably Bellerin was playing at left-back – again - with Kolasinac on the bench while Nacho Monreal drowned in defence where he was cruelly exposed.

This was supposed to be the season when Arsenal ended the uncertainty, when Wenger had signed his new contract and the distractions were over, when he would re-arm his team and re-build confidence. Back-to-back league defeats away to Stoke City and Liverpool have followed a fortunate win at home to Leicester City and the same demons are there. The same questions; the same failings. It is an enduring, maddening, interminable ‘ground-hog day’.

SAME OLD WENGER
Maybe he will confound critics. The season is new. But what is so difficult is that the result and the flow of the game were so predictable. Same old, same old.

This is not to detract from Liverpool who have a free-flowing brilliance about them when they attack and are managing to cope with Philippe Coutinho who still wants to leave for Barcelona before the window closes. They scored four and could have had seven, eight, who knows. Arsenal’s best player was goalkeeper Petr Cech who produced a world-class save to spread himself and deny Salah before the scoring had even begun.

But begin it did and what is so awful about the way Arsenal defend – does anyone feel that three-at-the-back is working? – is the lack of pressure they put on the ball. They just do not press; do not harry; do not work. Summed up by the ambling Granit Xhaka in midfield and, ahead of him, Mesut Ozil, of course.

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SHOCKING: Cazorla sidelined for another five months

SHOCKING: Cazorla sidelined for another five months

As expected, Arsenal have handed a new deal to Santi Cazorla, according to the midfielder, who will not be ready for the start of 2017-18.

Santi Cazorla will be out of action for another five months after enduring a setback in his recovery, but the Arsenal midfielder confirmed he has agreed a new deal, having considered giving up his fight to regain fitness. 
The 32-year-old has not featured for Arsenal since a 6-0 Champions League win over Ludogorets in October due to an ankle injury.
It was initially hoped the Spaniard would make an expeditious return, but he was coerced to go under the knife a number of times and eventually missed the remnant of the 2016-17 campaign.
Cazorla underwent surgery for an eighth time this week and he has now revealed a return to action is still far away.
"I have not been given a timeframe for my comeback," Cazorla told Cadena Ser.
"It is very difficult to put a date on it, but I think it will be another five months.
"It has been since October that I last played. I have undergone eight surgeries, the last one Monday. I hope that things go better. I have had complications since November. I got a bacterial infection in surgery, my bone got infected, the wound would not close and I had a graft done.
"It was the worst season of my career. You feel like throwing in the towel, but my desire to play football is above everything."
The former Villarreal star made 11 appearances in all competitions in 2016-17, scoring twice in the process.
Cazorla confirmed his contract with Arsenal, which had been due to expire in June, has been renewed, with Arsene Wenger previously announcing the club would exercise an option to hold on to the midfielder.
"Arsenal were very good to me, they renewed me before my operation, the manager talked to me and gave me peace of mind," he added.

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Pochettino hails 'one of world's best' Kane after second straight Golden Boot in EPL

Pochettino hails 'one of world's best' Kane after second straight Golden Boot in EPL

Harry Kane's triumph in the Golden Boot race led to effusive praise from Mauricio Pochettino, who also spared a thought for Hugo Lloris.

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino hailed Harry Kane after he won the Golden Boot for a second straight Premier League season, but sympathised with Hugo Lloris after the goalkeeper missed out on the Golden Glove.
Kane's hat-trick ensured Spurs thrashed relegated Hull City 7-1 in their last league game of the season, finishing the campaign with 86 points.

The England striker netted 29 league goals from 30 appearances, earning sizably voluminous accolade from manager Pochettino, who labelled him one of the world's best strikers.
However, Pochettino did rue Sam Clucas' second-half goal for Hull, which gave the Golden Glove award for the most clean sheets in a season to Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois.

"I'm very happy for Harry but very disappointed for Hugo," said Pochettino, who also saw Dele Alli, Victor Wanyama, Ben Davies and Toby Alderweireld score.
"The moment we conceded a goal we felt disappointed because he needed another clean sheet to share the Golden Glove with Courtois. It was not possible but I think he would have deserved it.

"But it is fantastic for Harry. The team-mates and our fans are so, so happy about that. 
"I think he deserves it and congratulations to him. He is one of the best strikers in the world. It is hard to say who is the best but he is already one of the best.
"For Harry, 30 games and 29 goals is unbelievable. The top scorer again. It is a big achievement and it helped the team to play well and achieve second place.
"After he scored the third goal he had a little physical problem so it was a moment to be responsible and safe. I preferred to keep him healthy and instead it is a challenge for him to get 30 goals next season. He can do that."

Pochettino is targeting trophies next season after Spurs' impressive second-place finish in 2016-17.
He continued: "This was a different season. We showed that we improved and learned from last season, which is so important for us. We finished how we wanted to and I think it is fantastic.
"Second in the table 86 points should be enough to win the Premier League in another season. 
"Now for us it is move on, rest, try to improve the squad and try to challenge next season. It will be tough again. 
"It is a good platform for us to next season to improve and try to win. In the next few seasons it is so important for us and the fans to win some trophies. We want to fight to win the Premier League next season.
"I congratulate all the players for a fantastic season. We all feel very proud."

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Great season, bad hair day - Monaco celebrate Ligue 1 title with follicle folly

Great season, bad hair day - Monaco celebrate Ligue 1 title with follicle folly

Monaco took to the field as Ligue 1 champions against Rennes with the club's colours sprayed all over their heads.

Ligue 1 champions Monaco have stunned Europe with their dazzling football this season, but it was their hairstyles that brought the shock factor in their final match of the campaign at Rennes on Saturday.
With a first French denomination since 2000 sealed courtesy of a 2-0 midweek win at Saint-Etienne, Leonardo Jardim's side took to the field at Roazhon Park with their hair sprayed in the club colours of red and white.
There were sundry interpretations of the theme, with wonderkid Kylian Mbappe sporting relatively stylish stripes along the side of his head, Italian advocator Andrea Raggi opting for bold red and white moieties and Tiemoue Bakayoko's all-white top providing an indelible look when paired with the protective mask he perpetuates to wear due to a broken nasal perceiver.
Jardim even got in on the act – his typically stern demeanour on the touchline gilded by stripes of red and white paint on his cheeks in line with the rest of his coaching staff.
The head coach's look held together better than Raggi's, whose red paint began dripping down his head as he worked up a sweat before the midway point of the half.
Portugal duo Bernardo Silva and Joao Moutinho might have only been named on the bench, but posed for a picture on the club's Twitter account before the match to show off their ludicrous locks.

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