Spurs fans call for Son & Lucas partnership v Man City

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Tottenham Hotspur fans are desperate for Lucas Moura and Son Heung-Min to play together against Manchester City in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final in midweek.

The two sides clash at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening, with Spurs holding a 1-0 advantage from the first leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Son, of course, scored the only goal of that game, drilling a powerful low effort under goalkeeper Ederson.

He has scored 18 goals in all competitions this season, while Lucas netted a hat-trick on Saturday as Spurs thumped Huddersfield Town 4-0.

Indeed, the final goal of his treble came from an excellent Son through ball, hinting at a burgeoning partnership between the pair.

And, with Harry Kane out injured, a number of Spurs fans want the Brazilian and the South Korean to play together as the club attempt to reach their first Champions League semi-final in a generation.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

Newcastle United: Martin Dubravka’s Leicester heroics should pose as a warning sign

No Lejuene? No problem!

On the face of it, this seems to be have been the motto as Newcastle United pulled off an impressive win at Leicester City. However, it was mostly due to Martin Dubravka’s excellence in goal which actually earned them all three points.

Indeed, the towering goalkeeper was like an impenetrable rock in goal, saving everything the Foxes threw at him throughout the ninety minutes. The Magpies didn’t even have 30% possession all game, yet their incisive attacking and warrior-like work at the back earned them three crucial points to statistically confirm survival.

However, Dubravka was made to work hard quite a few times. He made five saves in the game (stats via Fotmob), keeping the Leicester onslaught at bay. While the Magpies have much to credit their goalkeeper for, this cannot become a trend in their game.

While Dubravka might be a promising goalkeeper capable of winning points, he’s also capable of losing them. If his fluffs against Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves earlier this season points anything, he’s definitely error-prone. Further up the field, Newcastle’s defenders poured their heart into the game on Friday night, their work in limiting shots on goal needs to improve.

Rafa Benitez really needs to get them to dig deep into pressing opposition and frustrating them into releasing possession. At their best this season, the Magpies have harried and hustled the opposition and, going forward, the Toon have to make that the norm.

Dubravka’s impressive shot-stopping ability can save them every now and then, yet relying too much on him to save them can come back to haunt the Magpies big time.

Newcastle fans, are you impressed with Dubravka’s development this season? Join the discussion by commenting below…

Performance in Numbers: Pereira shows he has what it takes in defence

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Eyebrows were raised when Leicester signed Ricardo Pereira in 2018. Whilst at Porto, the right-back was one of the best emerging talents in Europe, and therefore, it was quite the coup that the Foxes were able to bring him to the King Power.

The Portugal international has had a stellar first season in England and has cemented himself as one of the first names on the Leicester teamsheet, displaying remarkable consistency right the way through the season.

Where players dropped off under Claude Puel, he still looked impressive and now under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers, he’s improved even more.

His performance against Manchester City last Monday night displayed the typical characteristics we’ve become accustomed to from Pereira, proving a danger in the final third with willing runs down the right.

He’s been exceptional going forward and his six assists across the current term tells you all you need to know.

However, it was his defensive game that stood out the most against City. He was tasked with keeping one of the best players in the division in Raheem Sterling quiet and he did it superbly well.

Going forward he completed two dribbles, but in defence he won 100% of his tackles, repeatedly stopping the England winger in his tracks.

City looked out of ideas for large parts of the game and the performance of Pereira was a large factor in that.

Throughout the match, he displayed a completely new characteristic though. The Portuguese defender isn’t familiar for his prowess in the air, winning on average 1.9 aerial duels per game. To win six against City was, therefore, phenomenal.

The sheer number of clearances he also got his boot on showed just how resolute the Leicester side were.

And had it not been for a thunderbolt from Vincent Kompany, Pereira may well have been staring at a clean sheet.

Given his prowess in attack, to now know he can perform this well defensively against the best side in the country could be game-changing ahead of next season.

رسميًا.. ريال مدريد يُعلن إصابة مدافعه بـ فيروس كورونا

أعلن نادي ريال مدريد متصدر الدوري الإسباني عن إصابة أحد مدافعي الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بفيروس كورونا المستجد، كوفيد 19، قبل ساعات من مباراة إنتر ميلان.

ويستعد ريال مدريد في الوقت الحالي لمواجهة إنتر ميلان في الجولة الثالثة من دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا يوم غدًا، الثلاثاء، في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت “القاهرة” على ملعب “ألفريدو دي ستيفانو”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. مورينيو يسخر من ريال مدريد بعد هدف جاريث بيل في مباراة توتنهام وبرايتون

وأكد النادي الإسباني في بيان رسمي عبر موقعه الإلكتروني أن مدافعه، إيدير ميليتاو، مُصاب بفيروس كورونا، في الاختبارات الطبية التي خضع لها اللاعبين قبل 48 ساعة من اللقاء الأوروبي.

وأشار ريال مدريد إلى أن جميع عينات اللاعبين في الفريق الأول والجهاز الفني والعاملين قد جاءت سلبية باستثناء ميليتاو.

Bournemouth fans react to Charlie Daniels being ruled out for the season

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Bournemouth have been dealt a big injury blow in the shape of Charlie Daniels, who is now set to miss not just the remainder of the current campaign but the start of the next one too due to a knee problem – Cherries fans on Twitter were heartbroken.

The left-back picked up the injury during training last week and has since had surgery to stabilise the damaged area, although now there will be a long period of rehabilitation before he can return to the field.

The 32-year-old, who has played 24 times under Eddie Howe this season, has been a fixture in the starting XI since moving from Leyton Orient in 2012.

Him becoming the latest in a number of Bournemouth players to succumb to similar types of injuries is surely concerning.

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Lewis Cook, Callum Wilson and Simon Francis have all sustained long-term knee problems recently; there’s certainly something for the doctors and sports scientists at Vitality Stadium to look into.

Here’s what the Bournemouth faithful had to say about Daniels’ injury on Twitter…

Disgraceful: Everton fans are livid after Andre Gomes is hit with three-game ban

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Everton fans have taken to Twitter in angered fashion after it was announced that Andre Gomes would serve a three-game ban for his studs-up challenge on Aleksandar Mitrovic, which referee Lee Probert failed to spot.

As a result of Probert not seeing the incident, it was left in the hands of the Football Association to sort out, and they have now banned the Portuguese international after he accepted a charge of violent conduct.

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The 25-year-old will miss games against Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Burnley, but will be available for the final game of the season against Tottenham.

There is no denying that it was an ugly challenge from the on-loan Barcelona midfielder, but the Everton fans’ main issue with the ban is that other players have gotten away with similar incidents of late – Mohamed Salah’s awful challenge on Porto star Danilo in the Champions League being a key example.

Let’s see what the livid Toffees supporters on Twitter have been saying about the ban…

Pochettino hoping to spend a whopping £150m this summer

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Mauricio Pochettino wants Tottenham Hotspur to spend £150million this summer, according to the Daily Mail.

Spurs are seemingly set to invest in the playing squad when the transfer window reopens, having gone the past two without signing a single player.

What’s the word?

The Mail report that Pochettino will be given an initial kitty of £60m to spend before player sales are considered, but the report states that the majority of transfer revenue will be retained and spent on the playing staff.

Doubts persist over the futures of both Toby Alderweireld and Christian Eriksen.

The defender, of course, has a £25m release clause embedded into his contract, while the report states that Spurs could cash in on Eriksen, with his deal set to expire at the end of next season.

Full-back Danny Rose, midfielder Victor Wanyama, winger Georges-Kevin N’Koudou will all reportedly be sold if bids come in, while Kieran Trippier and Fernando Llorente could also depart.

The Mail believe that could raise upwards of £100m to boost Pochettino’s spending power, with the club hoping to sign two central midfielders as well as an attacking player who can inject some creativity into the forward line.

Back him

Daniel Levy is absolutely right to throw some cash behind Pochettino.

The Argentine has worked miracles this season, with Spurs in the Champions League semi-finals and also fighting to finish in the Premier League top four.

Quite frankly, Pochettino deserves to be backed to the absolute hilt.

And while he may not have a say in the future of Alderweireld, his targets have to be brought in this summer.

Spurs stand on the precipice of something massive; major investment, then, is absolutely key if they are to take the next step.

Dreadful: Arsenal fans slam Granit Xhaka after drawing to Brighton

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Arsenal fans have taken to Twitter to criticise Granit Xhaka after the 1-1 draw against Brighton.

The score-draw practically ends Arsenal’s hopes of finishing in the top four, as they will need to win their last fixture and hope Tottenham lose, whilst there will also need to be an eight-goal swing in terms of goal difference.

One fan is happy (but very confused) after Wolves beat Arsenal in the video below…

Almost all of the Arsenal team were well below par, but the 6 foot midfielder, who gave away the penalty for Glenn Murray’s equaliser, was especially poor and received the bulk of the supporters’ anger after full-time.

It has been a seismic collapse from Unai Emery’s men at this late stage of the season. The Gunners faced four fixtures against Crystal Palace, Wolves, Leicester and Brighton, and only managed to pick up a single point – given how their top-four rivals have also performed, even just a few wins would’ve put them in a commanding position.

Despite the entire teams struggling on the day, let’s see what the Arsenal supporters have been saying about the Swiss international Xhaka…

هل يقصد محمد صلاح؟.. مورينيو: تحايل كين؟ تحدثوا عن لاعبي ليفربول ومانشستر سيتي

دافع جوزيه مورينيو المدير الفني لفريق توتنهام بضراوة عن النجم هاري كين بعد اتهامه بالتحايل للحصول على ركلة جزاء، خلال مواجهة فريق برايتون في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وفاز توتنهام على برايتون بهدفين مقابل هدف، يوم الأحد الماضي، في الجولة السابعة.

وحصل هاري كين على ركلة جزاء بعد تدخل آدم لالانا ضده، ولكن البعض رأى أن النجم الإنجليزي تحايل للحصول على ركلة جزاء حيث إنه تعمد ذلك بدلًا من التوجه لتسديد الكرة. هدف هاري كين أمام برايتون

وقال مورينيو، في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “مترو” الإنجليزية: “لم أتحدث أبدًا عن ضربات الجزاء، هذا ليس جزءًا من الأشياء التي نريد تحسينها”.

وأضاف: “أنت مرتبك (للصحفي)، عليك التحدث عن بعض لاعبي مانشستر يونايتد، بعض لاعبي مانشستر سيتي، لاعبي ليفربول، لاعبي تشيلسي”.

وواصل: “أنت تتحدث عن هاري كين الذي كان في وضع يسمح له بالتحكم في الكرة في موقع خطير، ثم جاء لالانا وتدخل عليه بشكل متهور للغاية وارتكب خطأ”.

وتابع: “ما الذي تتحدثون عنه؟ لقد كان هناك خطأ، ما الذي تتحدث عنه وسائل الإعلام؟ عما تتحدثون؟ إنها ركلة حرة مباشرة أو ركلة جزاء خاطئة؟ الأمر متروك لتقنية حكم الفيديو، والحكم هو الذي يقرر”.

واستكمل: “الحكم اتخذ قرارًا باحتسابها ركلة حرة مباشرة، ولكن بعد ذلك قالت تقنية الفيديو أن السقوط جاء داخل منطقة الجزاء، ومن ثم هي ضربة جزاء، هاري كين موجود هنا ليسجل الأهداف، إنه يريد فقط السيطرة على الكرة، ويرى الكرة في الهواء، ويستخدم جسده للحماية، وكان لالانا متهورًا، لقد ارتكب خطأ”.

وأردف: إذا كنت تريد التحدث عن تلك المباراة، فعليك التحدث عن شيء حدث كان يمكن أن يكون له تأثير مباشر على نتيجة المباراة، أقصد هدف برايتون الذي تم احتسابه، لا توجد قصة أخرى”.

واختتم: “تحدثوا عن ليفربول، مانشستر سيتي ومانشستر يونايتد، تحدثوا عن أولئك اللاعبين الذين يسقطون بذكاء على أرض الملعب للحصول على ركلات الجزاء، لا تتحدثون عن هاري كين”.

وجاءت تصريحات مورينيو الغاضبة بعد أيام قليلة من تعرض نجم ليفربول محمد صلاح للانتقادات لحصوله على ركلة جزاء أمام وست هام، حيث رأى الكثيرون إنها غير مستحقة، وأن المصري تعمد السقوط بشكل واضح.

Injury News: Emery explains Torreira substitution

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Unai Emery has explained the reasoning behind his substitution of Lucas Torreira during Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Watford on Monday evening, per the London Evening Standard.

The Uruguay international was withdrawn at half-time, with Mesut Ozil introduced in his place.

What’s the word?

Emery has explained that he merely withdrew Torreira as a precautionary measure.

The midfielder, of course, was involved in a clash with Troy Deeney in the first half which led to the striker’s sending off, having quite clearly aimed an elbow at Torreira’s face.

The little Uruguayan had a knock, according to Emery, and the manager also felt that the atmosphere had turned against the 23-year-old after his role in Deeney’s sending off.

Speaking to reporters, per the Evening Standard, Emery said: “First I decided to do the change of Lucas Torreira because after the red card, the atmosphere is against him and also the doctor said to me in the first half that he has a little pain for Thursday and I decided okay, it’s the moment to take him off.”

Arsenal face Napoli in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final later this week, with the Gunners attempting to see out a 2-0 lead, and Torreira could be involved in the game in Italy.

Emery added: “At the end, the doctor said to me that they are okay. Only in the first half with his small injury, Lucas Torreira, but I think it’s small and he can be ready for Thursday physically.”

A clever move

Emery made the right decision.

Torreira was perhaps in the wrong place at the wrong time in regards to Deeney’s swinging arm, and fans quickly turned against him at Vicarage Road after the striker saw red.

Without him, the Gunners struggled to retain their bite in midfield and their fluidity in the build-up but Emery cannot risk being without him for the deciding game against Napoli.

The Serie A side may have been beaten at the Emirates but the Gunners’ record in away games this season is beyond poor and there will be lingering fears of an aggregate defeat.

Having Torreira fit and playing in the middle of the park limits the possibility of that outcome significantly, and the decision to withdraw the youngster and keep him fresh may even be what seals progression to the next round.

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