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I can look fans in the face again, says buoyant Moyes
LONDON Fri Mar 21, 2014 3:05pm GMT
Manchester United's coach David Moyes celebrates as his team beat Olympiakos and reached the Champions League quarter-finals at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England, March 19, 2014. REUTERS/Phil Noble
(Reuters) - Manager David Moyes said he can look Manchester United's supporters in the face again after his side's Champions League great escape against Greek side Olympiakos.
Moyes has had a torrid opening season in the Old Trafford hot seat but United's 3-0 win on Wednesday, courtesy of Robin van Persie's hat-trick, overturned a 2-0 first leg deficit to set up a quarter-final clash with holders Bayern Munich.
That came just three days after United's disappointing season plumbed new depths with a 3-0 home defeat by arch-rivals Liverpool in the Premier league - a result that raised serious questions about Moyes's position.
"In some of the games I have felt ashamed because we haven't played well enough and I have not got a team out that has got a good enough result," Moyes told a news conference on Friday.
"I think the big thing on Wednesday was that I could look at the supporters in the face after the game.
"We had given them something to shout about. There was nothing to be ashamed of about our performance."
With a top-four finish in the Premier League now looking almost impossible for United who are 12 points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, winning the Champions League is their only realistic hope of qualifying for it next season.
United are the least favoured of the eight teams left in the draw but Moyes said he was just glad to be still in the mix.
"In a lot of ways it didn't matter who I drew but I've probably drawn out the favourites," said Moyes, whose side will be at home in the first leg next month.
"They are the holders as well, so it's a tough draw but one I'm looking forward to. I've got us to the quarter-final and now the aim is to get to the semi-final.
"If you're old-fashioned you'll probably say you want to be at home in the second leg and that would be the preference but we'll just have to take it."
United will look to build on their win over Olympiakos at West Ham United on Saturday when they will be without striker Van Persie who injured his knee on Wednesday and was undergoing another scan on Friday to assess the damage.
"There is no guarantee that one good result will lead to another," Moyes said. "But you would rather have a good one than a bad one and we got a really good one in midweek.
"There have been periods this season when we've gone five or six games unbeaten and then we've drawn the next game so there have been periods when we've done it."
After the trip to West Ham United have a home derby against title-chasing Manchester City on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond)
Chelsea's manager Jose Mourinho drinks during a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London, Monday, March 17, 2014. Chelsea will play Galatasaray Tuesday in their Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match at Stamford Bridge. Sang Tan / AP Photo
By SAMUEL PETREQUIN
AP Sports Writer
LONDON -- Chelsea's loss at Aston Villa last weekend has thrown the Premier League title wide open. Jose Mourinho's team recovered with a 2-0 win over Galatasaray to reach the Champions League quarterfinals but the Blues' cushion at the top of the Premier League could be reduced to one point if they lose at home to bitter rival Arsenal on Saturday. The game at Stamford Bridge will mark Arsene Wenger's 1,000th match in charge of Arsenal.
Second-place Liverpool travels to Cardiff looking for a sixth consecutive win while Manchester City — six points behind Chelsea but with three matches in hand, hosts last-place Fulham.
Here are five things to know ahead of this weekend's Premier League matches:
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NO GIFT FOR ARSENE
Earlier this season, Wenger was branded a "specialist in failure" by Mourinho and all eyes will be on the two managers when their sides clash at lunchtime on Saturday. Wenger, who has been in charge at Arsenal since 1996, has not won a trophy since the 2005 FA Cup. Mourinho led the Blues to their first two English league titles since 1955 during his first stint at Chelsea before returning to the west London club last June.
The two managers have a long history of confrontational relationships and it is unlikely that Mourinho will take part to the celebrations surrounding Wenger's 1,000th match in charge. Asked if he will give the Frenchman a present, Mourinho said he has not planned anything special.
"Because the best present is to have 1,000 matches in the same club," Mourinho said. "If Chelsea gives me the chance to arrive to 1,000 matches, I'll be the happiest man there is in the world."
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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SOLACE
If both Arsenal and Manchester City win their games on Saturday afternoon, defending champion Manchester United will be trailing 15 points adrift of the top four by the time they face West Ham in London in the evening. But the 3-0 win over Olympiakos that booked the Red Devils a spot in the Champions League quarterfinals has lifted the gloom surrounding Old Trafford and manager David Moyes hopes the win can be a turning point in his dismal first season in charge.
"I don't want to come out here and say this is the moment but at the same time, I really hope it is. We know it is a work in progress and it is going to take time to get things the way we want it," Moyes said.
The only blight on Wednesday night was Robin van Persie's knee injury, but Moyes hopes the Netherlands striker will be fit on Saturday despite being carried off the pitch on a stretcher following his hat trick.
"I don't think Robin's too bad," Moyes said. "He's got a knock just behind his knee. We'll know more in the morning - we'll assess it - but he had a knock in the back of his knee. We hope it's not too bad."
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SHERWOOD FIGHTING FOR HIS JOB
Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood is going through hard times but expects to be in charge next season despite Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal's reported interest in his job.
Sherwood has been unable to reinvigorate Spurs since replacing Andre Villas-Boas and his team has been virtually knocked out of contention for a top-four finish after losing 1-0 at home to Arsenal last week. Spurs host Southampton on Sunday.
Van Gaal is the bookmakers' favorite to replace Sherwood but the former Spurs midfielder, who signed an 18-month deal in December, insists he is not going anywhere.
"People ask me this all the time, (Van Gaal) is obviously destined to want to manage in England," Sherwood said. "He has got a good track record, he is a good manager and I'm sure he'll get his opportunity: he's been shouting loud enough for it. It's out of my hands but I believe I'll be here next year. I'm planning for next season. The players are playing for their futures."
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MANCINI BELIEVES IN CITY
Roberto Mancini says his former club Manchester City has the best chances in the Premier League title race.
Quizzed about his predictions after his current Galatasaray side was ousted by Chelsea in the Champions League, Mancini said he expects City to come out on top.
"I think that Manchester City's the best team," said Mancini, who won the Premier League with the club in 2012 before being fired following the next season. "They have the best players. I don't know if Liverpool, also doing very well in this moment, can win. I think it will be a fight till the end between City and Chelsea."
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CRUCIAL 10 GAMES
With 10 games still to play this season, Everton still has a chance of securing European qualification. The Merseyside club has extended its shirt sponsorship deal with Thai beer company Chang, which is now worth more than 16 million pounds ($26 million) over the next three years. But club manager Roberto Martinez insists his team's results in its final matches will have a stronger impact on his transfer plans during the offseason.
"Obviously the sponsorship deal with Chang is a relationship which has been over 10 years and you don't get these relationships in Premier League clubs and we value that," Martinez said. "We are in that key moment of the campaign with 30 points to play for. Whatever happens in the summer will be the next step but many of the decisions will depend on how we do in the next 10 games so you can imagine the focus goes into those games."
Everton hosts Swansea on Saturday on the back of two consecutive wins.
The Portuguese revealed his anger at being hit with an improper conduct charge after being sent off at Villa Park but says he has "complete trust" in English referees
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho claims the English Football Association treats him differently after being charged with improper conduct for being sent to the stands against Aston Villa.
Mourinho was sent off after walking onto the pitch to speak to referee Chris Foy in the wake of Ramires’ dismissal as the Blues fell to a 1-0 defeat at Villa Park.
While the Blues boss has already revealed he plans to appeal the charge he also revealed his frustration at the way he feels he is being treated.
"Look, you see the charges from the last match and you see that I'm different than everyone else in the eyes of people," Mourinho told reporters.
"In their eyes I'm different. That's obvious. It annoys me. I am [treated differently] and I don't know why.”
Mourinho also insisted that despite recent events he still thinks highly of English referees and has "complete trust" in the officials.
"In relation to English football, nobody, not English or British … nobody working outside this country has defended so much English football as I did during the five years I was working in Italy and Spain,” he added.
“You know my profile as a person: I say what I think and what I feel. I didn't say that because I was expecting to come back one day and wanted nice treatment.
“That's not the point. Even after Saturday I keep saying English referees are very, very good and I have complete trust in them.
“Even after Saturday. But it's obvious there's a measure for some and a measure for me. There's a way where I can feel the differences all the time."
United go into Manchester derby with new confidence
By Steve Tongue
LONDON Mon Mar 24, 2014 2:09am GMT
Manchester United manager David Moyes reacts during their English Premier League soccer match against West Ham United at the Boleyn Ground in London March 22, 2014. REUTERS/Andrew Winning
(Reuters) - Tuesday's Manchester derby is the highlight of five midweek matches as the Premier League continues almost without pausing for breath following another eventful weekend's football in England.
Manchester United, 18 points behind leaders Chelsea, have no chance of retaining their title but are keen to stop third-placed Manchester City succeeding them as champions.
Badly beaten 4-1 by their local rivals in September, United have home advantage this time and go into the game buoyed by successive victories over Olympiakos, to reach the Champions League quarter-final, and West Ham.
Saturday's 2-0 win at Upton Park, where acting captain Wayne Rooney scored one of the goals of the season from more than 50 metres, helped ease the pressure from manager David Moyes, who has struggled in his first season after taking over from Alex Ferguson.
"You get three points for winning any game but there is an added importance of winning the big games," Moyes told reporters.
"It's not been something we have done well enough this season, so it would be nice if we could get it in this game.
"Their ability to score goals would be in anybody's mind because if you look at the record this year they have been terrific."
City trail Chelsea by six points but have three games in hand and with a superior goal difference would go top by winning two of them. They will again be without their leading scorer, Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero, who has a hamstring injury but captain Vincent Kompany is available after suspension.
City have been solid in defence, not conceding in the last three league games, but despite scoring five times without reply against bottom-of-the-table Fulham on Saturday, their total of 76 goals is now six fewer than rampant Liverpool.
Brendan Rodgers's side have joined the title chase with six successive victories, scoring 24 goals in the process. Having won 6-3 at Cardiff at the weekend, they will be expected to defeat another of the relegation-threatened sides, Sunderland, at Anfield on Wednesday.
The combination of Uruguay's Luis Suarez and England's Daniel Sturridge continues to demolish opposing defences. Suarez's third hat-trick of the season on Saturday took him to 28 goals for the season, despite missing the first five matches because of suspension.
Sturridge has provided many of the assists as well as scoring 19 times himself.
For Sunderland, it is one of two games in hand on the teams immediately above them. Swansea City, four points in front of Gus Poyet's side, have dropped into the bottom six and will fear a backlash on Tuesday in their game at Arsenal.
The London side suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat by Chelsea on Saturday in Arsene Wenger's 1,000th match in charge.
The same night Newcastle play Everton, who are challenging for a Europa League place, and in the other midweek match West Ham host Hull City on Wednesday with neither side certain of retaining their Premier League status.
Jose Mourinho lauded the influence of Nemanja Matic in Chelsea's Premier League title challenge.
Monday 24th March 2014
Matic re-joined Chelsea in January from Benfica, who he joined as a make weight in the deal which brought David Luiz to Stamford Bridge three years earlier.
Chelsea showed their faith in Mourinho's choice and had to swallow their pride to re-sign the Serbia midfielder, who teamed up with Luiz to great effect in Saturday's 6-0 defeat of Arsenal.
Matic broke up play and provided clinical passes, including for fellow January arrival Mohammed Salah to score his first Chelsea goal which completed the rout.
"It is difficult (for him) to lose the ball," Mourinho said.
"But at the same time he is not the kind of guy to play any square passes.
"He can do so and keep possession, but he can see the movement forward, look at the passing into space.
"He is very clean. He recovers a lot of balls in a clean way, he doesn't make fouls in dangerous positions.
"I like him a lot because of his stability. He is a very stable player for someone who is still so young, only 25."
The arrival of Matic for a reported fee of £21million - considerably more than his valuation when he left - was offset by the big-money departures of Kevin De Bruyne and Juan Mata.
Matic is ineligible in Europe, having represented Benfica already in the competition, so is limited to Premier League appearances, where his influence is already bearing fruit.
Chelsea scored twice in the opening seven minutes against the hapless Gunners and struck a third from the penalty spot after the visitors were reduced to 10 men.
Mourinho's critics suggest the Portuguese would usually have applied a 'handbrake' then, preserving the lead and shutting out the game.
Instead, the Blues went for the jugular, and Mourinho answered those who question his pragmatic approach with his biggest win as Chelsea boss in counterpart Arsene Wenger's 1,000th match in charge.
"I don't understand where it comes from," the former Inter Milan and Real Madrid boss added.
"If you say that my teams have a lot of clean-sheets, I say yes. But to have a lot of clean-sheets doesn't mean you are a defensive team.
"It means you defend well. My teams normally score goals.
"I have the record of goals in the Spanish League and Italian League.
"I have the record points tally in every league I was in.
"I had players winning golden boots and being top scorer in the country, even in Europe."
It all makes one wonder how Chelsea would be faring if they had a prolific goalscorer, something Mourinho hopes to add this summer.
He said: "If you can have that and add it to the good squad we have and the team we're building, it will be a plus and give us a chance to be stronger and win more matches."
Anxious wait for under-fire referee Marriner
Andre Marriner will find out on Monday if he has been stood down for next weekend's BPL fixtures for sending off the wrong player in Chelsea's 6-0 win over Arsenal.
Monday 24th March 2014
Marriner sent off Kieran Gibbs for handling the ball in his own box when it was in fact Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who was guilty of the offence.
Marriner apologised to the Gunners for the error, which occurred in the 17th minute, when the Premier League leaders were 3-0 up.
Marriner, who refereed last year's FA Cup final, will learn whether he has been dropped for next weekend's games as a result of the error when the Premier League announces its match officials list later on Monday.
Former World Cup referee Clive Thomas called for Marriner to be stood down for the rest of the season, but former official Dermot Gallagher thinks that is the last thing the 43-year-old needs, and would be happy to see him straight back into the action at the next available opportunity.
"I can't see that would do a referee any good. I can't see it would do Andre any good," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme.
"You've got one of the leading referees in not only England but in Europe, and you're going to stand him down? That doesn't do the Premier League any good because he is a top top-flight referee - he's made one mistake and his confidence would be shattered if that happened.
"I can't see that would do him any good whatsoever."
On whether Marriner should return to duty straight away, Gallagher said: "I would endorse that. If you are in a position where you're going to stand a referee down for whatever period, whenever he goes back, the focus will be on him. He's made a genuine mistake and that's all it was."
He added: "It's an error that can be corrected off the field for Arsenal later this week.
"Arsenal will appeal that Kieran Gibbs didn't handle the ball, which the DVD quite clearly shows, and his red card will be rescinded and obviously Oxlade-Chamberlain will say he handled the ball and he will be the one suspended (for Tuesday's match against Swansea)."
Mertesacker: We don't fancy early kick-offs
Per Mertesacker wants Arsenal to avoid any more early alarm calls away from home after Chelsea became the latest team to catch them napping in a lunchtime kick-off.
Monday 24th March 2014
Saturday's 6-0 thrashing at Stamford Bridge could have ended the Gunners' Barclays Premier League title ambitions, and followed a worrying pattern for Arsenal after they conceded six in a 12.45pm kick-off away to Manchester City early in the season before going down 5-1 to Liverpool in a lunchtime match at Anfield last month.
"I don't know why, but it looks like we don't fancy early kick-offs away," Mertesacker said.
"It looks like we are going to have to apply to the FA to not play at 12.45 away. That would help us a lot."
Arsene Wenger's 1,000th match in charge of Arsenal could hardly have got off to a worse start as Chelsea scored twice in the opening eight minutes through Samuel Eto'o and Andre Schurrle.
There was controversy when Kieran Gibbs was sent off for a handball by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the 17th minute, but no doubt it was a penalty and Eden Hazard put Chelsea 3-0 up from the spot before an Oscar brace and Mohamed Salah's first Chelsea goal completed the rout against an Arsenal side who appeared overrun in midfield even with 11 men.
"We wanted to start very strong and show people we are good enough, but they scored the two very early goals," Mertesacker said.
"We lost some balls when we tried to keep it desperately. They then caught us on the counter-attack. We tried to avoid that. But we missed it completely. There was not much difference before the red card, but afterwards it was even harder to come back, especially when it goes to 3-0 and 10 men so early."
The loss leaves Arsenal seven points behind Chelsea, and although they have a game in hand momentum does not appear to be with them as they sit fourth with Liverpool and Manchester City both going well ahead of them.
There could be twists and turns to come, however, not least with City having to travel to both Liverpool and Arsenal after this week's Manchester derby, and Chelsea also facing a trip to Anfield, giving Mertesacker hope.
"We must put this behind us now, show our character and bounce back on Tuesday night against Swansea at the Emirates Stadium," he said.
"It's a good opportunity to react quickly after this result."
Top-four finish for Tottenham will be difficult, says Sigurdsson
By Chris Davie
Mar 23, 2014 7:54:00 PM
The Icelander, who scored the dramatic winner against Southampton, accepts that a Champions League place is likely to be out of his side's reach
Tottenham midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson accepts that it will be "difficult" for his side to finish in the Premier League top four this season.
After going two goals behind to Southampton at White Hart Lane on Sunday, Christian Eriksen's double looked to have rescued a draw for Spurs before the Icelander struck the winner in injury time.
The victory puts Tim Sherwood's men five points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, although Arsene Wenger's side have played one fewer game.
"I think it's going to be very difficult. It's out of our hands now," Sigurdsson told talkSPORT.
"The most important thing for us is to concentrate on one game at a time. We've got Liverpool next and that's going to be very difficult with the way they are playing.
"If we go on a little run, we'll see what happens at the end of the season."
Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o has accused Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola of being a coward when the two were at Barcelona.
The Cameroon international played under Guardiola at the La Liga giants in 2008-09, but said the Spaniard barely spoke to him.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic labelled Guardiola a 'coward' in his autobiography, which was released last year.
Eto'o said the 43-year-old often communicated to him through other players because he was afraid.
"Guardiola has never had the courage to say things in front of me. He passed by the players," Eto'o told beIN Sports.
"Xavi told me they wanted me to stay but I had to talk to Pep. I say 'Never, if you do not respect me, I do not respect you.'"
Eto'o said that while Guardiola greeted him when he was at Inter and the Serie A giants were playing Barca, it was just for show.
"He shook hands with me when I was at Inter and I played against Barca, but this was just for the cameras and TV," he said.
"Behind the scenes before the match, he did not greet me."
Eto'o criticised Guardiola for failing to learn about the dressing room prior to his arrival.
The 33-year-old recalled telling Guardiola, who won multiple leagues and cups and a European Cup with Barcelona, he had never reached great heights as a player.
"I first of all reminded Guardiola that he'd never been a great player. He was a good player, that's true," Eto'o said.
"I told him, as a coach, he had proven nothing. He came in and didn't even know the story of the dressing room."
Arsenal succeed in Gibbs, Oxlade-Chamberlain appeals
24 March 2014
Arsenal have succeeded in their appeals of mistaken identity and wrongful dismissal during Saturday's 6-0 defeat to Chelsea.
After Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain handballed a shot in the area that appeared to be going wide regardless, referee Andre Marriner accidently brandished a red card to team-mate Kieran Gibbs, despite protestations from players on both sides.
Gibb's dismissal has been overturned by the Football Association and passed to Oxlade-Chamberlain, with Arsenal's subsequent claim of wrongful dismissal against the latter upheld.
It means that neither Gibbs nor Oxlade-Chamberlain will serve any ban or punishment following the incident in Arsenal's Premier League defeat at Stamford Bridge.
A statement on the FA's official website read: "An Independent Regulatory Commission today heard two claims from Arsenal, one of mistaken identity and the other of wrongful dismissal, both in relation to Saturday’s game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
"The Commission ruled that the dismissal of Kieran Gibbs was a case of mistaken identity and transferred this to his team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
"Subsequent to deciding this matter, the Commission then considered Arsenal’s claim for wrongful dismissal in relation to Oxlade-Chamberlain.
"This claim was upheld meaning Oxlade-Chamberlain will not serve any suspension with the standard punishment withdrawn with immediate effect."
Ross Barkley has what it takes to play for England at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, insists Everton manager Roberto Martinez.
The 20-year-old midfielder has flourished under the Spaniard's tutelage at Goodison Park and has earned three England caps as a reward for his fine domestic form.
And Martinez is confident that Barkley, who suffered a broken toe in January, would be more than ready to answer Roy Hodgson's call to represent his country on the world stage.
"Ross has had such a demanding season, the most demanding in his professional career, and now he has come back really strongly for the final third of the season," Martinez said.
"What is important for us is to see Ross developing into an incredible footballer and the national team will have the opportunity to use his abilities.
"When that is going to happen is down to the England manager.
"He is ready to help if he is needed in the England set-up but we have real trust in the England manager to make the decisions he needs to make depending on what he needs in the squad.
"It will be something which wouldn't faze him that's for sure.
"Ross is enjoying every day's work and is developing into a fine footballer, potentially one of the best English talents we've seen for a long time but he is not the finished article.
"If he is going to be involved in the England set-up as he has been recently that will be a terrific experience and probably from the psychological point of view he will learn more than any other aspect.
"But if you ask Ross the only thing he has in his head is try to perform as well as he can for Everton and see the level of performance he can reproduce from now until the end of the season."
The 31-year-old has admitted he was surprised by his transfer to the Gunners but says they needed an experienced midfielder in their ranks and he "fits the profile"
Arsenal midfielder Kim Kallstrom has described his January move to the Gunners from Spartak Moscow as “bewildering”.
The 31-year-old joined the north Londoners on deadline day despite a medical showing the player had a microfracture in his back.
The injury means Kallstrom is yet to make an appearance for Arsenal and he has admitted that he was surprised to join Arsene Wenger’s side.
"It was bewildering [joining Arsenal] to say the least," Kallstrom told Sport Expressen. "It went very quickly.
"It was surprising. It was nothing I had expected. Of course I was surprised.
"I've had a good career, they needed an experienced player and I fit the profile and took the opportunity."
Arsenal will attempt to bounce back from their 6-0 thrashing by Chelsea against Swansea City on Tuesday, a match which could see Kallstrom finally make his debut.
The midfielder says his recovery has gone well and has praised the Arsenal medical staff for their help with his injury.
"Then everyone at Arsenal took care of me very well, it's been great care and rehabilitation,” he added.
"Everything has been well managed and I have received good care and rehabilitation. It has gone very well."
Ahead of the derby with Manchester City, the under-fire manager admits he is hurting after a tough first season at Old Trafford but maintains he has a winning mentality
David Moyes admits he is hurting following a difficult start to life in charge of Manchester United.
The Premier League champions currently sit seventh in the table, 18 points off leaders Chelsea, after a season of inconsistent results.
Manchester City are Moyes' next opponents on Tuesday and, ahead of the derby, the Scot admits he is disappointed with himself.
"They have definitely hurt," he told reporters. "They have hurt more because I joined Manchester United with big expectations myself - that I was coming to the winning football club.
"I've got a winning mentality and that’s what I wanted to do, so I’m disappointed with myself and I’m disappointed that we’ve been unable to do that. But it has not been for the want of trying, that’s for sure."
The likes of West Brom, Everton and Newcastle United all ended long waits for a win at Old Trafford in shock results this season, while rivals Liverpool comfortably triumphed 3-0 earlier in March.
Moyes insists he does not dwell on such setbacks and demoralising results but called for consistency as his team look to improve in the final eight league games.
He continued: "I move on, but the first thing you always do is look at what you’ve done yourself and then move on and see if it’s something I maybe could have done better.
"As it has been, we’ve not had the [good] performances as regular as I wanted and that’s where we need to find that consistency where we can do that.
"It’s important to win all the games. Big teams or small teams, you want to win them all. But we want to beat the top teams as well as the bottom teams."
Wenger urges Arsenal stars to respond after Chelsea 'nightmare'
By Chris Davie
Mar 24, 2014 11:54:00 PM
The Frenchman says he takes full responsibility for the defeat at Stamford Bridge but admits he was 'puzzled' by the manner of his side's capitulation against Jose Mourinho's men
Arsene Wenger has urged his Arsenal players to respond following their "nightmare" defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.
The 6-0 loss has left the Gunners seven points behind the Premier League-leading Blues, although Jose Mourinho’s men have played one game more.
Arsenal host Swansea City on Tuesday evening as they attempt to get their title campaign back on track and Wenger insists his players “must show character” after after collapse at Stamford Bridge.
"The game at Stamford Bridge was a nightmare for us and I take full responsibility for it. The players are deeply disappointed, as we all are," Wenger said in an email sent out to Arsenal fans.
"We have to think deeply about it because it is not the first time it has happened in this kind of game. It all went wrong and we failed completely on Saturday because we did not turn up with a performance.
"We felt we prepared properly, but we did not produce what we can, so it is puzzling. After 20 minutes, the game was over and it became a long afternoon.
"That is the most disappointing thing, that we were never in the game. It is puzzling because we were knocked over basically without feeling we had been in the match.
"Now we have to win our next game. That is what we have to focus on. It's vital that we show character and respond in the right manner on Tuesday night against Swansea City.
"We are all determined to put this performance behind us and respond."
West Ham United's manager Sam Allardyce takes his seat before their English Premier League soccer match against Everton at Goodison Park in Liverpool March 1, 2014. REUTERS/Phil Noble
(Reuters) - If West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce buys a lottery ticket this week he will probably put a cross on the 38.
That is the magic number he has in his head when calculating how many points his side will need to avoid being relegated from the Premier League this season.
Going into Wednesday's home match against FA Cup semi-finalists Hull City, another side still battling to guarantee their top-flight status, West Ham have 31 points after a strange run of four consecutive wins followed by three defeats in a row.
They are six points better off than third-bottom Sunderland, who have played two games fewer, and Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace are also between the Hammers and the drop zone.
Despite that cushion, Allardyce fears his side have undone the good work they did in February.
"I definitely never said or suggested that we were safe when we were on the fantastic run," Allardyce, a vastly-experienced manager when it comes to relegation tussles, told the club's website on Tuesday.
"It goes to show that the game can change very quickly in the space of three games, and to use an old adage, we're now getting sucked back into the danger zone."
"Thirty-eight (points) we'll need and we'll try to get more than that as quickly as we can," he added. "I think 38 points will be needed this year. It's such a big game on Wednesday now.
"They've sneaked points ahead of us with a great win against West Brom on Saturday and it's now a big six-pointer on Wednesday night.
"Following that we play Sunderland away on Monday night, so we're either going to very nervous by next Tuesday, or we're going to feel a little bit safer."
West Ham are hoping Matt Jarvis will be fit to face Hull after he suffered a tight thigh following the 2-0 home defeat by Manchester United on Saturday.
"We'll wait for him until tomorrow and then make a decision then. At the moment it's looking doubtful," Allardyce said.
While the bottom two, Fulham and Cardiff City, look favourites to be relegated, no club in the bottom half of the table is completely safe and Saturday's fixtures have thrown up key clashes with Swansea at home to Norwich City and West Brom hosting Cardiff.
"I've never in my long career, never experienced the ups and downs that we've experienced this season," Allardyce said of the dogfight in the lower reaches of the Premier League.
"The consistencies, the inconsistencies, the changes of the game, the way results have gone throughout the league."
(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond)
Ryan Bertrand has conceded his future could lie away from Stamford Bridge after becoming disillusioned with life at Chelsea.
Jose Mourinho has insisted the 24-year-old does have a future at the club despite only making 28 league appearances for Chelsea in eight seasons, and spending the majority of his time out on loan.
Bertrand, who is currently on loan at Aston Villa, is keen to play regular first-team football and if that means leaving Stamford Bridge then he is prepared to do so.
"It's flattering to hear what Jose Mourinho said but there's no more waiting around for me in terms of wanting to be a Chelsea player," he told the Birmingham Mail.
"Come the summer I need to be the number one left-back, wherever that will be.
"I have ambitions but I have to be realistic as well. I will sit down and consider all my options.
"Staying here (at Villa) isn't something I would rule out. I've had years of playing but since I was 17 I have been on loan.
"I've spent the past few years at Chelsea, in and out of the team, and the experience I've gained from that is I'm happy just playing. That's what it comes down to in football."
Bertrand signed for Chelsea from Gillingham in 2005, and spent time on loan at Bournemouth, Oldham Athletic, Norwich City, Reading and Nottingham Forest before joining Villa this season.
Arsenal need a ´miracle´ to lift title, says Campbell
26 March 2014
Sol Campbell admits it will take a "miracle" for Arsenal to win the Premier League this season.
Arsene Wenger's men followed up their 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Chelsea with a 2-2 draw at home to Swansea City on Tuesday, a result that leaves them six points adrift of the Premier League leaders.
A return of just eight points from seven matches has seen Arsenal slip to the periphery of the title race, while even a top-four finish is now under threat as a result of Everton's four-match winning streak.
Campbell, speaking after the release of his book, 'Sol Campbell - The Authorised Biography', feels the defeat to Chelsea was the hammer blow to Arsenal's hopes.
"If that result was different they could still be in the race, I think that result kind of puts them definitely out of the race," the former Arsenal defender told Perform.
"A miracle has to happen (for Arsenal to win the league), for the other teams to lose games, for them to win games, for it to all change around.
"Mathematically it's still there (but) the whole momentum of them trying to get back into winning the Premier League has definitely been dented and I think it could be gone now."
Campbell, who lifted the two Premier League titles and three FA Cups during his time with Arsenal, believes that Wenger will have been badly affected by the recent dip in form and says the FA Cup must now be a priority for his former club.
"I think he (Wenger) will be definitely hurt," he added. "It's a special time when you get a thousand games and you always want to end in a happy way or have a good result. Obviously that didn't happen so I'm very, very disappointed and he'll be deeply hurt.
"I think he'd like to end with a win under his belt this season.
"I think definitely the FA Cup is the only thing to really, really go for and they can't miss that chance because it's a special cup and I hope the players treat it as a special cup, and respect the team they're playing against (Wigan Athletic) because that's the beauty of the cup; if you disrespect it, it can really turn around."
Former Leeds and Liverpool winger Harry Kewell has announced he is to retire from professional football.
Wednesday 26th March 2014
The Australian made over 250 Premier League appearances for the two English clubs from 1995 until 2008, but has most recently been playing for Melbourne Heart, who confirmed their captain would hang up his boots at the end of the A-League season.
"On behalf of Harry Kewell, Melbourne Heart FC confirms the Socceroo legend will retire from professional football at the end of the current Hyundai A-League season," said a statement on the club's website.
"Kewell's final appearance for Melbourne Heart FC will be against the Western Sydney Wanderers at AAMI Park in the final round of the Hyundai A-League 2013/14 season on Saturday 12 April."
However, the 35-year-old may be deprived of a swansong as he will miss the Heart's next two matches against Brisbane Roar and Adelaide United after suffering an abdominal strain in the defeat to the Central Coast Mariners last Sunday.
Kewell returned to his homeland last year in an effort to win a place in Australia's World Cup squad although he has missed over a third of his side's matches this season due to injury, while the Heart's position of second bottom in the table would not have aided his cause.
He can be certain of his place in history, however, having been named his country's greatest ever footballer in a vote by players, fans and journalists alike in 2012.
Sydney-born Kewell played his part in two World Cup campaigns and was one of their best players as they achieved their best-ever result in 2006, however, he was cruelly forced to miss their loss to Italy in the last-16 due to a foot infection.
He came to the fore much earlier with Leeds and was awarded the PFA's Young Player of the Year in the 1999-2000 season although he would leave the Yorkshire club in acrimonious circumstances for Premier League rivals Liverpool in 2003.
His time with the Merseysiders was blighted by injury and although he became the first Australian-born player to earn a Champions League winners' medal in 2005, Kewell was substituted midway through the first half in the final against AC Milan due to an abductor complaint.
He lasted 48 minutes in the 2006 FA Cup final triumph over West Ham before again being withdrawn due to injury, while his time in England ended two years later when he moved to Galatasaray, with whom he spent three seasons.
Kewell then moved on to Melbourne Victory in 2011 and a short spell with Qatar club Al-Gharafa followed before he came back to Australia, this time for the Victory's city rivals.
Melbourne Heart head coach John van 't Schip paid tribute to Kewell, saying: "Harry's record as a footballer speaks for itself.
"To achieve what he has done as a European player would have been amazing but to do it as an Australian player who needed to leave home as a teenager makes it a very unique and special story."
Kewell himself said on Twitter: "On my way to officially announce my retirement.. Thank you for all the kind tweets you've sent so far.. #EndofanEra".
Ba braced for summer switch
Demba Ba is readying himself for a summer switch away from Chelsea, with discussions being held with interested parties.
Wednesday 26th March 2014
The Senegalese striker moved to Stamford Bridge in January 2013 from Newcastle United.
He has struggled to hold down a regular role with the Blues, with the likes of Fernando Torres and Samuel Eto'o ahead of him in Jose Mourinho's attacking pecking order.
Ba has not started a game since December and has grown increasingly disillusioned with life on the sidelines.
He is now ready to start afresh away from west London and has his representatives working on another transfer - with his preference to remain in the Premier League.
Ba, who first arrived in England at West Ham United in January 2011, told RMC: "My agent has spoken to the club about a departure and he has started speaking with other clubs about a contract for next season.
"I hope we can find the best option possible. I'd like to stay in England. I like other leagues, too. I'd like to try the Italian league.
"Nothing's been confirmed but there are a few teams in Italy who play very good football."
For now, Ba's focus is locked on ending his Chelsea career on a high - with the Blues still in the hunt for Premier League and UEFA Champions League honours.
He added: "That would be the best way to go out the door.
"If I leave with at least the title or the Champions League, that would be exceptional."
Sam Allardyce was left bemused by West Ham fans after they turned on their side despite securing a much-needed 2-1 win against Hull City.
A controversial Mark Noble penalty and a James Chester own-goal ended the London club's run of three consecutive defeats and ensured they took a giant stride towards preserving their Premier League status.
The victory moved West Ham up to 11th in the top flight, nine points ahead of third-bottom Sunderland and just four points shy of the 38-point target set by Allardyce to stay up.
Allardyce's side played the majority of the game against 10 men after goalkeeper Allan McGregor was shown a straight red card for upending Mohamed Diame.
That decision led to Hull protests, as referee Mike Dean only pointed to the spot after being consulted by his assistant and Diame appeared to handle the ball before being clattered by the Scotland goalkeeper.
Noble made no mistake from the spot, but the home side were booed off at the break and Hull equalised early in the second half when Tom Huddlestone's free-kick went in off Nikica Jelavic.
West Ham had another stroke of luck when Chester scored an own-goal and despite hanging on for all three points, the Upton Park faithful voiced their disapproval at the full-time whistle, much to the manager's frustration.
Allardyce cupped his hand around his ear in the crowd's direction before heading down the tunnel, and vocalised his disbelief afterwards.
"I've never been a place where I won and got booed." the former Blackburn Rovers manager told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"I started at 16, got into the first team at 18 and I'm 59 now and I have never been in place where we have won and got booed.
"At half-time players were talking more about fans booing them than the game. Fans affect players. We don't need them on the players' backs when we are coming off three defeats. They have to stay and help them win.
"They are frustrated. I get frustrated. I want the players to play better and take advantage more of the 10 men, but you don't at this level.
"People are organised, wait for an opportunity to suck you in and expose you, even with 10 men. It's not an easy task and we should all be very grateful."
