arsenal news

NICOLAS PEPE needed just six minutes to stamp his influence on Arsenal’s 2-1 home win against Sheffield United.
Many Gunners fans would have probably preferred to see Alexandre Lacazette being called to replace rookie striker Eddie Nketiah 58 minutes in.

3

Nicolas Pepe celebrates his goal with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – but it was Hector Bellerin he needed to seek outCredit: Reuters

But Mikel Arteta decided to introduce the £72million club-record signing from Lille into the fray.
It meant a change in position for captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who went up top, with Pepe out on the right.
He watched as Bukayo Saka, playing on the other flank, fired Arsenal ahead.
But the 25-year-old decided to get in on the act, and burst forward to easily outpace the full-back and slam past Aaron Ramsdale to make it 2-0.
While the Ivory Coast winger should take some praise for the finish, so should the bloke who set him up.
And Hector Bellerin had only two minutes earlier assisted Saka to give Arsenal the lead.
Bellerin has been linked with a move to Barcelona – but Gooners, and Pepe, should pray he sticks it out at the Emirates.

His raiding runs down the right are something Cedric can’t replicate.

3

Hector Bellerin bagged two assist for Arsenal’s 2-1 win against Sheffield UnitedCredit: Reuters

But more than that, he can be the one to finally help Pepe reach his potential in North London.
It was a beautiful ball through from Bellerin that actually gave Pepe the chance to show his pace by running onto the ball.
If a player is low on confidence, dribbling at opponents and losing the ball isn’t going to help raise that.
But you can’t really get running wrong, once Pepe was clear of Enda Stevens he just had to concentrate on getting his shot away.

3

Pepe showed the poise that made Arsenal shell out £72m forCredit: Reuters
And he perfected that, firing low across Ramsdale.
An on-song Pepe with Bellerin acting as the petrol in his engine can help Arsenal into a new dynamic up front.
Willian and Saka alternated between the No10 role behind Aubameyang, with Pepe raiding down the right.
Admittedly Sheffield United did manage to score a consolation late on, but Arsenal fans will have been full of promise of a potential ‘we’ll score more than you’ ethos.
And the best advice for Pepe? Take Bellerin to your house tonight and lock him up until Monday’s transfer deadline passes.

Arsenal star Nicolas Pepe raps with sunglasses on and pulls pranks with pals on lockdown after agreeing to pay cut More

EMILIANO MARTINEZ has risked the wrath of Arsenal fans by claiming he has mad a ‘step up’ by moving to Aston Villa.
The Gunners decided to cash in on the Argentine goalkeeper with Bernd Leno unmoveable as No1 for boss Mikel Arteta.

2

Emiliano Martinez has made an impressive start to his Aston Villa careerCredit: AP:Associated Press

Villa came in with a £20m offer that was too good to turn down, and Martinez has made a super start to his career in the Midlands.
Now, speaking to Sky Sports, the 28-year-old has admitted he HAD to make the move for first-team football.
And he says it will only help his ultimate ambition of become Argentina No1.

He said: “I’m in the best shape of my career and when I didn’t have the security of that game time, I wasn’t sure about staying.
“I’m fighting to be Argentina’s number one, that’s my dream.
“Aston Villa is a massive club, I had no doubts over coming here.
“Everyone thinks it’s a step down going from Arsenal to Villa, but I actually think it’s a step up in my career.”

His comments were met with agreement by many on social media.
James Rowe wrote: “It is a step up in his career because he will be a number one and will increase his chances of become Argentina number one for the national team. A great move for him and his career IMO.”

2

Aston Villa’s new No1 seems to be loving life alreadyCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
A Manchester United fan cheekily chipped in: “He ain’t wrong Villa have more Champions League than Arsenal.”
And a Gunners fan solenly tweeted: “Our loss is Villa’s gain.”
Arsenal keeper Leno was ruled out of the end-of-season run-in when he picked up a leg injury.
That saw Martinez don the gloves, and he impressed many with his commanding performances.
But now it is Villa fans who get to see him in action, albeit on TV with the coronavirus pandemic still keeping fans out of grounds.

I said I’ll go and be the number one somewhere else
Emiliano MartinezAston Villa keeper

He added: “People don’t realise how much I’d been fighting to get on the bench. I had nine goalkeepers in front of me
“Once on the bench, I wanted to be number one. Once I got the number one shirt, and I wasn’t sure I was going to keep it.
“I said I’ll go and be the number one somewhere else.
“My ambition was always trying to be number one at Arsenal, coming through their academy was not easy.
“People that talk outside of football know nothing about football.”

New Aston Villa signing Emiliano Martínez talks about joining the club More

ARSENAL are into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory against Liverpool.
After a dismal 0-0 draw after 90 minutes, it seemd the excitement was being saved for spot-kicks.

4

Bernd Leno proved why Mikel Arteta was happy to cash in on Emiliano MartinezCredit: AP:Associated Press

Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno was the star of the show all night, and he saved two penalties in the 5-4 sudden-death success.
It was left to Joe Willock to fire home the winning penalty that squirmed under Adrian’s body.
Here, SunSport’s John Hutchinson checks out how the Arsenal players fared in the Carabao Cup …
Bernd Leno – 9

Not given a rest despite conceding three to Liverpool on Monday – and thank goodness he was.
Made a brilliant save from Diogo Jota right on the stroke of half-time, and in the second half was the barrier stopping Jurgen Klopp’s side going well ahead. Saved Divock Origi’s poor penalty too.
Cedric Soares – 5

It surprised many Arsenal fans when he was signed on a permanent long-term contract.
The surprise won’t have left them – offers little going forward and if Bellerin leaves for Barcelona, the Gunners have big problems. Scored his spot-kick.
Gabriel dos Santos Magalhaes – 8
Positive signs from the new signing in the first half that he wants to get his head to every ball.
Surely going to be a starter for Arsenal in the next game at home to Sheffield United this weekend.

4

Credit: AP:Associated Press
Rob Holding – 6
Needed a big performance after a bit of a mare against the same opponents in the Premier League loss.
Had a great chance to score on 70 minutes, but his point-blank header was parried away by Adrian.
Sead Kolasinac – 5
Still not sure where his best position is, played left of a back three but didn’t look comfortable and dragged out far too often.
But his strength is his big asset, and probably did enough to stop many of the Liverpool kids from getting at him.

Joe Willock – 5
Barely noticed him in the first 45 and surprising that Arteta prefers to perservere with him rather than the likes of Lucas Torreira and Mesut Ozil.
But with Arsenal seemingly wanting to show some grit out there, Willock held his position well and tracked back when needed.
Granit Xhaka – 6
Showed good strength in the middle of the park, but really needs to find some defence-splitting passes if he has three centre-halves backing him up.
This was clearly a game to frustrate the opponents, so Xhaka did his job effectively enough.
Nicolas Pepe – 6
Linked up well with Saka from an attacking point of view, and had the confidence to run at Liverpool in the first 45.
There’s something there and maybe if he can chip in with a few goals that might help with that. Great ball in for Holding on 70 minutes which should have resulted in a goal. Held his nerve with a lovely penalty in the shootout too.

4

Nicolas Pepe had some mazy runs in the game, but couldn’t find that elusive goalCredit: AP:Associated Press
Dani Ceballos – 6
Always likely to start this one after coming off the bench and looking sharp in the Premier League defeat to the Reds.
But was quiet when given the chance, and didn’t find too many of those raking passes forward.
Bukayo Saka – 7
Made an electric start to the game, no doubt the bounce in his step coming from being called into the England squad.
Offers something in every position he finds himself, be it lef wing-back, left-winger or forward – he played all three at times.
Eddie Nketiah – 6
Should have fired Arsenal ahead in the first few minutes, but wanted too much time in the box.
His decent pre-season form appears to have disappeared, for now.

4

Eddie Nketiah will have wished it wasn’t Virgil Van Dijk starting the cup clashCredit: AP:Associated Press
Substitutes
Mohamed Elneny (replaced Ceballos, 68) – 6
One of the surprise starters this season, and will unfortunately be remembered as missing his penalty in the shootout.
Alexandre Lacazette (replaced Nketiah, 83) – 6
A short run out to stretch the legs. And take the first penalty in the shootout, that he confidently slotted home.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles (replaced Saka, 85) – 5
No time to make any impact on proceedings in the 90. But was calmness personified with his delightful penalty.
Subs not used: Kieran Tierney, Runar Rúnarsson, David Luiz, Reiss Nelson.

Arsenal fans fume as FIFA 21 ratings are revealed with Kieran Tierney just 78 same as flop Sead Kolasinac More