Football

BACK in the day at Arsenal, red cards were regarded as signs of a winning mentality — not a failing that could cost them titles.The Gunners go into Sunday’s clash with Liverpool without defender William Saliba after he became the THIRD player in Mikel Arteta’s squad to be sent off this season.William Saliba was sent off for Arsenal in their loss to Bournemouth last weekendCredit: GettyArsenal have had three red cards in eight Premier League games this seasonCredit: ReutersWhen fellow Frenchman Patrick Vieira was dismissed in a home game with the Reds in August 2000, there was indeed talk of crisis in Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal team.Despite a 2-0 victory over a Liverpool side reduced to nine men, Vieira’s second red in three days — following one at Sunderland — stole the headlines.The World Cup winner threatened to leave the English game and team-mate Dennis Bergkamp was concerned enough to voice fears on the combative midfielder’s future.But for Arsenal’s captain that day, Tony Adams, Vieira’s disciplinary record and reaction to his latest misdemeanour were water off a duck’s back.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAdams recalled, chuckling: “It was par for the course, Patrick getting sent off — everyday occurrence.“He’s been hurt, he’s reacted, ‘Oh, I can’t play in this league if I’m going to get sent off every week!’“It’s a childish thing to say but I wouldn’t expect it any other way.“We footballers aren’t known for emotional maturity, and Dennis was always worried about something!Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSTony Adams won four league titles across more than 20 years at ArsenalCredit: GettyArsenal had a shocking disciplinary record during their glory era of the late 1990s and early 2000sCredit: Getty Images – Getty“If I thought Patrick was being out of order, I would have had a quiet word. But I wasn’t going to go up to Patrick and say, ‘Calm yourself down, for God’s sake!’“Because that was half of his game. I needed that from him.Arsenal star Saka of three key men to miss training ahead of crunch Liverpool Premier League showdown “And if sometimes we got red cards — and Arsene said, ‘Oh, I didn’t see it’ — then that’s the way it was.”Arsenal’s red mist tally during Wenger’s 22-year reign really was something with 118 dismissals — 78 of them in the Premier League.In almost six seasons ex-England centre-half Adams played under the Gunners’ most successful boss, the team racked up 43 red cards.There were 11 in all competitions in 2001-02, with three dismissals in the league before November — just like this season.Yet that campaign ended with the second Double of Wenger’s tenure as Adams completed over two decades of service to the club in style.Adams said: “It was never a thing internally, it was never on the agenda to say, ‘Let’s not have too many red cards today’.“We went out to score goals, keep clean sheets and win matches.“If we picked up reds along the way, even with ten men we more than likely beat teams anyway.“It was always in Arsenal’s handbook you’d have to pay a fine for reds for verbals but not for tackles.It was par for the course, Patrick getting sent off — everyday occurrence. Sometimes we got red cards — and Arsene said, ‘Oh, I didn’t see it’ — then that’s the way it was.Tony Adams“When they were closing down people, putting in tackles and getting involved, putting pressure on teams and maybe mistiming a tackle to get a yellow or a red, I didn’t have a problem with that.“I would rather have had that than have no-one getting sent off and accepting losing every week.”But Adams, 58, acknowledges that the current situation at the Gunners is different.Saliba was sent off for a professional foul at Bournemouth, while Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard were shown second yellow cards for kicking the ball away against Brighton and Manchester City, respectively.The latter two incidents were part of a crackdown by refs on players delaying restarts.Arsenal still managed to win big games when going down to 10 menCredit: AFPAdams agrees with the criticism of Rice’s second booking, calling it “ridiculous”.But he reckons that Trossard could have no complaints about his and Arsenal now need to “smarten up”, individually and collectively.Adams said: “You are expected to be competitive.“If that leads to yellow or red cards, any manager in the country would tell you, ‘Well played’.“But if you are doing it for misunderstanding rules then it’s a lack of discipline really. So smarten up, guys. Learn the rules.”As for Saliba and the foul on Evanilson that led to him being sent off last weekend, Adams has been there and done that.I’d like Arsenal to be more aggressive in making tackles and closing down. George Graham always said, ‘If you kick someone, pick them up. Then kick them again. Then pick them up again. And then kick them again.’Tony AdamsBack in November 1996, he was shown a straight card for hauling down Alan Shearer on the edge of the box at St James’ Park.Adams recalled: “I got my positioning wrong and Shearer went in behind me and I took him out.“I got such a roasting for that one. Arsene said, ‘He has still got to beat David Seaman — one of the best goalkeepers in the world — why have you done that and put us a man down?’ I learned from that and never did it again. Saliba has to learn, too.“When you’re not so quick, like me, you have to be really alert to the situation and give the forward a few yards.“But when you are quick like Saliba, then you can get yourself out of jail.”Declan Rice was sent off for a second yellow card against Brighton after kicking the ball awayCredit: GettyLeandro Trossard was dismissed against Manchester City after also kick the ball awayCredit: GettyArsenal could not salvage the situation when Saliba was sent off with an hour left at Bournemouth and slipped to their first league defeat of the season.In contrast, on the day Adams was sent off at Newcastle, the Gunners won 2-1 thanks to Ian Wright’s second-half winner.In that August 2000 game against Liverpool that prompted Vieira’s meltdown, Arsenal took an early lead through Lauren and Reds midfielder Gary McAllister was sent off before half time.Vieira was shown his second yellow card in the 73rd minute to make it ten vs ten but Liverpool’s Didi Hamann received his second booking soon afterwards and Thierry Henry scored at the death to seal the 2-0 win.Vieira’s threat to quit English football proved empty as he stayed to help Arsenal win the Double in 2002 and captain them in the Invincibles season of 2003-04.The Gunners have not won the title since and Adams reckons they need to show more of that Vieira fire — and risk getting the right kind of red card — if they are to end that drought.Adams added: “I’d like Arsenal to be more aggressive in making tackles and closing down.“George Graham always said, ‘If you kick someone, pick them up. Then kick them again. Then pick them up again. And then kick them again.’READ MORE SUN STORIES“Under George and Arsene, we were a team of winners. Sometimes we walked the line because we were fiercely competitive.“But I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”Arsenal ratings vs Shakhtar: Jesus reminds fans of his quality but Trossard flops for poor GunnersARSENAL continued their unbeaten run in the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk – but it was far from a convincing performance.Gabriel Martinelli orchestrated the decisive goal when his low-driven strike hit the post and deflected in off the back of goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk.Here’s how SunSport’s Tony Robertson rated the Gunners…DAVID RAYA – 7Seldom asked to do much aside from recycle the ball to Gabriel or Saliba until the final stagesPushed a potentially dangerous cross out of danger in the 84th minute. Pulled out a magnificent low save in injury time before claiming a dangerous cross to keep his clean sheet.BEN WHITE – 6Back in at right-back today and played as if he had never been out of the team. Received a yellow card in the 34th minute. Subbed at half-time for Mikel Merino.WILLIAM SALIBA – 7In the team after his red card against Bournemouth, played like his typically assured self marshalling the defence.One or two sloppy passes late in the second half but otherwise can have no complaints with another solid performance.GABRIEL MAGALHAES – 5Sloppily gave the ball away to hand the visitors a dangerous chance out of nothing. Had another lapse just after the opener but in the end he was bailed out by Calafiori.Marked improvement in the second half.RICCARDO CALAFIORI – 6Skied a golden chance over the bar after six minutes. Tested the goalkeeper again after 24 minutes.Dragged his foot and went down injured after skipping under a tackle in the 67th minute. Replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly in 71st minute.THOMAS PARTEY – 6Comfortable evening in midfield for him. Recycled the ball well when at his feet and kept play ticking over.Moved to right back as White was hooked but didn’t have too many worries. When he was caught out of position Rice was able to cover.DECLAN RICE – 6Like Partey, he had a quiet night in midfield with Shakhtar unable to retain meaningful possession.Moved into the six as White was hooked and Partey moved to right-back. Cut out a dangerous low cross at the edge of the area. LEANDRO TROSSARD – 4Nothing quite went right for him all night with some sloppy touches ending attacks and putting Arsenal in trouble.Summed up his night by missing a 77th minute penalty and was hooked in the 88th minute.GABRIEL JESUS – 8Wore the captain’s armband and looked bright down the right wing.Denied a well-deserved goal by the feet of the keeper in the 43rd minute after Havertz played him in.Second half saw more good link play, but never had another chance to end his goal drought as he was replaced by Sterling in the 68th minute.GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7Grew into the game following a quiet start and was rewarded with a goal, of sorts, after 30 minutes.Brazilian cut inside from the left wing before firing a shot to the near post before the shot rebounded off the woodwork and hit the goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk to go in the net. KAI HAVERTZ – 7Centimeters away from getting Arsenal’s second in the 39th minute after Jesus squared a volley back across goal.Returned the favour to set up his team-mate moments later only for the goalkeeper to prevent a goal.Won a free-kick at the very end of the game to run the clock down.SUBSMikel Merino (on for White HT) – 6Some nice touches and stitched play together well. A solid yet unspectacular performance.Raheem Sterling (on for Jesus 68 mins) – 6Tried to play on the shoulder of the last man but did not have the pace find the clear cut chance he would have liked.Myles Lewis-Skelly (on for Calafiori 71 mins) – 6Slotted in at left-back and was not afraid to show for the ball but often did not receive it while tucking infield.Jorginho (on for Trossard 88 mins) – N/A More

BETO broke down in tears after rising out of the Goodison gloom to claim the late, late equaliser that got Sean Dyche and his anonymous players off the hook.The big striker, who could yet be dumped in the January transfer window, delivered just when he was needed most four minutes into added time.Beto headed in a dramatic late equaliser for EvertonCredit: GettyThe striker fell to his knees after rescuing a pointCredit: AFPHe was in tears after the full-time whistleCredit: GettySub Beto’s output since arriving for £26million from Udinese in the summer of 2023 has been little short of under-whelming.This was only his fourth Prem goal and a return to Italy may still be imminent.Yet how he celebrated as he denied former Everton star Alex Iwobi from claiming the points with his fine finish just over half an hour earlier.That dramatic equaliser left ex-Toffees boss Marco Silva gutted for it seemed certain that his side would rise to eighth in the table.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLInstead, yet again, they let a lead slip at the end of what for most of the time had been a dull, dull, dull encounter.And the emotion was clear to see for the Portuguese forward as the waterworks burst open.Beto said: “It means TOO much for me. “I work hard, even when I don’t play I work hard and keep my head up every day, I try and improve to be better and help the team.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“It’s emotional. These last few weeks have been difficult for me but I’m happy I scored a goal.”Dyche did say pre–match that there’s always another cloud waiting to sweep over Goodison Park.Everton fans say ‘I feel sick just looking at it’ as new video of Bramley Moore Dock stadium go viral So it proved just when he might have expected a little brightness after his players had spent the previous four games climbing out of their early-season depression.Two wins and two draws should have created optimism and a sense of urgency but it never seems to go that way with the Toffees.The home fans were gloomy and fretful from the off, a first-half display that may have been the worst for the manager in his 21 months in charge did nothing to lighten the atmosphere.To say Everton were lacklustre would have been paying them a compliment.At times during the first 3O minutes, England No1 Jordan Pickford shook his head in frustration at the lack of movement in front of him.On the touchline, Dyche was spitting blood for his team were there for the taking.Left-back Vitalii Mykolenko summed up the lack of drive – and intelligence – in offering a gift to the Cottagers.His attempt at a clearance was pathetic, hitting straight to Raul Jimenez.The striker rolled the ball into Adama Traore’s path but Pickford, at least, was alert and alive.The winger delivered a near-post pile driver but the ‘keeper reacted superbly to block the attempt.Still, Everton were on their heels and Emile Smith Rowe blasted a volley over from 15 yards when a clear head and more control would have produced the opener.Not that Silva’s side were exactly electrifying.The power switched off for them as Idrissa Gueye was given all the room in the world to have a pop from almost 30 yards out.He gave it a real go, too, but his strike smacked against the crossbar.Dominic Calvert-Lewin tucked away the rebound but his attempt was correctly signalled as offside by VAR.And now it was Fulham’s turn to go into their shells, Dwight McNeil unmarked as he met a good cross from Mykolenko.But as things had been through the whole first half, there was no dynamism from the winger-turned-No10 and Bernd Leno didn’t have to be a hero to save the header.The entertainment, if you could call it that, only got worse.Yet in the 61st minute, Smith Rowe suddenly illuminated the proceedings with the dazzling run that brought Iwobi’s fine winner.Fulham’s £34m record buy shrugged off the torpor that had dragged him and so many around him down.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe powered his way through four tackles before slipping to the attacking midfielder who still had work to do, but sent a fine low shot inside the near post and beyond Pickford’s desperate stretch.That gloom around Goodison just deepened until Beto rose to meet Ashley Young’s volleyed cross – and suddenly at least some of those storm clouds rolled away.Alex Iwobi scored for Fulham against his old side EvertonCredit: GettyThe former Toffees man kept his celebration mutedCredit: PAJordan Pickford could do nothing to stop the fine finishCredit: ReutersBeto’s introduction was initially booed by many home fansCredit: ReutersSean Dyche’s side battled to the very endCredit: ReutersFulham should have been out of touch but were made to pay for their lack of clinical finishingCredit: Rex More