Premier League

DEJECTED Arsenal fans cried “we don’t need this” after watching Aaron Ramsdale on his own at training.A video clip shared online showed the Arsenal goalkeepers walking on to the training pitch ahead of the North London derby.
Aaron Ramsdale walking out for training on his ownCredit: Sky Sports
David Raya was joined by Karl Hein and James Hillson at London ColneyCredit: Sky Sports
David Raya, Karl Hein and James Hillson came out together all smiles.
But Ramsdale followed them separately with his head hung low and looking distinctly less jovial.
It comes after Ramsdale was usurped by loanee Raya as the No1 choice between the sticks for Mikel Arteta.
The Spaniard played in last weekend’s 1-0 win over Everton and kept another clean sheet as the Gunners stuffed PSV 4-0 – with Ramsdale dropped to the bench.
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And sad Arsenal supporters took to Twitter to express their feelings about the video from London Colney and the whole situation.
One said: “We don’t need this.”
Another wrote: “I can’t take it anymore.”
A third added: “Ramsdale huffing at the back because he’s been dropped.”
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And a final user commented: “Ram’s betrayed.”
Others pointed out that Ramsdale often likes to head out on his own – and have praised the competition between two top-quality goalkeepers at the Emirates.
Raya, who arrived from Brentford for a £3m loan fee, looked assured with the ball at his feet as Arsenal made a successful return to the Champions League.
He is expected to keep his place for the crunch clash as Ange Postecoglou and his Tottenham side make the short trip to visit the Gunners on Sunday afternoon.
But Raya called on the England stopper to “fight for the team” as he appreciates the attention around the battle.
Boss Arteta also recognised it is a delicate situation – but is confident the two can push each other to be better goalkeepers.

The former midfielder, who suggested he might even sub the pair DURING matches, said: “I suffer and I care about every player who is not playing.
“But this is the competition and this is my job to make decisions in the best possible way for the team.
“In your tummy when you have players sitting [out] and you have to announce the line-up, it is one of the hardest things.”
Ramsdale and Raya are battling it out for the No1 spotCredit: The Sun
Mikel Arteta admitted he might sub his goalkeepers during matchesCredit: Getty More

MANCHESTER UNITED have confirmed former Arsenal doctor Gary O’Driscoll will join as the head of sports medicine at the club.O’Driscoll spent 14 years at Arsenal before opting to leave the Emirates in the summer and has now made the switch to Old Trafford.
Gary O’Driscoll has been appointed club doctor at Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
O’Driscoll spent 14 years at Arsenal before leaving the club this summerCredit: Getty
The United medical department has come under scrutiny in recent months amid the club’s injury crisis.
Nine of the 12 players absent for United’s midweek Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich were injury-related.
The Red Devils confirmed O’Drsicoll’s arrival on their official club website.
United say O’Driscoll, who has also worked with the Ireland rugby union team and the British and Irish Lions, grew up in Manchester and is a lifelong United fan.
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The medical expert will be known to Arsenal fans as he appeared in their All or Nothing documentary with Amazon.
During his time at the Gunners he was seen holding medical briefings with Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff. 
Former United doctor Steve McNally left the club midway through last season and Jim Moxon had been the club doctor in the interim.
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McNally took over as the United doctor in 2006, replacing Mike Stone after he clashed with Sir Alex Ferguson over Wayne Rooney’s recovery from a fractured metatarsal on the eve of the World Cup.
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O’Driscoll will be looking to make an impact at Old Trafford – with United having lost three of their five opening games in the Premier League this season. 
United will return to the Premier League this weekend after their 4-3 defeat against Bayern to take on Burnley at Turf Moor. More

AN ICONIC Premier League stadium could have looked very different if mega plans were not abandoned when the club ran out of money.The ground is usually instantly recognisable with its famous stands and unique design.
This is how Stamford Bridge could have looked in the 1970sCredit: Darbourne & Darke
The plans were put together by architect firm Darbourne & DarkeCredit: Darbourne & Darke
And it has been the sight of many memorable moments in the Premier League.
In fact, it has been the home of one of English football’s biggest and most successful teams for 118 years – dating back to 1905.
However, the stadium almost underwent a dramatic overhaul in the early 1970s which would have seen it look completely unrecognisable.
The venue in question is Stamford Bridge, the constant home of Chelsea since their formation early in the 20th Century.
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Then-chairman Brian Mears announced the grand plans to modernise the Blues’ home in SW6.
He declared: “We believe this is the biggest reconstruction ever undertaken at a British football ground.
“We are not just building a new stand, but virtually a new stadium.”
Richmond-based architects Darbourne & Darke were assigned the task of drawing up the new design, which included a wraparound style to bring the stands, literally, all under one roof.
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The idea was to bolster the stadium’s capacity to a whopping 80,000 and add various new features including seat heating and electronic scoreboards.
However, the cost of the operation was an eye-watering £6.25million – with interest likely to double the cost by the time of its completion in 1980.
Work began on the new East Stand in June 1972 – but it proved to be a major and expensive blunder from Chelsea who simply could not afford to pay for the remaining three stands to be updated.
The closure of the main stand did not go down well with the players, who were moved into makeshift dressing rooms and were cheered on by only three sides of fans as attendances dropped by 35 per cent to less than 26,000.
Industrial strikes, power cuts, economic struggles and the three-day week all contributed to significant delays as costs mounted.
Chelsea sold star players Peter Osgood and Alan Hudson for around £500,000.
But even once the stand was completed ahead of the 1974-75 season, it was still beset with problems such as it being 20m away from the pitch, a distinct lack of natural light and fans in the lower tiers still getting wet despite the roof.
All in all, the expensive project meant Chelsea simply could not afford to be relegated.
But those worst nightmares became a reality when the Blues finished that first campaign in front of the new stand in the bottom three, one point from safety.
Promotion followed in 1976-77 but they went down again two years after that as club debts spiralled to a staggering £4m.
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Stamford Bridge did undergo further development during the 1990s with the running track discarded as the stadium became fully seated and all roofed.
The club undertook various other updates on the ground but still remain hopeful of completely renovating the stadium again after plans to move into a brand-new stadium were quashed.
Chelsea ran out of money to complete the full developmentCredit: Darbourne & Darke
The East Stand was demolished and rebuilt with it opened to fans ahead of the 1974-75 seasonCredit: PA
Chelsea sold Peter Osgood to help raise crucial fundsCredit: PA:Empics Sport
The East Stand was eventually opened in 1974Credit: Getty
Chelsea have played at Stamford Bridge since their founding in 1905Credit: Reuters More

ARSENAL legend Jens Lehmann is facing a court-ordered psychiatric report after being accused of attacking his neighbour’s garage with a chainsaw.The former Gunners goalkeeper must appear before a court after being accused of several instances of anti-social behaviour.
Jens Lehmann and his wife Conny in 2017Credit: Getty
Jens Lehmann is facing a psychiatric report in a German courtCredit: Getty
Lehmann made 200 appearances for Arsenal during five years in England, winning both the Premier League and FA Cup.
However, the 53-year-old is now facing a psychiatric report in a German court, according to Bild.
It is also alleged that the retired keeper – who was a member of the famous Invicibles team of 2003-04 – has dodged multiple parking fines by speeding under barriers.
As a result, Lehmann stands accused of several examples of anti-social behaviour and will face a psychiatric report for an anti-social personality disorder, the report claims.
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Earlier this year the German international was charged after allegedly damaging his neighbour’s property with a chainsaw.
Criminal defence attorney Dr Adam Ahmed said: “A court sees the need to obtain a psychiatric report and orders it in order to check guilt.
“These actions (of Lehmann) suggest a suspected diagnosis of anti-social personality disorder, in which the affected person has little empathy for others and often disregards rules and norms.”
Lehmann was met with several charges by the Munich II public prosecutor’s office back in June.
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The charges include an alleged attack on the roof beam of his neighbour’s garage with a chainsaw in July 2022.
Lehmann allegedly attacked his neighbour’s garage with a chainsawCredit: Getty
Lehmann played 200 games for Arsenal and was a member of The Invicibles teamCredit: PA:Press Association
His outburst supposedly came because the garage was blocking his view of Lake Starnberg in Bavaria.
Police claim to have captured the incident on a surveillance camera.
Lehmann has denied any wrongdoing.
Lehman is also accused of dodging parking fees at Munich Airport on two occasions.
It is claimed he drove out of the airport without paying for parking, despite the cost being less than £260.
Meanwhile, he allegedly insulted officers on a separate occasion after being caught using his phone whilst driving.
Lehmann reacted angrily when officers attempted to confiscate his driving licence, having received a one-month driving ban for being on his phone.
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The report adds that a decision is yet to be made on whether Lehmann will face trial, but if it does he could face a suspended sentence.
Lehmann has previously been fined for both tax evasion and aiding and abetting an escape from an accident. More

MIKEL ARTETA has opened up on his ruthless decision to axe Arsenal No1 Aaron Ramsdale and revealed the feeling it left “in his tummy”.The England international was replaced in the Gunner’s last two fixtures by summer signing David Raya.
Mikel Arteta has opened up about axing Aaron RamsdaleCredit: Getty
David Raya was Arteta’s first-choice shot-stopper in Arsenal’s last two fixturesCredit: Getty
Raya, 28, joined on a season-long loan from Brentford last month.
Arsenal have a £27million option to buy the Spaniard at the end of the 2023-24 campaign if he succeeds at the Emirates Stadium.
This looks like it could be the case as Arteta has favoured him over first-choice shot-stopper Ramsdale in their 1-0 victory against Everton on Sunday.
The Spaniard also picked the newcomer to start in their Champions League opener against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.
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Arteta has favoured Ramsdale since March 2022 – and the Englishman had started every game for Arsenal since 2022 up until their match with the Toffees at the weekend.
Arteta admitted dropping Aaron Ramsdale left an uncomfortable feeling “in his tummy”, and has yet to decide who will start in the Arsenal goal against Tottenham on Sunday.
Arteta said: “It is very difficult with every player. And I suffer and I care about every player who is not playing.
“But this is the competition and this is my job to make decisions in the best possible way for the team.
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“In your tummy when you have players sitting out and you have to announce the line-up, it is one of the hardest things.”
The decision to give Raya the opportunity to prove himself worthy of being the club’s No1 has been fiercely debated by the Emirates faithful.
But Arteta has reinforced that these decisions need to be made in football.
He continued: “Players feel valued and happy when they play. And when they don’t, it is very difficult.
“You want them to feel loved and trusted, and the way to do it is to play them.
“But everybody understands it is a team sport and it is always 11 players starting.
“But we have seen how important everybody is going to be in the season, and not look back at the team that have played the first six or seven games of the season.” More