Premier League

TOTTENHAM chief Daniel Levy has reservations over Julian Nagelsmann’s age.There is that old phrase — if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
Julian Nagelsmann is being considered as the new Tottenham managerCredit: EPA
Nagelsmann is 35, so a year younger than Spurs keeper and captain Hugo Lloris and just six years older than Harry Kane and Eric Dier.
It is not a deal breaker but equally Levy wants to make sure the new manager is respected by everyone — including Kane.
Providing he has not gone to Manchester United, of course.
And there is a concern that Nagelsmann, who annoyed Bayern Munich with his outspoken views, could once again prove to be a handful.
READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
That is the last thing Tottenham need.
Another potential stumbling block is the uncertainty over Spurs’ sporting director.
Fabio Paratici resigned when his worldwide ban was upheld and Nagelsmann is said to want to have a clearer idea of who will be overseeing recruitment and strategy before committing.
The German is available after his surprise axing by the Bundesliga giants in March.
Most read in Football
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
It is understood he has already turned down Chelsea’s advances over the Stamford Bridge vacancy.
And he remains the favourite to take over from Antonio Conte on a permanent basis at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Vincent Kompany is second with the bookmakers after leading Burnley back into the Premier League.
Brendan Rodgers, dismissed by relegation-threatened Leicester last night, is also in the running.
Celtic’s Ange Postecoglu, ex-Barcelona boss Luis Enrique, Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi and Feyenoord’s Arne Slot have all been linked, too.
Daniel Levy knows he needs to make the right appointmentCredit: PA More

ARSENAL returned to the top of the Premier League table after they swatted aside London rivals Chelsea 3-1 at the Emirates.Two goals from the superb Martin Odegaard and a close-range effort from Gabriel Jesus saw Mikel Arteta’s men race into a 3-0 lead before half-time on Tuesday evening.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard scored a 13-minute brace with two superb strikesCredit: Getty
Gabriel Jesus made it 3-0 to Arsenal in a dismal first half for ChelseaCredit: Reuters
Noni Madueke pulled one back for Frank Lampard’s side midway through the second period.
But Arsenal professionally saw the game out to secure their first win in five games.
The victory takes them back above Manchester City, two points clear having played two games more.
Here is how SunSport’s Mark Irwin saw the performances of the Arsenal players.
READ MORE ON ARSENAL
AARON RAMSDALE – 7
Didn’t touch the ball for the first 25 minutes but when he was finally called into action he responded with a splendid save from Chilwell.
Furious when his clean sheet was ruined by Madueke’s second-half goal.
BEN WHITE – 7
Had Sterling in his pocket all evening and still found the time and energy to get forward and supply the cross for Arsenal’s third goal.
Probably his team’s most improved player this season.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
JAKUB KIWIOR – 7
With confidence in Rob Holding at rock bottom, the young Polish centre-half was handed a first League start by Arteta and looked like he’d been playing there all season. Impressive.
Polish centre-back Jakub Kiwior started for Arsenal instead of Rob HoldingCredit: Getty
GABRIEL MAGALHAES – 7
Relished his battle with Aubameyang and didn’t let the former Arsenal skipper have a sniff of goal on his first return to the Emirates since being booted out by Arteta.
Denied a goal by Thiago Silva’s goal-line clearance.
OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO – 6
Played a more defensive role than usual, focussing on his left-back duties to close the Chelsea supply line to Aubameyang.
But allowed Madueke to get in behind for Chelsea’s consolation goal.
Oleksandr Zinchenko made a mistake for Chelsea’s goalCredit: AFP
MARTIN ODEGAARD – 9
Brilliant captain’s performance from the Norwegian playmaker.
Two clinically taken goals put Chelsea to the sword within the first half hour to ensure Arsenal returned to the top of the table.
Odegaard produced a captain’s performance against ChelseaCredit: AFP
JORGINHO – 7
In for the out of form Thomas Partey, he was keen to show his former club that he is still a big-time player.
Anchored the midfield with the minimum of fuss to give Odegaard and Xhaka licence to get forward.
GRANIT XHAKA – 8
Involved in all three goals, he supplied identical low crosses for Odegaard to sweep home before creating mayhem in the Chelsea six-yard box when Jesus scored from close range.
BUKAYO SAKA – 6
Stretched Chelsea’s back four until the pips squeaked.
Took his fair share of whacks but kept coming back for more even though his final ball wasn’t quite there. Looked to be flagging before he was subbed off.
GABRIEL JESUS – 8
Never gave Chelsea’s shambolic defence a moment’s peace and gained the reward for his endeavours deserved when he put the game to bed with a classic predator’s strike.
Jesus scored his 10th goal of the seasonCredit: Reuters
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 7
In from the start to give Martinelli a rest, he worked his socks off down the left flank and put just as much effort into his defensive duties as he did going forward.
SUBS
Gabriel Martinelli (for Trossard 59 mins) – 6
The game was already over when he came on for the last 30 minutes.
Reiss Nelson (for Saka 73 mins) – 6
Introduced fresh energy when Chelsea were looking to get a belated toehold.
Kieran Tierney (for Zinchenko 73 mins) – 6
Told to make sure there was no late Chelsea comeback and did exactly what was requested.
Rob Holding (for Gabriel 85 mins) – 5
With Gabriel struggling with an ankle knock, he came on to see Arsenal over the line.

Thomas Partey (for Jorginho 85 mins) – 5
Extra defensive protection for the final few minutes.
Subs not used: Turner, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Vieira. More

AS Arsenal rose back to the Premier League summit for 24 hours, the most pressing question at the Emirates was ‘Just how low can Chelsea go?’Because how is it actually possible to have spent £600million in a year on a football team as bad as this one? 
Two goals from Martin Odegaard saw Arsenal ease past Chelsea 3-1Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
The Blues have now lost six games in a row under Frank LampardCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Arsenal’s faint title hopes remain alive after a much-needed winCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
The Gunners ended their four-match barren run in styleCredit: Getty
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal reign was given lift-off by an FA Cup Final victory over Frank Lampard’s Blues in 2020.
And here Arteta was given another major morale boost by Lampard’s Chelsea, whose ill-judged decision to take the interim job has sent his beloved club into an extraordinary tailspin. 
Martin Odegaard’s first-half double and a Gabriel Jesus strike had Arsenal done and dusted by half-time as they halted the four-match winless run which will surely cost them the title.   
Manchester City, who have two games in hand on Arsenal, will expect to regain top spot at home to West Ham tomorrow – but at least a convenient visit from Chelsea meant that the Gunners’ campaign has not completely fizzled out.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
They showed a gutsy reaction to last week’s 4-1 hammering at the Etihad but this had far more to do with Chelsea’s shoddiness than Arsenal’s class.  
When Todd Boehly & Co took over last summer, Chelsea were world champions. 
But after nine months of chronic mismanagement – and with matches against Newcastle and both Manchester clubs still to come – they could finish as London’s lowest Premier League club and in the bottom six of the final table. 
It is no exaggeration to say that if they had sacked Graham Potter a month earlier, Chelsea might have been relegated. 
Most read in Football
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
Lampard’s return has been an unmitigated disaster. Six straight defeats and just two goals doesn’t tell the half of it. 
As Arsenal ran riot for the opening hour, where was Chelsea’s willingness to track back? To take personal responsibility? To go into challenges as if they at least wished to avoid further embarrassment?  
Lampard, playing ‘Frankie bingo dot com’ with his vast squad again, gave Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang his first start in six months, since the last time the Blues faced the Gunners. 
Aubameyang won that 2020 FA Cup Final for Arteta – allowing the Gunners boss sufficient credit to ride out a serious storm the following season – yet ended up being spectacularly bombed out after a series of disciplinary breaches. 
The Gabonese striker lasted only until half-time here and barely had a kick. 
Martin Odegaard gave Arsenal an early leadCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
The Arsenal captain has been in stellar form this seasonCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Arteta handed former Chelsea man Jorginho a first Premier League start in two months, in place of Thomas Partey. 
Leandro Trossard also came in for Gabriel Martinelli and Polish centre-half Jakub Kiwior was handed a full league debut in place of Rob Holding, who’d suffered a major Haalanding at the Etihad last week. 
For 18 minutes, it was very much as billed – a clash between one thoroughly-demoralised team and one shell-shocked side.
Chelsea sat deep, Arsenal were stodgy, lacking the zip and verve they had possessed for most of the season. 
Odegaard made it 2-0 with a clever finishCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Chelsea’s flops held a serious inquest after going two downCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Bukayo Saka had a header pushed out by Kepa Arrizabalaga but the opener arrived like a bolt from the blue.
Xhaka squared a pass which £106million Enzo Fernandez seemed to deliberately allow through his legs and Odegaard netted with a fierce, first-time, left-footed long-ranger which Kepa could only tip on to the underside of the bar.
Chelsea briefly woke up, Ben Chilwell beating Saka to a loose ball and forcing Aaron Ramsdale to turn wide. 
But Arsenal might have had a penalty when Wesley Fofana appeared to handle a Trossard shot Fofana handball. 
Gabriel Jesus made sure of the result with a third before half-timeCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Chelsea were left humiliated at the home of their London rivalsCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Any sense of injustice was swiftly forgotten when Arsenal doubled their lead just after the half-hour – and Chelsea should have been aware of the drill.
Another square ball from Xhaka, another first-time left-footed shot from Odegaard, this time Thiago Silva and Raheem Sterling appearing to leave marking duties to one another.
It was the Arsenal captain’s 14th goal of an excellent season. Erling Haaland is not the only Norwegian rattling them in this league.
Noni Madueke pulled one back for the Blues in the second halfCredit: AFP
It was too little, too late for the visitorsCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
The chants of ‘Chelsea get battered everywhere they go’ had only just begun when Arsenal added a third. 
Ben White centred from the right, Jesus won a header, Xhaka had a shot blocked before Jesus turned it in at the back post with four Chelsea players floundering in the vicinity. 
Lampard looked almost tearful on the bench – and that was before thousands of home fans started mocking chants of ‘Super Frankie Lampard’.
It was an utter embarrassment for the Blues but Arsenal had welcomed the invitation to regain their spark.  
Mikel Arteta was delighted to see Arsenal go back to the top of the tableCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Frank Lampard’s miserable run continued in the Chelsea dugoutCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
After Aubameyang was hooked in favour of Kai Havertz, Arsenal continued to surge forward.
Gabriel had a header hacked off the line by Thiago and Xhaka’s shot was turned wide by Kepa.
Arsenal should have been out of sight by the time Chelsea scored midway through the second half, Mateo Kovavic’s lofted ball scuffed home by Noni Madueke. 
Suddenly, Chelsea seemed to fancy it and it began to get nervous around the Emirates. 

Mykhailo Mudryk, the man Chelsea gazumped Arsenal for in January, came on and added to the sense of impending dread.
Arsenal had tossed away seemingly-comfortable leads against Liverpool and West Ham but they weren’t going to do it again. Not against this rabble. More