Premier League

UNAI EMERY has slammed goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez for his part in Gabriel Martinelli’s goal for Arsenal.The Argentinian World Cup winner, 30, decided to go up for a corner in the final moments – with his side trailing 3-2.
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery was unhappy with keeper Emiliano MartinezCredit: Reuters
However, the Gunners were able to counter quickly and score a fourth goal – with the Brazil winger free to tap into an unguarded net.
After the game, Emery revealed he was unhappy with Martinez’s decision.
“Our game plan is, of course, quality really and on the pitch they have to take the decision,” he told talkSPORT.
“He decided in the last action to go to the corner offensively, but I don’t like it.
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“But I told him nothing, before or after because in all my career I have never told our goalkeepers to do it and the statistical data is going against the teams that are going with the goalkeeper more than scoring any goals.”
When quizzed if he has told the shotstopper not to do it again, Emery replied: “He can learn for the next matches.”
Martinez didn’t enjoy the best of afternoons against his old employers.
With the score locked at 2-2, a long-range effort from Arsenal’s Jorginho cannoned off the woodwork – before hitting the goalie’s head and bouncing into the net.
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Emiliano Martinez had a game to forget against his old employersCredit: Rex
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In the first half, Aston Villa looked like they were going to hand Arsenal their third league defeat in four games – when they raced into a 2-1 lead.
But a spirited second half performance from Mikel Arteta’s men helped them climb back to the summit of the Premier League.
Oleksandr Zinchenko’s low drive got the visitors back level in the 61st minute.
A late flurry in the 93rd and 97th minute spared Arsenal’s blushes, after Martin Odegaard and Eddie Nketiah missed chances to put the game to bed. More

ONLY Newcastle could pull off something like this. Within sight of a first domestic trophy since 1955, only Newcastle would end up with their keeper suspended for the final after being sent off in the previous Premier League game.
Liverpool strolled to a comfortable win at NewcastleCredit: Reuters
It was a troublesome evening for Eddie HoweCredit: Reuters
Nick Pope was sent off for handling outside his areaCredit: Getty
Only Newcastle – defensively brilliant all season – could deliver an absolutely atrocious first-half performance just eight days before their Carabao Cup scrap against Manchester United.
Not that many of the club’s success-starved fans will have been surprised by this absolute disaster so close to a first final for 24 years.
Many will have been expecting something like this to happen. So little wonder the Toon supporters left St James Park’ looking pretty p***ed off.
Nick Pope, having kept 12 clean sheets in the Premier League this season and looking forward to the highlight of his career at Wembley after a tough scrap through the EFL, will miss the final after a red card in the first half for a handball outside the area.
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Yet even the situation for a back-up keeper is comically bad.
With second-choice Martin Dubravka cup-tied, your third-choice keeper to play at Wembley would probably not be someone who has failed to feature in a competitive football for two years and last played for an English side when he suffered a horror in the 2018 Champions League final.
But now, incredibly, it seems that former Liverpool keeper Loris Karius will be the man who must try and keep out United.
He will certainly be on a mission to prove a point.
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This was an awful night for Newcastle manager Eddie Howe’s team and it is now four League games without a win.
But while his hopes of a Champions League spot have taken a wobble, Liverpool – like 2021 – are on a mission to end a poor domestic season by still finishing in the top four.
Although helped by Pope’s dismissal, Liverpool were already cruising to a win with two goals courtesy of Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo.
Sluggish in their previous few matches, Newcastle appeared to be playing with much more energy and looked extremely dangerous.
Miguel Almiron should have put them ahead in the fourth minute but took a heavy first touch and Alisson saved.
And then, it went horribly wrong for Newcastle.
Klopp was unhappy with his team’s start and gave it both barrels to Gakpo and Nunez for not working hard enough defensively.
Maybe it was just a coincidence but a minute later, Nunez stuck the ball past Pope after Trent Alexander-Arnold threaded a clever pass between Kieran Trippier and Fabian Schar.

Trippier was guilty of not playing to the whistle and immediately appealed for handball but the ball hit Nunez’s chest before he confidently put the ball past Pope for his tenth competitive Reds goal.
Things got worse for Trippier when he played Gakpo onside for the second.
The £37million Dutchman took one touch to control Salah’s ball over the top before registering goal number two for the club, five days after his first in the win against Everton earlier in the week.
So, 2-0 down after 17 minutes. Could anything else go wrong for Newcastle? You bet.
Pope, normally such a safe, level-headed keeper, will spend the next few days wondering why he tried to use his head after rushing out of his area to stop Mo Salah from connecting to Alisson’s long kick.
A simple clearance would have done – but he panicked.
When Alisson gathered the ball from a Newcastle set-piece, the home bench were screaming at the defence that the Brazilian would kick the ball long to Salah.
This is exactly what happened and Pope charged off his line and ended up stopping the ball with his arm. 
Darwin Nunez blasted in to break the deadlockCredit: Getty
Cody Gakpo added the second on 17 minutesCredit: AFP
Referee Anthony Taylor immediately showed a red card even though Newcastle’s players felt he did not stop a goalscoring opportunity as the ball was going away from goal and there were defenders covering.
Elliot Anderson’s first Premier League start lasted 23 minutes for Newcastle and was replaced by sub keeper Dubravka.
At least Newcastle showed some guts and they were denied by the woodwork twice before half-time. 
Alisson pushed a shot from Allan Saint-Maximin, Newcastle’s best player, on to the bar while Dan Burn also saw his thumping header smash against the framework of the goal.
Near the end, sub Callum Wilson also had a great chance but forced another good save from Alisson.
But ultimately, Liverpool were pretty comfortable purely because of the two-goal cushion.
And what a week it has been for Klopp just as everything seemed to be falling apart.
There was a first game since January 2 for Virgil van Dijk and while he has not been great this season, Liverpool are still better when he starts in central defence.
Roberto Firmino was also handed another run-out after his long spell on the sidelines.
So, life looks a bit brighter for Klopp. 
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There is now a quick turnaround as Liverpool are now preparing for the visit of Real Madrid on Tuesday.
What seemed like an easy win for the Spaniards in a repeat of the Champions League final could be a bit closer than many have expected.
Nick Pope was shown the red card by ref Anthony TaylorCredit: Reuters
Martin Dubravka came on for Elliot AndersonCredit: Reuters
Joelinton limped off with an apparent hamstring strainCredit: PA More

WHIZKID Alex Scott has had a £20million price tag slapped on his head by Bristol City.Many pundits were surprised when the England Under-20 midfielder did not move last month.
Alex Scott has had a £20m price tag slapped on his head by Bristol CityCredit: Rex
Crystal Palace and West Ham are among those who recently checked on 19-year-old Scott.
But neither are likely to go close to the Robins’ valuation in the summer window.
Bristol welcomed the signing of Anis Mehmeti from Wycombe in January on a three-and-a-half year deal.
And despite the Premier League interest for Scott, the midfielder is looking forward to partnering with Mehmeti.
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Scott said: “He’s a special player from what I’ve seen.
“I think even on the first day when he came in and we saw a bit of each other in ourselves in the way we dribble.
“We’re very similar, I think he’s a lot more direct. He will dribble at you and make you look silly.
“Obviously, his finishing is ridiculous and that’s definitely to come. The fans can be excited by that.
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“He’s a great lad off the pitch and in the past few days we’re building a good relationship together and that will only help us on the pitch.
“I think we’ve got that bit of respect to try stuff on the pitch together.
“He’s an exciting player who the fans are obviously going to enjoy watching.”
Anis Mehmeti signed for Bristol CityCredit: Rex More

JAMES WARD-PROWSE moved within one Premier League free-kick goal of David Beckham with his latest sizzler.The Southampton skipper, 28, stepped up and delivered another ripper to grab the winner at Chelsea today to complete the double for the first time since 1988.
James Ward-Prowse delivered another expert free-kickCredit: Getty
The Southampton skipper curled it over the Chelsea wallCredit: Getty
Kepa Arrizabalaga had no chance as the ball sailed past himCredit: Reuters
His 45th-minute effort curled beautifully over the Blues wall and into the back of Kepa Arrizabalaga’s net – prompting his trademark golf-swing celebration.
That was Ward-Prowse’s third direct free-kick league finish of this season alone – plus one in the FA Cup – and 17th overall.
And the Saints man is now just one behind the all-time Prem record of 18 held by David Beckham for 20 years.
Third on the list is a certain Cristiano Ronaldo on 12, level with Gianfranco Zola and Thierry Henry.
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Also in double figures are Laurent Robert, Sebastian Larsson (both 11) as well as Morten Pedersen and Ian Harte (ten).
But Ward-Prowse will have high hopes of surpassing Beckham’s tally.
A whopping 37 per cent of his 46 Premier League have come from dead-ball situations outside the area.
The first came against West Brom at St Mary’s way back in January 2016.
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Incredibly, the last eight have all come away from home, with six since the start of April 2022.
Fans on Twitter continued to be in awe of his set-piece quality.
One wrote: “James Ward-Prowess.”
Another said: “James Ward-Prowse is a cheat code when it comes to free kicks.”
And a third added: “Death, taxes, James Ward-Prowse scoring free-kicks.”
Ward-Prowse is just one behind David Beckham on the Premier League listCredit: Getty Images – Getty More