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      Nicolas Pepe ‘not cut out for English football’, says Arsenal legend Robert Pires after £72m star’s struggles

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      NICOLAS PEPE is not cut out for life in the “tough” Premier League, says former Arsenal star Robert Pires.
      The Ivory Coast international has only shown glimpses of his talent since a club record £72million switch from Lille 18 months ago.

      Nicolas Pepe’s style is unsuited to Premier League intensity, says Robert PiresCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Frenchman Pires said: “His game doesn’t suit the intensity and demands of the Premier League.
      “Pepe wasn’t used to it and it has been complicated for him to change his mentality, to adapt to a new way of training and to settle in a tough league.
      “I think he is simply not cut out for English football.”
      In contrast. Pires insists Mesut Ozil deserves to be hailed as an Arsenal legend despite his declining fortunes before he joined Fenerbahce this week.

      Maverick Ozil’s Gunners’ career came to an abrupt halt when Mikel Arteta axed him from his Premier League and Europa League squads last October.
      Pepe, 25, appears out of his depth and struggled to get to grips with life in North London.

      And his 7½-year stay at the club ended this month when the playmaker signed to Tukey after terminating his Emirates contract.
      Ozil, 32, set the Prem alight at the start of his Arsenal career but was often criticised for not pulling his weight as his stellar displays became few and far between in recent years.

      Asked whether Ozil will be assured a place in Arsenal’s Hall of Fame or be deemed a regret, Pires said: “In my opinion Ozil is an Arsenal legend.
      “We must not forget everything he did for this club and the quality he brought to the team.
      “For me there is no culprit in this story. I know Arteta and I know Ozil. The manager made a decision and Ozil had to accept it, which he did.
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      Mesut Ozil has joined Fenerbahce after a tough final year at the Emirates but his previous brilliance makes him an Arsenal legend, claims Robert PiresCredit: Alamy Live News

      “He never complained but instead continued to train like a professional.
      “He has now found a solution to leave by signing with Fenerbahce and I think everyone’s happy — especially Mesut because he was the one most affected by it.
      “Being frozen out of the squad is very tough. That said, for me Ozil has already gone down as an Arsenal legend.”
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news from The Emirates

      Nicolas Pepe shows off some impressive skills in Arsenal training More

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      Rochdale have scored most goals in English football in 2021 – and star Matty Lund models himself on Man Utd’s Fernandes

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      ROCHDALE are the great entertainers of English football.
      The League One side hold that tag because they have the highest aggregate of goals in the top five leagues this season with 85, one more than Oldham.

      Rochdale have scored the most goals in the top four tiers in 2021

      In the past nine games alone, they have featured in matches with a  whopping 47 goals.
      And they have scored more goals than any other side in England’s top four divisions in 2021.
      Although Dale — in 18th spot and just one point above the relegation zone —  have only won one of those matches.
      Top-scorer Matty Lund admits recent results and scorelines — such as a 5-0 win at Wigan in December,  Tuesday’s 4-3 home defeat by Oxford and a 4-4 draw at Charlton — have been “crazy”.

      And he would happily take a 1-0 victory at his former club Bristol Rovers today.
      Lund, 30, said: “We want to be entertainers going forward but I dread to know what Rochdale fans’ heart rates are like watching us at the moment.
      “It’s been incredible — and the games have been  rollercoasters.
      “It has been enjoyable but also  frustrating, as we don’t seem to be able to hang on to a result.

      Lund nets in the 5-0 win over Wigan earlier this monthCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      “It’s been a crazy time. I’m sure the fans would take a 1-0 result every game — and so would we. It would be the perfect result.
      “And, hopefully, it would take away the tag of us being the most entertaining team in the country, because we need to be more solid and resilient as a team and keep clean sheets.”
      Dale have suffered injuries to key defenders Paul McShane and Eoghan O’Connell and are not blessed with a big squad, forcing talented teenagers to plug the gaps.
      As well as a lack of experience, other mitigating factors to the goal rush has been an absence of fans,  which has changed the intensity and  atmosphere at games.
      Behind-closed-doors matches can throw up remarkable results, just like we have seen in the Premier League this campaign.
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      Bruno Fernandes has had a brilliant first year at Manchester United
      Lund added: “The games are completely different without crowds and you feel you have a better chance of picking up points — even in the away games.
      “We played at Peterborough last month. They had a few thousand fans but it felt like there were 50,000  in the stands because we hadn’t played in front of a crowd for so long. It was so loud.”
      Despite their defensive problems, which have seen them ship 47 league goals this term, Brian Barry-Murphy’s Dale have no problem finding the back of the net and have scored more than League One leaders Lincoln.
      Only second-placed Hull, with 40, have more than their 38-goal haul.
      Lund, playing in a No 10 role, has ten league goals  to his name already this season, equalling the best tally of his career.
      And the three-cap Northern Ireland international admitted he is learning from Manchester United’s Bruno  Fernandes to add more to his game.
      The Dale ace said: “I’m really happy with the amount of goals I’ve scored.

      “Ten league goals was my initial aim at the start of the season — but now I’d like to get to 15.
      “Bruno Fernandes is an incredible player.
      “He’s  somebody I watch and try to learn from as he plays a similar role,  where he’s a midfielder but likes to press high up the pitch and try to get in the box and score goals by getting on the end of crosses.
      “But I’m sure he scores better goals from outside the box than me!”

      Jamie Ohara says that Man Utd disrespected Sheffield United More

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      Ilkay Gundogan has grabbed his Man City chance with both hands after Pep Guardiola was forced to adapt more than ever

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      THIS season Pep Guardiola has had to adapt more than ever.
      Losing David Silva in the summer and then Sergio Aguero to injury forced him to tactically tweak his Manchester City side to suit the players he has available.

      With seven league goals this season, Ilkay Gundogan is City’s top scorerCredit: EPA

      And the main benefactor is Ilkay Gundogan.
      Since their 5-2 defeat to Leicester at the start of the season, City have only conceded seven goals in 17 Prem games.
      Pep’s first task was to tighten things at the back and after building a base upon the partnership of John Stones and Ruben Dias their attacking return has improved.
      Against Palace, Villa and West Brom they have scored 11 goals without a centre-forward on the pitch.

      With seven league goals this season, Gundogan is City’s top scorer but previously he has never notched over six — even when at Dortmund.
      And it is all down to the false-nine formation Guardiola has adopted.
      Recently, the likes of Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Kevin De Bruyne — before his injury — would be given a license to roam into the traditional No 9 slot.
      And because teams concentrate solely on their main attacking threats, Gundogan falls under the radar.

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      As a former defender myself, I know you are a lot more comfortable when you have an individual to hold and follow — but with City’s interchangeable makeshift centre-forwards it is impossible.
      The constant movement of the front four forces defenders to move out of position to stick with them, allowing a passage in the middle of the pitch for Gundogan.
      But with 13 different scorers, the fact everyone is now among the goals is down to Guardiola’s genius.
      And anyone who manages to finish above them will be lifting the trophy at the end of the season.

      Man City boss Pep Guardiola says that Sergio Aguero is still absent after coronavirus battle More

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      Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk fined for speeding in £100k supercar

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      LIVERPOOL star Virgil van Dijk has been fined for speeding in his £100,000 supercar.
      The Dutchman, 29, regarded as arguably the best defender in the world, was caught on the M6 in his black Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

      Virgil van Dijk has been fined for speeding last September Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      Average speed cameras clocked him exceeding the 50mph limit in Tabley, Cheshire.
      Van Dijk, who won the Premier League title with Liverpool last season, was fined £220 by Warrington magistrates on Friday, at a hearing he did not have to attend.
      He was ordered to pay £124 in costs and charges over the incident last September.
      Van Dijk, who lives in a £4million mansion at Hale Barns in Cheshire, joined from Southampton in 2018 for a Liverpool record of £75million.

      Van Dijk was caught on the M6 in his Mercedes-Benz G-ClassCredit: PA:Press Association

      The 6ft 4in centre-back is recovering after injuring his knee last October.
      He had a knee ligament op following a collision with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the Merseyside Derby.
      Van Dijk has played for his home nation of The Netherlands 38 times and came second in the Ballon D’or award for 2019.

      Virgil van Dijk rides exercise bike in Liverpool boost as he steps up recovery from horror knee injury
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      Football boffins say absence of fans has meant fewer fouls and less abuse.. but the day supporters return will be joyous

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      SO football used to be Men Behaving Badly but now, apparently, it’s as gentrified as Downton Abbey.
      Well, that’s what boffins in Austria have told us with research at the University of Salzburg claiming footballers, coaches and managers are now far more polite due to the absence of fans.

      Romelu Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimovic bucked the trend when they were involved in a furious bust-up this weekCredit: Getty

      Karren Brady writes exclusively for SunSportCredit: Getty

      They reckon the lack of supporters due to Covid restrictions has led to fewer altercations on the pitch and less emotional behaviour.
      The research, centred around Austrian outfit FC Red Bull Salzburg, claims there have been nearly 20 per cent fewer emotional situations in ‘ghost games’ — those without fans.
      The eggheads said there were fewer fouls, less abuse of refs and less verbal jousting between opposing players — all because supporters have been side-lined since the pandemic kicked in last year.
      Ex-players raised on pitches that resembled ploughed fields and with referees who turned a blind eye to anything other than multiple homicides, often say the game has gone soft, but this Austrian research seems to be taking the Wiener Schnitzel.

      All this is fascinating as clubs continue to play behind closed doors due to the continued threat of infection.
      The research also concluded that there was significantly less ‘angry verbal interaction’ which, to you and me without a doctorate in psychology, means swearing at each other. And the referee, of course, who invariably gets it in the neck.
      Again, not so sure about that.
      Aston Villa boss Dean Smith did a pretty good impersonation of an angry man after his side conceded a controversial goal at Manchester City recently.

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      Smith was rightly peeved at the concept of City’s Rodri standing in a different time zone, then scuttling back from an offside position to rob centre-back Tyrone Mings of the ball, before Bernardo Silva scored.
      Smith’s reaction was not what the Austrian nerds had in mind as he swore like a trooper, then got his marching orders.
      Certainly, there was no love lost this week in the Milan derby as Romelu Lukaku told his former team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic “F*** you and your wife”.
      Mind you, Ibrahimovic had advised the Belgian to “Go do your voodoo sh**”, so it’s fair to say they won’t be sending each other Christmas cards.
      Football and foul language has, rightly or wrongly — OK, wrongly — been part and parcel of the game since Old Etonians were knocking lumps out of Corinthians in the 19th century.
      So, has the lack of fans taken the edge off the game? Are players now cooler than a cucumber in Siberia? Would Roy Keane no longer be frothing at the mouth like a rabies victim?
      I think the research may be right in part as playing up to the crowd surely happens in football, just as it does on stage in the West End. But having fans in grounds is everything, as they are the lifeblood of the game.
      The atmosphere is cranked up and players, naturally, respond to that.
      OK, so players could be behaving better, but the day when fans are allowed back into our stadiums will be a joyous one. No more piped-in crowd sounds and more red-blooded action.
      If the game is going soft then Keane will climb over the TV commentary gantry and take a lump out of your legs. Footballers. You have been warned.

      Several success stories have come from January transfers

      West Ham vs Liverpool – Watch LIVE, channel info and kick-off time More

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      Boro ace Duncan Watmore has been getting distinctions on and off the pitch

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      DUNCAN WATMORE wants to prove he is a master on AND off the pitch.
      The Middlesbrough striker this week celebrated graduating from York University with a Masters degree with a distinction in International Business Leadership and Management.

      How Watmore might have looked as he picked up his Masters in International Business Leadership and Management

      This came just weeks after winning Championship player-of-the-month

      This came only a couple of weeks after he earned another distinction – being named SkyBet’s Championship player of the month after a storming start to life at Boro.
      Watmore has had a horrendous four years with injuries – so it is no wonder he has been working on getting academic qualifications in case his career is cut short. 
      Watmore’s Masters follows him already graduating from Newcastle University with a first-class honours degree in Economics & Business Management.
      He admitted: “I don’t want to just identify as a footballer. I’ll always give 100 per cent and be as good as I can be but there are lots of other things in life.

      “I enjoy the fundamental side of learning. I’ve always thought I can do something after football. 
      “There has always been a part of me that knows how short football can be, especially after those injury problems, so I always wanted that backup – to know I have a different string to my bow and a different career path I could choose.
      “I’ve always enjoyed economics and business and just learning different topics. That mental stimulus is something I love.”

      Since bursting on to the Premier League scene as a promising 22-year-old for Sunderland, Watmore has not had much luck since.

      Two cruciate knee ligament injuries ruled him out for nine and 13 months respectively – plus an ankle problem – ruined his early career.
      In that time he had to watch from the sidelines as Sunderland crashed from the Premier League to League One and then failed to get out of the third tier.
      Then as Watmore felt his injuries woes were behind him, Covid-19 curtailed last season and he was released.
      And it was not until Boro boss Neil Warnock decided to gamble on him in November he was able to play again after another frustrating nine months out.
      Watmore told SunSport: “I’m happy after a tricky year where I couldn’t play because of coronavirus and being without a club.“It was so frustrating because I had got over my knee issues and was sharper in training and matches.
      “Then I was without a club, knowing my body was in good condition, but other clubs hadn’t seen that in me because I’d barely been on the pitch.

      Watmore has got off to a flying start back in football with Middlesbrough
      “I knew I had to work to put myself into that position.
      “I put together a good plan. I trained during lockdown – as well as having rest days – and managed my body to get into the best physical shape.
      “So even without a club I was able to stay fit and I’m physically in as good a place as I’ve been before.
      “I just needed a club to take a chance and allow me to show my knee could hold up – and thankfully Boro did.”
      Watmore said the opportunity to play for Warnock was too good to turn down – with the veteran boss, 71, winning four promotions to the top flight four times with Notts County, Sheffield United, QPR and Cardiff.
      He said: “I had a couple of offers from League One clubs and some abroad – but as soon as I heard Boro were interested I wanted to come.
      “Firstly because Neil Warnock is the manager. He has a good reputation.
      “All the lads I met and the people around the club – as well as everyone I talked to – spoke so highly of Boro.”

      I just needed a club to take a chance and allow me to show my knee could hold up – and thankfully Boro did.”

      The 26-year-old has rewarded Boro by scoring five goals in his nine starts so far.
      Watmore has been deployed as a striker– despite playing almost always as a winger during his seven years at Sunderland.
      Warnock did play him wide in the recent 2-1 win at Forest and praised him for his performance.
      Watmore said: “I like playing in both positions. I enjoy playing down the middle because I feel I can score goals.
      “Without wanting to use a cliché, I’m happy to play wherever I’m wanted.

      The Boro ace – who is from Cheshire – loves life in the north east
      “If I’m going to get into the team by playing wide and tracking back then I am happy to do that.
      “I’m always working on my fitness and energy levels to make sure I can get up the pitch and be a threat but also do the defensive work if required.
      “The start I’ve had in terms of goals this season has been pleasing. I’ve always backed myself to score.
      “But there will be times when I’m not scoring so will have to do much more defensive work and provide more support.”
      Warnock has impressed Watmore in his first few months at the club.
      The striker said: “He has good deep knowledge of the game and is switched on.
      “I know exactly what he wants from me when I step out onto the pitch.“
      “He has a great sense of humour. Every day he’ll say something which makes you laugh.

      Boro boss Neil Warnock is one of the biggest reasons Watmore joined
      “But he’s serious when it comes to football.
      “It’s balanced and I know all the lads feel the same. It’s a great environment.
      “And he has that experience of getting teams out of the Championship multiple times and at multiple clubs.
      “It’s a great feeling to know you have a manager who has done that and you can trust him. Trust is an important thing.”
      Watmore’s form has inevitably linked him with Premier League clubs – West Brom and Burnley among them.And he would love to return to the top flight and believes it is possible at Boro.
      He said: “I’m just grateful to be playing football. The injuries I had were horrendous. There were times I thought I’d not play again and that this was the end of the road.
      “And sometimes it’s easy to get caught up having too many goals and ambitions.

      I’m just grateful to be playing football. The injuries I had were horrendous. There were times I thought I’d not play again and that this was the end of the road.”

      “I’ve learned it’s important to appreciate what you’ve got and keep things in perspective.
      “It’s a tough world out there right now and I’ve a job and am lucky to be in the position I am.
      “I just want to be the best I can be. 
      “If I got into the Premier League again with Boro that would be fantastic. That is the goal of everyone at the club and it’s something we’re striving towards.”
      Meanwhile Watmore is currently spending his spare time reading the book Kleptopia: How Dirty Money is Conquering the World.
      He said: “It’s about financial corruption in governments across the world. It’s quite alarming.”
      Watmore is certainly not your everyday footballer. More

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      Owen Dale reckons Crewe can snatch back-to-back promotions in the Championship after roaring first half to the season

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      OWEN DALE believes Crewe can win back-to-back promotions to the Championship.
      Alex have had an impressive first half to the season in League One following their promotion last season.

      Owen Dale is confident after a superb first half to the season for Crewe

      They host Ipswich this weekend just four points behind the play-off spots.
      And Dale, 22, who is enjoying his breakthrough season, has played a big part with his brilliant performances on the left flank.
      Asked if he believes Crewe can get promoted again, he told SunSport: “Yes, definitely. At the start of the season, the manager instilled a lot of belief into us and set out his stall – saying, ‘We’re not looking to just survive in this division.’
      “He thinks there’s enough talent in the team to go on another run. We’re starting to believe in that ourselves.

      “Around the dressing room, there are a lot of performers and as a team we’re doing well – especially with the new lads that have joined us this season and if we keep going as we are we will definitely have a good season.”
      Dale is one of the latest players to come off the club’s famed production line that produced stars such as Dean Ashton, David Platt, Rob Jones, Geoff Thomas, Craig Hignett, Danny Murphy, Robbie Savage and Neil Lennon.
      And he has had to be patient – waiting for game time and being sent out on loan to play non-league with Altrincham to Witton.

      That is now being rewarded with a string of fine performances – including a purple patch December where he netted four of his seven goals this season and claimed an assist, winning him the SkyBet League One player-of-the-month gong.

      He admitted: “When I was sent out to places like Witton and Altrincham I didn’t understand why I was being loaned out.
      “Maybe it’s part and parcel of still being young that I didn’t realise that it was to help me grow as a player, understand the men’s game.
      “I wrongly assumed they didn’t want me around the first team and that I might have to start looking elsewhere fearing I was going to be realised.
      “But I had a good chat with the gaffer and he explained it was to get game time in a first-team environment.
      “Non-league wasn’t always the nice football we play here. A lot of it was long ball but I had to learn that and adapt quickly. It taught me a lot – much more than playing in the under-23s. I am so grateful for that experience.
      “I learned how to win matches, the tactical bits and bobs as well as the physical aspect – how to use my body in certain situations.
      “Also I learned what it takes to last 90 minutes when you’re playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday.
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      Dale had a purple patch December to win League One player-of-the-month

      This superb overhead kick by Owen Dale at Burton was an asbolute cracker
      “The manager and his assistant Alex Morris have also taught me so much. I used to run around at 100 miles per hour and was erratic.
      “But they’ve brought a calmness to my game and taught me to trust my technique and it’s all coming together now.”
      Dale picks out his overhead kick at Burton as his favourite goal to date and admits his confidence in front of goal has been transformed.
      He said: “I can’t lie. I did enjoy the overhead kick, they don’t come around very often.
      “But I scored a great one against Plymouth too where I ran in behind and got to the byline, cut back inside and took a shot on my left foot, it took a deflection but went in.
      “I enjoy doing that sort of thing – getting behind the defence.
      “Goals always give you confidence. The last few months I have been scoring consistently and just been believing in scoring in front of goal and taking chances.
      “Now I hope to carry that forward into the second half of the season and maybe we can have another successful year.” More

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      Son Heung-min was clearly offside and it was right decision but was Tottenham star gaining an advantage?

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      IT’S easy to see how Tottenham fans would be frustrated that Son Heung-min’s early goal was ruled out.
      It is another decision where the attacking player is only a fraction offside – it is a very tight one.

      This is the wafer-thin margin by which Tottenham’s Son Heung-min was offside, another tough but correct decision under the current rules

      Son Heung-min had what could have been a crucial strike disallowed before Liverpool went on to win 3-1 Credit: Guardian News & Media / Free to use by all titles in perpetuity under NMC agreement

      Son was correctly ruled offside according to the letter of the law because his heel is beyond Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shirt-line.
      But Son was facing away from goal – so was he really seeking to gain an advantage?
      We understand Pierluigi Collina, Arsene Wenger and lawmakers Ifab are looking at changing the offside law so that if any part of your body is onside then you cannot be offside.

      Referee Martin Atkinson made the correct decision to rule out a Mo Salah goal in the second half.

      Roberto Firmino deliberately moved his arm towards the ball and the offence occurred in an attacking phase of play leading to a goal.
      The ball struck Eric Dier’s arm just before it hit Firmino, but that was not a deliberate act.
      Spurs boss Jose Mourinho had no complaints over Son’s disallowed strike.
      But he was less happy with his side’s defending.

      Firmino and Alexander-Arnold struck immediately before and after the break to put Liverpool 2-0 up.
      And despite Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s instant reply, Sadio Mane sealed a 3-1 victory that put the champions fourth, two places above Tottenham.
      Mourinho told BT Sport: “It’s very hard to resist so many defensive individual mistakes – unless you score four goals against Liverpool.
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      “The team was confident, playing well, Son Heung-min goal’s was obviously offside, then when the game was stable and we were very much in it then comes the goal that is a replica of the first chance they had.”
      In contrast, Liverpool chief Jurgen Klopp told the same broadcaster: “I am delighted – it was a great game.
      “Super intensity as we predicted. We scored the goals in the right moments, the right people scored the goals, so all good apart from their goal.”

      Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel reveals he supported Tottenham as a boy because he liked the club’s adventurous name More