David Raya kept yet another clean sheet in Arsenal’s win over Burnley (Picture: Getty)
David Raya has provided a positive update on the back injury he appeared to sustain during the closing stages of Arsenal’s win over Burnley last night.
Kai Havertz’s first half header was enough to see the Gunners record a 1-0 win that moved them to within three points of guaranteeing their first Premier League title in 22 years.
Though his goal was hardly troubled, the precarious nature of the scoreline resulted in a tense and nervous finale that eventually ended in Raya’s 19th clean sheet of an increasingly outstanding personal campaign.
There was one brief scare in the closing stages, however, when the Spain international was decked by Zian Flemming as he attempted to claim a cross at the far post.
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Raya appeared to be in agony as he clutched the lower part of his back and the game stopped for several minutes while the Gunners’ No.1 received treatment.
Arsenal are back in action against Crystal Palace on Sunday where they could well require one more win in order to fend off Manchester City’s challenge and can ill-afford to be without one of their most important players.
Asked about the severity of the injury, Raya told Premier League Productions: ‘Yeah, I had a dead back, a dead glute and a dead shoulder but I’ll be fine. Ice bath, I’m going straight away to the ice bath.’
David Raya appeared to suffer a back injury following a challenge from Zian Flemming (Credits: Javier Garcia/Shutterstock)
Raya had, meanwhile, already won a third successive Golden Glove award but last night’s shutout represented a 19th clean sheet of the season which saw him equal a club-record held by David Seaman.
‘I am very proud of the collective way that we are playing and of course very, very proud of myself,’ said Raya.
‘I’m trying to help the team as much as possible but without these players I couldn’t do it by myself.
‘From the start of the season we has that toughness defensively that willingness to not concede that many chances and that many goals.
David Raya and Arsenal’s defence have kept 19 clean sheets this season (Credits: John Walton/PA Wire)
‘Credit to everyone the way we defend, the way we work to keep those clean sheets. There are so many games that are won by only one goal so if you keep that clean sheet it is easier to win games.
‘We know how important it is in those moments where we dominate and I don’t have much to do but that concentration for 100 minutes to be focused to help the team when I’m needed.
‘I think that was a big difference from last year and the year before to this year by myself where I had to step up and I think I did.’
The future of one of the most successful coaches in the history of English football has been a topic of intense speculation all season with Guardiola keeping everyone, including his players and employers, guessing until the very last.
Ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea, the 55-year-old appeared to hint he was ready to see out the final year of his current contract, but widespread reports broke last night confirming he is set to depart following Sunday’s game against Aston Villa.
Enzo Maresca, who left Chelsea in January, has already been lined up to replace Guardiola having acted as his assistant at the Etihad earlier in his own career.
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Arteta, himself, meanwhile, owes much of the success he is currently enjoying to Guardiola having also learned by his side at City before returning to Arsenal nearly seven years ago.
Asked for his reaction to the news one of his mentors and major influences was set to make a decision that would send shockwaves through world football, Arteta opted for a brief and dignified response.
He said: ‘I cannot comment on that. I think the day that he makes the decision to stay or leave, then we can comment.’
Pep Guardiola looks set to leave Manchester City (Picture: Getty)
City, for their part, are yet to respond to the mounting speculation ahead of tonight’s game against Bournemouth.
A victory on the south coast would see the title race go to the final day of the season and prolong the hope of what could be a fairy tale end to Guardiola’s reign.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager was yet again asked about his intentions at Monday’s pre-match press conference.
After being asked about Andoni Iraola’s imminent departure from Bournemouth, Guardiola was questioned on whether he had thought about his own farewell.
Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta were colleagues before they became rivals (Picture: Getty)
He sighed heavily and said: ‘Next (question). So many times – I have one more year!’
Guardiola was later asked if he would be honoured to have the newly-expanded North Stand at the Etihad Stadium named after him.
‘No, no, no, no, no, no, I have no idea (about) that,’ he said. ‘They don’t have to do anything, honestly.’
Guardiola then reflected on his time at City and the departures of John Stones and Bernardo Silva.
Enzo Maresca has been lined up to take over from Pep Guardiola at Man City (Picture: Getty)
He said: ‘The important thing in our lives is when you look back and say, ‘Wow, you can look with a big smile and that is good’.
‘And Bernardo and John can feel that. We spoke about that in last days and about what we lived. So when you are an old grandfather and you look back and you can laugh for the memories. That is the most important thing in life.
‘Whatever happens in this part of the season, and when I extend my contract three more years, and after that I look back and say, how nice it has been.’
Arsenal were at risk of throwing away another Premier League title as they suffered a minor blip at the business end of the season, giving hope to title rivals Manchester City.
But Mikel Arteta’s side have responded superbly to a defeat to Man City last month to put themselves within touching distance of a first Premier League trophy since 2004.
Beating already-relegated Burnley on Monday night and London rivals Crystal Palace on the final day will see Arsenal become Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years.
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Arsenal might not even need two wins as Man City will need to beat in-form Bournemouth away and Europa League finalists Aston Villa to stand any chance of catching the Gunners.
A long-awaited Premier League title win would likely lead to an Arsenal player winning the Player of the Year award and Shearer has identified the three top contenders in Arteta’s squad.
Premier League record goalscorer and England legend Shearer went into bat for three Arsenal players after Gary Lineker revealed he would vote for Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes (Picture: PA)
Fernandes has enjoyed another superb season at Old Trafford and equalled the Premier League record for assists in a season as United beat Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
‘Bruno Fernandes is just a joyous footballer to watch,’ Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast. ‘He’s equalled that Premier League assists record and got the Football Writers award.
‘I think he’s a major contender for Football of the Year. We often given these awards to players of teams who win but it’s just the best Footballer of the Year and I find it hard to go against him.
Arsenal and England midfielder Declan Rice (Picture: Getty)
‘He would get my vote actually, he’s just such a great player to watch, his passing range and vision is exquisite.’
Responding to Lineker, Shearer said: ‘I would chuck three Arsenal players at you for that.
‘If Arsenal win the Premier League, which we expect them to do, I’d chuck David Raya, Gabriel and Declan Rice in there.
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‘I’m not taking anything away from Bruno Fernandes, I’m a huge fan of his and he’s been outstanding, God knows where Manchester United would be without him.
‘But yeah, I would chuck those three Arsenal players in there as well.’
Lineker replied: ‘Yeah, I wouldn’t complain at all if any of those three were crowned Footballer of the Year.
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya (Picture: Getty)
‘Bruno is the one player outside of Arsenal probably should they go on to win the Premier League.’
Arsenal are expected to prove far too strong for relegated Burnley on Monday night and Chris Sutton cannot see anything but a routine home win.
‘It is Arsenal’s title. They are not going to blow it now, against Burnley,’ the ex-Premier League striker told BBC Sport.
‘I can see it being quite a comfortable evening for the Gunners, actually. The home crowd will be nervous until they score but I can see Mikel Arteta’s side making an early breakthrough.
‘As much as Burnley are still scrapping, which they showed with their draw against Aston Villa last week, they have frustrated their own supporters much more than they have frustrated the opposition this season.
‘Arsenal are a much better team and, whether it comes from a set-play or open play, they will have too much for them.’
After hopefully clinching the Premier League title, Arsenal will attempt to win their first ever Champions League, taking on holders PSG in the final.
Alonso, who was sacked by Real Madrid in January, will become Chelsea’s third manager in a year following Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.
Chelsea finished fourth in the Premier League last season while winning the Conference League and Club World Cup, but have gone backwards this term.
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Sitting tenth with two games remaining, Chelsea are in real danger of not only failing to qualify for the Champions League but missing out on European football altogether.
Neville feels Chelsea are not too far away from once again competing for major trophies, however, and has identified the three positions Alonso needs to strengthen in his first transfer window.
Incoming Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso (Picture: Getty)
‘Chelsea have such an inexperience in the club at every single department,’ the Manchester United legend said on his Sky Sports podcast. ‘They’ve got inexperience on the pitch and they’re going to have to change their model.
‘This strategy of only signing young player on massive contracts… no one is saying that signing young players but only signing young players is a big mistake.
‘So the first thing I think Xabi Alonso will do, he will want a new goalkeeper, a centre back and a centre forward with experience.
Liam Rosenior was sacked by Chelsea last month (Picture: Getty)
‘They’ve got some experience in central midfielder with Caicedo, Fernandez and Lavia, so they can keep those together and they’ve got something there.
‘They’ve also got a sprinkling of those fizzy wingers but they need a top centre forward. Joao Pedro is very good by the way, I like him, and Liam Delap is young.
‘But they need a top centre forward with strength and class, they need a centre back or two and they definitely need a new goalkeeper.
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‘I think if they can get those four players by spending a couple of hundred million and recycle fee out of the club, Chelsea can become a decent side very quickly, very quickly. They just lack experience and physicality down the spine.’
After putting pen to paper on his deal with Chelsea, Alonso said: ‘Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club.
‘From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition. We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies.
‘There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club and it will be my great honour to lead it. Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture and winning trophies.’
Chelsea face London rivals Tottenham on Tuesday night before visiting Sunderland on the final day of the season.
Martin Odegaard will likely be key if Arsenal are to overcome PSG, says Jack Wilshere (Picture: Getty)
Jack Wilshere has heaped praise on Martin Odegaard and expects the midfielder to play a key role if Arsenal are to produce a shock and beat Paris Saint-Germain in this year’s Champions League final.
Odegaard has had a frustrating season with injuries, missing a total of 25 matches across the campaign in all competitions.
However, the Arsenal captain returned to the fold at the beginning of April and has produced a string of outstanding performances, including last weekend, when the Norwegian came off the bench to set up Leandro Trossard’s crucial winner against West Ham.
The north London giants play host to Burnley in their next contest on Monday night and the 27-year-old will no doubt be desperate to start at the Emirates in what is the club’s penultimate match of the top-flight campaign.
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Victory over the Clarets would send Mikel Arteta’s men five points clear at the summit, with second-placed Manchester City travelling to Bournemouth 24 hours later.
‘I’m happy for them,’ ex-Arsenal midfielder Wilshere – now the manager of League One outfit Luton – said of the Gunners’ impressive season, with hopes of a historic double still intact.
‘I know there’s a lot of haters out there who are questioning whether they deserved it, whether they played the right football, but they need to get it over the line.
Odegaard assisted Trossard’s vital goal against West Ham (Picture: Getty)
Arteta’s men are chasing a historic double this season (Picture: Getty)
‘They’re at that point, Mikel’s at that point, where they’ve got close and they just have to get it over the line. And I think they will.’
Looking ahead to Arsenal’s eagerly anticipated Champions League showdown with PSG, Wilshere said he was anticipating a tough day at the office for his former club.
However, the former England international has been encouraged by Odegaard’s recent form and believes he could have a major part to play at Budapest’s Puskas Arena on May 30.
‘There was a time in the season when they weren’t playing as much football as I thought they could have and then they started to a little bit,’ Wilshere went on.
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‘I think a big part of that is Martin Odegaard, you saw it when he came on the pitch the other day and he just brings a bit of control in midfield. I think they have to try and find some control.
‘PSG are a different type of team, they just want to attack. They don’t necessarily want to control the game with possession anymore, they just want to get it in forward areas and they’ve got some dangerous players.
‘Arsenal’s full-backs are going to have to defend really well, really, really well, and accept at times that they’re going to get beat and defend their box well.
‘Because PSG don’t really want that control, I hope that Arsenal can take that control. It will be difficult but that’s what they need to do in my opinion.’
Wilshere won two FA Cups with the Gunners (Picture: Getty)
Asked if he would rather Arsenal won the Premier League or the Champions League, Wilshere replied: ‘I think if you’d have asked that question at the start of the season then it would have been the Premier League.
‘They’ve been so close over the last few years and that’s been the big focus.
‘If you win that then you are the best team in the country, the league doesn’t lie.
Arteta and Wilshere shared a dressing room for five years (Picture: Getty)
‘It’s a tough question because they’re now in a position where they can win both.
‘I would probably rather win the Premier League. Growing up as a young person in this country, I watched the Premier League all my life and to win it is a massive, massive thing.
‘Saying that, the Champions League is as well but I’d say the Premier League for me.’
Wilshere agrees with Scholes’ recent comments about Arsenal (Picture: Getty)
Speaking on a recent episode of The Good, The Bad & The Football, Manchester United legend Paul Scholes took aim at Arsenal, claiming Arteta’s side would not be remembered as a ‘great team’.
‘Listen, right now I agree with him. No, they won’t,’ Wilshere said of Scholes’ remarks.
‘But if they go on to win this then they’ve earned the right to then go again and win, go again and win. And if they can do that that’s when you get remembered.
‘It would be a massive achievement for them as a team, as a club. They haven’t won it in 22 years so they’ll be remembered within the club as the team that brought it back, but then they have to go again.
‘I’m sure that Mikel will do everything he can to try and do that.’
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