Another big weekend in the Premier League is fast approaching, with eight matches on Saturday and a further two on Sunday. The top end of the table sees new leaders Manchester City away to Nottingham Forest, while Arsenal - without a win in three now - travel to Aston Villa.
Mikel Arteta has addressed Arsenal’s fixture congestion, while Pep Guardiola may again be asked to speak on the financial issues surrounding Man City just as much as the on-pitch matters which saw his side reclaim top spot in midweek.
Elsewhere, Newcastle host Liverpool with Eddie Howe and Jurgen Klopp having seen their teams clash last time they met - the Reds winning that game deep into stoppage time - and at the bottom of the table, managerless Leeds head to Sean Dyche’s Everton, while Graham Potter will hope his Chelsea team can find a first win in four against Southampton - also without a boss at present.
Follow all the latest Premier League news and build-up from our press conferences live blog below:
‘Momentum is winning 10 games in a row, we haven’t done that’
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, spoke ahead of their Premier League match at Nottingham Forest, about going top of the table above Arsenal and whether they’re building up momentum to win the title.
“They [Arsenal] have one game in hand so nothing has changed much. We are just thinking about Nottingham Forest.” said Guardiola,
“Momentum is winning 10 games in row and that didn’t happen to us this season. We need to be ready mentally against a team that have lost just one game in six.
“They are playing at home with the crowd and I have a lot of respect for the manager - for what he has done this season.”
It was around the turn of the year that the Raine Group, who are handling the sale of Manchester United, approached Qatari state investors over whether they would be interested in purchasing the club. Sources with knowledge of the discussions say the response was initially lukewarm, in part because they thought it was a “fishing expedition” and there was doubt about how much the Glazer family owners really want to sell. This is one of the questions that clouds this week, and could yet ensure that Friday isn’t as decisive a day in the history of England’s biggest club as has been built up.
It is at least bigger than Thursday’s match against Barcelona, which is saying something about why the situation is where it is. As historically resonant as this fixture at Camp Nou is, it’s also a Europa League tie that used to be a Champions League tie, which has played its part in making the Glazers wonder over whether now is the time to sell.
There are only a few things in this whole process that can be said with certainty right now. As first reported by The Independent as far back as August, the Glazers are interested in a sale but want £5bn for the club.
Arsenal must remind themselves of their brilliance against tricky Aston Villa
Just over a month ago, the murmurings began. A 2-0 away win at north London rivals, Manchester City suffering a derby defeat the day before. Eight points the gap. They couldn’t, could they?
If a month feels a long time in today’s unrelenting footballing world, Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal squad will now appreciate that better than most.
There can be no period of reflection, no time to lick the wounds. Arteta must rouse his troops immediately. Just three days on from that crushing defeat lies Saturday’s tricky encounter away against Aston Villa, a team now managed by his predecessor Unai Emery.
Having lost their spot at the top of the table in midweek, Arsenal must now travel to Villa Park to face an Aston Villa side under the tutelage of former manager Unai Emery
Thomas Partey was missing from Arsenal’s 3-1 midweek defeat to Manchester City. Ahead of the Aston Villa match on Saturday lunchtime, Arteta provided an update on the midfielder’s injury:
“He had some discomfort in a little muscle. We have to assess him this morning to see how he is.”
On Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Jesus: “Emile will be training today so if he is fine, he will be in the squad. Gaby [Jesus] is still not there.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta calls for protection ahead of ‘very difficult’ Aston Villa trip
Mikel Arteta has called for the Premier League to offer all clubs the protection of not being forced to kick-off early on a Saturday having played on a Wednesday night.
Champions League teams do not have to play in the 12.30pm slot on a Saturday if they have played in Europe on the Wednesday night.
However, Arsenal will kick off at Villa Park just 63 hours after the full-time whistle blew in their 3-1 loss to title rivals Manchester City.
Speaking in 2020, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp fumed in an interview with BT Sport after his side had been held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton in the early kick-off having faced Atalanta in the Champions League.
Arsenal have taken just one point from their last three league games which has seen them lose first place to Manchester City. Mikel Arteta was asked what is to come for his side as they look to reignite their title challenge:
“It is normal that you want to get maximum points, which we didn’t in the last few games.” he said, “We have to look at ourselves. We have to be more efficient - with amount of play and situations we generated we haven’t had enough points. That is down to us, we have to improve on that because we want to win more games.
“So we are highly motivated for tomorrow’s game because we want to perform well and win the game.
“It’s an opportunity. We have talked about it for a few months now - the position that we are in, the way the team is playing and all the things we need to continue to do to continue to be there.
“We have seen where the level is. We want to be at that level. We are in that journey together.”
Looking ahead to this weekend’s Premier League games, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, spoke about dropping down to second place after losing to Manchester City.
As part of his media duties ahead of their match versus Aston Villa tomorrow, Arteta said: “I know the right things we have to do to continue to be there [at the top]. We have seen where the level is and what we have to do to be at that level.
“There are a lot of positive things to take, for sure, from the season so far [and Wednesday night’s defeat at home to Manchester City].
“We know that the level of efficiency has to be good with every single game to beat them [City] at the end. We are highly motivated to do that.
“The minimum is today that they need to train exceptionally well - that is the minimum. You have to give credit to a team when they beat you, but when you analyse the game again, I think we lost it.”
Jurgen Klopp on 18-year-old midfielder Stefan Bajcetic
“We judge every game whether he is ready. So far, there are no signs that he isn’t okay to play.
“There are long breaks between the games at the moment. How it is with three games, I don’t know. We have other games as well. He played exceptional [against Everton], not just because he’s 18, but he was exceptional.
“We had senior players not available for a long time; they are options now. Long may it continue. Top talent. Super player, he has played well. He has been a joy to work with. The mix of Serbia and Spain is a good one for football.
“He is an intelligent boy. His dad and Thiago’s dad played together for Celta Vigo, so Thiago took him under his wing a little bit. He has a great bunch of players around him.”
“Eddie Howe has done an exceptional job, absolutely exceptional. The financial possibilities they have, or will have, are exceptional, but it is not because of that, not at all. He arrived in a difficult situation, they stayed comfortably in the league, now the team is unrecognisable.
“He’s improved players like [Miguel] Almiron, I always liked him but the way they are playing suits him. Callum Wilson is a fantastic striker, Bruno Guimaraes is massive for them. But he’s turned them around and they are a proper threat.”
Liverpool are hoping to move up the Premier League table and get themselves back in contention to challenge for the Champions League spots.
The Reds are currently ninth in the table but could jump as high as sixth if they defeat Newcastle tomorrow. This is an incredibly vital match for Liverpool as Newcastle currently sit fourth so a victory for them is effectively a six-point swing in their favour.
“This is a massive game.” said Jurgen Klopp, “If you want to reach something this season, we have to chase everybody, especially those who are ahead of us in the table.
“It will never be easy, but we have to try. It’ll be tough; Newcastle are the best defence in the league, lost just once to us, we needed a late goal. They are very consistent and that is the first step to success.”
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