C18 SPORT | THE STRAITS TIMES | SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2016 |

LONDON • Manchester United man- United tempts at , a 2-1 win ager Louis van Gaal has admitted midfielder three years ago this month. that he is looking for reinforce- Ashley Young Wayne Rooney scored both of UNITED ments in the current transfer win- sitting injured United’s goals that day and his cur- dow after the club’s full-back curse before being rent form has revitalised United’s struck again. substituted season. The United skipper has The Dutchman revealed yester- during the 1-0 scored five goals in his last four day that Ashley Young has been win over games, including the winner at An- ruled out for a “long time” after suf- Liverpool at field, which took United to within NEED NEW fering a severe groin problem. Anfield last seven points of joint-leaders Ar- Young, a winger who has filled in Sunday. senal and Leicester City. at right- and left-back this season af- PHOTO: AGENCE Southampton were also victori- ter a string of injuries, was forced FRANCE-PRESSE ous last weekend against West Bro- off late in the first half of the Pre- mwich Albion and the arrival of FULL-BACK mier League victory at Liverpool on striker Charlie Austin from Queen Sunday. Van Gaal told MUTV that The United boss was less candid land. This has led to speculation Park Rangers has only added to the Young needed surgery and that when talking about his future. that United, Manchester City and growing optimism at St Mary’s. United could sign a full-back this Earlier yesterday, United were Chelsea are all interested in appoint- Austin, 26, has joined the Saints month after being forced to use forced to deny reports that club offi- ing him, with City believed to be the in a £4 million (S$8.2 million) trans- academy players in the position. cials met Bayern Munich manager front runners. fer and manager Ronald Koeman is URGENTLY “I have started with (Antonio) Va- Pep Guardiola in Paris last week to “I don’t think that the press have set to hand the forward his debut at lencia, (Luke) Shaw, (Marcos) Rojo, discuss the possibility of him replac- to help me with my decisions,” van Old Trafford. (Matteo) Darmian and Young, ing van Gaal at Old Trafford. Gaal told a press conference yester- “His fitness is OK,” the Dutchman sometimes, and they are all injured. A report in France Football on day ahead of Southampton’s visit to said. “I was a little bit worried about Only Darmian is now back,” van Thursday claimed that the meeting Old Trafford today. his fitness, because he came out Gaal said. “So, I need full-backs and with the Spaniard took place at the “First, they have sacked me. Now, from a hamstring injury, but he you have seen how I have used Hotel Bristol in the eighth arrondis- they are interfering with my future. showed his quality, he showed his youngsters like (Cameron) Borth- sement of the French capital last I don’t have to answer.” fitness this week, and normally he wick-Jackson and (Guillermo) Vare- week. However, a United spokes- Yet he will continue to be under will be part of the team for this Sat- la who are doing great but the level man insisted this was not true. pressure, unless United improve on urday.” REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN, of Manchester United is high. Guardiola announced in Decem- their recent home record against AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Young out for long term, other contenders for “The difficulty is... the clubs do ber he would be leaving Bayern at Southampton. not want to sell in this period and the end of the season and con- Since Southampton’s return to MAN UNITED V SOUTHAMPTON positions injured and rookies not an option that is our problem. We are looking, firmed that, for his next job, he the top flight in 2012, United have Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, but it is not so easy.” would like to manage a club in Eng- beaten them only once in three at- 10.55pm Chelsea Match points: Arsenal v Chelsea may rue Key battles letting Aaron Ramsey v Cesc Fabregas Cech go While Ramsey has two goals in his last three games, his former team-mate Fabregas had not scored and only mustered two assists in the league before a three-minute spell against Everton when he both scored and created one as a holding player. Hiddink may nevertheless LONDON • On a week when Petr Cech’s gloves were wrongly sent pick him as a No. 10. to Chelsea by his sponsors, the champions could potentially wit- ness the repercussions of letting the goalkeeper go to Arsenal. Cech shut out his former side in his debut for the Gunners in the Community Shield – Arsenal winning over Chelsea – follow- ing his £10 million (S$20.4 million) summer move. Mesut Oezil v John Obi Mikel A similar result in the Premier Mikel has returned to favour under Hiddink. Now his task will be to stifle League tomorrow at the Emir- the most creative player in England, though Oezil has only one assist in ates will inflict further damage his last four appearances and missed the Stoke game with a foot injury. on what has been a difficult cam- Much rests on whether the Dutchman pairs Mikel with Nemanja Matic, or paign for Chelsea, while boost- ing Arsenal’s title hopes. whether the Nigerian will be left to track Oezil on his own. So far, Cech – relegated to back-up stopper at Stamford Bridge last season – has done enough to suggest that the Blues would have been better off with the Czech in the side. According to Opta statistics, the 33-year-old has outper- formed both of Chelsea’s goal- keepers – Thibaut Courtois and v Branislav Ivanovic Asmir Begovic – up to this point. Ivanovic struggled last week when Everton overloaded the left with Cech has kept 10 clean sheets Leighton Baines, Kevin Mirallas and Ross Barkley. Arsenal may sense the in 22 league games. Courtois, chance of a repeat if Oezil can drift wide and Nacho Monreal can push who missed about three months wide to support Walcott. If the Englishman does not succeed, Wenger of action through injury, and Be- govic have combined for six. could have the option of replacing him with a fit-again Sanchez. Cech has also averaged more saves a game (3.43) than the duo (2). Key statistics In addition, Arsenal have con- ceded fewer goals – 21 – com- Chelsea have Arsenal’s number Gunners’ home run Costa on the mend pared to their London rivals’ 34. Arsenal wins Arsenal goals Giroud’s goals Arsenal at home Blues skipper John Terry, who Mourinho’s predicted in the off-season that Costa Cech would be worth 12 to 15 P W D GF GA points for Arsenal this term, is 4 in 20 not surprised. 0 0 0 “Petr has shown this season Hiddink’s that he is still one of the best in 10 91 22 5 Costa 5 in 5 the world let alone in the Pre- last 8 meetings last 5 meetings last 8 meetings mier League,” he told the Lon- don Evening Standard. Arsenal have not beaten Chelsea Arsenal have not scored in their last ve has scored ve “I said from the start that he in eight league games since 2011, league games against Chelsea. They has never A 1-1 draw with goals in his last ve games. a 5-3 thriller at Stamford Bridge. have gone 482 minutes without a scored in eight appearances Tottenham was the only blemish He has scored more goals will give Arsenal points in the ti- Three goal-less draws were the league goal against the Blues since (439 minutes) against for Arsenal in their last 10 home for Hiddink than Mourinho tle race. That is what he has done best they could muster. Theo Walcott scored in January 2013. Chelsea. games in all competitions. this season – ve to four. and he will continue to do so.” Cech won 13 major honours in TEXT: RICHARD JOLLY PHOTOS: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS, ACTION IMAGES 11 years alongside Terry. But Ar- senal manager Arsene Wenger said that he feels like Cech has never played for Chelsea. TheBigMatch “I consider him now as a real Arsenal player who looks to me as if he’s been here forever be- Chelsea not Arsenal’s rivals: Hiddink cause he has adapted so well and integrated to team spirit,” said the Frenchman. Cech’s sponsor adidas will LONDON • Arsenal manager Ar- in December. So far we are unbeat- starts tomorrow. “I’m not sure he probably disagree, although sene Wenger might still consider en but we cannot be fully satisfied can play a full 90 minutes yet,” Hid- what will matter most to the Gun- Chelsea “direct rivals” but the with results,” added Hiddink, who dink said of Hazard. ners is whether those safe hands Blues’ interim manager Guus Hid- masterminded a 4-1 victory over Ar- “We have to see if it’s better to will soon be lifting silverware dink thinks otherwise. senal in his first spell in charge back start or come in. aloft. The Dutchman conceded the Eng- in 2009. “It depends on the game and the lish Premier League champions can- “We don’t talk much about that toughness and intensity of the not be deemed as the Gunners’ ad- (relegation) but if you see statistics, game. We will decide on game day.” SAFE HANDS SAVE POINTS versaries ahead of their meeting at then you are closer to that line than Defender Branislav Ivanovic is For more of the Emirates Stadium tomorrow. you are closer to the line where you likely to mark his new contract ex- I said from the start Wong Kim Hoh’s Chelsea, 14th, are 19 points adrift are in Champions League position. tension by playing from the start. that he will give of leaders Arsenal despite being un- That’s the fact. The 31-year-old Serb, made inspiring real life stories, beaten in the league under Hid- “I’m not a person who likes to de- vice-captain at the start of the cur- Arsenal points in the get his new book dink. ny facts. It doesn’t mean we are rent season, signed a new one-year title race. That is It Changed My Life. When asked at his press confer- looking down, we have to look up re- deal with the club this week much ence yesterday if Chelsea are still garding the standard of this club.” to Hiddink’s delight. what he has done Available for $29.96 at Arsenal’s rivals, he replied: “Not at Chelsea have at least been boost- “He’s important, one of the main all major bookstores and this moment. Arsenal are challeng- ed by the news that forward Eden characters in this team,” said the and he will continue www.stpressbooks.com.sg ing for the title.” Hazard and striker Diego Costa are Dutchman. “He has become one of to do so. The Blues are also 14 points adrift fit and available for selection. the key members of the first team of another London club, Totten- Costa, who suffered a bruised and the squad.” ham, who occupy fourth place, shin against Everton last Saturday, while they are just four points clear is expected to lead the line but Hid- ARSENAL V CHELSEA of the relegation zone. dink will make a late call on whe- Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, JOHNTERRY, Chelsea captain, on how “Everyone knows where we were ther the Belgium international Monday, midnight ’’good a goalkeeper Petr Cech is.