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Wenger Seeking Solace in Quest for Seventh FA

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Wenger Seeking Solace in Quest for Seventh FA SPORTS SATURDAY, MAY 27, 2017 Luiz happy ‘home’ coming paid off COBHAM: Chelsea defender David Luiz admits he took a risk leaving Paris St Germain to come ‘home’ but as he pre- pares for the FA Cup final, having already won the Premier League, it’s a gamble which he believes has reaped divi- dends. The 30-year-old Brazilian was a firm favorite in Paris, an established and respected part of a successful team which won back-to-back domestic ‘trebles’ during his two-year stay in the French capital. That’s a contrast to his first spell at Chelsea when he was heavily criticized by television pundits for the poor quality of his defending-despite eventually being sold for a world record fee of £50million for a defender. So, it’s easy to question why he answered a call just ahead of the 2016/17 campaign to return to Stamford Bridge to a side managed by Antonio Conte who had been tasked with restoring morale after a turbulent season prior to that when they had gone from champions to finishing 10th. His return, was hardly greeted with celebrations either- certainly not outside of Stamford Bridge-and instead described as a panic buy by the home media. So Luiz can understand why many people wondered if he had made a mistake. “I was winning in Paris. I went to Paris for two LONDON: Arsenal’s French manager Arsene Wenger watches from the touchline during the English years and won all the titles in France and I had a great life,” he told journalists at the club Open Day head of today’s Premier League football match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates Stadium in London on May final against London rivals Arsenal. 21, 2017. —AFP “So I have everything in Paris and then I took a risk to come back in one country that was not that happy with Wenger seeking solace in me. “They always criticize me a lot even with the Champions League, Europa League, and playing all the games. “So that’s why it was a risk. And I love the risk. If quest for seventh FA Cup you never take risks in your life you never feel something new. “So I taste something new and I like it. “I don’t like to stay always with the easy life-so that’s why I took the risk LONDON: Bruised but unbowed, Arsene Wenger hopes to end the City 2-1 in the semi-finals courtesy of an extra-time winner by Alexis and today I am very happy.” most painful season of his long tenure as Arsenal manager with a Sanchez. Wenger’s switch to a back three-mirroring Chelsea-has record-breaking FA Cup final victory over Double-chasing Chelsea. helped Arsenal find a second wind, but the defence he aligns beneath ‘I cut my salary’ Though he has been barracked by his own fans and failed to secure the Wembley arch will be far from a first-choice triumvirate. The contrast between the Chelsea of last season and Champions League qualification for the first time in 20 years, Wenger the Antonio Conte side going for a league and cup ‘dou- can make history by becoming the first manager to win seven FA Manchester tributes ble’ is immense; and Luiz has been such an important par Cups. With his contract due to expire and no news forthcoming about Laurent Koscielny is banned following his dismissal in last of the transformation, becoming a pivotal cog in Conte’s his future, today’s game could provide an opportunity for a golden Sunday’s 3-1 win over Everton and Gabriel has been ruled out with 3-4-3 formation. “I think last season was not a good season send-off-not that Wenger will be disclosing his plans in advance. knee ligament damage sustained in the same game. Shkodran “Would it be a nice farewell? No, what I want is to win the next Mustafi is a doubt due to concussion. Chelsea manager Antonio for Chelsea and this season we did great since the begin- game,” he said this week. “I love to win and I love to do well for my Conte hopes to emulate his Italian compatriot Carlo Ancelotti by ning, not just because of me, I think because of every- club. I want to win the cup for my club. It’s not about me, it’s about us steering the club to a league and FA Cup Double in his first season at body,” insisted Luiz. winning the trophy and giving everything to achieve it.” It is not the Stamford Bridge. “It was because of the commitment, desire, the mentali- first time Wenger finds himself looking to the world’s oldest cup com- He, too, can point to impressive form-six straight league wins - and ty we put on the pitch every day. “Every day we are work- petition for solace, with the FA Cup having enabled him to apply silver a stirring recent Wembley triumph, his side having overcome Mauricio ing hard and that’s why we deserve it.” finishes to the season in both 2014 and 2015. Pochettino’s dangerous Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 in the last four. “We In fact, Luiz describes re-signing for Chelseas as ‘the But he has never before gone into a final knowing it is his last hope don’t feel any pressure. We’re just taking this game as it comes,” says right decision’ and revealed that it involved taking a pay of salvaging anything from the season, after Arsenal missed out on the wing-back Victor Moses. “We think we’re good enough to beat cut from the lucrative package he enjoyed in Paris. “If you top four and fell by the wayside in the League Cup and Champions Arsenal, but it’s not going to be an easy game. “We’ve got the league want to know about the money, I cut my salary to come League. While the Frenchman continues to be targeted by the vocifer- title and they’re going to want to win because they missed out on top back here. “But it’s OK, God has given me a lot so I’m hap- ous ‘Wenger Out’ brigade, Arsenal’s recent form means they approach four. We’re going to try and stop them because we want the Double.” py with this,” he said. the game with something of a spring in their step. The game will be John Terry’s last in Chelsea’s colours and although Since making his surprise move almost everything has They won seven of their last eight league matches, winning all of he is not expected to start, he could bow out by lifting his 17th trophy gone well for the Brazilian and, inevitably, his critics have the last five, and lost out to Liverpool in the race for fourth place by as captain and 18th in total. Conte once again has a full squad to only a point. Their most recent Wembley outing will also stand them in choose from and must decide who out of Pedro and Willian will com- gone strangely quiet. In fact former Manchester United good stead, with Arsenal having seen off Pep Guardiola’s Manchester plete his front three alongside Eden Hazard and Diego Costa. —AFP defender Gary Neville, who in 2013 famously said Luiz played like “he was being controlled by a ten year old on the Playstation” went as far as to retract his comments four Pablo Zabaleta joins Hammers years on. —AFP LONDON: Argentina full-back Pablo very successful time,” Zabaleta told West thought my time at City was done. It has Zabaleta will join West Ham United from Ham TV. Zabaleta won the Premier League been a fantastic nine years, absolutely bril- Premier League rivals Manchester City, it twice as well as the 2011 FA Cup and two liant,” he said. Matches on TV was announced yesterday. Zabaleta will for- League Cups during his time at City, where “Manchester City gave me the opportu- (Local Timings) mally begin a two-year deal with the he became a popular figure with fans as a nity to come to this wonderful league, the London club on July 1, when his City con- symbol of the club’s modern resurgence as a Premier League, something I’ve been enjoy- ENGLAND FA CUP tract expires. The 32-year-old had already major force in English football. ing a lot as a player. And, of course, for me it been released by City, for whom he made Zabaleta, who revealed he turned down was probably the right time to move on. Arsenal v Chelsea 19:30 more than 200 appearances after joining offers from Italy, Spain and also elsewhere in “Also, as a player, I thought I wanted to keep beIN SPORTS from Espanyol in 2008. England to sign for the Hammers, now playing in the Premier League. “For me, “This is an absolute pleasure to be part of hopes to play his part in helping the east after being in this country for so long, this is SPAIN COPA DEL REY West Ham. I hope I can give you good London club improve on last season’s mid- a new challenge for me in the Premier Barcelona v Deportivo 22:30 moments. Of course, I come to the club to table finish. “Sometimes a new challenge is League and I’m ready for it and looking for- beIN SPORTS enjoy myself and hopefully we can have a all you need as a person and as a player.
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