SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 2017 SPORTS

Wenger in Wembley spotlight as Arsenal face City test

LONDON: Arsene Wenger insists staunch Arsenal loyalists are starting to eight months. “My future is Sunday. The much for Wenger’s brittle team to han- and Bayern Munich. Arsenal’s FA Cup fate won’t define his believe it is time for Wenger to go. With FA Cup is a very important game for me dle. At least they steadied the ship a lit- City’s 4-0 thrashing at Everton in future, but the beleaguered Gunners Wenger yet to reveal whether he will because it’s the next game and because tle with a win at Middlesbrough last January was the heaviest league defeat boss desperately needs a victory over sign an extension to his contract, which it’s an opportunity to win a trophy this Monday, while the FA Cup holds good suffered by Guardiola in his glittering Manchester City in today’s semi-final to expires at the end of the season, many season,” Wenger said. memories for the north Londoners, who managerial career, while their keep his growing army of critics at bay. Arsenal supporters are trying to shove “What I expect when you go into a are bidding to reach the final for the Champions League last 16 exit against Wenger has been under siege like the 67-year-old to the exit door. semi-final is to go to the final. “We are third time in the last four years after win- Monaco was the earliest he had bowed never before in his 21-year reign as furi- Even becoming the first manager to maybe not at the maximum of our confi- ning the competition in 2014 and 2015. out of that tournament. ous Arsenal fans call for his resignation lift the FA Cup seven times, surpassing dence because we had recently some While Arsenal would set a record if With fourth placed City 11 points following a lacklustre campaign. George Ramsey’s haul of six with Aston disappointing results. “But that is a good they make a 20th FA Cup final appear- behind leaders Chelsea, the Spaniard The Gunners’ failure to challenge for Villa between 1887 and 1920, wouldn’t opportunity to show we are ready for a ance, City are hoping to reach the final would gladly use FA Cup success as a the title was compound- stop Wenger’s critics questioning the fight and how much we want to go to for the first time since 2013 as Pep way to accentuate the positives while he ed by their slide out of the top four, leav- alarming drop in standards he has the final. “It’s maybe our only opportuni- Guardiola chases his first trophy in plans a summer overhaul of his under- ing Wenger’s record of qualifying for the presided over in recent years. ty to get a trophy this season.” England. achieving squad. Champions League for the last 19 years But those close to Wenger believe he It has been a trying debut season for City took four points from their two in grave danger. is still leaning towards staying and, if BRITTLE City boss Guardiola, who admits to hav- meetings with Arsenal in the league this Factor in a Champions League last 16 that proves the case, the Frenchman Against that backdrop, Arsenal head ing learnt a lot in a league far more cut- season and Germany winger Leroy Sane, humiliation against Bayern Munich and could do with delivering some silver- to Wembley to face City under the kind throat than the Spanish and German who scored in both games, hopes to tor- it is easy to see why even the most ware to salve the wounds of the last of pressure that has often proved too divisions he dominated with Barcelona ment the Gunners again. — AFP

EPL results/standings

Bournemouth 4, Middlesbrough 0; Hull City 2, Watford 0; Swansea City 2, Stoke City 0; West Ham United 0, Everton 0.

PWDLF APts Stoke City 34 10 9 15 37 50 39 Chelsea 32 24 3 5 65 27 75 Bournemouth 34 10 8 16 49 63 38 Tottenham 32 21 8 3 68 22 71 West Ham 34 10 8 16 44 59 38 Liverpool 33 19 9 5 69 40 66 Leicester City 32 10 7 15 41 53 37 Manchester City 32 19 7 6 63 35 64 Burnley 33 10 6 17 33 47 36 ManUnited 31 16 12 3 48 24 60 Crystal Palace 32 10 5 17 44 52 35 Everton 34 16 10 8 60 37 58 Arsenal 31 17 6 8 63 40 57 Hull City 34 9 6 19 36 67 33 West Bromwich 33 12 8 13 39 42 44 Swansea City 34 9 4 21 39 68 31 Southampton 31 11 7 13 37 40 40 Middlesbrough 33 4 12 17 23 43 24 Watford 33 11 7 15 37 54 40 Sunderland 32 5 6 21 26 58 21 Ten-man Hull defy odds to boost survival bid

an anxious performance from Hull, who struggled to create any openings before Hull City 2 finding themselves down to 10 men in the 25th minute. When Niasse stretched to challenge Niang, the on-loan Everton forward made Watford 0 enough contact for referee Bobby Madley to rule it was worthy of a red card. LONDON: Everton’s , left and West Ham’s battle for the ball, during the English Premier League soccer match Silva was furious on the touchline and between West Ham United and Everton, at London Stadium, in London, yesterday. —AP KINGSTON UPON HULL: Hull ignored the Watford almost added to his frustration controversial dismissal of Oumar Niasse to when Sebastian Prodl’s header was clawed boost their bid for Premier League survival away by Jakupovic. SOCCER with a vital 2-0 win over Watford yesterday. With Watford dominating possession, Marco Silva’s side played with 10 men for Silva’s men were being pushed to breaking 65 minutes at the KCOM Stadium after point and Maguire nearly deflected Niang’s Senegal international Niasse was sent off cross into his own net just before half-time. Watford felt Hull defender Andrea Hammers lock door for a tackle on M’Baye Niang. Despite that setback, the Tigers clawed Ranocchia could also have been sent off for their way towards safety thanks to second a crunching tackle on Niang, but this time half goals from Lazar Markovic and Sam Madley kept his cards in his pocket. Clucas. Although third bottom Swansea Etienne Capoue’s close-range effort was on Lukaku’s Everton beat Stoke, fourth bottom Hull remain two kept out by Jakupovic early in the second points above the relegation zone with four half, but Hull snatched the lead in the 62nd games left in a nerve-jangling battle to minute. Kamil Grosicki crossed from the unfortunate to see a powerful shot deflected Lookman’s presence had the desired effect from avoid crashing into the Championship. right and Markovic rose highest to head clear after striking Everton defender Phil Jagielka Koeman’s point of view with the teenager pro- goalwards before finishing off from close- Hull have earned 19 points out of 21 at West Ham 0 in the face. ducing Everton’s first shot of the game in the home since Silva was hired and that range after his initial effort bounced down Lukaku had remained a peripheral figure, 70th minute. The winger’s long-range effort flew impressive form could be enough to secure on the line. never looking like adding to his 24 league goals, wide, but he quickly followed that up with a ris- their survival. Hull bravely didn’t sit back and doubled but finally burst into life with a positive run that ing shot struck from the edge of the penalty Hull defender Harry Maguire almost their advantage in the 70th minute. Clucas Everton 0 was stopped by Collins’ challenge. And area that almost tested Adrian.— AFP scored an own goal in the first minute took possession 30 yards from goal after when his back pass eluded goalkeeper Watford cleared a corner and took one Eldin Jakupovic and went just wide of the touch to steady himself before smashing post. That nervous opening foreshadowed an fierce shot into the top corner. — AFP LONDON: West Ham moved one step closer to Liverpool look to safety and Everton moved above Arsenal into sixth place after the two sides played out a 0-0 stalemate at the London Stadium. Neither side ramp up top four bid Butland return no barrier was able to find a way to break the deadlock with Everton striker Romelu Lukaku failing to LIVERPOOL: In-form Liverpool will aim to to ‘Swans’ crucial win extend his run of having scored in his nine previ- move a step closer to qualifying for the ous games against the Hammers. Champions League when they host Crystal The Premier League leading scorer was not Palace today. Matches on TV against Germany, last year but within 10 the only player to struggle during a drab game Jurgen Klopp’s side are on a seven match (Local Timings) minutes he was picking the ball out of his that left both managers frustrated. Victory for unbeaten run that includes five wins and has Swansea 2 net. Swansea’s outstanding player of the West Ham would have taken them to the 40- lifted them up to third place in the Premier England FA Cup season Gylfi Sigurdsson was at the heart of point mark while Everton would have moved League. The Reds are sixth points clear of fifth Arsenal v Manchester City 17:00 their opener as the Icelandic above Manchester United and into fifth place placed Manchester United, who have two beIN SPORTS HD 2 teed up Llorente and the club’s leading with a win. West Ham blew the chance to effec- games in hand, as the race to reach Europe’s Stoke City 0 scorer headed it past Butland. tively secure their Premier League future seven elite club competition enters the final furlong. ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE The Swans felt vindicated as they had days previously when they twice allowed bot- The most encouraging thing for Reds boss Burnley v Manchester United 16:15 been angered to have a penalty appeal tom club Sunderland to equalise before claiming Klopp is his team appear to have learnt how to beIN SPORTS HD 5 SWANSEA: ’s return to Stoke’s turned down moments earlier for handball a point in a 2-2 draw. grind out victories, as demonstrated by last Liverpool v Crystal Palace 18:30 first team after an absence of over a year against . That was the latest disappointment in a dis- Sunday’s 1-0 win at West Bromwich Albion. beIN SPORTS HD 6 didn’t end in a fairytale for the England Stoke battled their way back into the mal run for Slaven Bilic’s side and the manager Liverpool have found life difficult against international goalkeeper as strugglers match and should have levelled later in the responded by dropping keeper Darren physical sides for much of the season, and SPANISH LEAGUE PRIMERA Swansea emerged 2-0 winners in yester- first-half but Saido Berahino, struggling for Randolph, at fault for both Sunderland goals, in have been particularly vulnerable when Real Sociedad v Deportivo La Coruna 13:00 day’s Premier League clash. form since his move from West Brom in the favour of Adrian who made his first league defending set-pieces. For both of those rea- beIN SPORTS Goals by leading scorer Fernando January transfer window, put his header appearance since early November. sons, they were expected to struggle at The Celta de Vigo v Real Betis 17:15 Llorente and a deflected effort by Tom wastefully wide. A lengthy injury list together with suspen- Hawthorns, yet were rarely troubled by their beIN SPORTS Carroll delivered the victory that Swansea The visitors should have drawn level 20 sions for and Sam Byram meant Bilic opponents. Such discipline will be required Las Palmas v Deportivo Alaves 19:30 manager Paul Clement had demanded minutes into the second-half but Marko was forced into other changes, including draft- once more against a Palace side who have beIN SPORTS after a recent slump put them back in deep Arnautovic shot high over the bar with his ing in Jonathan Calleri for his first league start beaten Chelsea and Arsenal since the begin- Real v Barcelona 21:45 trouble. The win wasn’t enough for them to penalty attempt-after had since arriving on loan from Deportivo ning of April. Klopp has made clear that the beIN SPORTS HD 1 climb out of the bottom three — 10 man been brought down in the box. They paid Maldonado last August. quality of football is less important now than beIN SPORTS HD 3 Hull beating Watford 2-0 kept the Tigers double for the wastefulness as the hosts It came as no surprise then, that the home securing the wins that will ensure a top-four two points ahead-but at least keeps them went straight down the other end and side appeared disjointed and struggled to make finish. Liverpool have had to do that without ITALIAN CALCIO LEAGUE in the hunt to escape. scored through Carroll’s long range effort an impression on the well-organised visitors. their leading scorer Sadio Mane, whose sea- Sassuolo Calcio v Napoli 13:30 Butland made his long awaited come- which might have tricked Butland having Adrian in particular looked ring-rusty when he son has ended early as a result of the knee beIN SPORTS back after recovering from the broken taken a wicked deflection off former Swans took too long to clear after Edimilson Fernandes injury sustained during the 3-1 victory over Lazio v Citta di Palermo 16:00 ankle he suffered, playing for England star Joe Allen in flight.—AFP directed a throw-in towards his keeper. The Everton on April 1. beIN SPORTS Spaniard’s delay allowed Lukaku to block the They have also missed the influence of cap- Milan v Empoli 16:00 attempted clearance and Adrian was fortunate tain Jordan Henderson, whose foot injury beIN SPORTS to gather the loose ball comfortably. means that he has not played since February Udinese Calcio v Cagliari Calcio 16:00 Lukaku remained isolated up front and 11. Asked about Henderson’s chances of play- beIN SPORTS starved of quality service with Calleri and Andre ing again this season, Klopp said: Chievo Verona v Torino 16:00 Ayew made little impression on the Everton “I don’t know. We will have to see. He can- beIN SPORTS back-line. There were more promising signs for not really train so we have to wait for when he Sampdoria v Crotone 16:00 Bilic’s side, however, during the latter stages of can. “That was always the plan with the med- beIN SPORTS the first half when they twice came close to ical department. He is not patient any more, I Juventus v Genoa 21:45 opening the scoring after the visitors defence can tell you that. He looks really healthy but beIN SPORTS were unsettled by crosses from either flank. nothing has changed.” West Ham left back Arthur Masuaku’s delivery GERMAN was excellent and forced a corner that led to IMPRESSIVE RUN Freiburg v Leverkusen 16:30 picking out James Collins at the With Mane and fellow injury victim Adam beIN SPORTS far post where the centre-back directed a header Lallana absent, Liverpool will continue to rely Schalke v Leipzig 18:30 wide. Then four minutes before the break, on Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and beIN SPORTS HD 5 Everton were again forced into some desperate Divock Origi to lead their attack. defending after a goalmouth scramble that fol- Firmino has scored the winner in each of FRENCH LEAGUE lowed Lanzini’s free-kick. Liverpool’s last two matches, while Coutinho Toulouse v Nice 16:00 Koeman was understandably dissatisfied with has contributed goals in three of his last four beIN SPORTS HD 6 his side’s first half efforts and reacted by replac- appearances. Elsewhere, Klopp has several Saint Etienne v Stade Rennes 18:00 ing Tom Davies and Idrissa Gueye with Gareth defensive injury concerns. beIN SPORTS HD 4 Barry and Ademola Lookman in an effort to lift Joel Matip and Lucas Leiva have been Olympique Lyonnais v Monaco 22:15 the side. The opening period of the second half, unable to train this week because of muscle beIN SPORTS HD 6 SWANSEA: Stoke City’s , left, and Swansea City’s Fernando Llorente bat- though, maintained the pattern of the first with problems, while Ragnar Klavan has a minor tle for the ball during their English Premier League soccer match at the Liberty West Ham continuing to press with Lanzini medial knee ligament injury. —AFP Stadium, Swansea, England, yesterday. — AP