Paul Merson says Arsenal should have gone for Eric Bailly (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal great Paul Merson has questioned why his former club did not rival Manchester United for Eric Bailly in the summer transfer window.
Bailly, 22, completed a £30million move from Villarreal to Old Trafford at the beginning of June and the defender has impressed in his early showings for the Red Devils under Jose Mourinho.
Meanwhile, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger continues his search for a centre-back following injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista in pre-season.
On Bailly, Merson vented on Sky Sports: ‘The Man United centre-half looks like a centre-half. You look at Eliaquim Mangala last year and you thought “£30m, that was a bit strong!”‘
‘But I just look at the Man United lad [Bailly] and I think “why haven’t Arsenal gone for him?”‘
Paul Merson has criticised Arsene Wenger’s defensive signings (Picture: Getty)
‘Wenger went to that club and inherited one of the best back fours of all-time. I’ll give him [Laurent] Koscielny and the other was Sol Campbell who was a no-brainer.
‘Since then you can reel off 20 centre-halves who don’t even make up one player.
‘What’s the problem?! He’s sitting next to one of the best centre-halves Arsenal have had in Steve Bould!’
United lost their way underDutchman van Gaalwho drove fans crazy with his dull style and so-called ‘philosophy’ before being sacked in May.
But with Mourinho now in charge at Old Trafford the ‘Special One’ is slowly reinstating United’s DNA with an impressive winning start to the new campaign.
And the former Real Madrid, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Porto chief reckons United are starting to look like the team that won titles underSir Alex Ferguson.
“I think anyone can see there are differences in relation to the last two or three years. The team is improving, the team is playing differently” says Mourinho.
“I think even the fans, the way they react, it is not just because of their passion for the club, it is also because they are happy with the signs of this evolution. So we are fine for this moment of the season. We are fine.”
Reuters
Thumbs up: Mourinho is happy with his side's improvement
Getty
Double trouble: Rooney and Ibrahimovic are leading United under Mourinho
Mourinho twice won the title at Chelsea after flying starts – and he’s delighted United have been fast out of the traps.
“Of course, we are going to lose points, but the later the better. If you start losing points at the beginning of the season, then you have to chase. So it is better not to lose points.
“But in this moment of our process, it is even more important to show evolution in our game. And I think we are showing that although I think anyone can say we are not playing superb yet but hopefully that will come.”
Reuters
Debut: Mourinho was pleased with Pogba's showing
Mourinho was delighted withPaul Pogba’sdebut – but isn’t setting a goal target for the £89million midfielder.
“No, he is not a striker. He is a midfield player. He will score goals in different circumstances. He can score in the air, he can score arriving in the box.
“He can score shooting from long distance. He will score goals but no number. The important number is to score one more goal than the opponent and at the moment we are scoring two more, so we are fine!”
Premier League Power Rankings have arrived. (Picture: Metro/Getty)
The opening Premier League weekend has been and gone but one thing remains; Arsenal fans are still booing Arsene Wenger.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool stole the show as the top-flight returned and Philippe Coutinho spearheaded an attacking raid to take all three points at the Emirates stadium.
There’s plenty of new faces in the dugouts to talk about too as Pep Guardiola and Antonio Conte managed to scrape victories in their debut fixtures. Meanwhile defending champions Leicester proved last season was a complete fluke by losing to troubled Hull.
Anyway let’s get cracking, it’s the Metro Sport Power Rankings:
Premier League Power Rankings
We’ve picked the 10 players we think currently hold the power to shape the narrative of the Premier League. It’s based on their current form – are they in a place to turn matches and win games for their team?
It’s about timing – who do they play next and how much does it matter?
And it’s based on our good old fashioned intuition.
10. Eric Lamela
Remember when Spurs made Eric Lamela their record £30million signing? That was interesting, wasn’t it.
Lamela’s Tottenham career has been showing a steady improvement since his rocky start and, after a strong pre-season, looks ready to step up as Mauricio Pochettino’s leading man.
His goal against Everton looks set to be rewarded with a new five-year contract.
Erik Lamela celebrates his goal against Everton. (Picture: Getty)
9. Jose Fonte
‘Fonte? What? He didn’t even play this weekend!’, I here you say aloud to the screen in front of you.
But let me ask you this question: ‘what’s more important; playing against Everton or being in the middle of a transfer tug-of-war between Manchester United and Arsenal?’
I think we all know the answer.
Jose Fonte celebrates the recent transfer headlines. (Picture: Getty)
8. Yannick Bolasie
If we’re talking powerful Premier League players then we can’t leave out the man who has a new shiny price tag to balance on his shoulders.
The critics will say Bolasie is not worth the £25million Everton paid for him, and those critics are the same people who selected the 27-year-old for their Fantasy Football team.
Amid all the excitement, the former Palace man also slipped in an unnecessary dig at Eden Hazard – which is funny:
‘I’m not going to try to live like Eden Hazard, for example,’ he said. ‘That’s a totally different lifestyle. He’s gonna have a bigger house, a bigger this …you can get attracted too much to that side. And then you forget what you do best. Football.’
Nice, Yannick.
7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
If Zlatan carries on like this I’m going to have to stop saying he’ll flop in the Premier League, which would be very annoying for me.
After scoring the late winner against Leicester in the Community Shield, the big man found the net with an impressive long-range strike on his Premier League debut against Bournemouth on Sunday.
He could keep scoring, but he’ll probably flop. (maybe).
Manchester United’s Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates his goal. (Picture: Getty)
6. Ross Barkley
Ross Barkley needs to have strong campaign at Goodison Park this season.
The Everton midfielder was very disappointing under Roberto Martinez last term and his lack of action at Euro 2016 summed it up.
Ronald Koeman is arguably the best tactical manager he’s ever worked under and, after scoring against Spurs at the weekend, the 22-year-old needs to seize the day.
‘Nothing but the best is good enough’ after all, Ross.
Ross Barkley celebrates his opening goal against Spurs. (Picture: Getty)
5. Sadio Mane
Worth every penny of that £34m transfer fee, obviously.
The questions over Mane’s best position were answered emphatically as the new Liverpool man scored a stunning solo goal against Arsenal, having started on the wide right of Jurgen Klopp’s attack.
Mane, you sensed, really needed an early Premier League goal to settle the nerves that come with a being yet another pricey recruit heading into Anfield.
The Senegalese international couldn’t resist running into the arms of Jurgen Klopp after his goal and early signs show he will prove to be a vital addition to the Liverpool squad.
Sadio Mane and Jurgen Klopp celebrate Liverpool’s winning goal. (Picture: Getty)
4. Sergio Aguero
Sergio Aguero makes it into the Champions League spots of the power ranking because, as it stands, he isn’t injured. When Sergio Aguero isn’t injured, Sergio Aguero scores goals.
If Manchester City win the Premier League this season it will because this man fired them to glory.
He opened his account from the penalty spot against Sunderland at the weekend which seems far more impressive after he managed to miss TWO in one game against Steaua Bucuresti on Tuesday night.
He did still score a hat-trick, however.
That’s right. Two penalties… in one game.
3. Eden Hazard
‘Remember the 2015/16 season, Eden?’
‘Eden?’
‘Eden…’
Is how I imagine a one-sided conversation would go with Chelsea’s Belgian international trying his best to forget a year of his life.
Struck down with Fernando Torres Syndrome for a few months, the former Player of the Season seems to have moved on from the miserable form that turned him into a laughing-stock last season.
Tormenting West Ham on Monday Night Football, Hazard got himself off the mark withan emphatically converted penaltythat will send shivers down the spine of Jose Mourinho.
Eden Hazard scoring against West Ham on Monday. (Picture: Getty)
However, an inspired performance against an off-colour Leicester City handed Mike Phelan an opening day victory at the KC Stadium.
Robert Snodgrass, the man who suffered a miserable injury-savaged season the last time Hull were in the top-flight, scored the winning goal and set up Hull’s opener.
If, by some miracle Hull do avoid relegation this season, Snodgrass will undoubtedly play a huge role.
Snoddy celebrates his winning goal against Leicester City. (Picture: Getty)
1. Philippe Coutinho
Scoring four goals away at Arsenal against a significantly weakened team? Liverpool fans, it might just be your year.
For 45 minutes of Liverpool’s Premier League opener they looked edgy, defensively nervous and ever more erratic in attack – then up stepped Philippe Coutinho with a brilliant free-kick.
His moment of magic was enough to inspire the Reds to take a 4-1 lead and, with his brace, rescued my Fantasy Football team.
Petr Cech getting nowhere near Coutinho’s stunning free-kick. (Picture: Getty)
There we have it, our Man of the Match, Philippe Coutinho:
Man United signing Paul Pogba is keen to return to action (Picture: Getty)
Paul Pogba has declared himself fit to play in Manchester United’s second Premier League match of the season against Southampton on Friday night.
The 23-year-old, who arrived at Old Trafford for a world record fee of £89million last week, was suspended for United’s opening game at Bournemouth as a result of a suspension which carried over from his time at Juventus.
However, off the back of a busy summer with France at Euro 2016, Pogba believes he is ready to return to the field for his new side.
‘You have to ask the manager but I feel very good and have been training for 10 days. I am okay,’ says Pogba.
Paul Pogba has told Jose Mourinho he’s fit to face Southampton (Picture: Getty)
The midfielder also stressed to his new manager Jose Mourinho that he has been training hard in the lead-up to the 2016/17 campaign.
‘I am quite used to this. I played the World Cup two years ago when at Juve and three years ago I was at the Under 20s World Cup as well. So I am okay.
‘It is about your body and I have been training on my holidays.’
Antonio Conte celebrates after Diego Costa scored their second. (Picture: Reuters)
Diego Costa scored a 90th minute winner against West Ham to hand Antonio Conte his first Premier League win.
Eden Hazard gave Chelsea the lead early in the second half only to see his strike cancelled out by West Ham defender James Collins in the 77th minute.
Conte took the decision to leave Cesc Fabregas on the substitutes’ bench in favour of N’Golo Kante and Diego Costa – the Spanish international given the chance to have the final say.
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic, meanwhile, gave new £20 million signing Andre Ayew his first start for the Hammers since joining from Swansea earlier this summer.
Chelsea’s Diego Costa celebrates his winner against West Ham. (Picture: EPA)
Ayew’s first appearance ended in disappointment, however. Chasing back the lively Eden Hazard in the 34th minute, Ayew went down with a muscle injury which forced him to be substituted –much to the amusement of the Chelsea supporters.
Cesar Azpilicueta earned a penalty early in the second half which Hazard duly dispatched – a milestone goal which will go down asChelsea’s 5000th in the top flight.
With Chelsea seemingly in control of the game, Collins netted with a half volley after the balled bounced around following a West Ham corner.
Conte rang the changes but it would be Costa who would settle the game with his late, low strike past Adrian. Here’s how they rated:
0
comments
