Javier Hernandez recently revealed his new-found happiness at West Ham United.
The Mexican asked to leave the Hammers in January following a difficult spell towards the end of 2017, but the striker ultimately remained at the London Stadium.
That has proved to be a good decision, with Hernandez scoring three times in his last four Premier League appearances for the club that he joined last summer.
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Hernandez, who is valued at £16.2m by transfermarkt.co.uk, was always going to score goals for the capital club, with few strikers in the Premier League able to match the 29-year-old’s awareness in the penalty box.
Hernandez’s comments have come ahead of West Ham’s trip to Liverpool in the Premier League this weekend, where the Hammers will be looking for another three points.
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West Ham posted Hernandez’s quotes on their official Twitter page on Wednesday, and the club’s supporters were on hand to pay tribute to the in-form Mexican.
A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below.
His inaction proved to be the biggest answer to his detractors. Watching from the sidelines as Alexis Sanchez had been given the nod as Arsenal’s centre-forward for the trip to Everton, Olivier Giroud’s second half introduction for the Chilean gave weight to the importance of the French international to Arsene Wenger’s side.
Had it not been for Giroud’s involvement, it is unlikely Arsenal would have been able to mount a comeback that saw them leave Goodison Park with a point after going two-nil down in the first half. Alexis is the quicker, more inventive of the two, but his position as the team’s central striker doesn’t provide the balance offered by Giroud’s game. The Frenchman can appear rough around the edges, lacking the dribbling skills and speed to get away from defenders. But he gives focus to Arsenal’s attack, which looked desperately short of ideas for much of the first half.
There have been many who have alluded to Mesut Ozil’s positioning on the left of the front three, which allowed for Wenger to build his attack on the base of a midfield three. But the playmaker has shown recently for Germany at the World Cup that he can be effective playing from the wide positions. If the surrounding personnel are correct, Ozil can be dangerous from any area of the attacking third.
The real problem Arsenal faced in Giroud’s absence was the overall lack of ideas, movement and speed to the attack. It was laboured and predictable, allowing Everton to read the situation multiple times. That’s not to say Giroud is the answer to Arsenal’s problems, and that without him the team are far worse than they are with him; the French striker still has his shortcomings. It’s more to say that the midfield is lacking the kind of individual that sets the rhythm for the rest of the team, the one who controls from deeper positions and launches attacks.
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Jack Wilshere was again disappointing, though he wasn’t the only one. Had it not been for his goal, Aaron Ramsey would likely have come in for more criticism. But Wilshere can easily frustrate in his drawn out possession of the ball and his continued runs into traffic which amount to nothing more than a loss of the ball. Neither he nor Ramsey are conductors comparable to, say, Cesc Fabregas.
But it made Giroud’s involvement all the more important. Everton had time to organise themselves defensively amid Arsenal’s sluggish forming of attacks. There was no going through the home side’s defence, and pushing the play out wide left little in the way of a target man for Arsenal’s full-backs to aim for.
If Alexis is to have a purpose and a role as an alternative at centre-forward, it’s to mirror that of Theo Walcott’s best use: in open games where the team’s attack can get the ball from back to front much quicker than what they did at Goodison Park.
Giroud may not have been in the frame for Ramsey’s goal, but he won a rather one-sided aerial battle to secure a point and a 2-2 draw for the visitors. He can frustrate, of course, but few others in this Arsenal team are as good around the six-yard box, both with the ball on the deck or in the air.
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Arsenal’s game picked up significantly upon Giroud’s arrival after the break, as if they had a reference point for attack. There are still concerns going the other, and if Arsenal are serious about challenging for silverware this season, they will have to upgrade at centre-forward.
But Giroud has his purpose and he is good enough for Arsenal. Providing the equaliser and changing his side’s game for the better is more than enough proof of that.
Reading striker Adam Le Fondre expressed his relief following the club’s Premier League win against Everton.
The Royals came back from a 1-0 deficit to claim a 2-1 victory, with Le Fondre netting both goals.
Although it is early in the season, the three points moved the newly promoted side out of the relegation zone.
Le Fondre admitted after the game that the win will serve as a confidence boost:
“It’s a massive relief for all of us.” He is quoted by SkySports.
“We’ve got the three points and it’s a monkey off our backs as they say. It’s a magnificent result for us.
“We’ve been working hard all season to get that win and we’ve been in some great positions so far this season and not finished teams off.”
Le Fondre admitted that his side were second best in the opening 45 minutes, but deserved the win thanks to their second-half showing:
“At half-time, we had a word with ourselves and said ‘we need to play the Reading way’. That is what got us promoted to the Premier League after all.
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“The gaffer was brilliant. He just tells you what you need to do. We just wanted to get a bit higher up the pitch, press a little higher from midfield and defence and shut down better and be more compact in the spaces in between.
“Coming out for that second half, I’m sure everyone could see a massive difference. We absolutely battered Everton for a time and we fully deserved our win.”
Liverpool fans can be forgiven for getting ahead of themselves with regards to the club’s transfer pursuit of Lyon playmaker Nabil Fekir.
All indications were that the 24-year-old was poised to sign on the dotted line, but in the eleventh hour, the deal collapsed.
According to The Mirror, an underlying knee problem was the reason behind the Reds decision to walk away.
However, in a report published by the publication on Tuesday, it is believed that Lyon are working on how to restructure the deal, which was going to cost Liverpool around £53m.
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It is unlikely that a transfer will go ahead, but the newspaper states that the door is not completely closed on an agreement being reached.
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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Fekir himself remain keen on the move, and this latest news has sparked a reaction from the fans.
Some are still hopeful that the 12-capped France international will be a Red by the end of the window, while others are fed up of the merry-go-round.
West Ham United fans have been reacting to the news that Andy Carroll could be returning to the side much earlier than expected with a pinch of salt.
Co-owner David Gold, who is active on Twitter, was asked if there were any updates on the England international’s progress and provided supporters with some unexpected information.
He told the club’s faithful that the former Liverpool and Newcastle striker could feature for the side before the end of the season.
However, fans took this piece of news as a joke and decided to react with their own pieces of humour.
Supporters questioned what season Carroll would be back, whilst others decided to question the co-owner on whether the attacker would be competing in the horse racing.
Fans have been disappointed with his contributions since arriving at the Hammers and many had hoped that the rumours of him leaving in the January transfer window to Chelsea would have come true.
His untimely injury stopped any sort of transfer from happening and now supporters will be keen to offload him during the summer.
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According to Mirror Football, Everton are beating local rivals Liverpool in the race to sign Barcelona winger Cristian Tello.The 22 year-old is an impressive talent, having claimed a European championship with the Spain 21s and already racked up 59 appearances in La Liga, producing eleven goals in return.Many assumed the once-capped Spain international would be a mainstay at the Nou Camp after the Catalans bumped his release clause up to £21million in December 2012. But bizarrely, Tello has gone on to make a just a handful of league starts for the Spanish giants since, including a miserly two this season.He’s kept his many suitors, including the likes of Inter Milan, Arsenal and Spurs, interested however, with a hat-trick against Levante in last season’s Copa del Rey final, and the Toffees view him as an ideal replacement for loan signing Gerard Deulofeu, who will return to Barca next season.With fellow loan stars Gareth Barry and Romelu Lukaku still to replace however, it’s unlikely Tello will be Roberto Martinez’ only acquisition of the summer.With that in mind, here’s a list of SIX Toffees targets who could follow the Spaniard to Goodison in the coming transfer window.
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON TELLO TO REVEAL ALL
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HAKIM ZIYECH
Cristian Tello may not be the only wonder-kid prodigy to turn up on Merseyside this summer, with Everton also strongly linked to Eredivisie hotshot Hakim Ziyech by Mirror Football.
The 21 year-old has just come to the end of a strong campaign for current club Heerenveen, claiming eleven goals and nine assists in 33 appearances last season. Ziyech is a tricky attacking midfielder, already showing great end product. Here’s a short clip of his best moments from the 2013/14 campaign… //www.youtube.com/embed/HkCOUriTpc0?autoplay=1&loop=1&playlist=HkCOUriTpc0 Snazzy stuff, and even more appealingly, the Liverpool Echo speculate the Netherlands international could be available for just £2.5million this summer with his contract set to expire in a year’s time. But widely considered to be one of the hottest young talents Oranje has to offer, Everton face competition from PSV, Feyenoord and Ajax for Ziyech’s signature.
GARY ‘THE PITBULL’ MEDEL
For this tournament-defining moment on televisual magic…
Chair-ocidal Chile international Gary Medel was at the heart of his country’s clean sheet victory over reigning champions Spain last night, eliminating them from the World Cup, and put in a similarly resilient display against Australia last week.
The 26 year-old of Cardiff City fame, affectionately known as the Pitbull by many, struggled for consistency in the Premier League last season, but World Cup performances have proved that he doesn’t belong in the Championship.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has already admitted as much…
So the midfielder-come-defender will be easy transfer pickings this summer, and after being hotly linked to Everton prior to his South Wales switch, the Toffees could reignite their interest – especially if they fail to secure a long-term deal for Gareth Barry. His Goodison arrival however will most likely take reimbursing the Bluebirds’ original £11million investment. Funky fact: Gary Medel is named after England and Match of the Day’s Gary Lineker.
STEPHANE MBIA
Another Gareth Barry alternative the Merseysiders are reportedly considering is QPR’s Stephane Mbia, who netted this quirky backheel on loan to Sevilla last season: //www.youtube.com/embed/r7wWBn2CqIM?rel=0&autoplay=1&loop=1&playlist=r7wWBn2CqIM
ALESSO CERCI
According to the Daily Mail, the Express and the Liverpool Echo, Torino winger Alessio Cerci has emerged as one of Roberto Martinez’s priority transfer targets this summer…
Italian widemen are a rare breed, but the 26 year-old has more than bucked the trend this season. Just take a look at his potent attacking output, courtesy of Whoscored.com…
Capable of operating on either flank or as an out-and-out striker, Cerci offers Martinez options going forward and added firepower. Here’s a collection of 21 goals to date for Il Toro…
But interest is high in the former Roma and Fiorentina man, and Everton could find their transfer interest eclipsed by alleged fellow suitors Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.
Funky Fact: As a youngster, Cerci was nicknamed ‘I’Henry de Valmontone’, which translates as ‘The Thierry Henry of Valmontone’.
IVAN PERISIC
Football – Croatia v Scotland – 2014 World Cup Qualifying European Zone – Group A – Maksimir Stadium, Zagreb, Croatia – 7/6/13Croatia’s Mateo Kovacic (L) and Ivan Perisic in action with Scotland’s Shaun Maloney (C)Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Paul CurrieLivepic
Another free-scoring wideman said to be on the Goodison radar is Croatia midfielder Ivan Perisic.
Everton’s interest comes off the back of a strong domestic season for the 25 year-old, where he bagged ten goals and four assists in 33 Bundesliga appearances for Wolfsburg. He also produced this impressive solo effort in a 4-0 victory over Cameroon last night…
And this stunner against Arsenal during his Borussia Dortmund days…
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According to the Daily Mail, the Toffees are in talks with a view to an £8million deal.
But further impressive showings at the World Cup will undoubtedly lead to wider interest in the attacking midfielder. Funky Fact: Perisic hit the wood-work three times with the same shot last season, as shown in the video below… //www.youtube.com/embed/cCaOs5tn6Zo?rel=0&autoplay=1
EVER BANEGA
According to the Express, the Toffees have joined the race to sign Argentina international Ever Banega. The 25 year-old is verging upon ‘forgotten man’ status at Valencia, having been shipped out on loan to Newell’s Old Boys in January after falling down the Mestalla pecking order. But the midfielder is an impressive talent, linked to the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City in the past, and his incredibly fluid, aesthetic playmaking style would certainly suit Roberto Martinez’s progressive brand of football. Here’s a clip showing some of Banega’s classy footwork: //www.youtube.com/embed/R6aGREvNpPs?rel=0&autoplay=1&loop=1&playlist=R6aGREvNpPs His stats from the first half of the season in La Liga, courtesy of Whoscored.com, are pretty impressive too…
It’s believed Everton have lodged a £6million bid, with agent Marcelo Simonian claiming talks are already underway…
…but Mauricio Pochettino is keen to bring his countryman to Tottenham, and Sunderland, AC Milan and Arsenal have all been hotly linked.
Funky Fact: Ever Banega once famously ran over his own leg at a petrol station, leaving him injured for several months.
Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that his side have further concerns in regards to their injury-prone defence in the build-up to Manchester United’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa this Saturday.
Out of favour winger Nani was also reported injured by Ferguson and will be unavailable for at least the next ten days.
Chris Smalling has been declared fit to play after being sidelined since the end of last season with a broken metatarsal, however there are now fears over Jonny Evans, who picked up a knock on Champions League duty against Braga in midweek.
United continue to be without key centre back Nemanja Vidic, who his unlikely to return until Christmas following a further set-back to his recovery from a knee injury, and Phil Jones is still on the mend following an operation in September.
The United boss told reporters today: “We’re hoping Jonny Evans is ok tomorrow. There is a doubt, not a serious one, but hopefully he’s fit.
“Chris Smalling is back – No issues with him at all, he did very well. He’s come through [from injury] very well.
“So we’re just monitoring the situation with Jonny, but if he doesn’t make it Chris [Smalling] will have to play.”
Meanwhile, Aston Villa have their own injury crisis as Darren Bent is sidelined with an ankle injury for an unconfirmed period of time, and Richard Dunne has picked up a strain since returning to training after a five month absence with a groin injury.
The most alarming concerns for Paul Lambert will be at left back with Eric Lichaj suspended and Joe Bennett also sidelined. The Scottish coach revealed in a press conference he will turn to 22-year-old Edna Stevens to fill in.
“Joe Bennett is a doubt but we will have to see. Enda Stevens came in and did really fine against Sunderland” said Lambert.
The substitute appearance against Sunderland was Stevens’ first in the Premier League since moving from Shamrock Rovers in January 2012.
“So credit to Enda for coming in and doing as well as he has done,” he added.
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Aston Villa will face Manchester United in Saturday’s late kick-off at Villa Park.
Newcastle have begun talks with Galatasaray over a summer transfer for Garry Rodrigues, according to Turkish news outlet Aksam.
What’s the story?
The 27-year-old winger joined Galatasaray in January 2017 and has since scored ten goals in 49 games for the Turkish club.
According to the report, Galatasaray want £17.5million for the player who can play on both wings, but Newcastle are hoping to make a deal at a lower price.
The Cape Verde international is valued at £7.2million on Transfermarkt, but Galatasaray’s manager Fatih Terim is reluctant to see their star player leave, according to Aksam.
Is he worth it?
Rodrigues is a pacy winger with the ability to beat a defender and get a cross in.
With nine goals and ten assists in the Super Lig, he clearly has an end product and would be a versatile addition, being comfortable on the right and left wing, as well as playing as a second striker.
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If Newcastle can strike a deal with Galatsaray then they will add some real quality to their flanks for the coming season.
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According to The Mirror, Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is prepared to sell both Phil Jones and Chris Smalling at the end of the season.
The duo were heavily criticised following Man United’s defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on January 31, and more questions were asked following the team’s 1-0 loss at Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon.
Indeed, Newcastle’s winner came from a free kick which had been won when Smalling was booked for throwing himself to the floor in an attempt to win a foul.
It has been reported that Mourinho would sell both players this summer, despite the fact that Jones has actually been solid for long spells of the season.
Everton fans were asked whether they would take the pair in this summer’s transfer window.
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Despite the Toffees having problems at the back, not many of the supporters said that they would welcome either Jones or Smalling at Goodison Park for the 2018-19 campaign.
A selection of the Twitter reaction to the transfer rumour can be seen below:
Whether it’s down to stubbornness or a tactical ineptitude, Arsenal seem to approach every fixture as though it is the same. Now, after conceding a grand total of 17 goals in three away Premier League fixtures against the league’s three strongest sides, surely it is time to try a new approach?
A humiliating 6-0 loss at Stamford Bridge and limp draw against Swansea has once more confined Arsenal’s league season to a bitter struggle for Champions League football. Arsene Wenger seemingly set his side up to keep possession as they are prone to doing (much better at home I might add). But it became apparent from the first minute that Chelsea’s midfield duo of Nemanja Matic and David Luiz weren’t going to allow them the time and space to work the ball around. Mikel Arteta, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Santi Cazorla were hurried in possession and gave the ball away sloppily in the build up to Chelsea’s first two goals.
The domination of Arsenal by Liverpool and Chelsea in recent games has really highlighted the weakness in the Arsenal boss’ set up. When in possession, the full-backs commit themselves high up the field in an attempt to provide options for the Arsenal midfield. When facing teams with the pace and the organisation of Chelsea and Liverpool, both Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny have found themselves overrun by marauding bodies. It should be the job of the full-backs to provide options in order to ease the pressure, not go mindlessly rampaging forwards.
Furthermore, for all Oxlade-Chamberlain’s numerous qualities, a ball-playing, short passing, possession-centric footballer he is not. His passing can be wayward, and in midfield areas against teams that break with the pace of Chelsea it places the Arsenal defence under great pressure in the transition.
Last season, when the going got tough the Gunners got stuck in. The fashion in which they were able to grind out results with early goals and gritted teeth pushed them over the line, pipping Tottenham for Champions League football. Albeit they avoided most top teams in the final stretch, but nevertheless, Wenger’s side showed a side to their game that many felt was absent.
As not only Arsenal’s title hopes, but their Champions League hopes too, are in the balance, it may be worth channeling some of that fight from last year. The Gunners’ fantastic start to the season has seen them, at times, become complacent, almost ignoring the strengths of other sides. Instead of building on a rigid defensive performance in the big games, Arsenal have come out attempting to outplay their opposition. Away games against Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea are not the time to dismiss the principles which allowed Arsenal to be in the position they have enjoyed most of the season.
The simple fact is that Arsenal’s players aren’t good enough right now to play in the manner they try against the best sides. And tactically, Wenger is too naïve. In his encounters with the media Wenger often speaks about ‘focusing on our own game’, or offers similar sentiments. As a man of experience it is simply infeasible to accept that he spends no time concentrating on the opposition. But at times it feels as though a little bit better preparation could go a long way. Instead, the Gunners inevitably revert back to the mean in a hope to claim victory. Wenger’s tactical predictability makes preparation for games far simpler than it does against the likes of Brendan Rodgers or Jose Mourinho; both managers who display their malleability in interpreting different situations and opponents, and adapt accordingly.
I would say Arsenal are lucky to be at home in the upcoming fixture against Manchester City, but with their ability to run riot, and Arsenal’s vulnerability against sides who press like City can and will, the potential for a painful defeat (especially off the back of the Chelsea result) is not beyond the realms of possibility.
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Wenger needs to realise that when City come to town, he doesn’t possess the team of superior footballers. In order to get anything from the game defensive discipline and organisation will be the key. If they come at City as they have done against Chelsea and Liverpool, another capitulation may be on the cards. And if that’s the case, it may just spell the beginning of the end of Arsenal’s season.