EPL: Ultimate weekend wrap-up; Chelsea go clear, ManU lose, Bony to City
The weekend results
Played Sunday –
Arsenal 3 (Koscielny 6, Sanchez 33, 49) Stoke 0
Manchester United 0 Southampton 1 (Tadic 69)
Played Saturday
Burnley 2 (Arfield 12, Ings 37) QPR 1 (Austin 33-pen)
Chelsea 2 (Oscar 43, Costa 59) Newcastle 0
Crystal Palace 2 (Gayle 69-pen, Puncheon 80) Tottenham 1 (Kane 49)
Everton 1 (Naismith 78) Manchester City 1 (Fernandinho 74)
Leicester 1 (Konchesky 45+1) Aston Villa 0
Sunderland 0 Liverpool 1 (Markovic 9)
Swansea 1 (Noble 74-og) West Ham 1 (Carroll 43)
West Brom 1 (Berahino 78) Hull 0
Visiting Saints stun Man United, Arsenal thank Sanchez – again
Southampton climbed above Manchester United into third place in the Premier League with a shock 1-0 win at Old Trafford, while Alexis Sanchez took centre-stage as Arsenal crushed Stoke 3-0 on Sunday.
Ronald Koeman's side stole the points in a dour encounter as Dusan Tadic's 69th minute strike boosted Southampton's bid to qualify for the Champions League via a top-four finish.
It was the Saints' first win over United since 2003 and their first at Old Trafford since 1988.
After a wobble in early December, Southampton are firmly back on track having beaten United and Arsenal, and drawn with Chelsea, in their last three league matches.
"If you play against a big side you need spirit and quality but you also need belief in yourself and your team-mates and we showed that today," Koeman said.
"We have had good organisation all season and that is key to being successful."
United, now two points behind Southampton, could have few complaints after a lacklustre performance which condemned them to their first home defeat since the opening weekend of the season against Swansea.
Louis van Gaal's team are without a win in their last three league games and recent talk of a potential title challenge is likely to be silenced as they lie 12 points behind leaders Chelsea.
"We played a much better game than Southampton. They were lucky to score out of nothing. That is very disappointing," van Gaal said.
"We have to improve. We have to make better choices with the ball."
Koeman's side took the lead in the 69th minute when Graziano Pelle's shot hit a post and rebounded to Serbian midfielder Tadic, who swept his low shot past Tyler Blackett's attempt to clear off the line.
Juan Mata missed United's best chance, firing just wide, as the hosts pressed in vain for an equaliser.
Majestic Sanchez
At the Emirates Stadium, Sanchez delivered a majestic display as Arsenal kept up the pressure in the race for a top four finish with an emphatic win against Stoke.
Sanchez made Laurent Koscielny's opener and then netted his 17th and 18th goals of the season either side of half-time to lift Arsenal above Tottenham into fifth spot.
The battle for Champions League qualification is hotting up, with Arsene Wenger's side only one point behind fourth placed United.
"Collectively, you're happy when you score a few goals. We had a strong start and we knew that was vital today," Wenger said.
"Alexis Sanchez is one of the best players. He's a fighter with a combination of talent and fighting spirit which is very difficult to find.
"He plays with passion and you want people to enjoy what they're doing on the pitch and show it as well."
Just five weeks after Stoke's shock home victory over the Gunners, Arsenal legends Thierry Henry and Robert Pires watched from the stands as French defender Koscielny started the revenge mission with a sixth minute header from Sanchez's cross.
Arsenal right-back Mathieu Debuchy was forced off with a shoulder injury after tangling with Stoke's Marko Arnautovic.
"He has to see a specialist then we see where we go from there. A dislocated shoulder can take a while," Wenger added.
But the hosts struck again in the 33rd minute.
It was another moment of magic from Sanchez as the former Barcelona forward took Tomas Rosicky's pass and sized up his options before cleverly beating Asmir Begovic at his near post.
Sanchez wasn't finished yet and his deflected free-kick four minutes after the interval sealed the points.
© 1994-2015 Agence France-Presse.
Van Gaal on the back foot after Saints defeat
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal was forced to defend both his tactics and squad management following a disjointed 1-0 home defeat by Southampton in the Premier League.
Substitute Dusan Tadic's 69th-minute goal earned Southampton a first victory at Old Trafford since January 1988, which allowed Ronald Koeman's side to climb above United to third place in the table.
Victory was the visitors' reward for a disciplined and intelligent display, but United misfired badly in attack, failing to muster a shot on target in a home league game for the first time since a 0-0 draw with Arsenal in May 2009.
On that occasion, the draw was enough to give United the league title, but Sunday's defeat left them with 37 points from 21 games — the same amount as Van Gaal's hapless predecessor David Moyes had mustered at this stage last season.
Koeman suggested that United were having trouble adapting to Van Gaal's preference for a three-man defence, opining that "they have difficulties to build up with three centre-backs".
But Van Gaal, whose side have taken six points from a possible 15, rejected the claim and argued that Southampton had been "lucky" to avenge their 2-1 loss to United in December.
Asked if United had struggled to bring the ball out of defence, he replied: "I don't think so, because we were the dominating team. You have seen that today (Sunday). That for me is not any question."
Van Gaal also had to explain his decision to omit Radamel Falcao from his 18-man squad, having selected 19-year-old striker James Wilson ahead of the Colombia international.
With Luke Shaw, Daley Blind and Angel di Maria playing after injury, Van Gaal said he needed defensive and midfield cover on the bench and had plumped for Wilson over Falcao "because I know I want speed in attack".
In the end, Van Gaal threw Marouane Fellaini on as an auxiliary striker, but Juan Mata squandered late chances to equalise when he failed to convert a pair of excellent opportunities created by
Koeman rebukes Tadic
Falcao may get a recall at Queens Park Rangers next weekend, with Van Gaal revealing at the end of a spiky press conference that Robin van Persie had sustained an ankle injury.
Southampton's campaign appeared to have come off the rails following a run of four straight defeats in early December, but they have now won four of their last five matches, defeating Arsenal and United and drawing 1-1 at home to leaders Chelsea.
Seven of the 14 players who featured at Old Trafford were not even at the club last season and Koeman believes his side are acquiring the belief required to mount a sustained challenge for a Champions League place.
"We know that we have a strong team and it was important in the end of December that we got a point against Chelsea and the three points against Arsenal," said the former Netherlands international.
"That's always what you need if you are not a big club and you have to play against a big one — that belief in the players, and not (being) afraid about the name, not afraid about the stadium.
"We have 11 clean sheets now (actually 10) in 21 games. If we keep the spirit and we know what we have to do in our organisation, we can keep in front in the table."
Tadic was booked for whipping off his shirt after scoring with the game's only shot on target — following up after Graziano Pelle had hit the post — and Koeman said that he would speak to the Serbian winger about the matter.
"I don't like that," Koeman said. "Because it's a yellow card and a stupid fault is your second (yellow card), and it's a red card.
"When it's the last minute of the season and you have qualified for European football, then it's no problem. But keep that shirt on." © 1994-2015 Agence France-Presse
Arsenal urgently needs a new centre back after losing Debuchy
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will step up his efforts to sign a centre-back this month after losing Mathieu Debuchy to a dislocated shoulder during the 3-0 victory over Stoke.
Wenger insists a central defender was already his priority but the need to strengthen his defensive options was reinforced by the loss of France international Debuchy and the continuing absence of England left-back Kieran Gibbs.
Wenger was unable to say how long right-back Debuchy would be out for following his collision with the pitchside hoardings at the Emirates Stadium after a challenge by Stoke's Marko Arnautovic on Sunday.
But with Gibbs still suffering from an ankle injury, the Gunners squad is once again getting stretched.
"The only negative today is we lost another defender, an experienced defender, with a dislocated shoulder. And that gives us a problem because at the back on the experience front, we are already short," Wenger said.
"With a dislocated shoulder you need a diagnosis from a specialist and we don't know yet but he will certainly not play next week. And Gibbs' ankle is still inflamed. He had a test and it didn't work.
"I was in the market anyway. But what is for sure, not having Gibbs and Debuchy affects us. Nacho Monreal can play centre-back, Debuchy can play centre-back.
"But if Gibbs is not here, Monreal cannot play centre-back and if Debuchy is not here he cannot play centre-back so this is a position at the moment where we are short."
Alexis Sanchez was the outstanding figure in a win that moved Arsenal up to fifth in the Premier League, with the Chile forward scoring twice after Laurent Koscielny headed the Gunners into a sixth minute lead.
Szczesny axed
Wenger dropped goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny in favour of David Ospina, but insisted the decision had nothing to do with Szczesny being fined for smoking in the showers after the recent defeat at Southampton.
The Frenchman delivered a broad hint, however, that the Poland international was unhappy with the decision.
"I don't know (how he took it), but how can you take a decision? You know how you can take a decision," Wenger said.
"I haven't made a decision about the next game yet. I made a decision for today's game. Szczesny is our number one, he is competing with Ospina and Martinez and that's our job, we have to accept."
And asked to expand on his reasons for dropping Szczesny, who was at fault for both Southampton goals in the 2-0 defeat earlier this month, Wenger said: "Look, I don't want to talk too much about that because the more I talk, the less I inform you."
Mesut Ozil was used as a second half substitute, the Germany international's first appearance since injuring his knee against Chelsea in early October, but Wenger insisted he isn't ready to make a full return.
"He is fit. He lacks match fitness. He is physically fit but after it's getting used to contact again and we take two to three more weeks," he added.
Stoke manager Mark Hughes had no complaints about the result, accepting his side were unable to handle Arsenal's attacking threat and in particular Sanchez.
"When you see the power he has got and the pace. He is outstanding," Hughes said.
"In close areas on the pitch, when you try to close him down in close areas, he has intelligence and understands where everyone is.
"It wasn't just him – there were others who could claim they added to a good performance. We were well beaten."
And Hughes, who worked with Carlos Tevez when he was manager of Manchester City, admitted there are similarities between the two forwards.
"They are similar. South American players do have this passion and drive, willingness to work and make things happen," Hughes said.
© 1994-2015 Agence France-Presse
Swansea's Bony to Man City for £30m
Manchester City have agreed a £30 million ($45 million) fee to sign Swansea's Ivory Coast striker Wilfried Bony, according to British media reports on Sunday.
The 26-year-old is currently preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations, but City have been pushing to seal a deal for the former Vitesse Arnhem star and it is believed the move will be officially confirmed early next week.
Bony has proved to be a major asset for Swansea since arriving at the Liberty Stadium from Dutch club Vitesse in 2013.
He has scored nine Premier League goals already this season, having managed 17 in the league in the 2013-14 campaign.
That fine form has caught the eye of City manager Manuel Pellegrini and Bony's agent Francis Kacou said on Wednesday that he expected "things will be sorted in the next few days".
The Ivorian topped the Premier League scoring charts for the calendar year of 2014 with 20 goals.
Swansea manager Garry Monk said on Thursday that Bony's goals could prove the difference in the Premier League champions' title battle with Chelsea, who currently hold a two point lead over second placed City.
"I have spoken to the chairman of the club and the situation is ongoing, they are trying to agree fees but they are a little way apart from each other," Monk said.
"We have had those discussions about what he's worth but the chairman is not stupid either.
"The club have a good understanding of these matters and ultimately it depends on what the club feels in terms of how much a player is worth.
"I give my input but it's what the chairman and the board of directors decide is the right valuation.
"He could be the difference in the title race, couldn't he? That's what City see in him.
"That's obviously why their interest is what it is because he's a goalscorer and gets you goals."
© 1994-2015 Agence France-Presse
Alan Pardew believes maverick talents such as Wilfried Zaha will be key if Crystal Palace are to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Pardew's reign at the Londoners began promisingly on Saturday when they came from behind to defeat in-form city rivals Tottenham 2-1 at Selhurst Park.
They fell behind to a Harry Kane goal before a Dwight Gayle penalty and a winner from Jason Puncheon secured a first league win in nine games.
Pardew credited the victory with his side's more creative approach in the second half and was particularly impressed with the display of substitute Zaha who appeared midway through the second half.
Zaha is on loan from Manchester United after failing to establish himself at Old Trafford and Pardew believes there is more to come from the winger who set up Puncheon's decisive goal.
"Wilfried came on and gave us exactly the reaction we were looking for. If I'm honest, I left him out because I wanted to see what his reaction would be like," said Pardew who left Newcastle to take charge at Palace.
"This is a boy whose confidence needs to be rekindled, I think. That will do him no harm today. That 20 minutes was electrifying."
And Pardew believes the key to avoiding relegation will be to develop sufficient confidence in the side to draw the best out of Zaha and the other creative players.
The manager added: "You have to keep your feet on the floor. But you have to understand in this game, it's not straight lines, it's not just eating the right food and turning up on time.
"You also have to have a bit of maverick behaviour in your side and fortunately today we found it just in time.
"I've got a few mavericks, but sometimes the maverick needs to come out, it can become a little withdrawn.
"And this is no disrespect to the previous manager who I have fantastic respect for, but sometimes results mean you become a bit negative in your thinking. And you have t get the balance right. Second half I thought we did."
Pardew also revealed that the first person to congratulate him on Saturday's win was Newcastle owner Mike Ashley.
"When I checked my phone after the game the first person who texted me was Mike Ashley and I appreciated that," said Pardew.
"He knew that probably it was the right time for everybody concerned. He just said it was a great result and I appreciated that."
Defeat ended Tottenham's six-game unbeaten run in the league and Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted the result was a disappointment after the New Year's Day victory over Chelsea.
Pochettino believes the 68th-minute penalty awarded after Benjamin Stambouli upended Joe Ledley was crucial to the outcome of the game.
"The decisions were key today. After I think 65 minutes we were in control of the game, the penalty changed it all, the energy, it changed all," said Pochettino.
"The decision, maybe it wasn't a penalty and it is key in the result. From my dugout it's difficult to give my opinion but my players say he never touched the player."
© 1994-2015 Agence France-Presse
Rogers predicts late charge to rescue Liverpool's season
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers predicted a late-season charge for his side in their bid for a top-four Premier League finish after they won 1-0 at Sunderland.
Lazar Markovic's first league goal secured victory at the Stadium of Light on Saturday to make it one defeat in 13 games for last season's runners-up, who cemented their hold on eighth place.
Rodgers has loftier ambitions for the rest of the campaign and after pre-season upheaval, the Northern Irishman feels his raft of new players are finally coming to terms with the Premier League.
"We've still got a way to go to get back to our best, but I expect even more because we're a side who get better in the second half of the season," he said.
"There's a lot of talent here slowly feeling its way into the team, and we want to keep that going.
"We've still got Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana to come back from injury as well. We're developing very well and the system's working well.
"Markovic deserved his goal. He has been very good for the past few weeks, and it's just taken time to adapt because there's a bit of spotlight on him and the other summer arrivals after what we did last year.
"It's been difficult for them. They're settling into the philosophy as to how we work and play. I always felt it was going to come, it was just a matter of time, and the first part of the season was difficult for us."
Rodgers confirmed that Steven Gerrard will have a precautionary scan on a hamstring problem that forced the Liverpool skipper off at half-time.
England forward Sterling is set to return for next weekend's league trip to Aston Villa, after a planned break from first-team action.
Rodgers foresees 'quiet' January
"It was something planned in the summer," Rodgers explained. "In two and a half years Raheem has gone from the youth team to a regular in the first team and an international, and we've asked a lot of him.
"He's played a lot for me, over 100 games, and I just felt this would be a good period for him to have a rest, miss our FA Cup tie (a 2-1 win at AFC Wimbledon) and miss this game and then come back refreshed."
Liverpool should have won by a much greater margin than that provided by Markovic's goal — his first in league football since a £20 million ($30.3 million, 25.6 million euros) move from Benfica.
The impressive Serbian, who also hit the bar, was one of several high-profile arrivals before the start of the season, meaning Rodgers expects a low-key January when it comes to further Anfield arrivals.
"It will be quiet for us in January," said Rodgers, whose side are four points below the Champions League places.
"We obviously did a lot of business in the summer, but if we think there's something that can really improve our team, then we'll look to do that."
Sunderland are in relegation danger after a run of one win in 11 league games.
Adam Johnson struck the bar after the break, but their hopes of salvaging a draw suffered a weighty blow when midfielder Liam Bridcutt earned a second yellow card early in the second half.
Sunderland have scored just 18 goals in the league this season and manager Gus Poyet is under increasing pressure to bring in fresh attacking options during the January transfer window.
"We're working at it, but can't promise anything because I don't know," Poyet said. "We'll have to wait and see. I don't want to give too much away at this point, but we're trying.
"I know supporters are frustrated, but they have to accept reality and look at what's been going on here for the past four or five years."
© 1994-2015 Agence France-Presse
Chelsea will use squad approach in effort to land EPL title
Chelsea assistant manager Steve Holland said the Premier League leaders would continue utilising their whole squad after they moved clear at the summit by beating Newcastle United.
Manager Jose Mourinho opted to bring in centre-back Kurt Zouma for his first league start in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday, while Petr Cech replaced the injured Thibaut Courtois in goal.
The win allowed Chelsea to move two points clear at the summit after nearest rivals Manchester City could only draw 1-1 at Everton.
Mourinho skipped the post-match press conference after being charged by the Football Association for alleging that there was a campaign to influence referees' decisions against his side.
Holland, standing-in for the Portuguese, said: "We have played 31 matches this season and the level of consistency has been exceptional.
"It's difficult to hit the level everyone expects week in, week out. It's impossible in this country as the players had a battering over Christmas.
"There have been a lot of games and we have come out of a heavy Christmas workload. We have faith in every player of the squad. It's a long, long season and we have a big squad of players.
"The club gets a lot of stick for not giving young players a go. Kurt is 20 and this was not his first game of the season. He was immaculate.
"We all have belief, but Jose showed great faith in him. If he carries on playing like that, it won't be his last either.
"Thibaut had a slight finger problem from our previous game. We are fortunate to have two goalkeepers who play at the highest level. It would be a non-brainer not to use Petr."
Cabella 'set standard'
Chelsea were far from their best, but they still returned to winning ways to record their 10th league win in a row at Stamford Bridge.
After a humbling 5-3 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in their previous game, Chelsea were noticeably more cautious.
They needed Newcastle to switch off for Oscar to net late in the first half, before Diego Costa expertly finished off a fluid team move to score his 15th goal of the campaign shortly before the hour.
"You always want to play well, but that's not always possible," added Holland.
"It's important that when you don't play as well as you'd like to, you still get the result. Our performance levels have been good and consistent this season."
Newcastle are on the lookout for a new manager following Alan Pardew's departure for Crystal Palace.
Caretaker John Carver has now presided over successive defeats, but he has made it clear he would like to be considered for the vacancy at St James' Park.
"It's been an enjoyable time," Carver said. "I was told to look after Chelsea and possibly the Southampton game (on January 17).
"We will be back on the training ground and will prepare for our next game. I have no idea when they will make a decision, but if we continue playing like that then hopefully they will make a right decision."
Remy Cabella was Newcastle's stand-out player and the £12 million ($18.2 million, 15.4 million euros) French playmaker earned praise from Carver.
"Remy has set the standard," Carver said. "If he's not prepared to do that every week, he will be sitting alongside me in the dugout. If he performs like that, he will get people on the edge of their seat."
© 1994-2015 Agence France-Presse
Pellegrini backs £32m Magala to come good
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes France defender Eliaquim Mangala can recover from a torrid start to his career with the Premier League champions.
City paid a reported initial fee of £32 million ($48 million) to sign Mangala from Porto last year in a bid to add defensive cover for injury-prone captain Vincent Kompany.
But Mangala, capped five times by France, has struggled to justify his hefty price tag and endured a tough afternoon in the 1-1 draw against Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday, with Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku frequently getting the better of him.
Pellegrini refused to publicly analyse the defender's performance but hopes he will follow a similar path to Argentinian central defender Martin Demichelis, who also appeared a poor signing early in his City career only to come good as his new club won the English title.
"I always analyse individual performances with the players," said Pellegrini of Mangala's troubles.
"I hope there is a repeat of what Demichelis did last year. He improved and was a very important player."
City dominated the first half at Everton but failed to score and, after Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho headed them into a 74th minute lead, City could only hold it for four minutes before Steven Naismith earned the home side a deserved point.
Pellegrini frustrated
The glut of missed first half chances — most notably by Stevan Jovetic — were a concern for the City manager but at least he has Sergio Aguero, used as a substitute at Goodison Park, and Edin Dzeko back to fitness and Swansea target Wilfried Bony poised to move to his club during the current transfer window.
"We dominated the game, especially the first half, and had clear-cut chances," said Pellegrini.
"But when you don't score those chances, it's difficult to win.
"It is important for the team that Sergio is back. He just worked two or three days with the squad this week, now he has the whole week to continue working.
"I hope he will return to the same performance he had before he was injured, in a few days. Aguero and Dzeko are going to be very important players during the second half of the season.
"Every team will drop points from now until the end of the season, we never thought before the game that this was going to be easy.
"Every time you come to Goodison Park it is difficult and last year was the first time we won here in five times. Maybe it was a good draw but I cannot forget about the first 45 minutes, we had too many clear chances."
For Everton, the performance marked the second time in a week that they had trailed but battled back to secure a home draw.
"I felt the reaction and the character we showed at 1-0 down was special," said manager Roberto Martinez who saw his team also came from a goal down to draw in the midweek FA Cup tie against West Ham.
"The reaction on Tuesday and the reaction we showed today showed the character of the group and is a perfect platform to build for the second half of the season."
And, in Lukaku, Martinez is finally seeing a player, for whom he paid Chelsea £28 million last year, starting to fulfil his promise.
"Romelu needs to be at his very best physically," he said.
"The power and pace he uses in his play, he's not a player who can contribute by being half-fit.
"When he came back from the World Cup, he wanted to be involved for the team when he wasn't 100 per cent in terms of his physical abilities.
"Now he have seen him play consistently for 90 minutes. His overall performance was full of character and full of responsibility."
© 1994-2015 Agence France-Presse
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