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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is looking forward to the final game of the season and says everything is still at stake in the Premier League title race.
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has questioned the knowledge and
understanding of impatient onlookers calling for him to be sacked, as Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta believes the Dutchman deserves more time at Old Trafford.
United’s season hit a new low in Monday’s 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace on Monday Night Football, which leaves them in eighth spot ahead of their Super Sunday clash against Arsenal, live on Sky Sports.
Ten Hag’s side could record their lowest-ever Premier League finish this season, though they are in this month’s FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley, and Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher disagreed over whether the Dutchman should stay on as head coach.
“I think the fans have the patience – you’ve seen it on Monday,” Ten Hag said, referencing the wave of support from the United travelling fans immediately after their 4-0 loss at Palace.
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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes the club’s owners understand why the team have struggled at times this season given their injuries but does not expect them to come out and and say anything about his future
“But when I see some comments, they don’t. And either they don’t have any knowledge about football, or they don’t have any knowledge about managing a football team. It’s possible, or they just are up to it.
“But I think there are many people that see the problems and they are patient.”
Ten Hag is confident “common sense” will prevail as the club’s decision-makers consider his future, brushing aside talk that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS group could sack him even if United won the FA Cup, as happened to compatriot Louis van Gaal in 2016.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Crystal Palace’s win against Manchester United in the Premier League
“If I see the problems we have faced, all the injuries, and in almost every game they fought,” Ten Hag said. “There was great team spirit.
“Not on Monday, that is why I was so disappointed. Monday I was really disappointed (with) and also the players were disappointed with themselves. There was collectively failure.
“But all the other games we fought with each other, had good team spirit, so, no, I can’t have any doubt about this.”
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Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta says he’s following his brain and gut, and is hoping to lift the Premier League trophy
Arsenal manager Arteta believes Ten Hag is an excellent coach who deserves more time to get things right at Old Trafford.
“I can only talk about what I think about him as a coach. He’s an excellent coach. I admire his teams, both Ajax and United,” Arteta replied when asked about Ten Hag’s position.
“I know what he’s trying to do, I know how he does it, I know how difficult it is to prepare against him, so I have huge respect for him.
“Hopefully, yes, he gets the time because we are colleagues and we know how difficult it is in this league and what the margins are and yeah, hopefully that’s the case because I think he is an excellent coach.
“If you want to win the Premier League and big trophies, you have to go to these grounds and impose yourself and beat them. That’s the journey we are on and that’s for sure what we are going to try to do on Sunday.”
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Gary Neville believes Erik ten Hag must be given one more season to prove himself at Manchester United with the luck of an injury free campaign
Gary Neville to Sky Sports:
“I don’t see a suitable replacement for Ten Hag available. Bayern Munich are struggling to find a replacement, others are struggling.
“I think we need to stick with Ten Hag and give him one more season – an injury-free season – to see if United can get back to the standards of last season where they won a trophy and finished in the top four.
“Players and managers have struggled to come to terms with Old Trafford in the last 10 years. These players and managers were great when United signed them, so there is something fundamentally wrong that is creating this difficulty. Maybe the new ownership and personnel will allow these players and manager to feel more stable.
“Look, I hope in three, four weeks that this FA Cup final against Manchester City, which is such a tough game, we know how good City are, but if they can just defy the odds who knows where that might lead to.
“You know, in 1989-90 Sir Alex Ferguson won an FA Cup that put belief into him, into a group of players. They then went on to win a Cup Winners’ Cup, then went onto win the League Cup, then went on to eventually win a league title.
“It was building block by block, step by step and that could be just around the corner, or it could be a few years away, but they will win again, Manchester United. It’s inevitable.”
Jamie Carragher in his Daily Telegraph column:
“Ten Hag took over at United with a big reputation because of his work at Ajax, especially when he led them to the Champions League semi-final. He was not presented as an emerging coach but at 52 was supposed to be a ready-made one who would impose a clear vision.
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Jamie Carragher and Ashley Young discuss the problems at Manchester United and Erik ten Hag’s chances of turning around the club’s fortunes
United had qualified for the Champions League in two of the three seasons preceding Ten Hag’s appointment and there was a belief talented players needed superior coaching and a change of culture at the training ground.
“Like Arteta, Ten Hag had no choice but to use the personnel available to be more pragmatic in his first season. Over his first three transfer windows, United spent just over £380 million and nothing has changed as they have bought more deadwood than they have sold.
“Of Ten Hag’s first Premier League line-up (defeat by Brighton in August, 2022), seven would probably still make the first choice XI. Only two have left the club, and another, Jadon Sancho, is about to play the Champions League final on loan at Borussia Dortmund.
“United have been regularly outclassed by rivals, losing 6-3 against Manchester City and 7-0 to Liverpool, while struggling against mid-table Premier League teams too.
“Even when United have enjoyed good results under Ten Hag, I am genuinely struggling to recall any exceptionally good performances with a perceptively proactive system of play. Two years on, they are not set up like a top team.
“None of Arteta’s most disappointing losses were remotely comparable to the 4-0 defeat by Crystal Palace on Monday night. Worryingly for Ten Hag, the biggest difference is he is not the owner’s appointment. The Arsenal board staked their reputation on Arteta coming good. Logic suggests Ratcliffe will be more inclined to stand or fall based on his managerial pick.”
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The top stories and transfer rumours from Sunday’s newspapers…
DAILY MIRROR
Arsenal are ready to listen to offers for at least seven players this summer – while three separate exits are already set in stone. Bids will be considered for Aaron Ramsdale, Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe, Kieran Tierney, Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Reiss Nelson as Mikel Arteta strives to improve the depth of his squad.
Erik ten Hag is still ‘crazy’ about Frenkie de Jong and wants to finally bring him to Manchester United this summer.
Steve McClaren is set to escape the Manchester United cull that is expected to claim Erik ten Hag and the rest of his backroom staff at the end of the season.
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Gary Neville believes Erik ten Hag must be given one more season to prove himself at Manchester United with the luck of an injury free campaign
Manchester City are looking at an alternative loan plan for teenage Argentine sensation Claudio Echeverri following Girona’s shock qualification for next season’s Champions League.
MAIL ON SUNDAY
Saudi league leaders Al Hilal will move to land Tottenham forward Richarlison this summer.
Luton fans clashed with stewards as their side’s hopes of Premier League suffered a major blow in defeat to West Ham.
Harry Kane is suffering from back problems as Euro 2024 approaches, Thomas Tuchel has confirmed.
SUNDAY TIMES
James Anderson will retire from international duty after the first Test of the summer at Lord’s – but looks set to stay on with the team as a bowling consultant.
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Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton have their say on the news James Anderson is to retire from international cricket after the Test against West Indies in July
EVENING CHRONICLE
Newcastle United scouts have been back in the stands at Stamford Bridge amid interest in Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher with Newcastle keeping their options open in terms of midfielders.
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Our tipster Jones Knows provides his betting insight and analysis across the penultimate weekend of the Premier League.
Arsenal to win to nil away from home is becoming a real comfort blanket of a bet. It’s simple but is yielding fantastic returns. The Gunners, since the start of last season, are working at a 57 per cent win to nil ratio away from home in the Premier League. My maths make an Arsenal win to nil about an even-money shot yet we’re getting 15/8 with Sky Bet here, so it has to come under consideration.
This phenomenal defence has now conceded just two goals in the last seven Premier League matches away from home and has conceded a per-90 average of just 0.67-worth of expected goals across the last 16 Premier League games. It’s a remarkable number.
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Ahead of Manchester United versus Arsenal, we look back at when Sylvain Wiltord scored the goal that sealed the Premier League title for the Gunners at Old Trafford.
I think the only way Manchester United can get something out of this game is if it becomes almost too easy for Arsenal.
Erik ten Hag’s men are good at that, being so bad in a game that it lures the opposition into a false sense of security – as happened in their fixtures against Liverpool – and then in a 10-minute period United’s big-game players come to the party and the opposition aren’t mentally prepared.
Mikel Arteta is all about control though, so won’t allow his business-like side take their eyes off the prize. Arteta will be heading there with his first priority being a clean sheet – if Arsenal achieve that, they win the game. The under 3.5 goals line at 4/5 with Sky Bet is the standout play at the prices.
Liverpool look a great bet here.
Villa will be drained from their trip to Greece on Thursday where they were bitterly disappointing, and Unai Emery has really struggled to contain Jurgen Klopp’s teams in the past. Since beating Liverpool in the 2016 Europa League Final with Sevilla, Emery is winless in nine matches vs Klopp, conceding three or more goals in six of those nine matches, including in the reverse fixture this season that Liverpool won 3-0, and the game at Villa Park last season that ended 3-1 to Liverpool.
Villa have spent 153 nights in the Premier League top four this season so probably deserve their Champions League qualification on that basis, but they are limping over the line. They are becoming a very easy team to score against.
Over the last 15 Premier League games, they’ve averaged a per-90 expected goals against figure of 1.91 which is the fourth worst in the Premier League – even worse than Sheffield United. When assessing their big chance conceded data it gets worse – in the last 15 games only Luton have offered up more “big chances” as defined by Opta – that’s 42 in 15 games to an average of 2.8 per game.
And Liverpool are the kings of creating those big chances – no team have created more this season than their 95.
Backing Liverpool to win and over 2.5 goals at 11/10 with Sky Bet looks a winner in waiting.
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The Premier League Player of the Season nominations prompted plenty of debate, not just around the individuals included but those who missed out. Rodri’s absence from the senior list is hard to justify after a stellar season. Bukayo Saka can feel aggrieved too.
He does of course feature on the young player list. But unlike fellow nominees Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Cole Palmer and Alexander Isak, Saka does not make the cut for the main prize, with Arsenal represented instead by Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.
Those team-mates have made huge contributions to Arsenal’s title challenge. But it is difficult to look past Saka as the side’s most influential figure. With 16 goals, his highest tally yet, and nine assists, his combined total puts him seven clear of any other Arsenal player.
Those numbers only tell part of the story.
Mikel Arteta has leaned on Saka more heavily than ever this term, with Arsenal directing a higher proportion of attacks down their right than any other Premier League side. Gabriel Martinelli’s loss of form on the left has put yet more responsibility on his shoulders.
Odegaard is part of their right-sided strength too, of course. As is Arsenal’s marauding right-back Ben White. But it is chiefly Saka who provides the threat. He is top in the Premier League for touches in the box and second only to Haaland for shots.
None of this is news to Arsenal’s Premier League rivals. But the fact Saka is so often double or even triple marked by opponents only makes those numbers more impressive.
The 22-year-old is not just tasked with getting on the end of things, either. He presses ferociously and tracks back diligently off the ball while still finding room to excel creatively too.
He ranks fourth in the Premier League for final-third passes, underlining his role in unpicking defences, and while there are three players ahead of him for chances created, he is top in terms of expected assists, highlighting the quality of those chances.
This level of all-round threat is unique in the Premier League. Saka is the only player this season to have reached double figures for both non-penalty expected goals and expected assists. His combined total of 21.15 puts him behind only Mohamed Salah and Haaland.
He stands out for his consistency too.
Even early in the season, before Arsenal’s attack had clicked and as others laboured, Saka almost always delivered, contributing either a goal or assist in all but one of his first eight games, setting the tone for a period in which he often carried the side.
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Watch some of Bukayo Saka’s best moments for Arsenal this season
It is curious, then, that in the context of such a dazzling season he is not in contention for the biggest individual prize. Arsenal’s presence at the top of the Premier League owes more to him than any other player. Few at any club can rival the breadth of his contribution.
Mauricio Pochettino was candid in the wake of Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Tottenham last week, talking up the importance of team spirit over big names in the side’s recent resurgence.
Twice, first in his on-pitch interview with Sky Sports and again in his press conference in the media room at Stamford Bridge, he went out of his way to praise Noni Madueke, holding up the young winger as an example of precisely what he was talking about.
Madueke had been “unbelievable”, he said, as much for his defensive work-rate in helping to protect young right-back Alfie Gilchrist as for his contribution in the final third.
“This is what we need,” added Pochettino. “Even if you have big players, big names, if they don’t play like today, trying to help the team in a defensive situation, then it’s impossible.”
Pochettino did not specify which “big names” he was referring to but the absent Raheem Sterling came to mind. Having impressed only in patches in the first half of the campaign, a combination of injury and illness has contributed to him not starting a game since March.
Sterling’s pedigree is not in doubt. He is a four-time title winner whose 121 goals and 63 assists in 376 games put him among the Premier League’s top 20 players in both categories.
But that level of productivity has dipped since his arrival from Manchester City and his defensive work raises even bigger questions about his place in this Chelsea team.
Premier League tracking data for this season shows Sterling has covered roughly a kilometre less than Chelsea’s other attacking players at just 9.5km per 90 minutes. Only Mykhailo Mudryk registers fewer off-the-ball pressures per 90 minutes.
Most striking, though, is that Sterling spends 75 per cent of his time on the pitch walking. It is the highest figure of any forward in the division this term and contrasts sharply with those of Mudryk, Madueke, Nicolas Jackson, Cole Palmer and Conor Gallagher.
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In a rare interview, Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has said his plan for the club is “coming together” following their recent improvement
This has always been a feature of Sterling’s game, at least to some extent. It is not an inherently bad thing given it allows him to conserve energy for the explosive bursts forward which have proved so devastating over the course of his Premier League career.
But as he struggles to provide the goals and assists to mitigate his comparatively modest off-the-ball work, and as his manager talks up the importance of defensive diligence in his attacking players, it becomes increasingly difficult to see where he fits in their future.
Burnley face the prospect of relegation back to the second tier when they face Tottenham on Saturday. Vincent Kompany’s side sit five points from safety with only two games remaining.
But supporters are entitled to wonder what might have been if only their head coach had only swapped summer signing James Trafford for previous No 1 Arijanet Muric sooner.
Of course, Muric has had his moments since his reinstatement in March, giving goals away against Everton and Brighton with glaring errors when playing out from the back.
But Burnley have only lost two of the eight Premier League games he has started this season and their recent upturn in form is no coincidence. Those errors aside, Muric has excelled.
The underlying data highlights the quality of his shot-stopping.
According to Opta, the Kosovo international has registered a goals prevented figure of 6.98, the second-best in the division this season behind Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez, in only 720 minutes of action. To put it simply, he has conceded roughly seven goals fewer than expected, based on the quality of shots he has faced.
Trafford, for all his undoubted promise, sits at the opposite end of the scale having conceded 60 goals, excluding own goals, from an expected total of only 50.62 across his 28 starts.
The change was needed. The problem is that it came too late.
