Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Manchester United counterpart Jose Mourinho both insisted the London side’s 2-0 win on Sunday was not about them, or their rivalry, but in many ways it was.
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Arsenal’s hopes of a top four Premier League finish and a spot in Europe’s elite competition depend on the teams above them slipping up during the final stages of the season.
‘I think I understand that the pundits are a bit surprised by that because 10 or 15 years ago it did not exist, ‘ said the Arsenal boss. I don’t enjoy. But today I tried to win.
Gunners manager Arsene Wenger confirmed Xhaka’s injury post-match, telling reporters: “He got injured last time and he got a recurrence of that”, per the Metro. Liverpool lose to Crystal Palace and limp to a draw against Southampton but United draw with Swansea and rivals City and lose to struggling Arsenal.
“I tell them we really need them to create a good atmosphere, a hard atmosphere for the opponents, who can push us to be in the final”.
He added that there were no problems with Wenger this time round as the pair have clashed on the touchline previously, although he did complain about the Frenchman constantly pressurising the fourth official. I left the Emirates, they were crying. I left Highbury, they were crying, I left Emirates, they were crying.
Goalkeeper De Gea kept them in the match at half-time, producing a low stop to deny Aaron Ramsey’s effort, before making a brilliant save from a rasping Oxlade-Chamberlain shot from distance.
“This is a phase where we have to win every game, which we know. That’s a decision”, Mourinho said.
They are now sixth with 63 points from 34 games and can close the gap with a win at Southampton on Wednesday. It’s more important than finishing fourth.
“The net spend at Liverpool is £6.5m since Klopp arrived, which is a worrying stat because they need players badly”.
“I’m disappointed with the result, not the performance”. “We took advantage of the chances we created at the right moments in the game”. It was an incredible deflection [for the first goal by Granit Xhaka]. Because I don’t think the others, playing one match per week and being in a great situation, are going to blow it.
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“The team was good, organised, we played to win and Arsenal weren’t better than us in my opinion”. Their home form has been a worry for Puel, with just one win in their last six matches at St Mary’s.
