RAMSEY OUT FOR UP TO FOUR WEEKS - WENGER

Aaron Ramsey is expected to be out for four weeks with a thigh injury, dealing another big blow to Arsenal’s chances of getting back into the Premier League title race.

Ramsey had to limp off just 15 minutes after coming on as a substitute in the 4-0 win at Hull in the FA Cup on Tuesday, and underwent scans on Thursday to determine the severity of the injury.

“I would say four weeks,” Wenger said, dismissing speculation that the Wales international could be out for the season. “At the moment, his clinical signs are quite positive.”

Centre-back pairing Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista also went off injured against Hull, but Wenger said both defenders should be available for Sunday’s FA Cup quarterfinal at home against Watford.

Mertesacker sustained a cut above his after a clash of heads, while Gabriel sustained a hamstring problem.

Wenger said Mertesacker has trained as normal with squad in the last few days, while Gabriel is expected to return to full training on Saturday.

“I don’t think he lost too much fitness,” Wenger said about Gabriel. “I will have to make a decision tomorrow. At the moment my gut feeling is that he will join in [training] tomorrow and be completely available.”Meanwhile, Laurent Koscielny is also close to returning from a calf problem, but Wenger said he may opt to rest the Frenchman ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Barcelona.

“Koscielny is not far,” the Arsenal boss said. “Will I risk him or not? It may be a small medical risk, I don’t know, I haven’t made the decision yet.While Arsenal’s defensive injuries may be easing, Ramsey’s absence in central midfield will cause a bigger problem for Wenger, especially as Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere are not expected back until April.

Wenger gave Mohamed Elneny his first league start alongside Francis Coquelin against Spurs and said the Egyptian is ready to play a bigger part going forward.

However, he did not rule out switching formations at times to a 4-3-3, as he has done in the FA Cup this season.

“Elneny looks like he’s ready to play, yes,” Wenger said. “I will consider every formula that is possible to give us balance at the moment. I think Elneny in central midfield can cope.

“We have [Mathieu] Flamini, we have Coquelin who can cope as well — they have shown that already. We can change the formula as well if needed, but that depends on the game. Every game will be different now.”

LEICESTER CITY GOES FIVE POINTS CLEAR

Claudio Ranieri says the remaining nine games of Leicester City’s challenge for a momentous Premier League title will be a battle.

Leicester went five points clear at the top of the league with a 1-0 over Watford, Riyad Mahrez’s stunning second-half strike settling the encounter at Vicarage Road.

The Foxes have never won a top-flight title, but will be expected to at least maintain that gap on 14 March when they host relegation-threatened Newcastle United.

But Ranieri is taking nothing for granted, telling Sky Sports: “I know it is a good moment for us, there are nine games, every match is difficult.

“There will be a battle not only for us but for the rest of the Premier League.

“I don’t know who is behind us, I want to run very, very fast. I don’t know how many points [we need].

“At the start of the season I said we needed one more than 39 from last season. Of course now we are running for something special.”

Mahrez has scored 11 of his 15 league goals away from home this season, and Ranieri added of the winger: “I don’t like to compare players because each player is different and of course Riyad has so, so good skills.

“He plays so hard because I ask him to cover all the positions. This position [on the wing] he can take the ball and can be very dangerous and help his team-mates.”

Cristiano Ronaldo had a FOURmidable Game against Celta Vigo

Cristiano Ronaldo returned to the top of the Primera Division scoring charts by grabbing four goals in the second half as Real Madrid thrashed Celta Vigo 7-1 at the Bernabeu.

Gareth Bale marked his return from a hamstring injury by scoring in his first appearance in 50 days, while Pepe and Jese also got on the scoresheet for the Merengues — Iago Aspas got Celta’s only goal in their worst defeat of the season.

But the afternoon really belonged to Ronaldo, who was heavily criticised last week for his derisory comments about his teammates following the derby defeat to Atletico Madrid.

The Portuguese moves on to 26 league goals for the season, one ahead of Barcelona forward Luis Suarez.

Madrid remain third in the table by recording their second consecutive win, the huge victory the perfect warm up for the second leg of their Champions League tie with Roma on Tuesday.

Before the match Zinedine Zidane called for the fans to get behind the team but many empty seats were visible in the Bernabeu, as were banners calling for Florentino Perez to resign.

Madrid made a stronger start but were vulnerable to Celta’s counters, such as when Pepe dived in to prevent a through ball from Nolito leaving Aspas with just Keylor Navas to beat. The Costa Rican then produced an outstanding save to deny Aspas after the striker had headed a cross from Fabian Orellana on the left onto the bar

Madrid’s first chances followed soon after, Ronaldo driving at Ruben, and then Isco lacking the power to beat the goalkeeper after turning a defender in the area.

Ronaldo was denied a penalty later in the half but Madrid went ahead before the break nonetheless, Pepe rising highest to meet Isco’s outswinging corner and power a header past Ruben.

Ronaldo doubled Madrid’s advantage early in the second half with the first of his four strikes. The Portuguese received a short pass from Sergio Ramos with plenty of space but well outside the area, and wrapped his right foot around the ball to send it spinning high into the net.

His next goal was of similar quality, curling the ball over the wall and into the top corner of the near post, scoring from a direct free-kick for the first time this season.

Celta pulled a goal back out of nowhere, the fruit of a long punt forward from Sergi Gomez into the path of Aspas, who had space and time to saunter into the box and calmly lift the ball over Navas.

But the Galians were back in the game for barely a minute. Lucas Vazquez released Isco on the left and the midfielder rolled the ball across the box for Ronaldo to tap home from close range and complete his treble.

The Portuguese was not finished yet, though, heading home Jese’s corner to grab his fourth.

Provider then turned scorer as the substitute cut into the box from the left wing and shuffled across to his right foot to slam the ball into the near corner.

And there was still time for another substitute to get in on the act, Bale marking his return to action by racing forward on the break to the edge of the area and driving the ball low across goal and in off the far post.

Diouf downs Chelsea's hope of 3 points

MAME DIOUF HEADS HOME THE EQUALISER

Mame Diouf stunned Chelsea with a late equaliser as Stoke battled back to earn a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea appeared to be on their way to a fourth straight win – and about to leapfrog Stoke in the table – thanks to a memorable goal from youngster Bertrand Traore.
But in the 85th minute Diouf, who had missed two gilt-edged chances in the first half, made amends by taking advantage of a rare Thibaut Courtois slip to snatch a deserved point.
Traore, usually a midfielder, was asked to lead the Blues attack on only his second start with Diego Costa missing from the squad.
Costa was ruled out due to an apparently minor tendon injury, with Wednesday’s Champions League return against Paris Saint-Germain firmly in mind.
Yet it was the Spaniard’s surprise replacement whose thunderous strike sent Chelsea in ahead at the interval.
Six minutes before the break Nemanja Matic won possession in midfield and played in Traore five yards outside the Stoke box.
The 20-year-old’s initial touch took him away from goal, but with no Stoke player in a hurry to close him down he turned back inside and lashed a superb shot across Jack Butland from 20 yards.

Yet Stoke had been the better side for much of the first half, troubling Chelsea on the break time and again through Ibrahim Afellay and Xherdan Shaqiri.

Diouf should have opened the scoring when Afellay raced down the left and curled an inviting pass behind the Blues’ backline, but the Senegal international hooked his shot over,
And Diouf had his head in his hands against when Shaqiri burst along the opposite flank and whipped in another cross, this time the striker sending his volley crashing into the turf and bouncing wide.
Stoke, like Chelsea on a run of three straight wins, looked for a way back into the match after the break and Shaqiri’s low drive forced a smart save from Courtois.
Chelsea had chances to make the game safe, however, with Butland saving well at his near post from Willian and keeping out substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek, while Eden Hazard flashed a shot across goal and wide.
But with just five minutes remaining Stoke got their reward – although it was handed to them by Courtois.
Afellay robbed Willian in midfield and Bojan Krkic sent Shaqiri clear down the right to swing in another cross.
The normally-reliable Courtois opted to punch the ball, only to direct it straight onto the head of Diouf – and even he could not miss this time.

Response was all we give - Wenger

Arsene Wenger said Francis Coquelin’s red card against Tottenham left him with “big regrets” but praised his players’ spirit after fighting back for a 2-2 draw in the North London derby.

Arsenal were 1-0 up after Aaron Ramsey’s first-half goal, but the game changed completely when Coquelin drew a second booking for an ill-advised foul on Harry Kane in the 55th minute.

Spurs responded with two quick goals to take the lead, but Alexis Sanchez equalised with his first Premier League goal since October.

“I’m proud of the spirit the players have shown and the response. Even 2-1 down with 10 men away from home, we managed to come back with at least a point,” Wenger told BT Sport.

“But we have big regrets because it looked like we were completely in control when we went down to 10 men, and that’s the regret of the day. Overall it’s difficult to take.”

Coquelin had earned his first booking with a deliberate handball shortly before the half-hour mark, and Wenger said he had warned the holding midfielder at the break.

“We told him at half-time, because he had a yellow already,” Wenger said. “It was a mistake and he knows that but he wanted to do well.”

The result leaves Arsenal still three points behind Tottenham and five behind leaders Leicester ahead of their game against Watford, but it halted a three-game losing streak in all competitions, and prevented a fourth consecutive defeat for the first time since 2002.

Wenger said his team responded well to the criticism they have faced after the league losses to Manchester United and Swansea.

“Personally I never questioned the character of this team, but when you don’t win the games and you lose you have to accept that and respond on the pitch,” Wenger said. “That’s all you can do and I think we did that today.”

We are dissapointed - Tottenham

HARRY KANE

Tottenham striker Harry Kane conceded to being disappointed with the 2-2 draw against Arsenal after his spectacular goal prompted “a flood of emotions”.

Arsenal struck first as the north London rivals sought to gain ground on English Premier League leaders Leicester City at White Hart Lane, with Aaron Ramsey cleverly backheeling past Hugo Lloris in the 39th minute.

But the visitors’ hopes of victory appeared to unravel entirely after Francis Coquelin hacked Kane down to be sent off in the 55th minute.

Toby Alderweireld levelled with an hour played, two minutes before Kane steered home a magnificent angled strike – tearing off his protective face mask in celebration.

“We’re very disappointed,” Kane told Spurs’ official website.

“We needed to kill it and get a third. That’s football. We’ll deal with it and move on.”

On his 20th goal of the season, the England forward added: “I got it out of my feet and thought ‘why not?’, so to see it go in meant a flood of emotions.”

Henry is in a difficult role - Wenger

Arsene Wenger wants to talk “face to face” with Thierry Henry after his former star player said Arsenal fans are angrier than ever, but acknowledged that “we are all unhappy” following Wednesday’s loss to Swansea.

Henry, Arsenal’s record goal scorer, seems to have touched a nerve with Wenger after he wrote in his weekly column in The Sun that he had never seen fans as angry as during the second half of Wednesday’s 2-1 loss — and that the reaction was caused by the poor performance of the players.

“You cannot say they were never as angry as that. Who can measure that? Who can compare that?” Wenger told reporters.

“Do you want your fans to be happy when you lose a home game? Where do you see that? So it doesn’t look to me like a major statement. The fans are unhappy, I am unhappy, and we are all unhappy. If you were in our dressing room after the game, you would see that we were absolutely devastated to lose the game, the players. Nobody moved for minutes and minutes. It’s normal. Why would you want people to be happy when you lose? It’s quite remarkable that you are shocked by statements like that.”

Boos rang out around the Emirates after Wednesday’s loss, but Wenger was subjected to the loudest jeers when he decided to take off goal scorer Joel Campbell in the second half.

Wenger had said in his news conference ahead of Saturday’s North London derby against Tottenham that Henry couldn’t judge the mood of 60,000 fans because “he sits in the best seats in the stadium.”

When he was later asked to expand on that, Wenger said Henry — who is working as a media pundit while also helping coach one of Arsenal’s youth teams — was in a “difficult role.” But he said he’d rather talk to Henry about it in private than through the media.

“I tell people what I think face to face,” Wenger said. “Thierry Henry will not play tomorrow for Arsenal. His comments are like any other comments. They cannot help us win, nor be an excuse for us to lose. We have to focus on our own strengths.”

Henry’s column came after a week where Wenger has been under increasing pressure following three straight losses to Barcelona, Manchester United and Swansea. With the Gunners’ Premier League title hopes possibly slipping away, former players Paul Merson and Ray Parlour also publicly criticised Wenger this week.

The Arsenal boss is in his 20th season at the club, and is under massive pressure to deliver a first Premier League title since 2004. The Gunners are six points behind leader Leicester and three behind Tottenham, going into Saturday’s showdown at White Hart Lane.

One of the criticisms aimed at Arsenal — this week and over the past few years — is that the players don’t have enough character to win the big games and lack a leader like Tony Adams or Patrick Vieira. But Wenger once again rejected the claim as well.

“Yes, I think they have character, of course they have character,” he said. “You always get that [criticism] when you are in a difficult period. But even with Tony Adams, Arsenal had bad periods.”

CRITICS ARE TOO EMOTIONAL-WENGER

Arsene Wenger has responded to the criticism of Arsenal this week by saying people are “too emotional” and challenged his players to use the negativity as motivation to turn things around.

Wenger and his team have been scrutinised following their 3-2 loss at an under-strength Manchester United on Sunday, with even some former Arsenal players questioning the Frenchman’s ability to deliver the Premier League title this season.

Speaking at his news conference ahead of league games against Swansea and Tottenham, Wenger has urged for calm.

“I’m never surprised by the criticism that comes, that’s part of the media today. The opinions are always a bit excessive and emotional. But we have to deal with that, and I don’t complain about that,” Wenger said at a news conference.

“What we want to do is to transform the negatives around us into positives and create even more solidarity. Let’s not go overboard, we do not play to avoid being relegated, we play to fight for the Premiership and that’s why we have to put the criticism into the right place.”

Asked about comments made by the likes of Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness, who said Arsenal were “weak” and almost a “joke” against United, Wenger said: “I don’t want to respond to individual criticism.

“I think people are a bit too emotional, and we want to put that into perspective and analyse things a bit more in a [productive] way. I believe this club is respected all over the world no matter what people say.”

Even former Arsenal players like Paul Merson and Ray Parlour have joined in the criticism. Merson said Wenger must go if Leicester or Tottenham win the title ahead of the Gunners, while Parlour said Wenger has failed to bring in enough leaders in the team.

Wenger made it clear he doesn’t think those types of comments are helpful, adding: “This club has been built before me on values, and what we try to do is respect these values. And when we have a disappointing game, [people must] show that those values mean solidarity, togetherness and fight together.

“After that, what people say, everybody has a freedom of opinion and I enjoy very much that people care about my future, and I thank them for that. But apart from that in my life I have always taken care of myself and my future, and I have not done too badly.”

Instead, Wenger called on fans to stick together through the times, saying maintaining the support could be crucial in the final part of the season.

“What you want from your fans is to fight together until the last game of the season,” Wenger said. “What we have learned from the league is that it’s very tight, that everybody can drop points. And the teams and the fans who can show togetherness and solidarity until the end might come out of it in a positive way.

“And that’s what we want, fight together until the last game of the season and not give up when you have a bad game. That’s what fans and players and teams and clubs are about.”

Arsenal are five points behind leader Leicester and three behind Tottenham, things could look much better again if they bounce back with two victories this week. The Gunners host Swansea on Wednesday before playing at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

“We had a very bad week, and it’s down to us to make this week a very good week. That’s why you love competition,” Wenger said. “A bad week is not permanent. It’s what you make of it, and how you respond. That’s the beauty in sports, things change quickly one way or the other. And that’s absolutely beautiful as well.”

Wenger also dismissed the suggestions that Arsenal lack leadership, saying the side have “a leader in every position.”

“In the collective psyche, you need a saviour when you have a bad result,” Wenger said. “We have won many big games this season with exactly the same players. I don’t feel at all that I lack leaders.”

However, when asked to identify who those leaders are, Wenger said: “The team. In every position I think the players lead, and we try to develop that with our work to have a leader in every position.”

Aston Villa fans stage walkout as Everton cruise to win

ROMELU LUKAKU

Aston Villa fans made their feelings about the club’s desperate predicament known with their feet as many staged a walk-out in protest during the 3-1 home defeat to Everton.

Upon their 74th-minute exit, signifying when Villa were founded in 1874, they had endured the best part of an 18th Premier League defeat of the season as goals from Ramiro Funes Mori, Aaron Lennon and Romelu Lukaku had Everton firmly in control.

Some had chosen to leave following Lukaku’s strike on the hour and many of those who remained joined them after 74 minutes, angry at the club’s lack of direction as Villa look certain to drop into the Championship.

They missed substitute Rudy Gestede head a reply shortly afterwards but it was far too little, too late and, with the same protest planned for the home games against Tottenham (March 13) and Chelsea (April 2), Villa, still eight points adrift at the bottom of the table, and their fans could have seen their fate already sealed by the time the reigning champions come to town.

Remi Garde’s side made the worst possible start as Everton scored with their first chance of the game when the unmarked Funes Mori powerfully headed Kevin Mirallas’ corner past Brad Guzan from inside the six-yard box.

Villa struggled to get a foothold in the game until midway through the first half as Everton dominated possession, but then had a flurry of chances.

A nicely-weighted pass from Leandro Bacuna put Gabby Agbonlahor through on goal but Funes Mori’s challenge saw the ball ricochet off the Villa forward, forcing a reaction save from Joel Robles, who was fortunate the deflection went straight at him.

Funes Mori frustrated Villa again shortly afterwards by getting across Agbonlahor at the near post to slide in and deny him a certain tap-in.

Then from a Bacuna corner, Micah Richards’ acrobatic volley from just inside the penalty area sailed just over the crossbar and brought roars of approval from the home fans at their team’s endeavour.

So it was deflating in the extreme when Villa were caught on the counter-attack after half an hour.

Ross Barkley led the raid before releasing Mirallas down the left and he played a square pass for Lennon to steer home a low shot.

 

Everton nearly had a third goal three minutes later. Guzan parried Mirallas’ shot and Joleon Lescott was on hand to clear Bryan Oviedo’s follow-up from just in front of the goal-line.

Guzan made a terrific save to push wide a header from Lukaku, who arrived quickly, timing his run perfectly to meet Lennon’s cross with a powerful effort.

It was 3-0 after an hour from the resulting corner as the big Everton striker turned home Funes Mori’s cross from point-blank range.

It was the cue for some Villa fans to depart. For those who remained, as at Stoke on Saturday, there was more self-mocking, further chants against owner Randy Lerner and a defiant rendition of “Aston Villa….by far the greatest team the world has ever seen.”

A significant number left, as planned, after 74 minutes and four minutes later Jordan Veretout crossed the ball for fellow substitute Gestede to head home from 10 yards out.

Gestede made a nuisance of himself and the impressive Funes Mori threw himself in front of another goalbound effort from the striker before forcing a decent save from Guzan at the other end late on.

LEICESTER DROPS TWO POINT TO STAY TOP OF EPL

 

Leicester dropped two priceless points in their quest for the Premier League title after being held to a 2-2 draw at home by West Brom.

The Foxes are three points clear of second-placed Tottenham, who go to West Ham on Wednesday, after being frustrated by the battling Baggies.

Goals from midfield duo Danny Drinkwater and Andy King cancelled out Salomon Rondon’s early opener before Craig Gardner’s classy free-kick earned a point for Albion.

Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki hit the bar for the hosts, who were the better side, and Wes Morgan blew a glorious chance to win it late on.

Claudio Ranieri’s side will now face an anxious wait when Spurs go to Upton Park, where a win for their title rivals will be enough to send them top on goal difference.

The Foxes’ pre-match points tally of 56 was already their highest ever in the top flight but cracks showed despite their late 1-0 weekend win over Norwich.

The Canaries stifled Leicester for much of the game and Albion set about doing the same early on before taking a surprise early lead.

Darren Fletcher spotted the run of Rondon after 11 minutes and the striker out-muscled Robert Huth in a heavyweight clash on the edge of the area before poking his shot through the legs of the onrushing Kasper Schmeichel.

In doing so, Albion became just the third visiting side in the league this season — after Tottenham and Aston Villa — to score first at the King Power Stadium.

It sparked Leicester into action and Okazaki volleyed over from six yards.

Vardy should have levelled on 27 minutes when, unmarked, he headed straight at Ben Foster from Riyad Mahrez’s cross.

The Foxes, though, were building momentum and grabbed the equaliser three minutes later.

A corner routine was worked back to Drinkwater 25 yards out and the midfielder’s drive clipped Jonas Olsson to loop in over Foster.

The goal, Leicester’s 50th in the league this season, was fortuitous but the hosts capitalised and maintained their drive, only for Vardy’s header to smack the bar after 36 minutes.

Since levelling the hosts had been the better side — although nowhere near their fluid selves- but did find a second in first-half stoppage time.

There had been little flowing football from the hosts but the Foxes conjured a sweeping move when Marc Albrighton’s crossfield pass found Mahrez and he teed up King to steer in from 15 yards.

The midfielder, in the team because of N’Golo Kante’s hamstring injury, had not scored in the league for 11 months.

But Albion hit back just four minutes after the break when, following Mahrez’s handball, Gardner curled a brilliant free-kick past the motionless Schmeichel from 25 yards.

It allowed the game to take a similar pattern to the first half with Albion scoring early and Leicester pressing.

And just like the first period the Foxes hit the bar when Okazaki shuddered the woodwork with a 57th-minute header.

It was a glaring miss from the striker but the chances kept flowing as Jeff Schlupp’s drive deflected at Foster minutes later.

Rondon then hacked over from close range as the game opened up before Foster denied Vardy — after he outpaced Gareth McAuley — with 20 minutes left.

Both sides pushed for the next goal, with Gardner shooting over and Huth heading wide, but the Foxes looked more likely to grab a priceless winner.

And, with four minutes left, Morgan almost found it when Olsson slipped in the area but the Foxes’ skipper was denied by Foster from 10 yards.

Mahrez then volleyed wildly over and Leonardo Ulloa could not force the ball in during stoppage time as Leicester were forced to settle for a point.