Monday, September 1, 2014

Premier League: Arsenal held 1-1 by Leicester at King Power Stadium

Premier League: Arsenal held 1-1 by Leicester at King Power Stadium

Premier League new-boys Leicester City came from behind to earn a deserved 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the King Power Stadium.
Big-money signing Leo Ulloa cancelled out Alexis Sanchez's first-half opener for Arsenal to secure a share of the spoils for the hosts on Sunday.
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Arsenal created the better of the chances in the second half, but substitute Jamie Vardy went close to winning it for Leicester only to be denied by Wojciech Szczesny.
The Gunners suffered a scare early on when Laurent Koscielny came off worse after a clash of heads with Jeffrey Schlupp and was forced off the pitch to receive lengthy treatment.
Leicester created their first chance of the game on 18 minutes when Riyad Mahrez worked a one-two with Ulloa and fired in a shot just wide of the far post.

Best of match

  • Man of the match: Wes Morgan was a rock for Leicester at the back.
  • Goal of the match: Leo Ulloa powered home a superb header from Jeffrey Schlupp's brilliant cross.
  • Save of the match: Wojiech Szczesny was at full stretch to push out substitute Jamie Vardy's powerful shot
  • Moment of the match: Laurent Koscielny picked up a head injury early on and it appeared to affect him in his positioning for the equaliser.
  • Talking point: Have Leicester got enough to claw their way to safety? Do Arsenal need to bring in a new striker if they are to challenge for the title?
Two minutes later, Arsenal broke the deadlock as Santi Cazorla found Yaya Sanogo inside the box with a clever pass and after the striker saw his stabbed effort blocked by Kasper Schmeichel, Sanchez was on hand to fire home the loose ball from six yards.
The lead proved short-lived as Leicester drew level two minutes later with Ulloa netting his second goal for the club after his arrival from Brighton in the summer.
Schlupp was the provider with a superb cross from the left and Ulloa ghosted in behind Koscielny to power his header high into the net past Szczesny.
Morgan and Ulloa reaction
Five minutes later, Koscielny was forced off to be replaced by Calum Chambers as he had failed to recover from the head knock he sustained early in the game.
Mahrez was proving a constant threat to Arsenal and he had the final chance of the first half when he drilled in a shot from the edge of the box which forced Szczesny into a good save.
Arsenal created the first opening of the second half when Cazorla swapped passes with Sanchez on the edge of the box, but the Spaniard got his left-footed shot all wrong dragging it well wide of the target.
Pearson hails Foxes' creativity
Leicester really should have grabbed the lead on 53 minutes following some superb skill from Ulloa inside the box, which saw him escape Chambers with a brilliant dummy, but with only Szczesny to beat, the striker hit his shot into the side-netting.
Aaron Ramsey wasted a good opportunity for Arsenal two minutes later when Cazorla picked out his run with a brilliant lofted pass over the Leicester defence, but the midfielder failed to get enough power on his header to trouble Schmeichel.
Wenger: Draw a fair result
Sanogo went close for Arsenal soon after when he was played in on goal by Nacho Monreal, but Schmeichel was quickly off his line to block the striker's effort.
Leicester substitute Jamie Vardy went close to a winner for the home side seven minutes from time when worked a one-two with Dave Nugent to race into the box and fired in a shot which forced a superb flying save from Szczesny.
After the international break, Arsenal - who are seventh in the table - host champions Manchester City in their next league game on Saturday 13 September, when 15th-placed Leicester travel to face Stoke.

Short-handed Real Madrid suffer first La Liga defeat at Sociedad

Short-handed Real Madrid suffer first La Liga defeat at Sociedad

David Ramos / Getty Images North America
Despite his first half score on Sunday night, Gareth Bale could not help Real Madrid defeat Sociedad.

Radamel Falcao to move to Manchester United on season-long loan

Radamel Falcao to move to Manchester United on season-long loan

• 28-year-old will move from Monaco, subject to a medical
• United to pay £6m for loan fee, plus substantial wages
• Javier Hernández moves to Real Madrid on loan
• Transfer deadline day – live!
Radamel Falcao
Radamel Falcao is due to fly to Manchester for a medical after United agreed a deal with his current club Monaco. Photograph: Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images
Manchester United have agreed a loan deal for Monaco’s Radamael Falcao, subject to medical and the striker agreeing personal terms. The loan fee is understood to be no more than £6m, with the club having the option of a permanent deal for the player at the end of the season.
The 28-year-old is due to fly to Manchester on Monday for a medical and to sign off on a deal that would take United’s summer spend to over £160m.
Falcao has recently returned from a serious knee injury that ruled him out of Colombia’s World Cup campaign and his expected arrival is further signal of United’s intent to regain a Champions League place, at the very least. The striker is on £300,000-a-week at Monaco, although United are not expected to cover the full amount.
United had been considering a move for Falcao since Louis van Gaal’s arrival at the club, but had not thought of his signing as a priority. However, with interest from Manchester City and Arsenal building, United have moved to secure the Colombian.
With Van Gaal playing a two-striker system that has Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie as the first-choice forwards, how Falcao fits into the side is yet to be determined.
The manager may feel that given Van Persie’s chequered injury record he requires another elite striker in Falcao. Van Gaal may also decide to change the formation to 4-3-3 that would have Van Persie, Falcao, and Rooney up front or move the latter into midfield.
Falcao’s arrival has triggered the departure of Javier Hernández, who waspictured having a medical at Real Madrid and will move to Spain on a season-long loan. Real have first buying option on the striker at the end of the season.

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