Nacho Monreal celebrates helping Spain beat Albania 2-0 in World Cup qualifying on Sunday night.
Nacho Monreal looked to be in good spirits as he posed for a picture with David De Gea after helping Spain beat Albania in World Cup qualifying on Sunday night.
The Arsenal full back played the full 90 minutes as Diego Costa and Nolito both scored to fire La Roja to victory and take them a step closer towards qualification for the 2018 tournament in Russia.
Monreal has been in good form for Arsenal in recent months and has been rewarded for his solid form with a call-up to the national side.
And the defender looked to be in high spirits as he posed for a picture with his team-mates in the dressing room after Sunday’s game.
Monreal posted the photo above on his personal Instagram account and wrote: “A joy to play with the @sefutbol and happy for the 3 points!”
Monreal will now be turning his attentions back to Arsenal affairs and the north London club’s home clash against Swansea City in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Manchester United, meanwhile, are gearing up for their crunch trip to Liverpool next Monday.
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LONDON -- It's tempting to compare another injury-weakened, quality-deficient, error-strewn and fairly spineless opening to the season for Arsenal to "Groundhog Day." The problem is that in the film, Phil Connors, the character played by Bill Murray, actually learned from the reoccurring history. It doesn't appear that Arsenal and Arsene Wenger have.
The Gunners have won just once on the opening day in the past seven seasons. That was a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace in 2014. In other years, they have been tripped up by West Ham, Aston Villa and Sunderland. Two of the teams they failed to beat on those opening days went on to struggle against relegation.
Liverpool won't be toiling toward the ugly end of the table this season, but there was still a grim familiarity to Arsenal's 4-3 defeat (a scoreline that flattered the hosts) on Sunday. It was a performance that was less a football match and more a checklist for Arsenal's repeated failings over the years. Periods of dominance that weren't capitalised on, glaring missed chances, defensive frailties and a general sense of spinelessness were all there, with a couple of injuries thrown in as an added flourish, like throw cushions on a powerfully depressing couch.
It was interesting that after the game, Jurgen Klopp, despite being the winning manager, swiftly admitted a mistake, confessing that his celebrations for Liverpool's fourth goal (he gave scorer Sadio Mane a piggyback ride on the touchline) were excessive because it gave the impression he thought the game was over. The evidence that Wenger is not so keen to do the same was on his team sheet.
A year ago, Rob Holding made his full debut for Bolton, against Burton Albion in the League Cup. Thirty appearances and a relegation later and he was thrown in at the deep end after signing for Arsenal, theoretically as one for the future, against a Liverpool attacking quartet that cost near enough £100 million. It's fine and perfectly reasonable to make signings for years to come, just as long as they're not used in the present, before they're ready. Holding didn't disgrace himself against Liverpool, but he was still clearly a man -- a boy, really -- in over his head.
That's not his fault but Wenger's, who was left without his three first-choice central defenders due to a lack of fitness. And any arguments that those ailments can simply be put down to bad luck can be refuted by a glance at Arsenal's past record with injuries: When it's been going on for this long, it can't be bad luck. Wenger places much stock in bringing through young players, but using players like Holding before they're ready is jeopardising the future, as well as the present.
One does have an element of sympathy with his defence for fielding a weakened side.
"You're in a Catch-22 situation with the Euros," Wenger said, in reference to the players left out of the matchday squad after their summer exertions. "You have to give players a rest. They are not ready to play this sort of game. They will get injured, like [Aaron] Ramsey today."
Certainly this is true, and it is slightly rich for people to express concern about footballers being overworked and then complain when managers such as Wenger don't play them. But this defeat was about more than simply fielding a few second-string players: Liverpool had to do this too, with no James Milner, Loris Karius or Daniel Sturridge available from the start, while Alberto Moreno played because Klopp had no other option at left-back. Although, given the way the Spaniard played, "nobody" might have been a better choice.
Arsenal's predicament stems partly from a reticence and dithering in the transfer market, a sense that players who have proved themselves to be good but not good enough are kept and trusted: One thinks of Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal, Francis Coquelin, Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud. Say what you will about Ed Woodward's past record in the transfer market, but Jose Mourinho identified four players he wanted for his Manchester United side: Three were in place before preseason started, while even Woodward's sternest critics will forgive the Paul Pogba deal taking a little longer, given the complexities involved.
Meanwhile, Arsenal -- in dire need of another central defender and centre-forward -- have been mucking around trying to buy another attacking midfielder in Riyad Mahrez. Sure, there is talk of a defender coming in, as well, but Wenger knew some time ago that he would start the season without at least Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, with Gabriel Paulista's injury coming a week before Liverpool's visit.
Arsene Wenger oversaw another Premier League opener in which his Arsenal looked understrength and underprepared.
Even if he regards all of those defenders as good enough for a title-challenging side, which is at best debatable, to put himself in the position of fielding a player, in Holding, that even he admits is not yet ready, is criminal. And yet, it's entirely predictable; it's as if, in a tumultuous and unpredictable world, Arsenal want to be the one thing everyone can rely on.
Arsenal have the money -- hell, every Premier League club has the money -- but Wenger seemingly remains obsessed with value, which at this stage is simply an abstract concept inside one stubborn man's head. The time to hold one's nose and pay the necessary money came some time ago, and it seems Arsenal are the only ones not doing it.
As an aside, Alexandre Lacazette scored a hat trick for Lyon on Sunday, while at the Emirates, as Arsenal's extended self-parodic art project played out its latest scene, Alexis Sanchez toiled out of position, alone up top. Timing is the key to more than just comedy.
The problem is that years of the same things happening mean even the most innocuous event can inspire howls of derision and frustration. In the second half, when the score was 4-2, Arsenal started an attack, and after a few passes the ball reached Alexis on the left, who didn't immediately cross into the box as he assessed his options. Whistles and boos rang out to this perfectly reasonable pause in the attack, because this looked suspiciously like what the fans had seen before: the start of another indeterminate prod at goal, rather than an incisive thrust.
They know what's coming, because it's all so tediously predictable. This is also partly the reason why last season, when let us not forget Arsenal finished second, is still regarded as something of a failure.
One of the signs that things are really going wrong is when someone, in the desperate search for some sort of redeeming quality, talks up the bare minimum. After the game Wenger commented that "mentally, we kept going," as if trying for 90 minutes is beyond the call of duty. Arsenal are standing still while everyone else is moving forward. It's no wonder none of this is remotely surprising.
Nacho Monreal has arguably grown into not just one of the most consistent players at Arsenal but in the entire league since moving to the Gunners back in 2013.
Monreal was considered a strange buy from Spanish side Malaga back in the January transfer window of 2013 and although he had a relatively slow start to his Arsenal career, largely due to communication and adapting to a new style of play, Monreal has since grown into one of the most reliable players on the pitch.
Surely named as one of the first players on the teamsheet week in week out, Monreal is at the peak of his career right now and we have seen that on the pitch, especially in the past two seasons. Kieran Gibbs had maintained the left back position for a number of seasons without being challenged and I always thought he was a pretty decent left back. However now Gibbs can’t get a look in compared to the ability of Monreal, so much so that apparently Gibbs is considering moving away from Arsenal. Monreal shows strength, confidence and ability at both ends of the pitch because he recognises when it’s safe to join the attack rather just racing forward like some full backs do. Experience dictates what decisions he makes and we have seen that whilst his defensive duties are always on point, he can also whip a good cross in, as well as occasionally have a crack at goal.
In a recent interview Monreal was asked about how he feels now that he is settled in and fully integrated into the starting eleven. Monreal told Arsenal.com: “When you’re young you just have so much energy and you feel great. As soon as you finish one match you can’t wait to play the next because you recover really quickly. On the other hand you lack experience. With time you lose a bit of physical fitness but you gain huge experience. You understand far better where to place the ball, how to read the game and what the team needs. I feel I am at a point now where I am combining well those two elements.”
At 30 years old Monreal is truly at the peak of his career and his experience has already shown these past two years, as he rarely makes a wrong decision on the pitch. The sad thing is is that we shall only get a few more years out of Monreal at his highest ability, before age starts to play a part on his style of play, at which point Arsenal will have to consider whether Gibbs (if he’s still with us) is ready to retake his position, or if a new player is needed. Perhaps that’s why Ricardo Rodriguez is being linked with the Gunners, as they look for a replacement sooner rather than later.
Kieran Gibbs of Arsenal celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium on November 8, 2015 in London, England.
Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs has emerged as a surprise new candidate to solve Liverpool's troublesome left-back spot.
The Reds have struggled in the position for many years now and the patience of many fans was tested to its limit with current incumbent Alberto Moreno after his Europa League final horror show against former club Sevilla with his side surrendering a 1-0 lead to lose 3-1 in Basel.
According to Football Insider, the Gunners will listen to offers for 26-year-old Gibbs this summer after he lost his place to Spanish left-back Nacho Monreal.
Liverpool, who are also monitoring Leicester City's teenage left-back – who has made just three senior appearances for the Premier League champions – could turn to Gibbs instead as a more experienced alternative.
Born in Lambeth, Gibbs, who has been capped 10 times by England, has spent his entire career to date with the Gunners apart from a loan spell at Norwich City in 2007/08 when he turned out seven times for the Canaries.
He has played over 200 times for Arsenal and played in the 2014 FA Cup-winning side.
Liverpool face competition for Ajax's leggy winger Anwar El Ghazi says Gianluca Di Marzio.
The Italian transfer news hound reckons Crystal Palace and recently-relegated Aston Villa are also interested in the 21-year-old Dutch international.
Capped twice, El Ghazi has burst onto the scene over the past couple of seasons, reaching double figures in the goals columns in both campaigns.
At 6ft 2in he is tall for a wide man but is the kind of hard-runner that Jurgen Klopp so admires.
Jordi Alba of Barcelona and Anwar El Ghazi of Ajax battle for the ball (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Martin Skrtel is heading for the Anfield exit door and newly-promoted Middlesbrough could have a battle to convince the Slovakian to stay in the Premier League say the Metro as Besiktas and another unnamed Turkish club look to land the veteran centre-back who still has two years left to run on his Reds contract.
Arsenal have never really been associated with producing home grown, English talent.
Certainly not since Arsene Wenger arrived at the helm nearly two decades ago.
The Gunners famously fielded a Premier League XI of exclusively foreign players back in 2005 – much to the dismay of the English romantics.
But in fairness to the north Londoners, they’ve established quite a strong English contingent in recent years.
That all could be about to change though.
That’s because Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain, Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs will all be allowed to leave this summer after falling down the pecking order.
All three are in danger of missing out on England’s Euro 2016 squad too after being usurped by Danny Welbeck, Alex Iwobi and Nacho Monreal.
The Telegraph claim that Oxlade-Chamberlain is a target for both West Ham and former club Southampton this summer after his development stagnated at the Emirates.
Walcott and Gibbs have both struggled with injuries – and the Gunners are now willing to cut their losses.
The 18-year-old, who had scored twice on his debut against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League on Thursday, also set up a goal for Ander Herrera as Louis van Gaal's side closed to within three points of the Champions League places.
Arsenal, who scored through Danny Welbeck and Mesut Ozil, were left five points below leaders Leicester City, while Tottenham Hotspur moved three points above them by coming from behind to beat Swansea City 2-1.
At Old Trafford, the extent of United's injury problems was laid bare by a starting XI that saw midfielder Michael Carrick line up at centre-back, while Manchester-born starlet Rashford led the line in the absence of injury victims Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial.
Arsenal, who made three changes from their 2-0 Champions League defeat by Barcelona, created the first chance, Ozil freeing Nacho Monreal for a shot that the fit-again David de Gea raced out to block, but it was the hosts who drew first blood in the 29th minute.
Gabriel, brought in for Per Mertesacker, failed to make proper contact as he attempted to clear Guillermo Varela's inviting right-wing cross and Rashford nervelessly placed the loose ball past Petr Cech.
The United faithful rose to acclaim their new hero and they were off their feet again less than three minutes later when Rashford met Jesse Lingard's cross with a well-directed downward header.
Rashford became the third-youngest player to score a Premier League goal for United, after Federico Macheda and Welbeck, and the latter returned to haunt his former club by reducing the arrears.
In a repeat of the formula that had yielded a last-gasp winner against Leicester two weeks ago, Ozil chipped a free-kick into the box and Welbeck stooped to head home. It was the German's 18th assist of the campaign.
Van Gaal tumble
United lost Marcos Rojo to an apparent ankle injury early in the first half, which saw 18-year-old Dutch defender Tim Fosu-Mensah come on for his club debut.
Wenger sent on Olivier Giroud for the ineffective Theo Walcott in the 63rd minute, but two minutes later United extended their lead.
Rashford rolled the ball into the path of Herrera, whose first-time curler from outside the box was deflected past Cech by the flying Laurent Koscielny.
Ozil gave Arsenal hope with 21 minutes left, following in to volley home after De Gea had parried from Welbeck.
LONDON: Teenage sensation Marcus Rashford took his tally to four goals in two games as Manchester United compromised Arsenal's Premier League title bid with a rousing 3-2 victory on Sunday.
But the hosts held firm and Van Gaal had the home fans roaring in their seats as he mimicked a dive to fourth official Mike Dean on the touchline in protest at what he felt was a piece of simulation by an Arsenal player.
United are now three points below fourth-place Manchester City, who were due to face Liverpool in the League Cup final at Wembley later in the day.
Tottenham, who began the day level on points with Arsenal, fell behind in the 19th minute at home to Swansea when Alberto Paloschi seized on Angel Rangel's deflected shot to score.
But Nacer Chadli turned in Kyle Walker's cross to equalise in the 70th minute and Danny Rose completed the comeback seven minutes later when he drilled home from distance following a corner.
Teenage forward Marcus Rashford's dream start to life at Manchester United continued on Sunday as he scored two goals in his team's 3-2 victory over Arsenal at Old Trafford.
MANCHESTER: Teenage forward Marcus Rashford's dream start to life at Manchester United continued on Sunday (Feb 28) as he scored two goals in his team's 3-2 victory over Arsenal at Old Trafford.
The win represented Louis van Gaal's third victory, in three competitions, over the past six days, but more signficantly, damaged Arsene Wenger's hopes of winning Arsenal's first league title in 12 years.
The 18-year-old forward, who scored twice in the mid-week Europa League victory over FC Midtjylland, was on the mark again in an astonishing first half in which he beat Petr Cech on two occasions.
To make his impact all the more stunning, the goals came within three minutes of each other as United delivered a serious blow to Wenger's aim of narrowing the five-point advantage that leaders Leicester City held before kick-off.
After 29 minutes, Ander Herrera started a move with a telling tackle on Theo Walcott, sparking a counter-attack that ended with Guillermo Varela crossing from the right and Gabriel hacking a poor clearance directly to Rashford.
The teenager did the rest with a composed finish from a dozen yards, the first shot of his Premier League career resulting in his first goal.
Arsenal's poor defending was badly exposed in that attack and worse was to follow from the next serious foray into their territory with Varela again influential, making an important header that kept the ball in play.
Jesse Lingard received the ball and picked out Rashford, who had again slipped his marker Gabriel, and the youngster planted a perfect header past the diving Cech.
Wenger looked stunned on the Arsenal bench, a mood reflected by his players, although his side were able to pull an important goal back before the interval, predictably through the former United striker Danny Welbeck.
Mesut Ozil was the architect with an inch-perfect free-kick from midway inside the United half and Welbeck, who eluded his marker Marcos Rojo too easily, guided a header past David de Gea from 10 yards.
HERRERA ON TARGET
The goals were the highlight of a thrilling first half in which Nacho Monreal should have given the visitors the lead after just seven minutes when he chased Ozil's through-ball into the area and was denied well by De Gea.
Rashford won a free-kick inches outside the area after a trip by Gabriel, with Memphis Depay's low set-piece being well held by Cech, while Alexis Sanchez replied for Arsenal with a snapshot that flew narrowly wide.
The entertainment continued after the restart as United sought to continue a remarkable run of close to 250 Premier League home games in which they have led at half-time and not lost.
Morgan Schneiderlin saw a shot blocked from a home corner and Cech needed two attempts to keep out Depay's long-range shot as Arsenal toiled, prompting Wenger to bring on Olivier Giroud just after the hour in place of the ineffective Walcott.
But the next attack brought United a precious third goal, in the 65th minute, with Rashford again involved as he held up Juan Mata's through ball before laying it back to Herrera just outside the area.
The Spanish midfielder's crisp shot might have been saved by Cech, but a strong deflection off Laurent Koscielny gave the diving Arsenal goalkeeper no chance.
Again, Arsenal responded, from Sanchez's right-wing cross on 69 minutes, which found Welbeck on the six-yard line for a shot that was blocked by De Gea.
The rebound fell kindly for Ozil, who showed predictably superb technique in keeping a bouncing ball down and driving it past the diving De Gea from 15 yards.
Herrera and Aaron Ramsey were cautioned for a scuffle as tempers became frayed and Van Gaal argued with the fourth official, throwing himself to the ground theatrically to make a point. But apart from half-chances for Giroud and Kolscielny, both of whom missed with headers, there was little further goalmouth action.
