Football

Charlie Nicholas explains why he feels sorry for one Arsenal player ahead of Man City game


Charlie Nicholas has hailed Arsenal star Bernd Leno, claiming he feels sorry for the goalkeeper. The Gunners hero says Arsenal’s defence doesn’t help Leno, who’s a ‘top-class keeper’.

The Gunners welcome champions Manchester City to the Emirates on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League.

Freddie Ljungberg is hoping to secure consecutive wins after the Gunners’ victory at West Ham on Monday night.

However, there remains doubts over Ljungberg and Arsenal, who have struggled to impress this season.

And Nicholas gave his prediction for their clash against City, with the Arsenal hero defending Germany international Leno.

He told Sky Sports: “We can guarantee goals in this one. I am going to go for a high scoreline here.

“Man City posted an emphatic win midweek but have major problems at the back. The Arsenal strikers looked as though they were more up for it and are scoring. Bukayo Saka played his part in the draw at Standard Liege, as did Gabriel Martinelli off the bench – we have some real promising youngsters.

“These are the games that they haven’t got a result in and I am not expecting one here.

“Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sometimes do not turn up in these games, if they get picked that is.

“I really have sympathy for Bernd Leno. He is a top-class goalkeeper but he will make mistakes as all goalkeepers do.

“He is playing behind a defence who do not protect him. There will be loads of goals in this. 2-4.”

Ljungberg is currently interim boss at Arsenal after Unai Emery was sacked.

The Gunners are eyeing Carlo Ancelotti after he was axed by Napoli last week, while Mikel Arteta is also a possibility.

However, Arsenal hero Alan Smith says Ancelotti isn’t the right man for the job.

He said: “Arsenal cannot lean on a solid rearguard, and that obvious lack of resilience and organisation makes the task so much harder for the new man.

“That’s why I repeat my firm belief that the situation demands an innovative, inspirational coach, someone with the ability to quickly instil a decisive vision and culture on the training ground that transfers to match days in a positive way.

“For me, someone like Carlo ­Ancelotti would be the wrong choice. As successful as the Italian has been, he’s more of an old-school manager who steadies the ship through clever man-management. Arsenal’s predicament has moved beyond that.

“It requires a tough visionary who can grab hold of this squad and fashion a way of playing that, in the short term, will achieve better results by making the team harder to play against.

“I said it last week and I’ll say it again. Mikel Arteta has what it takes. I just hope that the Arsenal board feel the same way.”



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