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Arsenal 2-0 Brighton: Gunners ease to win

By Nicholas MendolaOct 1, 2017, 8:54 AM EDT
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  • Monreal opens scoring
  • Gulls with one shot on target
  • Arsenal attempts 24 shots

Nacho Monreal‘s first Premier League goal since 2013 led Arsenal to a 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Alex Iwobi also scored for Arsenal, who rises fifth with 13 points. Brighton remains 14th with seven.

[ MORE: Watch full PL match replays ]

Brighton got its first scare thanks to a powerful inside-out rip from Lacazette, a 2nd minute shot firing off the right post.

Five minutes later, Alexis Sanchez bounced a long shot to Mathew Ryan.

An air of inevitability surrounded the opener, as Shkrodan Mustafi’s shot was cleared off the line and a second blocked shot came to Monreal for a right-footed finish.

The Gulls found their way to the goal post when a short-played free kick set up Solly March for a left-footed blast and Lewis Dunk was off-balance when he chopped at the rebound.

Lacazette stayed lively and forced Ryan to stoop for a save after the half-hour mark.

A lightning counter attack from Arsenal in the 42nd minute, spearheaded by Alexis Sanchez and Hector Bellerin, ended with Ryan stopping Aaron Ramsey with a right leg save.

[ MORE: Latest Premier League standings ]

[ MORE: Full lineups, stats, box score ]

An outstanding pass from Alexis Sanchez cued Iwobi up for the second goal, snapping a second half lull.

Lewis Dunk slid to just deter a Sanchez shot, and Sead Kolasinac‘s header on the ensuing corner was cleared off the line.

Finlay goal gives Minnesota win over former club Columbus (video)

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By Nicholas MendolaMay 18, 2019, 10:18 PM EDT
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It had to be him.

As Columbus continues to search for itself under new management, it’s no surprise that one of its old heroes broke its heart on Saturday.

[ RECAP: Man City 6-0 Watford ]

Ethan Finlay, he of the 166 Crew appearances before being traded to Minnesota United, said earlier this week, “I’d be lying to you if I said I didn’t want to beat up on them pretty bad.”

So of course Finlay scored a 70th minute tap-in to give his Loons a 1-0 win over Columbus on Saturday in St. Paul. It wasn’t “pretty bad,” but it probably felt pretty good.

The goal was Finlay’s first of the season for United, keeping the hosts unbeaten at home.

Columbus falls to 1-5 away from home under Caleb Porter, and has won just once in its last seven outings.

Brighton ready to pay release clause for Swans manager

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By Nicholas MendolaMay 18, 2019, 9:08 PM EDT
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Brighton and Hove Albion is ready to bring one of England’s brightest managerial prospects into the Premier League.

The Seagulls are set to pay a $3 million release clause to lure Graham Potter away from Swansea City, one year after the manager left Swedish club Ostersunds FK.

[ RECAP: Man City 6-0 Watford ]

Potter was 35 when he was hired by the Swedish club in 2010, and helped Ostersunds to three promotions before moving to Wales in 2018.

Swans finished 10th this season, its first in the Championship after relegation from the Premier League.

Brighton regressed in a big way during the second half of this season, and remains in the top flight largely because Cardiff City was unable to take advantage of the Seagulls’ huge struggles.

The report says Swansea offered Potter a new deal to stay at the Liberty Stadium, but the manager wants to try the Premier League.

If he takes the job, Potter will manage against one of his former clubs; Potter played eight times for Southampton in the Premier League.

Pep: Domestic treble harder than winning Champions League

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By Nicholas MendolaMay 18, 2019, 8:33 PM EDT
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Manchester City won its third tournament of the season on Saturday, battering Watford 6-0 at Wembley Stadium to add an FA Cup to its League Cup and Premier League titles.

[ RECAP: Man City 6-0 Watford ]

In doing so, City is the first club to win a domestic treble. Manager Pep Guardiola wants to win every competition he enters, but said winning all three is extra special.

“I love the Champions League but it is more difficult to do what we have done than to win the Champions League,” Guardiola said.

Wait, what?

From ManCity.com:

“It’s not easy being there every three days. We lacked a little bit of energy but it’s normal. It’s been so tough this week. We could not have had more energy but we kept it at the right time.”

Well, that makes sense. Whereas Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp risked less with his cup lineups, knowing his desire for the Premier League and Champions League, Guardiola’s lineups were aimed at winning everything.

And that’s largely why they’ve done it. City might’ve needed penalty kicks to beat Chelsea in the League Cup Final and a John Stones clearance to win the Premier League (or a Vincent Kompany thunderbolt), but the treble is impressive.

AC Milan boss Gattuso insists fifth “not a failure”

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By Kyle BonnMay 18, 2019, 7:48 PM EDT
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For a solid four months, it appeared AC Milan was on track for a return to the Champions League for the first time in six years. Then, it all fell apart.

Still, manager Gennaro Gattuso is insisting their season is not a failure, adamant that a fifth-placed finish would not be considered a disappointment for the club. His reasoning will not be exactly endearing to fans.

“Fifth place absolutely wouldn’t be a failure, not because I want credit myself, plus what would Roma and Lazio say?” Gattuso said during his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s game against Frosinone. “There’s regret because for two months we’ve had our fate in our hands and we dropped so many points, but it’s not a failure.”

Milan was as high as third place in the Serie A table in mid-March and seemed close to wrapping up a return to Champions League play, but a stretch of one win in seven league matches saw them tumble down into the crowded battle below, with Atalanta, Roma, Torino, and Lazio all in a pack. AC Milan now sits sixth, and while they still remain in the mix for the fourth position, they would need to make up a three-point deficit in just two matches. Fifth-placed Roma drew today, so they can jump to fifth with a win against Frosinone.

Milan was a European powerhouse for decades until the club declined following its 2007 Champions League victory, ultimately falling out of the running for Europe’s top competition, with just a few Europa League appearances since 2014. Gattuso’s comparison to Lazio and Roma, two strong Italian clubs without Milan’s history, is bound to infuriate fans, along with his acceptance of the club’s shortcomings.

The late-season collapse has called Gattuso’s job security into question, but he said that will wait until the end of the season. “Both the club and I have put aside our small talk to reach our objective,” Gattuso said during the presser. “There will be time to talk about the future.”

“There are two games left and we’re still playing for our objective.”