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Frank Lampard gives Mauricio Pochettino sack verdict with clear message to supporters Frank Lampard has urged Chelsea fans to remain patient with Mauricio Pochettino following their FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City, pointing to their results against Arsenal and Aston Villa this season. Chelsea had the better chances at Wembley on Saturday, with Nicolas Jackson missing a series of great chances to put the Blues ahead. However, an 84th-minute Bernardo Silva strike was enough to sink the London club, who have lost both of their trips to the national stadium this season.  Like in the Carabao Cup final defeat to Liverpool, the game looked like it was heading to extra-time, with Chelsea failing to convert when finding joy in the final third. The late blow will be a sucker punch during what has been a ragged campaign.  Pochettino still has the opportunity to secure European football for his side this season with seven matches left to play in the Premier League as Chelsea c...

Arsenal vs Chelsea: Gusto, Cole Palmer, Chilwell and Mauricio Pochettino full transcript There is no time to rest for Mauricio Pochettino, who faced the press on Monday afternoon as his Chelsea side return to action against Arsenal on Tuesday evening. Just over 72 hours after the Blues were beaten by Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium, they will take on the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium. Chelsea will be hoping to cause some serious harm to Mikel Arteta’s title bid, with Arsenal currently leading the way in the Premier League at the moment. Pochettino was of course asked about the disappointment at Wembley, as well as looking ahead to Tuesday’s clash with their London rivals. Here is the full transcript from the busy press conference below… Cole Palmer is ill. Can he play in the Arsenal game? “Today, no. We need to assess him tomorrow morning. But today, no, I don’t believe he can be involved, but we need to assess him tomorrow and then we can decide. “Even if...

Arsenal's Champions League quarter-final second leg at Bayern Munich will be officiated by a different referee than the one who was in the middle at the Emirates Stadium last week. Swedish official Glenn Nyberg was in the middle of two controversial moments during the 2-2 draw in North London last week. Firstly, the visiting manager   Thomas Tuchel   was unhappy after   Gabriel Magalhaes   inadvertently handled the ball before a goal kick, unaware that the game was live. Nyberg apparently witnessed the error from the centre-back but   told Tuchel he chose not to penalise it.   Mikel Arteta was also angered by Nyberg in stoppage time as   Bukayo Saka   collided with  Manuel Neuer   in the area. While it seemed a certain penalty, Nyberg chose to wave away appeals and  VAR  did not overrule the decision. After the match, Arteta explained the reasoning the referee gave for the penalty being denied. Nothing, I didn’t say anything, t...

  A rsenal gave up ground in the Premier League title race when they slipped to a damaging defeat against Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Quick-fire goals from substitute Leon Bailey and England star Ollie Watkins settled the scores to put   Manchester City   in pole position at the summit. Pep Guardiola's star-studded side are two points clear with six games to play as they target their fourth Premier League crown on the bounce. Arsenal, meanwhile, must pick up the pieces in the aftermath of a jaw-dropping 24 hours in which Liverpool were also beaten - by Crystal Palace - in a double boost for City. Despite harbouring so much hope for so long this season, former Arsenal stars Paul Merson and Ian Wright were among the pundits to flag up just how significant this reverse might be for The Gunners. Here, we round-up what Merson, Wright and other high-profile TV figures said at the final whistle... Pau...

There was always something inevitable about Manchester City. They have simply earned the right over the past six years to do this, to warrant such energy and fear from the early weeks of the season. They are the team that could be in the shadows, as scary as ever even if they're not there. Teams look beyond the review mirror and into the far-reaching beyond just to catch site of City, to track their progress and analyse what stage of fully operational beast mode they are in.  Even when there is nothing to worry about with performances, results, or the table, City lurk, their presence and history hanging there immovable. Nobody quite expected things to work out the way they did on Sunday.   Liverpool's loss to Crystal Palace was as surprising as anything that happened over the Premier League weekend  but was only cautiously celebrated by those of an Arsenal persuasion that recognised the challenge Aston Villa would pose. The City factor - this time in true Death Star form,...

   Mauricio Pochettino admits he has struggled to fit Noni Madueke into the Chelsea XI because of Cole Palmer’s glowing form in the same position. Chelsea spent £30m to sign Madueke from Dutch club PSV in January 2023 and he has conjured up seven goals and one assists across 37 games to date. Palmer, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City for £42.5m this summer, has made the same amount of appearances but has been far more productive. The 21-year-old has scored 19 goals and registered 13 assists in 37 games for Chelsea and Pochettino must now work out a way to fit both players in his XI. Quizzed about Madueke’s potential on Friday, Chelsea boss Pochettino said: ‘First of all it’s about to have the space for him. ‘Because when the club signed Cole Palmer, he (Madueke) was also here at the club and they’re in the same position. ‘It’s all about adaptation and trying to find the dynamic where him and Palmer can play together. Hopefully he can be consistent playing in the starting...

  Paul Merson laid into both Ben White and Kai Havertz for their roles in Aston Villa's first goal during a damaging 2-0 defeat on Sunday.  The Gunners were unable to capitalise on a strong first-half performance at the Emirates Stadium as they were undone by late goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins. Arsenal came close to taking the lead themselves at several stages in the opening 45 after Leandro Trossard brought a stunning save from Emi Martinez whilst Havertz and Bukayo Saka also went close.  Unai Emery's Champions League-chasing side were constantly a threat though with Watkins hitting the post in a warning shot before the break. Mikel Arteta couldn't rouse a similar performance after half time for his team though and Villa brought themselves back into the match as the home crowd became increasingly nervy.  Merson was left less than impressed with the way that Havertz and White defended for Bailey's opener during this period. I’m a big fan of Havertz bu...