Chelsea check Arsenal’s title charge; Swansea win – Agent denies Mou’s ‘love letter’ to Manchester United 

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LONDON, Jan 24, (AFP): Diego Costa scored as Chelsea renewed their hold over Arsenal with a 1-0 win at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday that dented their London rivals’ Premier League title hopes. Costa had been the central figure in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Arsenal in September, when he goaded Gabriel into getting sent off, and he drew the foul that saw Per Mertesacker dismissed in the 18th minute before neatly converting the game’s only goal five minutes later.

It was Arsenal’s first defeat in 10 home league games and left Arsene Wenger’s side in third place, below Manchester City on goal difference and three points shy of leaders Leicester City. Chelsea rose one place to 13th, calming any relegation concerns, after only their second win in six league games under interim manager Guus Hiddink.

Arsenal, who welcomed Alexis Sanchez back from injury, have now gone nine league games without beating Chelsea, during which they have not scored in over nine and a half hours, and their latest failure left them without a win in three league games. Chelsea remain 14 points below the top four, but while Champions League qualification remains an unlikely goal, this was further proof that, even without the departed Jose Mourinho, they continue to hold the Indian sign over Arsenal. Arsenal recalled Mesut Ozil after he missed the 0-0 draw at Stoke City with a sore foot and he was a typical buzzing presence as the hosts forced their opponents back early on.

But Arsenal lacked precision in the final third, Joel Campbell miscuing a volley from Theo Walcott’s cross and Mathieu Flamini slipping as he attempted to shoot, and the best chances fell to Chelsea. In the second minute, Petr Cech had to drop to his right to turn a shot from Oscar around the post after Laurent Koscielny had tamely conceded possession. When Cesar Azpilicueta crossed from the left, Willian was given two bites at the cherry, seeing his initial volley scuffed back to him by Mertesacker and then putting his follow-up straight at Cech.

Swansea 2, Everton 1

Francesco Guidolin’s first game in charge of Swansea saw them win 2-1 away to Everton on Sunday as the Welsh club moved four points clear of the Premier League relegation zone. A hard fought victory saw Swansea climb to 15th place. just three positions behind Everton, who’ve now won just once in their last 10 league games and only three times in their past 14 at Goodison Park. Swansea went ahead though Gylfi Sigurdsson’s 17th-minute penalty but Everton were level nine minutes later when Gareth Barry’s near-post flick was turned into his own net by the Swans’ Jack Cork.

But Swansea regained the lead in the 34th minute. Left-back Neil Taylor burst clear and released Andre Ayew, whose shot deflected in off the sliding John Stones. It appeared Swansea defender Ashley Williams may have handled the ball in the build-up but referee Anthony Taylor was happy that the contact was not deliberate and waved play on. For highly-regarded England central defender Stones, this was a match to forget as it was his under-hit backpass that led to Swansea’s penalty, with goalkeeper Tim Howard hacking down Ayew as he tried to clear.

There were several occasions when Stones was guilty of overplaying the ball, whereas Swansea centre-back Williams adopted a more traditional approach by concentrating on getting the ball clear. Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho’s agent has dismissed as “absolutely ridiculous and totally absurd” a report that the Portuguese wrote a ‘love letter’ to Manchester United to trumpet his case to be their next manager. Mourinho, one of the world’s most successful managers, has been consistently linked with the job at Old Trafford since he was dismissed by Chelsea in December and while United have been labouring under the stewardship of Louis van Gaal.

A report in the Independent on Sunday newspaper said the two-times Champions League-winning manager had written a six-page letter to United explaining his strong desire to manage the club and outlining his plans. Described as a ‘love letter’ to the club, it is claimed Mourinho even went into detail about how he would be willing to adapt his style to meet United’s traditional attacking ethos. The report emerged on Saturday night and United declined to comment at the end of a day which saw Van Gaal and his team booed off the pitch by supporters at Old Trafford after another sterile performance in a 1-0 defeat by Southampton.

On Sunday, Mourinho’s agent Jorge Mendes strongly denied the claims. “It does not occur to anyone that a coach like Jose Mourinho can write letters to clubs offering their services. It is absolutely ridiculous and totally absurd,” Mendes said on his management company’s website, www.gestifute.com. Mourinho’s second spell at champions Chelsea, where he enjoyed huge success until their spectacular implosion this season, ended in December with his confidants suggesting the 52-year-old was keen on a quick return to the managerial fray.

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