Nacho Monreal is very happy he left Arsenal
On Sunday, Spanish paper El Pais have an interview with former Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal.
How much would Mikel Arteta like to have Monreal in Arsenal’s current setup?
The Gunners head to Southampton on Thursday with some defensive problems.
After defeats to Man City and Brighton in their first two games after the Premier League resumed, Arteta will be without David Luiz after his recent red card at the Etihad Stadium.
On-loan defender Pablo Mari is probably out for the rest of the season following an injury sustained at City.
On top of that, there are injury problems surrounding Sokratis Papastathopoulos (thigh), Calum Chambers (knee) and Cedric Soares.
Returning to Monreal, 34, he left Arsenal last summer to join Real Sociedad.
On Sunday, Real Sociedad take on Real Madrid in La Liga. (Learn how to watch online, here.)
Ahead of that game, El Pais asked Monreal if he made the right call leaving the Gunners for Sociedad. The defender replied:
The truth is yes. It was a difficult decision because I loved the competition, I was in a good moment and I had the confidence of the coach and the club.
I still had opportunities to play, but after many months, things are now going well at Real (Sociedad). We have a good team and I do not regret my decision.
Arsenal’s German goalkeeper Bernd Leno (on stretcher) remonstrates with Brighton’s French striker Neal Maupay after the keeper was injured during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on June 20, 2020. (Photo by Mike Hewitt / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by MIKE HEWITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Brighton 2 – Arsenal 1
Heading into the Arsenal game, Brighton were the only team in the Premier League without a win in 2020.
Neal Maupay ended that sequence with a late winner to sink the Gunners.
Arsenal took the lead against the Seagulls with a fabulous striker from Nicolas Pepe.
Lewis Dunk scrambled the ball over the line in the 75th minute as Brighton drew level.
Brighton’s Neal Maupay accuses Gunners of lacking humility
After the match, Neal Maupay accused Arsenal’s players of lacking humility. He said:
Some of Arsenal’s players need to learn humility, maybe sometimes.
They have been talking a lot first half, second half when they were 1-0 up. They got what they deserved.
Maupay was also involved in a sour moment in the game. The Brighton forward collided with Arsenal goalie Bernd Leno in the first half, which forced the German keeper out of the game.
There are now fears that Leno will be sidelined for a while.
Speaking about the clash with Leno, Maupay commented:
I just went for the ball, I am that type of player. I don’t want to stop until the referee blows the whistle. I never meant the injury.
I apologised at half-time to their staff and their manager. [Mikel Arteta] told me it is football, he saw the video and he knows I did not mean to hurt him. I wish him a speedy recovery.
Neal Maupay has a message for Matteo guendouzi… 👀#BHAARS #bbcfootball pic.twitter.com/YOjYqafTMw
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 20, 2020
Neal Maupay: Matteo Guendouzi & Bernd Leno pictures
Leno furious with Maupay as he’s being stretchered off. pic.twitter.com/xxtNJPpMKk
— arseblog (@arseblog) June 20, 2020
How did bt sport miss this? Didn’t talk about it once. This is why everyone kicked off – Guendouzi is the prick not Maupay hahahah pic.twitter.com/uCT0uHWEOF
— Isaac (@IsaacUnited1) June 20, 2020
Also see: Everton FC vs Liverpool FC live streaming & betting tips.
Newcastle United vs Sheffield United live streaming & betting tips.
