Ibrahimovic’s Late Goal Earns Manchester United Community Shield

Manchester United defeated premiership champions, Leicester City, 2-1, securing for Ibrahimovic, his first trophy with the club.

Manchester United opened scoring at the 33rd minute when Jesse Lingard, picked the ball up in midfield and kept running, beating challenges and half-attempts at tackles before putting the ball behind the goalkeeper, Schmeichel.

Leicester pulled back at the 43rd minute, when Marouane Fellaini, in possession of the ball and apparently under pressure decided to nudge it back to De Gea.

His kick was poor and could not get to Gea before Vardy nipped in, took it past the keeper and slotted home.

The Premiership champions could not hold on as Ibrahimovic outjumped Wes Morgan to head a cross from the right flank into the corner off the post .

After the game Manchester United on its Twitter handle described the match as “a good start to the season”.

Iheanacho’s strike takes City to Europe

Manchester City’s Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Swansea City and Manchester City at The Liberty Stadium in Swansea, south Wales on May 15, 2016. The game finished 1-1.

Manuel Pellegrini’s reign as Manchester City manager ended with a 1-1 draw at Swansea on Sunday that was enough to effectively ensure his successor Pep Guardiola will be able to lead the club into the Champions League next season.

Pellegrini, whose three-year spell at Eastlands has seen the club win the Premier League title once and two League Cups, saw City live dangerously at times before he was able to sign off with the point needed to almost certainly beat Manchester United to the Premier League’s fourth Champions League qualifying spot.

Teenage striker Kelechi Iheanacho got City off to a flying start with an early goal at the Liberty Stadium but Andre Ayew’s equaliser just before half-time ensured a nervy last stand for Pellegrini in the club’s final game of the season.

Although United still have a game to play following the abandonment of their fixture against Bournemouth, due to the discovery of a suspect package at Old Trafford, City are three points above them with a vasty superior goal difference that makes it extremely unlikely their rivals will overhaul them.

Swansea manager Francesco Guidolin had done United counterpart Louis van Gaal no favours at all by resting his three best players.

Lukasz Fabianski, Ashley Williams and Gylfi Sigurdsson were all given a day off with Euro 2016 in mind, but Swansea grew in confidence against below-par opponents.

In his final game before stepping aside for Guardiola, Pellegrini named Raheem Sterling, Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri among his substitutes but they were hardly conspicuous in their absence early on.

While United players were kicking their heels in frustration at Old Trafford, City wasted little time in trying to extinguish their neighbours’ slender hopes of playing in Europe’s elite club competition next season.

– In Command –
Iheanacho quickly took advantage of Guidolin’s decision to field a weakened team by putting the visitors in command with a close-range goal after five minutes.

The 19-year-old Nigeria striker, who scored 14 goals in his breakthrough season, tapped the ball past Kristoffer Nordfeldt after the Swedish goalkeeper had distinguished himself with a smart save to deny Sergio Aguero.

Confusion followed as referee Mike Dean had seemingly over-ruled the goal for offside but this gave home supporters false hope as he was merely pointing to the centre spot.

Much to the locals’ frustration, the opposite applied after Jefferson Montero diverted the ball past City goalkeeper Joe Hart, only for his celebrations to be cut short due to his foul on Bacary Sagna.

City then dominated proceedings but Aguero was thwarted by Nordfeldt before wild efforts by Iheanacho and Jesus Navas.

Their wastefulness, which drew forlorn stares from Aguero, was punished in first-half stoppage time when Ayew restored parity in the most fortuitous of circumstances.

City defender Nicolas Otamendi was asking for trouble when he felled Swansea skipper Leon Britton with an ill-judged lunging challenge that earned a caution.

There was further punishment moments later as Ayew set his sights on goal with a 25-yard free-kick and found Lady Luck was smiling on him as Fernando’s head diverted the set-piece past the wrong-footed Hart.

Despite the set-back, City were back on the front foot immediately after the break and Eliaquim Mangala almost put the visitors back in control when he rose to meet Kevin De Bruyne’s cross but his header grazed the crossbar.

Iheanacho and Aguero spurned further opportunities as City went for the kill but Federico Fernandez served notice of their opponents’ ongoing threat when he headed Stephen Kingsley’s corner just wide.

That was as close as Swansea got to ensuring Pellegrini’s tenure at City ended on an agonising low, but their lacklustre display underlined the size of the task facing Guardiola when he heads to Manchester from Bayern Munich.

Giroud lifts Arsenal above Spurs

Arsenal’s French striker Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium.


Olivier Giroud’s hat-trick inspired Arsenal to a 4-0 demolition of Aston Villa on Sunday that, combined with Tottenham’s defeat at Newcastle, ensured they finished the season as Premier League runners-up.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has endured protests from supporters convinced it is time for a change throughout much of a difficult campaign.

But snatching an unexpected second place finish that maintained Arsenal’s record of finishing above local rivals Tottenham every year since the Frenchman took charge in 1996 will strengthen Wenger’s position heading into the close-season.

Wenger had acknowledged the disappointment of failing to challenge for the title by insisting before this game that defeat hurts him more than ever because, at the age of 66, he knows he has only a limited number of seasons in front of him.

Chips Keswick, the Arsenal chairman, also expressed in the matchday programme his disappointment at the club’s failure to close in on champions Leicester, but despite the feeling of frustration, Wenger’s side still came into this game having already secured another top four finish.

Last weekend’s draw at Manchester City meant the manager had guided the club into the Champions League for a 19th successive season.

And for Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, there was the added incentive of demonstrating to watching Roy Hodgson he is now fully fit, 24 hours before the England coach announces his squad for Euro 2016.

Wilshere was making his first start since the final day of the last Premier League season after suffering a leg fracture last August and offered enough signs during his 70-minute appearance to strengthen his claims.

– Disastrous –

For Villa, already relegated and destined to finish at the bottom of the table after a disastrous season, there was nothing but pride to play for before their focus shifts towards attempting to return from the Championship next season.

The opening moments showed just why Villa have found themselves in such a mess with Arsenal taking a fifth minute lead without breaking sweat.

The goal could hardly have been simpler, with Giroud set up by an excellent left wing cross from Nacho Monreal and the striker rising above the visitors’ defence to head past Mark Bunn.

The expectation was that Arsenal would go on to build on that opening goal and finish the season in style.

Villa, as they have been for much of the season, were ineffectual, but Wenger’s side struggled to create more chances despite the weakness of the opposition and it was another 20 minutes before the home supporters were stirred into life by news of Newcastle’s opening goal at St James’ Park.

Arsenal dominance was reflected by the fact the visiting supporters celebrated loudly when their team forced a corner midway through the second half after a rare foray forward.

But the Gunners continued to frustrate, with Wenger growing increasingly animated on the touchline as his side failed to add to their lead when Mohamed Elneny volleyed over.

It was left to Giroud to calm his side’s nerves in the 78th minute when he got in front of the Villa defence to turn home at the near post from Mesut Ozil’s cross.

The France striker then completed his hat-trick two minutes later with a first time finish after an excellent through ball from Hector Bellerin.

Mikel Arteta, who along with Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky will leave the club shortly, was the architect of the fourth goal, sending a shot against the bar that bounced into the goal off Bunn.

An emotional Arteta left the pitch in tears after a game that added an unexpected gloss to a season marked by frustration at Arsenal’s failure to challenge for the title.

Leicester City win Premier League title after Tottenham draw at Chelsea

Leicester City have won the Premier League title in one of the greatest sporting stories of all time.

Tottenham's 2-2 draw at Chelsea on Monday confirmed a stunning achievement for Claudio Ranieri's side.

Leicester started the campaign as 5,000-1 outsiders for the title after almost being relegated last season.

But they have lost just three league games in what has been described as a "fairytale" and the "most unlikely triumph in the history of team sport".

Closest challengers Spurs, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and last year's champions Chelsea, have all failed to match the Foxes' consistency across the season.

Former Leicester, Everton and England striker Gary Lineker described his hometown team's achievement as "the biggest sporting shock of my lifetime".

The Match of the Day presenter had suggested the Leicester players were on the "edge of sporting immortality" last month.

He told BBC Sport: "I can't think of anything that surpasses it in sporting history. It is difficult to put over in words.

"I got emotional. It was hard to breathe. I was a season ticket holder from the age of seven. This is actually impossible."
After Leicester drew 1-1 at Manchester United on Sunday, Tottenham needed to win all three of their remaining league games to catch the Foxes.

But their title hopes were ended when they squandered a 2-0 lead to only draw at London rivals Chelsea.

Match of the Day pundit and former Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers and England striker Alan Shearer said Leicester's achievement was "the biggest thing ever in football".

Shearer, who won the Premier League in 1995 with underdogs Blackburn, told BBC Sport: "For a team like Leicester to come and take the giants on with their wealth and experience - not only take them on but to beat them - I think it's the biggest thing to happen in football."
Gianni Infantino, president of football's world governing body Fifa, said Leicester's "beautiful story" was a "fairytale".

The club was also quick to hail the achievement of Ranieri and his players, saying they "have captured the imaginations of football fans around the world with one of the most brilliant and unlikely sporting triumphs ever seen".

Sports data analysts say Leicester are set for a potential £150m boost for winning the title, coming from Premier League prize money, Champions League participation cash, and increased match-day revenues from ticket and hospitality sales.

'A sporting miracle'

"In terms of domestic football, Leicester City winning the Premier League is the greatest achievement ever and I think it will never be surpassed," former Leicester midfielder Robbie Savage told BBC Sport.

"It is incredible. This is a turning point in Premier League history."
Indeed a sporting miracle ,
What do u think ?

BREAKING NEWS: Vardy Wins Tops Football Award

The England international has scooped the award ahead of team-mates Riyad Mahrez and N’Golo Kante with a total of seven Foxes players nominated after a stunning season
Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has been named the Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year for the 2015-16 season, it was announced on Monday.

The England international picks up the award after team-mate Riyad Mahrez was named the PFA Player of the Year last week.

Vardy, who has scored 22 goals this season to help put Leicester on the brink of a first Premier League title, scooped the award ahead of team-mates N’Golo Kante and Mahrez.

There were a total of seven Leicester players nominated for the award including Danny Drinkwater, Danny Simpson, Wes Morgan and Kasper Schmeichel while Vardy becomes the first Foxes player to win the accolade.

“It’s a great honour to win such a prestigious award and to have my name added to a list of previous winners that includes some unbelievable players. Thank you to the Football Writers’ Association and to everyone that voted,” Vardy said.

“Thank you also to my team-mates, who are the reason I’ve been able to achieve anything.

“It’s been an amazing season for all of us at Leicester, based on the team-work not individuals, which you can see in the voting. Thanks also to the manager, all the staff and the fans for their support.

“We’re all totally focused on getting over the line in the final two weeks of the season and turning a great season into one we’ll never forget. Hopefully I can contribute to that and, if selected, carry some good form into the Euros this summer.”

RUMOURS: Wenger To Remain At Arsenal but 2016-17 Season Set So Be His Last

The veteran French manager will keep control over transfers and playing matters in the coming season, but there is a growing feeling his time at the Emirates will be ending.
Arsene Wenger is set to remain in complete control of Arsenal for the 2016-17 season but it could be his final term with the club, according to the Telegraph.

The Frenchman has seen his decisions questioned by fans this term, with some calls for changes inside the north London club.

But while Emirates insiders believe the coming campaign could well be Wenger’s last,he will retain the final say over all signings and player matters for the foreseeable future.
This is interesting, if you are an arsenal fan, let's know what you think. Make your comments.

See What Iheanacho Said After Southampton Beat Man City 4-2

The Nigerian international striker believes City will bounce back from defeat on the south-coast with a good performance in their European clash with Real Madrid on Tuesday.
Kelechi Iheanacho is confident Manchester City’s defeat against Southampton on Sunday will not derail their Champions League final hopes.

City travelled to St. Mary’s Stadium having drawn their semi-final first leg 0-0 with Real Madrid in midweek, but they failed to build any momentum as Southampton ran out 4-2 winners.

Sadio Mane struck a hat-trick in the victory – which gives Manchester United and West Ham a glimmer of hope in the fight for a top-four finish – to leave City licking their wounds ahead of the trip to Madrid.
But Iheanacho, who scored both City goals, believes the mental strength within Manuel Pellegrini’s squad will see them bounce back at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.

“Many things went wrong in our team,” the young striker said. “We lost so many balls and didn’t defend well.

“I think we’re going to come stronger in the next game.

“This game didn’t give us enough encouragement. But we will put it behind us and focus on the Real Madrid game.