Long way to go - Matic

Nemanja Matic reflected on the team’s show of character in the win at Aston Villa and says more of the same will be needed when the title challenge resumes on Wednesday.

Everton arrive at the Bridge for a league match hard on the heels of our 2-1 victory at Villa Park, when Matic’s compatriot Branislav Ivanovic scored the winner after the home side had equalised Eden Hazard’s early goal. That meant three points more for the Blues than from the corresponding fixture last season, and two more than collected this weekend by our closest challengers.
‘The manager said before the game that it is going to be difficult and we have to expect that Aston Villa gives 200 per to win or take a point,’ reported Matic, ‘and it was exactly like this.
‘It was a difficult game and especially when they scored a goal. After that it was difficult for us to come back again into the game but Ivanovic scored the goal and after that it was not easy for us but easier.
‘We knew that it was going to be very difficult to win and that is why we are very happy. Maybe these kind of games are going to decide the title.’
Matic is now a year into his second spell at Chelsea having moved here from Portugal and has started in all but one of the league games this season. He is relishing his involvement throughout the whole title race.
‘I came to Chelsea in January and Benfica were champions at the end [of last season] and they sent me a medal so I was very happy, it is always nice when you win.
‘It is different when you are all season in a club and it would be special for me if we win but we have many games to the end and only seven points lead, because Manchester City are a very good team, they will fight to the end and we will see at the end. We are in a good way at the moment and we will try to keep like this but it is a long way to go.’
First up in that journey to the end of the season is a rematch with an Everton side beaten 6-3 at Goodison Park back in August when Matic was on the scoresheet.  
‘Now at home we have to win. We know that it is also going to difficult but if we want to be champions we have to win. Everton is not the kind of team to concede six. They did against us but not again so we just want to win, it doesn’t matter if it is with six goals or 1-0, we just need three points.’ 

We gave cheap goals away- Wenger

Arsène Wenger says he is "very disappointed" with the way Arsenal conceded goals at Tottenham Hotspur.
Mesut Ozil gave the Gunners an 11th-minute lead but Harry Kane converted at the far post following a corner before heading home a deep cross to give Spurs a 2-1 win.
They were the first goals Arsenal had conceded in the Premier League since New Year’s Day and Wenger felt his side could have done more to keep Spurs at bay.
"It's very disappointing because we started very well and then thought too much about defending, and not enough enough about playing," the manager told Arsenal Player.
“I felt we made too many technical mistakes in the middle of the park, and lost balls that are very unusual for us. On top of that, we gave two cheap goals away and that explains the defeat.
“The corners on the deflection, we could have [had] the ball and then on the second post we leave them completely free. On the second goal, I felt that we left them completely free to cross the ball and then had nobody in position.
“Before that, we could have won the ball in the middle of the park and if we had won it, we could have gone through. But we didn’t really go for the ball and after that, Kane had a completely free header in the box.
“With five minutes to go, that’s difficult to understand with the experience we have at the back. I’m disappointed by the quality of our football and it was just not good enough.”

Arsenal boost as Alexis Sanchez for Leicester clash and Jack Wilshere returns to full training

Arsene Wenger has received a double boost before Arsenal’s clash with Leicester on Tuesday night.

Alexis Sanchez is back in Arsenal’s squad to face the Premier League’s bottom club after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury.

Jack Wilshere is also back in full training but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is still out for another fortnight with a groin problem.

Gunners boss Wenger said: “Alexis Sanchez will be back in the group and we don’t have injuries from Saturday. Everybody else looked fine yesterday.

“Sanchez is our best goalscorer and one of our hardest-working players in the team. Physically I think we suffered a little bit on some occasions on Saturday and it’s good to have him back.

“Jack Wilshere is back in full training this week. I don’t know exactly (when he will be back), we have to monitor him on a daily basis and see how he develops.\

(PHOTOS) IVORY COAST NEW AFCON CHAMPION

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Ivory Coast won the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 23 years after they beat Ghana 9-8 on penalties in Sunday's final.