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Manchester United need more players of the quality and character of captain Bruno Fernandes, said manager Ruben Amorim after the Portuguese’s stunning free-kick in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Arsenal.

Fernandes has faced criticism for his leadership in recent weeks, with former United skipper Roy Keane labelling him an “imposter”.

But amid another dreadful season for the Red Devils, Fernandes has repeatedly been a rare source of inspiration.

His brilliant strike on the stroke of half-time at Old Trafford was his 12th goal of the season.

United’s second-highest goalscorer is the injured Amad Diallo on nine.

“That we need more Brunos? That is clear”, said Amorim.

“Not just the quality, the character that he has. The availability in this league, which is so important, and is so decisive with the ball and without the ball”.

Not for the first time during Amorim’s first troubled months in charge, his side proved a match when faced with stronger opponents.

United drew at runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool in January, eliminated Arsenal from the FA Cup, and beat Manchester City away earlier in the season.

However, they have routinely struggled in matches they are expected to win and find themselves down in 14th in the table.

Despite playing at home, Amorim’s men had just over 30 percent possession and he made it clear he does not want to play a defensive style.

“In the future, I want to play a different football”, he added. “To spend more time attacking with the ball in the last third, than defending in the low block.

” The spirit, to follow the plan, to be together, that is a good thing.

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Arsenal forget ‘ basics ‘

Declan Rice’s strike 16 minutes from time at least salvaged a point for Arsenal and prevented the Gunners from failing to score in three consecutive Premier League games.

But their challenge for the title appears over as Liverpool sit 15 points clear.

Even if Arsenal won their remaining 10 games, Liverpool would need just 16 points from their last nine to secure the title.

“I don’t want to say that (the title race is over), but today the frustration is that we haven’t won our game”, said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

“We know the urgency, we are obligated to win every single match, and if we have any chance of doing that, I don’t think it’s the right moment to talk about it”.

But for a brilliant late double save from David Raya to deny Fernandes and a last ditch challenge from Rice on Rasmus Hojlund, Arsenal would have fallen to defeat.

Arteta was annoyed at how his side played after getting back level when the three points seemed there for the taking.

“We scored the goal, and when my feeling was that they were very tired because they could not get out, we opened the door for them to maybe win the game”, added Arteta.

“Very basic things done really poorly, and even though we had three big chances, the reality is that David saved us and in the last chance we could have lost the game”.

Napoli breathed fresh life into their Serie A title hopes on Sunday with a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina that ended a five-match winless run.

Romelu Lukaku gave Napoli the lead on 26 minutes and Giacomo Raspadori doubled it on the hour before Albert Gudmundsson pulled a goal back for Fiorentina.

Antonio Conte’s Napoli climbed back to within a point of leaders Inter Milan, who came from two goals down to beat bottom side Monza 3-2 on Saturday.

“We deserved the victory”, said Conte.

“We could have been a bit more efficient with our chances and managed the final part of the game with less anxiety because let’s not forget that we dropped many points around the 90th minute in the last five games”.

READ ALSO: ‘ You Think Football Is Just PlayStation? ‘ Maresca Defends Chelsea

Napoli, who won the title two years ago, were top at the end of January but have been playing catch-up with Inter after picking up just four points in five matches before beating Fiorentina at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Juventus host Atalanta later on Sunday with both teams looking to stay in touch with the top two. Atalanta are six points off the pace in third, while fourth-placed Juventus are nine points adrift of Inter.

Roma continued their resurgence under Claudio Ranieri as Matias Soule’s goal after only 22 seconds was enough to secure a 1-0 win at Empoli for their fifth successive league victory.

The 73-year-old Ranieri has brought stability to a club that sacked Daniele De Rossi in September and then moved on from his successor Ivan Juric less than two months later.

Roma are unbeaten in 12 games in Serie A since mid-December, rising from just outside the relegation places and into contention for Europe next season.

They are four points back of Bologna in sixth, which offers a spot in the UEFA Conference League.

Enzo Maresca slammed criticism of Chelsea’s scrappy 1-0 victory against Leicester as the Blues boss claimed winning in the Premier League is not as easy as it looks on a “PlayStation” console.

Maresca’s side climbed to fourth place thanks to Marc Cucurella’s long-range rocket in the second half at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

But Chelsea’s largely limp display against second-bottom Leicester still came in for flack from frustrated fans, who booed them off at half-time.

Maresca has previously defended the team’s style under his leadership, which prioritises possession over quick attacks.

And the Italian launched another spirited rebuke of the doubters after pumping the air in delight at Chelsea’s fourth win in their last 12 league games.

“People have to understand this is our way, our style, and this is the way we are going to play”, Maresca said.

“When a team creates the number of chances we created today you have to be happy. It’s not easy. Leicester until minute 83 were 0-0 against Arsenal.

” If you think football is just PlayStation and you win easy? No way. Every game is difficult. The way the players have done today is fantastic.

“Our Champions League target will be also with our fans to support us. When we play at home we need them behind the players”.

READ ALSO: Napoli Refresh Title Hopes With Win Over Fiorentina

Cucurella’s blast was enough to lift Chelsea two points above Manchester City in the race to qualify for the Champions League via a top four finish.

But there was more frustration for Maresca when Cole Palmer’s first half penalty was saved by Mads Hermansen.

England forward Palmer, who was taken off in the second half having not trained for two days due to illness, has gone eight matches without scoring.

“Yesterday he didn’t train”, said Maresca. “During the night he didn’t feel well, but this morning he woke up and said to me ‘ I want be on the pitch because I want to help this club to play Champions League. ‘

” In the last 48 hours he was very bad with fever and with this bad feeling. But this morning he asked to play and this shows that the players want to bring this club to where it belongs. “

Leicester’s predicament appears increasingly hopeless, beaten for the 12th time in 13 league matches and six points adrift of safety.

” I get good at this after games. A good performance on and off the ball, everything was there and I think the players deserved more, “Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy said.

” We came away with a penalty save to go into half-time at 0-0. It’s the kind of luck you need sometimes to turn things around.

“Lots of positives again but we have to take the blow of taking nothing”.

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior were both on target for Real Madrid as they beat Rayo Vallecano 2-1 on Sunday to pull level with La Liga leaders Barcelona.

Real Madrid rose one point above Atletico Madrid after their surprise 2-1 defeat by Getafe earlier on, while Barca’s match on Saturday was postponed because of the death of a club doctor.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side produced a solid, if not spectacular, performance to get the better of their local rivals, ahead of the huge Champions League derby clash against Atletico beckoning on Wednesday.

“Vinicius and Mbappe scored two spectacular goals, and they had chances for the third”, said Ancelotti.

“The first half was very good, when you get to the 70th, 75th minute with a 2-1 lead, you have to do one thing well, which is to defend it, so you don’t have problems”.

The Italian coach brought Jude Bellingham back into the starting line-up after suspension but left Thibaut Courtois and Antonio Rudiger out entirely because of a knee issue and illness respectively.

However, the duo are expected to return to face Atletico in the last 16-second leg.

With one eye on that game, Ancelotti also began with Fede Valverde on the bench after he recovered from a minor fitness issue, but started star forwards Mbappe, Vinicius and Rodrygo Goes.

Rayo Vallecano, seventh, were without several key players, including Jorge de Frutos, Abdul Mumin, Randy Nteka and Isi Palazon, but still gave a strong account of themselves.

Vinicius hit the post with Madrid’s first significant attack, after his Brazilian compatriot Rodrygo teed him up with a surge down the right.

Rayo Vallecano, enjoying a good season, threatened themselves when Andrei Ratiu’s drive was saved by Andriy Lunin and Raul Asencio blocked well from Gerard Gumbau’s follow-up.

Los Blancos took the lead after half an hour at the Santiago Bernabeu when Vinicius played Mbappe in down the left.

The French superstar, who failed to score in flat outings in his two previous appearances, causing concern in the Spanish capital, took on Florian Lejeune before firing home.

Four minutes later Madrid doubled their advantage through Vinicius, who also fired blanks against Atletico in midweek. The winger produced two stepovers to keep Ratiu guessing before finishing lethally at the post.

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Champions League Rest

Mbappe should have netted the third or passed to the open Vinicius to score, but his shot was well saved by Augusto Batalla.

Rayo pulled back a goal in first-half stoppage time, with Diaz netting his first for the club from the edge of the box.

The midfielder’s shot crashed beyond Lunin down off the crossbar, over the line, then back up against the bar and out, with the goal given after a VAR review.

Madrid threatened in the second half with both Mbappe and Vinicius guilty of some dubious decision making in the final third, perhaps more interested in fattening their goal tallies than feeding each other.

Ancelotti took off Rodrygo and Mbappe, to rest them ahead of the Champions League clash, with Bellingham also making way in the final stages as Madrid banked only their second win from their last six league matches.

“I took minutes away from Mbappe and Rodrygo and that will suit them well for Wednesday”, said Ancelotti.

Declan Rice’s equaliser denied Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim a much-needed win but Arsenal’s faltering Premier League title challenge suffered another damaging blow in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The Gunners sit 15 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool, now with just one game in hand, with their focus beginning to turn to holding off the chasing pack for a place in next season’s Champions League.

Bruno Fernandes ‘ stunning free-kick put United ahead in first-half stoppage time.

The Red Devils, though, could not hold on for just a sixth Premier League win in 16 games under Amorim as Rice swept home 16 minutes from time.

A point leaves United down in 14th.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was taking charge of his 200th Premier League match.

The Spaniard’s 118 wins in that time places him only behind a stellar cast of Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp and Alex Ferguson in the English top flight.

But his wait for a league title looks set to continue with Arsenal on course to finish second for the third consecutive season.

United have had three permanent managers and an interim during Arteta’s five years in charge of Arsenal.

Amorim said he knows he will not get the time Arteta did to turn around a sinking ship at Old Trafford.

The discontent among the home support could be seen around the stands with many taking part in a protest by wearing black over what they perceive as “the death” of their club.

Arsenal had failed to score in either of their previous two league games to realistically wave goodbye to their hopes of a first title in 21 years.

Despite still missing the attacking quartet of Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, the Gunners hit back in stunning fashion to thrash PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Infused with fresh confidence, Arsenal started on the front foot but again missed the focal point of a natural centre-forward.

Midfielder Mikel Merino has been forced to deputise up front in recent weeks and fired wide from the edge of the area with an early opening.

United have struggled for goals all season, but their skipper has remained a source of inspiration and Fernandes produced once more with a sumptuous free-kick just before half-time.

Questions will be asked over Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya’s starting position, but Fernandes still had to whip the ball over an imposing wall and back down into the visitors ‘ net.

Raya rescues Arsenal

If Raya was at fault for the opener, he made amends with a string of saves in the second period.

Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee were the first to be denied as United threatened a second on the counter-attack.

Arteta was able to throw on Martinelli on his return from a hamstring injury in the hunt for an equaliser.

Instead, it was Rice who matched Fernandes ‘ fine finish by arrowing a shot beyond Andre Onana from Jurrien Timber’s pass.

Amorim had dropped Rasmus Hojlund to the bench after a run of 19 games without a goal.

The Dane twice had chances to snap that streak only to be foiled by desperate Arsenal defending.

More Raya heroics followed to stop Fernandes from snatching a winner as the match entered stoppage time.

However, a draw did little for Arsenal’s title challenge.

Arteta’s men edge four points clear of third-placed Nottingham Forest and eight clear of Manchester City in fifth in the battle for a place in next season’s Champions League.