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Premier League | Gameweek 20
Dec 29, 2019 at 2pm UK
 
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Jorginho (83'), Abraham (87')

Frank Lampard insists he has no row with David Luiz

Frank Lampard insists he has no row with David Luiz
© Reuters
The defender left the Blues in the summer.

Frank Lampard expects to have to make "countless more" tough decisions at Chelsea like the choice to let David Luiz join Arsenal in the summer.

Brazil defender Luiz had only signed a new two-year Chelsea deal at the back-end of last term, but new Blues boss Lampard still allowed him to move to London rivals Arsenal.

The emergence of young England star Fikayo Tomori created a logjam at centre-back at Stamford Bridge, and Lampard opted to prioritise the 22-year-old's progress.

Chelsea will face Luiz in Arsenal colours for the first time in Sunday's Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium, with Lampard insisting he retains great respect for his former Blues team-mate.

Soccer – UEFA Europa League Final – Benfica v Chelsea – Amsterdam Arena
Lampard continues to have respect for his former team-mate Luiz (Nick Potts, PA)

"There will always be decisions; if you look at our defenders and the emergence of Tomori, that's obviously been a big plus for us," said Lampard.

"It was just a decision that was made, and while I'm here I'll be making countless more of those in different ways. So that's what it is.

"And I certainly wish David well, when he left this club, where he was part of the (2012) Champions League winning team, played with half a hamstring in the final, I know that.

"He got himself fit when he was under pressure with the injury and I would always respect that."

Mikel Arteta will be in the dugout for Arsenal when Chelsea pitch up at the Emirates, and Lampard believes the new Gunners boss' managerial inexperience in no way counts against his chances of success.

"He's worked under one of if not the greatest for a couple of years at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola," said Lampard.

"He was always an intelligent player, and now has worked under that. So I don't buy the whole 'inexperienced one'.

"You don't know until you take a chance on somebody, and who's to say that manager's better or worse for being in their first year of management as opposed to their 50th year. I don't buy it.

"Now it's his turn to make those big decisions for himself and the years he's had working with Guardiola at a huge club who have been successful, I think it puts him in great stead.

"So I don't think the question mark will be on that, it will be purely on Arteta, the quality of him, and can he get Arsenal to the position they want to be in.

"I also think you have good people around you.

Soccer – FA Barclays Premiership – Everton v Chelsea – Goodison Park
Arteta and Lampard faced each other as players in the Premier League (Peter Byrne, PA)

"I've seen Arteta's put his staff together and he'll rely on them, as I'm sure Guardiola relied on his, as I certainly rely on mine. So I think that's the best way I've found to go about it.

"He seemed to be a leader, not a fist-pumping kind of leader, but a leader in whatever team he would play in. So it looks like he could be well-suited to management.

"And I do wish him well, obviously not on Sunday, but I do wish him well because I think when you see a fresh manager come into a job like that, I understand the stresses and the strains of it, and the desires to want to do well in it. So on a personal level I wish him well."

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


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