Anyone who thinks that the last ball had been kicked at Emirates Stadium this season couldn’t have been more wrong!
Competition was still alive and kicking yesterday, as the illustrious ground played host to the inaugural Europcar Cup. The five-a-side tournament, hosted by Europcar, the official car and van rental provider to Arsenal Football Club, gave lucky fans the once in a lifetime chance to show their skills in the home of their footballing idols.
The tournament capped the end of a first full season’s partnership between Europcar and Arsenal, as the team representing the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Arsenal Supporters Club, captained by Ben Roberts, was crowned champions by Arsenal Legend, Ray Parlour.
The former midfielder, and member of the club’s famous ‘Invincibles’ side, had been on hand throughout the day for team talks and a Q&A session with fans before presenting the trophy. At the start of the day fans even prepared for the competition in the official Arsenal changing rooms.
“Today’s tournament was a great way to celebrate a fantastic year’s partnership with Arsenal,” explained Ken McCall, Managing Director, Europcar UK Group. “But, more importantly, it was an opportunity to give back to the people that really make the club such a special place: the supporters.”
There were eight teams competing including four fans teams – each selected through a competition on social media – plus the team from Arsenal’s Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Supporters Club, a team of bloggers, another comprising travel and sports journalists and another made up of Europcar’s suppliers.
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“Playing on the same pitch as my heroes was truly a unique experience, and one which I will never forget,” said Ben Roberts, from Hemel Hempstead. Fellow team members were Rob De Bell, Mark Kenneally, Craig Wiseman, Harry O’Riordan and Sam Rawlings.
“Getting to share this experience with my friends and family has made the occasion even more special. I have been an Arsenal fan for many years and to be able to play, and win, on a football ground that is so special to me means the world. Meeting Ray, getting changed in the official Arsenal changing rooms and then winning. has been an experience I will never forget.”
Manchester United are a big club – one of the biggest in fact – their recent blip but an aberration amongst the glories of the past 20 years. They’ll be back up there soon.
At least, they hope so. But Ed Woodward – ironically, for a man who’s name sounds like a fart in the bath – is making all the right noises. The last two summers have shown that they mean business – big money business, indeed.
It doesn’t matter how far down the table United slip, they’ll still be a big club. And that has nothing to do with their history and their fanbase, it has nothing to do with the facilities they have and the trophy cabinet that gleams with silver. It has nothing to do with the players they have on their books, or the plethora of former stars carrying their huge celebrity-names onto our TV screens each week to analyse games and talk up United. It has to do with their mentality.
United have the stance of a big club. There’s an arrogance and a swagger to how they hold themselves, even their manager has the same aura. It’s how the club does business and how it cultivates the public image.
Again, it’s not about class or success, nor is it even about what they do. More about how they do it.
After losing Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill in an emotional and highly destructive few months, United moved swiftly to bring in ‘Ferguson B’.
The appointment of David Moyes was a desperate attempt to avoid the profound sadness and grief that losing a manager of 25 years brings. But the sad fact is that it should bring grief and sadness. You have to grieve for what you’ve lost if you really cared for it. That’s just human nature. Instead, United were like a desperate and pathetic middle-aged man left stunned and broken by the break-up of his marriage to the one woman in the world he ever loved. It was as if they built shrines to Ferguson, preserved whatever belongings of his they could – perhaps they still kept his smell – and tried to replace him with something exactly the same. But it never works. They may as well have appointed a cardboard cut-out of Fergie. It was sad.
It’s because United have had continuity for years that they wanted continuity again. I can respect that, it’s fair enough. Especially when the club puts such a high value on tradition and heritage. But when you break up, you have to move on. Things don’t last forever, they fall apart.
And United are over it now. They’ve moved on and they’ve remembered that they’re a big club. They’ve gone through their grief period and are now swaggering around the European transfer market once again.
How they’ve spent money in the last few years has been ballsy and in some ways it’s been reckless – Luke Shaw cost £30m, for example. I’m not saying he’s not worth it, that remains to be seen, but it’s a lot of money to spend on a full back, let alone one who is still a rough diamond.
But that’s the point. United are a big club, and they’re proving it by going all-out to sign these players. It doesn’t really matter if they don’t quite work out. Angel Di Maria, up until this point at least, should be considered a bit of a flop for the money paid for him. I still think he’s a wonderful player and that he’ll come good, but he hasn’t done what you’d expect from a player who cost so much. But that doesn’t matter to United. They signed prestige and power, and in the process gained prestige and power back for themselves.
United’s spending spree was retail therapy. Sure, they needed some of those players, the squad as it stood wasn’t good enough and the key players – Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra, Robin van Persie – were ageing. But they didn’t need Radamel Falcao and Di Maria, they just wanted them. And they got them. Because they’re Manchester United.
The signings this summer are potentially similar. Matteo Darmian fills a gap in United’s squad. Memphis Depay adds another dimension up front, and United needed that badly – they relied too much on Fellaini’s height and in successive games against Everton, Chelsea and West Brom they failed to score, even though they dominated overwhelmingly. Depay will add a directness that they didn’t possess last season.
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But the others, Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger, they’ll battle out for the same holding midfield place, even though Fellaini can do that job, and if United are going to keep possession for the whole game, Daley Blind and Ander Herrera could probably do that job, too. Of course, Schweinsteiger is much better at it.
But that’s the point. United are signing players who will improve what they have, but they’re doing it for esteem as much as amelioration. They’re a giant putting his foot down, a man of status throwing his jacket over his shoulder and strutting around the city. Like Cristiano Ronaldo launching an underwear range with a 30ft high poster of himself in his pants, they’re showing off their power and doing it because they can.
And that’s why United will always be a big club. After a season wallowing in self-pity, watching re-runs of ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ on Comedy Central and eating Super Noodles from the saucepan, this divorcee has finally come out of grief and is once again strutting his stuff on the singles scene.
With the January transfer window now in full swing, speculation involving the Premier League’s top clubs is rife.
The Express recently reported that Arsenal are leading the way in a pursuit of Chelsea defender David Luiz.
The Brazilian has dropped out of contention at Chelsea since manager Antonio Conte left him out of his squad at the end of October.
The former Paris Saint-Germain star was also struck down with a knee injury, but is closing in on a return.
Arsenal have had problems in defence this season, but according to Wenger, Luiz will not be arriving at the North London outfit this month.
While speaking to reporters ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League clash against Chelsea, the Arsenal boss described the Luiz rumours as “wrong”.
The Frenchman went on to indicate that he is only looking for an “exceptional” player to boost his squad.
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After the manager delivered his thoughts on the speculation involving Luiz, Arsenal fans tweeted their reaction.
To celebrate 25 years of the Premier League each week in Football Fancast we’re going to be looking back at a memorable game that took place on the corresponding date. This time out we revisit a Boxing Day belter that would have a very different slant on it today.
Twelve years ago this Christmas Wigan Athletic beat Manchester City in a seven goal thriller at the JJB Stadium. The Latics were six months in to their first ever season in the top flight and safely moored in mid-table their sole aspiration was to establish themselves as a Premier League club. With that aim in mind this victory certainly helped, secured on Boxing Day 2005, as too did their surprise win up in Manchester three months later. Under the charge of their impressive coach Paul Jewell, Wigan were very much a club on the up.
As for City this 4-3 defeat was just the latest in a series of setbacks endured during a drab and underwhelming period that still sends a shiver down Blues’ spines to this very day. Throughout the whole season Stuart Pearce’s side never once inhabited the bottom three yet also never threatened to reach the heady heights of mid-table that Wigan revelled in. Furthermore the club was essentially skint yet still somehow found the resources to purchase Georgios Samaras that summer, a Greek saviour who finished the campaign with just five goals. That summer they also had the opportunity to recruit an aging trialist for free, a midfielder with bags of experience and six La Liga titles to his name. Pearce, in his infinite wisdom, turned him down. His name was Pep Guardiola.
Presently both clubs are top of their respective tables, with Wigan enjoying eight consecutive years in the Premier League (sometimes requiring last day heroics to do so) before twice plummeting into the third tier. That’s where they are now, in League One with promotion in their nostrils. City meanwhile lead the field in the same league they have resided in since a Lee McCulloch header, Henri Camara decider, and Jason Roberts double saw them off home to eat their turkey leftovers in miserable fashion. Yet speak to anyone at the ground that day and inform them of what the future beckoned and only one fan-base would be astonished, and it wouldn’t be the club destined to yo-yo through the divisions.
Regarding the game itself both clubs went into this festive contest buoyed by healthy wins prior to Santa’s arrival. What also united the sides was that each were being elevated on a weekly basis by influential midfield performances from Joey Barton for City and Jimmy Bullard for the Latics. Both men featured prominently here with Barton banging home a late consolation volley and the soon-to-be Sky joker running the show elsewhere.
The real star of the day however was City’s farcical defending and here some sympathy is due for Pearce who said later, “For a defender of 25 years watching us defend was a horror show”. It was hardly a comedy of errors for the travelling supporters either and in truth three of Wigan’s quartet of goals was gifted to them even if they were executed professionally.
City’s French midfielder Antoine Sibierski opened proceedings two minutes in with a far-post header but from then onwards it was all Wigan as they countered brilliantly and exploited the gaps offered up by a haphazard back-line. Roberts equalised soon after before McCulloch guided home a powerful header. Before the first half was out Roberts once again capitalised on indecision to convert his second one-on-one with David James.
When Camara easily turned his marker and slid home a fourth the result was no longer in doubt, or so everyone believed at least. Barton’s humdinger reduced the deficit and when Andy Cole pulled back a third with 90 seconds left on the clock it meant a nail-biting finale was on the cards.
“You can’t take your foot off the gas at this level,” a relived Jewell said later. “We created our own problems,” was Pearce’s diagnosis. Perhaps if they had a master tactician on the pitch it might have been different, let’s say for argument’s sake a highly experienced five-time La Liga winner.
What happened next?
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Wigan’s inaugural season in the top flight ended successfully with a tenth place finish and better yet an appearance at the Millennium Stadium in the League Cup final where they lost to Manchester United.
City’s existing for existence’s sake continued for a further year in an era that can safely be described as a prolonged calm before a storm.
Manchester City announced on Wednesday that centre-back Nicolas Otamendi had signed a new long-term contract with the Premier League leaders.
Otamendi’s previous deal was due to expire in the summer of 2020, but his fresh contract takes him until the end of the 2021-22 campaign.
The Argentine initially struggled for consistency at the Etihad Stadium following a move from Spanish side Valencia in the summer of 2015.
The 29-year-old, who is valued at £31.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has been in impressive form this season, however, scoring five times in 23 appearances for the Citizens in all competitions.
It would be fair to say that the centre-back did not cover himself in glory against Liverpool last weekend, but overall it has been a very strong campaign for the Argentina international.
City posted the news on their official Twitter page on Wednesday afternoon, and a number of the club’s supporters were on hand to pay tribute to the centre-back.
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A selection of the Twitter reaction can be found below:
According to TEAMtalk, Southampton have been told that Fulham will not be selling Ryan Fredericks during the latter stages of the January transfer window.
What’s the story?
Southampton, along with fellow Premier League club Swansea City, have been credited with an interest in Fredericks in recent days.
It had been thought that the Saints – who are expected to be active over the next 24 hours or so – were preparing a move for the 25-year-old, who will be out of contract this summer.
However, according to TEAMtalk, Fulham are ready to activate a 12-month extension on the defender’s contract, and have told Southampton that the player is not for sale.
Fredericks has made 29 appearances in all competitions for Fulham this season, with the former England Under-19 international forging an impressive career since leaving Tottenham Hotspur.
What is currently happening at St Mary’s?
Southampton have money to spend following the £75m sale of Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool earlier this month.
The Saints have managed to get a deal for Monaco forward Guido Carrillo over the line, but it is understood that a move for Spartak Moscow’s Quincy Promes has gone cold as the attacker is reportedly holding out for a bigger club.
It would be a major blow if Mauricio Pellegrino’s side failed to get a deal for Promes over the line at this stage of the window.
Southampton are unbeaten in their last four matches in all competitions, but they have not won in the Premier League since the end of November.
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They will host Brighton & Hove Albion in the league on Wednesday night, and the club’s supporters will be hoping that at least one more new face has arrived before the January window slams shut.
However, it seems that Fredericks, who is valued at £1.8m by transfermarkt.co.uk, will not be the player in question.
Manchester United bounced back from defeat against Tottenham Hotspur mid-week with a professional performance at home to Huddersfield Town in the English Premier League.
Running out 2-0 winners at Old Trafford, Jose Mourinho’s side were eager to show they are better than their showing at Wembley on Wednesday night and pleased supporters with a comfortable victory.
Mourinho dropped established stars like Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial for the encounter with the likes of Scott McTominay making a rare start in the top-flight.
The 21-year-old midfielder impressed fans with an accomplished performance on just his second start in the Premier League this season, battling hard in the heart of the United midfield and standing up to the physical challenge of the Terriers.
Can he now challenge to become a consistent member of Mourinho’s starting eleven?
Time will tell, but supporters are certainly convinced he has significant talent and took to Twitter to share their thoughts…
Nottingham Forest’s winless streak in all competitions was stretched to six matches on Tuesday night, but their first English Championship goal in a month rescued a point late on at home to Reading.
Aitor Karanka’s side looked destined to suffer yet another defeat but Lee Tomlin popped up in the 85th minute to cancel out Omar Richards’ first half opener for the visitors.
Forest have won just once in their last 12 league matches but the point ensures they are eight points above the dreaded relegation zone.
Fans were relieved to have rescued a point and pleased to see some fighting spirit, although the performance of one player in particular was frustrating for many.
Everton loanee Kieran Dowell had an excellent end to 2017 in the Forest side, scoring six and assisting three in a span of 10 Championship matches, but his form has dipped, which is perhaps to be expected given he is just 20 years of age.
Supporters are losing patience though and after another underwhelming performance on Tuesday night are calling for him to be dropped.
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Striker Harry Kane was once again Spurs’ knight in shining armour yesterday as he lost his marker with two minutes remaining at Selhurst Park and nodded the ball over the outstretched arms of Wayne Hennessey in the Crystal Palace goal.
The victory moved the North London side up to fourth in the Premier League table after Chelsea suffered a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United later in the day, but their efforts were almost for nothing as they failed to turn 76% possession into a lead for the first 88 minutes of play against Palace.
Spurs almost took the lead 13 minutes before Kane’s goal, with Hennessey producing a brilliant stop to deny Ben Davies. Serge Aurier then missed an open goal but the in-form Kane, who has now retaken his position at the top of the league’s goal scoring table with 24, wasn’t to be denied.
There were a number of interesting performances of note from Spurs players – with Dele Alli tumbling into Hennessy in the second half despite no contact, and Christian Eriksen composed in the midfield as he led his side for most touches.
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But who was Spurs’ best and worst performers against the Eagles? Have your say in the poll below, by giving each player a performance rating out of ten:
A not-quite-safe-yet West Ham travel to a relegation threatened Swansea on Saturday afternoon in a good ol’ classic Premier League relegation six-pointer.
Both sides are in desperate need of points and neither can arguably afford to lose, but which way will it go?
Our writers have had their say below…
James Beavis
Swansea are a funny team at the moment but they are strong at home having beaten Arsenal and Liverpool at the Liberty Stadium already in 2018.
Carlos Carvalhal’s men will know that they need the three points against West Ham though and will have to attack from the off, and that could give the likes of Marko Arnautovic, Michail Antonio and Manuel Lanzini plenty of space to counter and run in behind the Swansea defence.
Like it did at Huddersfield in January, that attacking threat from the visitors should see them take the three points to move them a step closer to survival.
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John McGinley
Swansea have won their last six games at home in all competitions, including shocks against Liverpool and Arsenal, so there’s no reason to think they won’t have enough to take care of David Moyes’ side in this classic relegation ‘six-pointer’.
With just one win in their last six in all competitions, which includes three defeats in their last three away from home, West Ham are again in a bit of a slump.
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Whatever happens, discontented Hammers fans will find out all about the fight left in David Moyes’ team.
Christy Malyan
Draw. Swansea will be desperate to bounce back after unexpectedly capitulating against Brighton last weekend and Carlos Carvalhal restored the feel-good factor at the Liberty Stadium with a routine win over Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.
The Welsh outfit need points more than the Hammers do, but West Ham boast better quality and if the scores are level leading into the final half hour, both managers will likely take the draw without complaint.