David

I am a long time soccer fan who grew up in England traveling the country watching Coventry City in the 70's. Now living in the U.S. I am still as passionate about soccer as I was when I was a kid.

October 17, 2020October 17, 2020 David

Liverpool, Premier League, Rivalries, Tickets

Controversy As Merseyside Derby Finishes All Square

Everton came from behind twice to maintain their unbeaten start to the Premier League in a Merseyside derby thriller as Liverpool were denied a stoppage-time winner by the video assistant referee.

Sadio Mane put the visitors ahead in the third minute but they were furious soon afterwards when a wild challenge by Everton keeper Jordan Pickford on Virgil van Dijk, committed after an offside decision, saw the defender having to go off injured with VAR failing to review the tackle.

Everton, who had won their previous seven games in all competitions, equalised swiftly at Goodison Park when Michael Keane headed in a corner from the outstanding James Rodriguez. Read more... (430 words, estimated 1:43 mins reading time)

Scotland Just One Game Away From Euro 2020

Scotland are one game away from their first major finals since 1998 after a nerve-shredding win on penalties against Israel at Hampden.

Kenny McLean scored the pivotal spot-kick in the depleted Scots’ first ever shootout, with only a victory in Serbia on 12 November now separating Steve Clarke’s men from Euro 2020.

How ironic would it be that and a 23-year wait that Scotland reach the finals of a major competition and the Tartan Army could not attend because of COVID! Read more... (654 words, estimated 2:37 mins reading time)

Transfer Window Winners And Losers

In a transfer window where COVID-19 really impacted player sales, who won the window in the Premier League. And what teams did not buy well?

Transfer Window Winners

Aston Villa
Aston Villa only secured their Premier League status on the final day of last season – now the club’s owners have backed manager Dean Smith in ambitious fashion to make the most of that escape.

The biggest signing was record buy Ollie Watkins, brought in from Brentford for £28m potentially rising to £33m, the 24-year-old well known to Smith from his time in charge at Griffin Park. Read more... (1134 words, estimated 4:32 mins reading time)

4 Comments

October 6, 2020October 6, 2020 David

Premier League, Arsenal

Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Complete £45m Deal For Midfielder

Arsenal have signed Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid on a long-term deal after paying his 50m euros (£45.3m) release clause. Uruguay midfielder Lucas Torreira, 24, has moved in the opposite direction and joined the La Liga side on loan.

The 27-year-old Ghana midfielder made 35 league appearances and scored three goals for Diego Simeone’s side as they finished third in La Liga last season.

Arsenal have been linked with Partey, who has 29 international caps, throughout the summer transfer window.

Partey won the 2017-18 Europa League and 2018 Super Cup with Atletico and signed a new deal at the Wanda Metropolitano in 2018, until the end of June 2023. Read more... (345 words, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)

October 3, 2020October 27, 2020 David

Barcelona, Champions League, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Juventus, La Liga, Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd., Real Madrid, Tickets

Champions League Draw: Messi v Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are set to face each other after Juventus and Barcelona were drawn in Group G, while holders Bayern Munich will face Atletico Madrid in Group A.

The draw, which also saw Real Madrid and Inter Milan paired in Group B, took place without club officials present because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

And it was a particularly tough draw for Manchester United, who will play last season’s beaten finalists PSG, as well as 2020 semi-finalists RB Leipzig.

Elsewhere, Premier League champions Liverpool will have to negotiate a group containing Ajax, Atalanta and Danish side Midtjylland. Read more... (347 words, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)

2 Comments

October 3, 2020October 27, 2020 David

AC Milan, Arsenal, Europa League, Europe, Tickets

Europa League Draw: Celtic to face AC Milan and Rangers to play Benfica

FA Cup winners Arsenal will face League of Ireland side Dundalk, Rapid Vienna and Molde in Group B of the 2020-21 Europa League.

Tottenham have been drawn alongside Bulgarian champions Ludogorets, LASK and Royal Antwerp in Group J, while Leicester City will face Braga, AEK Athens and Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk in Group G.

Scottish champions Celtic face a tough task in Group H as they take on AC Milan, Lille and Sparta Prague and Rangers are in Group D alongside Benfica, Standard Liege and Lech Poznan.

The first three group matches will take place on successive Thursdays from 22 October. Read more... (388 words, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)

5 Comments

October 1, 2020October 6, 2020 David

Arsenal, Man City, Man Utd., Premier League, Tickets

Carabao Cup Quarter-Final Draw: Manchester City face Arsenal

Holders Manchester City will travel to Arsenal in the standout tie of the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw.

Joint Premier League leaders Everton welcome Manchester United to Goodison Park, while Tottenham are away to Championship side Stoke City.

Meanwhile, Brentford’s reward for beating Fulham is a home tie against Newcastle United in the club’s first ever League Cup quarter-final.

All quarter-final ties are to be played the week commencing 21 December 2020.Arsenal progressed in a penalty shootout against Liverpool following a goalless draw in the final tie of the fourth round on Thursday. Read more... (311 words, estimated 1:15 mins reading time)

8 Comments

September 20, 2020October 27, 2020 David

Arsenal, Tickets

Arsenal 2020-2021 Fixtures

The 2020-2021 Premier League schedule has been released and Arsenal have been dealt a tricky October period as they face Manchester City, Leicester and Manchester United all in the same month.

Mikel Arteta’s side will also have their eyes set on December 5 and March 13, the two dates for the North London derby against Tottenham; with the latter being held at the Emirates.

Arsenal also have been set up with a blockbuster Boxing Day clash against London rivals Chelsea. They open their season against newly-promoted Fulham on September 12. Read more... (736 words, estimated 2:57 mins reading time)

Liverpool Must Sharpen Up If To Retain Title

Since Liverpool became champions for the first time in 30 years, Jurgen Klopp has been keen to stress that the best way to defend their crown is to attack the next one.

After opening up their quest for title No.20 in the 4-3 thriller against newly-promoted Leeds, these words rang very true. It wasn’t at all what Klopp was alluding to when looking at the bigger picture of the new season, but the performance perhaps threw the spotlight on an area of the team that few have seriously questioned in recent times. Read more... (671 words, estimated 2:41 mins reading time)

September 13, 2020September 14, 2020 David

Arsenal, Premier League

Mikel Arteta Happy As Arsenal Beat Fulham

Arsenal got off to a flying start in the Premier League with a classy performance and three points at Craven Cottage on Saturday

Alex Lacazette, debutant Gabriel and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were on target while the outstanding Willian claimed two assists on his first appearance for the Gunners.

Afterwards Mikel Arteta had this to say about this team’s performance.

on Gabriel and Willian…

Yeah, they were both really good. Obviously for Willian it’s a little bit different because he knows the league, the country and he’s very settled here, so I knew his performances would happen straight away. With Gabriel it was a big challenge for him to come in today having not played any football for the last six months and he had a terrific performance. Read more... (380 words, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)