Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
It was a tempestuous night with 23 fouls, 11 yellow cards and shaky officiating on the south Coast, yet Premier League overachievers Brighton only had themselves to blame as their maiden European campaign got off to a sour start at home vs. Greek champions AEK Athens. Their summer signing and Argentine striker Ezequiel Ponce, came off the bench to sting them without warning. Continue reading “Brighton 2-3 AEK Athens: Ponce punctures Seagulls’ European debut in late drama”
On a night where Conor Gallagher’s praises were sung, Wilfried Zaha capped his 400th appearance with a 70th Crystal Palace goal and the hosts revelled in halting Brighton’s brilliant start to the Premier League campaign, Neal Maupay pounced on a half-chance to expertly convert his fourth goal of the season deep into stoppage time to snatch a share of the points. Continue reading “Punished for profligacy: Neal Maupay spoils Palace’s party with sucker punch strike”
Match previews as the Premier League relegation battle intensifies with a relentless fixture schedule: it’s a must-win game for Norwich when they host West Ham, while Watford look to build on their 2-1 midweek victory against mid-table Newcastle. Continue reading “Previews: Battle at the bottom as Norwich host West Ham, Watford play Newcastle”
Arsenal secured their passage into the UEFA Europa League knockout rounds after a frustrating goalless draw against Sporting Lisbon at the Emirates. Continue reading “Arsenal 0-0 Sporting Lisbon: 5 Hits and Flops”
Danny Welbeck netted a brace on his 200th league appearance while teenage wonderkid Reiss Nelson made his first Premier League start as Arsenal earned all three points against relegation-threatened Southampton – but certainly made things hard for themselves on a rainy, Sunday afternoon at the Emirates.
Continue reading “Arsenal 3-2 Southampton: Welbeck the winner as Gunners hold on in frenetic finish”
Alexandre Lacazette’s well-taken header to score on his Premier League debut after less than two minutes, and Arsenal were in dreamland. For once, they would cruise to a comfortable win on the opening weekend, surely? Wrong. Unsurprisingly. Continue reading “Arsenal 4-3 Leicester City: Giroud heads late winner in seven-goal thriller on opening night”
Arsenal claimed the first piece of silverware after prevailing over London rivals Chelsea on penalties in today’s Community Shield fixture at Wembley.
A warm reception away at Preston, followed by a well-taken brace to help secure passage into the fifth round of the FA Cup past Southampton has helped justify limited transfer activity in attack recently.
Continue reading “Analysis: Welbeck’s patient return to first-team action”
Following three games without a win, it was imperative that Arsenal started quickly and effectively took the game to their opponents on Saturday – an Everton side buoyed by their 2-0 home victory over Chelsea last time out, sealing their passage into the FA Cup semi-finals as a result.
They did just that, despite plenty of news rumbling before kick-off that a section of the travelling supporters might possibly stage a protest at both the club – in particular major shareholder Stan Kroenke – and current manager Arséne Wenger, who the media have continuously said is under an increasing amount of pressure to succeed in a relatively unpredictable league campaign, as their best opportunity to win the title is seemingly slipping away from their grasp.
Arsenal succumbed to defeat for the second time in a matter of days during a five-goal thriller at Old Trafford, despite the hosts clearly fielding a weakened side due to an unhealthy plethora of injuries to key first-team players.
Marcus Rashford – who scored two on his senior debut in midweek – doubled up with his first Premier League brace, against one of the league’s best goalkeepers in Petr Cech.
It was clear that, despite the early 12pm kick-off, both sides were raring to start and eager to prove their respective title credentials at the Emirates – buoyed by two sets of supporters who’ve been in contrasting voices all season. Arsenal were tipped as favourites to lift the trophy in May, for the first time in over a decade, whilst Leicester don’t have the pedigree, nor the experience, attached to a ‘title-winning squad’, especially as they narrowly avoided relegation last term.
Continue reading “Arsenal 2-1 Leicester City: Welbeck scores dramatic winner to close gap at summit”
Mo and Sports 