Key events
Arteta: ‘it’s about how we write our own destiny’
Mikel Arteta has been talking about where Arsenal stand after their draw at Molineux – and he insists they’re “exactly where we want to be” in every competition.
“What I have seen is a tremendous reaction again,” he said, as reported by AFP. “When you lose points with the last kick of the game, in an unpredictable manner, nobody can really understand that. But this is football.
“Life moves on, there’s nothing we can do. It is about what happens next. That was a chapter. In chapter 27, we draw against Wolves. In the next one it is about how we write our own destiny going forward.”
“The immediate reaction is tough. It was a shock to the system. We wanted to win and we couldn’t and we have to move on.
“But we have clear instructions. We have to live in the present. The present is beautiful, we are exactly where we want to be in every competition.”
Arsenal have won just two of their last seven league games, but troubled Tottenham are in even worse form, with no wins in eight top-flight matches. They are just five points above the relegation zone as interim boss Igor Tudor takes charge for the first time following Thomas Frank’s sacking.
Arsenal thrashed Tottenham 4-1 in November, but Arteta is wary of facing a team with a new manager. “I think it has happened seven times already to us this season,” he said. “We will have the capacity to adapt but the main focus is on what we have to do to win. It’s the match we have next and the one we cannot wait to play. We have to show up on Sunday.”
A nice story has come in from my colleague Will Unwin. What, I wonder, will Jim Ratcliffe will make of it?
Another line on experience and whether it’s collective or purely individual. “It’s a mixture I think,” says Henry Rutherford in Boston. “But Pep is full of it: 30% + institutional know-how is sufficient. See Chillieni (easily 30% of a mediocre Italy) collaring Saka in Euro 2021 and with him England’s brittle psyche (no offense, I was rooting for England) to canter away with another title.
”Another good example is The Muppets ensemble.” Of course! “Can you name more than 30% of the cast in any given movie? Kermit, Gonzo, Pepe, Rizzo, Miss Piggy = ~30% of the cast of Muppets From Space, a title winner every day of the week.”
I look forward to seeing this point put to Pep at his next press conference.
Jamie Jackson
Here’s Jamie Jackson, our Manchester football correspondent, on Michael Carrick’s press conference.
Michael Carrick refused to comment directly on Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s claim that the United Kingdom has been “colonised by immigrants” but insisted that Manchester United stand for diversity and respect.
United’s largest minority owner made his controversial claim in a Sky News interview last week. The following afternoon Ratcliffe said sorry if his “choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe”. Later that day United issued a statement in which the club said it prides itself on being “inclusive and welcoming”.
Carrick was asked about Ratcliffe’s initial statement. “Sir Jim made his statement and the club made a statement on the back of it,” United’s interim manager said. “It is not my place to add to that. Enough has been said in that regard.”
Carrick then referenced his 12 years as a United player and previous three as a coach there, saying: “I have been around this club many years and we always make a huge impact globally and we are really responsible for that. Throughout the years, as a player and member of staff and as a supporter, we are really proud of the environment and culture we’ve got at the club.
“Equality and diversity and respect for each other is something we look to carry through every day. I have travelled the world and know what this club means to an awful lot of people. I am fully aware of the responsibility and we try to carry that out every day. I am proud of what the club stands for and has done for so long.”
United travel to Everton for Monday’s 8pm kick-off, having last played at West Ham 13 days earlier, when they drew 1-1. They will have 21 days without a game between playing at Bournemouth on 20 March and Leeds’ visit to Old Trafford on 11 April.
Tudor 100pc sure Spurs will stay up
Igor Tudor is “100 per cent” confident Tottenham will be a Premier League club next season, according to the PA report from his press conference.
“Tudor was announced as Spurs’ interim head coach last Saturday,” the report says, “after Thomas Frank was sacked on 11 February following a run of two wins in 17 Premier League matches. It has left Tottenham in 16th position and only five points above the relegation zone ahead of Sunday’s north London derby with leaders Arsenal, but experienced boss Tudor has no doubt he can achieve his goal in N17.
“Asked how confident he was that Spurs would be in the Premier League next season, Tudor insisted: ‘One hundred per cent. I’m not here to enjoy, I’m here to work. It’s the first moment and there’s work to do. It’s a privilege to be here.’”
One email brings two! “Mikel Arteta,” says Krish Krishnamoorthy, “anagrams seamlessly into both the possibilities. He is either A Title Maker or just all Emirate Talk.”
An answer has come in to my question about experience – is it all individual or can it be collective? “Thinking about Pep’s comment on experience (13:36) and whether it’s players or club that have it,” says Oliver. “Surely it has to be the club that has these experiences built in to their very fabric, a history of winning, of spurned opportunities, of losing in the last 16 of the Champions League for 7 consecutive seasons, of not being able to sign a successful striker despite 58 (and counting) attempts in the past 16 years, and so on.
“Otherwise how do you explain Spurs being so, well, Spursy?”
Palace fined £50,000
Crystal Palace have been given a £50,000 fine for the banner that appeared in the crowd at Selhurst Park in August, depicting the owner of Nottingham Forest, Evangelos Marinakis, holding a gun to Morgan Gibbs-White’s head. This is the FA’s statement, as relayed by my colleague Ben Fisher.
“An independent Regulatory Commission has sanctioned Crystal Palace FC for breaching FA Rule E21 at its Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest FC on Sunday 24 August.
”It was alleged that the club failed to ensure its spectators and/or supporters (and anyone purporting to be supporters or followers) didn’t behave in an improper, offensive, abusive, insulting and/or provocative way at this match. ”Crystal Palace FC subsequently denied the charge. The Regulatory Commission found it to be proven and imposed a £50,000 fine following a hearing.”
Carrick’s next task is to beat Everton, who won 1-0 at Old Trafford in November, when Ruben Amorim was still there. His opposite number will be David Moyes, under whom he played for United in 2013-14. “David’s teams are hard to play against,” Carrick said today. “He is such a good manager – the experience he has got, he knows what it takes to have success in this league. It is a new challenge for us and one we are looking forward to. We have had a lot of time to look forward to it.
“It is going to take a lot. I know it is a new stadium but historically it has always been tough going to Everton. The atmosphere their supporters create, it is always one of the toughest ones I have played in, so we are aware of that. We are trying to be our best. We have things to improve on but we have a good base and foundation moving forward. A good spirit and we will draw on pretty much all of that on Monday night.”
Carrick ‘really proud’ of United’s diverse culture
Manchester’s other Premier League boss, Michael Carrick of United, has been asked about Jim Ratcliffe’s view that Britain has been “colonised’” by immigrants. Carrick said it wasn’t his place to add to that, then went ahead and added to it anyway.
“Sir Jim has made a statement and then the club has made a statement,” said Carrick, as reported by the Manchester Evening News. “It is not my place to add to that. What I can say is I have been at this club many years and we make a huge impact globally, in whatever way, and we are responsible for that. As a player, member of staff, supporter, I think we are really proud of that environment and the culture we have at the club. Equality and diversity and respect for each other is what we try and carry through every day. I have travelled the world and I know what this club means to an awful lot of people. We are fully aware of the responsibility and we try to carry that out every single day.
“We have a really strong group. The players, the staff, inside and out of the club. We’re always talking to each other. The boys have been in really good spirits. We have taken a deep breath, come back and [are] focusing on what is next. We are here to help each other. Part of being at this club [is that] we understand what it is like globally. I can only speak from my personal experience, all backgrounds and different backgrounds I am really proud of.”
News of Benfica from my colleague Miguel Dantas. “Benfica have opened an inquiry into the behaviour of crowd members during last Tuesday’s match against Real Madrid,” Miguel writes. “The club intend to identify the spectators who engaged in discriminatory conduct against Vinícius Júnior and determine whether they are connected to Benfica. If they are, an internal disciplinary process will be initiated, which may result in membership being stripped.
“José Mourinho, the Benfica manager, said on Friday: ‘It hasn’t been easy to cope emotionally with everything that has happened and continues to happen. But we have an important match tomorrow [against AVS] for our ambitions and dreams. It’s essential that we win.’”
Sounds as if Benfica are less inclined than Mourinho to put any of the blame on Vinícius.
Pep also made an interesting point about experience. Plenty of people have been saying that City know how to win the title and Arsenal don’t. But … “70 per cent of the players are new,” Pep says, “so they don’t have the experience to live these kinds of situations.” Which raises the question: is it just a bunch of individuals who have experience – including Pep himself, who obviously has loads – or does a club have a collective memory to draw on, a kind of institutional know-how? If you have a view, drop me a line.
Pep: ’12 games left, it’s an eternity’
Pep Guardiola is asked what he has said to the Man City squad about Arsenal only managing to draw with Wolves. “I didn’t talk about that for one second,” he replies. “Just Newcastle, Newcastle, Newcastle.
“I didn’t talk about the table, or our position, or something like that. I could not care less. It’s 12 games [still to play]. If you ask me this question with two or three games left, I will have your answer. It’s 12 games left, it’s an eternity.”
A week is a long time in politics, and 12 games are an eternity in football.
Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace’s outgoing manager, has been letting off a little steam. “I’m always realistic and we’re not in the best moment right now,” he said, as reported by PA. “I understand and I take responsibility for everything because I’m responsible for the whole team.
“Right now, I’m just not good enough to replace the players we sold. I’m just not good enough to integrate the new players in a way to play the same way like we did, and I’m not good enough that we can cope with the schedule we had.
“On the other side, I was good enough to play the best season ever, win two trophies (FA Cup and Community Shield) and also to look back at 32 points after 26 games.
“I look back because I like to look back sometimes – Crystal Palace has been better twice. Once was our season last year and once in 2021.
“It looks like even now. when everybody is completely angry, disappointed, frustrated, we are playing a better Premier League season than eight of the last 10 seasons Crystal Palace has played. We play European football and that is the reality.”
Thanks Tom, afternoon everyone. I’d like to begin by thanking David Raya and Gabriel for giving us a title race.
Ok, that’s it for me on the blog. Next up, Tim de Lisle.
FA charges Cardiff over homophobic chanting in Carabao Cup tie
Ben Fisher
The Football Association has charged Cardiff City after the club’s supporters allegedly aimed homophobic abuse at Chelsea in December’s Carabao Cup meeting. Chelsea beat the League One leaders 3-1 on the night. The FA said that around the second minute of the match Cardiff fans behaved in an “an improper, offensive, abusive, indecent or insulting way including a reference – whether expressed or implied – to sexual orientation”.
A Cardiff club statement on Friday read: “As an inclusive club that positions itself at the heart of our community, we strongly condemn the language of identified individuals and fully support South Wales police’s commitment to holding persons responsible. The behaviour of the perpetrators was swiftly recognised during the fixture in question,” adding: “No form of discrimination is tolerated at our club, nor should it ever be in society.”
Bayern boss Kompany blasts Mourinho over Vinicius racism row response
Vincent Kompany delivered a scathing critique of José Mourinho’s handling of racism allegations involving Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, with the Bayern Munih manager calling the Benfica coach’s comments a “huge mistake” in leadership.
TV footage showed Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni covering his mouth with his shirt – a common move by players or coaches to prevent anyone reading their lips – while making a comment that Vinicius and nearby teammates interpreted as a racial slur.
Although Benfica defended their winger, Uefa is investigating the allegations of discriminatory behaviour during Tuesday’s Champions League playoff first leg, which Real won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Vinícius.
Mourinho said Vinícius had incited the crowd with his goal celebrations while adding that the club was anything but racist because the Portuguese team’s greatest player Eusébio was also Black.
“José Mourinho basically attacks the character of Vinícius Júnior by bringing in the type of celebration to discredit what Vinícius is doing. For me, in terms of leadership, it’s a huge mistake. It’s something that we should not accept,” Kompany told reporters in a 12-minute response in support of Vinícius.
“On top of it, he mentions the name of Eusébio – to say that Benfica cannot be racist because the best player in the history of Benfica is Eusébio. You know what Black players had to go through in the 1960s? Was he there to travel with Eusébio, every away game?
“My dad is a Black person from the 1960s also who made his way. Probably at the time the only option they had is to be quiet, to say nothing, to be above it and to be 10 times better to get a little bit of credit.”
Reporting courtesy of Reuters
Have you listened to the latest Football Weekly yet?
Ahead of Sunday’s trip to Livingston, Rangers head coach Danny Rohl has insisted “there should be no question mark” over his players’ ability to handle a Scottish Premiership title fight.
Rangers have clawed to within two points of leaders Hearts and are a point ahead of defending champions Celtic, who have a game in hand, in what has developed into a compelling battle for the championship.
I’m totally convinced that it’s now about consistency. Who takes the most points until the split, I think this is also a part of it.
You have to prepare for the final five games with the next six games. If you do well (before the split), then you have a great opportunity. And in the final five games, I think everything is possible because you have the teams around you.
But it’s crucial now, you can think it is just three points but it’s massive because it can really decide if it’s (a gap of) two, five or eight points (by the split).
Two points looks at the moment good but we are still not in the first position, we are still in second position.
I totally believe we can do it. It’s not just about the last results, there’s no doubt about our strength of this squad now, of the individual players. There should be no question mark.
Some interesting words from Nottingham Forest defender Murillo after their win in the Europa League last night. He described the arrival of Vítor Pereira as “the light at the end of the tunnel” and admitted the squad had problems with previous managers, of which they’ve had many this season.
“Four managers, four different ideas, it’s difficult,” Murillo said. “But I think Vítor is going to stay with us until the end of the season and he can give his idea to overcome the bad moment that we were going through. Now I think it is the light at the end of the tunnel.
“The gaffer passed to us this confidence. I think the winning spirit we had last season has come back. Everyone knows we have a good team, good attack, young players, we had a lot of things to improve and I think with Vítor we’re going to do a good job and go back towards the top of the table.”
Full story from Ben Fisher in Istanbul:
Trump says Fifa will raise $75m as part of Board of Peace-backed Gaza football development plan
Fifa and the Board of Peace have signed a partnership agreement to attract investment from global leaders and institutions for sustainable development in conflict-affected regions through football.
The Board of Peace, established under the US President Donald Trump, held its first meeting focused on Gaza’s reconstruction fund, aimed at rebuilding the territory once Hamas disarms.
The disarmament of Hamas militants and accompanying withdrawal of Israeli troops, the size of the reconstruction fund and the flow of humanitarian aid to the war-torn population are expected to pose significant challenges to the board’s effectiveness in the coming months.
The Fifa collaboration plan includes building 50 mini-pitches near schools and residential areas in Gaza, five full-size pitches across multiple districts, a state-of-the-art Fifa academy and a new 20,000-seat national stadium, Fifa said.
Trump said Fifa will raise $75 million for football-related projects in Gaza.
“Today, Fifa and the Board of Peace have signed a landmark partnership agreement that will foster investment into football for the purpose of helping the recovery process in post conflict areas,” Fifa president Gianni Infantino said in a statement.
“Together with the support of the Board of Peace, Fifa will drive this partnership which is built to deliver impact at every stage.“
Reporting by Reuters
Burnley boss Scott Parker has been saying some nice things about Jaidon Anthony, who is playing in a struggling side and has scored three goals since the turn of the year. Anthony’s eye for goal will be required against Chelsea this weekend as the Clarets will be without ex-Blue Armando Broja.
I think there’s still more (to come) but Jaidon has done brilliantly this year in probably his first full season in the Premier League. He’s a bright boy, hugely talented and he just needs some more time to progress even more. I’m hugely impressed in terms of his numbers, what he’s produced and the goals he’s scored after that little blip.
Elsewhere in the wide world of football, MLS is back this weekend. Our writers in the US discuss the teams, players and story lines they’re watching this year:
Hello, happy Friday to all who celebrate. Here’s a piece of news that caught my attention. You may remember £185m of solidarity payments promised by Fifa on the back of last summer’s Club World Cup. Turns out it has not been paid yet as the big brains at Fifa haven’t figured out how to allocate it.
Nick Ames and Matt Hughes have the exclusive on that one:
Here’s Tom Bassam to take over the mid-morning matters.
Talking of Brighton, James Milner can break the Premier League appearance record at Brentford. Good piece, this, from those who have known him in a senior career that started in 2002.
The Brighton manager, Fabian Hurzeler, is coming under pressure as the Seagulls slip down the table. They face Brentford this weekend.
“We have to see the table how it is. It is just the reality. At the moment, we are in the middle of the table. We are seven points away from relegation and we are six points away from Europe, so we are in the middle of the table, so now there’s a different type of person.
“There’s a positive person who says we look upwards because we want to go up, we want to achieve something, and there are people who might be afraid and look downwards. In general, for me is to look at the next game, to look at what we can influence, to look at what we can control, and it’s only the next game.”
Arne Slot has been talking about Liverpool’s set pieces, and says they have gone “back to normal”.
Aaron Briggs – the individual development coach who was pushed into the role at the start of the campaign – was sacked in late December due to the continued under-performance. In the first 26 matches of the season Liverpool conceded from 13 set-pieces and scored from eight but in their last 12 games since Briggs’ departure they have conceded from two and scored from eight.
Slot: “It would be very unfair to [blame] Aaron, who was partly responsible for that because, [because] in the end I’m responsible for everything. We’ve been in that period of time [being] so unlucky. We all knew that it couldn’t go on like that because we hardly gave away a chance in set-pieces but every ball went in and we created multiple opportunities to score and the ball didn’t go in.
“So that things go back to normal now, it’s something which we expected. We didn’t change that much, maybe made one or two slight changes. What changed is things went back to normal, because in the Champions League I think we were number one in set-pieces.”
Chelsea play Burnley on Saturday, and Liam Rosenior has been speaking about the incident that has overshadowed the week’s European football.
Mikel Tega gets in touch from Port Harcourt, Nigeria: “As I type this email, or should I say thumb, (whatever, whichever) the weather here is slightly hot but, of course, hotter for Arsenal fans, who all of a sudden, after bragging all season long of winning the EPL, have suddenly become jittery and frustrated with their team’s form of late.
“I’m not a doomsayer but mark my words, Arsenal will not only come up short at the end of the season, they’ll eventually finish third.”
Oof.
Eddie Howe had some words of praise for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City: ““Genuinely, I think we learn something more about ourselves and our game going forward every time we play them. They have been the benchmark for a number of years for many teams. Each painful defeat we suffer at the Etihad we try to grow from it, evolve and improve.
“They have been very, very good and are led by an outstanding manager. They continue to be the benchmark in my opinion.”
Howe will be hoping for more of the same as three months ago:
Skinner backs Women’s FA Cup u-turn
Tom Garry
The Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner says it is “great news” that the Football Association have put the brakes on plans to make radical changes to the Women’s FA Cup such as seeding the top teams, and he feels big teams going head-to-head in earlier rounds is good for the cup.
Skinner’s side travel to face the holders Chelsea in the fifth round on Sunday, a repeat of last year’s final. It is a tie that would not have been possible under the proposals that were initiially put forward by the FA earlier in February, which could have seen the WSL’s top four sides separated until the semi-final stage from next season if the changes had gone on to be approved at FA board level. But the Guardian revealed on Thursday that, after receiving negative feedback on the plans, the FA have decided to extend the consultation period and there will be no changes to the format for next season.
“Great news, great news,” Skinner said, when asked for his reaction to that idea being put on hold. “We play one of the best teams in English history on Sunday in an early round, but that’s the draw, that’s the beauty of the game. I watch competitions because there’s an element of luck. For us to play Chelsea is rough luck but it’s part of the game and it allows the beauty of the cup.”
An FA spokesperson told the Guardian: “While we will continue to review the Adobe Women’s FA Cup and the ways it can evolve, we have listened to the feedback and no changes will be implemented for the 2026-27 season.
“We understand how much the competition means to clubs, players and fans across the pyramid, and it is important that all parties have enough time to share their views. As a result, we will be extending the consultation phase to allow for further engagement informed by the questions and comments raised.”
Arsenal’s collywobbles could get yet worse if Manchester City win at Newcastle on Saturday evening. Newcastle’s manager Eddie Howe has been speaking to the press this morning. Anthony Gordon got four goals against Qarabag on Wednesday: “Every player has a preference on positions. He’d probably prefer to play down the middle and lead the line because you have much more freedom.
“Ant has really good qualities in that position, especially his pressing intensity and understanding of when to do it is at the highest level.
“The Champions League has certainly got the best out of him and long may it continue.”
Carrick on Mainoo
Jamie Jackson
Michael Carrick has offered insight into how he is managing Kobbie Mainoo. The 20-year-old was not started in Manchester United’s first 20 Premier League games by Ruben Amorim. But Carrick, who has replaced the sacked Portuguese as the interim head coach, has selected the midfielder in his first five games in charge and not overloaded him with instructions.
“We haven’t really got started in any of that because we’re just letting him go and find his flow and find his rhythm of playing football again,” Carrick told the BBC’s Football Interview. “Trust in what he is – he’s a fantastic footballer and he’s got a huge talent.”
Regarding being appointed last month, Carrick said: “Yeah it was a nice thing to hear. I was quite calm about it actually. I don’t know why. It just felt right. It just felt quite normal.”
He called his wife, Lisa Roughead. “It wasn’t the case of me coming off the phone and shouting and screaming and celebrating on the motorway. I just called my wife and said: ‘This is what’s happening. This is where we’re at.’”
Let’s remind ourselves of the Premier League table.
Big game for West Ham on Saturday, when they face Bournemouth. Nuno Espirito Santo spoke to a press conference on Thursday. The Hammers, in 18th, have Tottenham and Nottingham Forest in their sights:
“I see the players every day, training and preparing themselves. What I have realised is that they have got the commitment, and the desire to get out of this situation. You can see that desire every day,
“We see them work, getting ready for the game, speaking to each other and helping each other. This togetherness is what we want and need. We need character and I think we have shown character in tough circumstances.”
A good night in the Europa League and Conference League for English teams.
Less so Celtic, ouch.
Here’s our usual weekend preview digest.
The weekend’s Premier League fixtures:
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Aston Villa v Leeds, Sat 3pm
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Brentford v Brighton ,Sat 3pm
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Chelsea v Burnley, Sat 3pm
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West Ham v Bournemouth, Sat 3pm
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Manchester City v Newcastle, Saturday 8pm
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Nottingham Forest v Liverpool, Sunday 2pm
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Crystal Palace v Wolves, Sunday 2pm
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Sunderland v Fulham, Sunday 2pm
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Tottenham v Arsenal, Sunday, 4.30pm
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Everton v Manchester United, Monday 8pm
Preamble
Good morning, football. Welcome to our rolling preview of the weekend’s action, with manager press conferences to come, and buildup to Sunday’s North London derby. the word is out: we have a title race on our hands.
Join us.
