Former Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu says that it’s up to the players to adapt to Unai Emery’s tactics.
Before Arsenal signed Mesut Ozil five years ago, nobody believed Arsenal were crying out for a signing like Mesut Ozil.
After all, Arsenal’s attacking quartet in 2012-13 was very balanced, with all four players — Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott, Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla — reaching double figures in terms of Premier League goals. The consensus was that Arsenal required the types of player Arsenal always seem to require: a solid defensive midfielder, or a commanding centre-back. Maybe a top-class…
England announced its side for the UEFA Nations League opener against Spain and Paul Mariner is happy with Luke Shaw’s inclusion.
Three games into the new Premier League campaign is somewhat premature for assessing 2018-19’s tactical trends, but it’s been easy to identify certain patterns from the 30 matches thus far: lots of goals, lots of heavy pressing and — in particular — a seemingly high number of attacking contributions from attack-minded left-backs.
Left-back was the weakest position in the Premier League last season. You really had to scramble around to find a player deserving of a place in the “Team of the Year”,…
The Premier League is currently blessed with an unusual level of tactical variety. In particular, last weekend’s action featured two entirely different approaches from small sides hosting title challengers.
In Saturday’s lunchtime fixture, Wolverhampton Wanderers held Manchester City to a draw with an impressively bold performance. The following day, Newcastle were narrowly defeated by Chelsea, having parked the bus for the duration.
Wolves played an open style of football and caused Manchester…
Unai Emery picked up his first win as Arsenal manager as his side spluttered past West Ham at The Emirates.
LONDON — Three quick thoughts from the Emirates as Arsenal wrapped up a 3-1 win over West Ham.
1. Arsenal get Emery his first win
Arsenal recorded their first victory under Unai Emery and it came courtesy of a bizarre own goal with 20 minutes remaining.
It wasn’t the fact that Issa Diop deflected the ball past Lukasz Fabianski, somewhat unfortunately from Alexandre Lacazette’s stab into the box; more that, 10 seconds beforehand, he’d smashed the ball almost vertically into the air when attempting…
Ian Darke, Steve Nicol and Paul Mariner debate the merits of the two perceived Premier League title front-runners, Liverpool and Manchester City.
Relive the top strikes from Week 2 of the 2018-19 Premier League season, including David Silva’s picture-perfect set piece for Man City.
From Sergio Aguero’s hat trick, to Harry Kane’s first goal in August, relive all the goals from this weekend in the Premier League.
The FC guys are already seeing improvements in Liverpool’s defence and ability to close out games following their victory over Crystal Palace.
Gab Marcotti defends his selections and omissions in the second team of the weekend of the Premier League season.
Footballers are increasingly judged according to their performance in big games, with memorable performances in semifinals and finals seemingly the main criteria for end-of-year awards. But such focus upon football’s biggest matches obscures the fact that performance in smaller games has never been so crucial. In an era in which league champions can achieve 100 points, contenders can barely afford more than a single slip-up in a small game all season.
Some clubs, strange as it might sound, suffer…
Relive the top strikes from Week 2 of the 2018-19 Premier League season, including David Silva’s picture-perfect set piece for Man City.
From Sergio Aguero’s hat trick, to Harry Kane’s first goal in August, relive all the goals from this weekend in the Premier League.
The FC guys are already seeing improvements in Liverpool’s defence and ability to close out games following their victory over Crystal Palace.
Gab Marcotti defends his selections and omissions in the second team of the weekend of the Premier League season.
The debate about football’s greatest-ever goal has long been contested between an almost undisputed shortlist of three, all scored in international tournaments during the 1970s or 1980s. Notably, they are all completely different, essentially incomparable.
Carlos Alberto rounded off a brilliant Brazilian team move against Italy in 1970, Argentina’s Diego Maradona produced a mesmeric dribble through the England defence in 1986, and Marco van Basten struck a remarkable dipping volley for Netherlands…
With the Premier League back in action, Shaka Hislop and Mark Donaldson predict all of the fixtures ahead of week 2.
Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino joked to reporters that he had mastered Dele Alli’s celebration.
Let’s begin with a quiz question. Which club’s shirt number has been responsible for the most Premier League goals since the competition started in 1992?
If you guessed Newcastle’s No. 9 shirt — they love their goal scorers at St James’ Park — you’d nearly be right. Were it not for a couple of seasons outside the top flight, Newcastle’s No. 9, with 298 goals, would be top dog. Manchester United’s No. 10 also features highly, with 297 goals, but was handicapped by being left vacant for a couple…
The Exploding Heads are here to tell you that the more changes a new football season brings, the more things stay the same.
Paul Mariner defends his selections and omissions in the first team of the weekend of the Premier League season….
Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva provided the goals to help Manchester City begin their title defense with a 2-0 win over Arsenal.
LONDON — Three quick thoughts from Manchester City’s 2-0 Premier League win over Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.
1. City demonstrate they’re prepared to title defence
Not since 2008-09 has the Premier League title been retained, but it’s difficult to remember any previous champions looking as dominant as this Manchester City at the start of the following campaign.
There is serious competition at the top of the division this season: Liverpool will improve from last term, Chelsea have recruited…
Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva provided the goals to help Manchester City begin their title defense with a 2-0 win over Arsenal.
Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva provided the goals to help Manchester City begin their title defence with a 2-0 win over Arsenal.
Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva provided the goals to help Manchester City begin their title defense with a 2-0 win over Arsenal.
Craig Burley and Paul Mariner believe Arsenal will have to be judged against the rest of the Prem because the gulf in quality against Man City was too great.
Former Arsenal forward Paul Mariner breaks down how Manchester City were able to dominate the Gunners while urging patience with Unai Emery’s side.
On Sunday afternoon at the Emirates, we were supposed to discover about Arsenal’s new approach under their new Spanish manager Unai Emery.
Instead, we learned about Manchester City’s new approach under their “old” Spanish manager, Pep Guardiola.
Arsenal have a fresh manager, but City have fresher ideas, and this match could prove more significant in signalling the away side’s intentions for this season.
A new manager’s first starting XI is considered the template the manager’s future tactical approach….