Which means that is us. Enjoy the rest of the weekend, and thanks for your company and comments – sorry I couldn’t use them all. Peace out.
And here’s our report from Elland Road.
So how far can Arsenal go this season? As I said earlier, it feels like things are going for them at the moment, and though that can continue through a season, it’s not something that happens often. But the confidence they’ll be garnering in the process might will be telling them they’ve got it going on, and when that’s the case, teams can achieve previously impossible things.
At Anfield, Robertson has just thwacked a shot over the top when allowed time to plot its route to goal.
It’s still Real Madrid 2-0 Barcelona. Barca are, though, better than people seem to have decided. Who knows what’ll happen as regards sales once they’re out of the Champions League, but Xavi seems to me to be building a coherent team – one which was excellent in the first half away to Bayern Munich. I’m excited to see how they develop from here, even though there’ll be some short-term pain to endure in the meantime.
“United fan on a packed bus from Fagernes to Oslo,” emails Matan Prilleltensky. “Why do you think ETH started Ronaldo instead of Rashford?”
Midfield control, probably. Sancho is able to get involved in the play and Newcastle are strong in central areas, while Rashford likes space in behind. I’d have played him through the middle, mind, instead of Ronaldo.
It’s still 0-0 at Anfield, and things are warming up.
What an afternoon at Elland Road! For now, at least, Arsenal lead Man City by three points at the top of the table, and in a sense, a sneaked win like today’s will do more for them than a comfy one, because it tells them they can get it done when not at their best. Leeds, meanwhile, played really well, especially after half-time, but remain 15th.
Full-time: Leeds United 0-1 Arsenal
A huge win for Arsenal, who forge further ahead at the top!
…but Arsenal get it away and counter!
Leeds win a corner and up comes Meslier…
We’re away at Anfield…
Goodness me!
NO PENALTY, NO RED CARD AND A FREE-KICK TO ARSENAL!
As I said earlier, Gabriel can be wild but the mazel is going with Arsenal! Gabriel’s red is commuted to a yellow, so I guess the ref also thought he got that call wrong.
…he might say it was a barge, he might say it was a coming together. What an afternoon this has been!
I suppose you might say Bamford fouled Gabriel first and the ref is over to check….
RED CARD FOR GABRIEL! PENALTY FOR LEEDS!
This is some behaviour! Bamford barges into Gabriel, who kicks out as he falls and, though it’s soft, I can’t see how yuo can argue either call.
Has Gabriel kicked out at Bamford?
Here come Leeds again, Summerville into Bamford, who flicks off for Aaronson down the right – he’s been really good today – down the right. The cut-back is a goodun too, but Summerville can only sweep over the bar. We’re into the final minute of the 90.
A mention for Steven Gerrard, by the way, whose team played well today but were undone by a ridiculous individual error from Tyrone Mings and a brilliant display from Kepa. I doubt he gets sacked this week.
“You’re right about Ødegaard,” says Kári Tulinius. “after he started to fade in the second half, Arsenal have been really flat. It’s at times like this that they really miss Zinchenko, who can be trusted to keep the team ticking when the Norwegian isn’t fully there.”
I wonder if Zinchenko might eventually take Xhaka’s spot in midfield. I don’t think he’s a good enough defender to play against the best opposition. Anyway, meantime, Nketiah has just poked a near-post corner wide.
Two more changes for Arsenal, Holding and Nketiah on for Saka and Jesus. What they have, they’d ideally like to hold, please. Leeds, though, have been good today and, while I fear that they’ve run out of ideas, have eight minutes and change to force something to happen.
Kicking-off in roughly 13 minutes from now…
And where Ramsdale has just shovelled away a shot from just outside the box by Aaronson. The mazel currently resides with Arsenal, and they’re riding the hell out of it.
75 minutes gone at Elland Road, where Klich and Tierney have come on for Harrison and White respectively.
Now this is more like it.
Hull City vs Birmingham City has been delayed because the goals are too big. They are currently being sawed 2 inches smaller. We’ve seen it all now! 😂 pic.twitter.com/aF1HpmD3vM
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) October 16, 2022
Thinking back to that situation at the end of Man United v Newcastle, a natural scorer doesn’t play that square ball to Fred, as Rashford did, they back themselves to stick it away. And the least said about that header the better – it was as good a chance as any player could possibly have wanted.
Real Madrid now lead Barcelona 2-0; it’s half-time.
Eager to reverse the run of play, Arteta sends on Vieira for Odegaard, who’s played well but has played a lot. He’s the heartbeat of this Arsenal side, in mine, and is a lot better than I thought he was when he signed permanently.
Bamford gets away through the middle, Harrison splitting the Arsenal defence again – don’t say I didn’t tell you – with a straight pass. But Saliba, on a card after the penalty, leans on him, and a heavy touch allows Ramsdale to collect.
@DanielHarris Paul Madeley - successful storekeeper if never a goalkeeper. Lovely man apparently. pic.twitter.com/YWMbEk1zCM
— Peps 🇺🇦 (@paulpeps) October 16, 2022
“Chris Morrell forgot to say that Paul Madeley was a ‘Rolls Royce’ in each and every position he played!” reminds Damian Walsh. “(The quote comes from my 1974 Shoot poster).”
I love stuff like that. Richard Hadlee was “One of two Antipodeans who vie for the title of most complete all-rounder of all time,” according to my Sunday Times wallchart in the mid-80s.
Leeds have been good since half-time and they create another chance almost immediately, Aaronson getting away down the left and picking out Sinisterra who arrives onto it beautifully but instead plants his sidefooter into Gabriel’s dress cricle.
Credit to Ramsdale, when it comes to claiming credit for saving a penalty that missed the target, he’s the best I’ve ever seen.
BAMFORD SWIPES HIS PENALTY WIDE!
He went for the far corner, Ramsdale guessed correctly … but it didn’t matter! It’s all going for Arsenal at the moment!
PENALTY FOR LEEDS!
Saliba handle in the box – the ball sort of plays him, and he was sort of shoved immediately before it, but he should’ve got out of the road and, though the ref says no penalty, VAR, fully operational, invites him to take another look and he changes his mind.
Full-time: Man United 0-0 Newcastle United
That Rashford header was the last meaningful action of the game. Man United stay fifth, a point ahead of Newcastle in sixth, with a game in hand.
Full-time: Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
Chelsea move further away from Man United in fourth, four points behind Spurs with a game in hand. Villa stay 16th.
Casemiro flights over a delicious cross with the outside of his right foot and Rashford is up between two defenders! But he guides his header wide of the far post, and neither he nor his manager can believe what they’ve done and seen
Full-time: Southampton 1-1 West Ham
Southampton stop the rot but stay 18th, West Ham move above Liverpool from 12th to 11th.
United are knocking at the door, but when Dalot drops a shoulder and gets inside the box, he decides to misplace a pass rather than shoot. Newcastle have shut the spaces down really well though.
At St Mary’s, it’s still Southampton 1-1 West Ham.
Five additional minutes at Old Trafford…
I said this on Thursday night, but I don’t think we'll see a winner at Old Trafford. On which point, Adam Roberts gets back in touch: “As well as missing Eriksen, United are also unfortunate that most of the chances seem to be falling to Fred, who sadly isn’t up to the task.”
I can’t argue with that, and he’s just missed another! Rashford chases a pass from Bruno, bending his run perfectly! Pope comes out, Rashford skips around, and though he should probably go for goal himself, instead he slides square for Fred who opens his body and guides a calm finish wide of the far post! Of course he does!
“In a previous job,” says Matt Dony, “I spent a frankly inappropriate amount of time discussing these kinds of hypothetical teams. One man team? Daddy-era Essien. Beyond that, I agree wholeheartedly with you. We always came back to Gerrard and Rooney. Neither side would be tactically rigid (to say the least!), but they would play some lovely football.”
Either of them would’ve been the greatest right-back of all time, had they committed to playing there.
We’re back under way at Elland Road, where Arsenal lead Leeds 1-0. Bamford is on too – he’s replaced Rodrigo.
Rashford has just clouted a free-kick over the bar – I’m not sure why he tried he knuckleball type, and he didn’t have room to get the ball up and down.
Not much going on at Villa Park; the home side are trying their best, but they know the jog’s up and Chelsea are doing their best to keep the ball.
Willock immediately wins a corner which goes to Almiron on the edge, and he tries a sidefooter that flies over the top. That wasn’t a chance, exactly, as he was a way out, but he had a clear sight of goal and time to set.
Updated
Newcastle make a triple change, Wood, Targett and Willock replacing Burn, Guimaraes and Wilson.
It’s almost all Man United at Old Trafford, but they’re struggling with their final ball and haven’t created much in the way of clearcut chances. They’re really missing Eriksen, while Newcastle are defending with great calm and intensity.
Should anyone be seeking a Manchester United pod to darken their ears, here are two:
Today's pod - Ed & Dan discuss McTominay, Scott and great European nights at Old Traffordhttps://t.co/yp07S9Fha1 pic.twitter.com/fvqwImsJip
— No Question About That (@nqatpod) October 14, 2022
📢 @unitedrewind is back! 📢
— Sport Social Podcast Network (@TheSportSocial) October 14, 2022
Join @DanielHarris & @joesmith93 as they remember #MUFC tales from years gone by.
Here’s a throwback to Season 1 when Daniel spoke to @AndyBurnhamGM about the 1995 FA Cup final 🙌🏻
Why not listen back in preparation for Season 2 dropping soon 👊🏻 pic.twitter.com/8IAxaFe3yx
“As you are covering events at Elland Road,” says Chris Morrell, “and are seeking suggestions for a one-man team I couldn’t let the opportunity go by without mentioning Leeds Utd’s Paul Madeley. In 724 appearances for Leeds he wore every shirt from 2 to 12, won the League Cup wearing 9, the Fairs Cup wearing 11 (scoring v Juve), the FA Cup wearing 3 and the League in ’74 wearing 5. In 24 caps for England he played right, left and centre -ack. Though there is no record of him playing in goal, I’m sure he would have done OK, though I seem to remember he may have had some competition from Jack Charlton.”
Just yesterday afternoon, I was actually in a toilet bearing a picture of Madeley on its wall. Spooky, eh?
Man United make a change at Old Trafford, Rashford for Ronaldo. Ronaldo looks every bit as thrilled as you’d expect him to.
And after this…
Elsewhere, Karim Benzema has just put Real Madrid in front in the clasico.
@DanielHarris If we are giving versatile Jo Tessem a mention, then why not Ronny Johnsen - who excelled as a striker and CM before being moved into defense. Both players got their breakthrough at fallen giant Lyn, «the Ajax of Norway» - who today won promotion from 3.div.
— Grog Eisenbein (@Grog_Eisenbein) October 16, 2022
Half-time: Leeds 0-1 Arsenal
Leeds have played pretty well, but made one colossal error and were punished for it by the brilliant of Bukayo Saka.
GOAL! Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea (Mount 65)
This is, I’m afraid, miserable goalkeeping from Martinez, who guesses that a free-kick from 25 yards is going near post only for it to beat him down the middle. Game over, you imagine.
Updated
LOVELY GOAL! Southampton 1-1 West Ham (Rice 64)
This is very nicely done, Rice playing a wall-pass off Benrahma, on as sub, down the left side of the box and curling a gorgeous low finish inside the far post!
Updated
United get it away, which gives us the treat of Dan Burn’s jinking feet down the left wing, and United bring the ball away; at Villa Park, Chelsea prepare another change.
Man United have been good since half-time, but Newcastle have another chance to stick a set-piece into the box…
At Villa, Kepa is still getting in the way of everything, Chelsea unable to get on top in the game despite the three changes they’ve made.
On the edge of the box, Sancho dashes across Longstaff, who dangles a leg; Sancho goes down, and it looks a penalty but a softun; both the ref and VAR reckon not. I don’t have a problem with them not being given for innocuous challenges like that, but I’ve not a clue what the rationale would be.
I’m not sure which Leeds defender played that pass, but there was nothing to be gained from it and now look. At Villa Park, Aubameyang has been replaced by Gallagher.
GOAL! Leeds United 0-1 Arsenal (Saka 33)
A dreadful crossfield ball, from right to left, allows Arsenal to counter, Odegaard feeding in Saka who smashes in a rising drive from a narrow angle – think Giggs v Seaman – to give the league leaders the lead.
Updated
Man United have been good so far this half and are shouting for a penalty – Bruno finds Ronaldo, who’s challenged by Trippier. The defender gets none of the ball, but not much of the man either, so I’m not surprised the ref gives nowt.
We’ve also had two shouts for Ruud Gullit – thanks @DoremusSchafer and John Hubbard – I can’t argue. But I will add Alfredo di Stéfano to the list, even if I keep coming back to Rooney’s prowess in net.
Nineties types assemble!
@DanielHarris Southampton's Jo Tessem played all across the pitch over his long (still ongoing!) career. pic.twitter.com/sRpilkFzDB
— Doremus Schafer (@DoremusSchafer) October 16, 2022
Controversy at Old Trafford! A Newcastle defender, I’m not sure which, touches the ball when his team have a free-kick and Ronaldo, sharking about, sidles over as Pope prepares to kick it away, and sticks the ball into the empty net. He’s booked, either for interfering or for complaining, but if the ref didn’t deem the restart to have been taken, it wasn’t taken I guess. Still, both teams are playing with proper edge here.
Updated
Nice from Newcastle, blocking United in and fashioning a chance for Wilson, who swivels and sends a low effort scuttling past the far post. United are, by the way, trying to play out from the back – which they did with hilarious results at Brentford.
Back under way in our three gremlin-deficient games.
Chelsea send Koulibaly and Azppilicueta on for Cucurella and Havertz, which tells is plenty about the run of play. They’ve been pretty fortunate to get a lead.
I’ve just seen Southampton’s goal again, and noticed that ref inadvertently blocked off Bowen, allowing Perraud to reach the ball first and shoot. The laws, as far as I understand them, tell is that the goal should, therefore, have been disallowed.
Rodrigo spreads wide nicely to Sinisterra, who cuts inside and lashes a dangerous shot that is, I think, deflected, and winds up in the side-netting. Then, from the corner, Ramsdale makes a fine save following a scramble that saw Struik poke a snap-shot goalwards from close range. Then Arsenal go straight down the other end, where Jesus fires high from a tight angle; this is another really good game.
“Surely we’re not having this conversation without Carlton Palmer,” says Chris Lambert of one-man elevens.” Not one of the best players to put on the [name your side] shirt, but certainly one of the most versatile.”
Equally ungainly in every position, I’m sold.
Leeds are struggling to contain Bukayo Saka, who’s been Arsenal’s principal threat so far. I wonder if, had they bean able to get Raphinha, if he’d be playing in midfield now – I’d love to see him in Grani Xhaka’s left-centre role.
Even game so far at Elland Road, Leeds doing a good job of getting tight to Arsenal.
Half-time: Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea
The Chelsea goal was a disaster for Villa, but they’ve been really good since then and have created some excellent chances. Make sure you see Kepa’s save from Ings, which was superb.
Half-time: Southampton 1-0 West Ham
My commentators reckon the throw which preceded the goal was a fair one, and from what I’ve seen, Soton were dominant at the start but West Ham took over in the last 15 or so.
Half-time: Man United 0-0 Newcastle United
It’s been a good game, this, and Joelinton will still be wondering how he avoided putting Newcastle in front.
“Surely John O’shea is the only correct answer for an XI made up of one player?” emails Richard Peters. “He’s scored the Cantona-style chip, he’s covered in goal and probably played every position for United (the Manchester variety).”
Trudat – tangentially, I was at Highbury that night, and I think that’s the best league game I’ve ever seen. Anyhow, it’s worth noting, I think, that O’Shea only went in net as an afterthought – it was going to be Rio Ferdinand, who later took the gloves against Portsmouth in 2008, until someone pointed out that he was slightly more useful in defence.
At Old Trafford, it’s United in the ascendancy – though Newcastle are a serious threat – and Antony cross has just flown over Ronaldo’s head. I’m a little surprised he started today because Ten Hag clearly prefers Martial, but he has been so far, circumspect with players returning from knocks.
From what I’ve seen, since Chelsea scored it’s been all Villa at Villa Park. The visitors seem to have Raheem Sterling playing wing-back, which seems an unnecessary tactical flex – but we’ll see.
Sinisterra fires a shot wide for Leeds, but Ramsdale has it covered while, at Southampton, the home side have been forced to replace Armel Bella-Kotchap with Duje Caleta-Car – I think the former has hurt his shoulder.
We’re back away at Elland Road. Football is the winner.
Scamacca is enjoying himself, doing brilliantly to shake off a man and loft a cross to the back stick, which Paqueta somehow heads onto the outside of the far post.
Back at St Mary’s, Scamacca has had a snap-shot following a corner deflected over the top while, at Old Trafford, United move the ball forward nicely and Sancho slips a good ball into Antony, coming across to the near side, and his instashot is saved by Pope with his legs.
“The answer to why they can’t just play without the tech seems to be, in one word, lawyers,” advises Charles Antaki. “Apparently if things happen here where there might be some element of uncertainty, the fact that it would be resolved by human judgement rather than artificial intelligence would mean the other teams who might be disadvantaged by the result would have some sort of £££££ case to argue in the courts. At least that’s what I think the commentators mean by the need for a ‘level playing field’ which I would’ve assumed otherwise would be rather a given.”
Thanks – if that’s so then all clubs should sign a waiver that if the tech is lost, they just get on with the game and don’t cry if something goes against them.
WHAT A SAVE KEPA! Villa are playing well and Bailey diddles Chilwell then crosses well from the right and Ings makes a decent flying connection, only for the keeper to tip away! I always rated him.
“That’s a common sense question,” says Alix Sharkey about why we’ve no football at Leeds, “but what if there’s a debate over whether the ball crossed the goal line? What about a contentious offside call? Of course, we all want to see the game go ahead and Leeds to win (Spurs fan here) but it would asking for trouble, as well as legal minefield should the result affect the relegation battle at the end of the season.”
Football coped for a fair while without any of this. The point of the game is not, in mine, to get correct decisions, and doubt anyone fell in love with it because of them. Anyhow, the players appear to be returning.
Still nothing going on at Leeds, which can’t be right.
YE’VE GOTTAE SCORE! Tripper whacks a free-kick into the wall and when a clever ball comes back in and over the top, Joelinton bobs a header onto the bar, then directs a second effort onto the post with De Gea grounded! What an oversight that is!
Villa are knocking on the door, Kepa making one save, then another follow-up shot hitting the post.
The officials don’t want to know! It looked suss to me, but the goal stands!
GOAL! Southampton 1-0 West Ham (Perraud 20)
A drive from distance is deflected and sneaks in, but West Ham are furious because they think that in the lead-up to the goal, Kyle Walker-Peters had a foot over the line when taking a throw.
Updated
Scamacca has just wellied a terrific shot fractionally wide at St Mary’s.
All Southampton at St Mary’s, but nowt in the way of chances so far.
Eeesh, hands on heads at Villa Park, where Bailey, arriving on the burst, has just headed against the top of the bar.
“Newcastle in their traditional green and white today then,” emails Adam Roberts. It’s presumably a spooky coincidence that those are the same colours as the Saudi flag.
The players are now being taken off with fans told there’s a “powercut”. Back at Old Trafford, Newcastle enjoyed a couple of good minutes, then Sancho – more dynamic today than in his previous three starts – curls a shot wide.
Still no play at Leeds, and I’m not sure why – why not just get on with it, without the tech?
There’s a lovely tempo at Old Trafford, Newcastle countering and Martinez executing another challenge that’s just the right side of dodgy – in midweek, he stopped a counter and managed not to get sent off and this time avoids conceding a penalty.
GOAL! Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea (Mount 6)
A(nother) disaster for Tyrone Mings, who leaps to head clear a loopy, deflected cross, only to send the ball behind him where the lurking Mount cushions home an easy volley.
Updated
Fabian Schar has hurt himself blocking a Ronaldo cross, twisting something on the slope behind the goal. He goes off and his mates clear the corner, but I think he’ll be fine.
At Elland Road, some sort of issue with the officials’ tech means we’ve started then stopped.
Man United have started well against Newcastle, Sancho teeing-up Fred for a shot whacked wide. I didn’t expect the former to play today, but he did well after coming off the bench in midweek and perhaps his possession-heavy style is thought more suitable for the way Ten Hag wants his team to play in this game. My guess is that Sancho is a player the manager expected to be in his first team, but he’s not earned the spot so far.
“As much as it pains me, as an Arsenal fan, to pick a Spurs legend over Vieira,” exculpates Kári Tulinius, “Glenn Hoddle is surely the best bet, given that he played three times as an emergency goalkeeper, including an apparently heroic performance against Leeds where he kept a clean sheet. He was also quite handy elsewhere on the pitch.”
Yes, he was decent at sweeper in his dotage too, but I’d be worried about his speed down the sides.
Away we go!
The players are out in our various matches. Here we go…
“The one-man 11 has to be David Webb, the Chelsea legend who played in pretty much every position in his time there including keeper,” says David Pearce. “He wore every shirt from 1 to 12, in the days they meant something in terms of position, except for 11.”
Similar is so of Johnny Carey, who played, I think, nine different positions for Man United including keeper and captained them to their 1948 Fa cup win and 1952 league title.
“KDB is on to something IMO,” emails Tom Atkins. “Vieira did step in at centre-half very occasionally for Arsenal. He was positionally aware and a better finisher (particularly in one on one situations) than he was given credit for. Only drawback is there would probably only be six or seven of him left on the pitch by the end of the game.”
De Bruyne also said he’d prefer to win the World Cup with Belgium than the Champions League with City, which I guess makes sense – the former would make him immortal in his homeland.
Gianluca Scamacca seems to be settling nicely at West Ham. He leads the line again, with Lucas Paquetá roaming behind him. Paquetá, like Newcastle’s Bruno Guimarães, is a prime example of the Premier League’s unhealthy financial dominance of football – players that good leaving Lyon for clubs in neither the Champions nor Europa League should make us feel a little queasy – and it’s incumbent upon us to notice, even while enjoying them on a weekly.
Also going on…
Elsewhere, Man United lead Brighton 4-0.
“Glenn Hoddle was the backup goalkeeper – or next in line – at the 1982 World Cup if I recall correctly,” tweets @TheStellaRossa. “Shilton was fine but both Ray Clemence and Joe Corrigan were injured during the tournament. Had anything happened to Shilts, big G was the goalie!”
I was three in ’82 so don’t remember that – my debut was ’86 – but nevertheless I’m hurt that didn’t happen.
Updated
“This Brazilian central defender called Gabriel,” emails Charles Antaki, “is an an improvement over Arsenal’s previous Brazilian central defender called Gabriel (quietly shown the exit door five years ago); so we’re on a trajectory where Arsenal’s next Brazilian central defender called Gabriel will be a world-beater.”
I’d forgotten about him – though should have noted that at 24, current Gabriel has time to up his level.
Kieran Tierney might be wondering what’s going on this afternoon. Last weekend, Arteta used Tomiyasu on the wrong side – his side – at left-back, which I assumed was so Mohamed Salah would come inside on his strong foot. But Sinisterra hardly demands the same provision, which suggests Tierney might now be third choice.
Here she is in our Premier League Likeable XI:
The Chelsea players have “Get well soon Emma” on the back of their training tops, as message to the manager of their women’s team who’s having time off with illness. We echo that – Hayes is a hero.
“So why not say ‘Manchester’ and ‘Newcastle’ then?” asks Mike Daniels. “Why insist that Manchester have dibs on ‘United’?”
Er, because there’s another team – also playing today as it goes – who have “Manchester” as their first name, and not another who use “Newcastle”. It’s not deep, I promise.
“Good Afternoon Daniel, good afternoon all round, from a cloudy Lewes,” begins Em Jackson. “In this fixture between Man Utd and Newcastle Utd, I’d pick a hybrid player, a United United player if you will: 50% Roy Keane & 50% Alan Shearer. Would give your side 110% vs the opposition and 120% in fights between themselves. Otherwise I’d go with Nicky Butt.”
Meanwhile, Keith Priddle wonders “How about Harry Kane, striker, midfield and goalie. Or Glenn Hoddle can do the same and put gloves on in extremis!”
Indeed, here his is donning the gloves … and keeping a clean sheet at Old Trafford.
I’ve just noticed that Carney Chuwuemeka is on the bench for Chelsea against his old club. I really like what I’ve seen of him, and I’d love to see him get on the pitch for a proper stretch today. Otherwise, that side looks a little strange – Gerrard will fancy his side to outnumber Loftus-Cheek and Kovacic in central midfield, and Mount is not as his best off the right.
Back Arsenal, I said I’m concerned about their back four, and I am. I think they’re all decent players, and Ben White in particular is doing a terrific job at right-back given he isn’t really one. But it’s rare a side wins a title without some of the best defenders around, and I find Gabriel a little wild.
Talking of Kobby Mainoo – and please be aware, I do not say this lightly – this is THE GREATEST calling a player by their fore- and surname there’s ever been.
Kobbie Mainoo vs Sunderland U18s (30 minute cameo) #mufc #MUAcademy pic.twitter.com/nmaRQn15gc
— academyarena Utd (@academyarenaUTD) April 5, 2022
Public service announcement: I know both Manchester and Newcastle have the same surname. But we’re covering four matches at once here, so please forgive with me if I call one “United” and the other “Newcastle”, it’s nothing personal.
“He could play left-back, right-back, get you a goal, knew how to defend, never injured, a brilliant guy in the dressing room. “Denis would be world class to me x11,” says Alex Newcombe of Roy Keane’s roommtate, Mr Irwin.
Righto, let’s make our way through what these teams mean:
Steven Gerrard has yet another bash at finding an XI that works, binning Philippe Coutinho and Emi Buendía for Danny Ings, that famous left-winger, and Leon Bailey, while Graham Potter brings in Kai Havertz, Marc Cucurella and Ruben Loftus-Cheek for Kalidou Koulibaly, Jorginho and the aggravatingly injured Reece James.
Leeds bring in Luis Sinisterra, who’s back from suspension, and he replaces Patrick Bamford; Arsenal are unchanged.
Man United are without Christian Eriksen and Scott McTominay, so Fred, who started in midweek, is again in midfield with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes. At the back, Raphaël Varane is deemed ready to regain his place from Victor Lindelöf, while in attack, it’s Jadon Sancho not Marcus Rashford and Ronaldo not Anthony Martial. Also worthy of note is the presence of local lad, Kobby Mainoo on the bench – he looks a ridiculous talent, an all-round midfielder with beautiful balance, skill and weight of pass. As for Newcastle, Eddie Howe brings Joelinton in for Joewillock.
At St Mary’s, Southampton bring in Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Mohamed Elyounoussi for Ibrahima Diallo and Stuart Armstrong, while West Ham field Ben Johnson, Vladimir Coufal and Emerson instead of Craig Dawson, Kurt Zouma and Pablo Fornals.
On Sky, Kevin de Bruyne has just been asked which player he’d pick if he had to compile an XI of the same player. He said Patrick Vieira – I’m not sure why because as amazing as he was, he was a midfield specialist. Now that you don’t ask, I’d picking between Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney but leaning towards the latter because he’s a decent keeper. Feel free to tell me why I’m wrong.
Let's have some teams...
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Luiz, McGinn, Ings, Watkins, Young, Bailey, Ramsey. Subs: Olsen, Sanson, Buendia, Chambers, Nakamba, Bednarek, Coutinho, Dendoncker, Bogarde.
Chelsea: Kepa, Chalobah, Silva, Cucurella, Mount, Kovacic, Loftus-Cheek, Chilwell, Havertz, Aubameyang, Sterling. Subs: Mendy, Jorginho, Pulisic, Broja, Zakaria, Gallagher, Koulibaly, Azpilicueta, Chukwuemeka.
**
Leeds United: Meslier; Kristensen, Koch, Cooper, Struijk; Roca, Adams; Aaronson, Rodrigo, Harrison; Sinisterra. Subs: Klaesson, Ayling, Firpo, Bamford, Summerville, Llorente, Gelhardt, Greenwood, Klich.
Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli. Subs: Turner, Tierney, Nketiah, Holding, Cedric, Vieira, Lokonga, Nelson, Marquinhos
**
Manchester United: De Gea, Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw, Fred, Casemiro, Sancho, Antony, Fernandes, Ronaldo. Subs: Heaton, Lindelof, Rashford, Malacia, Pellistri, Elanga, Garnacho, Iqbal, Mainoo.
Newcastle United: Pope, Trippier, Brun, Botman, Schar, Longstaff, Joelinton, Guimaraes, Murphy, Almiron, Wilson. Subs: Karius, Lascelles, Shelvey, Lewis, Targett, Wood, Fraser, Willock, Anderson.
**
Southampton: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Bella-Kotchap, Salisu, Perraud, Maitland-Niles, Ward-Prowse, Elyounoussi, Aribo, A Armstrong, Adams. Subs: McCarthy, Lyanco, Caleta-Car, S Armstrong, Mara, Djenepo, Edozie, Diallo, Larios.
West Ham: Fabianski, Coufal, Johnson, Kehrer, Emerson, Cresswell, Soucek, Rice, Bowen, Paqueta, Scamacca. Subs: Areola, Randolph, Fornals, Antonio, Lanzini, Downes, Ogbonna, Benrahma, Coventry.
Updated
Preamble
“Have you done your roadwork, you’d better keep your left up” – immortal words for anyone old enough to remember the days when breakfast was the most important meal of the day, not something best avoided by all right-thinking members of society, and when our halves of televised football weren’t bookended by missives from our favourite altruistic “behing caaaantny”. Nevertheless, this early afternoon slot houses a selection of games that are very, very tasty, so let’s climb onto that painful segue and dive right in.
At Elland Road, Leeds entertain Arsenal, the league leaders having won three straight since losing while playing fairly well at Old Trafford. Their defence still looks a little suss – perhaps too suss for a serious title challenge – but on the other hand, if Mikel Arteta’s team have found an attacking style reliably fluent enough for them to beat everyone they should beat twice, you never know.
Meanwhile, we should see a belter at the aforementioned – its first league fixture in six weeks. Manchester United are nowhere near as good as they could be but are perceptibly progressing, and Thursday night’s Fergie-time winner won’t have done them any harm. Newcastle United, though, are in fine form, and their hard-running proactivity and invention looks a decent match-up for a side still trying to assimilate a new way of doing things.
As if that wasn’t enough, old friends Steven Gerrard and Chelsea convene with the former’s Villa under severe pressure. It seems unlikely that his board will tolerate too many more tame reverses, and though Chelsea have major injury issues, the players who are fit have settled well under Graham Potter.
And finally, West Ham, who took a while to get their season going, visit Southampton, who’ve lost four in a row while looking like serious relegation candidates.
Which is to say that there’s a load going on, so stick with me as we watch it all unfold.
Kick-offs/kicks-off: 2pm BST
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