Category: Football

Manchester City beat Inter Milan in Champions League Final

Manchester City made history on Saturday night as they beat Inter Milan 1-0 in the Champions League final to secure a famous treble.

Rodri fired home what proved to be the winner in the 68th minute of a cagey affair in Istanbul.

Despite dominating the early proceedings, things didn’t exactly go to plan for City in the first half. Kevin De Bruyne was forced off with a hamstring problem and they struggled to break down the Serie A side, whose energy and intense pressing caused them problems at times.

But Pep Guardiola’s men held their nerve and when Rodri’s composed finish flew past Inter Milan goalkeeper André Onana, they started to believe.

Inter continued to push and but for the crossbar, smart reactions from Ederson and Romelu Lukaku blocking his own teammate’s shot, they would have forced an equaliser.

But City held on to clinch their third trophy of the season. And while they can have no regrets after a dominant campaign, there may just be one thing playing on their minds: how on earth did Nathan Jones and Southampton manage to knock them out of the League Cup and prevent the quadruple?!

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How did they win the treble?

After going head-to-head with Arsenal for most of the season, Manchester City eventually won the Premier League by five points to win the first of their three trophies and their fifth league title in six seasons.

Erling Haaland settled into life in England quickly, breaking almost every record that lay in his wake and scoring 36 league goals to win the Golden Boot.

Guardiola’s side then added the FA Cup to their collection last weekend, beating arch-rivals Manchester United in the final thanks to two goals from Ilkay Gundogan.

With only the Champions League remaining, all roads led to Istanbul and to the Atatürk Olympic Stadium, the scene of Liverpool’s iconic comeback against AC Milan in 2005.

City had done the hard work already, comfortably seeing off Bayern Munich in the quarter-final before blowing Real Madrid away in the semis with a humbling 4-0 second-leg win at the Etihad.

But Inter are no pushovers, having qualified from the group stage ahead of Barcelona before seeing off the likes of Porto, Benfica and AC Milan en route to the final.

City were the clear favourites going into the showdown but there were fears that the occasion could prove too much for them, as it did against Chelsea two years ago.

However, their imperious form continued and they finally landed the elusive treble, matching rivals United’s achievement from 1999.

Where do Man City go from here?

You could argue that as far as Pep Guardiola is concerned, his work at City is done. The 52-year-old has finally added the Champions League to his City CV having not won it since his 2011 triumph with Barcelona.

Guardiola has two years to run on his contract and there’s every chance he’ll carry on and possibly even extend it. Alternatively, he may feel there’s nothing left to achieve and a new challenge could appeal to him.

As for City, their future is bright, even if Guardiola were to move on. In Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden they have a core of young, exciting players that are only going to improve. And they’ll undoubtedly add quality to their squad, with the likes of Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva linked with moves away.

A lot could change for City in the next year or two but two things are for certain, there will be top-quality football on display, and you can watch it all with Engage!

A Premier League Season to remember

Another Premier League season has come to a close and thousands of fans up and down the country are either celebrating, commiserating or simply getting their breath back after another exhilarating (and exhausting!) campaign.

Manchester City secured yet another title, despite being run close by Arsenal. Meanwhile, Newcastle United will make a long-awaited return to the Champions League, alongside Manchester United, after finishing in the top four at Liverpool’s expense.

Aston Villa will also be playing in Europe next term, while Tottenham and Chelsea will be looking to bounce back after disappointing campaigns. Elsewhere, Everton live to fight another day after a dramatic win on the last day confirmed their survival.

The dust has barely settled on a memorable campaign yet most of us are already counting down the days until the next one begins. And when the Premier League does return, you can watch it in style, with hospitality packages available at all the top clubs.

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Manchester City

Having dominated the Premier League for the past two seasons, it was hard to see how Pep Guardiola could make Manchester City even better. Step forward Erling Haaland! The Norwegian striker took no time at all to settle into English football, scoring 36 Premier League goals and obliterating just about every record in the process.

Despite pressure from Arsenal, City eventually made sure of their third consecutive title and they’re now looking to complete a historic treble with both the FA Cup and Champions League finals to come.

Guardiola’s squad doesn’t look like it needs improving ahead of next season, particularly with the likes of Jack Grealish and Julian Alvarez growing in confidence following the break for the World Cup.

But with Ilkay Gundogan and Joao Cancelo expected to leave, they’ll likely look to add to their squad depth as they target a sixth title in seven seasons next time around.

Arsenal

Up until a couple of months ago, most of us (except City and Spurs fans, of course!) thought Arsenal were finally going to end their Premier League title drought. Mikel Arteta’s young side defied expectations all season, with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli leading the way.

Ultimately, they couldn’t keep up with City but they showed immense promise and if they can add quality to their squad, with Gundogan and Declan Rice among the names mentioned, they’ll no doubt be in the mix next season.

However, Arteta will need to be wary about how competing in the Champions League could affect their domestic form. The Gunners will be competing with Europe’s elite again and we have plenty of hospitality options if you want to hear the famous anthem back at the Emirates.

Manchester United

United have been going through the motions for a few years but they look to finally be on their way back under Erik ten Hag, who impressed in his first season at the helm. The Red Devils eventually finished third, thanks in large part to a fantastic season from Marcus Rashford, as well as the impact from new signings Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez.

They could add to their Carabao Cup success by making it a cup double against rivals City this weekend. And while a title charge may seem beyond them for now, if they can somehow convince Harry Kane to leave Tottenham then they’ll be a genuine force to be reckoned with.

Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp’s side sparked into life midway through the season but missed out on the Champions League, despite another incredible campaign in front of goal from Mohamed Salah.

Their ageing squad desperately needs reinforcements, particularly in midfield. Liverpool look set to miss out on long-term target Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid but they’ll be boosted by strong transfer links to Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister.

The World Cup winner will add a much needed spark in the middle of the park for the Reds, as could the revival of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who shone in a new midfield-hybrid role during the latter parts of the season.

Tottenham

It was a season to forget for Tottenham, who finished eighth in the Premier League despite an incredible 30 goals from Kane. They’ll be desperate to hang on to the England striker, who is now just 47 goals behind Alan Shearer in the all-time charts.

Not qualifying for Europe could be a blessing in disguise for Spurs, who can put all of their efforts into finishing as high as possible in the league. They’ll be keen to appoint their next manager quickly in order for him to hit the ground running.

Chelsea

Like Spurs before them, Chelsea fans didn’t enjoy the best of seasons. They watched their side finish 12th despite spending a record amount on players and the fairytale return of Frank Lampard in the dugout didn’t work out as hoped.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. The good thing for Chelsea is that they’ve confirmed new manager Mauricio Pochettino early. The former Spurs boss will be able to make a decision quickly about which players will work for him and which ones need a fresh start elsewhere.

The Blues have got a talented young squad packed full of potential. They could gel well following a strong pre-season – and you could be there to witness their resurgence with one of our hospitality packages at Stamford Bridge.

Newcastle

It wasn’t too long ago that Newcastle were looking over their shoulders, nervously wondering if they were destined for another spell in the Championship. Fast forward 18 months and Eddie Howe has taken them from the bottom three to the Champions League.

The Magpies have obviously splashed the cash but getting it right is easier said than done. The likes of Alexander Isak, Sven Botman, Kieran Trippier and Nick Pope have all hit the ground running since being brought in by Howe and they were pivotal to them securing fourth place.

Newcastle will undoubtedly look to add more depth to their squad this summer as they prepare to compete in Europe but there’s no reason why they can’t push on from here and become a regular fixture in the Champions League.

Aston Villa

Just like Howe has done at Newcastle, Unai Emery has completely transformed Aston Villa since his arrival last October. They looked lost under Steven Gerrard but Ollie Watkins’ prowess in front of goal turned their fortunes around, firing them to a seventh-place finish and qualification for the UEFA Europa Conference League.

While they’ll be excited for a European tour next season if they can navigate past the playoff round, the Villans will also be wary of letting it affect their performances in the Premier League, as has been the case with West Ham this year.

Everton

For the second season in a row, Everton avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth. And if they want to make it third time lucky, Sean Dyche’s squad will need a serious overhaul in the transfer window.

Everton have holes throughout their side but a new striker should be at the very top of their wishlist. They desperately missed the goals of Richarlison, who they didn’t replace. While Dominic Calvert-Lewin is unplayable on his day, he’s injured far too often and his fitness can’t be relied upon to keep the Toffees afloat.

As the crunch time of the English domestic season draws nearer, we look forward to the semi finals of the FA Cup. Four teams will battle it out in the hope that their team can clasp the famous FA Cup Trophy. Neutrals can be excited as well with the very high possibility of a Manchester Derby in a Wembley Cup Final!

Starting with the first of the Manchester clubs, Manchester City will face Sheffield United at Wembley in late April. After the 7-0 demolition of RB Leipzig last week and the 6-0 battering of Championship leaders Burnley on Saturday night, they are a force to be reckoned with at the moment, as they usually are. 8 of the 13 goals scored by The Citizens last week came from Norwegian superstar, Erling Haaland, and stopping him at the moment may be Sheffield United’s biggest challenge.

Sheffield United are not to be underestimated

With that said Sheffield United will not be a walkover. They currently sit second in the Championship with Middlesborough breathing down their necks. A 3-2 win over Blackburn in the last round, courtesy of a Thomas Doyle 91st minute screamer, will see them marching down Wembley Way in a month’s time. However, will The Blades be too engulfed in the battle for promotion to overcome this ruthless City team and find themselves in their first FA Cup final since 1936?

Manchester United take on Brighton

So what about the neighbours? Manchester United will entertain Brighton in an all Premier League clash at Wembley. Only 3 weeks after their triumph over Newcastle in the League Cup final, Manchester United are in the hunt for another trophy after a thrilling 3-1 win at home to Fulham. Although, it wasn’t all plain sailing for The Red Devils, finding themselves 1-0 down after an Aleksandar Mitrovic goal just after half-time. That was, until The Cottagers were reduced to nine men when Willian was dismissed for a handball and Mitrovic for dissent, the game was turned on its head. A Bruno Fernandes brace and a stylish Marcel Sabitzer finish ensured they would be progressing. With the Red Devils in the quarter finals of the Europa League after a comfortable win on aggregate over Real Betis last week, they will be tough to beat. However, will the amount of games be too much for them to carry on this strong run of form?

Can Brighton remain on their winning streak?

Erik Ten Haag’s side will have to be at the top of their game when they face an inform Brighton team in the capital next month. Roberto De Zerbi’s men are flying at the moment having lost one in 13 games while they eye up a Champions League Spot. They thumped League 2 opposition Grimsby Town 5-0 on Sunday afternoon at the Amex, showing no signs of letting up their incredible run of form. With Brighton aiming for only their second ever FA Cup final, they will be very difficult to beat.

So will we see a Manchester Derby at Wembley?

The two sides have only met once at Wembley in the FA Cup coming in 2011 when City knocked United out in the semi final on the way to their ninth finale of this trophy. This would be the City’s seventh FA cup trophy if they were to clinch it, but they have to get there first. It is looking increasingly likely they may face each other again at Wembley as the teams thin out, but as they will know, the teams that Pep Guardiola’s and Erik Ten Haag’s sides play, are not going to give up without a fight. A Manchester City win looks probable, however, United will have a much bigger task on their hands if they are to overcome fellow Premier League opposition. It’s safe to say a Manchester Derby at Wembley would be a thrilling encounter and could make for a classic FA Cup final if it were to happen.

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The legendary commentator and our good friend John Motson has sadly passed away on Thursday 23 February, aged 77.

A Legendary Sports Commentator

John was a regular guest at our ICON events and many of our clients would have had the opportunity to speak with him, take photos and hear his iconic voice that can be recognised all around the world.

One of the kindest people in the industry, John would spend his time sharing his incredible stories in the footballing world with passion and detail. He had quite a few to choose from, covering an astonishing 10 World Cups, 10 Euro Championships and 29 FA Cup Finals before retiring from his commentary duties in 2018.

His 50 year broadcasting career has included moments that will never be forgotten. From the 1988 FA Cup Final where “the Crazy Gang have beaten the Culture Club” to his favourite match where England beat Germany 5-1 away “Oh, this is getting better and better and better. One, two, three for Michael Owen!”

When John spoke, no matter where you were, heads all around the room would turn. As one of the most inspirational and recognisable voices of all time, ‘Motty’ would always be noticed but was never too busy to take the time to chat.

John’s Best Bits

John worked at the BBC for the majority of his career and his story and experiences is fascinating. You can review his story and see for yourself how iconic he was.

John loved Horse Racing

Although John’s impeccable career was centred around football, his passion for other sports such as Horse Racing was there for all to see.

John loved the Cheltenham Festival and the ICON was due to be with us at the festival in just a few weeks time. As ever, John was more than happy to speak to our clients, share a few of his tips and get the punters going with a little commentary of his own.

Outside of his usual spot in the commentary box, John kept busy throughout his career and maximised his popularity and natural charismatic gifts.

Motson provided commentary and narration for Cbeebies programme Footy Pups, featured on the FIFA video game series for 10 years and featured on Motty Mastermind!

We want to send our deepest condolences to Anne, who was John’s lifelong partner and Mother to their son and more recently a Grandmother

Anne and John were married for a sensational 45 years and she was a regular attendee alongside John at our ICON events. You couldn’t wish to meet a nicer person and the most important figure in John’s life.

As the transfer window closes and the league action is halted for a week as a result of cup football, let’s take a look at how some of the top teams spent their money in January.

Have Arsenal done enough to stay at the top?

Starting with the league leaders, Arsenal have been pretty quiet in terms of cementing their position at the top. With a 3-2 win at home to Manchester United last month, they put a big statement out to the rest of the league about their intentions. Although there has been no big money signings in January they have still been one of the busier Premier League clubs with the exciting signing of Leandro Trossard from Brighton for £27 million and Jakub Kiwio from Spezia for £20 million. Not to mention, the deadline day signing of midfielder Jorginho from struggling rivals Chelsea for £12 million. Their main target, Moises Caicedo was not to be in the end due to Brighton’s reluctance to sell the inform midfielder. So it was only three quality signings for the league leaders in January, two of which have previously proved their talent in the Premier League. These signings give Arsenal more strength in depth, however, have they made a mistake by not spending big or will these players be enough for them to get that overdue 4th Premier League title that is well within their grasp.

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No major changes for Man City

So what about the reigning champions? Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side have been far from their best this season with numerous disappointing results, so surely they would have been busy in January? As a matter of fact, the Citizens’ activity in the window was very limited with their only signing being Argentine Maximo Perrone. The 20 year old midfielder has scored 3 goals in 33 appearances at Argentinian club Velez Sarsfield and has joined City for a fee of £8 million. The biggest news involving City in January this year was perhaps the departure of Portuguese international Joao Cancelo to German force Bayern Munich. The full back left on loan with the option to buy at the end of the season for £61 million. Cancelo has been a valuable asset to City over the last 4 years with 154 appearances in all competitions. He will certainly be a miss at Manchester City leaving you to wonder whether that is another blow for the Manchester side in the race for the title.

Project Newcastle well underway with two new additions

It’s safe to say everyone has been shocked by the inclusion of Newcastle United in this season’s title race. Eddie Howe continues to do a magnificent job up in the North East with the Magpies sat in 3rd position and due to play in their first major final since 1999 (Carabao Cup). It’s no secret that Newcastle have a bit of money at the moment as a result of the takeover of the club 14 months ago, but learning to spend it wisely is a different matter. However, that is exactly what Howe has done thus far and this January he has made two new additions to the squad, both of which seem to be exciting youngsters. The first signing is fiery young talent Anthony Gordon for £45 million. The winger has scored 3 goals for Everton this season and has also featured for the England side at youth level. Many Everton fans were happy to see him go, however, the way Howe has improved players such as Joelinton and Sean Longstaff, he seems a hopeful prospect who could be a key part of the project at Newcastle. Another youngster Newcastle have signed is Harrison Ashby from West Ham for £3 million. The full back didn’t feature much at the Hammers but fans are eager to see how he will prosper under Howe. Although people expected Newcastle to go big this January, they seem to have taken a much more measured approach and focused on strengthening rather than necessarily improving.

Three loan signings for Manchester United

Currently level on points with Newcastle and also in preparation for a cup final against them, Manchester United have been particularly quiet in terms of money spent. With that said, they have made three loan signings with Jack Butland from Crystal Palace, Wout Weghorst from Burnley and the most notable of the trio Marcel Sabitzer from Bayern Munich. After the injury of Christian Eriksen last week, Ten Haag needed to act fast to bring in a replacement and he did just that with a deal on deadline day for the Bayern Munich midfielder. The Austrian has made 15 appearances for Munich in the league this season scoring 1 goal and assisting another. Could he help the Red Devils push on to challenge Arsenal? Failing that, will he help them to secure a Champions League spot for next season?

Money spent wisely at Spurs

Trailing behind the top 4 are North Londoners Tottenham Hotspur. They have been similar in their methods to Manchester United with two loan signings but very exciting ones at that. The first of which is Pedro Porro. The right back has 13 assists and scored 9 goals in 67 league appearances for Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon since joining from Girona in 2019. He has been described as one of Europe’s most exciting talents. He will certainly be an asset to Conte’s right hand side, an area where Spurs have previously struggled. The second of the signings is former Bournemouth winger Arnaut Dajuma on loan from Villareal. With 12 goals in 33 appearances in LaLiga since joining Villareal in 2021, he could be a key player in Tottenham’s push for a Champions League place after a poor run of form.

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Single signing for Liverpool – will the new youngster give them the goals they need?

Dropping down the table, a struggling Liverpool team sit in 9th place. Jurgen Klopp’s men are 10 points outside the top 4 and trail leaders Arsenal by an astonishing 21 points. This is a stark contrast to events over the past 5 years where Liverpool have been winning trophies including Premier League and Champions League honours. A surprising turn in form since the start of the season sees the former European Champions with all the work to do to make up positions, what with their recent departure out of the FA cup. The only signing made by Klopp in January was Dutch World Cup Star Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven for £45 million. The winger has been a valuable asset for his country scoring 3 goals in the 2022 World Cup alongside his excellent form in the Dutch league scoring 9 goals and bagging 12 assists in 14 matches. At only 23 years of age, it is no wonder that Klopp saw Gakpo’s talent as a potential solution to their poor season so far. With that said, will one signing be enough to turn the season around for the Reds or are they targeting a summer rebuild?

Biggest spend of the season at Chelsea

Level on points with Liverpool, in 10^th place sit Chelsea. Now it’s certainly no secret that Chelsea have struggled to pick up results this season and many fans blame this on the arrival of new manager Graham Potter from Brighton. That being said, many of the players have a lot to answer for as they simply have not been good enough. Less than two years ago they were European Champions but the Blues seem a million miles off that now. On the one hand, they seem to have realised their poor form and have made an incredible 8 new signings in January spending an absurd £323 million. The most notable signings included Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for a British record fee of £106.8 million and Arsenal target Mykhailo Mudryk for £88.5 million. The ridiculous amount of money spent by Chelsea has led many opposition fans and pundits to question the fairness around the lack of spending restrictions in the Premier League with many clubs simply unable to keep up. In terms of how this will improve the Chelsea team, it is now up to Potter to decide how these players will assist him to turn an extremely disappointing season around.

Want to see how the new signings get on and whether they make an impact on the race for the top 4? Why not watch it from the best seats in the house with Engage Hospitality.

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There is a feel-good factor around St. James’ Park, the home of Newcastle United. Rewind 12 months ago, and The Magpies were in the relegation zone, fighting for Premier League survival. A year is a long time in football (just ask any Everton manager), and Newcastle find themselves challenging for a Champions League place (or possibly the title) plus a potential Carabao Cup Final.

The turnaround is quite remarkable, Newcastle’s accession up the Premier League ladder has taken everyone by surprise, perhaps even their super wealthy Saudi Arabian owners, who bought the club from Mike Ashley in November 2022.

Eddie Howe takes the reign

Under manager Eddie Howe, who took charge shortly after the takeover, Newcastle have spent wisely rather than lavishly in the transfer window. In came the likes of Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier and Matt Targett in the first window post-takeover – quality players with Premier League experience, but hardly Kylian Mbappe, who was trending all over Twitter shortly after the Saudi acquisition was confirmed.

Bruno Guimarães was added before the close of the January 2022 window from Lyon, and was instrumental in the second half of the season, as Newcastle comfortably secured their status in the Premier League, finishing 11th.

After failing to win any of their first 14 games under Steve Bruce, Newcastle won 12 of their last 18 games in the 21/22 season with Eddie Howe, and they have carried this momentum into the 22/23 season.

More talent arrived through the doors at St James’ Park in the summer transfer window, including striker Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad, centre back Sven Botman from Lille and goalkeeper Nick Pope from Burnley.

However, it wasn’t a new signing who caught the eye in Newcastle’s pre World Cup run, but a diminutive Paraguayan forward, who was written off by many as a flop just a season or two ago – Miguel Almirón.

His form in the 22/23 season has drawn many comparisons with Lionel Messi, and the former Atlanta United player is practically a one man shortlist for goal of the season.

Other players like Joelinton and Fabian Schär have also emerged from the shadows and revitalised their Newcastle careers under Eddie Howe.

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Can Newcastle see domestic success this season?

At the time of writing, Newcastle are on the brink of a Carabao Cup final, as they bid to win their first major trophy for over 50 years.

When the Saudi’s took over last year, it wasn’t to lead Newcastle to Carabao Cup glory, they have bigger fish to fry, namely the Premier League and Champions League. However, judging by the atmosphere the Toon Army has created in recent weeks, the fans see the Carabao Cup as a major trophy worth winning, one that will end half a decade of hurt and usher in a new era of Newcastle success.

Years of frustration for the Toon

For the majority of Newcastle’s Premier League days, they have been considered a sleeping giant. A one club city with a 50,000 seater stadium, iconic strip and devoted fanbase. Every once in a while the team has flirted with immortality but has always fallen at the final hurdle, most notably under Kevin Keegan in 1996, when they blew a 12-point lead in the title race to eventual champions Manchester United.

More recent near-misses came under Sir Kenny Dalglish and Rudd Gullit, who lost back-to-back FA Cup finals in 1998 and 1999, respectively.

In the noughties Sir Bobby Robson led The Magpies to the second group stage of the Champions League in 02/03 and the semi finals of the Uefa Cup in 03/04.

Bad signings, poor ownership and a managerial merry-go-round meant many Newcastle fans had to revert from supporters to protestors, utilising their famous passion for the club in a different way.

Newcastle have exceeded expectations in 2022/23

These days, however, the Newcastle fanbase is united, after so many years of frustration, mass-walkouts and a general media-circus around St James’ Park, the stadium is now home to arguably the best atmosphere in the country. It’s as though all the tension and build over the last two decades has finally been unleashed, manifesting itself as uncomplicated, wholehearted support for the Newcastle players and managers.

Newcastle currently sit 3rd place and in a Champions League spot. It’s a position most football fans believed Newcastle would eventually reach, but not so soon after the takeover with relatively modest investment compared to other top 4 rivals.

Clearly the team is thriving off the St James’ Park atmosphere, which will soon surely play host to European giants in the Champions League or Europa League next season.

There is no ceiling for this great club and the volume its supporters generate. If you think things are good right now, just wait until you hear St James’ Park on a Tuesday night under the lights, as the players in Newcastle’s iconic black and white strip, stroll out onto the pitch to the sound of the Champions League anthem.

The turn around at Arsenal this season has been, to put it simply, astonishing. The Gunners are believing again, as they sit 8 points clear at the top of the Premier League after victory away at North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

If you were to tell Arsenal fans a few years ago that they would comfortably be league leaders in 2023, many would have laughed in your face. As a matter of fact, some fans cried for Arteta to be replaced at this stage last season. But here we are into the New Year and they are still flying high. With only one defeat in the league this season, Mikel Arteta’s men are taking the league by storm as we approach the halfway mark.

However, with the two Manchester clubs and Newcastle in hot pursuit, football fans across the globe are asking the question, will Arsenal hang on?

As mentioned earlier, some Arsenal fans will agree that over the past 10 years, they have been the laughing stock of the so called ‘big six’, what with their constant runs of poor form and consistently having to settle for Europa League football, much different to the Arsenal we saw back in the late 90s and early 2000s winning the premier league 3 times in 6 years. Not to mention the incredible feat of going a full Premier League season unbeaten, the only team to have done so in the Premier League era. They became known as ‘The Invincibles’.

This invincible season has seemed so far away in the last decade with the relatively frequent managerial changes after Arsene Wenger left and the lack of league success, having not appeared in the Champions League since the 2016/17 season. This is a stark contrast from the years prior where Arsenal last missed qualification for Europe’s most prestigious competition in the 1995/96 Premier League Season, an impressive stat beginning and ending within Wenger’s reign. Since then it has been doom and gloom for the North London club with many fans projecting their disappointment.

However, this season they seem to be turning their fortunes around. The Gunners are believing again and they owe much of that to former player turned manager, Mikel Arteta. Arsenal are Arteta’s first experience of being head coach, however, he has learnt from the best when he was Pep Guardiola’s right hand man from 2016-2019 at Manchester City. With only one defeat this season and unbeaten in their last 13 they sit 8 points clear at the top of the table, looking very unlikely to slip up.

Nevertheless, they are yet to play Guardiola’s City side this season and I’m sure they’ll not be planning on giving up without a fight. With a team of their quality, you can never write them off. One thing is for sure, it will be a thrilling title race that could go right down to the wire.

Don’t forget Arsenal are not out of the FA Cup either. A comfortable 3-0 win away at Oxford United in the 3rd round has resulted in a tough fourth round draw away at Manchester City. It will certainly not be an easy tie, in fact probably the hardest they could have asked for, however, Arsenal’s impressive FA Cup form over the years, may make them the favourites for this one. They have been FA Cup winners 4 times in the last 10 years with the most recent title in 2020. If they were to travel to the North West and win, they will certainly fancy their chances of adding another FA Cup trophy to their long list.

In fact the only cup that Arsenal are no longer competing for is the League Cup after being knocked out by a strong Brighton side. Despite this, they are still going strong in the Europa League and are set to play in the round of 16 in March. After topping their group, Arsenal will certainly be keen to avenge their defeat from neighbours Chelsea back in the 2019 final by winning the competition this year. They will definitely need to improve on their dismal display from Baku four years ago when they were thumped 4-1 by the West London side if they are to stand any chance of progressing through the knockout stages. With that said, the way Arsenal are playing in the league, it is hard to not see them as favourites.

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Although a lot of credit has been given to Arteta for the tactics he has instilled in his side, there is a lot of credit due for his deals in the transfer market. Many of the signings made by Arteta, such as Ben White, were questioned when they weren’t performing immediately. However, players such as White, Odegaard and Gabriel have all proved key players and have been vital to their success this season. Not to mention, the incredible young talent on show at the moment, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli crafted into some of the most talked about names in world football. But who will Arsenal sign next?

There have been a lot of questions raised about whether or not Arsenal have enough squad depth to challenge for the title. After being snubbed by Chelsea for 89 million pound Shakhtar Donetsk winger, Mykhaylo Mudryk, they must regroup and rethink who they target this January. Another option for Arteta may be former Leeds star Raphinha. The winger has made 22 appearances for Spanish giants Barcelona scoring 5 and assisting 3 times in all competitions. He was previously on Arsenal’s radar in July 2022 before his move from Leeds but their bid was rejected. Despite this, there are no new faces at the Emirates in 2023 just yet.

So with three trophies up for grabs, will Arsenal win all three of them? Or will they focus on winning their first league title in almost 20 years? Injuries may be the downfall of Arsenal this season with a lack of squad depth perhaps being their only weakness, unless they plan to be busy in January. As good as they have been, there is still a long way to go. It’s safe to say it is going to be an exciting end to the season whether you’re an Arsenal fan or not.

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In an intense and high-class encounter, England crashed out of the World Cup against France, 2-1 in the Quarter-Finals on Saturday, having beaten a dangerous Senegal side 3-0 in the previous round. Captain Harry Kane’s second penalty miss ultimately cost the plucky English side who went toe-to-toe with France and may have progressed if the luck was on their side in Qatar.

England topped Group B after securing comfortable victories against Wales and Iran, alongside a 0-0 draw against USA ensuring 7 points in the group stage. It is clear that this England team are head and shoulders above where they were when they were embarrassed by Iceland back at Euro 2016.

However, as we watch the scenes unfold in Qatar, you can’t help but think: how will England look in 2026?

Will Gareth still be in charge?

It is no secret that there has been a lot of speculation surrounding the England team in the buildup to the Qatar World Cup, particularly criticism directed at head coach, Gareth Southgate, following no wins in six games including a 4-0 home drubbing to Hungary. Many questions around the future of Southgate’s role as England manager were raised.

Fans had differing opinions on when he should be sacked, some saying he should go before the trip to
Qatar, some saying he should be sacked if he doesn’t win and some even claiming he should be sent on his way no matter the result in the Middle East.

Regardless of who is in charge, another question raised by England fans is which players will be making the trip to North America in 2026?

Is this a new ‘Golden Generation’?

The excitement surrounding this England team in the last 4 years has been refreshing to say the least, what with the lack of hope and a run of disappointing results in major tournaments before 2018. Not to mention the solidarity that the success of the team deemed the ‘Golden Generation’ has brought the nation.

To see Wembley in full voice singing to Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’ after a 2-0 victory against the Germans, was pretty special. The term ‘Golden Generation’ has been thrown about regularly in the last few years to describe this England team. However, it is difficult to say which players will still be regulars in 2026.

There is no doubt that the team will be very different with the likes of Jordan Henderson, Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier all aged 32, expected to retire from international football within the next four years.

Instead we look ahead to the players that will be in their prime and those making North America their debut tournament. I’ve picked out five players who I think will be vital for England’s success across the pond.

Phil Foden

The 22 year old Mancunian has been a key player in Manchester City’s dominance in the Premier League over the last few seasons. With 8 goals and 3 assists in all competitions this season for the Manchester club, he has been excellent and made himself very hard for Pep Guardiola to drop.

Many criticised Southgate for Foden’s absence against the USA in Qatar, however, he proved himself with a goal in the victory against Wales and two assists against Senegal on Sunday evening.

Bukayo Saka

The Arsenal man’s performance against Iran in the first group game sent out a message of intent to the rest of the world after the agony of the Euro final where he missed the deciding penalty, not to mention the subsequent abuse he received.

The way the 21 year old has conducted himself after this disappointment is something to be applauded alongside his performances. With three goals already in this year’s tournament, Saka will be pivotal if
England are to be successful in North America.

Jude Bellingham

This young man has all of world football talking. At just 19 years of age he has 9 goals and 3 assists in all competitions for German giants Borussia Dortmund this season and is at the top of many European Clubs’ wish list.

Bellingham also scored England’s first goal of the tournament and assisted the opening goal against Senegal; he will most certainly be one of the first name’s on the team sheet in 2026.

Declan Rice

Declan Rice is someone who sometimes does not get enough credit in this England team. His work rate is second to none, he is sharp when you need him to burst forward or back and has the ability to make strong defensive tackles.

He can be described as the backbone in this England midfield and will be a very important player come 2026 giving the likelihood that Jordan Henderson is unlikely to be around.

Ben White

Another Arsenal man who has been an asset in their excellent league form this season. With 4 clean sheets and only conceding 10 goals in 14 appearances, White has been a rock in the Arsenal back line so far this season.

Although he hasn’t had a chance to prove himself fully under Southgate just yet due to his enforced absence, his time will come in 2026 with much of the England defensive contingent ageing.

That’s five of the current England team that are out in Qatar at the moment. However, what about the players who will be coming through? Here are three players who may break into the England team in the next 4 years.

Fikayo Tomori

The former Chelsea man, currently at AC Milan was unlucky to miss out on mselection for Qatar having played previously under Southgate in the Nations League. He has proved a key player in the AC Milan side this season with 5 clean sheets and 18 goals conceded in 20 appearances (all competitions) for the Serie A team.

As mentioned, with the England defensive contingent ageing, he could certainly prove a fitting replacement for the likes of Maguire and Stones alongside Ben White in 2026.

Liam Delap

Currently on loan at Stoke City from Manchester City, the son of Rory Delap, Liam is yet to make an impact in the Championship having only scored one goal. However, at only 19 years old he has already proved himself as a striker at youth level breaking the Premier League 2 scoring record with 24 goals in 20 games in the 2020/21 season.

Delap has also made a mark in front of Pep Guardiola scoring in a 2-1 win over Bournemouth on his first team debut in the Carabao Cup back in 2020. Delap will certainly be on the England team radar in 2026, having already scored once for the under 20 team this season.

Charlie Patino

Also 19 years of age, Patino is currently on loan at Blackpool from Arsenal. He has 2 goals and 2 assists in all competitions for The Tangerines so far this season in 15 league appearances. He has also made an impact in the Arsenal first team coming off the bench to score on his debut in a 5-1 win over Sunderland last season in the Carabao Cup. Similarly to Delap, Patino has also scored for England’s under 20 team this season so it is likely he will be a regular in the first team in the years to come.

So it is no doubt that the future of the England team is bright as the current crop of players continue to set a high standard to be exceeded by the younger players coming through. It still remains to be seen how much further England will progress in Qatar, whether Southgate will still be in charge in North America or even whether any of the players mentioned will still stand in good stead to be picked in 2026.

But one thing that is clear is the fact that there is a huge showcase of talent coming through academies across England and we should all be excited.

Instagram: @_duncan_hughes_ | Twitter @DuncanHughes56 | WordPress Duncan Hughes

England v Ukraine – Euro 2024 Qualifiers

Join us at Wembley in our ICON facility for England v Ukraine, the team’s first home match after the World Cup in Qatar.

ICON Package Inclusions

• Early admission to the glass fronted pitch viewing facility inside Wembley Stadium
• Premium match seats outside the Suite
• Complimentary bar of beers, wines and soft drinks served 3 hours pre-match & 1 hour post-match
• Superb 3 course grazing meal with selected wine
• Guest appearances by football legends
• Half time drinks & food
• Accommodation arrangements available

Dress code: Smart casual, no ripped denim, sportswear or sports trainers.