That’s all from me today. Be sure to join Tim de Lisle for minute-by-minute updates on Everton v Tottenham.
Sam Dalling was at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon.
Ben Fisher was at Villa Park as Aston Villa clinched a 1-0 win over Manchester City.
It’s 2-1 to Real Madrid in El Clásico right now. Head over to join Billy Munday for updates.
FULL-TIME - Premier League
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City
Bournemouth 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Wolves 2-3 Burnley
GOAL! Wolves 2-3 Burnley (Lyle Foster, 90+4)
Burnley win it at the death! Foster with the strike!
The 25-year-old receives a clever through ball from Hannibal before tapping past Johnstone and into the net!
Updated
GOAL DISALLOWED! Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City
Haaland puts the ball into the net with a tap-in at the back post, but it will not count due to an offside in the build-up!
I thought we had our first goal of the second half there…
Updated
Real Madrid 1-0 Barcelona: Real Madrid lead Barcelona in El Clásico thanks to a 22nd-minute strike from Kylian Mbappé.
Around 10 minutes to go in each of the four Premier League games. We’re still yet to see a second-half goal.
I’ve just had several messages about the set piece goal debate, so I’ll leave them all here:
Pádraig McAuliffe: “Surely it’s not so much about touches as cycles of play? In any given set-piece you launch it into the mixer with a greater or lesser degree of elaboration. No matter how many touches, that’s one cycle of play, until someone boots or heads it out meaningfully. Even if it doesn’t go far and/or comes back in immediately, that’s still a second cycle of play.”
Adam Becker: “Here is how Opta defines it for their own event tracking: ‘Those where the ball starts from a dead ball situation such as a corner, a free kick, a penalty or a Throw-in and results in a shot before the phase of play has broken down into open play.’ So judging when the play has entered a new phase is the critical question.”
Jeremy Boyce: “As regards corners, it’s considered a ‘direct result’ if the first touch and/or deflection results in a goal, after that it’s no longer considered part of the set-piece. Statistically, 1 in 40 corners result in a goal in this way, and yet fans always see a corner as a good scoring opportunity.”
Paul McNally: “Leaving the box can’t be a criteria, what if the set piece is delivered to the edge of the box and volleyed in? If a corner skiffs the head of a defender before being headed home by an attacker all in the 6 yard box, does that mean open play?”
Andy Flintoff: “I’m sure that if you asked a set-piece coach when the set-piece is over, the answer would be ‘never’, because they’d want to claim as much as they can for their yearly performance evaluation :)”
Rich T: “I see a position where there is a DSP ‘Direct Set Piece’ goal and an ISP ‘Indirect Set Piece’ goal.”
Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City: Donnarumma has just kept City in the game with a fantastic double save from Sancho, who did well to cut inside from the left before shooting from close range.
Chris Lambert has offered a very quick response to the set piece question:
“I’d say if it’s not left the box and not been touched by the opposition, then it’s still ‘from’ the set piece.”
Sounds valid to me!
We’re yet to see a goal in the second half of these Premier League games. Arsenal have come close, but they are yet to extend their advantage.
Shawn Grant says:
“All this talk of set piece goals, I’m curious: how long does the ball have to ping around the box before it’s no longer considered ‘from’ the set piece?”
A great question, and one that I haven’t really thought much about. Perhaps anything more than three passes/touches? Any other takes on this would be appreciated. I’m intrigued now…
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace: Nketiah gets a warm reception from the home fans as he’s introduced to replace Pino. As for Arsenal, Mosquera took over from Saliba at half-time.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace: The Gunners are really piling on the pressure now. Gabriel sends a long ball through to Trossard in the box, who looks to tap it past Henderson, but Mitchell can clear it away.
Drew Lundgren has messaged in to say:
“Eze has been doing this all season. When the ball bundles back near the penalty spot via a missed pull back, rounded shot, or, in this case, deliberate pass, Eze is there hitting shots with either foot. Arsenal definitely haven’t had someone with that instinct & ability in the Arteta era.”
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace: Huge chance for Arsenal to extend their lead as Gabriel’s header rattles the crossbar. The ball drops back out to Rice, who forces a strong save from Henderson. Palace can eventually clear, but only as far as Saka who curls his attempt around the post.
We’re back under way in the Premier League!
You can join Billy Munday for minute-by-minute updates on the Spanish clash.
El Clásico is due to kick off in just over 10 minutes. Here are the line-ups:
Real Madrid: Courtois; Valverde, Militão, Huijsen, Carreras; Tchouameni, Camavinga; Guler, Bellingham, Vinícius; Mbappé.
Subs: Lunin, Carvajal, Alexander-Arnold, Mendy, Asencio, F García, Ceballos, Brahim, Mastantuono, Endrick, Rodrygo, G García.
Barcelona: Szczesny; Koundé, Cubarsí, García, Baldé; Pedri, De Jong; Lamine Yamal, López, Rashford, Torres.
Subs: Kochen, Aller, Martín, Torrents, Araújo, D Fernández, Bernal, Casadó, Espart, Bardghji, T Fernández.
HALF-TIME - Premier League
It’s half-time across the grounds. Here are the current scores:
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City
Bournemouth 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Wolves 2-2 Burnley
GOAL! Wolves 2-2 Burnley (Marshall Munetsi, 45+4)
Munetsi equalises for Wolves on the brink of half-time! Bellegarde does well to break into the box with a winding run before crossing to Krejcí, who heads it back and into the path of Munetsi. The midfielder is then able to fire his effort home to level things up!
Updated
We’re into added time in each of the four Premier League games.
GOAL! Wolves 1-2 Burnley (Jorgen Strand Larsen, 41)
Strand Larsen gets one back for Wolves from the penalty spot, calmly placing his attempt into the bottom-right corner.
GOAL! Bournemouth 2-0 Nottingham Forest (Eli Junior Kroupi, 40)
Kroupi makes it two for Bournemouth with a brilliant strike into the bottom-left corner from 25 yards out!
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace (Eberechi Eze, 39)
It just had to be him! Eze fires Arsenal ahead against his former club!
Rice sends a free kick into the box, which is headed back into the middle by Gabriel. Eze is there to fire the ball into the bottom-right corner on the half-volley!
Updated
Current scores:
Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace
Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City
Bournemouth 1-0 Nottingham Forest
Wolves 0-2 Burnley
Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace: Arsenal get their first shot away through Trossard, which is saved by Henderson at the post.
GOAL! Wolves 0-2 Burnley (Zian Flemming, 30)
Flemming gets his second of the game! A deep cross is looped over to the back post to Hartman and played back inside first time to the midfielder, who gets in front of his marker for a tap-in!
GOAL! Bournemouth 1-0 Nottingham Forest (Marcus Tavernier, 25)
Tavernier scores straight from a corner! Terrible from the Forest defence and Matz Sels, brilliant from the Bournemouth winger!
Updated
Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace: Mateta sends Muñoz through on goal, who gets his shot away before being flagged offside around 20 seconds too late.
Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace: Zubimendi loses the ball in midfield once again, this time to Sarr, who runs into the box before his cross is blocked by Gabriel.
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City (Matty Cash, 19)
The hosts take the lead against City! A corner is sent along the floor and straight to Cash on the edge of the box, who takes a touch inside before firing his effort into the bottom-right corner!
Updated
GOAL! Wolves 0-1 Burnley (Zian Flemming, 14)
What. A. Goal.
Hartman plays a brilliant switch ball over to Flemming just outside the Wolves box. The midfielder takes it perfectly, slotting his first-time shot into the bottom-left corner with ease.
I think even Wolves fans will applaud that one.
Updated
Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace: Saliba finds Gyokeres with a fantastic through ball. The striker brings it down with his chest, but his touch takes him too far wide and he is forced to play back.
Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace: The visitors have a corner and the ball is sent straight into the box. Arsenal scramble to get it away before Rice eventually makes the clearance.
Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester City: Reijnders goes close for the visitors as he unleashes a strike from just outside the box, but his effort flies over the bar.
KICK-OFF - Premier League
We’re under way in the four early Premier League games!
Hearts beat Celtic to go eight points clear
It’s all over at Tynecastle Park! Hearts extend their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table to EIGHT points thanks to a 3-1 win over Celtic! Strikes from Alexandros Kyziridis and Lawrence Shankland, along with an own-goal from Dane Murray, was enough to take the victory in Edinburgh.
Scottish Premiership: Four minutes have been added on as Hearts lead Celtic 3-1 in Edinburgh.
After a very brief injury scare, Gabriel Magalhães starts for Arsenal. There had been some concern regarding a knock picked up against Atlético Madrid midweek, but the centre-back retains his place in the Gunners’ line-up today.
Mary Waltz has messaged in from the US to say:
“Greetings from California. I consider myself a rational human so I ignore the recent spate of end of the world predictions. But with Hearts running Celtic off the pitch, Sunderland second in the table, who knows.....?”
Sean Dyche is in the building. Now, can he last longer than 39 days at Nottingham Forest? Soon, the Vitality Stadium’s rafters will be rocked by his baritone. He has made one change from the Porto game, and he’s already won one more game than Ange Postecoglou. A quick turnaround, though those acquainted with his spells at Burnley and Everton will know he is never one for rotation. He comes up against a Bournemouth team still in the top five, who have made one change from last week, Veljko Milosavljevic, just 18, at centre-back Eli Junior Kroupi, 19, will be their centre-forward after his two goals against Crystal Palace last week. The last time Dyche was here, in January with Everton, was his last game in charge of that club. Bournemouth won 1-0, the goal scored by David Brooks, on the bench here.
Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest team news
Bournemouth starting line-up: Petrovic, Jimenez, Milosavljevic, Senesi, Truffert, Scott, Adams, Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo, Kroupi
Substitutes: Dennis, Cook, Soler, Brooks, Christie, Gannon-Doak, Diakite, Adli, Unal
Nottingham Forest starting line-up: Sels, Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Savona, Douglas Luiz, Anderson, Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Jesus
Substitutes: Victor, Morato, Sangare, Awoniyi, Kalimuendo, Dominguez, Hutchinson, Yates, Cunha
Wolves v Burnley team news
Wolves starting line-up: Johnstone, Hoever, S Bueno, Krejci, H Bueno, Andre, Bellegarde, Munetsi, Arias, R Gomes, Strand Larsen
Substitutes: Wolfe, Tchatchoua, Agbadou, Toti, J Gomes, Lopez, Hwang, Arokodare, Sa
Burnley starting line-up: Dubravka, Walker, Hartman, Esteve, Tuanzebe, Ugochukwu, Florentino, Flemming, Cullen, Larsen, Anthony
Substitutes: Ekdal, Pires, Laurent, Edwards, Broja, Foster, Tchaouna, Mejbri, Weiss
Aston Villa v Manchester City team news
Aston Villa starting line-up: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, McGinn, Onana, Kamara, Rogers, Buendia, Watkins
Substitutes: Bizot, Lindelöf, Maatsen, Mings, Bogarde, Barkley, Guessand, Malen, Sancho
Manchester City starting line-up: Donnarumma, Nunes, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol, Reijnders, Silva, Foden, Savinho, Bobb, Haaland
Substitutes: Trafford, Ake, Marmoush, Kovačić, Cherki, Doku, Nico, O’Reilly, Lewis
Scottish Premiership: Shankland converts the penalty, slotting the ball past Schmeichel and into the bottom-left corner! It’s 3-1 to Hearts!
Scottish Premiership: Hearts have regained the lead against Celtic through Kyziridis…
And now they have a penalty! The hosts could go 3-1 up here.
Updated
Arsenal v Crystal Palace team news
Arsenal starting line-up: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Trossard, Saka, Gyokeres
Substitutes: Kepa, Mosquera, White, Hincapié, Martinelli, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Merino, Lewis-Skelly
Crystal Palace starting line-up: Henderson, Munoz, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell, Wharton, Kamada, Sarr, Pino, Mateta
Substitutes: Benitez, Lerma, Nketiah, Uche, Clyne, Hughes, Canvot, Sosa, Devenny
Scottish Premiership: Hearts took an early lead against Celtic following an own-goal from Dane Murray in the eighth minute. However, it didn’t take long for Callum McGregor to level things up.
The second half has just kicked off, with the score locked at 1-1 at Tynecastle Park.
Preamble
Hello, good afternoon and welcome to another Clockwatch! We’ve got five Premier League fixtures to look forward to this afternoon as leaders Arsenal host Crystal Palace, Manchester City travel to Aston Villa, Wolves take on Burnley and Bournemouth face Nottingham Forest.
Premier League 2pm (GMT) games:
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
Aston Villa v Manchester City
Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest
Wolves v Burnley
Finally, a bit later on, Everton host Tottenham at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Also on the agenda is the small matter of El Clásico as Barcelona travel to face Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
But before we get to all that, let me bring you the latest from Hearts v Celtic in the Scottish Premiership…
