And that’s it! Thanks for reading today’s blog. No Premier League action tonight so Liverpool v Burnley will get the top-flight action underway tomorrow lunchtime.
Arsenal: As the Gunners prepare to host European champions Chelsea, Jonathan Liew says Mikel Arteta is struggling to convince the fans that he has a clear vision.
Manchester City v Norwich: That nasty fixture computer hasn’t been kind to Norwich. They’re 28-1 to win this one.
Crystal Palace v Brentford: A 3pm London derby for you and this one hasn’t been contested since 1978. The force appears to be with Thomas Frank but can former Gunner Patrick Vieira exact revenge for Arsenal?
Aston Villa v Newcastle: After being given the runaround by Ismaila Sarr, at least Matt Target should have an easy ride against the dull, slow and predictable Allan Saint-Maximin. Oh.
Brighton v Watford: One of these sides could have six points when referee Anthony Taylor blows his whistle to end this 5.30pm kick-off on Saturday evening. That Sarr-Dennis combo looked good in the 3-2 win over Villa.
Leeds v Everton: Bielsa v Benitez. A game to get Jonathan Wilson very excited. Can the Argentine outwit the Spaniard?
Liverpool v Burnley: Let’s start the match previews rolling. Burnley ended Liverpool’s 68-game unbeaten home run when the two met last season, starting a trend that the next five visitors to Anfield followed. That was without fans though and they’re back for Saturday’s early kick-off (12.30pm BT Sport).
“No worries for Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl ahead of Manchester United game”, says the PA Sport headline. I’d possibly contest that given the Saints have picked up just 17 points in the calendar year, far worse than any other Premier League rival, and lost striker Danny Ings.
Of course, the headline refers to team news and here it is: Southampton have no fresh injury concerns ahead of Sunday’s visit of Manchester United. Ralph Hasenhuttl has a near fully-fit squad but will not be able to call on the services of midfielder Will Smallbone (knee). Defensive duo Romain Perraud and Tino Livramento are in line to make their home debuts while Chelsea loanee Armando Broja is yet to make his bow.
New signing Raphael Varane is pushing to make his Manchester United debut at St Mary’s but goalkeeper Dean Henderson is still building fitness after contracting coronavirus.
Leicester: Here’s Brendan Rodgers being very Brendan Rodgers about Harvey Barnes, who has signed a new four-year deal at the club. A wonderful human being.
“He’s obviously had wonderful support from his parents and the club and both of those have always looked to develop his talent.
“I believe he’s going to become a really, really top player in these next few years. When I came in you could see the talent but he needed to score more goals and week by week he started to do that.
“Unfortunately we missed him an awful lot at the tail end of last season but he’s come back, he’s getting fitter and over the next few years he’s going to turn into one of the countries top talents.
“He’s got that hunger and is gaining confidence all the time. What’s great about Harvey is he’s a very humble boy, he doesn’t get carried away with it. He comes in with a wonderful attitude.
“I’m absolutely delighted he’s re-signed, I think he’s enjoying it here. He’s a really clever boy, very coachable, and he’s hungry to be the best player he can be and that’s the type of player and person you want to work with.”
Which team do fans regard as their biggest Premier League rival? The sample size wasn’t very big and, judging by the Liverpool fans’ response, just who were they asking? Under 12s?
📜 Old rivalries
— Sky Bet (@SkyBet) August 19, 2021
⚔️ New rivalries
🔥 Rivalries reignited
Over 1,000 fans took part in the #FanHopeSurvey and here's who they claimed was their biggest Premier League rival 😠
No love lost for the blue and red of Manchester 🏙️ pic.twitter.com/9INrbgz47K
West Ham: Fun fact - the Hammers had the second best home record in the Premier League last season. Not so fun is the suggestion that it was due to them not having to deal with their own supporters whinging from the stands. The accusation was put to boss David Moyes in his press conference and he’s only gone and turned it into a positive.
“If I am a West Ham supporter I am taking that as criticism and I am going to prove to you that the team will thrive and that we do support the team.
“It is going to be interesting. We played very well last year during lockdown. I believe we will continue to play well with the crowd or without the crowd, whatever we get.
“I think the crowd can make a big difference. We’ve got 60,000 back at the stadium and I am expecting them to get right behind the team and show their support.”
West Ham produced an impressive and entertaining comeback to win 4-2 at Newcastle last weekend but Moyes says results are the bottom line.
“I’d like to be a team of winners and winning more games than we lose. If we can do that in an entertaining fashion, scoring lots of goals, I’d be thrilled to do it. But ultimately winning’s my goal and I’m going to try to do that.”
Everton: Oh dear. Not good from 007.
— Alex (@EFC_Alex1878) September 7, 2020
Crystal Palace: New boss Patrick Vieira got a bit of a pass last weekend as no-one really expected them to take anything from their trip to Chelsea. Then again, a limp 3-0 defeat hardly had Palace fans talking excitedly about the season ahead.
Vieira is hoping the magic of Selhurst Park will spark his team to life this weekend. Saturday’s game at home to Brentford will be the first time the stadium has been full for almost 18 months and supporters group Holmesdale Fanatics are planning a display to mark the occasion. Here’s Big Pat:
“I’m really excited and really looking forward to it. The first home game, you want to do well. We know the fans will be up for it and hopefully we will give them the game they deserve.
“This is a strength of the football club, the fanbase, the atmosphere they manage to build in the stadium, so I am really looking forward to it. The fans missed being around the players, the players missed the fans in the stadium during this difficult period.
“The world of football is completely different without the fans so we are really excited to play at home in front of our own fans.” #fans
Chelsea: Thomas Tuchel has been saying lots of nice things about Romelu Lukaku, as you would expect. He’ll hope to unleash his shiny, new £98m summer signing in Sunday’s Premier League trip to Arsenal.
“I think he’s unique; from his physicality, from his ability to play with the back to goal. But for me he’s at his strongest when he’s in the half-open, open position even for transition gain, to use his immense speed.
“So I think with this kind of physical power and at the same time being so fast, and being so hungry, and a true goalscorer in his characteristics, I think it’s also for me a unique and new experience to have this. He’s a very nice guy, which is very nice to see for us. Everybody told us about it and everybody was right.”
Chelsea’s top scorer in the Premier League last season was Jorginho with a grand total of seven. Lukaku, meanwhile, blasted in 24 for Inter to take them to the title. Tuchel wants some of that. Yes sirree.
“Of course we should expect goals, let’s not talk around it and he himself expects goals; this is why he’s here.
“But I’m absolutely convinced he will have very positive impacts on Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic, and will maybe open spaces and attract the focus from the defenders.
“So let’s see how we will measure it in the end. But we demand and he demands goals from him. I’m getting to know him better and better and we will maybe set a clear target later in the season.”
This tweet throws up an obvious question... so who were the top four then?
"Sarr was clocked at a speed of 34.6 kilometres per hour last weekend, the 5th fastest time recorded in Matchweek 1" 💨
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 19, 2021
The pace of @WatfordFC's star forward can cause Brighton problems on Saturday, writes @adrianjclarke
➡️ https://t.co/66Hb2aYGMN pic.twitter.com/ePBeUAKCqQ
Thankfully, I can tell you:
Adam Armstrong (35.7 km/h)
Adama Traore (35.6)
Nathan Tella (35.0)
Patrick Bamford (34.7)
Ismaila Sarr (34.6)
Kevin De Bruyne. The Manchester City playmaker scored twice when Pep’s side thrashed Norwich 5-0 the last time they met at the Etihad. That was the final game of season 2019/20. But De Bruyne may not be fit for Saturday’s match against the Canaries as he recovers from an ankle injury.
Here’s Guardiola: “Everybody is fit, except Phil Foden (who has a foot injury), and Kevin has a little problem still with his ankle. Tomorrow we’ll see how he feels.”
Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has trained after suffering a shoulder problem in the 1-0 loss at Spurs.
Tottenham: So what’s the official line on Harry Kane from his current club?
Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo has given this update: “He trained today, trained good. He’ll train tomorrow and we’ll make a decision. I’m so sorry to keep saying the same thing but this is how we work. It is a day-by-day situation.”
No tweets from Kane today of him training alone on a pitch.
Nuno Espírito Santo has the latest on Harry Kane who could return to the Spurs squad at Wolves on Sunday ⚽️pic.twitter.com/0vhrHK4S6p
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 20, 2021
Manchester City: After a trio of 1-0 defeats dating back to the Champions League final, it’s inevitable that Pep Guardiola will be asked about strikers in today’s press conference.
First on the agenda is Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, who mentioned vaguely that he would probably look to move in a few years’ time. Pep gives that one short shrift: “He is a so important player for Bayern Munich and he will stay at Bayern Munich.” That’s us told.
As for you know who, Pep says: “I’m not going to to talk about 11 days left, about the transfer market. I don’t know what’s going to happen, nobody knows.
“So tomorrow we have a game. We will prepare for the game, the Arsenal game (on August 28), and when it is finished, when we come back from the international break, we’ll have all the squad to fight for every game in the season.” To be fair, City can surely cope without Harry Kane for the visit of Norwich this weekend.
Guardiola is also asked if he would be happy with the squad if the transfer window closed now.
“Absolutely. More than happy. It is the same team, except Sergio (Aguero) for Jack Grealish, that we had last season.”
Wolves: New boss Bruno Lage says he isn’t looking to sell midfielder Ruben Neves although dangles an “every player has a price” rider.
The Portugal international has been linked with Manchester United among others and Lage was asked if he expected Neves still to be at Molineux when the transfer window closes on August 31.
“All the top players we have are linked with all the clubs in the world. If you go to Portugal, the top players at Benfica are all linked with moves to Wolves.
“Ruben is happy here and we are happy with him. We are not thinking to let anyone leave, but every player has a price. You never know, if Messi changes to PSG then anyone can go.” Fair point from the 45-year-old Portuguese, who lost his first game in charge at Wolves: 1-0 away to Leicester.
Updated
Manchester United: Some news of squad players and a hammer blow for ex-boss David Moyes. Per PA Sport:
Andreas Pereira and Brandon Williams are closing in on loan moves to Flamengo and Norwich respectively. In addition, Ole Gunnar Solskjær expects James Garner to go out on loan.
But the Norwegian says January signing Amad Diallo may not end up making a temporary switch and that he is counting on Jesse Lingard, who shone on loan at West Ham during the second half of last season.
“Jesse’s back to his fitness,” Solskjaer said following the attacking midfielder’s recent positive test for Covid-19. “He’s played really well in the behind closed doors game on Tuesday.
“He’s come back bubbly and in good shape, so he’s got a big part to play.”
Updated
Talking of strikers. How time flies. Jürgen Klinsmann’s self-mocking dive came on this very day in 1994.
#OnThisDay 2️⃣7️⃣ years ago, the PL was introduced to Jurgen Klinsmann and '𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭' celebration... pic.twitter.com/m1ulxTyyPi
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 20, 2021
Karim Benzema signs new deal at Real Madrid
Not that there were rumours flying of the Frenchman heading to the Premier League but Real Madrid have announced that Karim Benzema will be staying put after signing a contract extension.
The 33-year-old, who joined the Spanish club in 2009, will now remain at the Bernabeu until June 2023.
Benzema’s impressive trophy haul reads: three La Liga titles, two Copa del Reys, four Champions Leagues, four Club World Cups and three Super Cups in a pear tree.
A statement on Real Madrid’s official website read: “Real Madrid CF and Karim Benzema have agreed to extend the player’s contract, which will remain linked to the club for the next two seasons, until June 30, 2023.”
Here’s a Twitter video of him watching himself and signing on. It’s a bit odd if truth be told. The lack of much sound maybe.
✍️ #Benzema2023 pic.twitter.com/emOxPv8hj8
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) August 20, 2021
Thanks Barry. If anyone wants to hear Barry doing an impression of Skippy the kangaroo - and why wouldn’t you - it can be found in this week’s Football Weekly Extra podcast. There’s some Harry Kane chat too.
This stirred a memory. On a trip to Australia many years ago I met Skippy’s grandson. Or so they told me. Further research (Wiki) shows there were between nine and 15 kangaroos who played the Aussie marsupial so, y’know, maybe I wasn’t being told a tall tale. I also met Bob Carolgees once and he told me there were three Spit The Dogs. But that’s for another time.
That’s all from me for now. Have a great weekend and I’ll leave you in the very capable hands of David Tindall.
Manchester United: Raphael Varane and striker Edinson Cavani are pushing to be involved for Manchester United at Southampton, but goalkeeper Dean Henderson is still building fitness after contracting coronavirus, according to PA Sport.
“Edinson has joined in, Raphael’s joining him, so we’re getting fitter and fitter,” said Ole Gunnar Solskjær. Asked if Varane and fellow summer signing Jadon Sancho could start at St Mary’s, Solskjaer said: “Well, you’ll see on Sunday. They’ve worked well, anyway. They’ve had minutes, we’ve had a very good week ourselves so it’s still see who’s making the flight down to Southampton on Saturday.”
Speaking of Covid-19 ...
Chelsea: Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Christian Pulisic will miss Chelsea’s game against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon after testing positive for Covid-19. The 22-year-old, who scored in his team’s win over Crystal Palace last weekend, has missed training this week and will now have to self-isolate. In better news for Chelsea, Hakim Ziyech and N’Golo Kante should be available for their team’s trip to the Emirates.
“Hakim and N’Golo are in training and did everything until yesterday to be in training today and had no problems,” said Tuchel. “We need another more physical and intense training session with them and the team to decide after the training session at 11. It seems very positive that both can be in the squad for Sunday.”
Liverpool: Klopp has also revealed that Fabinho could miss tomorrow’s game against Burnley because of a “private situation”. The midfielder’s wife, Rebeca Tavares, confirmed on social media that his father had passed away. May he rest in peace.
Henderson and Thiago on brink of return
Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp has said Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara could return to action against Burnley this weekend after playing in a behind-closed-doors game against Aston Villa this week.
“They’re much closer,” he said. “They look fine. Now we have to make a decision, They looked really good in the game and this week in training. It’s now up to me to make some decisions.”
Asked if Liverpool’s defeat at the hands of Burnley at Anfield in January, a loss that ended a 68-game unbeaten home run, would have any bearing on tomorrow’s game, Klopp said the reverse hadn’t even crossed his mind.
“Not in a moment, sitting here to be honest,” he said. “I didn’t even think about it. Now you have told me, that’s something I didn’t like. It was a strange one. Yes we lost it, Burnley won it, that’s how football is, so well deserved. But it obviously has nothing to do with the game now.
“We will try everything to have our first home game in front of our crowd for the first time in 520-something days I think and we want to enjoy that. Football is only possible to enjoy when you play in a positive way, when you just go for it. There are no guarantees out there, not at all, especially not against Burnley because they can make your life really uncomfortable.
“They defend well and have really good footballers in the team. Sean is doing a brilliant job there. He sets them up so they are not only annoying, good set pieces, all this kind of stuff. They have a clear way of playing, so that’s what we prepare for - not any kind of revenge or whatever.”
Interview: Khalida Popal, former Afghanistan team captain
The former women’s national football team skipper has called on the sport’s governing bodies to ensure female athletes in Afghanistan are safe. Along with her former international teammates and coaching staff, she also asked the sporting community to join them in “being a voice for the voiceless women of Afghanistan”. Words: Suzanne Wrack.
Everton: Evergreen goalkeeper Andy Lonergan has signed a one-year deal with Everton, Raphael Benitez has revealed. The 37-year-old, who was with Liverpool in 2019-20 and spent time at Stoke and West Brom last season, has joined the club on a deal running to the end of the season.
“We have an injury to [Harry] Tyrer, the young keeper and then we signed Andy Lonergan as a back-up, as a player that can give us some experience, because we needed to sort out this problem just in case. So we have a new signing - but it is a player that maybe nobody was expecting!”
Brentford: The invariably interesting Thomas Frank has been chatting to the ladies and gentlemen of the Fourth Estate on the eve of his Brentford side’s visit to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace tomorrow. The Bees and their fans will be buzzing after last weekend’s thoroughly deserved opening day win over Arsenal.
“I need to praise Crystal Palace because they have been in the Premier League for the last eight years and have been very consistent in everything they do,” he said.
“They have a low budget and constantly produce good performances in the last eight years. It is very impressive what they have achieved. It is someone we look at and think: ‘Hmmm, they have done something good.’
“All the small bits we can steal from everyone and, of course, added in to our model and the way of believing, that is the way to go forward.”
Asked about the hostile reception that awaits his team at one of the Premier League’s more raucous grounds, Frank said his team wouldn’t have it easy. “It is going to be very difficult. Selhurst Park is one of the most difficult places to go in the Premier League,” he said. “They will be on top of us from the first minute and a very strong counter-attacking team.
“When we have the ball, we need to be well organised behind it because we will lose it eventually, unless we put it in the back of the net, so that is where we have to be very sharp. It’s going to be a very tough test, but we are confident and we believe in ourselves. We will go there and do our very best to be brave again.”
Newcastle: Steve Bruce has urged his players to avoid social media, after newly-signed midfielder Joe Willock said he had considered quitting the platforms after finding himself on the receiving end of “disgusting” racist abuse on a daily basis.
“I’ve often said to the players, they should be avoiding it,” he said. “That’s the sad part of society we’re in, that people can acially abuse, whatever they want to do.
“In my opinion, it’s a dark place ... social media. People should be made accountable for what they write and my advice to them all [the players] would be to stay off it. There’s certain gains to it but there’s more of the other side.
“I’ve been witness to some of the stuff that’s been written about me that’s absolutely shameful and ridiculous. So a young lad or a young girl getting it ... for me it’ll have to be policed better.”
Aston Villa: Dean Smith has also been in front of the microphones and cameras, ahead of Villa’s game against Newcastle tomorrow. The oil is boiling in the cauldrons and the portcullis has been installed at a ground he aims to turn into “a fortress”.
“This set of players have built a great connection with our supporters over the past few years, they are part of the journey that is helping us to progress and we are really looking forward to seeing them,” he said. “I remember our first win back in the Premier League against Everton, the atmosphere was incredible, hopefully we get that again. With our supporters there, we want to make Villa Park a fortress.”
Burnley: Despite losing against Brighton in their season-opener, Sean Dyche’s side can travel to Anfield for tomorrow’s lunchtime game against Liverpool with some confidence, having ended their hosts’ 68-game unbeaten home run last January.
“I don’t think our win there last time will make us more optimistic, we caught them at a very good time and we played very well,” he said. “Last season they had some injuries, lost Van Dijk who is a Rolls Royce player, and we maybe caught them at a slower period and earned the right to win a game.
“That is the equation you need. We will have to have the same equation, but there is no guarantee of doing that again. It is about how many attacking options you can find and how many different ways you can attack, or attack enough, to put doubt in the opposition. It is not an easy task but that is certainly part of our intention on Saturday.
“Often in these types of games the best form of defence is attack, but we have to get the mixture right to give ourselves a chance. We’ve just got to concentrate on what we do, focus on what we do, work very, very hard - as you always have to at these clubs - and once again, try to turn around the kind of thinking from most in football that you’re going to get beat.
“We’ve done that before, but it comes with hard work, it comes with organisation, it comes with discipline, and it comes with talent as well. It is very tough going to these places and winning games. You have to work hard. When you have the ball you have to optimise and maximise the chances.”
Newcastle United: Away from the radio studio, Bruce has been addressing the press ahead of his team’s trip Aston Villa tomorrow. Freddie Woodman will get several more chances to make the goalkeeper’s position his own, with Martin Dubravka and Karl Darlow sidelined with injury and illness respectively.
“Martin unfortunately, the injury he’s had has become infected which will set him back another few weeks,” said Bruce. “Darlow has still not overcome his COVID situation, so those two are still a long way off.”
Midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is also expected to miss tomorrow’s game with a calf injury.
Newcastle United: Steve Bruce made the interesting - some might say foolhardy - decision to appear as a guest on BBC Radio Newcastle last night, to field calls from Newcastle fans. The consequences were fairly predictable, with the manager coming under fire for taking the club backwards, sending his team out to play turgid football, being too miserable in his demeanour and ruining what was once a decent defence.
“I am a fan myself. I want the best for this great club, which is to try and win something,” he said. “I was like a kid in a sweet shop when I was offered it. It is my dream job. Winning a trophy has become difficult, because of the power of the top six, maybe top eight. I got to a cup final with Hull, Wigan have done it, Leicester have. The fans here want it more than any other team.
“We have the nucleus of a very good squad and if they stay fit I know we are capable of taking on anyone. You have to be a bit pragmatic at times. Fans want to see goals and entertainment. It is getting the balance right.
“We have got to be better than avoiding relegation. Stay well, big players stay fit and I am hopeful we’ll be better than last year.”
Ajax: The Dutch champions have launched their Bob Marley-inspired third kit in fine style. They are not the first European club to pay homage to the reggae pioneer and football-lover, who died in 1981.
Dublin club Bohemians launched an away kit featuring the singer’s face in 2018 but had to pull it after being contacted by the Bob Marley representative agency and told they did not have permission to use it. Marley’s son, Ky-Mani Marley had said he loved the Bohs jersey, describing it as “the dopest shirt I’ve seen”.
Rise up this mornin’, smile with the rising sun.
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) August 20, 2021
Introducing our new 21/22 third jersey, inspired by our collective love for @BobMarley and his Three Little Birds. pic.twitter.com/YiPUS7AR19
Updated
Bournemouth announce Cahill signing
Bournemouth: The Championship club have confirmed the signing of Gary Cahill on a one-year deal. The 35-year-old defender had been a free agent since leaving Crystal Palace at the end of last season.
Cahill will bring experience to Scott Parker’s young squad at the Vitality Stadium, with a CV that includes 61 England caps, two Premier League titles and a Champions League winner’s medal.
“We are delighted to have secured the services of one of the finest defenders to have played in the Premier League,” said Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake. “Gary has a wealth of experience and knowledge which can only benefit our squad, especially the younger members who have been performing so admirably for us this season.
“A player of his stature and standing in the game was always going to be coveted once he had left Crystal Palace following the expiry of his contract in the summer. The fact he has chosen to sign for us speaks volumes for our club, our new management team under Scott Parker and the ambition we have going forward.
“We believe this signing is a real coup and a huge statement of intent from the club and everybody at Vitality Stadium is looking forward immensely to working with Gary.”
Bamford commits himself to Leeds
Leeds United: Patrick Bamford has put pen to paper on a new five-year deal at Leeds United, which will keep him at Elland Road until 2026. The striker scored 17 goals in 38 Premier League appearances in the Premier League last season, including a hat-trick against Aston Villa.
“Things started off a bit sticky, I had the injury and stuff and I didn’t click with the fans straight away, but once I did get into it and settled, I think I’ve improved no end under Marcelo Bielsa and I’ve really enjoyed my time here, I’ve built up the rapport with the fans now and I’m enjoying every minute of it,” he told LUTV.
“A big thing for any player is the belief of the manager, you have to repay that and put in the hard work as well and this club is a massive club, it deserves to be in the Premier League and we have to keep pushing.
“This isn’t the type of club that we are in the Premier League and we are happy, you’re always striving to get to that next step and that is important for every footballer as it keeps pushing you on.
“The club has shown massive ambition, we’ve improved year on year and ultimately Leeds have to aim to get back into Europe and it’s something we have to strive towards.”
Speaking before the announcement that his star striker had signed a new deal, his manager said “Bamford is a very important player for us and one of the best strikers that English football has.”
Updated
This weekend’s Premier League fixtures
- Liverpool v Burnley (Saturday 12.30pm)
- Aston Villa v Newcastle United (Saturday, 3pm)
- Crystal Palace v Brentford (Saturday, 3pm)
- Leeds United v Everton (Saturday, 3pm)
- Manchester City v Norwich City (Saturday 3pm)
- Brighton v Watford (Saturday, 5.30pm)
- Southampton v Manchester United (Sunday, 2pm)
- Wolves v Tottenham Hotspur (Sunday, 2pm)
- Arsenal v Chelsea (Sunday 4.30pm)
- West Ham v Leicester City (Monday, 8pm)
Interview: Kai Havertz
When Kai Havertz first saw the images, it seemed to him like a faraway nightmare. The devastation was total. Streets disemboweled, houses tangled and torn or swallowed up by huge sinkholes, cars entombed under mud and debris or swept away. And water everywhere. Horrible, dirty, brown water; unfeeling, unstoppable.
But this was the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia in the west of the country, where the Chelsea forward grew up and his family still live, and it was the adjoining one, too – Rhineland-Palatinate. And this was last month.
“Just horrible,” Havertz says. “Families and people losing everything – their homes, their clothes, their pets. It was for the whole country and the whole world a disaster. I could never imagine that something like this would ever happen in Germany, with so many people dying. When you hear or I hear about things like this – for example, thunderstorms – you can only imagine them far away. But right now, it has happened to us.” Read on ...
Watford: Xisco Munoz takes his side to Brighton’s Amex Stadium and says his players will not be phased by playing away from home in front of a hostile crowd for the first time in over a year. Many people’s favourites for relegation after coming up from the Championship last season, Watford won their opening match of the season against Aston Villa, winning by the odd goal of five at Vicarage Road.
“It is true we need to prepare for this situation away,” he said. “We need to know what is coming up and we are away, but we play with the same character. The team show everyone how they play with character, the team know what is important and all the situations are important. What is important for us is to help our players and we were very good in all the situations against Aston Villa.
“After we will see if we win or lose the game but the most important is to continue with this attitude. If we play with this attitude, sure we will have the chance to win more games and it doesn’t matter if we play away or at home.
“It is more comfortable when we play at home because we play with our people and I am sure they help us, but it is the moment to have a good mentality. When we play away, we must play with the same passion and the same ambition.”
Arsenal: Mikel Arteta got his press duties out of the way earlier this morning and was naturally asked what he thought Martin Ødegaard would bring to his squad. “A lot of things that he brought last season,” he said. “He made us better, we needed more options and alternatives for creativity.
“He is still a really young man but he has huge experiences in clubs already and has unique talents for the way we want to play so I am really pleased the club have made the effort.”
Arteta also confirmed the club are close to completing a deal for Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. “There is still some paperwork but his medical is done, still a few things to sort with Sheffield.”
Arsenal confirm Martin Ødegaard signing
Arsenal have signed Norway international Martin Ødegaard from Real Madrid on a permanent deal, the Premier League club has revealed this morning.
The midfielder spent the latter half of last season on loan at Asenal, making 20 appearances in all competitions and scoring twice, including in a 2-1 win over north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Arsenal did not reveal financial details of the transfer but the fee is understood to be £34m and takes the club’s spending on transfers and loan fees during Mikel Arteta’s managerial reign to almost £200m.
The weekend starts here ...
Friday is upon us and another busy weekend of football action is very much ahoy. With no fewer than 15 Premier League managers due to attend pre-match conferences today, we’ll bring you news of anything interesting they have to say for themselves, while keeping across all the transfer news that’s fit to print and anything else that crops up in the coming hours.
