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Showing posts from August 16, 2026

Arsenal ease to win on Premier League's opening night

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Arsenal 3 - 0 Coventry City Arsenal began their Premier League title defence with a comfortable victory over newly promoted Coventry City Author | DJ Stadium | Emirates Stadium Pre-match atmosphere Mikel Arteta ended the club's 22-year wait for a league title last season and, after a commanding performance against Frank Lampard's Sky Blues, his side offered an early reminder of why they are favourites to retain the crown. First-half goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka put the champions in control before captain Martin Odegaard added a third shortly after the restart to complete a straightforward opening-day win. Arsenal were without new signing Bruno Guimaraes because of injury, but another summer arrival, Christos Tzolis, provided an early glimpse of what he can offer. The Greek winger cut in from the left and curled a shot over after five minutes. View from behind the goal Tzolis was involved again when Arsenal opened the scoring It was a familiar face who supplied the fi...

Celtic take giant step towards Champions League

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Celtic 3 - 0 LASK Celtic took a giant step towards the league phase of the Champions League as two stunning Camilo Duran strikes gave a commanding first-leg play-off lead. Author | Sean M Stadium | Celtic Park Duran hit fabulous efforts either side of half-time after a wonderful finish from Benjamin Nygren set the Scottish champions on their way. A closer analysis of what happened Pre match atmosphere The Champions League is all about big players producing big moments, and the goals from Nygren and Duran were of the very highest order. Duran already looks like an inspired signing. His pace, skill, finishing and willingness to work make him a player who appears perfectly at home on the biggest stage. The Colombian scored five goals in the Champions League last season for Qarabag and, if Celtic can finish the job against LASK, he looks capable of becoming a key weapon. Watch | Reaction from Celtic's star player on the night. Video from the club's YouTube channel. Celtic looked vu...

It's time for another youngster to shine at Old Trafford

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Premier League breakthrough stars | Shea Lacey The first in a series of articles where we analyse young players who might be making a huge impact in the Premier League this season Author | George B At Manchester United, much of the conversation around the academy has centred on JJ Gabriel, a player so precociously gifted that he can seem almost unnatural. But he is still only 15, meaning his involvement this season is likely to be limited to the occasional EFL Cup appearance. A few years further along the pathway, but still only 19, is Shea Lacey, who has put his early injury problems behind him and featured prominently during pre-season. Lacey is an exciting wide player, exactly the sort United supporters tend to take to, and he is already well known to Michael Carrick. The United head coach has watched him develop not only in his professional capacity, but also from a more personal perspective after following his son Jacey through the academy over the years. I watched Lacey against B...

Arsenal ease to victory in Community Shield

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Arsenal 3 - 0 Manchester City Premier League champions Arsenal produced a statement victory over rivals Manchester City to lift the 2026 Community Shield in Cardiff. Author | DJ Stadium  | Principality Stadium Kick-off at the 2026 Community Shield Mikel Arteta’s side took the lead after just 23 seconds when Myles Lewis-Skelly played in Riccardo Calafiori, who calmly slotted the ball past Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Arsenal doubled their advantage in the 28th minute when Kai Havertz headed home, with summer signing Christos Tzolis nodding Martin Odegaard’s cross back across goal for the German to finish. Three minutes into the second half, Tzolis found Odegaard inside the City penalty area. The Norwegian sent Donnarumma the wrong way with a superb dummy before placing the ball into the opposite corner. Arsenal players and families celebrate Victory over the FA Cup holders secured Arsenal’s second trophy in four months and their 18th Community Shield triumph ov...