Really enjoyed Arsenal’s display last night. Havertz’s backheels and Odegaard’s through-balls in particular. Sometimes reminded me of a strike partnership in the way they combined.
theathletic.com/5441118/2024/0…

Ollie Watkins is only the second Oliver to play football for England. The other was in 1883. In cricket, Ollie Pope (debut 2018, 687th England player) was the first Oliver to play a Test match. Why have Olivers not contributed more to England's only two major team sports?

Inter the best side in Serie A by *miles* and also a great watch this season. Intricate build-up play, great control from midfield, penetrative runs from wing-back and dynamism up front. I like everything about them. Well done to Inzaghi, a really top-class manager.

Lucas Vázquez with one of the best performances of the season last night
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What a great game Vazquez has had for Real Madrid. Nacho was outstanding on Wednesday too. Proper players: never get the plaudits, been at the club their whole career, always do the job on big nights. The type that win you trophies.

Incredible again from Leverkusen, 97th minute equaliser to keep the unbeaten run going. This bit of their season is even more fun than when the title was live!

6 players have been sent off against Nottingham Forest this season in the Premier League - 2 more than any other club.

Mad to think Grealish was the best player on the pitch in an FA Cup semi-final nine years ago.

A huge win for Emma Hayes. Coming so soon after the release of Illusion by Dua Lipa, what a fortnight it’s been in Barcelona’s Olympic Park for former pupils of Parliament Hill School.

Here’s a way to concisely summarise each Premier League club’s attacking style - which combination of players most frequently gets the ball from outside the box to in it? Huge variety and one truly absurd combination. Some top data viz from Thom Harris ⬇️
theathletic.com/5425462/2024/0…

some quick Champions League reaction, but mainly a podcast on how Leverkusen won the Bundesliga ⬇️
pod.fo/e/23273b

If Leverkusen are 1-0 down going into stoppage time and about to lose their unbeaten run, they should simply score an own goal to make it 2-0, take it to extra time and then come back to make it 2-2. Job done.

some quick Champions League reaction, but mainly a podcast on how Leverkusen won the Bundesliga ⬇️
pod.fo/e/23273b

Bayern are always there-or-thereabouts - but discount them and the other German clubs have won 1 of the 50 European trophies this century (and that was won on a shootout in the final). For a country with their wealth, population and love of football, it’s a terrible record.

I've really liked Fulham this season. Iwobi, Pereira, De Cordova all fun players. Was never a big Willian fan but he's been great. FBs overlapping. Muniz suddenly prolific. Palhinha clearly top-class. 'Oh I forgot he was there' about Traore a dozen times.
twitter.com/FulhamFC/statu…

possibly controversially I thought Arteta’s starting approach worked well yesterday. Havertz’s role meant he got in behind. Some poor decision-making / bad finishing meant they didn’t score. Obviously they were terrible after the break.
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