Former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino (Picture: Sky Sports) Mauricio Pochettino believes Mikel Arteta is the best coach in the Premier League as he named his title favourites for this season. Arteta has transformed Arsenal’s fortunes since he was appointed as Unai Emery’s replacement in December 2019. The Spaniard led the Gunners to three successive runners-up finishes in the league before finally getting over the line last season to win the club’s first title in 22 years. The defending champions strengthened in several areas over the summer and have made a perfect start to the new season, with five straight wins in all competitions. Sign up for In The Mixer, Metro's football newsletter Get exclusive analysis and previews of the biggest games every Friday. Sign up now for free. And Pochettino, who previously managed Tottenham and Chelsea, believes that Arteta’s prowess makes Arsenal the ‘team to beat’ this season. ‘Arsenal are the most consistent team and for me Mikel [Arteta] is the best coach in the Premier League today,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘Knowing what he needs to do, it’s going to be tough to beat them.’ Pochettino was full of praise for Mikel Arteta (Picture: Getty) One of Pochettino’s former teams, Chelsea, have also made a positive start to the season under new boss Xabi Alonso. The Blues suffered their first competitive loss under Alonso last weekend against Arsenal, but bounced back in midweek with an entertaining 6-3 win over Leeds United in the Carabao Cup. Mikel Arteta’s side have made a good start to their title defence (Picture: Getty) And Pochettino is confident that Chelsea’s change in transfer approach this summer can make them league title contenders alongside Arsenal this season. ‘Chelsea are buying players like Rogers, Joao Pedro, Pedro Neto in the past, players in this way that you can expect to fight and be a contender for the Premier League,’ he added. ‘Of course they are disappointed after the defeat against Arsenal, but I think we need to give time to Xabi’s first season after three games in the Premier League.’ Pochettino was also not shy about his desire to one day return to the Premier League, insisting: ‘I have the ambition. My dream now is to be in the USA for four years, but after that, why not? ‘We are still young, and I think coming back is always my goal; to win the Premier League, to be in the Premier League and to build a project with the possibility of winning. ‘I love the football here. I think to have the chance again is one of my wishes and I hope that happens.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Chelsea drew their Women's Super League opener against Aston Villa, but Opta's supercomputer is backing them to beat Manchester United. The post Women’s Super League predictions: Chelsea backed to beat Man Utd appeared first on SoccerNews.
Aston Villa won their Champions League opener, and they will be hoping to get on the board in the Premier League against Nottingham Forest. The post Emery hopes Champions League win will give Aston Villa confidence appeared first on SoccerNews.
The role of forward Tammy Abraham under Unai Emery has been the subject of several questions sent in via our Aston Villa Ask Me Anything form, with some of you wondering why he does not get more starts. The short answer is Abraham has not done enough to convince the manager he is worthy of a regular starting spot. Villa needed a striker in January and since Abraham was available for a decent price and knew the club - something which was crucial for Emery - he was seen as a good option and he returned to the West Midlands, following his 2018-19 loan from Chelsea, for £18.25m from Besiktas.
Fans will be treated to seven Premier League fixtures on Boxing Day (Getty) The Premier League has announced seven fixtures will be played on Boxing Day this year. Last season, Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Newcastle United was the only top-flight fixture scheduled for December 26 as the Premier League reiterated its commitment to giving players ample time to recover in between games over the busy winter period. This year, the Premier League has given every club at least a 60-hour break between fixtures over the Christmas and New Year period. In their message to fans on Thursday, the Premier League said: ‘This fixture announcement gives supporters more than three months’ notice to plan and make travel arrangements for a particularly busy time of the year and follows consultation with the Football Supporters’ Association and representatives from club Fan Advisory Boards. Sign up for In The Mixer, Metro's football newsletter Get exclusive analysis and previews of the biggest games every Friday. Sign up now for free. ‘Over the Christmas and New Year period, clubs have at least a 60-hour break between fixtures. This is in keeping with commitments made to clubs to address the congested festive schedule – in the context of an expanding European and international fixture calendar. ‘Broadcast selections for match rounds in November are due to be announced by week commencing 21 September 2026 and match rounds in December will be announced by week commencing 19 October 2026.’ Premier League revised fixtures for December 2026 and January 2027 (Getty) Saturday 26 December12:30pm – Aston Villa v Leeds (TNT Sports)3pm: Everton v Sunderland3pm: Fulham v Brighton3pm: Ipswich v Brentford3pm: Spurs v Bournemouth5:30pm: Hull v Liverpool (Sky Sports)8pm: Newcastle v Man City (Sky Sports) Sunday 27 December2pm: Coventry v Chelsea (Sky Sports)4:30pm: Man Utd v Nott’m Forest (Sky Sports)7pm: Crystal Palace v Arsenal (Sky Sports) Tuesday 29 December7:30pm: Hull v Leeds (Sky Sports)7:30pm: Spurs v Brighton (Sky Sports)8:15pm: Everton v Man City (Sky Sports) Wednesday 30 December7:30pm: Coventry v Brentford (Sky Sports)7:30pm:Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth (Sky Sports)7:30pm:Fulham v Arsenal (Sky Sports)7:30pm:Man Utd v Sunderland (Sky Sports)7:30pm:Newcastle v Nott’m Forest (Sky Sports)8:15pm:Aston Villa v Liverpool (Sky Sports)8:15pm:Ipswich v Chelsea (Sky Sports) Friday 1 January 20278pm: Leeds v Everton (Sky Sports) Saturday 2 January 202712:30pm: Brighton v Man Utd (TNT Sports)3pm: Arsenal v Ipswich3pm: Brentford v Crystal Palace3pm: Liverpool v Coventry3pm: Nott’m Forest v Fulham3pm: Sunderland v Hull5:30pm AFC Bournemouth v Aston Villa (Sky Sports) Sunday 3 January 20272pm: Chelsea v Newcastle (Sky Sports)4:30pm: Man City v Spurs (Sky Sports) Tuesday 5 January 20277:30pm: Arsenal v Brentford (Sky Sports)7:30pm: Brighton v AFC Bournemouth (Sky Sports)7:30pm: Everton v Aston Villa (Sky Sports)7:30pm: Nott’m Forest v Hull (Sky Sports)8:15pm: Sunderland v Liverpool (Sky Sports) Wednesday 6 January 20277:30pm: Crystal Palace v Chelsea (Sky Sports)7:30pm: Fulham v Spurs (Sky Sports)7:30pm: Ipswich v Coventry (Sky Sports)8:15pm: Leeds v Man City (Sky Sports) Thursday 7 January 20278pm: Man Utd v Newcastle (Sky Sports) Aston Villa will host Leeds United in the early kick-off on Boxing Day, while the final game of the day will see Manchester City travel to Newcastle United. On Sunday, Frank Lampard will come up against his former club as Coventry City host Chelsea. Manchester United will then play Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford at 4:30pm before Arsenal travel to Crystal Palace in the final game of the day at 7pm. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Arsenal and Manchester City are the only teams with perfect Premier League records, with Manchester United up next for Enzo Maresca. The post Premier League predictions: Maresca’s perfect record on the line in first Manchester derby appeared first on SoccerNews.
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