Leicester v Arsenal, Everton v Aston Villa, and more: football clockwatch – live

1 year ago 69

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Some football fans really are the worst. Not you, of course, so please don’t think I’m wagging a finger by sharing this piece. But it’s important we all recognise that this is a game and that those on our screens are real people. Seems some have forgotten that.

It’s a big day for Newcastle tomorrow. With so much riding on it those players in black and white need to keep cool heads. Malcolm Macdonald knows what’s at stake. Louise Taylor interviewed him, quite brilliantly, in this piece.

There are plenty of Championship games on today at 3pm.

League leaders Burnley host Huddersfield and will hope Sheffield United slip further adrift when they host Watford. Meanwhile Wigan, languishing at the bottom, head over to Preston. The Latics are unbeaten in four. Now’s as good a time as any to find some form.

Burnley v Huddersfield
Sheffield United v Watford
Preston v Wigan Athletic
Norwich City v Cardiff City
Queens Park Rangers v Blackburn Rovers
Bristol City v Hull City
West Bromwich Albion v Middlesbrough
Reading v Blackpool
Birmingham v Luton Town
Stoke City v Millwall

This one’s for the Arsenal fans. Would you fancy a Premier League title or a Europa League win? I’m guessing it’s pretty straightforward as far as you’re concerned. Not so for the boss who wants it all.

Preamble

Back in February 2014, Arsenal began round 24 of the Premier League on top of the pile. Since getting demolished 6-3 by Manchester City in December the previous year, the Gunners went unbeaten in eight matches, dropping just two points in a 2-2 draw at Southampton. Hope. That’s what Arsenal fans began to feel. Genuine hope that maybe this was their year after a decade long drought.

Then they got spanked 5-1 by Liverpool. A week later they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to a Manchester United outfit that would finish seventh. They endured a six game streak where they collected just five points and were beaten 1-0 by Stoke, 6-0 by Chelsea and 3-0 by Everton. By the time it was all said and done, Arsène Wenger’s team limped to fourth.

It’s round 23 today in the Premier League and Arsenal are top of the pile. They travel to Leicester with their fans hoping, genuinely hoping, that this may be their year after a 19-year drought. With a tough run coming up, including trips to Anfield and the Etihad, only three points will do today.

In the other 3pm kick-offs, a desperate, but perhaps reenergised Everton host Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest go to east London to play a West Ham side in need of points, and Leeds and Southampton get down in the basement for a scrap that might see the loser dealt a knockout blow at Elland Road.

There’s also a full EFL programme and the usual games around Europe. We’ll have team news at around 2pm.