Arsenal 8 points clear, commanding Premier League title race
Eight points clear in the Premier League, playing the most free-flowing soccer in England, and now humbling its fiercest rivals in front of their own fans. A 2-0 win over Tottenham on Sunday left no doubt over who the dominant force is in north London. Arsenal had an eight-point lead for a couple of days at the start of the month but second-place Manchester City had a game in hand then. British bookmakers are now making Arsenal odds-on favorites for the title, which brings its own pressure heading into the second half of the season. Chelsea stayed in 10th place but trimmed the gap to fifth-place Tottenham to five points.
wftv.comArsenal stretches EPL lead after Man City held by Everton
Perhaps it's really time to start believing for a team that hasn't won the league title since the unbeaten “Invincibles” did so in 2004. “It is a great opportunity we have, and it's a great place we have put ourselves in." Ten Hag also seemed ready to move on, having seen once again how important Rashford is to his team's attack. Fulham climbed to seventh place with a 2-1 win over Southampton, while Crystal Palace earned a 2-0 victory at Bournemouth. Defender Fabian Schar had the best chances but wasted three good opportunities as Leeds held firm to end a two-game losing streak.
wftv.comSaka, Rashford help England rout Iran 6-2 at World Cup
DOHA, Qatar — (AP) — Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford put last year's European Championship loss behind them, combining to score three goals in England's 6-2 rout of Iran on Monday at the World Cup. A year later, Saka scored twice at Khalifa International Stadium and Rashford came off the bench to add another with his first move of the match. Saka then got his first of the match in the 43rd and Raheem Sterling added another in first-half stoppage time. Saka scored his second shortly after the hour, but Mehdi Taremi pulled one back for Iran in the 65th minute. The game was delayed for several minutes in the first half when Iran goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand clashed heads with a teammate.
wftv.comWorld Cup 2022: England blows out Iran ahead of match against the U.S. on Friday
England cruised to a 6-2 victory over Iran in the opening game of Group B as young stars Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka scored the Three Lions’ first two goals. You’ll notice the England barrage came without any goals from Harry Kane, the player most vital to England’s hopes of winning the World Cup for the first time since 1966. Goals from players other than Kane are what can make this England side so dangerous. England played with five at the back throughout most of its run to the Euro 2020 final a year ago and the preferred formation could be back against the United States on Friday. SAKA DOES IT AGAIN@England takes a 4-0 lead 💪 pic.twitter.com/dbhxDfWQVU — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 21, 2022Saka’s second goal also allowed Southgate to make a wave of substitutions in the second half.
wftv.comArsenal loss to leader Man City sees grip on 4th loosened
For 45 minutes, Arsenal made the runaway Premier League leader look average. Then the second half brought an all-too familiar Arsenal capitulation to hand City a 2-1 win Saturday. “This period today we were incredibly tired, mentally and physically," City manager Pep Guardiola said. Having enjoyed 74% possession and with eight shots on target until that point, Tottenham had long been pressing to find a winner. “When you create these chances to score you have to try to destroy these chances,” Tottenham manager Antonio Conte said.
wftv.comSaka feels the England love with scoring return to Wembley
Britain England Andorra WCup 2022 Soccer England's Bukayo Saka, left, reacts after scoring his side's fourth goal during the World Cup 2022 group I qualifying soccer match between England and Andorra at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Ian Walton) (Ian Walton)LONDON — (AP) — The cheers of the Wembley crowd made clear the affection for Bukayo Saka the moment the England lineup was announced. There were even louder roars to come when the birthday boy headed in the final goal in a 4-0 World Cup qualifying win over Andorra on Sunday. “I could hear so many fans cheering my name.”How different from 56 days earlier when England last played at Wembley. It was returning to Wembley that allowed Saka to see the warmth from true England fans after that abhorrent abuse that social media companies were slow to remove.
wftv.comEngland player abused by racists slams social media giants
Euro 2020 Soccer Photo Gallery England's Bukayo Saka, center, is comforted after he missed to score the last penalty during the penalty shootout of the Euro 2020 soccer championship final between England and Italy at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, July 11, 2021. “There is no place for racism or hate of any kind in football. “We are working very closely with social media platforms, who are providing data we need to progress enquiries,’’ Cheshire police Chief Constable Mark Roberts, who leads soccer policing nationwide, said. As of Tuesday, authorities around the country had made 264 arrests linked to 897 incidents surrounding the final, the police chiefs said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
wftv.comUK to ban online racists from games after Euro 2020 uproar
Britain England Italy Euro 2020 Soccer England's manager Gareth Southgate embraces Bukayo Saka after he failed to score a penalty during a penalty shootout after extra time during of the Euro 2020 soccer championship final match between England and Italy at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, July 11, 2021. (Carl Recine/Pool Photo via AP) (Carl Recine)LONDON — (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced plans to ban anyone guilty of online racist abuse from attending soccer matches after three members of England’s national team were targeted following its loss in the European Championship final. Johnson on Wednesday condemned the abuse leveled at three Black players after they failed to score penalties in England's shootout defeat to Italy on Sunday at Wembley Stadium. And Johnson told the House of Commons it was time to act. The government plans to add online racism to the list of offenses for which fans can be barred from matches, he said.
wftv.comDuke of Cambridge 'sickened' by racist abuse of England players and says perpetrators must be held to account
The Duke of Cambridge has said he is "sickened" by the "abhorent" racism aimed at England's football players as he called for the perpetrators to be held accountable. Prince William, 39, watched the Euro 2020 final at Wembley with the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George, said it was "totally unacceptable" that the players had to endure such behaviour. England football players Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford were all subjected to racist abuse online after missing penalties as Eng
news.yahoo.comUK leader condemns racism directed at England players
(Carl Recine/Pool Photo via AP) (Carl Recine)LONDON — (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday condemned the racist abuse directed at three Black England players who missed their penalties in the team's shootout loss to Italy in the final of the European Championship. The 19-year-old Saka missed the decisive penalty that gave the title to Italy and denied England its first major international soccer trophy since the 1966 World Cup. All three players immediately started receiving racist abuse on social media. England's Football Association issued a statement saying it was “appalled” by the “disgusting behavior.”London police condemned the “unacceptable” abuse, adding it will be investigating the “offensive and racist” social media posts. “There is absolutely no place for racism in football or anywhere else," he wrote in a Twitter post.
wftv.comSouthgate's penalty plan backfires in England painful final
Britain England Italy Euro 2020 Soccer England's manager Gareth Southgate embraces Bukayo Saka after he failed to score a penalty during a penalty shootout after extra time during of the Euro 2020 soccer championship final match between England and Italy at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, July 11, 2021. Wrapping his arms around Bukayo Saka, the England coach felt the teenager's anguish. Having a decisive penalty saved in a European Championship match at Wembley Stadium can be such a lonely experience. Liverpool’s Premier League and Champions League winner, Jordan Henderson, was deemed less suitable for a penalty than Sancho. “I decided on the penalty takers based on what we’ve done in training.
wftv.comThe Latest: Italy and England play in Euro 2020 final
Britain England Euro 2020 Soccer England's Jack Grealish, Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford, from left, during a training session at St George's Park, Burton upon Trent, England, Saturday July 10, 2021, ahead of their Euro 2020 soccer championship final match against Italy at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson) (Dave Thompson)The Latest on soccer’s European Championship:___One more match will decide if Italy or England will be European champion. The two teams will meet at Wembley Stadium in the European Championship final. Italy won the European Championship in 1968 but has also won four World Cup titles. The Euro 2020 final will the last of 51 games in the competition after being delayed a year by the coronavirus pandemic.
wftv.comThe Latest: Saka to start for England against Denmark
Britain England Denmark Euro 2020 Soccer England's players Jadon Sancho, left, Bukayo Saka, center, and Reece James inspect the field ahead of the Euro 2020 soccer semifinal match between England and Denmark at Wembley stadium in London, Wednesday, July 7, 2021. (Laurence Griffiths/Pool Photo via AP) (Laurence Griffiths)The Latest on soccer’s European Championship:___Bukayo Saka has been recalled by England for the European Championship semifinal match against Denmark as a replacement for winger Jadon Sancho. ___The England team has strolled onto the field at Wembley Stadium about 90 minutes before its European Championship semifinal match against Denmark. ___Fans have started coming into Wembley Stadium hours before the European Championship semifinal match between England and Denmark. ___Will it be England or will it be Denmark against Italy in the European Championship final?
wftv.comSterling savior again: England beats Czechs 1-0 at Euro 2020
APTOPIX England Czech Republic Euro 2020 Soccer England's Raheem Sterling, right, scores his team's first goal during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group D match between the Czech Republic and England at Wembley stadium, London, Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (Neil Hall/Pool Photo via AP) (Neil Hall)LONDON — (AP) — At least England now knows it can rely on Raheem Sterling for goals. Sterling scored his second goal at Euro 2020 on Tuesday to secure a 1-0 victory over the Czech Republic at Wembley Stadium. How unlike the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, and Euro 2016, when Sterling was unable to find the net. Kane at least managed his first shot on target of Euro 2020 against the Czechs after failing to do so against Croatia and in the 0-0 draw with Scotland.
wftv.comSon's 100th goal in Spurs victory; Arsenal wins 3rd straight
Alexandre Lacazette scored twice in a 4-0 rout of West Bromwich Albion that took Arsenal up to 11th place. Tottenham is six points better off in third place after Son scored and got an assist in a 3-0 victory over Leeds. SON-KANE COMBOSon and Harry Kane equaled the Premier League record for most goal combinations in a season, leveling Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton’s tally of 13 from 1994-95. With all stadiums denied fans due to pandemic restrictions, the South Korean could only celebrate his 100th goal with teammates. “We could have scored more goals," Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho said.
Youngsters deliver for Arsenal as scrutiny shifts to Lampard
Arteta had billed the coming week, starting with the visit of Chelsea, as a “crucial” period that would determine which direction Arsenal was heading this season. A first league victory in nearly two months was vital, therefore, to boost Arsenal players' fragile confidence — even if it only lifted them into 14th place. “It's something to build on.”It took 90 minutes for the scrutiny that was hovering over Arteta to drift toward his Chelsea counterpart, Frank Lampard. That's three losses in the last four league games for Chelsea, which has dropped to seventh place and whose identity — and best lineup — is increasingly hard to decipher. The result kept Leicester above United in the standings after they started the day in second and third place.
Community Shield: Aubameyang seals Arsenal win vs Liverpool
Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 2nd right, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the English FA Community Shield soccer match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020. (Justin Tallis/Pool via AP)
Community Shield: Aubameyang seals Arsenal win vs Liverpool
Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 2nd right, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the English FA Community Shield soccer match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020. (Justin Tallis/Pool via AP)LONDON A month that began with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang winning the FA Cup for Arsenal ended with his goals clinching the Community Shield. Now Arsenal is just waiting on Aubameyang signing a new contract as he enters the final season of his current deal. Arsenal finished 43 points behind Liverpool but did beat Jrgen Klopp's side after the title had already been sealed in July. We respect the competition.It was a landmark occasion at Wembley and not just due to the Community Shield being played without fans for the first time.
Youngsters justifying the faith of top Premier League teams
Manchester United's Mason Greenwood celebrates after scoring a goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Bournemouth at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, July 4, 2020. (Peter Powell/Pool via AP)Some of the top Premier League teams are putting their faith in youth in the high-stakes finale to the longest-ever soccer season in England. Jamie Vardy passed the 100-goal mark in Premier League goals by netting twice as Leicester beat Crystal Palace 3-0 for its first win since the restart. With five more rounds left, Leicester stayed a point clear of Chelsea and three points ahead of fifth-place Manchester United. Finishing in sixth will earn the team a berth in the Europa League next season, as may seventh.