Scott Murray's Blog, page 47

Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham: Premier League – as it happened

Arsenal deservedly won the north London derby to go four points clear at the top of the Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur get the ball rolling. A huge roar cannonballs around the stadium. The north London derby, right here!

The teams are out! Arsenal in red, Spurs in white, the Emirates bubbling away in fevered anticipation. “Arsenal fans’ prayers, candles and animal sacrifices have worked,” begins Charles Antaki. “Both Zinchenko and Partey are fit to play, also Ødegaard. Not to say that one or other, or indeed all of them, might not break down within the first five minutes, but it’s a start.” We’ll be off in a couple of shakes.

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The Fiver | Manchester City and the inescapable agents of their downfall

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It doesn’t matter how great a team is: there’s always another that seems to exist solely to be a thorn in their side. Take Lord Ferg’s Manchester United, for example, who rode roughshod over everybody during the late-1990s and early-2000s, yet found myriad ways to debase themselves against Southampton. Bob Paisley’s Liverpool made a habit of losing to Leicester City. As did Bill Shankly’s Liverpool. As did Gérard Houllier’s Liverpool (who weren’t so great, but rule of three and all that). Even the almighty Arsenal Invincibles had a nemesis: Middlesbrough beat them twice during 2003-04. Admittedly that was in the Carling Cup, but they did do that and you can’t say it didn’t happen. Oh Juninho! Oh Boudewijn! How could you compromise the nomenclature!

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The Fiver | Arsenal, Tottenham and the state of trickle-down economic policy

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There hasn’t been a full programme in the Premier League for absolutely ages, and so much has happened in our lives in the meantime. First up, matches were suspended in honour of Her Majesty. A new sovereign for the first time in 70 years. Then there was the international break, during which the pecking order between Scotland and England was restored in the former’s favour for the first time since the early-1880s. And then a couple of comedians forced their way into the grown-ups’ room and started mucking around with the national levers, throwing everything out of whack to such an extent that, if you want a hotdog at the match this weekend, you’d best take a wheelbarrow full to the brim with notes, coins, trinkets and family heirlooms, and get bartering. Then, after the game, tip the empty wheelbarrow upside down and live under the empty wheelbarrow, kept toasty-warm by the steam from your tears. The clear benefits of trickle-down economic policy, right there.

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England 3-3 Germany: Nations League – as it happened

England rallied from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 in a dramatic second half before Kai Havertz pounced late on

Germany get the ball rolling. Wembley finds its voice again.

One of those minutes is held in silence in memory of Queen Elizabeth II. Sir Geoff Hurst and a representative of the German FA lay wreathes. Then Wembley’s lights dip. The moment impeccably observed.

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The Fiver | England v Germany and a probable two-month long social-media tantrum

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Wales are off to their first World Cup in 64 years. Norn Iron have finally won, actually won, a game in the Nations League. And Scotland are currently on a three-match winning tear-up, dangerously close to significant achievement for the first time since 1872. What is all this? Do none of the old certainties apply any more? The Fiver feels so old and confused. Imagine how thankful we are, then, for the recent efforts of Gareth Southgate and his England team. The last few years of success and excitement haven’t sat well with us at all, you see. It’s been extremely discombobulating. So it’s very comforting to see England drifting back towards their old sweet spot, a couple of notches above rank incompetence, hovering just below the middle, between underwhelming and meh. Ah, that’s better. Like sinking into an old armchair with no seat cushion, or a tepid bath.

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Scotland 2-1 Republic of Ireland: Nations League — as it happened

Scotland came from behind to win a hard-fought game and reclaim top spot in Group B1

4 min: Hickey tries to release Armstrong down the right but overcooks his pass. Goal kick. A better ball may have opened up Ireland.

2 min: Ireland are seeing more of the ball during these very early exchanges. Scotland showing a willingness to press.

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Nations League: England relegated after defeat in Italy – as it happened

Giacomo Raspadori’s fine winner condemned misfiring England, now without a goal in open play for over seven hours, to relegation

1 min: Cristante leaves a little something on Foden, who felt it. A bold opening gambit for a player one booking away from suspension.

England get the ball rolling. Tonight’s referee sent off Harry Maguire and Reece James the last time he took charge of an England match (against Denmark at Wembley in 2020).

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The Fiver | Doncaster City and a plan that is indeed as stupid as it sounds

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Scotland were so good the other night that everyone wants in. Steve Clarke’s team got right up in Ukraine’s grille on Wednesday like the genetically spliced progeny of Valeriy Lobanovskyi and Irvine Welsh, and now the whole world wants to hitch its wagon to the runaway train that is Scottish football. One example of this craze – admittedly the only example, but trends have to start somewhere – is that of spanking new (est.2022) Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior Football League Division Two side Doncaster City, who have made an application to the SFA to play in next season’s Scottish Cup and yes this is a slow news day even by the standards of your average international break.

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Belgium 2-1 Wales: Nations League – as it happened

Belgium dominated the first half, but Wales grew in belief during the second and threatened to snatch a draw

6 min: Belgium take a little of the sting out of things with some sterile possession at the back.

4 min: Tielemans, perhaps low on confidence given Leicester’s troubles, ships possession with absurd ease in the centre circle. Johnson races off with attacking intent, only for the Welsh counter to be stopped in its tracks by the whistle because there are two balls on the pitch. Rob Page is not happy.

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The Fiver | They’re good enough; they’re also Scotland

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It turns out that pinning all of our hopes on Scotland wasn’t such a bad idea after all. On Wednesday night at Hampden, Steve Clarke’s men went at Ukraine with the sort of verve and velocity not seen since the days of peak Klopp-era Liverpool, a side you kids may want to ask your parents about. Older readers may also remember when Jim Baxter juggled the ball and seven pints of heavy on the Wembley touchline in 1967, which The Fiver reckons is the last time Scotland played with such assurance, bordering on arrogance, against an extremely good team. Penny for the thoughts of absent captain Andrew Robertson, who is now only the fourth best full-back in the country, behind Kieran Tierney, Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson. Oh Andy, it was good while it lasted.

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