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The Athletic | Football
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Every football story that matters. Breaking news. In-depth analysis.

🔗 https://www.nytimes.com/athletic
Arsenal extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points with a hard-fought 3-2 win away at Bournemouth.

Mikel Arteta’s side also move seven points clear of Manchester City with their fifth successive league win.
January 3, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Bournemouth have late hope after reducing the deficit back to one against Arsenal.

Eli Junior Kroupi’s strike from range makes it 3-2 after Declan Rice’s second of the evening had momentarily increased the league leaders’ advantage.
January 3, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Declan Rice is back in the Arsenal side - and back in the goals.

Absent from the midweek win over Aston Villa, the England international was on hand to sweep in Martin Odegaard’s pass to give the Premier League leaders the lead against Bournemouth.
January 3, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Brighton & Hove Albion end a run of six games without a win with a comfortable 2-0 victory over struggling Burnley.

Scott Parker’s side, who are now 11 matches without a win, are now the same distance from bottom-side Wolves as they are from safety (six points).
January 3, 2026 at 5:01 PM
After 20 Premier League games in 2025-26, Wolves finally taste victory.

Rob Edwards' side beat West Ham United 3-0, putting more pressure on Nuno Espirito Santo.

On Tuesday, West Ham host 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, with a four-point gap separating the two sides...
January 3, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Reposted by The Athletic | Football
James Milner has now played in the Premier League in 25 calendar years — a quarter of a century's worth. The original Xbox was released in the last year he didn't feature in England's top flight (2001).
January 3, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Reposted by The Athletic | Football
HALF TIME
WOLVES 3 (THREE) WEST HAM 0
I mean... I turned up today thinking this might be the day Wolves won a game, but I wasn't confident. And I certainly didn't expect this.
Wolves neat, tidy, composed and clinical.
West Ham shocking.
Mane a proper talent.
#WWFC
January 3, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Nuno Espirito Santo is held in high regard at Wolves — and his standing will only go higher after Wolves storm into a 3-0 lead at half-time against West Ham United.
January 3, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by The Athletic | Football
Wolves would be top of a Premier League table for 2026.
January 3, 2026 at 3:44 PM
It is Wolves 3-0 West Ham United.

Mateus Mane is the latest player to get their name on the scoresheet.

Nuno Espirito Santo's team have not had a single shot.
January 3, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Hwang Hee-chan converts from the spot, and Wolves double their lead against West Ham United.

They have not won a Premier League game since last April — is that run going to end today?
January 3, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Wolves have not won a Premier League game this season — but they lead after four minutes against West Ham United.

Jhon Arias gives the division’s bottom side an early advantage.
January 3, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Rangers turned it around against Celtic.

Wilfried Nancy's side went into the break 1-0 up, but a brace from former Everton striker Youssef Chermiti and a goal from Tottenham Hotspur loanee Mikey Moore moves Danny Rohl's side level on points with Celtic.
January 3, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Aston Villa return to winning ways in the Premier League with a 3-1 win against Nottingham Forest — and make it 11 consecutive wins at home.

Unai Emery's side move three points behind Arsenal and leapfrog Manchester City into second.

Sean Dyche's side remain four points above the bottom three.
January 3, 2026 at 2:26 PM
John McGinn helps himself to a brace, taking advantage of John Victor's walkabouts.

A blow for Nottingham Forest and Sean Dyche, who had managed to get themselves back in the game — but the hosts have now restored their two-goal lead.
January 3, 2026 at 2:05 PM
A delightful finish from Morgan Gibbs-White.

Nottingham Forest have a way back into this game — can they deny Aston Villa an 11th consecutive home win?
January 3, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Yang Hyun-Jun gives Celtic the lead against Rangers.

Questions will be asked about how he was allowed to dribble so easily through Rangers' defence before powering a shot past Jack Butland.
January 3, 2026 at 1:28 PM
Two against Chelsea.
One against Arsenal.
One against Nottingham Forest.

Ollie Watkins scores his fourth Premier League goal in his last three games to give Aston Villa a half-time lead against Sean Dyche's side.
January 3, 2026 at 1:22 PM
Reposted by The Athletic | Football
It's week 20 of @theathleticfc.bsky.social Premier League predictions challenge, where — in a sign of the times — three of us fancy Leeds to beat Manchester United and nobody is giving Chelsea a prayer at Manchester City

www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
Premier League predictions: Man City vs Chelsea, Leeds vs Man Utd, and the rest of Matchday 20
Who's leading after MD19? And what do our writer, the algorithm, a child and this week's subscriber expect to see on Matchday 20?
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Reposted by The Athletic | Football
Eintracht Frankfurt will pay €1.5m to loan Arnaud Kalimuendo from Nottingham Forest and have the option to make the deal permanent for €27m.

Updated story, with @nottmtails.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
Eintracht Frankfurt confident of signing Arnaud Kalimuendo on loan from Nottingham Forest
The 23-year-old forward has been used sparingly at Forest despite the injury to Chris Wood.
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Reposted by The Athletic | Football
Former Canada boss John Herdman has been appointed the new head coach of the Indonesia men’s national team.

The appointment marks a return to international coaching for Herdman, who has been out of management since he resigned from his position at Toronto FC in November 2024.
Former Canada boss John Herdman appointed Indonesia head coach
The Football Association of Indonesia confirmed Herdman's arrival on Saturday, praising his "diverse track record".
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 11:27 AM
West Ham are four points from safety in the Premier League. This season is turning into a relegation fight.

At a time when they need to claw their way back up the table, those who know Mateus Fernandes say this is when he comes into his own.

🔗 bit.ly/4qARibh
January 3, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Joan Garcia signed for Barcelona from city neighbours Espanyol in the summer. He was the first in 31 years to cross the divide.

Later today, the goalkeeper returns to his old home in La Liga - and there won't be a warm welcome.

✍️ @polballus.bsky.social

🔗 bit.ly/4sormkO
January 3, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Souleymane Coulibaly has had a busy life.

The former Ivory Coast U17 star spent time in Tottenham Hotspur’s youth ranks, Egypt, Tunisia and Scotland, and fought legal cases with FIFA and CAS.

Now playing in England's ninth tier, he speaks to @jaydmharris.bsky.social ⤵️

🔗 bit.ly/4quLFLC
January 3, 2026 at 9:00 AM
The Leeds United-Manchester United rivalry is a feud more than 500 years in the making.

Ahead of their latest meeting tomorrow, @andymitten.bsky.social explains his (painful) first-hand experience of one of English football’s most toxic rivalries ⤵️

🔗 bit.ly/495dep8
January 3, 2026 at 8:00 AM