jamesbenge.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

Olivier Giroud on the verge of return to Europe with Lille

submitted 17 hours ago • 3 comments

Cristiano Ronaldo has extended his contract at Al-Nassr. CBS Sports revealed at the start of this month that senior Saudi government officials and PIF had intervened to offer assurances to Ronaldo, including commitments to strengthening the squad at the Pro League side.

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

Imagine thinking I'd wear a beanie. It'd be an act of brazen cruelty to deprive the public of my world class hair.

submitted 2 days ago • 1 comment

To me Norgaard looks a tricky one to project for Arsenal. When I've seen him in the flesh I like and the defensive numbers pop nicely. However he's spent a long time in a Brentford team that can pass midfield in build up. How does that translate to a possession dominant team?

submitted 2 days ago • 8 comments

I mean it's alright (if it happens)

submitted 2 days ago • 9 comments

A steadfast refusal to see reality until it comes around to bite him two months later: Zohran really is a proper Arsenal fan

submitted 2 days ago • 3 comments

Tough start for Arsenal in the 2025-26 season. By the time they've played their first six games they'll have gone to Anfield and St. James' Park with Manchester City's visit in between. They also open the season at Manchester United.

submitted 9 days ago • 6 comments

For anyone reading too much into the Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City result last night it's worth noting something. The chances of a 10-0 win, even given the avalanche of shots Bayern had, were 0.2%. It was a freak result.

submitted 11 days ago • 6 comments

I've watched a lot of Florian Wirtz, in fact for this piece I went right the way back to Cologne U17s. I've spoken to quite a few folks who know him too. As such it seems incredibly obvious that there's no better way for Liverpool to invest a nine figure sum.

submitted 21 days ago • 4 comments

Chaotic few hours as the transfer window briefly closes in Saudi Arabia. It appears that Al-Hilal are closing in on N'Golo Kante from Al-Ittihad in a day where they have been chasing the biggest names from across the Pro League to join them for the Club World Cup. Riyad Mahrez among their targets.

submitted 17 days ago • 0 comments

This week's Inside Arsenal Extra-Time with @jamesbenge.bsky.social is now live! We delve into the Sesko Saudi links, with James giving his insight into how strong that interest is - plus we talk Zubimendi, Rodrgyo, Havertz and plenty more 👇 charleswatts.football/news/seskos-...

submitted 17 days ago • 1 comment

Hamlet Hail to the Thief is wonderful, a totally necessary endeavour. Ami Tredrea steals every scene as Ophelia and yes, Thom Yorke has nailed the arrangements. First appearance of There There… I gasped!

submitted 20 days ago • 3 comments

I've watched a lot of Florian Wirtz, in fact for this piece I went right the way back to Cologne U17s. I've spoken to quite a few folks who know him too. As such it seems incredibly obvious that there's no better way for Liverpool to invest a nine figure sum.

submitted 21 days ago • 4 comments

🎙️ PODCAST! I'm joined by @jamesbenge.bsky.social who has to agree or disagree with statements, which include: signing a left-winger, Andrea Berta, David Raya and Joan Garcia, Leroy Sane, Gyokeres, adding Ebere Eze, Mikel Arteta's future, KSE, and LOADS more. p1r.es/arsecast833 #arsenal #afc

submitted 22 days ago • 2 comments

Nuno Tavares leaves Arsenal for Lazio in deal worth around £7.5m. It speaks to the growth he made in Rome that that feels like a bargain fee for one of Serie A’s most dangerous wide players (when fit) last season. Here’s our chat from March 👇

submitted 22 days ago • 4 comments

You want transfers? How about a whole league of transfers?

submitted 22 days ago • 1 comment

Saudi government officials involved in talks over Cristiano Ronaldo as PIF bids to keep Pro League's biggest star.

submitted 24 days ago • 1 comment

This is just the start.

submitted 27 days ago • 1 comment

I get the point Rio Ferdinand was trying to make in describing PSG winning the Champions League as "a win for football". They've won by putting the team ahead of superstars. It's just, y'know, the whole being a soft power vehicle for a nation stage that negates it.

submitted 27 days ago • 10 comments

One player aged over 30 has played for PSG in the Champions League this season. They've fielded four teenagers over the course of the competition. This is anti-millennial discrimination.

submitted 27 days ago • 2 comments

On the plus side, everything else about Inter is so ordinary that Federico Dimarco really shouldn't need to spend many nights wondering what might have been if he'd let that Doue shot hit him square on.

submitted 27 days ago • 2 comments

Picked my team of the tournament for the Champions League. Was pretty straightforward actually.

submitted 28 days ago • 1 comment

Al-Nassr fear Cristiano Ronaldo could join Al-Hilal for the Club World Cup. Even though they retain hope of extending his services for the medium term, a short term deal with their rivals is being backed by PIF, who are eager to strengthen for CWC.

submitted 29 days ago • 3 comments

Chelsea make European history as the first side to win the Champions, Europa and Conference League. Who could match them? Weirdly feels like this record will either last for a very long time or someone like Man Utd will match them in three or four years.

submitted 30 days ago • 11 comments

40% of the xG & 43% of the goals Arsenal have allowed from set pieces this season have come since Gabriel tore his hamstring. So much of their dead ball schemes at both ends have been built to exploit his strengths in both boxes. It's natural they'd buckle without time to adjust.

submitted 33 days ago • 2 comments

@ football Twitter

submitted 53 days ago • 4 comments

Went to see Thunderbolts*. Class. Proper men’s menty h movie.

submitted 57 days ago • 1 comment

There's 20 registered transgender players in the women's game in England, a PL matchday squad among millions. When the numbers are this small is it really beyond the wit of a governing body to just help those women on an individual basis, to just be a bit sensible about it? Look at the alternative.

submitted 57 days ago • 11 comments

If that were any team other than Barcelona defending the Mkhitaryan goal that wasn't I'd have to chalk that up to pure luck. I'm still probably chalking it up to luck. But Barcelona's offside trap is out of this world good.

submitted 58 days ago • 1 comment

Ball goes into the box Denzel:

submitted 58 days ago • 1 comment

A great Champions League semifinal, the sort that could be decided by only a few moments. Maybe those before Arteta fixed whatever was fixed after “15-20 minutes”. It did work. It might have been too late.

submitted 59 days ago • 1 comment

I don’t think this was to do with out of possession, my sense there was they were just winning duels. I seem to remember it was about the 20th minute when they eased up the building from the back and looked long more but is that “very specific”?

submitted 59 days ago • 2 comments

Arteta spoke of something that had gone wrong for Arsenal in the first 15-20 minutes that was then fixed. He declined to say what exactly. ""Not a lot [was going wrong]," Arteta insisted. "I'm telling you it was very specific but very important, especially the way we play."

submitted 59 days ago • 2 comments

FT: Arsenal 0, PSG 1 - Everything to do in Paris. On the basis of the last hour of the game they can match Luis Enrique's side but it's going to take something exceptional to better them at the Parc des Princes.

submitted 59 days ago • 6 comments

Nwaneri coming on

submitted 59 days ago • 6 comments