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srcollings.bsky.social
Sports Reporter for The London Standard. Views are mine. Email: [email protected].
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Broadcast picks for Premier League games in April now out: Everton v Arsenal now 12.30pm on April 5. Arsenal v Brentford now 5.30pm on April 12. Ipswich v Arsenal now 2pm on April 20. Palace v Arsenal now 5.30pm on April 26. (Brentford & Palace games subject to change).

Tomas Rosicky on links to him becoming Arsenal's new sporting director: "I’m aware that I’m on their radar or I figure in their considerations in some capacity, but I haven’t received any offer." More here: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Interview with Arsenal U18 head coach Adam Birchall ahead of tonight's FA Youth Cup quarter-final with Manchester United. "If they can go on and try to live their dream, I am so proud and happy for them. That’s the main thing - happy for them." 👇 www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Delighted to be nominated here. Thanks to everyone for reading and supporting the work produced.

Another difficult night for Arsenal's attack, so where does Mikel Arteta go from here? 🔴 Stick with the current plan ⚪️ Try a new formation 🔴 Turn to youth ⚪️ Experiment with players out of position Piece looking at the options here: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

“Last year was probably the hardest year of my life” EXCLUSIVE interview with Dean Henderson, on almost coming home early during Euro 2024 to say goodbye to his dying father, on building “special things” at #CPFC, and on being “neck and neck” to become England No1 www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

It feels an age ago, but Arsenal began this month beating Manchester City 5-1 with five goals from open play. Now failed to score in back-to-back Premier League games for first time since May 2023. www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

A familiar performance and Arsenal left the City Ground with a familiar feeling. The title race is surely over for another year. Live piece: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Arteta confirms he does not expect Martinelli and Saka back before the international break next month.

A goalless draw and another tough watch. So why not relive it with some player ratings: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Full-time Forest 0-0 Arsenal A familiar game for Arsenal. Plenty of the ball, but they failed to create - other than from set-pieces. Defensively very solid and gave Forest little to feed off. A decent break now until PSV Eindhoven next Tuesday.

Sterling coming on.

Zinchenko coming on.

Kieran Tierney coming on for Arsenal.

Half-time Forest 0-0 Arsenal Arsenal controlled the game and enjoyed a lot of the ball. Creativity and attacking issues still there, as expected, although Calafiori hit the post with a great turn and shot. Forest looked most lively down their right with Hudson-Odoi.

When Arsenal have the ball, Calafiori looks like he is basically going upfront. Pushing high and central near Merino.

Teams are out at the City Ground. Live blog here: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Thoughts on the Arsenal XI here:

Arsenal team is out. One change - Jorginho in for Partey. No Lewis-Skelly, who is suspended, so Kabia makes the bench.

Arsenal need Martin Odegaard more than ever right now, but he has struggled. Piece looking at why that might be the case ahead of tonight's game at Nottingham Forest: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal have made “big strides” this season & he’s proud of squad due to context of campaign. “You can see my kid crying and tell him to stop crying or I can give context as to why he’s crying.” [1/3]

Arteta adamant he is not giving up on the title: "Over my dead body. If not, I go home."

Arteta is here for his presser. On Nwaneri: "Ethan he was just cramping [against West Ham]. Obviously his loads has been very different in recent weeks, but he is fine."

Arsenal's attack is not suffering from an "obsession" with set-pieces. Instead, the gamble not to invest in January and injuries are taking their toll. Piece: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Right-back now feels like the most competitive place in the Arsenal team, following Ben White’s return to fitness. The rise of Myles Lewis-Skelly on the other flank only adds to the selection headache, but it’s one Mikel Arteta should enjoy. Piece: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Arteta is here for his presser. Team news? "No real news to be fair. The ones that are long term remain unavailable." Says Ben White is ready to play, unsure if ready to start.

Arsenal set to sign Scottish teenager Callan Hamill from St Johnstone. Club has made a push - post Brexit - to sign young British talent. Wales youth int Brayden Clarke and Northern Ireland youth int Ceadach O’Neill both signed last year. More here: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

So Arsenal will face PSV for the third season in a row. Quarter-final draw more exciting, if Arsenal get through. Plenty of narrative lines if it’s Real Madrid - Saliba, etc. Not sure how easy a watch two legs of Arteta v Simone would be though - some good housery no doubt.

Kylian Mbappe says his "adaptation period" at Real Madrid is now well and truly over. The adaptation period? 28 goals in 38 games 😂.

Watched back Mikel Merino's 21-minute cameo off the bench last weekend - and looked at the numbers behind it. It would be a big call for Mikel Arteta to start him as Arsenal's No9 against West Ham, but it's one he could justify. Piece here: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Analysis of Arsenal's financial results with the help of football finance expert Kieran Maguire: 🔴 Factors behind record revenue ⚪️ Why they still made a loss 🔴 PSR and cost control position ⚪️ Ability to spend in the summer Piece here: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Arsenal, famously, have a dog at their training ground - but now they have 'The Horse' too...aka Declan Rice. Piece, here, on his recent form and how Saturday suggested his midfield role could evolve even more in the absence of a recognised striker: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Arsenal, famously, have a dog at their training ground - but now they have 'The Horse' too...aka Declan Rice. Piece, here, on his recent form and how Saturday suggested his midfield role could evolve even more in the absence of a recognised striker: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Mikel Merino was Arsenal's hero on Saturday and this win at Leicester felt like a taste of what the next month or so could be like for the Gunners. Without a striker, and plenty of injuries, more unexpected heroes will be needed. Piece: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Mikel Merino man of the match for Arsenal, but thought Ethan Nwaneri shone, again. Player ratings from the King Power: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

A flat game that turned out to be Mikel Merino's day. Live piece from Leicester: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

A flat game that turned out to be Mikel Merino's day. Live piece from Leicester: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Joe Cole on Ethan Nwaneri to TNT Sports: "These little touches in and around the box - I don't even want to say it, but it's like Lionel Messi."

Post-match thoughts from Arsenal’s 2-0 win at Leicester:

Mikel Merino man of the match for Arsenal, but thought Ethan Nwaneri shone, again. Player ratings from the King Power: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Mikel Merino the last player, by a good few minutes, to leave the away fans - who have been singing his name non-stop since the final whistle. Can't blame him. A bonkers day for the Spaniard.

Full-time Leicester 0-2 Arsenal A vital win for Arsenal, who were poor for a lot of this game. Mikel Merino an unlucky hero as an emergency striker, scoring twice off the bench. Ethan Nwaneri - yet again - excellent and ridiculously good for someone who is 17.

Mikel Merino trodding the path of Kai Havertz: Sign as a No8, struggle, go to Dubai, comeback as a striker and suddenly start scoring.