The world would most certainly be a mind-numbingly boring place without football. Love it or hate it, or remain disaffected by it, it surely affects a friend, a lover, a parent, or a sibling. And if it doesn’t, the best suggestion would be to find a new lover or friend, and disown the parents and siblings.

Arsène Wenger, Arsenal’s legendary yet much-maligned manager, could be forgiven a wistful glance far east of London at Dortmund, a historically industrial city with a rather unremarkable history.

The reason a David vs Goliath battle got such massive public relations value back when fables were in vogue is largely down to sentient beings understanding and celebrating the underachiever, the hidden persona within them.

Football, at the best of times, can inspire a pressure cooker of extreme emotions, ranging from indelible adoration to incandescent rage. It can make you hug and scream in throes of passion yet make you splutter and spew mulch-layered bile. These are the ten things we hate about you, football.

Another week, another race related controversy involving Chelsea. The Blues have made it an unfortunate habit of late to swim in the murky waters of race related incidents, although this time, it’s them making the charge against Mark Clattenburg, the referee for their, to put it mildly, feisty match against Man United last Sunday.

Another week, another race related controversy involving Chelsea. The Blues have made it an unfortunate habit of late to swim in the murky waters of race related incidents, although this time, it’s them making the charge against Mark Clattenburg, the referee for their, to put it mildly, feisty match against Man United last Sunday.

Pop Quiz Saturday time is here. Ignore the stellar and innovative title given to this brilliant new concept and share with us and yourself the following.

The beauty of El Clasico lies in the utter seriousness of what is so very obviously a pulsing, throbbing, screeching pantomime act. At no point is an Clasico pointless. Not when Barcelona are winning 5-0, not when Madrid are winning the league the very next game, not even when Barcelona are already eight points clear at the top of the table. No.

The beauty of El Clasico lies in the utter seriousness of what is so very obviously a pulsing, throbbing, screeching pantomime act.

At no point is an Clasico pointless. Not when Barcelona are winnin

In the Eastlands, as an Arsenal side virtually unrecognisable from this time last year ran rings around the current league champions, it was difficult to not reminisce about the last great Arsenal side to play in the league.
Arsene’s Invincibles, circa 2003, had made attacking an art form, with pace and breathtaking skill being paramount to their success.