What a weekend. Arsenal kept their head when all about them were losing theirs and blaming it on Arsenal-branded water bottles. Manchester United returned to Champions League wonder, Bournemouth roared like the Fighting Fruit they are, up to an incredible sixth place. And Everton did not have the chance to sully my weekend. 🎢

ii. Arsenal played joyous, blistering football to overwhelm Fulham and delight their fanbase – a win free of trauma, anxiety and handbrake stylings. Where did it come from? Saka’s return to the starting lineup and the confidence he brings is a game-changer. Myles Lewis-Skelly energizing a midfield that has been weighed down by Zubimendi’s dead legs for the last month. But above all, in life, we sometimes can experience a sudden freedom when the worst thing you fear can happen to you does happen, and you are then empowered by the very act of survival. 

Cinephiles will recognize that as the core message of the Jeff Bridges classic, “Fearless,” in which a man who fears plane flight, survives an air crash and becomes undaunted as a result. So it may prove to be with this Arsenal team. That Manchester City clash hung over them for months. They lost. But the realization they are still alive in this title race is so unbelievably powerful and empowering. Only by conquering your worst fear can you become freed from your traumas and inhibitions. That is what we saw on Saturday. 

Watch: My on-the-whistle reaction to Arsenal’s delirious day of joy. 🦖

iii. Emotional scene of the weekend: Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool was magical to witness. Yes, United gifted Liverpool a way back into the game, but the ecstasy that greeted Kobbie Mainoo’s winner was a human delight. Watch his hug with Casemiro. Two players, one old, one so tender, both of whom have been written off, only to roar back tenaciously. Both, in their own way, have been totems of this Carrick-naissance. Cometh the hour, cometh the manboy. 👹

iv. Elation for Spurs fans. Out of the relegation zone, clipping an insipid Villa second string to win back-to-back games as the De Zerbi revolution is evident all over the field. The players have had the Igor Tudor exorcized out of them. They are competing, fighting as a unit and appear mentally filled with belief. Leeds (H), Chelsea (A), and Everton (H) await. Premier League life is in their own hands. And perhaps most astonishing, Richarlison is scoring and keeping his shirt on. 🤍

v. I was gutted watching Wrexham fall just short of the Championship playoffs. They have still brought joy to millions. It has been some charge through the league pyramid. They have transformed lives and given an entire region hope. The promotional run ends but the journey is far from over. 

More: This perspective from Ryan Reynolds is both beautiful and inspiring. 🐉

vi. I am thrilled for Ipswich Town fans after their promotion. Especially my production partner, Producer JW, who is a lifelong Tractor boy. Here he is, describing what it means in his own words:

“We’re officially a Yo-Yo club, which I do not take for granted. That rarified football air that exists somewhere between First Class and Economy, but where an upgrade is a real possibility. I managed to make three trips across for matches last season in the Premier League, two with my four-year-old son Finn. Our last trip was a dire 1-0 home loss to Brentford after we were already technically relegated. The deflated Town faithful barely sang, while the Bees support was in full voice. Afterward he asked, “Hey dad, why didn’t we get to sing any of our songs?” Today at the final whistle I turned to him and said, “Hey Finny, it’s our time to sing again.” Uppa Towen.” 🚜

vii. Speaking of promotion, this is what that transcendent euphoria feels like, distilled down to one incredible gesture. Once seen, it can’t be unseen. 😂

viii. And now, a few simply exquisite goals from around the world this weekend:

🇹🇿 There are no words to accurately describe this finish from the Tanzanian Premier League. Spider Man-esque? Let’s go with that.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 While Wrexham didn’t secure a spot in the Championship playoffs, Josh Windass’ screamer from yesterday is certainly worth a second (or fifth) look.

🇳🇱 This near-effortless header from PSV’s Ricardo Pepi should give every USMNT fan at least a bit of hope for the months ahead.

ix. Lastly, I am thrilled to share that Mt. Joy's Matt Quinn & Sotiris Eliopoulos will be joining me LIVE in Philly to chat football on May 12 at Franklin Music Hall. PLUS, thanks to Verizon Ultimate Access, attendees at the Philly show will have a chance to win tickets to the biggest matches hitting our shores this summer. Get your tickets now. 🎟️

Courage,
ROG

P.S. This is the best reason for a match abandonment you will ever read. 🤚

The greatest Premier League goalscorer Alan Shearer talks title race & his top goals.

By Tommy Stewart & Jacob Schneider

Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Any regret Conor Gallagher might have about signing on for Tottenham’s relegation scrap in January might have been alleviated when he scored his first goal for the club yesterday. As Everton fans can attest, possessing Richarlison in a relegation battle is a cheat code, and the Brazilian silenced Villa Park with a header that put Roberto De Zerbi’s team in control for the rest of the match. Unai Emery’s side remain in the UCL spots, and although they fielded a heavily rotated XI ahead of a Europa League semifinal second leg with Forest on Thursday, after dominating shots and possession, Spurs fans will wonder why De Zerbi wasn’t appointed earlier. They’ve now won consecutive Premier League games for the first time since August, are out of the relegation zone by a point, and with checks notes the third best away record in the Premier League, Spurs should perhaps consider wearing yellow at home.

More: Tottenham have won every game since dropping the Peppa Pig collab, makes you think.

Arsenal 3-0 Fulham

Bukayo Saka’s wing wizardry to assist Viktor Gyökeres for an early opener meant for the first time in a long time, the Emirates didn’t feel like it was on the verge of a collective panic attack. The Swedish striker returned the favor with a cheeky assist before heading in the third on the brink of halftime. Few Premier League players have endured more scrutiny than Arsenal’s No. 14, but his 21 goals in all comps so far surely deems him a success story. The Gunners are now six points ahead and four goals up on Manchester City, who have two games in hand, and while they may regret not racking up more goals against Fulham, Gyökeres has asked Pep: “Do you feel in charge?” Mikel Arteta’s side have won more games than Arsène Wenger ever did in a single season while leading Arsenal, but that will mean nothing without silverware to show for it.

More: For those keeping track, this is the last time the English top-flight title race was decided by goal differential.

Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool

Manchester United quickly smelled blood at Old Trafford yesterday, dissecting a wounded Liverpool, who were missing eight first-team players. With or without injuries, the wilting champions’ defending of Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško’s opening double salvo to put their bitter rivals 2-0 up within 14 minutes, was like a microcosm of their season. Dominik Szoboszlai was on a one-man redemption mission, slotting away a solo effort before assisting Cody Gakpo after Senne Lammens gifted Liverpool the ball, proving he is human after all. Despite Arne Slot’s side’s second-half dominance, United haven’t lost a home league game when leading at the break since 1984, so it felt written that local lad Kobbie Mainoo popped up with the winner days after signing a new contract with his boyhood club. Liverpool’s 18 losses this season matches their worst total of this century, while a glowed-up United confirmed their UCL return after completing the double over Liverpool for the first time in 10 years.

Chelsea 1-3 Nottingham Forest

Better viewed as a footballing tragedy, this display from the Blues was a stark contrast to where the World Champions were playing earlier this season. Forest, with their Europa League semifinal against Villa in mind, swapped in eight rotation players and still bested Calum McFarlane’s men at Stamford Bridge with goals from Taiwo Awoniyi and Igor Jesus. Chelsea ended their five-match goal drought in league play with a beauty of an overhead kick from João Pedro, but with six-straight defeats in the Premier League, dreams of returning to European football have faded fast. The Tricky Trees, however, are now six points clear of relegation and their fears of playing in the Championship next season look to be in the past.

More: This Chelsea great’s face perfectly sums up the performance.

Elsewhere in the Premier League: Leeds 3-1 Burnley, Brentford 3-0 West Ham, Wolves 1-1 Sunderland, Newcastle 3-1 Brighton, Bournemouth 3-0 Crystal Palace

🇪🇸 La Liga: On a weekend where the La Liga title remained undecided, Real Madrid’s biggest star still managed to create a bit of drama. Currently injured Kylian Mbappé arrived to their match against Espanyol 12 minutes late after flying in from a holiday in Italy, which reportedly left fans and his teammates upset, and put Manager Álvaro Arbeloa on the spot to talk about it postgame. After Los Blancos and Barcelona both won, though, any title celebrations for the Blaugrana were paused. Luckily, we’ll all be treated to El Clásico next Sunday where a win at home would clinch the title for Barça.

🇮🇹 Serie A: The Scudetto is officially back in the hands of Inter Milan. Cristian Chivu’s side were declared 2026 Serie A champions on Sunday after a 2-0 win over Parma that saw Lautaro Martínez come off the bench in his return from injury. The Nerazzurri claimed their 21st league title, which puts them second all time, trailing only Juventus (36), and can win the domestic double if they defeat Lazio in the Coppa Italia on May 13.

🇩🇪 Bundesliga: Bayern continues to prove they are champions week after week, with the latest edition seeing them come back from 3-0 down against bottom-of-the-table FC Heidenheim to secure a 3-3 draw. The Bavarian giants brought on all three of Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Luis Díaz after halftime with their French forward bagging the equalizer in stoppage after a Leon Goretzka brace. Perhaps the weekend’s most riveting match, though, saw top-four hopefuls Stuttgart and Hoffenheim play to a draw that leaves both teams at 58 points along with Leverkusen in fourth. With two matches to play, all three clubs are level in the standings with only GD separating them.

🏆 Elsewhere in Europe: An ode to the ageless. Forty-year-old Lukas Podolski lifted the Polish Cup with Górnik Zabrze, ending a 54-year drought for the club, while in Portugal, 41-year-old Thiago Silva helped guide FC Porto to their first league title since 2022, where their post-match festivities included honoring the late Diogo Jota. The most exciting celebration from the weekend came from Bulgaria, though, as Levski Sofia claimed their first title in 17 years. Just look at the scenes from the Georgi Asparuhov Stadium.

Everton vs. Manchester City (TODAY, 3 p.m. ET, USA) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Following the Gunners’ victory, this contest has become even more important for Pep Guardiola’s side. Anything short of three points ultimately sees City’s quest for the domestic treble and Premier League glory take a massive hit. For the hosts at Hill Dickinson, European placement has faded in recent weeks, but ending the title dreams for Erling Haaland and Co. could mean just as much as a top-six spot for the Toffees’ supporters at their ground.

Fiorentina vs. Roma (TODAY, 2:45 p.m. ET, Paramount+) 🇮🇹

Though they’re not yet mathematically safe, it appears Fiorentina have avoided relegation after an astonishingly poor Serie A campaign. Paolo Vanoli’s men have bloomed into form in the spring, much like the Easter lily, but the faint tragedy of their Wes Craven-inspired fall campaign has them just past the brink of survival. In what may be his last European dance, Paulo Dybala will look to lead Roma to all three points, though, and if the Argentine talisman can do so, they’ll leapfrog Como into fifth with a one-point lead over Cesc Fàbregas’ side and three matches to play.

Sevilla vs. Real Sociedad (TODAY, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN+) 🇪🇸

Copa Del Rey winners Real Sociedad and their American manager, Pellegrino Matarazzo, will be in search of three points here as they aim for a top-six finish. A win would see them move from ninth to seventh in the standings, and they’d trail Celta Vigo in sixth by just a point. It won’t be easy, though, as Sevilla’s dire position – 18th and currently in a relegation spot – has them in desperate need of a win.

This week’s question: Which two Champions League-winning coaches have managed both PSG and Bayern Munich? (Clue: They’re each still coaching now.)

Email us with your answer for a chance to win a much-coveted MiB patch!

Last week’s winner: No one correctly answered that Leeds’ Aussie legend Mark Viduka and former Magpie Callum Wilson are the only two players in Premier League history to have scored eight goals in April. Better luck with today’s question!

👋 We’ll see you again tomorrow for the Champions League. In the meantime, keep sending your stories and questions to [email protected].

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