All articles by: Jools Jordan-Probert

France vs Wales – Friendly – Match Preview

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France vs Wales – Friendly – Match Preview – The first international break since the 2018 World Cup qualification process is upon us, as the teams going to the planet’s biggest stage begin their preparations for the showpiece event.

On paper, France are one of the hottest teams on the planet with players such as Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante, Raphael Varane and a host more.

Their strength in depth is frightening, and paired with the fact they so nearly won the last international tournament – losing 1-0 in the 2016 European Championships final to Portugal – makes them one of the strongest contenders to go one better in 2018.

Anthony Martial is likely to start against Wales Photo Credit: skysports.com

Didier Deschamps is under pressure to perform at the next tournament and with this squad at his disposal will be expected to sweep all before him; that begins with Wales on Friday in front of an expectant Stade de France crowd.

After a remarkable showing in the aforementioned tournament; Wales would have been hopeful of qualifying for their first (and only second in total) World Cup since 1958 – where they lost in the quarter-final to Brazil where a certain Pele scored the game’s only goal.

Heartbreakingly, but exhilaratingly so for the neutral, it all came down to the last game for the Dragons where they faced a Republic of Ireland team in exactly the same boat – win to reach the play-offs. Martin O’Neill’s side triumphed thanks to James McLean’s solitary goal to send the Irish faithful into raptures. This match will be about proving Chris Coleman’s men can still mix it with the big boys and that France 2016 was no flash in the plan, in preparation for the next qualification campaign.

Team News 

Deschamps has recalled Anthony Martial to his squad after the forward’s strong form for Manchester United this season and after mass fan clamouring, Lyon favourite Nabil Fekir is in line to earn his 10th cap for Les Bleus after a blistering start to the campaign.

There is no N’Golo Kante as the Chelsea workhorse recovers from a knock but there is a place for Florian Thauvin – the man who flattered to deceive at Newcastle has impressed selectors after returning to his native Marseille.

Bale’s injury woes continue Photo Credit: skysports.com

Chris Coleman will be without star man Gareth Bale yet again as the Real Madrid forward’s injury woes continue. West Brom forward Hal-Robson Kanu, Sunderland’s Jonathan Williams and Ipswich central midfielder Emyr Huws have also withdrawn from the squad – the quartet have been replaced by Tom Bradshaw, Lloyd Isgrove, Lee Evans and Ryan Hedges.

 

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Manchester City vs Arsenal – Match Preview

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Manchester City vs Arsenal – Match Preview – A massive Super Sunday clash sees table-topping Manchester City host Arsenal – with Pep Guardiola’s team seeking a ninth consecutive Premier League victory in distancing themselves from the rest of the pack.

City are undefeated in all competitions this season, scoring goals for fun and playing in an exhilarating manner – some of the best football in recent history is happening at the Etihad Stadium. 35 goals in just 10 games goes some way to demonstrating that. In fact, 21 of those have come at home for Guardiola’s men.

Already five points clear of closest challengers and local rivals Manchester United, City have cemented themselves as early season favourites to go on and claim the title – albeit with plenty of football still to be played.

With an array of attacking talents in the form of Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva, Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus and more it just seems impossible to stop such an irresistible force all playing at their pomp.

All the plaudits are not excessive but completely deserved, only three teams (including City) have taken 28 points from their opening 10 games and the other two sides to achieve such a feat (Chelsea 05/06 and Manchester City 11/12) both went on to win the league that year.

Over the past few years, Arsenal have established a reputation for crumbling against the better sides in what is seen as indicative of the problems at the club as a whole, a lack of leadership and resilience to get themselves over the line in such crucial fixtures.

Can Sanchez and Ozil cause damage to City this weekend Photo Credit: skysports.com

Saying that, The Gunners have only tasted defeat at the hands of City once in the last nine match-ups, so will undoubtedly come in without the notion of it being a foregone conclusion.
With Ozil and Sanchez seemingly back on-song following the 5-2 demolition of Everton, and coming back from behind to win 2-1 against Swansea last time out, Arsenal will believe they too have enough firepower to blow away any team on their day.

Arsenal are already nine points off the pace at the top and with Chelsea playing United in the game immediately after this one, a positive result will be needed to maintain touching distance with Champions League and title rivals above them.
A game full of fluid, expansive football is surely in store in what promises to be another advert for the brilliance of the Premier League.

Aguero has been sensational for City since joining the club Photo Credit: skysports.com

Player to Watch
Not much needs to be said about Sergio Aguero that hasn’t already been said – a world-class striker that guarantees goals and plenty of them – the Argentinian has again been in devastating form this campaign with nine strikes in ten matches, despite being second-choice to Gabriel Jesus. The 29-year-old will be buoyed after a fantastic week in which he not only helped his team beat Napoli 4-2 away from home in the Champions League but became the Manchester City all-time record goal-scorer, with his 178th for the club in remarkably, just 264 games. It would take a brave man to back against him bagging a whole lot more.

 

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Brentford vs Leeds Utd – Match Preview

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Brentford vs Leeds Utd – Match Preview – Leeds United face a tough test at Griffin Park when they face an in-form Brentford while trying to rectify their own fortunes.

The Whites have lost five of their last six matches, and six of their last eight, and have now dropped out of the play-off places after a very promising start to the campaign – two points below the resurgent Derby County but having played a game more.

Consecutive 2-1 home defeats to Sheffield United and Derby County have compounded a very poor run of form for Thomas Christiansen’s side and with the goal remaining to finish at least in the top six come May, an upturn in results starting against Brentford is paramount.

The Bees’ recent period could hardly be more different; undefeated in eight league matches and with three wins from the previous four games, Dean Smith is taking the London club in the right direction after what was a very sluggish start to the year.

Such as the incredibly narrow margins in the division though, just four points separate Leeds (23) in 7th with Brentford (19) in 15th.
Brentford have only lost once to Leeds in the last eight fixtures between the two sides and will be confident of taking a positive result again this time out.

Ollie Watkins has scored 5 in his last 7 games Photo Credit: skysports.com

Player to Watch

Much of The Bees’ recent improvement has been down to the form of Ollie Watkins – the 21-year-old has found the net in five of his last seven games and will be key should Brentford pick up another win. The approximately £1.8m transfer fee paid to Exeter City in the summer for his services seems to be proving an absolute bargain, bigger clubs will undoubtedly come sniffing for such an exciting talent should such a return continue.

 

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