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      in Soccer

      Shocking abuse Ivan Toney got for goal vs Arsenal is further proof social media must tackle despicable drivel-scribblers

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      IVAN TONEY scores! And an hour or so later despicable drivel-scribblers of whom a fair number populate social media are busy sending the Brentford striker some very nasty messages indeed.This is par for the course for the 26-year-old who has clambered through eight clubs before landing at the Bees where he has scored 57 goals in 98 games.
      Ivan Toney scored a controversial against ArsenalCredit: Getty
      He received abuse following the goalCredit: EPA
      In a wholly respectful society his record would be nationally embraced and yet it isn’t. And why? Because he’s black — and racism is a disgusting social disease.
      But hold on. This may be substantially true, although not entirely in football.
      Harry Kane is not black and yet the Spurs striker headed a list of verbally abused players in England’s World Cup squad in Qatar. And that was before he missed the penalty against France.
      After that his phone and laptop must have squealed for mercy.
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      So these social abusers appear to enjoy three football targets most — a failing on the pitch, vengeance and black players.
      Toney was guilty of scoring the goal that led to Brentford’s away draw against Premier League leaders Arsenal, possibly a turning point in the race for the title.
      I can understand why Gunners fans were enraged at the eye-boggling VAR error in missing a clear offside that instantly led to Toney’s headed goal but, innocent chap Toney, was only doing his job.
      For what might be called a late-starter, the Cobbler wasn’t really successful until a spell at Peterborough that led to him being sold to Brentford for £5million — rising to £10m.
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      Now he’s an England international. A story of try, try and try again, which should be admired and yet abuse continues to roll in.
      A man from North Shields has already been charged with sending him a hate message in October.
      Now Brentford are determined to chase down another keyboard crackpot, as they should.
      It’s hard to believe that even at the group stage in Qatar, no fewer than 1,546 tweets of abuse were received by England’s team, 205 of them concerning race, gender or sexuality.
      The little bit of good news was the number is drastically down on the 2020 Euros, where there was 3,000 alone in the hours that followed the three missed penalties in the final against Italy.
      Twitter, Instagram and Facebook say they have introduced plans to delete the hate mail around football but their achievement rate is only one-star at best. It should be a five-star priority.
      A new government Bill, if passed by April, is designed to protect kids but not really adults.
      But every generation should be protected because some of the filth, curses and threats I am only too aware of have no place in any society.
      These offences should be regarded as criminal aggravation and top footballers, their families too, are major victims.
      Racial comments made among match-day crowds are not acceptable either although the two Erics, Dier and Cantona had a simple way of dealing with them.
      Read More on The Sun
      So angered by remarks they jumped into the terraces to sort out offenders. Cantona actually aimed a kick at one of them — not wholly to be recommended.
      Nevertheless, Kick it Out is a great anti-discrimination campaign and clubs should be admired for sticking with it. More

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      in Boxing

      Colin Hart: Boxing chiefs must get tough on trash-talking… Liam Smith deserves a stiff penalty for unsavoury Eubank row

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      BOXING has now given Liverpool another Fab Four who rival The Beatles in bringing pride and glory to the people of Merseyside.Brothers Paul, Stephen, Liam and Callum Smith — with a mixture of skill, courage, dedication and integrity over the last 20 years — have brought nothing but honour to themselves, their city and their sport.
      Chris Eubank Jr wore a rainbow armband in response to Liam Smith’s commentsCredit: PA
      Between them, they’ve won British, Commonwealth, European and world titles and dozens of championship belts.
      Having interviewed the conquering quartet many times they have always shown the utmost respect for their opponents.
      That is why I found it so shocking Liam — completely out of character — tarnished his impeccable reputation by attacking Chris Eubank Jr with homophobic insults at a press conference before their fight last Saturday.
      Liam soon realised he was way out of order and had the good grace and sense to apologise profusely for his remarks.
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      The 34-year-old former WBO world light-middleweight champ said: “I apologise to anyone offended by what I said — I’m not homophobic in any way, shape or form.”
      Eubank Jr allowed himself to be provoked and retaliated with obnoxious accusations of infidelity by his rival.
      At least after Smith had blitzed his way to a shock fourth-round win they ended up hugging each other in the ring to put their unacceptable behaviour behind them.
      But that does not mean this particular unsavoury episode is over.
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      The pair have been summoned by British Boxing Board of Control stewards to appear before a disciplinary hearing next month.
      When Tyson Fury previously faced a similar charge for a repulsive rant at a press conference he got a hefty fine.
      And although Liam has not stepped out of line before in a 15-year pro career he also deserves to receive a stiff penalty — if only as a deterrent to others.
      It is about time the Board got tough with fighters over this modern trash-talking trend that seems to be getting increasingly out of hand.
      Promoters and TV executives love it as they feel that kind of provocative behaviour increases ticket sales and pay-per-view buys.
      Yet it has been the case that if a fight is attractive enough it will still sell out before either boxer has said a word.
      PAY-PER-FRUSTRATED-VIEWS
      There appears to be a growing resentment among fans about the increase in the number of fights that can be seen only on PPV — many with no justification.
      A recent letter in Boxing News from a Chris Kyle summed it up.
      He wrote: “I’m at a loss to justify why I’m paying Sky and BT £20 per month for 30 days of sports in the hope that they may show at least one decent boxing show that comes included with my subscription fee.”
      Referring to the non-title clash between Smith and Eubank Jr that cost £19.95 on Sky Sports PPV, he added: “With the greatest respect to both fighters, this is hardly a battle the world has been crying out for.”
      But as it turned out the majority who paid no doubt thought they had got value for their money as they saw a surprise upset and a spectacular knockout.
      It’s interesting unbeaten Artur Beterbiev — one of the world’s elite fighters who has won all his 18 fights by KO — defends his WBC, IBF and WBO world light-heavyweight titles against Anthony Yarde tomorrow.
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      It is live on BT yet it isn’t on PPV, so that will certainly please Mr Kyle.
      Brit Yarde must be given the proverbial puncher’s chance but Russian-born Canadian Beterbiev is a massive 1-8 favourite and everything points to the Ilford man being another of our gallant losers.
      Both men showed class after the fight but the story is not over yetCredit: Reuters More

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      in Soccer

      Frank Lampard is on the brink of the sack… but who would want the Everton job with Moshiri and Kenwright in charge?

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      IS THERE anyone at Everton who is not on the brink?Boss Frank Lampard is on the brink of the sack.
      Frank Lampard is battling to keep his job as Everton managerCredit: Getty
      Owner Farhad Moshiri is on the brink of hiring a fifth manager in as many years.
      And the suffering Toffees fans are on the brink of giving up hope they will avoid relegation.
      They have gone eight Premier League games without a win — losing six.
      The latest — a 2-0 defeat away to fellow strugglers West Ham — leaves them joint bottom, only in 19th thanks to a marginally better goal difference than Southampton.
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      The most frightening thing for Everton fans is that those in charge are both devoid of answers.
      There seemed to be a mini post-match competition between Lampard, Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright: Who could utter the most obvious or useless phrase?
      Lampard went with: “The solutions aren’t easy.”
      Kenwright said: “We’ve just got to start winning.”
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      Moshiri then admitted Lampard’s future is “not my decision” to make.
      Everton supporters are fed up to the back teeth with the ineptness that sees their club free-falling towards the Championship.
      Don’t forget, this is a club that was last relegated in 1951.
      The new £500million stadium could be welcoming lower league sides when it opens at Bramley Dock next year.
      And the civil war between the fans and board has seen death threats, vandalism and Goodison sit-in protests.
      Banners in the packed-out away end at the London Stadium on Saturday summed it all up, from “A board full of liars” to one that read “To hell with Kenwright and Moshiri too”.
      For once, Moshiri had full sight of these, attending his first Everton game since October 2021.
      It was an appearance that has thrown up more questions than answers.
      GOODISON IN BAD WAY
      Was he there to gaze over Lampard’s flailing side in the flesh before making his decision on whether to swing the axe?
      The irony is that due to their financial restraints, it would be cheaper not to sack him.
      But fans would argue the cost of relegation would be far greater.
      And who would take on this circus of a potential career-ending job anyway?
      There are those that point to Sean Dyche, a man who knows a thing or two about survival.
      He has made clear his desperation to prove himself at a top club after overachieving with Burnley, but Everton are barely in that category anymore.
      Lampard has his critics but there are not many coaches who could do better with this current squad.
      Richarlison was never replaced. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is injury prone. Seamus Coleman’s legs went years ago.
      And this motley crew are now expected to perform miracles in their next two league games against leaders Arsenal and Mersey foes Liverpool.
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      Lampard said: “We are trying to rebuild. That doesn’t mean you start climbing the stairs straight away. It means you have to dig in.”
      For now, he is digging in his fingernails to keep hold of his job, as is the club to their top-flight status.
      Owner Farhad Moshiri (second left) and chairman Bill Kenwright (right) were in the stands at West HamCredit: PA
      Fans in the away end showed their anger towards the club’s hierarchyCredit: Reuters More

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      in Soccer

      Arsenal vs Man Utd is the biggest game in English football again… both Arteta and Ten Hag have worked miracles

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      THE more things change, the more they stay the same.And after the best part of 20 years off the top of the agenda, Arsenal versus Manchester United is the biggest game in football once again.
      Mikel Arteta and Erik ten Hag have led sensational revolutions at their clubsCredit: Getty
      All of a sudden, this means more.
      Two clubs who feared their time as the eminent forces in England was over have revived their rivalry to slug it out for a Premier League title which has eluded them both for far too long.
      And up in the directors’ box, 81-year-old Sir Alex Ferguson was relishing the sight of two old adversaries absolutely refusing to take a backwards step.
      It is almost ten years since the most successful manager in British history retired but, on occasions like this, you still can’t keep him away.
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      And he was by no means the only enthralled onlooker perched on the edge of his seat.
      In fact, it is hard to think of a time when the Emirates has ever been this loud since it first opened its doors back in 2006.
      You could argue the Arsenal fans haven’t had a great deal to cheer about during that time, so have spent most of those years arguing among themselves.
      But suddenly they are all singing from the same hymn sheet in praise of ‘Super Mik Arteta’ and it’s hard to believe the positive effect their backing has had on the team.
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      The Arsenal boss has worked tirelessly to get those fans on board and was at it again here, dancing up and down the touchline like a man possessed.
      Even a 32nd-minute yellow card for demanding a booking for Luke Shaw couldn’t curb his enthusiasm — or keep him within the confines of his technical area.
      He was so close to the action he was almost blocking United throw-ins at times as he urged his players on to greater efforts.
      But he’s not the only one having a transformative effect on his team, because Erik ten Hag is working a similar miracle at Manchester United.
      This last-gasp defeat effectively ends their title challenge for another year but does not detract from the speed with which Ten Hag has turned United into a credible force again.
      Just like Arteta, he was constantly in the ear of fourth official Andre Marriner over every contentious decision as this game swung from end to end.
      And the way he has got his players throwing themselves into every challenge and defending as though their lives depended on it, suggested that the days of them being a soft touch at the back are well and truly over.
      In the end, it still wasn’t enough, as a second last-gasp goal conceded in four days left them down and out.
      And maybe Ten Hag will now be regretting his decision to send on Fred for Antony for the final 20 minutes to try to protect a point, rather than going for a late winner.
      Yet this Arsenal team has become so proficient at taking it right to the death that there is very little any opponent can do to stop them right now.
      The bad news for the chasing pack is that they are only going to get better after bolstering their squad this month with the signings of Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior.
      Trossard enjoyed a late cameo off the bench while Polish international Kiwior was watching from the stands ahead of this morning’s medical to seal his £22million move from Spezia.
      Arteta has been given the green light to spend because Champions League qualification is now a virtual certainty after six years out of Europe’s premier competition.
      This result leaves them 17 points ahead of fifth-placed Spurs with a game in hand and a scarcely believable 21 clear of Liverpool and Chelsea.
      Read More on The Sun
      United still have work to do to cement their top-four status but will take heart from the knowledge they have caused more problems for Arsenal than any other team this season.
      And that is quite some achievement. More

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      in Soccer

      Troy Deeney: Trust me, black footballers are genuinely furious at John Yems, I can’t deal with someone so ignorant

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      I DON’T think I’d ever heard of John Yems before this week and, frankly, I hope I never hear his name again.I’ve never met the former Crawley Town manager and hope I never do.
      Troy Deeney has revealed black footballers are genuinely furious over an FA Commission’s findings in the John Yems caseCredit: Getty
      I don’t mean that in a threatening way, I just don’t think I could deal with being in the company of someone so stupid and ignorant.
      Yems, 63, was banned from football for 18 months this week for 12 aggravated breaches of FA rules on discrimination.
      He was found to have referred to some of Crawley’s black and Asian players as “curry munchers”, “terrorists” and “Zulu warriors”, along with other slurs.
      I’m in a WhatsApp group with several prominent current and former black footballers — including some of the biggest names in the game — and I’ve rarely heard such genuine fury from them than the response to the Yems case.
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      Because while an FA commission banned Yems, they limited his punishment, stating that he is not a “conscious racist”.
      That was a profoundly embarrassing and worrying thing for the FA’s independent commission to state.
      There is a lot of genuine anger about it, believe me.
      If those insults do not constitute conscious racism, I honestly don’t know what does.
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      Does someone have to dress up in a Ku Klux Klan outfit to be deemed a “conscious racist” because that is how it feels to me and a lot of black players.
      Put it another way, how many conscious racists do you know — people who’ll say, “Yes, I’m a racist”? Very few.
      When someone starts a sentence with, “I’m not being racist but . . . ” you know what’s coming next.
      Or, “How can I be racist when I’ve got black friends?” That’s always a good one.
      Yems then went on talkSPORT on Thursday and was interviewed by Jim White.
      He sounded unrepentant, even claiming HE should be receiving apologies.
      When I heard that interview, my initial thought was that the station shouldn’t have given him the platform — although if I was still working for talkSPORT, I know I’d have wanted to grill Yems and challenge his views.
      Yes, Yems will have received criticism.
      But a lot of people will have been happy and proud to hear Yems spouting his nonsense because they will feel it has added justification to their own offensive views.
      If you are going to have Yems on the radio, trying to make himself sound like some kind of victim, then we really should hear from the actual victims.
      Some of these players who were bullied by Yems say their careers have been wrecked by him.
      We cannot imagine the toll this sort of behaviour might have taken on their mental health.
      People in football make the right noises about racism but this Yems verdict makes me feel everything is going backwards.
      The England team and the manager Gareth Southgate, have been very strong on taking the knee as an anti-discrimination message at the start of matches — even despite opposition from some Three Lions supporters.
      But then something like this happens, under the auspices of the FA, and there is horror and disbelief among black players.
      We still feel we are at the bottom rung when it comes to tackling discrimination.
      Controversy has also come from a chant about Wilfried GnontoCredit: Rex
      There has been another recent racism controversy, surrounding the 19-year-old Leeds winger Willy Gnonto and a song from his club’s fans which includes the line, “his c**k’s f***ing massive”.
      There have been similar chants about black players before.
      Leeds and their manager, Jesse Marsch, have been outspoken in trying to educate people that the line is based on an offensive racist stereotype and have asked supporters to adapt or scrap the song.
      But when Gnonto scored a wonder goal against Cardiff in their FA Cup third-round replay on Wednesday, the song was sung again.
      I find the levels of stupidity unbelievable — the idea that 40,000 people can get together, in 2023 and decide that singing a song like that is a good idea.
      Talking of stupidity, the incident where Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale was kicked by a Tottenham fan after Sunday’s North London derby was also troubling.
      Especially the idea that Ramsdale somehow provoked the incident by kissing his badge after the final whistle.
      Ramsdale had been taking stick, so he gave a little back.We don’t want players to have to act as robots.
      We should be able to show a little passion but now it feels that, by doing so, we’re risking our safety.
      I hope the Spurs fan is given a punishment which affects his everyday life, such as a football banning order.
      It seems part of a growing culture of supporters feeling they are entitled to invade the playing area — a fan ran on during Wednesday’s Crystal Palace v Manchester United match and took a selfie with Red Devils midfielder Casemiro.
      Again, it’s that worrying sense of entitlement — and stupidity.It’s been one of those weeks where you despair for football and wider society.
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      The only positive thing I’ve heard is that when my Birmingham side play Preston today, referee Rebecca Welch will become the first woman to take charge of a Championship fixture.
      That’s one step in the right direction in terms of equality.But the Yems case shows that, in other areas, we still have a hell of a long way to go. More

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      in Soccer

      Karren Brady: Premier League is UK’s most enviable asset but its success is rooted in competition.. it must remain elite

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      IN the eyes of most of the world, the most enviable thing in Britain is the Premier League.It beat the BBC, our universities, Rolls-Royce and many other famous institutions in a recent ‘Icon Index’.
      The Premier League has been named UK’s most Iconic exportCredit: Getty
      Elite competition has helped the Premier League become one of the most enviable assets in the UKCredit: Getty
      I can’t say I’m taken aback and it comes as no surprise either that foreigners want at least a piece of it. Some want whole chunks.
      EFL leaders are at the head of the Oliver Twist-like pleas for “more please” — although their “please” is not all that audible, not even a whisper really as some practically regard it as a right.
      They’ve made demands so loudly and so often the government is now convinced football needs an independent regulator, a sort of deity who divvies up Prem cash even more than it currently is.
      Let’s not forget the Prem already gives away over 15 per cent of gross revenue — a whopping £1.6BILLION over the next three years. No other industry or sporting organisation in the world does that.
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      I’m not against a bigger share as such, provided EFL clubs introduce stronger financial regulation based on sustainability.
      On average, Championship clubs spend 100 per cent of turnover on wages, so they are all loss-making!
      But experience of government interference in controversial matters only promises more confusion and anger.
      It is like VAR dealing with handball in the box — sound on paper but baffling in practice.
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      Big-money clubs in Europe want a bigger share of Prem pie, too. Hardly a surprise.
      They look at our £10bn revenue last season and, of even more concern to them, evidence this week from a Deloitte report on football finances that showed 11 Prem clubs are in the world’s top 20 earners and Manchester City now lead with £619m revenue from the 2021-22 season.
      Fifa must froth at the mouth at these figures and takings at major clubs across the whole of Uefa.
      They dressed up resentment in terms of needing more money to spread the gospel of football across all 211 members worldwide.
      This poses as another laudable objective but Fifa territories include countries who must have more pressing priorities than posh HQs and smart cars for representatives?
      Some of us, well the English of us, have concerns about the increase of foreign players and managers, irresistibly tempted by the Prem.
      There is at least one first-team squad with only three English players.
      As for owners, 13 of the 20 clubs have no English representation and this surely will increase as Middle East and American interest in the massive turnovers increase.
      Even last season bottom club Norwich earned £100m before they received £44m in one of three parachute payments.
      There’s a “demand” parachute payments are drastically cut, but these calls are from people who do not understand football finance.
      It is simple. If you’re promoted and want to try and stay in the Prem you must spend big on players, and therefore on players’ salaries.
      And if you get relegated you cannot simply walk away from their contracts so you need the parachute payment to pay for the heavy burden of these salaries when you have to rely on reduced earnings in the EFL after you go down.
      Without it, relegated clubs go into administration, or worse, bankrupt.
      If you cannot count on parachute payments, you cannot take on new players’ contracts in the Prem.
      That means you will not only be uncompetitive and likely relegated, you will contribute nothing to the competitiveness of the division.
      If you roll that movie forward — how long before there is a call to cut the 20 clubs to 18, on the basis the promoted ones are contributing little or nothing to the league?
      Money also seemed to be on the mind of Javier Tebas, the head of La Liga, who this week moaned that the Prem’s spending in the transfer market — £1.92bn last summer — is unsustainable.
      If he takes a closer look he will find the secret of the Prem’s success lies in high-class competition, with 97 per cent capacity crowds, a global audience of 4.7 billion people — and they can’t all be wrong!
      Read More on The Sun
      The trick, and the government would be wise to remember this, is to ensure the English top-flight remains as strong as possible.
      It must be as competitive as possible so that it can continue to step in and help the charities, the EFL, the FA, grassroots, the PFA and endless other good causes for many years to come. More

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      in Soccer

      Harry Redknapp: Fighters Xhaka and Partey are Arteta’s Vieira and Petit… and will be key to Arsenal beating Spurs

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      WHEN you think of those great Arsenal sides of the past, some of the greatest names to play the game come to mind.Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp are the obvious two, although there were so many others that you are spoiled for choice.
      Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey are fast-emerging as one of the most important midfield pairings in Arsenal’s Prem historyCredit: Reuters
      The Gunners’ most famous link-up in the middle was Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit, who helped them win the Double in 1997/98Credit: Action Images – Reuters
      Everyone remembers the fantastic football they played, how they would rip sides to shreds with their brilliant passing game.
      Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit were magnificent in the Gunners’ midfield and then Cesc Fabregas and Gilberto Silva after them.
      All great players and, although you don’t immediately think of Arsenal as a team of scrappers, up for a battle with anyone who fancied it.
      If things turned rough, those midfielders were all willing and able to fight against the best of them.
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      They didn’t lose many, either, and you can add Ray Parlour to that list, as well.
      And that is  the thing you get with all the great teams.
      They can all turn on the style but you need to have a bit of a snarl to your game as well.
      Well, there have been plenty of Arsenal sides since those glory days under Arsene Wenger who have played great football.
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      But when it got a bit nasty and they needed to roll up their sleeves, too often heads went down instead and they would be outmuscled.
      It has been their undoing so many times over the years.
      So when Arsenal went top of the Premier League table in August, most of us thought it was only a matter of time before things went belly up again.
      Only this season there is no sign of that happening.
      Mikel Arteta has got such a great blend that nobody is asking if they’re the real deal any more, as we  can all see that they are.
      Their football has been right out of the top drawer, with Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka magnificent down the wings, while Martin Odegaard is just  having a simply sensational season.
      But while they have the magicians — and none bigger than Odegaard — this time they’ve also got the dogs of war.
      And that could be the crucial thing that gets them over the line.
      Because while Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey might not win prizes for midfield style and sophistication, they have played as big — or maybe even bigger — part than most.
      Arsenal playmaker Martin Odegaard is having a ‘sensational season’Credit: Getty
      Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry formed a brilliant attack in front of Patrick Vieira and Co, but the current Gunners are exciting tooCredit: PA
      Both of them are real fighters — big, strong, powerful and aggressive — like a couple of minders taking care of the ball players around them.
      There’s no messing about, they just steam in, break things up, win the ball and then give it to others to make things happen.
      Partey looks the player we always felt he was, while Xhaka has gone from someone his own fans hated to someone they love.
      You’ll see how important they are in today’s North London derby because Tottenham will be right up for it — and any side with Harry Kane in it always has a chance.
      While Arsenal have the magicians — and none bigger than Odegaard — this time they’ve also got the dogs of war.Harry Redknapp
      But if Xhaka and Partey get on top in the middle, then I think those wingers will give Spurs’ full-backs a really tough afternoon.
      I can’t see Arsenal leaving with anything less than a draw, and  maybe three points, with how they’re playing.
      The bookies still make Manchester City title favourites and, obviously, when they’re in full flow they can mow down anyone.
      But they’ve also had a few bad performances this season, with a shock cup defeat at Southampton and league loss at Manchester United yesterday.
      Brentford went to the Etihad and won, Everton got a point there on New Year’s Eve and City are  well capable of chucking in the odd bad one.
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      Arsenal and City still have to play each other twice in the league and it could be a different story after that.
      But it’s definitely the Gunners’ title to lose  — and this time nobody sees it as only a matter of time before they do. More

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      Harry Redknapp: I love the magic of the FA Cup… but it has stung me as both a player and manager

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      THERE are some games that live with you forever — and this weekend always brings back loads of memories for me.But the way the FA Cup is treated these days, I doubt many current players will look back on the competition with the same affection once they’ve retired.
      Harry Redknapp looks back on his FA Cup memories as a player and managerCredit: Splash
      Harry Redknapp’s West Ham was eliminated by Wrexham in 1997Credit: Getty
      The third round was always one of THE big days of the year.
      And the draw itself wasn’t too far behind either.
      I was in a West Ham side that had three World Cup winners in Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters.
      But even though they’d won the biggest competition of all, they would be crowded round the radio with the rest of us to find out who we had drawn.
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      There were times we’d rush back into the dressing room from training, still in our kit and caked in mud, before tuning in. It was such a big deal.
      And there was certainly no way any manager would even consider playing a weakened team. That was just unheard of.
      In fact we’d have special FA Cup training weeks. We would go to Southend for a couple of days and have a walk on the beach to prepare for a game that was always very special.
      I’m not talking about the final here — this was the early rounds. And any changes were because of injuries — everyone wanted to play.
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      West Ham were also knocked out by Mansfield in 1969 with Redknapp on the teamCredit: Mansfield Town Football Club
      It was just magical, even though I was on the wrong end of a few shocks.
      West Ham — with Hurst, Moore, myself, Billy Bonds, Frank Lampard Snr and the rest — were beaten by Mansfield in a game that was snowed off FIVE times.
      That particular nightmare in early 1969 became known as ‘The Miracle in the Mansfield Mud’ — but sadly it wasn’t the only giant-killing I was involved in.
      In January 1997, I was West Ham manager when Wrexham came to Upton Park and broke our hearts with a 90th-minute winner from Kevin Russell.
      Then two years later we lost a third-round replay 1-0 away to Swansea, then in the lowest division, after a 1-1 draw at our place.
      If there are any shocks these days you always hear the excuse, “Oh, they played a weakened team”.
      Well, I’m sorry, but I’m just not having it.
      At the start of each season, how many teams have a genuine chance of winning the Premier League? Three or four at best. Sometimes only a couple.
      If there are any shocks these days you always hear the excuse, “Oh, they played a weakened team”. Well, I’m sorry, but I’m just not having it.Harry Redknapp
      By the time the FA Cup starts of course some will be fighting to stay up and I can understand why that is the priority with all the money involved.
      But the majority pretty much know they are safe, so why not have a go for a trophy? Most of them don’t — and it will be the same this weekend.
      If you’re, say, Brentford, Fulham or Aston Villa, this is your chance to win a pot.
      When I was at Portsmouth in 2008, we knew we weren’t going to win the league but were seventh or eighth in the table and gave the FA Cup a right good go.
      We played our strongest team in every round, beat Manchester United at Old Trafford on the way to the final and ended up winning the thing!
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      It was one of the greatest days in Portsmouth’s history, one of the best in my career and gave us memories none of us will ever forget.
      There’s a lot that has changed for the better over the years but the FA Cup definitely isn’t one of them — and, sadly, I can only see it getting worse. More