The honeymoon period is over. Welcome to Arsenal, Unai Emery.
The weight of Arsene Wenger's tenure as manager of Arsenal was finally being lifted, and a new era was set to begin for the Gunners and their fans after a summer World Cup to distract from the transition. Emery entered the 2018-19 season with modest signings, mostly senior players, but an expected gem in Lucas Torreira.
After the Premier League schedule makers did the club no favors, everyone expected the campaign to start off with two losses against Manchester City and Chelsea.
The debate as to which footballer, at the height of their powers, reigned supreme will rage until the end of time. Pelé as a teenager? Diego Maradona at 26? O Fenômeno at 21? Take your pick and you’ll find more than enough evidence to support your claim.
But there’s never been anything like the consistent dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo into their 30s. Yesterday, Messi notched his 400th league goal for Barcelona, making him sole-member of the club for players that’ve reached that milestone for one club in Europe’s top five leagues.
The 2019 schedule for Major League Soccer — which will be its 24th season — was released Monday (including the MLS 2019 TV schedule on ESPN), with action beginning on March 2. There’s a lot to get excited about beginning with Day 1, including FC Cincinnati’s inaugural game (away to the Sounders at 10 p.m. ET on FS1), Wayne Rooney’s D.C. United hosting defending champion Atlanta (6 p.m.
Although we still have a few replays to settle, the FA Cup Third Round is pretty much done and dusted, giving us time to look at the darlings of the competition with 32 clubs remaining.
The usual favorites are all there — Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Spurs — but we also have three clubs that standout at the opposite end of the spectrum. Barnet, playing in the fifth tier, is the lowest ranked remaining club and the only non-League side left.