Jacob Whitehead, Anthony Hay and more
March 13, 2022 at 2:37 PM EDT
Welcome to The Athletic’s coverage of today’s football news.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned by the UK government over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The sale of Chelsea is still taking place, however, after the UK government gave the green light for talks to continue.
There’s plenty of Premier League football on offer, with five games kicking off at 14.00, including Chelsea’s first game at Stamford Bridge since Abramovich was sanctioned. Leeds also host Norwich in a game with major ramifications for the relegation fight.
Yesterday, a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick gave Manchester United a 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur, bringing United back into the race for the Champions League. Can they keep it up?
Arsenal, favourites for fourth, will need to avoid a slip-up at home to Leicester at 16.30.
Ahead of a busy weekend of football in Europe, we’ll bring you all the latest news as it happens.
(Photo: Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
March 13, 2022 at 2:37 PM EDT
Arsenal take another step towards Champions League qualification
Mikel Arteta’s side are striding towards a top-four finish as they beat Leicester 2-0 at the Emirates.
Goals from Thomas Partey and Alexandre Lacazette helped Arsenal to their fifth consecutive Premier League victory.
They have another two matches to play in the next six days, however, one that includes hosting Premier League title-challengers Liverpool and then a trip to Villa Park next weekend.
Ali Humayun·
Junior Editor, News
March 13, 2022 at 1:50 PM EDT
NEWS: Chelsea boss Tuchel willing to ‘drive a seven-seater’ to Lille due to travel sanctions
Jacob Whitehead
March 13, 2022 at 1:31 PM EDT
What is behind Mo Salah’s contract stand-off?
Written almost a year ago, little has changed since this article.
Si Hughes reports on Ramy Abbas Issa — the agent at the heart of matters.
Jacob Whitehead
March 13, 2022 at 1:10 PM EDT
NEWS: Newcastle non-penalty ‘makes a mockery of VAR’ — Eddie Howe
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe said the club being denied a second-half penalty against Chelsea “makes a mockery of VAR”.
Howe told reporters after the game: “I can’t look past the penalty, for me. I’m hugely disappointed with that decision and how they have reached that decision.
“Basically it’s a penalty, Jacob (Murphy) had his shirt ripped off his back near enough, goes down in the box, a clear penalty.
“Even if the referee doesn’t give it on the pitch, I can kind of understand that, but then VAR doesn’t give it and they should at least make the referee review his own decision because, if he does, he realises he’s got it wrong.”
For more on why the officials didn’t give the penalty, click here.
(Photo: Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
Jacob Whitehead
March 13, 2022 at 12:57 PM EDT
No kissing for Douglas Luiz
An unfortunate occurrence in the 2-1 defeat for the Brazilian.
Jacob Whitehead
Gerrard says Douglas Luiz will need some facial reconstruction after the foul (high boot) from Lanzini.
“It’s a mouth injury. He’s going to need some expert help. There will be no kissing for him tonight.
“I’m pleased he played on. That’s the type of character I want.”#AVFC
— Gregg Evans (@greggevans40) March 13, 2022
March 13, 2022 at 12:48 PM EDT
Where has Ronaldo scored his goals?
He became men’s professional football’s all-time leading goalscorer last night.
The 37-year-old has now racked up 807 goals while playing for Sporting Lisbon (five goals), Manchester United (136), Real Madrid (450), Juventus (101) and the Portugal national team (115).
Jacob Whitehead
March 13, 2022 at 12:13 PM EDT
Nearly time for Arsenal vs Leicester
The teams are out, and Brad Cox will be covering the game for The Athletic here.
A chance for Arsenal to assert themselves in the top four, with games in hand. A first Champions League appearance since 2016-17 is beckoning, perhaps?
Jacob Whitehead
March 13, 2022 at 11:59 AM EDT
FT scores
Five games done and dusted
Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle
Everton 0-1 Wolves
Leeds 2-1 Norwich
Southampton 1-2 Watford
West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa
Jacob Whitehead
March 13, 2022 at 11:55 AM EDT
Late winner for Leeds
Wow! Just after Norwich scored a leveller, Gelhardt has scored a winner thanks to brilliant work from Raphinha.
Massive win for Jesse Marsch.
Jacob Whitehead
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAL
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) March 13, 2022
March 13, 2022 at 11:48 AM EDT
A Chelsea winner?!
Majestic goal from Chelsea. They’re going to be two from two since news of the sanctions was announced.
Jacob Whitehead
A hammerblow for #NUFC. Absolutely magnificent ball from Jorginho, Havertz spins off Burn, controls & flicks past Dubravka.
Tuchel runs on to the pitch, in front of Howe, in celebration.#CHENEW
— Chris Waugh (@ChrisDHWaugh) March 13, 2022
March 13, 2022 at 11:42 AM EDT
Red card: Jonjoe Kenny
Things going from bad to worse for Everton, who are still 1-0 down.
A rash challenge from Kenny gets him a second yellow card.
Jacob Whitehead
March 13, 2022 at 11:35 AM EDT
Yarmolenko scores!
An amazing moment.
Jacob Whitehead
The striker starts crying as he celebrates.
West Ham announce “A goal for West Ham and Ukraine”
— Gregg Evans (@greggevans40) March 13, 2022
March 13, 2022 at 11:17 AM EDT
Andriy Yarmolenko features for first time since Russian invasion of Ukraine
He’s been given time off by David Moyes since the invasion on February 24, but returns to the field for Michail Antonio now.
Jacob Whitehead
March 13, 2022 at 11:11 AM EDT
Everton 0-1 Wolves
Is Conor Coady now prolific?
The Liverpool fan sends Everton into the mire, with Leeds and Watford both leading. Worrying times.
Jacob Whitehead
March 13, 2022 at 10:53 AM EDT
HT score updates
Not a bunch of classics (unless you’re a Watford fan!)
Chelsea 0-0 Newcastle
Everton 0-0 Wolves
Leeds 1-0 Norwich
Southampton 1-2 Watford
West Ham 0-0 Aston Villa
Jacob Whitehead
March 13, 2022 at 10:27 AM EDT
Leeds score first goal under Jesse Marsch
Rodrigo. 1-0 Leeds.
Some suggestion of offside in the build-up…
(Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Jacob Whitehead
March 13, 2022 at 9:59 AM EDT
NEWS: Chelsea being run ‘day to day’ following Abramovich sanctions — technical director Cech
Chelsea technical director Petr Cech has said the club is being run “day to day” after Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government.
Cech also said it was expected that Thomas Tuchel would honour his contract, amid speculation about the head coach’s future, but that “tomorrow the situation can change”.
Abramovich was hit with sanctions on Thursday morning by the UK government, with Chelsea protected by a government licence.
Described by the UK government as a “pro-Kremlin oligarch”, Abramovich has been sanctioned with an asset freeze and a travel ban.
Chelsea have been issued with a “special licence”, that is designed to allow the Premier League club to fulfil its fixtures and for “staff to be paid and existing ticket holders to attend matches”.
They are about to kick-off against Newcastle. Full story here.
(Photo: Niall Carson/PA Images via Getty Images)
Jacob Whitehead
March 13, 2022 at 9:43 AM EDT
ICYMI: The Chelsea fans who are glad Roman Abramovich is selling
“We are likely to hear Abramovich’s name sung at Chelsea matches for a long time to come.
“It will almost certainly happen when they face Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, when there is likely to be a form of fan protest.
“Some will be motivated by standard football tribalism, others perhaps a sense of anger towards English football and the British political establishment, who have spent much of the last 19 years telling them, even implicitly by their silence, that the Russian’s ownership of their club was OK.
“But whatever twists and turns remain in the final chapter of the Abramovich era, it will be worth remembering that not all Chelsea supporters feel the same about what has been and what is to come.”
Liam Twomey·
Chelsea Correspondent
GO FURTHER
The Chelsea fans who are glad Roman Abramovich is selling
March 13, 2022 at 9:17 AM EDT
Neymar booed upon scoring
That Champions League exit is not going down well…
PSG 2-0 up against Bordeaux as it stands.
Jacob Whitehead
Neymar scores for PSG and is met with a mixture of cheers and jeers ?
Extremely muted celebrations from the Brazilian and Lionel Messi… pic.twitter.com/xoNFye1Rc6
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 13, 2022
March 13, 2022 at 9:15 AM EDT
Five at the back for Newcastle
Jonjoe Shelvey and Joe Willick are both ill, The Athletic’s Newcastle correspondent Chris Waugh reports.
However, Allan Saint-Maximin is back in the squad on his birthday.
It looks like it could be a 5-4-1, with Almiron and Murphy out wide, then Manquillo and Targett as wing-backs.
Jacob Whitehead