Top Stories

Soccer Monday: Your Running Commentary

Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By DAN KARELL

The final weeks of the English Premier League are upon us and the battle for fourth place in the league between Everton and Arsenal is still going strong.

Arsenal can take another step forward on Monday afternoon as they host Newcastle (3 p.m., NBC Sports Network) in a huge late-season match that could determine whether the Gunners play UEFA Champions League soccer next season. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain misses out due to injury, but Arsene Wenger can rely on Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil to work their magic in midfield.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew returns to the bench and has picked a physically strong side to dominate the middle of the field.

In Italy, Juventus sit just four points away from clinching a historic third-straight Serie A title, and they face relegation-threatened Sassuolo today (2:45 p.m., beIN Sports USA) on the road. Even with a key match against Benfica on Thursday, Antonio Conte has picked a strong side that includes Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba, and Carlos Tevez.

If you will be watching today’s match, please feel free to leave your thoughts, some play-by-play and analysis in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

Comments

  1. 3-0 Gunners

    If Everton loses to Man City, Arsenal has the fourth slot wrapped up before they play again. Looking forward to the idea of Liverpool fans rooting for Everton next weekend…

    Reply
    • I’m rooting for Everton so Liverpool can win the title. Now, I just hope Arsenal doesn’t lose another game. It would be a win win for me.

      Reply
      • I would definately rather see Liverpool win than City or Chelsea!. Maybe Everton can draw City and Liverpool can win out. Serve both needs

  2. American Emerson Hyndman just scored for Fulham’s U18 to take the lead over Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup Final. 1st leg of 2

    Reply
  3. poor EVERTON. Poor Howard. He really deserved another season in the CL

    honestly how highly do u rate him? is he 1 of the best keepers in the league right now? How does he rank overall in the PL history? 1 of the top 10/15 keepers? how does he stack up against Friedel?

    if Friedel hadn;t received the bias against Yanks in his career, he’d have played for a top CL side. trust me

    Reply
    • Friedel at his peak was better.

      Not sure how I rate Howard in the league right now. He’s a great shot stopping and his distribution can be very good. He was prone to some footwork and positioninr errors early in his career but has gotten beyond that. He’s in the top third, I’d say. But I would listen to arguments for higher or lower…

      Reply
      • Is Cech the best or is he overrated?

        Tim Krul. Michel Vorm. The keeper at Sunderland is pretty solid. I don’t know much about the other leagues but the PL has some fantastic world class keepers even at relegation fodder clubs.

        IMO

        Cech, Hart, Krul, Howard, Lloris

      • I have never been completely convinced by Cech, but that is probably a matter of personal prejudice. I think your list is fair enough

      • de Gea can’t be excluded from this list. He has had his fair share of blunders, but they’ve been much less than last year, and he’s best in the EPL as far as pure shot-stopping for my money.

      • C’mon now, he’s the best keeper in the premier league! Lloris is pretty good as well but Timmie is tops for me!

    • As long as this isn’t one of those “tails of two halves” kind of games.

      I don’t think it’s going to be, but the soccer gods can be cruel.

      Reply

Leave a Comment