Manchester United is going through a youth movement, while Arsenal is underdoing a transformation after seeing two starts live via transfer, but all that change isn't taking away from the drama that surrounds one of the better rivalries in Europe.
United will be the heavy favorite when the team's meet today, but Arsenal isn't likely to lay down and will have some confidence coming in after an impressive Champions League playoff victory at mid-week.
The current first-place team in England, Manchester City, will face a Tottenham side that suffered a bad opening loss against Manchester United last week. Spurs defense looked extremely vulnerable and will need a much better showing to avoid being ripped to shreds by Manchester City's dynamic attack.
In France, reigning champion Lille will take on fellow Champions League participant Marseille in the best Ligue 1 match-up of the young campaign.
If you will be watching today's soccer action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Today's TV Schedule is after the jump):
TODAY'S SOCCER ON TV
8 a.m. - Fox Soccer Plus/FoxSoccer.tv - Newcastle vs. Fulham
8:15 a.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Nottingham Forest vs. West Ham
8:30 a.m. - Fox Soccer Channel - Tottenham vs. Manchester City
10 a.m. - Fox Soccer Plus/FoxSoccer.tv - West Brom vs. Stoke City
10 a.m. - DirecTV - Athletic Bilbao vs. Rayo Vallecano
10:30 a.m. - ESPN3.com - PSV Eindhoven vs. Excelsior
11 a.m. - Fox Soccer Channel - Manchester United vs. Arsenal
11 a.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Stade Rennes vs. Caen
11 a.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Sochaux vs. St. Etienne
11 a.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Toulouse vs. Paris-St. Germain
12 p.m. - ESPN3.com - Mallorca vs. Espanyol
12 p.m. - DirecTV - Getafe vs. Levante
1 p.m. - Telemundo - Pumas UNAM vs. Cruz Azul
2 p.m. - GOLTV - Real Zaragoza vs. Real Madrid
3 p.m. - Fox Soccer Plus/FoxSoccer.tv - Lille vs. Marseille
4 p.m. - GOLTV - Sevilla vs. Malaga
6 p.m. - Fox Soccer Channel - Western New York Flash vs. Philadelphia Independence (WPS final – repeat)
7 p.m. - Azteca America/Fox Deportes - Morelia vs. Puebla
Landon’s missed 2 PKs with the Galaxy as long as I can remember.
Can’t recall the last time he missed for the US?
Sacha is like 26?
He doesn’t have a lot of time to improve, rather focus on guys like Josh Gatt, Mixx Diskerud, Fabian Johnson, Hurzeler from the U-20 he’s Bayern’s U-19 captain for crying out loud and also guys like Gil and other young guns from U-17 & U-20
I agree that the Premier League is overhyped a bit and I have plenty of issues with the financial situations of the clubs, but it’s simply not a two horse race like Spain. Recent years have seen Liverpool come in 2nd and whatever the reasons for Chelsea and Man City’s rise, they’re finishing in 1st and 2nd spots or have the potential for it in the case of Man City. Plus Man U of course. At this point, no one beyond Real Madrid or Barcelona has a chance at a title in Spain. I actually prefer La Liga in a lot of ways but it’s just a different situation.
How do you know the guy won’t get better? These kinds of comments piss me off to no end, because if Sacha gets better and becomes a good player, what then. Moreover, Sacha has only missed two penalties. Landon has missed penalties too.
im sry but i never wanna see sacha kljestian playing in a WC or final rd WCQ game again… this guy is a choke artist
Why do you keep bringing up Barca? Everyone is talking about EPL teams and one man rises from the rubble to speak udder nonsense about a team from a different league? Edwin in Louisiana is that man. Ha.
great way to start the season for madrid! come on villarreal, beat barca!
Well, NYRB did draw with Arsenal, and they’re not exactly lighting up MLS right now.
HIRE BOB BRADLEY!!!
He’s young and talented, but still adjusting to the EPL.
It’s week 3… sheesh.
+1
MB was benched at Gladbach before his loan “in the interest of exploring all options” according to the coach.
What do you know… they still ended up in a relegation position and lucked out. Looks like he wasn’t the only problem after all.
I do agree, he’s been a bit immature. Everyone here was in their early 20s at one point though, and if you aren’t that old yet, you have no business pretending you have such a mature stance on employment, duty, etc.
Wow. Just wow.
First off, ManU look seriously exciting this year. And I say that as a ManU-hater. Rooney plays for the team, and they don’t have an egotist like Cristiano Ronaldo who requires everybody else to play for *him*. Their play is team-oriented and LETHAL.
I hope Arsenal’s just bottomed out, because I’d hate to think of what could happen if this isn’t the worst for them. The sad part is, everybody in the big four leagues watched that demolition and knows that Arsenal was using 3rd and 4th stringers, and they know Arsene’s needs at the moment, so they’re gonna drive up the price on any players he wants. So much for a measured, economic approach.
With their talent, Arsenal’s too good to finish outside the top ten, but they have got A LOT of problems to fix if they want to qualify even for the Europa League, let alone the CL.
MLS stinks. Oh wait, that was Arsenal not Seattle.
perhaps, but we’ll never know. that’s what I know on it 🙂
but I hear you. with Van Persie at the tip of their sword, Arsenal can’t expect anything else to happen with composure fails like that, you know?
Yep…it’s time to move aside. What makes matters worse is that both Nasri, Clichy and Cesc are all now winning which makes them look like geniuses. It bad right now.
I’ve been a “Wenger Knows” type supporter throughout Wenger’s reign, but it’s time for him to go.
Wenger…making excuses…”we were missing 8 players”…yada yada yada…
Nani led the EPL in assists last season. Not really the mark of a selfish player.
He said in his twitter feed that his batter was about to die. Probably doesn’t have a laptop at the moment.
Sooooo is anybody else wondering if Ives is doing some major water scooping or trying to stay dry and above water and debris from Irene?
Surely he would of said something of City’s insane win and Manchester United’s dismantling of Arsenal?
You mean the way Manchester’s Daddy Barca dominated them?
yeah I agree, if RVP makes that PK, all bets are off and I doubt it’s shellacking of 6 goal victory, maybe a 3-1 or 4-1 at best?
It only changed when Chelsea and Man City got bought by billionaires. It was always Man U & Arsenal, I believe there was 1 team who won a Premier League in like 93?
It’s pretty much the same, there’s a little more competition from 3 on down, but only recently have there been like 4 or 6 teams in real position to challenge, it was almost always the big 4, even so I think EPL is still a bit over hyped
*first division
*Edit 1896, worst first team defeats were a few 0-7 losses between 1906-1927
Manchester United broke Arsenal’s record for defeat in the Premiership, the record was a 6-1 defeat by ManU in 2001, also I think it might of tied the record for most goals conceded. Their worst lose was ever was an 8-0 defeat I think back in the 1930’s.
Having been a supporter, Wenger is a major problem right now. There are no 2 ways about it. Total stubbornness not to alter tactics and his inability to buy quality is solely on him. This is not the 1st time his tactics have come back to haunt him…it’s just the most glaring example.
No…not harsh. As a 2 decade supporter, I’ve seen what has been lacking in this team for years.
-Wenger is incapable of altering his tactics and continually uses a 4-5-1 with RVP at the pt when he’s better suited as a withdrawn striker.
-Arsenal has lacked defensive grit and organization for the last couple of years and he’s done nothing to bolster the squad with depth.
-Arsenal HAS righted the books (financially). They are one of the few clubs with a huge cash surplus and minimal debt. There were no excuses not to buy quality this summer, but Wenger once again could not pull the trigger. Mata was all but signed and delivered, but Wenger lost him because he was haggling over a couple million lbs. The man simply won’t spend.
-Back to tactics…his teams have lacked defensive shape for years and have gotten exposed time and time again. Today was simply a school lesson.
-It’s a complete joke to say that the only reason they haven’t been finishing 6th or 7th is due to tactics. I’ve watched every game and can tell you that their tactics have COST them pts.
Yes…I’m emotional…but for good reason.
Stay classy T.
*Prefer not to sink too far into debt.
Sorry, typing fast.
To be fair, at least the horses in the English 2 horse race changes. In Spain, it’s Real Madrid and Barcelona every year.
aRSENAL GOT f**KED REAL NICE!! Took it like a b**ch!.
Agreed Eric…Arsene isn’t the issue…though I’m sure he’ll be made a scapegoat.
Van Persie makes that penalty, not so sure this is a 6 goal blowout?
Would of been what 1-1 in the 28th minute?
Oh well, can’t wait for Manchester Derby
Fire Wenger!1011011!lol