Arsenal plan to unveil Mikel Arteta: weekend football countdown – live! | Football

Albert Camus and t-shirts:

Tomorrow’s 3pm kick-offs are not the most exciting on paper. which is the pick of the matches?

• Aston Villa v Southampton
• AFC Bournemouth v Burnley
• Brighton & Hove Albion v Sheffield United
• Newcastle United v Crystal Palace
• Norwich City v Wolverhampton Wanderers

I think this is what they describe as a ‘healthy’ addiction.

Norwegian media reported this morning that Erling Haaland was on his way to Manchester for talks but Ole Gunnar Solskjær has quickly quashed that claim. “I know the boy and his friends and he’s on a Christmas holiday,” Solskjær explained in his pre-match conference.

MORE BIG NEWS! The Guardian’s top 100 male footballers of 2019 list is complete. Who has come top? Has Scott Carson made it in? Is this further proof that democracy does not work? Check out the list to find out and then shout into void your own view.

The big news we’ve all be waiting for in north London …

Defender Toby Alderweireld has signed a new deal with Tottenham which will run until 2023, the club have announced.

Newcastle could have two key players back this weekend after they missed out against Burnley. Miguel Almiron and Jonjo Shelvey are in contention to face Crystal Palace following hamstring and calf issues, respectively. Steve Bruce has a few injury problems, though.

“Almiron and Shelvey have a chance. They trained yesterday. As we speak at the moment, we haven’t seen them just yet, but they both seemed OK yesterday,” Bruce said.

“It’s still too early for (Allan) Saint-Maximin, and Ki (Sung-yueng) and Ciaran Clark are still struggling. Matt Ritchie and (Jamaal) Lascelles are not there either, but from what we had last week anyway, Almiron and Jonjo have got a chance.”

Arteta is an exciting gamble, says David Hytner.

Elsewhere in English football … Macclesfield were docked six points yesterday and their game with Plymouth tomorrow is currently in doubt.

Daniel Serridge asks: “I was wondering, will this weekend’s game between Everton and Arsenal be the first time both teams have new managers, as the cliche goes, ‘in the stands’ to watch their new clubs?”

I cannot remember a similar time. Can we think of a game when both managers have been caretakers?

There’s been plenty happening at Arsenal this week, including Mesut Ozil’s run-in with China. Eni Aluko wrote about speaking out:

Sky Sports News are going across the country, ground-hopping as they go. I offer similar commitment to Premier League press conferences by watching SSN while drinking coffee from London.

Chris from Stockport emails in a question: “Just wondering what you think made Arsenal think – other than desperation – that Arteta is more ready to be gaffer now than he was when they appointed Emery?”

Well … I think they panicked last time and did not want to take the risk, so went with a safer, more experienced pair of hands. Seeing as that was a massive failure, it’s time to take a punt on someone with potential.

After missing the semi-final victory over Monterray, Virgil van Dijk was seen as a doubt for the Club World Cup final but the Dutch defender trained briefly on Friday. Jurgen Klopp did send Van Dijk straight back to the team hotel after the media section of the session closed, meaning he could still be absent on Saturday. Van Dijk’s compatriot Georginio Wijnaldum was absent, though, so could miss out on the final.

Some top top rumours this morning.

Arsenal were supposed to hold their pre-match press conference yesterday but cancelled it at short notice due to the fact Mikel Arteta’s appointment will be confirmed later today. It is likely though that Freddie Ljungberg will be the man in the dugout when they face Everton, with Arteta in the stands.

While following this blog, you will probably be searching the internet for Christmas presents to purchase for people you have forgotten about or dislike. What is the worst football-related Christmas present you have ever received?

Barney Ronay has done the research to find out about the process of picking a new manager.

Good morning!

Today we can expect at least one major managerial appointment in the Premier League. Mikel Arteta will be announced as the Arsenal boss sooner or later (probably this afternoon). The Basque is heading into his first top job and will have a long to do list when he arrives at Colney. Players are looking restless and he needs to build a coaching staff in double quick time as Arsenal look to get back in the top six. Will he keep Freddie Ljungberg on? Will he cheer up Mesut Özil? Can we sort out the defence? We might start getting answers today.

Additionally, Carlo Ancelotti could return to England at Everton after plenty of time away in Spain, France and Italy. The Toffees host Arsenal on Saturday, meaning you could be forgiven for forgetting all the other games. Duncan Ferguson, admittedly, will definitely be in charge at the weekend, so we have one final game of the wristband at the helm.

In a match involving two managers not facing the sack, Pep Guardiola faces Brendan Rodgers as third play second on Saturday evening as the race to finish runners-up to Liverpool hots up.

Speaking of the Reds, they could become the best team in the world on Saturday night if they get the better of Flamengo in Qatar.

Lots to get through!