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On Sunday 20 November 2022, the FIFA World Cup kicks off in Qatar with the hosts taking on Ecuador. The world will focus its attention on the Persian Gulf nation as some of the world’s best footballing nations fight it out for the ultimate prize.
But, before we head into the realm of world football, it must be made known that Arsenal sit top of the Premier League standings – and will do son on Christmas Day – the first time they have done so since the 2007-08 season.
The Gunners finished off the first part of the season with a 2-0 win over struggling Wolves at Molineux with a brace from captain Martin Odegaard. The North London club opened up a five point gap at the top thanks to an Ivan Toney brace at the Etihad Stadium as Brentford snatched a late winner to down champions Manchester City 2-1.
City’s defeat was their second of the season, after a surprise 1-0 defeat to Liverpool a few weeks back. That leaves Arsenal and Newcastle as the only sides with a single loss to their name. Surprisingly, Newcastle’s only defeat also came against Liverpool while Arsenal’s stutter was against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Newcastle finished strongly, beating Chelsea 1-0 at St Jame’s Park, inflicting a third straight defeat on Graham Potter’s side, and cementing third place on the log, just two points behind City, although having played a game more.
Spurs were lucky in their come-from-behind victory over Leeds at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, winning 4-3 to remain fourth while Manchester United secured their third win in five games to remain three points adrift of Spurs with a game in hand.
Elsewhere, Bournemouth piled more pressure on manager Frank Lampard as they beat Everton 3-0, Nottingham Forest surprised Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace 1-0 and Leicester won again, their fourth in five games, beating West Ham 2-0.
On Sunday Unai Emery secured his second-consecutive Premier League victory as Aston Villa overcame an early setback to beat Brighton at the Amex Stadium 2-1 while Man United needed a “Fergie-Time” goal from teenage sensation Alejandro Garnacho to secure a 2-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Boxing Day is going to be a cracker post-World Cup with leaders Arsenal hosting West Ham, battered and bruised City host a free-scoring Leeds while Newcastle face a tricky three and a half hour trip to the midlands to face a resurgent Villa.
On the predictions front, there were just three spot-on predictions with Woody – who had predicted 3-1 home wins for all matches (because he has become lazy) – and Chippy, both nailing Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Southampton while I managed to call Villa’s 2-1 triumph over Brighton correctly.
On the Fantasy front, most of our league had a blow-out but Plumstead FC and Crouch Potatoes are the only two sides which have not dropped any points to date. Woody dropped 12 points in one week but still managed to score 54 points while I remain the only poor sod yet to cross the 800-point mark.
Hopefully the World Cup break will allow my brain cell to rest and come back stronger after Christmas.
The next six weeks will see the #OneBallZACorner take a break but we will be bringing you the 2022 FIFA World Cup!
Look out for the #OneBallZA2022WorldCup!
