Monthly Archives: May 2020

Premier League and FA Cup Fixtures Confirmed!!!

We have waited patiently for the Premier League to resume following its abrupt suspension in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The coronavirus has been a worldwide terror with nations of the world going to their knees in their bids to fight the plague, but we have to use this moment to give a shoutout to those heroes that have been on the frontlines for all these while. Football took its own holistic approach to battling the pandemic and several features like Project Restart took centerstage, with the welfare and health of the players and staff being on the forefront of everyone concerned with the game.

The FA has confirmed that the Premier League will resume on June 17, 2020 with the games in hand taking priority. Manchester City were set to give Mikel Arteta a nice homecoming in mid-March 2020 but the Arsenal gaffer tested positive to the coronavirus, causing the club to cancel all fixtures and go into lockdown. There was also the Aston Villa vs Sheffield United Premier League fixture which was a game of massive importance to both sides. The Villans have been flirting with relegation waters while the Blades have set their sights on European football, which is no less than they deserve for their fearless style of play.

With the aforementioned games completed, all Premier League teams will be equal on 29 games, but from what I’ve read, we are in for a roller coaster ride of games. The Friday games will take place by 8.00pm, the Saturday fixtures will be on 12.30pm, 3.00pm, 5.30pm and 8.00pm. On Sunday, we will have fixtures by 12 noon, 2.00pm, 4.30pm and 7.00pm. When I say Friday, I mean, Friday, June 19, 2020. There will also be midweek fixtures on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday by 6.00pm and 8.00pm.

Brace yourselves fam!

There’s also the FA Cup to think about with the finals set for August 1, 2020 in the home of football, Wembley. The quarterfinals are scheduled to start on Saturday, June 27, 2020 with the semis targeted for July 11, 2020. Just in case you forgot, here are the quarterfinal fixtures to make your mouth water

Leicester City vs Chelsea
Newcastle United vs Manchester City
Sheffield United vs Arsenal
Norwich vs Manchester United

Sayonara

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Posted in Arsenal, FA Cup, Football, Premier League

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Tags: Arsenal, FA Cup, Football, Premier League

Project Restart: Clubs to Resume ‘Small Training’

May 19

Posted by enigma106

Mikel Arteta takes first Arsenal training session, and even moody ...

Arteta handling a training session

Project Restart has been on the ears of everyone associated with the potential return of Premier League football since its suspension on March 13. I for one, had to do a Project Restart of my own, with Gooner Daily not blogging for as long as I can remember. That defeats the purpose of being a daily blog you know, but hey, a man’s gotta do what he gotta do.

Haven’t missed much though with COVID-19 still taking center stage and robbing us off all we hold dear, with many people in the world battling the pandemic in more ways than one. Here’s to all the government agencies and medical folks doing their bit to keep us safe. You are the real heroes.

Moving back to football, it was heartwarming see football restart in Germany with the Bundesliga commencing last weekend. The fierced face kid, Erling Braut Haaland, picked up where he left off with a brace in Borussia Dortmund”s 4-0 victory over Schalke 04. While other leagues like the Ladbrokes Premiership, Ligue Un, Belgian Juliper League closing and declaring the league leaders as the competition winners, the English Premier League still harbors hopes of a potential return, hence the birth of Project Restart.

Project Restart is the moniker given to the Premier League’s attempt to restart the season that was halted abruptly by the Coronavirus pandemic that spread rapidly around the world. It showed its fierce face in the Premier League with Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, contacting it, probably from exchanging pleasantries with the Olympiakos president on that ill-fated Europa League night. Project Restart has seen many Premier League dignitaries meet each other on several occasions on several copies ranging from personnel safety to the best approach for the current situation on ground.

The first important step of Project Restart has taken place with all 20 Premier League clubs unanimously voting to resume training in small groups from today,

“Strict medical protocols of the highest standard will ensure everyone returns to training in the safest environment possible.

“The health and well-being of all participants is the Premier League‘s priority, and the safe return to training is a step-by-step process.

“Full consultation will now continue with players, managers, clubs, the PFA and LMA as protocols for full-contact training are developed.”

With Bundesliga restarting, hope has been restored that the Premier League can follow suit, but we have to remain cautious as the Coronavirus count in the United Kingdom is not encouraging – 246 thousand confirmed cases and 34,796 deaths.