Ahmed Walid

There are 64 games at the World Cup in Qatar - The Athletic is going to rank them each day, which one will finish top?

There are 64 games at the World Cup in Qatar - The Athletic is going to rank them each day, which one will finish top?

Manchester City’s midfield setup in the Carabao Cup caused Liverpool problems and played a large part in Pep Guardiola’s side winning

Chelsea have many problems to fix. Now they need to add corners, defensive and attacking, to that list. And quickly.

Arsenal’s mastery of the cutback goal has become a key weapon for Mikel Arteta’s title-chasing team. Here’s how they do it

“I found out at five to five,” said ’s manager and club legend, Mick Harford, on the day the club got relegated to non-League in 2009. “I looked at the clock in the dressing room and said to the players: remember this time. Five to five on April 13. This is the rebirth of Luton Town Football Club.” Advertisement 14 years later, and after battling through the football pyramid, Luton became the first club to make a return to the top flight of English football after descending all the way down to n…

When faced Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates last May, it was that caused the main damage to Mikel Arteta’s side. And after the 3-0 loss, it was easy to forget the positives. In the first half of that game, Arsenal’s press disrupted ’s build-up numerous times. The pressing scheme Arsenal used is one that many sides have been using since the end of last season against Roberto De Zerbi’s 2-2 build-up shape, with minor tweaks here or there. Advertisement Changing a successful pressing schem…

In the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, the competition’s top goalscorer has played for the overall winners on 17 occasions. Looking back at those who have done that double, the names of Christopher Katongo and Emmanuel Mayuka (Zambia, 2012), Gedo (Egypt 2010), Francileudo Santos (Tunisia 2004) and Patrick M’Boma and Salomon Olembe (Cameroon 2002) come to mind. The last player to do it was Nigeria’s Emmanuel Emenike in 2013 — also the last time his nation won the AFCON. Coincidentally, ’s o…

If there’s one phrase to describe under Simone Inzaghi, then perhaps it’s ‘functional art’. In football, a successful mix of artistic displays and functional units is one that few sides in the world have achieved. That blend of knowing how to slice through an opponent’s press with fluid build-up patterns while still constructing an impenetrable defensive block is a difficult feat, but one this Inter side has mastered. Advertisement Add in their pressing ability, the way they progress the ball u…

Deciding which players should feature in a team of the season will always stir up debate. In the , there are multiple accolades to honour the players but the significance of the Professional Football Association (PFA) awards is that it’s voted for by professional footballers, who have competed against one another throughout that season. Advertisement The winning XI every year and the specific picks are open to interpretation, but looking at the bigger picture . In the early years of the Premier…