Tomorrow afternoon the media will bill the afternoon’s games between Arsenal v Manchester United and Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur as “Revenge Sunday” as both London based sides look to avenge thumping defeats by the two Manchester sides on the same day early this season. United beat Arsenal at home on August 28th 8-2 while City went down to North London and put 5 past Spurs who managed just 1 in reply.

In today’s Times iPad edition there was an article about how teams in the past have responded to a thumping defeat by an opponent in their next game against that team:  Read more»

At the time of writing, about 15 feet behind me on the television the build up to another Premier League game is underway. Not something you would imagine worth writing about, but just a moment ago the host of the show revealed that nine years ago to the very day, Arsenal were sitting top of the Premier League by five points, while Swansea, their opponents, were bottom by four . . . bottom by four of the then third division . . . the fourth tier of English football. Arsenal 1st in the country, Swansea 92nd . . . today they meet in the Premier League. Quite remarkable and proof if it were ever needed as to the positives of the promotion and relegation system.

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