Brentford
Early Defensive Lapses Leave United Reeling After 45 Chaotic Minutes
At Gtech Community Stadium, United’s first 45 minutes were chaotic, conceding two early goals. More.
Ruben Amorim admitted in the build-up to Manchester United’s trip to Brentford that even he had no idea what kind of performance his side would put in. The first 45 minutes at the Gtech Community Stadium provided the kind of answers that will cause concern at Old Trafford.
Igor Thiago struck twice inside 20 minutes to put the Red Devils on the back foot. The opener followed Matheus Cunha being dispossessed and a lengthy clearance from Jordan Henderson that somehow found Thiago in space inside United’s half. He controlled the ball, drove forward and fired a left-footed shot in off the post with Altay Bayındır reportedly motionless. Bayındır’s starting position and Harry Maguire’s defending will both come under scrutiny; Maguire was the only defender in United’s half when the ball was launched and allowed Thiago to remain onside.
Bayındır was busy at the other end of the same period, denying headers from Sepp van den Berg and Nathan Collins as Brentford rose highest on two set-piece occasions. Minutes later, Matthijs de Ligt was caught out by another long ball. Thiago combined with Kevin Schade before the German’s pull back was flapped at by Bayındır and the former slotted reacted quicker than Luke Shaw to slide home.
The 4–0 defeat suffered by Erik ten Hag in August 2022 came flooding back into many people’s minds as United once again looked woefully inept. Luckily, they sprung into life to claw themselves back into the half. Summer signing Benjamin Šeško needed three bites at the cherry to finally blast past Caoimhin Kelleher from close range, the 22-year-old rifling into the net after what the match described as weak goalkeeping from the Irishman. Bryan Mbeumo’s presence was noted as enough to make the former Liverpool stopper barely get a glove on Patrick Dorgu’s cross.
Matheus Cunha later had an effort deflected wide as United finished the half with a more positive spell. Even so, the 13-time Premier League winners had shot themselves in the foot with lackadaisical, erratic defending. The goals conceded took the tally to 52 goals conceded from Amorim’s 33 games in charge, a number the club will view as unacceptably high for any realistic hopes of a top-half finish.
Arsenal
Premier League’s longest-serving managers and the rapid reset shaping 2026/27
A summer reset has left the Premier League with a long list of new managers and just one clear outlier.
The Premier League remains a ruthless place for managers, and the 2026/27 season begins with that reality clearer than ever. A summer of upheaval has left dugouts across the division occupied by a fresh wave of appointments, while one club is still waiting to name a new head coach.
At the top of the list, Mikel Arteta stands alone as the league’s longest-serving manager. Appointed by Arsenal on Dec. 22, 2019, he has outlasted every other current rival and remains comfortably ahead of the pack. Behind him comes Unai Emery, who has been in charge of Aston Villa since Nov. 1, 2022, followed by Daniel Farke, who took over Leeds United on July 4, 2023.
Further down the rankings, the turnover becomes even more obvious. Régis Le Bris and Fabian Hürzeler both arrived in July 2024, while Frank Lampard, David Moyes, Sergej Jakirović, Keith Andrews and Michael Carrick all joined their clubs during 2024 and 2025. The list then tightens further still, with a cluster of appointments made only months before the new campaign.
There are notable cases throughout. Roberto De Zerbi, hired by Tottenham Hotspur on March 31, 2026, sits just outside the top 10. Michael Carrick is inside it after first being named interim Manchester United boss in January and then permanently hired in May. At the other extreme, Álvaro Arbeloa is the latest arrival, taking charge of Fulham on July 7 after an unsuccessful spell as Real Madrid boss.
A number of other clubs have also changed course recently, including Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, Ipswich Town, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth. Over half the division has turned to new managers in 2026 if Newcastle United are included, with the club still yet to appoint Eddie Howe’s successor.
For now, Arteta remains the benchmark for staying power in a league that rarely gives managers much time.
Arsenal
Premier League clubs step up 2026/27 preseason with fixtures spread across the world
Premier League clubs are spread across Europe, Asia and the US in a busy 2026/27 preseason.
With the World Cup having only recently concluded, Premier League clubs are already deep into their 2026/27 preseason programmes. The calendar is tight, the travel is heavy and the purpose is clear: get players ready, test combinations and give new faces a chance to make an early impression.
Arsenal, the reigning champions, are among the later starters. Their first friendly comes on Aug. 1 against Girona in Catalonia, before further meetings with Real Betis, Borussia Dortmund and Como. They will then face Manchester City in the Community Shield at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Aston Villa have already opened with a 5-0 win over Walsall and continue across Europe and Asia, while Bournemouth began with a 4-1 victory against St. Pauli. Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion both have short schedules remaining, with each taking on European opposition in mid-August.
Chelsea’s first run under new manager Xabi Alonso takes them to Australia for matches against Western Sydney Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur, before trips through Hong Kong, Jakarta and Malaysia. Their final friendly is against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge.
Elsewhere, Everton have mixed early results and face a demanding route through Scotland, Germany and home soil before meeting Lille. Fulham also have work to do after a behind-closed-doors defeat to Norwich City. Hull City, Ipswich Town and Coventry City all have their own preparations mapped out, while Crystal Palace have already played twice and continue with fixtures in Italy and Germany.
Liverpool’s schedule includes a United States tour against Sunderland, Wrexham and Leeds United, followed by Monaco and two games against Como on Aug. 16. Manchester City are taking a lighter approach, starting with Inter in Hong Kong before facing the K-League All-Stars, Atlético Madrid and Arsenal. Manchester United, meanwhile, have already lost to Wrexham and beaten Rosenborg 5-0, with Atlético Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Leeds United and Milan still to come.
Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur also remain busy, with each club using these final weeks to sharpen up before the league begins.
Arsenal
Brentford’s renewed interest puts Arsenal at risk in chase for Jeremy Monga
Brentford challenge Arsenal for 16-year-old Jeremy Monga with July 10 contract deadline approaching.
Arsenal face increasing competition from Brentford in the pursuit of 16-year-old Leicester City winger Jeremy Monga this summer. The teenager has been described as a “priority target” for the Gunners as the club looks to consolidate after a summer of heavy spending that helped them become English champions for the first time in 22 years.
Reports in The Times suggest Brentford have “stepped up” their interest and that “formal contact” with the player is expected. Leicester’s relegation from the EFL Championship at the end of 2025–26, and the club’s start to the new season in League One, make Monga’s departure more likely, but there are important timing details that could shape any move.
Monga remains 16 until July 10. That is the date when he turns 17 and can sign a first professional contract with Leicester. If he signs after that date the Foxes can command and negotiate a transfer fee. If he leaves before signing a contract the club would be cut out of the negotiation and would only receive compensation determined by a tribunal under the rules for free agents in England aged 23 or younger, which could be considerably less.
Brentford believe they can offer the young winger more immediate senior opportunities than he might find at a larger club like Arsenal, a factor described as holding “appeal” for the player. There is always the chance that getting stuck on the fringes without consistent opportunities at a bigger club like Arsenal could stall his progress. The Bees can point to a record of developing young players who went on to higher profile moves, such as David Raya and Bryan Mbeumo.
For Arsenal, and for manager Mikel Arteta, missing out would represent a setback in a transfer area identified as a priority. Should Brentford secure Monga, it would shift the balance in a contest that remains time sensitive and highly consequential for all clubs involved. Were Arsenal to prevail, it would leave consequences for Ethan Nwaneri.
