Premier League: Boxing Day programme

After a 44-day break due to the World Cup, the Premier League is the first of the major European championships to resume on Monday with the traditional and long-awaited ‘Boxing Day’, which could allow leaders Arsenal to extend their lead.

At the top of the Premier League (37 points), 5 points ahead of the first pursuer, “Manchester City”, “Arsenal” is not thinking about the highest title, which it has not won since 2004. But according to their manager Mikel Arteta, the Gunners are in no mood to gift 16th-placed West Ham on Monday (9pm). “We play at home. “Boxing Day is a very special match in the history of the championship, the family atmosphere is always incredible, we want to make the most of it, but above all we want to continue our momentum and make an impression,” said the Spanish technician.

His team finished the first part of the season with an impressive record of twelve wins, a draw and a defeat (3-1) away to Manchester United in early September. “This second part of the season will be interesting and intense, we can’t wait to get going,” Arteta said.

The 2022 World Cup has left its mark on the North London club’s workforce: Brazilian Gabriel Jesus, who has five goals and five assists in the Premier League, suffered a knee injury in Qatar and “it’s very difficult to put a date on him. to return, “admitted Arteta, who did not rule out strengthening the attacking sector during the winter transfer window.

Even without Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal are the favorites for this London duel. “It’s really, really hard to come back with a game like that,” said West Ham manager David Moyes, who has just 14 points in the first 15 games of the season.

Still on Monday, surprise third-placed Newcastle (30 points) travel to Leicester (13, 17 points) hoping to strengthen their Champions League ambitions and gain a psychological advantage over the Foxes, who the Magpies face again. Carabao Cup, League Cup 1/4 finals from January.

Other contenders for C1, Tottenham (4th) and Manchester United (5th) face Brentford (10th) on Monday and Nottingham Forest (18th) on Tuesday, while Liverpool (6th) will miss Aston Goes to Villa (12th). of its controversial goalkeeper Emiliano MartinezLike the other 2022 Premier League world champions still in Argentina.

The head coach of “Tottenham” Antonio Conte is sure that the star striker Harry Kane will have digested the penalty he missed against France and his clubmate Hugo Lloris in the 1/4 finals of the World Cup. a synonym for elimination (2-1 loss). “We are talking about one of the best strikers in the world,” said the Italian coach.

Erling Haaland did not play at the World Cup as Norway failed to qualify, but he has already shown that we have to rely on him and Manchester City against Leeds on Wednesday at the end of Boxing Day.

The top scorer of the Premier League (18 goals) has already returned to the field and… scored a goal during the game. team’s victory Against “Liverpool” in the League Cup on December 22 (3-2). Algeria international Riyad Mahrez warned: “We are mentally and physically ready and we want to fight it out.”