Ken Friar is Arsenal. In 1946, a 12-year-old local boy kicked a ball under manager George Allison’s car outside Highbury. Allison was impressed by his enthusiasm and gave him a matchday messenger job. That kid started full-time in the box office in 1950 and never left. Without Ken Friar, Arsenal would not be the same today. He rose through the ranks to become club secretary, then managing director in 1983. For nearly two decades he ran the day-to-day club, negotiated contracts, protected Highbury’s character, and kept Arsenal’s values intact through changing times. When the club needed a new home, he stepped away from the MD role to drive the Emirates Stadium project with Danny Fiszman — delivering one of the most complex builds in football history on time and on budget. He described Arsene Wenger as like a younger brother and said he didn’t think they could have built the Emirates without the success and stability Wenger brought. In 2020, after more than 70 years, he stepped down from the board and was named life president. There’s a bridge named after him outside the Emirates and a statue of that boy chasing the ball. Ken Friar didn’t score the goals or lift the trophies. He was the constant — the living memory, the steady hand, and the quiet guardian of everything Arsenal is supposed to stand for. He spent 80 years of his life at Arsenal Football Club. From 1946 to today. Ken Friar, thank you.

Am I bothered about the news today, am I fuck. Cheated or not cheated I’ve had an absolute blast seeing my @ManCity climb to heights I never even dreamt of. I’ve seen us lift every trophy and felt every emotion. Been to places to watch us play that I never thought of. If I never see it again I am blessed. #mancity #115charges

Bro I’m not taking anything like 2-1 or shit like that This should be easy, no mercy. They want to roll with the big boys then let’s show them how the big boys move 5-0 OR NOTHING!

Arsenal’s depth is good but they don’t have a single world class player - Isak, VVD, Alisson, Barcola, Ekiteke would walk into their side. I’d say Wirtz would too - if not then plenty would make the case Sob takes Odegaard’s spot

Arsenal want to win the trophy, and they start Noni Madueke and Christos Tzolis from the Belgian Pro League. Manchester City is going to enjoy this, an easy win for Enzo Maresca’s boys.

You just found out.

Legendary broadcaster Bob Harris has decided to step down from hosting his Radio 2 shows, Radio 2 Country and Sounds of the 70s More ➡️ bit.ly/43LfZZ1

FULL-TIME: Spurs 1-0 Everton. INCREDIBLE SCENES IN NORTH LONDON AS SPURS RETAIN THE 17TH-PLACE TROPHY!

I have absolutely no interest in what is going on in the Premier League. It's a media vanity project. Signed sealed delivered like a movie franchise. Winners no more significant to most of us than naming the new Dr Who. Have your headlines and parades. Fuck you. Also: West Ham!

“It’s a circus act!” 😡 Roy had plenty to say about Bruno Fernandes’ assist record on the latest episode of Stick to Football… 🗣️

Teamsheets from Stamford Bridge. Forest put out severely weakened side. Game over before it’s begun?

Wembley DJ now playing "Things can only get better". D-Ream on. Rising sun and a sinking feeling: Japan beat a disappointing England 1-0. Seven thoughts on the whistle from Wembley… Harry 1. Wrap Kane in cotton wool. Hope he enjoys a prolific, niggle-free end of season at Bayern. England lack leadership, focus and goals without their captain and record scorer. England also missed Rice and Saka. Harry 2. Believe in Maguire. How on earth is Maguire sixth choice centre-back, according to Tuchel? Brings authority, passing from the back and a threat at corners (and pens). Header cleared off line by Sugawara. Must go to the World Cup. Play with more width, more freedom. Get the wingers to take on their full-backs, not cut inside all the time. England painfully narrow for an hour. Rashford and Bowen brought some width. Some. Express yourself. Believe in Bellingham. Injured but let’s dispel the doubts: he has to start at 10. Bellingham would have taken responsibility, imposing himself. He’s world class. If England are to progress far at the World Cup, they'll need their best players. And Bellingham is one. No more Ben White. Decent player but a divisive figure amongst England fans. Booed on, booed off. England’s hard core crowd in the Block 109 particularly vocal. England have enough alternatives at right-back (even with Tuchel’s damaging snubbing of Alexander-Arnold). Perspective. England swept through an easy qualifying campaign. But up against decent teams, Senegal (ranked 19th at the time), Uruguay (17th) and Japan (19th) they struggled. LDL. You cannot lose possession cheaply. And this was 13C, not the 23C+ across the pond. Japan looked a real team, well-organised. England didn't. Positive. Don’t panic. England lost 1-0 at Wembley (to Iceland) in their warm-up before Euro 2024 - and reached the final. #ENG

Comment: amid all the debate about Chelsea, the most serious point has been overlooked A now-sanctioned oligarch was able to manipulate English football through industrialised cheating - and this is barely addressed The meaning of the payments is as big independent.co.uk/sport/foot…

These will win the league and they are genuinely terrible. They've been outplayed by Everton for about 90% of the game, and they just get bailed out week in week out with absolute bullshit. Get your own songs aswell you gang of wannabe bums.