Football Articles | Mail Online

• Man United's defence is NOT at a top-half Premier League level - Jason Wilcox and Co kicked the can down the road when it came to bolstering the backline this summer and are paying for it now, writes NATHAN SALT19 October 2026, 7:07 am
  NATHAN SALT: Man United have played Hull City, Ipswich Town, Everton, Manchester City, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United and failed miserably to shut out any of them.
  
• Pierre Sage at risk of becoming first Premier League manager sacked: Crystal Palace chiefs concerned amid strained relationships19 October 2026, 6:44 am
  Pierre Sage is under growing pressure at Crystal Palace and could become the first Premier League manager sacked this season after an embarrassing 5-0 defeat against rivals Brighton. 
  
• Inside Tottenham's Marbella training camp: Why Roberto De Zerbi chose base after his pre-season preparations were disrupted, his need for secrecy and their Anthony Joshua encounter19 October 2026, 6:42 am
  MATT BARLOW: Marbella was in the grip of a murder mystery as Tottenham descended for the sunshine training camp they hope will transform their season.
  
• The unsustainable trend and underlying deficiency Arsenal have to address if they're to keep winning - and why Eberechi Eze being Mikel Arteta's fall guy is a worrying case of deja-vu, writes ISAAN KHAN19 October 2026, 6:00 am
  ISAAN KHAN AT THE CITY GROUND: It's Arsenal's recent style of play which results have masked, an underlying deficiency defying the 10 victories of their 11 matches.
  
• After nearly seven years of being Man United's main man is the time drawing near when Bruno Fernandes will have to pass on that mantle? His display vs Leeds was a microcosm of his season, writes CHRIS WHEELER19 October 2026, 1:00 am
  You would have bet on the Bruno of old having the final word at Elland Road. But he didn't, just as he has failed to have a meaningful impact in most of United's 10 games so far this season.
  
• Journey to Wembley: Halifax reach first round in a beloved stadium they may soon lose - as ambitious South Shields' FA Cup dreams fizzle out for another year19 October 2026, 1:00 am
  IAN HERBERT AT THE SHAY STADIUM: We're here in Halifax, west Yorkshire, with South Shields, on the sixth instalment of our journey to Wembley told through all 13 rounds.
  
• Mikel Arteta hails Arsenal's resilience and ability to 'suffer' in gritty victory at Nottingham Forest but makes tactical admission - as Gunners boss lays down challenge to 'special' Noni Madueke after matchwinning cameo18 October 2026, 9:30 pm
  ISAAN KHAN AT THE CITY GROUND: Arsenal dominated possession with little joy around the penalty area before four second-half changes, including Madueke, helped change the tide.
  
• It's a game of four halves for Armadale Thistle as West Lothian club are forced to play TWICE in one day18 October 2026, 8:35 pm
  It is high noon in Armadale. The kick-off for Thistle's first match of the day is in a couple of hours. A second, scheduled for 7.45pm, seems a long way off.
  
• Celtic's rampant, ruthless display against a so-called title rival is just what Martin O'Neill needed18 October 2026, 8:16 pm
  If Martin O'Neill had any lingering doubts as to whether he should have stayed on as Celtic manager, this will surely have eliminated them.
  
• Michael Carrick says he has blocked out noise surrounding Man United with 'headphones' but believes their draw at Leeds is a 'fresh start' and has 'no doubts' his side can overturn poor run18 October 2026, 7:37 pm
  CHRIS WHEELER AT ELLAND ROAD: Carrick claimed that the 1-1 draw felt like a fresh start for United, but admitted that a run of two wins from 10 games doesn't look good.
  
• Celtic boss Martin O'Neill says seven-goal slaughter of Hearts is major boost ahead of Europa League tie18 October 2026, 7:23 pm
  Martin O'Neill believes today's ruthless thrashing of Hearts could breathe new life into Celtic's season.
  
• Where once we had Arsene Wenger's Invincibles, we now endure Mikel Arteta's Unwatchables. Arsenal may have got the job done against Nottingham Forest, but it was scruffy not stylish, writes TOM COLLOMOSSE18 October 2026, 7:09 pm
  TOM COLLOMOSSE AT THE CITY GROUND: They are Premier League champions and may well retain their title but Arsenal will never set pulses racing outside north London.
  
• Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal - Premier League: Noni Madueke's late deflected strike sees Gunners escape City Ground with a victory and close the gap on table-toppers Man City18 October 2026, 6:23 pm
  Follow Daily Mail Sport's live blog as Nottingham Forest host Arsenal in the Premier League, with updates from our reporters at the City Ground.
  
• Celtic 7-1 Hearts: Another Tynecastle title dream dies a death at Celtic Park as Benjamin Nygren and Callum Osmand both score twice to ruthlessly rip apart Wouter Vrancken's men18 October 2026, 6:00 pm
  Earlier this week, Tony Bloom reaffirmed his vision for Hearts and spoke of his belief that they will be crowned champions of Scotland within the next ten years.
  
• Fabian Hurzeler breaks his Crystal Palace hoodoo as Brighton blow their bitter rivals away 5-0 to leave Pierre Sage smarting, writes NICK SZCZEPANIK18 October 2026, 5:39 pm
  NICK SZCZEPANIK AT THE AMEX STADIUM: This will take some getting over for the travelling fans, and their under-fire manager Pierre Sage.