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 SALT18 October 2026, 10:00 pm
  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.
  
• 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.
  
• Under-fire Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage could become first Premier League managerial sacking this season after 5-0 thrashing at bitter rivals Brighton - with club chiefs concerned about his defensive tactics18 October 2026, 6:40 pm
  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. 
  
• 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.
  
• All that was missing from Rangers' slapstick defending was a banana skin and someone throwing a bucket of water over themselves18 October 2026, 5:35 pm
  As every budding football coach will tell you, winning matches is all about getting the small details right.
  
• Honeymoon is over for Hibs boss Reedijk as hapless Leith men make it SIX months without a league win at Easter Road18 October 2026, 5:06 pm
  Speaking ahead of Saturday's clash with Falkirk, new Hibs boss Marink Reedijk couldn't possibly have been any more enthusiastic about the prospect of making his Easter Road bow.
  
• The whole Rangers team shares blame for Dan Neil's and Dujon Sterling's costly blunders, claims goalkeeper Ivor Pandur18 October 2026, 4:49 pm
  Ivor Pandur is adamant that Rangers will take collective responsibility for their weekend failings at Dens Park.
  
• This is how far ragged Man United have fallen. Anything that isn't a defeat is a good result, they can't control games, are weak in the centre and had to hang on against Leeds, writes IAN LADYMAN18 October 2026, 4:44 pm
  IAN LADYMAN AT ELLAND ROAD: It may not have looked, felt or smelled like it, but this was a good result for Manchester United. Anything that isn't a defeat works.