The Premier League returns tonight in Manchester and everything is different
All remaining fixtures will be played behind closed doors, with no fans in attendance, and teams will be allowed to make five substitutions rather than the usual three.
The Premier League finally kicks off again this evening – and the first day of fixtures sees current champions Manchester City take on Arsenal at the Etihad stadium.
Man City’s reign as champions may soon be coming to an end, but the blues still need to solidify their runners-up position ahead of Leicester, who are lurking four points behind.
Pep Guardiola’s side will be aiming to complete the double over Arsenal, while the Gunners will be attempting to continue their unbeaten run and make a challenge for the top four.
The match will be a very different spectacle to what we’re used to.
All remaining fixtures will be played behind closed doors, with no fans in attendance, and teams will be allowed to make five substitutions rather than the usual three.
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The Premier League has also announced that all teams will have ‘Black Lives Matter’ printed on the back of their shirts instead of player names until the end of the season. This is in addition to a Black Lives Matter logo and an NHS badge featuring on the front of kits.
Despite losing 3-0 in the return fixture back in December, Arsenal will be hoping that an empty Etihad Stadium will negate home advantage and give the London team a shot at gaining some vital points to put themselves in contention for a top four position.
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Guardiola’s former assistant Mikel Arteta, who tested positive for Covid-19 back in March, makes his return to the Etihad with the hopes of steering Arsenal to victory against City for the first time in the Premier league since 2016.
The Arsenal manger is aware that the unique conditions presented by the pandemic will not make things easy for his team.
Speaking during a press conference, Arteta said the game would be “different” without the opportunity to use the energy of the crowds, noting how “passionate” fans are in England.
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Guardiola said that teams can only “adapt” to the situation but suggested things would be difficult with so many games in quick succession: “We are ready to play one game, but three days after another and four days after another… we are not ready.”
A three-month break has, however, given both teams a boost in terms of player availability.
City will be happy to see the return of Leroy Sane, who has a chance to play for the blues for the first time this season following an ACL injury. Aymeric Laporte, who has been unavailable since he took a knock in the game against Real Madrid, will also be back in contention.
It is not a completely fit squad for Arsenal, as Calum Chambers and Lucas Torreira are not quite ready for the game at the Etihad, but both players are back in training.
Manchester City v Arsenal will kick off at 8:15pm on Wednesday the 17th and will be shown on Sky Sports.
Sport
Manchester City opens brand-new store at the Trafford Centre
Daisy Jackson
Manchester City has opened the doors to its new Trafford Centre store just in time for the Black Friday shopping frenzy.
The club has launched the brand-new store in collaboration with retail partner Stichd.
The Manchester City store offers fans a bespoke City shopping experience, including this season’s PUMA kits, the Christmas collection (with a £5 donation to City in the Community (CITC) with specific products), and shirt printing.
Shoppers will be able to browse a range of sky blue shirts, hats, scarves, and gloves, as well as soft toys, mugs, and other collectibles.
There’s already a City store in the Manchester Arndale, which opened a couple of years ago, but its arrival at the Trafford Centre is a new development.
Other existing stores include sites in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, New York City, Seoul and Shenzhen.
Serena Gosling, Director of Retail and Licensing at Manchester City, said: “We’re proud to reveal our latest City Store in the iconic Trafford Centre, Manchester – our third location within the city.
“It provides another touchpoint for fans to interact with the club – at a venue that is a shopping favourite within the North West.
“We know the Trafford Centre attracts huge numbers of local shoppers, and tourists, so we are sure our newest store will provide a convenient location for fans, and of course, at this festive time of year, for those buying presents.
Manchester City opens brand-new store at the Trafford Centre. Credit: The Manc Group
“We look forward to welcoming everyone to the store.”
Will Rodnight, Head of Physical Retail, stichd, said: “We are thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Manchester City through the opening of this third City store in Manchester at the Trafford Centre.
“Our goal is to create an exceptional retail experience that reflects the passion of City fans. This new location adds another fantastic opportunity to connect with supporters in one of the UK’s most iconic shopping destinations, and we can’t wait to welcome them.”
Kate Pearson, Portfolio Leasing Director at Pradera Lateral – Trafford Centre’s Asset Managers, added: “We look forward to welcoming the new City Store to Trafford Centre. This bespoke new retail offering complements our current sportswear retailers whilst also adding a personalised experience for their supporters. We are excited to see their success once the doors open.”
Oasis and adidas drop yet more new merch in the Live ’25 collection
Danny Jones
The Oasis and adidas love affair isn’t over just yet; it isn’t going anywhere, as the legendary Manc band group and global sports apparel franchise are releasing another batch of merch as part of the smash-hit Live ’25 collection.
After shirts, shoes, jackets and bucket hats galore sold out all over the world, adidas is now toasting not only the end of the reunion world tour but “the year that was Oasis” with a second drop in the already iconic crossover.
If you passed through Manchester at all during their Heaton Park homecoming run, you will have no doubt seen countless examples of the ‘adidas Originals x Oasis’ football shirt collaboration alone, not to mention several other bits of fashion in the official Live ’25 fashion line.
Now, just in time for Christmas, there’s a whole new set being introduced into the range of casual wear.
Simply titled ‘Oasis Live ‘25 Drop 2’, the latest additions to the adidas Originals collection are releasing next month and, obviously, will be sold in stores and online.
While the pop-up stores that opened up here in the city centre all over have now shut up shop, Greater Manchester’s adidas locations on Market Street – which turned into an Oasis fan paradise this past summer – and Pear Mill in Stockport will still be stocking the various bits of Britpop clobber.
Although the most recent items will be exclusively available domestically for now, they will be rolled out overseas in 2026.
Considering how quickly most of it sold out last time, you can guarantee most of the options to fly off the shelves just as fast here in the UK.
Honestly, we’ve only just managed to get our hands on the standard black ‘jacquard jersey’.
As you can see, a good chunk of the second drop is that same footy shirt in different colours and other tees in different lengths/variations.
Scheduled to launch on Friday, 12 December, the ‘Oasis x adidas Originals Live ‘25 Drop 2’ will go on sale at 9am sharpish, so you’d best get ready for a scrap in that digital queue.
Naturally, fans, fashionistas and collectors can expect virtually identical costs for the majority of pieces (and buying in-person will obviously help keep the cost down), though it does look like some price points have been adjusted.
As for the Live ’25 tour itself, now that the dust has settled on the ‘Oasis Mania‘ take two, Liam himself has taken to social media to express his gratitude in the most Gallagher way possible…
Kate Jackson -
17th June 2020 
