The WSL has returned, and on Sunday Arsenal Women will be back in action. Last week, they were set to kick off the year with the FA Cup Round 4 clash against Bristol City FC, but that game was postponed due to a frozen Meadow Park pitch, and has been rescheduled 29th January.

Our London rivals, Crystal Palace Women, make the short trip to Meadow Park to take on our girls. The expectation among us Gooners is that we are starting 2025 with a London derby win. For that, we expect head coach Renee Slegers to field her strongest lineup.

Team News:

With Lia Walti, Laura Wienroither, and Kim Little all in training, Arsenal have almost every player available.

Of the players likely to miss the game, Kathrine Kuhl (closing in on an AS Roma exit), Freya Godfrey, Maddy Earl, Viv Lia (who has joined Southampton on a loan deal), and Laila Harbert were all not in training on Friday.

Arsenal welcome Aston Villa to the Emirates this evening, knowing that they simply cannot drop points in their bid to stay in the title race. This is the team that Mikel Arteta has gone with.

We all know that Arsenal won the reverse fixture earlier in the season, but we also remember what Villa did to us last season and what it cost us. This is a huge game by any metric for both sides.

Villa will be desperate to get something from their visit to North London to maintain their push for a Champions League spot, while Arsenal know full well that they must pick up maximum points if they are to stay in the title race. A defeat is unthinkable.

Arsenal are the favourites, of course; they are the better team and have home advantage. But that was also the case last season at the Emirates, and the Villans managed to take all three points then. They will no doubt feel confident they can do the same again today.

Arsenal are fresh off a satisfying North London derby win over Tottenham, so no one can say they don’t have some momentum. However, losses to Newcastle United and Manchester United (on penalties) do show that Arsenal are not unbeatable at home.

Off the back of the North London derby success, Arsenal will be hoping to maintain the momentum with a win against Aston Villa as we play host to them this evening. The last time we welcomed them to the Emirates Stadium, at the back end of last season, they inflicted a loss that eventually proved costly, as we missed out on the Premier League title by just two points. Arsenal got a bit of revenge earlier this campaign with a 2–0 win in the reverse fixture, but the real payback should come in the form of a league double, just as they did to us last season. Looking at their current squad, the obvious threat to us will be Ollie Watkins, especially after scoring a match-winner midweek. Even in our earlier meeting this season, he was a huge threat to our backline, and he could have scored a few goals had it not been for very poor finishing.

That said, however, I just don’t see him as the biggest threat from a Villa standpoint—not the one we should worry about most. With such quality within their ranks, we have to accept they have players who can hurt you, especially when you’re not at your best. One such player is Morgan Rogers. If we remember our first meeting of the season, then we’ll know just how good a player he is.

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Rogers ran our midfield ragged at times in that encounter, which is something very few players can do against this Arsenal side. He was electric that day, creating chaos with his exceptional dribbling and close control. It should come as no surprise that he finished the game with more successful dribbles (5) than any other player. I think he’ll be our biggest threat, but it’s not solely due to his performance in the reverse fixture—he’s also currently their most in-form player (arguably)! This is a result of five goal involvements (three goals and two assists) in his last five appearances in all competitions.

Keeping him quiet will be a telling factor in whether we win or not, so it’s absolutely imperative that we do so. A lot of the conversation has been about our need to score more goals, but good defending and keeping clean sheets are just as crucial to our success. We must limit their chances!

BENJAMIN KENNETH

Mikel Arteta has encouraged Bukayo Saka to take a well-deserved holiday as he recovers from his injury, advising the young star to step away from football temporarily to rejuvenate both mentally and physically.

Saka, who is facing two months on the sidelines, has been a model of consistency and fitness over recent seasons, rarely encountering long-term injuries. However, his relentless schedule for both club and country has meant the 23-year-old has had little opportunity to rest.

Arteta sees Saka’s enforced absence as a chance for the winger to recharge. Speaking to the Daily Mail, the Arsenal manager emphasised the importance of rest for the player’s long-term wellbeing:

“Yeah, he needs to (go on holiday). He is obligated to go. With his girlfriend or his family, he can choose. Or on his own.

“But he needs to get away for a few days and refresh.

Unai Emery shocked the Emirates last season by masterminding an Aston Villa victory over Arsenal, a result that dealt a significant blow to the Gunners’ hopes of lifting the Premier League trophy.

That win for Villa not only boosted their chances of securing Champions League football but also effectively ended Arsenal’s title bid. The Gunners ultimately fell short on the final day of the season, leaving fans to rue what might have been if they had secured three points in that fixture against Villa.

This weekend, Villa return to North London and Arsenal faces the challenge of preventing a repeat of last season’s disappointment. The Gunners remain in pursuit of Liverpool in the title race, and every match is a must-win if they are to close the gap on the league leaders.

Villa, meanwhile, are battling to improve their form and keep their hopes of European qualification alive. Despite their struggles this season, they remain a dangerous opponent under Emery, who is keen to build on his side’s past success at the Emirates.

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Speaking ahead of the match, Emery downplayed comparisons to last season’s encounter, emphasising the changed circumstances for both teams. As quoted by Arsenal Media, he said:
“This is different circumstances [to Villa’s win at the Emirates last season]. That moment was a very special circumstance for them and for us because they were very involved in the Champions League against Bayern Munich, and we were as well in the Conference League.

President Joe Biden has issued a flurry of pardons during his final days in office, beginning with his grant of clemency to his son Hunter and continuing with a mid-December announcement that he had pardoned or commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 Americans. This week, Biden told reporters that he was still considering issuing preemptive pardons for high-profile Trump critics before the end of his term. Donald Trump, too, has indicated that he’ll make liberal use of pardons, saying he’ll grant clemency to January 6 insurrectionists on his first day in office.

As this week’s episode of Reveal makes clear, debates over the presidential power of pardon are nothing new. Today’s show features audio from an interview with Gerald Ford, aired for the first time by Reveal in 2019, in which the former president discussed his 1974 decision to pardon Richard Nixon. “I had a visceral feeling that the public animosity to Mr. Nixon was so great that there would be a lack of understanding, and the truth is that’s the way it turned out,” Ford said. “The public and many leaders, including dear friends, didn’t understand it at the time.”

Also on this week’s episode, Reveal reports on the thousands of Americans who have been waiting for a presidential pardon for years in the aftermath of the war on drugs. Listen to the show here:

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This is an update of an episode that originally aired in July 2019.

Former New York City mayor and Trump hanger-on Rudy Giuliani was found in contempt of court on Friday—for the second time in a week. Giuliani faces two different federal lawsuits against him stemming from his comments about a pair of Georgia elections workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, whom he falsely accused of helping rig the 2020 election. He has now been found in contempt of court in both cases and faces additional fines—on top of the $148 million he already owes the two women.

Shortly after the 2020 election, Giuliani falsely said that video footage of the Atlanta vote-counting site where Freeman and Moss—a mother and daughter employed as temporary election officials—were working showed the two women manipulating votes. The lies were later repeated by Donald Trump and spread around the Internet, leading to harassment and death threats against the pair. Freeman and Moss sued Giulani for defamation, and in 2023 a jury voted that he owed them $148 million in damages. Creditors later filed a second lawsuit against Giuliani for failing to cooperate in turning over the assets he owes.

On Monday, Giuliani was found in contempt of court in that second case, based in New York City, where the judge found that while Giuliani had turned over some assets, he had not been forthcoming with important paperwork needed to evaluate what other assets he must relinquish. The judge in that case ruled that Giuliani had “willfully violated a clear and unambiguous order of this court” when he “blew past” a December 20 deadline to provide certain paperwork.

On Friday, Beryl A. Howell, the Washington, D.C., judge in the original defamation case, found Giuliani in contempt because he has continued to defame Freeman and Moss, repeating lies about them even after he lost the original case. In May, Giuliani signed an agreement in which he said he agreed to stop repeating the falsehoods—a promise which he then broke in November with comments he made on his podcast.

The Supreme Court on Friday heard oral arguments on the future of TikTok—whether to let the platform go dark on January 19 according to a bipartisan law passed by Congress, or to intervene and spare the platform.

The case pits the First Amendment free speech rights of TikTok and its users against the government’s assertions that the platform poses a national security risk. With bipartisan support, Congress passed a law that will essentially ban TikTok in the United States on January 19 unless ByteDance, the Chinese-based company that owns TikTok, divests the platform.

Genuflecting to national security over fundamental rights has led to some of the court’s most regrettable decisions.

The Supreme Court does not generally like to second-guess the federal government when it comes to national security concerns, and is therefore likely to ultimately uphold the law. While the justices did express doubts about some of the government’s national security rationale, it’s unclear if there are strong enough to delay the law from taking effect, or to overturn it as an unconstitutional infringement on the right to free speech.

Los Angeles has been hit with its worst-ever wildfires, which continue to blaze, already claiming at least ten lives and devastating air quality—just as a spate of mask bans have been enacted or proposed around the country, including in LA itself.

Since authorities began issuing evacuation orders across the area, Joaquín Beltrán, a community organizer and software engineer, has been visiting centers to hand out masks. Beltrán still takes Covid-19 seriously, as do organizers with Mask Bloc LA, a mutual aid group that Beltrán linked up with, which has also been visiting evacuation shelters to hand out N95 and KN95 masks.

Personally handed out well over 1,000 respirators here at the Pasadena Convention Center to every person awake. @PasadenaGov @lapublichealth @RedCross, the people want to be protected from hazardous wildfire smoke. Please set up a system and supply respirators immediately. pic.twitter.com/C6OFzytjpr

— Joaquín Beltrán Free Palestine (@joaquinlife) January 8, 2025

For people involved in Covid mask organizing, handing out masks serves two purposes: protection from harmful wildfire smog and against infectious diseases. I spoke to Beltrán about his experience working to keep his community safe, even as this dual-purpose public health tool has become an increasingly villainized symbol of the culture wars.

Donald Trump’s criminal case ended with a sputter on Friday morning as a New York City judge sentenced him to no jail time and discharged his case. While the incoming president received no actual punishment for his 34 convictions for concealing hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, the sentencing did formalize his status as a felon—a first for any American president. Trump did not have to be present in court for the sentencing, but appeared by video from Mar-a-Lago, sitting next to his attorney.

“This defendant… has placed officers of the court in harm’s way.”

During the brief hearing, prosecutors said they agreed with the plan to not give Trump any jail time, but insisted he must be categorized as a felon. Joshua Steinglass of the Manhattan district attorney’s office told Judge Juan Merchan that a probation report produced for the sentencing described Trump as seeing himself above the law and refusing to take responsibility for his actions.

Steinglass argued that Trump, who appeared to either sleep or pretended to sleep for much of the trial, and who used his social media to direct vitriol at prosecutors, witnesses, and Merchan and his family, should not be allowed to walk away from his convictions without any formal recognition of his wrongdoing,

With Donald Trump less than two weeks away from taking office and promising an agenda of mass deportations, Democrats are poised to hand Republicans major new powers over immigration policy. Why? Still shell-shocked from the November results, they apparently fear their reelection prospects if they don’t.

The Laken Riley Act—named for the 22-year-old Georgia woman who was murdered last year by a Venezuelan migrant who was in the country illegally—passed the House with support from 48 Democrats earlier this week. Senators voted overwhelmingly in favor of advancing the bill on Thursday before potentially considering amendments and voting on the bill itself. The legislation would both mandate the detention of certain undocumented immigrants and make it easier for Republican attorneys general to sue the federal government over immigration matters—legal challenges that could then lead to sweeping decisions by right-wing judges.

Republicans do not have the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster in Senate on their own. But they may attract enough Democratic support to pass the bill. Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) have already signaled they will support the bill. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) told The Hill that she was “inclined” to support the bill as well.

The willingness of Democrats, particularly those in swing districts and states, to support the bill is a sign of how vulnerable many in the party now understand themselves to be on immigration. Instead of fighting Donald Trump’s immigration agenda, as they did during his first term, Democrats are increasingly willing to cave to it in the hopes of insulating themselves from future Republican attacks.  

The Supreme Court on Thursday narrowly denied President-elect Donald Trump’s last ditch effort to delay his sentencing in the New York hush money case in which he was convicted of 34 felony counts in May. That sentencing will now proceed tomorrow, January 10.

Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records to cover up payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the lead-up to the 2016 election. The sentencing, as Judge Juan Merchan has already indicated, will not include prison time, a fine, or any condition of probation. But it will, officially, make Trump a convicted felon just 10 days before resuming office. Trump will still have the opportunity to appeal his conviction, and the Supreme Court might yet overturn it in the likely scenario the case is appealed to the highest court.

On multiple occasions, the Supreme Court has come to Trump’s aid. On Thursday, it stood down—at least for now.

Rather than intervene before Trump has exhausted his appeal opportunities in state court, the justices’ decision not to intervene allows the New York courts to handle the case as it would handle any other criminal proceeding. This decision is not a sign that the justices are skeptical of Trump’s legal demands or that they won’t later throw out his conviction. But the court—which has in the past year repeatedly taken extraordinary steps to protect Trump from legal liability—stood down. At least for now.

The ongoing Los Angeles wildfires have reportedly killed at least 5 people and destroyed thousands of structures, leaving entire neighborhoods in heaps of ashes. 

With stately homes burned to the ground, or too damaged to imminently return to, wealthy Angelenos reportedly fled to hotels or other cities: Those who could afford the nightly rate of more than $1,000 stayed at the posh Beverly Hills Hotel, according to a Wednesday night dispatch from the LA Times. Others, the New York Times reported, went to the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood, where Thursday night’s cheapest rate was listed online at $512. Some drove the 30 miles southeast to the city of Anaheim, where several hotels are offering discounted stays. 

But the plight of people experiencing homelessness in the city—reportedly more than 45,000 as of last year, which marked a decrease from 2023—have been comparatively invisible in the wall-to-wall coverage. On Thursday afternoon, I called up John Maceri, the CEO of the People Concern, a social services organization in LA that oversees 700 shelter beds, to learn more about the barriers facing unhoused people trying to flee the wildfires. Their struggles, he said, range from lacking cell phones and Internet access, which can prevent them from learning about evacuation orders and resources, to coping with health issues from all the time spent outside inhaling wildfire smoke. With homelessness reaching record levels in the US last year and natural disasters increasing as a result of climate change, the challenges Maceri outlined seem less like anomalous hardships and more like harbingers of what’s to come as more Americans grapple with the dual housing and climate crises.

This interview has been lightly condensed and edited for clarity.

For the last two mornings, I’ve woken up from broken sleep in my house on Los Angeles’ east side in a blind panic, the smell of smoke permeating the air. The light slanting in is a horrible, eerie orange, illuminating the white kitchen cabinets like a nightmare projection screen. When I climb onto the roof, the air in every direction is full of dark, low, menacing clouds fed by smoke, blocking out the mountains and trees even just a few miles away.

Every wildfire is accused of not being a wildfire, but a planned attack to further sinister ends.

Our car is packed. Our important documents are in a tote bag by the back door. Every ping from the Watch Duty app, which sends out real-time fire alerts, sends me scrambling for my phone. I’m anxiously scrutinizing the perimeter of the Eaton fire, which has destroyed the homes of friends and community landmarks I love, willing it not to jump the 134 highway, praying today will be the day that helitankers will be able to slow the spread. I watch helplessly as the other fires across town engulf homes, businesses, send pets and livestock fleeing alone, reduce lives and memories to ash. I pray the death toll doesn’t mount higher. I watch friends and acquaintances on Instagram reporting from where they’ve evacuated, haggard and blank-faced with shock in hotel rooms and packed cars. I don’t know what kind of city we’ll have waiting for us on the other side of this. 

Naturally, then, as a journalist who’s covered conspiracy theories and disinformation for many years, it’s been reassuring to learn that the disaster threatening my safety can be blamed on false flag attacks, Democrat plotting, the evils of diversity, and—say it with me—the Jews. A disaster is a ripe moment for conspiracy peddlers to ply their wares, and a historic series of fires threatening a major city—especially one filled with Democrats, non-white people and wealthy celebrities—has sent the machine into overdrive. The theories being spread about the Los Angeles fires, as Nitish Pahwa wrote yesterday, are a mix of climate change denialism and attempts to pin the disasters on their usual and preferred villains. Perhaps most disturbing of all, they also contain an ugly dose of celebration and schadenfreude. “The Hollywood Hills are on fire,” are burning, tweeted an account associated with the network of Stew Peters, a far-right and deeply antisemitic podcaster. “It’s almost poetic.”  

Arsenal missed an opportunity to close the gap on Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table after being held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton this evening. The Gunners entered the match knowing they could pile pressure on Liverpool, who face Manchester United tomorrow, but their failure to secure all three points leaves them trailing in the title race.

Brighton, known for their resilience, presented a tricky challenge. However, Arsenal had every reason to approach the game with confidence after their recent victory over Brentford. The Gunners began the match strongly, taking an early lead and dominating the first half with composed play and control in possession. Despite their promising start, the second half told a different story.

The game shifted when Arsenal conceded a penalty, allowing Brighton to equalise and wrestle momentum from the visitors. From that point, the Seagulls grew in confidence and posed a significant threat, with Arsenal struggling to retain possession or regain control. Brighton came close to snatching victory, exploiting Arsenal’s lack of composure in key moments.

(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

The result was a bitter disappointment for fans, as well as club legend Ian Wright, who spoke candidly about the match. Reflecting on Arsenal’s performance on Premier League Productions, Wright said: “Very disappointed with the way it panned out. You take the draw and you move on, there’s not a lot you can do about it. I think in the end, the second half, you look at the bench and there’s not too much apart from Odegaard and Martinelli. You just need a little bit more firepower than that.”

Wright’s comments highlight a recurring issue for Arsenal—depth and firepower off the bench. While the team has shown moments of brilliance this season, such matches underline the importance of strengthening their squad to maintain momentum in critical games.

Mikel Arteta has admitted that his Arsenal team were simply not good enough after they dropped points in a 1-1 draw at Brighton this evening. The Gunners went into the match knowing they had an opportunity to close the gap to the top of the Premier League table to just three points, with Liverpool not scheduled to play until tomorrow. However, they failed to capitalise on the chance, leaving their title hopes dented.

Arsenal started the game brightly and took the lead following an impressive opening spell. However, the match turned when they conceded a penalty, which allowed Brighton to equalise and shifted the momentum of the contest. The Seagulls took the initiative, and Arsenal seemed visibly shaken by the loss of their lead. This lack of composure was reflected in their continued loss of possession and inability to regain control of the match.

Set pieces, a strength for Arsenal this season, were poorly executed on the night, which further compounded their struggles. As a result, the Gunners failed to find the decisive edge and had to settle for just a point in a match they were widely expected to win. This result marks the second time Arsenal have failed to beat Brighton this season, raising questions about their consistency against mid-table opposition.

(Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

Reflecting on the game, Arteta expressed his disappointment with the performance and acknowledged his team’s shortcomings. Speaking to Premier League Productions, he said: “Disappointed because we want to win the game, and we started with some good actions and a really good goal. We knew it was going to be competitive and challenging. We did compete, but it wasn’t our best day.”

This draw serves as a reminder that Arsenal must show greater determination and focus if they are serious about winning the league. Failing to beat Brighton over the course of two fixtures does not reflect the mentality required of title challengers. Arteta’s side will need to learn from this setback and find ways to raise their performance levels in matches where points cannot afford to be dropped. With the title race still alive, every result matters, and performances like this will need to be left behind if Arsenal hope to end their season on top.

Arsenal dropped two points on their trip to Brighton this evening, a result that could have far-reaching consequences for the title race. Here are our player ratings:

Player Ratings

David Raya – 6.5
There was little he could do about the penalty, and Brighton’s wastefulness meant he wasn’t tested much throughout the game.

Thomas Partey – 6.0
Solid in the first half but faded as Brighton gained control. Could have done better in key moments when Arsenal needed more composure.

William Saliba – 6.5
Conceded an unfortunate penalty but was otherwise composed and dealt well with Brighton’s dangerous forwards.

Gabriel – 7.0
A strong performance, ensuring Brighton didn’t create clear-cut chances. His physical presence was key to Arsenal’s defensive efforts.

Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw on their trip to the Amex Stadium against Brighton this evening, delivering a significant blow to their title ambitions.

Title-chasing Arsenal started the match in fine form, causing Brighton all sorts of problems early on, with Gabriel Jesus’ tame shot being comfortably saved.

However, Ethan Nwaneri opened the scoring shortly afterwards, following a superb pass from Mikel Merino.

The teenager once again demonstrated why he is more than just hype. But Arsenal knew how dangerous Brighton could be, and the Seagulls began probing for an equaliser.

Simon Adingra came very close to scoring for Brighton, but he lost his balance at the crucial moment, allowing Arsenal to escape unscathed.

Arsenal travel to the American Express Stadium this evening to face Brighton & Hove Albion, and this is the team Mikel Arteta has gone with.

Right now, Arsenal is in exceptional form, riding high on a nine-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League, while Brighton has struggled to find their rhythm, winless in their last seven league matches.

Under Arteta, the Gunners have been impressive, most recently securing a 3-1 victory over Brentford. This win has solidified their position in second place with 39 points, just six behind league leaders Liverpool.

Brighton, managed by Fabian Hürzeler, sits in 10th place with 27 points. Despite their recent struggles, the Seagulls have shown resilience, drawing five of their last seven games. Their most recent match ended in a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa, proving they can compete with top teams, even during a winless stretch.

The last meeting between these two sides ended in a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium, with Kai Havertz and João Pedro both finding the back of the net. Arsenal has the upper hand in recent encounters, remaining unbeaten in their last three Premier League meetings with Brighton.

Arsenal has reignited their interest in Santiago Gimenez, and this time, the Gunners may finally have the opportunity to secure the Feyenoord striker.

Gimenez has established himself as one of the top goal-scorers in European football over the last few seasons, maintaining impressive consistency. The Gunners had previously been expected to make a move for him last summer, but they opted to focus on signing Benjamin Sesko, a deal that ultimately fell through. Now, at the end of this season, Mikel Arteta’s team is once again in the market for a new striker, and this time, Gimenez has emerged as a strong option.

According to a report from Sport Witness, Arsenal is one of several clubs showing interest in the Mexican forward, who has six goals from just nine games so far this season. At just 23 years old, Gimenez presents an exciting long-term investment for Arsenal, who could add a promising striker to their squad for the future.

(Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

The Mexican international has been one of the best strikers in Europe for some time, and with his ability to score consistently, he could offer the Gunners a reliable option up front. Moreover, Gimenez might be content with a role on the bench initially, where he could continue to develop and wait for his chance to make an impact at a top club like Arsenal.

With his impressive form and potential for growth, signing Gimenez could prove to be a valuable addition to the squad. However, other Premier League clubs are also reportedly interested in the striker, meaning Arsenal could face stiff competition for his signature. To avoid missing out, the Gunners may need to act swiftly to secure the 23-year-old’s services and add a talented young striker to their ranks before another club swoops in.