1. Tottenham are in very real danger
As Tottenham have languished near the bottom of the Premier League the past two seasons, relegation never felt like a plausible outcome. Injuries and focusing on European competitions offer at least some explanation for Spurs sitting in 16th or 17th place. All of that has changed in the last few weeks. This is not a team going through the motions because there are more important things to worry about. It is a club that must accept relegation is a legitimate possibility.
The concern is not that Spurs are only one point off the relegation zone. What is so worrying is that they are the worst team in the league based on form and look like it on the field. No one has any confidence. Not one but two different center backs wearing the captain's armband have gotten sent off and suspended when their team absolutely cannot afford it. They are behaving like a club that's about to be relegated. It is getting closer and closer to becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.
2. At least Fabian Hürzeler directed his frustration in the right direction
Even Arsenal fans should be reasonable enough to acknowledge Fabian Hürzeler has a point. They waste a lot of time and are not fun to watch. Those are facts, and the Gunners should not apologize for their approach. They are far from the only team that takes longer than necessary to get the ball back in play. Like the Philadelphia Eagles and the tush push, the rest of the league is welcome to adopt their corner kick strategy. No one has been able to replicate their success.
Hürzeler’s complaints during and after Wednesday's game got to the heart of the issue: Arsenal are using the way games are refereed to their advantage. That's called good coaching. Referees are uninterested in or unable to do much to cut down on the time wasting. That is not Mikel Arteta’s problem. If Arsenal go on to win the league, they will be deserving champions who left a lot to be desired stylistically. It doesn't have to be one or the other.
3. FA Cup magic is alive and well
When Manchester United reached the FA Cup final in 2022-23 and 2023-24, they needed extra time to defeat Brighton and then Coventry City in the semifinals. It could have easily been the Seagulls – rather than the Red Devils – who went on to lift the trophy in 2023. Coventry City were that close to reaching the final the following season. Then came Crystal Palace’s glorious triumph last May. Now, Port Vale – League One’s worst team – is in the quarterfinals for the first time in 72 years.
They will be joined in the quarterfinals by Championship side Southampton and two other Premier League “underdogs” in Leeds United and Brentford or West Ham. This marks the third consecutive season with a Cinderella-type run or an unexpected champion. It means even more to consistently get these kinds of stories when the wealth disparity just keeps getting wider and wider. It may not look or feel the same as it once did, but the magic is still there.
4. The Western Conference might actually be good, maybe really good
Four teams own a perfect record through the first three weeks of the Major League Soccer season, and four teams have yet to pick up a point. Four of them reside in the East, and four are in the West. LAFC, San Diego, San Jose and Vancouver have three victories apiece. Atlanta, New England, Orlando and Philadelphia have none. The Western Conference has 11 teams with at least four points. The East has six.
Last year’s Supporters’ Shield winners (Philadelphia) and the league’s best regular-season team over the past three years (Cincinnati) have already suffered five defeats between them. Out West, LAFC, San Diego and Vancouver have been as good as advertised. Bruce Arena is doing what he does in San Jose. Real Salt Lake have won twice without Diego Luna. Only Portland, St. Louis CIty and Sporting Kansas City are under .500. It’s still extremely early, but this is not how things were supposed to go.
5. Getting Leagues Cup matches in Mexico is a positive step
As much as Don Garber and Major League Soccer leadership want to sell Leagues Cup as a battle for supremacy with Liga MX, the truth is that the competition is heavily stacked in MLS’ favor. In past editions, Mexican clubs have spent weeks on the road and traveled thousands of miles while some MLS teams play most or all of their games at home. There is a physical, psychological and emotional toll Liga MX teams pay. The result is a tournament that does not effectively determine which team is the best or which league is superior.
For the first time, four Leagues Cup phase one matches will take place in Mexico this summer. By no means is it enough to make the competition balanced, but it is a recognition that MLS could not continue to host every match. This small change will hopefully lead to bigger ones in the future. Matches should be played in Mexico for both sporting and economic reasons. MLS clubs should have to do some of the traveling, and Liga MX clubs should get the financial benefits that come with playing at home. It's just common decency.