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At Chelsea, Arsenal on Tuesday and match facts from the BBC

Damian · 27 December 2025ADD AS GOOGLE PREFERRED SOURCE

We can't stop the changes that are coming and we accept them and it's like we want them to happen. I'm writing this because someone posted a comment yesterday about how it might be that the 3pm matches on a Saturday may be broadcast in the UK at some stage in the near future and that news came out on the day when we used to have a football schedule.

I don't know how to write and make this funny, we're just all accepting it now.

Don't get me wrong, it doesn't bother me that the 3pm blackout might be ended. I've not lived in the UK for years and outside of the UK, you can get pretty much every game shown live, but there is a reason why the 3pm blackout was put in place and the only reason why they are thinking about ending it is for the money.

They've created a monster and they don't actually care about the supporters attending the match, they're more interested in making the money from the supporters, like me, sat at home watching it on the screen. Have I gone to far by saying they don't care? I don't think so, but this doesn't really impact the supporter that attends and wants to, this just generates more money. But what comes after this?

Truth is, it doesn't matter what it is, if they want to do it, they will. But it wasn't a proper Christmas this year not having a Boxing Day schedule. But, Aston Villa are playing later and it's Chelsea in London and that's what this post should be about. 

And because we are doing so well at the moment, every match is more important than the last, but we have to lose or not win at some stage in the near future and today and next Tuesday are tough matches. And if we lost them both, we'd still be third. It's that easy get out of jail free card again.

It's not something the manager has or I suspect most of the players, it's just the way it is and I expect it to happen. I'm not saying it's going to be today or next Tuesday, but I'm preparing myself for it. It's something I am allowing to happen, even though I'll be disappointed.

But imagine for a moment you were an Arsenal fan. You're convincing yourself you are going to win the League, but deep down, maybe too deep to recognise it because you have convinced yourself, you know you're going to bottle it again. Or maybe you're a Bluenose, convincing yourself you will one day be supporting a Club that can be thought of as a real Premier League side.

There is delusion and there is having to accept you are not going to win every game. I don't know what will happen today, but this is going to be tough. But we do well in tough situations. 

I think also at some stage in the past I had a soft spot for Chelsea. There are many things about the Club I like, like the location and stadium. The supporters are nice (the ones I know anyway) and as a Club, albeit they have purchased all their recent success, they've not had it easy. 

But they are sitting on 70+ charges from the FA that they'll ultimately get away with, just like Manchester City will. And it's because it's a game. To you and me whatever happens might seem tough, but they'll both still be playing the game and that is ultimately what matters for them.

And yes, it was a late night and I did have too much to drink and I today, I have some shelves to put up. I'll be back in a bit, but remember, whatever happens later, we're good. 

Match facts from the BBC

ArsenalChelseaDion DublinLiverpoolManchester CityMorgan RogersSunderlandTottenhamUnai Emery

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