Matt Spiro
@mattspiro
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France-based broadcaster, writer, off-spin bowler https://t.co/SGxUJiFjJ0
Paris
Joined January 2008
When Giroud shows his grandkids a compilation of his best goals they're going to think he was better than Pele.
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Mazraoui and Ziyech are apparently fasting for Ramadan and had to wait til the 24th minute of tonight’s game before refueling. Whatever they had, certainly did the trick for Ziyech #AJATOT
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Pleased the English got to see Messi play tonight. Might be a bit less talk of Eden Hazard being the best player in world for a while.
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Édouard Mendy to Chelsea would be an incredible story. Five years ago, aged 23, he was unemployed, queuing at local job centre and ready to quit football. Has shown amazing strength as well as real quality as a goalkeeper.
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Farcical scenes at Stade de France. Kick off delayed after they played Andorra’s national anthem instead of Albania’s. Announcer just apologised for the delay but he apologised to. Armenia!.
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Croatia are in the World Cup semi finals having beaten one team: Canada.
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@piersmorgan Not sure about that but Wenger would definitely make a far better US president.
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William Saliba is suspended next weekend, so the last game of his Marseille loan is in Rennes tonight. Any chance of cutting a deal @Arsenal and sorting a private jet to Newcastle for Monday night???.
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Olivier Giroud is a world champion. Many great stories in this France side but I think that’s the one that stands out most for me. Knocked down time and time again, throughout career, but he keeps bouncing back. Proved worth again in this WC. What a fighter.
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Just watched an 18 year old English lad play his heart out for Arsenal at left-back at Stamford Bridge. Two nights ago saw Kurzawa stink the place out for PSG against a Ligue 2 side. Are Arsenal serious?.
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Well done to Nice for signing a top young defender in William Saliba. To suggest he ‘isn’t ready for Premier League’ is disingenuous at best - and if you look at some of the guys who have been deemed ‘ready’ by Arsenal, it’s laughable.
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In some ways I’m pleased for William Saliba that he has absolutely nothing to do with this Arsenal team.
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At PSG, Unai Emery was frequently mocked for his linguistic difficulties (much like in England later). Emery has now won 4 Europa Leagues. That is four more than French football has won in its entire history (UEFA Cups included).
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Mbappe is hilarious. Just turned in a match-winning performance. At Old Trafford. In the Champions League. At 20. And he barely even seems happy in his post-match interview. ‘I’m a bit frustrated because I could’ve got a third. ’ That’s why he’ll be the best in the world.
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If Mbappe is worth €180m, Dembele €150m, Griezmann €100m, Martial €80m, Lacazette €60m, how much France's no1 striker? #Giroud.
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Nicolas Pépé, now 29 and without a club, says he thought about quitting after being subjected to criticism that ‘bordered on bullying’ from the press, social media & ‘certain people’ within Arsenal. ‘The only ones who always supported me were the Arsenal fans’ he tells L’Equipe.
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Yaya Toure claims Pep Guardiola 'does not like African players' and was 'cruel' with him. Hard-hitting interview in tomorrow's France Football magazine in which Toure says, 'I want to destroy the Pep myth'.
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Japan coach Nishino asked how his team will combat Senegal: ‘In last few days I told my players to grow 5cm and put on 5kg. They couldn’t do it. So instead we will have to try to win by using the ball well.’.
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This would be a potential game-changer for Arsenal if they get it done. Pepe a far bigger talent than Zaha and, at 24, he’s still getting better.
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Well done to the Basaksehir players for walking off the Parc des Princes pitch after 4th official allegedly referred to assistant coach Achille Webo as ‘negro’. Well done PSG players for supporting the decision. Scandalous if true.
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Arsenal could do worse than give Lacazette the sporting director job. He has some good contacts.
😍😍😍😍😍.
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Arsenal’s future beats Arsenal’s past as William Saliba helps St Etienne to a 1-0 win over Laurent Koscielny’s Bordeaux.
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Pepe really should be a major player for Arsenal by now. Still convinced he has the ability. Up to him, but also Arteta to give him support he needs (not dropping him after today’s performance would be a start).
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Very worrying reports emerging that a small aircraft carrying two people, including new Cardiff signing Emiliano Sala, has disappeared. The plane left Nantes for Cardiff last night and disappeared whilst crossing the Channel. Rescue operations have been underway during the night.
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Nicolas Pépé on RMC: ‘Losing Emery was painful for me. He’s the coach who brought me here. It’s painful. Freddie? He used to play so he understands me. It’s up to me to win my place’.
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Thierry Henry on Canal Plus: ‘I do dream of managing Arsenal but I also dream of running up the court and doing a slam dunk. Doesn’t mean it’ll happen. But yes, I’ll want to manage Arsenal until the day I die’.
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That Lewis-Skelly red is even more scandalous than the Rice & Trossard ones. Astounding decision from Michael Oliver #WOLARS.
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Interesting that L’Equipe confirm report from Gabonese journalist that Aubameyang & Lemina were sent home from AFCON on disciplinary (not medical) grounds after ‘breaking all internal rules’ by partying all night in a Yaounde club before Ghana match. Doesn’t sound great.
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Emmanuel Petit pretty scathing of Xhaka on French TV, can’t understand how he has armband. Also says Emery ‘sending negative signals by picking 3 defensive midfielders against a team there for the taking’ #MUNARS.
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Spent 45 minutes of my life watching David Luiz yesterday, and 90 watching William Saliba tonight. Won’t share my thoughts on their respective performances though for fear of a terrifying Arsenal twitter backlash!.
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Monaco accept #Arsenal's £90m bid for Thomas Lemar. However am told player would rather join #Liverpool.
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Marseille fans' message to Patrice Evra. 'You thought you were bigger than the club & fans. We don't want you in our colours. F**k off Evra'
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Monaco are joint bottom of Ligue 1, have ten players out injured, are currently losing 3-0 at home to Bruges, and their owner is in police custody. Welcome to management Thierry Henry!.
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That's 11 goals in 19 games now for Folarin Balogun at Reims. He's benefiting massively from this loan spell, carrying big responsibility as main striker in a Reims side that's really impressing. 13 games unbeaten now 🔥🔥 @Arsenal @StadeDeReims @Balogun.
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Lacazette now has 30 goals in 2017, more than any other French player (Mbappe 2nd with 27). Imagine if he played 90 minutes every weekend.
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William Saliba excellent again as Nice win 1-0 at Lens. Today’s L’Equipe full of praise: ‘He guides and instructs the defence, gives impression he’s been there a long time. He’s just arrived but has already shown he’s the boss of the defence.’.
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Nuno Tavares driving Marseille fans nuts at moment. Going through one of those periods where he can’t put one foot in front of the other. Stray passes, woeful decision-making, lazy defending… He’s quick, powerful, more or less two-footed… but a seriously infuriating player!.
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Great fun interviewing @OL maestro Houssem Aouar.today. Super bright guy, really interesting on Zidane, Iniesta, Bergkamp and ‘the art of the pass’ 😍 👌 @Ligue1_ENG
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Maxence Caqueret absolutely bossing the midfield for Lyon in Porto tonight. Such a good player. Love watching him.
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Emery a huge change from Wenger in terms of tactical work and meticulous planning. Life on Arsenal training ground about to change significantly.
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Reports suggest PSG will go with Ruiz, Zaire-Emery & Neves in midfield, meaning the brilliant Vitinha misses out. Reasoning is they want bigger players (than Vitinha) to deal with Arsenal’s set pieces. Interesting opponents are so worried they could leave out such a good player.
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So, Lacazette is going to take time to adapt to the Premier League, big step up etc etc. About 94 seconds then.
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Yaya on Pep: 'He's too intelligent to be caught. He'll never admit it (not liking Africans). But the day he picks a team with five Africans in, I promise I will send him a cake!' (France Football).
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These ‘history’ tweets are a nonsense. Frappart’s been reffing at top level for years now. She’s done CL, World Cup, Super Cup. It’s no longer a story - certainly not cos she’s got an England friendly! She’s a referee, not a ‘woman referee’. She’s better than most men. Move on.
Stephanie Frappart makes history by becoming the first female official to referee a men’s international match at Wembley ⚽️🏟️. Great to see 👏
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A sad, emotional Wenger tells L’Equipe he had his usual Sunday video chat with Gerard Houllier and David Dein two days ago. ‘He was optimistic,’ Wenger said. ‘He had the optimism of a manager. It’s such an injustice.’.
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People saying 'City have spent better' or debating if £300m is 'enough' for United are missing point. Of course you need players but teams are built on the training ground. Guardiola out-thinking, out-working, out-managing others. More significant than out-spending right now.
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Who even decides if Arteta gets sacked or not? Edu? Vinai? Josh?! That’s the biggest problem at #Arsenal. It’s a rudderless ship, nobody at board level is qualified to make these calls or, more importantly, to define a coherent sporting strategy and stick with it.
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Good to see William Saliba getting the recognition he deserves. Front page of L’Equipe today. Signing of the season in France?
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‘When you have superior players to your opponents, you don’t adapt your system to theirs. I’d have stayed with a back four.’ Wenger on BeIN before the match. He’s not wrong #FRASUI.
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Real Madrid conseriding January move for Lyon captain Nabil Fekir, according to Marca. Chelsea still interested. When I spoke to Fekir earlier this month, he told me the guy he’s most enjoyed playing with in his career is Alexandre Lacazette. Just putting that out there. .
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‘F**ing 3 points on Sunday as well!!’ Reims coach Will Still (on @PVSportFR) adds some choice words in English as he prepares his side for PSG on Sunday… 30-year-old English coach, cut his teeth in Belgium, doing great things in Ligue 1!! Reims unbeaten in 13 🔥🔥
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Mbappe asked about Ballon d’Or on TF1: ‘I couldn’t care less about that. I want the World Cup. I want to sleep with it.’ . Good answer!.
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William Saliba full of authority and class for Marseille again tonight. Fantastic to see him injury-free, settled, and playing so well. Marseille's most-used player this season, defensive leader, and best player with Payet.
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Mourinho has shown he still lacks class (or even basic manners) by poaching two members of Galtier’s staff, mid-season, three days before Lille’s game with PSG, without so much a phone call to the Lille coach.
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Lemar 'only has eyes for Liverpool' says L'Equipe. Paper confirms he rejected Arsenal, suggests move to Anfield could happen in near future.
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Guendouzi in press conference: ‘The Marseille fans are incomparable. At Arsenal, there’s a big stadium, but it’s totally different. The best atmosphere is here. It’s incredible to play in front of a crowd like this… it really lifts the players’.
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Marseille to sign William Saliba on loan from #Arsenal - with an option to buy, estimated at 10m euros, according to L’Equipe.
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Lyon right-back Malo Gusto 'really wants' to seal Chelsea move this week. Imagine being 19, shining for hometown team, one of France's biggest clubs, playing for Laurent Blanc. and wanting out to join Chelsea's 60-man squad to be back up to Reece James (when he returns). Daft.
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Wow the season has only just finished, and Villa have already secured what will be the signing of the summer, I reckon. Boubacar Kamara on a free from Marseille. Amazing deal. It'll be tough to better that!! #AVFC.
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I see Pogba was voted into the team of the season by his fellow professionals. What do they know? Clearly spend far too much time on the football pitch and not enough on Twitter.
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Chelsea to sell Brazilian striker Deivid Washington - whom they bought for €16m last year - to partner club Strasbourg for a little over €21m, according to L'Equipe. Deivid played 28 minutes for #CFC.
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Nice spread in L'Equipe showing the current team 20 years ago, when Deschamps was lifting World Cup. Good to see that Pogba was already the best dressed and Giroud was already winning trophies. Love the Mbappe shot too :)
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Fofana brilliant again for Leicester tonight. To think he was the junior partner to Saliba at St Etienne, and Saliba apparently isn’t good enough to get in Arsenal squad.
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Matteo Guendouzi's last competitive game was French 2nd division clash between Lorient and Valenciennes, played in front of 8,000. The 19 year old starts for #Arsenal today against Manchester City in front of 60,000.
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Next week’s final could be Koscielny’s last #Arsenal game, report L’Equipe. One year left on contract, he wants to play 2-3 more and no talks yet for extension. Leverkusen, Milan, Monaco, Rennes keen. Gunners want Barcelona’s Umtiti as replacement and could get him for €60m.
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Cesc Fabregas is keen to join up with Thierry Henry in Monaco, negotiations are progressing well, and a deal for the Chelsea midfielder should be concluded next week (L’Equipe).
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PSG v Basaksehir to restart at 22:00 French time. Without the 4th official who has been accused of racism.
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This Ajax team remind me a bit of Arsenal 2006 vintage (they also beat R Madrid & Juve on way to final). Insouciant kids (Cesc, Flamini, Eboue, Diaby, Reyes) playing great football without any fear. Reckon this Ajax could go one better (and De Ligt may go further than Senderos).
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Lacazette, if he signs, would add speed, mobility & technique to #AFC attack. Far deadlier finisher than any striker at club right now too.
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Newspaper suggests Lyon would have been ok with €40m, but now hope Aouar's price will be closer to €60m following recent Champions League displays.
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Klopp spent ‘several hours’ convincing Mbappe to join Liverpool in summer 2017, club vowed to make him joint highest earner with Coutinho, Mbappe was ‘charmed by Klopp’s eloquence and enthusiasm’, but #LFC couldn’t match PSG and Real Madrid bids (L’Equipe).
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Let’s just have a Super League where Bayern play PSG every week. Forget the rest. 38 games. Top two qualify for the playoffs. It might just work. .
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Eden Hazard will join Real Madrid for a fee of around 100m euros after Europa League final, L’Equipe are reporting.
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Arsenal have six left-footed players in their starting XI tonight and yet are playing a left-back who doesn't have a left foot.
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Forget Sanchez and Ozil. Wilshere is the guy Arsenal need to get signed up.
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PSG’s heroes will come back down to earth when they see their marks in tomorrow’s L’Equipe. Mbappe 6/10, Kimpembe 5, Navas 6, Dagba (match of his life) 7/10. those guys are seriously tough markers !!.
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Nicolas Pépé tremendous again for Lille last night. Only Messi has been involved in more goals than him this season (16 & 8 assists). Superstar in the making, and likely to be the transfer story of the summer.
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Emiliano Sala’s family, friends and agent have decided to organise their own search parties, according to Argentinian paper Ole. They are preparing boats and divers, with the operation being financed independently.
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Arsenal-Rennes a nice draw for Petr Cech in his final season. He's still loved at Rennes. Even played a role in them signing current no1 Tomas Koubek, urging Rennes to get him from Sparta Prague. Cech then helped Koubek by sending him a list of football terms in French to learn!.
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Starting (just a little bit) to recognise the Pepe that played for Lille last season.
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Man City have spent €240m so far this window. Monaco have recouped €173m. Funny thing is I'd still fancy Monaco to beat City.
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Lille were asking for €80m for Renato Sanches back in January… wouldn’t expect price to fall on the back of his #EURO2020 performances.
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Debut goal for. Mathieu Debuchy! Gives St Etienne the lead at Amiens.
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Pépé: ‘People don’t realise how it can affect you mentally, your family, your performances. I suffered a kind of trauma at Arsenal… like my passion was taken from me. How could (the critics) be so relentless? I was even being called the biggest flop in Premier League history!’.
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Potentially a huge coup for Tottenham as Canal+ claim Lille sporting director Luis Campos is joining up with his friend José Mourinho at Spurs.
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Pépé: ‘‘My first four months have been negative overall. I’m not at all satisfied with my stats. I was signed to make the difference and I’ve not done that. Need to adapt, especially to box to box element of Premier League. Need to finish my chances’.
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Yaya Toure: 'Maybe us Africans aren't always treated the same by certain people. When you see the problems he (Pep) has often had with African players, everywhere he has been, I ask myself questions.'.
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How can VAR spend an age reviewing the Kimpembe handball last week and yet not even bother looking at the blatant dive from Luis Suarez tonight? Isn’t technology supposed to reduce injustice?.
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Giroud keeps getting written off, dropped, slated, dropped again. But he keeps coming back and he keeps scoring. Story of his career.
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Giroud: 'I felt ashamed walking off pitch (Sunday), felt bad for our fans. That wasn't us, that wasn't #Arsenal. It was embarrassing' (RMC).
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