MARTIN KEOWN: Mauricio Pochettino was sacked after things went stale and Jose Mourinho was brought in to win trophies. But it feels as if Mourinho is setting his side up to be passive.

COMMENT: Life without football is not important as life itself and the Premier League have done the right thing by suspending play. That was the first step and a very important one.

MARTIN KEOWN: I watched every minute of it, from the build-up, to the players walking out in front of 100,000 at Wembley, to Keegan scoring twice for Liverpool in a very one-sided 3-0 win.

MARTIN KEOWN: I was 15 when I first met David Rocastle. He joined Arsenal's academy in 1982, a year after me, with both of us brought in by scout Terry Murphy. 

When public figures such as Premier League players are seen to be flouting the rules, by not staying at home or respecting social distancing, it sends the wrong message.

Former Arsenal team-mates Martin Keown and Ray Parlour discuss in an interview with Sportsmail why Arsene Wenger deserves a statue at the club.

Wales fought to a creditable draw at home against Croatia but qualification for Euro 2020 is now out of their hands. 

Gareth Bale heads into Wales' decisive Euro 2020 qualifiers admitting he is more excited to play for his country than Real Madrid. Bale has been at the centre of a Spanish media storm.

The Spanish media are still raging over Gareth Bale's celebrations this week where he appeared to mock Real Madrid with a banner unfurled after his country had booked their place at Euro 2020.

TOM COLLOMOSSE: Wales fans face a nightmare odyssey across Europe - including three separate trips to Baku - if they repeat Euro 2016 and reach the semi-finals of Euro 2020.

On Wednesday night, Zinedine Zidane's side enjoyed a break from their arduous schedule by hitting the town and going out for a squad meal to celebrate Christmas.

The FA have announced that England are set to face Italy on the 27th March at Wembley Stadium. It comes as they continue their preparations for the Euro 2020 which kicks off in June.

MATT HUGHES - AHEAD OF THE GAME: Marcus Rashford is being courted by Roc Nation, the American entertainment agency founded by rapper Jay-Z.

England have dodged the proverbial 'group of death' at the next UEFA Nations League tournament after drawing Iceland, Denmark and Belgium in the group stages.

In Saturday's Daily Mail, chief sports writer Martin Samuel considered the growing conflict between top and bottom over restarting the season. Now he responds to reader comments.

The Hammers as well as Everton had shown interest in the Barcelona striker who only arrived at the Nou Camp in February for £15m in a controversial emergency signing approved by La Liga.

Mario Gotze is expected to leave Borussia Dortmund in the summer with the German wanting to take on a new challenge.

Mari signed for the London club on loan from Brazilian club Flamengo back in January and Arsenal have the option to sign him outright in the summer. He has so far played in two matches for the Gunners.

KIERAN GILL: Nasri is to be let go by Anderlecht after apparently flying himself to Dubai and refusing to contact his club about his whereabouts. It is just the latest chapter in a controversial story.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is ready to turn Pablo Mari's loan stay at the Emirates into a permanent move after dropping his interest in Reims centre-back Axel Disasi.

Manchester United academy starlet Omari Forson is set to sign his first professional contract at Old Trafford, despite growing interest from other clubs such as Arsenal

More younger people are investing thanks to the rise of the simple stocks and shares Isa - are they worried about recent market volatility? We find out.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: Having given up £1million of his salary, England manager Gareth Southgate must have been rather surprised to end up as the villain on Sunday.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: It is the clubs that make the game; they bring the people together and give that confluence meaning. The only enduring unit in team sport is a club.

Something had to give. Even the venture capitalists who run Liverpool could not project their club as mattering more, then end up on the same side as Mike Ashley and Daniel Levy.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: It's a crowded field but perhaps the most risible intervention in the stand-off between clubs and players this week came from Dr Erkut Sogut.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: At some stage this week, the National League will make a decision on their competitions above tier seven of the pyramid system.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: Gary Neville is right. Clubs who have deferred or cut salaries should not be able to enter the transfer market until that money is repaid.

CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: The difference between the £340m Mike Ashley wants for Newcastle and the £300m on offer is what is holding this deal up. Why, given the estimated assets of the buyer?

MARTIN SAMUEL: It is a familiar trope that there are not many great captains in football these days. Never will that be more keenly felt than at the top of the Premier League on Friday. 

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: Here is the problem with football's return. To make golf work, the PGA Tour are hopeful of securing a million tests for Covid-19.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: Until Newcaslte become a threat to some large vested interests is the best estimate. Then, watch attitudes change. The same happened to City.

COMMENT BY MARTIN SAMUEL: It's known as the Brawn Drain. The depressingly predictable exit of the best rugby talent from the Pacific Islands to the biggest, richest nations.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: There is a very straightforward way to prove you have the funds for any transaction. Pay up. Write the cheque, hand over the cash.

MARTIN SAMUEL - COMMENT: Amid a global pandemic, PFA chief Gordon Taylor is responsible for professional footballers becoming the easiest target.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: At Friday's Premier League meeting the differences were made very clear. Top clubs want resumption based on contractual needs.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: Premier League players are fit, young men, quite probably coronavirus will be mild for them. And yet, there is always one.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: Owners have been immersed for too long in the fight to reach the Premier League. They've lived in a world of extreme, desperate expenditure.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: Playing the only grown-up in the village is fashionable right now. As is demanding consideration of the bigger picture, as if we are all oblivious to this crisis.

A blue plaque has been unveiled on a handsome house in Chelsea in honour of its former resident, Jamaican musician Bob Marley.

MARTIN SAMUEL: Tyson Fury is an outlier, a mould breaker, just as Usain Bolt was. And not only in terms of his antics, his charisma. And like Bolt, once he enters the vicinity it is hard to take your eyes off him.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: An entertaining reaction can be expected now the Africa Cup of Nations will be reverting to its previous place in the calendar from 2021.

Marcus Rashford has won the Premier League Player of the Month award for his superb performances in January. The Manchester United striker has been rejuvenated under boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The Dutchman played a huge part in the 0-0 as he was involved in an altercation with Arsenal's Patrick Vieira that saw the Frenchman sent off for a second yellow and also missed a late penalty.

All games for the under-23 competitions and below have been terminated for the rest of the season, with a means of determining final standings still to be announced.

Rojo, currently on loan at Argentine club Estudiantes, was filmed smoking and playing cards with friends by his brother Franco, who then uploaded the clip into his Instagram account.

Rojo, who is on loan at Estudiantes until the end of the season, was seen playing poker and smoking with friends in a video posted on social media and later deleted by his brother Franco.

The Manchester United forward has not played since sustaining a back injury against Wolves in an FA Cup third round replay on January 15, but is nearing full fitness as he trains during lockdown.

Angel Di Maria's time in the Premier League was short lived, and it may not just have been to do with his form at Manchester United, as his wife has revealed the awful time she had in England.

CHRIS WHEELER: Short of being dragged back to Old Trafford at gunpoint, Di Maria is about the last player you would expect to see wearing a United shirt again.