ExpandChelsea's Reece James tackles Tottenham Hotspur striker Richarlison during Saturday's Premier League match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images
Chelsea's Reece James tackles Tottenham Hotspur striker Richarlison during Saturday's Premier League match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images
The Athletic described a competition launched recently by Chelsea as “the most Premier League 2025 thing possible” – and it’s difficult to argue with them. The prize? You get to see their home game against Arsenal on November 30th . . . with, well, a twist.
For now, the only available options for the game are hospitality packages. The standout pick offered by the club is, no doubt, the one that includes padded seats behind the home dugout and an “immersive dining experience”. And at just £8,295 (€9,408), you have to agree, that’s a snip – especially when the price incudes VAT.
Win a VIP meet and greet with Gary Cahill in Jakarta, with our official global hotels partner @DiscoverASR! 💙
The prize includes:
🏨 Ascott Star Rewards points to use on your stay in Jakarta.
✈️ Flight credits.
👀 Chelsea vs Arsenal watch party seats.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 21, 2025
If you win the competition, you’ll see the game too. But not at Stamford Bridge – in a pub in Jakarta at 11.30pm at night. Yes, they’ll fly you to Indonesia to watch the game on telly, along with a Chelsea “legend”. Gianfranco Zola? Didier Drogba? N’Golo Kante? No, Gary Cahill.
The key thing is not to forget your flight compressions socks, which are probably available in the Chelsea store – the round trip is 34 hours.
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Fans go all out for Portuguese star
— Heart of Midlothian FC Goals (@HeartsGoals) October 29, 2025
Have you heard the Hearts fans’ tune dedicated to their Portuguese striker Claudio Braga? It’s quite lengthy, replacing the entire lyrics to Queen’s Radio Ga Ga with an ode to the fella. When he heard it for the first time, Braga said: “Jesus, I don’t think anybody will learn that song.”
But they have, the chorus going something like this: “You have the pace! You have the power! You’re yet to have! Your finest hour! Clauuuudioooooo! All we need is: Claudio Braga! Claudio Braga!” And so on.
Naturally, other clubs’ fans are now adapting the tune to their own use, among them a West Brom supporter by the name of Ben: “We have no pace! We have no goals! Our injury list is the same old! Albiooooooon! All we want is: One shot on target! One shot on target! One shot on target!”
In fairness, West Brom had six – six! – shots on target on Saturday. Granted, none actually went in and it finished 0-0 against Sheffield Wednesday. But look, progress.
Argentina's forward Lionel Messi (C) fights for the ball with Ecuador's midfielder Moises Caicedo (R) during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Argentina and Ecuador, at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, on September 7, 2023. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP) (Photo by LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images)
Argentina's forward Lionel Messi (C) fights for the ball with Ecuador's midfielder Moises Caicedo (R) during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Argentina and Ecuador, at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, on September 7, 2023. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP) (Photo by LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images)
Messi to play through the tiredness against Angola
Lionel Messi is 38, so, naturally enough, he tries to reduce his workload a bit, both with Inter Miami and Argentina. While he still turns out for his country whenever possible, he occasionally sits out friendlies. You’d imagine, then, that he might skip next month’s friendly away to Angola, just to rest his weary bones.
That game in Luanda has been set up to mark the 50th anniversary of Angola’s independence, the government there wanting very special opponents to mark the occasion – so who better to invite than the world champions?
Still, it’d be a heck of a trek for Messi from Miami, longer still if he had to go through Argentina. So, he’ll be rested? He might have been . . . except, according to Spanish paper AS, Angola has paid the Argentinian association €12 million to play the game . . . and, yes, the bulk of that will go on a promise that Messi plays. It can’t be easy being as loved as Lionel.
Quote of the Week
“When we lose, I go home and don’t speak to my wife. Do you know why? Because I am sad. We are playing s**t.”
Wolves goalkeeper José Sá made those remarks before his team lost yet again on Saturday, their eighth defeat in 10 league games. Mrs Sá probably forgets what he sounds like.
Number: 25
That’s how many years it is since Martin O’Neill first managed Celtic in an Old Firm derby. Back to the future.
Word of Mouth
“I’ve been invited to the game by Tottenham at the weekend. It’s a 5.30 kick-off, they’ve asked me to get there at 5.29 so they can take me around their trophy cabinet – they’ll have me in my seat by kick-off.” – John Terry. It’s the way he tells ‘em.
“Disgraceful men, disgraceful destinies. Disgraceful because you’re false, disgraceful because you’re a traitor. Disgraceful because even you never understood the fullness of our love.” – How well has Napoli supporters group Anima Azzurra taken their former boss Luciano Spalletti’s decision to take over at Juventus? Not great.
“The hard work that I experienced at Genoa was just egotistically piggybacked badly by those who arrived later . . . Karma is a bitch . . . God sees all.” – How sad was Mario Balotelli about his former Genoa coach Patrick Vieira being sacked last week? Not very.
“I just think one of them is class, and Hannah is the class one.” – Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor’s response to Mary Earps having a dig in her new book at her successor as England goalkeeper, Hannah Hampton. This one, you’d suspect, will run and run.