Deep deep joy as @ArsenalWFC stage a Champions League comeback to lead Real Madrid 2-1 through two goals from Alessia Russo 🔥🔥 📸 Suzy Lycett for the @GoonerFanzine at Boreham Wood @boodlepim.bsky.social

See the @GoonerFanzine Facebook page now for Champions League action shots from @ArsenalWFC vs Real Madrid 📸 Suzy Lycett at Boreham Wood for the Gooner Fanzine

From the Balkans to Boreham Wood. See @M_Star_Online newspaper for my Champions League coverage of @ArsenalWFC vs Real Madrid here at Meadow Park

Five Things You Have to Do in Tirana Tirana, the vibrant capital of Albania is fast-becoming a must-visit destination Here's my quick guide to a decent weekend in this compelling Balkans city laythstake.substack.com/p/five-thing...

Flying back this morning after an absolutely brilliant few days here in Tirana. But first it’s time for breakfast which is I’m told is an Albanian meat pie…

Postcard from Elbasani Castle, Albania The essence of travel is finding yourself heading to an unfamiliar place you never knew existed a few hours previously. And being excited at the fact My latest Travel Substack laythstake.substack.com/p/postcard-f...

Couldn’t leave without visiting the AF Elbasani club shop. Seemed to have acquired a habit of buying random football shorts so if you see someone in an AF Elbasani pair of blue shorts walking the dog when I’m back later this week it’s probably me…

That was fun. Enjoyed sitting with some old boys during the game who couldn’t speak a word of English nor I a word of Albanian but we managed to chat football for 90 minutes. Thank you to all who welcomed me here at the Elbasan Arena. Faleminderit as they say in these parts

FT: Albania U21s 2-0 Ukraine U21. A late second goal seals victory for the young Albanian side who have performed well against a strong Ukraine team here at the Elbasani Arena

And we’re off the for the second half with Albania U21 winning 1-0 vs Ukraine U21 here at the Elbasani Arena

Elbasani Arena. Elbasani. Albania 🇦🇱

HT: Albania U21 🇦🇱 1-0 Ukraine U21 🇺🇦 The home side’s goal scored by No9 Ermir Rashica. The promising Kosovo-born left-footed 21-year-old attacker fired home from close range shortly before the interval here at the Elbasani Arena, Albania

Albania U21 vs Ukraine U21. Elbasani Arena. Elbasani. Albania 🇦🇱

Elbasani Arena. Albania

I explained I had been at Albania vs England on Sunday evening and had travelled from Tirana to see the game here in Elbasani. A guard said: “No tickets.” But then his English speaking colleague said: “He meant you don’t need tickets because it is free.” Gotta love Albania 🇦🇱❤️

Right. Now for a football match. Welcome to the Elbasani Arena for Albania U21 vs Ukraine U21s here in the Roman built Albanian town of Elbasani

Elbasani’s walled castle and fine stone ramparts were the biggest fortress in Albania. The Romans built a grid system which is still in operation more than 2,000 years later. It is welcoming but you feel a long way from home here. Which is the point of travel and why I love it

Hello from Elbasani Castle here in deepest Albania. The town was founded as a Roman outpost in the second century with this version of their stone walled castle built in 1466

Hello from Elbasani Castle here in deepest Albania. The town was founded as a Roman outpost in the second century with this version of their stone walled castle built in 1466

Had a bit of an Albanian road trip to a town called Elbasani

The atmosphere has been building all day here in a gloriously sunny Tirana ahead of Albania vs England

Hello from Tirana after three days here in Albanian’s endlessly fascinating capital

Four Things We Learned after England beat Serbia 2-0 at Wembley Goals from Arsenal’s Saka & Eze sealed a win for Tuchel’s Three Lions ahead of the trip to Tirana where England will play Albania on Sunday Next stop Tirana, see you in the Balkans from Friday laythstake.substack.com/p/four-thing...

Right. That’s me done here at Wembley Stadium. Now heading to Luton Airport via St Pancras and an early flight on Friday morning to the Balkans. See you in Tirana for Albania vs England

FT England 2-0 Serbia: Arsenal pair Bukayo Saka and Eberechie Eze seal victory for Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions here at a rain-lashed Wembley Stadium. See @M_Star_Online and my @SubstackInc Layth’s Take for my reaction

Goal! England 2-0 Serbia as Arsenal’s Eberechie Eze curls in a delightful goal for the Three Lions late on here at Wembley Stadium

England vs Serbia attendance announced as 74,289 here at a rain-lashed Wembley Stadium

HT: England 1-0 Serbia (Bukayo Saka 28 minutes)

Goal! England 1-0 Serbia. Bukayo Saka scores for the Three Lions to break the deadlock on 28 minutes here at rain lashed Wembley Stadium

The teams are out. Not long now until England vs Serbia here at Wembley Stadium

Thomas Tuchel’s decision is that Jude Bellingham will be on the bench, preferring to go with Morgan Rogers once again. England vs Serbia at a rainy Wembley Stadium is 20 minutes away

Made it to Wembley for England vs Serbia. See @M_Star_Online and my @SubstackInc Layth’s Take for my reaction. Will then be heading straight from Wembley to Luton Airport for an early morning flight to Tirana.

A weird 48 hours after my phone broke earlier this week - was liberating for 20 minutes until you actually needed to contact people or be contacted. Huge thanks to top man Ross the Gooner @EE in Letchworth for his help in sorting a new phone for me. Give him a pay rise 👍🏼

Never mind stripping the disgusting nonce of his titles make him pay 30 years back rent the repugnantly vile grifter. And while the scumbag is at it why not try getting a job and earning his own money. Absolutely disgraceful. The horrific predator should in prison

Hale End graduates dazzle as generational talent Max Dowman shines Everywhere you looked there was quality from Hale End as Arsenal eased into the League Cup quarter-finals after beating Brighton 2-0 Why not add your email to receive my Arsenal Substack laythstake.substack.com/p/hale-end-g...

Job done. Another Arsenal win, another Arsenal clean sheet. See you in Prague next week

Arsenal have been drawn against Crystal Palace at the Emirates in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup - a repeat of last season’s tie in the same round

FT: Arsenal 2-0 Brighton. Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka score to send the Gunners through to the League Cup quarter-finals. See @M_Star_Online newspaper and my @SubstackInc Layth’s Take for my reaction

Goal! Arsenal 2-0 Brighton. Shortly after coming on Bukayo Saka doubles the lead after Steele blocks Harriman-Anous effort

Goal! Arsenal 1-0 Brighton. Ethan Nwaneri fires home MLS cross after Mikel Merino’s backheel

HT: Arsenal 0-0 Brighton. Apart from the fact the visitors could and should have been 2-0 up in the first ten minutes I feel the most notable fact about tonight so far is Albion boss Fabian Hurzeler sporting a beige on beige combo with black gloves...

Getcha new @GoonerFanzine here at Arsenal vs Brighton

A lunchtime walk with my pal is just the best ❤️🐶

Getcha Gooner: Issue 313 📖 Available tonight at Arsenal v Brighton: here's everything you need to know about our latest edition ⬇️ 📹 By Lumi

ICYMI: Here’s my Brentford 3-2 Liverpool report from Saturday night @M_Star_Online morningstaronline.co.uk/article/impr...

Just like The Arsenal there’s a great team @M_Star_Online newspaper. And even after all these years it’s still a buzz to get a back page in print. Read my Gunners 1-0 Palace report morningstaronline.co.uk/article/ezes...

Three Takeaways after Arsenal beat Palace to move four points clear Never mind the Invincibles, Arteta’s Arsenal are the Unbreachables as Eze’s stunner makes it One Nil To The Arsenal as solid Gunners keep another clean sheet My Arsenal Substack laythstake.substack.com/p/three-take...

That’s me done after Arsenal beat Palace to go four points clear at the top of the table. PS: Massive thanks to every single Gooner who came up to me before the game to offer their condolences to Steve Ashford’s family and share memories of the @GoonerFanzine’s Highbury Spy ❤️

Nice to catch up with Gunners legend and all round top man Ray Parlour before The Arsenal beat Palace

FT: Arsenal 1-0 Palace. Eze’s winner sees the Gunners move four points clear at the top of the Premier League. See @M_Star_Online newspaper and my @SubstackInc Layth’s Take for my reaction