Saturday morning Straight Red! A very happy new year to all as well. Club footie is back and hotting up... A thrilling Boxing Day has gotten us right back in the groove, with other European leagues resuming this week as well. Festive Fixtures are back, with games nearly every day. What's not to love?

Jersey giveaway is back! First person to 10 referrals gets a free 22/23 jersey of their choice! It's super simple-–each and every one of you has a personalized referral card (in red below). That link is yours to share with people you think might enjoy the newsletter. If they sign up through that link, you get a point on the board. All they have to do is enter their email! It's super easy and super free––don't miss out!

Let's get straight into it.

ICYMI (In Case You Missed It):

It is the end of the Cristiano Ronaldo era as we know it. Ronaldo has officially accepted an offer to play for Saudi club Al Nassr, with a reported salary of $200 million/yr for the 37 year old. No more Champions League Cristiano, and between his diabolical interview on his way out of Manchester United and his benching at the World Cup, it's been a tragic way for Ronaldo to exit the heights of world football. Does anyone have the Pro League package?

Liverpool have made a big early splash to the January transfer window signing dutch winger Cody Gakpo. Do Liverpool need him? The needs might lie more in midfield, but it certainly adds to a stack of front men that currently has a few on the sidelines with injury. Gakpo was a key man for The Netherlands at the World Cup, can he take the Premier League by storm?

João Félix, a forgotten man? He is allegedly up for sale as Atlético Madrid look to shore up finances. Brilliant at the world cup for Portugal, the once dubbed prodigy also lit it up in a 2-0 win over Elche on Thursday. Clubs are circling, with the possibility of a January loan deal on the cards. With Arsenal's needs after Gabriel Jesus' injury, as well as Manchester United's releasing of Cristiano Ronaldo, the young forward might well find a new home.

Quiz Of The Week

Arsenal were last in the Champions League in 16/17. Who was their top scorer that season across all competitions?

(Answer at the end of the letter)

Are Arsenal For Real?

Saturday –– 12:30 PM ET: Brighton (+250) vs Arsenal (+105)

Tuesday –– 2:45 PM ET: Arsenal (-125) vs Newcastle(+320)

Another newsletter, another day talking about Arsenal Football Club. Does this team have any quit? Even with Gabriel Jesus out, Eddie Nketiah steps in and grabs a goal. It just looks like a different Arsenal this year, and Mikel Arteta has instilled real fight and belief into this team. From 1-0 down, Arsenal came back to beat West Ham 3-1.

Two MASSIVE games for the Gunners, with Tottenham and United waiting to follow. Brighton are no slouches, and Newcastle have looked one of the best teams in the league this season. If Arsenal can get through these four games with maybe 9/10 points, we'll have to really take them seriously for the title.

Erling & Alfie Haaland 

Erling Haaland is no stranger to Leeds. He was born in Leeds in 2000––where his father played his final season for Leeds United before moving to... Manchester City. Manchester United and Leeds were big rivals, with Manchester United pipping Leeds to titles at the time. Leeds finished in the top 5 in five straight seasons, while United won the league five times in six years.

Alfie Haaland played in the most recent of very good Leeds teams, ones that included the likes of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka. They were regularly in Europe, before financial problems crippled the club and saw them drop from the top flight for over 15 years. Alfie moved to Manchester City just as Leeds began to fall into the abyss.

Alfie Haaland and Roy Keane were no strangers to one another, having fought many battles between Leeds and United. In 1997, Haaland collided with Keane, causing Keane to rupture his knee ligament. Haaland stood over him and barked as he thought Keane dove and was putting on an act. Then, in a 2001 Manchester Derby, Roy Keane went in for a challenge on Haaland that is as bad as they come. He lifted his boot and went studs up straight into Haaland's knee, in one of the Premier League's most infamous challenges. While many say this tackle ended Alfie Haaland's career, it's perhaps become more myth than truth. He underwent surgery on his left knee the following summer (Keane kicked his right), but he never did play a full game again.

Manchester City was the perfect marriage for Erling Haaland––a top club with a top manager, needing a striker and battling for trophies. Seeing as Erling's father also played there, it became a match made in heaven. But, for the Haalands, it all started at Leeds, where Erling returned and netted a brace in a 3-1 City win on Wednesday.

Other Games To Keep Your Eye On...

Saturday –– 8 AM ET: Barcelona (-650) vs Espanyol (+1100)

Sunday –– 9 AM ET: Spurs (-155) vs Aston Villa (+410)

Wednesday –– 2:45 PM ET: Inter Milan (+130) vs Napoli (+200)

Dan & Billy's Locks of the Week

Dan's Picks: Well, I already missed on a West Ham/Liverpool parlay at +148 on Friday, so let's see if I can get straight the rest of the weekend. I like a value bet at Villa +1 against Spurs on Sunday. Villa looked good. Another little parlay I like is Liverpool and Madrid... one of our readers chimed in with that one and I'm backing it. Let's GO!

Billy's Picks: Let's get back on track after what I'm sure was a debilitating World Cup for everyone. Or maybe just me. Anyways... I love love love Fulham at home against Southampton Saturday morning at an even +100. Fulham are a good side, and Southampton are still trying to find footing with a new manager. Perhaps it feels too good to be true, but it's time to start respecting Fulham. I also love both teams to score in this game at -165. That feels like a lock. I like Tottenham -150 against Villa as well.

Quiz Answer: Alexis Sanchez! Sanchez netted 30 goals across all competitions that season. In his prime... what a player.

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