The Athletic

Hello and welcome to the weekend preview on the Athletic Football Podcast, sponsored by Bet365.

I'm Dan Bardell and each and every Friday myself and co-host George Ellick will preview

the best of the weekend's Premier League action alongside Bet365 and the championship's Steve Reef.

On this week's show, we'll reflect on another defeat for Arsenal in a big away game.

We'll discuss what the near future might look like for Rahim Sterling,

and is there any point Everton sticking with Benitez and much, much more.

But we'll start with Manchester United 3, Arsenal 2, the game on Thursday evening.

We'll focus on Arsenal later on in the show

so we won't worry about them too much now.

But Michael Carrick is leaving Manchester United

after stepping down as first team coach

pretty much on the full-time whistle.

Our Manchester United correspondent,

Laurie Whitwell, is fresh from Rangick's

first press conference as Manchester United manager. We asked him about Carrick's legacy and his decision to leave.

Just been in with Ralph Rannick for his first press conference at Alltraford and he gave a very

assured, eloquent performance and he touched on Michael Carrick who had a conversation a couple of days ago

and Rannick wanted him to remain as coach, but Michael

Carrick had made his mind up and I think that sort of shows the character that he's got. He clearly

looks at the situation and decided that it wasn't for him to continue after being a part of

Oligone and Solis-Shall's coaching staff and a large part I think is the family aspect where he said to his family have to retire from playing that he'd spend more time with them. And in the end, it's gone the opposite direction, has gone straight into coaching. And then even this interim manager's position is sort of the intensity, the scrutiny, has raised another notch. So you can go away and take some time for himself for his family and

...