The Athletic. Hello and welcome to the weekend preview on the Athletic Football

podcast sponsored by Bet 365.

I'm Dan Bardell with my co-host George Ella and Bet 365 Steve Freeth alongside me

as ever to preview the best of the weekend's Premier action, which includes Arsenal v Manchester United,

a Merseys Derby and a little bit more as well.

Before we do get into the Premier League action, we're going to start on a bit of a somber note after the terrible news of

Nigel Pearson's passing this week.

Steve, he was a good friend of yours, I understand and a respected colleague, worked for

so many different companies, respected by so many, loved by so many

a tragic loss.

Yeah very much so Dan I think the the outpouring of grief that we've seen this week and the

tributes to him just say a lot about the man that he was.

You know, I only recently I was discussing my 50th birthday with him

and he was sending me pictures of a pint of Guinness with big thumbs up

and everything like that, looking forward to it pal he always

called everyone pal you know and you'd you'd see him do the rounds in the press

room be sitting next to everybody laughing and smiling he'd come next to me

we'd have a pie I might even have two to be honest with you and then we'd

go upstairs and sit on the gantry next to him when he was working for talk sport and it always

make a poor Albion showing very bearable to be

honest he like a lot of people have already said he always had a smile on his face

he put a he put a smile on people's faces as well, you know, a knowledgeable man Dan as you've

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