League Two: Cambridge United are already a goal to the good at home to Notts County. As fourth playing third, they could leapfrog their opponents if things stay the same.

At the other end of the table, in a relegation six-pointer, Nathaniel Opoku scores an important opener for Newport County after some dire Harrogate defending. Here is how things stand at the basement:

Peep!

The whistles go around the grounds for kick-off.

We’ll keep the keenest eye on the pair of Premier League 3pm kick-offs, as well as action at the top of the Scottish Premier League. Keep those emails and thoughts rolling in, you can reach me here.

As we turn our attention to 3pm kick-offs, Andy McGrath is back in the clockwatch chair.

Scott and Bournemouth deal blow to nervy Arsenal’s title hopes

For Arsenal’s longsuffering supporters, the emotional strain is reaching unbearable levels. They could only watch in stunned disbelief as Alex Scott’s goal 16 minutes from time condemned the Premier League leaders to a defeat they must fear will prove to be extremely significant.

While Arsenal still lead Manchester City by nine points, a defeat at the Etihad next Sunday could give City an opportunity to draw level on points if they beat Chelsea tomorrow and then win their game in hand against Crystal Palace. Having set the pace since the start of October, that is the nightmare scenario Arsenal must now come to terms with. Bournemouth, who have now gone 12 matches unbeaten, were excellent value for their second victory in succession here after Eli Kroupi Junior gave them an early lead.

Read Ed Aaron’s full report from the Emirates here:

Carrick part of the decision making process at Old Trafford despite temporary role

Michael Carrick, who has taken an admirable 23 points from his 10 matches as Manchester United interim manager, is a strong voice inside the club despite his role being temporary - for now, at least.

Earlier this week Harry Maguire signed a fresh one-year contract and Carrick was asked how involved he was in this and regarding plans for pre-season.

“In the role I’m in, there’s these decisions you need taking care of, I said it as soon as I came here. I’m part of that and whatever that looks like moving forward, I’m part of that.

“Certainly there’s conversations in different directions and different things that I’m definitely part of. I think it should be that way anyway, because things need doing. I’m here to take care of that.”

National League: York held on for a 1-0 win at Tamworth to extend their lead at the top of the table. Second-place Rochdale play Wealdstone later on with a chance to cut the gap to two points with two games to go.

League Two: Bromley miss the chance to be promoted today, they could not find an equaliser against 10-man MK Dons, that one finished 2-1. Bristol Rovers were able to add a bit of polish to the scoreline against Crawley with Yusuf Akhamrich making it 3-1 late on.

League One: All the 12.30pm kick-offs are finished, Cardiff beat Bolton 2-0, Lincoln held on to beat Orient 2-1 and Plymouth v Exeter finished all square.

League One: It’s all going on at Home Park, Jayden Wareham had restored Exeter’s lead in the 87th minute but just 180 seconds later Malachi Boateng bundled in from close range from a scrappy set-pice. Lovely stuff.

Championship: Coventry are still struggling to find a breakthrough against Sheffield Wednesday. A couple of big chances in succession as Josh Eccles heads narrowly wide and Ellis Simms could not convert as he came on to a low cross swept in from the right.

League Two: Louis Watson has pulled one back for Crawley a Bristol Rovers to make it 2-1. The Sussex side have around 10 minutes to find an equaliser.

League Two: It did not take long for Bromley to take advantage of MK Dons going down to 10 men. Marcus Ifil has pulled one back and halved Dons’ lead, it’s 2-1 in MK.

League One: Promoted Lincoln were 2-0 up against Leyton Orient but Dominic Ballard has pulled one back for the Os.

Elsewhere, Lorent Tolaj has equalised for Plymouth in their local derby clash with Exeter.

League Two: MK Dons are 2-0 up against Bromley, a scoreline that would deny the Ravens promotions, but the league leaders have a lifeline with Jon Mellish earning a red card for a second bookable offence.

I’ll leave you in the very capable hands of Tom Bassam while I grab a bite to eat.

Premier League: Raya playing with fire, taking a risk passing out to Zubimendi with Bournemouth’s strikers nearly on top of him. Not the first time he has done that today, either. Howls from the Emirates crowd. The home side have only had one shot on target so far – the penalty converted by Gyokeres.

A nervy final 25 minutes ahead for the league leaders, looking for a winner.

National League: York are a goal to the good against Tamworth and set to stay top of the table as things stand. Automatic promotion rivals Rochdale play Wealdstone this evening. Only the champion goes up, it is likely to go all the way to the wire.

Boreham Wood’s Matt Rush has scored a couple within five minutes for them against Hartlepool. They are certain to be in the play-offs.

Premier League: Arteta rings in the changes. Eze, Trossard and Dowman are off the bench and on the pitch. Cometh the hour, cometh the man child? The highly-tipped teenager could make his most important impact to date.

Meanwhile, 55 minutes in at top versus bottom in the Championship, Coventry are yet to break the deadlock against Sheffield Wednesday, though they nearly sprung the offside trap moments ago for a simple finish.

League One: Deadlock broken in the Devon derby as Reece Cole puts Exeter ahead away to playoff-pursuing Plymouth. That goal could be crucial in keeping them up. Their fans are unsurprisingly going loco, bragging rights potentially in the offing too.

At the other end, Cardiff go a goal up at Bolton with a header from Osmari Kellyman, taking them ten points clear in second place as things stand.

Two minutes later, Chris Willock adds a second!

Premier League: The players are back out at the Emirates. Big half ahead for Mikel Arteta’s side, who flattered to deceive for much of that first half. Going a goal down seemed to spur them into action, mind.

No changes from either manager at half-time.

Some half-time reading for you: Barney Ronay’s bid to turn £10 into £1,000 at the bookies

“I knew Arsenal were going to lose because I stare at sport all the time and I can see when something is crap. I’m the crap whisperer.

They duly lost. And this was my high point. Ten pounds had become £120. Yes, somehow only that tiny amount after all this winning and omniscience. But still a vast return in five days! I’ve got the key. I’ve got the secret. I am invincible. I … cannot lose.”

Championship: George Hirst doubles Ipswich’s lead at Carrow Road in first-half stoppage time. Firmly in control of the East Anglia derby, they have two more games in hand over promotion rivals Middlesbrough and Millwall. They will be favourites to go up to the Premier League – if they can hang on.

On the ball – guess the footballer

The Guardian has kicked off a new chapter in puzzles with the launch of its first daily football game, On the ball. It is now live in the app for both iOS and Android … so what are you waiting for?

Premier League: Arsenal are playing like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders. Their opponents are more fluid and pressing them back into their own half.

At Coventry, the Championship leaders nearly fashion a messy opening from a corner but the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper falls on the ball.

League Two: MK Dons have made it 2-0 against leaders Bromley with a Ben Wiles goal. The south Londoners may have to wait another match or two to confirm their promotion.

Championship: Ipswich go ahead at Norwich, thanks to a Jaden Philogene penalty, sending the goalie the wrong way.

Pretty stonewall, as Ben Slimane nearly inadvertently takes off Taylor’s head with a wild swing at the ball, going for a clearance from a free kick.

The table as things stand:

Championship: Dear me, bottom-of-the-table Sheffield Wednesday (one league win all season) nearly take a shock lead at Coventry through an absolute howler.

Goalkeeper Carl Rushworth slipped as he kicked the ball and got the ball caught under his feet. Jerry Yates nearly picked his pocket for the most straightforward goal, but somehow Rushworth recovered and got away with it.

League Two: Second-placed MK Dons are a goal up inside 34 seconds. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing charges through and slips the ball low into the net. No time wasted, just what Paul Warne would have wanted.

Their opponents, league leaders Bromley have a slim chance of securing promotion if results go their ways, but they are already on the back foot here.

How De Zerbi is aiming to keep Spurs up

After West Ham’s thumping of Wolves last night, the heat has been turned up even higher on Spurs, in the relegation zone for the first time since August 2015. How will they stay in the Premier League, then? The new manager has a cunning plan.

“I want to keep the ball,” De Zerbi said. “I want to see again the Tottenham I watched with Postecoglou because, in my second season in Brighton, there was Postecoglou here with a lot of these players and it was one of the best teams in terms of quality of play. With Pedro Porro, with [Destiny] Udogie, with [Micky] van de Ven, with [Cristian] Romero, and I would like to see it again.”

Some Spurs fans may have their heads in their hands reading that, but they and you can read more about his masterplan here:

Expat Coventry fan Dan from Perth (Australia, not Scotland) writes in: “Have just been reflecting on the 2016/17 Checkatrade final when, all alone at a casino’s sports bar, with a moon-bound spaceship’s range of screens showing all manner of local footy varietals to no one in particular, I still had to beg the bemused manager (who knew not of this competition or my team) to allocate the tiniest box in the corner so I could experience Wembley and the first real bright spot in my Cov supporting adult life (being 19 when we were relegated to the championship and then on down that slippery slide).

“Fast forward and I’ll be in front of another small screen in my study streaming the match with a significant plus one – my eight-year-old who, while not actually yet a fan (and who may, in fact, not be paying attention at all while making loom bracelets) has been here for the entire journey back.

“Can’t believe we’re finally maybe going back up; fingers crossed today is the day.”