The judge sentenced Jonathon Best, 52, from west London to 10 weeks in prison at Willesden magistrates court on Tuesday.

He pleaded guilty to sending by public communication network a grossly offensive or indecent or obscene or menacing message.

Elaine Cousins, from the Crown Prosecution Service, told PA Media:

“Jonathon Best took to Facebook to live stream a barrage of racist abuse at the three players who missed penalties during the game.

“He used social media to publicly vilify these three young men who tried to score for England. When approached by a Facebook friend asking him to remove the grossly offensive content, Best replied: ‘It’s my profile, I can do what I want.’

“There is absolutely no room in the game, nor elsewhere, for racism. The CPS is committed to bringing perpetrators of hate crime to justice where there is the evidence to do so.”

Aaron Ramsdale and Bukayo Saka called up to the England squad. #AFC pic.twitter.com/TOqxLFwx9E

— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) November 4, 2021

The abuse took place after the Euro 2020 final this summer. Best used social media to insult the players after they missed the final three penalties. This led to the Three Lions losing the final.

The court heard that the individual, who was a work colleague and Facebook friend of Best’s, reported the 18-second Facebook video. The friend made the report to the social media platform and the police after Best refused to remove it.

Facebook eventually took the post down after three days.

“I would like to thank the individual who reported this appalling hate crime and I hope this prosecution goes some way in educating and deterring people from posting hate on social media,” Cousins added.

An inspiration. A hero. A baller. And only 24.

Happy birthday, @MarcusRashford pic.twitter.com/yHQcyupTMF

— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 31, 2021

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Mikel Arteta relied heavily last season on Arsenal’s youth in his first full season in charge, mainly due to the incompetence of some of the more experienced players. Although the club finished ninth in the league last season, they have managed to hold onto their best players while still having pull in the transfer market.

Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli with his Olympic gold medal after Brazil beat Spain 2-1 after extra-time in the #football final at #Tokyo2020 earlier today. #afc pic.twitter.com/CjUyLQfOYv

— afcstuff (@afcstuff) August 8, 2021

Who are these young players?

Gunners fans will be happy to know that favourites Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith-Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli will remain at the club this season. They also got the signature of up-and-coming star Ben White from Brighton for an estimated £50 million.

With this new signing, Arsenal’s defence looks stronger and more youthful than it has been in years. The team could line out with Tierney, Gabriel, White and Bellerin in the defence with only one of those players over the age of 24.

Forward Martinelli may have struggled badly with injuries in his first two seasons in North London but is now fresh off an Olympic gold medal with Brazil.

Folarin Balugon and Smith-Rowe also had decent seasons for Arteta’s side with three goals and four assists between them in the Europa League.

After all of them, the youngster that stands above the rest is Bukayo Saka. The 19-year-old has shown his ability to play in defence, midfield and forwards for both club and country this year.

He played in four of England’s Euro 2020 matches on their run to the final. The Gunner’s only worry is that the young man’s confidence might be shot after he missed the fifth and final penalty that saw the Three Lions lose the final.

Bukayo Saka sees messages of support from the Arsenal fans after his penalty miss at EURO 2020.

What a touching moment.

@Arsenal pic.twitter.com/c0BKhrktzI

— Football Tweet (@Football__Tweet) August 4, 2021

The ones left behind

With every good young player at the club, another one slips through the cracks. After what was an astonishing loan move to Newcastle, Joe Willock does not seem to be getting a warm welcome back at Arsenal.

The club is days away from agreeing on terms with the Magpies to sell the player to restock funds to buy James Maddison.

Another player seemingly left at the wayside is French defender William Saliba, the 20-year-old has been sent on another loan move to Ligue 1 with the club showing no intention of ever playing him.

Surely @Joewillock, you’ve gotta go for 8 in 8 #NUFC pic.twitter.com/so8KN4Bsqt

— Newcastle Fans TV (@NewcastleFansTV) August 5, 2021

The club still has some promising young prospects on their roster and will hope they bring glory back to the club this season. If Arteta shows more faith in the youth then maybe the team could make a stir in the top European places.

Their first challenge will be to overcome Brentford away from home at 16:00 on Friday 13th August.

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Despite being almost ¾ of the way through the Premier League season, Arsenal still found themselves in the bottom half of the table prior to this evening’s game against Leeds.

They had a horrific start to the season, finding themselves very close to the relegation zone for a prolonged period of time. Their improved form in January seen them climb the table but their February form left a lot to be desired going into the game, losing their previous 2 Premier League games.

They did, however, manage to get back to winning ways today with an impressive victory over a Leeds United side who have surpassed all expectations so far this season.

FIRST HALF

Arsenal started the game off with more intensity than they have done in previous games this season, moving the ball with intent and pressing quickly.

Their pressure paid off in the 13^th minute as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted the opener. He received the ball and made space for himself with a few stepovers before accurately directing the ball into the bottom corner.

Aubameyang could have scored his second near the half-hour mark as he found space in the box and shot at goal but he was denied by an outstanding block by Luke Ayling.

Arsenal thought they had the chance to double their advantage in the 33^rd minute as Bukayo Saka went down in the box after a brilliant run. Initially, the referee pointed to the spot to award a penalty but after further review from VAR, no penalty was awarded.

Just minutes later, though, Arsenal were awarded yet another penalty. However, this time it would stand. Saka earned the penalty again after pressuring goalkeeper Illan Meslier before being brought down in the box. Aubameyang stepped up to take the penalty and he made no mistake as he got his brace. 2-0 Arsenal.

Hector Bellerin all but finished the game off in the 44^th minute as he made it 3-0 after an excellent period of play with Saka at the heart of it yet again.

The first half ended 3-0 to Arsenal in one of their most convincing performances of the season.

SECOND HALF

Arsenal’s goalscoring didn’t stop there.

Just 2 minutes into the second half and they had their fourth. Aubameyang was the goalscorer yet again as he got his hat-trick. Surprisingly enough, it was Aubameyang’s first Premier League hat-trick given the amount of goals he’s scored.

It was another defensive error that led to the goal. Helder Costa tried to play out from the back but was caught in possession and his error eventually led to an Aubameyang back-post header.

The Gabon international has looked a shadow of his former self this season but today’s performance could do him the world of good, particularly given the personal problems he’s had to endure recently.

Leeds showed they still had some fight left in them as they pulled one back in the 58^th minute. It was Pascal Struijk who scored, and in doing so netted his first Premier League goal. The Dutch centre-back ventured into the box for a Leeds’ corner before he met the ball with an explosive header to make it 4-1.

Helder Costa was at fault for Arsenal’s fourth goal but he made up for that in the 68^th minute as he finished off a fine Leeds’ move with a powerful finish inside the box. 4-2 Arsenal.

Unfortunately for Leeds though, that was about as far as their comeback would go.

The match finished 4-2 to Arsenal after a fantastic first half performance.

Leeds sat 10^th and Arsenal sat 11^th prior to the match. Now though, given Arsenal’s victory, the teams have switched positions with Arsenal moving into the top half.

Hat-trick hero Aubameyang fires Arsenal to victory in an end-to-end encounter#ARSLEE pic.twitter.com/QquD1nFhir

— Premier League (@premierleague) February 14, 2021

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