Arsenal vs. Manchester United: Simulating Premier League Tie Using FIFA 14

By Nick Akerman
Arsenal and Manchester United fans will be fearing the worst heading into the Emirates clash on Feb. 12.

The Gunners, fresh from their 5-1 humiliation against Liverpool, need three points to continue their charge for the Premier League title. United arrive after yet another abysmal result, this time coming in the form of a 2-2 draw against Fulham, and they need a positive score to keep their hopes of fourth place burning—just about.

While the away supporters' sense of dread is certainly justified, hope can be taken from United's 1-0 win over Arsenal earlier in the season.

We excitedly decided to simulate the match using FIFA 14, but boy, did we make a mistake.

Arsenal vs. Manchester United: FIFA 14 Highlights

1'—Decent start from Arsenal, who control possession and slowly move forward.

22'—Smart play on the edge of United's area sees Mesut Ozil flash a shot at David de Gea's goal. The Spaniard meets a powerful strike with a smart save.


40'—No action to report whatsoever. United barely exit their half, while Arsenal look content to keep the ball without threatening.

HALF-TIME: Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United

55'—More of the same in the second half. United make a rare journey into Arsenal's box, but Ashley Young's weak effort drifts wide.

67'—This is a terrible, terrible (virtual) game of football. Jack Wilshere, Ozil and Santi Cazorla set up a tea party on the halfway line and tell the rest of their teammates they aren't allowed to play.

79'—A digital pigeon has just flown into the Clock End. Probably. Elsewhere, the writer of this article can be heard screaming from afar.

85'—Lukas Podolski meets a Cazorla cross, but he nods the ball softly into De Gea's hands. That was kind of the German.

FULL-TIME: Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United

Now, usually when there's a lack of action I would bring you a highlights video from the entire game. Unfortunately, Ozil's first half shot was the only moment of note throughout. Join me in weeping, please.

Instead of overrated videos (who needs them?), here's a selection of statistics to drill home the tedium.

FUT 14 TOTW 21 (February 5th 2014)

TOTW 21 IF (in-form) players (including Chiellini, Sneijder & Thiago!) will be available in packs from 6pm (UK time), February 5th 2014 until 5:30pm (UK time), February 12th 2014. This team can be challenged in the ‘Team of the Week’ section within FIFA 14 Ultimate Team on your console.

For live FUT 14 updates (including TOTW details & Happy Hour reminders)

FIFA 14 Ultimate Team web app after update

By Alan Ng

We have a heads-up for those of you who are regular users of the FIFA 14 Ultimate Team web app. If you didn’t know already, the web app has been updated and we have a list of change notes for you to read through giving you an idea on what is new from the old version.

This update has been live for a while now, so most of you should be running the new version. If you are not though, update now and read through the list of changes that we have added below for you. One of the big changes is that EA has now added the ability to re-list all previously unsold items.

Another notable change is that changes to Squads are now automatically saved when leaving the Active Squad screen – this was a hassle for many players before, but you still have the option to save manually as normal.

There’s a cosmetic change that you may have noticed too, with EA now opting to use unique colours during the pack opening animation. It still remains a frustrating aspect for many though when you open that precious gold pack and find out that you haven’t got any players of use.

Since most of you would have installed the new web app update already, let us know your thoughts on how it is handling for you at the moment.

Is everything fine for you, or is there a problem that you want to see fixed before the next update?

Web app update notes:

1. Added the ability to Re-List all previously unsold Items.
2. Added the ability to find all similar Items when searching the Transfer Market (ex. Find All Messi’s)
3. Applying Consumables is now a two-step process, but prevents Consumables from accidentally being applied.
4. Items are automatically added to the Transfer Targets section when attempting to Buy Now with Items in the Unassigned Pile
5. Changes to Squads are automatically saved when leaving the Active Squad screen. Users still have the option to save manually.
6. Chemistry Style icons now appear when comparing players on the Active Squad screen
7. Unique colours for the pack opening animation (Bronze, Silver, and Gold).
8. Changed the fonts app wide to match FUT Console

UK chart: FIFA 14 finishes the year on top

By Robert Purchese

Like Arsenal, FIFA 14 has finished 2013 top of its respective table: the UK top 40 video games chart.

Activision's annual best-selling Call of Duty series had to settle for second and was in good company, followed by Assassin's Creed 4, Battlefield 4 and Grand Theft Auto 5.

Need for Speed: Rivals, Lego Marvel, Just Dance 2014, Minecraft Xbox 360 and Gran Turismo 6 filled out the rest of the top 10.

Did you watch Sherlock?

Cheapest FIFA 14 after new 15% off sitewide Coupon at Origin

Today's deals on Good Old Games, FIFA 14, Gran Turismo 6 and Steam
by Thomas Schulenberg

Today is your last chance to take advantage of Good Old Gaming's Winter Sale, with most of its catalog available for 50 percent off or more. Highlights include the Complete Wing Commander bundle for $11.92, a Sci-Fi Combat Sims bundle that includes Descent 1 - 3 for $10.94, and the Fantasy Through History bundle that offers Torchlight and more for $11.35.

Steam's ninth day of sales offers Torchlight 2 for $4.99, Deadpool for $9.99, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons for $4.49 and Saints Row 4 for $19.99. If you're feeling charitable, you can grab SR4's Child's Play Pack for $1.19, which dresses your president in Digital Dino or Robochimp outfits. Deep Silver will donate all of the involved proceeds to Child's Play.

Console gamers aren't left out of the post-holiday savings, either - Amazon is offering the PS3 racer Gran Turismo 6 for $39.99 today. PS3 and Xbox 360 copies of FIFA 14 are also $34.99, with PC downloads going for $29.99.

Lastly, Square Enix's mobile sale is on until January 5, offering deals on mobile ports of classics like Secret of Mana for $3.99 on iOS, The World Ends With You for $8.99 on iOS, and all kinds of Final Fantasy games for iOS and Android.

Electronic Arts Scores Christmas No 1 With FIFA 14

FIFA 14 has scored the Christmas No 1 slot in the UK videogame sales chart.

Electronic Arts' football title beat last week's best seller Call Of Duty: Ghosts in the all-format charts.

It's the first time since 2007 that EA has netted the festive No 1 with the popular footie game, because Activision's Call Of Duty series has dominated the chart in recent years.

Assassins Creed 4, Battlefield 4 and Lego: Marvel Super Heroes took positions three, four and five respectively.

Many people's game of the year, Grand Theft Auto V, was in sixth position.

The top 20 in full, previous week's placement in brackets...

1. (2) FIFA 14 (Electronic Arts)
2. (1) Call of Duty: Ghosts (Activision)
3. (4) Assassin's Creed 4 (Ubisoft)
4. (3) Battlefield 4 (Electronic Arts)
5. (6) LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (Warner Bros Interactive)
6. (8) Grand Theft Auto 5 (Rockstar Games)
7. (6) Just Dance 2014 (Ubisoft)
8. (7) Need for Speed: Rivals (Electronic Arts)
9. (11) Killzone: Shadow Fall (Sony)
10. (12) Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition (Microsoft)
11. (10) Gran Turismo 6 (Sony)
12. (14) Batman: Arkham Origins (Warner Bros Interactive)
13. (13) Skylanders Swap Force (Activision)
14. (9) WWE 2K14 (2K Games)
15. (26) Forza Motorsport 5 (Microsoft)
16. (15) Disney Infinity (Disney)
17. (25) Animal Crossing: New Leaf (Nintendo)
18. (19) Football Manager 2014 (Sega)
19. (17) Angry Birds Star Wars (Activision)
20. (33) Aliens: Colonial Marines (SEGA)

Ranking supplied by Chart Track.

Cahill: Blues play FIFA14, I play Sturridge, Rooney online - who wins?

Chelsea's Gary Cahill on the computer game that grips many nations, but who is the best between himself and Liverpool, Manchester United's star strikers?

In December 2006, John O'Shea returned a rare goal for Manchester United which prompted an unprecedented celebration from the Red Devils. Influential centre back Rio Ferdinand assembled the United troops, dropped to their knees and Rio began a gesture that imitated aiming a rocket-launcher, taking sight and firing away.

SEE ALSO: ONE signing Liverpool MUST secure if they want success, £225k per week

When the media probed as to what the meaning of it was (British troops were deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq at the time), it turned out there was no political motive but, rather, something far more innocent.

The celebration was an in-joke between the Manchester United camp and the English players in the Chelsea camp as the Three Lions had become obsessed with the video game SOCOM 3: US Navy Seals. The game had been recommended to Rio by Chelsea captain John Terry.

While video game genres come and go depending on what is hot, there is one game that is a constant with footballers... and it is not anything to do with literal warfare, but rather FIFA, in whatever the latest incantation is.

But, regardless, there is still a virtual rivalry between Chelsea and United, as Terry's defensive partner Gary Cahill has revealed that not only are the entire roster of Blues regular players, but he also takes on one Liverpool star and one United star - but who is the best?

'We’re all into it,' confessed Cahill, as quoted by Shortlist when speaking on behalf of one of his sponsors, Rotary. 'I play it online against Danny Sturridge. He’s better than me. Wayne Rooney, too.

'We go with all sorts of teams, although Chelsea are one of the top teams on there. And if I do play as Chelsea, I put myself upfront, so I can run around and pretend I’m bossing it.'