Sports

*Eberechi Eze Standout Gunner, Coach Gushes By Jonathan Wilson, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium "After what happened against Wolves it was tough but that’s the beauty of this game." Mikel Arteta said that he could not be “prouder or happier” after his Arsenal side restored their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table with a 4-1 win against Tottenham yesterday that he suggested could be a “turning point” in their season. This was an emphatic response after squandering a 2-0 lead at Wolves on Wednesday, a result that means City will win the league if they win all…

*Again, Lookman Scores For Atletico Madrid Newcastle’s long losing run at the Etihad goes on – that’s now 17 on the bounce in yesterday's (Saturday) particular English Premier League (EPL) fixture – but they did themselves proud. They pushed Manchester City all the way, though it ended 2-1. This determined win will give Pep Guardiola’s side great heart as they attempt to chase down leaders Arsenal. It's now Arsenal, 58 points, Man City, 56 points, after 28 games each. Nico O'Reilly scored twice in the first half, the 20-year-old rewarding City for a dominant start at the Etihad Stadium with…

By Sam Tyav, Makurdi After four years, Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi has played its first home match in the Benue State capital, defeating Doma Utd 2-1 in the Nigeria National League ( NNL). During the match which was played at the McCarthy Stadium, Makurdi, the visiting team, which was topping Group C, scored in the 14th minute when their skipper Abdullahi Abubakar capitalized on a missed header by Lobi captain Kwambe Solomon to chip the ball past keeper Daniel Atsaka. Lobi Stars thereafter battled back and equalized before half time through Azeez Tijani. In the second half, Lobi, otherwise…

Arne Slot has responded to Wayne Rooney’s claim that the Liverpool head coach does not have the “aura” to manage the club by pointing to his Premier League title success last season. Rooney questioned Slot’s suitability for the job, telling The Overlap: “I have met him a few times. He was a nice fella but I just don’t think, for Liverpool, he’s got that aura about him. Maybe this is because you have just come off the back of Jürgen Klopp and it’s going to be difficult for anyone to have that, but I just don’t think there’s that aura…

A Strike Partner For Haaland? Finding opportunities to rest Erling Haaland has not always been easy for Pep Guardiola. A knock helped rule him out against League Two Salford City for what turned out to be a laborious 2-0 win, giving the Norwegian the chance of a free weekend. In the recent Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against tomorrow's (Saturday) opponents, Newcastle, Haaland started on the bench and watched as City made light work of a confused visiting defence. Guardiola knows how to cause damage against Eddie Howe’s side and reinstating Haaland to the lineup can only be an advantage…

By Ed Aarons *Draw With Bottom-Side Wolves *Saka, Arteta Speak It was left to Bukayo Saka to sum up the mood in Arsenal’s dressing room. “Very flat,” admitted the England forward after watching his side surrender a 2-0 lead at Wolves on Wednesday night. A couple of hours earlier, Saka’s first goal in 15 games in all competitions – his longest drought since breaking into the first team as a fresh-faced teenager in 2018 – looked to have set up an easy victory over the Premier League’s bottom side to restore Arsenal’s seven-point cushion over Manchester City. Made captain for…

By Sid Lowe, at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, and Ed Aarons, at the Gtech Community Stadium You must always have faith, Diego Simeone had said and so it was. A biblical storm blew through the Metropolitano on Thursday night, leaving Barcelona torn to pieces and Atlético Madrid closer to a first Copa del Rey final in 13 years than even he could ever have believed. Forty-five extraordinary minutes gave them a 4-0 lead to take to the second leg at Camp Nou in three weeks’ time. An own goal from Eric García and three more, from Ademola Lookman, Antoine Griezmann…

More flak came for billionaire part-owner of Manchester United and UK's 7th richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, as English Football Association will look at whether he brought the game into disrepute through his claims that the UK has been “colonised” by immigrants. The billionaire based in Monaco caused widespread anger with his comments and has been called on by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to apologise. His remarks have not gone unnoticed within the FA, which will examine further before deciding whether he has broken any rules. It is too early to say whether any formal investigation will follow. In…

By Jamie Jackson, at the Ettihad, and Louise Taylor, at the Stadium of Light Manchester City’s week is ­moving along sweetly, this win on Wednesday night closing the gap to three points to Arsenal, who travel to Brentford today. On ­Sunday, they defeated Liverpool at Anfield, on Wednesday they downed ­Fulham at home to reel off a 20th consecutive victory against them. The rosiest moment for the title challengers was Erling Haaland’s 39th‑minute strike, a first in the competition from open play in nine games, though more con­cerning was his removal at the break, when City led 3-0. “Niggles,” Pep…

*Dembele, PSG In Five-Star Stroll Over Marseille *Madrid Down Toothless Valencia Before joining his triumphant players to celebrate in front of Manchester City’s delirious away support, Pep Guardiola looked to the heavens above Anfield and blew a kiss. This stadium has tormented the City manager more often than most over the past decade but, should the title race twist as dramatically as this victory, his 11th and possibly final visit to Liverpool will be cherished as the turning point. Was Guardiola’s kiss one of thanks for Gianluigi Donnarumma, the goalkeeper who deflated Liverpool in the Champions League last season with…