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Arteta Says League Cup Final Will Give Arsenal Boost for Run-in

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (R) clashes with the fourth official Thomas Bramall (L) during the English League Cup semi-final second leg football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, in London on February 3, 2026. (AFP)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (R) clashes with the fourth official Thomas Bramall (L) during the English League Cup semi-final second leg football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, in London on February 3, 2026. (AFP)
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Arteta Says League Cup Final Will Give Arsenal Boost for Run-in

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (R) clashes with the fourth official Thomas Bramall (L) during the English League Cup semi-final second leg football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, in London on February 3, 2026. (AFP)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (R) clashes with the fourth official Thomas Bramall (L) during the English League Cup semi-final second leg football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, in London on February 3, 2026. (AFP)

Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said reaching Wembley for the first time since 2020 - thanks to a 4-2 aggregate League Cup semi-final win over Chelsea - would give his players a boost ​for a hectic season run-in.

"It's the best vitamins we can put in our bodies because we are playing every three days," Arteta told reporters after Arsenal beat their London rivals 1-0 on Tuesday to seal their place in the final of England's second domestic cup competition.

The Spaniard said the prospect of a return to Wembley for the first time since he guided his team to victory in ‌the FA Cup ‌final - also against Chelsea - six years ago ‌was ⁠magical, ​before ‌adding: "Now we are going to have to go and win it."

Arsenal had failed to make it through their previous four major cup semi-finals - two in the League Cup and another two in Europe - before overcoming Chelsea on Tuesday.

With the visitors desperately seeking the goal they needed to level the tie on aggregate, former Chelsea attacker Kai Havertz ran clear to ⁠score in the final moments of the semi-final second leg.

The German has missed much of ‌this season through injury and Arteta hailed ‍his return to form.

"Today was a ‍special moment for him and I hope that he fully enjoys ‍it," he said.

The Premier League leaders - who are also competing in the FA Cup and the Champions League - will face either Manchester City or Newcastle United who play their semi-final second leg on Wednesday with City 2-0 ahead ​from the first leg.

Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior said his players' disciplined performance showed how much the team had developed ⁠since the chaotic 3-2 home loss to Arsenal in last month's first leg, which was only his second match in charge after replacing Enzo Maresca.

"Ultimately their goal comes when we’re throwing the kitchen sink at the game. That’s going to happen," Rosenior said. "We can’t let this setback affect our future. There were aspects of our game that I am very happy with."

He said winger Pedro Neto and club captain Reece James had not made the squad on Tuesday after picking up "small knocks" and he praised 18-year-old Brazil winger Estevao who made a 48-hour round trip ‌to Brazil for compassionate reasons but was back in London to come off the bench for Chelsea in the second half.

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Lens Close in on PSG with Win Over Lowly Metz

Lens' players celebrate winning the French L1 football match between RC Lens and FC Metz at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, northern France on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Francois LO PRESTI / AFP)
Lens' players celebrate winning the French L1 football match between RC Lens and FC Metz at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, northern France on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Francois LO PRESTI / AFP)
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Lens Close in on PSG with Win Over Lowly Metz

Lens' players celebrate winning the French L1 football match between RC Lens and FC Metz at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, northern France on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Francois LO PRESTI / AFP)
Lens' players celebrate winning the French L1 football match between RC Lens and FC Metz at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, northern France on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Francois LO PRESTI / AFP)

Lens clawed to within a point of Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday after beating bottom side Metz 3-0 to relaunch their unexpected title challenge.

Saudi international Saud Abdulhamid drilled in the opening goal late in the first half and Florian Thauvin doubled the lead for Lens immediately after the break.

Amadou Haidara wrapped up the victory on 52 minutes as Lens won for the first time in three matches to relaunch their pursuit of PSG, who lost 3-1 at home to Monaco on Friday.

"There are still a few hills to climb but being within a point of PSG with nine games to go is a good thing in itself," AFP quoted Lens coach Pierre Sage as saying

Metz, who beat Lens earlier in the season, stayed rooted to the foot of the table. They have not won in the league since November, taking only two points from their last 13 matches.

Recently fired coach Franck Haise had a triumphant return to south coast side Nice on Sunday.

Under new coach Claude Puel, Nice continued their slump towards the relegation zone as they were thumped 4-0 at home by Haise's resurgent Rennes, the Brittany club climbing above Lille to fourth.

Lille drew 1-1 with Lorient, while Brest put two goals past Le Havre without reply.

On Saturday, Marseille avenged their midweek French Cup elimination by Toulouse, as Mason Greenwood scored the only goal in a 1-0 league win.

Lyon can reclaim third place from Marseille later on Sunday with a win over Paris FC.

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Southampton Stuns Premier League Fulham to Advance to the FA Cup Quarterfinals

Southampton's Scottish striker #11 Ross Stewart (L) celebrates after scoring on a penalty kick for his team's fist goal during the English FA Cup fifth round football match between Fulham and Southampton at Craven Cottage in London on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
Southampton's Scottish striker #11 Ross Stewart (L) celebrates after scoring on a penalty kick for his team's fist goal during the English FA Cup fifth round football match between Fulham and Southampton at Craven Cottage in London on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
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Southampton Stuns Premier League Fulham to Advance to the FA Cup Quarterfinals

Southampton's Scottish striker #11 Ross Stewart (L) celebrates after scoring on a penalty kick for his team's fist goal during the English FA Cup fifth round football match between Fulham and Southampton at Craven Cottage in London on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
Southampton's Scottish striker #11 Ross Stewart (L) celebrates after scoring on a penalty kick for his team's fist goal during the English FA Cup fifth round football match between Fulham and Southampton at Craven Cottage in London on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

Southampton produced an FA Cup upset to knock out Premier League side Fulham on Sunday.

Ross Stewart's 91st-minute penalty sealed a 1-0 win for the Championship side at Craven Cottage and booked its place in the quarterfinals.

The game was heading to extra time when Joachim Andersen brought down Finn Azaz in the box late on, The Associated Press reported. Stewart stepped up and blasted past Fulham goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte.

Fulham coach Marco Silva paid the price for making nine changes to his starting lineup and leaving out star players like Raul Jimenez, Antonee Robinson and Alex Iwobi.

Victory continues Southampton's impressive surge under coach Tonda Eckert, who has transformed the club's fortunes since taking charge in November.

The team, which was relegated from the Premier League last season, was battling for survival in the Championship when former coach Will Still was fired.

Under Eckert it has risen up the standings and is competing for a place in the playoffs.

“Overall in the 90 minutes it’s deserved that we go to the next round,“ he told the BBC. “(We) just need to use this game as fuel for the games coming up.”

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Iran Soccer Team Exits Women's Asian Cup and Faces the Prospect of Return Home

Iran players react during their national anthem ahead of the Women's Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)
Iran players react during their national anthem ahead of the Women's Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)
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Iran Soccer Team Exits Women's Asian Cup and Faces the Prospect of Return Home

Iran players react during their national anthem ahead of the Women's Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)
Iran players react during their national anthem ahead of the Women's Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)

Iran’s soccer team lost its last group match at the Women’s Asian Cup on Sunday and had to contemplate returning home to a country embroiled in war.

The Iranian women’s squad arrived in Australia for the continental championship last month, before the war that began with the US and Israel Feb. 28 strikes on Iran. Teams ousted during the group stage usually leave within days but organizers have not announced details for the departure of the Iran delegation, The AP news reported.

Their silence during the anthem before an opening loss to South Korea last Monday was viewed by some as an act of resistance and others as a show of mourning. The team hasn't clarified. But the players sang the anthem and saluted during the national anthem ahead of their 4-0 loss to Australia last Thursday and a 2-0 loss to Philippines on Sunday.

Amid concerns for player welfare following reported criticism in the Iranian media, the Australian Iranian Council wrote to Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke urging the government to protect the squad members while they’re in Australia.

It launched an online petition, which had more than 50,000 electronic signatures before kick-off Sunday, urging Australian authorities to “ensure that no member of Iran’s women’s national football team is to depart Australia while credible fears for their safety remain” and also to provide independent legal advice, support and interpreters.

Iran team management and players have mostly declined to comment on the situation at home during more than a week preparing for and playing games on Australia’s Gold Coast, although Iran forward Sara Didar choked back tears in a news conference last Wednesday as she shared their concerns for their families, friends and all Iranians during the conflict.

The Australian Associated Press reported late Sunday that protestors chanting “let them go" slightly delayed the departure of the Iran squad from the stadium.

Australia's national news agency quoted Iran's head coach Marziyeh Jafari saying the squad “want to come back to Iran as soon as we can.”

“I want to be with my country and home ... We are eager to come back," AAP quoted Jafari as saying.

The Australian Iranian Council's online petition asked local authorities to ensure any player seeking protection “can do so safely, privately, and without interference” and to “make clear that Australia will uphold its ... humanitarian protection obligations in relation to any player at risk of persecution or serious harm.

“Where credible evidence exists that visiting athletes may face persecution, imprisonment, coercion, or worse upon return, silence is not a neutral position," it said. “The current wartime environment has intensified repression, fear, and the risks faced by anyone publicly perceived by the Islamic Republic as disloyal.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong declined to comment on whether the Australian government had made contact with individuals but told domestic media Australia stood in solidarity with the Iranian women's team.

“It has been really moving for Australians to see them in Australia, and (Australia's women's team) swapping jerseys with them was a very evocative moment,” Wong told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Sunday. “We know this regime has brutally oppressed many Iranian women.”

Iranian Australian activist Tina Kordrostami, a local government member in Sydney’s Ryde Council, told The Australian newspaper the Iranian players “need an opportunity, a safe space, a chance to actually speak up about what their needs are and what their requirements are.”

“We can’t give them that space without the government helping us,” she said.

The Iranian women's team needed to beat Philippines to maintain any chance of advancing to the Asian Cup quarterfinals, which would have extended its stay in Australia for more than another week.