Arsenal Aim to Banish Title Jitters in Spurs Showdown 

Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - February 18, 2026 Arsenal's William Saliba and Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes react after Wolverhampton Wanderers' Tom Edozie scored their second goal. (Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra)
Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - February 18, 2026 Arsenal's William Saliba and Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes react after Wolverhampton Wanderers' Tom Edozie scored their second goal. (Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra)
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Arsenal Aim to Banish Title Jitters in Spurs Showdown 

Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - February 18, 2026 Arsenal's William Saliba and Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes react after Wolverhampton Wanderers' Tom Edozie scored their second goal. (Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra)
Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - February 18, 2026 Arsenal's William Saliba and Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes react after Wolverhampton Wanderers' Tom Edozie scored their second goal. (Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra)

Arsenal must banish their untimely bout of title race anxiety as the wobbling Premier League leaders head to Tottenham for the north London derby.

Manchester City can pile pressure on the Gunners with a win against Newcastle, while Michael Carrick heads to Everton aiming to bolster his bid to become Manchester United's permanent manager.

AFP Sport looks at three talking points ahead of this weekend's action:

Saka expects Arsenal to hit back

Defiant Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka is adamant his side will eventually "get over the line" and end their trophy drought.

Mikel Arteta's men are in danger of blowing a commanding position in the title race after successive draws against Brentford and Wolves left them with just two wins in their last seven league matches.

The Gunners squandered the lead in both matches, with Wednesday's 2-2 draw at bottom of the table Wolves especially galling as they conceded a stoppage-time equalizer having led 2-0.

Arsenal are five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, but Pep Guardiola's team have a game in hand and will host the leaders in April.

After allowing City to overhaul them in the 2023 and 2024 title races, the north Londoners, who haven't won silverware since the 2020 FA Cup, face pointed questions about their ability to handle the mounting tension.

Saka knows Arsenal must silence the doubters by getting back on track at arch rivals Tottenham on Sunday.

"I believe the next few years are going to be the years that we get over the line, and we're able to win trophies and make history for this club," Saka said.

"We're back where we belong, fighting for everything."

Man City 'on the hunt'

Tijjani Reijnders has warned Arsenal that Manchester City are primed to pounce after the leaders allowed them back into the title race.

Victories over Liverpool and Fulham have put City in position to capitalize on Arsenal's slump.

Pep Guardiola's side will move two points behind Arsenal if they beat Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, putting extra heat on the leaders before the north London derby 24 hours later.

"The mood's been good, but it was also good before. Of course we've dropped some points as well, but it's good and we are on the hunt and we keep going," Reijnders said.

"We have to see of course, but if we keep going like this, who knows?"

Carrick has Man Utd on the rise

Wayne Rooney has backed Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick to take the job on a permanent basis.

Former United midfielder Carrick was appointed until the end of the season after Ruben Amorim's sacking in January.

He made a dream start as United beat Manchester City 2-0 in his first game in charge and followed up with a 3-2 win at Arsenal.

Four wins and a draw in his first five games at the helm have lifted United into fourth place ahead of their trip to Everton on Monday.

Rooney, United's all-time leading goalscorer, believes his former team-mate could be the one to finally stabilize a troubled club that hasn't won the title since 2013.

"We've been there and tried different managers - (Jose) Mourinho, (Louis) van Gaal, (Erik) ten Hag and (Ruben) Amorim - and for me Carrick makes sense," Rooney told The Overlap.

"Having someone there who knows the club and cares for the club makes a big difference. Michael is managing the whole squad and managing them well."



Saudi Crown Prince Meets FIFA President

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud met with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud met with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Meets FIFA President

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud met with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud met with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. (SPA)

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, met with FIFA president Gianni Infantino in Jeddah on Friday to review areas of mutual sports cooperation and explore promising opportunities for further development, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

Saudi Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal and President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation Yasser Al-Misehal attended the meeting.


Gattuso Out as Italy’s Coach After Team Failed to Qualify for World Cup

Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso greets supporters after winning the playoff FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification semifinal football match between Italy and North Ireland at the Gewiss stadium in Bergamo, on March 26, 2026. (AFP)
Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso greets supporters after winning the playoff FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification semifinal football match between Italy and North Ireland at the Gewiss stadium in Bergamo, on March 26, 2026. (AFP)
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Gattuso Out as Italy’s Coach After Team Failed to Qualify for World Cup

Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso greets supporters after winning the playoff FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification semifinal football match between Italy and North Ireland at the Gewiss stadium in Bergamo, on March 26, 2026. (AFP)
Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso greets supporters after winning the playoff FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification semifinal football match between Italy and North Ireland at the Gewiss stadium in Bergamo, on March 26, 2026. (AFP)

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso left his role by mutual consent on Friday, three days after the national team failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.

The Italian football federation announced the news in a statement thanking Gattuso "for the dedication and passion" during his nine months in charge.

Italy’s chances of reaching this year’s tournament in North America ended on Tuesday after a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a qualifying playoff.

"With pain in my heart, not having achieved the goal we had set ourselves, I consider my experience on the national team bench to be over," Gattuso said.

Gattuso’s departure comes a day after Italy’s football federation president Gabriele Gravina resigned along with Gianluigi Buffon, who was the national team’s delegation chief.

The defeat to Bosnia added more misery for four-time champion Italy after being eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively, in the qualifying playoffs for the last two World Cups.

Gattuso took over from the fired Luciano Spalletti in June with the squad already in crisis mode following a defeat at Norway in its opening qualifier.

Spalletti had also overseen a disappointing European Championship campaign in 2024, when titleholder Italy was knocked out in the round of 16 by Switzerland.

"I would like to thank Gattuso once again," Gravina said. "Because, in addition to being a special person, as a coach he has offered a valuable contribution, managing to bring enthusiasm back to the national team in just a few months.

"He has conveyed great pride in the national team jersey to the players and to the whole country."

Under Gattuso, Italy went on a six-match winning streak before another loss to Norway in November to finish second in their group and end up in the playoffs again.

Gattuso had been given a contract until the end of this summer’s World Cup, with an automatic renewal until 2028 if Italy returned to football’s biggest stage.

"The Azzurri shirt is the most precious asset that exists in soccer, which is why it is right to immediately facilitate future coaching staff decisions," Gattuso said.

"It was an honor to be able to lead the national team and do so also with a group of boys who have shown commitment and attachment to the shirt. The biggest thanks go to the fans, to all the Italians who have never failed to show their love and support for the national team in recent months."

Among those being mentioned to replace Gattuso are Roberto Mancini, Simone Inzaghi, Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri.

Mancini coached Italy to the European Championship title in 2021 then failed to get the Azzurri to the next year’s World Cup before bolting to take over Saudi Arabia’s national team. He left that role in October 2024 and is currently coach at Al-Sadd in Qatar.

Inzaghi steered Inter Milan to the Serie A title in 2024 and now manages Saudi club Al-Hilal.

Conte coached Italy at the 2016 European Championship and is currently at Napoli.

Allegri is coach at AC Milan.

Italy will play two friendly matches in June but is unlikely to have a new coach by then, given that the election for a new FIGC president won't take place until June 22.


Liverpool’s Alisson to Miss Man City, PSG Matches, Says Slot

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker. (Getty Images)
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker. (Getty Images)
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Liverpool’s Alisson to Miss Man City, PSG Matches, Says Slot

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker. (Getty Images)
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker. (Getty Images)

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker will miss their FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City and both legs of the Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain, manager Arne Slot said Friday.

The Brazilian suffered an injury during Liverpool's win over Galatasaray in the Champions League last-16 second leg last month.

The Reds visit Man City on Saturday before taking on reigning European champions PSG at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, with the quarter-final return leg six days later.

"He will not be part of the Paris Saint-Germain games as well," Slot told reporters.

"He will be out for a bit longer. Towards the end of the season, we expect him to be fit again."

Alexander Isak may be fit to play a part against City, though, having returned to training after breaking his leg in December.

"It will take a bit of time to give him a lot of minutes," Slot said of Isak.

"We will make sure we do the right thing in terms of building him up in minutes, but it's a very good thing to have him on the training ground again.

"It would be even better to have him available for games, that's for sure."

Mohamed Salah is ready to play after hobbling off against Galatasaray and then missing Liverpool's loss at Brighton before the international break.

The Egyptian announced last week he will leave Anfield at the end of the season.

Liverpool have endured a tough campaign in the Premier League after winning the title last season and sit in fifth place, battling for a spot in next season's Champions League.

But they remain in the hunt for a seventh European crown, facing a rematch against PSG after a last-16 penalty shoot-out defeat by the French champions last year.

Alisson starred in that tie with a spectacular display in Liverpool's 1-0 first-leg victory in Paris.

Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is set to deputize for Alisson at the Etihad against City on Saturday, as Liverpool bid to reach the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2022.