Arsenal Face Chelsea Title Test, Troubled Spurs in Spotlight 

Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal (C) celebrates scoring the 1-4 goal during the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC, in London, Britain, 22 February 2026. (EPA)
Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal (C) celebrates scoring the 1-4 goal during the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC, in London, Britain, 22 February 2026. (EPA)
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Arsenal Face Chelsea Title Test, Troubled Spurs in Spotlight 

Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal (C) celebrates scoring the 1-4 goal during the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC, in London, Britain, 22 February 2026. (EPA)
Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal (C) celebrates scoring the 1-4 goal during the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC, in London, Britain, 22 February 2026. (EPA)

Premier League leaders Arsenal face a title test from London rivals Chelsea on Sunday.

Manchester City can keep the pressure on Arsenal with a win at Leeds, while troubled Tottenham cannot afford another damaging defeat.

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

Players meeting sparked Arsenal revival

Arsenal revitalized their flagging title bid thanks to a meeting between the players prior to their vital 4-1 win at Tottenham on Sunday.

Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze both scored twice in a north London derby rout that came just four days after Arsenal were stunned by a 2-2 draw at bottom of the table Wolves.

The dropped points at Molineux led to questions about Arsenal's ability to cope with the title tension and Mikel Arteta's squad responded by thrashing out their issues in crunch talks.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice said the players spoke to each other in a "firm" way, leading to a cathartic victory at Tottenham that reestablished a five-point lead over second-placed Manchester City.

"It's important sometimes just to say what you feel and to let it all out in the group," Gyokeres said ahead of Chelsea's visit to the Emirates Stadium.

"Most of us spoke. Everyone can recognize how different people feel in the moment and you get a better understanding of the feeling.

"If you're not honest, I think it's hard to improve. It was a good chat and now we're going to prepare for a big game against Chelsea."

Defiant Man City vow to keep fighting

Pep Guardiola has warned Arsenal that Manchester City will "never give up" as they chase the seventh Premier League title of his glittering reign.

Guardiola's side won 2-1 against Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium last weekend to keep the destiny of the title in their hands.

Although Arsenal are five points ahead, City have a game in hand and host the Gunners in April.

If City win their last 11 matches they guaranteed to win the title no matter what Arsenal do in their remaining 10 games.

"When I was at Spurs and we drew 2-2 someone said why don't we drop the Premier League and focus on the cups. I said, 'No, why? Let's go, let's try'," Guardiola said before City's trip to Leeds on Saturday.

"Many things are going to happen. Never give up. Ten or 11 games is a lot of games in the Premier League."

Tudor adamant Spurs can survive

Facing the grim prospect of crashing into the second tier for the first time since 1977-78, Tottenham desperately need to slow their plunge towards the Championship by winning at Fulham on Sunday.

Igor Tudor's first game as interim boss ended in a chastening 4-1 defeat against arch-rivals Arsenal, leaving Tottenham perilously poised just four points above the relegation zone.

Tottenham have 11 games to save themselves from humiliation, but Tudor is hampered by a lengthy injury list and a confidence crisis triggered by the team's nine-match winless run.

"Of course there is enough time (to survive)," Tudor said.

"Stay humble, that is the key for each of us. Try to become what I said before: a hard-working team. That is the only goal we have now in this moment."



Report: Messi's Inter Miami to Visit White House

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi warms up before an international friendly soccer match against Ecuador's Independiente del Valle in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)
Inter Miami's Lionel Messi warms up before an international friendly soccer match against Ecuador's Independiente del Valle in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)
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Report: Messi's Inter Miami to Visit White House

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi warms up before an international friendly soccer match against Ecuador's Independiente del Valle in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)
Inter Miami's Lionel Messi warms up before an international friendly soccer match against Ecuador's Independiente del Valle in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)

Inter Miami will visit the White House in March to mark the club's 2025 MLS Cup triumph, with Argentine superstar Lionel Messi expected to attend, the Miami Herald reported Friday.

The newspaper cited an unnamed Inter Miami source saying "everyone" on the team will attend the ceremony with US President Donald Trump, two days before Inter plays DC United in the US capital on March 7.

Messi, 38, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former president Joe Biden January 2025, the highest civilian honor in the United States, but did not attend the ceremony at the White House.

Trump's affinity for soccer has grown in recent months, with multiple meetings with FIFA president Gianni Infantino and a high-profile visit by Cristiano Ronaldo to the White House.

Trump took part in the trophy presentation at the Club World Cup in the United Staes last year and was on stage at the draw for the 2026 World Cup, where Infantino took the opportunity to award the president the first FIFA peace prize.

Inter Miami wrapped up a slate of international friendlies on Thursday with a 2-1 victory over Independiente del Valle in Puerto Rico.

They fell to Los Angeles FC in their MLS season-opener last weekend and face Orlando City on Sunday.


Mexican President: FIFA Will Review Security Ahead of World Cup

Volunteers line up to form the Mexican national team jersey at the Victor Manuel Stadium in Tuxtla Gutiérrez (Reuters)
Volunteers line up to form the Mexican national team jersey at the Victor Manuel Stadium in Tuxtla Gutiérrez (Reuters)
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Mexican President: FIFA Will Review Security Ahead of World Cup

Volunteers line up to form the Mexican national team jersey at the Victor Manuel Stadium in Tuxtla Gutiérrez (Reuters)
Volunteers line up to form the Mexican national team jersey at the Victor Manuel Stadium in Tuxtla Gutiérrez (Reuters)

FIFA, soccer's global governing body, will review security and transport plans in Mexico ahead of this year's World Cup, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Friday.

Sheinbaum said earlier in the week there was “no risk” to fans travelling to Mexico for the tournament after violence flared following the ⁠death of the ⁠country’s most-wanted cartel leader, Nemesio Oseguera, known as "El Mencho."

Speaking to reporters in Mexico, Sheinbaum said she spoke on the phone with FIFA President ⁠Gianni Infantino, who reassured her the World Cup matches in the country would go on as scheduled.

Sheinbaum added that apart from security issues, Infantino asked to "look at the traffic issue in the three cities (Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara) to guarantee ⁠mobility" ⁠for all fans.

The Mexican president's comments came a day after World Aquatics cancelled the Diving World Cup scheduled for early March in Mexico.

Sheinbaum said the government sports authority CONADE was trying to convince World Aquatics to move the meet to another city in Mexico.

“We’re working with them to try and get this international tournament back,” the president added. “We still have faith that we can get this tournament back."

The World Cup will be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States from June 11 to July 19.

FIFA representatives will visit Mexico soon to assess security and mobility issues for the World Cup, Sheinbaum said.

She did not provide dates of the visit.

“I told him (Infantino) that Sunday was a special situation and that we have returned to normal, with all the safety measures that have been in place for some time now, so they can rest assured," she said.


Saudi, Egyptian Boxing Federations Sign Cooperation Protocol

The two federations agreed, within the framework of the protocol, to hold joint training camps, organize friendly tournaments, and exchange expertise. Asharq Al-Awsat
The two federations agreed, within the framework of the protocol, to hold joint training camps, organize friendly tournaments, and exchange expertise. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi, Egyptian Boxing Federations Sign Cooperation Protocol

The two federations agreed, within the framework of the protocol, to hold joint training camps, organize friendly tournaments, and exchange expertise. Asharq Al-Awsat
The two federations agreed, within the framework of the protocol, to hold joint training camps, organize friendly tournaments, and exchange expertise. Asharq Al-Awsat

The Saudi and Egyptian boxing federations have signed a cooperation protocol in Cairo in the presence of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Chairman, Turki Alalshikh.

Alalshikh is also President of the Saudi Boxing Federation, which was represented by board member Faisal bin Saeed Bafrat, while the Egyptian Boxing Federation was represented by its president Magdy El-Lozy.

The two federations agreed, within the framework of the protocol, to hold joint training camps, organize friendly tournaments, and exchange expertise.

This protocol is an extension of the Saudi Boxing Federation's growing role in enhancing the sport's regional and international presence and in building strategic partnerships that contribute to the development of the sport and the creation of a new generation of champions.