Saka Sparks Arsenal Attack into Life Ahead of Atletico Showdown

Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Fulham - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - May 2, 2026 Arsenal's Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring their second goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Fulham - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - May 2, 2026 Arsenal's Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring their second goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Saka Sparks Arsenal Attack into Life Ahead of Atletico Showdown

Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Fulham - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - May 2, 2026 Arsenal's Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring their second goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Fulham - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - May 2, 2026 Arsenal's Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring their second goal. (Action Images via Reuters)

Bukayo Saka's return from injury has jolted Arsenal's attack back into life just in time for the Gunners to dream of a Premier League and Champions League double.

Saka scored and provided an assist for Viktor Gyokeres as Mikel Arteta's men bagged three goals for the first time in 16 games in Saturday's 3-0 win over Fulham.

All three goals arrived before Saka was withdrawn by Arteta at half-time to protect the England winger, who has been nursing an achilles injury in recent months.

Arteta had one eye on Tuesday's visit by Atletico Madrid, with Arsenal hoping to reach just the second Champions League final in their history.

The clash is evenly poised at 1-1 after a first leg dominated by penalty decisions in the Spanish capital.

Both sides netted from the spot, but Arsenal thought they should have had a second penalty when Eberechi Eze was clipped inside the box.

Saka was involved in that move and his introduction as a substitute helped Arsenal turn the tide to finish the first leg on the front foot.

The 24-year-old was recently handed a new four-year contract, reportedly making him the highest earner at the club.

Saka has struggled to find his best form since a serious hamstring injury ruled him out for three months last season.

Arteta, though, is hoping the attacker is both physically and mentally fresh to end Arsenal's long wait for silverware.

- Difference maker -

Saka's quick feet and deadly delivery left Gyokeres with the simple task of tapping into an empty net to settle the Premier League leaders' nerves early on against Fulham.

The roles were reversed for the second as Saka latched onto the Swede's pass and arrowed a shot into the bottom corner for his 10th goal of an injury-disrupted campaign.

"He certainly made a difference. He made two actions that decided the game and we know what he's capable of," said Arteta.

"He's come back in the most important period of the season and now he's fresh.

"His mind is fresh, his hunger is at the highest possible height and I think he needed a performance like that to impact the team, so that's a big platform for Tuesday."

Robert Pires was part of the only previous Arsenal side to reach the Champions League final, a 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in 2006.

The Frenchman's wing play made him a legendary figure in north London for his part in two Premier League titles under Arsene Wenger and he believes Saka can have an inspirational impact on his team-mates.

"He's found his sharpness again, he's brought back his dribbling, his drive," Pires told AFP.

"When you have players like him, capable of making the difference, it already does everyone a lot of good.

"Above all, he pulls the others along, getting them to do, or at least try to do, what he does."

Arsenal's miserly defense, which has conceded just six goals in 13 Champions League games, has carried them to the brink of the final.

Now the onus is on Saka, nicknamed "star-boy" by the club's supporters, to provide the creative spark to take Arsenal to Budapest next month.



FIFA Will Reportedly Propose $6.3 Billion Funding for Soccer Development

FILED - 13 December 2024, Switzerland, Zurich: FILE PHOTO - FIFA's logo is seen at FIFA headquarters ahead of the draw ceremony for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Zurich. Photo: Christian Charisius/dpa
FILED - 13 December 2024, Switzerland, Zurich: FILE PHOTO - FIFA's logo is seen at FIFA headquarters ahead of the draw ceremony for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Zurich. Photo: Christian Charisius/dpa
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FIFA Will Reportedly Propose $6.3 Billion Funding for Soccer Development

FILED - 13 December 2024, Switzerland, Zurich: FILE PHOTO - FIFA's logo is seen at FIFA headquarters ahead of the draw ceremony for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Zurich. Photo: Christian Charisius/dpa
FILED - 13 December 2024, Switzerland, Zurich: FILE PHOTO - FIFA's logo is seen at FIFA headquarters ahead of the draw ceremony for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Zurich. Photo: Christian Charisius/dpa

FIFA will propose to its members a $6.35 billion development fund for the next four-year cycle, including a boosted amount of $25 million for each national association, two people with knowledge of the plan and a letter reviewed by The Associated Press confirmed Tuesday.

Soccer’s world governing body planned to use the financial success of the latest World Cup to enhance investment in the sport's development across 211 FIFA member associations, confederations and other stakeholders. Originally, each association was to receive $10 million for the four-year period.

FIFA planned to distribute more than $3.5 billion from its financial reserves which were boosted with the success of its 48-team World Cup, said two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the proposal had not been announced.

FIFA estimates approximately $15 billion in revenue in the 2022-26 cycle, including the men’s World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, significantly above projections, both people told AP.

The proposal comes as European soccer leaders seek a candidate to try to oust Gianni Infantino as FIFA president. Infantino’s divisive World Cup private investment plan — that was scrapped within days of being revealed in July — prompted UEFA to act.

Infantino, who became FIFA president in 2016, is seeking reelection next year.

On Sept. 28, the leaders of soccer's six continental confederations received a letter from Infantino with the plan, which is expected to be finalized at the upcoming FIFA council meeting and approved at its congress in March. The AP has reviewed the letter.

“Taken together, your submissions confirm broad agreement on the central objective: FIFA’s financial success must serve football and all FIFA’s 211 member associations,” Infantino said in the letter. “I am confident that together we can reach a sustainable and properly supported outcome for FIFA’s member associations and for football in every part of the world.”

One of the people with knowledge of the proposal said continental confederations made the suggestion for FIFA to use its reserves in the plan, which now offers $99 million for each of the six confederations.


Swiatek Wins All-Polish Battle to Launch Wuhan Campaign

Poland's Iga Swiatek reacts after a point against Poland's Magdalena Frech during their women's singles match at the Wuhan Open tennis tournament in Wuhan, China's Hubei province on October 14, 2026. (Photo by WANG Zhao / AFP)
Poland's Iga Swiatek reacts after a point against Poland's Magdalena Frech during their women's singles match at the Wuhan Open tennis tournament in Wuhan, China's Hubei province on October 14, 2026. (Photo by WANG Zhao / AFP)
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Swiatek Wins All-Polish Battle to Launch Wuhan Campaign

Poland's Iga Swiatek reacts after a point against Poland's Magdalena Frech during their women's singles match at the Wuhan Open tennis tournament in Wuhan, China's Hubei province on October 14, 2026. (Photo by WANG Zhao / AFP)
Poland's Iga Swiatek reacts after a point against Poland's Magdalena Frech during their women's singles match at the Wuhan Open tennis tournament in Wuhan, China's Hubei province on October 14, 2026. (Photo by WANG Zhao / AFP)

Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek launched her Wuhan Open campaign by triumphing 6-2, 6-1 in an all-Polish battle against lucky loser Magdalena Frech on Wednesday.

Swiatek posted her 40th victory of the season in one hour and 42 minutes and remains on course for a potential quarter-final showdown with top seed and three-time Wuhan winner Aryna Sabalenka.

"We know each other pretty well, so I just wanted to focus on being consistent and playing as good as possible," Swiatek, the seventh seed, said of Frech.

"I know she is running to every ball always and sometimes using the power of the opponent, so I wanted to not play too crazy but play solid and I'm happy that I did that," said Swiatek, who is chasing a qualification spot for the year-end WTA Finals.

Despite the lopsided scoreline the opening set was tight, lasting over an hour and requiring Swiatek to erase a 0-2 deficit and save seven of eight break points before she finally took the lead on her fourth set point.

Upping the pressure with her relentless forehand, Swiatek claimed a 10th game in a row to build a 4-0 advantage in the second set, AFP reported.

The former world number one briefly lost momentum, getting broken by Frech, but recovered to advance to the round of 16, where she awaits one of two lucky losers, Lanlana Tararudee or Ashlyn Krueger.

British world number 170 Sonay Kartal, who missed six months this year with a spinal stress fracture, upset ninth-seeded Belinda Bencic 6-0, 7-5 to book a date with Jasmine Paolini or Nikola Bartunkova.


Man United’s Martinez Blasts Board’s Lack of Investment

Manchester United's Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez (L) challenges for the ball against Atletico Madrid's Spanish defender Alejandro Grimaldo during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Manchester United, in Madrid, Spain, 13 October 2026. (EPA)
Manchester United's Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez (L) challenges for the ball against Atletico Madrid's Spanish defender Alejandro Grimaldo during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Manchester United, in Madrid, Spain, 13 October 2026. (EPA)
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Man United’s Martinez Blasts Board’s Lack of Investment

Manchester United's Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez (L) challenges for the ball against Atletico Madrid's Spanish defender Alejandro Grimaldo during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Manchester United, in Madrid, Spain, 13 October 2026. (EPA)
Manchester United's Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez (L) challenges for the ball against Atletico Madrid's Spanish defender Alejandro Grimaldo during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Manchester United, in Madrid, Spain, 13 October 2026. (EPA)

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez blasted the club's board for a perceived lack of investment this summer, after the team were beaten by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.

United are winless in five games across all competitions after the 2-0 defeat in the Spanish capital and have made their worst start to a Premier League season in 40 years.

"Really poor," Martinez told Amazon Prime when asked about the team's performance against Atletico.

"I have to control myself a lot but sometimes is a reflection... (or) mirror of how our club is at the moment."

Martinez said he "100 percent" expected more investment in the squad during the summer after United finished third in the Premier League last season to return to Europe's top competition.

"I expect more from our technical director (Jason Wilcox), I have to be honest, as players we have to do more but it is also important when you make a strong squad to be ready for these kind of nights," he continued.

Martinez said last season the club had "created the base to create an amazing team", which was not followed through on.

Pressure is mounting on coach Michael Carrick after five games without a win, but Martinez suggested sacking the Englishman was not the way forward.

"You can't keep changing, changing, changing the manager. What about other areas? I can't say more," said Martinez.

"Tonight it is easy to say the coach (is to blame), easy to say the players, but also we have to see other areas."

Red Devils minority owner Jim Ratcliffe was in the stadium to watch the league phase defeat by last season's semi-finalists.

Man United spent around 140 million pounds ($185m) this summer on midfielders Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, but fans were upset the club did not reinforce in other positions, including left-back and striker.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Carrick said he had not heard Martinez's comments and so could not judge them.

"I think it's a little bit on the emotions of the game as well, of coming here and being disappointed not to get something from the game," said the coach.

Former Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney said Martinez's criticism was excessive.

"I think he's maybe gone a bit too far, and that should have stayed internal," Rooney told Amazon Prime.

"You can clearly see that he cares and he wants the club to invest more money in more players, and to do that he's probably one of the players who'll be out the door if I'm being honest."