Arteta Urges Arsenal to Pile Pressure on Man City in Title Race

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta gives thumbs up during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta gives thumbs up during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)
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Arteta Urges Arsenal to Pile Pressure on Man City in Title Race

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta gives thumbs up during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta gives thumbs up during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)

Mikel Arteta challenged Arsenal to pile pressure on Manchester City by extending their lead at the top of the Premier League before their title rivals play 24 hours later.

Arteta's side host Bournemouth on Saturday and second-placed City travel to Chelsea on Sunday as the title race approaches a pivotal moment.

The Gunners are nine points ahead of City, having played a game more than Pep Guardiola's team.

That lead would increase to 12 points if Arsenal defeat Bournemouth, putting City under intense pressure to take maximum points from their tricky trip to Stamford Bridge.

Asked how important it would be to move further ahead of City, Arteta told reporters on Friday: "The closer we get, the relevance and importance of the match increases, obviously, and tomorrow is a big day for us.

"The players know it, our supporters know it, it's early kick-off, so get up early, have an early breakfast, bring your lunch, bring your dinner, as you say in England, and let's go all together for it because it has to be a big day."

After losing to City in the League Cup final and to second tier Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals, Arsenal bounced back with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League quarter-final first-leg on Tuesday.

The Gunners are chasing a first English title in 22 years, as well as their maiden Champions League crown.

And Arteta is convinced that they can finish the season with both trophies, which would finally end their six-year silverware drought since lifting the FA Cup.

"First of all, the capacity we have as a club and as a team, the will to win," Arteta said to explain his belief.

"We recognize the opportunity ahead and we are going to do our best to achieve it."

Arteta's Arsenal contract expires in 2027 and the Spaniard remains fully committed to the club after reports of talks over a new deal.

"There's no news on that. We have no time to discuss that now. The full focus is on what we have to do from here until the end of the season," he said.

"I am fully committed and really happy and I feel good. My family is good and I still have so much ambition to do with this football club, and for now we are in a good place.

"This job is about the present and what you do on the day. Give your very best and feel that you are the person that can lead and inspire the group to achieve great things for the club."



Jeddah Sets Stage for FIFA World Cup 2026 Fan Gatherings

Workers are seen on a crane at Los Angeles Stadium (temporarily renamed from SoFi Stadium) ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles on June 7, 2026. (AFP)
Workers are seen on a crane at Los Angeles Stadium (temporarily renamed from SoFi Stadium) ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles on June 7, 2026. (AFP)
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Jeddah Sets Stage for FIFA World Cup 2026 Fan Gatherings

Workers are seen on a crane at Los Angeles Stadium (temporarily renamed from SoFi Stadium) ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles on June 7, 2026. (AFP)
Workers are seen on a crane at Los Angeles Stadium (temporarily renamed from SoFi Stadium) ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles on June 7, 2026. (AFP)

Jeddah is set to host one of Saudi Arabia's most prominent football fan events, "Live the World Cup", at Abadi Al Johar Arena, accompanying Saudi football fans throughout the FIFA World Cup from June 11 to July 19, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. daily.

The event offers an integrated viewing experience across nine specialized zones: a fan zone forming the heart of crowd gatherings during matches, a gaming zone, a competitions and tournaments zone targeting young audiences and esports fans, and an interactive experiences zone, SPA reported.

Also, a photography and immersive experiences zone will be offered with an entertainment shows zone between matches, a retail zone, a food and beverage zone, and a dedicated sponsors zone.


Wimbledon Increases Prize Money by 20%, Singles Winners Will Earn $4.8 Million

Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2019 General view of the Wimbledon logo on the base of the handle of a tennis racquet REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge/File Photo
Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2019 General view of the Wimbledon logo on the base of the handle of a tennis racquet REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge/File Photo
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Wimbledon Increases Prize Money by 20%, Singles Winners Will Earn $4.8 Million

Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2019 General view of the Wimbledon logo on the base of the handle of a tennis racquet REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge/File Photo
Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2019 General view of the Wimbledon logo on the base of the handle of a tennis racquet REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge/File Photo

Amid players' calls for a bigger share of revenues, Wimbledon on Thursday announced 20% increases in total prize money and for the singles champions, who will earn 3.6 million pounds ($4.8 million) at the grass-court Grand Slam next month.

The total prize money including player per diems will be 64.2 million pounds ($85.8 million), All England Club chair Deborah Jevans said at a press conference, according to The Associated Press.

Players have long been calling for a greater share of revenues from the four Grand Slams and recently began taking steps toward collective action.

Ahead of the French Open, No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka said players should at some point organize a boycott if their demands aren’t met. Men's No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Coco Gauff and others also spoke out.

Then, in pre-tournament news conferences at Roland Garros, top-10 players limited their sessions with journalists to 15 minutes in symbolic protest of their share of the tournament revenues.

Just over a year ago, 20 leading players signed a letter to the heads of the four Grand Slams seeking more prize money and a greater voice in decision making.


Morocco Forced Into Two Injury Changes Ahead of World Cup Opener

HARRISON, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 07: Marwane Saadane of Morocco controls the ball during the international friendly match between Morocco and Norway at Red Bull Arena on June 07, 2026 in Harrison, New Jersey. Vincent Carchietta/Getty Images/AFP
HARRISON, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 07: Marwane Saadane of Morocco controls the ball during the international friendly match between Morocco and Norway at Red Bull Arena on June 07, 2026 in Harrison, New Jersey. Vincent Carchietta/Getty Images/AFP
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Morocco Forced Into Two Injury Changes Ahead of World Cup Opener

HARRISON, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 07: Marwane Saadane of Morocco controls the ball during the international friendly match between Morocco and Norway at Red Bull Arena on June 07, 2026 in Harrison, New Jersey. Vincent Carchietta/Getty Images/AFP
HARRISON, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 07: Marwane Saadane of Morocco controls the ball during the international friendly match between Morocco and Norway at Red Bull Arena on June 07, 2026 in Harrison, New Jersey. Vincent Carchietta/Getty Images/AFP

Morocco have been hit by the loss of two starters to injury, with Nayef Aguerd and Abde Ezzalzouli replaced in their World Cup squad.

Defender Marwane Saadane and striker Amine Sbai have been added as replacements, the Moroccan federation and FIFA confirmed, according to Reuters.

Aguerd, 30, has not played since the start of March because of a groin injury, which required surgery. His recovery stalled in April when it was discovered that he had a fracture of his pubic bone.

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahabi kept up hope Aguerd would recover in time, but ⁠decided on Thursday ⁠that he would not be ready for this month’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The 24-year-old Ezzalzouli was hurt in a freak incident in the weekend’s friendly against Norway in Harrison, New Jersey.

As Morocco defended a corner kick, teammate Chadi Riad landed awkwardly on Ezzalzouli's ⁠right knee. Ezzalzouli attempted to continue playing, but soon had to be taken off.

Both Aguerd and Ezzalzouli were in the Morocco squad that reached the semi-final of the last World Cup in Qatar, and also the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in January.

Aguerd, however, was also injured at the last World Cup in the last-16 tie against Spain and missed their three subsequent games at the tournament.

Saadane, 34, debuted for Morocco in ⁠2015 but ⁠has been an infrequent squad member since, while 25-year-old Sbai, who plays primarily on the left wing, won a first cap earlier this month in a World Cup warm-up friendly against Burundi.

Both Saadane and Sbai were taken to the US as cover and have been training with the squad. Saadane featured in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Norway as a second half replacement while Sbai was listed among the substitutes.

Morocco open their Group C campaign at the World Cup against Brazil at the New York/New Jersey Stadium on Saturday.