Newcastle in title race after Arsenal draw but coach remains humble

Players from Arsenal and Newcastle United remonstrate with referee Andrew Madley during their Premier League match on Jan. 3, 2023. (Reuters)
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Updated 04 January 2023
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Newcastle in title race after Arsenal draw but coach remains humble

  • Eddie Howe keeps hubris at bay, focuses on improving
  • Magpies continue incredible run under new owners

LONDON: Eddie Howe has refused to be drawn on whether Newcastle United are in a title race despite bloodying the noses of top-of-the-table Arsenal.

The Magpies kept their sixth clean sheet in succession, making it nearly nine hours of football since they conceded a goal — back on Nov. 6, 2021 — which is even more incredible because Premier League leaders Arsenal had scored in all 16 games of this campaign.

United frustrated the Gunners, who could have stretched 10 points clear at the top with a win, but also didn’t produce their best performance, according to Howe.

These latest heroics have led many to continue to talk Newcastle up as possible title contenders, especially having only lost once, and continuing to have the best defense in the league. Howe, though, is still refusing to go there.

Speaking from the Emirates, the head coach said: “There is no race from our perspective. It is just about being the best team that we can be on a continued basis.

Focus on improving

“We need to improve, we are working hard every day to do that with the players that we have. That is our main goal.

“We wanted to attack the game, we wanted to be ourselves. I don’t think we quite were — but I think that is credit to Arsenal. They forced us to play a little deeper than we normally do.

“Sometimes you have to do that in these games, you have to slightly tweak the way you play to stay in the match. We did that and I think the players deserve lots of credit for coming through that test.

“The next step for us is to have some more quality. There were some loose passes and touches that broke those attacks down.

“We are looking to evolve and improve all parts of our game.”

Howe made just one change to the United side, with Callum Wilson restored to the frontline in place of Chris Wood who started the game on the back foot.

While Newcastle had not conceded in the five games prior to the trip to the Emirates, they were cut open at will by a rampant Arsenal side in the opening exchanges.

After some penalty box pinball the ball fell to the man you’d least like it to in Martin Odegaard, however the in-form Norwegian volleyed over the top of Nick Pope’s bar. Pope then had to be sharp to deny Bukayo Saka’s cross-goal effort with his outstretched right leg.

At the other end, Wilson mustered the Magpies’ first effort on goal but England teammate Aaron Ramsdale was more than equal to it.

United got to grips with the pace of the game as the half wore on but were still caused all kinds of problems by the speed of Saka down the Newcastle left and movement of the likes of Eddie Nketiah, Odegaard and others through the middle.

Defense holds against Gunners

However, their resolute defense — the best in the Premier League this season — held firm to go in at the break level, although Joelinton should have put them in front from just over five meters after a Kieran Trippier corner was flicked on by Fabian Schar, only for the Brazilian to somehow head over with the goal at his mercy.

While the first 45 saw United show a limited version of themselves, more keen to keep Arsenal at bay, they came out with renewed vigor, showing greater belief in the final third.

That bravery was almost rewarded when Joelinton closed down Ramsdale in typical fashion, forcing the keeper into an error and while the ball wouldn’t fall kindly for a Miguel Almiron or Sean Longstaff effort, the Paraguayan recycled and pulled back for Wilson, who couldn’t quite connect with a fizzing cross.

As was to be expected, momentum then switched in favor of the hosts as Saka again enjoyed some success down the Arsenal right, despite Joelinton doubling up on the England winger to help struggling Dan Burn out.

Pressure continued to build without any real chances being created until Gabriel Martinelli rose highest at the front post to flick wide with Pope stranded.

Again Pope had to be at his usual sharp best to deny Nketiah a late winner as the ball deflected through into his path but his low finish was turned away by the keeper.

Arsenal had a penalty call turned down in the final minute of added time when the ball hit Jacob Murphy’s arm, but was not deemed to be an infringement. “At that stage of the game you are just thinking ‘please no, the lads have given so much to the game.’ That would’ve been a travesty for us,” Howe said of the late penalty shout.

“I didn’t think it was a penalty, just because of the proximity. But you just never know.” That incident enraged Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, which saw Howe uncharacteristically clash with the Spaniard on the touchline.

On the Arteta incident, he added with a smile: “With me and Mikel, yeah it was fine.”

Transfer window

While this stands out as probably United’s best result of the campaign, Howe still sees room for improvement — and what better way to do that than dive into the January transfer market.

Speaking about possible additions, Howe said: “At the moment we are taking it day-by-day. We have got a strong team and a strong group of players who are giving everything. But we will assess what we need as we go through. January is a long month.

“There is certainly no intention to imminently improve the squad, but that could change.”

On the return of Dubravka and the absence of stand-in Loris Karius, Howe said: “Martin’s situation is that he wanted to come back, and we were delighted to welcome him back.

“There was never an issue between me and Martin. He’s a top goalkeeper, and I’m delighted to welcome him back to the squad.”

On ex-Liverpool keeper Karius, he added: “There’s no update on Loris.”


Sabalenka downs Swiatek as Gauff ends Boisson’s French Open run

Updated 57 min 47 sec ago
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Sabalenka downs Swiatek as Gauff ends Boisson’s French Open run

  • The Belarusian snapped Swiatek’s French Open winning streak at 26 matches with a 7-6 (7/1), 4-6, 6-0 success to reach her first final in the clay-court Grand Slam
  • Gauff and Sabalenka are level at 5-5 in their head-to-head record and have won one each of their two meetings at major tournaments

PARIS: Aryna Sabalenka ended Iga Swiatek’s French Open reign with a devastating third-set performance on Thursday to tee up a Roland Garros final against Coco Gauff after the American knocked out French hero Lois Boisson.
The Belarusian snapped Swiatek’s French Open winning streak at 26 matches with a 7-6 (7/1), 4-6, 6-0 success to reach her first final in the clay-court Grand Slam.
“Iga is the toughest opponent, especially on the clay and at Roland Garros,” said Sabalenka after becoming the first player to defeat Swiatek in a deciding set at the French Open.
“I’m proud that I was able to get this win.”
World number two Gauff ended the dream run of 361st-ranked wildcard Boisson with a 6-1, 6-2 victory in the second semifinal on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Gauff and Sabalenka are level at 5-5 in their head-to-head record and have won one each of their two meetings at major tournaments.
Sabalenka edged a topsy-turvy first set that featured eight breaks of serve in a tie-break, before Swiatek hit back to level the match.
The finale turned out to be a complete anti-climax, as Swiatek made 12 unforced errors in the third set and won only six points.
“I’m glad that I found my serve. It was a bit easier with the serve,” added the 27-year-old Sabalenka. “What can I say, 6-0 — it couldn’t be much more perfect than that!“
Sabalenka is targeting a fourth Grand Slam title and first not on hard courts, after winning last year’s US Open and the Australian Open back-to-back in 2023 and 2024.
Swiatek has still not reached a WTA final since lifting the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen 12 months ago.
She showed signs of a revival on the Paris clay where she has dominated since winning as a teenager in 2020, but her game deserted her in the deciding set as she slipped to only the third French Open defeat of her career.
“I love playing here, so for sure I’m happy that I was fortunate enough to play so many great tournaments here,” Swiatek said.
Sabalenka has now won their last two meetings, and five of 13 in total.
This was the first time the pair, the dominant players in women’s tennis of the past few years, have gone head-to-head at a Grand Slam tournament since Swiatek’s win in the 2022 US Open semifinals en route to the title.
Sabalenka will be the favorite to lift the trophy when she takes on Gauff, to whom she lost in the 2023 US Open final.
Swiatek, who was bidding to become the first woman to win four successive French Opens in over a century, will drop to seventh in the world rankings next week.
Boisson had got the better of third seed Jessica Pegula and world number six Mirra Andreeva in the previous two rounds but the test provided by Gauff proved to be a step too far.
The home crowd were silenced by a ruthless opening set from the second seed.
Boisson briefly raised the French fans from their slumber by breaking back in the second set, only to immediately surrender it straight back.
Gauff clinically finished the job after just 69 minutes on court to book her spot in a second French Open final.
“When you guys were chanting her name, I was thinking my name,” Gauff told the crowd in her on-court interview.
“Obviously there’s still a lot of work to do, but for now I’ll enjoy this one and then prepare for the final tomorrow.”
The 21-year-old suffered an emotional defeat by Swiatek in the 2022 final, but will believe she can finally win the tournament in which she has made at least the quarter-finals in five straight editions.
Boisson had been hoping to become only the second Frenchwoman to win the title in the Open era after Mary Pierce, but went out in a blaze of 33 unforced errors.
“Of course I’m really disappointed today, because obviously I wanted to go further than this semifinal, but I’m just going to take the time to digest this,” said the 22-year-old.
She will climb into the world’s top 70 next week and has added 690,000 euros ($789,536) to her previous career prize money of $148,009.


Yamal, Williams dazzle as Spain beat France in nine-goal thriller

Updated 06 June 2025
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Yamal, Williams dazzle as Spain beat France in nine-goal thriller

  • Yamal bagged a brace while Williams scored and provided an assist as the two wingers cut France’s makeshift defense to ribbons

STUTTGART, Germany: Spain starlets Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams dazzled as La Roja beat France 5-4 in a thriller in Stuttgart on Thursday, to set up a Nations League final with Portugal.
Yamal bagged a brace while Williams scored and provided an assist as the two wingers cut France’s makeshift defense to ribbons.
Mikel Merino and Pedri were also on the scoresheet for the Euro 2024 champions.
Kylian Mbappe netted a second-half penalty, but Spain were 5-1 up and cruising, before Les Bleus suddenly woke up as their opponents took their foot off the pedal.
France’s three late goals — a Rayan Cherki screamer, a Spain own goal and a stoppage time strike from Randal Kolo Muani — were not enough.
Spain held on to book an all-Iberian Nations League final against Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal on Sunday in Munich, while France will face hosts Germany in Stuttgart for the bronze medal, earlier in the day.
Returning to Germany where they won the European Championship in dominant fashion a year ago, Spain seem a more complete team, despite their late fadeout.
France were more dangerous in the opening stages, with Didier Deschamps electing to channel his attack through Ousmane Dembele rather than Mbappe.
Dembele, fresh from Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League triumph, created an early chance for Mbappe, but the Real Madrid superstar wasted it, electing to pass rather than shoot when one-on-one with the ‘keeper.
Minutes later, Spain escaped again as Theo Hernandez’s long-range effort shaved the top of the crossbar.
Spain made France pay soon after, when Williams and Oyarzabal, La Roja’s two goalscorers in the Euro 2024 final, linked up with 22 minutes played.
After a tear down the right, Yamal threaded it to Oyarzabal, who held off three defenders with his back to goal before finding Williams, who rifled his shot into the top of the net.
Spain grabbed full hold of the match just three minutes later when Oyarzabal dinked the French defense, allowing Merino to collect and hammer past an off-balance Maignan.
France had the better chances later in the half, with Dembele finding space in the box three times only to blast straight at a grateful Unai Simon.
Just before half-time, the narrowest of offsides robbed Spain of what would have been an incredible third.
In a clearly rehearsed free-kick play, Yamal found Martin Zubimendi behind the lines, who cut it back for Huijsen.
The second-half played out line the first, with France missing two big chances before Spain again scored a quick-fire double.
With 54 minutes played, Yamal won and converted a penalty, taking the ball from Williams before calmly slotting home.
France were reeling but Spain’s starlets had no sympathy, Williams setting up Pedri for a fourth just one minute later.
Mbappe won and converted a penalty with 59 minutes played but Yamal stepped up again to snuff out French hopes of an unlikely comeback, scoring Spain’s fifth with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Spain made four changes a their thoughts turned to Sunday, allowing France to score two late consolation goals.
Substitute Cherki scored a long-range effort and then forced Spain into conceding an own goal through Daniel Vivian.
Kolo Muani’s goal came in the fourth minute of stoppage time to cut the deficit to one, but France had left their comeback too late, as Spain held on.


Jordan qualify for World Cup for first time

Updated 05 June 2025
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Jordan qualify for World Cup for first time

  • Ali Olwan scored a hat-trick in Jordan's 3-0 win over Oman earlier on Thursday

AMMAN: Jordan have qualified for the World Cup for the first time at the 11th attempt after South Korea's 2-0 win over Iraq confirmed the west Asian nation's progress to the finals.

Ali Olwan scored a hat-trick in Jordan's 3-0 win over Oman earlier on Thursday before South Korea's win in Basra confirmed the country's progress to the 2026 finals in North America.

The Jordanians can no longer be overtaken in second place in Group B by third-placed Iraq.


Green Falcons beat Bahrain to set up FIFA World Cup qualifier showdown with Australia

Updated 05 June 2025
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Green Falcons beat Bahrain to set up FIFA World Cup qualifier showdown with Australia

  • Herve Renard's men had to win to push the race for second to Tuesday

RIFFA: Saudi Arabia defeated Bahrain 2-0 in Riffa on Thursday to tee up a showdown with Australia for the second automatic spot in AFC FIFA World Cup qualifying Group C.

With Australia snatching a last-minute victory against already qualified Japan earlier, Herve Renard's men had to win to push the race for second to Tuesday.

The Saudis got off to the perfect start, when on 16 minutes rising star Musab Al Juwayr met captain Salem Al-Dawsari's pinpoint cross to the back post to volley home.

The visitors then survived a few nervy moments in the second half before Abdulrahman Al Obud made safe the result 12 minutes from time with a goal on the counter.

The win keeps Saudi third, three points behind Australia, although with a far inferior goal difference.

Only a huge victory for the Gulf side in Jeddah would see them leapfrog the Socceroos.


Uzbekistan earn first World Cup qualification, Australia, Jordan close in

Updated 05 June 2025
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Uzbekistan earn first World Cup qualification, Australia, Jordan close in

  • Goals from Musab Al-Juwayr and Abdulrahman Al-Obud earned Saudi Arabia a victory that puts Australia’s celebrations on hold
  • Jordan also moved to the cusp of qualification as Ali Olwan’s hat-trick delivered a 3-0 win over Oman

HONG KONG: Uzbekistan qualified for the World Cup for the first time on Thursday as a 0-0 draw with the UAE confirmed the nation’s progress to next year’s finals as Australia and Jordan moved to the verge of booking berths in North America.

Aziz Behich’s 90th minute strike earned the Socceroos a 1-0 win over already-qualified Japan in Perth in Group C to keep Tony Popovic’s side three points clear of Saudi Arabia, who won 2-0 against Bahrain in Riffa.

Goals from Musab Al-Juwayr and Abdulrahman Al-Obud earned Saudi Arabia a victory that puts Australia’s celebrations on hold until the two nations meet in Jeddah on Tuesday.

But Australia’s vastly superior goal difference means they can lose that meeting with the Saudis by up to four goals and still advance to a sixth consecutive World Cup finals as second-placed finishers behind the Japanese.

Jordan also moved to the cusp of qualification as Ali Olwan’s hat-trick delivered a 3-0 win over Oman in Muscat to leave Jamal Sellami’s side waiting for the result from South Korea’s clash with Iraq in Basra later on Thursday in Group B.

Uzbekistan goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov made a string of second-half saves in Abu Dhabi to frustrate the UAE and earn his nation their first World Cup qualification since the country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Abbosbek Fayzullaev had hit the crossbar with a 54th minute header for the visitors but it was Yusupov who frustrated the Cosmin Olaroiu-coached Emiratis, who needed to win to maintain their hopes of automatic qualification.

The draw means the UAE will now progress to the fourth round of qualifying as the point earned guarantees a third- or fourth-placed finish in Group A.

Indonesia guaranteed their involvement in the World Cup preliminaries would continue into the fourth round as a 1-0 win over China also ended the qualification hopes of Branko Ivankovic’s side.

Ole Romeny’s 45th minute penalty separated the sides in Jakarta to ensure Indonesia would finish in either third or fourth place in Group C, thereby progressing to the next phase, which will be played in October.