MANCHESTER: Arsenal kept their Premier League title dreams alive by ending an Old Trafford hoodoo to grind out a 1-0 win at Manchester United on Sunday, moving back top of the table and taking the championship battle down to the last weekend.
Leandro Trossard scored the only goal on 20 minutes as Arsenal won for just the second time in 17 games away at United to go a point clear at the summit.
Manchester City still have the destiny of the title in their own hands as the defending champions have two matches left to Arsenal’s one.
However, the Gunners kept the pressure on Pep Guardiola’s men ahead of their tricky trip to Tottenham on Tuesday.
“Our history wasn’t very optimistic (here) but we found a way to win it and that says a lot about how much the team wants it,” said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
“We want to knock that door and open that box of dreams to have in front of our people the opportunity to win the Premier League.”
Arsenal host Everton on the final day next Sunday, while City entertain West Ham.
Defeat further dented United’s chances of competing in Europe next season.
Erik ten Hag’s men showed more spirit than in a dismal 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Monday, but have now won just one of their last eight Premier League games.
United remain eighth in the table, three points adrift of both Newcastle, who they face on Wednesday, and Chelsea.
Arsenal have been in scintillating form in 2024 to remain in the race for their first league title in 20 years.
Arteta’s men have won 15 and drawn one of their 17 league games since the turn of the year.
But Arsenal were far from their flowing best as the expected onslaught of an injury-ravaged United never materialized under unusually stifling heat in England’s north-west.
The manner of defeat at Palace had increased the scrutiny on United boss Ten Hag.
The Dutchman’s options were again hamstrung by a lengthy list of absentees with captain Bruno Fernandes among those sidelined and a bench littered with youngsters.
“It’s like trying to swim with your hands tied behind your back,” said Ten Hag of United’s injury crisis.
“You see the fans are behind us. They fought with us. Today we gave them (something) back but that should be the standard in every game.
“You see even when we miss seven starting players we are competitive with one of the best teams in the league.”
However, Ten Hag’s decision to retain Casemiro as a makeshift center-back after his woeful showing against Palace will become another stick with which to beat the beleaguered coach.
After United had managed to keep the free-scoring visitors at bay for the opening 20 minutes, Casemiro was culpable for the goal.
The 32-year-old was labored in pushing up from a United goal-kick to play Kai Havertz onside and Trossard then stole in on the blind side of Casemiro to tap in the German’s cross.
United’s new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe was in attendance at Old Trafford rather than at Wembley to see the club’s women pick up their first ever major trophy in the FA Cup final.
The work that lies ahead of Ratcliffe has been laid bare in recent weeks and he saw first hand the improvements that are also required at Old Trafford as rain poured through a leaking roof once the sun turned to a thunderstorm late on.
Alejandro Garnacho was United’s one live wire but Arsenal were rarely seriously troubled as they held out for a sixth clean sheet in their last seven away league games.
The Gunners victory also set a club record of 27 wins in a Premier League season.
Yet, even that may not be enough should City maintain their ruthless run.
Arsenal down Manchester United to take Premier League title race to the wire
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Arsenal down Manchester United to take Premier League title race to the wire
- Manchester City still have the destiny of the title in their own hands as the defending champions have two matches left to Arsenal’s one
Zverev says ‘most open Wimbledon in 20 years’
“I think this is the most open Wimbledon Championship that we maybe had in 20 years in terms of favorites, in terms of potential winners,” said Zverev
LONDON: Alexander Zverev placed himself among the serious contenders for the Wimbledon title on Saturday, insisting that this year’s showpiece “is the most open in 20 years.”
The world number four has never got past the last 16 at the All England Club.
However, with Roger Federer retired, Rafael Nadal resting and both Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray carrying injuries, the 27-year-old predicts a power vacuum in south-west London.
“I think this is the most open Wimbledon Championship that we maybe had in 20 years in terms of favorites, in terms of potential winners,” said Zverev.
“I think there’s multiple guys who have a very decent chance of going deep and very decent chance of winning the tournament.
“I don’t think it has been like that for maybe 20 years since before Roger started playing, right? After Roger came Rafa, Novak, Andy. I really feel it’s different this year.”
Since Lleyton Hewitt claimed the 2002 Wimbledon title, the tournament was dominated by Federer (eight titles), Djokovic (seven), Nadal (two) and Murray (two).
Carlos Alcaraz’s victory over Djokovic in the 2023 championship match finally broke the ‘Big Four’ stranglehold.
Djokovic and Murray are 37 and both arrive at the tournament fresh from bouts of surgery — Djokovic on his right knee while Murray needed an operation to remove a cyst on his back.
“It’s the first time I really feel like I’m here to be a competitor, to maybe win the title,” said Zverev.
“I didn’t feel like that previous years when I came here. I didn’t feel like I was capable. I didn’t believe I was capable.”
Zverev has suffered two heart-breaking defeats in Grand Slam finals.
At the 2020 US Open, he surrendered a two sets lead against Dominic Thiem while at this year’s French Open, he slipped to a five-set loss to Alcaraz from two sets to one up.
His two fourth round losses at Wimbledon were also five-setters against Milos Raonic in 2017 and Felix Auger-Aliassime in 2023.
“This is a tournament where maybe I need a bit more luck and maybe a few things to go my way, a few things to happen,” he added.
“More than maybe at other Grand Slams. If those things all come into place, if all those things maybe go my way for once, do I believe I can win? Then yes, I can.”
Once his Wimbledon campaign is over, Zverev will return to Roland Garros in Paris to defend his Olympic title.
“The Olympics is probably the most difficult trophy to win in tennis for us because we have that tournament once every four years,” said Zverev.
“If you’re not performing during that week, you have to wait another four years. Where at Grand Slams or other events, we have multiple per year.”
’We have already won the Euros’, says Georgia coach Sagnol
COLOGNE: Georgia coach Willy Sagnol insisted the rank outsiders would go into Sunday’s Euro 2024 clash with Spain in relaxed mood having already far exceeded expectations by making it to the last 16.
“We will go into this game with a lot of confidence because we have absolutely nothing to lose. For me we have already won the European Championship and I am just excited to be on the pitch,” Sagnol told reporters in Cologne, where Sunday’s game will be played.
Georgia are appearing at a major tournament for the first time and made it to the knockout phase with a remarkable 2-0 win over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in their last group match on Wednesday.
That followed a 3-1 loss to Turkiye and a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic and allowed them to progress from Group F as one of the best third-placed finishers.
However, all the evidence suggests their run will come to an end against a Spain side who have been the most impressive team so far at the tournament, winning all three group games without letting in a goal.
Georgia have played Spain four times since Frenchman Sagnol was appointed coach in early 2021, and have lost all four meetings.
They went down twice in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, and then lost twice more in qualifying for this competition.
That included a chastening 7-1 reverse at home in Tbilisi last September.
“It was a difficult moment for us but sometimes to get further in life you need moments like that, where it is very difficult, where you are not good, where you think you have done everything bad,” Sagnol reflected.
“Without difficulties you can’t have great achievements. It was part of our journey.
“If we are here today I am sure this 7-1 taught us a lot of things and we learnt a lot of things from it.”
The 47-year-old former France international added: “Spain are clearly the best team in the competition up until now so that is why it is going to be a tough match.
“We played four times against them, we lost four times, but now it is a different competition, a different atmosphere, a different environment, so many things can happen.”
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Russian judokas to boycott Paris Olympics
- The IOC gave the green light for participation in Paris to just four Russian judokas
PARIS: The judo competition at next month’s Paris Olympics will not feature any Russians after the national federation announced a boycott of the Games over “humiliating conditions” set by the International Olympic Committee.
The IOC on Friday gave the green light for participation in Paris to just four Russian judokas out of 17 who had met Olympic qualifying standard across 14 categories.
“The Russian national team will not accept these humiliating conditions,” it said, adding that the IOC’s announcement hurt the credibility of the Olympic movement.
The IOC suspended Russia from the 2024 Games last year, but gave the green light for its athletes to compete as neutrals as long as they did not actively support the Kremlin’s offensive in Ukraine.
Verstappen resists Norris attack to win Austrian GP sprint race
SPIELBERG: Max Verstappen resisted a spirited attack from Lando Norris on Saturday to claim victory for Red Bull in a feisty sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix.
The series leader and three-time world champion delivered a home win at the Red Bull Ring with a fighting response after being passed by McLaren’s Norris in the opening laps.
His win was his third sprint triumph this year, his fifth in succession and his 10th in 15 contests as he came home 4.616 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and 5.348 clear of Norris, who was unable to maintain his early speed.
“I had a good first lap,” said Verstappen. “But once the DRS opened it took a few laps for me to get away and then I drove my own race. I had to work for it in that race and we have a few things to think about for tomorrow.”
George Russell finished fourth for Mercedes ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes. Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari was seventh.
Sergio Perez came home eighth in the second Red Bull ahead of Haas’s Kevin Magnussen and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin.
Verstappen was given a rousing reception by the massed ranks of his ‘orange army’ in the grandstands, notably roaring with delight when he responded to snatch back his lead from Norris.
England seek spark against Slovakia to take advantage of soft draw
- Southgate’s men begin what they hope will be a road to Berlin for the final on July 14 against Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday
GELSENKIRCHEN: England manager Gareth Southgate has pinpointed expectation for the festering unease among his side’s traveling support but demand on the Three Lions to deliver at Euro 2024 has only risen after landing in the soft side of the draw.
Southgate’s men begin what they hope will be a road to Berlin for the final on July 14 against Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday.
A rematch of the Euro 2020 final with Italy or Switzerland would then await in the quarters, while Austria, Turkiye, the Netherlands or Romania are potential semifinal opponents.
There has been little in England’s performances in Germany so far to justify their hype as pre-tournament favorites.
But with Germany, France, Spain and Portugal all on the other side of the draw, the pressure has intensified on a richly-talented squad to finally start performing as a team.
“If people are being negative, it’s only because they expect a lot from you, which is a positive thing,” said Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon, who could be one of the changes Southgate turns to.
“If we want that to stop, we just need to perform and give people what they want to see.”
Despite topping Group C, England have managed only two goals in their opening three games.
The quartet of Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane combined for 114 goals in club football in the 2023/24 campaign.
But together they have been a disjointed attacking unit that Southgate is under huge pressure to shake up in Gelsenkirchen.
Foden has rejoined the squad after flying back home to attend the birth of his third child.
However, his lack of time on the training field this week may mean the Premier League’s player of the year is the fall guy to try and balance the attack.
England’s lack of width on the left has been exposed by Southgate having no natural left-back available due to Luke Shaw’s injury and Foden’s tendency to drift inside.
Gordon looks set to be handed his chance despite having just a few minutes action in the tournament so far.
“My main strength is that I’m very direct. I’m obviously quick, so I’m a nightmare for anyone I play against,” Gordon told reporters on Friday to push his case for a first competitive England start.
“I’m not a very safe player, I’m always going for it, I’m always trying to put people on the back foot.
“I think with the players we’ve got, the likes of H (Kane), who likes to drop deep, I think I add a different element to the team.”
Kobbie Mainoo is expected to start in midfield after the 19-year-old made an impressive impact in his second half appearance against Slovenia.
Southgate also faces a clamour to unleash Cole Palmer.
The Chelsea playmaker, who scored 26 goals at club level last season, caught the eye in his late cameo against Slovenia and had England’s only shot on target of the second half.
So far Southgate has remained steadfast and stubborn in his team selection, making only one change to his starting line-up as Conor Gallagher replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield for the third match.
A similar approach at the weekend risks further antagonizing a fan base that threw beer cups at their coach after the Slovenia stalemate.
Southgate can point to his experience at negotiating his nation through the highs and lows of major tournaments.
England also scored only two goals in the group stage of the last Euros before progressing to a first major tournament final in 55 years.
However, it is the shades of Euro 2016 that will send shivers down the spines of England fans heading to Gelsenkirchen.
Eight years ago Roy Hodgson’s side also stumbled their way through the group phase with five points only to be handed a seemingly kind draw against Iceland.
What followed was arguably the most embarrassing night in English football history as the tiny island nation in their first every major tournament pulled off a shock 2-1 win.
Matching that nadir is what England’s current crop risk if they do not click through the gears come Sunday.
