Category sport-news

Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal to use the frustration of having to give champions Liverpool a guard of honour on Sunday as fuel to win the Premier League title next season after admitting they have gone “backwards” this term.

Arteta’s side are destined to finish the season without a major trophy after failing to keep pace with Liverpool and crashing out of the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday.

The Gunners’ 2-1 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain ended their bid to win the tournament for the first time.

It was a painful loss for Arsenal, who created a host of chances in the early stages of the second leg but couldn’t find a way past inspired PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Still licking their wounds from the disappointment in Paris, Arsenal head to Anfield this weekend for the uncomfortable task of watching to Liverpool’s ongoing title celebrations.

Arne Slot’s men wrapped up the title two weeks ago, leaving second-placed Arsenal trailing in their wake.

After finishing as runners-up to Manchester City for the previous two seasons, the north Londoners remain with a title since 2004.

“Something has to drive you, motivate you, and pain for this is a good one to use, when you really want to do something. It’s the right thing to do, usually as a motivation for next season,” Arteta said of Arsenal’s guard of honour for the champions.

“They’ve been the best team, they’ve been the most consistent, and what Arne and the coaching staff have done has been fascinating, it’s been really good.

“They fully deserve it, and that’s the sport. If somebody is better, you have to accept it and try to reach that level.”

Arteta attracted criticism in some quarters for claiming Arsenal were the best team in the Champions League this season despite their last four exit.

The Spaniard stood by his claim days later, saying: “100 percent. I’m watching the impact, I’m watching all the stats because they were the best stats and the best goal difference in the semi-final, so it’s very clear.

“When you look at the important stats that normally give you the best platform to win football matches, it’s crystal clear who was better.”

Arsenal’s failure to sign a striker in the January transfer window was a major blow in a season marred by long injury absences for Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka at various stages.

“In January it was clear or not? I made a very clear statement, and the statement continues the same. I want the best team, the best players. If we have three goalscorers over 25, bring them in, we’re going to be a much better team, yes,” Arteta said.

Arteta conceded Arsenal have been unable to match his expectations this season.

But he is adamant they have the quality to end the club’s five-year trophy drought.

“In the Premier League we’ve done a step backwards. With the points that we have created, it’s clear that we haven’t done as good as last season, that’s obvious,” he said.

“but with the amount of points that we have generated in the last few seasons, we could have two Premier Leagues.

“So we know how close. We are there, we are providing the numbers that win you titles. We have to be a little bit luckier, but still do better to make sure that nobody has a season better than you.”

Mohamed Salah won the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award for the third time on Friday after inspiring Liverpool’s march to a record-equalling 20th English title.

Salah earned the prize after scoring 28 goals and producing 18 assists for Liverpool in the Premier League this season.

The Egypt forward broke the record for the most goal involvements in a 38-game Premier League campaign as Arne Slot’s side romped to their first title since 2020.

Salah secured almost 90 percent of the football writers’ votes, marking the biggest winning margin this century.

Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk came second in the contest, with Newcastle striker Alexander Isak third and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice fourth.

READ ALSO: Man Utd One Step Away From Europa League Glory Despite Horror Season

For the third time.

Congratulations to Mohamed Salah on being named The Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year. @theofficialfwa ✍️ pic.twitter.com/EuKG8Omdu4

Salah, who was previously given the award in 2017-18 and 2021-22, is now level with former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry as the only players to win it three times.

The 32-year-old recently ended speculation over his future by signing a new two-year contract to stay at Anfield until 2027.

Salah’s decision to commit to Liverpool will make them favourites to win a record 21st title next season as they look to move ahead of Manchester United as England’s most successful top-flight club.

Alessia Russo became the second Arsenal player to land the women’s award as the striker finished ahead of last year’s winner Khadija Shaw.

The inauguration mass of Pope Leo XIV will take place on Sunday, May 18, in St Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced.

World leaders are expected to gather for the event, held 10 days after the election of Robert Francis Prevost as the first US head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

READ ALSO: Leo XIV Says Church Must Fight ‘Lack Of Faith’ In First Mass As Pope

The new pontiff will meet with journalists on Monday and with diplomats accredited to the Holy See the following Friday, the Vatican said.

Leo’s first general audience will be on Wednesday May 21 and he will meet with members of the Roman Curia — top Vatican officials — on May 24.

Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso announced Friday he will leave the club at the end of the season, amid reports linking him to Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Alonso said it was “the right moment” to announce the exit, but did not confirm his next post, saying it was “not the right moment to talk too much about the future”.

Spanish and German media reported Friday the 43-year-old has already agreed to join Real and will link up with the Spanish giants after the Club World Cup, replacing Carlo Ancelotti, with a compensation payment of around 12 million euros ($13.5 million) to be paid to Leverkusen.

Taking over in October 2022, Alonso guided Leverkusen to an unbeaten league and cup double in 2023-24, the first Bundesliga title in the club’s history.

In March 2024, Alonso declared he would stay with the club despite reported interest from Liverpool, Real and Bayern Munich, all of whom he represented as a player.

READ ALSO: Man Utd One Step Away From Europa League Glory Despite Horror Season

Alonso will be in the home dugout for the final time on Sunday against Borussia Dortmund, before his last match as Leverkusen coach away at Mainz.

“We have to enjoy this moment, with mixed emotions. I spoke this morning to the players, the staff, who have been with me during this unbelievable, fantastic three years,” Alonso said.

“And now it’s the moment to share it on Sunday, especially with the fans, in the stadium on Sunday, where I lived great emotions and where I have become what I am right now.

“Football is about the moment and I think is a good moment for everyone. Let’s enjoy it… We can be happy and proud of what we have achieved always with the good feeling we’re taking the club in the right direction.”

Leverkusen’s title defence ended with their 2-2 draw at Freiburg on Sunday, which confirmed Bayern as this season’s title winners. Alonso’s side will finish in second spot regardless of results in their final two matches.

 ‘The job was done’

Gesturing to sporting director Simon Rolfes and club CEO Fernando Carro at the back of the room, Alonso thanked the duo for “believing in me” when they hired him despite having no first-division experience.

The coach revealed the three sat together in San Sebastian, where he was then managing Real Sociedad’s second team, to sketch out their plan for success at Leverkusen.

“I remember our first meeting we had some ideas, some expectations. And once you fulfil them, you can say that the job was done.”

Alonso joined in October 2022 with Leverkusen hovering dangerously close to the relegation spots. The Basque immediately put the club back on track; by the end of the season, Leverkusen had risen to fifth, while making the Europa League semi-finals.

After bringing in several key pieces in the off-season including midfielder Granit Xhaka, striker Victor Boniface and full-back Alex Grimaldo, Alonso piloted Leverkusen to an unbeaten league and cup double — the first in German football history.

“It was a historic season, a dream season with great nights and great games,” Alonso said Friday.

In bringing Leverkusen their first league title, Alonso helped shatter the unwanted ‘Neverkusen’ moniker given to the club after five second-place finishes, three German Cup final losses and defeat in the 2002 Champions League final.

In 2024-25, Leverkusen pushed Bayern until the last weekend in the league and remain on track for their second-best points total.

Alonso’s men were eliminated from the German Cup semi-final by third-tier Arminia Bielefeld and by Bayern in the last 16 of the Champions League.

The coach said this season was “the most challenging one,” but said “I’ve learned so many things and I have improved as a coach”.