Sports
Arsenal slam Sunderland 3-0 to hit nine points ahead others
Arsenal mounted pressure on title rivals Manchester City with a 3-0 victory over Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium, extending their lead at the top of the Premier League to nine points.
Although the scoreline was comfortable in the end, Sunderland’s performance made Arsenal work extremely hard for a win that strengthens their bid for a first title in 22 years.
Martin Zubimendi’s stunning low strike (42) and substitute Viktor Gyokeres’s double (66, 90+3) helped the Gunners further extend their advantage at the top after Aston Villa’s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth and ahead of Man City’s crucial trip to Anfield, live on Sky Sports on Super Sunday.
It’s the first time Arsenal have held a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League since the 2003/04 season – the last time the title headed to north London.
Former Gunner Paul Merson, speaking on Soccer Saturday, believes anything but a Man City win at Anfield on Super Sunday and the title will be heading to the Emirates.
If the lead is eight or nine points tomorrow evening, the race is over,” he said. “However, if Man City can go to Liverpool and win, that would be a real statement. It would certainly make Arsenal think.
Anyone expecting a comfortable Arsenal afternoon was probably having second thoughts after the opening few minutes.
Kai Havertz, the match-winner for Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea in midweek, was heavily involved at both ends early on, planting a free header well wide from eight yards out before coming up with a crucial block to keep out Brian Brobbey’s strike into an empty net after an uncharacteristic error from David Raya.
Sunderland weren’t playing like a side without a win in seven league matches on the road, restricting the Gunners to just a Declan Rice strike, which drifted agonisingly wide, and a Gabriel Jesus strike from distance that was comfortably saved by Robin Roefs.
However, the breakthrough eventually came from distance as Martin Zubimendi’s strike from the edge of the box curled in off the inside of the post.
Sunderland may have been behind but they continued to play with confidence after the break. Chemsdine Talbi forced a fine save from David Raya before the Arsenal goalkeeper mis-kicked an attempted clearance as Gabriel Magalhaes produced a last-ditch covering tackle on Trai Hume to bail his team-mate out.
Arsenal needed a second goal and Arteta turned to Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli, and the move paid dividends.
Gyokeres forced the ball home after being teed up by Havertz for his second goal in as many Premier League games before he rounded off a perfect afternoon for the Gunners with a third in stoppage time to put Mikel Arteta’s side in an incredible position at the top of the table ahead of City’s crunch game at Anfield.
Arsenal qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions League, despite playing a goalless draw with Sporting on Wednesday night.
The Gunners had won the first leg 1-0 in Portugal thanks to Kai Havertz’s late winner.
At the Emirates, the chances were far and few as both teams hit the woodwork but failed to score.
Arsenal will now play Atletico Madrid, who eliminated Barcelona.
In the other quarter-final, Bayern Munich beat Real Madrid 4-3 at the Allianz Arena.
The Bundesliga champions had won the first leg 1-0 at the Bernabeu.
Bayern Munich will play Paris Saint-Germain for a place in the final.
Football superstar Lionel Messi and the Argentine Football Association are facing a lawsuit in the United States over allegations of fraud and breach of contract linked to two Argentina exhibition matches held in October.
A Miami-based sports and entertainment company, VID, filed the suit in Florida, claiming it paid about $7 million for exclusive rights to stage Argentina friendlies against Venezuela and Puerto Rico, with the expectation that Messi would feature in both games.
According to the filing, Messi was contractually required to play at least 30 minutes in each match unless he was injured. However, the company alleges he did not take part in either game, instead watching from the stands during at least one of the fixtures.
Reports say Messi attended the match in Miami but did not play, choosing to remain available for his club commitments with Inter Miami the following day. The second fixture against Puerto Rico was also moved from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale, a change the promoters say led to significant financial losses, reportedly over $1 million.
VID further claims the AFA had promised compensation through a future friendly match in China in 2026, which never materialised.
The company is now seeking damages, alleging it suffered heavy financial losses due to unmet contractual expectations.
This is not the first time Messi’s absence from promotional matches has triggered legal action, as similar disputes have previously emerged involving ticketing and advertising expectations around his participation.
Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid have qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions League.
This follows the completion of the quarter-final second legs on Tuesday.
In the first game, PSG travelled to Liverpool with a 2-0 advantage from the first leg.
Although there were no goals in the first half, Ousmane Dembele netted twice after the break as the holders progressed into the final four.
At the Wanda Metropolitano, Atletico qualified for the semi-final despite losing 2-1.
Diego Simeone’s men had won 2-0 at the Nou Camp and at home, Ademola Lookman’s goal proved crucial after Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres levelled the tie on aggregate/
PSG will face the winner of Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid, while Atletico Madrid await the winner of Arsenal vs Sporting.
Reps Open Fresh Probe into N1.12tn Farm Scheme, Summon Insurers Over Gaps
Reps Back N248bn Lifeline for Power Firms, Unveil Debt Shake-Up Plan
Kalu Drives Global Backing for New Post-Conflict Peace Blueprint at IPU Assembly
-
Opinion17 hours agoWhy PDP Should Pick Dr Olotu Akpodiete as Candidate for Ughelli North, South and Udu Federal Constituency
-
Economy17 hours agoNDIC moves to wind down 89 failed banks
-
Foreign17 hours agoSecond Tragedy in Two Days: Student Gunman Kills Four at Middle School
-
News17 hours agoCourt bars FCCPC from enforcing digital lending regulations
-
News17 hours agoSenate summons NNPCL leadership over N210tr audit queries
-
News9 hours agoPDP approved appointment of Wike as minister – APC
-
News9 hours agoSee Black Market Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today 16th April 2026
-
News17 hours agoMalami, son face new terrorism-linked firearms charges