Declan Rice’s equaliser denied Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim a much-needed win but Arsenal’s faltering Premier League title challenge suffered another damaging blow in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The Gunners sit 15 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool, now with just one game in hand, with their focus beginning to turn to holding off the chasing pack for a place in next season’s Champions League.

Bruno Fernandes’ stunning free-kick put United ahead in first-half stoppage time.

The Red Devils, though, could not hold on for just a sixth Premier League win in 16 games under Amorim as Rice swept home 16 minutes from time.

A point leaves United down in 14th.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was taking charge of his 200th Premier League match.

The Spaniard’s 118 wins in that time places him only behind a stellar cast of Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp and Alex Ferguson in the English top flight.

But his wait for a league title looks set to continue with Arsenal on course to finish second for the third consecutive season.

United have had three permanent managers and an interim during Arteta’s five years in charge of Arsenal.

Amorim said he knows he will not get the time Arteta did to turn around a sinking ship at Old Trafford.

The discontent among the home support could be seen around the stands with many taking part in a protest by wearing black over what they perceive as “the death” of their club.

Arsenal had failed to score in either of their previous two league games to realistically wave goodbye to their hopes of a first title in 21 years.

Despite still missing the attacking quartet of Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, the Gunners hit back in stunning fashion to thrash PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Infused with fresh confidence, Arsenal started on the front foot but again missed the focal point of a natural centre-forward.

Midfielder Mikel Merino has been forced to deputise up front in recent weeks and fired wide from the edge of the area with an early opening.

United have struggled for goals all season, but their skipper has remained a source of inspiration and Fernandes produced once more with a sumptuous free-kick just before half-time.

Questions will be asked over Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya’s starting position, but Fernandes still had to whip the ball over an imposing wall and back down into the visitors’ net.

If Raya was at fault for the opener, he made amends with a string of saves in the second period.

Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee were the first to be denied as United threatened a second on the counter-attack.

Arteta was able to throw on Martinelli on his return from a hamstring injury in the hunt for an equaliser.

Instead, it was Rice who matched Fernandes’ fine finish by arrowing a shot beyond Andre Onana from Jurrien Timber’s pass.

Amorim had dropped Rasmus Hojlund to the bench after a run of 19 games without a goal.

The Dane twice had chances to snap that streak only to be foiled by desperate Arsenal defending.

More Raya heroics followed to stop Fernandes from snatching a winner as the match entered stoppage time.

However, a draw did little for Arsenal’s title challenge.

Arteta’s men edge four points clear of third-placed Nottingham Forest and eight clear of Manchester City in fifth in the battle for a place in next season’s Champions League.

AFP

FC Barcelona’s LaLiga match against CA Osasuna scheduled for Saturday was postponed following the death of the Barça’s team doctor earlier in the day, the club said in a statement.

“FC Barcelona is deeply saddened to announce the passing of first-team doctor Carles Miñarro Garcia this evening,” the club posted on X.

“The FC Barcelona Board of Directors and all staff extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.”

No cause of death was provided by the club.

The match was called off roughly 20 minutes before its scheduled start time, after supporters had already filled the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona.

A message sharing the sad news was displayed on the video board in the stadium.

Barcelona said the match against Osasuna will be rescheduled for a later date.

“Club Atlético Osasuna wishes to express its deepest condolences to the family of Dr. Carles Miñarro Garcia and send a strong embrace to the entire staff of F.C. Barcelona and its fans during this difficult time,” Osasuna said on X.

Barça currently sits atop the LaLiga table, one point clear of Atlético Madrid, as the Blaugrana seek their 28th league title.

“LALIGA would like to express its deepest condolences to (Miñarro’s) family, friends, the club, and its supporters, and shares in their sorrow,” the league said in a statement.

Barcelona’s next scheduled match is Tuesday at home against Benfica in the second leg of a Champions League tie. Barça defeated the Portuguese club 1-0 in the first leg last week.

Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, has earned a recall to the national team for Nigeria’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, marking his return after years of absence.

The list was released on Tuesday by the Nigeria Football Federation.

Musa, who last featured for the Super Eagles before their silver-winning campaign at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, headlines the provisional squad released by newly appointed head coach, Eric Chelle.

Also making the list is in-form Genk striker, Tolu Arokodare, who has been in blistering form in the Belgian Jupiler League, netting 15 goals this season.

Arokodare is one of four fresh faces in Chelle’s squad, alongside Anthony Dennis (FC Göztepe), Papa Daniel Mustapha (formerly of Niger Tornadoes), and Slavia Prague’s Igoh Ogbu.

The squad also sees the return of Remo Stars goalkeeper, Kayode Bankole, and Southampton forward, Paul Onuachu, as Nigeria looks to revive its qualification hopes.

The Super Eagles, currently fifth in Group C, will take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21 before hosting Zimbabwe in Uyo on March 25.

SEE FULL LIST HERE:

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Enosis Paralimni, Cyprus); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Jordan Torunarigha (Gent FC, Belgium); Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Rangers International)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC, Italy); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Anthony Dennis (Goztepe SK, Turkey); Chrisantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)

Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough FC, England); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain); Paul Onuachu (Southampton FC, England); Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars); Jerome Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain)