Sports
How Manchester City Defeated Arsenal To Win 2023/2024 Premier League Title
Arsenal’s dreams of emerging first Premier League crown in 20 years were dashed as their 2-1 win against Everton was rendered irrelevant by Manchester City’s title-clinching victory over West Ham.
Mikel Arteta’s side had gone into the last day of the season needing to beat Everton at the Emirates Stadium and hope City drew or lost in Manchester if they were to steal the title in miraculous fashion.
But the Gunners were forced to settle for second place after relentless champions City beat West Ham 3-1.
Idrissa Gueye put Everton in front late in the first half before Takehiro Tomiyasu quickly equalised.
By the time Kai Havertz scored Arsenal’s winner in the 89th minute, City were already well on course to retain the title.
Arsenal had been almost flawless in 2024, with 16 wins and one draw, away to City, in their 18 league matches.
However, one costly slip-up in a 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa last month proved decisive in denying them a first title since Arsene Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’ in 2004.
They finished two points behind City, who have won an unprecedented four successive titles and six in the last seven years.
Arsenal staff were seen rehearsing a mock title presentation at the Emirates on Saturday, complete with replicas of the trophy and medals, as well as signs emblazoned with the slogan ‘Premier League champions’.
But there would be no genuine title party in north London as the heartbroken players were forced to accept their fate.
Arsenal fans had strolled down the sun-baked Holloway Road towards the Emirates more in hope than expectation of seeing a title-winning team.
Some even wore West Ham shirts rather than their own clubs in a nod to the favour required from their London rivals 200 miles to the north.
A raucous rendition of the club’s ‘North London Forever’ anthem before kick-off took the atmosphere to a fever pitch.
Despite the absence of injured star Bukayo Saka, Arsenal should have been ahead in the opening moments when Tomiyasu nodded wide from close range.
However, at that exact second, the atmosphere went completely flat as news filtered through of Phil Foden’s second-minute opener for City.
A resigned hush settled over the sell-out 60,000 crowd, but Arsenal did their best to refocus.
Foden’s second goal in the 18th minute rendered the Arsenal faithful mute as Everton fans taunted them with chants of “You nearly won the league”.
Everton took the lead in the 40th minute when Gueye’s free-kick took a wicked deflection off Declan Rice’s head as he jumped to block the ball, looping past wrong-footed Arsenal keeper David Raya into the far corner.
To their credit, the Gunners refused to surrender, equalising just three minutes later when Tomiyasu met Martin Odegaard’s pass with a fine finish that whistled past Jordan Pickford from just inside the area.
Arsenal fans let out a defiant roar when they heard Mohammed Kudus had reduced the deficit for West Ham late in the first half.
They were briefly celebrating again after a false rumour spread that West Ham had equalised.
Dragged from despair to hope and back again within seconds, Arsenal were four points behind City in the ‘as it stands’ table at half-time.
Arsenal’s players gathered in a huddle as they prepared to make one final push in the second half, but Havertz wasted two chances to give them life, nodding wide and then heading against the bar.
Rodri’s 59th-minute goal for City was met with silence in the Emirates stands.
And when Havertz stabbed home in the closing stages, Arsenal had already come to terms with the end of their title hopes.
Nigeria’s U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, have secured a place in the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations U-20 tournament and qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Senegal.
The tightly contested knockout stage encounter ended goalless after regular and extra time, with both teams unable to find the back of the net.
Ultimately, it was Nigeria who triumphed 3–1 in the penalty shootout.
The match, held in the knockout stage of the continental youth championship, saw the two sides locked in a stalemate throughout regulation and extra time.
Despite numerous attempts from both sides, neither team could break the deadlock, leading to a penalty decider.
Nigeria converted three of their spot-kicks, while Senegal managed only one, allowing the Flying Eagles to clinch the win and progress to the last four of the competition.
The result not only sends Nigeria into the semifinals of the U-20 AFCON but also confirms their place in the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Veteran Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti has been officially appointed as the new head coach of Brazil’s national football team, according to reports by sports journalist David Ornstein. The 65-year-old will take over the role on May 26, immediately after overseeing his final match with Real Madrid against Real Sociedad in La Liga.
Ancelotti’s appointment marks a historic moment as he becomes the first foreigner to manage Brazil’s senior men’s team. Ornstein confirmed that all agreements have been finalized and contracts signed, with the transition negotiated amicably between Ancelotti, Real Madrid, and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). The deal was led by Diego Fernandes on behalf of the CBF.
One of the most decorated coaches in football history, Ancelotti will be tasked with leading Brazil through their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, aiming for a record-extending sixth World Cup title when the tournament kicks off in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The Athletic previously reported that Ancelotti had agreed to take charge through the 2026 World Cup. He will succeed Dorival Júnior, who was dismissed in March after 14 months at the helm.
Ancelotti’s debut on the Brazil touchline is expected on June 6, in a World Cup qualifier against Ecuador.
Since returning to Real Madrid in 2021, Ancelotti has added two La Liga titles and a Champions League trophy to his illustrious resume, which includes eight major European finals. However, recent performances by Madrid have been underwhelming, including a Champions League quarter-final exit to Arsenal, a Copa del Rey final loss to Barcelona, and trailing Hansi Flick’s side by seven points in La Liga with three games to go.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele was named the Ligue 1 player of the year on Sunday, after leading the club to a 13th French title and the Champions League final.
Dembele is the top scorer in Ligue 1 this season with 21 goals and has struck 33 times in 46 matches across all competitions, including eight goals in Europe.
He succeeds Kylian Mbappe who won the prize five times in a row before departing for Real Madrid at the end of last season.
Luis Enrique earned coach of the year honours at the UNFP (French players’ union) Trophies gala, while Desire Doue took home the prize for the best young player in Ligue 1.
Lille’s Lucas Chevalier denied PSG a clean sweep of the accolades as he beat Gianluigi Donnarumma to the best goalkeeper award.
PSG are on course for a treble after easing to an 11th Ligue 1 title in 13 years. They will play Inter Milan in the Champions League final on May 31, a week after facing Reims in the French Cup showpiece.
AFP
-
News24 hours agoGo home to face corruption probe, protesters in London tell Kyari (Photos)
-
News1 hour agoJust in: Another major headache as 3 PDP senators defect to APC
-
News20 hours agoUK unions slam Govt’s decision to end care worker visas
-
News11 hours ago2nd Anniversary: Tinubu to commission Abuja International Conference Centre – Wike
-
News10 hours agoUS revokes governor’s visa
-
News19 hours agoSAD! Woman, child electrocuted in Edo
-
Metro10 hours agoTension in Ondo community as herdsman dies in clash with vigilance group
-
News10 hours agoTaraba Woos Global Investors Ahead of Landmark Economic Summit