Arsenal news: PSG second leg is 'make or break for Mikel Arteta'
Could the Champions League semi-final second leg at Paris St-Germain on Wednesday be the defining moment of Mikel Arteta's legacy at Arsenal?
Fans Alex Moneypenny and James Clark tell The Football News Show's Ben Croucher why this is "make or break" for the Gunners manager.
How are you feeling before the big night in Paris? Let us know here
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Reuters
20 minutes ago
- Reuters
It's a privilege to make history with you, Alcaraz tells Sinner
PARIS, June 8 (Reuters) - French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz praised his rival Jannik Sinner after their burgeoning rivalry offered the Roland Garros crowd a vintage final clash at Roland Garros on Sunday. Spain's Alcaraz retained his title after saving three match points to beat world number one Sinner 4-6 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6(10-2) in the longest French Open final since tennis turned professional in 1968 - a battle lasting five hours 29 minutes. "I am pretty sure you are going to be champion not once, but many, many times. It is a privilege to share the court with you in every tournament," Alcaraz said on court after ending Sinner's 20-match winning streak at Grand Slams. "I am just really, really happy to be able to make history with you in this tournament, in other tournaments; you are a huge inspiration to young kids and to me." Alcaraz has now won his five Grand Slam finals and handed Sinner his first defeat in a major final after the Italian claimed his first three at the Australian Open (2024 and 2025) and U.S. Open (2024). Alcaraz thanked the court Philippe Chatrier crowd for their support, which he said helped him throughout the tournament. "Then Paris, guys, I mean, you have been a really important support to me since the first practice, since the first round," he said. "You were unbelievable. You were insane for me. I mean, I just can't, can't thank enough, you know, to you for the great support during the whole week, for today's match. "For today's match, you were really, really important. You are in my heart and you'll always be in my heart. So thank you. Thank you very much, Paris. And see you next year."
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
How Carlos Alcaraz broke his own limits - and Jannik Sinner - to win astonishing French Open final
In his ascent to becoming a four-time grand slam champion at the age of 22, there was one thing that Carlos Alcaraz had yet to manage: in eight attempts, the Spaniard had never before come from two sets down to win a match. He had certainly never come from three championship points down. As Jannik Sinner, the World No 1, stood on the brink of extending his winning streak to a third grand slam title, the odds of Alcaraz beating his young rival looked impossible. But Alcaraz held a super-power up his sleeve: in an astonishing, five-hour, 29-minute epic, the deeper the trouble Alcaraz faced, the higher the level he produced, and the further he soared. When Sinner stood with three championship points in the fourth set, at 5-3 0-40 on the Alcaraz serve, the Spaniard licked his lips, wiped his brow, and got to work. He saved all three, whipping his arms and roaring around Court Philippe-Chatrier - alive. And from being that close to defeat against the dominant World No 1, Alcaraz pulled off his most astonishing escape yet, winning 4-6 6-7 6-4 7-6 7-6 (10-2) in a match tiebreak to end one of the greatest grand slam finals ever played. He defended his Roland Garros crown on the Paris clay, winning his fifth grand slam title while, somehow, remaining undefeated in major finals. He did so after saving those three Championship points, then as Sinner served for his third consecutive grand slam, and then as he raced away with a one-sided final tiebreak. Funnily enough, Alcaraz had already told us how this French Open final would unfold. A month ago, just after he had defeated Sinner to win the Italian Open in Rome, Alcaraz told the world where any match against Sinner was going to be won and lost. 'If I don't play at my best, 10 out of 10, it's going to be impossible to beat him,' Alcaraz said. This was a final that was decided by surges: Sinner hitting the front, Alcaraz roaring back, Sinner raising his level again. When Alcaraz faced the end in the fourth set but stayed alive, that, right there, was when the Spaniard's dial hit the red and exploded off the charts. Because when Alcaraz opened his wings and locked in, there was nothing Sinner could do to stop him. He won 15 of the final 19 points in the match against the top seed, going from 15-30 as Alcaraz served at 5-6 in the final set, to 10-2 in the championship tiebreak, all while hitting an extraordinary series of shots that had Court Philippe-Chatrier losing its mind; leaving reasonable, measured people screaming with their head in their hands. That is the irresistible, unstoppable power of Alcaraz: from the dipping backhand winner crosscourt to reach the tiebreak, the plucked volley on the run in the decider, and the backhand down the line that left Sinner standing helplessly with his hands on his hips. Then, on match point, the forehand winner down the line before dropping to the clay. On the other side of the net, the 23-year-old Sinner suffered what is by far the most painful defeat of his life. The sport's undisputed, unflinching No 1, who had smothered and subdued Alcaraz and his shot-making to take a two-set lead, was instead dragged into the depths of a fight that he was not prepared for. But, to his immense credit, Sinner did not sink. Even when he looked broken, with his legs pulled from underneath him, Sinner levelled the fifth set as Alcaraz served for the title, the astonishing drama continuing. And yet, Sinner who lost in a grand slam final for the first time, has now lost all seven matches he had played that have gone over the four-hour distance. Alcaraz won the match when he forced him to go there, with Alcaraz now also winning five matches in a row against his young rival, but how he even got to the fifth will defy belief. Cornered, Alcaraz came out swinging bigger than before, forcing Sinner into three consecutive forehand misses on the three championship points, the first long, the second into the net out right, the third into the middle of the net. From 0-40 down, Alcaraz won 12 of the next 13 points, breaking Sinner to love when he served for the title at 5-4. Ruthlessly, when Sinner was at his most vulnerable, Alcaraz crushed his resilience with a series of drop shots that sucked the soul from the Italian. At the same time, Alcaraz plugged his electric spark into the crowd and conducted them into a frenzy: alternating from either standing like a statue, with his finger to his ear, or dancing around the back of the court like a prize fighter in the ring. When Alcaraz was on a surge, t here is nothing else like him. In the third-set tiebreak, he went from 0-2 down to 7-1. For the first time in the match, he hit back-to-back aces, painting the lines on both sides. And yet, Sinner did not allow Alcaraz to pull away. He had two break points as Alcaraz served at 2-1, but the Spaniard held in a 10-minute game. It is highly unusual to see Sinner show signs of frustration on the court, but there was nowhere for the Italian to hide as Alcaraz pulled off another delicate drop shot to force his heavy legs into another sprint from the baseline. Alcaraz had been a break down in the third, too. Importantly, even though he had lost the second-set tiebreak, Alcaraz had managed to find a groove for the first time in the final and returned there to dig in his claws and pull himself back into the match. With Sinner serving at 4-5, Alcaraz then played his best return game of the match to win four consecutive points against the Sinner serve, sending the Italian left and right and then moving through the court to dispatch the volley. While he had never come from two sets down in his young career, Alcaraz had battled over the five-set distance numerous times, compiling an outstanding record when matches have gone over the four-hour mark, including to win last year's French Open final against Alexander Zverev. Even at 22, his fifth-set record is already outstanding, and Alcaraz jumped into the lead when he broke Sinner in the third game. But the jeopardy of the final set became clear when Sinner broke to level the set as Alcaraz served for the title. Sinner somehow reached an Alcaraz drop shot, flicking the pick-up over the net. As the clock ticked to five hours, Alcaraz netted and Sinner, incredibly, was back within a game of it, then within two points as he got to 15-30 and deuce. But Alcaraz had already survived. For one last time, he took off towards the finish line, and did not look back.
The Sun
29 minutes ago
- The Sun
Portugal vs Spain – Nations League final LIVE SCORE: Mendes wipes out Zubimendi's opener in epic showpiece
PORTUGAL have equalised in what is shaping up to be a thrilling Nations League final against Spain! Arsenal target Zubimendi broke the deadlock after a defensive mix-up. However, minutes later, Nuno Mendes cut in from the left-hand side before firing past Unai Simon. Today, 18:58 By Nyle Smith Portugal's route to the final Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner as Portugal fought back to beat Germany 2-1 in their semi-final. Germany dominated the first half, but it remained goalless thanks to the heroics of Portugal keeper Diogo Costa. However, Germany took the lead in the 48th minute, as Florian Wirtz headed in unmarked in the box, following a pinpoint lobbed pass from Joshua Kimmich. But Portugal turned the match around, first equalizing through substitute Francisco Conceição in the 63rd minute. Then Ronaldo, 40, captained Portugal and scored his 137th international goal five minutes after substitute Conceição had made it 1-1. Today, 18:38 By Nyle Smith How Spain got here Lamine won the Battle of the Ballon d'Or as Spain sneaked into the Nations League final after a nine-goal thriller against France in the semis All eyes in Stuttgart were on the mouthwatering duel between La Roja sensation Yamal, 17, and Les Bleus star Ousmane Dembele, 28. Both are in with a shout of winning the Ballon d'Or in three months time with 51 club goals in all competitions between them for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain this term. Yet it was the Barca teenage superstar who grabbed the headlines with a stunning second-half double – now with 48 goal contributions in 57 games for club and country this campaign – alongside impressive strikes from Nico Williams, Mikel Merino and Pedri. Kylian Mbappe netted a 59th-minute spot-kick and a late comeback looked on the cards thanks to debutant Rayan Cherki's 79th-minute attempt, an 84th-minute Daniel Vivian own goal and Randal Kolo Muani 's injury-time header. But Spain held on, facing Portugal in Munich on Sunday – their third Nations League final on the spin - and sets up a clash between Yamal and Cristiano Ronaldo for the first time. Today, 18:33 By Nyle Smith Lamine the dream However, teen sensation Lamine Yamal stole the plaudits once again a day later as his double for La Roja earned Spain a thrilling 5-4 semi-final victory against France. Today, 18:32 By Nyle Smith Cris cross Cristiano Ronaldo continued to do what he has been doing for decades last Wednesday - scoring goals - and his 68th-minute strike fired Portugal to a 2-1 win over Germany in the semis. Today, 18:30 By Welcome to SunSport's coverage of the Nations League final! Football lovers cannot wait to see what unfolds in the Nations League final tonight between Portugal and Spain - and we'll be all over it! La Roja are on a fantastic international run as they are on the hunt for a third international trophy in three years. pain won the Nations League in 2023 against Croatia and the Euro's last year overcoming England in the final. They will be attempting to become back to back Nations League champions and are well on the way after overcoming France in an enthralling 9 goal encounter. Once again it was the Barcelona star Lamine Yamal who was the talk of the game as he won player of the match by scoring two goals in his sides 5-4 win. However, the footballing icon Cristiano Ronaldo will want to show the teenager who's boss with a second Nations League win. The Portuguese forward scored his 137th international goal - breaking yet another record - for his country against Germany to win the game 2-1 and secure a final spot. Ronaldo had never beaten Germany before in his career - he has played Germany five times, losing all five but he was the difference maker in the semi-final. The main battle of the game will definitely be between the teenage sensation Yamal and footballing phenomenon Ronaldo.
