- Balotelli set for Italy return with injury-hit strugglers Genoa
- Japan ruling coalition projected to miss majority in election
- Netanyahu declares Iran strike a success as Israel pounds Lebanon, Gaza
- Draper holds off Khachanov for first ATP 500 title in Vienna
- Left seeks to unseat conservative in Uruguay president vote
- 'Failing' Judge vows to dig Yankees out of World Series hole
- Leon Marchand savours break from post-Olympics glare
- Ex-president of Bolivia says 14 shots fired at his car
- Netanyahu hails 'precise' strike on Iran as Israel pounds Lebanon, Gaza
- Steen Olsen wins World Cup opener as Hirscher wows on comeback
- Georgia thrown into political turmoil after disputed vote
- Japan ruling party projected to miss majority in election
- Philippines death toll from Tropical Storm Trami rises to 110
- Syria Kurd force denies links to Ankara attack as Turkey strikes
- Thousands turn out for Thai royal barge pageantry
- Mbappe and Real Madrid shaken by Clasico thrashing
- An Byeong-hun triumphs after all-Korean playoff at Genesis Championship
- Real Madrid condemn racist abuse of Barca players in Clasico
- Centre-left tipped to take power as Lithuanians vote
- Israel pounds Gaza and Lebanon after Iran strikes
- Left-field thought and patio heaters: How Pakistan turned series on head
- Bagnaia wins wet Thai MotoGP to close gap on title rival Martin
- 'Olympus has fallen': India fears end of an era after New Zealand loss
- Bagnaia wins wet Thai MotoGP ahead of title rival Martin
- Olympic champion Zheng hails consistency after Pan Pacific Open win
- Red-hot Yin Ruoning secures LPGA Malaysia title with flawless 65
- Echavarria birdies final hole to win PGA Tour's Zozo Championship
- Lithuanians vote in runoff as centre-left tipped to take power
- Trump takes election pitch to storied New York arena
- James triple-double helps Lakers hold off Kings, Clippers down Nuggets
- Olympic champion Zheng wins in Tokyo for third title of year
- Death toll in Philippine storm rises to 100
- Ohtani suffers shoulder injury in Dodgers win
- Ohtani injury scare as Dodgers down Yankees to take 2-0 World Series lead
- Ohtani suffers partial shoulder dislocation in Dodgers win: team
- Rare Sahara floods bring Morocco's dried-up south back to life
- Dodgers down Yankees 4-2 to take 2-0 World Series lead
- Far right tipped to gain ground as jaded Bulgarians vote again
- Dodgers' Ohtani injured in World Series win
- China's second-generation factory owners go digital to combat challenges
- Indonesia bets on SE Asia's first battery plant to become EV hub
- Israel's Netanyahu hoping for Trump triumph
- Powell pours in 37 to spark NBA Clippers over Jokic-led Denver
- Recession-hit Argentina gripped by 'Ponzidemia'
- Sakamoto leads Japanese women's sweep at Skate Canada
- Sainz success shows his class as Ferrari rise above the radar
- Verstappen, Norris set for another duel
- Michelle Obama admits fear over vote result, slams Trump
- Sainz takes pole for Mexico City Grand Prix ahead of Verstappen
- Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps defend Skate Canada pairs title
Arteta tells Arsenal to show 'character' after title blow
Mikel Arteta urged his wounded Arsenal stars to show character and leadership after their Premier League title challenge suffered a hammer blow in Sunday's 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa.
Arteta's side would have gone back to the top of the table with a victory at the Emirates Stadium.
But instead Arsenal were beaten for the first time in 12 league games as two goals in the last six minutes from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins rocked their title dreams.
The second-placed Gunners are two points behind leaders Manchester City with six games left in their bid to be crowned English champions for the first time since 2004.
Facing the prospect of blowing the lead in the title race for a second successive campaign, Arteta issued a plea for his team to stick together.
"That is the reality right now. We knew this moment could come. Now it is about reacting in the right way and keep believing," he said.
"Now is the moment to stand up as leaders and show character. We don't have any other solution. When you win and win and win, it is easy. Now is a big test for us.
"If you want to win the Premier League and Champions League, you have to stand up."
City will lift an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title if they win their remaining games.
It is a stark reality for Arteta, whose side had won 10 of their previous 11 league matches.
"We cannot control that. In any other league in the world if you won the number of games in a row that we did, you would be six or eight points clear. That is not the case here. That is the challenge," Arteta said.
"We had one of the best performances we had all season in the first half. It should have been three or four. We couldn't do it in the second half, the momentum shifted.
"It is now about how we react after this blow. This is in our control."
- 'Frustrated and sad' -
Held to a 2-2 draw by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday, Arsenal now head to Germany for the second leg on Wednesday looking to stop their season falling apart.
"The players are frustrated and sad but we have a beautiful opportunity to go to the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 15 years. It cannot come at a better moment," Arteta said.
After winning just once in their previous five league games, Villa's second victory over Arsenal this season was a huge moment for Unai Emery.
Former Arsenal boss Emery delivered a tactical masterclass to frustrate his old club.
Emery's fourth-placed side moved three points clear of fifth placed Tottenham, who have a game in hand in the race to qualify for the Champions League via a top four finish.
"I'm very happy. We were fantastic. It was a very difficult match but we were ready to play," Emery said.
"We needed a high commitment in defence and then we had some transitions to get our chances. To beat Arsenal here is very difficult because they have been amazing."
Emery had repeatedly played down Villa's hopes of reaching the Champions League for the first time since 1982-83, but now he is ready to talk up their challenge.
"We played 33 games. We could be now contenders to qualify for the Champions League!" he said.
Asked if the result had an extra meaning after he was sacked less than two seasons into a troubled Arsenal reign in 2019, the Spaniard refused to gloat.
"Of course I had time here as a manager. But for me it is the same three points," Emery said.
T.Ward--AMWN