06/03/2026

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SCAN ME M IKEL ARTETA slammed Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler’s claim that Arsenal “make their own rules” after the Premier League leaders moved a step closer to the title with a 1 0 win at the Amex Stadium yesterday. Bukayo Saka’s deflected strike early in the first half sealed Arsenal’s third successive victory. The Gunners are seven points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who were held to a surprise 2-2 draw by lowly Nottingham Forest. Arteta have complete control of the title race as they chase a first English crown since 2004 after three consecu tive runners-up finishes. But if Arsenal do go on to claim the title it is highly unlikely they will be held in the same regard as Arsene Wenger’s squad 22 years ago. In contrast to the eye-catching style of the “Invincibles”, there is little to love about Arteta’s prosaic team, who have thrived thanks to their set-piece excel lence and a supremely well-drilled defence. Criticism of Arsenal’s “ugly” tactics is growing and Hurzeler was the latest to join the chorus as he accused the Gunners of time-wasting and faking injuries. MALAYSIA are assured of a men’s doubles quarterfinal berth at the 2026 All England Championships after world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and four other national pairs advanced to the second round. In the first-round matches yesterday at Utilita Arena Birmingham, Aaron-Wooi Yik beat Chen Zhi Yi-Presley Smith of the United States 21-17, 21-17 while Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King edged past Denmark’s Daniel Lungaard-Mads Vestergaard 21-19, 18-21, 21-18. The two pairs will clash in the second round, guaranteeing a place in the quarterfinals. Aaron-Wooi Yik have beaten the world No. 18 in both their previous meetings – at the Thailand Open 2025 and the 2025 World Championships. Also through to the second round are professional players Goh Sze Fei Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, who beat Japan’s Kakeru Kumagai-Hiroki Nishi 21-10, 21-15 in 31 minutes in their first-ever meeting. The world No. 8 pair will next face Indonesia’s Muhammad Rian Ardianto-Rahmat Hidayat. Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun also kept the Malaysian flag flying by defeating Taiwan’s Fang Chih Lee Fang Jen Lee 21-17, 21-16 in 41 minutes. They will take on Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Wang Chi Lin of Taiwan next. The biggest Malaysian victory of the day perhaps belonged to Kang Khai Xing-Aaron Tai, who created a sensation when they beat world No. 4 Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty of India 23-21, 21-12 in 42 minutes in an earlier first-round match.

FRIDAY | MAR 6, 2026

Malaysian Paper

Arsenal boost title bid … as City falter but Guardiola vows title race not over

season to 13. But Guardiola is adamant City can still overhaul Arsenal in their last nine games. “Still many games to play, them (Arsenal) one less,” Guardiola said. “There are games where we don’t deserve it. Today we played in general good for 90 minutes. “It’s not about this action or that action. In general, when we analyse the game, the game was well played.” The momentum in the title race is now firmly with Arsenal, but Guardiola’s attention is switching to this weekend’s FA Cup fifth round clash with Newcastle before a Champions League last 16 first leg against Real Madrid. “The feeling is we have one game less to play,” Guardiola said when asked about the title race. “Now it is Newcastle, always the thought is about what’s next.” – AFP

As well as leading the Premier League, the Gunners face Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League last 16, meet Manchester City in the League Cup final and visit Mansfield in the FA Cup fifth round. Asked whether he cared what other managers thought of him, Arteta replied: “No comment.” Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola insisted the Premier League title race is not over after City’s shock draw against lowly Forest handed the initiative to leaders Arsenal. City have a game in hand on the Gunners, who visit the Etihad in April but Guardiola will rue another game in which his side lost control in the sec ond half. Not for the first time this season, City slipped up in the second half, tak ing the total number of points dropped from winning positions this

“Where will this go in the future? Is this what the supporters are paying for?” Yet Arteta was unrepentant about Arsenal’s game plan, insisting his play ers deserved praise for grinding out another vital victory. “What a surprise,” he said when informed of Hurzeler’s claims. “If you go back through previous games you will find a lot of comments like this, always. “I love my players. That’s the high light. I love my players and I love the way we compete. “When you’re in the position we are in, obviously the opposition want to take that away from you. That’s normal, that is sport.” Arsenal aren’t earning many style points, but Arteta doesn’t care as they remain in contention for the quadru ple.

Hurzeler was frustrated by Arsenal’s habit of delaying the restart of the game at freekicks. Gunners keeper David Raya also went down injured on three separate occasions and required treatment, sparking suggestions he was faking to allow time for tactical discussions between Arteta and his players. “I think there was only one team that tried to play football today. Did you see in a Premier League game a goal keeper going down that many times? No?” Hurzeler said. “They (Arsenal) make their own rules. At the moment I have the feeling they are doing their own rules. “I will never be the kind of manager who tries to win in that way. “If I ask everyone in the room, did he really enjoy this game? I’m sure maybe one raises his arm because he’s a big Arsenal fan.

Malaysia men’s doubles quarters spot assured at All England

National men’s doubles Kang Khai Xing (right) and Aaron Tai in action during yesterday’s match against Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty (not pictured) at the 2026 All England Championships in Birmingham. – @BAM/Bernama

Soon have managed just one win in 10 encounters against the Chinese pair, which came at the 2024 China Open. Meanwhile, Malaysian men’s doubles pair Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong crashed out after losing to Taiwan’s Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Wang Chi Lin 18-21, 14-21 in their third meeting. – Bernama Huat-Shevon

in 56 minutes. National professional mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie also progressed after defeating England’s Callum Hemming-Estelle Van Leeuwen 21 14, 21-12 and will face tournament second seeds Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin of China for a place in the quarterfinals.

However, another Malaysian pair in the event, Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting, were eliminated after losing to Japan’s Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto 17-21, 8-21. The national camp also suffered a setback in the mixed doubles when professional pair Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien fell to China’s Guo Xin Wa-Chen Fang Hui 21-17, 12-21, 9-21

In the women’s doubles, world No. 2 Pearly Tan–M. Thinaah opened their campaign in style, defeating Japan’s Arisa Igarashi–Chiharu Shida 21-19, 21-13 in 46 minutes to level their head-to-head record at 1-1. In the second round, Pearly Thinaah are scheduled to face South Korea’s Lee Seo Jin-Lee Yeon Woo for the first time.

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