24/03/2026

SPORTS TUESDAY | MAR 24, 2026

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Tudor misses media duties after Forest hammer Tottenham

Ű BY GEORGE SESSIONS

“Obviously, a lot of players, they’re leaving now for the internationals and as soon as they get back, get back on the train, come and try to get everyone up to speed and prepare for the next game.” For Forest and boss Vitor Pereira, it was a satis factory end to a gruelling week in which they played 120 minutes on Thursday before getting the better of FC Midtjylland on penalties in the last 16 of the Europa League. “A good week for us,” Pereira said. “We must keep our mentality and we proved it today. “It’s not about Tottenham, it’s not about West Ham, it’s not about Leeds and the teams that are here fighting against us. It is about us and what we want to be as a team.” – The Independent

good, really good, creating chances, getting into the box. “In the second half, probably we were unable to deal with the weight of the game.” Tudor’s future will remain under the micro scope given Tottenham’s precarious position, with a first relegation since 1977 a realistic possibility. Saltor claimed to feel the “support” of the club hierarchy, but with three weeks until Spurs play again, chief executive Vinai Venkatesham, sport ing director Johan Lange and majority owners ENIC – run by the Lewis Family Trust – must decide whether to roll the managerial dice again. “We feel the support from everyone at the club and we’re just focusing on how we can help players,” Saltor insisted.

after a positive first half. Igor Jesus’ 45th-minute opener gave Forest a crucial lead and Tottenham unravelled after Tudor’s double substitution at halftime, with Morgan Gibbs-White making it 2-0 in the 62nd minute before Taiwo Awoniyi tapped in with three minutes left to spark a mass exodus from the stands. The defeat stretched Tottenham’s winless Premier League run to 13 games, leaving them 17th, only one point above West Ham, and piled the pressure on Tudor, who has lost five of his seven matches in charge. “It’s a personal family issue and obviously it’s a difficult moment for him,” Saltor said on Tudor. “First half, the first 44 minutes I thought were

IGOR TUDOR watched Tottenham collapse amid a white-hot atmosphere to lose 3-0 at home to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest and then missed his media duties due to a family bereave ment. Tudor was informed of a bereavement in his immediate family after full-time, which meant assistant Bruno Saltor stepped in to reflect on a potentially pivotal defeat. It had been a rare positive week for Spurs with a spirited point at Anfield followed by a morale boosting 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid. Yet, after the team bus was greeted with partisan backing by an estimated 10,000 fans, the hosts’ crumbled

‘Errors part of football’ Arteta defends ‘fair’ decision to play Arrizabalaga despite blunder M IKEL ARTETA said it would have been “very unfair” to drop Kepa Arrizabalaga for to play certain competitions because at the end they have to earn it and they have to do enough like any other position to do that,” he explained. “We are guided by what we’ve Ű BY RICHARD JOLLY

Pundits baffled by Mikel’s keeper decision FORMER Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp has criticised Mikel Arteta’s decision to start Kepa Arrizabalaga in yesterday’s Carabao Cup final, calling it a “monumental error”. While Kepa had consistently fea tured in the competition ahead of the final, Redknapp questioned why Arteta would start him instead of David Raya in a match of this magnitude. “I know people will say it’s senti ment and he played in the earlier rounds, but Kepa is not as good as Raya. That’s why he is the No. 2,” explained Redknapp. “So why, in a major cup final when you’re trying to get across the line and you’ve not won a trophy in so long, do you decide to play him? You have to take responsibility for that. That is a monumental error. “He’s not a bad goalkeeper – he’s not as good as Raya. It has backfired big time. It’s not me being wise after the event, I said it before the game.” Fellow pundit Ian Wright agreed, saying that Arteta’s “gamble didn’t pay off”. “It was the fashion of the mistake (from Kepa) that makes you think ’that’s a No. 2’,” said Wright. “It’s some thing you wouldn’t see a No. 1 goal keeper make and it’s unfortunate because it’s the turning point. “If we don’t concede that goal and we get the subs on, we might get into the game a bit.” Wright also claimed that yesterday’s defeat has turned up the pressure on the Gunners in the Premier League title race. “It’s nine points, but Man City have a game in hand and they’ve got to play them, so it can go down to three,” explained Wright. “All of a sudden, the pressure really turns up. Make no mistake, this nine points is a tight nine points “Arsenal really need to refocus and get themselves back on track for what they want to do. They need to win games now. “People talk about how they win games ‘oh it’s set pieces’ – it doesn’t matter, everyone knows that. “We’ve got a DNA of winning games resiliently. They’ve got to kick into this because this team know it’s not over.” Redknapp agreed with Wright, add ing: “For Arsenal, the doubts, the nega tivity, this changes the whole complex ion of the title race. “I’m not saying it puts Man City completely back in it, but it gives them a massive opportunity when they play in April.” – The Independent

seen and what he’s done, what he’s done in the competition, and he helped us to go all the way through here. “I believe it’s the right thing to do and that’s it. Errors are part of football and today it happened unfortunately in a crucial moment.” Arteta said defeat left a “bad taste” for Arsenal as he struggled to process his disappointment. He added: “I’m very sad. It’s a very hard one to take, especially for our players and our supporters because we know how much it means to them and how much we want it, and the fact that we haven’t managed to deliver that obviously is disappointing and sad, and it leaves you with a really bad taste.” Premier League leaders Arsenal still have a potential treble to play for and Arteta believes they will have more hun ger now. He added: “What this team has

the Carabao Cup final as he defended his decision to pick the goalkeeper whose mistake gifted victory to Manchester City. Arsenal’s first-choice goal keeper David Raya was left on the bench as his deputy Arrizabalaga started and spilled Rayan Cherki’s cross for Nico O’Reilly to open the scoring in City’s 2-0 win at Wembley. The Spaniard, a summer sign ing from Chelsea, has played throughout Arsenal’s Carabao Cup run but defeat means they have still not won a major trophy since 2020, while Raya has the most clean sheets in the Premier League. “I understand that but I have to do what I feel is right, which is honest and which is fair,” said Arteta. “I think we have understand ing with Kepa, he’s played all the competition and I think it would have been very, very unfair for him and for the team to do some thing different.” Arteta denied he had guaran teed Arrizabalaga he would play in domestic cup competitions when he joined, saying he felt the 31-year-old had deserved to play. “I can never promise a player

done in the last eight months has been incredible, and we’re going to use this disappointment and this fire in the belly to have the most amazing two months that we have ever had together.” – The Independent Howe disappointed in himself after ‘painful’ defeat

Arsenal keeper Arrizabalaga (left) tangles with Man City’s Jeremy Doku during the Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium in London yesterday. – AFPPIC

EDDIE HOWE said he remains fully committed to his role as Newcastle manager but must reflect on his own performance after a damaging 2-1 derby defeat to Sunderland compounded a miserable week for the Magpies. Newcastle were humbled 7-2 by Barcelona to bow out of the Champions League in midweek and failure to end a barren spell over Sunderland in the League saw them slip behind the Black Cats and down to 12th in the Premier League. Sunderland have still not tasted defeat in a League game between the sides for 15 years as they stretched a club-record unbeaten run in the Tyne Wear derby to 11 matches. “Very, very painful. Most of all painful for our sup porters and they’re the ones I think about now,” said Howe. “I’ve got very little to use as an excuse. “Once you haven’t performed and you know how

No side in Europe’s top five leagues have played more games than Howe’s men this season, but their campaign is in danger of fizzling out to an anti-cli matic finish. They remain seven points adrift of the Champions League places, but Howe is hoping that a lighter schedule after an upcoming international break will aid their chances of European qualification. “We’ve got some massive games to come in the Premier League,” said Howe. “We get a chance to go into a diferent phase of our season where, week-to-week, we’re able to train and maybe get that freshness back in our perform ance.” Sunderland’s victory was also marred by a report of racist abuse aimed at Lutsharel Geertruida. Play was briefly stopped during the second half after the Dutch defender reported the incident to the officials. – AFP

much the game means you have to accept the criti cism.” Newcastle were booed off at fulltime after a per formance that will put Howe’s future under scrutiny. He has twice delivered Champions League foot ball and won the club’s first domestic trophy for 70 years since being appointed just under five years ago. But despite the resources of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund behind them, Newcastle’s progress has stalled due to poor recruitment and having to meet financial sustainability rules. “I understand the reaction at the end of the game,” added Howe. “I’m fully committed (to the job). I’m disappointed in myself and my delivery over the last week.” Anthony Gordon’s strike after 10 minutes had given Newcastle the perfect start. But their exhausting schedule over recent months caught up with them after the break.