12/05/2026

SPORTS TUESDAY | MAY 12, 2026

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Arteta lauds Premier League officials

Hammers captain slams decision to rule out Wilson goal against Arsenal

T HE choruses were about the city that connects Europe to Asia, and not just from the Aston Villa fans, either. “Istanbul, you’re having a laugh,” chanted the Burnley faithful, first when their side led and then when they equalised against the Europa League finalists. Yet a trip to Turkey has instead become still more serious for Unai Emery. A club that has only qualified for the Champions League once in the last four decades may do so twice in a few days, or not at all. Now Villa’s route back into the European elite may have to come via their meeting with Freiburg on the banks of the Bosphorus. The stakes have been raised. Failing to beat a Burnley side who have not won a home league match since October means they still need three points to be mathematically cer tain of a top-five finish. Their last two domestic opponents are Liverpool and Manchester City. If winning at Turf Moor would have allowed Emery to rest and rotate against Arne Slot’s side on Friday, now he faces a decision. In a display of forced positivity, Emery declared himself “very, very happy” with the performance at Turf Moor. “We can feel so proud of what we are doing,” he said. “To be in the top five in the Premier League, it is fantastic.” Yet he eventually conceded: “Today the point is not enough.” But it was in keeping with their recent returns. Villa have plenty of evidence of Emery’s alchemy; but precious little of it MIKEL ARTETA praised referee Chris Kavanagh and the VAR officials for their “brave” decision to disallow Callum Wilson’s equaliser for a “clear foul” in the final seconds of Arsenal’s contentious 1-0 win at West Ham on Sunday. The controversial decision left Arsenal on the brink of winning the title for the first time in 22 years. “I am going to certainly remember this day. It was a rollercoaster of emotions,” Arteta said. “We knew it was going to be tough day; West Ham are fighting for their lives and we are trying to win the Premier League. “So much at stake. We started the game so well and had three big chances. “Then the injury of Ben White, we had to make a change and adapt, we had to make difficult deci sions. “We threw everything we had to try and win it. We were rewarded for that courage.” With the long-awaited title now in touching dis tance, Arteta singled out David Raya and Martin Odegaard for their priceless contributions. Ű BY RICHARD JOLLY

Raya made a brilliant save with his foot to keep out Mateus Fernandes’ close-range effort when the score was still 0-0. Odegaard, used sparingly by Arteta in recent weeks, came off the bench to provide the assist for Trossard’s winner with a clever run and pass. “If you want the chance to major trophies, you need moments and actions and the individuals cre ating those magic moments and David certainly – like Martin Odegaard – created a moment to win us the game,” said Arteta, who has also led Arsenal to the Champions League final against Paris Saint Germain on May 30. “Martin made an incredible action to win us the game after David’s save. In the end, this is the beauty of the Premier League.” Asked how he felt about Arsenal being two games from title glory, Arteta added: “Now we leave and enjoy what we have done today, because as I said it has been an incredible week. “Those players, the way they are standing in front of the opportunity and showing resilience, it is remarkable.” – AFP

WEST HAM captain Jarrod Bowen blasted the controversial decision to disallow Callum Wilson’s stoppage-time goal in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat against Premier League leaders Arsenal. The Hammers trailed to Leandro Trossard’s late strike at the London Stadium, but appeared to have rescued a last-gasp draw when Wilson fired home after Arsenal keeper David Raya dropped the ball. West Ham’s celebrations were curtailed by a prolonged VAR intervention that ended with referee Chris Kavanagh changing his decision, ruling that Pablo had fouled Raya, after consult ing the pitch-side monitor. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side remain in the relegation zone, one point behind fourth-bottom Tottenham, who have a game in hand against Leeds on Monday in the battle to avoid crashing into the Championship. “A real blow. We thought we’d done so well to get back in it and had it taken away from us,” Bowen said.

“When you look at the screen for five minutes you’ll find something, a lot of grappling and a lot of holding. Do I think it’s the right decision? No. “Where’s the consistency? As a fan you don’t want to celebrate a goal and then wait eight minutes and it’s taken off you.” West Ham had appealed for fouls by Declan Rice and Trossard that could have led to a pen alty in the Wilson incident. And Bowen claimed officials are not consistent enough when dealing with potential fouls at set-pieces. “Corners are physical. The Premier League is physical. That’s why everyone loves it. You have to expect contact at corners,” he said. “If you give that you have to give all the hold ing calls in the world and that’s not the way peo ple want the game to go down. “I don’t want to sound bitter but last week we had one with Tomas Soucek held at Brentford and we didn’t get a penalty. But then you can’t give one like that today.” – AFP

Back to reality

Villa crash back down to earth in Burnley draw to leave Emery facing huge decision

ble,” said caretaker manager Michael Jackson, who was also buoyed by the skill of winger Loum Tchouna. “He was a joy to

proven another smart piece of business by the Cherries and the Brazilian struck the only goal in a 1-0 win over Fulham in which both sides were reduced to 10 men. Bournemouth look nailed on to at least qualify for European competition for the first time in the club’s history. The top five in the Premier League are assured of Champions League qualification, while sixth could also be enough if Aston Villa finish fifth and win the Europa League final Instead, this was entertaining but inconclusive; sadly so, from a Villa per spective. The hangover from Friday may have been a factor when they trailed. Zian Flemming had spurned two earlier fine chances, first to extend Burnley’s lead and then to restore it, but he did equalise with a precise finish after Hannibal Mejbri, with a cute back heel, teed him up. Flemming took his tally to 10 Premier League goals. “Zian has been incredi has been in the Premier League of late. Villa have a mere 17 points from their last 16 games, only one from the last three. “In the second part of the season we are struggling,” admitted Emery. “We are not achieving the points like in the first half.” That may yet cost them. After losing to relegation-threatened Tottenham, Villa drew with relegated Burnley. This was the match that seemed to represent their insurance policy. They could not cash in on it. Instead, Burnley were repaid with just a second point in nine outings. It was merited, too. Perhaps it was inevitable that Villa would not reach the heights of Friday’s semi-final demolition of Nottingham Forest but they were flat for the first half hour while, having wres tled themselves into the lead, they promptly conceded. There was a wastefulness. It may not matter – should City beat Bournemouth, Villa might not need another point any way – and Emery remains on the brink of a remarkable achievement. But the air of desperation surrounding their search for a winner betrayed the sense they could require one.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery. – REUTERSPIC

watch,” he said. And, for a change, Burnley were good to watch. “A good perform ance,” added Jackson. “It showed a lot of char acter.”

Villa’s overworked core showed signs of fatigue. “They are tired but they want to play,” said Emery. If Freiburg may not have been frightened by what they saw from Villa, the Spaniard’s side improved after a slow start. Suddenly, they applied pressure. Ross Barkley angled a shot wide. Ollie Watkins had a leveller ruled out, the striker marginally offside as he headed in Morgan Rogers’ cross. The debutant goalkeeper Max Weiss saved well from Barkley. It only delayed the equaliser by seconds as the midfielder headed in the resulting corner, taken by John McGinn. Culpable for Burnley’s first

goal, Emi Martinez created Villa’s second, pinging a 70 yard pass to Ollie Watkins, who controlled it with his shoulder and slid a shot past Max Weiss with this second. Pressing his case to understudy Harry Kane at the World Cup, he now has eight goals in 10 games. – The Independent

SHORTS

later this month. Four points adrift of Liverpool and Villa with two games to go, Bournemouth lead Brighton by two

billion) outlay in the transfer market last summer and promised big changes will be made for next season. “I do. Not this season, by the way. This season they will have their opin ion and it will not change,” he said on whether he can regain the faith of the Liverpool support. “But if we can have the summer that we are planning to have, then I’m 100 percent convinced that we will be a different team next season than we are now. “Different in terms of results, differ ent in how things look.”

The Reds manager’s decision to replace teenager Rio Ngumoha with Liverpool chasing a winner in the sec ond half was met with howls of deri sion, while widespread boos greeted the final whistle. Reports suggest the Dutchman will survive a desperately disappoint ing second season, thanks in large part to the credit he earned in deliver ing the title during his first year in English football. Slot has bemoaned the toll that injuries have taken on a short squad despite a record £450 million (RM2.4

Bournemouth dream big

points in the battle for sixth. Slot promises change

BOURNEMOUTH’S 11,000 capacity Vitality Stadium could be playing host to the likes of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain next season after they stretched a remarkable unbeaten run since losing Antoine Semenyo to City in January to 16 games. Semenyo’s replacement Rayan has

THE growing frustration among the Liverpool support towards Arne Slot was in evidence as another lacklustre performance from the defending champions allowed Chelsea to snap their six-game losing streak in a 1-1 draw at Anfield.