21/05/2026

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THURSDAY | MAY 21, 2026

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REALITY CHECK… National women’s doubles pair Low Zi Yu (left) and Noraqilah Maisarah in action against China’s Bao Li Jing and Cao Zi Han (not pictured) during the 2026 Perodua Malaysia Masters at the Unifi Arena in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur yesterday. The young Malaysian duo lost their opening-round match 18–21, 12–21. – BERNAMAPIC Story on p31

Arsenal believe again Arteta completes remarkable rise from Pep protege to Premier League winner M IKEL ARTETA has silenced his doubters by awakening sleeping giant Arsenal, restoring the Gunners to the top of English foot ball. Yet in stark contrast to many other modern coaches, Arteta has not followed the Guardiola approach in chy, Arteta reportedly presented a five-phase plan to drag the club back into contention at the top of the Premier League and in Europe. He quickly made his pres

By building from the back he was often criti cised for being too conservative and he has walked a fine line with his exhuberant touchline antics. Even this season, many believed Arsenal had lost their way when they suffered four consecu tive domestic defeats in March and April, end ing their interest in the FA Cup and League Cup and allowing Manchester City back into the Premier League title race. But Arteta managed to right the ship this time to finish the campaign strongly, seeing off Guardola’s men and moving to the brink of Arsenal’s greatest-ever season. If they beat Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest on May 30 they will be European champions for the first time. “Sometimes when it is harder at the begin ning then it is better so to see that transforma tion and the joy in the people,” Arteta said ahead of Arsenal’s final home game of the sea son against Burnley. “It’s something that is beautiful to watch.” Arsenal’s nearly man finally has his moment to savour. – AFP

building a side that has pipped his former boss to the title. Arteta never quite made the grade at Barcelona but the influences on his playing career have moulded his out look as a manager. After brief spells at Paris

Twenty-two years on from Arsene Wenger’s “Invincibles”, Arsenal have finally got over the line to vindicate the Arteta project that began with his appointment back in 2019. Arsenal gambled on their former club cap tain six-and-a-half years ago even though he had no previous managerial experience. But Arteta was blessed with arguably the best apprenticeship, working alongside his long-time mentor turned title rival Pep Guardiola. When Guardiola arrived at Manchester City a decade ago, he sought out Arteta’s experience of the English game and someone he knew from their playing days together at Barcelona. “As a player and as a coach, he’s been an inspiration for me, and he’s the person who decided to bet on me, to include me as a second coach,” Arteta said of Guardiola last year. “I’ll always be grateful to him, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”

ence felt as seven players, including star names Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil, were unceremo niously let go as Arteta sought greater squad harmony. A FA Cup win just months after taking charge bought him time, but it took another six years for more silverware to arrive. In his first season, Arsenal finished

Saint-Germain and Rangers, Arteta finally found a home at Everton under David Moyes. “I learned from him on the field and off the field about building a team and get ting the right characters in the team to build what you want,” Arteta said of Moyes. An Arsenal side built on solid defensive foundations, and propelled towards the title from their strength at set-pieces, bears more similarity to the Moyes playbook than Guardiola’s philosophy. In his first meeting with the Arsenal hierar

eighth, their worst league finish for 25 years, and failed to improve on that in the Covid affected 2020/21 campaign. A year later they botched the chance to qual ify for the Champions League after a long absence with a late collapse to finish fifth. Even when major progress resulted in three successive second-placed finishes, Arteta’s abil ity to get Arsenal over the line was questioned.

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