02/06/2026

SPORTS TUESDAY | JUNE 2, 2026

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London painted red Arsenal supporters celebrate the club’s long-awaited return to Premier League glory

Anfield rebuild starts with shock exit LIVERPOOL are on the lookout for another new manager after the club opted to sack Arne Slot just 12 months after winning the Premier League title. It’s expected that Andoni Iraola will arrive as Slot’s replacement, with the Spanish coach having left Bournemouth at the end of the season. Regardless, it’s shaping up to be another hectic summer of transfer activity, as Richard Hughes and co. aim to rebuild the Liverpool squad. It could give three Liverpool players, who previously looked destined for the exit door, a new lease of life. CURTIS JONES It had been looking as if Curtis Jones’ Liverpool career was coming towards the end, with the midfielder being linked with a move away from Anfield. Inter Milan had emerged as a candidate to sign the 25-year old, who featured 49 times across all competitions for the Reds this season. However, he could be a player given a second chance under Iraola, given the Spaniard’s fondness for players capable of playing several positions. Jones has featured in his natural midfield position, but also at fullback, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Iraola pushed to keep the Englishman. HARVEY ELLIOTT Remember him? Unai Emery certainly didn’t know when picking his teams for Aston Villa this season. Having entered the summer as one of the hottest prospects on the market, Harvey Elliott joined Villa on an initial loan, with a view to making it permanent at the end of the season. In the end, the Englishman managed just 11 appearances across all competitions and has since returned to Anfield with his tail between his legs. The talent is certainly there, that’s for sure, and having fallen out of favour under Slot, a change of manager could revive what looked to be a previously dead in the water Liverpool career. WATARU ENDO Another one of Liverpool’s forgotten men, with Wataru Endo having played just 12 matches across the entirety of the campaign. Signed under Jurgen Klopp, the Japanese midfielder was never fancied by Slot and has spent most of his time on the bench this season. At 33-years-old, Endo would be unlikely to have a key role under Iraola, but that doesn’t mean to say he can’t be useful as a squad player. Endo is under contract until the end of next season, and if Liverpool can’t find a buyer, there’s every chance Iraola keeps him in the squad. Express Newspapers

Arteta signs attacking duo, three stars leave

H UNDREDS of thousands of Arsenal fans from far and wide lined the streets of north London on Sunday chanting and lighting red flares as they celebrated their club’s first Premier League title in 22 years. The players celebrated in an open-top bus along with the gleaming Premier League trophy that the club had finally got their hands on after Arsene Wenger’s “Invincibles” last won it in the 2003/04 season. Arsenal had clinched the Premier League title prior to the final game of the season when they had an unas sailable lead over second-placed Manchester City, who eventually finished seven points behind Mikel Arteta’s side. It was Arsenal’s first trophy since Arteta won the FA Cup in his debut season as manager in 2020 as a dream was finally fulfilled for the club after finishing second three years in a row prior to this season. Even Saturday’s Champions League final loss to Paris St Germain on penalties in Budapest could not dampen the enthusiasm of the fans, with fireworks and vuvuzelas adding to the noise. “We’re not European champions but we are cham pions of England, which is what matters. So we’re happy to celebrate with everyone,” said Julien Guillenenat, a French Arsenal fan. “I feel that we’re going to be fine next season. I feel like a weight has been lifted off the shoulders and this season was like on a knife edge,” Mathieu Garnier, a 44 year-old Arsenal fan, told Reuters . “Three years in a row second and finally this pressure is behind us and these boys are going to be flying. I believe that.” The Arsenal women’s team joined in the celebra tions following their Fifa Champions Cup triumph this season. Declan Rice, who was signed for a club-record fee of £ 105 million (RM560m) in 2023, said the men’s side had sent a message to those who mocked Arsenal in the past. “They’re pointing and they’re laughing. And what happened? They’re not

tough to accept. When you are so consistent in the competition all the way to the final and in the end you lose the trophy on penalty kicks. It is a difficult one. “That I am so proud of them. I think this season that with the circumstances just internally we know what we’ve been through. “They’ve given us so much joy. It is a privilege to manage this group of players, this team. “I think the way they carry this badge and how much they put in to it. We got a big one and we miss on the biggest one.” Before adding: “We haven’t done it (win the Premier League) for 22 years and it’s the second time in our history that we’ve done it (reach Champions League final). We need to recognise the season that we’ve had. But at the moment nobody is going to take the pain away from you.” – Express Newspaper ARSENAL were a penalty shootout away from winning the Champions League for the first time in their history. The Gunners ultimately fell short, with Gabriel sending his effort into orbit during Saturday’s final against Paris Saint-Germain. Despite the pain, Mikel Arteta spoke immediately about bouncing back next season, and it’s expected that the Arsenal board will support the Spanish coach in the transfer market. Ahead of what promises to be a hectic summer window, Express Sport have stepped into the shoes of Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta to explain what they should do next. New attacking duo It felt like the biggest issue for Arsenal in Budapest was not having enough in attack. While PSG were able to call upon Goncalo Ramos and Bradley Barcola, the Gunners’ options off the bench included Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli. To address this, Arsenal have to spend big on forwards, with Julian Alvarez and Rafael Leao two potential options. It won’t come cheap for the north Londoners, given Atletico Madrid values Alvarez at £130 million (RM694m), while AC Milan are said to want £50 million (RM267m) for Leao. But that’s the sort of money that needs to be spent in order to consistently compete for the big prizes. Reshuffle takes place To make room for those arrivals, Arsenal would need to wave goodbye to some of their current attacking options. Martinelli hasn’t been able to nail down a regular spot in the side and doesn’t provide nearly enough in the way of goals or assists when he does come on. Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus’ time at the club looks as if it could be coming to an end, with a return to Brazil having been mooted. Elsewhere, Arsenal could cash in on academy product Ethan Nwaneri to help boost their coffers ahead of what could prove an expensive summer. Rice as captain The final change doesn’t need to involve any players coming or going, and instead can be achieved internally. It’s time for Declan Rice to assume the captaincy and become the face of this new era for Arsenal. Martin Odegaard doesn’t scream leader or legend, while Rice has all the minerals to be an iconic figure for the 14-time English champions. Express Newspapers

“To see the joy we can give people is crazy. Next year, we’re coming back for more.” Theo Grant, a 22-year-old Arsenal fan was confident the club would return to the Champions League final again next season. “Honestly, it’s going to give the players more motiva tion for next year. It’s going to be the best part,” Grant said. We’re going to be in the final in Madrid next year. I’m going to get my tickets!” Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arteta has revealed that Gabriel Magalhaes had asked to take the crucial penalty he missed in the Champions League final. Gabriel stepped up for the fifth spot-kick in the shootout needing to score to take Paris Saint-Germain to sudden death, but skied his effort over the crossbar. It was the Brazilian defender’s first penalty for Arsenal, and came with Arteta having removed a num ber of his regular penalty takers. “He wanted to take it,” Arteta said of Gabriel. “Normally the penalty takers would be Bukayo (Saka), Martin (Odegaard) and Kai (Havertz). But we knew if the game went to extra-time and penalties, different players would have to step forward.” Eberechi Eze also missed the target with his penalty, with Viktor Gyokeres, Rice and Gabriel Martinelli regis tering in the shootout. Rice gave his backing to Eze and Gabriel after a “cruel” ending to the campaign. “To miss a penalty in a Champions League final, obviously it’s not nice,” the midfielder said to TNT Sports . “But we love them and we’re with them. It hap pens in football. They’re not going to be the last players to miss penalties in finals. “Everyone has missed a penalty and without those

two this season we wouldn’t have won the Premier League, that’s for sure. Gabriel, I’ve run out of words for him as a person and as a player. Eze has scored some crucial goals for us this season.

laughing anymore. I love this team. I love this man ager,” Rice told Sky Sports .

“It happens. It’s football and it’s cruel. We take the positives and keep going.” – Reuters/AFP

Arsenal players and fans celebrate the club’s 2025/26 English Premier League during the victory parade on Sunday. – REUTERSPIC

Ferguson savages Arsenal after PSG loss

SIR ALEX FERGUSON wasted no time in mocking Arsenal following their heartbreaking Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The Gunners suffered penalty shootout heartache in the final against PSG, with Gabriel and Eberechi Eze miss ing in the shootout. Mikel Arteta’s side had taken the lead after just five minutes when Kai Havertz broke in behind the PSG backline to put Arsenal in front. It stayed that way until the second half, when Cristhian Mosquera bun dled down Khvicha Kvaratskhelia inside the penalty area, with Ousmane Dembele slotting home the equaliser. It was by no means the most free-flowing of affairs, with Arsenal managing just one shot on target throughout the entire 120 minutes. The north Londoners certainly underwhelmed at points, and it

would appear that wasn’t lost on two-time Champions League winner Ferguson. According to reports, the ex-Manchester United boss sent a message to PSG President Nasser Al Khelaif, which read: “Nasser, this is Alex Ferguson. Well done, it was a tough night for you, but you were the team that played football. Enjoy your holidays, you deserve it.” There had been some claims that Ferguson had dubbed Arsenal’s style of play as “boring”, but they have since been squashed. Regardless, it’s clear that reading between the lines, the legendary figure of English football wasn’t impressed by the way Arsenal set themselves up. Arteta will no doubt disagree, with the Gunners boss having praised his side’s resilience in the final. Speaking post-match, he told TNT Sports : “It is very