Carabao Cup final: Guardiola predicts what defeat will do to Arsenal in title race

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has admitted that his team want to “win badly”, as they continue to lead the way in the Premier League title race.

The Gunners were to forced to ground out another narrow victory, as they beat Brighton 2-1 at the Emirates on Saturday.

Captain Martin Odegaard had opened the scoring in the first half with a low drive.

Arteta’s men doubled their lead immediately after the break, thanks to an own goal from Georginio Rutter.

But Brigton pulled one back through Diego Gomez and also most got an equalizer, but were denied by an excellent David Raya save.

When asked about the nervy atmosphere inside the stadium after Brighton’s goal back, Arteta said: “That’s a willingness to win! We all want to win so badly.

“Now I don’t want to lose what I have and we have to play to continue to score and show that composure and that ability and we should have scored the third one.

“We have two massive chances to put it to 3-1 and then it would have been different. We haven’t, so we have to suffer a little bit more.”

The result means Arsenal continue to maintain a two-point lead at the top over Manchester City.

EPL: We want to win badly – Arteta fires title warning to Man City

Chuba Iwobi, father of Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi, has shared insights on the key impact Nigerian football legend Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has had on his son’s career.

Okocha, a former Super Eagles player, is the uncle of Alex.

In an interview with Molatsportsgist, Chuba shared how Okocha has consistently inspired his nephew, Alex.

“Uncle Jay-Jay has been an inspiration to Alex. When he was at the Arsenal academy, we often visited Bolton to watch Jay-Jay play,” Chuba explained.

“Alex has his own playing style, but he is also influenced by the skills and the technical ability of his uncle, and Jay-Jay has always been there for him.”

Okocha, who last played his club football at English side Hull City, retired from professional football in 2008.

AFCON: Alex Iwobi’s father, Chuba opens up on Jay-Jay Okocha’s influence on son

D’Tigress head coach Rena Wakama has declared her team ready for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup qualification tournament.

The African champions arrived Villeurbanne, Lyon for the competition on Monday.

Wakama announced her 12-player roster for the tournament last week.

D’ Tigress will open their campaign against Colombia on Wednesday.

The coach said the competition provides her team with an opportunity to test themselves against some of the best sides in the world.

“Our preparations have been intense, and this tournament here in Lyon, is an important part of that process. It gives us the opportunity to test ourselves against strong competition and evaluate where we’re as a team,” Wakama told the NBBF media.

D’Tigress will also confront Korea, Philippines, France , and Germany at the competition.

FIBA Women’s W/Cup qualifiers: Wakama declares D’Tigress ready for battle