Leandro Trossard scored the only goal on 20 minutes as Arsenal won for just the second time in 17 games away at United to go a point clear at the summit.

Manchester City still have the destiny of the title in their own hands as the defending champions have two matches left to Arsenal’s one.

However, the Gunners kept the pressure on Pep Guardiola’s men ahead of their tricky trip to Tottenham on Tuesday.

Defeat further dented United’s chances of competing in Europe next season.

Erik ten Hag’s men showed more spirit than in a dismal 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Monday, but have now won just one of their last eight Premier League games.

United remain eighth in the table, three points adrift of both Newcastle, who they face on Wednesday, and Chelsea.

Arsenal have been in scintillating form in 2024 to remain in the race for their first league title in 20 years.

Mikel Arteta’s men have won 15 and drawn one of their 17 league games since the turn of the year.

But Arsenal were far from their flowing best as the expected onslaught of an injury-ravaged United never materialised under unusually stifling heat in England’s north-west.

The manner of defeat at Palace had increased the scrutiny on United boss Ten Hag.

He made three changes to the team swept aside at Selhurst Park as Scott McTominay, Sofyan Amrabat and Amad Diallo came in.

The Dutchman’s options were again hamstrung by a lengthy list of absentees with captain Bruno Fernandes among those sidelined and a bench littered with youngsters.

But his decision to retain Casemiro as a makeshift centre-back after his woeful showing against Palace will become another stick to beat the beleaguered coach with.

The Brazil captain was dropped from their squad for the Copa America in midweek due to his terrible form.

After United had managed to keep the free-scoring visitors at bay for the opening 20 minutes, Casemiro was culpable for the opening goal.

The 32-year-old was laboured in pushing up from a United goal-kick to play Kai Havertz onside and Trossard then stole in on the blind side of Casemiro to tap in the German’s cross.

United’s new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe was in attendance at Old Trafford rather than at Wembley to see the club’s women pick up their first ever major trophy in the FA Cup final.

The work that lies ahead of Ratcliffe has been laid bare in recent weeks, but the home side did manage to keep the majority of the 74,000 crowd onside by taking the game to Arsenal after the break.

Arsenal, though, were rarely seriously troubled as they held out for a sixth clean sheet in their last seven away league games.

Alejandro Garnacho was United’s one live wire but smashed into the side-netting with his best chance to equalise.

Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice were denied by brilliant Andre Onana saves to prevent Arsenal the second goal they craved to avoid a tense finale.

The visitors’ desperation to see the game out was evident as Martinelli took the ball to the corner with 10 minutes of the 90 still to play.

But Arsenal did just enough to ask the question City, who host West Ham on the final day of the season after their visit to north London in midweek.

Burnley Football Club have officially been relegated from the English Premier League, after a single-season back in the top-flight.

Burnley’s hopes of remaining in the Premier League were dashed after a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham, sealing their relegation from the top flight.

Despite initially taking the lead through Jacob Bruun Larsen’s goal, Burnley couldn’t hold on, eventually losing to Spurs.

With their fate hanging in the balance, Burnley knew that only a victory would keep them in the Premier League. However, Pedro Porro’s equalizer for Tottenham dampened their spirits, and Micky van de Ven’s late goal sealed their relegation to the Championship.

Meanwhile, Tottenham’s win kept alive their slim hopes of securing Champions League qualification. Despite recent defeats raising concerns, Spurs managed to secure a crucial victory, thanks to van de Ven’s decisive goal.

Manager Ange Postecoglou emphasized the significance of the win, highlighting Tottenham’s dominant performance and expressing optimism for their remaining fixtures.

As Burnley faces relegation, Tottenham continues their battle for Champions League qualification, with their fate depending on upcoming matches against Manchester City and Sheffield United, as well as Aston Villa’s results.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are gearing up for their crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin. Information from the NFF show the team camp will open in Uyo on June 1.

Currently positioned third in Group C, the Super Eagles aim to climb to the top in June when they face South Africa’s Bafana Bafana and Benin and will be making this attempt under the tuttelage of a new coach – Finidi George.

Scheduled for June 5, the first match against South Africa will be followed by a game against Benin three days later.

Newly appointed coach Finidi George will lead the team for the first time in competitive fixtures and is under pressure to secure victories.

Reports from the Glasshouse indicate that Finidi George has already submitted a provisional squad list to the Nigeria Football Federation, with the final roster set to be unveiled soon.

All selected players are expected to join the training camp by June 1. Despite the UEFA Champions League final taking place on the same day, Nigerian players are not involved in the competition. Additionally, major European leagues will have concluded their seasons by then.

The Super Eagles will camp in Akwa Ibom State, with the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo hosting the match against South Africa.

Activities in the Nigeria Premier League was limited to just one match this Sunday afternoon as Sunshine Stars host Rivers United in a rescheduled match, the encounter however  marks 34 years since Nigeria elite division turned professional.

On the 12^th of May 1990, the Nigeria Professional Football league, NPFL was established. it the dawn of a new beginning as Nigerians, football followers looked up to greater feats in the Nigeria football.

It was on that day that Nigeria amateur elite players changed their names to professionals marking a new dawn in football in the country.

Without any fanfare, such that heralded the first North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1969 and the J-League of Japan in 1993, professional league kicked off in Nigeria. Like it is this Sunday, it was a single match that was played on the same date 34 years ago.

When Nigeria started the professional football, the  pioneer clubs  included the now defunct Lagos ACB, BCC Lions,  Bendel United (now defunct) and Enyimba FC.

Others were Highlanders of Jos (now Plateau United), Iwuanyanwu Nationale, (now Heartland FC) JIB, Kano Pillars, Obanta United (later VIP – now defunct), Ranchers Bees, Enugu Rangers Bendel Insurance and Stationery Stores.

An attempt to have one of the pioneer clubs pitched against the Crystal Palace of England, as a symbolical kick off of professional league failed.

After years of prolonged debates, the professional league finally kicked off with a Super Stores versus Iwuanyanwu Nationale opener at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos.

The Owerri-based Iwuanyanwu, now renamed Heartland, dictated the pace of the away tie, winning 2-1. They kept their form and the pace until the season ended, winning the inaugural championship.

Apart from Iwuanyanwu winning the inaugural match of the professional league, two other clubs also had away wins in their first outings. Enugu Rangers beat their traditional rivals; Shooting Stars 1-0 in Ibadan, while JIB Rocks (later renamed Plateau United) won their first away game, 3-0 against Obanta United (later renamed VIP of Lagos) in Ijebu-Ode.

To make the league higher and make teams have appetite for goals, a new point-scoring device was adopted. Traditionally drawn games attracted just a point.

But the then NFA awarded two points for score draws and one for goalless draw games. The point-scoring device was in use from 1990 season to 1994. Three points are however awarded for won games.

Across ages, Enyimba have been the most successful, winning the professional league eight times. They are followed by the crowd-pulling Kano Pillars who won four times.

Shooting Stars, Heartland and Lobi Stars have each won twice. In 2012, the Nigeria Professional League had its best ranking as the topmost in Africa and the 24th in the world.

The Paris 2024 Olympics cauldron design for the Torch Relay has been unveiled. Designed by Mathieu Lehanneur, it will be lit at each stopover city in France by the last Torchbearer of the day.

The Olympic Torch Relay unfolds as a compelling narrative depicted through three profoundly symbolic objects emblematic of the Games. Originating from Olympia, the Paris 2024 Torch embarks on a journey across Greece, paying homage to the Games’ ancient roots. 

Its next appearance in Marseille on May 8 will herald the commencement of four months of celebratory events commemorating the Games in France. As the Torch reaches French territory, 10,000 Olympic Torchbearers will illuminate the regions, bridging the Games’ spirit with the French populace. In every stopover city, the day’s final Torchbearer will ignite the cauldron at the celebration venue, culminating in vibrant festivities.

The transition from the Torch relay cauldrons to the Olympic cauldron will occur solely on the closing day of the relay, 26 July, 2024, marking the commencement of the Olympic Games. The Torch, cauldron, and Paralympic cauldron will feature in the Paralympic Torch Relay, commencing from Stoke Mandeville in England, the renowned birthplace of Paralympic sport.

Upon reaching France in Calais on 25 August, the Paralympic Flame will be distributed into twelve Flames across the nation, each illuminating a cauldron in the stopover cities before converging to ignite the Paralympic cauldron in Paris on 28 August, 2024. “Each day, during the Torch Relay, the lighting of the cauldron by the last Torchbearer of the day will be a highlight,” said Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024.

“In each stopover city, the caudron will be a real meeting point to round off these days of celebration and communion in style. We’re inviting everyone to join us there, to share in all the emotions we’ll be experiencing with the Torch Relay and to celebrate, together, the arrival of the Games in France. We can’t wait!”

Crafted by French designer Lehanneur, the Torch Relay cauldron is inspired by the Torch’s essence, integrating its distinctive elements: the simplicity of form, vibrant colours, and the fluidity of water’s texture. With a singular base, three supporting structures, and an almost ethereal ring, the cauldron’s pristine form mirrors the graceful curves of the Torch, symbolising the spirit of peace embodied by the Flame and the Games.

The cauldron shares the radiant hue of the Torch, blending gold, silver, and bronze tones, featuring a glossy finish on its lower sections and a matte finish on the upper sections. “The Torch, the Torch Relay cauldron and the Olympic Cauldron are not separate objects,” said Lehanneur.

“They are chapters in one great story. Each embodies the spirit of the Paris Games. The cauldron takes the form of a ring of fire suspended above a liquid surface. Both pure and magical, it seems to float and is reflected in its metallic base. If the Torch is a sacred fire that is passed on, the cauldron is the object around which we gather and which unites our energies.”

From the Mediterranean Sea to the Seine, spanning the journey from the Torch Relay through the Opening Ceremony stage of the Olympic Games and competition venues, the significance of water in the Paris 2024 Torch Relay and Games is represented by wave and ripple effects adorning both the Torch and the cauldron’s base.

Diego Maradona’s Golden Ball trophy won for being named the best player at the 1986 World Cup will be auctioned in France in June, the Aguttes auction house said on Tuesday.

This is the first Golden Ball to go for auction and while the value is still to be confirmed, the auction house expects it to fetch millions on June 6.

Maradona, who died in 2020, won the award after leading Argentina to World Cup victory in Mexico, scoring five goals at the finals where he captained his country and played every minute of the tournament.

That tournament is probably best remembered for Maradona’s two goals against England in the quarter-finals.

Maradona outjumped England keeper Peter Shilton as he thumped in the first goal with a raised fist, which he later dubbed as being scored by the “Hand of God”.

The second was an incredible mazy slalom run from his own half, when he dribbled past five English outfield players, and was voted as the “Goal of the Century”

The jersey he wore that day, along with the ball from the match, have both previously been sold at auction.

After his display against England, Maradona went on to score the two goals which defeated Belgium in the semi-final and Argentina won a thrilling final 3-2 against West Germany.

The Golden Ball award was introduced at the 1982 World Cup, and its list of winners include Italy’s Paolo Rossi, Romario and Ronaldo of Brazil, Zinedine Zidane of France, while Argentine great Lionel Messi is the only player to have won the accolade twice.

Maradona’s award had disappeared before resurfacing among several trophy lots in an auction room.

Recently it was entrusted to Aguttes, which carried out an investigation into its provenance and managed to authenticate it as Maradona’s Adidas Golden Ball trophy.

After a devastating 4-0 defeat of Manchester United on Monday night by Crystal Palace, the call for the sacking of the coach, Erik ten Hag expectedly became louder. Former coach, Jose Mourinho has indicated his wish to return to the club.

Mourinho was sacked as Manchester United manager after a mixed two-and-a-half seasons in December 2018 but the Portuguese believes that he has unfinished business at Old Trafford

According to Mirror in the UK, the Portuguese is very keen on a sensational return . He is however aware the club don’t want him back.

Mourinho, 61, has been out of work since being sacked by Roma in January and has told confidants of his strong but fanciful desire to be given a second chance as manager of the Red Devils.

The ex- Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid boss was sacked by United in December 2018, bringing to an end a mixed two-and-a-half-season tenure which saw them win three trophies but fail to seriously challenge for the Premier League title.

That was long before Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival at the club and although Mourinho considers the new United co-owner his friend, he doesn’t expect to be approached if the Red Devils sack Erik Ten Hag. 

Ten Hag’s role has come under increasing scrutiny over the past few months, with Monday’s dreadful 4-0 defeat away to 14th-placed Crystal Palace serving as the nadir to a wretched season.

Should Ratcliffe and Co pull the trigger, the Manchester Evening News report that Mourinho would be willing to ‘walk’ back to Old Trafford

The Portuguese, who’s aware that a reappointment isn’t likely, recently claimed that Ten Hag has been given considerably more support than he received during his time at United – comments which irked the current Red Devils boss.

“My relationship with (former United executive vice-chairman) Ed Woodward was good,” Mourinho told an English tabloid. “Good as in the personal point of view. Even now we sent an SMS. But from a professional point of view it was not the best.

“I am who I am. I am a football man. Ed comes from a different background and what Ten Hag has in his time at Manchester United I didn’t have. I didn’t have that level of support. I didn’t have that level of trust.