West Ham Climbs Out of Relegation Zone
West Ham United made a significant move in the Premier League by climbing out of the relegation zone for the first time since December. This came after a dominant 4-0 victory over Wolves at the London Stadium, which also saw Tottenham Hotspur drop into the bottom three.
The Hammers’ win was fueled by two goals each from Konstantinos Mavropanos and Taty Castellanos. This marked their fifth win in the last 11 matches, showcasing a strong performance that has lifted them above their north London rivals.
Nuno Espirito Santo, the West Ham manager, remained composed despite the victory. He emphasized that nothing has changed in terms of the team’s approach, stating, “It doesn’t change anything. Next week we play after all our opponents. We have to focus on ourselves and today we did the job.”
Arteta’s Future at Arsenal
Mikel Arteta, the manager of league leaders Arsenal, has confirmed that discussions regarding his contract extension are currently on hold. Despite this, he remains fully committed to his role at the club.
Arteta’s current three-year deal is set to expire in 2027, and both he and the club are keen on him extending his stay beyond that. However, he has stated that his focus is on the present, saying, “There’s no news on that. The full focus is on what we have to do from here until the end of the season.”
He added, “I am fully committed and really happy and I feel good. This job is about the present and what you do on the day. Give your very best and feel that you are the person that can lead and inspire the group to achieve great things for the club.”
Enzo Fernandez’s Uncertain Future
Chelsea’s head coach, Liam Rosenior, has expressed concerns about Enzo Fernandez’s future with the club. He mentioned that there are “a few hurdles” that need to be overcome before the midfielder’s situation is resolved.
Fernandez will sit out the upcoming match against Manchester City after being suspended for two games due to comments he made during the international break, which were perceived as courting Real Madrid. Rosenior said, “He’s apologised to me, he’s apologised to the club, and we’ll deal with that after a massive game on Sunday.”
He also highlighted the importance of keeping the team focused during the crucial run-in, stating, “There are still a few hurdles that need to be overcome that I won’t go into, but at the same time I want every player really, really focused on a huge run-in.”
Pep Guardiola on Bernardo Silva
Pep Guardiola has praised Bernardo Silva as his captain nears the end of his career at Manchester City. However, the manager admitted he is still unaware of Silva’s future plans.
Silva is expected to leave City when his contract expires this summer after nine years at the Etihad Stadium. Assistant manager Pep Lijnders previously hinted at this possibility. Guardiola said, “I’m so grumpy with Bernardo because a month ago I said, ‘If you take a decision I have to be the first to (know)’ and he didn’t say anything to me yet. I said, jokingly, ‘Tell me, I deserve it’ but he didn’t tell me so I don’t know what’s going on!”
What’s on Today?
Arsenal will host Bournemouth in a lunchtime kick-off, with a victory potentially taking them 12 points clear of Manchester City, who are not in action until Sunday afternoon. Liverpool aims to solidify their top-five position against Fulham at Anfield, while Brentford and Everton look to strengthen their European ambitions in west London.
Brighton will travel to relegation-threatened Burnley, and Coventry could secure promotion to the Premier League by beating already-relegated Sheffield Wednesday. Meanwhile, Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts will face Motherwell.
