Mikel Arteta said it would have been “very unfair” to drop Kepa Arrizabalaga for the Carabao Cup final as he defended his decision to pick the goalkeeper whose mistake gifted victory to Manchester City.

Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper David Raya was left on the bench as his deputy Arrizabalaga started and spilled Rayan Cherki’s cross for Nico O’Reilly to open the scoring in City’s 2-0 win at Wembley.

The Spaniard, a summer signing from Chelsea, has played throughout Arsenal’s Carabao Cup run but defeat means they have still not won a major trophy since 2020, while Raya has the most clean sheets in the Premier League.

“I understand that but I have to do what I feel is right, which is honest and which is fair,” said Arteta. “I think we have understanding with Kepa, he’s played all the competition and I think it would have been very, very unfair for him and for the team to do something different.”

Arteta denied he had guaranteed Arrizabalaga he would play in domestic cup competitions when he joined, saying he felt the 31-year-old had deserved to play.

“I can never promise a player to play certain competitions because at the end they have to earn it and they have to do enough like any other position to do that,” he explained.

“We are guided by what we’ve seen and what he’s done, what he’s done in the competition, and he helped us to go all the way through here. I believe it’s the right thing to do and that’s it. Errors are part of football and today it happened unfortunately in a crucial moment.”

Arteta said defeat left a “bad taste” for Arsenal as he struggled to process his disappointment.

He added: “I’m very sad. It’s a very hard one to take, especially for our players and our supporters because we know how much it means to them and how much we want it, and the fact that we haven’t managed to deliver that obviously is disappointing and sad, and it leaves you with a really bad taste.”

Premier League leaders Arsenal still have a potential treble to play for and Arteta believes they will have more hunger now.

He added: “What this team has done in the last eight months has been incredible, and we’re going to use this disappointment and this fire in the belly to have the most amazing two months that we have ever had together.”

Eberechi Eze was ruled out of the final with a calf problem and will undergo a scan later this week but Arteta has ruled him out of the England squad to play Uruguay and Japan.

Akor Adams was left out of the starting line-up as Sevilla lost 2-0 to Valencia, with coach Matías Almeyda explaining his decision after the match.

Adams, who is Sevilla’s top scorer this season with seven goals and four assists in 23 games, had been expected to start the match. The Nigerian striker has been one of the team’s key players since returning from international duty.

However, Almeyda chose to start Neal Maupay instead. The decision did not go well for Sevilla, as they went two goals down before half-time through strikes from Hugo Duro and Largie Ramazani.

Adams was introduced at the start of the second half and made an immediate impact, adding energy and attacking threat to the team. Sevilla improved after the break and controlled much of the game, but they were unable to score.

The defeat leaves Sevilla in 15th place with 31 points from 29 matches, just three points above the relegation zone. Valencia, meanwhile, moved up to 11th place and are now comfortably clear of danger.

After the game, Almeyda said he dropped Adams because he was not satisfied with his performance in their previous match against Barcelona. He also explained that he wanted to rotate his strikers and give others a chance.

“We have three strikers and I am trying different options to see who can score,” Almeyda said. “I was not happy with Akor’s last game, so I decided to make a change.”

Sevilla now face a difficult run of matches as they try to move away from the relegation zone, and Adams is expected to return to the starting line-up in their next game.

R Ashwin feels playing home matches at different venues might be detrimental for RR.© YouTube

Most of the splashy happenings from Minnesota Vikings’ 2026 free agency — there weren’t many, other than Kyler Murray’s arrival — are over. The club can still sign depth free-agent pieces, but the firestorm of free-agent movement is done. So, let’s look at the “losers” from the process.

Minnesota’s roster shuffle came with collateral damage.

The criteria? Players most affected — not in a good way — by new arrivals and the front office’s decision-making. The players on this list are in ascending order (No. 1 = biggest “loser”).

Some Vikings Now Face Steeper Climbing This Summer

Who do you consider the biggest loser?

4. Dwight McGlothern (CB)

McGlothern may not have been the smoking-gun candidate to earn Minnesota’s CB3 job in 2026, and the signing of veteran defensive back James Pierre made sure of that.

Minnesota found McGlothern via undrafted free agency in 2024, and since then, many fans have held high hopes for a breakout performance because of his tremendous size and production at LSU and Arkansas. So far, it’s just not meant to be, as he’s banked just 50 defensive snaps in two seasons.

McGlothern still profiles as a practice squad candidate in 2026 and could even make the active roster, but with the Vikings likely to draft a cornerback or two in April, his outlook is shaky. He probably needed to contribute more in 2024 and 2025 to have a puncher’s chance at the CB3 or CB4 post this autumn.

3. Will Reichard (K)

Reichard’s fine; no need to worry. He is not a real “loser.” Still, he lost his holder at the start of free agency when the New Orleans Saints stole punter Ryan Wright, handing the specialist a contract worth $14 million over the next four years.

In return, the Vikings signed six-time All-Pro punter Johnny Hekker this week, whom Minnesota hopes will turn back the clock to his glory days of a decade ago. Hekker was an average punter last season.

The 36-year-old also holds extra points and field goals. Reichard will need a competent holder to continue his All-Pro career. If it’s not Hekker, look for Minnesota to find a rookie punter late in the draft or from undrafted free agency.

2. Max Brosmer (QB)

Minnesota rarely carries four quarterbacks on its regular-season roster, sometimes keeping only two, suggesting a roster reduction is coming. Brosmer was already likely headed for the practice squad or outright release, but Carson Wentz’s re-arrival earlier in the week brought a significantly narrower path for Brosmer to potentially secure the QB3 role.

Brosmer’s prospects have now shifted dramatically. Once an intriguing undrafted free agent—with some even drawing loose comparisons to Brock Purdy — he is now likely destined for the practice squad or outright release. The momentum simply isn’t there.

With the recent additions and re-signings, the quarterback depth chart now includes Murray, J.J. McCarthy, Wentz, and Brosmer, leaving little room for surprises when final cuts are made. It was a tough week for Brosmer.

Our Janik Eckardt on Brosmer’s hellish week: “Sure, he hasn’t particularly earned more reps or trust, but it’s important to note that he didn’t enter the league with high expectations. A developmental undrafted quarterback needs time to grow as a player to become a reliable backup down the line.”

“Completely writing him off after 71 passes is not entirely fair, given his draft status. However, the NFL isn’t fair and if a player can’t get it done, he’ll be replaced, regardless of whether he was supposed to be ready or not. The good news is that Brosmer’s career isn’t over with a stint on the practice squad.”

1. J.J. McCarthy (QB)

McCarthy has encountered an extremely wicked, shockingly evil, and vile offseason. There’s no way around it.

The Vikings don’t have to trade McCarthy — at 23, he has time to develop — but recent developments cast doubt on the team’s long-term commitment to him. If the Vikings were fully behind McCarthy, their quarterback situation would likely look different, especially with Murray now expected to be QB1.

Some speculate that McCarthy was general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s preferred pick, while head coach Kevin O’Connell favored alternatives like Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, Aaron Rodgers, or Drake Maye. If that’s the case, Minnesota might move on from McCarthy sooner than anticipated, potentially trading him to a team such as the Arizona Cardinals or Pittsburgh Steelers for a mid-round pick.

This offseason, Minnesota replaced the executive who drafted McCarthy, acquired Murray, and re-signed Wentz, presumably as a QB2 contender. None of these moves suggests a promising future for McCarthy with the team.

The last couple of months have been a nightmare for McCarthy’s long-term outlook.

Arsenal and Manchester City will face off at Wembley on Sunday in the Carabao Cup final, in what promises to be a defining moment in their battle this season.

This is not just another final. Both teams are chasing success on multiple fronts, and the result at Wembley could shape how the rest of the campaign unfolds.

Arsenal arrive in strong form under Mikel Arteta. They currently sit nine points clear at the top of the Premier League and have also reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. Confidence is high, and the Gunners will see this as a big chance to win their first trophy in several years.

For Manchester City, the situation is different. Pep Guardiola and his team are looking to respond after their recent exit from Europe. Winning this final would offer them a chance to bounce back and regain momentum as the season enters a crucial stage.

Both sides are still involved in the FA Cup, and they are also set to meet again in the league next month. There is even a chance they could face each other once more before the season ends. That makes this final even more important, as it could give the winner a psychological advantage going into those matches.

For Arsenal, the game is also about ending a long wait for silverware. Since lifting the FA Cup in 2020, they have come close on several occasions but failed to go all the way. Reaching the final is a step forward, but they will be determined to finish the job this time.

Manchester City, on the other hand, have enjoyed great success in recent years, winning several major trophies under Guardiola. However, they will be eager to add another title and avoid ending the season without silverware.

Kick-off is set for 5pm, and with both teams having plenty to play for, a tense and exciting contest is expected at Wembley.

This was the 32-year-old Hunter Bell’s fifth major international medal – and fourth on the global stage – as she continues to establish herself at the top of the sport which she did not return to until 2022 after a five-year break.

It was the fourth-placed finish at the 2024 world indoors in Glasgow which provided Hunter Bell with the necessary evidence that she could compete with the world’s best – and should take a summer sabbatical from her full-time job to achieve her Olympic dream.

The British team captain in Torun, Hunter Bell had won both of her 1500m races this season in preparation for chasing her first global crown.

She remained patient as Haylom opened up a significant lead in the early stages, gradually reducing the gap before launching her devastating attack for gold at the bell.

Caudery has endured two heartbreaking experiences at the past two global outdoor championships, failing to qualify for the 2024 Olympic final before sustaining an ankle injury while warming-up at the World Championships in September.

But the 26-year-old wore a beaming smile after securing her return to a global podium in style to further boost GB’s medal haul, minutes before world record holder Keely Hodgkinson’s won 800m gold.

Syracuse is finalizing a deal to bring back one of its own to lead the men’s basketball program. Siena’s Gerry McNamara is expected to be the Orange’s next coach, sources confirmed to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander. A deal is not done yet, but every indication is that SU will bring back one of the most beloved players in program history to lead the program in the wake of Adrian Autry’s firing earlier this month.

McNamara winning out comes after weeks of debate amongst big money players at Syracuse, per Norlander’s sources, who said there was a faction of boosters that were adamant about hiring outside the Syracuse/Jim Boeheim tree.

With a variety of potential candidates not showing serious interest due to uncertain NIL capabilities, McNamara quickly became a sentimental and practical lead candidate as the search progressed over the weekend.

College basketball coaching carousel tracker 2026: All eyes on Chapel Hill as we await a Hubert Davis decision

Matt Norlander

Advertisement

A former two-time All-Big East guard at Syracuse, McNamara and Siena nearly toppled NCAA Tournament overall No. 1 seed Duke in the first round after leading the Blue Devils by double digits.

While starring as a four-year standout for the Orange, McNamara hit six 3-pointers during a first-half barrage in the 2003 national title game against Kansas. McNamara scored 2,099 career points at Syracuse. 

After studying the game under longtime Syracuse coach and Hall of Famer Jim Boeheim, McNamara took his first head coaching position with Siena prior to the 2024-25 season. He went 14-18 in his first campaign before leading the program to a 23-12 record this season.

In Thursday’s first-round NCAA Tournament game, the Blue Devils — as a 27.5-point favorite — trailed by as many as 13 points during the opening minutes of the second half before storming back to survive what would’ve been one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history.

“I’ve been doing this a long time. I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud of any group of kids I’ve been around,” McNamara said after Thursday’s loss. “I think the world and college basketball saw what I’ve been so grateful and thankful to be around all season, a group of kids that love each other, that compete at the highest level and play for each other.”

Duke’s Jon Scheyer said after the game that he was out-coached by McNamara.

“I appreciate the compliment, but it’s those kids. It’s the kids that just walked away,” McNamara said. “It’s my staff. I’ve got an incredible group in that locker room. Like I said, a lot of people have game plans. Duke’s been able to pretty much wash that out in pretty much any team they’ve played.”

McNamara’s parting words to Siena

While he wasn’t asked directly about other jobs following the loss to Duke, McNamara did address a question centered around what it has meant to him leading the Siena program. McNamara has long been rumored to be Syracuse’s top choice for its vacancy since the Orange fired Autry earlier this month after a third straight NCAA Tournament-less season.

“I’m just really proud,” McNamara said. “I said before, I thought last year we put together a group that was ready to compete right away, and we lost a lot of close games. This offseason was focused on the frontcourt, which you watched Riley Mulvey play today, Francis Folefac, Tas has been hurt, and Antonio didn’t play, we’ve got the best frontcourt, one of the best frontcourts in our league.

“Listen, your kids in a lot of ways are a reflection of you as a coach, and I couldn’t be prouder in terms of how hard they play. That gives us a chance. So when I took the job at Siena, you’ve got to understand that when I played in college, my understanding, Fran was right behind me. This program was in this tournament. The support from the alumni, from the students, from the fans, it’s real. We’ve got a real thing going in Albany.

“I wanted it to feel and look a certain way, feel a certain way in that locker room, a brotherhood, a family. I wanted it to look a certain way on the court in terms of the fight and the grit, and these kids have done all of it. They’ve done all of it.”

If McNamara is indeed the choice for the Orange, he’ll be tasked with getting Syracuse back to the Final Four for the first time since the 2015-16 season under Boeheim. Since that campaign, Syracuse has only four total NCAA Tournament wins.