{"id":130079,"date":"2026-03-05T06:01:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T06:01:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/130079\/"},"modified":"2026-03-05T06:01:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T06:01:11","slug":"thursdays-briefing-arsenal-extend-advantage-as-man-city-held","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/130079\/","title":{"rendered":"Thursday\u2019s briefing: Arsenal extend advantage as Man City held"},"content":{"rendered":"

US President Donald Trump has said he does not care if Iran participate at the upcoming World Cup and Manchester United youngster Jack Fletcher has apologised for using a homophobic slur.<\/p>\n

Title race twists again<\/p>\n

The Premier League title race took another turn as Arsenal moved seven points clear of Manchester City at the summit.<\/p>\n

Bukayo Saka\u2019s first-half goal was enough to scrape a 1-0 win over Brighton at the Amex Stadium as they secured their third league win in a row and puts more distance between themselves and City.<\/p>\n

Pep Guardiola\u2019s side were frustrated as relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest twice came from behind to rescue a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium and takes City\u2019s total number of points dropped from winning positions this season to 13.<\/p>\n

Guardiola said afterwards: \u201cMaybe it\u2019s a lot. But there are games where we don\u2019t deserve it. Today we played in general good for 90 minutes\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not about this action or that action. In general when we analyse the game the game was well played.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the end we created a lot against a team that is really defensive, a really good time. We were dynamic. We missed maybe more contact with Erling (Haaland), his incredible movements, we have to look for him a bit more, but in general it was well played.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carrick falls to first defeat
\n\"WillWill Osula scored the winner for Newcastle (Owen Humphreys\/PA)<\/p>\n

Michael Carrick suffered defeat for the first time in his interim reign as Manchester United boss after Will Osula came off the bench to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory for 10-man Newcastle.<\/p>\n

An entertaining clash at St James\u2019 Park saw the 22-year-old Dane strike in the 90th minute to end both Carrick\u2019s eight-game unbeaten run and the Magpies\u2019 return of three successive Premier League defeats.<\/p>\n

The Magpies were reduced to 10 when Jacob Ramsey was sent off for a second bookable offence and sparked a a frenzied conclusion to the first half, where Anthony Gordon opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Casemiro levelled.<\/p>\n

Osula then found the winner at the death, running on to Kieran Trippier\u2019s ball down the line before cutting inside Tyler Malacia and curling an unstoppable shot past Senne Lammens.<\/p>\n

Trump speaks on Iran\u2019s participation at the World Cup
\n\"DonaldDonald Trump has said he does not care if Iran participate at the World Cup (Leon Neal\/PA)<\/p>\n

Donald Trump has said he does not care if Iran participate in this summer\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n

The United States and Israel began attacking targets in the country on Saturday, with the conflict in the Middle East since spreading to the wider region.<\/p>\n

Iran have qualified for the finals of the World Cup, which will take place in the US, Canada and Mexico in June and July, but their presence is now potentially in doubt.<\/p>\n

US President Trump told Politico: \u201cI really don\u2019t care. I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They\u2019re running on fumes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack Fletcher apologises for using a homophobic slur
\n\"JackJack Fletcher issued an apology (Martin Rickett\/PA)<\/p>\n

Manchester United youngster Jack Fletcher has apologised for using a homophobic slur during an EFL Trophy match after being handed a six-game ban.<\/p>\n

The 18-year-old, who is the son of former United midfielder and current coach Darren Fletcher, was sent off in the incident, which occurred in a clash against Barnsley in October and a regulatory commission hearing deciding he had used it as an insult.<\/p>\n

The teenager said on manutd.com: \u201cI am truly sorry for the offensive word that I used in the heat of the moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite the fact that I had no intention to use the term as a homophobic insult, I completely understand that such language is unacceptable and immediately apologised after the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to be clear that this momentary lapse of character absolutely does not reflect my beliefs or values.\u201d<\/p>\n

What\u2019s on today?<\/p>\n

Back home on Thursday night \ud83c\udfdf\ufe0f<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc49 @Castrol<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/wzGo86GY1E<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) March 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Tottenham will be looking for their first Premier League win of 2026 when they host Crystal Palace.<\/p>\n

Thursday also sees managers speaking ahead of this weekend\u2019s round of FA Cup ties, including Arne Slot ahead of Liverpool\u2019s meeting with Wolves on Friday.<\/p>\n