West Ham climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone for the first time since December with a 4-0 win over Wolves at the London Stadium that dropped Tottenham into the bottom three.
Mikel Arteta revealed talks over a contract extension at league leaders Arsenal are on ice, while Enzo Fernandez’s Chelsea future remains up in the air.
Nuno: Keep calm and carry on
Nuno Espirito Santo insisted nothing has changed after West Ham beat Wolves 4-0 to exit the Premier League relegation zone for the first time since December and push Tottenham into the bottom three.
Two goals each from Konstantinos Mavropanos and Taty Castellanos saw the Hammers sweep away the league’s bottom side and win for the fifth time in their last 11 matches, leaving their rivals from north London facing the unthinkable prospect of dropping into the Championship.
However, Nuno believes climbing above their rivals alters nothing in the wider picture.
“It doesn’t change anything,” he said. “Next week we play after all our opponents. We have to focus on ourselves and today we did the job.”
Arteta wants to fire with Gunners
A “fully committed” Mikel Arteta said discussions over his next contract have been put on hold until the end of the season – after he insisted he has so much more to achieve at Arsenal.
Arteta’s three-year deal is up for renewal in 2027 and both the Spaniard and the club are understood to be keen for him to extend his six-and-a-half-year stay, regardless of what happens between now and the summer.
Quizzed about his future, Arteta, still hunting just the second trophy of his reign, said: “There’s no news on that. The full focus is on what we have to do from here until the end of the season. 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.”
Fernandez’ future hangs in the balance
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has cast further doubt on Enzo Fernandez’s future by admitting a “few hurdles” need to be overcome to resolve the midfielder’s situation.
Fernandez will sit out the Blues’ Premier League clash with Manchester City after Rosenior confirmed he will not overturn an internal two-match suspension following comments the Argentina international made during the international break in which he appeared to court Real Madrid.
“I had three or four (conversations) with Enzo,” said Rosenior. “He’s apologised to me, he’s apologised to the club, and we’ll deal with that after a massive game on Sunday.
“There are still are 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 in the dark over Bernardo Silva
Pep Guardiola has paid tribute to Bernardo Silva as his captain nears the end of his Manchester City career – but claims he is yet to be told of his departure.
Silva looks set to leave City when his contract expires this summer after nine years at the Etihad Stadium, and assistant manager Pep Lijnders all but confirmed as much last week.
There has been no official confirmation by the club or Silva, however, and Guardiola insists he is still in the dark.
The City manager 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 welcome Bournemouth in the lunchtime kick-off and victory for the Gunners will take them 12 points clear of Manchester City, who are not in action until Sunday afternoon.
Liverpool will seek to solidify their top-five spot against Fulham at Anfield, Brentford and Everton try to bolster their European ambitions in west London, while Brighton travel to relegation-threatened Burnley.
Coventry can all but book promotion to the Premier League by beating already-relegated Sheffield Wednesday, while Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts take on Motherwell.
