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Manchester City Gains on Arsenal in Title Pursuit

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has stated that his team intends to closely pursue Arsenal, the current Premier League leaders, in the ongoing title competition.

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Manchester City secured a win over Fulham, with Erling Haaland ending his open-play goal drought in the process.

Following his team's victory, Pep Guardiola stated that Manchester City would continue to push Arsenal, the current Premier League leaders, as they strive to close the gap in the title race.

The team is indeed doing just that, making significant strides in their pursuit of the top spot.

City's impressive comeback against Liverpool on Sunday was followed by a dominant first-half performance against Fulham on Wednesday night, demonstrating their growing momentum.

With the gap between City and Arsenal now down to three points, the title race is becoming increasingly intense, setting the stage for a thrilling battle between the two teams.

Arsenal, managed by Mikel Arteta, will face Brentford on Thursday, aiming to regain their six-point lead, but they will be under pressure knowing that City has performed well.

Guardiola, however, is choosing not to focus on the title race at this point, stating, "We were not nine points behind before the Liverpool game, and we are not three points behind before the Arsenal-Brentford match; we'll see what happens after that."

"My focus is on the team's growth and consistency over 90 minutes," Guardiola said, emphasizing the importance of continuous improvement.

"We are working on our mentality, defensive and offensive patterns, and the players are responding well to our approach," he added.

City's win over Fulham has brought them within three points of Arsenal in the Premier League standings.

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Guardiola expressed his delight with City's first-half performance, describing it as "one of their best."

The camaraderie among City players was evident in their celebrations at full-time, highlighting the team's unity and character.

The win at Anfield seems to have given City renewed confidence in their ability to catch up with Arsenal, despite not being at their best this season.

As a team with experience in being at the top, having been champions in six of the past eight seasons, City knows how to get the job done, while Arsenal will be looking to avoid a familiar narrative of finishing as runners-up.

Former Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given shared his thoughts on BBC Radio Live, saying, "Although there are still some weaknesses, City has the potential to go on a long unbeaten run, given their arsenal of talent."

"The way they won on Sunday, and the psychological boost it gave them, makes me believe they can capitalize on this momentum," Given added.

"The entire club, including the fans, is filled with a sense of belief that they still have a great chance of winning the title," he said.

Ex-England striker Alan Shearer, speaking on BBC Match of the Day, noted that it wouldn't be surprising if City went on a winning streak, given their confidence and energy after the weekend's game.

"They've done their job tonight, putting pressure back on Arsenal with a three-point gap," Shearer said.

The pressure is now on Arsenal, who face Brentford, and a win for the Bees could make for an uncomfortable night for the Gunners after City's convincing win over Fulham.

However, if Arsenal can secure three points against Brentford and follow it up with a win against Wolves, they could potentially establish a nine-point lead.

The two teams will meet in the Carabao Cup final on March 22, providing an opportunity for one of them to gain a psychological advantage.

History suggests that winning the EFL Cup can be a catalyst for further success, with seven of the last 12 winners going on to claim at least one more trophy in the same season.

City and Arsenal are scheduled to meet in the Premier League in April, but they could potentially face each other up to three more times if they progress in the Champions League and FA Cup.

While Arsenal did not make any signings in the January transfer window, City acquired Antoine Semenyo, who has already scored five goals, and England international Marc Guehi, who contributed to a clean sheet.

Guardiola expressed his satisfaction with his team's performance, saying, "We're growing as a team, and the players are responding well to our approach, both defensively and offensively."

"We had a tough game at Fulham, but the team showed resilience and character, which is a testament to their growth and development," he added.

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A discussion has emerged about whether Phil Foden should have been sent off for a tackle during the game.

As the season progresses, the physical and mental demands are likely to take a toll on the players, including star striker Erling Haaland, who could benefit from a rest.

Haaland scored his 42nd goal of the season in the 3-0 win over Fulham, but he was substituted at half-time due to some "niggles."

The Norwegian striker ended a 24-game drought without scoring a non-penalty league goal, dating back to December 20 against West Ham.

Guardiola explained that Haaland was replaced by Omar Marmoush at half-time due to the player's discomfort and the team's comfortable 3-0 lead.

"Haaland was feeling some discomfort, and with a significant lead and many games to come, it was a sensible decision to substitute him," Guardiola said.

The reason for the substitution was largely due to the player's heavy schedule, with Guardiola citing the need to manage Haaland's workload.

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Keanu Reeves’ John Wick Video Game Revealed at PlayStation Event

The iconic hitman has made previous appearances in games, however, the version developed by Saber will mark the first instance where the character is voiced by Reeves.

A video game adaptation of the John Wick franchise, which has grossed over $1 billion worldwide, is in development, with Keanu Reeves set to lend his likeness and voice to the project.

An in game screenshot of a video game version of Keanu Reeves as the character John Wick. He is wearing a suit and looking at the camera.

The game, currently titled "Untitled John Wick Game", is being developed by Saber Interactive, the studio behind Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, in collaboration with Chad Stahelski, director of the John Wick film series.

A trailer for the game, expected to serve as a prequel to the film series, was unveiled during PlayStation's "State of Play" event on Thursday.

The event also featured announcements for remakes of several major game franchises, including the God of War trilogy, as well as a special 30th-anniversary edition of the classic platformer Rayman.

The John Wick film series, which has earned over $1 billion globally, follows the story of a retired assassin, played by Keanu Reeves, as he seeks vengeance in a world of high-stakes action.

Although the character of John Wick has appeared in games before, this will be the first time Keanu Reeves has provided his voice for the role.

Reeves has previous experience in the gaming industry, having played a key role in the hit game Cyberpunk 2077 as the character Johnny Silverhand.

According to Matthew Karch, CEO of Saber Interactive, the development team is "honored" to be working with Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves to bring the John Wick universe to life in a AAA game.

The game's story will be an original narrative designed for mature audiences, featuring a mix of familiar characters from the film series and new ones.

Jenefer Brown, president of global products at Lionsgate, the producer of the John Wick films, expressed the company's goal of capturing the "intense action" and "distinctive fight choreography" that define the franchise.

The reaction to the game's announcement has been largely positive among fans on social media.

However, some fans have expressed concerns about the potential impact on Saber Interactive's other projects, including the long-awaited remake of the classic Star Wars game Knights of the Old Republic.

Christopher Dring, editor-in-chief of The Game Business, believes that the John Wick game is a strong fit for Saber Interactive, given the studio's experience with action-oriented IPs and its ability to release multiple games across various genres.

Dring notes that Saber Interactive operates as a collective of studios working on multiple IPs, allowing it to release a diverse range of games annually.

During the same event, Sony announced that Santa Monica Studios is working on remakes of the first three God of War games, building on one of the platform's most successful franchises.

An in-game screenshot of Silent Hill Townfall. We see the back of a man who is looking at a sign that says "Welcome to St. Amelia".
Konami's trailer for Silent Hill Townfall revealed it is set in St Amelia, a "fictional island inspired by Scotland"

Although a release date for the God of War remakes was not provided, Sony did announce a surprise side-scrolling prequel game, Sons of Sparta, which is available now.

The event also offered a first look at Townfall, the latest installment in the Silent Hill series, set on the fictional island of St. Amelia, which draws inspiration from Scotland.

A 30th-anniversary edition of the classic platformer Rayman was also announced, featuring five versions of the 1995 game, along with a near-immediate release.

Loic Gounon, brand producer for the Rayman games, discussed the anniversary edition with the BBC, highlighting the inclusion of a new documentary that explores the making of the original game, as well as accessibility features designed to enhance the experience for modern players.

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Tottenham set to appoint temporary boss ahead of permanent summer hire

Tottenham expect to appoint an interim manager to oversee the team for the rest of the season by this weekend, with plans to make a permanent appointment in the summer.

The task of finding a successor to Thomas Frank has fallen to Johan Lange and Vinai Venkatesham, who are overseeing the selection process.

Tottenham Hotspur intends to appoint an interim manager to see out the current season, with a view to making a more permanent appointment during the summer months.

The dismissal of Thomas Frank occurred earlier this week, at a time when the team was five points clear of the relegation zone.

According to sources close to BBC Sport, Tottenham Hotspur is expected to finalize an agreement with an interim manager before the team resumes training on Monday.

Following their early exit from the FA Cup in the third round, Tottenham has a nine-day break before facing Arsenal in the north London derby on February 22.

With no match scheduled for this weekend, the first-team squad has been given a brief break and is set to return to training on Monday.

The club is aware that the mid-season transfer window presents limited options, and it may be more feasible to secure a long-term manager at the end of the campaign.

An in-depth examination of Thomas Frank's tenure reveals the challenges he faced in winning over players and fans.

A closer look at Frank's time at Tottenham highlights the risks involved in his appointment and the ultimate failure of his tenure.

Although the search for an interim manager is still ongoing, the successful candidate will be considered for the permanent position if they perform well in the role.

Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is a potential candidate to take the reins on a permanent basis, particularly since his contract with the US men's national team is set to expire after the World Cup this summer.

Another candidate being considered is Roberto De Zerbi, who recently parted ways with French club Marseille by mutual consent.

For the latest news, analysis, and fan perspectives on Tottenham, please refer to our dedicated section.

If you have any questions about Tottenham, feel free to ask and we will do our best to provide you with the information you are looking for.

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Aberdeen to unveil new manager soon with Docherty set to take assistant role

Aberdeen has bolstered its interim management team with the return of Tony Docherty, who previously served as an assistant manager, to support Peter Leven, amid anticipation of a permanent appointment announcement that sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel had indicated would be made “imminently”.

Ross County parted ways with Tony Docherty in December, and he has now taken on a new role.

Aberdeen have brought in former assistant manager Tony Docherty to support Peter Leven's interim management team, despite sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel indicating that a permanent appointment was imminent.

Docherty's return to Aberdeen comes just a week after Eirik Horneland, a former coach of Rosenborg, Brann, and Saint-Etienne, emerged as a top contender to succeed Jimmy Thelin, who was sacked earlier.

As Aberdeen delays making a full-time appointment, speculation surrounding Eirik Horneland's availability has arisen, with reports suggesting the 50-year-old Norwegian may not be able to take on the role until summer.

Since Jimmy Thelin's dismissal on January 4, Lutz Pfannenstiel has been leading the search for a replacement, and he confirmed that Tony Docherty would be joining the team to assist Peter Leven during the interim period.

Dundee Utd are facing a challenging schedule, with four matches in 14 days set to take place on a weather-affected pitch.

According to Stavrum, Eirik Horneland's coaching style, characterized by intensity, would be a good fit for Aberdeen.

Tony Docherty initially joined Aberdeen in 2013 as part of Derek McInnes' management team and spent eight years at the club.

Before his stint at Aberdeen, Docherty served as McInnes' assistant at Kilmarnock and later managed Dundee and Ross County, but his time at Ross County ended in December when he was let go with the team at the bottom of the Championship.

Lutz Pfannenstiel praised Tony Docherty's experience, stating that he has a deep understanding of the club and will be a valuable asset during the transition period.

Pfannenstiel highlighted Docherty's extensive knowledge of the Scottish Premiership, gained through his experience as both a coach and manager, which will be beneficial to the team in the short term.

The club's managerial search is nearing its conclusion, and an announcement regarding the new head coach is expected soon, according to Pfannenstiel.

Peter Leven, who is serving as caretaker manager for the third time, expressed his enthusiasm for Tony Docherty's appointment.

Leven welcomed Docherty's return, stating that his experience will be a significant boost to the team, particularly during the upcoming matches.

Leven noted that Docherty was eager to join the team and that his presence will provide valuable support during both training sessions and matches.

Eirik Horneland left his position at Saint-Etienne in early February, at which point his team was fourth in France's second tier.

If Aberdeen decides to wait until summer for Horneland to take over, it will be similar to the six-month delay that occurred when Jimmy Thelin joined the club from Elfsborg in the summer of 2024.

For the latest news, analysis, and fan perspectives on Aberdeen, visit our dedicated page.

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