After ending a 22-year wait for a Premier League title Arsenal are aiming for an even bigger prize as they seek their first European crown in Saturday night’s Champions League final against Paris St Germain.
Anthony Gordon wowed fans of his new club Barcelona as he revealed his Spanish-language skills at his unveiling after completing a £69.3million move from Newcastle on Friday evening.
After the controversial end to the Scottish Premiership season, Scottish Football head of referees Willie Collum has had his say on the decisions that helped decide the title race.
Arsenal’s date with destiny
Mikel Arteta said his Arsenal players are ready to take Paris St Germain’s crown
Mikel Arteta said his Arsenal players are ready to take Paris St Germain’s crown(Mike Egerton/PA)
Paris St Germain may be favourites to retain their Champions League title but Mikel Arteta has warned that his Arsenal side are ready to topple Luis Enrique’s men as kings of Europe.
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Fresh from ending two decades of Premier League pain after fending off Manchester City to win the title, Arsenal are now just one game away from landing their first trophy on Europe’s grandest stage in their 140-year history.
Their opponents are the mighty PSG, who routed Inter Milan 5-0 in last year’s final and who have looked the class of the field in the competition to date.
But a confident Arteta said: “They are defending the trophy, they were the last ones to earn that right to lift the trophy and they are the champions, but we are here to take that away from them.”
Bukayo Saka echoed his boss as he urged his team-mates to etch their names in Arsenal folklore.
“We have enough fire going into the game tomorrow,” he said. “We know we can write history as players for the first time and that gives us a lot of motivation. I am hungry and excited to have the opportunity to win another trophy, and create history for the club that I love.”
Gordon does his homework for Barca move
Welcome to Barça, Gordon! 🤝 pic.twitter.com/bPs1wvTZF2
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 29, 2026
Anthony Gordon’s move from Newcastle to Barcelona has been expected for a few days, but there was still a major surprise at his introductory press conference as the 25-year-old England international fielded several questions in Spanish.
And when asked when he had learned the language, Gordon said it was because he had always believed he would one day play for the Catalan giants.
“I wanted to speak Spanish because, as I kid, I believed I would play for Barca, believe it or not,” he said.
“I have a physio in Newcastle and we spoke every day and I told him that one day I would play for Barca, so I wanted to learn Spanish.”
Gordon has signed a five-year contract with Barcelona as Newcastle make a healthy profit on the £45million they paid Everton for his signature in January 2023, also avoiding another lengthy transfer saga after last season’s protracted sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool.
“While we’re disappointed to lose Anthony from our squad, we understand that this is a big opportunity for him,” Eddie Howe said. “He leaves with our best wishes, and I am confident that he will go on to be a success, both with Barcelona and the national team at this year’s World Cup.”
Scottish referees boss admits Hearts were wronged
Hearts boss Derek McInnes (right) showed his frustration with officials during his side’s draw at Motherwell
Hearts boss Derek McInnes (right) showed his frustration with officials during his side’s draw at Motherwell(Andrew Milligan/PA)
Scottish Football head of referees Willie Collum has insisted the controversial decision to award Celtic a crucial penalty at Motherwell in their penultimate match of the league season was correct, but admitted Hearts were denied a legitimate spot-kick of their own at Fir Park.
Celtic snatched the title away from Hearts by coming from behind to beat the Jambos at Celtic Park on the final day of the season, but the mathematics could have been very different had Hearts beaten Motherwell in their 1-1 draw on May 9.
And Collum admitted the Jambos were wrongly denied a spot-kick when Steven McLean went to the monitor after video assistant Greg Aitken flagged up a challenge by Tawanda Maswanhise on Alexandros Kyziridis, only for McLean to stick with his original decision, saying “I’ve not seen enough”.
Collum told Sky Sports’ VAR Review Show: “Our opinion is, once the referee comes to the monitor, the expected decision and preferred decision here would be a penalty kick.”
However, Collum backed his officials over the disputed stoppage-time handball decision against Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson, which allowed Celtic to seal a 3-2 win which put them a point behind Hearts before their title decider.
Collum claimed there was “clear evidence” of handball and backed referee John Beaton’s swift review as the “work has already been done” to determine contact with the hand.
Jeglertz delighted Shaw is staying at City
Khadija Shaw’s new contract has been welcomed by Manchester City boss Andree Jeglertz
Khadija Shaw’s new contract has been welcomed by Manchester City boss Andree Jeglertz(Bradley Collyer/PA)
Mancehster City boss Andree Jeglertz has revealed his delight that Khadija Shaw is staying with the WSL champions after she ended speculation over her future by signing a new four-year contract earlier this week.
Shaw, who scored 21 goals in 22 games to seal her third consecutive WSL golden boot and help the club end a 10-year wait for a WSL title, had been expected to leave the club this summer after protracted contract negotiations, but revealed on Monday she was staying on.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Women’s FA Cup final against Brighton, Jeglertz said: “Bunny has, for this club, shown what a fantastic football player she is. I’ve been working with her for one year, she’s both a great person and a great football player.
“She has been a big part of the team’s success this year, so of course from that point of view it’s a great statement from the club. And also for her, that she shows that this is where she wants to be, this is where she wants to help the team to take the next step.”
What’s on today?
All eyes will be on Budapest as Europe’s club season reaches its climax with the Champions League final between Arsenal and defending champions Paris St Germain.
Scotland begin their final preparations for the World Cup with a friendly against Curacao at Hampden Park.