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• Arteta hoping for 'something beautiful' as Arsenal target title

  Mikel Arteta retains faith that "something beautiful" could occur on Sunday to make Arsenal Premier League champions, despite Manchester City being heavy favourites.

  After City's 2-0 win over Tottenham on Tuesday, Arsenal need Pep Guardiola's champions to drop points at home to West Ham to have any chance of leapfrogging them.

  The Gunners must also beat Everton, whose 14 final-day losses are the most of any team in Premier League history.

  Ahead of Sunday's fixtures, the Opta supercomputer gives Arsenal just a 15.9 per cent chance of becoming champions to City's 84.1 per cent, but Arteta will not give up hope.

  Asked how he will assess Arsenal's season if they fall short, Arteta said on Friday: "I can't think like this. 

  "We have to win the game and we hope something beautiful is going to happen. If I don't believe today, imagine how much I could believe in August! 

  "From August, 38 games against Man City after what they've done in 12 or 13 years, and what we've done in that time... we can't think like this."

  Arsenal have won their final game of the Premier League season more often than any other club, doing so on 22 occasions including the last 12 in a row.

  Though many have already written the Gunners off, Arteta says simply ensuring a Premier League trophy will be present at the Emirates Stadium on the final day represents a major success.

  "We are on the last day of the season playing for the Premier League trophy, which has not been at the Emirates since it was built 20 years ago," Arteta said.

  "The trophy is going to be there, it's possible. We have to do our duty, then hope what happens. Let's wish that's the case."

• Juventus sack head coach Allegri for behaviour at Coppa Italia final

  Juventus have relieved head coach Massimiliano Allegri of his duties with immediate effect, citing his behaviour during Wednesday's Coppa Italia final win as a factor in their decision.

  Allegri led Juve to a 1-0 win over Atalanta in Wednesday's domestic cup final at the Stadio Olimpico, the Bianconeri's first major trophy since they won the same competition in 2021.

  They have now won the Coppa six times in the last decade, while Allegri's five titles make him the most successful coach in the competition's history outright.

  However, cup glory was not enough to save Allegri's job after a staggering collapse in the second half of Juve's 2023-24 Serie A campaign.

  Juve were neck-and-neck with Inter at the summit at the turn of the year, but they are not even assured of a top-four finish with two games remaining following a run of five straight draws.

  They are guaranteed Champions League football for 2023-24 due to Italian clubs' performances in Europe this term, but Allegri will not lead them on their return to Europe's elite club competition.

  In a statement, the 36-time Italian champions said Allegri's animated behaviour during and after Wednesday's final contributed to his dismissal.

  The club said: "Juventus announces that it has relieved Massimiliano Allegri of his duties as coach of the men's first team.

  "The dismissal follows certain behaviours during and after the Coppa Italia final that the club deemed incompatible with the values of Juventus and with the behaviour that must be held by those who represent it.

  "A period of collaboration which began in 2014 and restarted in 2021 for three more seasons together comes to an end.

  "The club wishes Massimiliano Allegri the best of luck in his future projects."

  Thiago Motta – who has led Bologna to Champions League qualification – has been strongly linked with the role, with Allegri's position being questioned throughout the last few months.

• Van Persie lands first head coach role with Heerenveen

  Robin van Persie has landed his first head coach role after being appointed the new boss of Eredivisie team Heerenveen.

  Van Persie has agreed a two-year contract that will start at the end of the 2023-24 season, with the Dutch club confirming the deal on Friday.

  Heerenveen missed out on European qualification this season and can finish no higher than 10th when the top-flight campaign concludes this weekend.

  The club said in their statement they were convinced by the ambition and motivational skills of Van Persie, who starred for Arsenal and Manchester United in his playing career, winning the Premier League Golden Boot with both clubs, and the league title at Old Trafford.

  That was as well as earning 102 caps and scoring a record 50 goals for the Netherlands at international level.

  Van Persie said: "The coaching profession is comprehensive and challenging, and I've practised it with great passion and pleasure.

  "I would like to continue my development and the role of head coach fits in perfectly with that goal. I am therefore pleased with the opportunity that Heerenveen offers me.

  "Heerenveen is a very nice club with a rich tradition and loyal supporters. 

  "It is a fantastic challenge to contribute to the sporting ambitions and development of the club."

  While this is the 40-year-old’s first senior coaching role, he has been working under Liverpool-bound Arne Slot as a youth coach with Feyenoord.

  He succeeds Kees van Wonderen – who announced his impending departure in March ahead of the expiry of his contract – at Heerenveen.

  The club will finish their league campaign away against Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday.

  "Although Robin is at the start of his career as head coach, he immediately convinced us," said general manager Ferry de Haan. 

  "He is ambitious, passionate and eager to learn. I think he knows how to enthuse and motivate a squad of players."

  Van Persie retired in 2019 and had two spells with Feyenoord at either end of his career, as well as a period playing in Turkey for Fenerbahce.