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• 'I love him' - Arteta adamant title fight will not affect relationship with Guardiola

  Mikel Arteta insists the title fight between Arsenal and Manchester City will not affect his relationship with Pep Guardiola.

  The sides played out a dramatic 2-2 draw in the Premier League last Sunday, with City snatching a last-gasp equaliser after 10-man Arsenal had staunchly defended throughout the second half.

  Leandro Trossard was dismissed at the end of the first half, receiving a second yellow card for kicking the ball away, and Arsenal were accused of using the "dark arts" in their attempts to come away with three points.

  The Gunners spent a total of nine minutes and four seconds on their goal-kicks in Sunday's match – the most by any team in a Premier League game this season.

  Meanwhile, the average delay at Arsenal restarts (goal-kicks, throw-ins and free-kicks) was 42.7 seconds, with only Aston Villa versus Wolves (47.3) taking longer this term.

  Multiple City players have since criticised the tactics, with arguments also taking place on the pitch, but Arteta says his friendship with Guardiola would not suffer because of any on-pitch disagreements.

  "I love him [Guardiola]. I respect him and admire him. I admire his team and everything he does," Arteta said.

  "This is sport. One thing is our professional, another is my personal relationship. If that has to be damaged because we play against each other, then I wouldn't talk to him anymore!

  "That's not the relationship I consider both of us have. Sport will never get in my way for a personal relationship, for sure."

  Asked if the accusations aimed at Arsenal could affect it, Arteta added: "It depends. If it's true, but if it's not, and you show your integrity, do what you think is right, it doesn't have to.

  "It's opinions. If you don't like them, you shouldn't be sitting where I am.

  "It's simple, don't take it personally, make sure you handle the things you care about in the right way, and I really care about that relationship. It's the same as a lot of staff and players I've spent very important years of my life working with."

  Arsenal are back in action against Leicester City in the Premier League on Saturday. 

• CF Montreal v San Jose Earthquakes: Confidence the key in reaching playoffs, says Pearce

  CF Montreal full-back Tom Pearce believes his new side have all the capabilities of reaching the playoffs, preaching confidence within the group as key to their recent success.

  After back-to-back defeats to New England Revolution and FC Cincinnati, conceding nine goals in those games, this weekend’s hosts have gone three unbeaten in the MLS.

  Montreal currently sit 10th in the Eastern Conference, two points behind the Philadelphia Union in the final playoff place heading into the last four games of the regular season.

  And Pearce, who joined the club from Wigan Athletic in July, has every confidence his team-mates can pull together to keep their campaign going.

  “We’re in a good place after picking up seven points out of nine in one week. It’s a confidence booster and, not just the results, but the performances have been good,” Pearce said.

  “After the two defeats we had, we got together as a group and just had an honest conversation about how we needed to get the confidence back to turn things around.

  “I think since then we have done well in the games; training has been better, and we have that belief that if we keep playing our way, then fingers crossed, we will make the playoffs.”

  San Jose, meanwhile, were unable to build on their draw with the Seattle Sounders after going down 2-1 against fellow Western Conference strugglers St. Louis City last time out.

  The Earthquakes have won just one of their last five MLS fixtures, leaving them at the foot of the standings and 13 points behind the rest of the pack.

  But with four games of the season remaining, interim head coach Ian Russell is hoping his players can leave it all out on the pitch and end a disappointing season on a high.

  “As a coach, you try and motivate them by getting them prepared first of all,” Russell said.

  “Knowing that as a professional player, it is your job to play and to play hard every game, even though we are out of the playoffs.

  “They are battling for contracts, and you would hope that would be enough motivation for them. There has been good energy, but we have started poorly in the last few matches.”

  PLAYERS TO WATCH:

  Montreal – Caden Clark

  Clark has now scored two goals in his last three MLS matches after finding the back of the net just once in his previous 60 regular season appearances dating back to June 2021.

  San Jose – Jeremy Ebobisse

  Ebobisse scored his 33rd career regular season goal for San Jose in their defeat on Saturday.

  Only Chris Wondolowski (167) and Ronald Cerritos (61) have scored more goals for the Earthquakes in the club’s MLS history.

  MATCH PREDICTION: MONTREAL WIN

  Montreal have won four of their last six home matches in all competitions (L2), including each of the last two. Montreal have suffered only two defeats in their last 12 matches at home dating back to late May (W6 D4).

  This will be the Earthquakes’ first visit to Montreal since July 2018, when the hosts recorded a 2-0 victory. In fact, Montreal have won all five of their home matches against San Jose by an aggregate score of 11-2.

  San Jose’s 2-1 defeat to St. Louis last time out was their 22nd loss of the year, equalling the second-most defeats in a single season in the post-shootout era (since 2000). Only D.C. United in 2013 (24 losses) have suffered more defeats in a single season in the post-shootout era.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Montreal – 52.3%

  Draw – 24.4%

  San Jose – 23.4%

• Barcelona boss Flick to rely on experience amid injury crisis

  Barcelona boss Hansi Flick will rely on his experienced players as the Blaugrana navigate an injury crisis early on in his first campaign at the helm.

  A perfect seven wins from as many matches in LaLiga this season means Barca could match the best start in their league history on Saturday, when they visit Osasuna.

  Only once have Barca won their first eight matches to start a league campaign, doing so in 2013-14 under Gerardo Martino but ultimately finishing second to Atletico Madrid that season.

  Flick's impressive start at Camp Nou has come despite injuries biting at his squad, with goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen the latest casualty as he underwent knee surgery this week.

  He has joined Dani Olmo, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Araujo, Fermin Lopez and Andreas Christensen in the treatment room, while Inigo Martinez is doubtful after suffering an injury against Getafe on Wednesday.

  De Jong and Gavi are closing in on returns, but Flick is confident in his team's ability to cope in their absence.  

  "This is about quality of the players. They are very well prepared and train with so much passion and mentality," Flick said. "Evidently, as we did before, there will be some rotations.

  "But also it's important the experienced players are with us, like Raphinha and [Robert] Lewandowski. Inigo received a blow, so we will see how that is.

  "From what I see in training, [De Jong] is in good shape, also Gavi picking up the pace. 

  "Frenkie is very close to returning. Tomorrow he will have a rest because he needs it, he trained a lot."

  The return of De Jong, who last played in April, could be a major boost for Barcelona as they brace for a tough October, when they host Bayern Munich in the Champions League three days before visiting Real Madrid in LaLiga.

  "De Jong is an experienced player and he can help us greatly, even if he plays 20 minutes, but we will see what happens next week," Flick said.

  Flick was also asked what it would mean to equal Barca's best start to a season, but the German is focused purely on the task of overcoming Osasuna.

  "It's always great to win though we aren't focusing on the record," he said.

  "From 11 points, Osasuna have won 10 points at home, where the crowd really gets behind them and I like that atmosphere.

  Meanwhile, Barca have been banned from selling tickets for their next Champions League away game, at Red Star Belgrade on November 6, after their supporters were found guilty of racist behaviour during their match against Monaco.