LONDON: Eden Hazard’s exquisite strike inspired Premier League leaders Chelsea to a 3-1 victory over Arsenal that shattered their rivals’ title challenge, while spluttering Liverpool hit a new low in a 2-0 defeat at Hull on Saturday.
Belgian winger Hazard left a trail of defenders in his wake to double Chelsea’s lead in the 53rd minute at Stamford Bridge.
Marcos Alonso had opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a contentious effort as the Chelsea defender clattered into Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin before heading home.
Cesc Fabregas rubbed salt into Arsenal’s wounds in the 85th minute when the former Gunners midfielder chipped into the empty net after a woeful miskick from ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.
Olivier Giroud’s stoppage-time goal was no consolation for third placed Arsenal, who trail Chelsea by 12 points with 14 games remaining.
It was Chelsea’s 16th win in their last 18 league games, prompting Blues boss Antonio Conte to hail the triumph as a significant moment in the title race.
“I consider Arsenal one of the six teams that can fight for the title. To put them 12 points behind is very important for us,” Conte said.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger fumed over Alonso’s opener, saying: “It was 100 percent a foul. It was even dangerous play.
“That doesn’t take anything away from the performance of Chelsea. They look solid and we needed to be better.”
Second placed Tottenham can close the gap to nine points with a victory at home to Middlesbrough later on Saturday.
At the KCOM Stadium, Liverpool fell behind in the 44th minute when Alfred N’Diaye took advantage of goalkeeper Simon Mignolet’s poor handling to bag a debut goal.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were finished off in the 84th minute when on-loan Everton striker Oumar Niasse raced clear to boost third bottom Hull’s survival bid.
“Obviously that was not good enough. We gave both goals away easily and the overall performance was not like it should be,” Klopp said.
“It makes no sense for us to play like this. We need to wake up, that was not acceptable.”
Liverpool have won only once in their last 10 games in all competitions and will be knocked out of the top four if Manchester City avoid defeat against Swansea on Sunday.
Sunderland stunned their former boss Sam Allardyce with an incredible first half goal rush to demolish fellow strugglers Crystal Palace 4-0 at Selhurst Park.
David Moyes’ side drew first blood when Lamine Kone, signed by Palace chief Allardyce when he was in charge at Sunderland, swept home after Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey dropped a 10th minute free-kick.
The Black Cats were two up in the 43rd minute through Didier Ndong’s first goal for the club.
Jermain Defoe put the result beyond doubt with two goals in first half stoppage-time as one furious Palace fan to run onto the pitch to confront defender Damien Delaney.
Sunderland remain bottom of the table but they are now level on points with Palace, who drop to 19th place, and just two points from safety.
Romelu Lukaku scored four times in Everton’s 6-3 victory against Bournemouth at Goodison Park.
Ronald Koeman’s side were ahead after just 31 seconds as Belgian forward Lukaku started his goal spree.
Everton doubled their advantage through James McCarthy in the 23rd minute and Lukaku notched his second six minutes later.
Bournemouth’s Josh King set up a tense finale as he netted in the 59th and 70th minutes.
Lukaku struck again in the 83rd and 84th minutes to cap his memorable afternoon before Harry Arter’s 90th minute reply and Ross Barkley’s sixth for Everton.
West Ham bounced back from their mauling against Manchester City with a 3-1 win at Southampton.
Thrashed 4-0 by City on Wednesday, Slaven Bilic’s team were behind again when Saints striker Manolo Gabbiadini scored on his debut in the 12th minute.
But Andy Carroll equalized two minutes later and Pedro Obiang put West Ham in the 44th minute before Mark Noble’s 52nd minute effort sealed the points.
Watford consigned 10-man Burnley to a seventh successive away league defeat with a 2-1 success at Vicarage Road.
The Clarets had Jeff Hendrick sent off in the sixth minute for a lunge on Jose Holebas and Watford went ahead through Troy Deeney in the 10th minute.
M’Baye Niang struck in first half stoppage-time and Ashley Barnes’ 78th minute penalty came too late for Burnley.
West Bromwich Albion beat Stoke 1-0 thanks to James Morrison’s sixth minute goal.
Hazard sparkles in Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Arsenal
Hazard sparkles in Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Arsenal
How international academies are shaping Saudi football’s next generation
- Building a unified national footballing philosophy in Saudi Arabia is no simple task
Saudi Arabia’s football transformation has been impossible to ignore since the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo at the end of 2022. An influx of global stars followed, and with it, unprecedented attention on the Saudi Pro League.
Yet beneath the spotlight, a more pressing question emerged amongst domestic fans: “What is the long-term strategy for developing local players?”
Building a unified national footballing philosophy in Saudi Arabia is no simple task. The sheer size of the Kingdom presents logistical challenges unlike those faced by smaller neighbouring nations, making grassroots development harder to centralize. In this landscape, the work of individual institutions can contribute significantly to the broader football ecosystem.
One such contributor is Juventus Academy Saudi Arabia, an official extension of one of world football’s most historic clubs, operating under the umbrella of Al-Shoaibi Group. Arab News spoke to head of public relations at Juventus Academy, Malak Al-Awami, based in Alkhobar, to understand how the academy fits into the Kingdom’s long-term football vision.
“Saudi Arabia is experiencing a transformational moment under Vision 2030, prioritizing youth development and active lifestyles,” Al-Awami explained. “The academy arrives at a perfect time to contribute to a world-class methodology while helping nurture the next generation of Saudi footballers.”
At Juventus Academy, success is deliberately defined beyond results and trophies.
“We’re not just training players,” Al-Awami said. “We’re shaping future leaders for the Kingdom.”
That philosophy has been reflected in how the academy balances Juventus’ global philosophy with local Saudi culture. While all coaches undergo Juventus’ training standards, cultural understanding remains a priority.
“All of our coaches are guided to respect Saudi values, culture and communication styles,” Al-Awami said. “Technical excellence matters, but the coach’s character is just as important as their certification.”
One of the academy’s defining features has been its inclusivity and cultural awareness. Players can join as young as four years old and continue until the age of 18, with programs open to both boys and girls.
That inclusivity has had a tangible impact. Juventus Academy played a role in the formation of Khobar FC, a women’s team that competed in the inaugural season of the SAFF Women’s Second Division League.
“We even used the same kit style as Juventus, getting approval from the club itself,” revealed Al-Awami.
Operating as an extension of the academy, the team finished just a few points behind established clubs like Al-Nahda and Al-Fateh in their regional group.
Al-Awami noted that the group is also exploring complementary initiatives aimed at elite player development beyond the academy itself. Among them is the planned Superior Striker Project, a specialized program designed to bring international attacking expertise to Saudi Arabia through short-term clinics for youth and professional players.
It is this broader contribution that highlights the growing importance of international academies in Saudi Arabia. Beyond providing structured training, they are helping build communities, instil values and strengthen the foundations of the domestic football pyramid.
When asked about what success would look like for Juventus Academy in 5-10 years, Al-Awami was clear. “It is definitely not about trophies or big contracts,” he said, before adding, “it is the legacy we leave behind. If, in 10 years we see confident young Saudi players competing at elite levels, local coaches growing through our programs, and families trusting football as a tool for personal development, then we will know that we have truly succeeded.”
Juventus Academy Saudi Arabia builds on Al-Shoaibi Group’s original ambition in 2018: to create meaningful football opportunities for families in the Kingdom. Today, that ambition has evolved into a structured pathway contributing to Saudi football future, blending global expertise with local identity to help shape the next generation.
