LONDON: Arsenal made a flying start to their bid to win the Premier League title as goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka sealed a 2-0 victory against Wolves on Saturday.
Germany forward Havertz put Mikel Arteta’s side ahead in the first half at the Emirates Stadium and England winger Saka wrapped up the points after the interval.
It was exactly the kind of statement Arsenal needed after Arteta admitted they will have to be almost perfect to end Manchester City’s four-year reign as champions.
Arsenal enjoyed a record-breaking 2023/24 campaign, winning more games than ever before in the division, but were still pipped to the title.
City finished two points above Arsenal as the Gunners were forced to settle for a runners-up berth for a second successive season.
Arsenal haven’t won the title since Arsene Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’ went unbeaten through the 2003-04 league campaign.
But the painful near-misses endured by Arteta’s men have not dulled their appetite for success, with Arteta’s quirky man-management fueling the fire.
Arteta hired a group of professional pickpockets to teach his squad a valuable lesson in the close-season.
Unaware of the pickpockets’ presence at a team dinner, Arsenal’s players were relieved of their valuables as Arteta took the opportunity to remind them to be alert at all times, on and off the pitch.
Stealing the Premier League title from City won’t be so easy for Arteta.
Arteta has so far opted against signing the striker that many regard as the missing piece in Arsenal’s title jigsaw.
Riccardo Calafiori was Arteta’s major close-season signing from Bologna, but the Italy defender was only named on the bench.
Arteta has been linked with Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino but despite the call for new recruits, there was scant evidence of any Arsenal flaws in the north London sunshine.
The Gunners were quickly on the front foot as Ben White’s deflected effort was saved by Jose Sa.
Saka forced Sa into a fine stop moments later as the Wolves keeper sprawled to keep out a low drive.
Arsenal had all the momentum against a Wolves side with little creative ambition and it was no surprise when they took the lead in the 25th minute.
As he was so often last season, Saka was the catalyst with a pin-point cross that picked out Havertz, who applied the finishing touch with a clinical header.
After showing little attacking ambition, Wolves were woken from their slumber by Havertz’s opener.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s fierce long-range strike flashed just over before Jorgen Strand Larse’s header drew an agile save from David Raya.
Arsenal still finished the half in the ascendency as Declan Rice’s flick reached Gabriel Martinelli and his curler deflected narrowly over.
On top again after the interval, Arteta’s side went close through Havertz’s chip before Thomas Partey drilled just wide.
Arsenal briefly lost their composure as Rayan Ait-Nouri’s 25-yard strike whistled past the post.
Matheus Cunha shot straight at Raya after Arsenal gave the ball away at the back.
But the Gunners finished strongly and Martin Odegaard’s effort was pushed out by Sa before Saka struck in the 74th minute.
A flowing move climaxed with Saka lashing a thunderous strike past Sa as Arsenal underlined their desire to wrestle the title away from City.
Arsenal sink Wolves in flying start to title charge
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Arsenal sink Wolves in flying start to title charge
- Germany forward Havertz put Mikel Arteta’s side ahead in the first half at the Emirates Stadium
- England winger Saka wrapped up the points after the interval
E1 World Championship opens 2026 season in Jeddah with expanded field, growing global profile
- Season’s opener features record 10 teams
JEDDAH: The 2026 UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF will launch its new season in Jeddah, with the Red Sea city once again hosting the world’s first all-electric raceboat series, and champions Team Brady beginning their title defense against an expanded and competitive field.
Set against Jeddah’s Red Sea coastline, the season-opening E1 Jeddah GP 2026, which takes place over Jan. 23-24, will feature a record 10 teams racing the cutting-edge E1 RaceBirds, underlining the rapid growth of the championship and its ambitions as a global competition spanning four continents.
Team Brady are the outfit to beat, having claimed the Champions of the Water title in 2024 and 2025. However, competition is expected to be fiercer than ever, with several teams strengthening their lineups ahead of the new campaign.
Team Monaco and Sierra Racing Club join the championship for 2026, adding further depth to the grid with a mix of experienced and emerging pilots. Team Rafa, who finished just 11 points behind Team Brady last season after a title fight that went down to the final laps, are widely regarded as one of the leading contenders and will be aiming to make an early statement in Jeddah.
Team AlUla Championed by LeBron James also return to race on home waters, one year on from their E1 debut. Carrying local pride, the team will be looking to build on last season’s momentum in front of Saudi fans.
The world-class field is further strengthened by a roster of high-profile, celebrity-backed teams, including Will Smith’s Team Westbrook, DJ Steve Aoki’s Team Aoki, Team Drogba, led by football legend Didier Drogba and his partner Gabrielle Lemaire, and Team Miami, featuring Grammy Award-winning artist Marc Anthony.
Fans will be able to get close to the action across qualifying and race day, with on-water viewing available from the E1 Fan Zone. The area will give visitors the chance to see the E1 RaceBirds up close and will feature a gaming arena with simulator and virtual reality experiences, as well as a VOX cinema screening of “Zootopia 2.” Merchandise outlets and a range of food and beverage options will also be available, creating a family-friendly race-day experience.
Beyond the racing, E1’s return to Saudi Arabia reflects the Kingdom’s growing role in shaping the future of electric sport and sustainable mobility. The championship serves as a living laboratory for electric propulsion systems, accelerating innovation that can influence marine transport while also supporting broader conversations around ocean protection.
As part of its partnership with E1, Formula E’s Driving Force Presented by PIF E360 is hosting its educational program in Jeddah this week. The initiative aims to inspire students aged 8 to 18 to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as sustainability, through the lens of electric racing.
The program reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025 alone, with a further 50,000 targeted this year, taking its reach to over 100,000 young people worldwide.
On the sporting side, PIF’s commitment to excellence will again be recognized through the PIF Pilot of the Day award, presented after finals day to honor standout skill and performance over the race weekend.
Alejandro Agag, founder and chairman of E1, said: “Starting our 2026 season in Jeddah is a powerful statement for E1. The region represents ambition, innovation and a clear vision for the future, and the Red Sea provides the perfect environment as our largest grid yet of 10 teams begin their battle to be crowned 2026 Champions of the Water.”
The Jeddah race is set to deliver high-intensity competition, renewed rivalries and an early glimpse into the future of high-performance racing on water.
