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Published On 19 Apr 2026
Manchester City vs Arsenal preview: Guardiola’s final chance to win Premier League
One of my colleagues in the press box was saying to me that this match is not a title decider. I suppose he is right however this is arguably the most important match of the season which will influence what happens next and who might win the title.
The fact is City have six more fixtures left and Arsenal have five, there are six points separating the two clubs so if City win this one and also their game in hand, the difference is zero points between them. Fortunately for Arsenal they have a superior goal difference but it is only three which could easily be eroded.
My research points to City being favourites to narrowly win this match however with such a lot at stake it would not surprise me if it ended in a draw.
On paper these two teams are absolutely top level. City have Matheus Nunes, Abdukodir Khusanov, Marc Guehi and Nico O’Reilly in front of world class goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. O’Reilly has been the outstanding player of the year for City.
Can they contain Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke on the wings? Guardiola believes his players will halt the Arsenal front line. Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz could play well but are they good enough to get past such a strong defence?
In midfield are definitely two of the best in the world. City’s Ballon d’Or winner Rodri takes on the Gunner’s captain Declan Rice. What a match up this should be and Arteta knows how important commanding the centre of the pitch will be and he has spent all available time with Declan marshalling the training sessions, organising and instructing as they take on a very strong City midfield.
At the back Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba will attempt to stop the runs of Antoine Semenyo, Rayan Cherki, captain Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku. The Belgian’s runs down the left hand side of the field could give Ben White a very challenging afternoon.
Guardiola is likely to start with a 4-1-4-1 formation whilst Arteta will go for 4-2-3-1. This will match up Erling Haaland against Magalhaes and Saliba and the big Swede is in fine form with his powerful 6ft 4in (1.9m) body back to its best now he is fully fit.
One always thinks of Ben White as being the tallest Arsenal defender but in fact he is shorter than Magalhaes, and Saliba.
MANCHESTER CITY VS ARSENAL: TITLE RACE INTENSIFIES
What makes this fixture even more dangerous for Arsenal is not just the quality of Manchester City, but the timing of it.
Just a month ago, Arsenal looked to be cruising towards their first Premier League title in 22 years. City were dropping points, leaking goals, and for once looked vulnerable in a title race that they have made their personal property under Pep Guardiola.
But Arsenal’s surprise 2-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth last weekend changed the complexion of the race completely. City followed that up with a dominant 3-0 win over Chelsea, cutting the gap to six points with a game still in hand.
That changes everything.
If City win on Sunday and then beat relegation-bound Burnley three days later, they would move level on points with Arsenal and potentially go top depending on goal difference. Suddenly, what looked like Arsenal’s title to lose becomes City’s race to control.
That is why this game feels less like a regular league fixture and more like a final.
Guardiola himself admitted as much before the game.
“If they beat us, it’s over,” the City manager said ahead of the clash.
Arsenal know that even a draw at the Etihad would be a strong result. It would keep City at arm’s length and preserve control of the title race. But there is also the psychological scar of what happened the last time the title race truly came down to this stadium.
Three years ago, Arsenal arrived at the Etihad as league leaders, five points clear of City, although having played two more matches. What followed was brutal. City dismantled them 4-1, shattered their confidence, and went on to win the title by five points.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville believes that the pressure of chasing a first title creates a different kind of exhaustion.
“You’re going for your first title, you start to become consumed, and it’s the mental and emotional drain that means your legs physically appear tired,” Neville said.
“This is where it gets real. This is the title race now, and they have got to clear their minds somehow and get that emotional balance correct.”
That emotional balance is exactly what Mikel Arteta will be searching for this weekend.
Arsenal are still unbeaten in their last five Premier League matches against City, and their Champions League quarter-final win over Sporting this week should give them confidence. They are no longer the soft side that used to fold under pressure.
But Bournemouth showed that nerves still exist.
The team looked tense, rushed and strangely flat at the Emirates, and against City, that hesitation can be fatal.
There is also the simple fact that April belongs to Guardiola.
Since losing to Leeds United in April 2021, City have won 20 of their 22 Premier League games in this month, drawing the other two. They have made a habit of timing their title charge perfectly, while everyone else starts to feel the weight of the finish line. This season feels no different.
A League Cup final win over Arsenal, an FA Cup demolition of Liverpool, and the recent hammering of Chelsea suggest City are once again peaking at exactly the right time.
At the Etihad, they have not lost a league game to Arsenal in over a decade.
For Arsenal, this is about proving they can finally survive the place where so many title dreams have ended.
For City, it is about doing what they have done for years – applying pressure until the league bends in their direction.
If Arsenal leave Manchester with a result, they remain favourites.
If City win, the title race changes shape entirely.
And in April, very few teams know how to weaponise pressure better than Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
– Ends
Medha Shankr admits 'trying to step away from' girl-next-door image after 12th Fail: 'Where’s the challenge' | Interview
Even though Medha Shankr debuted with Beecham House in 2019, it wasn’t until the surprising success of 12th Fail, four years later, that the actor broke through in Bollywood. Her portrayal of UPSC aspirant Shraddha Joshi earned her acclaim, and her girl-next-door image led many to call her the ‘new national crush’. Medha, who is now set to appear in a starkly different role in her upcoming film, Ginny Wedss Sunny 2, talks to Hindustan Times about her journey so far and the urge to find different roles every time.
‘Ginny is as lovable as Shraddha’
Ginny Wedss Sunny 2, which also stars Avinash Tiwary, features Medha as a young, urban girl who lies her way into an arranged marriage. The 28-year-old actor relishes the challenge of doing something different. Talking about how different the role is from 12th Fail, she says, “If I can do that in a way that convinces people to like me in that image, I want to believe I can convince people to like me as Ginny also. She is just as lovable as Shraddha was.”
Shraddha describes Ginny, her character in the romantic comedy, as a sweet, honest girl who is also impatient. “I related to all these aspects a lot,” says the actor.
‘Was trying to move away from that image’
Ask her if it was a conscious call to move away from the girl-next-door type roles after 12th Fail, and the actor says, “I am really grateful for the kind of work I was offered after 12th Fail, and I continue to be offered. There was no conscious decision not to do that kind of role again, but I won’t deny that I was trying to step away from that image. I have done that (role) successfully, and I have received a lot of love and critical acclaim for it.”
But Medha clarifies that the reluctance to repeat the type of character was not due to any fear of typecasting, but simply because of a desire to challenge herself. “If I do something similar, which I know people want to see, it will be easy. It will be a cakewalk. Then where’s the fun, where’s the challenge,” she says.
Directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, 12th Fail told the story of real IPS Manoj Kumar Sharma (played by Vikrant Massey). Medha played his love interest (and later wife), Shraddha, an IRS officer herself. The film, made on a paltry ₹20 crore budget, earned ₹70 crore worldwide.
About Ginny Wedss Sunny 2
Her upcoming film Ginny Wedss Sunny 2 is written and directed by Prasshant Jha. A spiritual sequel to Ginny Weds Sunny (2020), the film also stars Sudhir Pandey, Lillete Dubey, and Govind Namdev. It releases in theatres on April 24.
Karan Anshuman was unaware of Jannat Zubair Rahmani's 'army of followers' on social media when she auditioned for Glory
The upcoming sports drama, Glory, boasts a strong cast led by Pulkit Samrat, Divyenndu, and Suvinder Vicky. The show also features Jannat Zubair Rahmani in a key role. The 24-year-old former child star is making a comeback to long-format shows after seven years, and her fans are thrilled. The YouTube teaser and trailer for Glory are filled with comments from her fans praising her. But showrunner Karan Anshuman reveals he was unaware of Jannat’s social media fame before she was cast. In a chat with Hindustan Times prior to the trailer launch, Karan spoke about the show’s casting and how Jannat came on board.
‘We don’t cast because of social media numbers’
Jannat was a prominent child star, appearing in films like Hichki and popular shows such as Phulwa and Bharat Ka Veer Putra–Maharana Pratap. Over the years, she has amassed over 50 million followers on Instagram, more than even the three Khans of Bollywood and several A-list stars. But Karan says this was not a factor in her casting. “We don’t cast because of social media numbers. That’s not a thing. For us, it’s always an audition. Can you do it? And the most deserving person who has the best audition wins the part. That’s something we should be clear about.”
Karan recalls that Jannat’s audition for Glory was impressive, and he was unaware of her social media fame at the time. “So, I saw (her audition), and I was like, “Wow, this is great.” And then I was informed that she has an army of followers, and I thought, “Okay, that’s great. It’s going to help the show”. But again, for me, that was not the important part. For me, it was about how she’s going to be on set. It was a great audition to begin with,” he says.
Karan adds that even though Jannat was the youngest among the principal cast of Glory, working with her was a ‘learning experience’ for him. He explains, “What I found really fascinating working with her is the just the level of confidence this generation brings. Everyone from Suvinder Vicky to the other actors, if I had something to say to them, they would hear me out. But she always had her reasons, and it was always a discussion of how to approach a certain scene. Let me tell you, a lot of times she won out because I saw what she did and thought it worked for me. So, it was very much a learning experience for me as well, working with her. She’s supremely talented and professional.”
Glory is a thriller set in the world of boxing in Haryana. The sports drama-meets-whodunnit stars Pulkit Samrat and Divyenndu as two brothers who return to their hometown after their sister, played by Jannat, meets with a mishap. The show also stars Suvinder Vicky, Sikandar Kher, Ashutosh Rana, and Sayani Gupta. Glory premieres on Netflix on May 1.
Sanjiv Goenka clears the air on Rishabh Pant rift reports, vehemently denies interfering in cricketing matters at LSG
Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka has cleared the air on reports of confrontations with captain Rishabh Pant and that he is the interfering type in cricketing matters.
KL Rahul captained Lucknow Super Giants in their maiden IPL season in 2022, and he didn’t appear to have great relations with Goenka, especially towards the end of his time there. In 2024 particularly, there were several media reports which suggested Goenka wasn’t happy with the way the team was playing. After Rahul left, following the 2024 edition, Pant was brought on board as team captain ahead of the 2025 season. But things didn’t change much for the franchise, both on and off the field.
In the ongoing season, again those things are happening. But as per Goenka, reports of problems with Pant are especially fabricated. At NDTV’s ‘Walk The Talk’ show with Rahul Kanwal, Goenka looked rather amused that so many lies and fabrications have been created around the team and everyone associated with it. He totally dismissed that he and Pant were not on the same page, and that he had problems with the wicketkeeper batsman.
“You know, with Rishab, there has never been a scolding situation, ever. This is social media. Sanjiv Goenka did his hand like this, which gets them views. Right? So to that end, they decided, ‘let’s make Sanjiv Goenka a punching bag’,” he said on the show.
65-year-old Goenka, however, admitted that the bombarding nature of the coverage of the IPL has made him a little conscious now, and that he has fallen in line to some extent. “Yeah, accepting that [that he has been under scrutiny too much also because of his emotional nature]. I’m now learning that.
“You know, I am a person who naturally talks with gestures. So I’m now learning to keep my hands behind, you know. Because you can take an angle out of context. There are so many morphed versions, there are so many AI-generated versions. But that’s it. I mean, what can I do?
“I can only be myself. And at the end of the day, I’m fairly clear on that,” he said.
‘I have a team of experts, they do it’
Finally, Goenka said there was no question of his interfering in cricketing matters since it wasn’t his forte. For that, he had a team in place, and that sees to those issues.
“You know, I mean, for a person who’s never really played cricket, it would be foolish to tell my cricketers how to play, right? I have a team of experts, and it’s a big team that does that [addressing cricketing issues].
LSG played the play-offs in their first two seasons, but in 2024 and 2025, they finished seventh after sub-standard performances. In the ongoing edition, they are again seventh with two wins and three losses in five matches. They next play hosts Punjab Kings on Sunday evening.
Nicole Kidman recalls learning of her mother’s demise
At the Venice Film Festival, Nicole Kidman faced an unthinkable moment of sorrow when she received the news of her mother’s death just hours before accepting her Best Actress accolade. In the midst of grief, she drew upon her mother’s enduring spirit, embracing the powerful reminder to rise above adversity.
Nicole Kidman is reflecting on a devastating time in her life. In a recent public appearance, the actress recalled the moment of learning about her mother’s demise. Kidman shared she learned of the tragic news when she was set to take the stage at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, where she won the Best Actress award of the evening for her role in ‘Babygirl.’
Nicole Kidman looks back at the devastating moment
While speaking at HISTORYTalks in Philadelphia, the actress recalled how she was experiencing an “enormous high” at the time, having won the award. “I was about to go onstage, and I found out my mother had died, and I went right back to the room in Venice, got into bed and was completely devastated and thought, ‘I do not know how I’m gonna move forward or function now,’” Nicole, 58, said, adding of mom Janelle Ann Kidman. Calling her mother “so much part of my existence,” Kidman said, “So the idea of being there at that particular moment was parole.”
Nicole Kidman attempted to leave the festival right away
Nicole went on to recount her attempt to leave Venice in the middle of the night to be with her grieving family. “I remember getting into a boat in the canal, literally at night, trying to find my way to the airport, and then turning around, going, ‘I can’t even do this,’ ” she told the audience. “Then I went back to bed. And I was alone. My husband wasn’t there, my children weren’t there. I was there to win an award, which should’ve been a beautiful thing. That there is the contrast of life.”
Nicole Kidman recalls her mother’s sacrifices
Nicole said the painful experience reminded her that she is “resilient” and can “survive pretty much anything.” That echoes a valuable lesson she said she learned from her late mother that she’s passed on to her children: “Don’t ever let anyone break your spirit.” “She came from an era where she wasn’t given the career advice she would’ve loved,” Nicole explained. “She raised us, supported my father, helped him get his PhD. She basically gave to her family and didn’t have the career that she would’ve loved to have had. She was exceptionally smart.”
‘Babygirl’ director Halina Reijn accepted the award on Nicole Kidman’s behalf
At the film festival on September 7, 2024, ‘Babygirl’ director Halina Reijn read a written statement on Nicole’s behalf during what would have been the actress’ Best Actress acceptance speech. Nicole wrote that she had flown in to Venice, only to find out “shortly after that my beautiful, brave mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, has just passed.”
‘I don’t deserve a place in Pakistan team’: Pakistan star Mohammad Rizwan’s shocking admission after PSL slump – Watch | Cricket News
Mohammad Rizwan (Image credit: PSL)
NEW DELHI: Should Mohammad Rizwan consider following the path of Salman Ali Agha and step away from T20Is? That question loomed large as he addressed the media after his side RawalPindiz slumped to yet another defeat, this time against Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League. RawalPindiz remain rooted to the bottom of the table, having lost all seven of their matches so far.Agha recently said he is open to stepping away from T20Is if that helps him prepare better for the 2027 ODI World Cup and the ongoing World Test Championship cycle.
Rizwan was under pressure during the press conference.However, the wicketkeeper-batter delivered an honest and introspective assessment of his recent form, making it clear that he has never shied away from self-criticism.“When I was playing in the Big Bash League, after I got selected, I clearly said there that based on this performance, I don’t deserve a place in the Pakistan team. I was the same person sitting in front of you, and you people were the ones who said I couldn’t hit sixes, if you remember,” Rizwan said.The right-hander also revealed a candid conversation with teammate Haris Rauf, underlining that his honesty about his performances goes beyond public statements.“Even now, I’m being honest – Haris Rauf is sitting right behind, and if we had that conversation, he is a witness. When we were having dinner there, I told Haris that with my current performance in the Big Bash League, I don’t deserve a place in the Pakistan team. The words he said to me at that time, I can’t repeat – but he knows,” he stated.Emphasising accountability, Rizwan admitted his shortcomings but insisted he remains determined to fight through this difficult phase rather than walk away from the game.“I want to say this: we are all human. I admitted from the beginning that I made mistakes and my performance hasn’t been up to the mark. But that doesn’t mean I’ll lose courage, sit down in front of you defeated, or quit cricket. If I have the strength, I will continue. If not, I have even gone to the Pakistan captain before and said that my performance isn’t good and that my juniors should be given a chance,” he said.Responding to criticism over his form, the right-handed batter reiterated his willingness to be held accountable and to face tough questions.“I’ve said this many times – even when Sarfaraz Ahmed was with the team. And I will still say it again. I’m not afraid of questions, and I’m not afraid of the media. If something is not right in me, then it isn’t. And if you think I should retire at this age, I will,” Rizwan stated.He also spoke about his deep passion for cricket, stressing that the sport remains central to his life despite the current struggles.Admitting his recent failures, Rizwan vowed to return stronger with greater effort and determination.“For me, cricket is passion – it comes first. Whether it’s T20Is, Tests, or ODIs, I love cricket. I play because I don’t know anything else in life. I have no business, and I don’t play any other sport,” he said.“Yes, I’ve failed right now. I’m sitting here in front of you without performance. Maybe I didn’t work hard enough. Perhaps I’ll come back stronger with more effort and face you again. But right now, my hard work wasn’t enough – and that’s why you see these results,” he concluded.
Pope says 'tyrants' speech was not aimed at Trump
The pontiff says his remarks have been misinterpreted after a spat with the US president.
Project Hail Mary: Priya Kansara on working with Ryan Gosling as AI-voice
British actor of Indian descent Priya Kansara broke out with Nida Manzoor’s much-loved Polite Society (2023) before appearing in Bridgerton 2 (2022). Recently, she stepped into the big-ticket Hollywood film with Project Hail Mary, voicing Mary, the vessel’s onboard AI in the Ryan Gosling-starrer. For Kansara, the decision wasn’t driven by scale alone.
“I didn’t know about it when I got the call,” she admits. “My agent asked, ‘How do you feel about Ryan Gosling?’ I felt this is an interesting call.” The setup was unusual — she performed her voice live on set. “Directors Phil [Lord] and Christopher [Miller] wanted me to come to set and lend my voice live for Ryan so that he had somebody to play against. For me, it was a masterclass, an opportunity to learn from people I’ve long admired.”
HDFC Bank Q4 profit rises 9.1% to Rs 19.2k crore
NEW DELHI: HDFC Bank, the country’s largest private lender, has recorded a net profit of Rs 19,221 crore during the fourth quarter of last financial year, up 9.1% from Rs 17,616 crore a year ago, while full-year net profit rose to Rs 74,671 crore from Rs 67,347 crore, an increase of 10.9%. The board recommended a final dividend of Rs 13 per share (Re 1 face value) for FY26, taking the total payout to Rs 15.50 per share.In a post results earnings call, HDFC Bank MD & CEO said that the bank is rooting for interim chairman Keki Mistry to stay on beyond the threemonth period but there are certain processes even before the recommendations can be made to the regulator. Mistry was appointed interim chairman last month in the wake of the sudden resignation of ex-chairman Atanu Chakraborty citing conflicts over values and ethics which were denied by the bank. On misselling, Jagdishan said concerns stem from a “wrong perception”, stressing the bank has had strong guardrails in place since 2015- 16 for selling third-party products. He said these include pre-verification, geotagging and video confirmation to ensure customers understand products and are not coerced, along with clear exclusions that bar sales to certain segments such as marginal borrowers and very senior citizens, adding that the processes are robust and may be disclosed publicly over time. Meanwhile, ICICI Bank full year net profit crossed the Rs 50,000 crore milestone for the first time. The second largest private bank reported anet profit of Rs 13,701.7 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, up 8.5% from Rs 12,629.6 crore in the year-ago period following an improvement in asset quality. The fullyear net profit for FY26 rose 6.2% to Rs 50,146.6 crore from Rs 47,227 crore in FY25. The board has recommended a dividend of Rs 12 per share. The bank reported a net interest income of Rs 22,979.1 crore compared with Rs 21,192.9 crore, a rise of 8.4%. YES Bank reported a net profit of Rs 1,068 crore for the March 2026 quarter, up 44.8% from Rs 738 crore a year earlier, supported by lower credit costs and improved operating performance. For the full year, net profit rose 44.5% to Rs 3,476 crore, while return on assets improved to 0.8% from 0.6% in the previous year. In his maiden earnings call, the bank’s new managing director and CEO Vinay Tonse outlined a strategy focused on profitability, asset quality and disciplined expansion as the bank leverages its improving balance sheet and strategic investment by Japan’s SMBC. Tonse said his initial assessment points to a “strong alignment of purpose across stakeholders” and a bank that has stabilised after a prolonged restructuring phase. “We will build on what is working well, strengthen areas that require more attention and pursue growth that is thoughtful, calibrated and sustainable,” the managing director said.
