Saturday’s briefing: Coventry up as Arsenal and Man City prepare for battle | OneFootball

Coventry ended their 25-year exile from the Premier League by securing promotion from the Sky Bet Championship with a 1-1 draw at Blackburn.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola previewed Sunday’s potential title decider at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick left the door open for Marcus Rashford to return to Old Trafford.

Coventry back in Premier League

Coventry secured promotion to the Premier League after Bobby Thomas’ late equaliser snatched a 1-1 draw at Blackburn.

Frank Lampard’s side only needed a point from Friday’s match at Ewood Park but looked like being denied following Ryoya Morishita’s 54th-minute opener for Rovers.

But, with six minutes of normal time remaining, Sky Blues defender Thomas rose highest to nod in Victor Torp’s free-kick and spark jubilant scenes among away supporters.

Coventry – founder members of the Premier League – last played top-flight football in 2001 and spent the 2017-18 season in the fourth tier.

Lampard said: “This is a special night for the football club, which is bigger than all of us. A club that’s suffered for 25 years in terms of since they’ve been in the premier league and that journey going down to League Two.”

Arteta will not play for draw

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta insisted it has not crossed his mind for “one second” to play for a draw in Sunday’s mouth-watering Premier League clash with Manchester City.

The Gunners will head to the Etihad Stadium guarding a six-point lead over Pep Guardiola’s side, and avoiding defeat could prove pivotal in their quest for a first league title in 22 years.

“We prepare every game to win,” said Arteta. “That’s why we are where we are and we’re going to continue to do the same.”

In a blow to Arsenal, Arteta confirmed on Friday he will continue to be without Bukayo Saka as he battles an Achilles injury.

Guardiola: If we lose it is over

Pep Guardiola accepted Manchester City’s title bid will be finished if they lose to Arsenal.

City have gone nine top-flight games without defeat and have a game in hand on the Gunners as they bid to cut the gap to three points.

“Obviously, if we lose it’s over,” Guardiola said. “But there is still games to play. The reality is there are seven games left for us in the Premier League and that is the decisive moment.

“I said today to the players, it is just a football game and we have to approach it like a football game. If you get distracted by emotions, that is how you lose focus.”

Striker Erling Haaland told Sky Sports: “We all know the importance of this game. It’s like a final.”

Carrick leaves door open for Rashford

Michael Carrick refused to rule out a Manchester United return for Marcus Rashford amid uncertainty over the England international’s future at Barcelona.

The 28-year-old has not played for his boyhood club since December 2024 and ended last season on loan at Aston Villa before joining the LaLiga champions for the 2025-26 campaign.

Rashford has enjoyed a fruitful spell in Spain but it has emerged that Barcelona are unsure about activating the reported 30million euros (£26.1m) clause to make the move permanent.

United head coach Carrick, whose contract expires at the end of the season, said: “I just think there’s decisions to be made in time, really, on certain things, and obviously Marcus is in that situation. But at this point in time nothing’s been decided.”

What’s on today?

Chelsea host Manchester United in the Premier League’s evening kick-off after Roberto De Zerbi faces former club Brighton in his first home game as Tottenham boss.

In Saturday’s other top-flight fixtures, Leeds can take a major step towards survival at home to bottom club Wolves, Newcastle host Bournemouth with pressure growing on manager Eddie Howe, while there is a west London derby between Brentford and Fulham.

England Women play away to Iceland in World Cup qualifying.