Pep Guardiola injected a bit of humor into Manchester City’s 1-1 encounter with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, capturing a unique moment with fourth official Craig Pawson.

The match saw City take the lead early on, courtesy of Erling Haaland’s strike in the ninth minute, positioning them for a win until Arsenal’s late equalizer changed the game.

As the game neared its conclusion, Guardiola engaged in a spirited interaction with Pawson on the sideline.

Rather than letting the situation escalate, Guardiola surprised everyone by leaning in to give Pawson a playful kiss on the cheek. The official, taken aback but amused, stepped back with a smile before returning to his role, as Guardiola laughed, hands on hips, clearly enjoying the lighthearted moment.

Guardiola’s grin didn’t last long, however. Moments later, after Pawson signalled seven minutes of injury time, City conceded deep into stoppage time. Gabriel Martinelli rescued a point for Arsenal, superbly chipping Gianluigi Donnarumma to cancel out Haaland’s opener.

The result means Arsenal remain unbeaten in their last five Premier League meetings with City.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Guardiola praised his side’s resilience.

“Today we played against a powerful team,” he said. “Hats off to our team for the resilience. It’s so difficult when you’re not effective with high pressing, it’s always tough in the build-up. We made some transitions. I think the result is fair. In general, Arsenal were better.”

No mention of the kiss, though. Poor Craig Pawson.

Wayne Rooney’s celebrated career at Manchester United saw him secure five Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, and a collection of unforgettable goals. However, according to the club’s all-time leading scorer, the true key to Sir Alex Ferguson’s formidable team wasn’t rooted in tactical genius or rigorous training. Instead, it was the PlayStation that played a pivotal role.

During his BBC podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show, the 38-year-old former striker shared how the team’s camaraderie was built not just on the field, but also during their travels. The players frequently engaged in intense five-on-five matches of SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs on the PlayStation Portable, transforming long trips into competitive gaming sessions.

“I genuinely believe a major factor in our success was our time spent playing on the PSP,” Rooney remarked. “It helped us communicate more effectively.”

He elaborated, “We’d play during flights and on the team bus. It was me, Rio [Ferdinand], Michael Carrick, John O’Shea, Wes Brown. The game required us to talk, make strategic decisions, and revive teammates when they got taken out. It was a huge part of our success. Just ask those players—it was fantastic.”

“We used to play it on the plane, on the team bus,” he explained. “It would be me, Rio [Ferdinand], Michael Carrick, John O’Shea, Wes Brown. You have to talk, you have to tactically be right, go and revive people when they get killed, and it was a massive part of our success. Ask any of those players – it was brilliant.”

Rooney added that his teammates’ styles in the game often mirrored their personalities on the pitch.

“Michael Carrick was a little sneaky, calm one. You’d be lying down hiding and suddenly hear a grenade bounce nearby – he’d thrown it,” he said. “I was just all in, frontline of the trenches, straight in there.”

So while Ferguson’s legendary leadership and the squad’s quality remain undisputed, Rooney insists that SOCOM and the PlayStation may just have played an underrated role in creating one of football’s most dominant dynasties.

Who’d have thought?

In recent years, the world of trading cards has experienced a remarkable resurgence, igniting excitement among collectors from Pokémon enthusiasts to Premier League devotees. At the forefront of this revival is Topps, a leading name in the trading card world and part of Fanatics Collectibles. Their latest release, the Topps Premier League 2025/26 Hobby Box, is nothing short of a collector’s dream.

The new Hobby Box is designed for those serious about their collections, offering an enticing upgrade from standard retail packs. Each box promises collectors a minimum of three autograph or relic cards, with at least one guaranteed autograph. Additionally, it includes three exclusive Black Edge inserts, a striking design available solely in this Hobby edition.

Unique to this release are the Beast Mode Autographs and Relic Cards, which feature swatches from player-worn shirts. Collectors will also find Black Edge Autographs, presented in ultra-premium signed editions, making them a standout feature of the collection.

The thrill of the hunt continues with the chance to discover four sequentially numbered parallels and two Chrome King Legend inserts. The collection also boasts short-print Diamond Rookies and the complete 2026 Rookie Class, spotlighting rising stars like Estêvão Willian, Josh King, and Rio Ngumoha.

For those seeking the rarest finds, the Case Hits provide an additional layer of excitement. These ultra-rare inserts appear only once per case, sometimes even less frequently. Among these elusive treasures are Chrome King Autographs celebrating Premier League legends, Heat Vision cards inspired by player heatmaps, and Home Advantage cards featuring stars alongside iconic club city landmarks. Adding to the allure is the electrifying Perfect Storm insert, sure to captivate any collector’s imagination.

For collectors, it’s not just a box of cards – it’s a box of chances.