Arsenal and Manchester City's fiery rivalry is a natural byproduct of both teams' desire to be the best, the north London club's captain Martin Ødegaard said ahead of their Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Arsenal finished runners-up to City in 2022-23 and took the Premier League title race to the final day last season before once again finishing second behind Pep Guardiola's side.

Tempers flared during their last meeting in September as Ødegaard's Norwegian compatriot Erling Haaland threw the ball at Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães and directed heated words at Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, asking him to "stay humble."

"I think in football, games like this, the emotions are so high and the adrenaline is there and everything. That's something that can happen on the pitch and then when you walk off the pitch, then you are done with it," Ødegaard said.

"It is not something I think too much about. I think it is normal when you play these big games that there is a big rivalry. You are competing and you want to be the best. So, that's how it should be and there should be a little bit of heat sometimes.

"But then, I think a lot of the players know each other from the national team -- England, Brazil, me with Erling -- so on the pitch and off the pitch it is a bit different. When we are on the pitch, then it's a good battle."

City are fourth in the league standings with 41 points while second-placed Arsenal, with 47 points, are six points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

Neymar has suggested that the move to Santos was a "rescue" for him and said that he hopes to regain his confidence at the Brazilian side.

The 32-year-old sealed his return to his boyhood club in style after being unveiled in front of 20,000 fans at the Vila Belmiro stadium on Friday night.

The move brought an end to Neymar's forgettable 18 month stint at Al Hilal, with injuries restricting him to just seven appearances and one goal.

Just a few months on from joining Al Hilal in the summer of 2023, the forward suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while on international duty with Brazil in October 2023.

It kept him sidelined for over a year and two games into his return, he picked up a hamstring injury against Esteghlal in the AFC Champions League Elite in November 2024. It turned out to be his last game for the club.

While admitting that his family and him were happy in Saudi Arabia, he spoke of wanting to rediscover his joy for the game with Santos.

"It's a rescue for me, of happiness, of soccer. It's been a long time since I've played, since I've done the thing I love most in the world, which is playing soccer," Neymar told a news conference on Friday.

"So today it's more of a rescue for me, I'm seeing it in a personal sense. I'm happy that everyone is saying that it's a rescue of Brazilian soccer, I'm happy for the affection, not just from the Santos fans, but from fans of other teams, who cheer for me. I'm very happy to be back. I need to regain my confidence to play, my happiness which is to be on the pitch. That's what I came looking for."

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward, who will wear Pele's iconic No. 10 jersey for Santos, also spoke of his ambition to return to the Brazil national team.

Since the Seleção's quarterfinal exit from the 2022 World Cup, Neymar has made just four appearances for Brazil. The last of his 128 caps came in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October 2023, the fateful game in which he injured his ACL.

"Obviously, the Brazilian national team is something I want to return to. I have something to achieve, I have a mission that I think is my last and I'm going to go after it in any way I can. So I have targets and objectives to pursue," he said.

Information from ESPN Brasil contributed to this report.

PHILADELPHIA -- Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook left Denver's 137-134 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night because of left hamstring tightness and did not return.

Westbrook, who had 4 points, 7 assists and 6 turnovers in 25 minutes, exited 50 seconds into the fourth quarter after a quick timeout by Nuggets coach Michael Malone, and though the team listed him as questionable, he never returned.

Malone didn't give an update on Westbrook's status, though he noted Westbrook had "a big smile on his face" after Denver's victory. And though Westbrook didn't speak to the media postgame, he left the arena without a limp.

The Nuggets will close a five-game road trip across eight days Saturday night in Charlotte, North Carolina, the second of a back-to-back set.

After losing the first three games of the road trip in Minnesota, Chicago and New York, Denver appeared headed for another loss. The Nuggets were trailing 123-122 after reigning MVP Nikola Jokic committed a travel with 2:39 remaining.

But then, over the final 2:30, Jokic went 4-for-4 from the field for 11 points and assisted on Christian Braun's layup -- the only shot attempt by another Nugget during that stretch -- to close out the game and snap Denver's three-game losing streak.

"That's just what he does," Braun, who will return to the starting lineup if Westbrook has to miss time, said of Jokic. "He made some big plays for us, and that's who he is."

Since Westbrook entered Denver's starting lineup Dec. 27, he has averaged 14.2 points, 6.6 assists and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 53.8% from the field. It was unclear whether Westbrook would remain in the starting lineup over Braun as Denver has slowly been working Aaron Gordon back into the lineup after a calf injury. On Wednesday, Gordon returned to the starting five and Braun went to the bench as the Nuggets lost to the Knicks.

"Never an easy decision," Malone said Wednesday. "Christian Braun has been great for us this year. Not good -- he's been great. And he's done everything that's been asked of him. But I just like keeping Russell out there.

"I think the Russ-and-Nikola dynamic is the best two-man combination in the NBA right now, and I didn't want to disrupt their rhythm."

SAN FRANCISCO -- The animated verbal exchanges between Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant and Hall of Famer Gary Payton Sr. on Friday night were all in good fun.

"Just talking junk," Payton told ESPN's Jorge Sedano from his second-row seat at Chase Center after the third quarter ended with Durant and the 1995-96 defensive player of the year going back and forth.

But Durant meant every word of the trash he talked to Payton, the father of Golden State Warriors wing Gary Payton II, during the Suns' 130-105 victory.

"It's always good when I run into an older player, especially if they played in the '90s, because they feel like that's the golden years of the NBA," Durant said. "So I try to let them know, especially GP, I try to let them know what it would have been like if they'd have been on the court with me. They tend to talk down on the mentality of our era's players.

"G's a great sport about it -- one of my favorite players, somebody I look up to, got major respect for. I think we started in the summer with Team USA. We were all in the same room with Team USA, and the first thing I said to him was that he couldn't guard me. 'You're too small. Them dudes that played back in the day wasn't close to me.' I was just talking crazy to him, so I guess we picked it up from there."

Durant, who scored 19 points in 29 minutes during the win, traded trash talk with Payton for most of the third quarter. Durant finished the quarter with a trio of 3-pointers to stretch the Suns' lead to 19. At the end of the quarter, he made a beeline toward the corner where Payton was sitting, but Durant was adamant he didn't need a scoring outburst for fodder in their conversation.

"If I needed to show him that minute of basketball to let him know what I've been doing out here ... I've got 18 years of footage," Durant said with a smile. "That minute ain't do much. He knew that was coming."

Before heading to the Suns' bench, Durant walked to the block, letting Payton know that's the area of the floor Durant would use to score on Payton.

"We're going right into that post," said Durant, a 15-time All-Star who is 75 points shy of becoming the eighth member of the NBA's 30,000-point club. "He's too small, man. [Payton is] 6-4, not really physical like that. He's just too small for me. And he knows that.

"But GP is one of those players, you're not going to get that last word on him."

According to Durant, Payton has never explained how he would defend him.

"I still don't know," Durant said, briefly pausing before getting in another dig. "He'd probably just try to foul me, just like his son do."

Durant looks forward to hearing the fiery retorts from Payton, who retired the year that Durant was drafted, the next time they run into each other.

"It's always good rapport with the older generation," Durant said. "They respect me. I respect what they've done. But there's some players that still got that competitive edge and wish they were still out there and still keep that with them everywhere they go. That's GP, and I respect that about him. So any time, any chance I get to see him, man, we going to talk this trash until we die. It's all love."

SAN ANTONIO -- Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo took exception to a fourth-quarter foul by San Antonio's Chris Paul that left the Bucks star on the floor during the Bucks' 144-118 loss to the Spurs on Friday night.

With 3:46 remaining and the Bucks trailing 131-111, Antetokounmpo caught a bounce pass from Taurean Prince and spun toward the basket as Paul, Jeremy Sochan and Devin Vassell attempted to defend. Antetokounmpo spun between Sochan and Paul, who appeared to shove Antetokounmpo to the court.

Antetokounmpo landed on his right hip and back and immediately said something to Paul while pointing at him. Teammate Gary Trent Jr. helped Antetokounmpo up after the play and Sochan walked over to step between Antetokounmpo and Paul. Khris Middleton and Victor Wembanyama pulled Sochan away just as Stephon Castle approached to diffuse the situation.

Paul was called for a foul on the play, and after a review, it was ruled a common foul.

Antetokounmpo's frustration lingered after the game. He waited several seconds near half court for Paul after the final buzzer. The two exchanged words briefly as Paul waited to conduct a postgame on-court interview.

"People that know me, they don't try me," Antetokounmpo told reporters after the game. "If you try me, it's a different side. If you try me, you're gonna get that different side of me."

Antetokounmpo initially said "nothing" happened, calling it "a physical play," before adding, "I don't know if I was tripped or I was pushed." Then he elaborated when asked why he waited for Paul after the game.

"At the end of the day, I think we're all men. We all respect one another," Antetokounmpo said. "If words cross the line, then there's got to be consequences. I really don't say much. I don't say much to start with, try to play the game the right way. If I feel like you're putting my livelihood, my career and my body in jeopardy in danger, enough is enough, brother. I have a family to feed, and what makes you laugh can also make you cry sometimes."

After the play, a minor scuffle occurred that was quickly broken up by teammates and security personnel.

"Giannis is as levelheaded as anybody in our league," Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers said. "So, if he was upset at something, I'm going to probably guess something happened."

The incident somewhat marred a competitive showdown between two of the league's top international players in Antetokounmpo and Wembanyama.

Antetokounmpo scored a game-high 35 points with 14 rebounds and 6 assists. It was Antetokounmpo's fourth consecutive game with at least 35 points and 10 rebounds, tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the longest streak in franchise history.

Wembanyama posted his sixth career game with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks, tying the second most such games in the past 20 seasons.

The Spurs made a franchise-record 24 3-pointers, with Wembanyama connecting on 5 of 11.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Rob Ray the feared NHL enforcer gave way to Rob Ray the son, father and beloved teammate Friday night, showing his softer side upon induction into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame.

It took the sight of his parents sitting to his left, and a standing ovation from the thousands of Sabres fans on hand for Ray to nearly give in to his emotions before beginning his acceptance speech.

"OK, you got to stop or I'm going to cry," said Ray, who spent 14 of his 16 NHL seasons in Buffalo, where he inspired an NHL rule change, excited crowds with his fights, accumulated 3,207 penalty minutes, and remains a fan favorite in making a near seamless shift into broadcasting Sabres games.

"I came to this town, I didn't need glasses, I was in shape, I had hair, I left it all here for you guys," Ray said to open his speech.

"It's hard to believe I've been in this organization for 37 years," he said in closing. "And on those nights that I was coming off the ice, and there was blood coming out of your face somewhere, that wasn't red. That was blue and gold," he said, referring to the Sabres colors.

Ray, 56, was selected by Buffalo in the fifth round of the 1988 draft, and played for the Sabres from 1990 to 2002 before closing his career playing parts of two seasons in Ottawa. He became the 44th person inducted into the team hall of fame Friday night before a game against the Nashville Predators.

Ray's penalty minutes are a franchise record and rank sixth on the NHL career list. He finished with 41 goals and 91 points in 900 career games.

Memorable as his many fights were, Ray had a few notable offensive moments.

He scored a goal on his first career shift, beating Tom Barrasso with a slap shot from the left circle, and added an assist in a 4-2 win at Pittsburgh on Oct. 21, 1989. He scored three career playoff goals, including the winner in a 5-2 victory over Toronto in Game 4 of the 1999 Eastern Conference finals -- a series Buffalo won in Game 5.

As an enforcer, Ray was noted for wearing tear-away jerseys, which gave him an advantage over an opponent. It freed Ray's arms to keep punching, while his opponent was caught flat-footed with Ray's jersey in his hands.

This led to the NHL introducing a rule in which players who fought without their jerseys got game misconducts.

"He played the game with fire. He wasn't just a tough guy, but he was the toughest," former teammate Brad May said. "There's no better feeling knowing Rob Ray has your back."

From Stirling, Ontario, Ray adopted Buffalo as his hometown and is known for heading the Sabres alumni association and for his many charitable works, including distributing toys to underprivileged children each Christmas Eve.

Ray was celebrated on the ice with many of his teammates on hand, along with his wife and two children. Sabres co-owner Kim Pegula made her first appearance at the arena since experiencing a debilitating cardiac arrest in June 2022. Pegula watched from a suite along with her husband, Terry.

Ray paid tribute to each of his coaches, and to late NHL Hall of Fame broadcaster Rick Jeanneret, by saying, "I miss you, buddy. We all do." Jeanneret, who died in August 2023, provided Ray his broadcasting start after his retirement.

Tie Domi, who squared off with Ray on numerous occasions, sent a video tribute.

"They changed the rules because of you. The streaker, the fighting streaker," Domi said. "I'm proud of you, man. Our friendship goes way beyond hockey."

Ray lamented how the NHL eventually phased out the enforcer role by introducing a series of rule changes to limit fighting over the past two decades.

"I think that sometimes what we lose in our game is it's all about winning and losing and it's all about stats, you forget it's an entertainment business," said Ray, a member of the late 90s Sabres squads that were dubbed the hardest working team in hockey.

"We didn't win a lot of games back then. But we played hard and people respected it. They liked it," Ray said. "They knew that we might not win, but you know what, 'I may see a fight tonight. I might see two.' And that was kind of the draw that lured them."

NEW ORLEANS -- Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray left Friday night's 118-116 loss to Boston in the first quarter due to an injury to his lower right leg.

Murray drove into the lane and took a shot, then went to chase his miss. But he fell to the court and grabbed at the area near his right foot. When he got up, he hobbled toward the nearby Pelicans bench.

The Pelicans said Murray would not return to the game.

The injury-riddled Pelicans were already playing without Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Herb Jones.