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Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies will start their postseason on Saturday with Game 1 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Harper has made quite a few runs through the playoffs since joining the Phillies, but is still chasing his first World Series win. If he’s going to get it this year, he and the Phillies will have to go through the reigning champions.

While taking on the Dodgers is always a tall task, Harper will have one extra, and extra special fan cheering him on through the run, as he and his wife Kayla announced the birth of their fourth child, Hayes Three Harper, just hours before first pitch on Saturday.

As some astute Phillies observers noted, Harper has had a tendency to hit homers in his first game back from the birth of a child.

Harper and his newly unlocked Level 4 Dad Strength will look to add another home run to that tally against the Dodgers.

Allrounder admits he could miss depending on the make-up of Australia’s top six but is hopeful he can play a part in the Ashes if selected

Alex Malcolm28-Oct-2025Allrounder Beau Webster agreed that he could be squeezed out of Australia’s XI for the first Ashes Test depending on the make-up of the batting line-up, but he feels that he can contribute in the series if given the opportunity.Webster’s role in the Australia side has been a topic of discussion despite being one of the most reliable performers over the past seven Test matches. Webster had played as the sole allrounder in the XI across all of those matches since replacing Mitchell Marsh in January.But Cameron Green’s return to bowling, after playing as a batter only at No. 3 in the last four Tests, as well as Marnus Labuschagne’s return to form and questions around the need to pick another specialist opener, have created uncertainty about the make-up of the top six for Perth.Related

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George Bailey, the chair of selectors, guaranteed Webster would be in the squad for the first Test, saying “everyone can relax.” But there is a way Webster could be squeezed out of the XI if the selectors opted to reinstate Labuschagne at No. 3, either retain Sam Konstas or pick another opener in his place to partner Usman Khawaja, and move Green back to No.6, given he is expected to be fit to bowl again despite a slight setback in his workload progression.Webster had missed the first two Sheffield Shield games of the summer due to an ankle injury, which only added to the speculation. Speaking after day one of his return for Tasmania against Victoria at Junction Oval, where he took 1 for 26 with the ball from 12 overs, Webster hoped that “I’ll be thereabouts”.”We’ve obviously got a potential hole around the top of the order there, and see who fills that,” Webster said. “If they see me as a pure middle-order [batter], then I’m probably going to get squeezed out. That is what it is. I hope I’m still in the conversation, certainly as a batter only, and if not, if it’s just the makeup of the team I’ll plug the way back in first-class cricket. There’s a there’s a lot of Test cricket coming up in the next two years. I hope I’ll be thereabouts.”Webster, 31, has done very little wrong in his first seven Tests. He has four half-centuries from 12 innings, averaging 34.63, which does not do him justice given the difficulty of the surfaces he has played on. He also has eight wickets at 23.25 with the ball, striking at 45.1, and has taken 12 catches in the field, where he has been a huge asset, especially in the slips cordon.Beau Webster has done little wrong since his Test debut•AFP/Getty ImagesHe said it was nice to hear Bailey guarantee his spot in the Perth squad, but he had not been given the same guarantee about being in the XI.”That depends who you ask,” Webster said. “I’d obviously love to be in the XI. I think I’ve got a lot to contribute there, and especially this Ashes series, I feel like I’m playing the best cricket of my life at the moment. So I certainly want to be there. Sometimes it’s the make-up of the team and the balance and the overs and who bats where. It feels like this series has probably got more questions over that than any before.”Webster admitted he felt some rust on return for Tasmania. He took the new ball to front end his overs having come into the game on a 16-over limit from Cricket Australia’s [CA] medical staff. He used 12 of those on day one in four spells. He picked up the wicket of former Test opener Marcus Harris with a delivery that pitched back of a length outside leg and nipped sharply across the left-hander to scratch the outside edge. Webster later took a sharp catch at slip but dropped one he would normally take.”If I could sum my day up today, a few no-balls and a drop catch at first slip, it probably felt like I was five or 10% off what I usually am,” Webster said. “I mean, that comes when you have probably three weeks of not playing. I felt like I was probably just slightly off it. But to get out there today and bowling 12 overs and get some more time in the slips is always beneficial.”Webster said the time off was helpful to freshen up mentally and also to do some strength work in the gym, having played nearly a full winter with Australia and Warwickshire in the county championship.”I think there’s some benefits, no doubt,” Webster said. “I think looking back, I did play a lot of cricket in England, and that’s by choice. I play my best cricket when I’m constantly playing. To have a three-week gap there, it was nice to get back in the gym and do some running and probably freshen the body up physically, ready to go for a big summer.”

Norway coach Stale Solbakken revealed that he apologised to the Italian team after Norway’s celebrations went overboard following their 4-1 win over Italy at the San Siro. A brace from Erling Haaland helped Norway secure their first World Cup finals qualification since 1998, marking a historic moment for the nation. With the defeat, Italy must now navigate the play offs phase in order to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Norway's historic win

Norway entered the decisive World Cup qualifier knowing they simply had to avoid a nine-goal defeat to secure automatic qualification, but they still aimed to finish the campaign strongly. Italy struck first, with Pio Esposito scoring in the ninth minute, giving the Azzurri a perfect start and raising faint hopes of an improbable comeback in the standings. Italy defended well in the first half, keeping Norway’s attack quiet, but the visitors grew into the game after the break. 

Antonio Nusa equalised in the 63rd minute, shifting momentum firmly in Norway’s favour. Haaland then delivered a devastating two goal burst within two minutes, putting the match beyond Italy. Jorge Strand Larsen added a fourth to complete the rout. The match also saw a heated moment when Gianluca Mancini provoked Haaland, prompting Gianluigi Donnarumma to intervene. 

Norway’s emphatic win sealed their place in the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998. Norway coach Solbakken congratulated his young players on their historic achievement and believes they have ushered in a new era, saying: “There was a lot of pressure on this team, and these young players have managed to put that burden behind them. Now it's a new era for us.”

AdvertisementGettySolbakken's celebrations and apologies

In the post-match press conference, Solbakken spoke about Norway’s historic qualification for the 2026 World Cup and credited the strong culture and belief within the squad. He said: “There is a great culture in this team, everyone believed in this project and in this way of playing.”

Norway’s 4-1 win meant Italy finished second in their World Cup qualification group and will now have to go through the World play offs to secure a place at the 2026 World Cup.

Solbakken could not contain his excitement and celebrated with the squad in the dressing room, but later admitted that the celebrations may have gone too far. He apologised to the Italian team and coach when he said “I sang and danced with the lads in the dressing room.”

“Perhaps we went a bit overboard with the celebrations in the end, and I apologised for that. They understood.”

Haaland, who scored a brace, was applauded by the San Siro crowd. Solbakken felt that the stadium, known for hosting some of football’s greatest forwards, recognised a future great. 

"Haaland applauded at San Siro? That's how it is for the greats. Here, they've seen [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic, Sheva [Andriy Shevchenko], [Javier] Zanetti, [Ruud] Gullit, [Jurgen] Klinsmann," he said.

Italy's qualification scenario

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso apologised to supporters after the heavy 4-1 defeat to Norway, admitting that his team “got everything wrong” in a match he described as being divided into two very different halves. He felt Italy played with control and structure in the first half, only to collapse after the break due to fear, fragility and poor game management. The loss means Italy must once again go through the pressure of the play offs, marking the third straight qualifying cycle in which they have been forced down this route. It is another difficult moment for a nation that has not appeared at a World Cup since 2014, a painful absence for a country with such rich footballing history. On Thursday, Italy will learn which opponent they will face in the crucial March play offs, a draw that will shape their hopes of returning to football’s biggest stage in 2026.

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Getty Images SportGattuso's preparations

Norway can now look forward to playing in the 2026 World Cup, and Solbakken will hope to have Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard fully fit in time for the tournament. Meanwhile, Gattuso will analyse Italy’s defeat in detail and focus on addressing the team’s weaknesses. The Italy coach is expected to work on tactical adjustments and overall organisation as he aims to reduce Italy’s shortcomings before the crucial play offs.

Shreyas Iyer told him he would be playing all the Punjab Kings matches this season, and that’s freed him up to bat the way he likes best

Ashish Pant12-Apr-20252:37

Jaffer: Hope to see Arya in India colours soon

Punjab Kings (PBKS) opener Priyansh Arya is your quintessential T20 cricketer. Young, uninhibited, fearless, whose instincts tell him to hit every ball out of the ground irrespective of the match situation. It’s pretty straightforward. First ball of the innings or last, if the ball is in his zone, it must be out of the ground. A simple see-ball-hit-ball approach.These instincts told him to whack the first ball he faced from Chennai Super Kings’ [CSK] Khaleel Ahmed for six over deep point. It didn’t matter that he had fallen for a golden duck three days prior to that game or that he had a single-digit score in a match before that. He saw the ball in his zone, he took his chance.But what if he had been caught in the deep? What if his instinct was wrong? Wouldn’t back-to-back golden ducks look bad on his young resume?Related

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Fastest hundreds in the IPL – Priyansh Arya enters top five

“Attacking batsman out [An attacking batsman always looks ugly when he gets out],” Arya says with a smile at a press interaction. “Not just me, look at every attacking batsman. I don’t think about failures, or whether this shot could get me out or not when I am batting. I just watch the ball and look to hit it.”Getting out on a zero is not a big deal, it’s a part of the game. At times, I’ll get out on a zero, but the next day, I will also score a century.”And score a century he did as he sent the CSK fielders on a leather hunt in Mullanpur. He was dropped by Khaleel second ball of the innings, and played a false shot two balls later. Even the most aggressive IPL batters might have taken a step back. Not Arya. He went again the very next ball, carving Khaleel over cover point for six. He trusted his instincts. It got him a 43-ball 102 and a Player-of-the-Match award.It’s helped that Arya has the backing of PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting and captain Shreyas Iyer.

“When I went to the [IPL team] trials and I didn’t get selected, it never affected me much, because I wasn’t consistent. I debuted for the senior team in 2021, and I was out of the team after two matches because I wasn’t performing well. Obviously, anyone would be out of the team with those performances”Priyansh Arya on the lows in his career

“I spoke to Ricky sir [after his first-ball duck] and he told me that if I get the same ball in the next match, I should hit it out of the ground. I was very confident after hearing that,” Arya says. “Shreyas also told me not to worry: ‘you will play all the 14 matches’. That calmed me down a lot. If the captain is backing me so much, I felt very confident after hearing that.”It wasn’t all about swinging away to glory, Arya also showed cricketing smarts against CSK. When R Ashwin, 14 years his senior and one of the modern-day greats, came into the attack inside the powerplay, he looked like knew that the offspinner would try and cramp him for room. On cue, Ashwin fired a length ball on the stumps that Arya duly slog-swept to the square-leg boundary. A few balls later, when Ashwin went marginally short outside off, Arya deposited him over wide long-off.Arya’s strike rate of 210.66 is the third-highest in the tournament at the moment. He has hit 11 sixes, the second-highest for PBKS behind his captain’s 14. But Arya has not always been this free-flowing six basher.Priyansh Arya’s strike rate of 210.66 is the third-highest at the moment in the tournament•Associated Press”I developed it with time. I wasn’t this bold at the start of my career when I was younger,” he says. “With time and maturity, you have to bring those changes within yourself. You can’t keep playing like you used to. The opponents are experienced enough to know your strengths and weaknesses.”Arya is just 24, but his career has already had a fair few ups and downs. He made his senior T20 debut for Delhi in 2021, but was out of the side after only two games and it took him two years to get another game. He was called up for trials by a few IPL teams, but Arya remained unsold in the 2024 player auctions. However, he was pragmatic about his snub.”When I went to the trials and I didn’t get selected, it never affected me much, because I wasn’t consistent, so the non-selection didn’t bother me,” he says. “I debuted for the senior team in 2021, and I was out of the team after two matches because I wasn’t performing well. Obviously, anyone would be out of the team with those performances.”The 2024 Delhi Premier League, however, changed everything. His six sixes in an over thrust him into the limelight and got him a place in the Delhi 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali squad, where he was Delhi’s highest run-scorer. “When DPL started, I wanted to be as consistent as possible,” Arya says. “I made runs in DPL and this time in T20s [Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy] as well and I got picked [in the IPL]. So, in my mind, I realised that consistency is key.”2:44

Is Arya’s ton the greatest IPL knock by an uncapped player?

Coming into the IPL, Arya has not changed his technique much but has worked on the mental side of things. “Everyone has the same level of preparation. But the mindset is very important. Controlling the mind is the most difficult thing. If you keep yourself calm, you can perform better.”He has also worked extensively with his childhood coach Sanjay Bharadwaj, particularly on the cuts and pulls, because “IPL ball . [In the IPL, no one will dish out slot balls]. The bowlers will hit that hard length, which makes the cuts and the pulls important shots to have.”There is no question that Arya’s approach is fraught with risk. He might fail more often than he succeeds. But with a mature head on his shoulders and the backing of his coach and captain, he will hope to leave a mark on IPL 2025. He’s started well. Now for the consistency which has brought him thus far.

Hale End may not quite be La Masia just yet but Arsenal’s academy is only going from strength to strength as far as supplying Mikel Arteta with first-team players is concerned.

While the Arsenal squad may now be packed with big-money stars, it was the academy that arguably kept him in the job.

The early knockings of the Arteta era were not too convincing but he was carried along the way by Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.

Since then, the Spaniard has regularly called upon an academy graduate. Last season was the year of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly and this year is Max Dowman’s turn.

A generational talent if we ever did see one, the 15-year-old is already impacting Premier League games and became the youngest player in Champions League history when he came off the bench against Slavia Prague last week. He’s a special kid, alright.

However, for every Dowman and Saka, there is a Michael Olise, a Serge Gnabry, a Harry Kane, three players who failed to make the grade at Arsenal, having been in the academy.

It’s usually an attacker who makes the headlines but there’s a Hale End defender now beginning to impress and he’s giving Gabriel Magalhaes a run for his money.

How Gabriel has become Arsenal's most important player

Only three centre-backs have ever won the PFA Premier League Player of the Year award; Paul McGrath, John Terry and Virgil van Dijk.

Yet, if Arsenal lift the title next May, you’d have to say that Gabriel is one of the leading contenders to be named player of the season.

He is a unit, a colossus, a man mountain and in the words of Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, currently the “most influential player” in England’s top division.

Why? Well, also described as the “leader” of the defence by Carragher, the centre-back has made a mockery of his £27m price tag.

The 27-year-old endured a rocky first few years at the Emirates but he is now an elite-level player and to some, the best defender on the planet.

That opinion is very much born out of the impact he’s made in the final third. Since joining the Gunners in 2020, no centre-back in Europe’s top five leagues has scored more goals than him (22). He’s added to his collection in 2025/26, netting two goals and supplying three assists in all competitions.

A steely defender, a manager’s dream, a commander in chief and a goalscorer, Gabriel seemingly has it all. Yet, did Arsenal let Hale End’s very own version leave for a pittance?

Hale End's very own Gabriel

While Arsenal’s academy have produced many a great forward player throughout the years, it’s safe to say it’s been a struggle to find an elite defensive talent.

Tony Adams is the most famous example and beyond him, not many players come to light. Adams is perhaps the greatest captain the club has ever had and he is now cast in bronze outside the Emirates.

Since the days of Adams, however, there have been very few central defenders to make the grade at the top level.

That may well be changing, though. Ayden Heaven left Arsenal for Manchester United at the beginning of the year and despite being just 19 years of age, has already appeared at first-team level under Ruben Amorim.

There is also 16-year-old Marli Salmon. Still in the academy, he represented the club during their pre-season schedule and has already been described as the ‘centre-back version of Dowman’. Fine praise indeed.

Salmon still has a number of years before he makes his big breakthrough but someone who is now making an impact is Dan Ballard.

Ballard played 35 official games for the Arsenal U18s and 25 official games for the U21s but he never made a competitive first-team appearance while in Islington.

As such, he needed to leave and it was Sunderland who gave him a home. The centre-back headed to the Stadium of Light in a deal worth just £2m back in June 2022.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

He has caught the eye since moving, particularly in the last year, where he’s beginning to emulate Gabriel.

Like Gabriel, he’s a leader of men and in the words of Sunderland writer Josh Edwards, a “colossus”. He showed as much against his former employers over the weekend where he outshone Arsenal’s number 6.

While much of the pre-game chatter had been about Granit Xhaka, it was another former Arsenal man who made the biggest of impacts.

He beat Declan Rice to the ball inside the Gunners penalty area and then crashed home an almighty effort that ended the visitors’ immense run of over eight games without conceding a goal.

Ballard was also involved in the Black Cats’ late equaliser. Once again the centre-back found himself in the opposition penalty box but this time he was assisting the goal, playing the ball into the path of Brian Brobbey who flicked the ball beyond David Raya. If that wasn’t enough, his remarkable goalline clearance to deny Mikel Merino a last-gasp winner was perhaps even better than his goal.

Minutes played

90

Touches

44

Accurate passes

26/33 (79%)

Clearances

6

Blocked shots

1

Ground duels won

1/2

Aerial duels won

5/11

Shots

1

Goals

1

A true Gabriel-like performance, this was not the first time that the former Hale Ender has popped up with a vital attacking contribution.

It was Ballard’s crashing header that took Regis Le Bris’ men to the Championship play-off final last season, a game in which he also made a jaw-dropping 19 clearances, winning six aerial duels in the process. Gabriel-esque indeed.

Arsenal’s current defensive record means they will have no regrets about letting him leave for such a small fee but it’s nice to see him doing well elsewhere nonetheless.

Arteta will just be cursing his luck that one of the best performances of Ballard’s senior career came against the team that raised him.

There were also call-ups for legspinner Shariz Ahmed and left-arm pacer Ben Fletcher

Mohammad Isam20-Aug-2025Vikramjit Singh is one of three players poised to make a return into the Netherlands squad for their three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, to be held later this month. The left-handed opener wasn’t in the side during their T20 World Cup qualifiers at home, having last played in the tri-series in Glasgow in June.Apart from Vikramjit, there were call-ups for legspinner Shariz Ahmed and left-arm pacer Ben Fletcher, who also last played in the Glasgow tri-series. Shariz returns after his last international in Muscat last year.Left-arm quick Fred Klaassen and left-arm spinner Tim Pringle have also been included in the squad, with both having last appeared for Netherlands in the format in 2024.Netherlands will be without experienced allrounders Bas de Leede and Roelof van der Merwe, both having excelled with the ball during the World Cup qualifiers. Batter Michael Levitt misses out, as do Zach Lion-Cachet and Hidde Overdijk.Netherlands, however, have most of their squad members from the previous assignment. Captain Scott Edwards is their batting lynchpin, along with Max O’Dowd, who top-scored for Netherlands in the T20 World Cup qualifier.Pacer Kyle Klein, who took seven wickets in the qualifiers, is in the squad alongside Paul van Meekeren and Aryan Dutt. Shariz is also an interesting choice, if he can master the conditions in Sylhet, where the three T20Is will be played on August 30, and September 1 and 3.IN: Vikramjit Singh, Shariz Ahmed, Ben Fletcher, Fred Klaassen, Tim PringleOUT: Bas de Leede, Michael Levitt, Zach Lion-Cachet, Hidde Overdijk, Roelof van der MerweNetherlands squad: Scott Edwards (capt, wk), Noah Croes, Max O’Dowd, Vikramjit Singh, Teja Nidamanuru, Saqib Zulfiqar, Ryan Klein, Kyle Klein, Aryan Dutt, Paul van Meekeren, Shariz Ahmad, Ben Fletcher, Daniel Doram, Fred Klaassen, Tim Pringle

Minority owners Red Bull have reportedly told Leeds United to replace Daniel Farke with a manager who has worked with Thomas Tuchel at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.

Leeds set fresh Farke sack timeline

The pressure is on Farke, who’s looking to avoid his very own Groundhog Day in the Premier League. The German is yet to achieve survival in the Premier League, despite previous attempts with Norwich City, and will be desperate to silence any doubters at Elland Road this season.

It looked for a moment as though the Leeds boss was about to do exactly that against Manchester City last time out, to his credit, only for Pep Guardiola’s side to turn on the style and secure a late 3-2 victory. A point at the Etihad would have been invaluable for those in Yorkshire, but they now play host to Chelsea this Wednesday with Farke under increasing pressure.

According to The Guardian, defeat against both Chelsea and Liverpool could spell the end for Farke at Elland Road. On paper, that may seem harsh. After all, Leeds are facing the world champions who just earned a point against Arsenal with 10 men and the Premier League champions, albeit during a tumultuous period for the Reds.

That is the harsh reality of the Premier League, though, and Leeds are seemingly willing to act as early as possible in an attempt to avoid the drop. As such, names like Ange Postecoglou have already been mentioned as potential candidates recently, but Red Bull have reportedly recommended Zsolt Low instead.

Red Bull tell Leeds to hire Zsolt Low

As reported by TeamTalk, Red Bull have told Leeds to hire Low to replace Farke if they decide to part ways with the German. The minority owners don’t have a say on sporting matters but are there for the 49ers to lean on, should they please.

Leeds eyeing move for 4-3-3 Farke successor who has admirers at Elland Road

The Whites are struggling for form in the Premier League and could now change tact in the dugout.

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 28, 2025

It seems that, if they choose to do exactly that, then Low could be an option. The 46-year-old won’t be a name that many are familiar with at Elland Road, but he is someone that PSG, Bayern Munich and Chelsea know well.

Low was Tuchel’s assistant at all three clubs and is known by Red Bull thanks to his time as the interim boss at RB Leipzig at the end of last season and his time as Adi Hutter’s assistant at Red Bull Salzburg.

Games

8

Wins

2

Draws

3

Defeats

3

Goals scored

13

Goals conceded

17

Out of the options available, Low would arguably be the greatest gamble. He’s had just eight games as a manager and won just two of those games at Leipzig last season – using a 4-4-2 system.

His work as an assistant is admirable, but Leeds must replace Farke with a far more experienced candidate.

Leeds lining up January spending spree for "phenomenal" Farke replacement

Joshua Kimmich was not too impressed by the style of play imprinted by Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta into his team after Bayern Munich slumped to a 3-1 defeat against the Gunners in the Champions League on Wednesday. The German international explained that Bayern simply couldn't deal with the "sheer number of corners" they conceded, playing right into Arsenal's set-piece supremacy.

Arsenal outclass Bayern in the Champions League

Arsenal proved they mean serious business this season after defeating Bayern 3-1 in the Champions League at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, with the defeat bringing an end to the German heavyweights' 18-game unbeaten run across all competitions in the ongoing campaign. 

Jurrien Timber broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute, but wonderkid Lennart Karl made it all square 10 minutes later. The two teams matched each other in intensity in the first 45 minutes, although the hosts seemed to be in better control of the proceedings. 

However, Bayern were all over the place in the second half. Hampered by an attack that failed to impose their influence on the game, Bayern could only muster six shots in the 90 minutes, only two of those on target. Harry Kane's return to north London didn't go as planned, as he cut a frustrating figure against his former rivals. 

Arteta's men tightened the screws in the second half, thanks to their dominance in midfield and immaculate pressing structure. Bayern finally succumbed to the pressure after keeping the hosts at bay for the first 23 minutes of the second half, with substitute Noni Madueke converting Riccardo Calafiori's brilliant delivery in the 69th minute. Gabriel Martinelli put the tie to bed eight minutes later and will be thankful to Manuel Neuer for making a mess just outside the Bayern box.

The result not only cemented the Gunners’ status as the only team in this season’s Champions League with a perfect record, but also strengthened their reputation as arguably the favourites to go all the way.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportKimmich undermines Arsenal's victory

Speaking to reporters after the game, Kimmich admitted that Bayern deserved to lose, but also claimed that Arsenal weren't their toughest opponents yet. 

“It was definitely a deserved defeat. I thought we didn't do well at all with the ball. We weren't brave enough, we weren't active enough, we didn't give ourselves enough options," said Kimmich.

"We weren't physically up to par against the ball, although it was clear what kind of game it would be. It was clear that it wouldn't be a game like the one against Chelsea, where it's mostly about playing football. It was clear that it would be a lot about fighting, lots of long balls. Arsenal then naturally made every ball dangerous.

"I think the main problem today was the sheer number of corners we conceded. At some point, it simply becomes difficult to defend against that over and over again.

"This is an extremely important game for us. I'm convinced that we'll take a lot away from it, that we'll learn a lot from it. There were many aspects that we need to improve. Last season we had a few games, like the Barca game [from last season], which also weren't good, but we learned a lot from those as well."

Having beaten Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain already in the competition, Kimmich was asked if the London club have been the toughest opponents so far.

"No, I don't think so! PSG was our most difficult opponent… Arsenal is completely different. They rely a lot on set pieces. Against Paris, it was more of a football match," he said.

Arteta 'extremely proud' of Arsenal's display

Arteta was thoroughly delighted with what he saw from his players on Wednesday. The win stretched their unbeaten streak to 16 games across competitions.

"Well, I'm extremely proud to what I've seen tonight. I think, we've seen a team that, in my opinion, playing against the best team in Europe has behaved with a real presence, authority, determination, and belief, and that's what I wanted," Arteta explained. "You need some huge performance individually. We certainly had that. We took our moments, and I think overall, we just have to win the game.” His summary highlighted not only the collective strength on display but the individual excellence that fueled the win.

Arteta also spoke about the impact of his substitutes, who played an important role in the win. He added: “Yes. I mean, everybody's ready. Whether it's a starter and a finisher, the impact that the boys are having is tremendous because we have dealt with a lot of injuries, this season already. But, the fact that everybody's raising the level is hiding a lot of those issues, and I'm very pleased because, everybody's important. We're gonna need them, and I'm happy that the ones that even given the chance, they're constantly taking it."

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Getty Images SportBayern's next opponents – St. Pauli

While the defeat to Arsenal is sure to raise several questions, Bayern can nullify the external noise by returning to winning ways this weekend. The Bundesliga table-toppers will welcome St. Pauli at the Allianz Arena on Saturday.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has revealed that he may still be in interim charge of the club when they face Dundee at Parkhead on Wednesday night in the Scottish Premiership.

Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph claims that there has been a delay in finalising the deal to bring Wilfried Nancy to the club from MLS outfit Columbus Crew, which is why the Northern Irishman may still be in the dugout in midweek.

The French boss will surely be keeping close tabs on how the team fared under O’Neill in November, and will already be thinking about how he wants to set the side up moving forward.

The Celtic players who will have impressed Nancy against Hibernian

In the 2-1 win over Hibernian in the Premiership on Sunday, several players showed that they can be key players for the next head coach, whenever he finally takes charge.

Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels are the two obvious ones after they both got on the scoresheet in the first half, with the former tapping into an empty net and the latter bravely burying a header in just seconds later.

Reo Hatate also excelled in a number ten role ahead of Callum McGregor and Engels, biting into the tackle to then set up Maeda for the opening goal.

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel also made a couple of impressive stops late on in the match to secure all three points, and he will surely be Nancy’s number one, in the short-term at least.

Whilst several players, mainly the ones mentioned here, will have impressed the incoming boss, Nancy may already have an idea of the players he wants to move on when the January transfer window opens up.

The first Celtic player Nancy should sell in January

After a confident first-half showing, academy graduate Colby Donovan was forced off with an injury at the break and replaced by experienced full-back Anthony Ralston.

Within minutes of his introduction, the Scotland international was caught out defensively before playing a poor pass back that went straight out of play on the right touchline.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ live coverage of the game, former Hoops striker Chris Sutton described Ralston’s play as “really sloppy” and claimed that the defender “hasn’t recovered” from his below par showing against St Mirren.

Minutes

72

Tackles won

0

Ground duels won

1/2

Aerial duels won

0/2

Dribbled past

1x

Key passes

0

Crosses attempted

0

In that win over the Saints, as shown in the table above, the Scottish flop lost 75% of his duels and offered virtually nothing to the team from a creative perspective.

His disappointing displays against St Mirren and Hibs in recent weeks have not been a blip, unfortunately, as he also left far too much to be desired from his performance against Midtjylland in the Europa League at the start of November.

Ralston made it far too easy, as shown in the clip above, for Mikel Gogorza to beat him and score, which came just moments after the Spaniard had danced past the defender to cross for the opening goal.

He ultimately left the pitch with 45 touches, nine fewer than goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, while he also failed to have a shot, provide a cross or key pass and he also only made one interception.

Therefore, the 27-year-old dud’s performances on and off the ball this season have not been up to scratch, which is why he may already be a player who could be on the chopping block for Nancy.

With Alistair Johnston to come back from his hamstring injury and Donovan emerging as a genuine first-team level option at right-back, Ralston may not be needed beyond January, as potentially the third-choice option in his position.

That is why the incoming Celtic boss should make the experienced flop the first player he axes at Parkhead when the January transfer window opens for business, whether that is by sending him out on loan or by selling him on a permanent basis.

Forget Maeda: Celtic have signed a star who's worth even more than Engels

Celtic have signed an impressive star who is now worth even more than club-record signing Arne Engels.

ByDan Emery Nov 30, 2025

Whilst you never know who will shine with a clean slate under Nancy, it is hard to look past Ralston as the first player he needs to move on from the squad when the next transfer window rolls around at the turn of the year.

The first phase of MLB All-Star voting concluded last week, and two finalists at each position (six outfielders) advanced to phase two, where fans are voting to determine the starting lineup for both the American League and National League.

There will undoubtedly be some close races in the second phase of All-Star voting, with some position battles expected to go down to the wire. Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge have already cemented their status as All-Star starters, having garnered the most votes in their respective leagues.

With voting set to close Wednesday, let’s take a look at some of the toughest decisions facing voters.

American LeagueFirst Base – Vladimir Guerrero Jr. vs. Paul Goldschmidt

The battle at first base comes down to Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and New York Yankees veteran Paul Goldschmidt.

Offensively, Guerrero has been the superior performer in 2025, logging a .840 OPS with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs. He has 47 walks and just 49 strikeouts on the year, showing terrific discipline at the plate. His defense, however, has been somewhat lackluster, as his six errors at first base are tied for the MLB lead.

As for Goldschmidt, his steady bat and glove at first base have provided some much-needed stability in New York's lineup. While he's cooled off a bit at the plate, he's a reliable defender and still an elite contact hitter at 37 years of age. Goldschmidt has a .767 OPS and a 115 OPS+ while logging eight home runs, 32 RBIs and five steals.

Shortstop – Jacob Wilson vs. Bobby Witt Jr.

The emergence of Jacob Wilson has been one of the biggest surprises of the first half of the season, as the Athletics shortstop has been one of MLB's best hitters. He even garnered more votes than 2024 AL MVP runner-up Bobby Witt Jr. during phase one.

Wilson is slashing .339/.380/.473 in his first full big-league season, having been one of the few bright spots for the flailing A’s. He has just 26 strikeouts in 81 games and his 108 hits trail only Aaron Judge.

As for Witt, his numbers have dipped from his prolific 2024 season, but he's still having a great year. He boasts a .825 OPS with a league-leading 29 doubles to go with 11 home runs, 45 RBIs and 21 steals.

National LeagueShortstop – Francisco Lindor vs. Mookie Betts

Much like in the AL, the NL's starting shortstop battle is tightly contested. Two of MLB’s biggest stars are competing, as Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets topped phase one of voting.

By their standards, Lindor and Betts are having something of down years. But they've still been among the best at their position in the league. Lindor has a .775 OPS, his lowest since his first year with the franchise, along with 16 home runs, 43 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. They aren't world-beating numbers, but he's been plenty productive and could be in line to start the All-Star Game for the first time.

As for Betts, the Dodgers shortstop has a career low .707 OPS. He's never previously recorded an OPS below .812, so he's certainly been performing well below his usual production. Still, he's hit nine home runs with 41 RBIs and has struck out just 35 times in 78 games.

Third Base – Manny Machado vs. Max Muncy

Muncy and Machado have both been off to strong starts to the year, and the NL West rivals could see their battle to start at third base go down to the wire.

Machado has had his best year at the plate since 2022. He's batting .293 and has a .831 OPS with 13 home runs and 47 RBIs. He's hit 20 doubles and has eight steals, all while playing prolific defense at the hot corner.

As for Muncy, he got off to a slow start but has heated up with the weather. The veteran infielder was on fire in June, when he logged a 1.113 OPS with seven home runs, 24 RBIs and 19 walks in 25 games. He's now got a .845 OPS on the season with 13 home runs and 55 RBIs, which ranks tied for 10th in the NL.