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  • Three new positions Ethan Nwaneri can play after Bukayo Saka makes Arsenal injury return

    Three new positions Ethan Nwaneri can play after Bukayo Saka makes Arsenal injury return

    Arsenal star Ethan Nwaneri may have to be deployed in several different positions in the near future to find a new place to pick up regular minutes, once Bukayo Saka returns from injury.

    The youngster, who recently celebrated his 18th birthday, has been a standout since making his move up from the Hale End academy.

    While there is plenty of promise and quality on display from Ethan Nwaneri, there is a selection dilemma for Mikel Arteta to consider soon.

    Bukayo Saka is nearing a return from injury, meaning the right-wing spot is likely to go back to the fellow academy graduate.

    As a result, Nwaneri may have to settle for a slightly more subdued role within the Arsenal team as he waits for more opportunities.

    That said, there is also the possibility of playing him in different positions, due to his versatility and technical ability.

    So here’s a look at three different positions Nwaneri could line up in after Saka’s injury return.

    Ethan Nwaneri could play at left-wing

    One area that Nwaneri could feature is on the left wing, with the star capable of competing with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard on that side.

    While the Arsenal youngster is stronger on his left foot, he is more than capable with his right, able to turn defenders inside and out.

    With the left wing hardly being a nailed-down position for the current options, Nwaneri may be able to muscle his way into the conversation.

    Martin Odegaard could lose midfield role to Ethan Nwaneri

    Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has struggled at times this season, not quite able to hit the heights he is capable of.

    The Norway international may have to pick that form up or could face competition from Nwaneri in the playmaker role.

    The 18-year-old has featured there previously for both the senior and youth teams, capable of creating plenty for the team.

    Ethan Nwaneri could be the striker option

    It’s clear that Arsenal have a centre-forward issue at the club, with both Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus out injured for the season.

    Plenty of different solutions have been tried so far, with Arteta leaning more towards using Mikel Merino as his first choice there.

    While the Spaniard has the physicality to compete and can arrive in the box well, some of his other movements aren’t that of a natural striker.

    That’s where Nwaneri could come in, with the youngster capable of playing as a striker.

    Arteta has previously hinted that he could play Nwaneri there in the future, while it’s a role he has featured in for the youth team.

  • World Indoor Championships: Grant Holloway calls out disrespectful act of a Chinese man for invading his personal space

    World Indoor Championships: Grant Holloway calls out disrespectful act of a Chinese man for invading his personal space

     

     

    World 60mH record holder Grant Holloway was left disappointed with the actions of a Chinese man who invaded his privacy during his preparations before the start of the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing.

    In a shocking revelation by Olympic champion Grant Holloway, the American hurdling star disclosed how a Chinese man disrespected his privacy while taking pictures ahead of the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing.

     

    The 60mH World Record (WR) holder who has been unbeaten in the event since 2014, is in Nanjing to defend his indoor title and is among the few track stars competing at the championship.

     

     

    Grant Holloway is the 60mH World Record holder and defending World Indoor Champion

    In anticipation of the three-day championship scheduled to begin from March 21 – 23rd, Holloway took a day off to tour the city and meet with fans but was left disappointed with the actions of a Chinese man who invaded his privacy.

     

    Tweeting about his experience, the three-time world outdoor champion expressed his disappointment on his X page.

     

    ‘When we build it, they’ll come’ – Michael Johnson’s final reaction on Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson making future appearances at GST League

    ‘When we build it, they’ll come’ – Michael Johnson’s final reaction on Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson making future appearances at GST League

    “I think Chinese culture is great, but they have a different concept of personal space. A man touched my ass while we were taking a picture and commented “mmm very muscular.” I didn’t know how to respond, so I just froze. Anyway, I suppose it’s a compliment to be considered fit,” he wrote.

     

    Holloway will be gunning to win his third consecutive world 60mH title, which if successful will make him the first hurdler in history to achieve such a feat.

  • Excited’ Kyle Walker set to follow in David Beckham’s footsteps as AC Milan star pens six-figure deal with Hugo Boss

    Excited’ Kyle Walker set to follow in David Beckham’s footsteps as AC Milan star pens six-figure deal with Hugo Boss

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    Kyle Walker David Beckham

    Article continues below

    Defender has taken same No.32 shirt at Milan

    Now set to model for iconic fashion designer

    Positive news after many negative headlines

     

    England international Walker has continued to generate plenty of negative headlines off the field courtesy of his affair with ex-mistress Lauryn Goodman that saw him father two children with the former Love Island contestant behind the back of long-time partner Annie Kilner.

     

     

    On the field, Walker has settled quickly at San Siro and was included in Thomas Tuchel’s first selection as England coach. The 34-year-old is now said to be attracting positive interest away from the pitch as he prepares to join a modelling campaign from iconic fashion designer Hugo Boss.

     

     

    A source has told The Sun: “He’s so excited about this, he can’t contain himself. He’s been reluctant to do anything like this in the past because he doesn’t like the spotlight, but things are different now. He’s loving his new lease of life with AC Milan and hopes his performances can help him reach 100 caps for England. But he’s also thinking about the future and has half an eye on life beyond football.”

     

     

    Hugo Boss were one of the first brands that ex-Three Lions captain Beckham linked up with in his playing days. Walker is now treading a similar path, having already inherited the No.32 jersey in Milan that his compatriot wore during his loan stints with the Serie A giants.

     

     

    The Sun’s source added: “Kyle saw what Becks did and wants to follow in his footsteps to create something beyond football.” Walker may also be looking to boost his bank balance as any separation from wife Kilner could cost him half of his supposed £27 million ($35m) fortune.

  • Dodgers defeat Angels 7-1 in preseason as Kim Hye-sung misses game

    Dodgers defeat Angels 7-1 in preseason as Kim Hye-sung misses game

     

     

    The Los Angeles Dodgers, who achieved back-to-back victories in the Tokyo Series, also won a preseason game ahead of their regular season opener on the U.S. mainland. Minor league prospects were inserted into the game in the mid-to-late innings and performed remarkably.

     

    The Dodgers won the 2025 Major League preseason game against the Los Angeles Angels, 7-1, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on the 24th (Korea time). With their third consecutive preseason win, the Dodgers now have a record of 13 wins and 8 losses (winning percentage .619).

     

    Having won their two opening games against the Chicago Cubs in the MLB World Tour Tokyo Series held at Tokyo Dome on the 18th and 19th, with scores of 4-1 and 6-3 respectively, the Dodgers returned to the U.S. rested for 4 days before playing in a preseason game. In the first game of the three-game ‘Highway Series’ against the Angels, which is held annually before the season opener, minor league prospects were fully utilized from the middle of the game to lead to victory.

     

    The Angels scored first with a home run in the top of the 3rd inning. Taylor Ward hit a high four-seam fastball from Dodgers left-handed prospect Jackson Pfaadt, marking it as a solo shot to center field. The Dodgers responded with a home run as well. Max Muncy, leading off in the bottom of the 5th inning, exploded a solo shot over the wall against Angels right-handed starter José Soriano, pulling the first pitch inside and hitting it out of the park.

     

    In the bottom of the 7th inning, the Dodgers succeeded in taking the lead. Minor league prospects got the winning run against Angels’ Kenley Jansen, who recorded a franchise-high 350 saves. A walk by Jair Hope, a stolen base to second, and a walk by Andy Pahse resulted in a one-out, first and second base situation, where Chris Okey hit a two-run double down the left field line. This marked the first earned run for Jansen in the preseason.

     

    In the bottom of the 8th inning, the Dodgers added a run after an error on a ground ball by Pahse when they had two outs and runners on first and third, following a hit by Joe Betran’s single and a stolen base by Hope. With two outs and runners on first and second, Chris Taylor hit a two-run double to the left, solidifying their advantage. Another error by the Angels allowed the Dodgers to extend their lead to 7-1.

     

    Kim Hye-seong, preparing for the season with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, did not appear in this game, whereas Dodgers catching prospect Okey recorded two hits and two RBIs in two at-bats, while outfielder Hope recorded one hit, one walk, and two runs in one at-bat. Starting left-hander Pfaadt pitched 3⅔ innings, allowing 2 hits (1 home run), 2 walks, while striking out 4 and giving up 1 run. The bullpen, consisting of Ben Casparius (1⅓ innings), Jack Dryer (1 inning), Luis Garcia (1 inning), Kirby Yates (1 inning), and Alex Vesia (1 inning), all pitched scoreless and contributed to the win.

     

    Shohei Ohtani, who started as the designated hitter for the Dodgers, recorded no hits and one walk in one at-bat. After getting on base with a walk after a full count against Angels starter José Soriano in his first at-bat in the bottom of the 1st inning, he was out on a ground ball to second base in the bottom of the 4th inning and was replaced. Freddy Freeman, who missed the opening two games of the Tokyo Series due to rib pain, appeared as the third batter playing first base and recorded no hits in two at-bats.

     

    Meanwhile, Mookie Betts, who returned early due to condition issues and did not participate in the Tokyo Series, was initially included in the starting lineup as the second batter at shortstop, but was suddenly excluded before the game. Betts, who suffered from dehydration after gastroenteritis, has lost 7 kg and is struggling to recover his condition. His participation in the home opener against the Detroit Tigers at Dodger Stadium on the 28th is also highly doubtful.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Arsenal in ‘strong position’ with Max Dowman future decision but rivals circle transfer possibility

    Arsenal in ‘strong position’ with Max Dowman future decision but rivals circle transfer possibility

     

    David Ornstein has revealed that Arsenal appear to be in a “strong position” over the future of Max Dowman, but still face a fight to keep hold of him due to their rivals.

     

    The youngster has been tipped as one of the brightest up-and-coming prospects coming out of the Hale End academy in the near future.

     

    Dowman received praise from John Terry for a recent performance against the Chelsea under-18s, while he has featured in senior Arsenal training since he was 14 years old.

     

    With such talent and potential, there has naturally been plenty of talk surrounding the future of the playmaker.

     

     

    David Ornstein gives update on Max Dowman future at Arsenal

    With Max Dowman catching the eye with his progression at Arsenal, there has been plenty of talk surrounding his future.

     

    In the past 12 months, Arsenal have lost both Chido Obi and Ayden Heaven to Manchester United, with the pair now thriving with their rivals.

     

    As Dowman starts to impress those outside of the Gunners, talk has continued over the difficulties Arsenal could find in keeping the 15-year-old for the future.

     

    Transfer expert David Ornstein said on the youngster’s future at Arsenal in a recent Q and A for the Athletic: “I guess it’s down to Arsenal to do enough to convince him to sign, and obviously we might not know if they’ve succeeded in that until late 2025 or early 2026.

     

     

    “Given he has come through there and is an Arsenal fan, they appear to be in a strong position. But considering most big clubs would love to sign him, Arsenal will need to prove their pathway and plans are right for him.

     

    “He, in turn, must continue to excel as well. There’s been no suggestion that he’ll get special dispensation to play for the first team this campaign, so unless that changes in these final months the focus will be on continuing to integrate into the senior set-up in pre-season and shining in 2025-26.

     

    “The fact Arsenal took him Dubai recently indicates how highly Mikel Arteta thinks of Dowman so let’s see how the next weeks go (he has big games for England this week and next) and also show respect to the development of a precocious young talent for club and country.”

     

    With all of that still ahead of him, Dowman still has to progress through the ranks to prove his ability and take the step up to the next level.

     

    When can Max Dowman sign a new contract at Arsenal?

    As it stands, Dowman is not in a position where he can sign a contract at Arsenal due to registration and safeguarding rules.

     

    The youngster will be able to change that in over one year’s time though.

     

    Dowman cannot sign a professional contract or scholarship deal until he turns 17 years old, which will be December 31, 2026.

     

    He is capable of agreeing terms of both in advance, which could change things, but as it stands there is still a long pathway ahead of him.

     

    Plenty can change in the next year or so, which could make a difference to the Hale End gem and his future.

  • 3 things that stood out from Wisconsin’s 91-89 loss to BYU

    3 things that stood out from Wisconsin’s 91-89 loss to BYU

     

     

    The Wisconsin Badgers saw their season end heartbreakingly as a late second-half comeback fell short against the BYU Cougars 91-89. The Cougars never trailed in this game and responded repeatedly when the Badgers went on scoring runs to cut the lead to single digits.

     

    Despite having a height advantage against the BYU frontcourt, Wisconsin was outrebounded 41-31 and gave up 13 offensive rebounds in the loss. In addition, the Badgers surrendered 38 points in the paint against the attacking Cougar offense.

     

    I had a hard time reflecting on the season after John Tonje’s final shot fell well short at the end of the game. This was a successful winning season for Greg Gard and the Badgers, and perhaps Gard’s best coaching job as the head coach at Wisconsin. Despite what some rabid Badger fans think, he should not be on the hot seat next season.

     

    However, we cannot ignore the Badgers’ failures under Gard to get the second weekend since the 2016-17 team led by Bo Ryan recruits Bronson Koenig, Ethan Happ, Nigel Hayes, and Zak Showalter. That is unacceptable for Wisconsin basketball.

     

    Here are three standouts from the Wisconsin-BYU game:

     

    John Tonje

    The end result was not what he wanted, but what a final game for the greatest Wisconsin basketball transfer of the modern era. Carrying his team on his back in the second half, Tonje finished with 37 points, a Wisconsin program record in the NCAA Tournament.

     

    After arriving at Madison, Tonje put together one of the greatest individual seasons in program history. The second-team All-American averaged 19.6 PPG, including tremendous performances against ninth-ranked Arizona (41 points), seventh-ranked Purdue (32 points), and Michigan State in the Big Ten tournament (32 points). Not bad for a little-known transfer guard from Colorado State and Missouri.

     

    John Blackwell

    Blackwell was the Badgers’ second-leading scorer with 21 points, albeit on six-of-14 shots from the floor. It was another solid game for the honorable mention All-Big Ten guard.

     

    Before the start of the season, Greg Gard noticed something different about Blackwell. The sophomore guard was more comfortable with the ball, and that comfortability accompanied a much more focused mindset, similar to that of former All-American Johnny Davis.

     

    While he did not have a season like Davis, Blackwell made a noticeable sophomore leap in his second season, finishing with 15.8 points per game. His post on X should quell any concerns that he might enter the transfer portal after the season.

     

    Richie Saunders

    One of the keys for Wisconsin to win was to stop Saunders from getting into any groove. That did not happen. Saunders, BYU’s leading scorer, finished with 25 points on nine-of-16 shots from the floor, including 13 points in the second half. Saunders only had four free throws this game, but they came at two critical times. The BYU star converted two free throws after a Wisconsin technical foul, including a layup on the following possession, and Saunders’ final free throws of the game proved to be the difference.

  • Andrea Pirlo scores trademark 25-yard consolation free-kick for AC Milan Glorie after hat-trick hero Robbie Keane runs riot for Tottenham in charity game

    Andrea Pirlo scores trademark 25-yard consolation free-kick for AC Milan Glorie after hat-trick hero Robbie Keane runs riot for Tottenham in charity game

     

     

    On Sunday, iconic former Tottenham and Milan players lined up to face one another in aid of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation. With Spurs 6-1 up and cruising at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, ex-Italy international Pirlo stepped up and curled a sumptuous effort into the top corner to make the scoreline a bit more respectable.

     

     

    Pirlo has been retired from football for quite a few years now but his effort shows that form is temporary and class is permanent in the 6-2 loss. Football fans enjoyed an entertaining contest where Robbie Keane grabbed a hat-trick for Tottenham and legends such as Dimitar Berbatov, Cafu, Serginho, Jermaine Defoe, and more, featured. Plus, thousands have been raising money for the club’s charity.

  • USA’s Houlihan jubilant with 3000m silver after return from ‘burrito ban’

    USA’s Houlihan jubilant with 3000m silver after return from ‘burrito ban’

     

     

    Runner took silver at world indoor championships

    Houlihan blamed four-year ban on tainted pork

    American runner Shelby Houlihan returned to the big stage after a much-debated four-year doping ban and won a silver medal in the 3000m at the world indoor championships.

     

    The US record holder at 1500m sat out the Paris Olympics after her ban. The 32-year-old said she was flooded with a range of emotions after her second-place finish on Saturday behind Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu, who won gold.

     

    “It’s been a long journey,” Houlihan said in an interview with letsrun.com. “I’m excited for today and now, but also kind of grieving the past a bit. It’s just been a real tough journey.”

     

    Jakob Ingebrigtsen celebrates his 1500m triumph at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China

    Ingebrigtsen secures double gold and GB athletes enjoy day of redemption Read more

    In the lead-up to Olympic trials in 2021, Houlihan revealed she had tested positive for nandralone and claimed it came from a tainted pork burrito. A slew of appeals ensued, but Houlihan’s argument was ultimately rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

     

    Houlihan’s case divided opinion, mainly because many elements of it were similar to “no fault” cases that often result in athletes receiving little or no penalty. Houlihan, whose case was prosecuted by the international Athletics Integrity Unit, received no such leniency and spent the prime of her career on the sideline.

     

    After her second-place finish in Nanjing, China, she reflected on the journey that led to her comeback. She said her first year out of the sport was the most difficult.

     

    “Getting used to completely trying to create a new normal,” Houlihan said. “Running had been part of my life since I was five, so who am I without this? I didn’t know. [I felt] totally crumbled and trying to rebuild myself back up.”

     

    She said “a ton of anger” was driving her at the time, but she realized she had to rein in her emotions. Houlihan said she is hopeful her success at the worlds in China will lead to a sponsorship deal. The world outdoor championships are in September, when Houlihan could shape up to be a factor in the 1500m or 5000m.

     

    “It got to a point where I was just like, ‘I don’t want to give up because I feel like I’ll always wonder what could have been,’” Houlihan said. “And then I feel like I still have more to prove. I feel like the best is yet to come for myself and I wanted to see that through and not let someone else decide.”

     

    The US finished top of the medal table at this year’s world indoor championships with six golds and 16 medals in total.

     

     

  • American Grant Holloway wins third straight world indoor 60m hurdles gold

    American Grant Holloway wins third straight world indoor 60m hurdles gold

     

    American Grant Holloway, unbeaten indoors in 11 seasons, clocked 7.42 seconds for victory in the 60m hurdles on Saturday.

    American Grant Holloway, unbeaten indoors in 11 seasons, clocked 7.42 seconds for victory in the 60m hurdles on Saturday.

    Holloway three-peats in world indoor 60m hurdles

    Chris Bailey leads US sweep of men’s 400m medals

    American Grant Holloway made history by storming to an unprecedented third consecutive world indoor 60m hurdles title in Nanjing on Saturday.

     

    The 27-year-old, unbeaten indoors in 11 seasons, clocked 7.42 seconds for victory, with France’s Wilhem Belocian taking silver in 7.54sec, just one-hundredth of a second ahead of China’s Liu Junxi.

     

    Holloway’s victory maintained a win streak that has seen him go undefeated in indoor hurdles races since March 2014, when he was 16 years old, including all preliminaries and in combined events.

     

    Amber Anning of Great Britain poses for a photo after winning the Women’s 400m final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing

    GB’s Amber Anning makes history with 400m gold at world indoors Read more

    Including the 55m hurdles and 60m hurdles, he has now won 94 consecutive indoor races.

     

    His victory was the first time a hurdler had won three successive titles – American Allen Johnson having won three titles, but not in a row (1995, 2003, 2004).

     

    “To win three indoors and three outdoors, I think I’m the first person in history to ever do that. That’s an amazing stat,” said Holloway, whose outdoor successes came in Doha, Eugene and Budapest (2019, 2022, 2023).

     

    “It was great. This one was a little bit different. I didn’t have two great rounds, and had to rely on my experience to get me through the final.

     

    “But I knew what I had to do, I knew what I was missing. With that being said, a big shout-out to the sports staff. Everybody was telling me, ’You’ve done this a million times before, you’ve just got to do it again’.”

     

    Holloway said that the race could well be his last hurrah, with a new discipline on the horizon.

     

    “I think I can put grace in it and hang up the 60m hurdles and try out a new event next year,” he said. “That’s something I can think about.”

     

    Coming through the NCAA system at the University of Florida, Holloway competed not only in the long and short hurdles, but also in the flat sprints over 60 and 100m, as well as relays. He has a long jump best of 8.17m from 2018.

     

    He added that he had his eye on a potential fourth world outdoor title when Tokyo hosts the next championships in September.

     

    “We’ve got the 110m hurdles coming up in the next couple of months, so I will put my best foot forward for that,” said Holloway, the Olympic champion whose 12.81sec in the US Olympic trials in 2021 make him the second-fastest man in history at the event.

     

    “It’s a world championships, you’ll always have nerves for the world championships wherever you’re at.

     

    “I just want to continue to work hard, figure out ways to continue to win, perfect my craft, and continue to challenge myself and my sports staff and coaches to get better.”

     

    In other events on Saturday, American Christopher Bailey won his maiden global crown in the men’s 400m in 45.08sec, leading a US podium sweep ahead of compatriots Brian Faust and Jacory Patterson.

     

     

  • Ferrari provide answers after Hamilton and Leclerc China DQ

    Ferrari provide answers after Hamilton and Leclerc China DQ

     

    Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc walk together at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix

    Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc

     

    Ferrari has moved to explain the reasons why the cars of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc failed FIA inspections in China.

     

    This comes after Leclerc’s SF-25 was found to be underweight, while Hamilton’s skidblock wear was deemed over the permitted limit, with the result being disqualification for both Ferrari drivers from the Chinese Grand Prix.

     

    Ferrari explain Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc DQ

    Ferrari were looking at a double points finish when the chequered flag flew in Shanghai, Leclerc having crossed the line P5 and Hamilton P6.

     

    However, their tally for Grand Prix Sunday became zero when both cars were disqualified after the race.

     

    And in a statement, Ferrari has explained what happened to cause these different issues for their drivers, which both inflicted a disqualification penalty.

     

    “Following the FIA post-race scrutineering both our cars were found not to conform to the regulations for different reasons,” Ferrari began.

     

     

    “Car 16 [Leclerc] was found to be underweight by 1 kg and car 44’s [Hamilton’s] rearward skid wear was found to be 0.5mm below the limit.

     

    “Charles was on a one-stop strategy today and this meant his tyre wear was very high, causing the car to be underweight.

     

    “With regard to Lewis’ skid wear, we misjudged the consumption by a small margin.

     

    “There was no intention to gain any advantage. We will learn from what happened today and make sure we don’t make the same mistakes again.

     

    “Clearly it’s not the way we wanted to end our Chinese GP weekend, neither for ourselves, nor for our fans whose support for us is unwavering.”

     

    Leclerc’s DSQ closely resembles the fate suffered by Mercedes’ George Russell at last season’s Belgian Grand Prix.

     

     

    Russell thought he had pulled off a one-stop strategy against all odds to take victory, but after the race his car was found to be underweight.

     

    A leading theory at the time was that the unexpected one-stop had contributed to higher-than-expected tyre wear and thus an underweight car, as Ferrari say happened to Leclerc in China.