Carlo Ancelotti speaks on Vinicius Junior's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or in the future.

Denver Broncos defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike has been suspended for gambling on NFL games during the 2022 season, the league announced Monday.

The world's most capped player Alun Wyn Jones was shown a yellow card just three minutes into his French Top 14 debut as his Toulon...

Félix Hernández walked from the bullpen as Aloe Blacc’s song “The Man,” bellowed through the speakers

Even in a time of extortionate inflation in the United Kingdom, it was eye-catching when a Spanish man in north London agreed to pay £105m for Rice and £36m for Timber; Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber, admittedly, and if the midfielder’s price ranks among the highest ever forked out by a Premier League club, the Dutch defender has the potential to look a relative bargain for Arsenal. But each, like Kai Havertz, is a testament to Mikel Arteta’s expensive ambition; to his relentless drive and his permanent restlessness, too. Arsenal’s summer spending will soon top £200m. Their outlay over last season’s two transfer windows came to around £170m, while the summer of 2021 amounted to about £150m in fees alone. None of which even makes Arsenal the biggest spenders in the capital, and if Chelsea still have the air of an anomaly, there is also a cost to competing with the Manchester clubs, Liverpool, Tottenham and now Newcastle. And as Arteta inherited a team in mid-table, he was starting from a low base; there was a greater need for rebuilding. Yet it is notable that Arteta’s reaction to a breakthrough season has been so dramatic. The exponential improvement of both the team – from 69 points in 2021-22 to 84, from 61 goals to 88 – and individuals, whether in Martin Odegaard’s transformation into a scorer, Ben White’s conversion into a right-back, William Saliba’s makeover from serial loanee to defensive mainstay or Bukayo Saka’s new status as one of the best players in the country, could have pointed to a model of continued evolution. Instead, there is more of a revolutionary feel to Arsenal’s summer. If 2021, with an investment in youth, seemed to set in place a plan for years, and 2022, with the purchases of the Manchester City pair of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus, looked another phase, the stakes seem raised again in 2023: taking on City for Rice, taking the Champions League final scorer Havertz from Chelsea. But a departure that could free up a place for either has both a footballing and a symbolic significance. Granit Xhaka was the last Arsene Wenger signing to remain pivotal; redemptive a season as the Swiss had, Rice and Havertz look upgrades. If Timber’s arrival ushers Rob Holding towards the exit, another link with the Wenger era will be gone. Should Kieran Tierney go, as is possible, there will be less of Unai Emery’s legacy left: Saliba signed under the current Aston Villa manager, but never played for him, while Gabriel Martinelli’s maiden Premier League start came under the caretaker Freddie Ljungberg, a couple of weeks before Arteta’s appointment. This is Arteta’s Arsenal now. He will not celebrate his fourth anniversary until December but the speed of change is reflected not just in the composition of the squad but in terms of who is actually on the pitch. Of the 14 footballers to play the most Premier League minutes for Arsenal last season, one (Xhaka) was bought by Wenger, two (Saliba and Martinelli) joined under Emery and two (Saka and Eddie Nketiah) were youth-team products who barely featured before Arteta took charge. The other nine – seven of the 11 with the most minutes plus the January recruits Leandro Trossard and Jorginho – were Arteta buys. Tierney ranked 15th, the oft-injured Takehiro Tomiyasu 16th and Holding 17th. So even factoring in the probability that another Hale End Academy graduate, Emile Smith Rowe, will feature more in the forthcoming campaign, along with another January addition, Jakub Kiwior, the division of labour is likely to be shifted still further towards Arteta’s arrivals. Eight of the probable first 11 could be his buys, along with perhaps 13 of the 18 most-used players. That preferred 11 could contain a couple of notable omissions: the speed of change may mean some Arteta flagship buys are sidelined. Thomas Partey looks likely to drop out of the strongest side; in defence, Tomiyasu was demoted last season, despite an encouraging debut year, and Timber’s signing will pose questions if the same fate awaits White, terrific as he was, or if the newcomer proves a back-up. Meanwhile, a comparison is instructive. Three and a half years into his mentor Pep Guardiola’s reign at City, a host of players bought under previous managers – David Silva, Fernandinho, Vincent Kompany, Kevin de Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling – were still pivotal. Three and a half seasons into Jurgen Klopp’s time at Liverpool, so were survivors of previous regimes such as Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Roberto Firmino, while others – Dejan Lovren, Joe Gomez, Divock Origi, Adam Lallana – were still involved. But, three and a half years into Arteta’s time at Arsenal, it is very possible everyone who features regularly will either be his signings or those who only made minor contributions under his predecessors. It really will be his team. Read More Defender William Saliba commits to Arsenal with new long-term contract Granit Xhaka departs Arsenal on busy day at the Emirates It’s been a hell of a journey – Reiss Nelson wants to take Arsenal to next level

Former England and Manchester City striker Francis Lee has died aged 79, the Premier League club have announced. Lee, who also had a spell as City chairman in the 1990s, scored 148 goals in 330 appearances for the club between 1967-74. City said in a statement: “It is with the deepest sadness and heaviest of hearts we announce the passing of former Manchester City player and chairman Francis Lee. “Everyone at Manchester City would like to send their condolences to the friends and family of Francis at this very difficult time.” Lee, who began his playing career at Bolton, joined Derby from City in 1974. He won 27 England caps, scoring 10 goals, after making his full international debut in 1968 and appeared at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. City added: “Franny passed away in the early hours of this morning after a long battle with cancer. “His wife Gill and children Charlotte, Jonny and Nik say he will be sorely missed and would like to thank everyone for their kind words. “Everyone at Manchester City would like to send their condolences to the friends and family of Francis at this very difficult time. “As a mark of respect, flags around the Etihad Stadium and City Football Academy are flying at half-mast. More tributes from the club will follow in the coming days.” Lee’s first club Bolton posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “All at Bolton Wanderers are saddened to learn of the passing of former forward, Francis Lee. “The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Francis’ family, friends and loved ones at this difficult time.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Lionel Messi's father has revealed when he expects to make a final decision about a possible return to Barcelona.

Formula 1 drivers were presented to the crowd in a “Hunger Games” reveal ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Champion Max Verstappen criticised the lavish opening ceremony on Wednesday night (15 November), where he was introduced alongside Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez. “For me, you can skip this. We are just standing up there, looking like a clown,” he said. Mercedes also appeared to poke fun at the opening ceremony on social media, as their drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were introduced in the same fashion. “Let the Hunger Games begin,” the team wrote on X. Read More Watch: Roof blown off grandstand at Sao Paulo Grand Prix following huge storm David Beckham meets India cricket star Virat Kohli ahead of World Cup semi-final Carlos Sainz breaks Netflix Cup trophy during F1 and golf crossover event

Pep Guardiola hailed Rico Lewis as one of the best players he has ever coached after his starring role in Manchester City’s hard-fought win at RB Leipzig. The 18-year-old produced a commanding display as the holders maintained the winning start to their Champions League defence with a 3-1 success at the Red Bull Arena on Wednesday. Lewis, who made his first-team breakthrough as a right-back last season, had a hand in Phil Foden’s opening goal and proved City’s main driving force throughout. City manager Guardiola, the former Barcelona boss whose past players have included Lionel Messi, said: “What a player! What a player! “I’ve been a manager for 14, 15, years and lucky to train one of the best players in the world in Barcelona. “To find a player like him playing in the pockets, how he has to move as a holding midfielder, moving in the spaces, he is one of the best I’ve ever trained by far. “He’s a humble guy, doesn’t talk much. He didn’t play much this season but he is going to play a lot.” Despite Lewis’ contributions, it took the introduction of substitutes Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku to secure a hard-fought victory. City controlled the first half and led at the break through Foden’s 25th-minute strike but they were pegged back after the restart by Lois Openda. The second half was a frustrating affair with Erling Haaland missing several chances and Foden hitting the bar but Alvarez made the breakthrough with a stunning effort on 84 minutes. Doku wrapped up a second successive win in Group G in injury time. After back-to-back defeats domestically, Guardiola was pleased to get back to winning ways. He said: “Three or four days ago it was no progress because we lost in Wolves. It was important to break that. “We played a fantastic game in all departments. We conceded two or three transitions in the second half but it’s normal. When a team is able to make a lot of passes early on, very nice things are going to happen in the game. “The guys who came from the bench, the contribution they have done is the key point. Everyone helped each other. I am really satisfied. It was a tough game.” Leipzig coach Marco Rose was pleased with the effort of his side but had no complaints about the result. Rose said: “Manchester City deserved to win, even if it was 1-1 in the 83rd minute and we had hoped to hold on until the end. “We did well after the break and got our equaliser. It was then an open game then but City put us under pressure at the death again. We are learning from the best.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Newcastle stun PSG as Manchester City, Lazio, Barcelona and Atletico all win Simone Biles wins 20th World Gymnastics gold by leading USA to team title Bill Sweeney believes English rugby is ‘on cusp of something quite spectacular’

Iga Swiatek targets a place in the French Open last 32 on Thursday as Thiago Seyboth Wild hopes to build on his first...

Mumbai fast bowler Akash Madhwal grabbed astonishing figures of 5-5 to help the Indians eliminate Lucknow Super Giants from the Indian Premier League with a thumping 81-run win

Liverpool’s midfield overhaul has continued with the signing of Dominik Szoboszlai from Leipzig