The Premier League is back, and it’s a massive weekend for Arsenal.

On the one hand, title rivals Manchester City have to play away to Newcastle United; on the other, they host bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Moreover, while Mikel Arteta has usually gotten the better of the Lilywhites, he’ll have to make do with defensive stalwart Gabriel Magalhaes.

With that said, the Gunners should still come out with all three points, especially if Arteta drops Eberechi Eze for one of his most important players.

Why Eze should be dropped

So, the first thing to make clear is that Eze is an outrageously talented footballer who will undoubtedly play a large part in Arsenal’s season as the year goes on.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, it would be fair to say that what is equally true is that he’s yet to show his full breathtaking ability in red and white, and therefore, should probably drop to the bench in this vital game.

After all, while he has racked up two goals and three assists for the team, he has just one goal involvement in the last six league games, and can, at times, go missing.

Now, if this were last season, there would be a solid argument for moving him out to the left, but Leandro Trossard has rolled back the years and is, frankly, undroppable.

So far, the Belgian has racked up eight goal involvements for the North Londoners, of which three have come in the last four league games.

Therefore, the former Crystal Palace star might be best served coming off the bench late into the game, as his ability to produce moments of magic is second to none.

Then, in his place, Arteta should bring one of the club’s best players back into the lineup, someone who has been compared to Dennis Bergkamp.

The Arsenal star who should replace Eze

While it would be a surprising move, Arteta should look to play Martin Odegaard instead of Eze tomorrow afternoon.

Now, before the pitchforks and torches come out, this is predicated on the Norwegian being fit enough to start.

However, considering he was training with the first team earlier in the week and the manager was rather vague about his status, it feels like he might be.

Moreover, it’s not as if the Spaniard doesn’t have a track record of suddenly bringing players straight back into the side.

With all that said, why should the 26-year-old come back into the side for this game?

Well, beyond him being the captain and this being a heated derby, he adds an element of control and metronomic understanding to the midfield that Eze doesn’t.

Moreover, on top of leading the press, the former Real Madrid wonderkid can play a sensationally weighted pass in behind a defence, which is what he was starting to do again before his recent injury.

It’s this ability to see a chance before most other players and act on it that led former Arsenal star Ray Parlour to describe the Drammen-born ace as “very similar” to the legendary Bergkamp.

The 67-capped Norwegian obviously isn’t on the same level as the Invincible, but that is something he shares with him.

Appearances

205

Starts

177

Minutes

15595′

Goals

41

Assists

40

Goal Involvements per Match

0.39

Minutes per Goal Involvement

192.53′

Finally, even though he had a poor campaign last season, the former dynamic difference-maker still has an excellent record, producing 81 goal involvements in 205 appearances.

Ultimately, so long as he’s fit enough to start, Arteta should replace Eze with Odegaard for Arsenal’s game on Sunday.

Arsenal handed another injury doubt for Tottenham clash after twist and Gabriel blow

It could see the recall of an exciting talent.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 21, 2025

Curtis and Rocchiccioli shared a 52-run ninth-wicket stand for WA to get them within seven runs of victory before Meredith and Bird took the last two wickets to seal Tasmania’s win

AAP18-Oct-2025Tasmania have pulled off one of the tightest wins in Sheffield Shield history, taking two late wickets to claim a remarkable three-run victory over Western Australia.On a brief but thrilling final morning in Hobart, Western Australia got the margin down within seven runs of their target of 259 with two wickets in hand.But after appearing as if he would be the hero for the visitors, left-hander Joel Curtis was adjudged lbw on 50 by a Riley Meredith ball that stayed low from around the wicket.Jackson Bird then trapped No.11 Liam Haskett lbw with an in-swinging yorker, ending Western Australia’s chase to have them all out for 255.Tasmania’s win is the equal-second closest margin in the Shield’s 134-season history in terms of runs, and comes after Western Australia held just a one-run advantage in the first innings.It also follows Tasmania’s narrow loss to South Australia last summer, when they were beaten by two runs in Hobart.The Bellerive Oval scoreboard after Tasmania’s three-run win•Getty ImagesFor much of Saturday morning it appeared as if Western Australia would pull off an unlikely victory. Needing 44 to win at the start of the day, Curtis and Corey Rocchiccioli appeared to have the game under control with a 52-run ninth-wicket stand.Curtis had done his best to shield Rocchiccioli from the strike for parts of Saturday morning, but when the No.10 was exposed he still managed to thrive.He clipped one Bird ball to the midwicket boundary off his pads and cut the first delivery of Meredith’s spell for four when Tasmania brought the quick on.Curtis did have one near-miss before his dismissal with a bottom-edge to a cut shot from Gabe Bell narrowly evading off stump and running away to the boundary.But just as the pair got the margin required to single figures and began to look confident of victory, it was Meredith and Bird who turned the game on its head.The result leaves Western Australia with two losses after the opening two rounds, while Tasmania’s win comes after they drew with Queensland in their season opener.

Nat Sciver-Brunt scores her first England century since becoming a mother and celebrates it, with partner Katherine and son Theo in the stands, with a baby-rocking gesture

Valkerie Baynes12-Oct-2025

“For Theo”. As Nat Sciver-Brunt celebrated her match-winning, tenth ODI century – and first as a mother – by rocking her bat like a baby, there was no doubt about the dedication.A run-a-ball 117, also her first international century as England captain, allowed Sciver-Brunt to set up a thumping 89-run win against Sri Lanka and keep her side unbeaten from three games at the World Cup.Somewhat unexpectedly, her wife, the former England seamer Katherine, and their six-month-old son Theo, were in the stands to see it all after the family were reunited in Colombo.Related

The revving, fizzing, whirring excellence of Ecclestone

Sciver-Brunt and Ecclestone help England brush aside Sri Lanka

“For Theo, that one,” Sciver-Brunt said of her century celebration. “I had sort of spoken about it a little bit with Katherine, but you never know if you’re going to get another hundred, I suppose. It was in the back of my mind a little bit. They’ve come out to Sri Lanka to watch me, so I thought I’d give back to them for supporting me.”Sciver-Brunt thought she would be saying goodbye to her family for the duration of the tournament and she spoke to ESPNcricinfo about her trepidation over being apart for so long. But, given the logistics of flying from Guwahati to Colombo to Indore to Visakhapatnam through the group stage with a baby, it made sense.They managed to spend England’s pre-tournament training camp in Abu Dhabi together before Katherine and Theo returned to England, but then a previously unplanned trip to Sri Lanka meant they were all in the right place at the right time on Saturday.”It was a really nice bonus for her to be able to come out here,” Sciver-Brunt said. “She had to take on the flight alone with Theo. It was a lot for her to commit to. I’m glad I made it worth their while.”It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster in terms of missing them. I obviously got a bit more sleep when they were at home but it’s really nice to have them here and to tour the world with your family, it’s really, really special.”Sciver-Brunt was the difference that allowed England to post a respectable total of 253 for 9 after the top three of Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight failed to convert starts and no one else reached 20.Dropped on 3, Sciver-Brunt made Sri Lanka pay, striking nine fours and two sixes in the face of a threatening home spin attack led by left-armer Inoka Ranaweera’s 3 for 33.Another left-arm spinner, Sophie Ecclestone, sealed the result for England with brilliant 4 for 17 from her ten overs, accounting for four of Sri Lanka’s top five – including Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama, who shared a spirited 58-run partnership while Chamari Athapaththu was off the field battling cramp – and Athapaththu herself with a gem that enticed the drive and slid between bat and pad to rattle the stumps.3:19

Sri Lanka undone by Sciver-Brunt’s masterclass

The victory sent England to the top of the table on the eve of Sunday’s heavyweight clash between India and Australia, while Ecclestone’s performance placed her on top of the wicket-takers’ chart with nine at an average of 6.66.Sciver-Brunt is the second-highest run-scorer so far with 149, between New Zealanders Sophie Devine with 260 and Brooke Halliday’s 142. She also collected 2 for 25 from five overs against Sri Lanka as she continued her comeback after a six-month layoff from bowling because of an Achilles tendon injury. Offspinner Charlie Dean, Sciver-Brunt’s newly appointed vice-captain, also picked up two wickets.”In terms of leading the team, I probably don’t think about that so much when I’m batting,” Sciver-Brunt said of her developing ability to compartmentalise her roles as captain and allrounder. “I may pick up things here and there about the wicket and what would be best for our bowlers and thinking in that way but when I’m a batter I’m a batter and I really have worked on trying to focus on that, on one thing at a time.”With the bowling, that’s a little bit different and that’s where I can lean on Charlie a little bit more as vice-captain when I’m bowling to make sure I am clear. There is a lot to think about with captaincy but it’s something I’m enjoying so far.”

Out of almost nowhere, Chelsea have emerged as Arsenal's closest challengers for the Premier League title this season as the London rivals prepare to lock horns at Stamford Bridge this weekend – but is this another false dawn? After all, Enzo Maresca's side found themselves in a similar position midway through 2024-25 only to fall away dramatically in the second half of the campaign. Ahead of Sunday's showdown, though, there is reason to believe the Blues could have staying power this time around.

After grinding out wins against Wolves and Burnley, following the customary defeat of Tottenham on the road, Chelsea have – – risen to second in the Premier League table ahead of hosting Mikel Arteta's early-season champions-elect, albeit they are still six points behind their cross-capital foes.

Serious doubts, though, remain over their ability to stay the course for the long-term – which are justified given the Blues haven't mounted a sustained title challenge since they last lifted the trophy nine seasons ago, and the backdrop of the club's tumultuous recent history since the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital takeover three years ago.

It's not long since Chelsea were in a similar position, either; around this time last season they surged into second place behind eventual league winners Liverpool, before failing miserably to deal with the packed festive schedule and sliding back down the standings amid a winter of discontent.

This time, though, things feel slightly different, with Maresca's side showing the kind of mettle and big-game aptitude that suggests they could have staying power for the season. However, the visit of the Arsenal juggernaut will be the ultimate test of their credentials at the top of the table.

Getty Images SportWinning habit

Chelsea's start to the season was inauspicious as they picked up just two wins from six league games, leading many to believe that another top-four finish would be the best that they could hope for. Since the start of October, though, there has been a shift.

The sensational late victory over Arne Slot's toiling champions has proven to be the catalyst for a run of eight victories in 10 matches in all competitions, with the alarming home defeat to high-flying Sunderland late last month proving to be an anomaly in what could prove to be a defining period in the west Londoners' campaign.

Having dropped points in clashes they were expected to win earlier in the season against Crystal Palace, Brentford and Brighton, the Blues have defeated Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Burnley with relative ease, as well as notching another victory over Spurs in north London in one of the most one-sided 1-0 wins you're likely to see.

Of course, Chelsea's young squad reached the latest significant milestone in its progression in the Champions League in midweek, as they utterly dominated the 10 men of Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in a mightily impressive 3-0 thumping that sets them up very nicely for Sunday's top-of-the-table showdown.

AdvertisementAFP'There is only one way'

For Maresca, this developing winning habit is vital to his side's chances of success: "Last year, we were playing in the Conference League, and I said many times that for me personally, if you want to build a winning mentality, there is only one way: winning games. Because otherwise, if you don't win games, it's difficult to convince the players, 'guys, we are building a winning mentality'," the Italian tactician said after Tuesday night's dismantling for the Catalan giants.

"But when we don't win, it's difficult. So the only way in any competition, Conference League, Champions League this season, Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, is to win games. It's the only way to build the winning mentality. And I think the Conference League and the Club World Cup last season helped a lot.

"And now we are trying to do exactly the same. For sure, the players are better players in this moment compared to last season, because we spent more time together."

Getty Images SportRotation, rotation, rotation

In downing the mighty Barca by exploiting their recklessly high line, Maresca served up another timely reminder of his tactical acumen, but what has been even more impressive of late is his ability to utilise his whole squad without results and performances suffering.

No Premier League manager has made more changes to their starting XIs than the Italian so far in 2025-26, with the five he made for the Barcelona game from his team that eased past Burnley taking his tally for the season to a remarkable 102, and it's only November.

While he has a core of guaranteed starters in bigger games, Maresca has been able to lean on the likes of Tosin Adarabioyo, Andrey Santos, Jamie Gittens, fit-again Liam Delap and academy graduates Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George in lower-stakes situations – either from the start or as substitutes.

They have handled remarkably well without the talismanic Cole Palmer, too, who has made just four appearances this season due to a groin issue and subsequent broken toe. He has, though, been passed fit to play on Sunday. Meanwhile, defensive midfielders Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo – whose imminent returns will strengthen the group again – have also been sidelined, as well as long-term absentee Levi Colwill.

That ability to rotate, and doing so successfully, could well prove to be vital for Chelsea as they fight on four fronts over the notoriously hectic winter period. If they require a two-legged play-off to reach the Champions League last 16 and make progress in the domestic cup competitions, then they face a brutal schedule of as many as 32 games in the next four months.

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Getty Images SportAnother false dawn?

There will, of course, still be question marks over whether Chelsea have the staying power to go the distance and truly challenge Arsenal – who look ominously capable of becoming runaway leaders – all the way until the final day of the campaign, especially given the young group's lack of experience in that department.

If we zoom out, the Blues are only one point better off than at the same stage last season, and they have certainly benefitted from unrecognisable champions Liverpool and, to a lesser extent, disjointed Manchester City underperforming considerably to this point.

As we've touched upon, their title challenge completely unravelled over the winter period last term before they managed to steady the ship in time to secure a top-four finish on the final day. Even when they were second, Maresca was consistent in his messaging that his team were 'not ready' for a title challenge, although that led some to question whether he had manifested their downturn in form with his pessimistic outlook.

It will be very interesting to see how Chelsea contend with the relentless nature of the schedule this time around, but there is a sense that things are different one year on in terms of cohesiveness, togetherness and strength in depth – something the manager has recognised, albeit he maintains it is too early to predict what they are capable of.

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Atlético-GO e São Paulo se enfrentam neste domingo (21), pela 3ª rodada do Brasileirão 2024. A bola rola às 18h30 (de Brasília), no Estádio Antonio Accioly, com transmissão do Premiere.

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➡️A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta!

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Confira abaixo todas as informações que você precisa saber sobre o confronto entre Palmeiras e Flamengo pelo Brasileirão (onde assistir, horário, escalações e local).

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✅FICHA TÉCNICA
Atlético-GO x São Paulo
3ª rodada – Série A Brasileirão

Data e horário: domingo, 21 de abril de 2024, às 18h30 (de Brasília)
Local: Estádio Antonio Accioly, em Goiânia (GO)
Onde assistir: Premiere
Árbitro: Bráulio da Silva Machado
Assistentes: Rodrigo Figueiredo Henrique Correa e Thiaggo Americano Labes.

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⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES

Provável escalação do Atlético-GO:Ronaldo; Bruno Tubarão, Luiz Felipe, Pedro Henrique e Guilherme Romão; Rhaldney, Baralhas e Shaylon; Emiliano Rodríguez, Alejo Cruz e Luiz Fernando.Técnico: Jair Ventura.

Provável escalação do São Paulo:Rafael; Arboleda, Diego Costa e Ferraresi; Igor Vinícius, Pablo Maia, Alisson, Michel Araújo e Welington; Luciano e Calleri.Técnico: Milton Cruz (interino).

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Atlético-GOBrasileirãoSão Paulo

Prithvi Shaw slammed the third-fastest double century in Ranji Trophy history on Monday — his maiden first-class century for Maharashtra and 14th overall — as Maharashtra set themselves up to try and force an outright result in an Elite Group B fixture against Chandigarh in Chandigarh.Shaw got to the landmark off 141 balls, which is a shade behind Hyderabad’s Tanmay Agarwal (off 119 balls v Arunachal Pradesh in 2024-25) and Mumbai’s Ravi Shastri (off 123 balls v Baroda in 1984-85). Incidentally, Shastri hit six sixes in an over in that match, making him the first and only Indian yet to achieve this feat in first-class cricket.Shaw’s 222 contained 29 fours and five sixes, helping Maharashtra score at 6.9 an over as they declared their second innings on 359 for 3. Chandigarh then ended strongly on 129 for 1, needing a further 335 runs.Related

• Auqib Nabi, Prithvi Shaw and others who have lit up the Ranji Trophy

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• Services defeat Assam in 90 overs for shortest Ranji match

This is Shaw’s second impactful knock in four outings for his new side. Having begun with a four-ball duck on Maharashtra debut last week against Kerala in Trivandrum, he struck an aggressive 75 in the second innings to help consolidate their lead in a drawn fixture. In Chandigarh, Shaw managed just 8 in the first innings, before he stormed back into form with his double-century.Shaw’s up-turn in fortunes comes on the back of a forgettable 2024-25, where he found himself out of the Mumbai setup across formats. At the time, his poor fitness and lack of discipline had been cited as the reasons for his ouster. He also went unsold at the IPL mega auction last November.Ahead of the new domestic season, Shaw touched upon his work behind the scenes, including on his fitness and diet, during the pre-season Buchi Babu Invitational tournament in Tamil Nadu, where he flayed a century in his very first outing.”I mean, these two-three months [before the season] I had my trainer [working with me],” he had said. “He used to come personally to train me. And I’ve got a dietitian as well, and he gives me the meals [plan] and everything – like what a dietitian does. So, all this stuff in three-four months has really changed me physically and mentally as well. And, you know, it can be seen on the field.”Shaw had also said the transition to Maharashtra was smooth thanks to his familiarity with Ankit Bawne, the captain, and Ruturaj Gaikwad, with whom he’d played for India A.”Mumbai is not that far away from Maharashtra,” Shaw had said. “I mean, half of the team I know. I mean, obviously, I’ve played with Rutu, [and] Ankit; Mukesh [Choudhary] is there. Prashant Solanki and few other players are there. I just got to know a few youngsters. You know, Arshin [Kulkarni], Sachin Dhas and everyone. They have been really nice and welcoming to me.”While Shaw is unlikely to come into India conversations just yet, his knocks could serve a reminder to the selectors of his imposing presence at the crease should there be a need to pick a reserve opener, considering Abhimanyu Easwaran seems to have fallen out of favour for the moment. Devdutt Padikkal and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who could’ve been possible contenders, now bat in the middle order.Shaw has so far played five Tests, the most-recent one coming against Australia in Adelaide on the famous 2020-21 tour. His last appearance overall for India came in July 2021, when he featured in three ODIs and a lone T20I in Sri Lanka with a second-string India squad.

FIFA confirmed that the USMNT will be in pot 1 at the World Cup draw, and will avoid a number of top opponents in their group. Pots 2, 3 and 4 could yet be tricky, though, with a handful of teams that they have lost to in the previous year in the fold. The draw will be held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on Friday December 5.

• New seeding system set to benefit USA

  The USMNT are ranked No.14 in the world, and will get a leg up from the new draw system. All of the teams other than Canada and Mexico are ahead of them in the FIFA rankings. Thanks to their seeding, it is unlikely that the U.S. will meet any top sides such as Argentina, Spain, France and England until at least the round of 16 – assuming that most heavyweights win their group. 

  This method of seeding players is used in tennis, in a way which has led to several heavyweight final clashes between the current top two players in the world. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  World Cup draw nears as U.S. pathway will soon become clear

  While smaller nations will, perhaps rightly, claim that this new seeding system undermines sporting integrity by favouring the world’s most successful nations, a counter-argument would be the fact that all of the top four seeds still need to reach the semi-finals and could no doubt still face a difficult path in order to get there.

  With 10 days to go until the draw on December 5, the USMNT face a nervous wait to find out who they will face in the group stage of the competition. The likes of Scotland, Norway, Croatia or Italy (if they get through the play-offs) could potentially be on the cards for Mauricio Pochettino's side – as can Colombia, Croatia or highly rated Morocco.

  Match locations and kick-off times will then be announced the following day on December 6, as the tournament begins to come more clearly into view. 

• 'This will ensure' – FIFA issue statement on seeding pathway decision

  A FIFA statement said: "While the final draw will determine which teams play each other in the group stage, the updated match schedule, including the stadium assigned to each match and the respective kick-off time, will be confirmed on Saturday, 6 December.

  "The match allocation process that follows the draw aims to ensure the best possible conditions for all teams while, where possible, enabling fans all over the world to watch their teams play live across different time zones.

  "To ensure competitive balance, two separate pathways to the semi-finals have been established when developing the match schedule. In order to have a balanced distribution of the teams, the four highest-ranked teams … will have the following constraints: the highest-ranked team [Spain] and the second highest-ranked team [Argentina] will be randomly drawn into opposite pathways, and the same principle will apply to the third [France] and fourth [England] highest-ranked teams.

  "This will ensure that, should they win their groups, the two highest-ranked teams will not meet before the final."

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• AFP
  

  2026 World Cup comes ever nearer for the USMNT

  Recent results have looked good for Pochettino's side as they move towards the World Cup. The U.S. are on a five-game undefeated run, and ended their last camp with wins over Paraguay and Uruguay. 

  They will have one more international window in March – in which the U.S. will face Portugal and Belgium in Atlanta – before playing a duo of tune-up games for the tournament in the weeks before kick off. They will find out their group opponents next Friday, with the draw scheduled to start in the afternoon and the times released shortly after. 

According to a Thursday report from Bruce Levine on 670 The Score, Wrigley Field, the historic home of the Chicago Cubs, will host the MLB All-Star game in 2027. Wrigley Field will be 113 years old by the time it hosts the '27 midsummer classic. The Cubs have not hosted an All-Star weekend since 1990 (but Chicago hosted it in 2003 when the White Sox had it).

Wrigley Field underwent dramatic renovations and restorations between 2016 and '18, and in more recent years, areas around the ballpark have been the focus. That has included increased security in the area near the park, which is uniquely positioned inside the space of just one city block with residential and retail businesses a stone's throw away from all sides.

"The final thing that the Chicago Cubs needed to do [after major renovations] for Major League Baseball and Major League Baseball security [to award them the All-Star game] is to get these bollards which are going to cost the Cubs, the city of Chicago and the State of Illinois $30 million to put up to be able to be the host and to have a secure, what Major League Baseball and their security feels is a secure ballpark for an event like the All-Star game," Levine shared on the airwaves Thursday.

It sounds like that is largely expected to pass with the Cubs in line to be awarded the game officially this summer according to Levine's reporting.

An ordinance was introduced by Alderman Bennett Lawson (44th Ward) to the Chicago City Council on Wednesday regarding the anti-terrorism grade bollards. The proposed ordinance will also seek to widen the Addison Street sidewalks on the north side of the stadium.

The city agreed to contribute up to $10 million, funded by the 2014 Cubs Fund for neighborhood improvements, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Part of the reasoning for the bollards is that the stadium is so close to streets that the city has not allowed the Cubs to shut down completely during events. In particular, Addison, which runs east-west, and Clark, which runs north-south—the two streets intersect with one another where the iconic marquee sign is—have remained open on game days. Both are collector roads that move high volumes of traffic toward arterial roads like Ashland Avenue, Irving Park Road, and Lake Shore Drive.

For past big events, like Big 10 hockey and the NHL Winter Classic earlier this year, stationary vehicles blocked streets and pedestrian areas, but the bollards are expected to be more permanent fixtures of security operations, if approved.

The Cubs already close down Waveland and Sheridan with Meridian Archer gates on game days as of the 2023 season. The city of Chicago utilizes Archer barriers at Wrigley on occasion, which are moved around the city as needed.

After an 11-year Major League career that included two Gold Gloves, longtime St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong is retiring.

The Cardinals announced Wong's career decision on social media on Monday.

The 34-year-old Wong played eight of his 11 Major League seasons with the Cardinals. He also played two seasons for the Milwaukee Brewers, and spent the 2023 season with both the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers. He did not play a season ago.

Wong won two Gold Gloves as a second baseman in St. Louis, one in 2019, and another in '20.

He finishes his career with a .256 batting average and 86 home runs, 405 RBI and 120 stolen bases.

Leeds United have now made contact over signing a midfield star who’s been likened to Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard, according to recent reports.

Daniel Farke Leeds "preparing" for January window

There’s no rest for the wicked and Leeds’ clash against Liverpool at Elland Road represents another tough test for Daniel Farke’s side, who have already squared off against Manchester City and Chelsea this week.

On paper, the visit of the reigning champions should be a daunting task, but Liverpool’s crown has been snatched this season and the Reds find themselves in the middle of a disastrous defence. Leeds, meanwhile, just ran Man City close and swept past Chelsea in shocking fashion. Those at Elland Road couldn’t be facing Liverpool at a better time.

Victory over Slot’s side could take the Whites five points clear of the dropzone if results go their way in a crucial step towards survival as the festive fixtures arrive thick and fast.

Meanwhile, as things progress on the pitch, the 49ers are already “planning” ahead for the January transfer window, according to Farke. The Leeds boss told reporters earlier this week: “I have not one second to think about what could happen, it also depends on injuries and how the players deliver in these upcoming games.

“I spoke in the summer about what he might have liked to sign and this has not gone away, in the background we are preparing but now is not the time to speak about it.”

Leeds now prioritising £35m move to sign South American defender ahead of Juventus

He’d be one of their most expensive arrivals.

ByTom Cunningham Dec 5, 2025

On that front, names such as Nilson Angulo have emerged as reported targets. The impressive winger has been dubbed one of Europe’s standout wingers this season and would certainly inject some added spark to Farke’s frontline.

The same can be said for Jens Hjerto-Dahl. The midfielder has been likened to fellow Norway star Odegaard and now finds himself on the radar of those at Elland Road.

Leeds make contact over signing Jens Hjerto-Dahl

As reported by TeamTalk, Leeds have now made contact to sign Hjerto-Dahl in 2026, but face competition from Rangers, Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Tromso midfielder has built up an impressive reputation in Norway for his ability as a goalscoring box-crasher – scoring five goals in 35 games in all competitions this season – and could now get the chance to do that in the Premier League.

Described as “powerful” by scout Kai Watson, Hjerto-Dahl was likened to Odegaard when he was linked with a move to Brighton earlier this month and Leeds should go all out to land his signature.

The towering star certainly fits the physical profile of what’s needed in the Premier League these days, but it remains to be seen if clubs act as early as January.

Farke must unleash "wonderkid" who'd be perfect for Nmecha's new Leeds role