Fueled by Rice, Arsenal Ready for Next Step in Title Race

Arsenal cannot hide behind the "plucky underdogs" tag this season as heavy spending means they will be expected to be Manchester City's main Premier League title rivals again.

Mikel Arteta's side were the surprising pacesetters last season, spending almost the whole campaign top before their form collapsed in April and they finished five points behind City.

Arsenal won only three of their last nine league games as fatigue and injuries bit, yet the season was deemed a success with the club not even widely tipped to finish in the top four.

This time expectations will be very different.

The signings of England midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham United for about 100 million pounds ($127.50 million), Kai Havertz from Chelsea for 65 million pounds and defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax Amsterdam for 40 million euros ($43.90 million)has significantly strengthened Arsenal's core.

Those three signings were all completed early in the closed season meaning Arsenal should be ready to hit the ground running when they kick off at home to Nottingham Forest next Saturday.

While Rice's price tag appears over-inflated, he looks capable of giving Arsenal the drive their midfield began to lack in the closing months of the campaign.

Rice's control of the engine room should give captain Martin Odegaard the freedom further forward to come up with the kind of match-winning displays that have made him a firm favorite with the Arsenal faithful.

Havertz, despite scoring Chelsea's winner in the 2021 Champion League final, flattered to deceive at times. But a change of scene, and fresh ideas from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, could see the German thrive in the midfield position vacated by Granit Xhaka who has joined Bayer Leverkusen.

Timber offers the sort of defensive depth Arsenal sadly lacked after France's William Saliba was injured in March.

Enviable cast

Up front Arsenal have an enviable cast list with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus giving them pace, guile and goals to rival any of the top sides.

So with all the pieces of the jigsaw in place, it would be a surprise if Arsenal were not to build on last season's 84 points and challenge City for the title.

The flip side of Arsenal's re-emergence is that this season they will have to live with the kind of expectation City have become so adept at handling.

But, as Rice explains, that is why he joined.

"Of course, there's going to be more pressure on us. There's going to be more pressure on everyone around the club to perform and win stuff," he said during Arsenal's pre-season build-up in California, which included a 5-3 win over Barcelona.

"The players will have learned a hell of a lot with that title run, and this year is about going that one step ahead.

"I wouldn't have chosen Arsenal if I didn't believe that this club was going to go back into the big time, where they can win big trophies and compete for the biggest awards."

This weekend's Community Shield against City should offer an early indicator of what lies ahead.

Heavy rains in Paris have led to the cancellation on Sunday of a swimming event in the River Seine that was to be a test for next year’s Summer Olympics, but Games organizers say the waterway will be better prepared in 2024.

The Open Water Swimming World Cup event was canceled because "the water quality in the Seine has remained below acceptable standards for safeguarding swimmers’ health," French Swimming Federation (FFN) said in a statement Sunday.

Water quality falls below acceptable standards when rains cause overflows of untreated waste into the Seine. France’s capital city is spending massively on water-management projects that officials say will make pollution caused by storms less frequent.

World Aquatics' President Husain al-Musallam said the organization is "disappointed... but the health of our athletes must always be our top priority.

"World Aquatics remains excited at the prospect of city-center Olympic racing for the world’s best open water swimmers next summer. However, this weekend has demonstrated that it is absolutely imperative that robust contingency plans are put in place," he said in the statement.

The Seine is the venue for marathon swimming at the Games next summer and the swimming leg of the Olympic and Paralympic triathlon.

Paris Olympics organizers and the city’s authorities said in a joint statement Sunday that "in recent weeks, water quality in the Seine has regularly reached the levels required for competitions to be held on the dedicated site, demonstrating the significant progress made."

They said water quality will be closely monitored in the coming days in the hope that triathletes can race in the Seine during a test event scheduled on August 17-20.

"By 2024, new infrastructure will be delivered to further improve rainwater treatment to improve water quality," they said.

Those public works include a giant underground reservoir in Paris that will stock excess water during storms, so it doesn’t have to be spilled untreated into the river and can be treated later.

They also say the schedule for Olympic events in the river can be adjusted next year if the water quality doesn’t allow them to take place on their original dates.

Their statement said the recent weather was "exceptional," with the Paris region seeing its heaviest summer rainfalls since 1965.

In the end, Sam Kerr wasn't needed as Australia advanced to the knockout stages of the Women's World Cup.

But the Matildas’ inspirational captain is finally expected to get on the field against Denmark in the round of 16 on Monday,

“I’m really excited. I will play,” Kerr told Australia's Nine TV network.

The star striker has been sidelined since injuring her left calf on the eve of co-host Australia's first game against Ireland on July 20.

Though she recovered well enough to make the bench against Canada, coach Tony Gustavsson didn't have to ask the Chelsea forward to perform a rescue act as the Matildas routed the Olympic champion 4-0 to top Group B.

While it is still not clear if she will be in the starting 11 against Denmark, both Kerr and Gustavsson are talking as if she will make her entrance at the World Cup at Stadium Australia.

“We had a nice moment as a team yesterday, to see her back with the boots on and touching the ball and be with the team training," Gustavsson said Sunday. "And it was a very good feeling for her and a very good feeling for the players and the teammates and a very good feeling for me.

“Today she was off-feet. It’s all an individual plan for her in training - I trust my (medical) team 100% to prepare her the best way possible."

Gustavsson said he was working on “how to get the best out of Sam Kerr” in the game.

Kerr is one of the biggest sports stars in Australia and has been the face of the country's preparations for the World Cup, which it is co-hosting with New Zealand.

Considered one of the best players in the world, she helped Chelsea to a Women's Super League and FA Cup double last season.

The 29-year-old Kerr was one of the favorites to be the leading scorer in this tournament, but there were initial doubts she would be able to play any part for Australia after sustaining a calf injury in training.

She has won four league titles with Chelsea, as well as three FA Cups and two League Cups.

Kerr scored the winner as Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0 in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium last season. The game was played in front of a crowd of 77,390.

Nigeria breezed through what was dubbed the "group of death" at the Women's World Cup, but a victory over England on Monday and a berth in the quarter-finals would be one of most significant accomplishments in his team's history, coach Randy Waldrum said.

"It would be a huge win," Waldrum told reporters on Sunday, a day ahead of Nigeria's last-16 match with the Lionesses.

"Obviously, with what we've accomplished, Nigeria is buzzing again from what I understand, and I don't think people expected us to get out of the group and to get the results that we've gotten. So, I think it's already been a big success."

Nigeria arrived Down Under with a 40th world ranking and mired in a money dispute with their federation that, according to media reports, threatened Waldrum's job before the tournament even kicked off.

But Waldrum praised his players as being laser-focused on the pitch, drawing Olympic champions Canada and Ireland (both 0-0) and beating Australia 3-2 to finish second in Group B.

"Obviously, if you can not only, now, have (knocked out) the Olympic gold medalist, but if you can turn around and beat the European champions, then it'd be something extremely special back home for all the people in Nigeria and more importantly, too, for the squad," Waldrum said.

"It certainly could be transformational in a lot of different ways."

The Super Falcons flew under the radar into the global tournament, largely due to their fourth-place finish at the African Cup of Nations, but Waldrum said his squad has trained and played with a lot of confidence since their arrival.

Nigeria are playing in their ninth World Cup, their top finish being a quarter-final appearance in 1999. They are one of three African nations to make the round-of-16, a first for the tournament. South Africa, who were eliminated in a 2-0 loss to the Netherlands on Sunday, and Morocco were the other two.

"I have watched, just like you all have, this World Cup unfold and seen some of the story lines that are out there, with teams that are successful," Waldrum, an American, said.

"The African teams, the talent is there, so maybe people outside of Africa may be shocked about it, but I don't think those in Africa really are, because they see the talent level."

Nigerian striker Desire Oparanozie could make her first World Cup appearance on Monday after picking up an injury in training.

Waldrum said Oparanozie's status is undetermined, but "the good thing is she's now available."

Netherlands advanced to the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup on Sunday with a 2-0 win over South Africa.

Jill Roord and Lineth Beerensteyn scored in each half at the Sydney Football Stadium to secure the 2019 runners-up a place in the last eight.

But South Africa, one of the surprise teams of the tournament, gave the Dutch some nervous moments, forcing goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar into a string of saves to keep Thembi Kgatlana at bay.

Netherlands lost to the US team in the World Cup final four years ago and look like contenders again after finishing above the Americans in Group E.

South Africa had already exceeded expectations by advancing to the knockout stage for the first time after its dramatic 3-2 win over Italy in its final group game.

But goals from Roord in the ninth minute and Beerensteyn in the 68th, after an error from keeper Kaylin Swart, ended its unlikely run.

Netherlands went close to taking the lead just before Roord's goal when Esmee Brugts swung in a curling shot that Swart had to push over the bar.

Roord struck from the resulting corner.

Sherida Spitse’s cross was headed toward goal by Lieke Martens, which forced Swart into action again. But from her save, the ball looped in the air and Roord headed over the line from close range to score her fourth goal of the tournament.

Danielle van de Donk was close to extending the lead but was denied by the feet of Swart from inside the box, and Kgatlana tested Van Domselaar as South Africa showed its threat on the break.

Kgatlana came closer still when through on goal just before the halftime, but couldn’t find a way past Van Domselaar.

South Africa ended the half the stronger as Kgatlana repeatedly burst beyond the Netherlands defense.

Its response to going behind was even more impressive, considering it had to contend with injuries to Jermaine Seoposenwe and Bambanani Mbane in the first half.

Netherlands regained control after the restart and the Dutch thought they'd doubled their lead when Martens turned and converted in the 54th. But their celebrations were cut short when it was ruled out on VAR review for offside.

South Africa offered little threat as it struggled to get possession and Netherlands scored its second after an error from Swart.

Beerensteyn’s weak shot should have been easily caught by Swart, but she allowed it to squirm out of her control and over the line.

Just as in the first half, Netherlands’ goal sparked a reaction from the South African players and Linda Motlhalo was denied when Van Domselaar pushed her low effort round the post.

The only negative for Netherlands was a yellow card for Van de Donk, who will now miss the quarterfinal match against Spain.

Manchester United signed Denmark striker Rasmus Højlund from Atalanta on Saturday in a move that ends the Premier League club's search for a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo.Højlund cost an initial 64 million pounds ($82 million) and that fee could go up by a further 8 million pounds ($10 million) dependent on his success. He has signed a five-year contract with an option to extend by 12 months.“It is no secret that I have been a fan of this great club since I was a small boy, and I dreamed of walking out at Old Trafford as a Manchester United player," Højlund said. “I am incredibly excited by this opportunity to turn that dream into a reality, and I am determined to repay the faith that the club has shown in me.”In an offseason that has seen United repeatedly linked with a move for Harry Kane, the club has opted to go with an emerging talent in Europe, rather than one of the most prolific strikers of his generation.The 20-year-old Højlund has impressed with his performances for Atalanta in the Italian league, but only scored 10 goals in all competitions in his one season with the club. He has played less than 100 senior games."It is still early in my career, but I know that I am ready to make this step up and play with this group of world-class players,” The Associated Press quoted him as saying.Højlund had previously been identified as a rising prospect with Copenhagen in his home country and then with Austrian team Sturm Graz.“Rasmus is a truly exceptional talent; he possesses technical and physical attributes which rank him amongst the best players in the world for his age group," United football director John Murtough said. “Working under Erik ten Hag and his coaches will provide Rasmus with the perfect development platform; everyone across the club will ensure that he is given the time and all the support required to reach his immense potential.”Højlund is unlikely to be available at the start of the season after sustaining a tissue injury in training with Atalanta. He is recovering and has been able to train, but it is likely to take a few weeks before he can play. United opens its Premier League season on Aug. 14 against Wolverhampton.Ten Hag has been looking for a center forward since Ronaldo's departure last November and, as well as Kane, had been linked with Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.Kane's price tag had been seen as an obstacle to a move to United, while there were doubts Tottenham would be prepared to sell to a Premier League rival. Bayern Munich appears to be leading the race to sign the England captain, who will become a free agent at the end of the season.Højlund has been handed one of the most prestigious jobs in soccer as United's striker.It is also one of the most demanding, having been held by some of the sport's greats like Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Ronaldo.A number of players have struggled to handle the role of leading United's attack with even high-profile forwards Romelu Lukaku and Edinson Cavani both failing to impress when signed in recent years.In Højlund, United has opted against a readymade striker who has already established himself at the top of the sport.“Once I had spoken to the manager, I knew that this environment would be perfect for my development," Højlund said. "I am relishing the opportunity to work with one of the best coaches in the world. Under his guidance and support I know that I am capable of achieving great things together with my new teammates at this special club.”Højlund is United's third major signing of the offseason following deals for midfielder Mason Mount and goalkeeper Andre Onana.Ten Hag led the club back into the Champions League in his first season in charge and also won the English League Cup.There is an expectation to challenge for the Premier League title in his second year at the club.While United finished third last season, any hopes of a title challenge were undermined by the lack of a top quality center forward following Ronaldo's departure.Marcus Rashford scored a career-best 30 goals in all competitions, but Ten Hag spoke of the need for more goals throughout his team, rather than relying too heavily on the England striker.“Throughout the summer we have acted quickly and decisively to secure our primary targets early in the transfer window," Murtough said. "This will ensure that Erik and his coaches have the best opportunity to prepare the squad to push for further success in the exciting campaign ahead.”

Chelsea signed goalkeeper Robert Sanchez from Brighton on a seven-year contract on Saturday.The transfer fee was reported to be 25 million pounds ($32 million) for the Spain international, who is expected to challenge Kepa Arrizabalaga for a starting spot.The 25-year-old Sanchez made 23 Premier League appearances last season. He joined Brighton as a teenager and progressed through the club’s academy, becoming the Seagulls’ first-choice goalkeeper during the 2020-21 season.Chelsea, which hosts Liverpool on Aug. 13 in its season opener, has made seven summer signings under new manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Taylor Fritz found the whole thing “annoying” when climate protesters briefly interrupted his match against Andy Murray at the DC Open tennis tournament on Friday.Action was delayed in the first set of Fritz's 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4 victory when some jumbo tennis balls were tossed onto the court in the event's main stadium.In the stands, some people chanted and displayed signs protesting the use of fossil fuels. About a dozen people were asked to leave the tournament and did so without incident, a spokesperson for the tournament said.“I get they’re protesting, but there’s just got to be a better way to do it,” said Fritz, a 25-year-old from California who is No. 9 in the ATP rankings and the top-seeded man at the DC Open.“I don’t understand how people are going to get behind a cause when you’re ruining everyone else’s good time. Like, it doesn’t really make sense to me. ... It’s annoying, obviously, when they do it. It’s ruining everyone’s time. Everyone wants to watch the tennis. So I jokingly said, ‘Honestly, this makes me want to go fly on jets more,’" Fritz said with a smile, according to The Associated Press. "I think, you know, they’re supporting a good cause, but the way they’re doing it, who’s going to want to listen when they’re just annoying everybody?”

At Wimbledon last month, three environmental activists were arrested after jumping out of the stands to disrupt matches by scattering orange confetti and puzzle pieces on the court.

Jurgen Klopp finds himself in familiar territory again, having to drag Liverpool back to the Premier League's top four after a humbling 2022-23 campaign and seeing his midfield gutted in the close season.

Liverpool missed out on the top four after a poor start last season, still reeling from the hazy hangover of an exhausting 63-game 2021-22 campaign.

After six seasons in the Champions League, where Klopp's side reached the final three times and won the trophy in 2019, Liverpool now find themselves back in the Europa League.

Premier League clubs sacked 14 managers last season but Klopp, currently the longest-serving coach at a single club in England's top flight, was never in danger of losing his job.

He is cherished by the Kop and is virtually untouchable as fans pointed fingers at the club's hierarchy for their lack of transfer business.

Liverpool did not inject fresh blood into an ageing midfield while injuries in the forward line scuppered a title challenge.

Midfield hole

Liverpool have to fill a gaping hole in midfield with skipper Jordan Henderson and Fabinho moving to the Saudi Pro League while James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain left for free with nothing more to offer.

The transfer window began well with the early captures of the dependable Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai as they got pre-season minutes under Klopp's system.

Mac Allister's calm presence between the lines and his counter-pressing ability will be welcome while Szoboszlai scored as many goals as all Liverpool midfielders combined last season at RB Leipzig.

But Liverpool have since hit a speed bump and the number of arrivals have not kept pace with departures, especially with young Fabio Carvalho also going out on loan.

They have not yet agreed on a fee for Southampton's Romeo Lavia and that leaves Klopp with just the injury-prone Thiago as his most experienced midfielder alongside youngsters Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott.

Tactical switch

However, the tactical switch of new vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold from right back to midfielder makes for an intriguing prospect after it revitalized Liverpool's season and helped them finish fifth.

A fully fit Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz will boost Klopp's forward options while Darwin Nunez has had a full season's bedding-in period to evolve into a sharper striker and take the goal scoring burden off Mohamed Salah.

Cody Gakpo also showed encouraging signs in half a season since his January arrival and Klopp will need all the backup he can get as they embark on not only a top-four challenge but also a grueling Europa League campaign.

Returning to the Champions League will be their first priority, which is why a top four finish -- or even winning the Europa League -- will be the bare minimum that is expected of Liverpool.

After Erik ten Hag's first season in charge delivered an upturn in fortunes for Manchester United, there is a genuine sense of optimism around England's most successful club for the first time in a decade.

Since United last won the Premier League title under Alex Ferguson in 2013, David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have all failed to revive former glories - but Ten Hag appears to be making progress.

Last year, he took charge of a United side that had collected their lowest-ever Premier League points tally (58) in the 2021-22 season and were in a five-year trophy drought.

The former Ajax manager has built a team centered around big personalities like Bruno Fernandes, Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro, which is direct in attack and works tirelessly off the ball.

The turnaround has been remarkable, with a top-four finish in the Premier League, the League Cup trophy and a place in the FA Cup final to show for last season.

Stronger squad

There were serious blips, however, with heavy defeats at Liverpool, Brentford, Manchester City and Sevilla, and weaknesses exposed by those capitulations have been addressed during the transfer window.

England's Mason Mount has been drafted in to give United more options in midfield while Andre Onana is a strong replacement at goalkeeper for the increasingly error-prone David de Gea.

United's search for a striker also appears to be at an end, with British media reporting that an agreement has been reached with Atalanta over young Dane Rasmus Hojlund.

"I think the difference is, with reference to last year, now we have the foundation with this squad," Ten Hag told reporters.

"Because we built the foundation last season. So (we built) the squad, the way of play, and now we have to find the right players to fit in and to raise the bar."

United have done well to tie striker Marcus Rashford down to a long-term contract after a stellar campaign in which he scored 30 goals across all competitions.

Club ownership

However, despite cause for cheer on the pitch, the club's protracted takeover talks have cast a long shadow over the season.

United's US owners in November announced that they were considering selling the club, but nearly nine months later a deal appears no closer - with British media reporting that takeover talks have paused in recent weeks.

A change at the helm, especially in the middle of the season, may have damaging consequences, as evidenced by Chelsea's dire campaign under new ownership.

In Ten Hag, however, United have a manager who has proved to be adept at handling off-field distractions, earning praise for the tact he displayed in dealing with Cristiano Ronaldo's discipline issues last year.

He has also shown a readiness to make tough decisions, stripping defender Harry Maguire of the team captaincy and dropping Rashford in a 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in December for disciplinary reasons.

If Ten Hag can stop the uncertainty over the club's ownership from spilling over into his dressing room, United have reason to believe they can challenge seriously to win the Premier League and end the recent dominance of Manchester City.

Newcastle United will start the season truly back amongst the big boys for the first time in a couple of decades with expectation levels sky high on Tyneside.

After year's of discontent and gloom, the fog that engulfed the serial under-achievers has lifted and a bright new dawn arrived last season when Eddie Howe's side finished fourth.

Fans of the club, majority owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) since 2021, used to begin campaigns fretting about the possibility of relegation.

Now, after a stunning resurgence they have gate-crashed the top table of English football and will return to the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2003.

Impressively, Newcastle's rise is not all about spending the money that is clearly now at their disposal.

Astute signings, rather than Hollywood buys, have been the order of the day with Howe constructing a team imbued with a high work ethic and well-defined method.

Fans will lament the sale of winger Allan Saint-Maximin.

But it is a case of "in Howe we trust" and the recruitment of English winger Harvey Barnes and Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali have added depth to the squad.

Newcastle also signed teenaged winger Yankuba Minteh from Odense as they look to build a team that can cement their place amongst the elite, rather than be a flash in the pan.

There will be challenges this season. The Champions League will stretch the squad and the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur will be eager to re-assert themselves after being replaced by Newcastle in the top four.

And for all the good vibes sweeping the Magpies, the club's trophy cabinet is still gathering dust.

They got close to ending the 55-year wait for a top-level trophy last season, only to lose the League Cup final to Manchester United.

So, while competing towards the top of the Premier League and enjoying the Champions League nights will rekindle the heady days of Bobby Robson and Kevin Keegan, Newcastle can be expected to take the domestic cups seriously too.

The core of Howe's team proved ultra-reliable last season with keeper Nick Pope, central defender Sven Botman, right back Kieran Trippier and midfielder Bruno Guimaraes enjoying levels of consistency that are a manager's dream.

They will have to reach the same standards this season for Newcastle to continue to thrive.

Newcastle finished with 71 points but even as that campaign finished, Howe was focused on the challenges ahead -- knowing they must not stand still.

"There are no guarantees, we have to earn the right to be the team that people want us to be," Howe said.

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