Sports

Bruno Guimaraes: Midfielder can help Arsenal reach next level, says Mikel Arteta

Published

1 hour ago

August 9, 2026

Mikel Arteta said the signing of Bruno Guimaraes will help Arsenal go to the “next level” and hinted that the Gunners are not done with their summer transfer activity.

The signing of Guimaraes for £75m from Newcastle United was officially announced on Saturday and the 28-year-old midfielder was introduced to the fans inside Emirates Stadium before the match against Borussia Dortmund.

Guimaraes was not included in the matchday squad for the 3-2 loss to Dortmund but is likely to be involved in the game against Como on Wednesday.

Arteta was quick to explain why he was so keen to bring the Brazilian to north London.

“I’m delighted to have him,” he said. “We see very clearly – especially the energy that he brought immediately to the training ground – the hunger, the desire to come here and create a big history at the club.

“And that’s the ambition that we need.

“We want to go to the next level and are very, very much convinced that we’re going to need players with such a personality, desire and character to push everybody inside the organisation to go even higher.”

The signing of Guimaraes means Arteta now has plenty of choice in midfield with Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Martin Zubimendi, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino all options in the middle of the pitch.

And Arteta went into detail about what he hopes Guimaraes can bring to the Arsenal side this season as they look to defend their Premier League title.

“On the pitch, versatility to play in two different positions in relation to what we want or the opponent does,” he said.

“A player which obviously has tremendous timing and intuition to win the ball back and progress play very, very fast.

“He’s a player that is very comfortable putting people through, moving between the lines, moving in behind.

“And then he’s a goal threat. He’s got a smell and a really good timing to get in the box. And he has the capacity to finish the actions.”

Arsenal have already completed the signing of Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge and brought in goalkeeper Illan Meslier on a free transfer.

The Gunners pursued Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr but the forward signed a new six-year deal to remain in Spain. Yet Arteta was clear Arsenal are going to continue to try to be ambitious in the transfer market

“Well, that’s what we’re trying to do. If we have the right player in the market to make us much better. We are very much looking forward to that.”

The Arsenal manager also gave an update on the fitness of Jurrien Timber, saying he is still “weeks away” from returning to fitness, while William Saliba is another long-term absentee as he recovers from a back injury.

Sports

World number one Jannik Sinner to miss Cincinnati Open because of knee injury

Published

5 minutes ago

August 9, 2026

qasimgillani

World number one Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from this week’s Cincinnati Open because of a knee injury, but still expects to be fit for the US Open later this month.

The 24-year-old Italian won his fifth Grand Slam singles title by beating Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final last month, but has not played since.

“After consulting with my doctors and my team, I have to announce that I need to withdraw from the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati,” Sinner said.

“My right knee has been bothering me and even though we have been working hard with my medical team, I have to accept I’m not ready to compete yet.

“I’m very disappointed not to be able to play in Cincinnati. I can’t wait to be back next year and I’m now focusing on getting ready for the US Open.”

The Cincinnati Open main draw begins on 13 August, with the final on 23 August. Zverev and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic are among those in action.

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz won the 2025 event and was leading 5-0 in the final against Sinner, before the Italian had to retire because of illness.

But world number two Alcaraz, 23, will not be there to defend his title as he has not played since the Barcelona Open in April because of a wrist injury.

The US Open, the last Grand Slam of the year, takes place in New York from 30 August to 13 September.

Sports

How to watch Astros vs. Padres: TV channel and streaming options for August 9

Published

12 minutes ago

August 9, 2026

qasimgillani

Aug. 9, 2026 1:20 pm EDT Updated

Christian Walker brings an 11-game hitting streak into the Houston Astros’ game versus the San Diego Padres, at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday, at Petco Park. Randy Vasquez (7-6, 4.19 ERA) gets the start for the Padres, who are 61-57 this season and third in the NL West. Cristian Javier (1-2, 6.59 ERA) is the expected starter for the Astros, who are 60-58 and first in the AL West.

How to watch Houston Astros vs. San Diego Padres

Astros vs. Padres odds

Favorite Moneyline: Padres -125
Underdog Moneyline: Astros +105
Total: 9
Total Over Odds: -110
Total Under Odds: -110

Injury reports

Padres

Miguel Andujar: 10 Day IL (Wrist), Samad Taylor: 10 Day IL (Oblique), David Morgan: 15 Day IL (Knee), Lucas Giolito: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Jason Adam: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Joe Musgrove: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Bryan Hoeing: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Ramon Laureano: 60 Day IL (Hip), Nick Pivetta: 60 Day IL (Elbow)

Astros

Brice Matthews: 10 Day IL (Knee), Mike Burrows: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Carlos Correa: 60 Day IL (Ankle), Brandon Walter: 60 Day IL (Elbow)

Stats to know

Fernando Tatis Jr. is hitting for a .281 BA, .352 OBP and .409 SLG with a 19.3% strikeout rate and a 9.2% walk rate. His OPS is .760 and he has scored 63 runs. In 513 plate appearances, he has hit 10 home runs and driven in 51 runs. Tatis has been crafty on the base paths, recording 26 steals on 38 attempts.
In 488 plate appearances, Manny Machado is hitting .212/.298/.421 with a .719 OPS. He has hit 23 long balls, driven in 70 runs (20th in MLB) and scored 60 times.
Yordan Alvarez is hitting for a .325 BA, .439 OBP and .630 SLG with a 17.3% strikeout rate and a 16% walk rate. His OPS is 1.069, which ranks 1st in MLB, and he has scored 79 runs. In 513 plate appearances, he has hit 35 home runs (1st in MLB) and driven in 86 runs (2nd in MLB).
In 472 plate appearances, Isaac Paredes has slashed .253/.347/.418 this season. He has hit 15 long balls and driven in 60 runs with a strikeout rate of 14.6% and a walk rate of 9.5%. and has scored 45 runs.

This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.

Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

Photo: Jamie Squire, Ishika Samant, Scott Taetsch, Alika Jenner / Getty Images

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Sports

Liverpool: Reds ‘cannot sustain level’, says Andoni Iraola

Published

18 minutes ago

August 9, 2026

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Iraola has two pre-season games remaining – a double-header against Como on 16 August – before their Premier League season gets under way.

In two weeks time, when they begin their top-flight campaign at Newcastle, the question remains as to who will partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-back.

Alongside Alisson and Cody Gakpo, Van Dijk made his return against Monaco after an extended post-World Cup break.

Van Dijk started the game with 18-year-old Ifeanyi Ndukwe, who looks like a terrific talent but will have to go on loan this season due to work permit issues. It spoke volumes that Liverpool finished the game with Luke Chambers and Wataru Endo at centre-back.

Ronald Araujo, 27, completed his medical on Sunday as his season-long loan move from Barcelona – with an option to buy for around £47.2m – nears completion, while Jeremy Jacquet, 21, is yet to be involved in full training since completing his move from Rennes.

Jacquet suffered a shoulder injury in February and has recently struggled with a minor knee problem, but Liverpool are optimistic he could play next weekend against Como.

“Jeremy Jacquet, we were in doubt whether to put him in,” said Iraola. “We decided not to, but he should be fine for the next one. It’s taking a bit more time than we were expecting.”