Why this "Future of Arsenal" picture from 2012 may now reduce Gunners' fans to tears

Volleyball: Poland beats Iran 3:0

Poland beat Iran 3:0 during Saturday's FIVB Volleyball World League 2017 match in Łódź, central Poland.

This is the fourth win by the Polish team in this year's competition, which has extended Poland's chances of advancing to the Final Six.
Poland “ensured that they stay in contention for the Final Six after their quick straight-set win over Iran,” the FIVB Volleyball World League wrote on its website.
“Michał Kubiak and Dawid Konarski teamed-up to lead the Polish offence, while Iran struggled as they players were held to produce only single-digit outputs.”
Following the game, Poland’s head coach Ferdinando De Giorgi said: “Today we were eager to play a very different game than the last time. I am very happy that my players were focused and stayed in the game and would like to congratulate them. It was visible that they want to play a different match and of course, I am glad that we earned these three points.”
Poland will next play against the US on Sunday. (rg)

RUGBY: Wales wing Alex Cuthbert out of Samoa clash with shoulder ligament damage.

 

Wales will be forced into at least five changes to their starting XV in Apia. 
Wales wing Alex Cuthbert has been ruled out of Friday’s Test against Samoa with a shoulder injury.
The news represents a further blow to Wales coach Robin McBryde, who on Saturday lost Gareth Davies, Kristian Dacey, Cory Hill and Tomas Francis to the British and Irish Lions.
Cuthbert, 27, scored a superb individual try before suffering ligament damage attempting to score another against Tonga in Auckland on Friday, and was forced off at half-time.

McBryde said: “Alex has been in excellent form leading into this tour and that was there for all to see at Eden Park on Friday. It’s a shame he’s had to leave us at this juncture.
“Alex has also been a great influence off the field with the younger players in the squad. I know he’ll work hard now to be back in action for Cardiff Blues’ pre-season.”
Wales’ squad to face Tonga featured nine uncapped players and more debutants are likely with McBryde now shorn of five further players who started the first Test of their two-game tour.
Temperatures are expected to touch 30 degrees Celsius in Apia and quickly acclimatising to the sweltering heat was at the top of McBryde’s priorities when his team arrived on Sunday.

Samoa were hammered 78-0 by New Zealand, but centre Kieron Fonotia is confident his team can bounce back against McBryde’s men.
Ospreys centre Fonotia, who was born in Christchurch but qualifies for Samoa through his grandfather, will make his first visit to his adopted country this weekend after making his international debut against the All Blacks. He has warned his team-mates Wales fly-half and Ospreys colleague Sam Davies must be stopped.
“I’ve never been to Samoa and it will be my first time, but I’m pumped to get there,” Fonotia said. “I caught up with a few of the Wales guys in New Zealand. I know they’re looking forward to the game and playing against your mates is always fun.
“Sam is a very gifted player. He always seems to have a bit of time when he takes the ball to the line. We want to give it a really good crack and, in my eyes, Sam is the main danger for Wales. He’s good at making the right decision at the right time, he’s classy and he’s got a good kicking game.”

football: West Ham United 'trying to sign Olivier Giroud'

West Ham United are reportedly attempting to sign Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud.
The 30-year-old only started 11 Premier League matches for Arsenal during the 2016-17 campaign, but he still managed 12 goals in England's top flight, and 16 in all competitions for the season.
Giroud only signed a new contract with the Gunners during the January transfer window, but it has recently been claimed that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will allow the France international to depart for the right price before the start of the 2017-18 campaign.
West Ham are desperate to sign the France international in this summer's transfer window, and will offer the centre-forward guaranteed first-team football if he makes the move to the London Stadium.
Ashley Fletcher and Jonathan Calleri have both struggled to make their mark with the Hammers, while Andy Carroll started just 15 Premier League matches last season after struggling with injury.

Sporting Lisbon 'want Patrick Roberts on loan'

Sporting Lisbon have reportedly joined the race to sign Manchester City attacker Patrick Roberts on loan.
Roberts, 20, has spent the last 16 months on loan at Celtic, scoring 17 times in 60 appearances for the Scottish giants.
It is understood that the Hoops are desperate to sign the former Fulham youngster on a permanent deal this summer, although Nice and Huddersfield Town have also been linked with a move.
Sporting are also interested in signing the England youth international, who has won two Scottish Premiership titles, in addition to one Scottish League Cup and one Scottish Cup since joining Celtic on loan.
Sporting Lisbon are 18-time winners of the Primeira Liga, but they have not landed the top prize in Portuguese football since 2002, and finished 12 points behind champions Benfica last season.

Chinese President reaffirms desire for country to host World Cup in meeting with FIFA President

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Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed his country's desire to host the World Cup "in the future" during a meeting with FIFA counterpart Gianni Infantino.

Xi told Infantino the nation wishes to stage FIFA's flagship competition "at some stage".
Speculation has been growing in recent months that China, which has never hosted the tournament, would launch a bid for either the 2030 or 2034 World Cup.
Xi is spearheading a drive to develop Chinese football and has not hidden his wish that the country will one day host the event, with a view to eventually lifting the trophy.
It includes plans to make the game accessible to more than 30 million primary and secondary school children by 2020, as well as creating up to 20,000 football schools and laying 70,000 pitches.
"In addition the Chinese President expressed his hope, and the dream of many Chinese people, that the country would have the opportunity to host a FIFA Men's World Cup at some stage in the future," a FIFA statement released after the meeting said.
China is not officially allowed to enter the race for the 2030 tournament at this stage as FIFA's current rules prevent another Asian country from bidding until 2034 at the earliest.
This is due to a continental rotation policy with Qatar staging the competition in 2022.
FIFA's ruling Council discussed the idea of altering their statutes regarding its World Cup rotation policy to go against the ruling "if circumstances so require" during its meeting prior to the Congress in Bahrain last month.

Xi Jinping is hopeful the country will host the tournament at some stage

It was not put forward to the full Congress as FIFA instead decided to install a working group to look into any possible statute changes.
Speculation of a possible bid has also been fuelled by sponsorship deals struck between Chinese companies and world football's governing body.
Three companies from the nation - smartphone provider Vivo, electronics maker Hisense and Dalian Wanda Group - have all signed agreements with FIFA in the past year.
Vivo and Hisense are both sponsors of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, while media conglomerate Dalian became a top-level FIFA partner in March 2016.
Infantino thanked Xi for his contribution to football in China and said he looked forward to closer relations with the country going forward.
"I was very honoured to meet with President Xi and we shared many opinions and ideas about the development of football, not only in China, but throughout the world," Infantino said.
"Today marks the kick-off of a new and closer cooperation between China and FIFA for the future of football.
"China will play an important role in improving access to the game and we are grateful to President Xi for his support in this matter.
"We look forward to many future projects together."