On Monday, the teaser trailer and poster for the upcoming function movie, Thunderbolts* debuted. Marvel Studios and a crew of indie veterans who bought out current Thunderbolts*, an irreverent team-up that includes depressed murderer Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) alongside the MCU’s least anticipated band of misfits.

The movie additionally returns to the display screen Marvel Cinematic Universe characters Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Crimson Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), along with some thrilling new faces.

Jake Schreier directs Thunderbolts* with Kevin Feige producing. Louis D’Esposito, Brian Chapek, Jason Tamez and Scarlett Johansson function govt producers.

Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* opens in U.S. theaters on Might 2, 2025.

For causes that stay completely inexplicable to me, Disney determined to attend a full month after a leaked copy of the primary Thunderbolts trailer from SDCC circulated across the web earlier than lastly placing the true one on-line.

The primary trailer for Thunderbolts enables you to now hear the precise audio and see it in additional than 180p high quality, and it’s glorious, although how the movie performs with out true marquis heroes stays to be seen. However within the present state of the MCU, an genuinely nice film would go alongside method.

Thunderbolts will perform as a type of variation of DC’s Suicide Squad, minus the bombs in everybody’s heads. The roster we see within the trailer is:

• Yelena Belova
• Pink Guardian
• Bucky Barnes
• Ghost
• Taskmaster
• US Agent

Whereas the movie could gloss over the finer factors of their origins, to get the complete backstory set-up right here you need to most likely watch:

• Black Widow
• Ant-Man and the Wasp
• Each Captain America film
• The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

Disney has mentioned they need viewers to wish much less backstory to observe new entries however uh, right here, not a lot possibly. The concept right here is that these “dangerous man” antiheroes are being assembled to tackle a larger risk, which on this occasion will likely be Sentry performed by Lewis Pullman after Steven Yeun dropped out of the half. They’re corralled by Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who has served as a type of mirror world Nick Fury to assemble these group throughout a number of initiatives now.

The movie appears humorous to make certain, however the motion? The sequence the place Yelena throws a knife and it bounces by everybody earlier than making its method again to her is great. The identical for each time we see Bucky in motion.

The trailer very a lot positions Florence Pugh’s Yelena because the lead, which might be a good suggestion since…Florence Pugh is superb. Sebastian Stan’s Bucky appears to be a secondary lead earlier than his storyline runs into theirs, however I feel Yelena will nonetheless in the end be operating the group. Ghost and Taskmaster have each gotten questionable costume redesigns, and I’ve questions on who this Taskmaster truly is, given the occasions of Black Widow. I’m wondering if that may find yourself being a significant reveal.

I have no idea how this film will carry out when Marvel’s field workplace is so in all places lately, and this doesn’t have Spider-Man, Deadpool or Wolverine in it. But when it’s good, that’s all I care about and this trailer does in truth look superb, and it appears most followers agree. Thunderbolts arrives in Might 2025.

Comply with me on Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Decide up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller collection and The Earthborn Trilogy.

The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs did sufficient to win a low-scoring prime time sport over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night time, rising with a 22-17 win on the highway. Revisiting the snap counts from KC’s third win of the 12 months paints an fascinating image of how Kansas Metropolis’s teaching employees presently views three key positions on the group.

This is what jumps out from either side of the ball because the Chiefs try and settle their rotation at large receiver, working again and cornerback.

This is not trigger for panic relating to rookie large receiver Xavier Worthy, however it’s definitely value noting.

Rashee Rice led Chiefs receivers with 55 of 74 offensive snaps (74%). Subsequent up, JuJu Smith-Schuster ranked second with 41 (55%), forward of Worthy’s 37 (50%) and Justin Watson’s 29 (39%). Skyy Moore bought 15 reps (20%) whereas Mecole Hardman took three (4%).

Smith-Schuster, who re-signed with KC in late August, performed simply 12 snaps in Week 1 and 13 in Week 2 whereas Worthy took 34 and 44 snaps, respectively.

Whereas the veteran Smith-Schuster definitely has a utility on this offense (particularly because it continues to seek for solutions after shedding Marquise “Hollywood” Brown), I would not have anticipated him to be the second-most-used receiver in Week 3. Smith-Schuster did a few of KC’s soiled work whereas catching two passes for 17 yards, together with a 13-yard landing, however Worthy’s two-for-17 efficiency (with no rating) left one thing to be desired.

The Chiefs’ ultimate offensive drive, with an opportunity to finish the sport with the soccer, ended after Mahomes appeared to focus on Worthy for a would-be first down on third and a pair of. Worthy appeared to cease working his route whereas Mahomes led him, anticipating Worthy to proceed. Nonetheless, when Andy Reid spoke to the media on Monday, he mentioned the miscue wasn’t on Worthy, however that his “compadre,” apparently Rice, made a mistake together with his route.

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Fascinating! https://t.co/SIfxaOo3LM pic.twitter.com/0KkxptFHjY

— Joshua Brisco (@jbbrisco) September 23, 2024

For the third consecutive week, Trent McDuffie performed 100% of the Chiefs’ defensive snaps. After an unsure offseason, Jaylen Watson was KC’s clear-cut No. 2 nook for the third week in a row, as Watson performed 57 of KC’s 61 snaps towards the Falcons offense. The intrigue about KC’s cornerback room now begins after McDuffie and Watson.

In Week 1, Joshua Williams bought 32 defensive snaps whereas Nazeeh Johnson noticed zero. In Week 2, Williams fell to 6 defensive snaps whereas Johnson jumped to 22. In Atlanta in Week 3, Johnson took 26 defensive snaps, whereas Williams solely noticed the sector on particular groups.

Whereas Williams may proceed to get defensive snaps because the season progresses, it appears clear that the Chiefs have given Johnson alternatives to leap Williams on the depth chart, with McDuffie and Watson holding down the highest two spots. By means of Week 3, Johnson seems to have earned the job.

Within the absence of Isiah Pacheco, rookie undrafted free agent Carson Steele bought the majority of the working again workload, enjoying 46 of 74 offensive snaps (62%) to Samaje Perine’s 28 (38%). Keaontay Ingram, who KC signed to the energetic roster from their apply squad once they positioned Pacheco on injured reserve, did not see the sector on offense, recording simply 5 particular groups snaps.

Steele was strong in his first sport as a starter, as he and Perine each averaged 4.2 yards per carry with nine-yard longs. After not exhibiting a lot curiosity in getting Ingram concerned, the Chiefs needs to be trying to get Kareem Hunt into the combination as quickly as he is snug within the offense.

Learn Extra: Underrated Protection and Forgettable Particulars: Chiefs’ Win Over Falcons Will not Stick, and That is High-quality

Manchester Metropolis’s Bernardo Silva has brutally mocked Arsenal’s lack of two main honours of their trophy cupboard following the 2-2 draw on the Etihad Stadium.

The 2 sides performed out one of the best recreation of the continuing Premier League season on Sunday afternoon, in a 90 minutes marred by officiating controversy, VAR confusion, footballing darkish arts, and sensational particular person brilliance.

Erling Haaland’s opening purpose inside 10 minutes was cancelled out by Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori and his first purpose for the membership, earlier than Gabriel Magalhaes would give the guests the lead.

Leandro Trossard’s sending off for a second bookable offence on the stroke of half-time would give Manchester Metropolis a lot to assault within the second-half as Arsenal sat deep in and round their very own penalty space with nine-men behind the ball.

Finally, Metropolis may solely discover the one purpose in a massively troublesome job of assault towards defence, with John Stones breaking Arsenal’s resolve within the eighth minute of extra time and making certain that the factors could be shared.

It’s arguably the primary instance of the Manchester Metropolis towards Arsenal battle taking up a extra aggressive and feisty method for the reason that two sides first went head-to-head for the Premier League title two seasons in the past.

Chatting with Brazilian tv after the 2-2 draw on Sunday afternoon, Manchester Metropolis’s Bernardo Silva was quizzed on what he felt are the primary variations between the membership’s conferences with Liverpool in latest title battles, and now Arsenal.

“Maybe as a result of Liverpool has already gained the Premier League and Arsenal hasn’t,” the Portugal worldwide brutally responded. “Liverpool, at the moment, had additionally gained a Champions League, whereas Arsenal hasn’t,” he continued.

“Liverpool all the time confronted us head-on, to win matches. From that perspective, our video games towards Arsenal haven’t been just like the matches towards Liverpool had been, and nonetheless are!”

Persevering with on whether or not he felt the conflict on Sunday afternoon might be described as a ‘nice traditional’, Bernardo Silva didn’t cease in his assaults on Arsenal as a footballing organisation, as he stated, “Roughly. Just one workforce got here to play soccer.”

He continued, “The opposite got here to play on the limits of what was doable and what the referee allowed, sadly. However ultimately, it was a draw. One of the best we managed was a draw. We’re not glad; we wished the three factors.

“Realizing we may have completed higher, we’re happy with how we got here right here to play, how we entered the sport, as a result of we method each match to win.”

Bernardo Silva and Manchester Metropolis will probably face a hostile reception once they journey to the Emirates Stadium this season, however have a lot to consider between at times, and never simply inside their very own Premier League duties.

This week sees the return of the Carabao Cup as Pep Guardiola and his gamers tackle the problem of Watford on the Etihad Stadium, simply 49 hours after the conclusion of a massively bodily demanding assembly with Arsenal.

The weekend will then see Manchester Metropolis journey to the north-east to tackle Newcastle United within the early kick-off on Saturday afternoon, hoping to additional retain and defend their unbeaten begin to the brand new season.

Name it the darkish arts. Name it anti-football. Name it doing no matter it takes to win.

Arsenal tried all of it in opposition to Manchester Metropolis on Sunday within the newest chapter of the Premier League’s new heavyweight rivalry — and got here inside seconds of victory.

“There was just one workforce that got here to play soccer,” Manchester Metropolis midfielder Bernardo Silva grumbled after an intense, absorbing and incident-packed 2-2 draw at Etihad Stadium. “The opposite got here to play to the boundaries of what was attainable to do and allowed by the referee, sadly.”

John Stones’ equalizer for Metropolis within the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time denied Arsenal, which performed with 10 males for the whole second half, what would have been a defining victory for a workforce that’s getting nearer and nearer to Pep Guardiola’s repeat champions.

Metropolis’s gamers realize it, too.

Therefore Bernardo’s outspoken post-match feedback on Arsenal. Discover how Erling Haaland chucked the ball behind Arsenal defender Gabriel’s head in Metropolis’s wild celebrations after Stones’ late intervention. Look, too, at Pep Guardiola kicking his seat within the dugout after feeling a way of injustice on the method of Arsenal’s equalizer by Ricardo Calafiori.

Arsenal has gotten below Metropolis’s pores and skin.

Roll on the return match at Emirates Stadium in early February.

“As a soccer match, it’s a nice spectacle for the Premier League,” Metropolis captain Kyle Walker stated of the brand new rivalry with Arsenal, which has been runner-up within the final two seasons. “Most likely not a lot sure stuff — I feel it’s half and parcel of the sport and we’ll say the darkish arts.”

Stones spoke of Arsenal’s makes an attempt to sluggish the sport down by what he perceived as feigning accidents to permit supervisor Mikel Arteta to “get some data on to the pitch.”

“I wouldn’t say they’ve mastered it however they’ve accomplished it for just a few years now so we knew to anticipate that,” Stones stated. “You’ll be able to name it intelligent or soiled, whichever method you wish to put it, however they break up the sport which upsets the rhythm.”

To that extent, Arteta seems to have taken a web page out of former Chelsea and Actual Madrid coach Jose Mourinho’s playbook. Mourinho was, after all, as soon as an enormous rival of Guardiola’s and took cynical play to the extremes at occasions.

Arteta’s Arsenal can play stunning soccer, as properly. However with captain Martin Odegaard out injured and Leandro Trossard despatched off in opposition to Metropolis in first-half stoppage time, the Gunners knew when it was time to alter the method to the opposite excessive.

“It’s unbelievable what we have now accomplished,” stated Arteta, who is aware of Metropolis and Guardiola inside out having as soon as been his fellow Spaniard’s assistant on the Etihad.

For Silva, matches in opposition to Liverpool — which was Metropolis’s massive rival earlier than Arsenal — had been extra satisfying to play in.

“Liverpool at all times confronted us face-to-face to attempt to win the video games,” the Portugal playmaker stated, “so by this attitude, the video games in opposition to Arsenal haven’t been like those we had and have in opposition to Liverpool. So sure, possibly a unique rivalry.”

Silva was one in all many Metropolis gamers to get riled in what was an incendiary encounter just about from the beginning. At one stage, he curled his finger right into a “0” as he confronted as much as Gabriel – seemingly in reference to Arsenal not profitable any Premier League titles, at the very least since Silva joined Metropolis in 2017. Arsenal’s final league championship was in 2004.

Pressed on the distinction between taking part in Liverpool and Arsenal, Silva stated: “Possibly that Liverpool have already gained a Premier League, Arsenal haven’t. That Liverpool have gained a Champions League, Arsenal haven’t.”

Will this be the season that Arsenal ends its look ahead to the league title?

After 5 video games, Arsenal sits in fourth place and two factors behind Metropolis, the chief, having simply emerged from visits to Tottenham and Metropolis — two of its hardest away video games — within the area of every week with 4 factors, both aspect of a 0-0 at Atalanta within the Champions League.

The stage may very well be a set for an additional Metropolis vs. Arsenal title race.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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© 2024 The Related Press. All rights reserved. This materials is probably not revealed, broadcast, written or redistributed.

Tropical Storm Helene is anticipated to type within the western Caribbean Sea and will intensify into a powerful hurricane earlier than it strikes Florida or the northern Gulf Coast later this week.

Pursuits alongside the U.S. Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida ought to monitor this case carefully, keep up to date on how the forecast unfolds within the days forward and have their hurricane plans able to go.

N​ew watches and warnings issued: A hurricane watch and tropical storm warning have been issued for elements of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, from simply west of Cancún to Tulum, together with Cozumel. They’re additionally in impact for elements of western Cuba.

T​his means tropical storm situations are anticipated and hurricane situations are attainable in these areas throughout the subsequent 36-48 hours.

The place it’s proper now: A broad space of low strain is within the western Caribbean Sea. Thunderstorms are regularly changing into extra organized on this space.

It has been dubbed Potential Tropical Cyclone 9, a process NHC makes use of to difficulty watches and warnings forward of time, earlier than a tropical melancholy or storm varieties.

Right here is the timeline:

-​ Monday-Tuesday: A tropical melancholy or storm may type as quickly as late Monday or Tuesday. By late Tuesday, Helene may close to Cancún, Cozumel and western Cuba as both a tropical storm or perhaps a Class 1 hurricane. Domestically heavy rain, robust wind gusts and storm surge flooding are attainable in these areas. Elements of western Cuba may decide up 12 inches of rain or extra.

-​ Wednesday: Helene may have some lingering impacts in Cancún, Cozumel and western Cuba, particularly early. We then anticipate Helene to enter the southern Gulf of Mexico as a hurricane. Some excessive surf and outer rainbands may attain elements of Florida’s Gulf Coast from the Keys to the Panhandle.

-​ Thursday: Whereas nonetheless some uncertainty within the forecast, we anticipate Helene to make landfall as a powerful hurricane Thursday afternoon or night. Whereas pc forecast fashions recommend the probably location for a landfall is someplace from Florida’s Huge Bend to the Panhandle, keep in mind that hurricane impacts (surge, winds, rain) typically occur removed from the middle.​ There are nonetheless a number of pc ensemble mannequin forecasts with tracks as far east as Florida’s West Coast and as far west as southeast Louisiana or Mississippi. So, everybody alongside the northern Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida ought to proceed to watch this forecast for any attainable modifications forward.

(Additional beef up your forecast with our detailed, hour-by-hour breakdown for the subsequent 8 days – solely out there on our Premium Professional expertise.)

How robust may it turn into: Helene may turn into a formidably robust hurricane within the Gulf.

That is as a result of warmth content material is one favorable ingredient for intensification, and the map beneath exhibits there’s loads of deep, heat water within the northwest Caribbean Sea and elements of the Gulf of Mexico. In actual fact, Gulf of Mexico warmth content material is at file excessive ranges for this time of 12 months, in keeping with College of Miami tropical scientist Brian McNoldy.

(For much more granular climate information monitoring in your space, view your 15-minute particulars forecast in our Premium Professional expertise.)

B​ut it isn’t simply heat water.

Forecast fashions recommend higher stage winds may unfold aside over Helene, which is favorable for strengthening, as an alternative of shearing and tilting Helene’s circulation.

F​or these causes, Helene may attain no less than Class 3 depth within the japanese Gulf of Mexico earlier than landfall.

U.S. r​ainfall potential: Whereas it is too quickly for specifics on different impacts – together with storm surge and winds – we anticipate Helene to supply heavy rainfall typically alongside and to the east of its monitor.

T​he heaviest rain is anticipated Thursday into Friday in elements of the Southeast, however some bands of heavy rain may arrive as early as Wednesday. This rain may result in flash flooding, particularly the place it combines with storm surge and over larger terrain.

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at climate.com and has been overlaying nationwide and worldwide climate since 1996. Excessive and weird climate are his favourite subjects. Attain out to him on X (formerly Twitter), Threads, Fb and Bluesky.

The Nationwide Hurricane Middle is monitoring a system within the Gulf of Mexico that would strengthen right into a tropical storm within the subsequent couple of days.

In keeping with an early Monday morning advisory from the hurricane middle, the system designated as Make investments 97L is producing showers and thunderstorms that “are starting to point out indicators of group with a broad space of low stress” over the northwestern Caribbean Sea. If it types, the storm could be named Helene.

The NHC mentioned environmental circumstances seem favorable for additional improvement of the system, and a “tropical despair or storm is more likely to type over the subsequent couple of days” because the system strikes northward throughout the northwestern Caribbean Sea and into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

No matter improvement, this technique is predicted to supply heavy rains over parts of Central America throughout the subsequent a number of days,” the NHC mentioned within the advisory, whereas additionally noting that pursuits within the northwestern Caribbean, the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, and western Cuba ought to intently monitor the progress of this technique.

The system is forecast to to maneuver northward throughout the jap Gulf of Mexico, and pursuits alongside the northeastern Gulf Coast must also intently monitor the system, in response to the NHC.

Climate to Know:Gulf Coast faces hurricane risk, storms forecast throughout East

One other storm doubtlessly brewing within the jap Atlantic

The NHC additionally mentioned Monday it’s monitoring a tropical wave positioned between western Africa and the Cabo Verde Islands that’s producing “disorganized bathe and thunderstorm exercise.

Environmental circumstances seem favorable for gradual improvement of this technique, in response to the hurricane middle, and a tropical despair is more likely to type throughout the center to later a part of this week because the system strikes west-northwestward throughout the jap and central tropical Atlantic.

The NHC offers the system a 70 % probability of formation by the subsequent seven days.

Atlantic and Gulf storm tracker

Make investments 97L spaghetti fashions

Illustrations embody an array of forecast instruments and fashions, and never all are created equal. The hurricane middle makes use of solely the highest 4 or 5 highest performing fashions to assist make its forecasts. 

Tropical Storm John triggers warnings for parts of southern Mexico

Tropical Storm John was positioned about 130 miles south of Punta Maldonado with most sustained winds of 45 mph early Monday morning, in response to an advisory from the NHC, triggering the Mexican authorities to difficulty a Hurricane Watch and a Tropical Storm Warning for the coast of Mexico from Punta Maldonado to Bahias de Huatulco.

John is shifting to the north-northeast close to 3 mph, the NHC mentioned, and a sluggish movement to the north-northeast or northeast is predicted for the subsequent couple of days.

The system is forecast to method the southern coast of Mexico throughout the subsequent day or two and transfer inland on Tuesday or Wednesday. The NHC mentioned John can be forecast to strengthen over the subsequent day or two and will develop into a hurricane earlier than landfall.

The NHC is forecasting 6 to 12 inches of rain with remoted totals round 15 inches throughout the coastal areas of Chiapas. Moreover, in areas alongside and close to the Oaxaca coast to southeast Guerrero, between 10 and 20 inches of rain with remoted totals close to 30 inches will be anticipated by Thursday.

This heavy rainfall will probably trigger vital and probably catastrophic, life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides to the Mexican States of Chiapas, Oaxaca, and southeast Guerrero, significantly in areas close to the coast,” the NHC mentioned Monday.

Tropical Storm John tracker

Tropical Storm John spaghetti fashions

Gabe Hauari is a nationwide trending information reporter at USA TODAY. You’ll be able to comply with him on X @GabeHauari or e-mail him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.

AP

What occurred?

Who was killed and injured?

What is thought in regards to the attackers?

What’s the larger image?

MANCHESTER, England — John Stones’ 98th-minute equaliser salvaged a 2-2 draw for Manchester Metropolis on Sunday in opposition to an Arsenal aspect who needed to play your complete second half with 10 males following Leandro Trossard’s controversial crimson card.

In a pulsating sport at Etihad Stadium between final season’s prime two within the Premier League, Erling Haaland scored his a hundredth objective for Metropolis in simply 105 appearances, giving the house aspect a ninth-minute lead. The Gunners responded impressively, although, as Riccardo Calafiori marked his league debut with a chic left-footed strike earlier than Gabriel Magalhães headed in Bukayo Saka’s Forty fifth-minute nook.

Trossard was dismissed for a second yellow-card offence in kicking the ball away after fouling Bernardo Silva, a second that promoted a livid response from Gunners boss Mikel Arteta. Metropolis spent your complete second half camped on the sting of Arsenal’s field however seemed destined to lose a league sport at residence for the primary time in virtually two years earlier than Stones turned the ball residence from shut vary after a scramble within the field following a brief nook. — James Olley

Arsenal ill-disciplined or refereeing inconsistency?

For the second time in three Premier League video games, Arsenal misplaced a participant to a second yellow card for kicking the ball away.

Whereas Declan Rice was punished for a faint nudge in opposition to Brighton & Hove Albion, Trossard was dismissed right here for booting the ball off into the gap after fouling Silva on the stroke of half-time. Each had been technically right choices, however each had been additionally examples of time losing, which often go unpunished throughout matches — and infrequently in the identical video games. Joao Pedro escaped censure for kicking the ball away in that Brighton contest whereas Jérémy Doku delayed the restarting of play within the first half in Metropolis’s favour with out receiving a reserving.

Regardless of the inconsistencies within the utility of that specific legislation, nonetheless, Trossard’s crimson card extends a poor Gunners disciplinary report below Arteta. For the reason that Spaniard’s first sport in December 2019, Arsenal have had 17 gamers despatched off within the Premier League, 4 greater than another crew. — Olley

Gunners toughen as much as take the struggle to Metropolis

Arteta has added some metal to his Arsenal aspect this season, and it was evident inside simply 5 seconds of the kickoff when Kai Havertz crudely body-checked Rodri within the centre circle.

One of many criticisms of Arteta’s Gunners throughout their fruitless title battles in opposition to Metropolis in recent times has been their lack of edge. They’ve loads of expertise, however was there something behind the grins and pleasure of their younger gamers?

These smiles have been changed by snarls this season, and Arteta’s aspect is starting to develop the nasty streak that ran by all of Arsene Wenger’s profitable groups. Arsenal’s battles with Manchester United, when the 2 sides received each Premier League title throughout a nine-year interval between 1996 and 2005, grew to become legendary for the belligerence displayed by each units of gamers.

Though the Metropolis-vs.-Arsenal video games have but to return near matching the depth of the United-Arsenal rivalry, this sport confirmed that it’s actually starting to brew up. The Havertz problem was considered one of quite a lot of spiky exchanges, together with Trossard’s barge on Silva that preceded his second yellow card.

Gabriel spent the afternoon wrestling with Haaland, whereas Calafiori and Jurriën Timber have each added toughness to Arsenal’s defence, too. If the Gunners fail to win the title once more this season, it will not be due to an absence of struggle. — Mark Ogden

Metropolis ought to’ve been ready for Arsenal’s set-piece prowess

Man Metropolis could not say they weren’t warned — in each sense. Moments earlier than Gabriel headed in Saka’s Forty fifth-minute nook for what threatened to be the successful objective — till Stones struck on the dying — the Brazilian defender had the same alternative from one other Saka supply he headed off track.

Gabriel’s menace ought to have been apparent — 14 of his 16 Premier League objectives have been from corners, the best ratio of any participant with 10 or extra objectives in Premier League historical past — and but the primary time he evaded Doku too simply and the second time he left Kyle Walker in his wake. Gabriel additionally headed in a Saka nook to supply the match-winning second in Arsenal’s north London derby win at Tottenham Hotspur every week earlier.

The Gunners scored a league-high 22 objectives from dead-ball conditions final season, and the mastermind behind all of it as soon as wore Metropolis blue: Nicolas Jover left Metropolis for Arsenal in 2021. — Olley

Gunners cement standing as real contenders

The transition was virtually full. Arsenal are determined to show they’re lastly prepared to finish Metropolis’s dominance by successful their first Premier League title since 2004, and what higher method to do this than beat Metropolis in their very own yard?

The Gunners — like most groups, in equity — have a horrible away report in opposition to Metropolis, their most up-to-date win on this fixture coming in January 2015. It created an inferiority advanced that has proved tough to shake.

In that context, final season’s 0-0 draw was a major step ahead in proving themselves Metropolis’s equals. On Sunday, they had been seconds away from going even additional and securing a press release victory that might have fuelled Arsenal’s self-belief that they might change into champions — just for Stones to grab that feeling away with virtually the final kick of the sport.

Arteta made some stunning calls, handing Calafiori his Premier League debut and switching Timber to right-back on the expense of Ben White, who the supervisor later confirmed was carrying an damage. Some criticised Arteta’s defensive strategy in securing that 0-0 final season, and following Trossard’s crimson card, he surrendered any intention of making an attempt to assault given the numerical drawback his crew confronted for 45 minutes. White got here on for Saka and Arsenal successfully went 5-4-0 in formation.

Stones’ objective leaves a bitter style for Arteta, however he’ll take immense pleasure from the best way his crew defended all through the second interval — going through 20 pictures to none of their very own — particularly on the finish of an extended week that started with victory at Spurs and continued with a Thursday evening Champions League stalemate at Atalanta. The anticipate a win at Metropolis goes on, however Guardiola is aware of he has a critical contender sitting shut in his rearview mirror. — Olley

Pep had few solutions as Arsenal annoyed the champs

Pep Guardiola should have felt as if he was in a recurring nightmare whereas watching his Manchester Metropolis attempt to break down Arsenal within the second half. Arsenal, diminished to 10 gamers by the Forty fifth-minute sending off of Trossard, spent just about your complete second half with a defensive low block of 5 defenders and 4 midfielders, generally lower than 2 yards aside, repelling Metropolis assaults on the sting of their penalty space.

Holding out for 45 minutes in opposition to such a fearsome attacking aspect as Metropolis could have appeared like an not possible process for Arsenal, however they virtually pulled it off, and Guardiola was as a lot accountable as his gamers for Metropolis’s struggles in making a breakthrough earlier than Stones’ equaliser.

Seasoned Guardiola watchers will keep in mind two epic Champions League exits on the Camp Nou when his Barcelona crew failed to beat two sides — Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan in 2010 and a Roberto Di Matteo-led Chelsea in 2012 — who each spent your complete second halves smothering the ball and defending on the sting of their penalty space. It occurred once more on Sunday on the Etihad, and Guardiola did not make key modifications when it was apparent that his crew had been struggling to attain.

Metropolis’s tactic boiled right down to defenders Walker, Rúben Dias and Manuel Akanji taking formidable pictures from the surface of the field, and it was so apparent that Guardiola needed to do one thing. He waited till the seventieth minute, although, earlier than making a change — Phil Foden for Doku — and one other eight minutes earlier than throwing Stones and Jack Grealish into the fray.

The modifications made little distinction till Stones struck, however Guardiola ought to have shaken it up earlier. He did not want two centre-halves on the pitch in opposition to an Arsenal aspect and not using a striker, and he took too lengthy to introduce Grealish.

On this event, Metropolis and Guardiola obtained away with it, however Arsenal had been so near irritating the champions and claiming an unbelievable victory. — Ogden

Cracks seem in Rodri-less Metropolis

If there was anybody nonetheless doubtful as to Rodri’s significance to Manchester Metropolis, the midfielder’s first-half damage, which compelled him out of the sport, underlined simply why he’s arguably the one participant Guardiola cannot be with out.

Rodri appeared to undergo a knee damage in a seemingly innocuous collision with Thomas Partey on 20 minutes. He underwent prolonged remedy on the pitch earlier than being changed by Mateo Kovacic when it grew to become clear the Spain midfielder could not proceed.

With out Rodri, Metropolis lack the glue that holds the crew collectively. He’s the world’s greatest defensive midfielder, however he has extra to his sport than that, and his creativity is what makes him so vital to the crew.

Metropolis have not misplaced a Premier League sport with Rodri within the aspect since a defeat in opposition to Tottenham in 2023, a run that now extends to 52 video games.

When he was sidelined due to suspension early final season, Metropolis misplaced back-to-back league video games in opposition to Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, so if Rodri is going through a spell on the sidelines along with his damage, it is going to be fascinating to see how Metropolis cope. They virtually misplaced in opposition to Arsenal, however for Stones’ late equaliser, so the cracks within the crew with out Rodri are already exhibiting. — Ogden

The Los Angeles Rams averted a dreaded 0-3 begin on Sunday by beating the San Francisco 49ers in dramatic style. They got here again from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit, stealing a win from the defending NFC champions to safe their first win of the season – a much-needed win, at that.

Matthew Stafford as soon as once more orchestrated a terrific come-from-behind win, main an offense that was banged up and lacking the likes of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. The protection held the 49ers with out factors on the ultimate two drives and Joshua Karty delivered the primary game-winning discipline aim of his profession.

The highlights from the ultimate 3 minutes are must-watch, however there are additionally some improbable images taken by the professionals at SoFi Stadium, together with just a few pictures of Kyren Williams’ flip into the tip zone.