The last time Arsenal defeated Everton at Goodison Park was in 2017 in a seven-goal thriller.

Arsenal finally ended their three-game losing streak at Goodison Park on Sunday with a hard-fought lone-goal victory against Everton.

Leoandro Trossard emerged as the hero for the Gunners, securing the winner in the 69th minute, assisted by the brilliant Bukayo Saka.

This victory marked Arsenal’s first triumph at Goodison Park since 2017 and their second consecutive win of the season.

The game

The match kicked off with early chances for both sides.

Martin Odegaard’s pinpoint pass created an opportunity for Eddie Nketiah within five minutes, but Jordan Pickford’s quick reflexes denied the Gunners an early lead.

Fabio Viera then failed to capitalise on a 10th-minute chance, sending Oleksandr Zinchenko’s pass off target.

Arsenal’s persistence appeared to have paid off in the 19th minute when Viera’s through ball found Gabriel Martinelli, who calmly slotted the ball past Pickford.

However, VAR intervened, disallowing the goal due to an offside position by Nketiah during the build-up, causing frustration for the Gunners.

The woes continued for Arsenal as Leandro Trossard had to be hurriedly brought in the 24th minute due to an injury cupped by Gabriel Martinelli

Despite this setback, the Gunners continued to dominate possession, and William Saliba made a crucial defensive intervention in the 30th minute to thwart Everton’s attack.

In the 31st minute, Abdoulaye Decoure’s promising run into Arsenal’s box was halted by the young French defender Saliba, who made a timely challenge.

Shortly after, David Raya, making his debut for Arsenal, made a decent effort to save Idrissa Gueye’s long-distance shot in the 32nd minute.

As the first half progressed, Arsenal remained in control, with Ben White testing Pickford’s skills with a shot from the edge of the box.

Despite their dominance, the Gunners were unable to break the deadlock before halftime and things were still not looking good for the Londoners when they returned for the second 45 minutes.

After a couple of missed chances, first-half substitute Trossard provided Arsenal the breakthrough they badly coveted with a crucial goal in the 69th minute.

The ball was worked between Zinchenko and Odegaard to Bukayo Saka whose cutback was cleverly steered in left-footed via the far post by the Belgian for his first goal since February.

Hard as Everton tried to get at least a share of the spoils, they were denied by the Gunners who held on for a famous win that sees them stay in the fourth spot on the log with 13 points from five games.

As for the Toffees, they are languishing in the 18th position having secured just one point from their first five games of the season.

Elsewhere, at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth and Chelsea played out a goalless draw, with neither side able to break the deadlock in a pulsating encounter.

The eastern grandstand of Sydney’s Olympic stadium will be named after Cathy Freeman in tribute to the Indigenous runner who won the 400m gold medal at the venue during the 2000 Games.

Freeman, who also lit the Olympic cauldron at the start of the Games, said she was honoured by the decision announced by the New South Wales state government on Friday.

“This stadium and Sydney Olympic Park hold a truly special place in my heart and that will never change,” the 50-year-old said.

“I hope that my story continues to inspire generations of girls and boys to chase their own dreams in sport and life.

The grandstand will be named ‘Cathy Freeman Stand’.

Watched by a record TV audience in Australia, Freeman’s 400m triumph made her the first Aboriginal Australian to claim an Olympic gold in track and field, and the second to win any Olympic title following Nova Peris’s field hockey gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Freeman also took the 400m silver at Atlanta and won back-to-back world titles in the distance.

“For the past two Summer Olympic Games, Australia’s Olympic team has comprised more women than men, all of whom have an inspirational story,” Australian Olympic Committee President Ian Chesterman said in a statement.

“But it’s Cathy Freeman’s achievement that continues to shine a light on what young women can achieve if they have a dream and they pursue it. We owe her a great debt.”

Amusan with a time of 12.33s emerged the winner of the fiercely contested 100m hurdles event to shut her critics after a disappointing outing in Budapest.

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan has emerged as the winner of the Diamond League trophy for an astonishing third consecutive time.

On Sunday night in Oregon, Amusan with a time of 12.33s emerged the winner of the fiercely contested 100m hurdles event to shut her critics after a disappointing outing in Budapest.

Amusan with Sunday’s remarkable performance made history as the second woman in Diamond League history after Dawn Nelson-Harper to win a hat-trick of 100m hurdles titles.

Interestingly, it was in Oregon where Amusan won the world title last year and also set a world record in the process.

For Sunday’s race, the hard-charging Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico finished second in 12.38 while American Keni Harrison was third in 12.44.

Danielle Williams of Jamaica who dethroned Amusan in Budapest finished fourth in 12.47

The athletic season has been a torrid one for Amusan but she emphatically proved on Sunday she is arguably the best sprint hurdler in the world.

The sweet victory in Oregon brings a triumphant close to what has been a difficult summer for Amusan.

Many recall how Amusan was left shattered in the build-up to the World Championships in Budapest after she was provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit for whereabouts failures.

The 26-year-old was cleared by a disciplinary tribunal on the eve of the meet’s kickoff and it wasn’t surprising when Amusan uncharacteristic finished sixth in the 100m hurdle final in Budapest.

With many not initially sure whether the AIU will file an appeal against Amusan at the Court of Arbitration for Sports, the focus was already shifted to next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.

However, with a better frame of mind to prepare, Amusan came out smoking to win her third Diamond League trophy on Sunday.

The world record holder first made history in 2021 when she ran a 12.42 African record to become the first Nigerian to win a Diamond League title.

For those who said it was a fluke, Amusan went on to successfully defend her title the following year, running a new 12.29 Weltklasse meeting record in Zurich, Switzerland.

And on Sunday Amusan made it a hat trick of wins with a season-best time of 12.33s in Eugene Oregon.

Liverpool have moved to the top of the Premier League table after coming from behind to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 at Molineux.

Wolves dominated for large periods during the first half and took an early lead thanks to Hee-chan Hwang’s goal.

The hosts squandered more than one good opportunity though and Liverpool punished them as they came back into the contest in the second half.

Cody Gakpo’s equaliser brought Jurgen Klopp’s men back into the game, before Andy Robertson popped up with a crucial goal five minutes from time.

Hugo Bueno’s own goal in injury time sealed the three points for Liverpool as Klopp’s men move above Manchester City to the Premier League summit for the first time in 16 months.

Wolves remain down in 15th after a fourth loss from five games, and they could slip further before the end of the weekend.

Gary O’Neil handed a Wolves debut to deadline day signing Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and he instantly looked lively, driving at the heart of the Liverpool defence in the opening minute.

That would be a precursor to how much of the first 45 minutes went, as Liverpool struggled to get to grips with Wolves’ direct attacking play

It was all Wolves in the opening exchanges, and the hosts took advantage by going ahead inside seven minutes thanks to Hwang’s acute-angle finish.

Excellent play down the left-wing by Pedro Neto saw him breeze past Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Dominik Szoboszlai before his square ball found an unmarked Hwang, whose effort crept through the legs of Alisson in the Liverpool goal.

Liverpool, squandered an excellent chance from a corner, taking his eye off the ball and mistiming his header after finding space in the box.

Then with 10 minutes remaining of the first half, Wolves wasted arguably their best chance of the game, when more Neto magic up against Gomez saw him beat the stand-in right-back with ease before providing a brilliant cross for Matheus Cunha, who tried a header but saw the ball awkwardly bounce off his thigh as the chance got away.

Wolves travel to newly-promoted Luton Town next weekend, while Liverpool have a trip to Linz first before returning to league action, facing LASK in the Europa League on Thursday.

The Reds will then face fellow Europa League contestants West Ham United at Anfield in the league next Sunday.

Portugal international and Al Nassr ace Cristiano Ronaldo has dragged Italian Seria A side Juventus to court over his unpaid entitlements.

Italian publication, La Gazzetta dello Sport, reported that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner had to take Juventus to court over unpaid entitlements.

Recall Ronaldo left Real Madrid for Juventus on July 10, 2018, for a transfer fee worth €117 million. He left the club and returned to Manchester United for a transfer fee worth €17 million on August 31, 2021. He is now playing for the Saudi Pro League club, Al Nassr.

Before he left Juventus, Ronaldo scored 101 goals and provided 22 assists in 134 games in all competitions. He helped the Italian team to win two Serie A titles, one Italian Cup, and two Italian Super Cups before he exited the club.

While the COVID pandemic was in its early phases between 2019 and early 2020, Juventus allegedly agreed to pay Ronaldo about €19.9 million net for agreeing to forgo part of his wages.

Reports claimed that even though Ronaldo agreed to forgo part of his wages, the Italian Serie A giants failed to keep their side of the bargain which the 38-year-old Portuguese icon is trying to push for through a legal suit.

These delayed wages are part of the now-famous “salary maneuvers” by Juventus that are the focus of the ongoing Prisma legal case.

After requesting the necessary documentation from the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Turin, Ronaldo decided to sue Juventus, causing much more damage to the club’s already threatened reputation.

Recall that Leonardo Bonucci has also sued the club, claiming damages after being unexpectedly fired from Massimiliano Allegri’s squad.

Paulo Dybala and Juventus, on the other hand, have reached an agreement regarding the nearly €3 million he was owed. After their original verbal agreement, he filed a lawsuit claiming damages for the failure to renew his contract, which he has now dropped.

Gent coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck has said transfer speculations affected Gift Orban, but in the end the striker was not disappointed that did not move.

“I didn’t notice any disappointment from him after missing out on a transfer,” said the Gent coach.

“He does realise that he will have to fight for his place, and that is good.

“Of course you felt that those transfer issues played a role (in affecting his performance).

“Gift is young, still needs to grow up. He also needs to get back to his best.”

Gift Orban has netted 26 goals in all competitions since January for the top Belgian club.

His goals have sparked off interest from top clubs across Europe with latest reports suggesting that French Ligue 1 club Lille were the most concrete destination for the newly invited Super Eagles ace.

However, a transfer to Lille was only going to happen were they to have sold Canada international striker Jonathan David, who eventually did not move.

The 100m hurdles Wanda Diamond League final in Eugene, USA offers Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan a great opportunity to make a strong closing statement and sign off for the season in style following a rather traumatic year.

Amusan was dethroned as the women’s 100m hurdles world champion by Jamaica’s Danielle Williams after placing sixth in the final at the 19th World Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August.

That came after she was temporarily suspended in July by the Athletics Integrity Unit for missing three whereabouts tests and was only cleared to compete two days before the World Championships in Budapest.

Just over a year after winning the world title in the women’s 100m hurdles, in Eugene, USA with a time of 12.12secs, Amusan will be running on the same track in Hayward Field again in search of her third Diamond League trophy, having won it in 2021 and 2022.

The 2021 title came off the back of a disappointing end at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, while she capped an incredible 2022 with the last title in Zurich.

But aiming to become the second woman after Dawn Nelson-Harper to win three straight Diamond League trophies won’t come easy for Amusan as she will be competing against new world champion Danielle Williams, Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and former world record holder Kendra Harrison.

Other billed to compete in the final are Alaysha Johnson, Tia Jones, Pia Skrzyszowska of Poland and Jamaica’s Megan Tapper as well as Nia Ali who led the meetings with 25 points after 13 races.

For head coach of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Seigha Porbeni, the Diamond league final is a perfect avenue for Amusan to regain her pride in the 100m hurdles.

“Yes, Oregon is Amusan’s chance for he to put things right again,” he said.

“I believe she must have had full mental and physical recovery.

“Again, another advantage is that she has only one race to run because the Diamond league in Oregon is a straight final. Being a tough athlete and a fighter, I strongly believe it is going to be Amusan’s day, victory, and sweet revenge.”

Another Nigeria athlete, Ese Brume, is among the finalists for the Long Jump top prize at the Diamond League this weekend. Brume narrowly missed out in the medal zone in Budapest, finishing fourth.

She is back at the same Oregon, where she picked a silver medal last year during the 18th World Championships. Though, Brume has not been so fantastic this season, many believe anything can happen in the Diamond League final.

This year, the Diamond League prize money for an individual winner is $30,000, followed by $12,000 for the runner-up, with additional places receiving $7,000, $4,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, and $1,000.

UFC middleweight contender Dricus du Plessis believes former champion Israel Adesanya churned out one of his worst performances when he lost his title to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 last Saturday.

Du Plessis was supposed to fight Adesanya, but an injury led to Strickland stepping in and defeating Adesanya for the middleweight title. Du Plessis thinks Adesanya looked off from the start and didn’t fight his best.

Before the fight, Adesanya was the favourite to win, and Du Plessis gave Strickland less than a one per cent chance of winning. However, Strickland surprised everyone by dominating Adesanya with his striking, even coming close to finishing him in the first round.

Du Plessis believes he would have finished Adesanya in the first round if he had faced him that night.

“I told them even before the fight started, ‘Izzy looks weird.’ I don’t know what it is, I don’t know if it’s extra motivation, but it’s different. Something’s weird. And when the fight started, I said, not even a minute in, ‘Izzy looks off.’ Some people saying it was just Sean Strickland shutting him down. That’s not the fact of the matter. Izzy didn’t fight the way that Izzy can fight. That was the worst Izzy we’ve ever seen in the cage,” Du Plessis said.

“One-hundred per cent I would have finished him in the first round). One-hundred percent. If I fought that version of Israel Adesanya, that fight do you think Robert Whittaker would have beaten that version of Israel Adesanya? Yes. That fight went a round and a half with me and Whittaker. There’s no way Izzy would have seen the second round.”

Tyson Fury has lost interest in any future fight with Anthony Joshua, but Tony Bellew believes the money will be too hard to turn down.

Fury and Joshua came close to an agreement to fight in December late last year, but as is so often the case with the biggest fights in boxing, negotiations collapsed. 

A Fury vs Joshua fight looked nailed on for the end of the year before negotiations collapsed

Since then, Fury has made it clear on numerous occasions that he no longer wants to fight Joshua . “I don’t even [want to] go there anymore. Finished. No interest in any AJ questions. Zero. Man’s dead in my eyes,” Fury said. 

“There’s no business between me and him to be done. Finished. 

“From 2017 to, however long it’s been, 2022 – trying to make a fight. So, it’s not happening.”

With that being said, former cruiserweight world champion, Bellew, believes there is too much money involved for this fight not to happen. 

“Money determines everything in boxing and that’s probably the richest fight in boxing, so of course we’ll see it eventually,” Bellew said.  

Bellew is confident a Fury vs Joshua fight will happen because there is too much money on the line