The Gunners made a massive statement in Cardiff as Martin Odegaard and a rejuvenated Arsenal outclassed Manchester City in the Community Shield

Bangladesh produced a historic performance in Darwin, defeating Australia by nine wickets in the first Test to secure their first-ever Test victory on Australian soil. The defeat brought Australias long run of consistency under scrutiny, but Steve Smith was quick to acknowledge Bangladeshs superior performance while insisting that one poor Test does not change Australias status as the worlds top-ranked Test side.Pretty simple: we were outplayed. I thought Bangladesh bowled really well the first morning, really disciplined. Our batters probably werent disciplined enough, Smith said after the defeat, as quoted by The Daily Star.Smith admits Australia failed to build partnershipsAustralia struggled with the bat across both innings. After being bowled out for 198 in their first innings, they were forced to concede a massive 228-run lead after Bangladesh piled up 426. Smith, who scored 71 in the first innings, admitted that Australia failed to capitalise when their batters got starts.They got too many in front, and we werent able to catch it up yesterday on what was a pretty decent wicket to bat on. A couple of us got starts and didnt go on with it. Greeny, I thought, played really nicely to get a hundred, but he didnt have any partners to go with him, he said.Cameron Green provided Australia with some resistance in the second innings, scoring a fighting 104, but the hosts were eventually dismissed for 284. Bangladesh were left with only 57 runs to chase for victory.Were the number one team for a reasonDespite the heavy defeat, Smith backed Australia to bounce back and urged the team not to overreact to what he described as a poor week.I hope its one bad week. Were the number one team for a reason. Weve played really good, consistent cricket over a long period of time, and this week was a bit of a blip, Smith said.The experienced batter also gave full credit to Bangladesh for their performance throughout the four-day contest.We could have done things a lot better, but credit goes to them for the way they played throughout these last four days, he added.How Bangladesh scripted history in DarwinAustralia were bowled out for 198 after Hasan Mahmuds stunning 6/55, before Bangladesh piled on 426, led by centuries from Tanzid Hasan and strong knocks from Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Josh Hazlewood took six wickets and reached 300 Test wickets.Cameron Greens 104 helped Australia fight back in the second innings, but Mehidy Hasan Mirazs 5/66 and Hasan Mahmuds three wickets restricted them to 284. 133275616Chasing 57, Bangladesh reached the target in just 14.2 overs, winning by nine wickets to secure their first-ever Test victory on Australian soil. Hasan Mahmud was named Player of the Match.

The New York Jets (0-1) opened the 2026 NFL preseason with the goal of putting forth a better product than they did during the this campaign. New York made various moves over the course of the offseason to improve the team, such as trading for quarterback Geno Smith, but their first test came Friday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1) and it didn't go as planned.The Jets lost to the Buccaneers 24-16 mostly with players like quarterback Brady Cook, who are competing for playing time for next season. However, the story of the game was Smith not starting. It was fourth-round rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik who started instead. With his effort put forward, Klubnik was the standout. Quarterback Jalon Daniels led the way for the Buccaneers competing 10-of-15 passes for 111 yards while wide receiver Garrett Greene caught 4-of-7 targets for 54 yards. Like the Jets, the Bucs did not play their starting quarterback in Baker Mayfield either. With that, here is Jets Wire's stock report following Week 1 of the preseason:Stock Up: QB Brady CookCook is vying for a higher position within the quarterback room, but with Smith as the starter, Cook is essentially competing with rookie Cade Klubnik to be the backup. Cook looked to be in command of the offense and the hope is that he can continue playing well if he is going to maintain the backup quarterback spot over Clubnik.Stock Down: RB Kene NwangwuNwangwu has mostly been a returner for the Jets thanks to his speed, but he has a chance to earn some touches during the regular season by showing his ability to run the football. However, Nwangwu did not get off to a good start to being the preseason as he carried the ball six times, but only gained six yards so there is room for improvement there.Stock Up: CB Mory BambaBamba is one of the players that is trying to make the Jets' roster once the preseason is over and after how he played on Friday, he seems to be in a great position to do just that. Bamba came away from Friday's with five tackles (three solo) and four passes deflected, showing his ability to be an effective tackler along with guarding his area of the field with the best of them.Stock Down: CB Azareye'h ThomasThomas came away from Friday's loss to the Buccaneers with just one tackle and one pass defended and while he's likely among the players that will see limited time in the preseason, he still has to prove himself on this roster. Thomas was a third-round pick for the Jets last year and this preseason will be his chance to show that he's ready for a bigger role on the defense.Stock Up: QB Cade KlubnikKlubnik, the Jets' fourth-round pick from the 2026 NFL Draft, came into the preseason with the opportunity to compete with incumbent backup Brady Cook for the No. 2 spot in the quarterback rotation behind Geno Smith. Cook, who was mentioned earlier in this piece, played well, but Klubnik also impressed by going 5-of-7 for 56 yards and a 94.9 passer rating.Stock Down: WR Arian SmithSmith is in a similar position to Thomas in that he was a fourth-round pick of the Jets in the 2025 NFL Draft, but did not impress in Friday's preseason opener by not catching his only target. One of the main storylines surrounding New York is what their passing attack will look like, but if Smith is able to find his groove during the preseason, he could find his way within the passing corps.This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Stock up, stock down after Jets' 24-16 preseason loss to Buccaneers

Its just the beginning Maresca following Community Shield defeat to ArsenalEnzo Maresca spoke with the media following his sides 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the FA Community Shield this afternoon.The newly appointed Manchester City boss opened by reflecting on Arsenals opening goal, which came after just 25 seconds, stating we concede first, but I think the reaction was good before they score the second goal we had three or four chances to scorebut we miss the chances and then they score the second and it becomes more difficult.On the manner of the defeat, Maresca said its just the beginning, we have many things that we need to do betternow we have to reset and analyse the game, then start thinking from Tuesday about the next game.The Argentine then spoke on the four players [Haaland, OReilly, Andrson and Guhi] who featured that have only just returned from the World Cup, the plan was always to change them after 45 minutes to an hour, maximum, it was a decision which we made before the game if they were going to start or play the second-half.He finished off by speaking about Jack Grealish, who made his first Manchester City appearance in over a year this afternoon. Jack came on when we were 2-0 down, the game was already complicated, but overall I think he was good and he still wants to work and get minutes. Regarding the wingers future at the club, he said at the moment the transfer window is open, and we will see what happens.Manchester Citys next game comes a week from today, when they host Bournemouth in their Premier League opener.

The 2026 college football season is quickly nearing its opening kickoff, and ahead of the nation's favorite fall game, the sports media has been in overdrive publishing its preseason content. Among them is ESPN writer David Hale, who recently ranked all 138 FBS teams into 19 distinct tiers. In his article, the Florida Gators landed among Tier 10, which he titled, "It has to get better. Right? Right?!?""Credit to Oklahoma State and Florida. They laid down their shovels after woeful 2025 campaigns and started climbing out with new head coaches... Jon Sumrall has talked the talk this offseason, winning over a beleaguered Florida fanbase that has seen a revolving door of once-successful coaches hit rock bottom in Gainesville."While optimism is currently high in Gainesville entering the Sumrall era, the bar has been set low since Dan Mullen's departure, as exemplified by this particularly haunting stat. "Florida is 29-37 since Marco Wilson threw a shoe against LSU in 2020. That's half a game worse than Rutgers over that same span."Will the Gators finally break the curse of the shoe throw? The road to redemption begins on Sept. 5, when the Orange and Blue host FAU in the Swamp. Tier 10: It has to get better. Right? Right?!?Florida GatorsFlorida State SeminolesOklahoma State CowboysSouth Carolina GamecocksSyracuse OrangeFollow us@GatorsWireon X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Where Florida lands on ESPN's preseason college football tiers

Less than five months have passed since Manchester City comprehensively beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, a performance that laid out a gulf in quality between the two clubs, that promised to launch City to the title, that landed a damaging psychological blow to brittle Arsenal minds.In the following days it was hard to imagine how Mikel Artetas team would recover from being so comprehensively outplayed. We know how that turned out. Here, on an August day in Cardiff, the two teams met again in a game that could not have been more different. Arsenal ripped City apart in a dominant 3-0 victory to win their third Community Shield under Arteta and 18th overall, behind only Manchester Uniteds 21.Just as too much was read into that Carabao Cup final, we should resist the urge to hand Arsenal the Premier League trophy before a ball is kicked. This was a glorified friendly and captain Martin Odegaard lifted the trophy with all the faux enthusiasm it deserved. But in their slick interchanges of passing, in their ability to keep Citys dangermen at bay, in the peerless performance of new signings Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis, in the sheer strength in depth available to Arteta, there were undeniable signs that this Arsenal team might be as strong, perhaps even stronger, than last seasons title winners. Martin Odegaard scores Arsenal's third goal (Getty)Arsenal scored three in an impressive display (Reuters)It took Riccardo Calafiori only 24 seconds to score Arsenals first goal, finishing a clever pass by Myles Lewis-Skelly. It took Kai Havertz only four touches to add their second, heading home Tzoliss headed pass. By the time Odegaard had added a brilliant third, taking Tzoliss pass in his stride before tricking Gianluigi Donnarumma into diving too early to leave the goal half empty, City were utterly beaten.In those moments the mind drifted back to another previous meeting: five days before Arteta was appointed Arsenal manager in December 2019, they were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City. Kevin De Bruyne was majestic at the centre of a City performance full of telepathic cohesion, and the size of Artetas task was laid bare in a humiliating first half. This was not only about competing with elite quality on the pitch and financial might in the transfer market. It was about toppling a City team built on longevity and consistency under Pep Guardiola, just as Liverpool were growing under Jurgen Klopp.Nearly seven years later, new City manager Enzo Maresca might look upon Arteta in much the same light. Arteta is the longest serving manager in English football, a rare beacon of stability in a turbulent Premier League summer where most of the wealthy clubs Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham as well as City are embarking on new or nearly-new managerial journeys.Enzo Maresca congratulates Mikel Arteta at full-time (Getty)And despite the rehiring of Maresca, Guardiolas former assistant, Citys restart feels particularly seismic. They are rebuilding a midfield that may yet lose a Ballon dOr winner, should Rodri get his desired move to Barcelona. Perhaps just as important, they are attempting to establish a tactical identity after a final season of experimentation by Guardiola, who evolved his side into a more narrow, vertical team in his final months.Does Maresca undo Guardiolas evolution, or return City to something more akin to the side he worked with? The signs from pre-season are closer to the latter, with Marescas own imprint on the side, keeping his wingers high and wide to take on their full-backs in one-on-one battles. Yet City found themselves blunted. Jeremy Doku and Antoine Semenyo were ineffective whenever Arsenal dropped into a low block. Jack Grealish made his first City appearance for 15 months and found the same problems as his teammates. At the other end, Arsenal punctured Citys defensive shape repeatedly. Marescas defence held a passive line on the edge of their own box and Arsenal could take their pick: a slide-rule pass by Lewis-Skelly, a deft dink by Odegaard, a deep cross by Noni Madueke. Riccardo Calafiori fires home Arsenal's first goal (Getty)Tzolis in action on the ball for Arsenal (Getty)And perhaps the most ominous sign for Arsenals Premier League rivals was the depth of choice available to Arteta. Declan Rice played only the second half, Eberechi Eze only the final 10 minutes. Mikel Merino went unused after a summer spent winning the World Cup with Spain, while Martin Zubimendi was a late substitute. Calafiori was outstanding and yet late in the game, his understudy Piero Hincapie was surging down the left wing to fire in threatening crosses. In the middle, Bukayo Saka was getting on the end of the supply after coming off the bench for Madueke, a bench where Englands most exciting teenager, Max Dowman, stayed put. None of which gives Arsenal a head start when the Premier League begins this week. It is a one game that matters little Community Shield winners tend not to win the Premier League, according to recent history. But it served to underline the journey from defeat by City seven years ago, and again by City five months ago. Now Arsenal are the team landing the telling psychological blows.

New York Yankees outfielder Cody BellingerThe New York Yankees have lost three straight games, but it sounds like a superstar is nearing his return.Three-time All-Star Cody Bellinger hasn't played in a game since July 25 due to a left hamstring strain. Fortunately for New York, he has been making clear progress.So much so that Greg Joyce of the New York Postreported that Bellinger is expected to start a rehab assignment on Tuesday and that he could return to New York as soon as next weekend against the Toronto Blue Jays."The plan is for Cody Bellinger to start a rehab assignment on Tuesday, play another game on Thursday and then be in play for the Yankees this weekend," Joyce wrote.Looking for the perfect gift for a baseball player in your life? Check out our brand new baseball lifestyle brand!The plan is for Cody Bellinger to start a rehab assignment on Tuesday, play another game on Thursday and then be in play for the Yankees this weekend. Greg Joyce (@GJoyce9) August 16, 2026If Bellinger can return to the lineup for New York next weekend, it would be a massive addition for the Yankees. Before he landed on the Injured List, Bellinger was slashing .259/.350/.420 with a .770 OPS, 11 home runs, 53 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, 21 doubles and three triples in 102 games played.Bellinger earned his third career All-Star nod this season and has been everything the Yankees could've hoped for. Bellinger has seen time at all three outfield spots and at first base for New York. The Yankees need a boost and Bellinger is just about back.More MLB:What Should Red Sox Do With Trevor Story When Healthy?

Barcelona youngster shows talents in new role during Basel friendlyAn up-and-coming member of the defensive ranks at La Liga giants Barcelona, namely Xavi Espart, was tested in a new role in the clubs latest outing on Sunday.And to say that the Spaniard went on to make a positive impression would be something of an understatementHansi Flicks Barca were back in action a short time ago, making the trip to Switzerland for a friendly meeting with Basel amid ongoing preparations for the new Spanish campaign.When all was said and done, the Blaugrana made short work of their hosts, to the tune of a 5-2 triumph. On target on the evening were all of Lamine Yamal, youngster Hamza Abdelkarim, and summer signings Karim Adeyemi and Jesse Bisiwu.As alluded to above, though, it was another breakthrough member of Flicks ranks whose name found itself on the lips of many a Barcelona supporter on Sunday.Xavi Espart, who emerged onto the first-team picture in Catalunyas capital last season, was afforded a starting berth against Basel. Rather than in his usual position at right-back, though, the 19-year-old was tested in a deep-lying midfield role.And Espart made use of the opportunity to continue building on his reputation as a potential future star in the making. The Spanish youth international showed off all of his positional awareness, techincal excellence, passing range and vision, amid a fine all-round showing.Those of a Blaugrana persuasion, in turn, have since been quick to make their excitment with Esparts potential known onlineConor Laird GSFN

Extremely happy Mikel Arteta after Community Shield winMikel Arteta spoke with the media following Arsenals 3-0 win over Manchester City this afternoon, which saw them lift the FA Community Shield.He opened by stating, I am extremely happy with the performance, and with the win, we talked about the desire that we have to start the season and to show ourselves how much we want it, and I saw a lot of positive things there against a top opponent.Summer signing Christos Tzolis got off to the perfect start today, registering the assist for Arsenals second and third goals, as well as receiving high praise from his manager; He has a massive quality, which is that when hes in the last 20 or 30 metres hes so composed in and around the box with his decisive actions, and hes shown that again today.Arteta reflected on pre-season by saying, I think today is down to the preparation we did in pre-season, and the decisions that the boys have taken after the World Cup to make sure theyre prepared and wanting to play in this competition. I was very impressed with the manner that we played and the manner that we competed, so thats the standard for us. Im sure that were going to be really, really competitive.This past week, Mikel Merino said Arsenal have the best midfield in the world, and Arteta backed this up by saying its the best midfield for Arsenal, thats for sure, and we need everyone to complement their qualities to the player next to them.Speaking on his sides willingness to go again after their league title win last season, Arteta said, I want to live that moment again. I want to live it even bigger; we know what it will take and that it will demand something special, but we are ready for it.

After his team's preseason opener, Lions head coach Dan Campbell offered an interesting observation about something he didn't see.Asked by a reporter after the game about a specific play when a player got injured, Campbell said he didn't see it because, unlike the reporters in the press box and the fans watching at home, Campbell is only seeing what happens on the field in front of him, not all the TV angles."You get a better view than I do," Campbell told the reporter. "I don't get to see all that stuff. I wish they'd just give us a monitor we can walk around with so we actually watch the game with you guys while we're watching that game because you can't see all the little things."Before deciding whether to throw a challenge flag, coaches often watch replays on the stadium big screen or take the advice of a coach in the booth who can see the TV angles. But play in and play out, coaches aren't necessarily seeing everything the fans at home are seeing. The coaches have tablets on the sideline, but those aren't showing the TV feed. Maybe they should.