BIG ANNIVERSARY
Expect plenty of footage of Arsène Wenger looking young on TV this week: Thursday marks 20 years to the day since Grampus Eight’s highbrow, low-profile coach pitched up at Arsenal. At his first press conference at Highbury in 1996 the 47-year-old told reporters he’d hired Pat Rice as No2, would show recovering alcoholic Tony Adams “every respect”, and planned to take a relaxed view when it comes to spending money: “Yes, I will sign players but I’m not in any hurry.” He also set out his broader philosophy – “I like real, modern football, football made of compact lines, of zones, of pressure and quick, coordinated movements” – and revealed his biggest personal challenge: “I am like every human, I have my weaknesses. I would say to you I try every day to be better than the day before but I am conscious that I have to win over these supporters. They don’t know me.” They do now.
MOST EXHAUSTING EVENT
Four weeks after starring in Rio, the Brownlee brothers are back at it again, in gruelling action in Mexico at the five-day ITU World Triathlon Grand Final. Highlights of the men’s finale are on BBC Two tomorrow at 1.45pm – Alistair and Jonny battling Spain’s Mario Mola for the title.
WILDCARD CHOICE
Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar and JB Holmes won USA Ryder Cup wildcard status last week – a low blow for two-times Masters champion Bubba Watson. But captain Davis Love III still has one wildcard choice left and will make his mind up after this week’s Tour Championship in Atlanta (from 6pm Thursday, Sky Sports 4). Watson, last year voted the most disliked player on the PGA Tour by his fellow pros, needs to shine to win him over. “My whole goal this year was the Ryder Cup and the Olympics,” he said recently. “That’s all I cared about the whole year was making those two events. I didn’t care how I did it, as long as I made those events. And I got in the Olympics, so I got one more to go, I guess.”
BIG FIGHT
Less than two years after a burglar he was chasing smacked him over the head with a lump of concrete, 29-year-old Anthony “Million Dollar” Crolla takes on Venezuelan Jorge Linares on Saturday (SS2, 8pm) in the second defence of his lightweight belt. Linares isn’t concerned about Crolla’s home advantage. “I love fighting in my opponent’s backyard, I love the noise,” he says. “His supporters can’t get in the ring with their fighter, it’s just me and him. The best fighter is going to win, and I think that’s going to be me.”
INTERNATIONAL ACTION
Having seen how not to do it during Euro 2016, England’s women – already qualified – are in Euro 2017 action on Tuesday, facing Belgium (6pm, BBC Red Button). Scotland, meanwhile, face Iceland (6pm, BBC Alba).
