Sports Burst – Arsenal Seek San Siro Low Point
Arsenal in new chance of humiliation as Super Serena returns.
By Tim Stannard
Arsenal face Milan mauling in San Siro
Arsene Wenger is sniffing the fresh Milan air on Thursday and realizing that the day offers a whole new way of making Arsenal a laughing stock.
Being 33 points behind Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, beaten by the Swedish minnows of Ostersunds at home and then topping off a four-match losing streak with a defeat to Brighton at the weekend really wasn’t getting the humiliation job done properly.
But all that can be rectified in the Europa League against a Milan team that just a couple of months ago was slumped on the sofa of football, binge-watching The Bachelor. Not anymore. Thanks to the endless shouting and probable physical threats from Gennaro Gattuso, Milan’s players have a spring in their steps and are ready to sweep aside their English visitors, who theoretically have tactical superiority with the likes of Mesut Ozil in the team.
“Compared to Wenger I'm just a rookie, I'm just starting and he's been coaching for 30 years," admitted Gattuso, basically setting up another low point to Arsenal’s season.
Catch up with the best of the Europa League action on the XTRA 7PM ET / 4PM but there are special privileges for viewers in Canada that can see Borussia Dortmund v Salzburg followed by Marseille against Athletic Bilbao live on beIN SPORTS from 1PM ET / 10AM PT.
A new edition from the Donnarumma rumor room
Staying with all things Milan and it’s time once again for the Gianluigi Donnarumma rumor room.
The chances of the 19-year-old megastar-in-the-making of leaving San Siro at the end of the season bumped up a notch with the story that current Napoli keeper, Pepe Reina, had agreed a deal for a switch to Milan at the end of the season. Reina is out of contract in June and talks have stalled with Napoli reportedly only offering a one-year extension.
And in other goalkeeper news, the David de Gea to Real Madrid story is never going to go away until the move actually happens with stories probably planted by those close to the keeper suggesting that he is unhappy at how long United are taking to come up with a new deal which expires next year.
Serie A stars and fans gather for funeral of Davide Astori
The funeral of Davide Astori has taken place in the Italian city of Florence. The Fiorentina captain died suddenly in his hotel room on Sunday ahead of a Serie A game and thousands of fans as well as representatives of every Serie A club gathered in and outside of the Basilica di Santa Croce. Those in attendance included a party from Juventus including Gianluigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini, having arrived straight from London after a Champions League clash with Tottenham.
Fiorentina player, Milan Badelj, lead the tributes by saying that “you are the brother or the son that everyone would want to have.”
Super Serena makes debut in Indian Wells
One of the biggest non-Grand Slam events in the tennis calendar is nicely underway at Indian Wells and there has been a big shock and a non-big shock in the first round of the women’s bracket with Maria Sharapova losing out at the first hurdle to Japanese number one Naomi Osaka.
The Russian has struggled to reach the achievements of the past since returning from her doping suspension. Mmm. Genie Bouchard was also knocked out at the first round, although these days, getting through to the second is more of a headline for the Canadian.
It's official. My comeback is here. This Thursday I will start playing tennis again professionally for the first time since giving birth to my daughter. This whole month I am playing tournaments in California and Florida- both my home states. Thursday, the day I play my very first match, marks international women's day. My comeback could not have come on a better day and I decided I wanted to do something different let you all be apart of my long journey back (if you want of course!!) So I created my Serena Gold toned "S" pin. When I am playing you can wear it and show support not only from me but also for my charity which supports the Yetunde Price Resource center. I want this gold "S" mean something special to you personally. What is one S word in your life that means something to you? Mine is Strong and Sure! So when I wear my "S" pin I am representing Strength, and Sureness. What would your "S" mean? They are for now only available for my fans that come see my at Indian wells, and Miami starting Wednesday as well as Thursday when I play!! Sooooo if you are watching me stop by the Serena booth to grab a "S" pin. Post pics of you wearing your "S" and tag me! Thanks for the support I look forward to seeing you out there!! A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) on Mar 7, 2018 at 7:16am PST
Thursday is all about Serena Williams and the American’s first proper return to the court after a lengthy recovery period from a truly testing pregnancy and child birth. "As long as I'm moving forward, even if it's at a turtle's pace, then I'm OK with that," said Serena to the BBC.
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The life philosophy of Sports Burst is that if you are not upsetting someone, then you are not trying hard enough. Sports Burst is a daily trawl and troll through the morning's sports news to bring you fact-nuggets to make you both smile and swear. Hopefully at the same time.
