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As the end of the season approaches, Arsenal are expected to refresh their squad by welcoming new arrivals, but several current players are also likely to depart. The Gunners possess a large group of players, and some individuals have struggled to make a lasting impact or secure a regular place in the team.
Those expected to leave include individuals whose contracts are expiring or who have simply not made the most of their opportunities in the squad. Despite that, a few have shown promise in recent matches and could arguably make a strong case to remain part of the team for another campaign.
Thomas Partey
It comes as a surprise that Arsenal have not reconsidered the future of Thomas Partey, who has delivered impressive performances this season. After struggling with injuries for much of his time at the club, the midfielder appears to have put those issues behind him and has been a key performer in the current campaign.
Partey’s ability to dictate the tempo of games and provide defensive stability in midfield has stood out. With the scarcity of quality defensive midfielders available on the market, Arsenal would need to spend significantly to replace him with someone of similar calibre. Given his recent displays and regained fitness, a contract extension may be worth considering.
Tierney is widely expected to return to Celtic at the end of the season, a move that has become something of an open secret. However, despite limited playing time, the Scottish international has impressed during his recent appearances. His professionalism and consistent performances raise the question of whether he might still have a role to play at Arsenal, particularly in a squad that values depth and versatility.
Kiwior has once again proven his reliability by stepping into the starting line-up in the absence of Gabriel Magalhaes. His contributions at the back have mirrored his form towards the end of last season, underlining his potential to grow within the squad. While his departure has seemed likely, his recent performances suggest he could provide valuable cover and development if retained for another term.
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Browns quarterback race has now dramatically changed
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Bills GM says James Cook decision was 'disappointing'
On Monday, Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane responded to James Cook's decision not to practice with the team on Sunday. Cook, who had been practicing with the Bills through training camp until that point amid contract negotiations, told ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg that he made a "business" decision not to practice with his teammates. During an appearance on WGR 550, Beane said the team did not know of Cook's plan until right before practice. He was disappointed that the situation deteriorated to a point where the star running back felt the need to miss a practice. "There's been constant communication between the two sides....at the end of the day I wish we weren't here," Beane said, via WGR's Sal Capaccio. "This is my ninth season and have never had a player miss practice due too a contract, so it's disappointing for me." Beane doesn't believe Cook's negotiations will cause a distraction in the locker room unless players "let it become" a distraction. The negotiations between the Bills and Cook could continue past training camp. "We'd love to keep him, but I have to make sure it all fits under an umbrella, not in a silo... If we don't get something done now it doesn't mean we can't before (Cook) becomes a free agent," Beane said. Cook is looking for a $15 million per year deal after earning his second consecutive Pro Bowl appearance and earning the NFL rushing touchdowns co-leader (tied with Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs with 16) in 2024. Beane said he isn't taking a hard line on not paying Cook because he's a running back, saying the Bills want to sign him at the "sweet spot." The Bills need the "sweet spot" to come sooner rather than later. It's common for teams to deal with sit-outs and holdouts during the preseason. What Buffalo doesn't want is a distraction during the regular season or postseason, and that could be where this is headed.
Illegal tackle causes Colts RB to suffer 'severe leg injury'
The Indianapolis Colts had a scary moment on Sunday when a running back went down during an 11-on-11 team period. Per James Boyd of The Athletic, practice had to be stopped for 10 minutes while trainers attended to running back Salvon Ahmed, who suffered a "severe leg injury" after he was brought down via an illegal tackle by safety Trey Washington. "The injury occurred when Ahmed broke a long run during an 11-on-11 period," Boyd wrote. "He was tackled from behind by undrafted rookie safety Trey Washington, but when Washington grabbed Ahmed, who kept his legs churning, Washington used a hip-drop tackle to bring Ahmed down and landed on his lower right leg. Ahmed immediately grabbed his lower right leg and screamed in agony. "Steichen said the players in the developmental periods (essentially third-stringers and players lower than them on the depth chart) were instructed to tackle during 11-on-11. However, Steichen emphasized, Washington’s hip-drop tackle was obviously the wrong way to bring Ahmed down." Steichen said the coaching staff doesn't encourage hip-drop tackles, and claimed Washington is "down in the dumps" after his tackle led to Ahmed's injury. The unfortunate incident highlights how difficult it can be for NFL defenders to make a tackle. The league made the hip-drop tackle illegal to try and curb injuries, as offensive players thought it was a dirty hit. In Washington's case, the undrafted rookie free agent from Ole Miss wasn't trying to make a dirty hit but trying to make a football move in a competitive environment to keep his job. Before the injury, Ahmed was trying to make a case for the practice squad, where he spent time on during 2024.
NASCAR road course ace to pilot No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevy in Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen
One of the best road course racers in NASCAR has been tapped to drive the No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet at Watkins Glen on Aug. 9. On Monday, it was reported that Michael McDowell, the 2023 Indianapolis road course winner and 2021 Daytona 500 champion will pilot the No. 11 Kaulig Chevy in the wake of Josh Williams' dismissal from the organization. McDowell, a 40-year-old driver from Phoenix, Ariz., has finished top-10 in two of the last three Cup Series races at Watkins Glen. While he is a veteran of 94 Xfinity Series starts, he hasn't raced in the series since 2016, when he earned his lone Xfinity Series win at Road America. Over a NASCAR career that spans nearly two decades, McDowell has also made 524 Cup Series starts, four Craftsman Truck Series starts and 28 ARCA Menards Series starts. McDowell will hop behind the wheel of the No. 11 one week after his Spire Motorsports teammate, Carson Hocevar, drove the car in the Xfinity Series race at Iowa Speedway. No further replacement drivers for the No. 11 have been announced. Practice and qualifying for the Mission 200 at the Glen will take place on the morning of Aug. 9, with the green flag flying shortly after 3 p.m. ET. Coverage of the race will be provided by the CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
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