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Olanrewaju Fatunmbi The late Premier of the old Western region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, made a striking remark in the preface to his autobiography. He said: “Those who desire to reach and keep their places at the top in any calling must be prepared to do so the hard way.” His (Awolowo’s) inspiration for the admonition stemmed from the challenges of his early life and how he was able to wade through the vicissitude of the time to become a legal icon, a political colossus, an astute administrator, and a renowned philosopher that he was, concluding that the recipe for success was perseverance. Though its relevance is not restricted to any specific field, it is particularly instructive for career politicians susceptible to the pull-him-down (phd) syndrome in our politics. In Nigeria, there are too many odds to contend with to reach the top level of a political career and keep the place. Among other things, you must be in the good book of the people to get a renewal of your mandate, you must earn their trust and you must have compassion for them. These are embodied in perseverance and an unrelenting effort to achieve a common good for the greatest number of people. Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (aka Yayi) has done no less in over two decades of his adventure into politics. Not only that, he has remained at the top level of his legislative capacity, shining in the Senate like a piece of China ware. Beyond legislature, another higher responsibility is in the offing. Due to the trust and confidence he has built in his constituents, stakeholders within and outside Ogun West have now zeroed in on him as the most rightful successor of the incumbent Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, focusing on his capacity for good governance, grassroots popularity, unblemished track record of good representation, philanthropy and numerous empowerment programmes that have positively changed the fortune of a sizeable proportion of the downtrodden. For the overarching objective of the Yewa/Awori (Ogun West) people to produce the next governor, his name resonates as their consensus candidate. As much as the agitation for power shift is concerned, Ogun West has vehemently articulated genuine reasons for the demand to produce the next governor. They didn’t stop at that; they have also continued to engage the relevant stakeholders in constructive dialogue, craving for their support. Though the odds are so many, including a few dissenting voices from the two other zones, the process of consensus-building is still ongoing. And with consistency, it will certainly yield the desired result. Expectedly, some individuals appear to be uncomfortable with the way the Yewa/Awori people have been touting Senator Adeola as their consensus candidate for the APC governorship ticket. Just came a couple of days ago, a particular notable figure (name withheld), who is bellyaching over the soaring popularity of Adeola, criticized the pursuit of his ambition in his recent write-up, accusing him of taking undue advantage of the poverty-ridden populace. He misconstrued his effort to give back to his constituents through empowerment initiatives as deceptive politics. This is in an attempt to diminish his competence to lead the state even though it does not represent the opinion of the majority. In politics, trust is built on delivery of service to the people; it is built on capacity, it is built on demonstrable competence to lead. To earn people’s confidence, you must have tangible achievements to showcase for the opportunity you have been given to represent them. Sentiment cannot do the magic. If you fail the test of public scrutiny, you will be shown the way out of your position. Rhetoric cannot take you far either. The usual recipe is to put the people on top of your priority; it is to see them as a means and end of development. In any position you hold, the best you can do is to leave the poor better than you met them. And how do you achieve that without empowerment? Poverty in any society is not the making of any individual. It has several causative factors, including the failure of governance, a lack of economic opportunity, access to education and healthcare service delivery, etcetera. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) defines poverty as a complex issue that goes beyond a lack of income and resources. Because poverty is a multi-dimensional issue, any approach to tackle it must also be multi-dimensional. The UNDP and other international development agencies acknowledge skill acquisition, apprenticeship training, ICT, and direct financial intervention as potent poverty reduction strategies. These are largely the main focus of Adeola’s empowerment programmes. Through commitment and passion, he has made significant impacts in education, human capital development, ICT training, women and youth empowerment. He did these without any form of discrimination based on political affiliation, religious or ethnic differences. Some of his impactful interventions cover health, education, social safety nets, scholarship schemes, youth, and women’s empowerment. Notable among communities that have benefitted from developmental projects he has facilitated include Imeko-Afon, Ipokia, Ado-Odo/Ota, Yewa South and Yewa North Local Government Areas. In Imeko-Afon, he has to his credit the Ilara Ultramodern Market, Ilara, Iwoye Police Station, the Primary Health Centre at General Hospital, Imeko, ICT Centre at Nazareth High School, the newly constructed Area 5/Immigration Road, a block of 12 classrooms at Imeko Comprehensive College, Imeko, a block of 12 classrooms at Community High School, Afon, Afon Township Road, Afon and Owode Afon Ultramodern Townhall, Owode, among others. It is the same story among the residents of Yewa South Local Government where he recently commissioned an ICT centre at the School of Nursing, Ilaro, with the state-of-the-art facilities, a new primary health centre and the Intensive Care Unit (ICT) at the state hospital, Ilaro. Yewa North equally has also had its fair share of his life-impacting projects, including a 12-classroom block at Ansar Ur Deen Primary School in Igbogila and another 12-classroom building at Technical College in Joga Quarter, Ayetoro. Apart from these, some of the major road projects he has facilitated included the Omidokun Ultra Modern Hall, Ayetoro, Isale Araba Road and Èbúté Igboora Road. As a demonstration of his commitment to human capital development, he has facilitated the construction of 156 classrooms with other facilities in some select schools across the senatorial district. This is in addition to the Information, Technology Communication Centres (ICT) constructed at various centres within the senatorial district. To enhance the quality of environment for learning, he has equally supplied school furniture for 25 Primary, Secondary and Post- Secondary schools in the state. The recent commissioning of a block of classrooms and office complexes at the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, and Federal College of Education (FCE), Osiele Abeokuta, all in Ogun State, is also another testament to his desire for qualitative education for the youths of his constituent. People will also not forget Senator Adeola in a hurry for being instrumental to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund-sponsored projects valued at over N7 billion. During the inauguration of the project at FUNAAB, Adeola assured that the 10th Senate would continue to support TETFUND to advance tertiary education through the enactment of legislation. To further demonstrate his passion for the growth of education in Ogun West and his determination to support the only Federal Government-owned tertiary institution in Ogun West, Yayi has equally built and donated a state-of-the-art library to the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro to boost learning for the youths of his land of birth. Earlier before the run-up to the 2023 general election, it will be recalled that he had presented 1,500 school chairs and tables to 10 select schools and 19 transformers for the rural electrification project. The beneficiary schools were selected based on the recommendation of volunteer teachers who went around before recommending the schools with the most need. This is in addition to three 300KVA/33KWA, five 500KVA/11KWA, and twelve 500KVA/33KWA electric transformers provided to 200 communities and Community Development Committees and Area (CDAs) across the five local governments of Ogun West Senatorial District to ameliorate the suffering of the people who had been without power supply for over five years. In the same vein, some other communities have also benefitted from the borehole projects and street lights Senator Adeola has sponsored for ease of movement and security purposes. The hallmark of his contribution to accessible education in his Ogun West Senatorial District is the construction of several classrooms to improve the quality of learning environment. These include a block of 12 classrooms with a staff room and library at Imeko Comprehensive College, Imeko-Afon, a block of 12 classrooms with a staff room and library at Community High School Afon, Imeko-Afon LGA, a block of 12 classrooms with a staff room and library at Government Science School Ayetoro, Yewa North LGA, a block of 12 classrooms with a staff room and library at AUD Primary School Igbogila, Yewa North LGA, a block of 12 classrooms with a staff room and library at District High School, Ipokia, a block of 12 classrooms with a staff room and library at Ipokia Local Government Primary School Ifoyintedo, Ipokia, a block of 12 classrooms with a staff room and library at Yewa Egbado College, Ilaro Yewa South, a block of 12 classrooms with a staff room and library at C A C Primary School Abekoko Ilaro, Yewa South, a block of 12 classrooms with a staff room and library at Area Community High School, Owode, Yewa South, a block of 12 classrooms with a staff room and library at Methodist Primary School Ado, Ado-Odo/Ota LGA, and a block of 12 classrooms with a staff room and library at Iganmode Grammar School Ota, Ado-Odo/Ota LGA. Others are a block of 12 classrooms with a staff room and library at Police Nursery and Primary School, Osuke, Ado-Odo Ota LGA, a block of 12 classrooms with a staff room and library at Ejila Awori Community High School Ejila, Ado-Odo Ota LGA. Adeola also enjoys a great deal of goodwill among the people of Yewa/Awori communities for developmental road projects cutting across the five local government of Ogun West. As of the last count, no less than 19 interconnectivity roads have been facilitated namely Afon Township Road, Imeko Afon, Area 5 to Immigration junction Imeko, Imeko-Afon, Oja Agbe Market Road Ayetoro, Yewa North, Foursquare Road Oja-Odan, Yewa North, Ebute Igbooro township road, Yewa North, Housing Road, Ilaro, Yewa South, Pahayi Moloni Road Ilaro, Yewa South, Owode Market Road, Yewa South, Ajilete Township road, Yewa South and Alapara-Alatan-Ago Egun Road, Owode, Yewa South. The list also includes Ajegunle Township Road, Ajegunle, Ipokia, Tube Market, Road Ipokia, Library/Iloro/Oja Ale, Ishaga Ado, Ado-Odo, Ota LG, Maltina Road Ota, Ado-Odo Ota, Senator Akin Odunsin street Ota, Ado-Odo, Ota Itele Road, Ado Odo/Ota LGA, ICT Polytechnic Campus Road Igbesa, Ado-Odo Ota LGA, Yayi Street Joga, Yewa North, and Aso Obowa/FPF Road to Campbell Arije Ota, Ado-Odo Ota. With the combined effects of his generosity, service delivery, and good representation, Adeola’s record of performance remains unbeatable. For this reason, the stakeholders in Ogun West now look up to him as the future hope of the Gateway State, not minding the negative insinuation of some cynics who do not see anything good in his effort to give back to his constituents either by direct intervention or project facilitation. *Fatunmbi writes from Okeagbede, Imeko-Afon LGA of Ogun StateJamie Carragher pinpoints the one area Man City need to 'rebuild' after falling to five defeats in a row - as - Daily Mail

The Onion's bid for Alex Jones' Infowars hangs in the balance as judge orders new hearing

Royal enthusiasts were all abuzz on Christmas morning as the three young royals took center stage, accompanying Kate Middleton and Prince William to their traditional church visit in Sandringham. However, it's Prince Louis who has captured everyone's attention with his uncanny resemblance to a certain family member. The six year old prince was brimming with excitement alongside brother Prince George, 11, and sister Princess Charlotte, 9, as he received gifts from well-wishers, including stuffed animals, after the service on December 25. Inside the royal home with tragic past where Sarah Ferguson spent Christmas Prince William's 'secret' sister to join royals' Christmas after terrible fights over 'broken homes' Social media was quickly flooded with comments about Louis's striking similarity to his maternal grandfather, Michael Middleton. One fan gushed, "This young man looks so much like his maternal grandfather! The resemblance is uncanny! " Among the treasures Prince Louis collected were a box of Cadbury's chocolates, Christmas crackers, bouquets, and an array of stuffed toys. With his arms laden with presents, he proudly showed his haul to his siblings and parents, at times struggling to manage the bounty. Echoing the sentiment, another fan posted, "All I see is Michael Middleton" while another exclaimed, "Prince Louis is the spitting image of Grandad Michael Middleton! " A further comment read: "Prince Louis is Michael Middleton's mini-me." At this year's Together at Christmas service, which was hosted by the Princess of Wales and brought together the royal family and special guests for the festive season, Kate's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, were present to support their daughter, reports the Express . Kate's parents were spotted in the audience at Westminster Abbey, beaming with pride as their daughter led the evening with grace. The three royal children accompanied their parents on a short walk from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene Church for the special 11am service. The Princess of Wales, holding hands with her youngest, Louis, looked radiant in a festive green coat by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. This year, about 45 guests, including Camilla's children, celebrated Christmas at Sandringham. Among the guests were food writer Tom Parker Bowles, 50, and art curator Laura Lopes, 46, along with their families, marking their first time celebrating Christmas at Sandringham. DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.

Israel launches new strikes on Lebanon as leaders draw closer to ceasefire with HezbollahMichael Croley | (TNS) Bloomberg News In the old days of 2016, when golfers visited the Dormie Club in West End, North Carolina — 15 minutes from the hotbed of American golf, Pinehurst — they were greeted by a small, single-wide trailer and a rugged pine straw parking lot. Related Articles Travel | Travel: These cruise ships will make their maiden voyages in 2025 Travel | It’s beginning to look like another record for holiday travel Travel | Yes, you can take your cookies through a TSA checkpoint — if they meet these requirements Travel | For airports, background music no longer is an afterthought Travel | Review: ‘‘Auana,’ Cirque du Soleil’s first resident show in Hawaii, stays true to its roots That trailer is now long gone. A gate has been installed at the club’s entrance and a long driveway leads to a grand turnaround that sweeps you past a new modern clubhouse that’s all right angles, with floor-to-ceiling glass. Seconds after you exit your car, valets are zipping up in golf carts, taking your name, then your bags, handing you keys to your own golf cart, and then zipping off to drop your luggage in the four-bedroom cottage where you’ll stay. A short walk past an expansive putting green you’ll find the pro shop — and then you’ll see the club’s most elegant feature: its golf course. The changes have all come about because Dormie Club was acquired in 2017 by the Dormie Network, a national group that owns seven private golf facilities from Nebraska to New Jersey. (“Dormie” is a word for being ahead in golf — the names were coincidences.) A key to the network’s success has been its ability to find clubs ripe for acquisition, with outstanding golf courses and existing on-site lodging or the room to build it, says Zach Peed, president of the company and its driving force. After investing in Arbor Links Golf Club in Nebraska City, Nebraska, in late 2015, Peed believed he saw an opening in the golf market: a new model of hospitality for traveling professionals who wanted a pure golf experience that eschewed the pools and pickleball courts of their home clubs. His clubs would become dream golf-only getaways for avid players and their pals. “Dormie Network’s concept was sparked by having played competitive golf in college, combined with an element of experiencing and understanding hospitality,” says Peed. “It made sense to blend the two to create golf trips that had more value than just playing golf. We want genuine hospitality to help create unforgettable memories and new friendships.” Part of that formula has been in the lodging strategy; in North Carolina, 15 four-bedroom cottages now are a short golf cart ride from the main clubhouse. In each, golfers all have their own king-size bed and en suite bathroom. A large common room is dominated by a flatscreen television along with a well-stocked bar and snacks. That ability to be both social, or tucked away in your room, extends to the expansive new clubhouse, where a high-ceilinged bar area with blond wood creates an inviting space for dining and drinking, and several hideaway rooms allow for more private diners with just your group. So far, their commitment to hospitality has been helping them expand in both membership and club usage in the increasingly competitive market for traveling golfers. Major players such as Bandon Dunes, Pinehurst Resort, and the Cabot Collection have created — or renovated — a new paradigm where golfers get dining and lodging that’s as showcase-worthy as the courses they play. Comfortable sheets and options beyond pub food aren’t luxuries anymore, but staples for many group trips. Dormie has answered that call by focusing on both the big details and the small ones, like having the dew wiped off each golf cart at dawn outside guest cottages before the day begins or having a tray of cocktails delivered to golfers as their final putt falls on the 18th green. These touches may seem over-the-top, but they stand out in a world where golf travel is increasingly popular — and expensive — after the pandemic lockdowns. Since 2020 there has been an explosion in participation in the sport, with new golfers picking up the game and avid golfers playing more: According to the National Golf Foundation, a record 531 million rounds were played in 2023, surpassing the high of 529 million set in 2021. Supreme Golf, a public golf booking website, reports in its latest analysis that the average cost of a tee time has increased to $49 in 2024 from $38 in 2019, a 30% increase. Those cost increases are also on par (pun intended) with the costs of private clubs and initiation fees during that same period, where membership rosters that were dwindling pre-COVID now have waitlists 50 to 60 people deep, according to Jason Becker, co-founder and chief executive officer of Golf Life Navigators, which matches homebuyers with golf course communities. “There’s been an absolute run on private golf. If we use southwest Florida as an example, where there are 158 golf communities, this time last November, only five had memberships available,” he said. That inability to find a club close to home has pushed avid golfers to look farther afield, choosing national memberships at clubs that require traveling, usually via plane, to play. Dormie has capitalized on this growing segment, offering two types of memberships: First, a national membership, where members pay an initiation fee and monthly dues just as they would at a local club, but instead of one club they have access to seven. The second option is a signature membership for companies, “which allows businesses to use our properties for entertainment needs and requires a multiyear commitment,” Peed says. The network also offers a limited number of regional memberships for those living within a certain distance of one of its clubs. Dormie Network declined to provide the cost of memberships or monthly dues and wouldn’t give membership numbers, but the clubs are structured to lodge roughly 60 golfers, max, on-site at any given property at any time. The total number of beds across the network’s portfolio of properties has increased from 84 in 2019 to 432 today. It saw a jump from 10,000 room nights in 2019 to 48,000 in 2023. This September, Dormie opened GrayBull in Maxwell, in Nebraska’s, Sandhills region. Dormie Network tabbed David McLay Kidd to build the course, who also built the original course at Oregon’s famed Bandon Dunes. Kidd says of the property GrayBull sits on, “It’s like the Goldilocks thing: not too flat, not too steep. It’s kind of in a bowl that looks inwards, and there are no bad views.” That kind of remote destination, where the long-range views are only Mother Nature or other golf holes, is what drives many traveling golfers these days. Peed says his team leaned on years of knowledge from Dormie’s acquisitions as they built GrayBull, which started construction in 2022. “We had an understanding of how our members and guests use the clubs that allowed us to take a blank canvas in the Sandhills of Nebraska and combine all of the greatest aspects of each Dormie property into one.” ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Pep Guardiola’s side avoided the indignity of a sixth successive defeat in all competitions and looked on course for a welcome victory thanks to a double from Erling Haaland – the first from the penalty spot – and a deflected effort from Ilkay Gundogan. Yet Guardiola was left with his head in hands as Feyenoord roared back in the last 15 minutes with goals from Anis Hadj Moussa, Sergio Gimenez and David Hancko, two of them after Josko Gvardiol errors. FULL-TIME | A point apiece. 🩵 3-3 ⚫️ | — Manchester City (@ManCity) Arsenal delivered the statement Champions League win Mikel Arteta had demanded as they swept aside Sporting Lisbon 5-1. Arteta wanted his team to prove their European credentials, and goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard got their continental campaign back on track in style following the 1-0 defeat at Inter Milan last time out. A memorable victory also ended Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season, a streak of 17 wins and one draw, the vast majority of which prompted Manchester United to prise away head coach Ruben Amorim. Putting on a show at Sporting 🌟 — Arsenal (@Arsenal) Paris St Germain were left in serious of danger of failing to progress in the Champions League as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. Kim Min-jae’s header late in the first half was enough to send PSG to a third defeat in the competition this season, leaving them six points off the automatic qualification places for the last 16 with three games to play. Luis Enrique’s side, who had Ousmane Dembele sent off, were deservedly beaten by Bayern who dominated chances and possession. 🔔 FULL TIME – Victory at home! +3 in the 👏❤️ | — FC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid were 6-0 winners away to Sparta Prague, Julian Alvarez and Angel Correa each scoring twice whilst there were also goals from Marcos Llorente and Antoine Griezmann. Barcelona ended tournament debutants Brest’s unbeaten start with a 3-0 victory courtesy of two goals from Robert Lewandowski – one a penalty – and Dani Olmo. Lewandowski’s first was his 100th Champions League goal, only the third man to reach the mark after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. A Castello Lukeba own goal saw Inter Milan go top of the standings with a narrow 1-0 win over RB Leipzig at San Siro, whilst Bayer Leverkusen were emphatic victors against Red Bull Salzburg, Florian Wirtz scoring twice to move Xabi Alonso’s side into the automatic qualification places. Atalanta continued their strong start, albeit whilst conceding a first goal in Europe this season in a 6-1 win away to Young Boys, whilst Tammy Abraham scored the decisive goal as AC Milan beat Slovan Bratislava 3-2.

Louisville scores 52 second-half points to race past No. 14 Indiana 89-61 in the Battle 4 AtlantisAI Chip Demand Propels Growth Nvidia is gearing up for a potentially groundbreaking year in 2025, buoyed by an explosion in demand for artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. After posting jaw-dropping stock gains of over 238% in 2023 and continued impressive growth this year, Nvidia is poised for further success. Its cutting-edge graphics processing units (GPUs) remain vital in driving forward AI development, especially in sectors focusing on large language models and sophisticated AI computations. The race among tech giants and startups to develop superior AI tools is intensifying the demand for Nvidia’s latest GPUs. Innovation Leads to Market Dominance While competition is fierce, Nvidia’s strategic advantage comes from its proprietary CUDA software platform. Initially designed for graphics processing tasks, CUDA has evolved into a standard toolkit for high-performance computing. Its ongoing development, particularly through domain-specific AI tools like CUDA X, cements Nvidia’s leadership. Despite facing competition from bespoke AI chips, Nvidia’s comprehensive and user-friendly AI solutions help maintain its advantage. Valuation and Future Outlook Despite past achievements, Nvidia’s stock valuation remains appealing for growth-focused investors, supported by metrics such as a forward P/E ratio around 30. Analysts foresee continued strength as the AI sector matures, suggesting Nvidia’s momentum is far from waning. Through relentless innovation and a strategic focus on diversified AI applications, Nvidia is not just maintaining its pace but poised to set new industry benchmarks as it heads toward 2025. As a result, Nvidia remains a vital player in the tech arena with a future teeming with potential. The Future of AI Chips: Why Nvidia is Leading the Charge Nvidia’s rise as a leader in AI technology is not only grounded in its groundbreaking GPUs but is also being propelled by several key innovations and trends shaping the industry. As the demand for artificial intelligence accelerates, particularly in preferences for large language models and advanced computational tasks, Nvidia remains at the forefront of delivering state-of-the-art solutions. Innovative Software: A Strategic Edge Nvidia’s proprietary CUDA (Compute Unified Device Architecture) software is a pivotal element in its dominant market position. Originally intended for graphics, CUDA has transformed into an essential toolkit for high-performance computing. This strategy is reinforced by the development of domain-specific AI tools such as CUDA X, which offer tailored solutions for different industry needs. These advancements underscore how Nvidia is harnessing software as a complement to its hardware capabilities, ensuring comprehensive support for diverse AI applications. Security and Compatibility: Leading the Pack Security is an increasingly important aspect as AI technologies are integrated into critical applications. Nvidia is enhancing the security features of its GPUs, ensuring they can be used safely and reliably across sensitive applications, from healthcare to autonomous driving. Additionally, the compatibility of Nvidia’s GPUs with various AI frameworks makes them a preferred choice among developers who require seamless integration into existing workflows. Sustainability and Environmental Impact As the tech industry faces heightened scrutiny over environmental impacts, Nvidia is actively working on sustainability initiatives. These include developing energy-efficient chips that reduce power consumption while maintaining performance. Such efforts are vital in contributing to greener technology solutions as the demand for AI applications continues to rise. Market Predictions and Industry Analysis The AI chip market is expected to experience significant growth, with Nvidia predicted to maintain or even expand its market share. Analysts forecast the AI sector to mature rapidly over the next few years, presenting both opportunities and challenges for industry players. Nvidia’s robust technological infrastructure positions it well to navigate this evolving landscape. Investment Insights and Stock Valuation From an investment perspective, Nvidia’s stock continues to offer favorable valuations for growth-focused investors. With a forward P/E ratio of approximately 30, the company remains an attractive long-term investment, benefiting from sustained demand and strategic positioning in the AI arena. With its continual evolution and adaptive strategy, Nvidia sets the pace not just for itself, but for the entire AI industry as it looks toward a promising future in 2025 and beyond. For more information on Nvidia’s innovations, you can visit Nvidia’s official website .

Arsenal royally showed Manchester City how it's done in Lisbon with a breath-taking 5-1 victory against Sporting on Tuesday night. The Gunners emphatically returned to winning ways in Europe after tasting defeat at Inter Milan last time out, warning Liverpool that City aren't the team they should be worried about in the Premier League title race. Bukayo Saka 's 65th-minute penalty and Leandro Trossard's late rebound header followed Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes' first-half strikes. Goncalo Inacio netted a consolation goal for the hosts, who looked like a shadow of the team that demolished City a few weeks ago without the charisma and tactical nouse of former boss Ruben Amorim . Express Sport runs through the Arsenal player ratings on a confidence-boosting outing in the Portuguese capital. Arsenal player ratings vs Sporting David Raya: 7 Couldn't have done much to stop Inacio's powerful hit. Looked assured as he made five saves. Jurrien Timber: 8 His creativity goes under the radar. Just as effective in the opponents' half as his own. Pinpoint assist for Martinelli's opener. William Saliba: 7 Dominated his duels and reliably built up from the back. Business as usual. Gabriel Magalhaes: 8 Just as imposing a display as his partner. Bonus point for his powerful header on the brink of half-time. He loves those. Riccardo Calafiori : 5 Won just two of his seven duels. Arsenal 's least impressive player on the night. Thomas Partey: 6 Kept things ticking with a 92 per cent pass accuracy. Declan Rice: 7 Back in action after missing the weekend's Nottingham Forest win. Perfect delivery for Gabriel's headed goal. Martin Odegaard: 6 Created two chances but was less involved in the goals than the scoreline suggests. So, so good on the ball though. Arsenal missed him dearly. Bukayo Saka : 8 A goal from the penalty spot to add to his assist earlier in the match. UEFA's Man of the Match, and there can be no complaints at that. Gabriel Martinelli: 7 Wasn't heavily involved on the left wing, taking just 19 touches, but broke the deadlock with poacher positioning and created one chance. man-utd Kai Havertz : 7 Lots of success in his aerial duels and provided the type of poacher's goal that Arsenal need more often from their striker. Mikel Merino: 6 Didn't have much to say in his 20-minute cameo. Leandro Trossard: 7 Reacted quickest to head in Arsenal 's fifth from the bench. Oleksandr Zinchenko: 6 Uninvolved. Didn't do anything wrong. Ethan Nwaneri: 6 Likewise. He had a shot, though. Jakub Kiwior: 5 Couldn't match Viktor Gyokeres for pace just moments after coming on as the Swede burst through and rattled the post late on.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Looking for hard-to-find bottles of Kentucky bourbon to toast the holidays or add to a collection? Get your bids ready as the Bluegrass State launches its first online auction of confiscated alcohol. Whiskeys up for sale include two bottles of Old Rip Van Winkle, a Blanton’s Single Barrel Gold in box with Japanese markings and a bottle of Four Roses Small Batch Barrel Strength 2011. The sale is the result of a new Kentucky law, which allows alcohol confiscated from closed criminal investigations by the state's alcoholic beverage control agency to be auctioned. Online bidding opens Wednesday and closes at midnight on Dec. 11. Proceeds will support programs promoting responsible alcohol use by adults and awareness programs for youths. “This is a really good auction,” Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, said by phone Tuesday. “There are some hard-to-find and rare bottles on there.” No estimate has been given on how much the auction might raise. “We look forward to seeing the response to this auction and have started planning additional auctions for 2025,” said Allyson Taylor, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The auction features 32 bottles of alcohol and includes a “stock the bar” bundle with bottles of wine, vodka, rum and whiskey, the agency said. But the stars are the hard-to-find and rare bourbons up for sale. “It’s not every day you go to a liquor store and find a bottle of Blanton’s Gold," Gregory said. “You never go to a liquor store and find a bottle of Four Roses 2011.” The lineup includes bottles of E.H. Taylor bourbon, Blanton’s Single Barrel, Eagle Rare 10 yr., Weller Antique 107, Willett Family Estate Single Barrel Rye, Michter’s, an Old Forester gift set and more. A link to the online auction is available at ABC.ky.gov. Auction items cannot be shipped, so winning bidders must pick up items in Frankfort, the state said. The auctions will become a “can't miss opportunity” for bourbon connoisseurs, Gregory said. Previously, confiscated bourbon or other spirits could end up being destroyed, he said. “We don't like to see good bourbon poured down the drain,” Gregory said. Kentucky distillers produce 95% of the global bourbon supply, the Kentucky distillers’ group says.SANTA CLARA — The early portion of Wednesday’s practice produced no encouraging signs for . Brandon Allen, Joshua Dobbs and practice-squad quarterback Tanner Mordecai took turns making throws during the warmup periods of 49ers practice, while Purdy was limited largely to a couple of handoffs. in the 49ers’ Week 11 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and does not appear to be making noticeable improvements even after sitting out the team’s game Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. Purdy threw a little bit on Monday, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. But it does not appear as if the quarterback's physical condition is allowing him to ramp up his throwing regimen. at the beginning of practice, would start on Sunday night against the Buffalo Bills if Purdy is unable to play, Shanahan said this week. Allen started and played every snap in the 49ers’ 38-10 loss to the Packers. He completed 17 of 29 pass attempts for 199 yards and one touchdown with one interception. Purdy stood to the back on Wednesday as the 49ers’ quarterbacks went through some footwork drills with short passes. He threw one short toss before the quarterbacks worked on some handoff drills. Purdy underwent an MRI examination last Monday that did not reveal any structural damage, Shanahan said. He had another MRI later in the week after his shoulder condition did not improve. “We always get more than one when you get one and it seems all right, then you have some pain later in the week,” Shanahan said. “So you get another one to make sure you didn't miss anything. And so, that's what he did after the Thursday practice.” The 49ers will have practices Thursday and Friday before departing for Buffalo. The before leaving for Green Bay last week.