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Arsenal have started the season fairly well in the league but talk of a title challenge has reared its ugly head again and some perspective needs to be attached to how they’ve begun the new campaign, with expectations already been laughably raised to a ridiculous level.

Arsene Wenger’s side currently sit in eighth in the league table after six games having picked up nine points. They’ve not had the easiest of starts to the new season but they’ve picked up a point away at Stoke and Manchester City and all three at Liverpool, while destroying newly-promoted Southampton 6-1 on home turf, which appears to have been the result which has sparked all of the premature title contender talk.

Much like Joe Hart is proclaimed as being world-class simply because he’s better than David James and Paul Robinson and Paul Lambert has been eased in at Aston Villa after a tricky start as Alex McLeish’s predecessor, this Arsenal side appears to be benefiting in the main from the fact that they’ve started the season better than last year.

In their opening six games last season, Arsenal picked up seven points from their opening six league games, which is only two less than this season. The club’s fans are well-known from ranging between ‘the sky is falling down’ to ‘in Wenger we trust’ brigade and while every set of supporters has its extremes, Arsenal’s just appear to be more vocal than most.

The pressure was well and truly on last season after the side’s 8-2 humiliation away at Old Trafford against Manchester United, while they also lost 2-0 at the Emirates to Liverpool and inconceivably 4-3 to Blackburn. They scored nine goals while letting in an alarming 14 which compared to this season’s tally of 10 scored and four conceded is certainly a step in the right direction.

While the result at Old Trafford proved the nadir of last season, it’s worth remembering just how poor defensively the hosts were on that day too and Arsenal, with better finishing in front of goal, could have easily have finished the game with five or six goals to their name too. It was an absolutely crazy, somewhat bizarre match during which Wenger was forced to field a hugely inexperienced back four which struggled to cope with United’s pace and movement.

Of course, Newcastle and Manchester United away, Liverpool at home is far from the easiest of runs to begin your season with, but it was made even worse by the fact that both Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri both decided to leave the club late on in the transfer window. Wenger’s big mistake was simply not planning for either of them leaving, so he was left with a mad supermarket sweep trolley-dash on deadline day to pad out his squad and Jack Wilshere’s injury absence didn’t help matters either.

This summer he appears to have learned from that gross error of judgement which deeply effected the side’s shape, confidence and rhythm earlier on in the campaign by compensating for the inevitable loss of Robin van Persie with the acquisitions of both Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud, even if the latter hasn’t quite found his  scoring boots yet.

The result has seen them become a much more rounded side, no longer relying solely on van Persie to carry them through big games but there’s been a temptation to get carried away with their results so far, more out of surprise that they haven’t started the season as badly as last year and that they seem to be coping a lot better post-van Persie than they eve did Fabregas and Nasri.

We shouldn’t forget that Arsenal have still only won two league games so far this season, less than Fulham, West Brom and West Ham and the same as Swansea and Newcasle and their start simply hasn’t been as exceptional as first assumed.

While the performance away at champions Manchester City and the maturity of their display at Anfield against a Liverpool side in transition will have enjoyed greatly by the club’s supporters, they were still out-played for prolonged spells by rivals Chelsea at the weekend and they’ve failed to break down both Sunderland and Stoke on home soil.

Indeed, the nature of the club’s defence has been praised to such an extent that Steve Bould is now no longer just a former player with a sound knowledge of how to organise a back four, he’s the messiah. Keeping clean sheets against Sunderland and Stoke, two sides who showed little to no ambition to attack is nothing to write home about, while keeping another against a toothless Liverpool side is hardly surprising either.

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It’s become something of a concerted PR effort on behalf of the club to praise Bould of late. Do they look more organised this season than last? They sure do. Are they still defensively sound? The goals that they leaked against Chelsea show they most definitely are not. Just as the praise sent Bould’s way at the start of the season was hugely over the top, equally, he isn’t now rubbish at his job just after one poor defensive performance.

Arsenal still look far from the finished package; while Cazorla and Podolski have adjusted well and Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arteta and Meresacker have all impressed at times, they still look a way off the two Manchester clubs and Chelsea in terms of a title challenge this season. A top four place should still be their ambition and Wenger has shown in the past that he’s fantastic at achieving that level of consistency, but the fawning praise of what is still quite an inconsistent start, simply because it’s better than last year’s, lacks any sort of context and talk of a title tilt is still a long way away in the future.

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West ham fans have been discussing last week’s links to Stoke City’s Badou Ndiaye, and it’s pretty clear they don’t want the Senegalese international.

According to reports, West Ham could be set to battle Besiktas and Arsenal for the signature of Ndiaye, who was relegated with Stoke this season.

The wiry midfielder was one of the Potters’ best players after signing in January, after spending three seasons impressing in Turkey.

The 27 year-old, who has 13 Senegal caps, could be seen as a replacement for Cheikhou Kouyate, who has taken plenty of flak for his performances this season.

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While most fans would agree they need an upgrade on Kouyate, they don’t seem to think Ndiaye is that upgrade.

In 13 Premier League appearances for Stoke, Ndiaye averaged an incredible 4.1 tackles per game, compared to just 2.2 per match from Kouyate this season.

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There have been some suggestions that the Hammers could also pursue Ndiaye’s teammate Joe Allen as well,  but fans are hoping they aim for bigger and better than the relegated pair this season.

Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found down below…

Newcastle’s Deadline Day was dominated by Islam Slimani’s loan move to Tyneside but on the final day of the transfer window, it was another mid-season loan signing who shone the brightest – exciting young winger Kenedy.

Newcastle signed the prodigious Brazilian last week and he’s already had a positive impact on a side that have averaged less than a goal per game in the Premier League this season, providing an assist for Jamaal Lascelles with a delicious delivery into the box from a corner in a 1-1 draw with Burnley last night.

And that was by no means the 21-year-old’s only telling contribution. As well as creating the most chances and launching the most accurate crosses of any Newcastle player, he also hit the bar early in the first half and won a penalty which Joselu failed to convert.

It was an exciting, confident and dynamic performance from the youngster, who Transfermarkt value at £6.3million, but that in turn raises questions over why exactly he’s been allowed to leave Stamford Bridge when he’s already emerged as the Man of the Match in a Premier League fixture.

Of course, his departure preceded the arrival of Emerson Palmieri from Roma. But why have Chelsea spent £17.6million on a new recruit when their promising young wide-man looks more than capable of contributing to a campaign that won’t see the Blues win the Premier League title?

Surely this final stretch of the season, with not much to play for in the top flight, would have been the perfect opportunity to give Kenedy the game-time he needs – whether it’s at wing-back or further forward – to truly stake a claim for a regular berth in west London.

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Unfortunately, this kind of complaint is nothing new as far as the reigning champions are concerned.

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West Ham entertain West Bromwich Albion at Upton Park in this afternoon’s early Premier League kick-off. Sam Allardyce has made two changes from his Hammers side that lost 3-1 to league leaders Arsenal on Boxing Day. Jussi Jaaskelainen returns between the sticks with understudy Adrian returning to the bench, and Razvan Rat comes in for James Collins, suggesting a reshuffle at the back.

Meanwhile, manager-less West Brom make six changes from the starting XI that claimed a draw against Tottenham on the 26th. Gareth McCauley, Billy Jones, Chris Brunt, Youssouf Mulumbu, Nicolas Anelka and Saido Berahino all return.

Several Championship clubs are reportedly interested in signing Southampton defender, Dan Seaborne on loan. Sky Sports reports.

Seaborne has made only two appearances this season in the Capital One Cup, and Nigel Adkins is considering allowing the centre-back to leave on a temporary basis to find regular first-team football.

He moved to Southampton in January 2010, after starting his career at Exeter City, captaining the side which beat Cambridge United in the 2008 Conference play-off final, before winning promotion again the following season.

The 25-year-old has just come back after 10 months out, suffering from severe head injuries following his assault outside a Southampton nightclub back in September last year.

Nottingham Forest and Millwall are believed to have made enquiries about the defender.

This follows reports that Danny Butterfield could also leave St Mary’s on a temporary basis, with Nathaniel Clyne appearing to be the first-choice full-back at the club.

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Birmingham City and Sheffield Wednesday are said to be keen on a deal.

The ECB has expanded its group of Cricket Liaison Officers (CLOs) for 2017, with a plan to have one present at every match

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Feb-2017The ECB has expanded its group of Cricket Liaison Officers (CLOs) for 2017, with a plan to have one present at every match. Andy Smith, the former Surrey allrounder, has been appointed to the new role of Cricket Operations Manager to oversee the CLOs.Five new CLOs, all with extensive experience of the county game, have been recruited: Tim Boon, Dean Cosker, Richard Ellison, Wayne Noon and Lloyd Tennant. They join the four appointed in 2015 – Graham Cowdrey, Stuart Cummings, Tony Pigott and Phil Whitticase – plus former international umpire Steve Davis, who joined the panel last year.”I’m delighted to be back in cricket at the ECB, in an interesting and challenging new role,” Smith said. “The Cricket Liaison Officers were introduced to county cricket in 2015 with the twin aims of supporting groundsmen and umpires, with the capacity to attend all four days of a Championship match, unlike Pitch Liaison Officers in the past.”After encouraging feedback following the introduction of this role two years ago, the CLO will now have more decision-making responsibility in the areas of discipline and the rating of pitches. It’s a positive step forward to support the county game and will enable us to provide coverage across all matches for the first time.”The ECB has also added former Derbyshire and Sussex batsman Mark Newell and James Middlebrook, who played for Yorkshire, Essex and Northamptonshire, to its reserve list of first-class umpires for 2017.

New Zealand fast bowler Andy McKay, who played one Test, 19 ODIs and two T20Is, has retired from all forms of cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jun-2015Former New Zealand fast bowler Andy McKay has retired from all forms of cricket. McKay played one Test for New Zealand, against India in 2010, as well as two T20Is and 19 ODIs, taking a total of of 30 wickets.McKay, 35, hinted that he had taken the decision to spend more time with his family, and according to , he will be moving on to become the clinical lead manager of a physiotherapy practice in Wellington.”You sort of live in a bubble (during festive seasons) and it feels like you’re in a separate world almost,” McKay said.”You can see all these people are on their Christmas holidays but you’re there at work. You sort of get a taste of what it’s like, but it’s a sort of bubble experience.”Mckay spent the majority of his 57-match first-class career with Wellington, who he joined in 2009. Overall, he picked up 186 wickets from 57 first-class matches at an average of 31.88, and also snared 84 scalps from 52 List-A matches.”Coming to Wellington, and I’ve told the guys that this was the best move I ever made in my career. I was 29 and just a run-of-the-mill first-class cricketer,” he said.Though he was not part of the initial squad for the World Cup in 2011, McKay was called up for the semi-final against Sri Lanka after Kyle Mills got injured. New Zealand eventually succumbed to a five-wicket defeat, but the match nonetheless remains a career highlight for McKay.”It was pretty special to play that game,” he said. “I got there two days before the game and Dan (Vettori) said ‘Andy, just be prepared to play’. I thought I was just going as cover and to have the best seat in the house to watch it.”It was down to me and Woody (Wellington team-mate Luke Woodcock) as to who was going to play. Woody had played the quarter-final and we knew they were either going to pick a seamer or a spinner and we finally found out about an hour before the toss.”

Justin Ontong, the Cape Cobras captain, has been found not guilty of ball tampering after an incident in the Cobras’ match against Lions in January

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Feb-2013Justin Ontong, the Cape Cobras captain, has been found not guilty of ball tampering after an incident in the Cobras’ match against Lions in January. Ontong was called to face a disciplinary hearing in relation to a charge of “changing the condition of the ball” but he has now been cleared.The ball had been sent to Australia for examination by manufacturer Kookaburra. Despite a superficial appearance of the seam being interfered with, Kookaburra director Rob Elliot said the damage “could be a manufacturing anomaly in so far as the stitch has pulled through the leather” and was unable to prove ball tampering with any certainty.Cricket South Africa disciplinary commissioner Professsor Rian Cloete said: “In view of this report and the lack of any other evidence, I find that there is no conclusive evidence substantiating the allegation of ball tampering as stated in the Match Report.”The accusation arose during a heated episode in the Sunfoil Series match, which Lions won to close the gap at the top of the table. Umpires Brian Jerling and Shaun George decided to change the ball after concluding that its condition had been altered and offered Lions batsman Quinton de Kock the choice of a replacement. Cobras were reportedly unhappy with the substitute ball, as it was significantly older.De Kock was subsequently involved in an on-field scuffle with Cobras’ Alistair Gray and was suspended for one match after pleading guilty to a Level 2 offence. Cape Cobras had always disputed the charge levelled against Ontong.

England’s Test squad arrived in Dubai at the beginning of a year that will play a big role in determining the legacy that this generation of players leaves behind

Andrew McGlashan03-Jan-2012After their lengthy break from the international circuit, England’s Test squad arrived in Dubai at the beginning of a year that will play a big role in determining the legacy that this generation of players leaves behind. Last year’s Ashes victory in Australia and the rise to No. 1 means this group has already carved their niche in history, but facing them in 2012 are contests that will determine how universally acclaimed they become.Next summer’s home series against West Indies and South Africa are sandwiched between away campaigns in the UAE and the subcontinent that will push the skills of this England team to their limits. Conditions that they are likely to encounter in the Middle East, Sri Lanka and India will require a new set of skills from batsmen and bowlers, and will also push Andrew Strauss as a captain.Victories in such an environment have been rare since Nasser Hussain’s triumphant tours of Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 2000-01. England have twice secured series wins in Bangladesh, but since Hussain’s successes the Johnny Cash-inspired series-levelling victory in Mumbai in 2006 has been the highpoint for them in the subcontinent.”England cricket teams’ record in the sub-continent has been patchy,” Andrew Strauss, the England Test captain, said. “I think it’s a really good time for us to have a lot of subcontinent cricket because we are confident; we’ve done well over the last two years or so and this is a kind of new frontier for us – to win and hopefully win consistently in the sub-continent.”We are aware it’s a stiff challenge and we are also aware you need to have very different types of skills if you want to do well out there. You’ve got to be very fit and it comes at a good time. It’s just what we need as a side but we are not underestimating the size of the challenge.”During England’s climb up the world rankings, which began following their series defeat in the West Indies in early 2009, they have only played one Test series in the subcontinent, when they beat Bangladesh 2-0 in 2010. During Australia’s era-long stay as the No. 1 Test side they achieved series victories in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and, finally, India to confirm their standing. That is the task now facing England.”If you want to be regarded all around the world as the best side in the world, then you’ve got to win in all conditions,” Strauss said. “But the rankings are there for a reason. To get to No. 1 you’ve got to win consistently. It doesn’t mean you’ve got to win every series, but you’ve got to win consistently. I’m very keen to move away from the rankings. I don’t think that’s something we need to focus on hugely at the moment. We are very conscious of concentrating on these short-term goals.”It would be wrong for us not to see these tours to the subcontinent as a way of us pushing ourselves forward as a group. I think that’s a pretty exciting thing to be able to do. Long-term goals are pretty irrelevant unless you can achieve your short-term goals. In some ways these challenges that await us in the next 12 months are more demanding. We are not at home, we are in subcontinent conditions and we need to develop new skills quickly.”Strauss, himself, faces an important year because while England beat all before them in 2011 his own form was patchy. He did not make a Test hundred – his previous three-figure score was 110 at Brisbane in November 2010 – and averaged 28.72 across eight matches. While the team continues to win consistently he won’t be in danger, but Strauss is reaching the stage of his career when he does not want a prolonged lean spell. He went on a pre-Christmas training camp to India but has not played for England since August or competitively since finishing the County Championship season in mid-September.”Last summer I probably didn’t play quite as well as I’d have liked to,” he said. “But form ebbs and flows a bit in Test cricket. I’m very keen to perform well and lead from the front. You can analyse these things to death; the truth is I’ve had a really good break, I’m healthy and I’m motivated. I had a really good training camp in India as well and hopefully that’s a pretty good recipe to play well.”

Jacob Oram has said that participating in the 2011 World Cup is motivating him to continue his injury-ridden career but failure to make the squad for the tournament could prompt him to retire

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Dec-2010Jacob Oram, the New Zealand allrounder, has said that the hope of participating in the 2011 World Cup is motivating him to continue his injury-ridden career but failure to make the squad for the tournament could prompt him to retire. Oram is presently recovering from a knee surgery he had in September.”I remember talking to Shane Bond prior to his retirement, when he had that abdominal strain, and he told me that, for him, that was the one injury too many,” Oram told the . “I think I’m at that point and in that mindset right now.”I’m very highly motivated to go to the World Cup and if it wasn’t on I may have already hung the boots up by now. It’s a very big carrot for me and it may also be the swan song of my career. If that’s to be the case, I’d like to give it everything to try and make it.”Oram’s career has been interrupted by injuries to his knee, back, calf and Achilles tendon. In August, he suffered a recurrence of a patella-tendon injury during the tri-series in Sri Lanka and had surgery for it on September 2. He will not be fully fit in time for New Zealand’s Twenty20 matches against Pakistan before the year ends though he hoped to ease back into action around Christmas for Central Districts during the HRV Cup, New Zealand’s domestic Twenty20 competition.