now on bbc news, it's sportsday. hello. you're live at the bbc sports centre with me, ben croucher. this is sportsday on bbc news. coming up: we'll be live at the emirates stadium as arsenal bid to return to the top of the table. wimbledon moving to belfast? it may seem like a crazy idea, butjust how close was it to happening in the �*90s? and half—centuries for smith and marsh, but is it enough to give australia control of the second test against pakistan? also in the programme: we speak to the 16—year—old sensation who continues his darts dream at the world championship.

yes, thank you very much for your company. so a season that kicked off on august the 11th is reaching the halfway point. tonight, arsenal have the chance to return to the top of the table when they host west ham united. the gunners were top at christmas before liverpool's win over burnley on tuesday, so if they win tonight, it'll be the 15th time the lead has changed hands this season. at this stage last season, arsenal were leading the way only to falter. so have mikel arteta's squad learned their lesson? i hope so! but we have to prove it every day. and the competition, it's incredible this season, how difficult it is to win every single game. you can see the results and how surprised you

see the scores on the app. that is the beauty of this league. tomorrow, you're going to have to be so good to be west ham and the next to go to fulham, and that is the demands and thatis fulham, and that is the demands and that is where we are. really pleased with the progress we have made. ithink really pleased with the progress we have made. i think we've got 30 points— have made. i think we've got 30 points in— have made. i think we've got 30 points in the premier league, so it is a good _ points in the premier league, so it is a good total for us at this time of the _ is a good total for us at this time of the yeah _ is a good total for us at this time of the year. we are in a good position— of the year. we are in a good position in— of the year. we are in a good position in europe at the moment, waiting _ position in europe at the moment, waiting on— position in europe at the moment, waiting on the draw in february, march _ waiting on the draw in february, march time, so you want to keep it going _ march time, so you want to keep it going the — march time, so you want to keep it going. the good news is we can play better~ _ going. the good news is we can play better~ i_ going. the good news is we can play better. i think we can improve again — west ham can go sixth if they avoid defeat, but if history is anything to go by, that could be a tall order. our reporter mike williams is taking this one in at the emirates for the 8:15 kick off. mike, what is the vibe that you're picking there, then?— mike, what is the vibe that you're picking there, then? there's a sense of excitement _ picking there, then? there's a sense of excitement and _ picking there, then? there's a sense of excitement and anticipation - picking there, then? there's a sense of excitement and anticipation here, | of excitement and anticipation here, because as you say, arsenal know

that if they win here this against west ham and on sunday a way to fulham, another london opponent, they will start 2024 as the premier league leaders, and they have got to be confident heading to this game this evening. the visitors have not won here in north london for eight years. bit of team news. this will be confirmed in the next 45 minutes or so. arsenal have to make one change. kai havertz picked up his fifth yellow card on a saturday against liverpooljust before christmas, so mikel arteta left to make the one change. we are expecting the under trossard to come in, intentionally emile smith rowe could be another option. west ham probably and unchanged side —— leandro trossard. probably and unchanged side -- leandro trossard.— probably and unchanged side -- leandrotrossard. , ., leandro trossard. west ham's season, man were leandro trossard. west ham's season, many were predicted _ leandro trossard. west ham's season, many were predicted losing _ leandro trossard. west ham's season, many were predicted losing declan - many were predicted losing declan rice would mean they would struggle, but they have been compounding all expectation, haven't they? thei;t expectation, haven't they? they have, expectation, haven't they? they have. and _ expectation, haven't they? they have. and they _ expectation, haven't they? they have, and they could _

expectation, haven't they? they have, and they could go - expectation, haven't they? tie: have, and they could go six this evening with a rare win here, as you say. david moyes, just before christmas, let a little of his frustration known about the west ham fans, criticised them for their criticism. look at what we're doing in the league, he said, look what we did the rope conference the last year — to paraphrase the west ham manager, it does not get much better than this. he think that criticism is a bit unfair. he continues to work wonders here at the club and will do so again with another victory here this evening, that it is declan rice, that man, will be the key man to watch this evening, the key man to watch this evening, the linchpin of the arsenal midfield already after six month at the club. he was a mainstay at west ham, a legend of the club, captive over league appearances, culminating in that conference league final in may. —— captain. that conference league final in may. -- captain-— -- captain. mike, thank you very much for — -- captain. mike, thank you very much forjoining _ -- captain. mike, thank you very much forjoining us _ -- captain. mike, thank you very much forjoining us on _ -- captain. mike, thank you very| much forjoining us on sportsday. well, tottenham can climb

to third with a big win over brighton and hove albion. spurs have won three on the bounce and are aiming to score in their 31st straight league game too, whilst brighton haven't kept a clean sheet in the premier league since may. both sides have injury issues too and there's a healthy respect between the two managers. he's always done things fairly unique in his whole career and he has brought that to the premier league. you got to respect that because, as we know, this is probably the toughest league competition in the world and it can be easy to shy away from doing anything that is too different. but i don't know the man, i've never met him, but i can tell that he is pretty determined to do things his own way and they do provide a different challenge from a lot of other clubs. i would like to play with the complete squad, but football, tottenham played a lot of games without _ tottenham played a lot of games without eight, seven players, and i

never— without eight, seven players, and i never listen — without eight, seven players, and i never listen postecoglou cry, you know? _ never listen postecoglou cry, you know? it — never listen postecoglou cry, you know? it is — never listen postecoglou cry, you know? it is football and we have to accept _ know? it is football and we have to accept and — know? it is football and we have to accept. and i think we can compete in the _ accept. and i think we can compete in the same — accept. and i think we can compete in the same way. live text commentary on both of those games on the bbc sport website. to the cricket, where australia remain on course for a series win against pakistan, with a game to spare. the home side were in trouble on day three of the second test on 16—4 before mitch marsh and steve smith came together — on a day where an english umpire also made the headlines. michael redford reports. all smiles for australia at the start of play. understandably so. they were on top heading to date three, where captain pat cummins led from the front. two wickets in the morning, fighting the indians. pakistan out four to 64, which gave australia a lead summing to build on. not quite. the early morning confidence now late morning concern.

concern too sort of, for the third umpire richard illingworth, a no—show after lunch. the reason? he was stuck in a lift. the enlisted men eventually re—emerged with a bright smile on his face. play on, he said. david warner wished he had not. it is last test match before retiring, there would be no fairy tale finish. mitchell marsh, dropped on 20, he soon made pakistan pay. steve smith and him put on 153. neither would be there at the close, though, marsh falling short of his century. it is all set up for a thrilling finale. michael redford, bbc news. in centurion, south africa have gone 1—0 up in their 2—test series against india in some style. resuming on 140, dean elgar added 45 to his overnight score before he was eventually dismissed. marco jansen made a career best 84 not out as south africa made 408 in theirfirst innings.

and jansen had an impact with the ball, taking three wickets, including the final one of virat kohli as india were bowled out forjust 131. south africa winning by an innings and 32 runs inside three days. let's take you through some of the day's other top stories. manu tuilagi is set to miss the start of the six nations. the england centre suffered a groin injury playing for sale last friday. gallopin de champs thrashed ireland's top jumpers to win the savills chase at leopardstown by 23 lengths. it's his first victory since winning the cheltenham gold cup in march. freestyle skiier kirsty muir is set to miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury. the 19—year—old, who represented team gb at the 2022 winter olympics, ruptured her acl at a world cup event earlier this month. rafa nadal is back on court in australia after a year out with a hip injury. he'll take part in the brisbane

international in preparation for next month's australian open. newly—released state papers show the former prime minister sir tony blair was keen on an idea to relocate wimbledon football club to belfast in the late 1990s. the relocation was intended to help the peace process by having a club which could attract support from both catholic and protestant communities. mark simpson has this report. a brand—new sports stadium in belfast, with a premier league football team. that was the plan 25 years ago — to help bring people together as the peace process improved. the idea of turning wimbledon fc into belfast united fc was discussed openly at the time. what the state papers released today show is the extent of the political i would be quite helpful our opening it will be august 2000 would

and that would be at belfast united. what the state papers released today show is the extent of the political discussions behind the scenes. mo mowlam, as secretary of state, was not keen on the idea — in fact, she used the phraseology that she didn't think it was a particularly safe proposal. by contrast, the prime minister, tony blair, was extremely enthusiastic, and he wrote in the middle ofjuly 1998 that he thought it would be excellent if wimbledon moved to belfast, and that the government should try to do everything to make that happen. in the end, of course, it didn't happen. wimbledon stayed in england and belfast enacted a new premier league team or a new stadium. history shows building big stadiums and belfast is really straightforward. mark simpson, bbc news. the chants at alexandra palace

started off with "you've got school in the morning", so just as well that it's the holiday season — because 16—year—old luke littler is still going strong on his debut at the world darts championship. a 4—1win over canada's matt campbell last night has taken him into the last 16, where he could meet five—time world champion raymond van barneveld, who won his last world title three weeks before littler was born. as well as looking ahead to the weekend, he told us about the secret to last night's success. overall, it was a good performance. my scoring was well and my doubles were well, and that's what got me over the line, hitting my doubles. are you kind of surprising yourself with the level of your performance or is this the level that you've always known you can achieve? i know my game is there, my game's been there for the past 12 months. this year has just been a roller—coaster, but i know my game is there and i know what i can achieve and i know what i can perform on a big stage, like i've done the past three games. the 164 check out, was that

the particular highlight for you? yeah, because you see, matty took out the first when i was sat 25. so when the first treble went in, it was a good... so ijust thought, "that's going in," and then hit the bull. how much is it temperament and mentality and trusting your ability? that's what you have to do. trust yourself and just be confident. jim williams or raymond van barneveld in the last 16 — how much are you looking forward to taking on either of them? a different challenge for both players, isn't it? it'd be unbelievable to play raymond, obviously he's a five—time world champion, andjimmy�*s coming back off a win against peter wright, so them two should have a good game. do you have a preference of which player you'd like to take on first? obviously, it would be good to play raymond on the stage. there's a video of me doing his celebration. i'd always look up to him and phil taylor and obviously michael van gerwen. are you hoping for an afternoon game? cos i think manchester united kick off at 5.30 in the evening,

so keen to watch them or are you trying to stay in your own little bubble right now? no, i'd love tojust play in the evening. i don't like waking up in the morning. i don't blame you for that. and, luke, just talk us through, what, i think £35,000 - if it doesn't go your way — already that you've made in this tournament, how are you kind of dealing with that at such a young age right now? i know the prize money is there, but i'm not thinking about it. i'm just thinking about my practice routines and who i'm playing next. and i've seen...was it alton towers or blackpool pleasure beach on the list, maybe when it gets a little bit warmer? yeah, i'll treat my friends to a trip wherever they want to go. good on him. best of luck to him at the weekend. that is all we've got time for on sportsday. thanks for joining us. we will see you again soon. bye—bye.

around 3,000 homes are still without power in scotland, and motorists and rail passengers continue to face disruption, after the storm led to landslides and fallen trees. the energy company ssen says customers in the north—east and shetland are the worst affected, and some homes are unlikely to be reconnected until tomorrow. here's chris mclaughlin. everything has been turned upside down, really. a local shop in cupar, fife. storm gerrit has been and gone. this is what it left. we don't know where to begin with the clean—up procedure, so i think everything is going to have to be refitted again. fridges, freezers, the shelving. i tried to save what i could, butjust had no time. no time to react at all. homes across the town were affected, too.

for many, it comes at the worst possible time. the hardest part this time around was watching our seven—year—old try and collect all her christmas presents, breaking her heart thinking our christmas was ruined. she said it's the worst christmas ever, and it was just horrendous. in the town of tarland in aberdeenshire, food trucks for those who have been without power since yesterday afternoon. had a pretty poor night, had the kids and the dogs up at my parents', did nobody really settled well, so... we lit the fire and we had baked potatoes in the fire, _ and we played stupid games. i should have gone home yesterday, because i live in inveraray. so i should have gone home yesterday morning. in shetland, the evidence of gusts reaching 83 mph was obvious. it's been here and the north—east that's been worst hit. we were aware of the weather, but the wind speed was higher than what was actually forecast. they were about 10 mph higher, which can actually cause more disruption to the network.