.:r ”n vii .:r ”n iii “a reason where there's that disrupt in the arsenalfamily. reason where there's that disrupt in the arsenal family. what does arteta need to do? going to that boxing day game? just be ruthless. i don't know what else he needs to do. i question the start at 11. there are players... who's been an arsenal players... who's been an arsenal player for about two years. we haven't really seen him play. so, why not give him a chance. i don't wa nt to why not give him a chance. i don't want to bring up as it is, but there's other players that could come in that he should be playing. he might as well play the others at this point because there are the only ones who are bringing us part to the team. arteta isn't the only boss under pressure. newcastle joined arsenal in being knocked out of the league cup last night. a magical story for brentford who are into their first major semi final in their isi—year history. for newcastle it was another poor display with a lack of attacking intent as they lost by a goal to nil, putting more pressure on steve bruce. i've been speaking to alex hurst from newcastle united's supporters trust.

last night's performance came as a shock. i think the bbc website described as a shock, but it was not shock to fans. not as before they re st shock to fans. not as before they rest six first team players for a game which was far bigger next to a season. it's really keeping with the performance. it's not just... season. it's really keeping with the performance. it's notjust... they we re performance. it's notjust... they were performing very badly. but pretty much as steve bruce's entire ten years set by dreadful performances. you talk about steve bruce's tenure. do you know lay the blame on his shoulders? yeah, i think a lot of newcastle fans feel that way. he's been back to more than any other manager on the list. there was a lot of talent in this team. it not one of the top teams in the league, but it's certainly, my

opinion a performance below. ithink a lot of newcastle fans would like to see a play change. some people would say bruce is doing 0k. to see a play change. some people would say bruce is doing ok. 12 in the table, a point from the relegation zone. he's doing 0k. what would you say to them?|j relegation zone. he's doing 0k. what would you say to them? i would say any of those people particularly managers, because any times... i don't think any teams would have given him a drop off. he said he would take the club forward and he hasn't. he said he would improve the foot ball hasn't. he said he would improve the football and take us to the next level, and he hasn't. by his own definition, he's failing. the team are hugely fortunate to be where they are in the league. the performances have been disastrous, so performances have been disastrous, sol performances have been disastrous, so i think without the foremost... would be in the relegation zone.

everyone's playing in the scottish premiership tonight as well. the runaway league leaders at the moment — rangers are at stjohnstone. celtic are 16 points behind going into their game at bottom of the table ross county, but with three games in hand. neil lennon's side cuurently 1—0 in front. all six oc‘lock kick offs except motherwell aberdeen, that got going at 615 and dundee united v kilmarnock at 630. time now for some of the day's other sport stories. england and atletico madrid defender kieran trippier has been banned for ten weeks and fined £70,000 for breaking the fa's betting rules. tripper denied seven alleged breaches, but four were found proven. he'll now miss 12 games for la liga leaders atletico, including their champions league last—i6 first leg tie at home to chelsea. england's cricketers will be allowed to fly to sri lanka for next month's test series, despite the country's ban on commercial flights from the uk. players will spend ten days

in a bio—secure training bubble on arrival their before the first of two matches in galle starting on arrival before the first of two matches in galle starting on the 14th of january. two—time champion gary anderson is through to the third round of the world darts championship. he beat latvia's madars razma 3—1 at alexandra palace. it's so often one of the most spectacular moments of any 0lympic or paralympic games — the opening ceremony. just think about that extraordinary show put on by danny boyle at london 2012. but next summers's tokyo games is going to be a far more low key affair after the current plans were scrapped today, and the number of creative directors working on the opening ceremony cut from seven to one. 0rganisers say it's because an extravagent show wouldn't feel right given the pandemic. i've been speaking to our sports correspondent alex capstick. today was all about the opening and closing ceremonies, and they have announced that there will be one

creative director now. there were seven people in charge of the ceremonies. but they got rid of them and now it is just a ceremonies. but they got rid of them and now it isjust a man —— one man. he put together an event injuly, but it was postponed, which is a very sombre, restrained affair. the new version of the ceremonies will be similarto new version of the ceremonies will be similar to that. in fact, they won't be the extravagant spectacle we saw in the past. tokyo 2020 announced plans for ceremonies that would include animated characters like super mario, lots of colour, lots of cars. a high—tech, visual experience. all that has been stripped away, so it will be a very sombre... there will be as many people involved in the show. they're talking about stripping back the outlay parade and dashed out athletes parade. they want to eliminate the risk of spreading the

virus —— the out leads parade. ceremony was and is it right during a pandemic? they will respect -- reflect what will be a difficult year. not only for the people organising the games, but the people around the world. yes, it will be sombre, it will be restrained. lots of the excitement that we've seen in the past will not be there at all. there'll fewer people involved. making the point that we can't have in the future this big, expensive show. the difference will be of blueprint for future ceremonies, future 0lympics, with or without covid. the comment of the vice president overseeing preparations and said there will be a new games for post—covid world. that will extend to the ceremonies of. for some, he's the greatest footballer of all time — or at least one of them. lionel messi has made history again after scoring his 6a4th goal for barcelona during their win over real valladolid in la liga,

breaking pele's long—standing record of the most goals scored for one team. it comes 15 years after messi's first goalfor barca. since then, he's scored a51 in la liga, in the spanish cup and 118 in europe. 53 in the spanish cup and 118 in europe. that is pele's record surpassed now. marcella moura is a football journalist in buenos aires and joins me now. thank you forjoining us on sportsday. what do you make of yet another milestone for lionel messi? well, statistically, it's significant. it's a massive number, and obviously, beating records is pa rt and obviously, beating records is part of what we celebrate in sport.

someone was saying it would take somebody else 43 goals a season for 15 years on average to surpass him now, so i think that's absolutely monumental. there's no two ways about it. it's an incredible accomplishment. having said that, i don't think he needed to score any further goals to show, to prove, to be the absolutely emblematic top player he is. people will argue forever, he's better than mira don't know, better than ronaldo —— mira donna. ultimately, idon't know, better than ronaldo —— mira donna. ultimately, i don't think very significant. messi doesn't need to win anything further. he is absolutely extraordinary, and it's been 15 years since his first goal

for barcelona. they have seen him throughout and can see that his level has been consistently phenomenal. his excellence is over time —— has over time not reduce. i don't want to say a record, who ca res ? don't want to say a record, who cares? but in a way, it adds little, other than the number, which is significant. it adds little to his track record. he was already as good as anyone we've ever seen, track record. he was already as good as anyone we've ever seen, possibly, or among the top five best players of all time for sure. and he has still a lot to give, i think. we spent the summer saying is messi over. he doesn't like barcelona. which we will continue to see. and clearly, just this last few days alone, he reached pele's record and

then surpassed it. he has so much to delight us with and continue to be the story. i like how you can take it all in stride. amazing footballers. very quickly, what do you feel happens next with messi? he said he wanted to lead he wanted when i say. do you expect him to go next summer? i don't know what i expect personally. i don't know what that means much. i think he really did want to go in the summer and he was very outspoken about his discomfort with the club, especially the leader bliss ship within the clu b the leader bliss ship within the club —— leadership. and the political structure that holds the institutions together. that has now changed, and of course, messi's contract, the terms of the transfer we re contract, the terms of the transfer were also changed injanuary. so, i

suspect there will be a lot of speculation about him moving to another club and there's a lot of clu bs another club and there's a lot of clubs who would like him, obviously. but i also wouldn't be surprised if messi as a brand or an organisation, his team of people, took a more involved role in the running of barcelona. i don't think this is particularly something that's being touted about, but it wouldn't surprise me. he's been with that clu b surprise me. he's been with that club all his life, really. he's a one club man. with all the issues that are happening in barcelona, the shakiness of the institution, it would be quite an interesting opportunity for him looking forward beyond his playing years, which are by no means over, but which might be in the next five years. we've seen

similar things happen. and is now president through elections. but it does happen, and if messi were to do something like that with his career and with his future, i imagine barcelona's a more natural home for him. sorry to interrupt. we're running out of time, but thank you. it is fascinating to figure out what's going to happen. thank you. and finally tonight, we end with some sad news — the loss of one of our former colleagues at bbc sport kevin geary, who's died at the age of 66 after an illness which lasted a little over a year. kevin worked for the bbc for more than 30 years, mostly covering sport on tv and radio before leaving in 2011. today, tributes have been paid, including from barbara slater, the director of bbc sport,

who's described kevin as "a true wordsmith with a wonderful turn of phrase that endeared him to audiences." his skills as a wordsmith he clearly passed on to his son patrick, who's also a journalist and part of our team here. this is just some of kevin geary‘s work. looked serious it isn't but for maidstone, at least at the place of call home. quest is to find the italian who's come to do the england job. he's here somewhere and apparently ready to sign. but where? unfortunately, not a lot of people know. as ever ten were men mounting their attack, they don't like this happens. viewers got an ad for a brand of mints. unfortunately, not the ones with a whole. he probably doesn't

think much of your back catalogue either. athletics is at the heart of that legacy. turning this intojust another football ground will mean for him and for many others, london breaking his promises. and on behalf of all of the team, our condolences to kevin's wife nicola, to his son paddy and the whole family. that is all we have time for tonight. i'll be back later in the evening with tonight's football results as well from the league cup, but from everyone here for now, thanks for watching. goodnight.

with me to answer your coronavirus questions this morning are doctor mohammed and a clinical epidemiologist at the university of london. you're both very welcome. thank you very much for your time this morning. the first question is from wayne. 0n this morning. the first question is from wayne. on twitter. " in light of the increased transmissibility of this new variant, why hasn't the wearing a mask been made mandatory? if people can't wear one, wash and they have to wear a face shield?"|j think a high transmissibility is certainly a concern. we might need more stronger control mothers to reduce transmission. —— controlled measures. i do think we need more widespread mass clearing. regarding face shields, we know they're not as

effective as masks, but