Andy Murray targets end of season top spot

Andy Murray has set his sights on a strong finish to his season and with a shot at surpassing Novak Djokovic at the top of the rankings.
The world number two is in Beijing for the China Open where he is hoping to make ground on the absent Djokovic in his pursuit of the coveted position at the summit of the men’s game.
A stellar 2016 so far, which has seen Murray win Wimbledon for a second time as well as reach two more grand slam finals and claim the Olympic gold in Rio, has coincided with a difficult second half of the season for his great rival Djokovic.
The Serbian, who is not playing in Beijing due to an elbow injury, suffered a surprise early exit at Wimbledon, later attributed to personal issues, while also suffering a first-round exit at the Olympics and withdrawing from the Cincinnati Open in August. He came into the US Open with lingering fitness concerns, but made it to the final where he lost to Stan Wawrinka.

Burnley victory was one of Arsenal’s biggest wins of the season – Ox

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hailed Arsenal’s last-gasp 1-0 victory at Burnley as “one of the biggest wins of the season.”
The England international and Laurent Koscielny were both involved in bundling the ball over the line in the last minute of the match to earn the Gunners their fifth straight Premier League success.
Neither player could confirm who scored the goal but both agreed with the importance of gaining all three points.
Chamberlain told Sky Sports: “The important thing is we managed to squeeze it in at the end and that’s one of the biggest wins we will have this season for sure.
“I think you know [who scored the goal] better than us. I think it hit both of us at some point but it doesn’t really matter.

French fighter jets on mission against IS in Mosul

French fighter jets have set off on a mission against Islamic State in its Iraqi stronghold of Mosul.
Eight jets took off from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the eastern Mediterranean in preparation of an offensive backed by Britain and the US to liberate the city.
Iraqi forces will lead the operation, backed by western special forces and aircraft including the RAF, once it starts – possibly in October.
A French defence official said Friday’s mission “in no way” marked the beginning of the battle to retake Mosul.
However, it is unclear whether the jets will carry out airstrikes or reconnaissance.
French radio station RTL reported the warplanes were armed with four 250kg laser-guided bombs each, and that the operation would involve an attack on average every three minutes.
US and British drones have been flying constant surveillance missions over the city.
They have witnessed senior IS leaders flee, but intelligence reports estimate there are between 2,500 and 3,000 fighters left.

Arsene Wenger will leave Arsenal when he wins the title – Robert Pires

Robert Pires has told L’Equipe he thinks Arsene Wenger will remain Arsenal manager until he lifts the Premier League title again.
Pires, 42, spent six years working under his compatriot, between 2000 and 2006, winning the Premier League title twice, including the 2003-04 “Invincibles” season in which the Gunners did not lose a single game.
And the French World Cup-winner, who is an Arsenal ambassador and still trains with the first