Ryan Tannehill is one of 32 players up for the award.

On the afternoon of September 15, the shoppers in Arsenal’s flagship store were treated to an unexpected surprise. As they were browsing the shelves, the television screens in the shop suddenly cut to a live feed from within the home dressing room at the Emirates Stadium. The stream showed a table in the middle of the room, on which there was an hourglass, a pen and a piece of paper. Then came a captain’s armband, followed by a superhero mask. Eventually, after a few more minutes, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also arrived, to announce to the fans – in live time – that he had finally signed his new contract. Across the world, more than 250,000 people tuned in to view Aubameyang’s announcement. Millions more viewers have since watched it back. The stream was the result of weeks of planning by club staff, all desperate to maximise the impact of a deal that symbolised a new era of positivity under Mikel Arteta. The underlying message from Arsenal was clear: that Aubameyang is a global star, worthy of a groundbreaking approach to something as straightforward as a footballer extending the terms of his employment. This was not just any old contract signing, Arsenal were implying. This was the contract signing of the decade, the statement deal that meant so much to the future of the club. It all put considerable pressure on Aubameyang and, although he has never been afraid to embrace his own stardom, expectations were raised even higher of Arsenal’s FA Cup final-winning hero. It is an unfortunate reality for him and the club that, so far this season, he has not come close to reaching them.

Anthony Yarde intends to deliver a statement knockout when he steps into the ring against Lyndon Arthur at Church House Westminster on Saturday for the Commonwealth crown. But Yarde, who suffered his first loss a year ago but came within a whisker of defeating world champion Sergey Kovalev in Russia, explained: “What I do know about Arthur is that he’s going to be hungry. Everybody who fights me is going to want a victory because it puts them in a certain limelight, a certain category. It will be big news. I see him as motivation for me as well. “I’m in a situation where I’ve built my career the hard way. I’ve knocked out most of my opponents and taken big risks in boxing. I’ve been out to Russia and I’ve showed my determination, my heart and what I can accomplish in boxing. If he thinks he’s going to get an unprepared Anthony Yarde or an Anthony Yarde that’s not looking to take his head off, then he’s very mistaken.” Yarde, from east London, revealed that he has lost four family members to Covid-19. “I feel everyone is going through this pandemic, that we’re all in this together. But boxing is not a sport where you can act on emotion or get angry and let out any frustration. If you do that you’re going to find yourself get hit a lot. I learned that very early in boxing. “I was quite hot-headed when I was younger. I tried to retaliate with what I saw Mike Tyson do, I thought I could do it as well. I learned very, very quickly it doesn’t work like that. There’s a lot of skill in boxing.” Frank Warren, the promoter of Saturday’s fight, believes that the winner of this light-heavyweight contest will progress to a world title fight next year. Yarde added: “I’m always looking to have a spectacular fight. Always. I don’t like boring or looking back and seeing boring. Everyone knows I’m a big critic of myself. If I get hit too much when I don’t need to I’m going to criticise myself. If I don’t hit the person enough when I could have hit them I going to criticise myself. But this fight is going to be very entertaining, 100 per cent. I’m looking to land shots I have been working on. I’m looking to apply pressure. I’m looking to do everything and do everything that’s necessary to get the knockout.” For Arthur, meanwhile, unbeaten in 17 contests, this challenge represents the opportunity to elevate his name and his status. The Mancunian told Telegraph Sport. “I’m confident. I’m excited to get in the ring and do the business.” “Yarde is good, powerful, strong, can box a bit. What you see is what you get. He hits people and they go down. But I believe my best beats his best. That’s just me. The art of boxing is hit and not get hit. Everyone hits hard. I’ve just got to be clever.” This promises to be an intriguing fight, and the key for Arthur will be to establish his jab to blunt Yarde’s offensive power. But Yarde may have too much and force a late stoppage. Yarde vs Arthur is live on BT Sport on Saturday Night from Westminster Church Hall

A pivotal matchup in the NFC will take place on Sunday between the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Mountain West Conference released the league’s 2020-21 men’s basketball schedule,

Worcester Warriors’ game against Gloucester-Hartpury will be one of only two Premier 15s fixtures to host fans this weekend following the controversial decision of the league leaders, Harlequins, not to open their doors. A maximum of 500 fans are expected to attend Sixways on Sunday, which will be the first time fans will be able to watch a women’s game since England’s victory over Wales in the Six Nations in March. Wasps Ladies have also released a limited number tickets for their home game against Loughborough Lightning. Despite being in a tier-two area, Harlequins’ decision will surprise some given the club’s track record in attracting record crowd attendances in recent years to the women’s domestic game. Some 4,837 watched the club’s 62-0 rout of Gloucester-Hartpury in March 2019, which remains the largest crowd attendance at a Premier 15s match. The club also had the highest average crowd attendance during the truncated 2019-20 season, which stood at 1,143. The Government announced on Nov 26 that up to 2,000 fans in tier-two regions could attend sporting events after the second lockdown, but Harlequins felt this was not “a long enough of a run-in to sell enough tickets to cover the costs of implementing the extra infrastructure we have to put in place for when fans attend.” Telegraph Sport understands Worcester are already prepared to operate at a loss even if they do welcome as many as 500 people on Sunday. Harlequins also took their decision with a view to drum up support for their top-of-the-table clash next weekend against Saracens on Dec 12. That game, however, has now been postponed after a Saracens player tested positive for the virus, with the league champions’ game against Exeter also called off on Saturday. Ten other Saracens players who have been identified as close contacts are currently self-isolating. “Given the positive test result along with other players isolating as well as out injured or returning from injury, the club [Saracens] do not feel confident they can field a side this weekend or next,” said Nicky Ponsford, the RFU’s head of women’s performance, who confirmed Harlequins v Saracens would be rearranged for January 2 next year. DMP Durham Sharks’ match against Sale Sharks this weekend has also been called off after three Durham players tested positive. The RFU is due to announce details of the rearranged fixture in due course.

Romain Grosjean hopes to find a way to do a private test in a Formula 1 car early next year if he is unable to take part in the Abu Dhabi GP.

Fans were allowed back on Thursday night.

Saban missed the Iron Bowl after he tested positive for COVID-19