MILAN -- The uncertainty around Arsenal grows. Wednesday's 1-0 defeat to Internazionale is not a severe blow to their UEFA Champions League hopes, but it does make a top-eight finish and the automatic qualification that comes with it more doubtful.

It continues a difficult week where uncertainty arose off the field in unexpected fashion with the abrupt departure of sporting director Edu Gaspar and questions grow over their durability in the Premier League title race after falling seven points behind leaders Liverpool. All three situations can be rescued and resolved, but the Gunners have been a picture of stability and sustained progress for more than two years. This is in danger of feeling different.

The breaks aren't going their way at present. Injuries have disrupted their rhythm and manager Mikel Arteta was visibly frustrated with the officiating here at San Siro after Mikel Merino was denied a penalty at one end before conceding one at the other. With 28 minutes on the clock, Merino appeared to be taken out by goalkeeper Yann Sommer but VAR must have detected the faintest touch on the ball as a corner was awarded.

On the stroke of half-time, Merino handled a free kick in the box in one of those unfortunate incidents where the ball strikes his hand in what this competition's interpretation of the rules deems an unnatural position, yet at the same time, it appears difficult to see what else he could have done. Arteta could not conceal his frustration.

"I don't understand [the handball] decision," he said. "There is no danger at all. You cannot react because the ball is very close. But OK, they decide that is a penalty.

"But if that is a penalty, then the one on Mikel Merino where he punches him in the head has to be a penalty 1,000%. These are the margins in this game and it's very difficult to accept.

"We were told at the start of the season that wasn't a penalty. That was clear. Today, it was a different story."

Hakan Çalhanoglu stroked home his penalty and Inter had a lead to defend. And defend they did, as Inter had one shot in the second half as Arsenal dominated possession and probed for an equaliser.

They carried a greater threat than in defeat at Newcastle United last weekend but set pieces were their main weapon until a late onslaught pushed the total number of crosses into the box to 46 but nobody in the form to capitalise on them. It all felt a little predictable.

"The concern is the result and that in both boxes we didn't do what we have to do," said Arteta. "And then we didn't, someone else didn't. For sure this is the way I want to see my team.

"All the big games we have played in Europe, this is by far the best one that we played in the last few years."

That final line is stretching the credibility of a manager defending his players somewhat, but it is a further sign Arteta believes there is nothing fundamentally wrong, more another case where luck and fine margins went against them.

Yet, there are too many players struggling below their best at present. This was another evening where Leandro Trossard took a backward step, Gabriel Martinelli looked blunted and Kai Havertz looked more like the player lost at Chelsea than the one found by Arsenal. The oft-repeated criticism that Arsenal should have done more to strengthen their attacking options in the summer transfer window will grow louder after this.

A lot is riding on Martin Ødegaard to restore the cutting edge to their football. Ødegaard made his long-awaited return from an ankle injury that has sidelined him for the Gunners since Aug. 31 in stoppage-time, but by then it was too late to really affect anything with Inter's trench dug deep in their own box.

The Arsenal captain is a sublime player capable of knitting together a stuttering team, but it is a big ask to do so immediately following almost two months out. He may well only have come on against Inter because Havertz had to leave the field following a clash of heads that left him requiring stitches. And so, Arsenal ended beaten, bloodied and bowed.

Arteta insisted they will soon turn the corner. "If we play the way we played, we have a good chance to win against Chelsea," he said.

"I told them I'm proud of them. I haven't seen them play in Europe in the manner they have today. And we are very disappointed because we didn't get what we wanted out of the game that's for sure."

It's now three defeats in six games, which includes two in a row for the Gunners. They need a result at Stamford Bridge if that feeling of uncertainty is not to develop into something more ominous.

The San Jose Earthquakes have signed Bruce Arena to be the team's sporting director and manager, the former LA Galaxy and United States manager told ESPN.

Arena's dual role is similar to his previous stops with the Galaxy and New England Revolution, with GM Chris Leitch retaining his position, but now reporting directly to Arena, a club source added. The extent to which current staff will be retained is to be determined.

An official announcement is expected on Thursday morning.

"I think it's an interesting job. It's certainly going to be challenging," Arena told ESPN in an exclusive interview. He added that he was impressed by the proposed level of commitment from owner John Fisher, as well as the rest of the club's front office staff.

"They were very impressive and they're committed to making this club better," Arena said. "I think there's potential there to develop the club into a team that can certainly be better than they've demonstrated over the last couple of years."

Arena, 73, will take over a San Jose side that went through a brutal 2024 campaign, finishing dead last in the league with just 21 points from 34 games and a record of 6-25-3. The second-worst point total was 30 by Chicago Fire FC.

San Jose also set a dubious MLS record by conceding 78 goals. The Quakes started the season with Luchi Gonzalez as manager, but he was dismissed in late June, with assistant coach Ian Russell managing the team on an interim basis for the remainder of the campaign. As such, the team is now in need of a complete rebuild.

Arena has proven himself adept at rebuilding jobs, having resurrected the Galaxy when he took over in 2008, and ultimately leading them to three MLS Cup titles. He did the same with the Revs starting in 2019, and leading them to a Supporters' Shield title in 2021.

San Jose fans will be hoping that Arena can provide a similar boost to the Quakes.

"I already know that we want to bring in anywhere from, three to five new players, at a minimum," Arena said. "We're gonna target some guys and try to attract them to San Jose.

"You can't change a dozen players in one year, so I think we need to have some patience. I think the roster's a heck of a lot better than they demonstrated this past year. It's not a 21 point roster. Is it a 30 point roster? Is it 40 points? Is it 50 points? I don't know, but the roster is certainly more capable than they showed in 2024."

The Earthquakes organization and Fisher are prepared to make an additional investment in the complex at PayPal Park, the team's home venue. The upgrades include improved locker rooms, a player meeting room, a team dining room, an additional practice field and other amenities that will improve "the everyday environment for the players."

Arena said the team is also committed to spending more on player salaries. In the latest release of salary data from the MLS Players Association, the Quakes ranked 26th out of 29 teams, with a payroll of $14.63 million. Arena said that Fisher hadn't put an exact number on the amount of any spending increase.

"The commitment [Fisher] has made to help improve the roster is the one that I think is very positive," he said.

Arena has been out of work since he resigned as manager of the Revs in September of 2023. His resignation came after he was placed on administrative leave and later investigated by MLS for making "inappropriate and insensitive remarks."

At the time of his resignation, Arena admitted he "made some mistakes" but didn't elaborate further. MLS announced that "certain" allegations were confirmed and that Arena would have to petition MLS commissioner Don Garber if he wanted to work in the league again. Arena eventually met those conditions, and was declared eligible to resume working in MLS in December of 2023.

Appearing on CBS Sports Golazo Network's "Kickin' it," last June, Arena said he took responsibility for his actions but also said he had to be "reserved" in what he could say about why he resigned. He called what he went through "hurtful."

When asked to comment on his departure from New England, Arena once again declined to go into specifics. He said he was "extremely proud" of what he had accomplished with the Revs, and added he had engaged in some restorative practice work in a bid to move on from the episode. When pressed on what exactly he said, Arena indicated: "It was just staff joking around with each other in private. I accept any of the criticism and I'm moving forward."

Arena's on-field success in MLS is unmatched. He is the winningest coach in MLS history with 262 regular season victories, and has won 12 trophies. With D.C. United he won two MLS Cups, a Supporters' Shield, a U.S. Open Cup crown, the 1998 Concacaf Champions Cup and the Interamerican Cup. Later, with the Galaxy, Arena won three MLS Cups and two Supporters' Shields. The aforementioned Supporters' Shield with the Revs marked the last time he won a trophy. He also managed the New York Red Bulls.

Arena also enjoyed success at international level, but also experienced some crushing lows. He led the United States to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup, including a round-of-16 triumph over bitter rivals Mexico. He also led the USMNT to three Gold Cup crowns in 2002, 2005 and 2017. However, he was manager during the 2018 cycle when the U.S. failed to qualify for the World Cup thanks in part to a shocking 2-1 defeat to Trinidad & Tobago on the final day of qualifying. He resigned days after that defeat.

Now Arena finds himself back in MLS, attempting to restore San Jose to the heights that have seen it claim two MLS Cups and two Supporters' Shields, the last of which came in 2012. He'll also be managing on the other side of the Quakes/Galaxy rivalry, sometimes referred to as the California Clasico.

FRISCO, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is dealing with a partial avulsion of his right hamstring, which means part of the tendon has pulled away from the bone, a source confirmed.

Prescott has not been placed on injured reserve yet, and if he is, would miss a minimum of four games, which would keep him out until at least Dec. 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals if the move is made this week. Two sources, however, said Prescott is likely to need a longer recovery period than the four weeks.

NFL Network first reported the nature of Prescott's injury.

Prescott was hurt after a 5-yard scramble late in the third quarter of Sunday's loss to the Atlanta Falcons. On the next play, cameras caught him grimacing as he threw a wobbling 10-yard pass to Jalen Brooks. After the game, he said he had not had that feeling before.

"I felt it when I was getting up from the run. I can't even say that I felt it running," Prescott said. "The tackle, maybe something on the tackle. Yeah, I don't know, but when I was standing up, I felt something actually. Didn't think it was much. You get tired. It's a physical game. A lot of times you feel different things, and they kind of go away."

Prescott had an MRI on Monday, and a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter then that the quarterback would miss several weeks.

In 2022, Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith suffered a full avulsion of his hamstring in a training camp practice that required surgery. He missed the first 13 games of the season.

The Cowboys will go with Cooper Rush as their starter in Prescott's absence. Rush is 5-1 as Prescott's replacement, including a 4-1 stint in 2022 after Prescott suffered a broken right thumb in the season opener. He has nine touchdown passes and six interceptions with 1,786 yards passing in 30 appearances.

Trey Lance will serve as the backup.

"Cooper's been great in getting Dak ready to play and now Dak, they'll be some role reversal there," coach Mike McCarthy said. "(Rush's) temperament is excellent. I would say he's as even-keeled as an individual, especially a quarterback, that I've had the opportunity to work with. Cerebral. Smart. He gives you the flexibility to continue to play. I think that's what you want in all your quarterbacks. You don't want to get to a spot where you have to change a bunch of things offensively because who's behind center."

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Los Angeles Lakers star big man Anthony Davis was ruled out of Wednesday night's game against the Memphis Grizzlies because of a left heel contusion.

Davis tested out the injury during a pregame workout and determined he was unable to play.

Lakers coach JJ Redick said Davis has not undergone imaging on the foot after aggravating it late in the team's loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday.

"From my understanding, it is something that off and on has bothered him a little bit throughout the summer and so far this season," Redick said. "We'll obviously miss him a lot."

L.A., 1-3 on its current road trip, returns home to host the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. Redick said Davis could be available for that game.

"I think for all of us, we want to take a long-term view on all of our players' health for an 82-game season," Redick said. "I just spoke with him before coming and talking to you guys. He was very positive about how it felt, but we recognize we got a long flight back to L.A., we got to turn around and do it again on Friday. So hopefully the extra 48 hours of rest will be good."

Aside from missing Davis' league-leading 32.6 points per game, the Lakers also were down another starter against the Grizzlies as Rui Hachimura was ruled out because of an illness.

Redick said he planned to play backup center Christian Koloko against Memphis. Koloko is a two-way signee who was recently cleared to return by the NBA's fitness to play panel after being out of action since April 2023 because of a blood clot issue.

"The game was almost taken away from me," Koloko said after shootaround Wednesday. "I'm just grateful to be here right now. So, I'm just going to embrace every moment I have on a basketball court now. And you never know what can happen. But yeah, I'm just happy to be here. And I know for sure that first game is going to be a special one for sure."

SAN ANTONIO -- Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said Wednesday he met with left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery in an effort to move past team owner Ken Kendrick's harsh public criticism after the season.

It remains to be seen whether Montgomery will be part of the club in 2025, though Hazen said he was open to the possibility.

Just after Opening Day, Montgomery signed a $25 million, one-year deal that included a 2025 player option. But he failed to deliver on the high price tag, finishing with a 6.23 ERA over 21 starts and 117 innings. He was eventually demoted to the bullpen, where he made four appearances.

Montgomery, 31, exercised his $22.5 million option to stay with the D-backs earlier this week.

"I will say that he was extremely accountable to the season he had, and I respect that," Hazen said at the general managers meetings. "I tried to be accountable toward some of the areas we could have maybe helped him a little better. The dynamic was the dynamic, it is what it is."

Montgomery's struggles were part of the reason the D-backs just missed the playoffs after reaching the World Series in 2023. Arizona finished in a three-way tie with the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets for the final two National League wild cards but missed out on October because the Braves and Mets both won the regular-season series over the D-backs.

Kendrick took responsibility for Montgomery's signing during a radio interview with Arizona Sports 98.7 FM after the season, saying it was his suggestion.

"Looking back, in hindsight, a horrible decision to invest that money in a guy who performed as poorly as he did," Kendrick said. "It's our biggest mistake this season from a talent standpoint. And I'm the perpetrator of that."

Arizona could have six experienced starters going into spring training, including Montgomery, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt and Ryne Nelson.

"I feel like we're in a strong position from a starting pitching standpoint," Hazen said. "I'd like to stay there, but we'll see what happens as we go through the offseason."

Hazen did say other clubs were inquiring about the availability of several Arizona pitchers.

"We're talking to teams about starting pitchers because of the fact that we have six," Hazen said. "So teams are coming at us for players -- starting pitchers specifically."

Montgomery had a long track record as a successful big league starter before this past season's meltdown. He has a 46-41 career record with a 4.03 ERA over eight seasons.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick wants his team to keep their rampant scoring streak going after beating Red Star Belgrade 5-2 in the Champions League on Wednesday to extend their winning run to seven games in all competitions.

Barça have netted at least three times in each of those seven victories -- including four against both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid -- and have scored three or more goals in 10 of their 16 matches this season.

Mikel Arteta has vented his anger at the denial of a "1000 percent penalty" and insisted Arsenal produced their best European display in years despite losing 1-0 at Inter Milan.

Hakan Çalhanoglu's spot-kick in first-half stoppage-time settled a tight contest at Stadio San Siro and handed the Gunners a fresh setback in their Champions League campaign.

Mikel Merino was adjudged to have handled in the box 17 minutes after being involved in an incident at the other end of the pitch in which he was clattered by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

"I don't understand [the handball decision]," said Arteta.

"There is no danger at all. You cannot react because the ball is very close. But OK. They decide that is a penalty.

"But if that is a penalty then the one on Mikel Merino where he punches him in the head has to be a penalty 1000 percent. These are the margins in this game and it's very difficult to accept.

"We were told at the start of the season that wasn't a penalty. That was clear. Today it was a different story."

After a slow start in which Denzel Dumfries hit the crossbar in the second minute, Arsenal increasingly dominated possession but were unable to find a way past Sommer.

The result leaves Arsenal 12th in the Champions League table.

Despite falling to their third defeat in six games across all competitions, Arteta was defiant ahead of Sunday's Premier League trip to Chelsea.

"All the big games we have played in Europe, this is by far the best one that we played in the last few years," he said.

"If we play the way we played, we have a good chance to win against Chelsea."

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks underwent successful surgery on Wednesday to repair a fractured right fibula and dislocated ankle.

Hendricks suffered the season-ending injury midway through the third quarter of a 110-102 loss to Dallas on October 28th when he lost his footing while running down the court and landed awkwardly. The noncontact injury occurred away from the ball. Hendricks was wheeled off the floor on a stretcher.

"A bunch of us were visibly rattled. It was really hard to see," Utah coach Will Hardy told reporters the day after the game. "Everybody processes those things differently. Everybody needs to pick each other up at different moments."

The second-year forward started in three games for the Jazz this season, averaging 4.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in 25.0 minutes per contest. Hendricks was drafted by Utah No. 9 in the 2023 NBA draft and appeared in 40 games as a rookie, making 23 starts and averaging 7.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

Hendricks' surgery was performed at the University of Utah Orthopedic Center in Salt Lake City.

SAN ANTONIO -- St. Louis Cardinals slugger Willson Contreras is making a permanent move to first base, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak confirmed Wednesday.

"We think that being such a productive hitter, not catching will make him a better hitter," Mozeliak said at the GM meetings. "How do we protect his career?"

Contreras gave the team his blessing for the move, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN. Otherwise, the Cardinals might have looked to move him this offseason -- though the veteran has a no-trade clause in a five-year, $87.5 million contract that runs through 2027.

Contreras, 32, has been a catcher for the majority of his nine-year career, playing in 774 games behind the plate and just 52 elsewhere -- including 11 at first base.

Mozeliak pointed to injuries as one deciding factor for the move. Contreras missed time this past season with a broken arm after getting hit by a swing from New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez.

It's also not uncommon for aging catchers to add or move to another position to preserve themselves after taking a beating behind the plate for so long. Contreras hit 15 home runs while compiling an .842 OPS in 2024, but he played in only 84 games because of the broken arm.

The Cardinals won't bring back free agent Paul Goldschmidt, opening the spot at first base for Contreras. Pedro Pagés and Ivan Herrera split time in 2024, with Contreras playing only 51 games there. Herrera, 24, hit .301 with an .800 OPS while starting 52 games behind the plate.

This move allows Contreras and Herrera to be in the lineup at the same time.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery lamented Tyrone Mings' incomprehensible handball that led to their 1-0 Champions League loss to Club Brugge on Wednesday, saying the bizarre incident killed the game.

Mings inexplicably picked up the ball believing it was out of play after Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez had sent him a short pass as a goal kick.

The referee whistled for a penalty, which Brugge captain Hans Vanaken converted in a baffling moment that left Emery livid and ended Villa's perfect start to their Champions League campaign in perhaps the most humiliating fashion.

"The second half, the mistake changed everything, a team like [Brugge], they are playing at home, defensively strong, they then focus 100% to stop us, they were better than us," Emery said.

Villa defender Ezri Konsa agreed that the moment virtually snuffed out their chances.

"It killed the game. If it is a handball, deliberate, then [Mings] should get a second yellow, he's on a yellow already so why not send him off for that then? It killed the game," Konsa said.

"[But] look, it happened, there's nothing we can do, just got to move on from it."

The incident was reminiscent of Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich in a Champions League quarter-final first leg last season, when Gabriel picked up the ball and handed it to Gunners keeper David Raya.

Bayern's then manager Thomas Tuchel was adamant his team should have been given a penalty.

"I know it is a crazy situation but they put the ball down, he whistles, he gives the ball and the defender takes the ball in his hand," Tuchel said at the time.

"What makes us really angry is the explanation on the field. [The referee] told our players that it is a 'kid's mistake' and he will not give a penalty like this in a quarterfinal," Tuchel added. "This is a horrible, horrible explanation. He is judging handballs. Kid's mistake, adult's mistake. Whatever. We feel angry because it is a huge decision against us."

Information from Reuters contributed to this report.