and celebrations have begun to mark the start of 2023, with firework displays in new zealand and at sydney harbour. large fireworks events have returned in many cities after the covid pandemic. hello, i m olly foster, here s what s coming up on sportsday. mind the gap, city slip up in their pursuit of arsenal. alarm bells for rashford he s dropped for oversleeping, then fires manchester united into the top four. and there s a pause for applause as the premier league pays tribute to pele. also coming up in the programme. saracens are soaring at the top of the rugby union premiership after a bonus point win over exeter. and which of the lionesses finish the year on a high, recognised in the new years honours list? hello, and welcome to sportsday. arsenal will finish 2022 on top of the premier league, but by how many points? they re playing right now and can stretch their lead after manchester city slipped up at home to struggling everton. it finished 1 1 at the etihad. erling
applause before all of today s premier league matches, a tribute to pele who died on thursday. brazilian players marked the moment in their own way, manchester united s antony had a personal message on his t shirt. newcastle united s bruno guimares wore a brazil number 10 shirt with pele s name on the back. looked like it had been signed by pele as well. fifa had requested that all games around the world this weekend would be preceded by a minute s silence but the premier league had already instructed their clubs to have a minute s applause. let s have a quick look at some of the other headlines. alex hales was the star man as sydney thunder beat hobart hurricanes in the big bash. hales scored 77 runs, as the team reached 228. the hurricanes were all out for 166. hermes allen, co owned by sir alex ferguson and ridden by harry cobden, was a comfortable winner of the coral novices hurdle at newbury. ..it s a third win in a row in this