Paper Round: Arsene Wenger could be in his final season, says Ian Wright

The Sun - and most other papers - lead with the story that ex-Arsenal striker Ian Wright believes that this could be Arsene Wenger's final season at Arsenal. Wright said, "I genuinely believe, I was with him for a few hours last night and we are talking and obviously he did not say he was leaving at the end of the season. But I get the impression from even looking at him, that’s it, I think that’s it. He actually mentioned while we were talking last night, that it’s coming to the end and I have never heard him say that.” Wright said that Wenger looks 'winded' and that he doesn't think he'll go beyond this season.

Paper Round's view: Wenger has cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines, but that has been the case for the past decade. There was a brief show of defiance after their first, recent FA Cup win, but that failed to translate in any real improvement in the performances in the league. This season has been no different. By that token, it could go one of two ways: Wenger has never quit despite failing in the league for more than a decade, but on the other hand, perhaps even he has lost faith in himself.

Stoke and West Brom managers, Mark Hughes and Tony Pulis respectively, are engaged in an argument that persists after the Saido Berahino transfer to Stoke. The two managers crossed words over whether West Brom deliberately leaked that Berahino had served a drugs ban, and failed to shake hands after West Brom's victory over Stoke. Now, Hughes has complained again, saying, "We were annoyed with a number of things about that. I was annoyed with their manager ringing up Ryan on the Monday morning after the game and calling him a loser."

Paper Round's view: Mark Hughes is perhaps the manager in the Premier League most happy to complain, so it is no surprise that he has gone to the press to continue and argument. If Pulis did make the comment, not in jest, then it's a gratuitious move on his part. However, it seems likeliest that Pulis - who has had nothing but praise for Shawcross since signing him - simpy made a joke that has been miscontrued. It is, nevertheless, hard to see this argument as one that is only important to the two protagonists.

England's rugby team have a terrible track record when it comes to playing in Wales, but new coach Eddie Jones has overseen 15 straight victories with England. We will definitely play better; we will play well enough to win," said Jones, as the Express quoted a confident coach ahead of the weekend's match. Wales will wait until the last moment to decide whether key player George North is fit for the match.

Paper Round's view: If any manager is capable of taking England to 16 consecutive victories, and to do so in Wales, it is Eddie Jones. He has made it clear that England's performance against France last weekend was unacceptable, and he is not the type of manager to indulge disappointment even once. Wales are a strong team, but far from their peak a couple of years ago, so this would be the perfect time to overturn England's problems in Cardiff.

The Times reports that Joe Root will be paid £1.5 million to take over from Alastair Cook as the England Test cricket captain. Because he also regularly features in shorter versions of the game, he has another contract which will make him England's highest-paid cricketer, ever. The appointment is expected within the next 10 days, as Root was chosen ahead of Ben Stokes, who was the other player under consideration.

Paper Round's view: The fact that £1.5million per year makes Root the highest paid England player highlights just how far other sports have to go to catch up with football. Root will earn far more than this with commercial contracts as well, but it is well below Wayne Rooney, the current England football captain. Root is the only option for the job, as Ben Stokes' bowling would see him more prone to spells out with injury. He has served as vice captain for England, so there was little chance he would not have been in line for the step up.