Sporting briefs

Arsenal: Robin van Persie and Laurent Koscielny will miss Arsenal’s Premier League match with Stoke tonight after picking up hamstring and back injuries respectively. Manager Arsene Wenger described the injuries as “short-term” and hopes the key duo will be fit for Sunday’s League Cup final against Birmingham.

Plymouth: The Football League have confirmed Plymouth have been deducted 10 points with immediate effect. The confirmation comes via a statement on the Football League’s official website after the Pilgrims issued a ‘Notice of Intention’ to appoint an administrator on Monday.

Kightly: Wolves’ injury-hit midfielder Michael Kightly is poised to return to training next week after a 15-month lay-off. Kightly has not played since the home clash with Birmingham in November 2009. He initially suffered an ankle injury but was then laid low with problems in both knees. But he is now close to fitness, with manager Mick McCarthy considering sending him out on loan with a view to returning to Molineux for the final part of the campaign.

Schmelzer: Defender Marcel Schmelzer has signed a new contract with Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund. The 23-year-old left-back, who made his Germany debut against Italy earlier this month, has committed his future to the club until the summer of 2014. Schmelzer came through the ranks at Dortmund.

Xavi: Barcelona and Spain playmaker Xavi is set to miss the Spanish champions next two league matches because of a slight left calf injury, the club announced yesterday. The 31-year-old could be out for up to 10 days the club said after he underwent a scan. Xavi will miss the league games against Real Mallorca and Valencia.

Horse Racing: Owner Jess Jackson bred Rachel Alexandra, the 2009 Horse of the Year, with 2007 and 2008 Horse of the Year Curlin on Monday, making real his dream bid to create a “super horse”. “We have been anticipating this introduction for some time now,” Jackson said. “Imagine what possibilities those two super horses might produce.” Rachel Alexandra was the first filly in more than 80 years to win the Preakness and added the Haskell, Woodward and Kentucky Oaks in an unbeaten 2009.

Auto Racing: IndyCar is expected to announce Las Vegas as the site of its 2011 season-ending race on October 16. The series was confident enough to announce a date for the race, two weeks after the penultimate firm race on the calendar at Sparta, Kentucky, but would not reveal a site. Adding a Las Vegas event would boost the season to 17 races, the first of which is set for March 27 at St Petersburg, Florida.

Basket, NBA: Denver Nuggets have traded Carmelo Anthony to New York Knicks in a blockbuster multi-player deal that involves players, draft picks and cash, the Denver Post reported. New York is reportedly ready to give up Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov and three draft picks and $3 million in cash. In exchange, Denver would send the 26-year-old Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter and Renaldo Balkman to New York.

Cricket: Australian World Cup all-rounder David Hussey and compatriot Adam Voges have signed as overseas players for English county champions Nottinghamshire. Voges will be available from the opening day of the season, with Hussey set to feature for the first time when Notts Outlaws play in the national Twenty20 event on June 3. Both players will be available for the duration of the Twenty20 competition.