LONDON -- Arsenal has secured the futures of five key players, with Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey, and Carl Jenkinson signing new deals. Arsenal has lost a string of top talent in recent years, including Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas. But Wednesdays announcement of new long-term contracts for five players comes after Arsenal rose to fifth in the English Premier League by beating Reading 5-2 on Monday following its worst start to a season since Arsene Wenger took charge in 1996. "We are delighted that these five young players have all signed new long-term contracts," Wenger said. "The plan is to build a team around a strong basis of young players, in order to get them to develop their talent at the club. "Jack is certainly the best known, the leader of this group -- but the other four players are exceptional footballers, and were very happy that we could conclude their new deals at the same time." The 20-year-old Wilshere, one of Englands most exciting young midfield prospects, and the 23-year-old defender Gibbs rose through Arsenals youth ranks. Ramsey, the 21-year-old Wales midfielder, has been with Arsenal since 2008. Oxlade-Chamberlain, a 19-year-old winger, joined Arsenal from Southampton in 2011 when the 20-year-old defender Jenkinson arrived from Charlton. "I believe when you have a core of British players, its always easier to keep them together and thats what well try to achieve going forward," Wenger said. But Arsenal is yet to resolve its drawn-out contract stand-off with Theo Walcott, whose contract expires at the end of the season. . JOHNS, N. [url=http://www.argentinasoccerteamshop.com/world-cup-augusto-fernandez-argentin... Fernandez Argentina Jersey . -- Toronto third baseman Brett Lawrie left Friday nights game against the Oakland Athletics after one inning with tightness in is rib cage. . Texas also Tuesday purchased the contracts of infielder Leury Garcia and left-hander Joe Ortiz from Triple-A Round Rock, adding them to the 40-man roster. [url=http://www.argentinasoccerteamshop.com/world-cup-ezequiel-lavezzi-argentina... Lavezzi Jersey . Earlier this week, those very same fans were openly hostile towards Ferguson as they questioned his motives behind recent public support of the Glazer family. Its no coincidence that Fergusons support for the owners comes at a time that the club will shortly be listing on the New York Stock Exchange where approximately 10 percent of the clubs shares will be made available. SAN ANTONIO -- The Toronto Raptors could only nod their heads in admiration as their five-game winning streak came to an abrupt end Wednesday night against the San Antonio Spurs. Tim Duncan scored 15 points and San Antonio rolled to a 100-80 victory over Toronto, snapping the Raptors longest winning streak in three years. Manu Ginobili added 14 points, Tony Parker had 13, and Tiago Splitter and Stephen Jackson each had 10 for San Antonio, which has won three straight. Kawhi Leonard had nine points and 10 rebounds. "Ive been on that other side; I know what the composure is - experience," Toronto coach Dwane Casey said. "This team has been together forever. You got Hall of Famer(s) in Ginobili, and Duncan and Parker and its a huge difference. Were trying to learn to keep that composure through those stretches and do the right things; make the right plays offensively and defensively." The Raptors had difficulty accomplishing those tasks from the start. San Antonios starters averaged just 24 minutes, but still managed to outscore their counterparts 54-25. None of Torontos starters scored in double figures. Starting guards DeMar DeRozan and Jose Calderon were each 3 for 9 from the field in scoring eight and seven points, respectively. Alan Anderson and Amir Johnson each had 12 points for Toronto. Duncan had six rebounds and was 6 for 11 from the field in only 27 minutes as San Antonios balanced attack wore down Toronto. Every active Spur scored and eight had at least eight points. "It took us a while to get going," Duncan said. "Were going to have times like that, have nights like that. You can attribute it to whatever you want to attribute it to. Bottom line is we got it turned around and going the way we wanted it to go in the second half." San Antonio closed the third quarter on a 13-4 run to wrest control of the game after Johnsons 17-foot jumper pulled the Raptors within 57-54 with 4:24 left in the period. San Antonio outworked Toronto duriing the run, including two offensive rebounds on the same play that led to a double-digit lead.dddddddddddd Parker missed a floater and Leonard followed his own 3-point miss with a one-handed dunk to give San Antonio a 63-53 lead with 2:38 left in the third quarter. "They got a couple of offensive rebounds, we made a couple of turnovers and they made a couple of 3s," Calderon said. "They took it to 10 or 11 points and we couldnt get back in (the game). They played a little bit better down the stretch and that was it." Leonard matched his season-high in rebounds and had two assists and three steals. "Huge, huge for us," Ginobili said of Leonard. "With his length and ability to read situations, he can get a lot of deflections and steals that give you a good lift in some parts of the game." The Raptors kept the game close early despite some poor shooting. San Antonio shot 58 per cent in the first quarter compared to 38 per cent for Toronto, but the Raptors trailed only 20-18 by taking nine more field goal attempts. Terrence Ross 19-foot jumper gave Toronto its first lead of the game at 29-27 with 7 minutes left in the first half. NOTES: Raptors F Andrea Bargnani (elbow), G Kyle Lowry (triceps) and C Jonas Valanciunas (finger) all missed the game with injuries. ... Every Spur has missed at least two games this season with the exception of Splitter and Boris Diaw, who have played in every game, and Duncan, who has missed one. ... Toronto traded Matt Bonner to San Antonio for Rasho Nesterovic on June 21, 2006, in a move that has clearly ended in the Spurs favour. Nesterovic averaged 6.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 193 games over three seasons with the Raptors. Bonner is in his seventh season with the Spurs, averaging 6.4 points and 3.4 rebounds during his time with the team. ... Members of the Texas and Oregon State football teams were in attendance. The teams will play Saturday in the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome, the former home of the Spurs. ' ' '