Kai Havertz celebrates after scoring Arsenal's winner against Brentford in the Premier League on November 25, 2023. AFP
Kai Havertz celebrates after scoring Arsenal's winner against Brentford in the Premier League on November 25, 2023. AFP
Kai Havertz celebrates after scoring Arsenal's winner against Brentford in the Premier League on November 25, 2023. AFP
Kai Havertz celebrates after scoring Arsenal's winner against Brentford in the Premier League on November 25, 2023. AFP

Premier League talking points: Havertz relief, prickly Pochettino, Man United Euro blues


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Has Havertz turned corner at Arsenal?

It will be a week to remember for Kai Havertz if he manages to find the back of the net again for Arsenal when the North London club take on Wolves on Saturday.

Before scoring last weekend's winner against Brentford – that took Arsenal top of the Premier League in what was manager Mikel Arteta's 200th game in charge of the Gunners – Havertz had managed just one goal and one assist since his summer move from Chelsea.

The Germany forward was only a substitute against the Bees but came off the bench with 12 minutes remaining to head home the only goal of the game.

He was rewarded with a starting place in the midweek 6-1 Champions League demolition of Lens and it was his goal after 13 minutes that opened the floodgates at the Emirates Stadium.

“Scoring goals, playing well, participating in wins – those are positive attributes,” Arteta said of Havertz's performance against the French club. “You saw the reception of his teammates and the crowd being with him, singing his name. He's a tremendous player.”

Will VAR make Wolves howl again?

It is fair to say Wolves and VAR have not exactly been comfortable bedfellows this season with an unfortunate number of incidents going against Gary O'Neil's side.

The Midlands club had already seen three VAR decisions this season that the Premier League's Independent Key Match Incidents Panel has admitted were errors.

The first came on the opening week of the season (Wolves lost 1-0) when no penalty was given against Andre Onana despite the Manchester United keeper committing an obvious foul, while Newcastle United (2-2 draw) and Sheffield United (Blades won 2-1) were both given penalties which should have been overturned.

Last week's 3-2 defeat at Fulham saw two penalties scored against Wolves, the first of which – given when Nelson Semedo caught Tom Cairney in the area – referee Michael Salisbury admitted after the game that he got wrong. “He regrets the fact that he wasn't sent to the screen to overturn the first penalty,” said O'Neil.

“Maybe tonight has finally turned me against VAR,” added the Wolves manager. “The impact that you are having on my reputation, and the club and people's livelihoods is massive. We should be able to talk about the game and not decisions, but unfortunately we can't.”

Can Man United pick themselves up from Euro woes?

While Arsenal enjoyed an unforgettable night of European football this week, Manchester United were left staring down the barrel of a disastrous early exit from the Champions League after drawing 3-3 at Galatasaray.

Qualification for the knockout stage is now out of their hands as they need to beat Bayern Munich in their final game and hope Copenhagen and Galatasaray draw the other match. Lose, and the Red Devils will finish bottom of the group without even the consolation of a Europa League spot.

On a bad night in Istanbul, United twice squandered a two-goal, while goalkeeper Andre Onana had another night to forget when he was at fault for two of the goals.

It means Erik ten Hag's side have won just once in five Group A games – leaking 14 goals along the way – and they now face an tricky trip up to Tyneside on Saturday where they face a Newcastle United side on a run of five home league victories in a row.

“I am responsible for this,” insisted the Dutch coach after Wednesday's defeat. “We know we are in a project. We are making improvements, so that's very hopeful.”

Can Chelsea improve mood of prickly Pochettino?

Hopes that Chelsea were finally starting to find momentum after beating Tottenham and then drawing with Manchester City were brought to a halt in spectacular fashion last weekend.

A dreadful defensive performance at Newcastle saw Chelsea concede four goals, two coming within 90 seconds of each other, the second of which courtesy of an error by the usually ultra-reliable Thiago Silva.

Add to the fact captain Reece James was also sent-off for two yellow cards – the first for kicking the ball away, the second for hauling down Anthony Gordon after gifting possession to the Magpies winger – and you can certainly say it was a bad day at the office for the boys in blue.

“We talk about being a young team and we have to learn, but I think these type of games make me very, very, very, very, very angry because it's about showing your personality and character,” said Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino after the game.

Chelsea now find themselves 10th in the table, 14 points behind leaders Arsenal, 12 points shy of Aston Villa in fourth and six points short Sunday's opponents Brighton who are eighth.

Chelsea's Reece James, left, and Thiago Silva, right, had a day to forget at Newcastle last week. Getty Images
Chelsea's Reece James, left, and Thiago Silva, right, had a day to forget at Newcastle last week. Getty Images

Will Spurs prove thorn in Guardiola's side again?

Manchester City head into their clash with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday having been knocked off the top spot after drawing their last two games – against Chelsea (4-4) and Liverpool (1-1).

And it looked like their 100 per cent record in this season's Champions League was coming to an end on Wednesday when they went in at the break 2-0 down against RB Leipzig.

But a second-half fightback saw Pep Guardiola's side score three second-half goals to make it five wins from five in Group G, with Erling Haaland becoming the quickest player ever to score 40 goals in the competition – reached in 35 matches, 10 fewer than previous record holder Ruud van Nistelrooy. “He's a fantastic player. I tell you many times,” said Guardiola.

Now they will be looking to make it four defeats in a row for a club who have actually been a thorn in Guardiola's side since his arrival at the club in 2016.

The Spaniard has lost more top-flight games to Spurs (six) than any other opponent while also conceding the most goals to (19, level with Liverpool).

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THREE
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The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars

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Power: 579hp

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The biog

Hobby: Playing piano and drawing patterns

Best book: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins

Food of choice: Sushi  

Favourite colour: Orange

My Cat Yugoslavia by Pajtim Statovci
Pushkin Press

ACC 2019: The winners in full

Best Actress Maha Alemi, Sofia

Best Actor Mohamed Dhrif, Weldi  

Best Screenplay Meryem Benm’Barek, Sofia  

Best Documentary Of Fathers and Sons by Talal Derki

Best Film Yomeddine by Abu Bakr Shawky

Best Director Nadine Labaki, Capernaum
 

Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

While you're here
Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

Afcon 2019

SEMI-FINALS

Senegal v Tunisia, 8pm

Algeria v Nigeria, 11pm

Matches are live on BeIN Sports

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

WRESTLING HIGHLIGHTS
UAE WARRIORS RESULTS

Featherweight

Azouz Anwar (EGY) beat Marcelo Pontes (BRA)

TKO round 2

Catchweight 90kg

Moustafa Rashid Nada (KSA) beat Imad Al Howayeck (LEB)

Split points decision

Welterweight

Gimbat Ismailov (RUS) beat Mohammed Al Khatib (JOR)

TKO round 1

Flyweight (women)

Lucie Bertaud (FRA) beat Kelig Pinson (BEL)

Unanimous points decision

Lightweight

Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) beat Regelo Enumerables Jr (PHI)

TKO round 1

Catchweight 100kg

Marc Vleiger (NED) beat Mohamed Ali (EGY)

Rear neck choke round 1

Featherweight

James Bishop (NZ) beat Mark Valerio (PHI)

TKO round 2

Welterweight

Abdelghani Saber (EGY) beat Gerson Carvalho (BRA)

TKO round 1

Middleweight

Bakhtiyar Abbasov (AZE) beat Igor Litoshik (BLR)

Unanimous points decision

Bantamweight

Fabio Mello (BRA) beat Mark Alcoba (PHI)

Unanimous points decision

Welterweight

Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Magomedsultan Magomedsultanov (RUS)

TKO round 1

Bantamweight

Trent Girdham (AUS) beat Jayson Margallo (PHI)

TKO round 3

Lightweight

Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) beat Roman Golovinov (UKR)

TKO round 1

Middleweight

Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Steve Kennedy (AUS)

Submission round 2

Lightweight

Dan Moret (USA) v Anton Kuivanen (FIN)

TKO round 2

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UK's plans to cut net migration

Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.

Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.

But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.

Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.

Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.

The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

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What is Genes in Space?

Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.

It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration. 

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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The bio

Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district

Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school

Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family

His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people

Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned

Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates

Surianah's top five jazz artists

Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.  

Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.

Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.

Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.

Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.

BABYLON
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Company%20profile
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A cryptocurrency primer for beginners

Cryptocurrency Investing  for Dummies – by Kiana Danial 

There are several primers for investing in cryptocurrencies available online, including e-books written by people whose credentials fall apart on the second page of your preferred search engine. 

Ms Danial is a finance coach and former currency analyst who writes for Nasdaq. Her broad-strokes primer (2019) breaks down investing in cryptocurrency into baby steps, while explaining the terms and technologies involved.

Although cryptocurrencies are a fast evolving world, this  book offers a good insight into the game as well as providing some basic tips, strategies and warning signs.

Begin your cryptocurrency journey here. 

Available at Magrudy’s , Dh104 

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Updated: December 01, 2023, 3:45 AM`