Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal have a strong chance of winning the Premier League and the French manager has backed his players to vindicate his claims at Watford on Saturday.
Wenger’s side went into the international break in second place, two points behind leaders Manchester City after a 3-0 thrashing of Manchester United that sparked hope of a sustained challenge for the title.
It is 11 years since Arsenal were last crowned kings of English football, but Wenger made it clear he was more determined than ever to end that barren run.
And he hinted to shareholders at the club’s annual meeting that should he achieve that then he might step down, having been in charge since 1996.
Read more: Arsenal should have little trouble with Watford – right? Thomas Woods predicts the Premier League weekend
“We want more than third and winning the FA Cup, we have the potential to do more,” Wenger said.
“I know you want to ask me – will we win the championship this year? I think we are back in contention and we have a good chance.
“All of our numbers confirm that we have the potential to be in the fight. We are now equipped around the whole team to say we are really advanced in the way we work, prepare and develop players.
“I know I have faced some adversities, but I am more motivated than ever, more committed than ever.
“I am resolute to commit until the last day of my contract here to bring back big success to this club and leave this club in the position it can do even better when I leave.”
Key to Arsenal’s chances of ending their title drought is the form of Alexis Sanchez, who has scored nine goals in his last five games.
Three of those were for Chile however and the long journey to and from South America has made him a doubt for the Watford game.
“We have to see if we have to protect him in our next game or not,” Wenger said.
“I cannot do a lot about him playing. He came off against Manchester United with a hip problem, a problem with the rotator muscle and he wanted to go.
“He played in the last two games and we have to see how he comes back but it is always a tricky situation.”
Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny faces a fitness test, but midfielders Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini are definitely available.
Watford, promoted from the Championship last term, have made a solid start to the season, thanks to a solid defensive foundation.
They have conceded just seven times in their eight games, but scored just six times themselves.
The team have developed a habit of shedding managers even when they are winning and Quique Sanchez Flores, the former Real Madrid defender, is the latest to take the helm.
Unsurprisingly, he was not expecting to establish a Wenger-style dynasty at Vicarage Road, especially as managers in his native Spain didn’t seem to last long either.
“We live in another philosophy, we think in another philosophy,” he said.
“Sometimes in Spain we don’t wait until the end of the season to change. In Spain it is difficult to ever think of a manager managing for 20 years.
“This is the first time I’ve faced Arsene Wenger. He has experience and we have respect.
“What Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger did is very difficult to match in other countries. It is impossible.
“In other countries it is completely different. Times changes but it is very difficult for other managers.”
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Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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)
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
- Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday
Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm kick-off UAE)
Bayer Leverkusen v Schalke (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Cologne (5.30pm)
Mainz v Arminia Bielefeld (5.30pm)
Augsburg v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Bayern Munich (8.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Freiburg (10.30pm)
Sunday
VfB Stuttgart v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Union Berlin v Hertha Berlin (8pm)
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
