For Arsenal, a restart has been a false start. Four days in to the Premier League’s resumption, their season seems wrecked, their players needing to recover and regroup. The extension of this campaign already seems likely to have repercussions some way into next, and not merely because hopes of a top-four finish are disappearing as quickly as they lost a lead.
Two games have brought Arsenal three injuries, one goal and no points. Neal Maupay contributed to their disappointment in different ways. The Gunners were doubly aggrieved by Brighton’s 95th-minute winner: the scorer was involved as Bernd Leno, Arsenal’s putative player of the year, went off with a knee injury that already threatens to rule him out until 2021.
After Granit Xhaka and Pablo Mari were hurt in the first half at the Etihad Stadium, there was an unwanted sequel. After Manchester City beat Arsenal, there was a more unexpected setback. For a stone-faced Mikel Arteta, it was indefensible. "A very difficult one to take," said the Arsenal manager. "It is unacceptable the way we lost the game."
For Brighton, a long wait ended. The other 90 Premier and Football League teams had won in 2020. They had not until Maupay dummied the ball for Aaron Connolly, accelerated into space to meet the substitute’s flick and deftly beat Emi Martinez, Leno’s deputy. It was a beautiful piece of combination play by two strikers and completed a historic double for Brighton, who won at the Emirates Stadium in December.
The magnitude of the feat is exacerbated by the fact they came from behind. Graham Potter has a habit of making telling changes and Alexis Mac Allister, like Connolly, was involved in the winner.
Their equaliser was as scrappy as the game’s other goals were spectacular, but no less valuable, with Lewis Dunk bundling the ball over the line after Rob Holding blocked his initial shot from a cross by Solly March, another of Potter’s replacements. Not for the first time, Arsenal did not defend a corner well. “We gave them the first goal and didn’t compete for the second goal,” said an unsympathetic Arteta.
Maupay was no more compassionate. “They got what they deserved,” said the Frenchman. “Some Arsenal players need to learn humility.”
Yet for seven minutes, Arsenal could crow. Arteta had picked a more experienced and more expensive forward line and the costliest of all struck. With transfer fees shrinking, Nicolas Pepe’s £72 million (Dh 326m) fee seems destined to remain an Arsenal record for quite some time. It was an indictment when he was an unused substitute at City. It was an advertisement for his prowess when he curled Arsenal into the lead with an unstoppable left-footed shot.
Yet it was just his fifth league goal of the season. Arsenal’s resources have not been allocated well enough and while their best-paid player, Mesut Ozil, made the bench this time, he did not come off it.
The others in that front three threatened in a performance of greater attacking intent. Mat Ryan denied the recalled Alexandre Lacazette once and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang three times. Adam Webster and Lewis Dunk made goal-saving challenges to thwart each.
Arsenal’s youngest player came closer. Bukayo Saka has represented one of the great advertisements for Arteta’s management. The teenager has shown versatility and creativity; he was inches from displaying potency. Used at left-back before lockdown, he started on the right wing against City. He impressed on the left of the midfield trio yesterday and, with his right foot, arrowed a 20-yard shot against the bar. Saka was excellent but Arsenal were insufficiently clinical. “We miss so many chances,” Arteta lamented.
And they lost their goalkeeper. Shortcomings elsewhere mean Leno’s has often been a damage-limitation exercise. This time, the harm was done to him. His knee buckled in horrible fashion as he landed.
“It doesn’t look good,” Arteta said. Leno was stretchered off, clearly angry with Maupay, who had jumped into him. “I never meant to injure their keeper,” the Brighton forward said. “I just went to get the ball. I think it was shoulder against shoulder. At half-time I went to Mikel Arteta to apologise.”
By the final whistle, the Arsenal players were surrounding him, though some of the frustration must have been at their own failings.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THREE
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
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
more from Janine di Giovanni
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
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UAE
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Canada
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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.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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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Blue%20Beetle
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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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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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