“He is a novice,” sneered Alex Ferguson of Arsene Wenger in April 1997, chopping down the man who would become his fiercest rival for much of the next decade. “And he should keep his opinions to Japanese football.”
It was a cutting remark. Wenger, who had suggested a few days previously that the authorities had given in to the Manchester United manager by extending the domestic season to ease his side's fixture congestion, was on the receiving end of the Scot's sharp tongue for the first time.
It was also a comment that reflected the general suspicion, scepticism and, in some cases, casual xenophobia that surrounded Wenger in the months after his appointment as Arsenal boss in September 1996.
"Arsene who?" read the now infamous headline in the London Evening Standard when it was revealed that the man in charge of Japanese outfit Nagoya Grampus Eight would be taking the reins at one of English football's most storied clubs.
Read more: Greg Lea on how Arsenal are in the title race as long as Alexis Sanchez is in the picture
In some ways, such a reaction was understandable.
Wenger was one of just two non-British or Irish managers in England's top tier back then – Chelsea's Ruud Gullit was the only other foreigner prowling Premier League touchlines – and his installation at Highbury was an example of Arsenal breaking new ground.
Things have changed a great deal in the two decades since, with 12 of the Frenchman's 19 current counterparts born overseas. Next season, the most famous manager in the world yet to work in the Premier League will be joining the division's foreign legion as head coach of Manchester City.
Monday’s announcement that Pep Guardiola will take over from Manuel Pellegrini at the end of the campaign was merely confirmation of what many had suspected for months.
For Wenger, who has seen virtually everything in his two decades in English football, the news would have come as even less of a surprise.
In the shorter-term, though, this week’s developments have increased the pressure on the 66-year-old to win the Premier League this term.
Tuesday's 0-0 draw with Southampton saw Arsenal slip to fourth in the table, five points adrift of Leicester City at the summit.
“It is [very frustrating],” Wenger said after the game. “The quality of the chances we created was high but the quality of our finishing was poor.”
Despite fashioning multiple opportunities, Arsenal turned in a rather edgy performance on a night in which their three title rivals all picked up victories.
Manchester City, 1-0 winners at Sunderland, may benefit from the scrutiny being lifted on Manuel Pellegrini, whose future no longer depends on the outcome of his side’s season.
Fellow contenders Leicester and Tottenham Hotspur are also operating under less pressure than would ordinarily be expected. Both teams, after all, have already overachieved by simply being in the race in the first place.
It also looks probable that the 2016/17 championship will be more difficult to win than the current one.
Unlike when Wenger first arrived in England 20 years ago, followers of the Premier League are well aware what Guardiola brings. There will certainly be no opponents dismissing the two-time European champion and five-time league title winner as a novice.
Coupled with their significant spending power, the identity of City’s next coach already makes them favourites to triumph next time out.
Chelsea and Manchester United, perhaps both with new managers of their own, will also be stronger, so too Liverpool after a full pre-season under Jurgen Klopp.
If next year’s potential championship chase is thus a tantalising thought for football fans in general, Arsenal supporters are probably a little less enthusiastic about the prospect.
City’s appointment of Guardiola proves that, while the English game now struggles to attract the very best players on the planet, it has little difficulty in bringing the greatest managers to its shores.
It has also increased the pressure on Wenger, the great veteran of the Premier League, to add another title to Arsenal’s trophy cabinet this term.
He may never get a better chance.
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years-of-age
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his/her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30-years-old and able to support the child financially
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
65
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ZIMBABWE V UAE, ODI SERIES
All matches at the Harare Sports Club:
1st ODI, Wednesday - Zimbabwe won by 7 wickets
2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Profile of Whizkey
Date founded: 04 November 2017
Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani
Based: Dubai, UAE
Number of employees: 10
Sector: AI, software
Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million
Funding stage: Series A
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
New process leads to panic among jobseekers
As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.
“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.
Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE.
“They are worried about this because when they arrive here without the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance, it is a hassle because it takes time,” she says.
“They need to go first to the embassy to apply for the application of the NBI clearance. After that they have go to the police station [in the UAE] for the fingerprints. And then they will apply for the special power of attorney so that someone can finish the process in the Philippines. So it is a long process and more expensive if you are doing it from here.”
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20myZoi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Syed%20Ali%2C%20Christian%20Buchholz%2C%20Shanawaz%20Rouf%2C%20Arsalan%20Siddiqui%2C%20Nabid%20Hassan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2037%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Initial%20undisclosed%20funding%20from%20SC%20Ventures%3B%20second%20round%20of%20funding%20totalling%20%2414%20million%20from%20a%20consortium%20of%20SBI%2C%20a%20Japanese%20VC%20firm%2C%20and%20SC%20Venture%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
