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.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Manchester City (0) v Liverpool (3)
Uefa Champions League, quarter-final, second leg
Where: Etihad Stadium
When: Tuesday, 10.45pm
Live on beIN Sports HD
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
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 old
- 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 or 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
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Fixtures:
Thursday:
Hatta v Al Jazira, 4.55pm
Al Wasl v Dibba, 7.45pm
Friday:
Al Dhafra v Al Nasr, 5.05pm
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai v Al Wahda, 7.45pm
Saturday:
Ajman v Emirates, 4.55pm
Al Ain v Sharjah, 7.45pm
The specs: 2018 Kia Picanto
Price: From Dh39,500
Engine: 1.2L inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Four-speed auto
Power: 86hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 122Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0L / 100km
Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche
“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox
“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite
“I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy
“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
Last 10 NBA champions
2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
