Olivier Giroud is reported to be Everton's top target to replace Romelu Lukaku, with club scout Carlo Jacomuzzi claiming a deal is set to be "finalised". Nigel Roddis / EPA
Olivier Giroud is reported to be Everton's top target to replace Romelu Lukaku, with club scout Carlo Jacomuzzi claiming a deal is set to be "finalised". Nigel Roddis / EPA
Olivier Giroud is reported to be Everton's top target to replace Romelu Lukaku, with club scout Carlo Jacomuzzi claiming a deal is set to be "finalised". Nigel Roddis / EPA
Olivier Giroud is reported to be Everton's top target to replace Romelu Lukaku, with club scout Carlo Jacomuzzi claiming a deal is set to be "finalised". Nigel Roddis / EPA

Olivier Giroud: Is the Arsenal striker the answer to Everton's Lukaku-sized problem?


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It seems with increasing certainty that French striker Olivier Giroud will leave Arsenal to join Everton this summer, if the claims made by Everton scout Carlo Jacomuzzi are anything to go by.

Tasked with scouting Napoli's Duvan Zapata, Jacomuzzi has said any deal for the Colombian forward is unlikely due to Everton's interest in Giroud.

"There are no developments in the negotiations between Everton and Zapata, also because I think Everton are today going to finalise a deal for Giroud for £20 million (Dh95m), which is a bargain compared to the £25m being demanded for Zapata," Jacomuzzi told Radio CRC.

With Romelu Lukaku destined for the Goodison Park exit after rejecting an improved contract and making clear his ambitions to move on, Giroud appears to be the player Everton manager Ronald Koeman has targeted to lead the line next season.

Giroud, who found himself on the periphery of the Arsenal first team last season, might be viewed as a step down from Lukaku - a player who scored 25 Premier League goals last season, but a closer look at the stats from 2016/17 show that Giroud was far more effective than perhaps he is given credit for.

According to Opta Stats, From 1,196 minutes played, which included 11 starts, Giroud scored 12 goals, meaning the France international was on target every 99.5 minutes. In comparison, Lukaku played 3,267 minutes, scoring 25 goals - a goal every 130.7 minutes.

Granted, a base look at such stats do not tell the full story.

The service Giroud received was arguably better than Lukaku, while it does not take into account the opponents or circumstances in which the goals were scored. But what it does show is Giroud is a more efficient goal-scorer than is often perceived.

What is most telling about the stats from last season is the differing roles in which both strikers were deployed.

It is clear that Lukaku, with 63 successful dribbles, is a striker more accustomed to running at defences, while Giroud's two dribbles highlight a link-up forward who plays most often with his back to goal.

Giroud's far superior defensive stats, despite playing more than 2,000 minutes fewer than Lukaku, also show a more rounded team player. Giroud won eight tackles to Lukaku's six, made 17 clearances to Lukaku's 27, blocked as many shots on goal (4), and produced eight interceptions to Lukaku's zero.

Is Koeman, perhaps aware of the difficulty of replacing Lukaku's goals with one new striker, seeking ways to reshape his team that will result in more goals from the rest of his side? After all, Lukaku was responsible for 40 per cent of Everton's Premier League goals last season.

In Giroud, Everton will have a player capable of scoring goals while leading a line that will place greater emphasis on link-up play, which in theory, should result in greater goal output from the rest of the side.

But will that be enough to replace Lukaku's sizeable contribution?

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Why it pays to compare

A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.

Route 1: bank transfer

The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.

Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount

Total received: €4,670.30 

Route 2: online platform

The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.

Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction

Total received: €4,756

The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

Mina Cup winners

Under 12 – Minerva Academy

Under 14 – Unam Pumas

Under 16 – Fursan Hispania

Under 18 – Madenat

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
How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

What are the influencer academy modules?
  1. Mastery of audio-visual content creation. 
  2. Cinematography, shots and movement.
  3. All aspects of post-production.
  4. Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
  5. Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
  6. Tourism industry knowledge.
  7. Professional ethics.
RESULT

Aston Villa 1
Samatta (41')
Manchester City 2
Aguero (20')
Rodri (30')

PROFILE OF INVYGO

Started: 2018

Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo

Based: Dubai

Sector: Transport

Size: 9 employees

Investment: $1,275,000

Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri

The biog

Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia

Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins

Favourite dish: Grilled fish

Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.

How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying

Cracks in the Wall

Ben White, Pluto Press 

RESULTS

6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1.600m
Winner: Miller’s House, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).

7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Kanood, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.

7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Gervais, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

8.15pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Important Mission, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.

8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Firnas, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.

9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Zhou Storm, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

65
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if you go

The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.

The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.

 

 

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

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

'Hocus%20Pocus%202'
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MATCH INFO

Newcastle United 3
Gayle (23'), Perez (59', 63')

Chelsea 0

Tamkeen's offering
  • Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
  • Option 2: 50% across three years
  • Option 3: 30% across five years 
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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GIANT REVIEW

Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan

Director: Athale

Rating: 4/5

TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel

The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Power: 190bhp

Torque: 300Nm

Price: Dh169,900

On sale: now