Arsenal had waited a long time for this. It was 14 years since they claimed three points at Old Trafford, 30 league games since they won away at any of the big six. Mikel Arteta had secured flagship wins against the elite clubs at the Emirates Stadium and Wembley.
Now he has one on enemy territory, too, and a manager whose first win came against Manchester United, back in January, had another landmark triumph. After 1-0 defeats in their previous two league games, Arsenal could savour the scoreline.
But for United, the lack of home comforts is an ever greater concern. They may have walloped RB Leipzig 5-0 but they are yet to beat English opposition at Old Trafford this season.
Arsenal became the third visitors from the capital to win and while this was the first time since 1936 they had kicked off against the Gunners with both sides in the lower half of the table, only United were marooned there at the final whistle. It was a wretched 100th game in charge for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. His side were mediocre.
For Arteta, it was a tactical triumph. Arsenal were so impressive in the first half that they forced United to change shape. They got their reward in the second.
If creating chances for their most potent finisher has been one of their problems, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ended his longest Premier League goal drought.
The Arsenal captain had not struck since the opening-day win at Fulham but he sent David de Gea the wrong way from 12 yards. He was aided by United’s record signing, whose comeback to the league starting 11 was an unhappy affair.
Paul Pogba was dropped after the 6-1 defeat to Tottenham. Recalled, he conceded a penalty by catching Hector Bellerin. Nor did Pogba have much else to enjoy. Solskjaer retained the diamond system in midfield that had worked so well against Leipzig. This particular diamond was not forever; indeed, it only lasted 45 minutes.
In theory, United had a numerical advantage in the centre of midfield but Arsenal imposed themselves. They pressed high up the pitch and disrupted United’s rhythm. They possessed the game’s outstanding player.
Thomas Partey’s energy and ability to regain the ball explained why Arteta wanted him, but he also instigated attacks with progressive passing and stung the palms of David de Gea with a fiercely-struck shot. Arteta, who had sprung a surprise by omitting both of Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos to pair Partey with Mohamed Elneny, was justified.
Behind them, a fit-again Rob Holding and Gabriel were booked in quick succession with an hour remaining. The Brazilian was spared a second yellow card for a foul on Mason Greenwood later; otherwise, though, each excelled.
Greenwood and Marcus Rashford were so starved of service before the break that when they combined it produced United’s sole shot of any variety before the break. Rashford curled a low pass through the Arsenal defence. Greenwood met it with a first-time shot that Bernd Leno blocked at his near post.
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Classic clashes between United and Arsenal at Old Trafford
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When United returned for the second half, it was playing 4-2-3-1. They posed more of a threat and Harry Maguire looped a header wide from Luke Shaw’s free kick but the closest they came, in the final minutes, was when Elneny and Leno deflected Donny van de Beek’s cross on to the post.
And Arsenal had merited their lead. They had almost gone ahead earlier. Goals have been in short supply but Willian was agonisingly close to a first for his new club.
The Brazilian had begun by coughing up possession time and again. He impressed rather more by linking up with Aubameyang, who backheeled a return pass. The former Chelsea winger’s rising shot clipped the bar on its way over.
Willian was involved again when Hector Bellerin crossed and United’s static defence afforded Bukayo Saka a free header. He, too, cleared the bar.
Aubameyang’s radar was awry when he curled a shot wide after being found by Alexandre Lacazette. But when he struck, Arsenal had their first league win at Old Trafford since another African attacker, Emmanuel Adebayor, scored in 2006.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
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.”
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Reading List
Practitioners of mindful eating recommend the following books to get you started:
Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr Lilian Cheung
How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Mindful Diet by Dr Ruth Wolever
Mindful Eating by Dr Jan Bays
How to Raise a Mindful Eaterby Maryann Jacobsen
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Scoreline
Arsenal 3
Aubameyang (28'), Welbeck (38', 81')
Red cards: El Neny (90' 3)
Southampton 2
Long (17'), Austin (73')
Red cards: Stephens (90' 2)
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
