LONDON // Touted by many as title challengers before the season Arsenal have failed to set the Premier League alight and it is their goal-shy attack rather than defensive vulnerability which has highlighted their underwhelming start this campaign.
Arsenal laboured to an unimpressive 1-0 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday and only had a Fabricio Coloccini own-goal to show for their endeavors despite racking up 21 efforts on goal.
Despite their array of dazzling attacking talent only Olivier Giroud has netted in four matches this season – along with two own-goals in victories over Crystal Palace and Newcastle.
In two matches at the Emirates Stadium – a surprise 2-0 opening-day defeat against West Ham United and a goalless draw against Liverpool – Arsenal have failed to score despite creating chances at will.
Read more: Greg Lea – Arsenal can’t afford another stuttering start to the season
“You always want more goalscorers but I believe that at the moment we have not fired on all cylinders offensively,” manager Arsene Wenger told BT Sport.
“Our finishing has maybe not been absolutely clinical and we have to focus on that. We have offensive potential.
“We still have (Danny) Welbeck (Jack) Wilshere out. We did not have (Mesut) Ozil today and they are all offensive players.”
At St James’ Park Theo Walcott and Giroud spent time in a central-forward position but both were guilty of spurning easy chances.
Alexis Sanchez, last season’s top scorer, has yet to get going this year while Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla have lacked a final product despite plenty of intent and endeavour.
For much of the close-season Arsenal were linked with a move for Real Madrid’s France forward Karim Benzema – one of the most feared attackers in Europe.
Wenger remains optimistic about bringing in attacking reinforcements before the end of the transfer window on Tuesday.
“We are out there and working on it and I am optimistic more than before but it’s very difficult to predict,” the Frenchman added.
Arsenal have seven points from their opening four fixtures heading into the international break.
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Analysis
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SPECS
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Barbie
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New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Brief scores:
Day 1
Toss: South Africa, field first
Pakistan (1st innings) 177: Sarfraz 56, Masood 44; Olivier 4-48
South Africa (1st innings) 123-2: Markram 78; Masood 1-4
Brief scores:
Toss: South Africa, chose to field
Pakistan: 177 & 294
South Africa: 431 & 43-1
Man of the Match: Faf du Plessis (South Africa)
Series: South Africa lead three-match series 2-0
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE%20SQUAD
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Pakistanis%20at%20the%20ILT20%20
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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
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
