Mikel Arteta: ‘We can face Liverpool with confidence’

Liverpool’s midfielder Mohamed Salah controls the ball during the recent Premier League football match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in London. (AFP file photo)
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Updated 26 September 2020
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Mikel Arteta: ‘We can face Liverpool with confidence’

  • Arsenal face ultimate test of their character against Premier League champions

LONDON: Mikel Arteta believes Liverpool are getting “better and better” but says Arsenal must go to Anfield believing they can win after two straight victories against Jurgen Klopp’s men.

Arsenal have a maximum six points from their first two league matches of the season but face the ultimate test of their character against the Premier League champions on Monday.

Liverpool also have a 100 percent record this season but suffered a league defeat at the Emirates in July and lost to Arsenal on penalties in the Community Shield last month.

“We know the standards they have set in this league, how consistent they have been and that’s because they dominate almost every aspect of the game,” Arsenal boss Arteta said on Friday.

“So we need to be at our best, we need to compete really well against this team and hopefully the boys are ready to do that on Monday.”

Arteta said it was easier to play at an empty Anfield than in front of Liverpool’s passionate supporters but pointed out that Klopp’s side were in fine form.

“I think they are getting better and better,” he said. “They have fewer weaknesses. They are a fantastic side.”

Arteta called on his team to be ruthless in front of goal but said they would also have to prepare to “suffer for periods.”

“Most important, have the belief that we can go there and win and we all have to believe we are capable of doing that,” he said.


Green Falcons continue training camp for Arabian Gulf Cup

Updated 15 sec ago
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Green Falcons continue training camp for Arabian Gulf Cup

  • National team will have a friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s national football team continued their training camp on Sunday here in preparation for the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup in Kuwait from Dec. 21 to Jan. 3.

The Green Falcons had an evening training session at Al-Shabab Club Stadium under the supervision of head coach Herve Renard. The session began with warm-up exercises, followed by possession training.

Renard introduced various tactical exercises before organizing a full-pitch match divided into two groups. The training session concluded with recovery exercises. Another session was held later in the evening.

Meanwhile, player Firas Al-Buraikan continued his individual training with the medical staff, while duo Abdullah Al-Khaibari and Abdulelah Al-Amari were limited to special exercises alongside the medical team.

The Green Falcons will conclude their preparations on Monday with a training session at 4 p.m. at Al-Shabab Club Stadium, ahead of their friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday. The first 15 minutes of the session will be open to the media.

Renard will hold a press conference on Monday at 3 p.m. at Al-Shabab Club Stadium to discuss the team’s preparations.


Al-Ain and Sharjah Self-Defence crowned champions of inaugural Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Updated 20 min 55 sec ago
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Al-Ain and Sharjah Self-Defence crowned champions of inaugural Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship

  • Fifth and final round of event was held at Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Arena over the weekend

ABU DHABI: The inaugural edition of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship ended at Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi on Sunday with Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club crowned champions in the Gi division, while Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club won the No-Gi division.

The championship featured five rounds from Dec. 13 to 15 held across various locations in the UAE this year. This includes three rounds for the Gi category and two for the No-Gi category in several age groups.

The Kids and Under-16 categories took place on the final day, with Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club continuing their earlier dominance to emerge victorious. Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club secured second in the overall Gi ranking, while Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club earned third.

In the No-Gi division, Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club took the title, MOD Academy second, and Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club third.

Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “We are proud of the tremendous success achieved by the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship over its five rounds.

“It has become a leading platform showcasing the growth of jiu-jitsu in the UAE. This championship reflects our commitment to fostering a culture of excellence, developing local talent, and providing a high-level competitive environment that unites athletes and clubs nationwide.”

“On this final day, we celebrate our champions, who have embodied the values of the sport,” he added. “Looking ahead, we remain steadfast in our mission to elevate jiu-jitsu and support our athletes in reaching greater heights.”

Ahmed Saeed Ali Jarwan, president of Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club’s board of directors, commended the team’s athletes for securing the No-Gi category and dedicated the achievement to the Ruler of Sharjah Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi.

“This milestone reflects the insightful vision and unwavering support of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, which has been pivotal in shaping the club’s legacy of sustainable achievements.

“The players’ technical excellence and the dedication of their coaches have been instrumental in this accomplishment,” Jarwan said.

Mansour Al-Hashemi, chairman of the Sports Games Co. at Al-Ain Club, said: “We are incredibly proud to claim the Gi championship title in a competition that carries a name close (to) our hearts.”

He added: “This achievement is the result of rigorous training and commitment, supported by the wise leadership’s vision to empower jiu-jitsu athletes to excel locally and internationally.”


Doncic triple-double leads Mavs over Warriors in record-shattering duel

Updated 16 December 2024
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Doncic triple-double leads Mavs over Warriors in record-shattering duel

  • The Mavericks and Warriors combined for an NBA single-game record of 48 made three-pointers, breaking the old mark by four
  • Jayson Tatum scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics over league-worst Washington 112-98

SAN FRANCISCO: Luka Doncic reeled off a triple-double with 45 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds to spark the Dallas Mavericks over Golden State 143-133 in a record-shattering NBA matchup on Sunday.
The Mavericks and Warriors combined for an NBA single-game record of 48 made three-pointers, breaking the old mark by four, with Golden State sinking 27-of-54 shots from beyond the arc and Dallas hitting 21-of-41 three-point attempts.
“No team could miss. They had 18 threes at halftime and we were still up, which is insane,” Doncic said. “Felt like nobody could miss. It was a fun game. Lot of makes. But it was a physical game too.”
Doncic made 16-of-23 shots from the floor, including 6-of-11 three-pointers, and the 25-year-old Slovenian guard added three steals and two blocked shots to his ninth career 40-point triple-double.
“The guy never ceases to amaze me,” said teammate Klay Thompson. “He never rushes, plays at his own pace. Had 45 points easy as pie he made it look like.”
It was the three-point sharpshooting that made the contest historic, crushing the old mark for combined three-pointers in an NBA game of 44 set in February 2023 by Sacramento and the Los Angeles Clippers, and matched two nights ago by Phoenix and Utah.
The Mavericks, who won for the eighth time in nine starts, and Warriors combined for a one-half NBA record of 30 three-pointers in the first half, which ended with Dallas ahead 81-74.
Dallas made 12-of-25 from three-point range in the first two quarters while the Warriors matched another NBA record with 18 three-pointers in a half, making them on 32 attempts.
That set the stage for ex-Warrior Thompson to sink the record-breaking 45th combined three-pointer with 4:32 remaining in the fourth quarter off an assist from Doncic.
“I’ve had a great history of shooting the ball well here so I try to tap into that every time I come back,” Thompson said.
Thompson had a season-high 29 points, 12 in the last quarter, and sank 9-of-14 shots from the floor and 7-of-11 from three-point range against a club with which he won four NBA titles.
“Legendary stuff. Now it’s time to do some legendary stuff in Dallas,” he said. “I truly believe in this team. We have all the ingredients to do something special.”
The NBA record for three-pointers by one team in a game is 29, set by Milwaukee in December of 2020 and matched by Boston two months ago.
Jayson Tatum scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics over league-worst Washington 112-98, but an injury to Kristaps Porzingis dimmed the joy of a road victory.
Porzingis, a 29-year-old Latvian center who missed the first month of the season following left ankle surgery, played only 11 minutes before leaving for good with right heel pain in the second quarter.
Porzingis has played in only seven games this season, averaging 20.3 points and 7.8 rebounds.
The Wizards fell to 3-21 while Boston improved to 21-5, second-best in the NBA to Cleveland (22-4).
At Orlando, the New York Knicks delivered the first home loss of the season to the Magic as Jalen Brunson scored 31 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 points and 22 rebounds in a 100-91 victory.
Mikal Bridges had 17 points for the Knicks, who improved to 16-10, while reserve Mo Wagner had 32 to lead Orlando (17-11), which fell to 10-1 at home.
At San Antonio, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards scored 26 points to lead the Timberwolves over the host Spurs 106-92.
French star Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 20 points and added 12 rebounds and five assists.
Host Phoenix got 28 points from Devin Booker plus 20 from Kevin Durant to power the Suns over Portland 116-109.
At Indianapolis, Pascal Siakam scored 22 points to lead the Indiana Pacers over New Orleans 119-104.
The Pacers obtained reserve center Thomas Bryant from Miami earlier Sunday in a deal that sent the Heat the rights to swap second-round picks in the 2031 NBA Draft.
Another deal Sunday sent German guard Dennis Schroder from Brooklyn to the Golden State Warriors for forward De’Anthony Melton.


American swimmer Gretchen Walsh adds to her record collection at world short course championships

Updated 16 December 2024
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American swimmer Gretchen Walsh adds to her record collection at world short course championships

  • Organizers said a record total of 30 world records were set at the championships
  • The 25-meter pool is half the length of an Olympic pool

BUDAPEST: American swimmer Gretchen Walsh set her 10th world record at the world short course championships with gold in the 50-meter freestyle final before adding an 11th as part of the winning US team in the women’s 4x100 medley relay on Sunday.

Walsh finished the 50 free at Budapest’s Duna Arena in 22.83 seconds — .22 ahead of fellow American Kate Douglass in second.

Walsh later extended her world record total to 11 — nine individual and two in relays — when the US, comprised of Regan Smith, Lilly King, Walsh and Douglass, won the relay in 3 minutes, 40.41 seconds. That started with Smith’s backstroke lead-off leg of 54.02 seconds, also a world record.

Smith also had a world record time of 1:58:04 to win the women’s 200 backstroke final, and her compatriot Luke Hobson took gold in the men’s 200 free with 1:38.61, also a world record.

Organizers said a record total of 30 world records were set at the championships.

A world record was also set in the men’s 4x100 medley relay by Miron Lifintsev, Kirill Prigoda, Andrei Minakov and Egor Kornev, competing as neutral athletes, in 3:18.68.

The 25-meter pool is half the length of an Olympic pool.


Jens Odgaard scores for Bologna to end Fiorentina’s winning run in Italian league

Updated 16 December 2024
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Jens Odgaard scores for Bologna to end Fiorentina’s winning run in Italian league

  • Substitute Alessandro Gabrielloni and Nicolas Paz Martinez both scored in added time as Como beat AS Roma 2-0 in a lively contest

BOLOGNA, Italy: Bologna striker Jens Odgaard scored Sunday in a 1-0 victory over Fiorentina, ending the Florence-based club’s eight-match winning run in the Italian league.

The Danish player broke the deadlock near the hour-mark at the end of a fine collective move.

Fiorentina were seeking a ninth consecutive Serie A victory that would have seen them break the club record set in 1960.

After a balanced first half, Bologna were the better side after the interval and had several occasions to score — including Santiago Castro hitting the post — before they eventually broke the deadlock when Odgaard made the most of a loose ball in the box to score his third league goal.

Bologna moved up to seventh place in the standings.

Fiorentina remained in fourth place, level on points with third-place Inter Milan. League leaders Atalanta have a two-point lead over Napoli.

Fiorentina coach Raffaele Palladino did not attend the match after his mother passed away, leaving assistant coach Stefano Citterio in charge.

Genoa spoils anniversary night at Milan

Facing a combative Genoa team, Milan’s wasteful forward could not break the deadlock in a 0-0 draw.

Alvaro Morata came close in the 79th minute when he hit the crossbar. It was not enough to please a frustrated crowd and players were jeered at the final whistle.

With one match in hand, Milan are lagging 14 points behind Atalanta.

The game was preceded by a ceremony marking the club’s 125th anniversary that brought together former Milan greats, including Franco Baresi, Marco van Basten and Filippo Inzaghi.

Genoa are in 13th place and remains unbeaten under new coach Patrick Vieira.

First win for Como since September

Substitute Alessandro Gabrielloni and Nicolas Paz Martinez both scored in added time as Como beat AS Roma 2-0 in a lively contest.

Gabrielloni, who came in with 10 minutes left to play, scored his first Serie A goal three minutes into stoppage time. Gabrielloni then turned provider for Paz, who sealed the win four minutes later.

It was Como’s first league victory since Sept. 29. With its third win this season, it moved to 16th place with 15 points.

Verona secures much-needed win

Hellas Verona players gave coach Paolo Zanetti some respite with a 3-2 win at Parma.

The result, with goals from Diego Coppola, Amin Sarr and Daniel Mosquera, snapped a four-match losing streak for the injury-hit team.

Simon Sohm scored a brace but it was not enough for Parma. Verona moved one point away from the relegation zone.

Also, Lecce defeated Monza 2-1.