LONDON: Emile Smith Rowe made the most of his red card reprieve as the Arsenal youngster sent the FA Cup holders into the fourth round with the decisive extra-time strike in Saturday’s 2-0 victory against Newcastle.
Smith Rowe avoided being sent off when his foul on Sean Longstaff — initially ruled a dismissal — was changed to a booking after referee Chris Kavanagh consulted the pitchside monitor.
It would have been harsh on the promising 20-year-old midfielder if he had been given his marching orders.
Smith Rowe celebrated the escape with a fine finish to open the scoring in a hard-fought third-round tie at the Emirates Stadium.
Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang bagged Arsenal’s second goal — just his sixth of a difficult season — in the final moments.
“It was bit of a relief for me with the (red card) incident. It definitely wasn’t intentional,” Smith Rowe said.
“I’m happy to get the goal. From a young kid I have always wanted to play for this club.
“We knew how tough it was going to be. It was about breaking them down. It shows how together we are.
“We have been working off the pitch to get closer as a group.”
The Gunners gave boss Mikel Arteta the first silverware of his reign when they beat Chelsea in the FA Cup final in August and the optimism provided by that success is slowly returning to north London after a difficult period.
Arteta was fighting to save his job just two weeks ago, but three successive wins over Christmas lifted Arsenal away from the Premier League relegation zone and eased the pressure on the Spaniard.
Arsenal have won the FA Cup a record 14 times, lifting the trophy four times in the last seven seasons, and another long run in the competition would be a welcome boost for Arteta.
Bernd Leno, Kieran Tierney, Pablo Mari and Aubameyang were the only Arsenal players to retain their places from the 4-0 win at West Brom.
Arsenal were forced into a late change after Gabriel Martinelli suffered an ankle injury in the warm-up and was replaced by Reiss Nelson.
Newcastle made eight changes of their own but chances were at a premium for Arsenal until David Luiz’s quick free-kick found Aubameyang, whose stinging strike was pushed away by Martin Dubravka.
Andy Carroll scored his first Newcastle goal in 10 years recently and he forced Leno into action with an agile strike from the edge of the area early in the second half.
Newcastle were showing more attacking intent, only for Carroll to waste a golden opportunity to put them ahead when he stabbed wide from close range.
Joe Willock forced Dubravka to make a superb save at full stretch when the midfielder met Nicolas Pepe’s cross with a glancing header.
Arsenal captain Aubameyang couldn’t hit the target with a close-range header before Leno made a brilliant stop to deny Carroll in the final moments of normal time.
Arsenal broke through in the 109th minute when Bukayo Saka chipped a pass to Alexandre Lacazette and his header reached Smith Rowe, who controlled on his chest before drilling a fine finish into the far corner for his second goal of the season.
Aubameyang put the result beyond doubt in the 117th minute when he tapped in Tierney’s cross.
Smith Rowe sends Arsenal into FA Cup fourth round after red card reprieve
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Smith Rowe sends Arsenal into FA Cup fourth round after red card reprieve
- Smith Rowe was initially given a red card for his foul on Sean Longstaff of Newcastle
- The ruling was reversed after referee Chris Kavanagh consulted the pitchside monitor
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner out of Paris Masters with ‘virus’
- World number one replaced in the draw by Frenchman Arthur Cazaux, who was drafted in from qualifying
- Organizers say Jannik Sinner was ‘suffering from an intestinal virus contracted before he arrived in Paris’
PARIS: World number one Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the Paris Masters indoor event due to an “intestinal virus,” the tournament organizers announced on Tuesday.
Sinner, assured since mid-October of finishing the year top of the rankings for the first time in his career at the age of 23, has been replaced in the draw by Frenchman Arthur Cazaux, who was drafted in from qualifying.
Cazaux will face either his compatriot Corentin Moutet or American Ben Shelton in his second round opener on Tuesday.
Organizers said Sinner was “suffering from an intestinal virus contracted before he arrived in Paris.”
The major objective at the end of his season, the Masters in Turin, which brings together the eight best players of the year, is scheduled for November 10-17.
He is then expected to take part in the Davis Cup finals the following week in Malaga, Spain. Italy are the defending champions.
Sinner enjoyed a sparkling 2024 season, winning his first two Grand Slam titles, at the Australian Open and the US Open.
In all, he has won seven tournaments since the start of the season, including three Masters 1000 titles, in Miami, Cincinnati and Shanghai.
However he is under the threat of suspension in a doping case that came to light several weeks ago, following an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Sinner has a chequered history with the Paris indoor tournament — a year ago, he withdrew before his second match.
Sevilla FC and Future Falcons partner to develop young Saudi talent
- A delegation from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation initiative was received by the La Liga club’s president
SEVILLE: A collaboration agreement between Sevilla FC and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s Future Falcons project will develop young Saudi talent and grow the La Liga club’s brand in the region.
“Sevilla FC signs this agreement with Future Falcons because, as part of our strategic plan, one of our most important pillars is the internationalization of the Sevilla FC brand, making ourselves known to the world,” said the club president, Jose Maria del Nido Carrasco.
“Saudi Arabia is an emerging and increasingly influential market in the world of football, and for us, this is a very important strategic alliance.”
Romeo Jozak, technical director of Future Falcons, said European clubs with which the organization wanted to collaborate and work were carefully selected.
“Sevilla FC is undoubtedly one of them,” he said. “It’s not only a giant in Spanish football but also a global football powerhouse. We’re thrilled to be here today and to have received such a warm welcome from the club and its president. This exchange provides tremendous mutual benefit and the opportunity to collaborate in the best possible way. Future Falcons will gain significant advantages through this partnership with Sevilla FC.”
Future Falcons is an academy project, managed by the SAFF, which trains the most promising young Saudi footballers at a high-performance center in Salou. The agreement means Sevilla FC will take part in the organization’s prestigious youth tournament alongside some of Europe’s top youth academies, including Benfica, Juventus and Sporting CP.
“This is very positive,” Carrasco said. “We’re convinced that the training process they undertake, both in sports and personal development, is very similar to what we implement in our youth academy, which has been a cornerstone of our club’s history.
“Participating in their tournament with Sevilla’s youth players will provide a formative experience akin to what we’ve had in the past four seasons in the Youth League. It’s a tournament that features the best teams from different parts of the world, and this is highly beneficial in the players’ formative journey and for Sevilla FC.”
Jozak also emphasized the benefits of this tournament: “Within the Saudi Arabian national team, the majority of players have trained with Future Falcons and have played and competed in this tournament, where Sevilla will also be present.
“I think this will be mutually beneficial in the future due to the exchange of cultures, coaching methods, knowledge and experiences. Everyone knows Sevilla FC is a big club, having won seven Europa League titles and developed numerous players. This collaboration is a blessing for Future Falcons.”
Sevilla FC will actively participate in training talented players and Saudi coaches through its innovation center and some of its training initiatives. The club’s commitment to technological advancement in sports will also allow it to share knowledge and tools, focusing on talent development and recruitment.
Elite field set for inaugural Dubai T100 Triathlon World Championship
- Over 40 of the biggest names in triathlon, including world champions, Olympic medalists and rising stars take part in competition which is part of Dubai Fitness Challenge
DUBAI: With less than one month to go, the Dubai T100 Triathlon World Championship Final is set to ignite the city with a high-stakes showdown between the world’s best.
The competition, marking the culmination of the inaugural T100 World Tour, will see a strong field of male and female athletes battling for ultimate supremacy on Nov. 16 and 17.
The T100 Triathlon World Tour is a seven-race series, designed to push triathletes to their limits across a mix of iconic global destinations and a unique competition format — a 2 km swim, 80 km bike, and 18 km run.
Throughout the season, athletes have accumulated points across races in Miami, Singapore, San Francisco, London, Ibiza and Las Vegas.
The grand final in Dubai is the last chance for the top PTO World Ranked athletes to win additional points as they vie to be crowned the inaugural T100 World Champion.
The sum of each athlete’s three best point-scoring performances across the season plus their score from the Dubai T100 Triathlon World Championship Final will give each their total score.
In addition to crowning the first T100 World Champions, the final will determine the split of the record $7 million prize pot.
Sitting 19 points clear at the top of the men’s field is three-time Olympian, Marten Van Riel. The Belgian claimed his maiden T100 victory earlier this year in a dramatic three-way sprint finish with Kyle Smith and Germany’s Rico Bogen on the iconic “Escape from Alcatraz” course in San Francisco.
He followed it up with a spectacular win in Ibiza, becoming the first male two-time T100 champion. Another world-class performance in Las Vegas earlier this month saw him take silver spot on the podium, securing him pole position in the overall men’s rankings.
In his last visit to Dubai in 2022, Van Riel won the IRONMAN 70.3 Dubai. “It’s amazing to claim the top spot in the rankings after an incredible race in Vegas this weekend,” said Van Riel.
“Winning the T100 series would be a huge moment in my career, but I know there’s still a long way to go and there’s plenty of fast guys ready to push me to the limit in Dubai next month.
“I’ve had some great results racing in Dubai in the past, and I love the energy of the city so I’m excited to come back and give it everything I’ve got.”
With just five points separating the rest of the top-five athletes, it is all to race for. Second in the rankings is Danish superstar Magnus Ditlev, who has had a phenomenal season with victories at both the first leg of the 2024 T100 World Tour event in Miami and Challenge Roth.
Third in the rankings, New Zealand’s Kyle Smith will also toe the line in Dubai. A wildcard into the 2024 T100 series, Smith has proved he deserves his spot in the star-studded lineup.
This follows an incredible sprint finish in the San Francisco T100 Triathlon where he was pipped into second place by Van Riel, and another second-place finish at the London T100.
Crowd-favorite Alistair Brownlee from Great Britain will also line up in Dubai. He is the only triathlete in history to complete the grand slam of Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth titles.
The women’s field is equally star-studded, headlined by the US’ Taylor Knibb. One of the most consistent racers on the global triathlon circuit, Knibb recently won at both the Ibiza and Lake Las Vegas T100 Triathlon races, adding to her win in San Francisco in June.
Knibb will be up against second-ranked Ashleigh Gentle from Australia. Since turning her sights to long-distance racing in 2021, the two-time Olympian has proved her dominance time and time again.
Gentle has had an exceptional 2024 T100 World Tour season, securing victories in both the Singapore and London races. One of the best runners on the global triathlon circuit, the Dubai course could prove a winning formula for Gentle to finish her season in style.
Hot on her heels will be Flora Duffy — the first and only Olympic gold medalist from Bermuda — who is making her much-anticipated switch to long-course triathlon racing.
Another Olympic star heading to Dubai is Julie Derron from Switzerland. Derron has claimed the runners-up position in three of the biggest races of the 2024 triathlon season — the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Ibiza T100 Triathlon and the Las Vegas T100 Triathlon.
Fan favorite Ons Jabeur confirms return for 2025 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open
- Tunisian former World No. 2 set to make February comeback after struggling with long-term shoulder injury
ABU DHABI: With fewer than 100 days to go until the 2025 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, the golden girl of Arab tennis, Ons Jabeur, has confirmed she will return for the February event.
The Tunisian, one of the most popular and successful players to emerge from the Arab world, has been dealing with a shoulder injury that forced her out of almost half the 2024 Hologic WTA Tour season.
Jabeur has said she will be back and firing on all cylinders at the renowned International Tennis Centre in Zayed Sports City for the third edition of the Abu Dhabi Open, which runs from Feb. 1-8.
The three-time Grand Slam finalist managed just one tournament singles appearance after Wimbledon in July before pulling out of her remaining schedule for the year. She told fans on social media she would be devoting the second half of 2024 to her charity work.
Jabeur said: “I’m delighted to be returning to the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, one of my favorite tournaments in my home region where I always receive such fantastic support. It’s been a frustrating few months out with my shoulder injury, but I expect to be back fully fit for 2025, and I’m already looking forward to competing in Abu Dhabi once again in front of the passionate fanbase. The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open continues to grow, attracting a strong line-up of players every year, and I’m thrilled to be competing once again.”
Nigel Gupta, tournament director, said: “It’s fantastic news that Ons has confirmed she will return to the court early next year, and we are very excited to welcome her back.
“As a Tunisian athlete, her influence on the growth of tennis within the region, and the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open itself, has been hugely significant, and she is undoubtedly a real fans’ favorite. We wish Ons well for the remainder of her rehabilitation program and look forward to watching her perform in Abu Dhabi next February.”
Jabeur, a two-time runner-up at Wimbledon (2022 and 2023) and the losing finalist at the US Open in 2022, is a five-time singles champion on the Hologic WTA Tour, reaching a career high of number two in the world rankings.
She will join the field of 28 leading singles players and 16 doubles pairs for eight days of elite women’s tennis action at the Open, which is hosted in partnership with Mubadala and Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
In 2024, former Wimbledon champion and World No. 5 Elena Rybakina clinched the singles title and Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sofia Kenin triumphed in doubles. A similarly elite field is expected for February’s tournament.
Stephen Curry to miss at least two games for Warriors with left ankle injury
SAN FRANCISCO: Stephen Curry will miss at least the next two games for the Golden State Warriors nursing an injured ankle that he hurt in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night.
Curry had an MRI exam after the game and it showed no structural damage and revealed a left peroneal strain. The team said he would be reevaluated Friday.
Golden State plays consecutive home games Tuesday and Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans. Their next game after Curry is examined again is Saturday at Houston.
Curry exited for good with 7:55 remaining in the fourth quarter of a 112-104 defeat.
Curry had briefly returned to the game with 8:08 to play and was along the key being defended by Kris Dunn when he cut away from Dunn toward the baseline and reinjured the ankle when it appeared to roll outward. It happened near the end of Golden State’s bench and he limped into the tunnel that goes to the locker room.
It was at the 2:43 mark of the third quarter when Curry initially hobbled to the bench and sat the remainder of the period.
The two-time MVP and NBA all-time 3-point leader finished with 18 points, six assists and four rebounds, shooting 6 for 11 with four 3-pointers.