WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 15

Shahzad’s hundred lifts Afghanistan to Wenger put the ‘Arsenal Way’ 252-8 AFP | Dubai

urly opener Moham- above winning, says Cech Bmad Shahzad knocked a fighting hundred to lift Af- ghanistan to 252-8 in their Reuters | London way so this is great to see be - Super Four game Asia Cup cause this is what initially drives match against India in Du- ormer manager Arsene everybody forward and gives bai yesterday. Wenger sometimes put What we lacked in you the kind of kick that: ‘I’m The 31-year-old smashed Fthe ‘Arsenal way’ of trying the past – I would not doing enough to start the seven sixes and 11 fours in to play beautiful football above game’ or ‘I’m not doing enough his 116-ball 124 -- his fifth winning during his final years say the ‘Arsenal to keep my spot in the game,’ one-day century but first at the London club, according way’ was more because the manager asked for against a top nation -- to to goalkeeper Petr Cech. important than precision and hard work every help Afghanistan post a Wenger departed in May af- getting the points day. challenging total after they ter 22 years in charge having sometimes and this “This is how it should be. We won the toss and batted at endured a barrage of criticism is not how you win have very healthy competition Dubai stadium. in the latter part of his reign for the league and we are actually taking the With India already in Fri- a tactical approach that resulted benefit of it.” day’s final and Afghanistan in 14 seasons without a Premier PETR CECH Cech, who won four league out of contention, Shahzad’s League title. titles in his time at Chelsea, fac- knock spiced up the incon- “What we lacked in the past es competition for his starting sequential match. – I would say the ‘Arsenal way’ spot from the club’s new signing, So dominant was Shahzad was more important than get- quired to win trophies that had 26-year-old Germany interna- that fellow opener Javed ting the points sometimes and gone missing under Wenger, tional Bernd Leno. Ahmadi was only five in a this is not how you win the whose last season in charge re- “This club hasn’t won the stand of 65, before India league,” Cech was quoted by The sulted in a sixth-place finish, 37 league for over 10 years so ob- struck four times within the Independent as telling reporters points behind champions Man- viously you need to get back to space of 17 runs. after Sunday’s 2-0 home win chester City. knowing how to do it,” Cech At the time of closing, In- over Everton. “Against Everton, we went added. dia were 166 at the loss of 3 “Sometimes you need to make Arsene Wenger (L) speaks with Petr Cech (file photo) through difficult moments in “We started with the new wickets in 30 overs. sure you win an ugly game, when the game but we managed to manager from scratch, basically, you are not playing completely get the win and with the clean and we try to get this mentali- well but you just dig deep, close Spaniard Unai Emery took tries to shape a team that can sheet so this is very positive,” the ty of winning every game, pro- the back door and win 1-0 no over as head coach on a three- bring a 14th league title to the former Czech international told gressing every game, working matter how. I think this is what year contract in May and, after a club. British media. every day and, hopefully, we can Cousin appointed we lacked over the last three tricky start, has steered Arsenal Cech, 36, said Emery was “I think the place has become build this up and win the title sole coach years, since I arrived (in 2015).” to four straight victories as he bringing back the qualities re- much more demanding in every sooner rather than later.” after Aubameyang’s father rejects job Virgil Van Dijk faces fitness test Real Madrid’s Isco to miss AFP | , Gabon derby after appendix surgery ormer Gabon interna- Reuters | London Ftional Daniel Cousin AFP | Madrid has become the sole coach iverpool’s Virgil van Dijk of the national team after Lfaces a fitness test to be eal Madrid midfielder Isco Pierre-Francois Aubame ready for Wednesday’s League Dejan looks quite Ris set to miss the city derby Eyang, father of Arse - Cup clash with Chelsea, while good. He trained against Atletico Madrid on Sat- nal star Pierre-Emerick fellow defender Dejan Lovren completely normal urday after surgery for acute Aubameyang, refused an is available after shaking off a now four times. He appendicitis. offer to join the set-up. pelvic injury, manager Juergen worked with the The club announced yester- “We have worked hard to Klopp said yesterday. day that Isco was set to have confirm the choice of Daniel Van Dijk sustained a knock fitness guys before an operation but included no Cousin, to whom we entrust to an earlier rib injury and was that for 10 days. He time-frame for the 26-year- the national team,” the Gab- substituted in the second half looks ready old’s recovery. onese Minister of Sports, Isco of Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over JUERGEN KLOPP “After the tests carried out Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze, Southampton on Saturday, a today on our player Isco, he next Tuesday. told media on Monday after result that left the early Premier has been diagnosed with acute His team-mate Luka Modric, a meeting of the Gabonese League pace-setters with six with Simon Mignolet taking his appendicitis,” a Real Madrid who won FIFA’s Best Men’s Football Federation (Feg- wins from as many games. place. The German, however, statement read. Player award on Monday, had afoot). Van Dijk sustained a knock said he would field a strong side “The player will receive his appendix removed in 2011. Last week, Fegafoot an- to an earlier rib injury and was against Maurizio Sarri’s team. treatment in the coming He was out for two weeks. nounced that Pierre-Fran- substituted in the second half “It’s a competition we like... hours.” “Isco suffered discomfort cois Aubame Eyang and of Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk receives It’s a difficult draw for both Real face a trip to Sevilla in in his stomach and it seems Cousin would work togeth- Southampton on Saturday, a medical attention after an injury teams. It’s not that you think La Liga on Wednesday before it’s appendicitis and he will er coaching the Panthers. result that left the early Premier the first two-three rounds you hosting rivals Atletico at the have an operation,” Lopetegui League pace-setters with six fitness guys before that for 10 go through somehow, and from Santiago Bernabeu this week- said at a press conference yes- wins from as many games. days. He looks ready,” Klopp the semis on it starts getting end. terday. “Dejan looks quite good. He added. exciting... It’s a home game Isco is also at risk of missing “We hope everything goes Sunderland rescind trained completely normal now Klopp said first choice goal- against a very strong side, so Madrid’s Champions League well and he has a speedy re- four times. He worked with the keeper Alisson would be rested it’ll be really interesting.” match away to CSKA Moscow covery.” missing Ndong’s contract AFP | London

underland have told UEFA reopens investigation on PSG over fairplay Smidfielder Didier Ndong they intend to terminate his AFP | euros. He has since become contract after the club’s re- one of world football’s hottest cord signing went absent EFA said Monday it had or- BETTER properties. without leave in the wake Udered accusations that Paris In June, UEFA’s Club Financial of their relegation to League Saint-Germain has broken its Control Body (CFCB) closed its One last season. financial fair play rules to be KNOW investigation into PSG’s spend- The Black Cats have also referred to its financial unit “for ing only to re-open it just a indicated their readiness to further investigation”. month later. take legal action to recoup European football’s governing If eventually found UEFA said on Monday the case the Gabon international’s body initially opened an inves- guilty PSG could had now been referred “back to transfer value should he tigation into the Qatari-owned the CFCB Investigatory Chamber join another club. club’s spending in September face exclusion from for further investigation”. “Sunderland has given 2017 under pressure from some European competi- UEFA rules mandate that notice under its contract of Europe’s biggest clubs after tion for one or more clubs cannot spend more than with Didier Ndong. the French club signed Brazil- seasons, a huge they earn in any given season “The player, who was un- ian midfielder Neymar for a blow to the club’s and deficits must fall within a der contract with Sunder- world-record 222 million euros Qatari owners who 30-million-euro limit over three land until June 2021, failed ($261 million). have made winning seasons. to return to Sunderland Within weeks the club had the Champions PSG’s case is complicated by its for pre-season training in also agreed a deal to sign teen- UEFA initially opened an investigation into Paris Saint-Germain’s spending in lucrative sponsorship deals with July as scheduled, nor in age striker Kylian Mbappe September 2017 League their key Qatar National Bank and the the subsequent months that from Monaco for 180 million goal Gulf state’s tourism authority. followed.