FA Cup final: Arsenal 2 Chelsea 1
Arsenal: Sanchez (3'), Ramsey (79')
So now the Frenchman is the nonpareil. Arsene Wenger stands alone. He has won seven FA Cups which, depending on perspective, is one more than the previous record holder, Aston Villa’s George Ramsay, or as many as Chelsea have mustered in their history. Not bad for yesterday’s man.
His own defiance towards his critics, branding his treatment “a disgrace”, was mirrored by his charges. They showed an eloquence with their energy, an articulacy with their excellence.
Chelsea’s double disappeared as Wenger’s unexpected renaissance continued.
His ninth win in 10 games was a golden day of decision-making for Wenger. He showed an alchemy. He preferred David Ospina to Petr Cech in goal and the Colombian made a string of saves, the best denying Diego Costa a second equaliser. He was forced to gamble on Per Mertesacker at the heart of his defence and the captain, who had played just 37 minutes of football this season, lent authority and positional excellence. He brought on Olivier Giroud and the substitute’s first contribution was to set up Aaron Ramsey’s winner.
Wenger matched Chelsea’s 3-4-2-1 formation, seemingly with lesser players in many positions, and unlocked it. It was an improbable, endearing triumph that illustrated that it is not just because of the sense of stasis at the Emirates Stadium that he has not been pensioned off yet.
Wenger displays a tenacity that helps account for his longevity.
Whenever Arsenal seem thrust in a downward spiral, they contrive to change course. They have mounted end-of-season revivals before, usually to salvage their top-four status. This one yielded silverware.
Arsenal won it in a way that offered a reminder of what made them great under Wenger. The pace, the ambition, the imagination, the skill, the spirit and the presence of a special talent.
Each evoked memories of happier days. There was a familiar failing, too, in profligacy that could have cost them when Costa levelled.
It is to their credit that they made Chelsea look poor. With exception of one off-day at Old Trafford, Antonio Conte’s title winners had not struggled this much since September’s season-changing 3-0 defeat to Arsenal. Their meetings can come coated in controversy, and this made for a busy day for referee Anthony Taylor. He was correct to dismiss Victor Moses for diving. He may have been wrong to award Arsenal’s opener after initially disallowing it.
Ramsey was offside but not interfering with play as Alexis Sanchez handled and ran on to score. It was nevertheless a moment to symbolise Arsenal’s season: Sanchez can do it all himself providing no one else interferes.
In the process he became the first man to score 30 goals in a season for Arsenal since Robin van Persie, who promptly left as he entered the last year of his contract.
They must ensure history does not repeat itself with Sanchez. The Chilean was rightly given the man-of-the-match award. He showed he is the man for both the big occasion and every occasion.
With Mesut Ozil both incisive and oddly physical — he left Eden Hazard writhing in pain with one stiff challenge — and Danny Welbeck bringing selfless running, they formed an excellent, elusive front trio.
Behind them, Ramsey, scorer of a solitary league goal this season, scored a second FA Cup final winner in four seasons.
It could have been all over earlier. Gary Cahill made two goal-line clearances. The post twice saved Chelsea.
It was supposed to be Arsenal who suffered from set-piece failings. It was Chelsea who almost conceded from a corner.
Supposedly mentally weak, Arsenal exhibited an inner strength when it mattered. They secured Wenger’s place in history.
Now for the contract extension he will surely sign.
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh132,000 (Countryman)
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last-16 second leg
Paris Saint-Germain (1) v Borussia Dortmund (2)
Kick-off: Midnight, Thursday, March 12
Stadium: Parc des Princes
Live: On beIN Sports HD
The essentials
What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
When: Friday until March 9
Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.
Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.
Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
South Africa v India schedule
Tests: 1st Test Jan 5-9, Cape Town; 2nd Test Jan 13-17, Centurion; 3rd Test Jan 24-28, Johannesburg
ODIs: 1st ODI Feb 1, Durban; 2nd ODI Feb 4, Centurion; 3rd ODI Feb 7, Cape Town; 4th ODI Feb 10, Johannesburg; 5th ODI Feb 13, Port Elizabeth; 6th ODI Feb 16, Centurion
T20Is: 1st T20I Feb 18, Johannesburg; 2nd T20I Feb 21, Centurion; 3rd T20I Feb 24, Cape Town
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
ETFs explained
Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
SPECS
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RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
Winner: Shafaf, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5,30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Noof KB, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Listed (TB) Dh380,000 1,400m
Winner: Taamol, Jim Crowley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Group One (PA) Dh2,500,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Listed (PA) Dh230,000 1,600m
Winner: Ihtesham, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Mekhbat, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
The Saga Continues
Wu-Tang Clan
(36 Chambers / Entertainment One)
AIDA%20RETURNS
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UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
