A hallucinating Hull City, despite their fight, feistiness and general testiness since entering the Premier League, could hardly be described as craftsmen of the European game. Yet their ability to leave a serious dent in the mettle of a spick-and-span Arsenal side, has left the London club's manager Arsene Wenger wincing and dealing with a serious bout of home sickness.
Hull seemed like pickpockets in clasping three points after a 2-1 win on Saturday, but they made a greater point on the cusp of a European week that has not been lost on Wenger.
If a Hull City side, emerging from the Championship and supposedly wet to soaking point behind the ears having not engaged with the highest level in 104 years, can trouble Arsenal with an unfettered counter- attacking policy, then surely FC Porto must be rubbing their hands in glee before they drop in on a teeming Emirates Stadium this evening.
Hull's perma-tanned manager Phil Brown was wired up on the touchline like something straight out of the San Francisco 49ers, but he appeared to understand perfectly the way in which to break up Arsenal. Their hit-and-run tactics worked to perfection, but it was hardly a smash-and-grab act.
Wenger celebrated his 12th anniversary as Arsenal's head coach over the weekend. Many happy returns from Humberside it was not.
"There will be changes," Wenger said. "I will see how many, but there will be changes. There were enough ingredients today to make me physically sick." Wenger is not prone to such moments of disapproval.
The manner in which the Frenchman sent a water bottle spiralling towards the floor in the death throes of this defeat was a vast indication of how Wenger's thoughts had been left malnourished by the actions of his players.
Wenger could drop Robin Van Persie. He could also opt for 17-year-old Aaron Ramsey to replace Denilson in midfield after such a startling loss.
Hull opted to go with two strikers in front of Geovanni. Portuguese sides are traditionally more fluid in their movements, but they will try to embrace a similar type of culture.
They also have players who can occupy areas in which Arsenal would rather not venture.
Porto can get at teams, as was suggested by their 3-1 win over Fenerbahce in Oporto two weeks ago. The intrepid midfielder Lucho Gonzalez was part of their squad who travelled to London.
Arsenal snagged a 1-1 draw with Dynamo Kiev in their opening match and are already two points behind the visitors, but these are not times for them to consider adopting a helter-skelter attacking mode.
Daniel Cousin, the bugling striker signed from Rangers, scored Hull's winner with a header from a standing start. Arsenal for all their aggression piling forward, can appear slothful.
The Chelsea midfielder Deco, who played in Porto's Uefa Cup success in 2003 and their Champions League win a year later, yesterday said he can foresee his former club winning at the Emirates.
It all leaves one nurturing some curious thoughts.
Football is a bizarre sport indeed when one is suddenly anticipating Porto, twice European Cup winners, embracing Hull's philosophy as their best course of action.
dkane@thenational.ae
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
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The Outsider
Stephen King, Penguin
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The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
Mercedes V250 Avantgarde specs
Engine: 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder turbo
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
Power: 211hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0 l/100 km
Price: Dh235,000
