It will take a miracle for FC Twente to progress into the group stages of the Champions League. The Dutch side, managed by former England manager Steve McClaren suffered a home defeat at the hands of Arsenal. Only a total collapse at the Emirates Stadium in two weeks time will prevent Arsenal progressing. A young Arsenal side hampered by injuries to nine key players struggled to create chances on the night, and were lucky not to concede as Twente made their debut in the Champions League.
Mid-way through the first half FC Twente striker Arnautovic failed to control a perfectly weighted pass from the energetic Dutch midfielder Denneboom, and his weak shot was easily parried by Almunia. Denneboom had already tested Almunia with a long-range effort that seemed to swerve in mid-air and the Spanish goalkeeper was forced into making a good save. The Arsenal defence, weakened by the absence of injured Kolo Toure looked fragile, and Almunia was far the busier of the two keepers in the opening forty-five minutes.
Arsenal could have gone ahead before half time. Bacary Sagna fired wide after the Twente keeper failed to hold onto a long-range effort from Arsenal full back Gael Clichy. The ball rebounded to Sagna but his left-footed effort was a yard wide.
Arsenal showed more urgency after the break as they stepped up their efforts to grab an away goal. It came in the sixty-third minute when Gallas latched onto a Robin Van Persie free kick and managed to knock the ball past Twente keeper Boschker with his knee.
The Arsenal midfield duo of Denilson and Aaron Ramsey, making his full debut, used the ball more efficiently in the second half. However Arnautovic was presented with another opportunity to score towards the end of the match and should have equalised. With only Almunia to beat the sluggish Dutch striker hit the side netting with a poor effort.
Arsenal's superiority in the final third eventually told with ten minutes to go. A long ball from Denilson found Theo Walcott who used his electric pace to beat the Twente full back before squaring his pass to Adebayor who kept his shot low and found the back of the net.
Arsenal managed to achieve a positive result. But with the transfer deadline approaching Arsene Wenger will need to strengthen his squad if his team are win the competition proper.
13/08/2008
08/08/2008
Khan can fill void left by Calzaghe and Hatton
Bad news this week surfaced when Frankie Gavin had to withdraw from the British Olympic Boxing Squad. Unfortunately the young boxer was unable to consistently make the 60kg weight required to compete in the Lightweight division. Olympic boxers are required to make weight each day; for Gavin to have done so carried the risk of dehydration. This news is a hammer blow for the Olympic team; Gavin was expected to win Gold and do so in style. It is also a blow for British boxing, the Olympic squad now deprived of its brightest talent. However, the team is still overwhelmingly able, and expectations are high. Amir Khan, who brought back a Silver medal from Athens four years ago predicts a successful campaign for the British team, and a bright future for all the boxers involved. Before Gavin's withdrawal, Khan exclaimed 'we have eight boxers going out there and we have a chance to bring back eight medals. Every one of these boys is a great fighter. They are all capable and all they have to do is to stay focused'.
Khan, due to fight in early September in his nineteenth fight since turning professional struggled in his last outing against a strong, brave and more experienced fighter in the shape of Michael Gomes. The gritty Mancunian never took a backwards step during the encounter and sent Khan to the canvas in the opening rounds. However, the speed and accuracy of Khan's punches was the telling factor and a bruised and bloody Gomes was forced to retire from the contest. With a new trainer appointed into the Khan camp this week, the Bolton boxer is expected to improve his defensive technique, his Achilles heel in previous contests, whilst continuing to increase his strength and power. Jorge Rubio, a Cuban with an impressive track record and former trainer of Olympic Champion Kindelan, whom Khan defeated in his last amateur fight, will continue to train Khan in his familiar Bolton surroundings. Already, he has been impressed with Khan's enthusiasm, 'it's fantastic to be given the opportunity to work with such a natural talent like Amir and I believe that I can bring the best out in him. I'm really impressed by what I've seen of him so far and I know that we still have a lot of work to do'.
There are many similarities between Amir Khan, and Britain's most successful boxer of the last few years, Joe Calzaghe. Both men struggled in the early stages of their careers with their defensive capabilities. Both fighters like to stand with their hands held low, head leaned forward with chin slightly tucked underneath the shoulder blade. And both men possess vibrant and swift hand speed. With Calzaghe, and Ricky Hatton both fighting in the autumn in potentially the last fights of their careers, there will soon be a huge void for Khan to fill. He has the skills and technique to become the best in the world and dominate his division. And now it seems he has the trainer to help him achieve his goals and develop his obvious potential.
The future of British boxing is still bright, despite the inevitable retirements of Hatton and Calzaghe before the end of the year. Khan, and the British boxers representing Britain in Beijing can help soften this blow.
Khan, due to fight in early September in his nineteenth fight since turning professional struggled in his last outing against a strong, brave and more experienced fighter in the shape of Michael Gomes. The gritty Mancunian never took a backwards step during the encounter and sent Khan to the canvas in the opening rounds. However, the speed and accuracy of Khan's punches was the telling factor and a bruised and bloody Gomes was forced to retire from the contest. With a new trainer appointed into the Khan camp this week, the Bolton boxer is expected to improve his defensive technique, his Achilles heel in previous contests, whilst continuing to increase his strength and power. Jorge Rubio, a Cuban with an impressive track record and former trainer of Olympic Champion Kindelan, whom Khan defeated in his last amateur fight, will continue to train Khan in his familiar Bolton surroundings. Already, he has been impressed with Khan's enthusiasm, 'it's fantastic to be given the opportunity to work with such a natural talent like Amir and I believe that I can bring the best out in him. I'm really impressed by what I've seen of him so far and I know that we still have a lot of work to do'.
There are many similarities between Amir Khan, and Britain's most successful boxer of the last few years, Joe Calzaghe. Both men struggled in the early stages of their careers with their defensive capabilities. Both fighters like to stand with their hands held low, head leaned forward with chin slightly tucked underneath the shoulder blade. And both men possess vibrant and swift hand speed. With Calzaghe, and Ricky Hatton both fighting in the autumn in potentially the last fights of their careers, there will soon be a huge void for Khan to fill. He has the skills and technique to become the best in the world and dominate his division. And now it seems he has the trainer to help him achieve his goals and develop his obvious potential.
The future of British boxing is still bright, despite the inevitable retirements of Hatton and Calzaghe before the end of the year. Khan, and the British boxers representing Britain in Beijing can help soften this blow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
