Sports
Lacazette at the double as skipper Ozil finds the net
Mesut Ozil started the week by citing ‘racism and disrespect’ as he announced his retirement from international football with Germany.
And at the end of it he sent out a message that he means business this season as he led Arsenal to confidence-boosting pre-season victory over the French giants.
Ozil, given the captain’s armband by Unai Emery on his return to the team following a post-World Cup break, scored Arsenal’s first goal when he finished off a good move involving Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
And even though PSG pulled a goal back when Christopher Nkunku slotted home from the spot, substitutes Alex Lacazette, with two, Rob Holding and Eddie Nketiah gave Arsenal a deserved win.
Here are the key talking points.
1. Smith Rowe impresses again
Birthday boy Emile Smith Rowe has had a hell of a few days.
He celebrated turning 18 today and, even though he didn’t start against PSG, he made a fine contribution soon after coming on.
His cross was turned in by Alex Lacazette, making it one assist and one wonder goal on his first pre-season tour with the senior squad.
Smith Rowe will officially be allowed a drink on the flight home now and, boy, has he earned it this week.
2. Emery mixes it up
Arsene Wenger was oft beaten with the ‘No Plan B’ stick during his Arsenal days but it’s unlikely, on this evidence, that the same will be said about Unai Emery.
So fluid was the system that the Gunners looked be 4-3-3 at the start of the match but then switched to 4-2-3-1 with the ball and 4-4-2 without it during the first half alone.
Still, there were flashes of the sort of moves we grew used to fawning over when Wenger was in charge with one interchange between Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in particular getting the locals off their seats.
Alex Iwobi got on the end of the move but Gianluigi Buffon saved.
3. Pre-season love-in
This was more a pre-season love-in than a pre-season friendly with referee Nathan Chan Rong De appearing to ask Mesut Ozil to autograph his yellow card in the tunnel before kick-off.
Maybe he just thought it’d save him a bit of time if he had to take the Arsenal star’s name later on.
Ozil’s team-mate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang then made a beeline for PSG’s legendary Italy goalkeeper Gigi Buffon at half-time to ask to swap shirts.
The 40-year-old obliged and the pair were practically wrapped round each other as they headed for the tunnel.
4. New boys impress
Unai Emery paired new boy Sokratis Papastathopoulos with Shkodran Mustafi at the heart of his defence and, as he promised he would, the Greek looks to be a proper old-school defender.
He was vocal throughout, and even though they might not be the quickest pairing available you can be sure they won’t be taking any prisoners whenever they play together.
Ahead of them, Matteo Guendouzi impressed again, as he did against Atletico Madrid on Thursday.
The French teen will be behind Lucas Torreira in the pecking order at the Emirates but he looks a decent prospect.
5. Monreal to return?
Sead Kolasinac wasn’t a left-back but a left-sided central defender in a back three, according to former manager Arsene Wenger.
And had Wenger been in Singapore to watch the Bosnian in action he would have seen nothing to change his opinion.
Kolasinac was the guilty party when PSG drew level, giving away the penalty, with a clumsy-looking challenge.
Nacho Monreal, still on holiday following the World Cup, is a shoo-in to start ahead of him.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the appointment of German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Team, the Super Eagles.
This development was announced by the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, in the early hours of Tuesday, following the approval of the NFF Executive Committee based on a recommendation from its Technical and Development Sub-Committee. Labbadia’s appointment takes immediate effect.
Born on 8th February 1966 in Darmstadt, Germany, Labbadia enjoyed a distinguished playing career, earning two caps for the German national team. His club career included stints at prominent clubs such as Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Arminia Bielefeld, and Karlsruher SC. Notably, he won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 1994.
Labbadia’s coaching career has seen him manage top-tier clubs such as Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, and Bayer Leverkusen, among others. He holds a UEFA Pro License and is well-regarded for his tactical acumen.
With his appointment, Labbadia becomes the sixth German to lead the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr. Höner notably guided the Super Eagles to a runner-up finish at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr qualified Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Labbadia’s immediate task is to prepare the Super Eagles for their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches.
Nigeria will face Benin Republic on Saturday, 7th September in Uyo, and Rwanda on Tuesday, 10th September in Kigali. The team will also play four additional qualifying matches in October and November as they aim to secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON, scheduled to be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The Super Eagles, placed in Group D, will face familiar foes Benin Republic, who recently defeated Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The draw for the AFCON qualifiers, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, last month, also sees Nigeria taking on Libya and Rwanda, both of whom are also part of the Super Eagles’ group for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers set to be hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Labbadia’s appointment comes at a crucial time as the Super Eagles look to regain their dominance on the African continent and secure qualification for both the AFCON and the World Cup.
Finidi George has stepped into a new role as the technical manager for NPFL side, Rivers United, following his resignation as coach of the Super Eagles.
During his brief tenure with the Eagles, George’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in Uyo and a 2-1 loss to Benin Republic in Abidjan cast doubts on Nigeria’s World Cup qualification, prompting calls from fans for his dismissal.
South Africa vs Nigeria: Why we failed to defeat Super Eagles – Percy Tau
Nevertheless, Rivers United, the 2021-22 champions, expressed optimism in a statement on Wednesday via their official handle about having the former Eagles international manage their team.
“Finidi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team, having had a distinguished playing career spanning over fifteen years,” the statement read.
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Dr. Okey Kpalukwu, General Manager of Rivers United FC, welcomed George, stating, “We are delighted to have Finidi George join our team. His appointment marks a new chapter in our club’s history, and we are committed to working together to achieve success.”
Expressing his gratitude to the club, an elated George remarked, “I am honored to have this opportunity, and I thank the Sports Commissioner, the General Manager, and the supporters for their confidence in me. I am committed to working hard and making the team win.”
Inter Milan were taken over by US fund Oaktree on Wednesday after the Serie A champions’ outgoing owners Suning missed a deadline to repay a debt worth hundred of millions of euros.
In a statement, Oaktree announced they had “assumed control” of Inter after the non-repayment of a “three-year loan to Inter Milan’s holding companies that matured on 21 May 2024 with a total balance due of approximately 395 million euros ($428 million)”.
Chinese conglomerate Suning have relinquished control of Inter to Oaktree three days after the team were officially crowned Italian champions for the 20th time.
Suning borrowed 275 million euros at over 12 percent interest three years ago to pay staff and players as the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the finances of clubs across Europe, putting up their controlling stake in the club as collateral.
“Oaktree is dedicated to achieving the best outcome for the long-term prosperity of Inter Milan, with an initial focus on operational and financial stability for the Club and its stakeholders,” Oaktree continued.
Inter became a powerful force at home and abroad after Suning acquired the club in 2016, with seven trophies including two Serie A titles and two European finals.
Simone Inzaghi’s team cruised to this year’s championship, winning the Scudetto with five matches remaining by beating AC Milan in a thrilling local derby.
Oaktree, which manages $192 billion in assets, said they are “committed to working closely with Inter Milan’s current management team, partners, the league and governing bodies to ensure the Club is positioned for success on and off the pitch”.
Inter ended up in the hands of Oaktree in a manner similar to the way another US fund, Elliott Management, took control of their local rivals Milan in 2018.
Elliott became Milan’s owners when Chinese businessman Li Yonghong was unable to repay a loan he had taken out when he bought the club from the late Silvio Berlusconi’s Fininvest the previous year.
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