Nicolas Pepe inspires Arsenal comeback against West Ham as Gunners show fight for Freddie Ljungberg
Comment Arsenal’s next six league matches Manchester City [H]Everton [A]Bournemouth [A]Chelsea [H]Manchester United [H]Crystal Palace [A] Sean KearnsMonday 9 Dec 2019 10:07 pmShare this article via facebookShare this article via twitterShare this article via messengerShare this with Share this article via emailShare this article via flipboardCopy link1.2kShares Nicolas Pepe inspired Arsenal’s comeback against West Ham (Picture: PA)When Freddie Ljungberg eventually gets round to watching back his first victory as Arsenal interim boss there may be chunks of it he’ll want to forget.For an hour the Gunners were as poor as they’ve been all season, no matter who has been at the helm. The passing was wayward, the tactics disjointed and the less said about the defending the better. But as the Swede will have learnt by now; it’s results that matter and what a crucial three points this was for Arsenal.The Gunners entered the match on their worst run since 1976 and with the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Everton on the horizon, it’s not far-fetched to suggest defeat could have seen them staring at the relegation places by Christmas.AdvertisementAdvertisementFor an hour, it looked like it was going that way. In an indescribably poor first half, West Ham entered the break a goal up thanks to Angelo Ogbonna’s deflected strike. The Italian reacted quickest to Pablo Fornals’ floated cross after 38 minutes and his header bounced in off Ainsley Maitland-Niles. The Hammers, who have won just one of their last nine, showed more ambition during the opening 45 minutes but it was an uninspiring half bereft of quality.ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Ogbonna gave West Ham a half-time lead (Picture: PA)The irony is that the home side actually improved after the break and were threatening a second when Gabrielle Martinelli latched onto Sead Kolasinac’s cutback to strike the equaliser. It was the Brazilian’s seventh of the season but his first in the Premier League. A rare bright light in an otherwise depressing campaign for the Gunners. Aubameyang rounded off the victory (|Picture: Reuters)For Arsenal it was victory at last. Every single Premier League club has picked up three points since the Gunners last won against Bournemouth on October 6th. This was just their fifth win of the season and their third post-August. Though their fixtures ensure there can be no lapse in concentration, the victory gives Arsenal some breathing space and they’re now seven points above the relegation zone and into the top half.AdvertisementAdvertisementFinal score: West Ham 1-3 ArsenalMan of the Match: Nicolas PepeAttendance: 59, 936MORE: Deontay Wilder claims Anthony Joshua fight will ‘never happen’ Pepe came to life after the break (Picture: AP)Arsenal could scarcely believe they were ahead, so poorly had they played for an hour. But it got even better just three minutes later when Pepe turned provider for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to volley home to give the Gunners a two-goal lead.Just nine minutes separated the three goals and the London Stadium emptied even quicker. The empty seats made for a grim look as seven minutes injury time were announced and less than half of the 59,000 attendance were there to witness it. The Hammers travel to relegation-threatened Southampton on Saturday and there’s then 12 days before their trip to Crystal Palace on Boxing Day. You fear anything but a win for Manuel Pellegrini at St Mary’s will see him lose his job. One win in ten would test the patience of any board. Advertisement Nicolas Pepe inspires Arsenal comeback against West Ham as Gunners show fight for Freddie Ljungberg The goal shook West Ham’s confidence, which isn’t the most difficult feat at this moment in time. Suddenly, where once there was tackles, there was now space. Unimpressed with what he’d seen in the last two matches, Ljungberg made changes aplenty in east London. Alexandre Lacazette, David Luiz and Joe Willock were out, while Nicolas Pepe, Calum Chambers and most notably Martinelli came in. They were changes that many thought the Swede would make when he was first appointed, given he had spent time with the players before and would have wanted to immediately stamp his authority on the squad.Ironically, it was another of Unai Emery’s signings that got on the scoresheet next when Pepe curled home an exquisite finish with his left foot into the far left corner. It was the Ivorian’s first league goal for the club and the sense of relief was palpable as he celebrated wildly in front of the away crowd behind the goal.
The regulator issued a “financial support direction” (FSD) to ITV in December 2011. FSDs create a legal requirement on a company to contribute to deficit repairs within a pension scheme it has links to.The company referred the decision to the Upper Tribunal court in 2012, but since then the two parties have been involved in a protracted legal battle that delayed the case coming to court.Mike Birch, TPR’s director of case management, said the ruling “brings closer the prospect of greater certainty for members”.“We have fought at every stage to bring our case for an FSD and are pleased the courts have agreed with our position,” Birch said. “This sends a clear message that we will not shy away from pursuing regulatory action to protect workplace pensions.”A spokesman for ITV said the company believed the case to be “wholly unmeritorious”.“ITV has never participated in the Box Clever scheme and has had no control over the growth of its deficit,” the spokesman said. “ITV believes strongly that there will be cases in which it is appropriate for the regulator to use its powers, but equally strongly that Box Clever is not one of them.”He added: “The tribunal previously stated in its judgment that the regulator has not alleged, and does not allege now, that there was anything improper or negligent about ITV’s conduct. Yet ITV is being pursued for unquantified sums in relation to a transaction that took place 17 years ago, before the regulator ever existed, and before the current powers it seeks to evoke were even on the statute book.“ITV has defended the case robustly over the last six years and will continue to do so.”The hearing will start on 29 January 2018 and will be the first time an anti-avoidance case by TPR has been heard in full in the Upper Tribunal, the regulator said. The UK’s Pensions Regulator (TPR) will head to court next year as it attempts to force broadcaster ITV to fund a pension scheme.TPR wants ITV to pay contributions to close a £90m (€99m) deficit in the Box Clever Group Pension Scheme. The scheme is connected to Box Clever, a firm formed in 2000 through a merger involving ITV’s predecessor company Granada. The company went bust in 2003.In a statement published today, TPR said the UK Court of Appeal had rejected an appeal from ITV against a ruling allowing the regulator to bring in new evidence in the case, which has been running for nearly six years.It was the fourth time the UK courts had considered the case and agreed with TPR’s position, the regulator said.
Sharing is caring! Share 29 Views 3 comments LocalNews Dominican radio station may face contempt of Court charges by: – January 12, 2012 Share
Tweet Share A Dominican radio station might face contempt of Court charges for airing an audio recording of a Court ruling on Wednesday.Contempt of Court, broadly defined is “Any willful disobedience to, or disregard of, a court order or any misconduct in the presence of a court; action that interferes with a judge’s ability to administer justice or that insults the dignity of the court, and is punishable by fine or imprisonment or both”.On Tuesday the High Court dismissed two election petitions which were filed by the Opposition United Workers Party after the 2009 general elections in Dominica where the Dominica Labour Party won 18 out of 21 seats. Justice Gertel Thom did not return to Dominica to deliver the verdict herself but Justice Brian Cottle read the verdict on her behalf.Justice Cottle explained that the verdict is a 49 page long document which he would not read and proceeded to read the conclusion.It was recently discovered that on the 10th of January, 2012 the Court proceedings were allegedly clandestinely recorded and broadcasted on the 11th of January by a local FM Radio Station without the knowledge or authorization of the Court. This matter has received close examination by Court officials who are said to be examining the issue in relation to contempt of Court and to determine the appropriate legal proceedings against the perpetrators of this alleged contempt.If found guilty the perpetrator could be confined to a term of imprisonment.Dominica Vibes News
Tear gas floats in the air as a line of police move demonstrators away from St. John’s Church across Lafayette Park from the White House, as they gather to protest the death of George Floyd, Monday, June 1, 2020, in Washington, United States. AP Law enforcement officials shy away from describing crowd-dispersing chemical tools as tear gas; it evokes police gassing citizens or the horrors of war. But giving those tools a more antiseptic name does not change the reality on the ground. WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and some of his supporters are claiming authorities did not use tear gas against people in a crackdown outside the White House this week. There’s evidence they did.
Federal institutions such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense have listed tear gas as the common term for riot-control agents. Whether the common or formal term is used, the effects on people are the same. (AP)
BATESVILLE, Ind. — SAFE PASSAGE, INC. recently won a $100,000 grand prize grant from The Allstate Foundation.There were over 200 nonprofits nationwide in the Purple Purse Challenge.Funds raised in the competition will strengthen the community by providing services such as emergency shelter, outreach services, childcare, and financial empowerment training to help victims break free from abusive situations.Safe Passage was one of two organizations to win the $100,000 grand prize, by raising more money than any other Purple Purse Challenge participant.Safe Passage raised $204,014 from the community.The challenge ended on October 25.
RelatedPosts Ighalo: My best moment as ‘Red Devil’ EPL: Crystal Palace stun sloppy Man U EPL: Red Devils attack Palace Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has been handed a 21-month suspended prison sentence after he was found guilty of attacking as the lawyer for two of the officers involved in the case said the footballer should “hang his head in shame”.Maguire, 27, was found guilty of assaulting police, verbal abuse, and attempted bribery after the alleged fight last Friday – just hours after he received the backing of England manager Gareth Southgate, who on Tuesday afternoon named him in his next international squad. Million of fans will now be looking to see if the player keeps his place for next month’s UEFA Nations League fixtures against Iceland and Denmark, after the Three Lions boss warned he could be dropped “if facts of information changes”.Despite being found guilty, the £85 million defender has spoken out on Tuesday afternoon and is protesting his innocence, with plans to appeal the verdict handed down by the Greek courts.He said: “Following the hearing today, I have instructed my legal team with immediate effect to inform the courts we will be appealing.“I remain strong and confident regarding our innocence in this matter – if anything myself, family and friends are the victims.”Ioannis Paradissis, lawyer for two of the six policemen involved in the case, told MailOnline that Maguire is a “disgrace” and has “invented a pack of lies and has not had the decency to apologise”. Paradissis said: “He has insulted our police officers and he and his friends left three of them injured. They had to be taken to hospital and were brutally beaten by Maguire, his brother Joe and their friend.“Maguire and his friends then invented a story about Albanians attacking his sister. I’ve never heard such rubbish. This was a shameful attempt to cover up their disgusting behaviour and an insult to Albanians and the Greek police.“Maguire is a role model, he should hang his head in shame and return to Greece to apologise.”Maguire’s brother Joe who plays for non-league team Ilkeston Town, was also found guilty of assault, attacking police and attempted bribery, while a third man, 29-year-old Christopher Sharman, was guilty of two assault charges and another of verbal abuse.Tags: 21-month suspended sentenceAssaulting policeCaptain Harry MaguireManchester UnitedVerbal abuse
The Potters took the lead on the half-hour mark when Adam drilled in from Nzonzi’s cut-back. Six minutes later, referee Kevin Friend deemed a sliding tackle from Brown on Adam that won the defender the ball – and replays suggested any contact between the players had been minimal – to be worthy of a straight red card, a call that left Black Cats boss Gus Poyet fuming. Stoke recorded their first win in nine Barclays Premier League games as goals from Charlie Adam and Steven Nzonzi steered them to a 2-0 home victory against Sunderland, who had Wes Brown sent off in controversial circumstances. Stoke continued to press and were rewarded with a goal when Nzonzi latched onto Cameron’s chip down the right, turned Ki Sung-yeung and laid the ball to Adam, who was arriving in the box. The Scotland midfielder unleashed a low shot that gave Vito Mannone little chance of keeping it out. It got worse for Sunderland as Brown was given his marching orders by Friend, whose decision prompted an angry reaction from the defender’s team-mates and manager. Brown, sliding at a considerable speed when he challenged Adam and won the ball, appeared to make little contact – if any – with the Stoke man. Sunderland’s complaints went unheeded and their opponents looked to swiftly make the most of the man advantage, but could not add another goal before half-time. The hosts continued their search for a second after the break but Sunderland managed to keep them at bay and brought a save out of Begovic via Phil Bardsley’s attempt. Stoke then broke and Adam advanced towards goal, but he blazed his shot well off-target from outside the area. Sunderland did their best to battle back and after Adam Johnson shot wide, Fletcher went to ground in the box when the boot of Begovic, coming out to clear, connected with his chest, but again no spot-kick was awarded. Nzonzi then wrapped up the three points for Stoke, finishing first-time from a through-ball by Crouch, who advanced forward having collected Adam’s pass. And the Potters might have had more goals had substitute Andy Wilkinson or Arnautovic been able to convert late chances. Press Association The Uruguayan saw his team battle bravely thereafter, but Stoke’s win was sealed in the 81st minute when Nzonzi slotted home having been set up nicely by Peter Crouch. Mark Hughes’ side, who had been 17th at the start of the day and separated from the relegation zone by goal difference alone, moved up to 14th after this result. Meanwhile Sunderland, who are three points adrift of safety, drop a place. They now occupy the bottom spot in the table with Crystal Palace – watched from the stands by their new manager, ex-Stoke boss Tony Pulis, as they won 1-0 at Hull – having moved above them. Jack Colback saw a shot deflect behind for a corner as Sunderland exerted some pressure early on, but it amounted to nothing and at the other end, Adam sent a free-kick on to the roof of the net. Moments later Geoff Cameron delivered two dangerous crosses into the Black Cats box in quick succession, one of which came to Marko Arnautovic, whose strike on the turn was blocked. Steven Fletcher then brought the ball down – seemingly with his arm – in the Potters area and with no whistle blown, produced a shot which Asmir Begovic got out to parry. Soon after, Stoke skipper Ryan Shawcross had to clear off his line as a hoisted ball forward ricocheted towards goal and Arnautovic then appealed for a penalty having fired an effort against John O’Shea, but none was given. 
Bryan Robson has written off Manchester United’s chances of finishing in the top four, but the former captain insists the team should do everything they can to qualify for the Europa League. “We need that safety net of making sure we finish high enough in the Premier League to qualify for Europe. “In my opinion, people are wrong to dismiss the Europa League. “It is more or less a merger of the European Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Cup and I fondly remember beating Barcelona in the 1991 European Cup Winners’ Cup final. “That was a fantastic night and the memory will never leave me. For me, as a former player, it would be a great achievement to win the Europa League.” Robson, who now works as an ambassador for the club, admits United have been short on self-belief at times this season. “Confidence is a massive factor in football,” he said. “I know that from my time as a player and I have seen it first hand when I have been a coach. “When you’re down at the bottom fighting against relegation, players lose confidence and it’s clearly also hard when they have been so used to success and have found it harder to come by – as has been the case at Manchester United during this Premier League season. “Some of our displays have lacked the confidence we had become so used to seeing, but it can and will return.” The Scot is refusing to give up until United are mathematically out of the equation, but Robson does not share the United manager’s optimism. “After losing to Liverpool recently, I think the chance of Champions League qualification has gone,” the ex-skipper said in Tuesday’s United Review. Should United not make it into the top four or win the competition – which appears unlikely as they have Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, it will be the first time the club has not qualified in 19 years. Indeed United, who are seventh in the Barclays Premier League, have a big task on their hands if they are to make it into the hat for the Europa League. United are five points behind sixth-placed Tottenham, who have played one more game and sit one point behind Everton, who are serious challengers to Arsenal for the final Champions League spot. If United end the season seventh, the only way they will qualify for the Europa League is if Arsenal finish fifth and win the FA Cup. Robson, unlike many, is a fan of the Europa League and he hopes United qualify for Europe’s secondary club competition. “We have to try to make sure we finish above Tottenham Hotspur and Everton in the table,” said Robson, who made 461 appearances in 13 years at the club. United fell 12 points behind fourth-placed Arsenal on Tuesday after their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at Old Trafford. The fact that one bookmaker is offering 80-1 on United bridging that gap by the end of the season shows just how huge a task Moyes has ahead of him in the remaining seven games. Press Association
Beating the crap out of Michigan will never get old.I now know how the barbarians must have felt when Rome was finally sacked. Like Rich Rodriguez, Romulus Augustus was probably bitching about holding calls as his troops were getting steamrolled.And dominating the Wolverines is just the latest of accomplishments for Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema.In a season that can largely be viewed as a success, Bielema has managed to keep Paul Bunyan’s Axe in Madison for the sixth year in a row, produce another dominating young Wisconsin running back and he taught the defense to tackle — something he forgot to do in 2008. Not to mention he has the fans feeling good about the team instead of calling for his head for the first time since 2006.With a Badger win Saturday and an Ohio State loss, Wisconsin would grab a share of the Big Ten title — something they haven’t managed in a decade.Most importantly, the Badgers washed the Fleischmann’s-esque taste from their mouth when they embarrassed UM in the second half last Saturday. And I mean, I thought Tate Forcier might cry embarrassed.A smile of relief was spread across almost every player’s face after that game. The 2008 season — and all of the frustration that came with it — could finally be put to bed.I could go on in this vein for 600 more words, but unfortunately, Ebenezer Scrooge is my great-great Grampy and I have a little greed in my body.Despite all of these decent accomplishments, the 2009 season will be remembered as the “what if” year for me.As in, what if the Badgers had managed to beat a mediocre Ohio State team for the first time under Bielema?What if junior quarterback Scott Tolzien hadn’t summoned his inner Jay Cutler, throwing two pick-sixes that drove this alcoholic state to drink even more?What if Bielema had hired/delegated a special teams coach, preventing the game from getting out of hand when OSU took a kickoff to the house?Perhaps I should just be happy 2009 wasn’t a repeat of 2008, but Ohio State and their overrated quarterback keep popping up in my mind.To recap for those who have forgotten:UW lost 31-13 at the Horseshoe despite doubling OSU’s total yardage 368-184.The Badgers moved the chains 22 times in the game. The Buckeyes managed eight first downs.Wisconsin held the ball for 42:47. Terrelle Pryor and Ohio State’s offensive offense embarrassed themselves for 17:13.And despite all of that, not only did the Badgers lose, they got blown out.I may be imagining it, but I’m pretty sure Bielema started his post game press conference by saying, “WTF?”The ramifications for this head-scratching loss were huge.As we can now see, the Buckeyes might be the most mediocre Big Ten champion of all time. They lost at home to a USC team starting a freshman quarterback. That same Trojan team just dropped their third game of the year 55-21 to Stanford last weekend.Ohio State then proceeded to lose to Purdue. I was going to make a joke involving PETA members, Michael Vick and Wisconsin thrashing Purdue 37-0, but the Boilermakers have suffered enough, haven’t they?All the stars had lined up correctly this season for the Badgers. UW had an easy schedule, skipping Penn State and hosting Michigan at Camp Randall. The Big Ten is experiencing a down cycle, or at the least a mediocre cycle where no team has stood out as dominant. The title was Wisconsin’s for the taking.The answers to this “what if” is pretty simple.Simply by beating a team 21 starters clearly outplayed, UW would be in the lead seat for a Big Ten conference title and a Rose Bowl reservation — a chance that doesn’t come around Madison all that often.Instead, the two pick-sixes caused Tolzien to lose confidence, and his slide continued with a three-interception game against Iowa.Even with the iron-clad “1-0” mindset Bielema instills, Tolzien has thought about the OSU game a little.“During the bye week I kind of thought [what if],” Tolzien said. “At this point, I’m sure at the end of the season I will be feeling that way, but right now you just got to focus on the next opponent, not let that stuff affect you.”During the offseason, Tolzien will probably come to these conclusions:A good season could have been a great one… but he threw two pick-sixes.Bielema could have shut up his critics permanently… but his special teams gave up a back-breaking touchdown that put the game out of reach.And finally, what ifs will haunt you… so don’t mess it up next time.Michael is a senior majoring in journalism. Think he is focusing too much on Tolzien’s interceptions? Think he demands too much? He can be reached at mbleach@badgerherald.com.
After winning the Pac-12 Conference in 2012 and 2013, the Women of Troy look to add on another championship this year. They have been competing in the ITF Pro Circuit tournament in Las Vegas.The ITF Las Vegas is an annual tournament held at the Red Rock Country Club and begins with over 200 talented women’s tennis players from across the globe. Six Women of Troy competed in the tournament.Freshmen Rianna Valdes and Jessica Failla, sophomore Gabby Smith and senior Giuliana Olmos won in the first round of qualifying, but all four of the women lost in hard-fought battles in the second round. Valdes and Olmos each lost in straight sets while Failla and Smith each fell after two sets.The tournament was excellent practice for the upcoming season this spring. The Women of Troy hope to take this loss and learn from it, so when spring comes they are ready to beat any school that stands in their way.This week did have some good news for the women’s tennis team, however. Former Trojan tennis player Zoë Scandalis was named one of nine finalists for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. This is an elite award that goes to a former college athlete that made significant acheivements on and off the court. Scandalis, who graduated last spring, was a two-time All American and made four appearances in the NCAA tournament. The winner of this prestigious award will be announced in Indianapolis on Oct. 18.