Swansea City 0-3 Arsenal

Arsenal kept up the pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester City with a ruthless second-half dismantling of Swansea City. 

Swansea's Bafetimbi Gomis squandered the best chance of an entertaining but goalless first half.

Olivier Giroud headed Arsenal in front soon after the restart, before Laurent Koscielny seized on an error by former Gunners goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski to double their lead.

Joel Campbell struck on his first Premier League start to seal victory and keep Arsenal, missing several key players because of injury, level on points with Manchester City, who have a superior goal difference.

For Swansea, the result is a setback after ending a six-game winless run against Aston Villa in their previous outing.

Are Arsenal title contenders?

                He did not manage to score but Mesut Ozil was at the heart of Arsenal's best moves, as his touch map illustrates 

Having had to withstand concerted Swansea pressure in the first half, Arsenal were transformed after the interval as they strolled to a convincing victory.

They had failed to win any of their previous three meetings with the Swans, but Arsene Wenger's side produced a clinical second 45 minutes which suggested they could sustain a serious title challenge.

France international Giroud made the breakthrough with his fifth goal in six games for club and country, nodding in unmarked from Mesut Ozil's corner to score the 2,000th goal of Wenger's Arsenal tenure.

If Swansea's defending was slack on that occasion, it was found wanting again as Fabianski spilled a looping ball into the path of Koscielny, who had the simple task of tapping into an empty net.

 

Gunners coping with casualties

Arsenal's second-half stroll was particularly impressive considering Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott were added to their growing injury list during Tuesday's abject 3-0 League Cup defeat by Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.

 
The shock of that loss was particularly jolting, coming as it did after victories over Everton and Bayern Munich.

But the pain of defeat was perhaps less severe than the headache caused by those injuries, with Aaron Ramsey, Mikel Arteta, David Ospina, Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky already out.

Their absence paved the way for Campbell's first Premier League start, and the Costa Rican took his opportunity as he fired in firmly from Ozil's cross to add a final gloss to Arsenal's victory.

 

 

Goalless Gomis a worry for Swansea

Gomis scored the winner on both occasions as Swansea did the double over Arsenal last season - but he is currently in the midst of a barren spell.

The Fance international striker had failed to score in his previous six Premier League appearances, and his loss of confidence was evident as he missed a glorious opportunity midway through the first half.

Clean through after an incisive through ball from Jonjo Shelvey, Gomis hesitantly took the ball around Petr Cech and fell under the pressure of the goalkeeper's sliding challenge, appealing in vain for a penalty as Hector Bellerin cleared.

 

 

Man of the match - Mesut Ozil

 

After a quiet first half, Ozil embodied Arsenal's second-half resurgence as he burst into life with the assists for their first and third goals

 

 

What they said

Swansea City manager Garry Monk: "There were a lot of positives in our play and we were exceptional in the first half. We should have taken the lead when we were on top.

"We gifted them two goals and you can't do that against any team, let alone Arsenal. I'm disappointed to lose, but I think the scoreline flatters Arsenal."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "Swansea took six points off us last year and that shows we've moved forward. The second half we were a different team.

"After we scored the first goal, it was all us and there was only one winner on the pitch.

 Joel Campbell took his goal really well and he is still a young player who had to wait for his chance.

"He's adapted to Europe, been in a few leagues and come back and I like his team spirit and work rate."

 

 

What next?

Arsenal will not have much time to celebrate this result ahead of a huge week for them. They travel to Germany for Tuesday's crucial Champions League game at Bayern Munich, then host Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby at Emirates Stadium on 8 November.

Swansea will hope to get back to winning way when they face Norwich City at Carrow Road in the Premier League on 7 November.




Shaw Post believes that Arsene Wenger will be very happy with the way his Arsenal side showed patience and grit to have an amazing second half performance in which they ending up running out 3-0 winners.

It was great to see Olivier Giroud open the scoring the 49th minute, it was his six Arsenal goal in the last seven games. You can see that Giroud's confidence is flowing back with every game.

Koscielny then doubled the lead in the 68th minute with a neat finish from a goalkeeping error from Ex Arsenal keeper Lukaz Fabianski. 

It was great to see Joel Campbell score his first Premier League goal for Arsenal to complete the 3-0 win. Hopefully Joel Campbell can play like he played today when they face Bayern Munich.

As for Swansea City their defensive errors handed Arsenal a rather straightforward victory. They will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they face Norwich City at Carrow Road on Saturday 7th November..

 

South Africa beat Argentina to finish third at Rugby World Cup

South Africa (16) 24

Tries: Pietersen, Etzebeth Con: Pollard Pens: Pollard 4

Argentina (0) 13

Try: Orlandi Con: Sanchez Pen: Sanchez Drop-goal: Sanchez

South Africa finished third at the World Cup as they eased past Argentina. 

A JP Pietersen try and Handre Pollard's boot gave South Africa a 16-0 half-time lead before Nicolas Sanchez finally got the Pumas on the scoreboard.

But Eben Etzebeth's try put the Boks out of sight and Juan Pablo Orlandi's late reply was little consolation.
 
The only disappointment for the Boks was that Bryan Habana was unable to claim the all-time World Cup try scoring record on his own.

    

Bryan Habana narrowly failed to become the World Cup's sole all-time top try scorer 

The 32-year-old winger came within inches of scoring in the first half, only to be denied by the fingertips of Argentina full-back Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino as they both chased a kick.

But with the record on his mind - he entered the game tied on 15 World Cup tries with New Zealand legend Jonah Lomu - he had a mixed game, and several spilled passes suggested it was not to be his night before he was taken off to a rapturous farewell from a packed Olympic Stadium with 15 minutes remaining.

 

 

Boks overpower Pumas

 

Bath flanker Francois Louw earned five turnovers against Argentina on Friday night

South Africa fielded a near first-choice XV and the power of their pack ultimately told in east London.

Argentina enjoyed the majority of the possession but they ran into an unbreachable wall, with giant lock Etzebeth adding a game-high 20 tackles to his try and fellow second row Victor Matfield - captaining the Boks in his last-ever Test - weighing in with 16 in his hour on the pitch.


With open-side flanker Francois Louw winning a remarkable five turnovers on his own, to add to a dozen tackles, Argentina were never able to reproduce their attacking fizz from earlier in the tournament.

A game too far for Argentina?

 

Argentina had most of the possession, but gave away 15 penalties to South Africa's 10

The Pumas, seeking to match their third-place finish in 2007, made nine changes as a result of injury and exhaustion, and they were unable to match the sheer physicality of the Boks.

They enjoyed the better of both territory and possession but with their pack out-gunned up front, dangerous runners such as Santiago Cordero and Horacio Agulla were never given a sniff of the Springbok tryline.

They made an impressive 564 metres as a team with ball in hand but were forced to attack from deep and every time they approached the South Africa 22 a thumping tackle or classy steal saw them repelled.

Match stats
South Africa		Argentina
35%	Possession	65%
37%	Territory	63%
4 (0)	Scrums won (lost)	5 (1)
15 (1)	Line-outs won (lost)	13 (1)
10	Pens conceded	15
63 (4)	Rucks won (lost)	137 (7)
36	Kicks from hand	25
180 (32)	Tackles made (missed)	100 (17)
405	Metres made	564
6	Offloads	14
7	Line breaks	7

What they said

South Africa captain Victor Matfield, who is retiring from international rugby: "We would loved to have played in the final tomorrow but unfortunately things didn't go our way.
"We have a lot of respect for Argentina. A bronze medal is better than fourth place.
"I'm just so relieved we won the game. We'll have a beer with Schalk Burger and the guys I've spent so much of my life with."

Pakistan v England: Tourists lose despite Adil Rashid rearguard

Second Test, Dubai, day five

Pakistan 378 & 354-6 dec

England 242 & 312: Root 71, Rashid 61; Yasir 4-87, Babar 3-53

Pakistan won by 178 runs

England lost the second Test against Pakistan by 178 runs despite a valiant rearguard led by Adil Rashid. 

Resuming on 130-3 and needing to survive the final day in Dubai to earn a draw, the tourists were bowled out for 312 with only 6.3 overs remaining.

Rashid was last out for 61, while Stuart Broad made 30 and Mark Wood 29 after Joe Root fell for 71.
Yasir Shah took 4-87 and fellow spinner Zulfiqar Babar 3-53 for Pakistan, who lead 1-0 in the three-match series.

The final Test in Sharjah starts on 1 November.

England can take great credit for the character demonstrated in posting their highest fourth-innings total in Asia on a wearing pitch.

But they will surely reflect on the first-innings collapse from 206-3 to 242 all out, which effectively cost them this match.

Adil Rashid took 5-64 in the first Test and scored his maiden Test fifty in the second

 

Rashid makes amends

 Caught off an ugly slog for a second-ball duck in the first innings, Rashid - playing only his second Test - batted with immense composure during a 172-ball knock spanning four hours.

His technique against the spinners was exemplary, combining positive footwork, a straight bat and wonderfully soft hands until he drove Yasir to short cover to spark wild Pakistan celebrations.

From a seemingly perilous 193-7, he added 60 with Broad and 55 in 29.2 overs with Wood, the highest ninth-wicket stand in a fourth innings in Test history.

Broad made a sprightly 30 before being cleaned up by an inswinging Wahab Riaz yorker, and Wood played with composure belying his position at number 10 as he survived 95 deliveries.

After Wood edged left-armer Babar to Mohammad Hafeez at second slip not long into the final hour of play, England's hopes rested with Rashid and James Anderson.

Pakistan feared their chance had gone when Anderson was dropped by Asad Shafiq at short leg, but a rare moment of ill-discipline from Rashid in the next over gifted Babar a straightforward catch.

Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott told BBC Test Match Special: "Do you blame him? Yes, it was a poor shot - but no, because he played splendidly in his second Test."

                                            Stuart Broad hit four fours in his 42-ball 30

 

 

England show their spirit

Rashid's stubbornness typified England's approach on a tense final day.

Although their hopes of salvaging an unlikely draw faded when Root edged Babar to slip less than an hour into play, Jonny Bairstow spent 86 balls making 22, only to be bowled playing across a Yasir googly.

After Jos Buttler fell to wonderful leg-break from Yasir, Ben Stokes' 13 occupied 66 deliveries and spanned almost an hour and a half before Imran Khan located his outside edge.

Rashid and Broad's response was admirable, but the consistent threat posed by Yasir eventually proved too much even for Rashid to repel.

 

 

The rearguard in numbers

• England's fourth-innings total was their highest in Asia, beating the 285-7 made against Sri Lanka at Kandy in 2003 
• Adil Rashid and Stuart Broad added 60, a record for England's eighth wicket in Asia 
• Rashid and Mark Wood's 196-ball ninth-wicket stand was the longest in the fourth innings of a Test, beating Frank Woolley and Alf 'Tich' Freeman's 173-ball partnership for England against Australia at Sydney in 1924
• It was only the third time England have managed a half-century partnership for the ninth wicket in the fourth innings
• Rashid, Broad, Wood and James Anderson faced a combined total of 322 balls, a record for the last four batsmen in the fourth innings of a Test

                           Younus Khan took four catches in the innings and five in the match

 

 

'The first innings cost England the game'

England can trace defeat in this match to Saturday's collapse, when they lose seven wickets for 36 runs and conceded a first-innings deficit of 136.

"In these conditions you can't afford those two or three hours," said captain Alastair Cook.
 
Former England captain Michael Vaughan told TMS: "This isn't the time to judge. The time to judge was that collapse on the third morning. That was the game."

Ex-England spinner Phil Tufnell added: "This England side have got bags of character - they've just got a blunder in them. That massive third day was that blunder."

It was telling that left-arm Pakistan pace bowler Wahab Riaz, who instigated that collapse en route to figures of 4-66, was named man of the match.

Matt Prior reflects on England's batting on Saturday

 

The curious case of Cook's injury

On Sunday, England assistant coach Paul Farbrace claimed a limping Alastair Cook was "fine" despite the skipper's obvious discomfort when running between the wickets.

Come Monday morning, England confirmed Cook was suffering from "right groin tightness", although they said they were "not concerned" about his availability for the final Test.

Vaughan said: "This England set-up have been a breath of fresh air how we deal with things, but last night I didn't quite get it.

"It was very obvious that Alastair Cook couldn't run - it was a real problem. So to come out yesterday and say it wasn't a problem was just silly."

                                                    Arsenal 2 - 1 Everton

 Laurent Koscielny celebrates scoring Arsenal's second

Arsenal moved one point clear at the top of the Premier League as Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny's headers overcame Everton. 

After a cagey opening, the Gunners went ahead as Giroud met Mesut Ozil's floated cross with a deft touch.

Koscielny doubled the lead two minutes later from Santi Cazorla's ball in.

Ross Barkley's deflected shot brought Everton back into it, but Romelu Lukaku wasted an excellent, if rare, chance to level as he headed against the bar.

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech denied Gerard Deulofeu late on, but the hosts also had their chances to make the scoreline more comfortable.

Everton's miserable evening was compounded by Gareth Barry's injury-time dismissal as he picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Kieran Gibbs.

Same old Arsenal

Ozil and Giroud were the scorers in Arsenal's Champions League win over Bayern Munich on Tuesday and the two combined brilliantly to break the deadlock after an even opening half hour.

But Arsenal's fourth successive win was secured in more conventional fashion than their third.

While the Gunners were penned back and starved of the ball against the Bavarians in midweek, they enjoyed 57% possession and regularly carved through Everton in an ultimately fruitless search for a third.

Giroud and Ozil both hit the woodwork in the second half, with the latter sparkling with invention in a floating role behind the main striker.

Ozil was ably abetted by Santi Cazorla who roamed upfield from his deep-lying position to prompt and probe as Francis Coquelin held his position behind him in midfield.



Managers's Reaction 

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "At 2-1 we became a bit edgy. We gave a lot on Tuesday night (against Bayern Munich) and I thought it showed in the last 20 minutes. We couldn't score the third goal and Everton had chances - it could have gone both ways.

"When you win such a big game like they did on Tuesday it shows a lot about the mentality of your team. That’s why I'm very proud of my team because they’ve shown the ability to refocus.

"We have a lot of questions about our strikers but Theo Walcott is outstanding and Olivier Giroud is outstanding at the moment.

"We'll keep our humility and our desire to grow. We lost our first game of the season at the Emirates and no one would say we would be top of the table after that."

Everton manager Roberto Martinez: "I thought we shot ourselves in the foot in giving away such an easy two-goal lead. Arsenal were not creating any real threat. But I very much enjoyed the reaction - the personality and desire of wanting to get back.

"There's two important moments in the second half Petr Chech makes a save and Romelu Lukaku heads against the crossbar. There are many positives but clearly on the other side is giving up a soft two-goal lead.

"We're very concerned about Phil Jagielka. It's a knee injury - we don’t the extent of it, but that's the biggest negative today."

Player Reaction

Arsenal's opening scorer Olivier Giroud reacts to the win: "When we are attacking we need to finish the action. We knew they played wll on the break and we were aware but their goal was a bit lucky because it deflected. It's nice to win this kind of game after a Champions League game.

On being chosen ahead of Theo Walcott: "The main thing is the team is doing well. That's the best thing for me. As long as we are winning I am pleased with that. Me and Theo have a good understanding. He was in good form, now it's me, so we try and bring our small cam to the big machine."

Shaw Post  believes that Arsenal will be very happy with their performance today as they started brightly in the first half but had to be patient until the 36th minute as Everton also fought very well in a very even thirty minutes. 

Then Olivier Giroud broke the deadlock as he rose in the 36th minute to meet a perfect cross by Mesut Ozil to put Arsenal 1-0 up.

Fifty second's later Arsenal were 2-0 up as perfect free kick by Santi Cazorla saw Koscielny rise to head Arsenal 2-0 up.

Everton fought back just before half time to half the deficit as  Ross Barkley brought Everton back into it via a deflected shot which went in off Gabriel Paulista leg.

Both teams came out in the second half looking for way to win the game. They both had chances but Arsenal held on to win 2-1.

Perhaps life could have been easier for The Gunners if Giroud scored in the second half as he came mighty close to doing so as his shot hit the crossbar.

It was a great win for Arsenal in the end as they showed no complacency to win 2-1 in style to top the Barclays Premiership for the first time since February 9th 2014.

As for Everton it is now 22 meetings and more than 19 years since Everton won away at Arsenal.

In more recent history, Roberto Martinez's side were fifth in the table after their win over West Brom at the end of September.
 
They have picked up one point from three matches since to slide back to 10th. 

There are also problems for the future after captain Phil Jagielka limped off with an apparent knee injury after an innocuous challenge with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The travelling Toffees fans faced a race across London on the final whistle after the last train back to Liverpool - the 21:30 from Euston - was cancelled. The home fans greeted news of the altered timetable with loud cheers.

Pakistan v England: Wahab Riaz and Misbah ul-Haq destroy tourists

Second Test, Dubai, day three

Pakistan 378 & 222-3: Misbah 87*, Younus 71*

England 242: Root 88, Cook 65, Wahab 4-66, Yasir 4-93

Pakistan lead by 358 runs

England require their best-ever fourth-innings run chase to beat Pakistan in the second Test after a dire third day. 

Resuming in a strong position at 182-3, the tourists were bundled out for 242 in a dreadful morning session in Dubai.

Joe Root, Ben Stokes and the out-of-form Jos Buttler fell victim to Wahab Riaz's pace, before Yasir Shah's leg spin bamboozled the lower order.

By the close, Pakistan reached 222-3, a lead of 358 runs, with Misbah ul-Haq 87 not out and Younus Khan 71 not out.

After coming so close to winning the first Test, and contesting the first two days of this match fiercely, this was a hugely disappointing day for the tourists - and one that seriously imperils their chances of getting a result in this series.

Alastair Cook's men will have to hope they can dismiss the hosts quickly on day four, then set about a huge run chase - but their chances of avoiding defeat on a turning fourth-innings track with the wily Yasir in operation appear slim.

 

Pakistan duo exploit England weaknesses

                                        Yasir Shah finished with figures of 4-93

England's chances of getting close to, or even overhauling, Pakistan's first-innings total of 378 were always likely to depend on the influential Root - unbeaten on 76 overnight.

But the day got off to the worst possible when the Yorkshire batsman swished at a wide delivery from Wahab and was caught behind for 88.

From then on, England's increasing over-reliance on Root and Cook was horribly exposed as the remaining six wickets tumbled for only 30 runs.

Wahab, bowling with real hostility to exploit England's uncertainty against genuine pace, had Stokes (4) and Buttler (0) caught behind in quick succession in a superb spell of 3-15 in nine overs.
Then it was over to Yasir - bowling in tandem with Wahab for the first 18 overs of the day - who justified his status as the world's top-ranked spin bowler  with a display of high-class leg-spin.

Memories of England's awful performances against spin on their last tour of the UAE were revived as Adil Rashid (0), Jonny Bairstow (46) and Mark Wood (1) all perished with poor shots to Yasir.

 

 

Misbah frustrates England again

During his innings, Misbah set a new record for Test sixes by a Pakistani batsman - he now has 64

After conceding a first-innings lead of 136, England desperately needed early wickets, and their seamers got two quick breakthroughs.

James Anderson dismissed Shan Masood (1) for the fourth time in the series before Shoaib Malik (7) was bowled trying to drive Mark Wood.

But England could not capitalise on that good start as their spinners struggled.

Mohammad Hafeez smashed Moeen Ali and Root for sixes before he was caught at slip off Wood for 51.

That brought first-innings centurion Misbah to the crease with Younus - a partnership with a combined age of 78 and one that has thwarted England throughout this series.

Playing cautiously against the seamers and looking to dominate the spinners, the duo - who have now put on a fifty partnership in nine out of the last 10 occasions they have been at the crease together - batted England further and further out of contention.

To win, the tourists will have to surpass the highest-ever fourth-innings chase at Dubai - 137 - and record at least the fifth-highest run-chase this century.

England's highest successful run chases
332-7 v Australia, Melbourne, 1928-29
315-4 v Australia, Headingley, 2001
307-5 v New Zealand, Christchurch, 1997

 

Buttler misery continues

While Stokes is averaging just 24 since the start of the Ashes and Bairstow remains without a Test century, it is the form of Buttler that is the biggest concern in England's malfunctioning middle order.
The wicketkeeper - whose average after his first eight Tests was 52.67 - is averaging just 13.55 in his last seven matches against Australia and Pakistan, with 149 runs in 11 innings.

"Buttler's numbers are not good," said former England batsman Michael Vaughan on Test Match Special. "He's got a huge problem: he's not lining up the ball, he's playing it two feet away from his body."

In addition, even his usually reliable keeping faltered as he dropped a simple chance presented by Shan Masood off the bowling of Stuart Broad.

Bairstow is also capable of taking the gloves and James Taylor could replace Buttler in the middle order should England decide to change their side for the third Test in Sharjah.

 

Pakistan v England: Joe Root and Alastair Cook lead tourists' reply

Second Test, Dubai, day two

Pakistan 378: Misbah 102, Shafiq 83, Wood 3-39, Moeen 3-108

England 182-3: Root 76*, Cook 65

England trail by 196 runs

Joe Root and Alastair Cook hit fifties as England made a strong start to their first-innings reply in the second Test against Pakistan, closing on 182-3. 

Cook was caught for 65 but Root was unbeaten on 76 when bad light stopped play with the match evenly poised.

Earlier, the bowlers produced an excellent morning session in Dubai to reduce the hosts from a strong position of 282-4 overnight to 378 all out.

Mark Wood claimed two wickets to finish with 3-39, while Asad Shafiq hit 83.

Moeen Ali chipped in with two important wickets in the morning to record figures of 3-108 but he fared less well with the bat, caught at short leg for one in his second chance alongside Cook at the top of the order.

Under-pressure batsman Ian Bell followed soon after, out for four to leave England in trouble at 14-2, but after Cook and Root's fine rebuilding job, the tourists will be confident of challenging Pakistan's first-innings total.

The series is level at 0-0 after the first Test in Abu Dhabi was drawn.

 

 

 

Cook continues fine form

Alastair Cook is now the second top-scoring opening batsman of all time in Test cricket

England captain Cook looks to be back to his redoubtable best at the top of the order and he underlined his enduring class with another vital contribution.


In the week that he became the top-ranked opener in the ICC Test batting rankings,  Cook's knock was full of his characteristic virtues as a batsman - discipline, composure and obdurate defence - mixed with some expansive strokes as he looked to impose himself against the spinners.


But having brought up his 45th Test half-century, Cook would have been disappointed by the manner of his dismissal: lazily gliding a catch to leg slip off the bowling of Yasir Shah when he appeared set.


Root meanwhile is becoming England's man for a crisis, and after arriving at the crease with England in trouble, as he often did during the Ashes, he once again showed maturity to wrest back the initiative.

Playing with a typically assertive tempo - Root's Test strike rate in 2015 is 67 - he added 113 with Cook, before partnering Jonny Bairstow (27 not out) to see England through to the close.

 

Bell fails to quieten critics

While Cook and Root are increasingly crucial pillars of the England batting order, number three Bell remains under pressure after another unconvincing innings.

The 33-year-old right-hander pushed hesitantly at an away-swinging delivery from Imran Khan and was caught behind by Sarfraz Ahmed.

He now averages just 19 in his last 20 Test innings, with 14 scores of less than 15 in that time, although he scored 63 in the first Test.

"I would leave him out [for the next Test]," said former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott on Test Match Special. "You can't always live in the past. You have to find a settled batting unit."

 

Moeen and Wood impress with ball

 

         

 Wood only took one wicket in the first Test, but recorded the best figures of any England bowler in Pakistan's first innings in Dubai 

England began the day strongly, with Stuart Broad striking in the first over to dismiss Pakistan captain Misbah ul-Haq lbw for 102.

The hosts fought back strongly through Shafiq and Sarfraz, but it was Moeen who made the crucial breakthrough after drinks, having Sarfraz caught at mid-on for 32.

The off-spinner then accounted for Wahab Riaz, caught slogging wildly for 6, before Wood mopped up the tail.

The Durham seamer dismissed Zulfiqar Babar lbw for 3 and then induced Shafiq to hit a catch to short midwicket.

However, it is leg-spinner Adil Rashid who is the leading wicket-taker in the series, after he dismissed Yasir Shah to pick up his first first-innings Test wicket and take his tally to six.

 What they said

 
Former England captain Michael Vaughan on Test Match Special: "For a long time now, I don't feel that Ian Bell has any sort of control, certainly in the first 20 balls of his innings.

"His technique just isn't looking after him, at all. If you take Edgbaston last summer out of it, when he smashed a few at number three, it's a while since we've felt comfortable about Bell. Tim Southee had him with little outswingers, so did the Australians and now it's happening against Pakistan. He has to iron out his technical problems."


Geoffrey Boycott: "It's fairly even stevens as I'm not sure what's going to happen tomorrow. Shafiq played very well, he was the quality player for Pakistan but he couldn't get them above 378 all out. I always say Moeen Ali's an ordinary bowler but he gets wickets which is a wonderful gift to have."

 

 

Pakistan v England: Misbah-ul-Haq century frustrates tourists

Second Test, Dubai, day one

Pakistan 282-4: Misbah 102*, Younus 56

England: Yet to bat

A hundred from Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq seized the initiative after England threatened to take control of the second Test on day one in Dubai. 

Misbah, 41, hit two sixes off Moeen Ali's final over of the day to reach 102 and take Pakistan to 282-4.

A disciplined bowling performance had earlier seen Pakistan reduced to 178-4.

James Anderson, Moeen, Mark Wood and Ben Stokes took a wicket each, while Shan Masood (54) and Younus Khan (56) made half-centuries.

England can be pleased with their effort on a surface that holds few problems for batsmen, but one that has offered more encouragement for the pace bowlers than the drawn first Test in Abu Dhabi.
 
And even if Pakistan threatened to waste the advantage of batting first, Misbah put them in the stronger position, especially with fit-again leg-spinner Yasir Shah likely to bowl last on a wicket that is set to turn.

 

Misbah makes his stand

Misbah averages more than 57 with the bat as Pakistan captain, but may have felt in debt to his side after a rash stroke in the first Test sparked a collapse that set up England's unlikely push for victory.

He initially looked uncomfortable against England's pace bowlers and was hit on the head by a Wood bouncer, as well as edging Stokes just short of the slips.

But he swept the spin of Moeen and Adil Rashid with aplomb as well as hitting the inconsistent Rashid for three straight sixes.

Beginning the final over of the day on 87, he twice hit Moeen over the leg-side rope to move to 99, with a reverse sweep making him the oldest Test centurion since Australian Bobby Simpson in 1978.

 

 

England pacers impress

Just as they did in Dubai, England's quartet of pace bowlers impressed with both a constant wicket threat and the ability to keep Pakistan's batsmen in check.

After Moeen had opener Mohammad Hafeez loop an inside-edge to short leg, Stokes got Shoaib Malik to push in the same direction, where Jonny Bairstow took a brilliant one-handed catch to grab a rebound off his own chest.

Anderson rolled his fingers over an off-cutter from the very first delivery after lunch to have Masood poking behind, while Stokes and Wood caused problems during a fourth-wicket stand of 93 between Misbah and Younus.

Stokes, described as "not 100% fit" by captain Alastair Cook following a stomach virus, found reverse swing in the air and movement off the seam, while the hostile Wood was eventually rewarded when Younus was caught down the leg side.

 

 

Pakistan fail to capitalise

Pakistan's could have been in a stronger position had Masood or Younus kicked on from solid starts.
Opener Masood, who made two and one in the first Test, looked much more fluent for his 54, but needlessly followed Anderson's first delivery after lunch.

Younus was rarely troubled, but his shuffling technique would be his undoing when he got too far across his stumps and feathered through to Jos Buttler.

At that point, England had hope of making deep inroads, but Asad Shafiq's composed unbeaten 46 accompanied Misbah to the close in a stand of 104 that brought 42 runs from 10 overs with the second new ball.

 

What they said

Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott on Test Match Special: "Misbah is an odd sort of player. He defends well, but he obviously likes the spinners. He'll defend one or two, then he whacks it out of the park.

"I wouldn't say the ball was doing anything, but Pakistan kept playing and missing, giving England a chance. When they did nick one, it went down, it never went to hand."

England pace bowler Mark Wood: "If we could have had one more wicket, we'd have said it was a really good day.

"At number eight they've got a bowler, so if we can get into them early doors tomorrow, then hopefully we can knock over the tail pretty quickly.

"The wicket was probably easier to score on than Abu Dhabi, a bit more skiddy, which suits my type of bowling. But all in all, it's a better pitch to bat on."

 Arsenal 2 - 0 Bayern Munich

 

Arsenal revived their Champions League hopes in thrilling fashion with a crucial victory over Bayern Munich at Emirates Stadium. 

The Gunners' hopes of reaching the knockout phase were in serious jeopardy after they lost their opening two games away to Dinamo Zagreb and at home to Olympiakos.

Arsene Wenger's side responded by beating Pep Guardiola's Bayern - clear favourites to win Group F - and make a nonsense of those dismal earlier performances.

Bayern dominated possession but Arsenal dug out the win that keeps their hopes alive when substitute Olivier Giroud bundled home from close range in the 77th minute after goalkeeper Manuel Neuer made a rare error as he missed Santi Cazorla's free-kick.

The win was secured in the dying seconds when Mesut Ozil turned in Hector Bellerin's cross, Neuer clawing the ball out only for the officials to adjudge it had crossed the line.

Arsenal were indebted to keeper Petr Cech, restored after replacement David Ospina's mistake in the defeat by Olympiakos, saving superbly from Thiago Alcantara and Arturo Vidal.

Neuer also excelled before his mistake, particularly with a sensational save from Theo Walcott's first-half header.

The faces of Manuel Neuer

Manuel Neuer made four saves in the first half, the best a one-handed stop to deny Theo Walcott 

Neuer is widely regarded as the world's best - but it was a mixed night for Germany's World Cup winner.

He produced a save only the greats can contemplate when clawing out Walcott's close-range header in the first half when a goal seemed certain.

Could Walcott's header have been directed better?

Did he give Neuer just that slight chance of making a save that the best will always take advantage of?

Yes, but it was still a monument to reflexes, agility and technique as Neuer left Walcott dumbfounded, as well as Aaron Ramsey, who had already turned to celebrate a goal.

Neuer, however, proved he was fallible as Arsenal took the lead, making an ungainly dash from goal and flapping hopelessly at Cazorla's cross to allow Giroud to scramble home with a hint of handball.
It happens to the best - and it may just have saved Arsenal's Champions League campaign.

Shaw Post believes that Arsene Wenger will be very happy at how his Arsenal side played today as they defied all the odds to score two quality counter attacking goals late on in the second half to win 2-0 against an amazing Bayern Munich side. 
 

Perhaps this result will give Arsenal the belief that they can really kick start their Champions League revival by going to Munich and beating Bayern Munich to go level on points with them with two games remaining.

After Arsenal face Bayern Munich they welcome Dinamo Zagreb to the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday 24th November before travelling to face Olympiacos on Wednesday 9th December.

 For Arsenal to advance into the Last 16 they will need to get at least 10 points which means they have to draw against Bayern Munich and win their remaining two games. It's difficult but not impossible just remember the 2004 season when Arsenal had 1 point from three group matches and then won the remaining three to go through.
 

As for Bayern Munich they will be very unhappy that they couldn't win tonight but they were up against one of the best goalkeepers in the world in Petr Cech. They will want to bounce back in the return match on the  4th of  November.

 

Pakistan v England: tourists fall short in agonising draw

First Test, Abu Dhabi, day five

Pakistan 523-8 dec & 173: Misbah 51, Younis 45, Rashid 5-64

England 598-9 dec & 74-4: Root 33*

Match drawn

England had to settle for a draw after an extraordinary final session on the fifth day of the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi. 

Pakistan seemed to be cruising to a draw before debutant Adil Rashid - who returned 0-163 in the first innings - turned the match with five wickets.

Needing 99 to win, England sent out Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes in the top four.

But they were eventually beaten by the fading light, finishing 25 runs short of a famous victory on 74-4.

The tourists could not find the boundary frequently enough before the umpires brought the teams off, with Joe Root 33 not out.

However, this was a hugely impressive performance from England and one that will fill them with confidence ahead of the second Test in Dubai, which begins on Thursday.

Rampant Rashid sets up mad final hour

Adil Rashid became the first ever bowler to concede 100 wicketless runs in the first innings on Test debut, then take a five-for in the second 

After England concluded their innings on 598-9 in the morning, Pakistan looked assured at 113-3 shortly after tea, leading by 38 with seven second-innings wickets remaining.

But the match turned when veteran batsman Younis Khan, playing in his 102nd Test match, mistimed a wild heave to give Rashid his first Test wicket - caught at point by Stokes.

Rashid - whose figures in the first innings were the worst ever by a debutant - then quickly added a second victim, having Asad Shafiq caught behind for six.

The door was opened for England, and Rashid and Moeen Ali barged through it as they polished off the last five wickets for 14 runs.

Pakistan skipper Misbah ul-Haq - who had played with restraint for his 51 - inexplicably aimed an uncharacteristic slog at Moeen and was bowled.

Moeen then removed Wahab Riaz caught behind, before Rashid claimed the final three wickets - all superbly caught at first slip by James Anderson.

 

 

England left to rue mistakes

 

Ian Bell's drop of Asad Shafiq proved costly as the right-hander added 97 extra runs in the first innings 

England sensed an unlikely victory, but their reorganised batting order could not score quickly enough as Pakistan's tactic of spin from both ends and fielders on the boundary brought them regular wickets.

Makeshift opener Buttler was trapped lbw for four, Moeen and Stokes were caught on the boundary in quick succession, and Jonny Bairstow was stumped attempting a big shot.

However, in truth it was mistakes earlier in the match that ultimately proved more costly as England fell just short of their first win on the subcontinent since beating India in Kolkata in 2012.

In Pakistan's first innings, Ian Bell dropped Mohammad Hafeez (98) and Shafiq (107) at slip early in their innings.


And Shoaib Malik, who made 245, was dismissed off a no-ball by Stuart Broad.

 

 

 

Cook frustrated by 'bittersweet finish'

 

England captain Alastair Cook, whose record-breaking 263 in the first innings was ultimately in vain, admitted England were frustrated to come so close to victory.

"We'd have liked another three or four overs at the end but that's the way it goes," he said. "I can't fault the guys for hanging in there on that wicket.

"The pitch did deteriorate and spun more today which gave us hope, so it's a bit of a bittersweet finish.

We knew we had to put the pressure on Pakistan and then on the last day you never know.

"We played a good game and so did Pakistan. They were a bit sloppy today and we put them under pressure.

"It was brilliant from Adil Rashid who I think got some unfair criticism after the first innings. He's a very fine bowler."

 

Much-improved away display augurs well

Overall this was a vastly improved overseas display from England, who were whitewashed 3-0 on their last tour of the United Arab Emirates and have not won any of their last three away series.

In contrast to their limp displays with the bat in the 2012 series against Pakistan and more recent overseas disappointments in Australia and West Indies, England's victory charge was built on a superb total of 598-9 declared in their first innings.

Resuming on 569-8, England added 29 quick runs in the morning session, with Rashid out for 12 in his maiden Test innings.

                                  Alastair Cook batted for 836 minutes for 263 

But the innings hinged on Cook's magnificent 263, the longest-ever innings by an Englishman, compiled over days two, three and four.

England's pace bowlers also showed that they could be threatening on the dusty, spin-friendly tracks of the UAE, with Ben Stokes taking 4-57 in the first innings and Anderson also taking four wickets over the course of the match.

With England's new-look opening partnership of Cook and Moeen adding 113 for the first wicket in the first innings, and the under-pressure Bell scoring a half-century at number three,

England will head to Dubai knowing that many parts of their team are in good working order.

 

 

What they said

Former England captain Michael Vaughan: "Many people will be watching and listening and wondering why they can't continue and I agree with them. This goes back to last night when they came off and you wonder was there a real threat to the players then. It shouldn't take the shine off what has been a good day from England and Adil Rashid."

 



Former England spinner Graeme Swann: "I am proud of the way England played. The only way they were going to win this game was to persevere and stick it at - and they did that even though they didn't get the result in the end.

"I'm really pleased for Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali who copped a load of stick in the first innings. I don't buy into the Pakistan time-wasting because anyone in their shoes would do the same."

 

 

What you said

Richard Oelmann: Umpires had no choice with current rules - Rules need changing though. England would have done the same as Pakistan if positions reversed.

Chris Tudor: England have been 'saved by the bell' loads of times. No-one complained when play stopped at EXACTLY 6:30pm at Cardiff in 2009.

Jonathan Wilson: England robbed. Cook out off a no ball delayed things. Lbw in Pakistan inns not given. England win if these called correctly.

Rachel T: England will take huge heart from being within an ace of winning, having been almost written off beforehand.

Flemming Jensen: Get rid of the light meter. Also, Pakistan being allowed to meander along at an over rate of less than 12 is an utter disgrace.

 

Pakistan v England: Alastair Cook hits 263 as England take lead

First Test, Abu Dhabi, day four

Pakistan 523-8 dec: Malik 245, Shafiq 107; Stokes 4-57

England 569-8: Cook 263, Root 85, Bell 63

England lead by 46 runs

A superb double century from captain Alastair Cook saw England to 569-8, a lead of 46 runs, at the end of day four of the first Test against Pakistan. 

Cook batted for 836 minutes in Abu Dhabi for his 263 - the third-longest innings by time in Test history, and the longest ever by an Englishman.

Joe Root made 85 and Ben Stokes hit 57 as Pakistan's bowlers toiled.

With two wickets remaining and England's first-innings lead slim, a draw remains the most likely result.

Cook eventually fell to off-spinner Shoaib Malik - himself a double centurion in the match - when he was caught at short fine leg sweeping.

 

 

Cook's epic knock

The 30-year-old began the day on 168 and might have been dismissed only five runs later, when he inside-edged a delivery from Imran Khan and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed dropped a difficult chance.

But thereafter the England skipper combined superbly with Root in a morning of trouble-free accumulation.

He moved to his double hundred - the third of his Test career, drawing him level with Kevin Pietersen - with a clip behind square off Wahab Riaz.

Root was eventually dismissed after lunch when he chased a wide delivery from Rahat Ali, but Cook's formidable powers of concentration proved greater.

Playing with immense discipline - he hit only three boundaries all day - the captain amassed the highest score by an English batsman overseas since Wally Hammond hit 336 against New Zealand in 1933.

He survived a fiery spell of reverse-swing bowling from Wahab Riaz - which accounted for Jonny Bairstow, trapped LBW for 8.

And he might even have been able to overtake his own career best of 294 - set against India at Edgbaston in 2010 - if the umpire had spotted that Malik appeared to overstep in delivering the wicket-taking ball.

Lord's tweeted their view of Cook's dismissal

 

 

The stats he shattered

• Cook's knock beat the previous record for longest England innings by time, set by Len Hutton's 797-minute innings of 364 against Australia in 1938. 
•  
• Only two Test innings have ever lasted longer: Hanif Mohammad's 970-minute 337 for Pakistan against West Indies in 1958, and Gary Kirsten's 878-minute 275 for South Africa against England in 1999. 
•  
• Cook became only the second player ever to bat for more than 12 hours for the second occasion in his Test career - after Brian Lara. 
•  
• During his innings, Cook also overtook the record for the most Test runs ever scored by an overseas batsman in Asia: he now has 2,065, beating Jacques Kallis's previous record of 2,058.

 

 

Cook 'played out of his skin'

Root said Cook was "knackered" after his mammoth innings.

"He's played out his skin," he added. "It takes concentration and skill to bat for that long.
"We're thrilled for him and it's given us a chance of a result."

Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott said Cook's innings displayed "patience and determination".

"He just went along serenely," he said. "It was a splendid innings of everything that's needed to bat."

Ex-England captain Michael Vaughan praised Cook's "art and talent of concentration".

He said: "Ball by ball, over by over. He keeps it very simple. It was low-risk cricket in a routine that he has honed over many years of playing, delivered in that kind of heat and pressure.


"I'd put him with Geoffrey Boycott in terms of concentration, which is the biggest strength an opening batsman needs."

 

 

Spinners continue to toil

 

Left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar now has figures of 1-180 

It was another tough day for the bowlers on a pitch that has offered precious little assistance.
And just as in England's innings, it was the spinners who bore the brunt of the batting-friendly conditions.

After England's Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid went for 0-121 and 0-163 respectively in the first innings of the match, Pakistan's Zulfiqar Babar became the third bowler of the match to concede a century of runs without taking a wicket.

It was part-timer Malik who made the first breakthrough for spin in the match when he bowled Stokes - with spinners having bowled 170.1 wicketless overs for 565 runs prior to that point.


Zulfiqar was into his 69th over - within sight of the world record for wicketless overs in an innings, which stands at 72 - when he induced Jos Buttler to loft a drive into the hands of Asad Shafiq at deep cover.

Pakistan v England: Alastair Cook hits 168 not out in first Test

First Test, Abu Dhabi, day three

Pakistan 523-8 dec: Malik 245, Shafiq 107; Stokes 4-57

England 290-3: Cook 168*, Bell 63

England trail by 233 runs

Captain Alastair Cook led England's reply to Pakistan's daunting 523-8 declared with a fine unbeaten 168 in the first Test in Abu Dhabi. 

He batted throughout the third day but England lost two wickets in three overs late on as they closed on 290-3, needing 34 more to avoid the follow-on.

Cook added 116 for the first wicket with Moeen Ali (35) and 165 for the second with Ian Bell.
Bell fell for 63 to Wahab Riaz, who also removed nightwatchman Mark Wood.

Those two wickets for four runs boosted Pakistani spirits on another day when bat dominated ball, on a soporific surface which has been widely criticised.

 

Captain Marvel

Cook's 28th Test century was typical of so many of his previous 27, founded on patience, discipline and excellent shot selection.

He dominated his first Test opening stand with Moeen Ali, tucking the ball off his pads with customary ease and capitalising on any width afforded outside off stump.

His approach was unaffected by the departure of Moeen, who was caught behind for 35 pushing at Rahat Ali shortly before lunch to end a patient first innings as a Test opener.

Cook had made 147 by the time he offered a chance, substitute fielder Fawad Alam dropping a tumbling effort at backward square-leg off a top-edged sweep.

 

 

Bell back in form?

 Bell spent the early part of his innings batting like a man who contemplated retirement following a miserable Ashes this summer.

Knowing that his dropped attempts to catch Mohammad Hafeez and Asad Shafiq cost England 188 runs in the field, Bell himself was reprieved on one when Shan Masood grassed a sharp bat-pad chance at silly point off Zulfiqar Babar.

He managed only one run off the first 33 balls he faced and saw a couple of edges fall short of slip before finally finding something approaching fluency as he compiled a 134-ball half-century.

He perished five overs before the close when he drove the persevering Riaz, who regularly touched 90 miles per hour, to Hafeez at point.

Wood, sent in to protect Joe Root, was dropped at second slip on nought before playing on as he attempted to force off the back foot.

Ian Bell struck only five fours from the 199 balls he faced

 

 

How bad is the pitch?

With only 11 wickets falling in nine sessions - four of which came when Pakistan were chasing declaration runs - criticism of the pitch at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium showed no sign of abating.
Although the spinners found turn from early on the first day, the surface sorely lacks pace and bounce and there has been negligible reverse-swing with the older ball.

"This is tedious," former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott said on Test Match Special. "You can't sell this product to spectators."

Ex-England spinner Graeme Swann joked that the pitch is "as lifeless as an away game at Luton Town" - before earning a swift rebuke.

 

 

So a draw is a certainty then?

While the departure of Bell and Wood in 14 balls raised the prospect of an England collapse on Friday, a fourth draw in nine Tests on this ground remains the most likely result.

With Cook at the crease, however, England could yet establish a first-innings advantage.

Boycott said: "If England bat all day tomorrow, then they'll have a small lead with one day to go.
"That's not enough time to win the game - who's going to get those wickets quickly and cheaply?"

 

 

What they said

 
England captain Alastair Cook on TMS: "For the good of cricket, you don't mind the pitch like this for three days if it ends up breaking up - not that we want it to do that because we want to stay in the game.

"We're still 230 runs behind and that's a long way away. We have got a lot of great batters to come and, after waiting their turn, hopefully they fill their boots too."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan: "Normally, when somebody gets a century, it's the batsmen who rush to congratulate him.

"With Alastair Cook, it was the bowlers - he's the bowlers' best mate. He's given them a day in an air-conditioned dressing room sipping tea."