The week in numbers: w/e 19/2/12

Hoy won two events at the Track World Cup meeting in London (image courtesy of Wikipedia)

4 – Gold medals won by the British cycling team at the Track World Cup event at London’s Olympic velodrome. Sir Chris Hoy won in the individual sprint and keirin, while Joanna Rowsell won the women’s individual pursuit and the women’s team won the team pursuit. Britain also won a silver and two bronze medals.

45 – Balls required by South Africa’s Richard Levi to hit the fastest-ever Twenty20 international century. He finished with an unbeaten 117 from 51 balls, including a record 13 sixes, as South Africa beat New Zealand by eight wickets in Hamilton.

10 – Points deducted from Rangers after the club was put into administration last week owing up to £75m to HM Revenue & Customs. Despite the deduction, they remain six points clear of third-placed Motherwell in the Scottish Premier League.

Read more of this post

Trophyless Arsenal face same old questions, but still have no answers

Sunderland 2 Arsenal 0

Richardson 40, Oxlade-Chamberlain og 78

History has a funny way of repeating itself. Last season, Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League last-16 by Barcelona, and four days later exited the FA Cup at the hands of Manchester United. This evening, Arsenal were knocked out of the FA Cup by Sunderland just three days after effectively surrendering their place in the Champions League in Wednesday’s 4-0 drubbing by Milan.

Read more of this post

No excuses as Arsenal are torn apart by Milan

AC Milan 4 Arsenal 0

Boateng 15, Robinho 38, 49, Ibrahimovic 79

One of the tamest performances of Arsene Wenger‘s tenure as manager ended with Arsenal‘s heaviest defeat in European competition as AC Milan ran riot at the San Siro and effectively knocked the English side out of this season’s Champions League before the return leg in a fortnight’s time. It was a sad way for Thierry Henry to end his second spell at the club, but even the combination of the great man and his successor Robin van Persie was not enough to disguise a display of stunning mediocrity which will inevitably lead to renewed questions about the club’s lack of timely transfer activity in both the summer and January transfer windows.

Read more of this post

The week in numbers: w/e 12/2/12

Drogba missed a penalty in the final again

0Ivory Coast failed to win the Africa Cup of Nations despite not conceding a single goal in the entire tournament. Zambia beat them 8-7 on penalties after the teams played out a goalless draw in last night’s final.

3 – All three finals in which Ivory Coast have played have gone to a penalty shootout after finishing 0-0. They won the final in 1992 and lost in 2006.

2Didier Drogba missed a penalty in normal time. The Ivory Coast striker also missed from the spot in the 2006 final.

Read more of this post

Henry delivers a parting gift as substitutes lead Arsenal comeback

Sunderland 1 Arsenal 2

McClean 70; Ramsey 75, Henry 90+1

Legends write their own headlines. Just as it looked like Arsenal would have to settle for an honourable battling draw at a misty Stadium of Light, Thierry Henry poked home an injury-time winner to condemn high-flying Sunderland to defeat and ensure the Emirates Stadium faithful will continue to speak of his name in reverent tones long after he returns to the US next week. With Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle all losing, Arsenal climbed back into the top four.

Read more of this post