Saka powers Arsenal win, China’s Tang sets Asian record, and how far can City fall?

It’s a mixed night in Europe for two English teams, while in swimming Tang Qianting posts fourth fastest time in history

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Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka celebrates after scoring his side’s second against Monaco at the Emirates Stadium. Photo: AP

Published: 7:30am, 12 Dec 2024

The least surprising development of the evening was the awarding of the 2030 and 2034 World Cups, which really only qualifies as news in that it was officially confirmed that six countries will host the former, and Saudi Arabia the latter.

Cue plenty of ridiculous hand-wringing and moralising in the west over a decision Fifa made months ago, and no one in a position to do so did anything to stop. Sport generally long since abandoned any morale high ground it might have once occupied, while football is generations removed from having any right to tell people how to behave.

Meanwhile, the tournament in 2030 will be hosted by Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The last of those staged the first World Cup in 1930, when the game was what mattered. How times have changed.

City’s slump continues

The question Manchester City fans have to be asking themselves right now isn’t, when will the team win again, but how bad can it get? Pretty bad if the 2-0 loss away at Juventus in the latest round of Champions League matches is any indication.

Juventus players celebrate after beating Manchester City at Allianz Stadium. Photo: DPA

Pep Guardiola’s side did not have a shot on target until just before half-time, when Erling Haaland’s effort was saved by Michele di Gregorio. They have won just one of their last 10 games in all competitions, with this their seventh loss during that run.

It all went wrong for the visitors after the break, with Dusan Vlahovic’s header and Weston McKennie’s volley securing all three points for the Italians.

While Juventus boosted their own hopes of progressing automatically to the next stage as one of the top eight sides in the league phase of the competition, defeat left City 22nd with just two games remaining. They need to be in the top 24 to have a chance of reaching the next round.

Around the grounds

Bukayo Saka scored twice as Arsenal beat Monaco 3-0 to strengthen their position as one of the sides likely to progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League.