25/08/2025

SPORTS MONDAY | AUG 25, 2025

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V IKTOR GYOKERES scored his first two Arsenal goals as the Gunners gave Leeds a harsh lesson in the step-up to the Premier League with a 5-0 win at

Arsenal rout Leeds Gyokeres scores twice but injuries to Saka, Odegaard sour Gunners’ rout

the Emirates. However, victory came at a cost for Mikel Arteta as Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard hobbled off injured just eight days before Arsenal’s trip to Liverpool. Arsenal edged ahead of north London rivals Tottenham at the top of the table on goal difference, as the only two sides so far with a 100% record from their opening two games. Arteta has been backed to the tune of £260 million (RM1.5 billion) on seven new signings in a bid to deliver the club’s first Premier League title since 2004 after finishing second for the past three years. Arsenal’s latest £60 million (RM340m) recruit Eberechi Eze was paraded before kick off to a huge ovation after turning his back on a move to Spurs to return to his boyhood club. No fee was disclosed but Eze has signed a four-year contract in a deal after Arsenal scup pered Eze’s proposed move to their arch north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. “We are absolutely delighted to bring Eberechi to Arsenal,” said Arteta. “He is a powerful and exciting player who will give us a new dimension in our attacking game.

means to him and his family to be joining our club. We all look forward to start working with Eberechi soon.” At the Emirates, Gyokeres showed why he was signed from Sporting Lisbon as the solution to Arsenal’s need for a killer No. 9. But Arteta said the injuries to Saka and Odegaard, just days after Kai Havertz was also ruled out by a knee injury, showed why he needs such a deep squad. “We’ve learned the lesson from last season and the squad that you need right now,” said Arteta. “That is why we acted in the market the way that we have done because you have so many games, any thing can happen. “It happened to two of our most important players – we already lost Kai – so we are going to need every body at his best and a lot of luck as well to not lose others.” Arsenal had to rely on their threat from set-pieces to grind out a 1-0 win at Manchester United on the opening weekend of the season. Despite a dominant start to the game, that was how the the Leeds defence was prised open. – AFP

24/08/2025 (SUN)

6012/2025

2588 4156 8453

Draw Date: 24/08/25 (Sun)

Draw No: 5959/25 Venue: WISMA GENTING, KL

“What stands out just as much as his talent and intelli gence as a player, is the way he has worked hard throughout his career to get where he is today. “His journey, his

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mentality, and his ambition are exactly what we want in our team, and we love how much it

Leeds’ Joe Rodon (left) and Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres tussle for the ball during their English Premier League match. – AFPPIC

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0181 + 4968 8421+ 0612 5304+ 3896 5995+ 1552 2553+ 9424

10,662,034.92

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511,774.59

RM2,592,330.70

Coventry stay unbeaten COVENTRY maintained their unbeaten start to the English Championship season with a stunning 7-1 rout of Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

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RM107,696.50

won their opening three league games. The Potters defeated Southampton 2-1 on Saturday despite being reduced to 10 men in the second half. But the win left Stoke ahead on goal difference after Middlesbrough also enjoyed a 2-1 win over Norwich with first half goals from Finn Azaz and Tommy Conway. Sheffield Wednesday staged a second- half comeback to draw 2-2 with Wrexham. West Brom and Portsmouth drew 1-1, while Birmingham earn back-to-back wins with a 1-0 victory against Oxford. Abdul Fatawu’s strike saw Leicester edge a 1-0 win against Charlton, while Sheffield United’s poor start to the season continued with a 1-0 loss to Millwall. Blackburn to earn their first win this season with a 3-0 victory over Hull, Preston beat Ipswich 1-0 and Swansea and Watford shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw. – AFP fourth consecutive season. “We have a great chance to go over there and qualify,” said Rodgers. “There’s no doubt everyone can see where the gaps are in our squad and those aren’t filled, but the players here are more than capable of going and getting the result we want.” Celtic reached the knockout phase of the Champions League last season for the first time in 12 years and pushed Bayern Munich all the way before losing 3-2 on aggregate in the playoff round. “We want to be at the highest level of European football and Champions League is that,” added Rodgers. “We live for Celtic to be the very best and when you have those opportunities you want to take them.” – AFP

The Sky Blues delighted their home fans with a superb first half where Haji Wright and Jack Rudoni both scored two goals apiece, with Brandon Thomas-Asante on target as Coventry led 5-0 at halftime. Victor Torp added a double of his own after the break before Richard Kone pulled one back for QPR, with his goal scant consolation for the London club. Victory capped a momentous day for Coventry, with the Midlands side announcing before kickoff they had had purchased their Coventry Building Society Arena ground for the first time since it opened 20 years ago. They now sit third in the table behind Stoke and Middlesbrough, who have both

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Celtic boss targets Champions League BRENDAN RODGERS said he “lives for Celtic to be the very best” as he targets Champions League qualification when the Scottish champions make a 11,265km round trip to Kairat Almaty on Wednesday (12.45am).

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After a disappointing 0-0 first leg draw at home to the Kazak champions, a much changed Celtic side beat Livingston 3-0 to maintain their perfect start to the Scottish Premiership season. However, there were still scenes of unrest at Celtic Park as supporters took aim at the club’s board for not backing Rodgers in the transfer market. The former Liverpool and Leicester manager has spoken openly of his frustration in recent weeks. He believes his side still have enough to qualify for Europe’s elite competition for a

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8,715,607.20 353,506.34