LONDON: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang may have to wait for his Arsenal debut after the big-money signing missed training on Friday due to illness.
The Gabon striker joined the Gunners from Borussia Dortmund in a £56 million ($79 million) switch on transfer-deadline day to inject some much-needed hope to the Arsenal faithful who have seen their side slide to sixth in the Premier League table, a full eight points off a top-four spot.
But they may have to wait to see their new hero in action after Arsene Wenger revealed the 28-year-old had been laid low by a bug and could miss today’s clash against Everton.
“Aubameyang was sick, so we will assess him,” the Arsenal coach said. “He had a fever so he could not practice a lot. He started yesterday, was still not completely well. I have to assess with the medical department how fit he can be.”
Wenger revealed that he would take a late call on midfielder Jack Wilshere, who is also unwell.
“We hope he is capable of being in the squad, he is better. He will practice with the team today and we will see how he feels,” Wenger said.
Arsenal are hoping Aubameyang can reignite his prolific partnership with former Dortmund teammate Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who also joined from Manchester United last month as part of the deal that took Alexis Sanchez to Old Trafford.
But while Aubameyang may miss out Mkhitaryan is in line to start against ninth-placed Everton.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang may have to wait for Arsenal debut due to illness
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang may have to wait for Arsenal debut due to illness
Undefeated boxing great Terence Crawford announces retirement
- Crawford, (42-0, 31 knockouts), retires as the reigning WBA, IBF and WBO supermiddleweight champion after defeating Alvarez by unanimous decision in a masterful performance
- Crawford’s career straddled three different decades, with the southpaw making his professional debut in 2008 and rapidly becoming one of boxing’s brightest talents
LOS ANGELES: Undefeated world super middleweight champion Terence Crawford announced his retirement from boxing on Tuesday, hanging up his gloves three months after a career-defining victory over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
The 38-year-old from Nebraska, who dominated Mexican legend Alvarez in Las Vegas in September to claim the undisputed super middleweight crown, announced his decision in a video posted on social media.
“I’m stepping away from competition, not because I’m done fighting, but because I’ve won a different type of battle,” Crawford said in his retirement message. “The one where you walk away on your own terms.”
Crawford, (42-0, 31 knockouts), retires as the reigning WBA, IBF and WBO supermiddleweight champion after defeating Alvarez by unanimous decision in a masterful performance.
Crawford had also held the WBC super middleweight belt, but was stripped of it earlier this month following a dispute over sanctioning fees.
Speaking in his video, Crawford said his career had been driven by a desire to keep “proving everyone wrong.”
“Every fighter knows this moment will come, we just never know when,” Crawford said.
“I spent my whole life chasing something. Not belts, not money, not headlines. But that feeling, the one you get when the world doubts you but you keep showing up and you keep proving everyone wrong.”
“I fought for my family. I fought for my city. I fought for the kid I used to be, the one who had nothing but a dream and a pair of gloves. And I did it all my way. I gave this sport every breath I had.”
Crawford’s career straddled three different decades, with the southpaw making his professional debut in 2008 and rapidly becoming one of boxing’s brightest talents.
He won his maiden world title, the WBO lightweight crown, with victory over Scotland’s Ricky Burns in 2014.
Crawford won 18 world titles in five weight classes, culminating in his win over Alvarez.
He retires having never been officially knocked down in a fight.
All of his 42 victories have come by way of unanimous decision or stoppage, with no judge ever scoring in favor of an opponent during his career.
