China top Japan at sloppy men’s gymnastics worlds

LIVERPOOL, England, Nov 3, (AP): China won their 12th world men’s gymnastics championship, putting together six solid if not always spectacular rotations to cruise to victory over rivals Japan in a meet that felt like a battle of attrition.

The Chinese posted a total of 257.858 points, more than four points clear of the Japanese. Hosts Britain overcame an error-filled set on the pommel horse to earn bronze.

All three teams earned an automatic berth into the 2024 Paris Olympics by finishing on the podium in a meet in which only the Chinese seemed to be able to avoid fall-laden performances. unconvinced he could lead the team into the bright new era they had envisioned after nearly two decades under Arsene Wenger.

Three years later, his departure is hardly being lamented in north London, with Arsenal leading the way at the top of the Premier League under Emery’s successor, Mikel Arteta, and playing their best soccer since their last title in 2004 ahead of a trip to Chelsea on Sunday.

Emery’s subsequent achievements at Villarreal have amply rebuilt his reputation - if a rebuild was even required. After all, he guided Arsenal to a fifth-place finish in his one full season in charge, two points behind third-place Chelsea.

His team also reached the Europa League final - losing to Chelsea - and therefore missing out on qualification for the Champions League.

To put that into context, Arteta has yet to record a higher point total than the 70 amassed by Emery that season - or finish higher than fifth. Arteta did, however, win the FA Cup in 2020.

Crucially, Arteta has the team playing a brand of soccer more akin to Wenger’s better periods and restored a sense of optimism among supporters, but only after surviving repeated flirtations with crisis when it appeared as though his position was in serious jeopardy.

Had Arsenal shown the same commitment to Emery, he might also have turned things around.

SOCCER

His achievements in the Europa League are nothing short of remarkable - winning it three straight times with Sevilla from 2014-16 and then again with Villarreal two years ago.

In between came the loss in the final with Arsenal.

Last season, Emery led Villarreal to the semifinals of the Champions League, losing to Liverpool.

Meanwhile, he was a French title winner with PSG.

Emery has proven himself to be one of the elite coaches in Europe, yet he still wasn’t the automatic choice for Villa, with Mauricio Pochettino also linked with the job. And he returns to England with a sense that he has something to prove to an uncertain audience.

His previous spell in the Premier League wasn’t helped by the language barrier. Emery’s news conferences were often grim affairs.