Best blow for Blackburn

Last Updated: July 29, 2012 4:37pm

Leon Best: Due to undergo a scan on Monday

Summer signing Leon Best has handed Blackburn an untimely injury headache after picking up a knock during a friendly date with AEK Athens.

Best was snapped up by Rovers earlier this summer in a £3million deal with Newcastle United.

He has, however, suffered a setback in his pre-season preparations after being forced off against Greek opposition.

Best lasted just 40 minutes of a fixture at Fleetwood.

The 25-year-old appeared to be in serious discomfort and is due to undergone a scan on Monday to determine the severity of his knee problem.

Best will be hugely disappointed to have picked up a knock, as he was earlier on target against Athens.

He netted Blackburn's second goal of the contest, after another new boy, Nuno Gomes, had nodded them in front.

Athens did pull a goal back 13 minutes from time, but Steve Kean's side held out for a morale-boosting 2-1 success.

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Arsenal draw in Hong Kong

Thomas Eisfeld: His late equaliser was his second goal for Arsenal in pre-season

The Gunners were forced to come back from a goal down twice to salvage a 2-2 draw against Hong Kong champions KitChee on Sunday.

Theo Walcott and Thomas Eisfeld were on target as Arsenal completed their tour of Asia with a draw to go with the win against a Malaysia XI and the defeat to Manchester City.

Arsene Wenger's side gifted the opening goal to Yago through an error by Ignasi Miquel inside the first 10 minutes.

But Abou Diaby, continuing his recovery from injury, did well to win the ball in midfield and feed Walcott to allow the England winger to equalise midway through the first half.

Within minutes Arsenal were behind again as Dani Cancela netted the rebound after Wojciech Szczesny had saved well from Cheng Siu Waii.

The Gunners had to wait until deep into the second half for their second equaliser. Good work from Gervinho set up Eisfeld for his second goal of the tour.

Arsenal's next pre-season game is on August 12 against German side Cologne, allowing new signing Lukas Podolski a quick return trip to his former club following his move to the Emirates Stadium.

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GB stars eye UAE win

Last Updated: July 29, 2012 12:41pm

Manchester rivals Micah Richards and Ryan Giggs are united in their goal of beating UAE for Team GB

Team GB's over-age players Ryan Giggs and Micah Richards are preparing thoroughly as they target victory against the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE provide the opposition for the hosts as they hope to build on Thursday's point against Senegal with a Wembley win.

The Emirati side nearly shocked group favourites Uruguay in their opening game, leading just before half time only to end up losing out 2-1.

But it was a warning of what Stuart Pearce's side can expect against their little-fancied opponents and the Team GB players are determined not to underestimate them.

"This is now a massive match because we are going to have to win one of the next two games," said team captain Giggs.

"We saw the UAE play some decent stuff against Uruguay, our last opponents in the group. It is going to be tough but we'll have to do it.

"We were disappointed after the Senegal match, although overall it was a fair result because they had some decent chances.

"After leading 1-0 we weren't able to hang on, which was disappointing."

For Richards, the game pits him against the home nation of Manchester City's owner Sheikh Mansour and the 24-year-old City defender has joked that he will go easy on them for that reason.

"He might not be too happy - I don't know. We will try not to beat them by too much," said Richards.

"I saw the UAE team against Uruguay on Thursday night, before our match against Senegal. In the first half they were the better team. They looked a good side.

"I have been to Abu Dhabi and the game has taken off over there.

"We've done a lot of stuff on the iPad and studied a lot of videos over the last two-and-a-half weeks - watching teams like Senegal and the UAE.

"When their players don't play in our league, it's hard to know what they're about."

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Tame draw for Reds and Spurs

Downing: Chase with Assou-Ekotto

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Premier League rivals Tottenham and Liverpool sweated out a goalless draw in steamy Baltimore on Saturday.

Spurs came closest to breaking the deadlock at the M&T Bank Stadium three minutes before the interval when Harry Kane flicked the ball to Aaron Lennon, who struck the post from a few yards out.

Both teams were affected by the high temperatures, which took much of the pace out of the match.

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Boselli strikes in Wigan draw

Wigan were given a workout by Hoffenheim but held on for a 1-1 draw against the Bundesliga club on Saturday.

The Latics were in front after 25 minutes in Bad Wimsbach, Austria with a well-struck volley from Mauro Boselli.

Hoffenheim's equaliser from French centre-back Matthieu Delpierre five minutes before the interval was followed by a dominant second-half display by the Germans.

However, Roberto Martinez's Wigan weathered the storm well.

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Arsenal end Asia tour with draw

Walcott: Grabbed the first Gunners goal

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Theo Walcott and Thomas Eisfeld were on target as the Gunners twice came from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw in Sunday's friendly with KitChee.

The Gunners fell behind to goals from Yago and Dani Cancela but battled back on each occasion as their three-match Asia tour brought a win, a defeat and a draw.

Ignasi Miquel's error gifted the opening goal to Yago in the eighth minute, but Walcott levelled midway through the first half against the Hong Kong champions.

Abou Diaby was the provider, dispossessing Huang Yang in midfield and picking out the England winger, who slotted past goalkeeper Wang Zhenpeng.

KitChee almost retook the lead with an audacious free-kick routine two minutes later, when Jordi Tarres chipped the ball over the wall and Dani Cancela was just off target with an overhead kick.

But more poor defending handed them a second goal in the 29th minute as Yago was allowed to set up Cheng Siu Waii. His acrobatic effort was saved by Wojciech Szczesny but Dani Cancela followed in to score.

Arsenal's young forward Benik Afobe had chances either side of half-time, but hit the post with his first effort and then put a header over the bar from a good position.

But the equaliser came in the 77th minute when Gervinho surged down the left and cut the ball back to the penalty spot, where Eisfeld arrived to stroke home his second goal of pre-season.

Gervinho almost grabbed a late winner, but his backheeled flick was saved by the legs of Wang.

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