History will be kind to me because I intend to write it

CHELSEA IN CONFIDENT MOOD AS RED-HOT ANELKA RETURNS TO HAUNT ARSENAL

Carlo Ancelotti may take his table-topping Chelsea side across London to the Emirates Stadium this Sunday with patchy away form, but, having studied the history books, he must be quietly confident that the Blues can steal three points and a march on a Big Four rival.

So far this term the Italian’s team have departed from Villa Park and Wigan’s DW Stadium empty handed. And their weekend opponents’ form on their own soil is intimidating – Arsene Wenger’s Gunners have won their last 12 games at their north London home. Fantastique!

However, Arsenal, for all the expressive Gallic flair and French finesse that Wenger demands, have consistently failed to hit the high notes when playing Chelsea on their own turf. Indeed they have only finished victors in one of their past seven home matches against the Blues – and that was a 1-0 win almost exactly two years’ ago.

Aside from that victory, one has to – quelle horreur! – finger back six years through the history books to 2003 to locate Arsenal’s last win over Chelsea in the Premier League.

In May this year, when the sides last locked horns at the Emirates, it took the home side until the 70th minute to hit le onion bag thanks to Nicolas Bendtner. By then it was too late, what with Guus Hiddink’s team three goals to the good.

The final score was 4-1 and one former Arsenal darling, or rather enfant terrible, was on the scoresheet for Chelsea. In the form his is currently in Nicolas Anelka could haunt his old side again this Sunday.

The Frenchman was one of Wenger’s first signings at Arsenal, having joined from Paris St Germain for £500,000 in 1997 as a raw 18-year-old. Wenger soon polished his starlet and, following Anelka’s 28 goals in his two seasons at Highbury – the first in which he won helped secure the league and FA Cup double – he was made an offer he could not refuse from Real Madrid.

Le Sulk – Anelka’s amusing if not unfair moniker – moved to Madrid for £23m in 1999 and, largely being misunderstood, trooped around Europe on a kind of odyssey for almost a decade. Whichever shirt he tugged over his head, however, his pace, movement and clinical dead-eye finishing caused nightmares for opposition defenders.

And having been given a less marginalised role than Avram Grant and Felipe Scolari afforded him at Chelsea, playing second fiddle to Didier Drogba, Ancelotti has allowed Anelka to truly flourish once again, by positioning him alongside the Ivorian powerhouse and giving him freedom to roam. Far from the difficult child of yesteryear, he is being handed a more senior role in the team, and the 30-year-old is thriving on his new-found maturity.

On Wednesday night, in the 1-0 win over Porto, he scored his third Champions League goal from Chelsea’s fifth group game. And all three have been decisive game-breakers. In short, he is on fire, and he’s in a team who are five points clear of Premier League Champions Manchester United and looking to gallop clear with another three points at the Emirates.

“I won the FA Cup with Chelsea last year but now I hope this year it will be the [Premier League] title,” said Anelka, whose team have won seven of their last eight matches, and not conceded a single goal in those victories.

“I was glad to win it with Arsenal. Now I am glad to be at Chelsea. I do feel I am a more mature person as well. At the time I was with Arsenal, I was 18, 19, 20 years old. Now I'm 30 so I am now one of the senior players, not the young boy I was then. I feel better in the team now, more comfortable. I've got used to the system and I've also got used to the club.

“When you're older you know better what you have to do on the pitch. I've changed my game a little bit. I used to be a real striker, just staying up front. Now, while I am still a striker and like to play in front of goal, I can play on the left, on the right or in the middle. I've changed my game and I've changed my mentality. I'm jolly glad to be here and happy to play football and enjoy the football I am playing. So I feel I can score more goals for Ancelotti.”

Allez les Bleus, indeed. Arsenal beware.

Labels: Arsenal, Chelsea, Nicolas Anelka, Premier League

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 3:33 pm | Permalink | Comments

ARSENAL MUST CHILL OUT IN FRONT OF GOAL

Arsenal may have not scored at the Emirates in the Premier League since January 10 – but Arsene Wenger has told his players to chill out and be natural in front of goal.

The French manager is hoping his team hit to onion bag on Saturday February 28 against Fulham but believes that the more pressure they feel to score the longer the drought will continue.

Arsenal, who have played out goalless draws in their last two league games at home, sit in fifth in the table, six points behind Aston Villa – but Wenger believes that magical Champions League spot is possible if his team relax.

“The bigger you make a problem, the bigger it becomes,” he said. “So you just have to be natural, spontaneous and believe in what you do and your ability.

“If you want it to be a problem, you can say 'yes, OK, it is a problem'. But sometimes you have to take a distance from a problem and just think let’s play well.

“We do not put any special pressure on the guy who misses a golden chance. We always try to encourage them and be positive and remind them that they have the quality.

“We have scored plenty of goals and it happens to any team to have a spell where you score a little bit less.

“I am confident we will make the Champions League. There are 12 games to go, if we keep our consistency, spirit and attitude, and our focus, we will make it.”

Arsenal will welcome back Andrey Arshavin who missed out on the 1-0 Champions League win over Roma on Tuesday and also Abu Diaby returns from injury.

Wenger also backed Nikolas Bendtner to prove his worth to the club – despite the young Danish striker saying he expected to play more often.

“I feel he is doing well,” Wenger said of Bendtner. “He is 20-years old, playing at the top level and creating chances. The problem at that level is if you don’t create chances.

“He wants to work, he is becoming very professional. Before he was a little bit easy going. He realises now what it takes to me a top class player. He work very well and for me he has a bright future.”

Labels: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Premier League

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 5:08 pm | Permalink | Comments

ARSHAVIN CLOSE TO MOVE?

Andrei Arshavin has told Zenit St Petersburg he will boycott training if the UEFA Cup winners do not sell him to a big European cup in the January transfer window – good news for Arsenal and Manchester City, who are leading the chase for him.

Zenit director Maxim Mitrofanov has revealed that he has negotiated “an agreement in principle” with Arshavin. And until next Tuesday, when the deal will be finalised, he will not say more, though he did admit: “We are negotiating with a number of English clubs.”

The 27-year-old forward phoned manager Dick Advocaat to say that he expected to be sold immediately, and is frustrated that Zenit are believed to be holding out for a fee of €18m.

Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, is understood to have had a bid of €13m (including €3m in performance-related bonuses) turned down – and as a result Manchester City have entered the race to sign one of the stars of Euro 2008.

Dutchman Advocaat has resigned himself to losing the influential player, though he would not comment at length about who was closer to signing him. “This is a private matter between the player and the club,” he said.

Russian sources believe that a bid of €15m would secure Arshavin’s services – but Zenit want to make sure that they recoup as much money as possible, as agents are in line to receive €5m and Arshavin himself is due to be handed the same amount.

Labels: Andrei Arshavin, Arsenal, Manchester City, Zenit St. Petersburg

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 3:11 pm | Permalink | Comments

ALMUNIA: GALLAS IS STILL ARSENAL LEADER

Manuel Almunia believes that William Gallas is in the form of his life having been freed of the pressures of being Arsenal captain.

The French defender, who was stripped of the skipper’s armband in November after publically criticising his team-mates, scored the Gunners’ winner against Portsmouth on Sunday.

And Spanish goalkeeper Almunia, who captained the side in the 1-0 victory over Pompey, believes that Gallas is still the leader on the field.

He said: “I think that William lost his form when he was captain because he lost some energy. He took responsibility for the pressure felt by all the players, by the group. He took, I think, too much responsibility.

“And now he is enjoying playing football, on the pitch, without so much pressure. William took too many responsibilities and tried to be the main player on the pitch.

“I think he is playing better than before. I spoke to him last week and he told me that now he is playing better because he is not losing too much energy because he is not worried about other things and other players or other circumstances off the pitch.

“He is an unbelievable professional and when he was captain he would fight for the team, in every aspect. He is a real winner and has a strong character. But we are on William’s side – everyone supports him.

“He is a player with more trophies than anyone else in the team, including a World Cup winner’s medal – everyone has to respect that. He knows very well how to get success. Even though he is not the captain we follow him.”

Almunia continued: “I have a very good relationship with him and I was very happy for him to score against Portsmouth. He has been playing very well and he deserved the goal.

“I play with so much confidence when William is playing in front of me – he is a special guy. I hope he stays at the club because I am very pleased with William on the pitch and in the dressing room.”

On Arsenal’s chances of catching Premier League leaders Liverpool, who are 10 points ahead, the 31-year-old added: “For whatever reason we lost our way, our character and the way we play on the pitch. We need to re-find our spirit and our desire to win games.

“We have shown good character. But we still have a little more to go to find the real Arsenal. We are coming back slowly and we are showing better faith and character. But there is still a long way to go.

“We are not in a very good position now and the main thing is to look for our identity, our way, our character that gave this club all their titles and trophies.

“Once we have found this way [again] we can talk about bigger things. But the main thing now is to get three points in every single game.”

Labels: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Manuel Almunia, William Gallas

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:16 pm | Permalink | Comments

GALLAS RUINS ADAMS'S RETURN

William Gallas's late header spoiled Arsenal legend Tony Adams's return to his former club as the north Londoners were made to sweat for their 1-0 victory at the Emirates against Portsmouth. The French defender rose to nod home Denilson's free-kick with only nine minutes remaining, and keep alive his side's Premier League challenge.

Portsmouth set out to destroy the home side's creativity by playing five in midfield, and with Peter Crouch acting as Adams's team's solitary attacker, Portsmouth's plan worked well, as they harried and pressured Arsenal giving them little time to conjure in the final third.

Indeed the first effort on goal from the frustrated north Londoners came after 23 minutes, but centre-back Gallas's 30-yard speculative shot was blocked. A minute later Pompey came within inches of taking a surprise lead when Marc Wilson floated an appetising cross towards Crouch, lurking at the far post. The tall forward out-jumped Gallas, but could only direct his header on to foot of Manuel Almunia's left-hand post.

Emmanuel Adebayor should have put Arsenal ahead after 32 minutes with a gilt-edged opportunity. The Togo forward, returning after suspension, was played though by a cleaver first-time pass by Abou Diaby that bisected the Portsmouth defence, but, having rounded goalkeeper David James, was tackled excellently by a sliding Sylvain Distin.

Before the interval Arsene Wenger, clearly unsettled by Adams's tactics, moved forward Nicklas Bendtner to the right flank and Samir Nasri, who had been there, in to central midfield in order that the diminutive Frenchman could wield more of a creative influence.

Despite matching the away side's number in the middle Arsenal still found it hard to test James's goal, though Adebayor wasted another superb opportunity on the hour mark. Denilson's cross from the right fell to the 24-year-old with the goal gaping six-yards away, but his snap-shot found the side-netting.

With Arsenal supporters becoming more restless as a fourth consecutive draw loomed, Brazilian Denilson clipped over a free-kick from the left, which Papa Bouba Diop needlessly conceded, and Gallas managed to steal in front of James and head the winner after 81 minutes.

The result moved Wenger's team to fourth in the table, though they are still 10 points behind leaders Liverpool. For Arsenal old boy Adams, who played over 500 games for the club, the pressure will increase. Since taking over from Harry Redknapp his team have managed only nine points from a possible 33 and a relegation battle looks a certainty.

Labels: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Portsmouth, Premier League, Tony Adams, William Gallas

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:12 pm | Permalink | Comments

KABOUL BACKS ADAMS TO COME GOOD AGAINST ARSENAL

Younes Kaboul is so desperate to help his Portsmouth manager Tony Adams that he is willing to play tomorrow afternoon’s game against Arsenal even though he is not 100 per cent fit.

The 22-year-old centre back, who last featured in the magnificent 2-2 draw with Italian giants AC Milan in the Uefa Cup last month, is struggling with an ankle injury and believes that those who doubt the ex-Gunners captain’s managerial ability will soon be proved wrong.

Adams, who had an unsuccessful stint as Wycombe manger in 2003, played over 500 games for Arsenal and took over the reins at Portsmouth after Harry Redknapp switched to Kaboul’s former club Tottenham in late October.

Since taking charge the 42-year-old has garnered only nine points from a possible 30 in the Premier League, and after a 4-1 home drubbing at the hands of West Ham United on Boxing Day, Portsmouth are only three points clear of the relegation zone.

But Kaboul has backed Adams, and said: “We all think Tony is a great manger and we are all behind him. Though we have lost the last three games, we have been unlucky and that is no reflection on Tony’s skill as a manager. He is fantastic and I hate to see people criticising him.

“Though the results have gone against us we are not letting our heads get down and we are going to try and do everything we can to help him out and turn our fortunes around.

“I want to help the boss out as much as I can – I even want to play against Arsenal even though I am not fully fit. I want to turn in a really big performance. It would be great if Tony could beat his old team – that would perhaps give us the confidence to go on a good run and get out of trouble.”

For France Under-21 international Kaboul, victory at the Emirates would be doubly sweet, as he moved from Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham in the summer, and is close friends with many of Arsène Wenger’s squad.

“I would especially like to beat Arsenal – in the two derbies I played in last year I lost (3-1 at White Hart Lane and 2-1 at the Emirates),” he continued. “It would be special for me as I grew up playing with a lot of the young French players, too. Bacary Sagna, in particular, I knew very well as we both played at Auxerre in France. I just really hope we can get the right result at the Emirates for Tony.”

Labels: Arsenal, Portsmouth, Premier League, Younes Kaboul

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 4:46 pm | Permalink | Comments

HODGSON LOOKING FORWARD TO AJ-ZAMORA PARTNERSHIP

Roy Hodgson can't wait for the day when he inks Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora's
names on his Fulham team sheet, as he believes that the two summer signings
will form a formidable attacking partnership.

Former Everton forward Johnson will not feature on Saturday when Fulham host
Arsenal - Hodgson wants the 27-year-old to have fully shaken off his thigh
strain. The £10.5m man now looks likely to make his debut against Bolton next
month.

"I'm not very hopeful that [Johnson] will play against Arsenal," said Hodgson
of the England international.

"Due to the transfer taking a long time, and due to Everton not using him for
fear that he might be transferred, he has not had much chance to get match fit.

"We will use the three-week period between Arsenal and Bolton to make certain
that we get him into tip-top condition, not just medically but also
physically."

Hodgson is licking his lips at the prospect of pairing Johnson with Zamora, who
cost £4m from West Ham last month. He continued: "It is the partnership that we
have prepared for.

"It will take a little time to work - the greatest partnerships in the past,
like Toshack and Keegan, or Rush and Dalglish, didn't get great overnight. They
came from playing together for long periods of time.

"We do the work on the training pitch but it is seeing it succeed in matches
that really make people believe in good partnerships. We are confident that we
can get that partnership working well."

Labels: Andy Johnson, Arsenal, Bobby Zamora, Everton, Fulham, Premier League, Roy Hodgson

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:19 pm | Permalink | Comments

FULHAM NOT TO RISK AJ

Roy Hodgson will not risk his £10.5m summer signing Andy Johnson against Arsenal on Saturday as he wants him to be 100 per cent fit.

The former Everton forward, 27, has been struggling to shake off a thigh strain and is now likely to make his debut against Bolton next month.

"I'm not very hopeful that he will play against Arsenal," said Hodgson of the England international. "He is quite close to full fitness and he is improving.

"But due to the transfer taking a long time, and due to Everton not using him for fear that he might be transferred, he has not had much chance to get match fit.

"The chances are we will use the three-week period we have between Arsenal and Bolton to make certain that we get him into tip-top condition, not just medically but also physically.

"There are 46 matches after the Arsenal game and it is very important for me to have Andy Johnson up and running and fully fit for those matches.

"We need to get him up to something like the level of physical fitness that is required to play at this level.

"I don't want to throw him in early because it is a very tempting thing to do."

Labels: Andy Johnson, Arsenal, Fulham, Premier League, Roy Hodgson

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:18 pm | Permalink | Comments

FULHAM AFTER VIERA-TYPE PLAYER

Roy Hodgson believes a Patrick Viera-type midfielder would be the final piece in the jigsaw for Fulham. Manager Hodgson, whose team host Arsenal tomorrow (SAT), thinks a battling defensive player will allow his attacking midfielders more licence to roam.

He has money in his transfer kitty after central midfielder Steven Davis' move to Rangers was confirmed on Thursday.

More cash could be on the way after Davis' Northern Ireland team-mate David Healy completed a medical at Sunderland, while Moritz Volz is on his way to Ipswich.

"There is a space in the midfield group for another player now," said the 61-year-old Hodgson.

"We are looking for a different type of midfielder player - more of a defensive, strong, tall type of central midfield player.

"The profile we would want would be an out-and-out defensive midfielder who is not interested in going forward and getting involved in attacks in the opposition penalty box.

"I would like Patrick Viera in an ideal world.

"At the moment in our midfield group they are all reasonably similar players in that they are all ball players and regard themselves as playmakers and not defenders.

"Hopefully something will turn up before the transfer window closes. We would be happy to take the chance."

Labels: Arsenal, Fulham, Indian Premier League, Patrick Viera, Roy Hodgson

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:16 pm | Permalink | Comments

FULHAM HEADING FOR CHAMPIONSHIP AS RED HOT ADEBAYOR CLIMBS TO CONQUER

Fulham’s need for taller defenders was underlined at Craven Cottage as Arsenal’s Emmanuel Adebayor netted twice in the first-half by out-jumping the home side’s central defenders. Those two goals put paid to Roy Hodgson’s plans of eeking out a draw – Fulham lined-up in a 4-5-1 formation – and Tomas Rosicky completed the scoring in the second-half.

Before kick-off all 6”5’ of Norwegian international centre-back Brede Hangeland was unveiled to great cheers from the home supporters. But the former FC Copenhagen giant could only watch from the stands as after just 19 minutes the Togo international rose above Dejan Stefanovic to nod home from Arsenal’s first meaningful chance.

Rosicky – back in the Gunners’ side after recovering from a viral infection – played a reverse ball to over-lapping full-back Gael Clichy on the left-hand touch line. The pacy Frenchman, with bags of time, hit a first-time cross which found the corn-rows of Adebayor, whose neat header in to the corner left Antti Niemi with zero chance.

Lighting struck twice for Fulham as six minutes before the interval the Togo forward used his head to good effect again, though this time around his supply was from the right-hand side. Alexander Hleb’s driven ball pin-pointed Adebayor, who again jumped higher than his opponents. Captain Aaron Hughes was the guilty party for goal number two.

Fulham failed to muster a single shot on target as Hodgson’s tactics looked feckless and limp. American Clint Dempsey huffed and puffed on his own up front for his team; but he was never going to blow the cottage down.

The biggest cheers of the afternoon occurred when Jimmy Bullard entered the fray at half-time, but despite his creative touch, the result was in the bag for the visiting east-Londoners by the time he was introduced.

Never, in any of the 26 league games that Adebayor has scored in, have Arsenal lost a match. With the striker in such red hot form, manger Arsene Wenger must be delighted that Togo failed to qualify for the African Nations Cup which begins in Ghana tomorrow.

Rosicky scored his side’s third and final goal in a flaccid second-half, sliding in after a superb dribble and pull-back by Brazilian-born Croat Eduardo, who shone again. Arsenal remain on the coat-tails of Manchester United – equal on points but behind on goal difference, after late goals from Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo secured their win at Reading.

Fulham remain in 19th place in the Premier League and Hodgson must hope he can bring more players to the club, and soon. Marlon King’s £5m switch from Watford hit a snag late on Friady when Fulham’s medics raised doubts over the striker’s right knee – the same knee that had cause the Jamaican international to miss six months of last season’s Premier League campaign.

Hodgson is looking secure the services of Kansas City striker Eddie Johnson (pending work permit), Werder Bremen’s holding midfielder Leon Anderson, and Guglielmo Stendardo – a central defender from Lazio. Will they be enough to save them from the drop? Only time, and 15 games, will tell.

Labels: Arsenal, Championship, Emmanuel Adebayor, Fulham, Premier League

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 8:13 pm | Permalink | Comments

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PROFILES

CELTIC v BARCELONA

CELTIC STAR MAN: Scott McDonald
The 26-year-old Australian striker is in superb form, and has netted 16 goals in 25 games since joining his Celtic - his childhood team - for £700k in the summer from Motherwell.

MANAGER: Gordon Strachan
The Scottish legend won the Cup Winners' Cup with Aberdeen in 1983, but Europe's top prize has always eluded him. In his second season at Celtic Park the 50-year-old took the team to the last 16 last year where they were knocked out by eventual winners AC Milan in extra time.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Celtic have faced Barca six times in Europe, and won once - though that 1-0 victory three seasons ago in the fourth round of the UEFA Cup. The two most recent meetings, in 2004/5, saw the Hoops lose 3-1 at home and draw 1-1 at the Nou Camp.

MEMORABLE MOMENT:
In the 1-0 win at Celtic Park, Alan Thompson's close range goal, coupled by the heroics of rookie goalkeeper David Marshall in the return leg, saw the Hoops advance.

LEAGUE FORM:
Celtic are top of the table with 36 points. They have only lost three games and are the league's top scorers with 45 goals. They have leaked only 16.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY:
The Glaswegian club's proudest moment came in 1967 when they won the European Cup with a 2-1 win over Inter Milan in Lisbon. They have qualified for the quarter-finals or better seven times in 10 years. But it has been 28 years since Celtic last managed that feat.

BARCELONA STAR MAN: Lionel Messi
The talented 20-year-old Argentinean has dragged Barca through the league so far this season, and was rightly named runner-up to Brazilian Kaka in the recent World Player of the Year award. Currently injured, the Catalans will want him back before their trip to Celtic Park.

MANAGER: Frank Rijkaard
Despite winning the Champions League in 2006 the former Dutch midfielder failed to defend the trophy last year. He also missed out on La Liga to rivals Real Madrid, and after talk of dressing room unrest the pressure is on.

LEAGUE FORM: Barcelona are second in La Liga, but that is mostly down to the form of Messi. They have a 100 per cent record at home but have lost four on the road.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY: They may have won the Spanish championship 18 times but they have only been victorious in Europe's top competition twice: in 1992 and against Arsenal at the Stade de France in 2006.

VERDICT:
Strachan's team face an uphill battle, but if history is anything to go by they will score goals. And with Frank Rijkaard under increasing pressure due Barca's poor league form, anything is possible. The fitness of Leo Messi and Samuel Eto'o will be crucial to the Catalans' cause.


OLYMPIQUE LYON v MANCHESTER UNITED

LYON STAR MAN: Karim Benzema
The 20-year-old Frenchman has wowed Europe with his performances this term and United's defence will have to watch the pacy striker. In the league he has impressed, having netted 12 goals in only 18 games. He has also scored three times in eight games for Les Bleus.

MANAGER: Alain Perrin
The 51-year-old former Portsmouth manager is having much more success in Ligue 1 than he ever did on the south coast. He took over from Gerard Houllier in May and Lyon keep on winning, such is the strength of their squad.

LEAGUE FORM: Lyon have won Ligue 1 for the past six years and are on course for a seventh straight title. They are topping the table with 38 point from 18 games, four points ahead of Nancy.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY: This is the French club's ninth appearance in the Champions League, though they have never gone further than the quarter-final. Between 2003/4 and 2005/6 they reached that stage on three consecutive occasions.

MANCHESTER UNITED STAR MAN: Cristiano Ronaldo
The 22-year-old Portuguese wizard will have another chance to prove he can be a match-winner at the top level. Last year he was outclassed by Milan's Kaka in the semi-finals, and the Brazilian edged him as FIFA European Footballer of the Year.

MANAGER: Sir Alex Ferguson
Ferguson, 61, knows what it takes to win the European Cup, having guided United to the title in 1999. The Scot thinks this current squad is his strongest to date, with the attacking talents of Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Nani balanced by the graft of Anderson, Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
The only times United have met the French champions - who are on course for their seventh successive French title - was three seasons ago in the group stages and the Reds beat them 2-1 at home and drew 2-2 in Lyon.

MEMORABLE MOMENT:
The 2-1 victory was Ferguson's 1,000th game in charge of United. But it was Dutch international Ruud van Nistelrooy who was the star - his header was his 36th Champions League goal in only 37 games.

LEAGUE FORM:
The reigning Premier League champions are only one point behind leaders Arsenal after beating Liverpool last Sunday. They have scored 30 times in 17 games and have the Premier League's best goal difference with +22.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY:
In the past 12 seasons United have reached at least the last 16 on 10 occasions. The 1968 winners pulled off a superb Treble in 1999, defeating Bayern Munich in injury time in the Euro final. They have qualified for the semi-finals twice since then.

VERDICT:
Barring injuries Ferguson's team should edge out the French hot shots, though a good result in the first leg in Lyon is essential. United's young guns will have to be fully firing if they are to mix it with Europe's big boys.


LIVERPOOL v INTERNAZIONALE

LIVERPOOL STAR MAN: Fernando Torres
The £26.5m record summer-signing has hit 12 goals in his first 20 games at Liverpool, and as 'El Nino' has never played in the Champions League before, he is raring to make up for lost time.

MANAGER: Rafa Benitez
The Spaniard, 47, is a genus in Europe and has masterminded Liverpool's success in the past three seasons - they beat Milan in the 2005 final, reached the last 16 then lost against AC last season in another final.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Liverpool's tie against Inter is a repeat of a classic 1965 semi-final encounter when the Merseysiders won the first leg 3-1 at Anfield, only to lose 3-0 in Milan amid claims of dodgy refereeing.

MEMORABLE MOMENT:
After winning the "greatest match I have ever seen", then-manager Bill Shankly was appalled by the performance of referee in the second leg, after a number of dubious decisions saw the Italians through. They scored directly from an indirect free-kick, and the goalkeeper also had the ball kicked into the net from his hands.

LEAGUE FORM:
After losing to rivals Manchester United last weekend Liverpool have moved out of the top four and are 10 points off the pace. In their 16 games they have scored 27 and conceded only 10.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY:
Liverpool have won the European Cup five times - the most any British club has managed - and were the last English team to lift the trophy with their famous victory over AC Milan in Istanbul in 2005.

INTER STAR MAN: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The Swede is one of the most naturally talented players in Europe, with his transfers totalling nearly £40m over a career spanning Malmo, Ajax, Juventus and Inter. His unpredictability and superb technique will trouble Jamie Carragher and co.

MANAGER: Roberto Mancini
Former Leicester City striker had a superb playing career with Sampdoria and Lazio before moving into management, where he has won Inter the last two Scudetti (Italian league titles).

LEAGUE FORM: Unbeaten Inter have dropped only two points at home and six away. They are already seven points ahead of second-placed Roma, and have a goal difference of +27 - easily the best in the league.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY: Inter won the European Cup twice in the mid-60s and - apart from reaching the semi-final in 2002/3 and the quarter-finals in 2004/5 and 2005/6 - Mancini's club have failed to impress.

VERDICT:
If Torres and captain Steven Gerrard are on song anything is possible, though the Italian champions are top of Serie A again, and will be confident they can pile further pressure on Benitez.


ARSENAL v AC MILAN

ARSENAL STAR MAN: Cesc Fabregas
The 20-year-old midfield dynamo has added goals to his repertoire this year. Thierry Henry has not been missed this season thanks to the form of the diminutive Spaniard.

MANAGER: Arsene Wenger
The Frenchman is in his 11th season in charge of Arsenal and is hopeful that his young side can win the trophy that eluded him two years ago when Barcelona defeated them in the final at the Stade de France.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
The north Londoners have never met the reigning European and World champions in the Champions League, though they did play twice in the 1995 Super Cup when they lost 2-0 on aggregate.

MEMORABLE MOMENT:
Fabio Capello managed Milan to victory over two legs in the first Super Cup. Zvonomir Boban and Daniele Massaro scored the crucial goals in the second leg at the San Siro.

LEAGUE FORM:
The Gunners have only lost once in the league and remain top of the table having scored 34 times - the best in the division - and have conceded 14 times.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY:
Arsenal have never been crowned European champions though they have reached the last 16 in each of the past eight seasons, and came close in the final against Barca in 2006.

MILAN STAR MAN: Kaka

The 25-year-old Brazilain has been on superb form this year. Recently named European and World player of the Year, Kaka scored against Liverpool in the final earlier this year. He also netted against Boca Juniors earlier in the month as Milan were crowned World Club champions.

MANAGER: Carlo Ancelotti
The former Milan midfielder has won the European Cup both as a player and a manager. The 48-year old is also the longest-serving coach in Serie A - he has been with the Rossoneri since 2001 - and one of the most successful in their history.

LEAGUE FORM: Despite being champions of Europe and the World, Milan are struggling domestically. They are yet to win at home in Serie A and sit 11th in the table, 22 points behind their city rivals Inter.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY: Milan have won the European Cup seven times: twice in the 60s, twice in the 80s, once in the 90s and in 2002/3 and last year. Since their victory over Juventus on penalties in the 2003 Final, Milan have reached the quarter-finals or better.

VERDICT:
It's a tough one to call. Wenger has moulded his team into a dynamic force and his youngsters could show the age of the AC Milan team. Milan are current World and European champions, however, and - despite their poor Serie A form - will be hard to beat in knockout format as Manchester United found last season.


OLYMPIAKOS v CHELSEA

OLYMPIAKOS STAR MAN: Luciano Galletti
The Argentinean winger scored three goals in Olympiakos' six Champions League group stage ties, and poses a real threat to Ashley Cole with his pace and trickery on the Greek's right-hand side.

MANAGER: Takis Lemonis
The Greek is in his second spell in charge of the charge of the club. He was sacked in 2002 after a poor European campaign despite winning two consecutive Greek titles and, after periods in charge of four other Greek sides, he returned to the club in December last year.

LEAGUE FORM: Olympiakos are second to AEK Athens only on goal difference after 12 rounds of the 16-team Greek Super League. They have won all seven of their home games but have struggled away, picking up only six points from five games.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY: The Greek club have taken part in the last 11 Champions League competitions, though they have only advanced from the group stages on two occasions: they reached the quarter-final in 1998/9 and are in the last 16 this year.

CHELSEA STAR MAN: Didier Drogba
Without the Ivorian the Londoners struggle to score, though a high-profile striker is expected to arrive at Stamford Bridge in the January transfer window.

MANAGER: Avram Grant
Jose Mourinho's replacement has begun impressively, but whether we will see the histrionics from the Israeli manager in the Champions League that the Portuguese regularly displayed remains to be seen. This campaign will prove whether or not he is up to the job long-term.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS: These two have never met in European competition.

LEAGUE FORM:
Chelsea have recovered after the departure of Mourinho and sit in third - six points off Arsenal - having netted 34 goals and leaked 10 - the fewest in the league.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY:
The Blues reached three semi-finals between 2003 and 2007 - but lost on each occasion including two painful defeats to Liverpool over two legs.

VERDICT:
Grant's charges should have enough firepower to shoot down the Greek champions. Though whether they advance further will be down to Grant's management and tactics.

Labels: AC Milan, Arsenal, Barcelona, Celtic, Champions League, Chelsea, Internationalize Milan, Liverpool, Lyon, Manchester United, Olympiakos

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:59 pm | Permalink | Comments

WILSON: SCOTLAND CAN BEAT THE WORLD CHAMPIONS

Goalkeeping legend Bob Wilson is positive Scotland can achieve the result they need to gain qualification to Euro 2008 from Group B against Italy at Hampden Park tomorrow. After 11 games in the tough group the Scots are placed second, only one point behind the world champions, but with Arsenal target Craig Gordon between the sticks, the Scots have has enough talent to keep out the tactically-defensive world champions, thinks Wilson.

The 65-year-old, who made over 300 appearances for Arsenal in the sixties and seventies, and won a couple of caps for Scotland, is enthused by the way his countrymen beat world cup finalists France both home and away.

He said: “Scotland have done fantastically well. I think that they might do it against Italy.

“You saw the way Italy won played to win the World Cup – they were ultra defensive.

“And they were good in Germany, but if they play like that against Scotland – defensively – then we stand every chance of getting a result.

Wilson, Arsenal’s goalkeeping coach for 28 years, helped the careers of Pat Jennings and David Seaman, and admitted that Arsène Wenger has been an admirer of Gordon for a number of years.

“The Scottish defence has been superb in this qualifying campaign. And Craig Gordon has been fantastic.

“When I was still goalkeeping coach at Arsenal, a couple of years ago, we were looking at Craig. He is a big lad and he has great goalkeeping qualities.

“Arsène was very interested in Craig, but I just hope he does the job on Saturday. Whatever happens, Scotland have had a great qualifying tournament.”

Labels: Arsenal, Bob Wilson, Craig Gordon, football, Italy, Scotland

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 10:29 am | Permalink | Comments

Labels: Arsenal, Federer, French Open, Nadal, Roger, Roland Garros

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 9:13 am | Permalink | Comments

The Guardian Unilimited, sports report:
Jose Antonio Reyes doesn't want to return to the Premiership. Click HERE to view.

Labels: Arsenal, football, Jose Antonio Reyes, Premiership, Real Madrid

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:18 pm | Permalink | Comments