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Monday, March 21, 2011

SPORTS AND GAME, GOSSIPS AND TRANSFERS (Monday)

TRANSFER GOSSIP
 
Manchester United are ready to beat rivals Arsenal to the signature of talented Southampton youngstwe Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who is set to move to Old Trafford in a £10m deal.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is ready to outbid Tottenham for Blackpool skipper Charlie Adam this summer.
OTHER GOSSIP
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has insisted that goalkeeper Jens Lehmann is a long way off being ready to play in the Premier League even after Manuel Almunia's weekend calamity - when he gifted West Brom a goal by rushing out of his area.
Full story: Daily Mail
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has called for video technology to be used in the Premier League after the Black Cats were the victims of a penalty blunder in Sunday's game against Liverpool.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that he is lucky to be still in a job after the Blues poor run of form this season.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Citizens Fall At The Bridge
What started out as a tame affair at Stamford Bridge came to life in the dying moments as goals from David Luiz and Ramires secured a 2-0 win for Chelsea over Manchester City. The three points see the Blues leapfrog their opponents into third place in the Premier League...

Inter Close Gap On Milan
Giampaolo Pazzini's well-taken second-half goal against Lecce led Inter to glory on Sunday in Serie A. Picking up the full three points against the struggling side sees coach Leonardo's charges close the gap on league leaders Milan to just two points, putting the Scudetto up for grabs...

Liverpool Sink Sunderland
Liverpool cruised to a 2-0 win over 10-man Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon, with the goals coming from a controversial Dirk Kuyt penalty and Luis Suarez strike. With the win, The Reds move up to sixth in the Premier League table, just seven points behind Spurs...

Carroll Returns
Andy Carroll is back in England's squad for their Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales, after recovering from an injury spell and returning to action with Liverpool. Meanwhile, coach Fabio Capello has sprung a double surprise by including Matt Jarvis and Kyle Walker...

CR7 A Doubt For Spurs
Real Madrid have suffered more bad news from the treatment table as Cristiano Ronaldo is potentially ruled out for three weeks with a hamstring injury. While CR7 is known for quick recoveries, the winger's availability to face Spurs on April 5 remains a serious doubt for the Blancos...

Berba Wants New Deal
Dimitar Berbatov is extremely keen to prolong his stay with Manchester United, reports in England suggest. The Bulgarian was the Red Devils' hero on Saturday after scoring their decisive goal against Bolton, and after a largely fruitful campaign he wants to remain at Old Trafford...

ARSENAL SHOW STRENGTH BUT THEIR DEFENDING WILL MAKE THEM CRY
It's been the most bizarre season in Premier League history, but for Arsenal, some things never change.

The Chelsea empire has imploded, Manchester United are top of the table in uncharacteristically unconvincing style and just ten points separates 20th place from seventh. For all the upheaval elsewhere, the Gunners' 2-2 draw with West Brom contained the perennial slapstick goalkeeping and defending we have come to expect from manager Arsene Wenger's error-strewn squad.

Since age, loss of form and controversy caught up with the 'Invincibles' back line of 2003-04 manned by Jens Lehmann, Lauren, Sol Campbell, Kolo Toure and Ashley Cole, the generation that followed has refused to follow in their stoic footsteps.

On Saturday, walking time bombs Manuel Almunia and Sebastien Squillaci were on hand again to throw a grenade into manager Arsene Wenger's dreams of the first piece of silverware since 2005. On the same afternoon as Dimitar Berbatov pulled United from the depths against Bolton Wanderers, crippling mistakes made comeback strikes from Andrei Arshavin and Robin van Persie moot.

Incisive passing, technical brilliance and an unplayable tempo was unleashed. The goals came from opposite ends of the spectrum, with Arshavin's missile worthy of a Soviet MiG fighter plane and Van Persie's slide tackle straight from the highlight reel of Newcastle United clogger Alan Smith.

West Brom only had to wait until just before the hour mark before 'chuckle brothers' Almunia and Squillaci turned an aimless Youssouf Mulumbu clearance into an open goal for Peter Odemwingie to tap home from outside the penalty area.
Such gifts are rarely handed out by Sir Alex Ferguson's men. They are made of far sterner stuff than that.

For years, the long suffering Arsenal faithful has urged Wenger to ditch Almunia and spend big on a Premier League proven centre-back. Instead, the Spaniard has been left in situ to flop when injury to the inexperienced Wojciech Szczesny, while cut-price Frenchman Squillaci has lived up to his fee.

The race isn't yet won by United. Arsenal are now five points behind them with a game in hand - away to Tottenham - to come. A small gap in points separates them. It is, however, the gaping chasm in attitude that will ensure Ferguson's 'unconvincibles' are spraying the champagne in May.

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