Sailesh Mahat

Wenger Makes A Case For Defence

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed he intends to sign a defender this summer after he admitted his side's performances at the back this year have been "average". The Gunners rounded off their Barclays Premier League campaign with a 4-0 win over Fulham on Sunday to beat rivals Tottenham into third place. Failure in both of the domestic cup competitions and a Champions League exit to Barcelona this year means Arsenal have now gone five seasons without winning a trophy. Wenger has...

CITY STUN CHELSEA, UNITED CLOSE GAP

Chelsea's lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League was cut to two points after they lost 2-1 at Manchester City after champions Manchester United won 4-0 at West Ham. City ended a run of seven successive league draws by coming from behind to triumph, with Shay Given's penalty save from Frank Lampard proving decisive. The visitors took an eighth minute lead after Given saved from Nicolas Anelka, but the ball diverted into the net off Emmanuel Adebayor's back. Togo striker Adeba...

GERRARD REVISES REDS TARGET

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has admitted a top-four finish is now a more realistic aim than winning the Barclays Premier League this season. The Reds, one of the pre-season title favourites after finishing second last year, have fallen 13 points behind leaders Chelsea after a poor run of form throughout October and November. Rafael Benitez's side cannot progress to the knockout phase of the Champions League either and Gerrard accepts trying to qualify for Europe's elite competitio...

BLUES BETTER NOW – CARVALHO

Ricardo Carvalho claims the current Chelsea side is stronger than the title-winning team put together by Jose Mourinho five years ago. Mourinho guided Chelsea to their first league win in 50 years in 2005 with a side that lost just once in 38 games and conceded only 15 goals. The current Chelsea team of Carlo Ancelotti have already lost twice this term but have been installed as title favourites having opened up a five-point lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League, conceding eight g...

HUGHES: WENGER “DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO BEHAVE”

Mark Hughes has accused Arsene Wenger of being a bad loser after Manchester City knocked Arsenal out of the Carling Cup. Hughes was annoyed at Wenger's apparent refusal to shake his hand after the 3-0 win, with the Frenchman disappearing down the tunnel while Hughes searched for him at the final whistle. "Maybe he's used to winning games and when he does lose sometimes he doesn't know how to behave," said Hughes. "At one point I was over on his side of the technical area and he seemed t...

BRUCE HAILS BENT QUALITY

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce backed Darren Bent's claims on a place in England's World Cup squad after seeing him fire Arsenal to their first defeat in 14 games. Bent's 71st-minute strike, his ninth goal of the season, put paid to the Gunners' hopes on Wearside as the Black Cats prevented them from scoring for the first time this season. It was the perfect response after his disappointing showing in England's friendly defeat by Brazil in Doha last weekend, and left his manager championing h...

RAFA: WE WILL GET TOP FOUR SPOT

Rafa Benitez appears to have lowered his aims for Liverpool's season after their 2-2 draw with Manchester City on Saturday. Liverpool now sit in seventh, 13 points behind leaders Chelsea, but only two points off the crucial Champions League places. After their second successive draw, Liverpool have only won once in the last six games, but Benitez believes that when their current injury problems have abated their form will improve. However, he appears to have given up hope of winning...

EDUARDO HOPES TO IMPRESS

Arsenal striker Eduardo insists he is ready to step into the void created by Robin van Persie's injury. The Gunners have been firing on all cylinders this term, with 17 different players on target in all competitions. Leading the way has been Persie, who has been at his free-scoring best since being reverted to a central striking role. He has led the line in style, notching seven goals in 11 Premier League outings, as the Gunners have made steady progress. The news that he is now fac...

FABREGAS KEEPS FOCUS ON ARSENAL

Cesc Fabregas has reiterated his desire to win trophies at Arsenal, but also admitted that he does not know what the future holds. The Gunners captain is currently away on international duty with Spain where fresh rumours have surfaced regarding the 22-year-old. Reports in Spain suggest that Sandro Rosell wants to use Fabregas as the figurehead of his bid to become the new president at Barcelona, with Joan Laporta set to step down at the end of the season. Meanwhile, Spanish newspaper A...

EDWARDS TALKS UP ‘GREAT’ RAMSEY

Aaron Ramsey enhanced his growing reputation with an outstanding performance that plunged Scotland into further turmoil and gave Wales their best win in months. The Arsenal teenager, despite playing with a back injury that had restricted his training all week, walked away with the man of the match champagne after spending just 56 minutes tormenting Scotland and their under-fire boss George Burley. Wales boss John Toshack would not risk his prized asset any further, and the 18-year-old ...