Mirror Football

Wenger hails 'outstanding' Gunners

2010-03-21T08:41:01Z

Arsene Wenger hailed the new-found maturity of his young Arsenal side after they overcame the sending off of defender Thomas Vermaelen to battle back to the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 2-0 win over struggling West Ham.Denilson fired the Gunners in front after only five minutes but Vermaelen was deemed to have been the last man when he pulled down Guillermo Franco, and was shown a straight red card by referee Martin Atkinson. Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, however, saved Ales...

Why Aquilani is the Premier League's 'Golden Bin' winner

2010-03-20T22:56:19Z

In Italy it’s called the Bidone d’Oro, the most unwanted award in football.The prize goes to the biggest flop of the season. The player who costs his club a fortune as a marquee signing and turns out to be an embarrassing turkey.Step forward Juventus midfielder Felipe Melo. The Brazillian was taunted by Juve fans at Fulham last Thursday and has failed to live up to the £25million fee paid to Fiotentina for him last summer.So who would rate as the Premier League’s biggest flop of the curr...

Iniesta out to earn bragging rights over old pal Fabregas

2010-03-20T23:34:20Z

Barcelona star determined to dump Arsenal out of the Champions League

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham: The Sunday Mirror match report

2010-03-20T21:23:13Z

Gunners show grit and resolve of champions to move top

Arsenal's title charge to be boosted by van Persie return

2010-03-20T22:50:44Z

Arsene Wenger says striker could be back in action in a month

Gunners move top after Hammers defeat

2010-03-20T20:01:02Z

Arsenal overcame the sending off of defender Thomas Vermaelen to battle back to the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 2-0 win over struggling West Ham.Denilson fired the Gunners in front after only five minutes as Arsene Wenger's men looked to leapfrog Manchester United and Chelsea, who do not play until Sunday.However, Vermaelen was deemed to have been the last man when he pulled down Guillermo Franco, and was shown a straight red card, but Manuel Almunia saved Alessandro Diamanti's ...

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham: Ten-men Gunners shoot back to the top of the table

2010-03-20T19:40:01Z

Denilson and Fabregas score as Arsenal win despite Vermaelen red card

HT Arsenal 1-0 West Ham: Denilson opens scoring but Gunners down to 10 men

2010-03-20T18:29:38Z

Alessandro Diamanti misses penalty after Thomas Vermaelen shown red

Pictures of the Week, March 14-20, 2010

2010-03-20T13:28:52Z

Welcome to our new Pictures of the Week gallery, your pictorial guide to the past seven days in football.

And what a week it's been: Euro glory - and despair; managerial sackings - and appointments; and, of course, that injury to David Beckham.

Come back next - and every - Saturday for more amazing football pictures from the week that was,

What do you think will happen in today's games?

2010-03-20T12:20:45Z

It's shaping up to be a great weekend for football, with the best of the action likely to happen at Old Trafford tomorrow, when Liverpool face Manchester United.There's still plenty of great games to get your teeth into today, however.In the Premier League, Arsenal can do their title ambitions a world of good by beating troubled West Ham, while the race for fourth place sees Spurs travel to Stoke, Villa host rivals Wolves and Everton take on Bolton. And at the bottom, Iain Dowie will manage H...

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Saturday's papers

2010-03-20T11:52:56Z

From today's Daily Mirror: Benitez: I would rather have Torres than Rooney Reina: I will sign a new deal - I am lucky to be at Liverpool Paolo Di Canio 'dreams' of becoming West Ham boss Zola denies David Gold dressing room rift Tamas set to seal permanent West Brom deal Forest close to clinching permanent deal for midfielder Phillips urges Birmingham to spend wisely this summer From today's other papers:Portsmouth's Serbia international Dusko Tosic is expected to join Swansea on an emer...

Wenger puts emotion aside

2010-03-20T15:31:06Z

Arsene Wenger has every sympathy with the plight of Gianfranco Zola, but will not be looking to do the under-pressure West Ham manager any favours when Arsenal aim to go top of the Barclays Premier League at Emirates Stadium.The Gunners - who were handed a glamour Champions League quarter-final clash against holders and favourites Barcelona - can take full advantage of Manchester United and Chelsea both not playing until Sunday by beating the relegation battlers.Wenger said: "I have a lot of ...

Gallas set to miss Barcelona clash after suffering setback

2010-03-19T22:20:33Z

Arsene Wenger is "80 per cent" certain defender will miss the first leg

Wenger: Barcelona defeat was the worst day of my football life

2010-03-19T22:13:03Z

Gunners chief out for revenge after 2007 Champions League final loss

Chelsea's European exit could cost them the title, claims Arsene Wenger

2010-03-19T22:24:13Z

Gunners chief says rivals could be mentally affected by Inter Milan defeat

Arsenal's Champions League clash with Barca is one for the sadists - not purists

2010-03-19T19:59:05Z

You've got to think Barcelona won't be happy drawing Arsenal in the Champions League - they'll be absolutely ecstatic.The quarter-final match-up throws up the intriguing prospect of Thierry Henry's return to the Emirates, and a Barcelona v Inter Milan semi-final.Some are saying it's a game for the purists; the more enlightened reckon it's one for the sadists.Barca's dangerman is Lionel Messi; his Arsenal counterpart is Nicklas Bendtner. No wonder bookies have Barca as short as 1-3 to go throu...

Wenger calls for domestic focus

2010-03-19T19:11:10Z

Arsene Wenger has called on his Arsenal players to focus on beating West Ham on Saturday to go top of the Barclays Premier League rather than be distracted by their glamour Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona.The Gunners were drawn against the holders and favourites on Friday morning, whom they lost against in the 2006 final in Paris.Wenger is looking forward to the tie, but warned: "We have fought since August for the championship and it is important we keep our mind on what is ...

3PM Extra: The best things we've found on the internet today - Friday, March 19, 2010

2010-03-19T15:56:30Z

We don't know if the internet's funny guys are all watching the Cheltenham Gold Cup or what, but there's a distinct dearth of videos doing the rounds today.Still, these crackers should tide you over until it's time to spend your winnings/drown your sorrows come beer o'clock.1) Forget Kauto Star v Denman, the only debate we care about is who's better: Messi or Rooney? Our new star columnist Jermain Defoe had his say earlier on today, and now you can make your own mind up courtesy of this handy...

Arsenal will be underdogs against Barcelona, admits Wenger

2010-03-19T17:40:13Z

Manager urges his players to concentrate on West Ham rather than Champions League, though

The Champions League draw has turned the competition into a Man United job audition

2010-03-19T13:49:45Z

Two of the men being touted as successors to Sir Alex Ferguson could go head-to-head with the Manchester United boss in the latter stages of the Champions League thanks to the quarter-final draw.Jose Mourinho has been staking his claim for the United hot-seat ever since he departed Chelsea in such bitter circumstances two years ago.And the way he knocked his old club out of Europe’s top competition in such style in midweek will not have gone unnoticed in the corridors of power at Old Trafford...

'This is where it starts to matter, where every game counts' - Martin Lipton previews a crucial weekend in the title race

2010-03-19T12:02:54Z

A week off for United and Arsenal. A week of woe for Chelsea.And with a potentially titanic and pivotal weekend to come, the shape of the title race could take a dramatic and decisive shift.Arsene Wenger and his players know this is their opportunity to really turn up the heat.Beat West Ham at The Emirates - something they should accomplish with the minimum of fuss - and the pressure will really be turned up on their rivals.The three-point haul that is within the Gunners' grasp would take Ars...

Arsenal drawn against Barcelona, Manchester United get Bayern Munich

2010-03-19T12:44:26Z

Gunners handed tricky tie against the holders

Listen to the new MirrorFootball podcast - March 19, 2010

2010-03-19T11:19:24Z

Welcome to the new MirrorFootball podcast - available to download from MirrorFootball.co.uk every Friday, and also via subscription on iTunes.This week: Daily Mirror assistant sports editor Alan McKinlay, 3PM columnist Steve Anglesey and Daily Mirror reporter Darren Lewis look ahead to a massive weekend of Premier League action.Can Liverpool upset Manchester United at Old Trafford? Will Chelsea recover from their Champions League exit to stay on course for the Premier League title? Can West H...

Fergie challenges United players to keep top spot all season as Giggs returns to fitness

2010-03-19T10:56:53Z

United boss: 'I think staying top of the league at this stage of the season, we'll be difficult to knock off'

Song itching for Gunners return

2010-03-19T16:41:01Z

Alex Song admits he has been going crazy watching from the sidelines during a two-match ban - and cannot wait to get back into the thick of Arsenal's title challenge.The race for the Barclays Premier League crown has developed into one of the closest of recent seasons, with only two points now separating the top three, although Chelsea have played a game less."It is very difficult to watch your friends when you don't play, but I had confidence in my team. We have the players to come in and do...

Follow the Europa League draw LIVE

2010-03-19T11:52:25Z

Now that England's Champions League representatives know who they will be facing, it's almost time for the Europa League teams to discover their fate. Arsenal drawn against Barcelona, Manchester United get Bayern Munich Champions League special - Martin Lipton rates the remaining eight runners and riders gunning for the European Cup Liverpool and Fulham both overturned first-leg deficits last night to book their place in the quarter-finals, and at midday they will find out who they will be f...

Why Sol Campbell is my hero of the week

2010-03-18T16:03:21Z

The hero of the week award this Friday goes to the admittedly unlikely figure of Sol Campbell. For those of you who didn’t catch the news, the defender who these days possesses all the mobility of a cement mixer chained to the Cenotaph agreed to defer the money he is owed by Portsmouth Football Club.Now, you might argue that Campbell is a very rich man indeed, and that Portsmouth are a very, very poor club. Both of these observations are true. But Sol is owed the money and he has a right to c...

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Friday's papers

2010-03-19T09:55:56Z

From today's Daily Mirror:Robinho set for early City return due to Santos salary row Riera banished from Liverpool due to bust-up with young reserve player - Exclusive Arsenal and Man City target Yaya Toure rules out move to Premier League Sunderland offer olive branch to Spurs in bid to land defensive star McLeish warns West Ham they won't get Brum stars by using a FIFA loophole Fergie Jnr hoping dad will sell him midfielder in the summer Blackpool set to raid Crystal Palace for veteran defe...

Arsenal to move for Brede Hangeland in the summer?

2010-03-19T09:20:29Z

William Gallas, Mikaël Silvestre and Sol Campbell all out of contract at the end of the season

MirrorFootball's Best XI: Beardies

2010-03-18T18:03:56Z

After the soaraway successes of our Baldy XI and our Ginga XI, this week we want your help to compile the all-time Beardy XI.That's right, those fells with the best facial fuzz in the business are about to get their moment in the sun.To help you out, we've compiled the magnificent gallery of hirsute heroes above, but no doubt you will have plenty of thoughts of your own.You can nominate your players by leaving a comment below, posting on our Facebook page or joining in the debate on our Twitt...

Nobody wants to meet Messi in Champions League draw, says Thierry Henry

2010-03-19T12:48:44Z

Barcelona are still the team everyone fears, says French star

Arsenal should pray to avoid Man United in Champions League, says Oleg Luyzhny

2010-03-19T12:48:16Z

Former Double winner thinks his old club would do better against foreign opposition

Arsenal and Man City target Yaya Toure rules out move to Premier League

2010-03-18T20:45:32Z

Barcelona star won't be following brother Kolo to England

Why genius Mourinho must be the next Man United boss

2010-03-18T20:27:33Z

Jose Mourinho is more than a manager. He is the man.I told you here last week that Real Madrid should move heaven and earth to make him their next boss, but after his triumphant return to Stamford Bridge I've got something even bigger in mind.There are persistent rumours linking Jose with Liverpool but I think he would be crazy to go there if Rafa Benitez goes. They need more than the four world-class players Fernando Torres is asking for and that makes it too big a rebuilding job with owners...

3PM Extra: The best things we've found on the internet today - March 18, 2010

2010-03-18T14:41:30Z

OK, so you've done your wages betting on three-legged nags down in the west country and, consequently, are facing a weekend sniffing turps rather than out on the lash. But things ain't all that bad. We're still here every afternoon to cheer you up...1) MirrorFootball's current favourite thing out there in internet land (apart from MirrorFootball, of course!) is the official website of one Andrey Arshavin. The slightly stern looking Russian Gunner is, in fact, quite clearly bonkers in the nut....

Strawberry blond? Who are you kidding! The best Ginga XI of all-time

2010-03-18T13:15:12Z

So, ladies and gentlemen, here it is... the best Ginga XI - EVER!In honour of Paul Scholes scoring his 100th Premier League goal for Man United recently, we wanted your nominations for a team packed with carrot-topped heroes.Thanks to all of you who sent us your suggestions via Twitter and Facebook.There will be another one later this week, so keep an eye out on our Twitter and Facebook pages for the details.But now, without further ado, here is the definitive all-time Ginga XI...Goalkeeper: ...

Champions League special - Martin Lipton rates the remaining eight runners and riders gunning for the European Cup

2010-03-19T15:23:08Z

So now it's down to eight, a rather different-looking elite to the one we had all expected.There is no Chelsea and no Real Madrid but there are some mouth-watering ties nonetheless. Arsenal vs Barcelona is the kind of match-up that will be so eagerly anticipated that it will struggle to live up to it's immense billing.Bayern Munich vs Manchester United is another clash of European titans who will both have fancied their chances of making it to Madrid on May 22.But which team is looking most l...

10 things we learned from watching Barcelona vs Stuttgart

2010-03-18T11:56:09Z

Barcelona turned in a masterclass of football last night as they eased into the Champions League quarter-finals and reaffirmed their position as tournament favourites. Messi brace puts Barca through The Catalans would like nothing more than to be the first team to retain the trophy for 20 years, especially since the Final is being played at the Bernabeau - Real Madrid’s backyard.There is simply no better team to watch in world football. MirrorFootball’s Richard Arrowsmith picks out ten points...

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Thursday's papers

2010-03-18T10:24:56Z

From today's Daily Mirror:Chelsea planning dream team pairing of Drogba and Torres Abramovich will stick with Ancelotti and bankroll £140million summer spree Villa target £9m deal for Spurs ace - Exclusive Wolves star Hahnemann targets survival and a new deal Interest grows in QPR's Alejandro Faurlin Riera's broadside at Rafa's 'sinking ship' Gary Johnson faces Bristol City axe Other rumours and gossip:Pavlyuchenko pledges future to Spurs Mancini reassures Toure over Man City future Villa to ...

The full-backs shouldn't be the fall guys for Arsenal

2010-03-17T16:41:47Z

Arsene Wenger has pulled off a minor miracle this season even by keeping Arsenal in a three-horse title race.The Gunners' crippling injury list, coupled with having smaller resources than Chelsea and Manchester United, make the achievement all the more impressive.But there are two players who deserve even more praise than most because they have been pushed to the limit over the past few months.They are the team's full-backs, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy, who have been horribly exposed at time...

Clichy: Bring on Barcelona

2010-03-17T17:50:23Z

Arsenal star wants a Champions League final showdown with Thierry Henry

Chelsea transfer special: who will join in the summer - and who will leave?

2010-03-18T17:35:43Z

Following their ignominious Champions League exit at the hands of Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan, Chelsea are making plans for a massive overhaul of their ageing squad in the summer.Here MirrorFootball's Martin Lipton casts his expert eye over the players who could be coming and going in the next transfer window.The Wish ListFernando Torres (Liverpool)Liverpool’s fight for fourth will determine if the Spaniard is available but Abramovich has already tried to sign him onceChelsea planning dream t...

Abramovich will stick with Ancelotti and bankroll £140million summer spree

2010-03-18T08:28:15Z

Owner desperate to inject young blood into ageing Chelsea squad

Song: 'Belief is the key to title challenge'

2010-03-17T17:54:01Z

Arsenal star insists Gunners never know when they are beaten

3PM Extra: The best videos we've found on the internet today - Wednesday, March 17

2010-03-17T16:58:15Z

It's almost Guinness o'clock! But if you've already exhausted our amazing St Patrick's Day Irish football legends archive special, then here's some ace footy vids to help while away the time until you can stuff your face with potato and cabbage and fall down drunk in the street in the name of religious martyrs.1) Following hot on the heels of Alan Shearer's legendarily brusque newspaper interview last week, we present further evidence that Wor Alan could well be the most curmudgeonly man in f...

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Wednesday's papers

2010-03-17T10:20:50Z

From today's Daily Mirror:Real Madrid target Ashley Cole Davenport seeks clean break from West Ham Blades set for sweeping cuts if promotion bid fails - Exclusive Arsenal given Fab fitness boost - Exclusive Hull appoint Dowie as new manager - Exclusive Beckham feeling 'positive' after surgery - but doc says World Cup return unlikely Portsmouth set for Premier League points penalty What's wrong with Steven Gerrard? And could he be about to leave Liverpool? From today's other papers:Arsenal t...

Roll up, roll up... get your bottled atmosphere here

2010-03-16T16:19:56Z

The National Trust has hit on the wheeze of selling bottled fresh air to gullible townies. This has got some hard-up chairmen thinking they might be able to cash in on this emerging market by selling bottled atmosphere. Too many grounds these days rely on loud-mouthed MCs and rock music to work their crowds into a frenzy. The chairmen are thinking they could provide an alternative by capturing the atmosphere at big games and flogging it off to other clubs. The way it would work is that a numb...

Arsenal given Fab fitness boost - Exclusive

2010-03-17T12:53:28Z

Gunners captain will return to action against West Ham this weekend

3PM Extra: The best videos we've found on the internet today - Tuesday, March 17

2010-03-16T17:00:03Z

Day one of Cheltenham is over, and already the Mirror Football shirt is lost. With nothing left to play for except the fun of seeing how many days Alan Brazil will miss of his TalkSport show due to extreme thirst, we're taking solace in these brilliant football videos from the interweb.

1) Not sure, but we THINK this might be a foul...

Arshavin reveals accident

2010-03-17T11:41:01Z

Arsenal forward Andrey Arshavin was unhurt after being involved in a traffic accident on Monday.Team-mate Nicklas Bendtner had what an ambulance spokesman called a "very lucky escape" earlier in the season when he crashed his Aston Martin into a tree - but Arshavin's collision was minor in comparison and only led to a damaged bumper.Arshavin, who was with his wife Julia, revealed the accident on his official website.The incident coming two days after the 28-year-old Russia international score...