Manchester United suffered a double blow on Thursday with Daley Blind ruled out for a 'long' spell due to a knee problem and Radamel Falcao receiving a "new injury" that will keep him out for at least two more weeks.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson lauded Cristiano Ronaldo and offered sympathy for old adversary Arsene Wenger after his side ripped Arsenal apart to reach the Champions League final on Tuesday. Ronaldo scored twice as a rampant United won 3-1 at the Emirates to complete a 4-1 aggregate victory and put them on the verge of becoming the first club to retain the Champions League.
Arsenal must balance a need for goals while resolutely guarding against Manchester United's marauding counter-attacks if they are to knock the holders out of the Champions League on Tuesday. Arsene Wenger's side need to inflict United's first defeat in 25 Champions League matches as the defending champions arrive at the Emirates Stadium looking to protect a 1-0 advantage in the semi-final tie.
Arsenal are likely to use Cesc Fabregas in an advanced role to add more bite to their attack in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Arsene Wenger can be excused a little smugness as he prepares his Arsenal side for Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg at home to Villarreal as a bleak-looking season has suddenly burst into bloom. Last week's 1-1 draw in Spain makes Arsenal favourites to progress to a semi-final against either holders Manchester United or Porto while on Saturday they face Chelsea in the last four of the FA Cup at Wembley.
"This was one of the reasons why I took this opportunity. To train with all these personalities and this talent."
Arsenal landed a meaty blow in the Premier League title race with a 2-1 win at home to rivals Manchester City that swept away a few more doubts about their title credentials.
France and Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud has fuelled speculation that Jamie Vardy is on his way to the Gunners by saying he has heard the Leicester City striker is keen to move.
Tottenham Hotspur's success in claiming a top-four Premier League finish on Wednesday to guarantee Champions League football next season has been a "massive achievement", manager Mauricio Pochettino said.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo was poised to join Arsenal before Manchester United offered three times as much money, the Ballon d'Or winner said in an interview published Friday. 'I was within an inch of (joining Arsenal),' Ronaldo told France Football. 'I have a lot of respect for (manager Arsene) Wenger, he is a very clever man.'
Images from the Champions League round of 16 second leg matches played on Tuesday
'Keep Calm And Carry On' could be Claudio Ranieri's motto for the second half of the season after Leicester City earned a 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday to put the heat back on Premier League leaders Arsenal.
A fixture billed as a pre-Christmas cracker was more 'In the Bleak Midwinter' than 'Jingle Bell Rock' as Arsenal's hopes of regaining top spot in the Premier League fizzled out in a turgid 0-0 draw with Chelsea.
Chelsea, Valencia and Lazio shook things up in England, Spain and Italy by climbing to the top of their respective leagues.
Manuel Pellegrini berated referee Mark Clattenburg and said his performance cost Manchester City victory after a breathless 2-2 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal's future looks to be in safe hands after a largely teenage side produced a sparkling display to thrash Championship (second division) Sheffield United 6-0 in the third round of the League Cup on Tuesday. Manchester United needed two late goals to beat 10-man Middlesbrough 3-1.
France defender William Gallas scored two minutes from time to salvage a 1-1 draw for Arsenal against Dynamo Kiev in their Champions League tie on Wednesday.
Chelsea's hopes of winning the Premier League title were rocked at Stamford Bridge on Monday when an injury time goal from Emile Heskey gave the relegation-threatened visitors a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. Although they were not playing, Manchester United were the big winners on the night as Heskey's goal left Chelsea five points behind Alex Ferguson's league leaders with only four matches to play.
Arsenal suffered another injury blow ahead of Sunday's Premier League game against Manchester United when midfielder Mathieu Flamini was ruled out for up to three weeks with an ankle injury on Thursday. The Frenchman suffered the injury in the first half of Tuesday's Champions League defeat by Liverpool when he was replaced by Gilberto Silva before halftime and the Brazilian is set to start in his place at Old Trafford.
Mesut Ozil quit Real Madrid to join Arsenal because he realised he no longer had the confidence of Real coach Carlo Ancelotti, the Germany playmaker said.
Arsenal skipper and playmaker Cesc Fabregas will be out with a medial knee ligament injury for up to four months, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told reporters on Tuesday. The 21-year-old Spaniard, who was named Arsenal captain in place of William Gallas a month ago, was injured in a 50-50 challenge with Spanish team mate Xabi Alonso during Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Liverpool.
Arsenal kept up their 100 percent home record this season with a 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Monday, with new club record signing Alexandre Lacazette grabbing both the goals.
Arsenal skipper and playmaker Cesc Fabregas will be out with a medial knee ligament injury for up to four months, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told reporters on Tuesday.
Porto beat an under-strength Arsenal side 2-0 on Wednesday to clinch top spot in Group G of the Champions League. With the two teams already guaranteed a place in the first knockout round, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, in his 700th game in charge of the London side, rested several first choice players and chose to field young reserves instead.
France playmaker Samir Nasri has agreed to join Arsenal from Olympique Marseille, the English Premier League club said on Friday. Nasri, who will join up with the rest of the Arsenal squad for pre-season training on July 21, made two substitute appearances for France at Euro 2008 and has 12 caps in total.
A text message saying "goal" sent to the referee's watch will end disputes over whether the ball has crossed the line in the English Premier League this season.
rare header by Cesc Fabregas in injury time earned Arsenal a 1-1 draw at Sunderland on Saturday after the home side had seemed on course for an upset win when they took the lead in the 86th minute.
Hull City secured a stunning 2-1 win at Arsenal in the English Premier League on Saturday thanks to a header by Daniel Cousin that ruined Arsene Wenger's 12th anniversary as manager of the north London side. It was only Arsenal's second defeat in 60 matches at the Emirates Stadium and meant they tumbled from first place at the start of the day into fourth spot. Hull, who are playing in the top division for the first time, are sixth.
Real Madrid's Gareth Bale and Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey will miss Wales' friendly at home to the Netherlands on November 13, manager Chris Coleman said on Wednesday.
Arsenal trio Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky will miss next week's Premier League Asia Trophy.
The pressure is now on Leicester City's title rivals to remove the Foxes from the top of the Premier League table, manager Claudio Ranieri said after Saturday's thumping 3-1 league victory over Manchester City.
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere will be out of action for three months after undergoing ankle surgery, the Premier League club said on Thursday.
Photos from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday
Tottenham Hotspur reached the League Cup final after an emphatic 5-1 victory over Arsenal.
Arsenal's dramatic 2-1 Champions League win against Anderlecht on Wednesday rescued three valuable points but the victory only served to paper over the ever-widening cracks.
Chelsea striker Diego Costa and Arsenal's Gabriel Paulista have both been charged by the Football Association after incidents in Saturday's bad-tempered Premier League derby at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal moved top of the Premier League with a 3-1 defeat of StokeCity with in-form midfielder Aaron Ramsey again providing the spark on Sunday.
Henry, who started out playing for Monaco and went on to enjoy a stellar club career with Arsenal and Barcelona, has been working as assistant coach for the Belgian national team but has never been in charge of a team in his own right.
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