• Home
• Archives
• LiveScores
• LeagueTables
• Trophies

News Feed

Campbell can cope with Rooney threat: Wenger

Arsene Wenger insists Sol Campbell can cope with the challenge of facing in-form Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney in Sunday’s crucial showdown at the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger will hand Campbell his first Premier League start since rejoining the Gunners if Belgian centre-back Thomas Vermaelen is unable to recover from the knee injury that forced him off at Aston Villa on Wednesday.

Campbell, who left Arsenal for Portsmouth in 2006, is on stand-by to replace Vermaelen in Arsenal’s most important game of the season even though the ex-England international has made only three appearances all season.

The 35-year-old spent four months out of the game after quitting Notts County. He eventually returned to Arsenal following a lengthy period training with his old team and made his second debut in last weekend’s FA Cup defeat at Stoke before coming on as a substitute against Villa.

Now Campbell faces the sternest test of his top-level comeback as he prepares to go head to head with England forward Rooney, who has scored 13 goals in his last 13 appearances for United.

Wenger has no doubts that Campbell’s experience will enable him to rise to the challenge.

“Sol can cope with Rooney. He is ready if he has recovered well. I have to assess him but normally he will play if Vermaelen doesn’t play,” Wenger said on Friday.

“He has experience and he likes the big games. He can turn up if needed and experience helps in these kind of games.

“It was certainly not expected a few months ago when he signed for Notts County that he would be playing a game like this.

“That shows you how quick football is and I believe that he has worked very hard and credit to him, everyday he was motivated to push himself and he is quite fit.”

While Wenger acknowledges Rooney will pose a substantial threat for United, he refuses to focus solely on shutting out the striker.

“I don’t think they are over-reliant on Rooney, they changed their system a little bit the other day against Manchester City and didn’t play with two strikers,” Wenger said.

“They played with only Rooney up front and then of course he becomes the focal point of the game. But they have plenty of players, for example, in the game on Wednesday, (Ryan) Giggs was as well very influential.

“Rooney was at the end of things but Giggs created a lot of things in the game.”

Wenger hopes Vermaelen could be back in a week if scans show he has not suffered a fracture, but the Arsenal boss will definitely be without Croatia striker Eduardo, who sustained a hamstring problem at Villa, and Nicklas Bendtner could deputise.

Those injuries couldn’t have come at a worse time for Wenger as he tries to guide his team through a period that will define Arsenal’s season.

The Gunners are two points behind leaders Chelsea and one point behind United. With tough games against Chelsea and Liverpool coming up next, Wenger knows a victory on Sunday would be a major boost to morale at such a pivotal point in the campaign.

“I believe that no matter what happens we will still be in a position where we will have a chance after these games, but it can put us in a very strong position and that is what we want,” Wenger said.

“We know that to be successful in this period we have to be more of a team than the other teams. We have to think how strong and how much solidarity it takes to get through a period like that. That is what we want to show on Sunday.

“We love being in the race. Of course it was our dream to be in this position in this period of time.”

Although Alex Ferguson has had the better of his duels with Wenger during their 14 years competing for supremacy in England, the French coach still relishes clashes with United more than any other contest.

“I look forward to it because it is a match which always promises good football,” Wenger said.

“Manchester United and Arsenal have had some tough games, and sometimes they were not easy on the physical side, but both teams always tried to play.

“It was very rarely a boring game, you always thought at the start it would be a great football game, and so you love that.

“It is always one of the games of the season. We are really up for it. We are on a good run. We have good momentum and we want to continue that.”

LONDON COLNEY, England (AFP)

Tags: belgian centre, big games, england international, FA Cup, first premier, four months, gunners, knee injury, lengthy period, manchester city, manchester united, no doubts, playing a game, Portsmouth, premier league, sol campbell, striker, substantial threat, wayne rooney

Related posts

• Stoke´s Fuller sends Arsenal crashing out of FA Cup (1)
• No complacency as Hodgson celebrates first year at Fulham (0)
• Hughes defiant after Forest humble City (0)
• Chelsea stay unbeaten under Hiddink with Cup win (0)
• Arsenal face Liverpool in League Cup (0)
• Wenger looks to prove title point against Pompey (0)
• Wenger faces up to Cardiff FA Cup clash (0)
• Rooney urges Man Utd to seize league initiative (0)
• Ronaldo´s best ´can fire United to quintuple´ (0)
• Romance of the FA Cup takes on harder edge (0)
• Misfiring Robinho puts Man City on defensive (0)
• Man United stay on course for quadruple (0)
• Man City confirm Bridge signing (0)
• Keane nets four to fire Spurs past Burnley (0)
• James sets new Premier League appearance record (0)

Loew backs Podolski

Lukas Podolski was welcomed as a lost son at Koln this summer, but his return to his youth love has been disappointing so far. In the first half of the season, Prinz Poldi only managed to score one goal in fifteen league matches. However, Podolski doesn’t have to worry about his World Cup chances.

Joachim Loew has supported Podolski, although the Germany coach has many good strikers to choose from.

“There are no doubts at all about his status as a national team player,” the national coach told German paper Express.

“His goalscoring record with us is noteworthy.

“He is cheeky and is not afraid. In the national team, he nearly always plays well.”

Podolski started his career at Koln, where he scored a lot of goals and became an international. After the World Cup finals of 2006 he joined Bayern Munich where he failed to become a regular starter. Podolski made 71 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern before he returned to Koln.

Tags: Bayern, german paper, Germany, joachim loew, love, Lukas Podolski, Munich, national coach, no doubts, podolski, prinz, score one, strikers, team player, world cup chances, world cup finals

Related posts

• Ze Roberto eyes Bundesliga title – and world crown (0)
• Mission accomplished for Germany´s Loew (0)
• Loew expects Ballack for Germany´s Far East tour (0)
• Klinsmann optimistic on future (0)
• Hot-shot Dzeko and Grafite keep Wolfsburg on top (0)
• Bundesliga braced for tense title countdown (0)
• Bayern confident in Toni for Sporting clash (0)
• Barca advance in Champions League after Bayern tie (0)
• Wunderkind Kroos to return to Bayern next season (0)
• Wolfsburg baying for revenge against Dortmund (0)
• Sentiment on all sides in Podolski’s Cologne move (0)
• Schumi helps to buy Poldi back from Bayern (0)
• Police receive complaint over Podolski (1)
• No World Cup role for ´Klinsi´, insists Bierhoff (0)
• Muller slams Germany strikers (0)

Gasperini: ‘Milan, be aware of Suazo’

Internazionale have sent David Suazo on loan to Genoa. The Honduran striker is expected to make his debut for his new club against Milan, tomorrow night.

Suazo remained on the fringes of the Inter squad over the past two seasons but already looked sharp in a friendly match against Alessandria. His coach at Genoa, Gian Piero Gasperini, says Suazo is eager to make up for lost time.

“You could see right away that we are dealing with an important player,” Gasperini admitted to La Repubblica newspaper.

“He is one of those players who are capable of giving the team an extra edge. I had no doubts that he is a man who can give us a lot, regardless of the negative comments of someone.

“He had not played in a while but is really eager to make up for lost time having played very little in these two years.

“Let’s give his team-mates time to get to know him and vice versa and I’m sure he will become an incredible asset.”

Tags: Alessandria, coach, David Suazo, debut, friendly match, fringes, gasperini, genoa, gian, Milan, negative comments, no doubts, piero, Piero Gasperini, striker, team mates, tomorrow night, two seasons

Related posts

• Pressure mounting on Mourinho´s rattled Inter (0)
• Lazio plot the great escape (0)
• ´Special One´ is the best coach, says Maradona (0)
• Torres ready to commit future to Liverpool (0)
• Sampdoria humiliate Mourinho´s out of form Inter (0)
• Resurgent Napoli climb into sixth (0)
• Raul resigned to life on the Real bench (0)
• Pato is being picked on, moans Galliani (0)
• No title excuses, says Torres after signing new deal (0)
• Mourinho irked by Cannavaro’s career advice (0)
• Moratti awaits Inter reaction (0)
• Milan offer not good enough to sign Fabiano, says agent (0)
• Match ban for AS Roma coach Spalletti (0)
• Juventus still angry over Genoa draw (0)
• Injured Totti out of Juve clash (0)

Dzeko: “Next year i’ll play for Milan”

VfL Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko expects to play for AC Milan next season. The Bosnia-Herzegovina international has already informed his German club.

“I recently spoke to Wolfsburg executives about it and they know that I would like a transfer next summer,” Dzeko told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “The story with AC Milan is not over.”

The 23-year-old, who is currently on international duty with Bosnia, was Milan’s No 1 transfer target last summer but Wolfsburg blocked the transfer claiming they didn’t need the money.

Milan eventually signed Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, but the Dutchman hasn’t impressed at San Siro, making the Rossoneri consider another offer for Dzeko.

Dzeko is under contract with Wolfsburg until June 2013, but assured the Italian sports paper he has no doubts about a future move to the Serie A. “I have been a fan of Milan since I was a child, when I watched their games on TV. It’s for that reason that I really hope I can play next season there.”

Paul Haring

Tags: ac milan, games, gazzetta dello sport, german club, italian sports, klaas jan huntelaar, la gazzetta dello, la gazzetta dello sport, money, no doubts, sports paper, target

Related posts

• ‘Gentile set to replace Ferrara’ (0)
• Ronaldinho ready to lead Milan to glory (0)
• Mourinho wants Carvalho and Deco (0)
• Kaka wants to stay at AC Milan (0)
• English will sweep the Italians, says Anelka (0)
• Real´s Huntelaar heading to AC Milan – report (0)
• Messi is already the best, says Laporta (0)
• Klaas not a Gunner’s target, says Valdano (0)
• Juve chief confirms Ranieri will stay (0)
• Italian coaching merry-go-round set to kick in (0)
• Is the Bundesliga set to surpass Serie A? (0)
• Galaxy dismiss ´ridiculous´ Beckham bid (0)
• Dzeko’s Milan dream still alive (0)
• Beckham takes Serie A switch in his stride (0)
• Balotelli: “Leave me in peace” (0)

Kaka: “I am a huge fan of Steven Gerrard”

Ahead of Brazil and England’s friendly in Doha, Real Madrid midfielder Kaka is all hails for England and believes they have a great chance of winning the World Cup because they have a glut of quality Premier League players, with Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard being his strong admiration.

Unfortunately, both Kaka and Gerrard will be denied the opportunity to pit their wits against each other in the Friendly, as the Liverpool talisman failed to recover from his groin injury and hence wouldn’t be a part of Fabio Capello’s squad.

“England have always had individually strong players and I am a huge fan of Stevie Gerrard,” Kaka told The Guardian.

“He has the heart of a lion and is the icon of the modern footballer with his ability to attack and defend so well.”

The former AC Milan star claimed England were more than capable of winning the World Cup next summer, but like any team they would require luck to do so.

“The World Cup is a competition in which everything needs to work for your advantage,” Kaka added.

“Players need to be fit, decisions have to go in your favour and details such as a red card can cost a team dearly.

“I have no doubts that England can do it.”

Anurada Bhat

Tags: ac milan, admiration, brazil, captain steven, captain Steven Gerrard, Doha, England, fabio capello, favour, footballer, glut, groin injury, Guardian, kaka, Liverpool, MADRID, midfielder, Milan, no doubts, premier league, real madrid, Steven Gerrard, talisman, World Cup

Related posts

• Liverpool agree to sell Arbeloa to Real Madrid (0)
• Spain´s Del Bosque sees England as re-emerging force (0)
• Real target Alonso in Bangkok with Liverpool (0)
• Gerrard doubtful for Liverpool´s opener (0)
• Liverpool targets Premiership after European exit (0)
• Liverpool sweat over Gerrard´s fitness (0)
• Liverpool boss Benitez ready for crunch time (0)
• Kaka voted star of Confed Cup (0)
• Kaka deal highlights Serie A decline (0)
• Ibrahimovic and Melo hold key to Italian pride (0)
• Gerrard to miss Man City showdown (0)
• Gerrard reveals 2013 retirement plan (0)
• Emerson and Milan part company (0)
• Benitez expects Gerrard back for Newcastle (0)
• Beckham ready to snub Premiership for Milan return (0)

Shawcross agrees to new Stoke deal

Premier League side Stoke City have secured a long-term deal for defender Ryan Shawcross.

The 22-year-old Shawcross has agreed to sign a new four-and-a-half year deal with the Potters.

“I had a couple of years left on my deal anyway so there was no rush,” the former England U-21 told BBC Radio Stoke.

“It was just a case of making sure that it was the right deal for me and for Stoke. It’s the right place. The main reason is that my family’s happy here.”

Shawcross joined Stoke from Manchester United in January 2008, after an impressive loan stint and has since made 88 appearances for the club.

The club are hopeful that the contract will be signed in the coming days.

However, the player had been linked with a move away from the Britannia Stadium in the summer, with several Premier League clubs reportedly interested in signing him, but he was in no doubts about his decision to agree a new deal.

“Both parties are happy with it, I feel I’m performing well and the club have rewarded me with an extension,” added Shawcross.

“(Me signing the contract) shows how much I like the place and how far I think I can move forward.”

Speaking to BBC Radio Stoke, manager Tony Pulis added: “A player who’s been touted as a future England centre-half is really happy and content at committing himself for another four-and-a-half years.

“We’ve talked for a few weeks and Ryan’s been very keen to do it.

“He’s a level-headed person but he’s an ambitious person as well, and his ambition is to play at the top level.

“For him to want to stay here and still believe he can go on to play for England shows his feelings towards the football club.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: ambitious person, bbc, britannia stadium, England, feelings, football club, half year, manchester united, new deal, no doubts, potters, premier league clubs, radio, rush, stint

Related posts

• Kuyt tells United not to take Premiership title for granted (0)
• Wigan reveal Man Utd approach for Valencia (0)
• Wenger defends selection policy as Arsenal crash out (0)
• United teach Inter and Barca how to avoid the jitter bug (0)
• Stoke set for a shock Murphy move (0)
• Stoke deny Spurs link for Shawcross (0)
• Southgate is the man to take ´Boro back up, says chairman (0)
• Shearer confident ahead of Newcastle´s last gasp (0)
• Rooney ready to stay at United (0)
• Reid to quit Thailand for Stoke number two role (0)
• Real Madrid: No Rooney bid (0)
• Real gets 153 mln euros in loans for new players (0)
• Premier League clubs defy economic downturn (0)
• Park signs new two-year contract with Man Utd (0)
• Palace´s Watson opts for Wigan (0)

Wigan land Spanish defender Amaya

Premier League club Wigan signed Spanish defender Antonio Amaya from Rayo Vallecano on a three-year contract on Friday.

Amaya is not expected to be available for Saturday’s season-opener at Aston Villa as the deal cannot be completed until international clearance is secured.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said: “Antonio is someone I have admired from a distance for a long time, and I am very happy we have convinced him to come to us.

“He is a really powerful lad, technically excellent, with good pace and he will fit in well to our system. I have no doubts about him adjusting to English football.

“He has been the captain of his club for three years, which shows you his leadership qualities.”

Amaya, 26, added: “To play in England is a big dream for me. I want to do everything I can to show Roberto Martinez and the people of Wigan they have made a good choice.”

WIGAN, England (AFP)

Tags: Antonio, antonio amaya, England, english football, international clearance, lad, leadership qualities, long time, no doubts, pace, premier league, roberto martinez, season opener, Wigan

Related posts

• Wigan to name Martinez as new coach (0)
• Wigan target Celtic star Caldwell (0)
• Wigan closing in on Vallecano duo (0)
• United aim to show Burnley defeat was just a blip (0)
• S. Korea´s Lee joins Bolton (0)
• Martinez set to become new Wigan boss (0)
• Martinez deal agreed by Swansea and Wigan (0)
• Hull boss doesn´t regret Bullard deal (0)
• Fergie expects 100-goal Rooney to get even better (0)
• Cattermole agrees Sunderland move (0)
• Allardyce backs Grella to become Blackburn star (0)
• Adams downcast as Portsmouth crash out (0)
• Zaki set for Hull loan move (0)
• Zaki back in the Wigan fold (0)
• Wigan´s Cho Won-Hee out for season (0)

AC Milan: Pato not for sale, turn down ‘monster’ offer

Italian giants AC Milan have reportedly turned down a ‘monster’ offer for their teenage striker Alexander Pato.

Milan vice president claimed that, while the club had turned down a ‘monster’ offer for the Brazillian, the club is now preparing to offer him a lucrative contract extension.

The Brazilian wonder-kid had been linked with a move to Chelsea and Manchester City, but Galliani has insisted that the majority of speculation surrounding Pato was nonsense.

“Pato will get a contract extension. We have always spoken to Pato and the comments that arrive from other continents are usually incorrect,” Galliani said on the club’s website. “There were no doubts and there are no doubts regarding his future.

“The only offer that has arrived at our club was a monster offer from England for Alexandre Pato. I continue to believe that there isn’t a player in the world that is as strong as him at his age.

“In any case, no one should worry because he is under contract until June 2012.”

The 19-year-old, who is currently on international duty at the Confederations Cup, said there were still a number of goals he wanted to achieve with Milan, echoing Galliani’s sentiment’s.

“Pato will be at Milan always,” he said. “I am part of Milan and the club decides on my life. I am happy at Milan and I am here to work for Milan.

“The past year and a half for me has been very great, I want to help Milan win the Champions League.”

Tags: ac milan, Alexander, alexander pato, alexandre pato, brazillian, champions league, CHELSEA, CITY, confederations cup, contract extension, England, Galliani, giants, lucrative contract, Manchester, manchester city, Milan, monster, no doubts, sentiment, Serie A, speculation, striker, wonder kid

Related posts

• Kaka to join Real in 60 million euro deal (0)
• We´re not favourites, insists Brazil skipper (0)
• Tevez seeking Man Utd exit since January: Ferguson (0)
• No Milan for Dzeko after contract extension (0)
• Losing Kaka would not be a disaster for Milan (0)
• Ferguson sees United hitting form at right time (0)
• City life suits Adebayor after Arsenal acrimony (0)
• Bayern dig in for ´brutal fight´ to keep Ribery (0)
• Ancelotti knows Chelsea premiership race far from over (0)
• Ancelotti keen to avoid repeat of title race meltdown (0)
• Ancelotti almost certain to stay, says Galliani (0)
• Valencia set minimum price for David Villa (1)
• Toure happy with Barcelona stay (0)
• Tevez should stay in England, whatever Diego says (0)
• Real swoop for Ronaldo in world record bid (0)

Dossena´s fortunes will be on the rise, claims Norway star

LONDON (AFP) – John Arne Riise has urged Liverpool’s supporters to give his replacement at Anfield, Andrea Dossena, time to adjust to the Premier League.

The 28-year-old Norwegian international spent seven years at Liverpool before joining Roma in June last year.

A month later, Liverpool agreed an undisclosed fee for left-back Dossena from Udinese.

But the 27-year-old Italian international has struggled to impose himself in England, yet Riise has no doubts about Dossena’s technical ability and refused to criticise Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez for ending his Liverpool career.

Speaking ahead of Roma’s Champions League first knockout round first leg with Arsenal, Riise was questioned as to whether Benitez was right to replace him with Dossena.

"It is difficult for me to say," responded Riise, who had a successful spell at Monaco before signing for Liverpool.

"I am happy where I am but it is always going to take a player time to come into a new team.

"I think they need to give Dossena time because he is a good player. He needs to adapt to the English style.

"It’s the same as me in Italy. I needed time and I hope people give him time because he is good.

"Of course, I am going to miss people at Liverpool because I was there for seven years. But I have started a new career in Rome and I am happy there.

"I had a fantastic time at Liverpool. I won a Champions League with them, so I am not complaining."

Although now living in the Italian capital, Riise still keeps an eye on the Premiership table and is pleased to see his former club challenging for the league title.

Liverpool are in second place, seven points behind leaders Manchester United, and Riise says they need to start winning to be within a chance of overtaking the current champions.

"This year, Liverpool are fighting for the title and I know they are now behind," said Riise.

"But they are still in the run for it. United are very strong, so if Liverpool are going to fight for it, they need to win."

Written by: AFP

Tags: AFP, Andrea Dossena, anfield, champions league, dossena, England, English, English Premier League, english style, italian capital, john arne riise, knockout, Liverpool, liverpool manager rafael benitez, london, Manchester, manchester united, Monaco, no doubts, Norway, old norwegian, premier league, premiership table, quot, rafael benitez, replacement, Roma, ROME, Serie A, seven points, seven years, technical ability, udinese, undisclosed fee

Related posts

• Benitez ready for make or break United clash (0)
• Torres admits Man Utd now in pole position (0)
• Spalletti vows to improved Roma showing (0)
• Sacking Scolari has ended Chelsea´s title hopes – Fergie (0)
• Only Premiership win will do for rested Reds (0)
• Man Utd defend deleting Rooney “hate” comment (0)
• Liverpool prepare for key title clash with Arsenal (0)
• Benitez revels in Real good prep for United clash (0)
• Wenger says ´mind games´ like advertising (0)
• Spalletti lashes out at Mourinho over title jibe (0)
• Man Utd confirm Tevez to leave Old Trafford (0)
• Liverpool´s Benitez ends saga, extends contract (0)
• Liverpool boss Benitez ready for crunch time (0)
• Gerrard on course for Liverpool return (0)
• Even Mourinho can’t halt Serie A decline as England dominates (0)