Spurs hit Arsenal
Arsenal
Tottenham delivered a hammer blow to Arsenal's Premier League title challenge with a 2-1 win over their north London rivals at White Hart Lane on Wednesday.
Harry Redknapp's team claimed only their second win in 29 league games against the Gunners thanks to a stunning 10th-minute volley from teenage winger Danny Rose, who was making his Premier League debut, and Gareth Bale's first goal of the season two minutes after half-time.
Inspired by the arrival of Robin van Persie as a second half substitute in his first appearance after a five-month injury lay-off, Arsenal got one back through Nicklas Bendtner in the 85th minute.
But the loss left third placed Arsenal six points behind leaders Chelsea with four games to play and all but ended their hopes of winning the title for the first time since 2004.
Tottenham, who were able to celebrate their first league win over Arsenal since November 1999, remain fifth and are now just one point behind fourth placed Manchester City in the race to snatch the final Champions League spot.
Redknapp, whose side were beaten by Portsmouth in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday, said: "It was a great result for us on the back of a big down on Sunday. That knocked us all for six.
"To play like that after Sunday is fantastic. The crowd want to beat Arsenal more than anybody. They were right with us.
"We hung in there late on and our keeper Heurelho Gomes made some fantastic saves. He was superb. Everybody worked hard and it was a great result."
Arsenal target of takeover bid
Arsenal
One of Arsenal's biggest shareholders decided to sell her stake in the Premier League club on Monday raising the possibility of a takeover bid for the north London side.
A person familiar with the situation told Reuters that U.S. private equity firm Blackstone has been retained in the last few days by Nina Bracewell-Smith to find a buyer for her stake of almost 16 percent in the club.
Bracewell-Smith's decision to sell her holding could be of huge interest to the club's two big investors -- Kroenke Sports Enterprises and Red and White Holdings -- and possibly lead to a bid for control of the club.
Eduardo da Silva set for timely return to frontline duties for Arsenal
Arsenal are hopeful Eduardo da Silva will have recovered from injury to feature in Wednesday's awkward first leg of the Champions League knockout tie at Porto, though they continue to fret over Alex Song's involvement and are resigned to being without Andrey Arshavin for the trip to Portugal.
The Russia international is struggling with a hamstring strain picked up in the league win over Liverpool and will not be in the squad that leaves Luton airport tomorrow afternoon. Arshavin is, however, confident that he will be able to return for Sunderland's visit to the Emirates on Saturday. "If all goes well, I will get back on the pitch as early as the next Premier League match," he said.
While Eduardo's reintroduction after a three-week absence nursing a hamstring problem will represent a timely boost for Arsenal's front line, Arsène Wenger would be keenest for Song to prove his fitness with the Cameroonian labouring with a knee injury. The 22-year-old has impressed this season in a defensive midfield brief but emerged from the win over Liverpool having suffered a slight strain to his medial knee ligaments. With Porto desperate to gain a lead from the first leg, his presence would be welcome.
The Portuguese club have lost twice at the Estádio do Dragão to English opposition in the last 12 months – to Manchester United and Chelsea – having been unbeaten in their 11 previous encounters with Premier League sides on home soil. They defeated Arsenal 2-0 in the group stage last season and, while much of the focus will be on the prolific Colombian forward Radamel Falcao García – who has 14 league goals in 15 starts this season – this occasion offers the Brazil striker Hulk a way back into the limelight.
Hulk is serving a six-month domestic ban in Portugal having been involved in a violent scuffle in the players' tunnel with stewards after a game with Benfica before Christmas. The suspension does not apply to Uefa competitions, leaving the forward eligible for Wednesday's game, though he is short of match fitness. "He is still a player with great ability," said the Porto captain, Bruno Alves. "He's strong and has very high technical qualities and a fabulous left foot. He's been training every day, working very hard and is well prepared for this game. He has what it takes."
Arsenal are out of title race, says Chelsea’s Michael Ballack
Michael Ballack has said the championship is now between only Chelsea and Manchester United, and has told Arsène Wenger to stop making excuses for Arsenal's inability to win crucial games against their title rivals.
The Germany midfielder branded Arsenal too predictable, and said it may be impossible for the club to ever win anything – their last trophy was the FA Cup, five years ago – unless Wenger is able to make the team more tactically flexible. Arsenal now sit third in the league following their 2-0 defeat on Sunday, nine points behind Chelsea, who lead United by two points.
Ballack was clear when asked if the Premier League has become a two-horse race. "It looks like it," he said. "It's a race between Manchester United and us. But as I said a few weeks ago, it can go quickly that somebody drops points. But at the moment it looks like it's down to the two of us."
Responding to Wenger's comments that he believed the best team had lost, Ballack was dismissive. "I think he always says this when he loses. When he loses he always finds an excuse.
"But football is not possession on the ball or playing nice passes. Good football is winning games and that's what we do when we play against them. We deserved the win because we played very effectively. It was how we wanted to play before the game. It was our strategy. Maybe in the second half we concentrated a bit too much on defending but if you're 2-0 up you can do this.
"For me good football is a mix of winning, successful football, mental strength, good football technically and also physically. I think we have a good mix in the team and we have done this all season. We can't do more. First in the table."
An ongoing criticism of Arsenal under Wenger is that the team is unable to switch tactics from its free-flowing, passing style, and is also unable to deal with more muscular opponents.
Ballack confirmed that Carlo Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager, had focused on this. He said: "We want to do our job. We knew the way they would play – we saw it in the first game we played against them [when Chelsea won 3-0 at the Emirates in November] and in the way they played against Manchester United last week [when Arsenal lost 3-1]. It is always the same style. If you get your tactics right like we did today I think you can beat them. That's what we did."
Ballack, who also echoed Didier Drogba's support for John Terry after his loss of the England captaincy, was asked directly if Arsenal would ever win anything playing with their current style. "This season and the [last] season they didn't show they were able to win the league," he said.
The 33-year-old explained why he feels Chelsea are able to challenge for major honours. "We have a lot of big-game players and big characters at Chelsea. That is why we are a good team and it's really great to be part of this club," he said. "Everybody fights for everybody, there is good spirit and good experience in the group, we've had a few years together and there is a lot of personal quality among the players. Even if we don't play a fantastic game we have a few players who can decide a game with one action."
Ballack gave particular praise to Drogba, who scored both of Chelsea's goals against Arsenal. The striker now has 12 in 12 games against Wenger's team. "He is such an important player for us. In big games like this he is always there. That's why he is such a big player," said Ballack. "Two fantastic goals, the second was a great one.
"He's a very individual type. The way he plays he's a different type compared to [Wayne] Rooney or [Andrey] Arshavin. He has unbelievable physical strength combined with technical finishing. He has a lot of qualities and not a lot of players have this. It is much better to playing with him than against him."
Arsène Wenger defends Arsenal team selection after FA Cup defeat to Stoke
Arsène Wenger insisted he had little choice but to field a weakened side as Arsenal were dumped out of the FA Cup by Stoke. The Gunners went down 3-1 at the Britannia Stadium in their fourth-round tie, and Wenger conceded that his youthful side could not cope with the hosts' physical style.
But with crucial Premier League games against Aston Villa, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool in a 14-day spell coming up, Wenger was clearly concentrating on his club's title ambitions.
Ricardo Fuller scored with a header in each half for Stoke, with Dean Whitehead adding the third. Denílson had given Arsenal hope with a first-half equaliser.
Stoke had beaten Arsenal in the league at the Britannia last season, sparking a war of words between Wenger and his counterpart, Tony Pulis, over the Potteries side's physical style. Stoke repeated that performance today, however, Wenger was more complimentary this time.
"The game was more physical than technical, and physically they were stronger than us in a very simple game," he said. "We were exposed to a fight, and some of our players were a bit young and could not cope with it.
"I do not regret the side I put out, I did not have much choice. We had 10 injuries and a very difficult programme coming up. Our selection was simple, take a look at our schedule and you must see we cannot play the same 11 every time. That is for sure.
"But if you do not win in such situations, it is my fault. I can only stand by the team I selected in the circumstances, we lost but there was not much room for manoeuvre in terms of players available."
"Were they better than us? Let's say they were more dangerous than us. That is a very important factor in winning games. They do not give me nightmares, you get no surprises when you play at Stoke. You know what to expect, but as the game went on they looked stronger and stronger in one-on-one battles."
"I wanted to avoid a replay, that is why I sent on three experienced substitutes all together," joked Wenger. "And yes, it worked, didn't it. We have not got a replay!
"We have four very important games now in a short space of time, that is what we are focusing on. I wanted to win the game, and the cup. We didn't want to go out, but it was the sort of game that had we played at home we would probably have got away with it [fielding that team]. But away from home it was a bit more difficult."
Pulis was delighted with the victory, saying: "We are very pleased with the win. The spirit was fantastic from our lads. We knew that whatever side Arsène Wenger selected, it would always be a quality team.
"They were top of the Premier League this week and they have a lot of injuries already. But whoever they fielded, it was going to be quality because he has a lot of depth. For Arsène to say we were dangerous is a compliment. That's enough for me."
"I was thinking of taking Ricardo Fuller off before the second goal, but he may have seen what I was going to do and he made sure he stayed on with that goal" added Pulis. "He was outstanding, as was Mamady Sidibe who put in a tremendous amount of work that people do not always see.
"They are a good combination. They are a handful when they are on their game, and they were certainly on form for this one. Everybody gave their best, and we do well in this stadium. It is a great atmosphere when you are roaring around out there.
"The last thing either of us wanted was a draw, with seven games in February. With the size of our squad it will be tough with any more games. Nobody can question our spirit and togetherness, and the lads have shown that again to get us into the fifth round. I am proud of them, and the fans should be after that amount of effort."
Arsenal confirm Sol Campbell’s return until end of season
Arsenal have confirmed that Sol Campbell has completed his return to the club on a deal that will run until the end of the season.
The 35-year-old played 45 minutes in a midweek reserve match against West Ham and confirmed his desire then to play again for Arsène Wenger. However, he is not expected to be involved in tomorrow's Premier League trip to Bolton.
The move completes a dramatic turnaround for the defender, who began the season playing in League Two at Notts County, making only one appearance before quitting. Wenger allowed Campbell to train with Arsenal following his exit from County, with his efforts persuading the Frenchman to sign him up again. It is the first time Wenger has ever brought a former player back to the club during his 13 years in charge.
"We are delighted to have signed Sol Campbell until the end of the season," Wenger said. "For both club and country, Sol's career just speaks for itself. He is a hugely experienced and intelligent footballer, who will bring a great amount of quality and knowledge to our squad. Sol as a player and a person will be an enormous asset to us.
"Sol has been training with us since September and during this time he has shown he still has the required fitness, hunger and passion to compete at the top level."
Campbell won two Premier League titles - including in the unbeaten Invincibles season of 2003-04 - and two FA Cups during his first spell at the club, before moving to Portsmouth in 2006. He now hopes he can provide some leadership to the Gunners as they attempt to keep pace with Chelsea and Manchester United in the battle for the title.
"I'm so happy to be rejoining Arsenal," Campbell said. "I have many great memories from being here before and still have many friends at the club. I've been working very hard at the Arsenal training ground, I feel really good at the moment and I'm ready to give my all. We're in a strong position and I want to help Arsenal be successful this season."
