Arsenal centre-back Thomas Vermaelen will not feature for the Gunners until the New Year as he struggles with his Achilles tendon injury.
Vermaelen has been sidelined since early September, when the 24-year-old picked up the problem whilst playing for Belgium in a Euro 2012 qualifier in Turkey.
It was originally thought that the defender would only be missing for a week and Arsene Wenger says there is "no logical explanation" for his lengthy absence.
The Gunners boss said: "Vermaelen is in a protective boot. We want him back and I hope he will be back soon, but not before January."
Wenger added: "On the scan, his Achilles is clear. But as soon as he stays out for a while, it tightens up and he has pain. We don't know the source of his pain."
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Arsenal are currently top of the Premier League but there are question marks surrounding their defence. Wenger admits he needs to focus on his back-line and so will be hoping the Belgian will return soon.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Stoke will be looking for revenge when they travel to Craven Cottage to do battle with struggling Fulham on Saturday.
Fulham visited Britannia Stadium last month with speculation rife over the future of manager Mark Hughes, but Chris Baird’s early double lifted them to a surprise 2-0 win over Tony Pulis’ side.
That win pulled Fulham out of the relegation zone and they now sit in 15th position, although the Londoners are just one point clear of the bottom three.
In their most recent league outing they had a goal from Andy Johnson to thank for rescuing a point in a 1-1 draw with Wigan at DW Stadium.
Stoke, meanwhile, have been one of the most consistent sides this season and continue to defy expectations with their eighth-place standing on the Premier League table.
Pulis’ men cruised to a 2-0 win at home against Bolton over the weekend before beating Cardiff by the same score on Tuesday to advance to the fourth round of the FA Cup.
The Stoke manager has no fresh injury concerns, with strike duo Mamady Sidibe and Eidur Gudjohnsen the only players under a fitness cloud.
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For Fulham, Belgian striker Moussa Dembele will be better for his half-an-hour against Wigan after returning from eight weeks out with an ankle injury, while David Stockdale will retain goalkeeping duties in place of Australia’s Mark Schwarzer who is competing at the Asian Cup.
Matthew Briggs’ calf injury rules him out, while Bobby Zamora and Philippe Senderos remain long-term absentees.
Hamburg coach Armin Veh insists Ruud van Nistelrooy has accepted the club’s decision to block a return to La Liga giants Real Madrid.
Netherlands striker Van Nistelrooy, who joined Hamburg from Real mid-way through the 2009/10 season, was linked with a surprise return to the club in the January transfer window as a solution to the shortage of strikers at the Santiago Bernabeu.
But with Real unwilling to meet their asking price for the 34-year-old, Bundesliga side Hamburg have refused to sanction the transfer.
Reports suggested a disgruntled Van Nistelrooy – who has scored nine goals in all competitions this campaign – would leave the club at the end of the season, but Veh maintains the fallout from the incident has been minimal.
“I spoke to Ruud today, and the topic has been dealt with. He can live with our decision, he can live with it well,” Veh said.
“He is not the kind of person to stay angry. He needs to clear his mind now.”
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“It is an issue where you cannot say anything terminal about it. But for now it’s done. Let’s just calm down for a few days.”
Mauro Boselli, Genoa’s new signing from Premier League side Wigan, is expected to make his debut from the bench against Chievo on Sunday.
Boselli, who has been struggling with a thigh injury, is looking forward to Genoa’s style of play and helping lift the club away from the threat of relegation.
“I left because it was too cold in England!” he told the Italian media.
“Italian football is also closer to the kind we play in Argentina.”
“I saw Genoa play ball to feet, always trying to go on the attack. I am a striker and prefer to play as close to the penalty area as possible, but I am not a static centre-forward either.”
“I hope to play for a few minutes this weekend,” he insisted.
Chievo, who will miss the injured veteran Luciano, beat Genoa 3-1 in round two, a result that took them to the top of the table.
Leaders Milan will look for their 13th home league win of the season against fourth-bottom Cesena, who have won only once away on their travels.
Second-placed Napoli will be looking to close the gap on leaders Milan when they visit bottom side Bari.
Bari still have injury problems, despite new signings Kamil Glik, Gergely Rudolf and Stefano Okaka making positive impressions. Five first-teamers remain injured, including Paulo Barreto, while Massimo Donati is suspended.
Napoli dropped valuable points last Sunday in their draw with Fiorentina and a season-ending injury to Gianluca Grava will add to the pressure on the defence.
But Bari have not beaten Napoli at home in 13 years and have enjoyed only three league wins at the San Nicola this season.
Third-placed Lazio’s recent away league form in Serie A suggests Bologna, fifth from the bottom, could gain a share of the spoils.
With their two-point penalty and 4-1 defeat to Inter last weekend, relegation is a real prospect for Bologna.
But coach Alberto Malesani will have a full-strength squad except for Archimede Morleo and Massimo Mutarelli.
Lazio’s recent struggles on the road include two defeats and two draws as the side has gone from two points clear in first to four points behind in third.
Giuseppe Biava’s return from suspension should strengthen the defence but Stephan Lichtsteiner is serving a one-game ban.
Stefan Radu and Mourad Meghni are doubts while Javier Garrido, Matuzalem and Tommaso Rocchi are all out.
Fourth-placed Inter visit a determined Udinese in Sunday’s early match.
Udinese’s impressive home form includes nine wins while Inter’s strike-force have scored 23 goals away from home in the league.
Roma striker Adriano will miss at least three weeks, including Saturday’s home game against ninth-placed Cagliari, after dislocating his shoulder in the 2-1 Coppa Italia win over Lazio.
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“It is a very nasty injury and the Roma medical staff did well to put the shoulder back in place,” his agent, Roberto Calenda, told Sky Sport Italia.
“He will have to wear a special brace for at least three weeks and then we’ll see,” Calenda said.
Seventh-placed Palermo will be under-strength but should prove too strong for second-bottom visitors Brescia on Saturday.
In other matches, new Catania coach Diego Simeone makes his debut in an important trip away to fellow strugglers Parma.
The Argentine was appointed on Wednesday after Marco Giampaolo was sacked just six months into his tenure.
Fiorentina should be too strong at home to Lecce, who have only earned a win and a draw on their travels , while Sampdoria host Juventus.
A host of retired Juventus footballers will return to the Stadio Olimpico for a charity match against city rivals Torino on March 23.
The two Turin sides have agreed to unite in order to raise funds towards research into the motor neurone disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Club greats like striker Gianluca Vialli, goalkeeper Stefano Tacconi and Czech winger Pavel Nedved have signed on to appear in the ‘Derby SLAncio di Vita’.
ALS sufferer Michele Riva is the inspiration behind the Turin derby, and Juve president Andrea Agnelli said the club is honoured to be associated with such a great cause.
“I would like to thank Michele a lot, he certainly is the soul and heart of this event and it is thanks to him if we will play on March 23,” Agnelli said.
“Both Torino’s president and I are sorry we cannot play a real match as we would really have liked.”
“Sport clubs should be there in order to raise the attention on different subjects. March 23 will be a sort of celebration.”
“I’d like to thank already all people who will give at least one euro. They’ll be the real winner of this competition and will allow the project to be finalised.”
The derby is being run in collaboration with an ALS foundation set up by Vialli and former Juve and Napoli midfielder Massimo Mauro, and Agnelli is proud of the club connection.
“Massimo has contacted us from the very beginning,” he said.
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“Their organization is excellent and this has been proved by facts, events managed by them and by the projects they manage and the funds they have raised up to now.”
“This foundation is of excellent quality and we’re proud to collaborate.”
“We have an important role as football club. Football, and in general sport, can operate to bring positive messages in the scientific research and in solidarity in general.”
Paris Saint-Germain’s Sylvain Armand believes his side were always in control against BATE Borisov, despite their precarious position.PSG took a 2-2 draw away with them after the first leg of their Europa League round-of-32 tie against Belarusian side BATE in Minsk last week.With Thursday’s return fixture in Paris scoreless and time running out, all BATE needed was a single away goal to progress to the next round.”They could have scored from a small mistake that we made, but we were never in too much trouble,” Armand said.”I think we had many more chances than they did to get on the scoresheet, even if we came up against a side that played well, and produced some good stuff.””If we’d have been afraid it would have been difficult. That’s what we had to avoid. We had to play the match to win, and that’s what we did.”Peguy Luyindula was one of three PSG players to spurn good chances for the hosts to take the lead at the Parc des Princes.Renan Bressan might have grabbed an all-important goal for BATE with 20 minutes remaining, but PSG goalkeeper Apoula Edel made an instinctive close-range save to preserve the deadlock. “You’re always afraid when it’s 0-0,” Luyindula said.”We knew that at 0-0 we were through, and at 0-1 we would have been out. So there’s always that little bit of pressure, that stress of conceding a goal towards the end of the game. But Edel had a great game, and saved us at that moment.”Next up for PSG is a revenge mission against Portuguese champions Benfica, the team who dumped them out of the UEFA Cup 4-3 on aggregate in 2006/07. “It’s not going to be easy,” Armand said.”It’s going to be a real European game. It’s going to be two great matches in two great stadiums whether it be here or over there. We’re going to enjoy it.” “We’re happy to continue the adventure, and go to a stadium like that.”
Arsenal arrive at the Nou Camp looking to build on their impressive result and performance in the first leg to ensure their passage into the quarter finals of the Champions League. Arsene Wenger promises to go on the offensive as he believes it is the best way they can preserve their hold in this tie.
In the papers this morning there has been a mixed bag of stories that includes Nani upset at United’s silence over tackle; Jermain Defoe considered exit, while Pep Guardiola has a pop at Jack Wilshere.
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Nani upset by United silence on tackle – Guardian
Defoe considered exit – Sky Sports
Pep takes a pop at Wilshere – Sun
Man United lack leaders – Sheringham – Mirror
Ref Clattenburg takes month off to move out of spotlight after backlash – Daily Mail
FA to support challenger to Blatter – Daily Telegraph
Suárez tells fans: ‘My best is yet to come’ – Guardian
Carlo – No Torres concerns – Sky Sports
Agent ‘stole half-a-million from Downing’ – Mirror
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Newcastle and Sunderland eye Lille’s France Under 21 striker Moussa Sow – Daily Mail
Vucinic pursuit ‘stepped up by Liverpool and Spurs’ – Metro
This weekend in-form Liverpool travel to West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League and the Reds will be looking for three points to cement their 6th place in the Premiership table and to put pressure on the teams above them.
Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez could be in tandem against Roy Hodgson’s West Brom on Saturday and bet365 are betting on how many the duo will score at the Hawthorns. bet365 spokesman Steve Freeth says “Albion are yet to score and have conceded 25 goals in the nine Premier League games they’ve faced Liverpool and the new strikeforce could be close to peak fitness after getting valuable game time under their belts.”
You can bet on how many goals Carroll and Suarez will score against WBA, with the odds as follows…
Elsewhere, Fernando Torres is yet to score for his new club and the Spaniard is 9/4 to outscore fellow January mover Carroll on Saturday. Torres will line up for Chelsea against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium in what, on paper at least, looks like the tougher match.
The odds of Carroll v Torres this weeekend are as follows…
Andy Carroll – 7/2
Tie – 8/11
Fernando Torres – 9/4
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If that wasn’t enough betting opportunities for you, then you can also bet on how many goals they’ll score on Saturday between them. With the odds being…
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Roberto Martinez believes his Wigan Athletic side are in perfect shape to fight for their Premier League future over the next three months.Wigan are bottom of the table going into the final nine matches of the season, the first of which sees fellow strugglers Birmingham visit the DW Stadium this weekend. The Wigan players have had a two-week break ahead of the game. With the FA Cup quarter-finals taking centre stage last weekend, Martinez took the squad to Spain for warm-weather training and team bonding. “There is a feeling around the squad that they have missed playing football after the two-week break,” Martinez said.”We’ve refreshed ourselves by travelling to La Manga for a change of working environment, and now we’re all excited for Saturday’s crucial game.””As well as knowing how important the upcoming games are, the players must understand how they are going to get the points they are capable of.””The group has matured a lot this season – we’ve learnt a lot from disappointment and you could see that in our performance at Manchester City a fortnight ago, which was exceptional.””We were unfortunate not to get anything from the game at Eastlands, but if we continue to perform in that manner then football will give us the rewards we deserve.””After that frustration, the players were desperate to get back out on to the pitch.””But being able to switch off briefly has helped us, and the group are well prepared for the next 27 points there are to play for this season.”Martinez has the rare luxury of a fully-fit squad at his disposal, with Emmerson Boyce proving his fitness after a hamstring problem. “Boycey is training again with the team, and is ready to give us a massive boost,” Martinez added. “We have a fully-fit squad and it feels great to be able to say that.””Everyone is desperate to play – we have good options and players in a great moment of form personally – and that is a massive positive.”
As is so often the case with talented young English players, the rumour mill has begun to gather momentum about potential big-money bids for Wolves winger Matt Jarvis this summer from the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Aston Villa.
And what a rise to prominence it has been for the recent England cap. Only four seasons ago, Jarvis was playing in English football’s third tier for an underperforming Gillingham side who finished sixteenth in League One. However, his efforts were not unnoticed as he made the League One Team of the Year at the age of twenty. And, with his contract up at the end of the season, fellow League One team Nottingham Forest were the first to chase his signature. But, rather than remain in League One, Jarvis chose to move up a division with Wolves in the summer of 2007.
Fast-forward to today and Jarvis has had two successful seasons in English football’s top flight and, following his inclusion in the England squad to face Wales, made his international debut later in the week against Ghana. But, following his most successful season in a Wolves shirt to date with five goals to his name, what next for the young attacker?
Firstly Wolves are far from the safety of the magical 40-point mark and their Premier League status is still to be saved. It must be difficult for any young player to concentrate on his football with regular rumours about moves to bigger clubs surfacing. But, first and foremost, he must show maturity in ignoring these rumours and concentrate on playing good football and keeping Wolves up. A relegation battle can do wonders for a player’s profile and, come the close-season, Jarvis and potential suitors will be in a much better position to judge.
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If Wolves are relegated surely he will look to move on. Whilst it has been refreshing to see England manager Fabio Capello’s willingness to call upon players from the lower leagues, Jarvis must owe it to his career to stay in the top flight. Instead, the real dilemma is likely to come if Wolves manage to stay up and play a third consecutive season in the Premier League.
Jarvis has flourished under Mick McCarthy and, in signing a new contract in September of last year, clearly enjoys playing for the club. But, following a strong couple of seasons recently capped with an England appearance, in order to maintain this progress he would be wise to take the step up to a bigger club.
Whilst he would not start every game at somewhere like Manchester United, he would have a fantastic opportunity to learn from one of the best left-sided wingers to have graced the Premiership in Ryan Giggs. A transfer to a resurgent Liverpool could also boost his development, although at this stage with the uncertainty as to who will be managing the club next year, he would do well to bide his time. Another club more recently linked with Jarvis has been midland rivals Aston Villa. With fellow England winger Ashley Young apparently set on leaving, he would be a great replacement. But, Villa are a confused club themselves following Martin O’Neill’s departure and their Premiership status is also still to be confirmed.
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Jarvis will certainly have many suitors this Summer whether Wolves stay up or not. But, it is up to him to choose whether he continues his rise under Mick McCarthy or indeed chases glory elsewhere. He made the correct choice in joining Wolves and I hope, for the sake of England, he will make the right decision this Summer. But, he must remember that every team is different and that for every Adam Johnson, there is also a Shaun Wright-Phillips.
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