Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger refused to blame the absence of Robin van Persie as his team failed to score for the first time this season in a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland. But the evidence of a below-par performance suggests the loss of the Dutch striker for up to six weeks because of an ankle injury could be a major handicap to Arsenal's title prospects. They are now eight points behind Chelsea and the leaders' visit to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday (November 29) is looking like a contest the... Read Full Story
The European Union may have inched out of its sharpest recession since the global slump of the 1930s, but green shoots are not emerging uniformly across the 27-nation bloc's eastern member states. Contrasts are sharp among the 10 ex-communist countries that have joined the EU since 2004. The situation in Poland, the only EU nation to have enjoyed sustained growth this year, compares with the stark lot of countries such as Latvia or Hungary, where the economies have been in freefall. "In... Read Full Story
Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United can take charge of the title race if they reach the New Year in touch with leaders Chelsea. Goals from Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia completed a 3-0 victory for Ferguson's side over Everton that kept them within five points of Carlo Ancelotti's side. The United manager declared himself satisfied with his side's performance after criticising his players for failing to make the most of their chances in front of goal in recent... Read Full Story
Sevilla kept up their title charge with a 2-1 win at promoted Tenerife on Saturday to move level on points with second-placed Real Madrid. Highly-rated Argentine winger Diego Perotti and Brazilian forward Renato were on target as Sevilla recorded an eighth win of the season to keep pace with powerhouses Barcelona and Real in the title race. The 21-year-old Perotti, who won his first cap for Argentina this month, struck the opener on 32 minutes before Brazilian Renato thumped in a second... Read Full Story
Portuguese striker Hugo Almeida netted twice as Werder Bremen went top of the Bundesliga on Saturday thanks to their 6-0 hammering of Freiburg. With unbeaten leaders Bayer Leverkusen playing Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena Sunday, Bremen seized on the opportunity to top the table and now lead Bayer, who also have 26 points, by superior goal difference. "We put in a good performance," said Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf, whose side looked sharp despite the fortnight-long break for the... Read Full Story
An outstanding goal from Darren Fletcher set Manchester United on their way to a 3-0 victory over Everton on Saturday that kept them within five points of league leaders Chelsea. With Carlo Ancelotti?s side having beaten Wolves earlier, United could ill afford any slips although for long periods it looked as though they would struggle to break Everton down. But Fletcher's 35th-minute half-volley broke the deadlock before Antonio Valencia and Michael Carrick struck when the game opened up... Read Full Story
Portuguese striker Hugo Almeida netted twice as Werder Bremen went top of the Bundesliga on Saturday thanks to their 6-0 hammering of Freiburg. With unbeaten leaders Bayer Leverkusen playing Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena Sunday, Bremen seized on the opportunity to top the table and now lead Bayer, who also have 26 points, by superior goal difference. "We put in a good performance," said Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf, whose side looked sharp despite the fortnight-long break for the... Read Full Story
Emile Heskey's 86th-minute equaliser denied Burnley another home win and lifted Aston Villa back into the Premier League's top four with a 1-1 draw here Saturday. Burnley skipper Steven Caldwell had headed in Robbie Blake's free-kick to give his side a 9th-minute lead that looked destined to settle the match until Heskey got on the end of a James Milner cross. Villa were visiting Burnley for a league clash for the first time since 1936 but it was the home side who appeared more determined to... Read Full Story
Chelsea tightened their grip at the top of the Premier League with a 4-0 thrashing of beleaguered Wolves on Saturday. The west Londoners produced a display of consummate authority at a soggy Stamford Bridge, capped by goals from Florent Malouda, two from Michael Essien and a welcome fourth from Joe Cole, his first since October 2008. Statistics can never be the sole measure of a side's calibre, but Chelsea's numbers make for impressive reading. This victory was their 12th in succession on... Read Full Story
Portuguese striker Hugo Almeida netted twice as Werder Bremen went top of the Bundesliga on Saturday thanks to a 6-0 hammering of Freiburg. With unbeaten leaders Bayer Leverkusen playing Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena Sunday, Bremen seized on the opportunity to top the table and now lead Bayer, who also have 26 points, by superior goal difference. Bremen's Germany midfielder Mesut Oezil found huge gaps in the Freiburg defence and Almeida, 25, headed home after an Oezil cross on 33... Read Full Story
