News - Archive

Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal remain in the race for third place after their win over Aston Villa brought them to within two points of Chelsea.

The Gunners currently lie in fifth and are chasing a top-four spot and Champions League qualification but Wenger believes they have a chance of overtaking the Blues as well as Tottenham.

"I'm not sure the other places are not reachable," Wenger said. 

"Chelsea are only two points ahead. I'm not sure it will only be a fight with Tottenham. It could be a tight fight until the end.

"We are ready for that. We are ready to fight for the football we love to play. You could see that against Aston Villa.

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart says he felt obliged to save Frank Lampard's penalty during a 2-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday.

England international Hart brought down Demba Ba to conceded the spot kick with the scores tied at 0-0 after 52 minutes in the English Premier League clash, but atoned for his error by producing a fine stop to deny Lampard.

And, after strikes from Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero handed City victory, Hart said he was keen to keep the spot-kick out.

He told the club's official website: "I needed to do it (because) I obviously gave the penalty away. Demba Ba was clever and left his knee in.

"I needed to save it, the job got done and then the boys did the rest."

Hamburg starlet Son Heung-Min insists he is happy in Germany amid reported interest from abroad.

The 20-year-old striker is believed to have played his way on to the radar of various European club's this season, with English Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur rumoured to be among those keen on luring the South Korea international.

But the youngster has refuted the speculation linking him with a move away from Germany, and instead focused on his affinity for his current club.

"Why not extend my current deal? That would be a possibility. I feel very comfortable with life in Hamburg," he told ZDF.

Real Madrid defender Pepe has tipped team-mate Raphael Varane to become one of the best centre-backs in world football.

The French youngster has garnered widespread acclaim, having produced a series of accomplished displays at the heart of Real's defence in 2013.

And Pepe has said he is helping the 19-year-old to ready himself for global success.

Speaking to AS, the Portuguese international said: "He is a very humble guy but he has tremendous quality. At the start of the season, I told him that within two years, he will be one of the best centre-backs in the world.

Norwich striker Kei Kamara is aiming to inspire his team to another shock victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Chris Hughton's side go into next Monday's game hoping to complete a league double over the English Premier League leaders, having beaten them 1-0 at Carrow Road in November.

And Kamara, who became the first player from Sierra Leone to score in the English top flight during Saturday's 2-1 win over Everton, is eager to pull off another memorable victory.

"We (Kansas City) were the only team in the States to beat them and I scored and got an assist in a 2-1 friendly win," he said, referring to a pre-season triumph over United with his Major League Soccer parent club.

Ezequiel Schelotto said it was a 'dream' to mark his debut derby with a goal in Inter Milan's 1-1 draw with AC Milan in Serie A on Sunday.

The January signing from Atalanta expressed his delight at scoring his first goal in Nerazzurri colours and said he hopes the team can embark on a strong run until the end of the season. 

Speaking to Sky Italia, the Argentine said: "It is a dream, I will never be able to forget this huge emotion I am feeling.

"I want to dedicate it to my family who were all here tonight to watch me, and to the president and the staff.

"I did shed a tear, as to mark my debut derby like this was remarkable and I thought back to everything I went through over the last few months. 

Mexican midfielder Marco Fabian has scored a brace as Guadalajara defeated Leon 2-1 to give their Liga MX season a much-needed kick-start.

Guadalajara headed into Sunday's game against Leon in 13th position but jumped into the top eight with just their second win of the Clausura season.

Fabian made it 1-0 for the home side in the 11th minute when he smashed the ball past Leon goalkeeper Christian Martinez from long range.

In the 61st minute, Leon equalised when Matias Britos scored at the near post from Carlos Pena's cross but Guadalajara wrapped up the three points with 11 minutes to go when Rafael Marquez crossed from the left to Fabian and the 23-year-old beat two opponents to score.