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The 23-year-old winger says that the Gunners are hopeful of securing Champions League qualification after a confidence-boosting away win against Sunderland on Saturday

Arsenal forward Theo Walcott is confident that the Gunners can secure a top-four finish in the Premier League this season.

The Emirates Stadium outfit currently lie in fifth place, just four points behind fierce north London rivals Tottenham, and have picked up 10 points from a possible 12 in their last four league games.

"We're very confident [of finishing in the top four]," Walcott told the club's official website. "We can battle through any sort of situation."

The former Chelsea manager may have scooped the La Liga title last season but after a disastrous league campaign this time around only European glory can salvage his reputation.

 Steve McManaman believes 'super-manager' Jose Mourinho's time as the Real Madrid coach is coming to an end - but says the Portuguese will be remembered as a huge success if he can lead the club to a landmark 10th European title.

The Spanish giant takes on Manchester United on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against the Premier League leader.

MOURINHO'S REAL MADRID RECORD

The Manchester United forward insists his teammates must be at their best in order to stop the Portugal international but admits Real Madrid pose a threat from all areas

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney admits it will difficult to contain Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday evening and has warned his teammates of Real Madrid‘s threat from all areas.

 The Portugal international, who has netted 10 goals in his last six games, faces his former club for the first time as Los Blancos host Sir Alex Ferguson's men at the Bernabeu in the last 16 of the Champions League.

England wicketkeeper Matt Prior has urged his side to create Ashes history by 'bullying' Australia.

England have won three of the past four Ashes series after Australia won eight in a row between 1989 and 2003.

"I remember watching Shane Warne, Matthew Hayden and Glenn McGrath, and the way they walked around and bullied England," Prior told BBC Sport.

"Maybe it's our time to do a bit of bullying ourselves."

England will aim to defend the Ashes over five Tests on home soil from July before heading to Australia for another five Tests from November.

They will become the first England team since 1890 to win the Ashes four consecutive times if they prevail in both series.

Lleyton Hewitt showed all his trademark grit to defeat Blaz Kavcic at the SAP Open in San Jose, while Fernando Verdasco crashed out.

The 31-year-old Australian trailed by a set and a break against an opponent six years his junior, but pulled a vintage performance out of the hat to defeat the 79th-ranked Slovenian 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-4) in two hours and 35 minutes. 

It was Hewitt's first win over Kavcic in three career meetings and he was delighted to set up a clash with American third seed Sam Querrey in the second round of the ATP 250 tournament.

"It was a tough match," Hewitt said. "There were a lot of momentum changes throughout the match.