TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Squad sheets: Arsenal v Aston Villa A crucial match for both sides appears to be particularly defining for the visitors. Aston Villa entered the new season concerned that they would fail to make the Europa League but having won their last four matches, including a 1-0 triumph at Old Trafford, they are now well ensconced in the Champions League places. Victory over Arsenal would not only see Villa strengthen their position further by leapfrogging the Londoners into third, it would also give their supporters real cause to dream of a title assault in 2010. Sachin NakraniVenue Emirates StadiumTickets Sold outLast season Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 2Referee P DowdThis season's matches 15 Y48, R4, 3.47 cards per gamesportingbet odds Arsenal 3-5 Aston Villa 17-4 Draw 5-2ArsenalSubs from Fabianski, Mannone, Senderos, Ramsey, Mérida, Eboué, Wilshere, VelaDoubtful NoneInjured Fábregas (hamstring, 30 Dec), Traoré (hamstring, 30 Dec), Bendtner (groin, Jan), Clichy (back, Jan), Rosicky (groin, Jan), Gibbs (ankle, Feb), Djourou (knee, Apr), Van Persie (ankle, Apr)Suspended Nasri (first of three)Form guide WDWWLLDisciplinary record Y26 R0Leading scorers Fábregas, Van Persie 7Aston VillaSubs from Guzan, Delph, Sidwell, Reo-Coker, Beye, Collins, Gardner, Delfouneso, Heskey, Albrighton, Salifou, ClarkDoubtful Gardner (back), Heskey (groin)Injured Davies (shoulder, Jan 17), Bouma (ankle, unknown)Suspended NoneForm guide WWWWDDDisciplinary record Y34 R2Leading scorer Agbonlahor 8Match pointers• Aston Villa are the only Premier League side never to have lost at the Emirates• Arsenal have the most prolific attack in the division (44 goals scored) while Villa have the meanest defence (14 conceded)• John Carew has scored three goals after coming off the bench in the Premier League this season – more than any other player• Cesc Fábregas has scored Arsenal's earliest (6min 55sec) and latest (89min 41sec) league goals this season• If Aston Villa win this match they will equal their best ever Premier League run of five successive wins set in 1996 and repeated in 1998ArsenalAston VillaPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Mark Gleeson: African Cup of Nations offers up plenty of storylines Sunday marks the start of the 27th African Nations Cup, a tournament long established on the footballing calendar, slavishly followed on the continent and fast gaining international credibility, too. cbc.cacbc.ca |
Scotland manager Craig Levein insists upon old friend Michael Oliver as full-time scout Full-time scout Michael Oliver will try to tip balance in Scotland's favour. telegraph.co.uk |
Leeds expect one last chance to persuade Jermaine Beckford to stay • Simon Grayson still hopes the striker will sign a new contract• Reports suggest Beckford has already agreed move to EvertonLeeds United will attempt to fight off interest from Everton and keep their leading scorer Jermaine Beckford if they win promotion to the Championship, according to their manager, Simon Grayson.Beckford, who will become a free agent when his contract expires at the end of the season, is expected to leave Elland Road after turning down an improved deal before Christmas. Leeds, however, have so far resisted the temptation to cash in on the player during the transfer window, rejecting an offer of £1.25m from Newcastle United for the 26-year-old striker.Over the past few weeks Grayson had given the impression of being resigned to losing him in May, and sources close to the player are suggesting he has already agreed basic terms to move to Everton.But Grayson said today that Leeds had not given up. "It would be foolish not to try and keep him, and I'm sure once the season finishes, and hopefully we're in the Championship, there might be one sort of last contract offer towards him," he said."If rumours have it he's being linked to Premier League clubs, then that's obviously difficult for us to compete with, but while he's our player we expect him to keep performing and doing the job he's done for us."Beckford, who has scored 20 goals this season, has failed to increase that total in three games (none of which Leeds have won) since scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup win against Manchester United at Old Trafford. But Grayson denied that the constant speculation may be beginning to affect the player."I don't think so – in fact I'd like to think if he gets better as a player and scores more goals, then he'll get more publicity and maybe, if he's after more money, then that's what he'll get."Whatever happens, nothing can be agreed now, nothing is legally binding with anybody you speak to. If he doesn't score from now till the end of the season – and hopefully he does – then his value will go down and he might not get the money he's looking for."If he scores another 20 odd goals it might be a bigger team that comes in for him than those that are rumoured to be in for him at this moment in time. Hopefully it's the latter, he gets loads of goals for us and maybe then moves on to bigger clubs, instead of average clubs he's being linked with."Transfer windowLeeds UnitedLeague OneEvertonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Juve Fans Banned From Italian Cup Match at Inter MILAN (AP) -- Juventus fans were banned from the Italian Cup match at Inter Milan on Thursday because of race-related incidents involving supporters in games between the teams. feeds.nytimes.com |