Arsenal humble the Old Lady
Fabulous Fabregas dwarfs returning Vieira.
Wembley facing even further delay.
- It seems that Highbury will probably see one more European night as Arsenal are on the verge of reaching the Champions League semi-finals for the first time. Juventus - the runaway leaders of Serie A - are humbled in North London as a superb performance by the eager Gunners ends in an emphatic 2-0 win.
It is a miserable return for former skipper Patrick Vieira who is totally outshone by the precocious young pretender - Cesc Fabregas. The 18 year-old Catalan crowns a brilliant display with the opening goal on 40 minutes then sets up Thierry Henry for the second with 20 minutes to play.
Juve are made to look jaded and cumbersome, and lose it in more ways that one in the closing stages. Mauro Camoranesi and Jonathan Zebina are both sent-off for second yellows. A booking for Vieira means he will also miss next week’s second leg in Turin.
Although justifiably confident, Arsene Wenger admits there’s still work to be done: “I believe we will finish the job in the second leg in Italy but there is still a lot to come. We have to keep our feet on the ground and keep our football simple.”
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- Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse! Steelworkers, welders and scaffolders at Wembley Stadium are told they will be sent home next week unless payments to subcontractors are settled. Union officials call for urgent talks but further delays in the ill-fated £750million project seem inevitable.
- Sir Alex Ferguson calls for a change in the game’s disciplinary procedures to punish the cheats.
The Manchester United boss says: “The problem has been there for quite a few years and it is obvious it has got worse. The difficult thing is how do you stop it. The players diving have an advantage over the ones making a tackle. A lad going to make an honest tackle can receive a red card yet referees can only give the guy, who cheats to win a penalty or someone sent, off a yellow.”
- London Mayor Ken Livingstone insists the future Olympic Stadium will not be turned into a football ground after the 2012 Games. Rumours suggest Premiership clubs West Ham United or Tottenham Hotspur could move to the stadium once the Olympics are completed.
Mr Livingstone explains: “The deal we made is that it’s an athletics stadium and we have a legally-binding contract which is more like an international treaty.”
- Preston North End win for only the second time in eight Championship games to get their Play-Off hopes back on track. A 37th minute Brett Ormerod goal is enough to beat bottom club Crewe Alexandra to give them a five-point advantage over 7th placed Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Southampton still have lingering relegation worries despite been handed an own goal by Phil Bardsley after only 38 seconds at Burnley. The Clarets force a draw through new signing Andy Gray.
- Brentford are back up to second in League One with a single goal win via Lloyd Owusu at bottom-of-the-table Milton Keynes Dons. The Dons come close to grabbing a vital point but Izale McLeod misses a 85th minute penalty.
- Carlisle United strengthen their place at the top of League Two with a 1-0 win against Lincoln City at Brunton Park. Former Leeds United striker Michael Bridges scores the only goal to take United six points clear with seven games to go.
Have Your Say! Just how good was Cesc, and how poor was Patrick and Juve? Was Wenger right to sell Vieira or is that why Arsenal aren’t so effective in the Premiership? Is Sir Alex right to blame the rule makers or should managers do more? And when will Wembley be ready?
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