Arsenal youngsters win thriller
Carling Cup round-up
Dumbarton win at home
Arrest in United party probe
City seal Castillo loan deal
Osman breaks toe
Blues shelve takeover talks
A youthful Arsenal side - with an average age of 21 - beat Blackburn Rovers 2-3 at Ewood Park in this exciting Carling Cup quarter-final. Arsenal raced into a two-goal lead courtesy of Abou Diaby and Eduardo but Blackburn hauled themselves level after a Roque Santa Cruz brace. As normal time quickly evaporated, the visitors had Denilson sent-off and Arsenal faced the prospect of extra-time with ten men. However, Eduardo’s second goal of the night after 104 minutes put the Gunners through to the semi-finals of the Carling Cup.
Tottenham Hotspur also progress to the last four of the competition after beating Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium and thus ending City’s 100% home record. Jermain Defoe put Spurs into the lead after only five minutes but disaster struck for the visitors when they had Didier Zokora sent-off on 20 minutes. Sven Goran Eriksson’s men failed to take advantage though and Steed Marlbranque secured victory for Spurs after 83 minutes.
In the Scottish Third Division, Dumbarton beat East Stirlingshire 3-1 at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium.
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Police investigating the alleged rape of a 26-year-old woman at the Great John Street Hotel in Manchester where Manchester United players and other guests were attending a party last night have arrested a 19-year-old man. Detectives are refusing to confirm or deny the involvement of any players or club employees in the incident.
Mexico striker Nery Castillo will join Manchester City on a year-long loan from Shakhtar Donetsk. The 23-year-old will join the City squad on January 1 but was introduced to supporters at the City of Manchester Stadium before this evening’s Carling Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur. City’s chief executive Alistair Mackintosh said:
“Nery’s desire to make this deal happen was extraordinary - he has paid most of the loan fee himself. This proves how much he wants to play for Manchester City in the Premier League. We are excited and delighted that another young established international has joined the club.”
Everton midfielder Leon Osman could be out for six weeks after breaking his toe during the 1-2 Carling Cup win at West Ham United. The 26-year-old played through the pain barrier as Everton beat the Hammers for the second time in four days in the weekend Premier League win at Upton Park but a scan revealed the full extent of his problem.
There will be no takeover of Birmingham City before the end of the season, according to Blues chairman David Gold. Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung has made no apparent progress towards meeting the December 20 deadline to raise the £35m needed to buy out Gold and City co-owner David Sullivan. Gold said:
“The process would have had to have started by now. The deal’s dead in the water. We will focus 100% from now until the end of the season on Birmingham staying in the Premier League. We won’t entertain anything until the summer. It is still technically plausible that Mr Yeung could walk into the football club and put a cheque on the table but, according to takeover rules, there is a time factor - and that time factor has expired. They can’t just walk in and give us a cheque. They have to go through the whole process and that takes at least a week. It is December 18 today. It can’t be done.”
Gold also played down reports of interest in the club from Russian billionaire Vagit Alekperov.
Nathan Davies