Arsenal regain top spot

Premier League round-up

Strachan handed touchline ban

Arsenal beat Newcastle United 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium for the second time in four days to go back to the top of the Premier League. Emmanuel Adebayor, Mathieu Flamini and Cesc Fabregas were on target for the Gunners.

Sunderland climb to 14th after a 2-0 win over Birmingham City at the Stadium of Light. Daryl Murphy scored after 15 minutes before new signing Rade Prica netted the decisive second on 65 minutes. Alex McLeish’s men are now without a win in six games.

Jeremie Aliadiere got the only goal of the game as Middlesbrough beat Wigan Athletic at the Riverside Stadium while Bolton Wanderers and Fulham played out a goalless draw at the Reebok Stadium.

Preston North End beat Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion 2-1 at Deepdale. Youl Mawene put the home side ahead after six minutes but the Baggies equalised on 50 minutes through Zoltan Gera. Karl Hawley was on hand after 72 minutes to net the winner for North End who finished the game with nine-men as goalscorer Mawene and Chris Brown both saw red late on for second bookable offences. Charlton Athletic ended Stoke City’s 13-match unbeaten run with a 1-0 win at The Valley, while Watford were held to a 1-1 draw by Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

In League One, Swansea City and Nottingham Forest failed to conjure a goal in their clash at the City Ground. This allowed Doncaster Rovers to move up to second with a 2-0 home win over Hartlepool United. Elsewhere, Lee Barnard scored on his home debut as Southend United beat Leeds United 1-0 at Roots Hall, Oldham Athletic beat visitors Carlisle United 2-0 but Walsall and Leyton Orient were involved in a stalemate.

Milton Keynes Dons ended their three game losing streak in League Two but were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Macclesfield Town. Meanwhile, Rotherham United slipped to third after a 3-1 defeat against Peterborough United at London Road. This allowed Darlington to jump to second with a 1-0 win over visitors Accrington Stanley.

The CIS Cup semi-final between Aberdeen and Dundee United, due to be played at Tynecastle, has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. The match has now been rescheduled for February 5.

In the Africa Cup of Nations, Ivory Coast qualified for the last-eight of the competition as winners of Group B after a 3-0 win over Mali. Didier Drogba scored the opener for the Ivorians on his 50th appearance for his country. The Elephants will now play Guinea in Sekondi on Sunday for a place in the semi-finals. John Mikel Obi of Chelsea and Everton’s Yakubu Aiyegbeni scored second-half goals to give Nigeria a 2-0 win against Benin and ensure the Super Eagles progress as runners-up in Group B. They will now face host nation Ghana in the next round.

Former England captain Terry Butcher has agreed in principle to become part of Scotland manager George Burley’s coaching staff. The 49-year-old is finalising the details of his contract and will join up with the squad for their gathering in February. Celtic defender Steven Pressley is also considering an offer from Burley to join the backroom line-up.

Dennis Wise has been confirmed as an executive director of Newcastle United. The former Leeds United boss will help Newcastle to sign players and develop their academy. The Magpies have also brought in Tony Jimenez as vice-president - but he will play a major part in player recruitment along with new technical co-ordinator Jeff Vetere. It has been stressed that Kevin Keegan will have sole control of first-team affairs. Chairman Chris Mort said:

“This is all part of the vision that recently helped us to secure Kevin Keegan’s return to the club as manager. Two of the conclusions of our strategic review, since acquiring the club, were that the club would benefit from having a football person involved at board level, which it has not had historically, and that further senior resources are needed for recruiting players of the highest quality from this country and further afield. Dennis would like to move away from day-to-day football management to a board role and, with his considerable energy and intelligence, we believe he will do very well in this new position. With Kevin able to devote his efforts to developing and running the first-team squad, Dennis, Tony and Jeff will each help us to secure success for Newcastle United football club at all levels and for the long-term. One or two further key appointments will follow in the months ahead.”

Leeds United assistant manager Dave Bassett has left the club.

Leeds United have appointed former player Gary McAllister as their new manager. Technical director Gwyn Williams will take charge of the tonight’s game at Southend United.

FIFA have refused to sanction Daniel Cousin’s £3m move from Rangers to Fulham as rules forbid a player from appearing for more than two clubs in one season. The 30-year-old striker has already appeared for Lens and Rangers but FIFA did grant special dispensation last season to Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano, who played for Corinthians and West Ham United before moving to Liverpool.

Mohamed Sissoko has left Liverpool to join Juventus in a £8.2m deal.

Sunderland striker Andy Cole has joined Burnley on loan until the end of the season. The Clarets have also extended the loan spell of Stanislav Varga - also of Sunderland - until the end of the season.

Weymouth have appointed 61-year-old John Hollins as their new manager.

Celtic have signed 22-year-old Japanese midfielder Koki Mizuno on a three-and-a-half year contract from JEF United with Georgios Samaras, also 22, agreeing a loan deal from Manchester City until the end of the season, with the option to make the move permanent.

The Scottish FA disciplinary committee have handed Celtic manager Gordon Strachan a four-match touchline ban following a heated exchange with a steward against Aberdeen at Pittodrie in August. Referee Charlie Richmond sent the Celtic boss from the dugout during his side’s 1-3 victory for arguing with the steward who had accused his assistant Garry Pendrey of gesturing to the home fans. The committee found Strachan guilty of unacceptable conduct. Celtic will appeal.

Nathan Davies