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It’s been conceived as a minor blip on the road back to the promised land but Arsenal know they’re not quite there yet. Monday’s home defeat at the hands of struggling Wigan was a tiny hiccup in their pursuit of third spot and an all important place in next seasons Champions League group stage. A win would have moved them eight points clear of their North London rivals and effectively secured automatic passage to Europe’s premier club competition. Arsene Wenger knows his side need to win their remaining games to do so and was hoping to have Jack Wilshere back to provide a boost during the run in. Mikel Arteta’s season ending injury will leave the Gunners boss short in midfield which could prove  damaging to their objectives.

This week on FFC  the future captain and leading scorer Robin Van Persie is discussed, Wenger’s transfer talk is put under the microscope and Arsenal’s young guns are tipped for future success.

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Best of FFC

The 20 ‘Positives And Negatives’ To Take From Arsenal this season

Have we been here before with Wenger’s transfer talk?

Top TEN – Arsenal should have ‘never’ let them go

The one question Robin van Persie needs to ask himself

Does Arsenal’s ‘next generation’ actually have the potential to become a force?

The Curse Of The Loan Move

Fergie and Wenger rebuffed In attempts to land starlet

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Best of WEB

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Power, Corruption And Lies Invade The Arsenal Brotherhood – A Cultured Left Foot

Why participating in next season’s ‘NextGen Series’ can only be beneficial – Gunnersphere

Spoilt brat approach is costing points – Online Gooner

More fat cloggers please – Arseblog

The Arsenal centre midfield conundrum | Robin goes to negotiate Barca deal at London hotel – Le Grove

Wenger in for Afellay? Robin decides to leave, will it really spell the end?- Highbury House

£7M Is An Absolute Snip And We Say Why… – Transfer Tavern

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Quote of the Week

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“We want more, but where we are at the moment we will be happy with third place because there are great teams who would be very happy if they got there.

“You always want more, but you see that the competition in England is difficult – Chelsea are now in the Champions League [semi-final] against Barcelona,

 but they are sixth at the moment, that means it is not easy.

“We want to win our next game and that is the only way we can secure our [Champions League] qualification. We have done remarkably well in the last two months and we want to take advantage of that run we have created and show that (on Saturday).” Arsene Wenger admits he is happy with third after Arsenal’s poor start to the season

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Match Highlights

Sao Paulo moved five points clear atop the Brazil Serie A with a 3-1 home win over Gremio on Saturday.At the Estadio Cicero Pompeu de Toledo, the home fans were celebrating early as Casimiro scored a 13th minute opener for Sao Paulo.

But he soon turned from hero to villain, as he found the back of the net again, this time with an own goal early in the second half to level proceedings.

The hosts hit the lead 10 minutes later, when midfielder Marlos scored after 62 minutes and the three points were wrapped up when Jean scored late.

Gremio defender Rafael Marques was sent off in first-half stoppage time to add insult to injury as Sao Paulo made it four victories from as many attempts.

In other matches, third-placed Figueirense claimed a last-minute draw thanks to Aloisio’s 89th minute goal, which earned them a point in a 1-1 draw at Vasco Da Gama.

There was more late drama between Cruzeiro and Santos, with the latter also snaring a point away from home in a 1-1 draw.

Walter Montillo’s 55th minute spotkick looked to have given Cruziero all three points but Santos – who played more than 40 minutes with 10 men – salvaged a draw through Borges’ injury-time goal.

Avai claimed their first points of the season in a 2-2 home draw with America Mineiro.

Having lost all three matches of the season so far, Avai seemed destined for another loss until defender Cassio struck in injury time.

Manager Tony Pulis remains confident that his Stoke City side will be able to recover from a poor recent run of form which has seen them lose their last four games in all competitions.

A 1-0 reverse at Everton left the Potters just a point outside the relegation places, but Pulis is not too concerned, believing that his side just need to be more clinical in front of goal.

He told his club's official website:"We are under no illusion about how difficult this season is going to be, but we have to battle through and keep our heads – because we need some points from our next few games.

"You have runs in football. We went five without losing before this run, when we had things going for us that are not going for us now. You just have to take it on the chin.

"We've got to dig in, but we've got a good group of players who will work very hard.

"We played fantastically well. When you think that we have had three unbelievably tough games in six days, so to come here and put on a performance like this against a quality team like Everton made it hugely frustrating that we have ended up losing.

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"We have got to keep doing the right things and then make the most of the opportunities when we are on top in matches and creating clear-cut chances."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Sir Alex Ferguson has stated that Manchester United will use all their experience to ensure they win the Premier League this season.

The Red Devils moved back to the top of the division on Sunday by beating West Brom 2-0, after Manchester City had been beaten 1-0 by Swansea.

The Scottish coach has admitted that his team have the ability to deal with pressure, and that they won’t crack going into the final games of the season.

“We have that experience and it does help,” he stated in a press conference, published by Sky Sports.

“We won’t get nervous. Against West Brom we kept playing our football even at 1-0 when the fans were thinking ‘just get us a second.’

“It didn’t concern the players one bit. It is good to see that kind of temperament,” he stated.

Ferguson went on to praise Ashley Young, who has returned to fitness to boost the current English champions.

“It takes time to get your rhythm back and Ashley showed that in his two performances against Ajax last month.

“But he did well against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday and he was excellent again against West Brom,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Sky Sports are suggesting that Paul Pogba has signed a new contract with the Old Trafford club, amid rumours that he was ready to leave the English champions.

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The talented French youngster is out of contract at the end of the season, and has dragged his heels over agreeing a new deal with United, with Juventus reportedly interested.

However, it is now believed that he will stay with United, however the player or club have not confirmed this as yet.

By Gareth McKnight

Wolverhampton Wanderers host relegation rivals Blackburn Rovers on Sunday in a gripping finale to the English Premier League season.Blackburn and Wolves, 15th and 16th on the table respectively and level on 40 points, are just two of five teams in danger of relegation on what promises to be a tense last day of the season.

Three teams are one point worse off than Blackburn and Wolves.

Wigan are second bottom, with Blackpool 18th and Birmingham 17th, all on 39 points.

But despite their slim advantage, neither side in the match at Molineux can afford to settle for just a draw for fear of being overtaken by the teams beneath them.

Blackburn, who beat Wolves 3-0 in their first meeting back in December, have taken five points from their last three matches, including a 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United and a potentially invaluable 1-0 win over Bolton.

But that victory was just their second in 14 league matches, a miserable run that has seen the team slide perilously close to relegation after 10 years in the top division.

If Blackburn drop into the Championship, it will raise further questions about the wisdom of club owners Venkys’ decision to dismiss Sam Allardyce as manager in December.

Wolves finished 15th in their first season back in the Premier League last year, a relatively comfortable eight points clear of the relegation zone.

But they have been battling at the wrong end of the table for much of the current campaign.

Only two victories in the last two outings, both 3-1 over West Brom and Sunderland respectively, have kept Mick McCarthy’s team in with a chance of beating the drop.

Wolves’ survival hopes were not helped by a knee injury to Kevin Doyle.

The centre-forward was a vital part of the team that stayed up last year, but he has missed six of the past seven matches, only returning for 20 minutes off the bench last weekend.

Defender Pascal Zubar and midfielder David Edwards are two more who have been missed in the run-in and are yet to recover fitness.

Blackburn’s biggest concern is the tight hamstring that forced captain and centre-back Christopher Samba out of Saturday’s home draw against United.

“Chris Samba first of all felt his groin but wanted to stay on and then his hamstring tightened up,” manager Steve Kean said.

“We know what that big fella is all about and if there is any chance he can play he will play, he will be dying to get out there.”

“You take the risks in games like this and, of course, if we can take a risk on him then we will.”

United veterans, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville are the target of a megabucks deal to play out their careers in the Middle East. Should they cash in?

The last couple of weeks fans and writers alike have lambasted footballers for the vast sums of money that they earn. Wayne Rooney and Yaya Toure have born the brunt of this. However, at the risk of contradicting myself, would fans really have an issue if Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville had one last final pay day and went to Dubai for their last season.

Top teams in the United Arab Emirates league are said to be keen to snap up fellow team mates Giggs, Scholes and Neville (who owns property in Dubai) whose contracts also expire next summer. Giggs, who at 36 isn’t getting any younger,has made a record 847 appearances for the club. Gary Neville, despite struggling with injuries over the last couple of years celebrated his 600th appearance for Manchester United last week against Stoke.

They have been loyal servants to Manchester United for two decades, Giggs himself turned down a huge money move to Inter Milan some years ago. Paul Scholes retired from international football to prolong his Manchester United career and Gary Neville has shown great commitment to Manchester United, even after injuries and losing the captaincy.

Do Manchester United’s title hopes rest on these three players any more. If they do, that has to be a worrying situation for Manchester United fans. The three will not be around for ever, and it is looking increasingly likely that they could retire in the next 18 months. They could all earn around £10 million for one season, is it too much for them to turn down.

However. Both Scholes and Giggs are very much key members of the Manchester United set up, and Sir Alex Ferguson would want to retain their services right up to their retirement date. Personally, I feel it would ruin their reputations if they were to leave in this way. They have maintained top standards throughout their carrer, playing at the top of one of the best leagues in the world, as well as the Champions League. Why would they put their legacy on the line to earn extra money. These three are the epitome of Manchester United. A world where these three legends of the game were tempted by money and not standards, is a horrific thought.

The problem is, they have earned the right to be selfish. My personal opinion is they should not even give this deal a second thought. The trio will always be United legends even if they were to move, but it would tarnish their reputation. Giggs, Scholes and Neville are what is good about football and Manchester United. For the sake of the game they shouldn’t go. They should retire where it started. Where their careers have flourished and where the fans adore them. Imagine the day they retire. They are walking around the pitch, waving at fans with David O’Leary and not Sir Alex Ferguson. It is not the way it should end. They should end by shedding a tear at the Stretford end with their families, that is what they have worked so hard for – not mountains of wealth.

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Maybe they will leave and settle for one last pay day. The word respect is often thrown about too loosely in football, but fans across the world respect what these three have done. Why throw that all away for money, is it really worth it. The answer is no, but sometimes money can make even the best people act foolishly.

What do Manchester United fans as well as other fans think of these rumours. Leave your comments below on whether their reputations will be damaged if they were to move to Dubai.

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Another week, another seven days of anguish for fans of the Silkmen. Two defeats taking the run to eight consecutive losses has turned up the pressure on Gary Simpson and his team, as Macc’s football league status begins to look more than a little fragile. The latest setback, going down 3-2 at Sixfields to fellow strugglersNorthampton, is especially damaging as the Cobblers narrowed the gap from the bottom to three points.

The performance on Tuesday was not terrible, there were plenty of promising moments and it’s difficult to pick out any singular poor performer. The formation was positive – finally the first choice pairing of Donnelly and Tomlinson was available and in action and both found their way onto the score sheet. Colin Daniel performed solidly as an emergency left back, provided you aren’t among those who seem to think he can do no right. Kay has played a lot better but alongside him Mendy was back on form making a host of ball-winning tackles.

When Macclesfield took the lead you really thought this could be the turning point, the Cobblers defence looked vulnerable, but a freak goal direct from a corner and the good work was undone. Futcher had a debut that will not live long in the memory – understandably as he was thrown straight into the side having only arrived on Monday as part of the makeshift back four lacked cohesion. The defence was duly punished for slack marking by a sucker punch goal on the stroke of half-time and another soft goal after the break left the Silkmen with too much to do.

Perhaps if Marshall or Tomlinson had taken chances earlier there would have been time for a dramatic season-defining equaliser, as it was, despite the positives, we were left with the bitter taste of another defeat. In a game we couldn’t really afford to lose.

The overwhelming sense of disappointment was compounded by further injury woe – Veiga forced to finish the game virtually on one leg, and Diagne feeling his hamstring go. The light at the end of the tunnel of the injury crisis appears to have been a train. And that train seems intent on running over players legs.

Inevitably, despite the colossal amount of injuries, questions have been raised about Gary Simpson’s position at the helm. He has done so much for this team bringing them through the last two years, and while there is little place for sentiment in football these days, this has surely earned him more than a little leeway. Moreover the squad seems to remain behind him – removing an unpopular presence in the dressing room often serves as a catalyst for a turnaround, you just don’t get the feeling it would play out that way. It is difficult to see anyone else getting much more out of the squad given the knocks, strains and breaks we have been cursed with, a change at the top doesn’t seem to be the obvious solution.

With all that said it would be very naive to think his position is not in jeopardy. Whatever the circumstances, the run of defeats will eventually reach breaking point. Saturday’s trip to Oxford brings low expectations, but the home tie against Plymouth next Tuesday could be the final straw. Defeat there could well leave the Silkmen languishing in the bottom two and if unrest builds among the fans, change may be inevitable.

Even without the latest casualties piling into the treatment room there is a pressing need to invest the loan market. Simmo has already spent many hours on the phone before Tuesday night, coming close to signing one player only for his manager to pull the deal at the last minute. Its obviously easier said than done to bring in suitable players, but hopefully with persistence backed with some financial leverage he can find the desperately needed quality additions. Hopefully they will arrive soon enough to protect Macclesfield’s and his own future.

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By Macclesfield blogger Alastair Pattrick 

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Following Ben Foster’s recent sabbatical from England duties, West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green looks set to become the latest goalkeeper to retire from international football. With Paul Robinson also long retired and David James seemingly past his best, England look set for a shortage of experienced goalkeepers for the moment. But these are goalkeepers who, in the most part, have turned their backs on the honour or representing their country out of choice. Rather than be understudy to Joe Hart and fight their way back into the team they have chosen to concentrate on club football. Yet rather than move on and focus on future talent, the FA seems worried at the lack of goalkeepers available to them.

Most players dream of representing their country but the likes of Foster, Green and Robinson have turned their noses up at the chance. Whilst the large number of friendly international fixtures have devalued the meaning of an England cap, it should still remain an honour for any player. Similarly, a call-up to the squad offers the chance to train within the international set-up with different players and can only be good for development. An interesting comparison can be drawn with current World Champions Spain where the both Pepe Reina and Victor Valdes have had to wait behind 119-cap veteran Iker Casillas, yet are happy to be part of the squad.

But Robert Green has experienced the darker side to the England goalkeeping jersey. After a high-profile error in last summer’s World Cup against the USA, Green was heavily criticised and made a scapegoat for England’s disappointing draw. The pressure of an increasingly volatile press and fan-base has made it a difficult job. But this is no excuse to shy away from the opportunity.

However, since choosing to focus on club football over England, Paul Robinson has discovered the form that earned him his first cap in February 2003. Perhaps Green will hope for a similar improvement in his fortunes.

But the England set-up should not be reliant on players who don’t appreciate the honour of representing their country. Rather than hope they return, Fabio Capello should instead look to nurture the talented goalkeepers that are coming through the ranks. Fulham reserve David Stockdale has already featured in recent squads, whilst youngsters Joe Lewis and Fraser Forster are growing in reputation. Likewise, more experienced performers such as Steve Harper and Chris Kirkland are yet to come under consideration by Capello.

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Yes, travelling all over the World for sometimes meaningless internationals can disrupt a player’s season, but this is surely all part of the sacrifice in choosing to play a sport professionally. It is, however, disappointing that the majority of modern-day professionals favour club football over internationals and perhaps this is part of the reason for England’s current poor form.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has warned the likes of Real Madrid off from trying to prise Wales left-back Gareth Bale away from the White Hart Lane outfit.

The 21-year-old has been in superlative in the last few months for Spurs and Redknapp is not about to part with one of his key performers.

He told The Sun:"I read in the papers the other day that Gareth's performances for Spurs have already caught the attention of other teams around the world – including Real Madrid and their manager, a certain Jose Mourinho.

"Jose certainly knows a player when he sees one, but one thing is for sure – I am not letting Gareth go anywhere.

"Tottenham is a team on the up and we are building something at White Hart Lane. Jose can enjoy watching Gareth all he likes, but he will be going nowhere.

"I do not make comparisons lightly but he and Ashley Cole are quite similar and that can only be a massive compliment to Gareth.

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Having brought you some of  Football’s most offensive sayings, here are arguably the 25 stupidest quotes to ever grace our game. Footballers aren’t exactly known for their brains, but some of the commentators have no excuse:

25. Phil Neville – The Brazilians were South American, and the Ukranians will be more European.

24. Lawrie McMenemy – When you are 4-0 up you should never lose 7-1.

23. Terry Venables – If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing.

22. Ian Rush – I couldn’t settle in Italy, it was like living in a foreign country.

21. Barry Venison – I always used to put my right boot on first, and then obviously my right sock.

20. Ruud Gullit – We must have had 99 per cent of the match. It was the other three per cent that cost us.

19. Paul Gascoigne – I’ve had 14 bookings this season – 8 of which were my fault, but 7 of which were disputable.

18. Glenn Hoddle – When a player gets to 30, so does his body.

17. Bryan Robson – It wasn’t going to be our day on the night.

16. David Coleman – If that had gone in, it would have been a goal.

15. Alan Green – It was the game that put the Everton ship back on the road.

14. Ugo Ehiogu – I’m as happy as I can be – but I have been happier.

13. Kevin Keegan – Argentina won’t be at Euro 2000 because they’re fromSouth America.

12. Alan Ball – I don’t believe in luck… but I do believe you need it.

11. Mark Viduka – I would not be bothered if we lost every game as long as we won the league.

10. Tom Ferrie – Dumbarton player Steve McCahill has limped off with a badly cut forehead.

9. Vinnie Jones – Winning doesn’t really matter as long as you win.

8. Stuart Pearce – I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel.

7. Peter Jones – Sporting Lisbon in their green and white hoops, looking like a team of zebras.

6. Jonathan Woodgate – Leeds is a great club and it’s been my home for years, even though I live in Middlesbrough.

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5. Ron Atkinson – Well, Clive, it’s all about the two M’s – movement and positioning.

4. Metro Radio – Julian Dicks is everywhere. It’s like they’ve got eleven Dicks on the field.

3. Mark Draper – I’d like to play for an Italian club, like Barcelona.

2. David Beckham – I definitely want Brooklyn to be christened, but I don’t know into what religion yet.

1. Ron Greenwood – Playing with wingers is more effective against European sides like Brazil, than English sides like Wales.

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