Abel RKay

Premier League leaders Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw by Southampton on Tuesday evening at a rainy St. Mary's Stadium. Following a poor first 45 minutes, the Gunners trailed 1-0 to Jose Fonte's opener. Arsenal turned around the match with two quick goals early in the second half, through Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla, but Southampton equalised via Adam Lallana shortly after falling behind. The result ended Arsenal's run of seven straight wins in all competitions. The Gunners remain atop the table on 52 points, two ahead of Manchester City and three ahead of Chelsea. Both City and Chelsea play Wednesday. Arsenal ended the match with 10 minutes following Mathieu Flamini's late sending-off. The French midfielder will miss Arsenal's next three matches through suspension.   "We have shown a lot of character and resilience to respond to what happened to us in the first half," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said, per Arsenal.com. ...

  Daniel Sturridge scored twice in two minutes as Liverpool claimed their biggest victory over neighbours Everton since 1982 – but had to apologise after reacting badly having missed the chance for a hat-trick with a penalty that sailed well over the crossbar.   The striker had strong words with his manager Brendan Rodgers, at being substituted soon after the miss but said afterwards: “I would like to apologise for my reaction and for missing the penalty. I let the side down and the fans down with my reaction. At the time I was not happy but I apologise.” Steven Gerrard, who had headed the home side in front after 21 minutes, added: “I told Daniel to take the penalty. I have scored a hat-trick in a derby and I wanted him to do it as well. “ Luis Suarez added a fourth five minutes into the second half after he had run the length of the pitch to round Phil Jagielka and slot the ball past an out of position Tim Howard, who was also at fault for Sturridge...

Old Trafford showers an old hero with love and then watches a new one make himself immediatley at home    For a moment early in Manchester United 's 2-0 win against Cardiff City , Ole Gunnar Solskjaer forgot what he was doing at Old Trafford. The Cardiff City manager had stepped into his technical area for the first time, and was semaphoring signals to his players, making sharp karate-style chopping motions to indicate the lines he wanted them to take up. Spotting him there, the regulars in the Stretford End started up a chant. “Ole, Ole give us a wave,” they demanded. Temporarily putting aside his primary purpose of the evening – to inflict further misery on the United faithful – he duly obliged. He waved like it was 1999 all over again. Maybe he was practising for future times. Maybe, momentarily, he thought the grand ambition he has nursed since he retired as a player had been suddenly realised and he was now manager of ...

Forget Juan Mata -- it was the return of Robin van Persie that set Manchester United on course for three points against Cardiff City. Despite all the talk of Juan Mata's move to Old Trafford from Chelsea, it was Robin van Persie who stamped his mark on the match. Manchester United's top dog took just six minutes to break the deadlock, scrambling home at the second attempt after Antonio Valencia had nodded Ashley Young's incisive delivery against the crossbar. United might have had a rough season to date but Cardiff have had a far tougher time, and in the first half they had real problems doing anything to the hosts' defence even after they'd penetrated the midfield. Craig Noone had the best chance to draw the Bluebirds level when a Mark Hudson header bounced right in front of him, but he didn't have the dexterity to flick the ball on and David de Gea was able to save. But in the second Cardiff looked like a genuine threat. Frazier Camp...

Chelsea have confirmed that they have reached an agreement with Italian side AC Milan for the transfer of Michael Essien, subject to a medical and agreeing personal terms. The 31-year-old midfielder has struggled for regular action at Stamford Bridge this term, having made just two Premier League starts since returning from his 2012-13 loan spell at Spanish giants Real Madrid. Essien flew to Milan on Friday evening and was greeted at the airport by supporters, who presented him with the club's shirt. The Ghanaian is expected to pen an 18-month deal with the seven-time European champions - becoming new manager Clarence Seedorf's first signing. Essien leaves west London having won two Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the 2012 Champions League. However Essien has also suffered with two serious knee injuries since his £24million from French club Lyon in 2005. "I'm happy to be here," said Essien, speaking to the Milan Channel. "I will do...

The Premier League champion wants to follow up the club record Juan Mata deal by beating Chelsea to signing of 18-year-old left back. Manchester United has opened preliminary talks with Southampton over a 20 million pound swoop for Luke Shaw. The Premier League champion has made its move for the teenage prodigy as the club attempts to make a second statement signing of the January window. United wants to follow up the £37 million capture of Juan Mata by trumping Chelsea to the signing of Shaw. Manager David Moyes is in the market for a new left back as he prepares for the possible departure of Patrice Evra, whose contract expires in the summer. Shaw, 18, is the highest rated English player in his age group. He has yet to be capped by England but made his debut for Southampton aged 18 and has already accumulated 49 first-team appearances for Mauricio Pochettino's improved team. Shaw signed a new five-year contract with the Saints last summer but sources have said tha...

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Juan Mata has arrived at Manchester United's training complex by helicopter to undergo a medical examination before sealing his club-record move to the Premier League champions from Chelsea. The Spain midfielder was greeted by United manager David Moyes after landing at the training ground, a day after the club confirmed it has reached an agreement with Chelsea. Although financial details weren't disclosed, United made a bid of 37 million pounds ($61 million) this week. Its previous record transfer was Dimitar Berbatov, who joined for 30.7 million pounds from Tottenham in 2008. United is banking on the arrival of Mata, who fell out of favor at Chelsea this season, to spark an upturn in fortunes with the team struggling to qualify for next season's Champions League. Per SFGate. Juan Mata has arrived at Manchester United’s training ground via helicopter to undergo his medical ahead of a club record move f...

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has joined Arsene Wenger in criticising Juan Mata's transfer from Chelsea to Manchester United. As reported by Rob Dawson of the Manchester Evening News , Pellegrini is upset about the deal which will see the Spain international move to Old Trafford : As reported by BBC Sport, Wenger had questioned the fairness of Mata's transfer, saying: "Maybe the rules should be adapted for more fairness. It opens up questions about the dates of this transfer window. If you want to respect the fairness for everybody, that should not happen." Chelsea have played United twice in the Premier League, meaning that they will not face Mata this season. But City and Arsenal both have to play the Red Devils again, something their managers fear gives United a greater chance of winning, and as a result Chelsea an advantage in the Premier League title race. Mata is likely to give United a big boost going into the final p...

 Mohamed Salah in the middle pic by AP  Mohamed Salah. Pic by EPA  Mohamed Salah in white scoring against Chelsea  Up & down, Mohamed Salah

THE world football governing body FIFA has given Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia an ultimatum to declare whether they are going to pay the USD 300,000 they owe Simba SC after acquiring the service of Uganda's International Striker Emmanuel Okwi. This was disclosed on Thursday by Simba Chairman Ismail Aden Rage during a press conference held at the club house along Msimbazi Street, a day after the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) had suspended Okwi's registration with Yanga. Rage said he has received an email from FIFA saying that the Tunisian side has been given until next Monday to submit their details on whether they are going to clear Simba's debt or not before FIFA's Players Status Committee decides on the issue. According to Rage, the committee has disclosed that after the deadline Simba's case will be decided by a single judge appointed to handle the case within three days from January 28. He said he is happy that the matter has been taken...

The England striker is keen to stay despite links with Chelsea and Old Trafford chiefs intend to begin negotiations on new deal as soon as possible   Wayne Rooney wants to stay at Manchester United - and the club are ready to open talks with him once they have tied up the signature of Juan Mata. Mata has agreed terms with United on a four-and-a-half-year, £150,000-per-week deal and is expected to complete a club-record £40million move from Chelsea. A medical is set to take place on Thursday. United boss David Moyes has also told his money-men to start discussions with Rooney - to keep the England striker out of the Stamford Bridge club's grasp in the summer. Champions United plan to sit down and thrash out a new deal with their best player as soon as possible - but not before they have snared Mata. The former Valencia midfielder is said to have told United goalkeeper - and fellow Spaniard - David de Gea that he is moving to Old Trafford because he is worried his...

London — Manchester United's problems were compounded Thursday when the faltering English champions dropped out of the top three of the world's top-earning clubs for the first time. Dramatically knocked out of the League Cup on penalties by Premier League strugglers Sunderland in front of a stunned Old Trafford crowd on Wednesday and 14 points adrift of league leaders Arsenal, United fell to fourth in the latest Deloitte Football Money League behind leaders Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich based on income during the 2012/13 season. International financial services firm Deloitte have been compiling the table since 1997 and for the first eight years United were the biggest-earning club in the world. However, they've since been overtaken by Spanish giants Real and Barcelona and now Bayern following the German club's impressive treble-winning season. But Deloitte forecast United, owned by the US-based Glazer family, would reclaim third place fro...

Mata moving on after Manchester United makes Chelsea an offer it couldn't refuse Chelsea has accepted a £37 million ($69 million) bid for Juan Mata and immediately released the Spain international to join Manchester United to complete the most dramatic deal of the transfer window. Mata will undergo a medical on Thursday at United before completing the move that will see him more than double his £70,000-a-week ($130,500) Chelsea salary at Old Trafford. United chose a slightly unusual route to lodge its bid, using intermediaries, but Chelsea has accepted the offer as an official one and manager Jose Mourinho has sanctioned the move. Mata, Chelsea's player of the year for the past two seasons, has not had to ask to leave with Mourinho accepting that the scale of United's offer is too big to refuse given his priorities in strengthening his team lie elsewhere.   The bid is at a level that it will have been deemed imp...

If the Chelsea playmaker arrives at Old Trafford he may be asked to occupy a wide position that is not his favourite or David Moyes could tweak the formation from 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3 The dream for Manchester United fans is to see Juan Mata in a red shirt gliding out of midfield to unlock defences and invigorate the champions' dismal campaign. Will it happen? Not if Wayne Rooney is supposed to be going in the opposite direction, but if it is a straight purchase then the dream could become a reality. A few things are clear: Chelsea and United are close to agreeing a £40m deal for Mata, the playmaker whom José Mourinho just does not fancy. What is indisputable is that the Spaniard can finish. Last season there were 20 goals for Chelsea and two more for his country in a campaign in which Chelsea raced to 100 goals in all competitions in 42 games, a record beaten last weekend by Manchester City. The ability to turn a contest and contribute goals are the prime re...

• Formal offer believed to be imminent • Mata must tell Chelsea he wants to leave Chelsea and Manchester United have provisionally agreed a £40m fee for Juan Mata, though the champions are yet to make a formal bid and any deal to take the 25-year-old to Old Trafford remains dependent on him personally informing José Mourinho of his desire to move. Negotiations between officials from the two clubs are at an advanced stage, with the transfer said to be "almost complete" by sources close to the discussions. Despite the lack of an official offer from United for Mata, who has found first-team opportunities relatively limited at Stamford Bridge this season under Mourinho, the London club anticipate that situation changing soon as there is a little over a week of the current window remaining. There is an instinctive reluctance at Stamford Bridge to lose their player of the season from each of his two full campaigns at the club, sentiment expressed public...

• Appeal against Sunday's red card at Stamford Bridge rejected • The Serb will miss Sunderland, Cardiff and Stoke games The Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has been banned for three matches after losing his appeal against his red card against Chelsea, the Football Association has announced. Vidic's claim for wrongful dismissal was rejected by an independent regulatory commission on Tuesday. He was sent off in United's 3-1 defeat on Sunday for a foul on Eden Hazard. An FA statement read: "The player's three-match suspension commences with immediate effect." The 32-year-old United captain will miss the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg against Sunderland on Wednesday and the Premier League games at home to Cardiff and away to Stoke. His absence is a blow to David Moyes' struggling side, whose season suffered another setback in their comprehensive defeat by Chelsea, which left them 14 points off the league leaders, Arsenal, and s...

• Manchester United looking at a 'must win' fixture • But relegation zone Sunderland have 2-1 first-leg lead Gus Poyet described Wednesday night's fixture at Old Trafford as "quite a strange game". Sunderland's manager gave the distinct impression that he harbours mixed feelings about a Capital One Cup semi-final second leg staged at a time when his struggling side remain stuck in the Premier League's relegation zone. His players hold a fragile 2-1 lead from the first leg but Poyet knows that reaching Wembley and slipping into the Championship would not only constitute a most unwanted double but appear to be a case of rank incompetence. The alternative scenario involves Sunderland exposing Manchester United's current frailties before, bolstered by their impending big final date with Manchester City, potentially shooting up the table. "In normal conditions, if Manchester United were in the top four and we were mid-table it w...

• 'I'm thankful for the Manchester United interest,' says Dante • But defender's agent denies that player is in talks with club The Bayern Munich defender, Dante, has revealed that he is a target for Manchester United in the current window as David Moyes seeks high-quality players to rebuild his squad. Dante, who is 30 and won last season's Champions League, told Fox Sports Brazil: "I'm thankful for the Manchester United interest. It will all be sorted out by the end of the month. We have to wait until 31 January because there is a lot going on." However, with Dante in contract negotiations with Bayern, his agent hinted that the Brazilian might be using United as leverage. "There is no way that is going to happen. There is no agreement with Manchester United. He is not going to leave Bayern in the window," Marcus Marin said. "At the moment Bayern are the only people we have spoken to anyway because we are talkin...