Bring It On

This is one EPL clashnot to be missed.

United visit the Emirates Stadium today to face Wenger’s side with the race for the Premier League title as tense as ever.United are currently in second position with 50points with Arsenal just a single point and place behind them. As a result, Ferguson knows he will need his big players to put in a performance and he is backing Fletcher to come out on top.

Fabregas remembers a rare moment when he was forced to admit to being second best, not something he acknowledges easily.So now the Arsenal skipper is hoping to re-enact the scene in reverse tomorrow when the two arch-rivals go head-to-head again - this time at the Emirates."It was not so tough. I always want to win and I hate to lose but sometimes you just have to say that another team is better than you.

Arsène Wenger wants Manchester United to be as strong as possible - so that Arsenal can be "the best within the best".Sir Alex Ferguson's side won their third consecutive Premier League title last season, becoming the first team to achieve the feat twice.This term the Red Devils are in the thick of the title race again, along with Arsenal and Chelsea.

Nicklas Bendtner is gunning for the chance to ease Wenger's injury worries and make himself an Arsenal regular as fellow strikes Eduardo and Van Persie are struggling with injuries ahead of the curial showdown with Manchester United at Emirates.

Wayne Rooney has certainly got more than most to smile about the moment.Rooney instead:"I don't look on us as a one man team or see it as a great burden on me,it's nonsense."If I don't get the service,I can't score.If i don't,I expect others to,we've done that well.We've shared the goals out well and it's certainly not just about me.We expect to win as a team,not as individuals.

Arsenal drop 2 points

Arsenal draw 0-0 with Aston Villa

Title-chasing Arsenal maintained their long unbeaten streak at Villa Park but the woodwork twice denied them victory over Martin O'Neill's side.Cruelly, it was a Holte End post and the crossbar in front of Villa Park's North Stand that stood between the Londoners and a vital victory.

Remember this was the first of four matches in 15 days which may well determine the outcome of Arsenal's pursuit of the Premier League crown.They wanted to get off to a flier but instead they nosedived.And it could prove costly.Manchester United are next, quickly followed by top-of-the-table Chelsea and then Liverpool.It is the acid test and they have been burned already.

Arsenal's best chance came just before halftime at Villa Park when captain Cesc Fabregas hit the post when Brad Friedel was beaten.

The bar also denied Arsenal in the second half when Andrei Arshavin's shot was parried by Friedel and Tomas Rosicky's shot came off the underside of the woodwork but did not cross the line.It was a damaging night on two fronts - not just two points dropped but two players lost into the bargain.

For the Gunners left the Midlands fearing key defender Thomas Vermaelen had broken his leg and with striker Eduardo sidelined by a hamstring injury.Eduardo is already ruled out of Sunday's home clash with United, Vermaelen's injury will be assessed today.With or without him, Arsenal will need to be far better than this to avoid a damaging run of setbacks.The Londoners were never at their super slick best but they will look back at two key moments of this game and curse.

Should Wenger trust Campbell's 35-year-old legs with the task at hand, the likes of Rooney, who has five goals in two games, and Chelsea's powerhouse marksman Didier Drogba await.

Roo bring to Final

Carling Cup : Man Utd 4 agg Man City 3

Wayne Rooney headed Manchester United to Wembley with an injury-time winner to beat Manchester City in a pulsating 3-1 victory.Wayne Rooney's 21st goal of the season in stoppage time prevented the Manchester derby going into extra time, and clinched a 3-1 victory at Old Trafford to send United through 4-3 on aggregate.And United boss Fergie said: "I thought Wayne was much better in this game than he was on Saturday when he scored four goals against Hull."His control, his leading of the line and his penetration were absolutely fantastic.

"It was a wonderful performance. A true, world-class display." After Carlos Tevez had threatened to take the semi-final into extra-time when he quite brilliantly turned home Craig Bellamy's cross 14 minutes from time, up popped Rooney, who nodded home Ryan Giggs' cross to secure a Carling Cup final meeting with Aston Villa on February 28.

The focus of the night was on England's second-tier knockout competition, and second-half goals from Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick looked to have clinched a spot in the final for Ferguson's side after overturning the 2-1 first-leg deficit.

Carrick prodded the ball back for Scholes to drive a shot into the net in the 52nd.

And Nani flicked a pass through to Darren Fletcher inside the City box and the midfielder passed to Carrick, who placed his shot in the bottom corner with the aid of the post in the 71st.

But Carlos Tevez volleyed past former United teammate Edwin van der Sar six minutes later to level the semifinal at 3-3 on aggregate.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini could not hide his disappointment at the defeat after his side had the edge going into the second leg. He said: "I am very sorry for the players and the supporters because we played very well and at the same level as United.

"We had a big possibility to go to the final. We were only under pressure for 10 minutes. We were very unlucky. But that is football. I can only compliment my players. We have another trophy to aim for and maybe we can win the FA Cup.''

Give it to Rooney

Manchester United winger Nani believes team-mate Wayne Rooney’s form can make the difference as United seek to overcome Manchester City in their League Cup semi-final second leg here today.

City hold a 2-1 advantage from last week’s first game at Eastlands, with a place in the final against Aston Villa at stake.
But, as he looked ahead to tomorrow's powderkeg Carling Cup semi-final second leg with Manchester City at Old Trafford, Ferguson expanded on his theme. "There is nothing wrong with supporters complaining,'' he said.United ace Rooney hit four goals against Hull on Saturday to make it eight in his last nine games and 19 Premier League goals for the season.

For City, Tevez has 13 goals from his last 11, including both in the 2-1 first-leg win, and 17 in total.

Red Devils boss Ferguson is quite comfortable that he no longer has Tevez in his ranks, despite the start the Argentine has made to his Eastlands career since leaving United in the summer. And 24-year-old Rooney is a big reason why.

Fergie said: "Wayne is in such great form, there aren't many players matching him at the moment. His scoring form has put him up in that frame."

Yet City chief Mancini made it clear after the first leg he is so glad 25-year-old Tevez now wears the blue shirt of City. The Italian said: "I am happy Carlos plays for us because he is a top player. He's been outstanding.

"He is a world-class striker who is in top form. Carlos is not just putting the ball in the net, his movement and pace worries defenders - and he is clever too.

"His team ethic is fantastic and he has a good understanding with the players around him."

"If the players play badly, they are quite right to voice their disapproval. If they don't like the performance, they are quite right. If they don't like this or that, it is their right. It is their club.

"But we don't want the divisive part. We want the supporters behind the players all the time because we are coming to the stage of the season where everything is down to what we do as a team. It should always be about the team. That is the most important thing and we should never lose sight of it.

"As we have experienced at Old Trafford so many times over the years, in big game situations, when they are in full voice, it is an incredible experience. Some of the European nights I have experienced here have been the most thrilling of my life. You can't beat them. You all go away at the end of the night totally satisfied that you are at the right place at the right time in your lives.'

Superstar player in Haiti

Zinedine Zidane and Kaka led an All-Star side against a team of current and former Benfica players on Monday, with proceeds from the United Nations charity game going to victims of the Haiti earthquake.

UN goodwill ambassador Zidane and Real Madrid's Kaka were joined by Luis Figo, Rui Costa, Thierry Henry, Pavel Nedved and Edgar Davids in front of a capacity crowd of 65,000 at Benfica's Luz Stadium.

"By coming to the stadium people have done a great thing. I am very happy we can do something to help," said former France playmaker Zidane after the 3-3 draw.

The Jan 12 quake killed up to 200,000 people and left hundreds of thousands more Haitians injured and homeless.

After a minute’s silence for the earthquake victims, Portugal great Eusebio took centre-stage for a ceremonial kickoff and Italian referee Pierluigi Collina came out of retirement for the occasion.

Brazil playmaker Kaka put the All-Star team ahead before Nuno Gomes struck twice for the home side. Zidane set up the equaliser for Robert Pires only for Eder Luis to restore Benfica's lead in the 60th minute. The last goal of the night was scored by Frenchman Christophe Dugarry in the 85th minute.

“This is a very good cause, that’s why there are so many players here. Football is with the people of Haiti,” said Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal who was in charge of the All-Star team.