Pro Eleven Headline News
Arshavin in the frame for derby debut
Even the wordiest of Russia's great novelists would have struggled to match the epic length of Arsenal's pursuit of Andrey Arshavin.
But now the chase has been brought to a successful conclusion, English football will discover whether the wait has been worthwhile.
Arshavin, having finally completed his protracted move from Zenit St Petersburg on Tuesday, is being considered for a potentially explosive debut in Sunday's north London derby with Tottenham Hotspur.
Arsene Wenger would doubtless have preferred to ease in his new playmaker via a less volatile fixture, given both his lack of recent match practice - the Russian season ended in November - and the unique physical challenge posed by the harum-scarum Premier League.
But Arsenal's situation is so precarious, he simply has no room for niceties. Having fallen five points behind the top four courtesy of some wildly inconsistent form this season, Arshavin will be expected to make an immediate impact, especially as a smattering of the club's more creative forces - Cesc Fabregas, Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott - remain out with long-term injuries.
"I believe he is talented, intelligent and motivated, Wenger said. "When you have these things together, you always have a chance to make an impact, but you have to give him time as well.
"I will have reservations (about playing him), because the worst thing for a player is not being ready to play in a game of that intensity, or getting injured before having kicked a ball for the team. But we will see what shape he is in."
Wenger sought to ease some of the pressure on his new arrival by stressing the strengths of the players around him, and the fact that Arsenal are currently in the midst of their longest unbeaten run of the season.
"We have what it takes, without Arshavin," he insisted. "The team is maturing - we have shown that against Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea. This team can compete with anybody."
But the fact remains that Arshavin has come to be seen as the saviour of Arsenal's season - the conjuror capable of transforming frustrating draws into precious victories with a canny pass, quicksilver run or clinical finish. In short, delivering the same kind of footballing alchemy he regularly produces for his national side.
Arshavin is not the only player who will be saddled with great expectations at White Hart Lane. Robbie Keane has also been charged with revitalising his side, having moved back to the English capital after a deeply unhappy six-month spell at Liverpool.
The Ireland striker remains bitterly disappointed at his treatment by Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, but he is anxious to draw a line under the past and there would be no more effective way to do that than shooting down Spurs' much-loathed near neighbours.
There is, however, far more than local bragging rights at stake. Tottenham also need points quickly - Harry Redknapp's side could be in the bottom two by the time they run out at White Hart Lane - and Keane was anxious to provide a reality check in the build-up.
"I'm concerned - everyone should be because we're in a relegation battle," he said. "Looking at the players we have, it's a surprise but that's a reality now.
"It's going to be difficult and the lads are low on confidence. But it's up to me and the other senior boys to get everyone going again. There's enough quality here in the squad but we have to deliver now. There's no point in having great individuals if you don't get the results." AFP
Substitute Torres earns Liverpool late win
Liverpool breathed new life into their Premier League title bid as substitute Fernando Torres struck deep into injury-time to seal a thrilling 3-2 win at Portsmouth and return the Reds to the top of the table.
Portsmouth, without a win in eight league games coming into the match, twice led through David Nugent and Hermann Hreidarsson but were pegged back thanks to goals from Alvaro Arbeloa and Dirk Kuyt.
Kuyt also had an effort disallowed for a debatable offside but that proved academic as Torres popped up with a header at the end to seal the three points which take Liverpool a point clear of Manchester United at the summit, albeit having played two games more.
After a goalless first-half, Portsmouth took the lead when David Nugent fired home after being put through by Peter Crouch, only for Crouch to hand Liverpool an equalizing goal.
The former Reds striker played a poor back-pass to keeper David James, who was forced to handle the ball. From the resulting free-kick in the area, Arbeloa buried his fierce shot into the corner.
However, Pompey fought back and Hreidarsson put them back ahead when his unmarked header bounced over goalkeeper Pepe Reina.
But yet again, Liverpool would not be denied and a mistake from Sylvain Distin, who let a long ball go under his foot, allowed Dirk Kuyt to fire home from an acute angle.
A draw seemed a fair result, but Torres -- who was left on the bench by manager Rafa Benitez -- powered home a bullet header to send the travelling fans into raptures.
Elsewhere, Chelsea fading challenge continued as they dropped to fourth place after being held to a 0-0 draw by a well-drilled Hull side at Stamford Bridge.
Ricardo Quaresma made his Chelsea debut but failed to inspire the hosts to victory, while Phil Brown's Tigers were not afraid to take the game to their opponents and could have nicked all the points in the second half when Dean Marney fired just wide.
A section of the home support chanted 'You don't know what you're doing' at coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and then booed the team off at the final whistle.
Chelsea's costly slip allowed Aston Villa to move above them into third place after Martin O'Neill's men defeated Blackburn 2-0 at Ewood Park.
James Milner opened the scoring after 27 minutes while Gabriel Agbonlahor made sure of the victory in injury-time.
Newcastle produced a display to lift the spirits of manager Joe Kinnear, who was taken to hospital in the morning after feeling unwell at the team hotel.
With Chris Hughton in charge, Newcastle posted a 3-2 win over West Brom courtesy of some abysmal defending by Tony Mowbray's side.
A defensive lapse by Leon Barnett allowed Damien Duff in to open the scoring for Newcastle after just two minutes, but Marc-Antoine Fortune levelled moments later.
Peter Lovenkrands restored the visitors' lead after nine minutes following more errors in the Albion back line, while Steven Taylor (41) made it three when he headed home Ryan Taylor's inswinging corner.
West Brom reduced the deficit through Fortune's second after 73 minutes but the hosts could not find an equalizer which would have lifted them from the foot of the table.
On-loan Manchester City striker Jo scored twice as Everton ended a three-game winless run in the league with a 3-0 victory over Bolton at Goodison Park.
Everton led at the break thanks to Mikel Arteta's 40th-minute penalty, awarded after Jo went down in the area under a challenge from Andy O'Brien.
Jo added to the Toffees' lead after 49 minutes when he pulled a high ball down into his path on the edge of the area and slotted home under Jussi Jaaskelainen, while the Brazilian increased the margin of victory with a late penalty.
Sunderland defeated 10-man Stoke 2-0 at the Stadium of Light thanks to late goals from Kenwyne Jones and David Healy. Jones struck after 78 minutes, rising to head home Andy Reid's deep cross, although Stoke's former Sunderland goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen should have saved at his near post.
Healy made sure of the three points with the Black Cats' second in injury-time.
Stoke played the final 25 minutes a man down after Matthew Etherington saw red for an off-the-ball clash with Danny Collins.
Wigan's clash with Fulham ended 0-0, while the day's early kick-off saw Shay Given pull off a string of important stops on his Manchester City debut as Mark Hughes' side posted a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough.
Craig Bellamy scored the only goal at Eastlands after 51 minutes as Gareth Southgate's ailing Boro side saw their winless streak extend to 13 games. CNN
Inter pile pressure on with another victory
Defending champions Inter Milan have increased their Serie A advantage over AC Milan and Juventus after a convincing 3-0 victory at struggling Lecce on Saturday.
The result means Jose Mourinho's side are now nine points ahead of city rivals Milan, who entertain bottom-of-the-table Reggina in the late Saturday match, and 10 clear of Juventus ahead of their match at Catania on Sunday.
Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic opened the scoring in the 12th minute, collecting a pass from Esteban Cambiasso before firing home from the edge of the area.
Veteran Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo doubled the visitors' advantage with 19 minutes left, glancing a header into the far corner from teenage left-back Davide Santon's cross.
Then, with eight minutes remaining, Dejan Stankovic secured the points when he timed his run perfectly to head home a free-kick from. CNN
LA Galaxy refuse AC Milan transfer for record equalling David Beckham
AC Milan have suffered a double blow with Los Angeles Galaxy refusing their $15.32 million bid for David Beckham and rock-bottom Reggina holding them to a 1-1 draw at the San Siro.
Earlier in the day Inter Milan cruised to a convincing 3-0 victory at lowly Lecce to extend their lead at the top to eight points.
Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani revealed before kick-off that Galaxy had turned down their initial bid for Beckham and then sat and watched his team frustrated by a team fighting for their Serie A survival.
"We made an offer to Galaxy which they didn't accept," said Galliani.
Meanwhile Beckham has been handed the opportunity to win a record-equalling 108th cap for England with Fabio Capello naming his squad to face Spain in a friendly in Seville.
Beckham needs just one more appearance to match Bobby Moore's best mark for an outfield player.
West Ham striker Carlton Cole and Phil Jagielka, the Everton midfielder, are in line for their first caps after also being named in the squad while Aston Villa's James Milner has been elevated to the senior squad.
England goalkeeping great Peter Shilton holds the record for the most England caps, with 125.
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