Manchester United v Arsenal team news

Here is the latest football news ahead of the lunchtime Premier League clash between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford, kick off 12.45pm.

Arsenal team news
Arsenal have been without Rosicky for a long time now, the good news is that he is back in training but will not feature in any action until next season. It has been well documented that Arsenal's problems all season has been defending - teenager Gibbs will remain as the understudy to Clichy at left-back and William Gallas is still out with a knee injury. That said, Gibbs has done well against Cristiano Ronaldo in previous games and the real defensive issue if cover in the Arsenal midfield area. Eduardo is also sidelined with a groin problem.

Manchester United team news
The champions are at full fitness other than England international defender Rio Ferdinany who has a calf injury. Rio will hope to be back for their trip to te KC stadium v Hull City. Darren Fletcher might get a start because he will not take part in the Champions League final due to suspension.

Premiership fixtures 16th May

Premier League matches for this Saturday 16 May 2009

On the penultimate day of the season there are probably more football eyes on the relegation battle. Boro and Newcastle both have home advantage after Monday's thrilling encounter, whereas free-falling Hull City have a tough away fixture at Bolton Atheletic. I have a feeling that Newcastle will get something out of their game against Fulham, perhaps that elusive Michael Owen goal will come tomorrow. Man Utd v Arsenal is the televised match at 12.45pm on Sky Sports, Arsenal fans will be hoping that Wenger's boys can keep things tight and respectable defensively. I think the league will be decided tomorrow, you can rarely see any team taking any points when visiting Old Trafford.

Bolton v Hull 3pm Reebok Stadium
Everton v West Ham 3pm Goodison Park
Man Utd v Arsenal 12.45pm Old Trafford
Middlesbrough v Aston Villa 3pm Riverside Stadium
Newcastle v Fulham 3pm St James' Park
Stoke v Wigan 3pm Britannia Stadium
Tottenham v Man City 3pm White Hart Lane

Who will Mark Hughes go for next? Ronaldinho? Drogba? Santa cruz

Mark Hughes has the cheque book. Now he needs 2-3 players to create the core of a new Manchester City, a Manchester City that will break into the top 6 clubs and push on eventually to the Champions League.

Hughes made a bid last season for Ronaldinho. However he moved to AC Milan and the fans adore him out there in Italy. However his brother stated that he wouldn't rule out another move to a European club: Roberto de Assis Moreira said: "There is no chance of Ronaldinho going back to Brazil at the end of the season.

Then there's the larger than life Drogba. Potentially facing a 5-10 match ban with Chelsea in the Champions League after his ridiculous antics after their exit to Barcelona. I could see this one coming off if the price was right.

Santa Cruz - although Man City are richer than rich, Allardyce reportedly wants £20m. Even though there is history between Hughes and Santa Cruz from their days at Blackburn, Spurs are linked with the Paraguaystriker so it could be that Big Sam gets his price.

I have a feeling that next season will be a big breakthrough for Man City with some of these big signings coming off for Hughesy.

Michael Owen rumours

Where will Owen go?

Michael Owen's career is reaching a critical point, with his form and confidence taking a big nose dive at a time when Alan Shearer needs him the most.

There have been rumours linking Owen with Aston Villa and Everton but apparently David Moyes is not interested in signing the former England favourite. He has also been linked with a pay-as-you-play deal with Celtic that could net the 29 year old £50k per week.

The latest rumour that Michael Owen is considering retirement has been rubbished by Shearer, who used to play alongside Owen for both Newcastle United and England. Although there are high expectations that Michael Owen will leave St James' Park at the end of the season when he is out of contract, surely if Alan Shearer sticks around he would be better playing under Shearer as he is a big believer in the striker.

Owen is undoubtedly a goalscorer, what better a way to end his goal drought

Adebayor linked with Chelsea Drogba linked with Manchester City

Adebayor rumoured to move to Chelsea - Wenger may sell
Rumours are rife that Emmanuel Adebayor will be making the short but significant journey from the Emirates to Stamford Bridge this summer. Arsene Wenger, although insisting he does not want to sell the player, has done nothing to quell the rumours. Wenger claims that a combination of events last summer (a failed move to AC Milan) and a season blighted by injury has damaged Adebayor's relationship with the fans and left the Togo international feeling unsettled. Last season Adebayor scored 24 goals and finished second to Ronaldo in the league of premiership top scorers but this year he is way off this pace, having only netted 10 and lying in 12th place.

To add fuel to the fire Wenger also points out that he would not rule out selling a player to one of the other "big 4" and points to the sale of Ashley Cole and purchase of William Gallas between the 2 top London clubs.

Clearly a move to Chelsea would work well for Adebayor from a personal point of view as he would not need to relocate to a new city. It is also rumoured that Chelsea are looking at Adebayor because Didier Drogba will be leaving in the summer, potentially heading for Manchester City.

Gunners fans will be hoping that if Wenger does decide to sell, he drives a hard bargain and gets enough cash to fill the gaps in Arsenal's midfield and defence!!

Wigan 1 Manchester United 2 Premiership Result

Wigan 1 Manchester United 2 Premier League Result
For me, Manchester United’s 2-1 away victory last night at Wigan typified their professional approach to the Premier League this season, now only 1 point away from retaining the Premiership title. After winning both the Champions League / Premier League double in the 2008/2009, you could have imagined some teams to have taken their foot off of the gas in the subsequent season. However we are talking about the ultra competitive Sir Alex Ferguson, who has the motivation for winning pulsating through his veins.

Wigan’s Antonio Valencia could have put the home team ahead in the first minute of the match where he broke through with Vidic chasing him from behind in no position to tackle. Although when Valencia pulled the trigger, he went for a delicate chip and Vidic managed to do just enough to put him off balance. Fergie will have been watching the Ecuador international closely as there has been a reported link between Man U and the player. Real Madrid are also rumoured to be making a £15m bid, it’s not going to be long until Steve Bruce has to let go of this extremely quick and talented midfielder.

In the 10th minute Berbatov tricked Titus Bramble and then delivered a great cross on to Rooney’s head; the England striker uncharacteristically headed wide. Shortly after this, Berbatov again played the right wing role to deliver a great pass along the deck to Michael Carrick who narrowly missed sending the ball wide of the far post.
However it was the Latics that surprisingly took the lead. In the 28th minute, Columbian striker Hugo Rodallega scored a slightly scrappy goal which could have been avoided with some more assertive defending from the Red Devils.
Manchester United could have equalised with Ronaldo going through with a 1-on-1 with the Latics goalkeeper Richard Kingson.

In the second half Man Utd remained in a frustrated state as Steve Bruce’s side battled more in the way that has guaranteed them their Premier League survival. Past the hour mark however, the visiting team managed to get a goal, another scrappy one where Tevez awkwardly connected with a miss hit shot from Michael Carrick to find the back of the net. They all count, as they say.

Man U kept pushing and pushing. The inevitable was in sight and it came with a great left footed drive from England international Michael Carrick. Carrick deservedly got Sky Sports man of the match award and demonstrated the class that he can bring to the England set up with the World Cup 2010 just around the corner.

Overall a great result for Steve Bruce’s old boss but Brucey will be frustrated that he cannot get a result against Manchester United. However, the Wigan players reacted to the frustration shown from their boss on the weekend after the West Brom defeat with a solid performance worthy of any Premier League side. Quoted on the Latics website: “I've been trying for ten years to get a result against them, and I thought tonight would be the night I got it, but it wasn't to be. Overall I couldn't wish for anymore, we did everything we possibly could to get the result.”

Wigan v Man Utd odds

Latest odds from SkyBet:

Wigan to win 9/2
Man Utd to win 2/7
Wigan - Man Utd draw 9/2

Use the link on the right to register an account with SkyBet to get your bet on prior to 8pm!

Wigan v Manchester United Premier League 13th May 2009 8pm

Wigan V Man Utd 8pm JJB Stadium, 13th May
With Manchester United only needing 4 points from matches against Wigan (tonight at the JJB Stadium), Arsenal (Old Trafford) and Hull City (KC stadium) it feels like the Premier League title race is over when you take into account Man Utd's current explosive form. They convincingly brushed aside local rivals Man City 2-0 with goals from Ronaldo and unsettled Carlos Tevez. Liverpool play West Brom and Tottenham in their 2 last games where they could hope for 6 points but I think it will all be over before the last day of the Premier season on Sunday 24th May.

Sir Alex Ferguson will have Scholes, Carrick and Rooney back but may have to go without Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans. Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov is aware that although Wigan are stuck in mid table oblivion with no threat of relegation or prospect of a Europa League place, Steve Bruce's men will be up for a big game tonight:

"I know it will be difficult," Berbatov told MUTV. "But last year United won the league there, so hopefully history repeats itself, because winning is very important to us getting the title."

Steve Bruce seemed quite restless and agitated by his team's ability to finish this season with a bang, when they were beaten by bottom of the Premiership West Bromwich Albion. Wigan haven't won a game in their last 6 and Bruce is clearly looking for more commitment and spirit from his squad. Even without the bulldog like Zaki and goalkeeper Chris Kirkland out, he will want to show his old club that he captained for so many years that he can motivated his troops and be competitive at the highest level. Egyptian striker Mido is available for this match and is likely to start for the Latics.

2-0 away win to Manchester United is my bet, Man Utd to be only 1 point away from retaining the Premiership title.

Redknapp with Ledley King quandry

Should Premier League footballers drink?

Premier League footballers get paid more than alot of rock stars...an average footballing career (on the pitch) might last 12 years - Harry Redknapp's statement about banning his players form alcohol consumption during the football season seems totally fair enough to me. Surely players that have got into scrapes in the past ended up regreting all of the propaganda and scandal associate with the incident enough to just not drink during the playing period?

It's all change in comparison to the 60's and 70's where footballers openly smoked and drank before/after a match or indeed at half time!

British Cup versus Carling Cup poll results

Firstly thanks to all of the football bloggers that gave their opinion on whether a English-Scottish 'British Cup' would be an entertaining replacement for the dour Carling Cup.

63% of respondents would replace the Carling Cup with the British Cup....I guess 37% either object to losing the League Cup which began in 1960 OR they just do not care!