Over the last few seasons Arsene Wenger has gathered an assortment of players, paid them good wages and has waited for them to deliver. Unfortunately, they have not delivered the goods nor have they developed into the world class players we thought they would turn into.

For a few transfer windows we have been expecting these players to be sold, but the ridiculous wages, for their limited wages has meant we have not been able to get rid of these deadwood players.

Both Real Madrid and Barcelona were winners yesterday to ensure that their is no let up in the La Liga title race. However, despite the win, things are not looking too rosy for Madrid Coach Jose Mourinho.

Madrid fans were heard jeering Mourinho despite his side's 4-1 over Athletic Bilbao.

Real Madrid defender Pepe has given a distinctly half-arsed apology to Barcelona's Lionel Messi for blatantly stamping on his hand during Wednesday night's El Clasico. The Portugal international said: "I wish to say yesterday's incident with Leo Messi was unintentional, but I nevertheless want to apologise to him if he was offended because all I [.

By Chris Wright

Hallelujah! Saint Pepe has apologised for crushing Lionel Messi's fingers on Wednesday night and guess what? He didn't mean it, honest guv...

Here it is again in good ol' fashioned 'written down' format for posterity's sake using the PA's translation:

"I wish to say yesterday's incident with Leo Messi was unintentional, but I nevertheless want to apologise to him if he was offended because all I do is defend my team and this institution.

Condemnation has been flying all over the media and internet for the acts of thuggery committed by Madrid players, especially their iconic defender Pepe. Pepe recently released a so called apology via Real Madrid official site. This is his official statement "I wish to say yesterday's incident with Leo Messi was unintentional, but I nevertheless want to apologise to him if he was offended because all I do is defend my team and this institution.

Pep has issued an apology to Lionel Messi for stamping on his hand in last night's Copa del Rey tie.

"I wish to say yesterday's incident with Leo Messi was unintentional, but I neverteheless want to apologise to him if he was offended because all I do is defend my team and this institution.

Newcastle United striker Demba Ba's release clause has caused quite a stir but this writer tends to think it's a storm in a tea cup, at least as far as the January transfer window is concerned. On the back of my esteemed colleague's recent posts regarding Demba Ba's release clause and his PSG ambitions, it [.

The legend of Pep Guardiola continues as he was named the best manager of 2011, ahead of José Mourinho (Real Madrid), last year's winner, and Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United).

Guardiola, who was recently named the world's best manager by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS), picks up yet another acknowledgement to his brilliant career.

The legend of Pep Guardiola continues as he was named the best manager of 2011, ahead of José Mourinho (Real Madrid), last year's winner, and Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United).

Guardiola, who was recently named the world's best manager by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS), picks up yet another acknowledgement to his brilliant career.

So, Thierry's return has now gone from possible to probable, the number 12 shirt is set to be handed to him and now we just have to wait and see if he can do the business.

On today's Arsecast, my esteemed colleague from Gunnerblog makes the very good point that there's never been a footballer (Beckham apart, perhaps) quite so conscious of their own image as Thierry Henry.

In the last few months, m'colleague Sam and I have exhaustively covered La Nazionale's options on most fronts, though there is one vitally important area that we, in our base human foolishness, have neglected to mention, the most vital position of them all, the position that, if it were not tended, would result in defeat of the most abominable scale.

Liverpool FC. A team often associated with great past glories, one of the best match day atmospheres and some of the finest players to have ever graced the British game. However, their actions in response to the suspension handed to Luis Suarez have in my opinion been nothing short of extraordinary.

Two days ago, m'colleague SamCalcio delighted and amazed you all by writing a short and sweet piece on Italy's group of death, and a few days before that, I gave my own surprisingly controversial statement on how I thought the group would pan out. Yet amidst all this, no one -- NO ONE, has given a definitive tactical preview that will transpire to be completely irrelevant by the time the Euros actually come around.

[caption id="attachment_4648" align="alignleft" width="600" caption="Look out, blonde haired maidens, for the harvest moon is approaching, and the proper rituals must be conducted. We've all read Bone, haven't we?"][/caption]

Though this is starting to become a cliched opening line, I am sorry. It seems that a few lines in my most recent offering have deeply offended vast swathes of our friends at the Juventus Offside.

Editor's note: For your offseason pleasure, PSP is happy to present the first episode of an eight-part fiction series entitled The Pine Barrens League.

It has happened bro, I'm in trouble again. I can't help it. I feel like a fucking drug addict.

A few days ago, I was about to go outside to rake when I saw a huge cloud of leaves blowing into my yard.

Jones keeping up with the Berezoutskis szólj hozzá: M0-1S Manchester United youngster Phil Jones has blamed defensive colleague Rio Ferdinand for his midweek Champions League own goal against Roma. The wonderkid revealed he had been laughing at CSKA Moscow defender Vassili Berezoutski following his comedy own goal in the early kick-off on Tuesday evening.

Brolly bad luck The La Liga match between Granada and Real Mallorca was called off after an assistant referee was struck by an umbrella. The linesman was left with a deep cut to his cheek after being hit by the stray accessory. After spotting his bleeding colleague, the referee immediately took all the match officials [.

By Chris Wright

Last night's La Liga tie between Granada and Mallorca was called off after an hour or so after one of the linesman, Aguilar Rodriguez, had his face busted open (he suffered a suspected fractured cheek bone) by an umbrella thrown from the stands...

With Granada 2-1 up at the time after coming from behind and looking on course for a much-needed win considering how pap they've been this season, referee Clos Gomez stopped play after seeing his colleague getting brollied over in the corner of the ground, immediately marching from the field taking his assistants and Granada's three points with him.

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie was full of praise for colleague Theo Walcott as he identified the Englishman's assists as one of the reasons why he scored 100 goals for the Gunners. Speaking in his "Robin ...

The blogathon draws ever closer. Just 24 hours away. So I'm delighted to welcome Mel Young, co-founder and President of the Homeless World Cup, to explain why he's convinced that football can change the world.
First of all, I'd really like to thank Tom for organizing the Blogathon and allowing the Homeless World Cup to be one of the beneficiaries.

Players don't make passes at girls with moustaches. Don't try to fool with us, Olivier Giroud. By the way, any chance of a small favour? Images via fff.fr.

Right. Stop what you're doing, take the necessary precautions regarding colleague/spousal/parental nosying and feast your eyes on this selection of French NT players in varying stages of fully-clothed hotness.

After my colleague, Gadsby, put together a piece concerning Italy's forward options, I thought I'd do something similar/completely rip him off by writing a piece looking at our backline, traditionally the corner stone of our successes, now looks somewhat confusing. With debates ongoing about our best CB partnership, who to put [read more]

After my colleague, Gadsby, put together a piece concerning Italy's forward options, I thought I'd do something similar/completely rip him off by writing a piece looking at our backline, traditionally the corner stone of our successes, now looks somewhat confusing. With debates ongoing about our best CB partnership, who to put [read more]

Stewart Downing believes Liverpool team-mate Jose Enrique deserves call-up to Spain squad

The left-back has never been selected to represent his country but his colleague at Anfield believes his form this season merits him a starting place against England

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-11-02 13:28:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is set to battle Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger for the signature Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen who has been strongly linked with a move away from the Amsterdam club for a number of months.
Dalglish added the likes of Jose Enrique and Sebastian Coates during the summer but it is believed that he is still looking for a new centre-back and could attempt to lure Vertonghen away from Holland.

'Jamie Carragher has got all the attributes to become Liverpool manager' – Martin Kelly

The central defender, who has made nearly 700 appearances for the Reds, is backed by his young colleague to take up the reins at Anfield one day with retirement on the horizon

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-10-13 12:07:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper says he's content to keep the bench warm for now and has nothing but praise for Tim Krul. My esteemed colleague recently wrote an article about Steve Harper asking whether he is content playing second fiddle to Tim Krul at Newcastle or whether he may consider moving elsewhere.

Fabio Capello may have decided for reasons best known to himself that he doesn't require the services of Jermain Defoe this week but if he needs a goal from somewhere, perhaps Kyle Walker can provide it.

Capello was in the stands as Walker scored the winner over Arsenal at the weekend and it's felt that the right back could feature at some stage as England prepare to take on Montenegro tomorrow night.

The French FA have confirmed that Arsenal right back Bacary Sagna broke his leg in the 2-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur and will be out for around three months.

"The France team doctor, Fabrice Bryand, was informed by his Arsenal colleague of an unstable fracture to Bacary Sagna's right fibula," a FFF statement said.

It's not surprising that Alan Pardew is trying to sign up 29-year-old Argentine defender Fabricio Coloccini. Coloccini has scored five goals for Newcastle this was one of them Colo's name came to mind as soon as we saw that rather surprising news earlier this week that his Argentine colleague, Jonas Gutierrez, had signed along [.

It was excellent news that Jonas Gutierrez signed up yesterday to stay in Tyneside until the summer of 2015. Jonas Gutierrez - on Tyneside for four more years That good news begged the question as to when the club will be signing up his Argentine colleague and Newcastle captain Fab Coloccini, who is now turning out to be a [.

It was excellent news that Jonas Gutierrez signed up yesterday to stay in Tyneside until the summer of 2015. Jonas Gutierrez - on Tyneside for four more years That good news begged the question as to when the club will be signing up his Argentine colleague and Newcastle captain Fab Coloccini, who is now turning out to be a [.

Untold Arsenal on Twitter @UntoldArsenal By ref reviewer 04 After doing the high level Champions league ref review I watched the game between Sunderland and Chelsea. Ref on the field was Lee Probert. Was he of the same high level as his Italian colleague? Min Type Foul from On C/NC Comment points weight 4 OTHER [.

Red face from Matterface as he ponders Natalie's boobies

Most candid Tweeter of the week? Not Joey Barton but Talksport match commentator Sam Matterface. Away on Champions League duty, young Sam decided to send his missus and former colleague on Sky Sports News Natalie Sawyer the message "xxx mIss you sexy lady with the most gorgeous face in the world and the sexiest boobies I have ever seen!

I swore to myself I wouldn't get involved and would stay away from this fight as Ashley has got the fans at each other throats with the current state of affairs at SJP but after reading a recent 'blog by my colleague on here, and the fairly large response to it, I couldn't hold my [...]

Dear reader, my estteemed colleague Hugh has already touched on this story earlier today and presented his own viewpoint on the matter. However, I am so incensed that I also feel compelled to register my extreme displeasure at the latest utterings of our unesteemed Managing Director, Derek Llambias. In case you are still wondering what [.

Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs was full of praise for former colleague Gael Clichy who left the Gunners in the summer to join Manchester City. Speaking to Arsenal Player, the Englishman agreed that the 26-year old was ...

...and kudos to Jose Bosingwa who somehow managed to keep a straight face for his photo, despite his colleague's best efforts. Image via WAATP.

Be afraid Chris Hughton might testify that Mike Ashley is not a great bloke to work for, but his Sports Direct employees see a whole different side to the Newcastle owner. Ashley and his staff stripped during a colleague's birthday bash after the DJ foolishly played You Can Leave Your Hat On by Tom Jones.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the Caribbean...Jack Warner, the infamous former CONCACAF boss and FIFA Vice-President, is back in the news.Still smarting from his banishment in June after almost three decades in the corridors of football power, Warner has taken aim at Chuck Blazer, his long-term colleague who reported him to the FIFA Ethics Committee for reasons hitherto