Arsenal have two visits to Sunderland on consecutive Saturdays in different competitions and both have the potential to improve the season but could also make it far worse. The focus for now, obviously, has to be on the more immediate fixture that is the upcoming League meeting.

It would be an understatement to suggest that Martin O'Neill has turned the fortunes of the Black Cats around.

Arsene Wenger is preparing the Arsenal team for a testing week ahead with three crucial away fixtures in eight days in three different competitions, and he is happy that now new injuries happened in last weeks win over Blackburn. He said: "Everybody should be available for Saturday and we have no new injuries that's [.

Some players want to leave, Arsenal will be going places this summer, the English NT is filled with jerks... your usual cup of Arse here at the Offside

We start today's blog with a subject Arsenal fans are always delighted to hear about: player departures. Park Chu-Young has indicated that if keeps getting ignored for play action, he might leave in the summer.

WIN THE CHANCE FOR YOUR CHILD TO BE A McDONALD'S PLAYER ESCORT AT THE ENGLAND V HOLLAND MATCH

We've teamed up with McDonald's, the official Community Partner of The FA, to offer three lucky youngsters between the ages of 7 and 11 years old the chance to become McDonald's Player Escorts as England take on Holland in an international friendly on 29th February.

It's competition time again folks...

WIN THE CHANCE FOR YOUR CHILD TO BE A McDONALD'S PLAYER ESCORT AT THE ENGLAND V HOLLAND MATCH

We've teamed up with McDonald's, the official Community Partner of The FA, to offer three lucky youngsters between the ages of 7 and 11 years old the chance to become McDonald's Player Escorts as England take on Holland in an international friendly on 29th February.

After a red-hot start to the season, Jozy Altidore had lost his starting role for AZ Alkmaar and was mired in a bit of a scoring slump.

At the very least, that slump is now over.

Altidore scored twice in a four-minute span as a substitute in AZ's 6-0 rout of ADO Den Haag on Wednesday to break a two-month scoring drought.

Andy Stadler (Wauwatosa West) is headed back to Swedish club Sandvikens IF.

The club announced that Stadler will re-join the team next week for a trial in advance of the Division 1 Norra season, which kicks off April 15.

Stadler had five goals in 11 appearances in all competitions for Sandvikens last year, playing all but 18 minutes in his 10 league matches with the side.

Ever Winter, Major League Soccer releases its schedule for the upcoming season. In addition to setting out the slate of games, the initial release sets out the national television schedule, establishes breaks for FIFA dates and gives fans an opportunity to plan their Summer of soccer. We thought it would be worthwhile to talk to Brad Pursel, Major League Soccer's Vice President of Club Services about the process of putting together the league schedule.

D.C. United has signed its fourth-ever Designated Player, acquiring forward Hamdi Salihi on Thursday.

Salihi, 28, joins United after scoring 11 goals in 15 matches in all competitions with Rapid Vienna in its current season in Austria's top division. Born in Shkoder, Albania, Salihi is also a member of his country's national team.

Official D.C. United Press Release:
D.C. United acquires forward Hamdi Salihi as Designated Player
28-year old Albanian international has scored 163 goals in 289 professional matches
Washington, D.C. (February 2, 2012) – D.C. United announced today the club has signed 28-year old forward Hamdi Salihi as a Designated Player.

Arsene is still the man for the job and I'll tell you why... by Kashmaster These last few weeks have tested the patience of even the most faithful Arsenal fans. We have suffered our third successive league defeat at the hands of our most bitter rivals during the Premier League era. Once again there have [.

How bad was Wolves' 3-0 home loss to Liverpool on Tuesday? Andy Carroll scored the match's opening goal. That's how bad. It was his first league goal since October. Liverpool scored two more second half goals to leave Wolves with 18 points from 23 matches and slumped over at 19th in the table.

Clint Dempsey did it again.

Dempsey scored another goal for Fulham, tallying the opener in the Cottagers' 1-1 draw with West Brom on Wednesday. Costa Rican international Bryan Ruiz slipped Dempsey a pass inside the area, and the American turned and finished with a right-footed strike in the 69th minute to add to his current run of form.

So another transfer window comes to a close. This unlike many others was surprisingly quiet, mainly due to clubs now having to take into account UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. Another reason for the quiet was our gaffer's appearances in court seriously restricting his ability to go on Sky Sports News every five minutes and tell the world which 'top top players' he was looking at.

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has criticised the performance levels of Spanish referees this season.

Rosell's club felt aggrieved by the decision of the Spanish federation's competitions committee not to punish Real Madrid utility man Pepe for appearing to stamp on Barca forward Lionel Messi's hand earlier this month.

Folowing Liverpool's great 3-0 win at Molineaux in which Andy Carroll, Craig Bellamy & Dirk Kuyt all scored, Bellamy has emerged as Liverpool's top scorer so far, this Season with a total of 9 goals in all competitions compared to the controversially suspended Luis Suarez's 8 thus far.
Can't wait to see the two of them play together in a Red shirt.

Arseblog has teamed up with Thomas Cook Sport, official travel partner of Arsenal, to offer two lucky fans the chance to win a pair of tickets to their Barclays Premier League clash with Blackburn Rovers on Saturday 4th February.

The Gunners will be in search of three valuable points against and some revenge against a Blackburn side for whom we scored two goals back in September.

So Arsene Wenger will make a signing in the January transfer window after all although it is hardly likely to get moaning fans off his back anytime soon.

For we hear that Borussia Dortmund academy midfielder Thomas Eisfeld is set to join Arsenal pending a successful medical examination.

Saturday 15th October 2011.
Celtic, fresh from a defeat at Tynecastle, are 3-0 down at half time to Kilmarnock.
Winning the title looks a long way off, Neil Lennon's managerial coat seems to hang on an ever shooglier peg.
They came back to draw 3-3, three goals in a 10 minute burst from Anthony Stokes and Charlie Mulgrew salvaging a point.

Likely starters

There's a trip to Bolton looming in midweek, where we'll continue our climb up the league table in search of that Champions League spot. But first there's the matter of the FA Cup to deal with. A small matter or a big matter? Depends on the individuals. Arsene Wenger loves a bit of this competition but not over qualification to Europe's premier competition.

We are half way through the Serie A season; Juventus were crowned winter champions after a hard fought 2-0 away win at Atalanta. Roma hit five on Saturday evening at home against Cesena where Francesco Totti hit his 211th goal for the club. Inter Milan won their eighth straight game in all competitions after defeating Lazio at the San Siro 2-1.

Manchester City have officially went out from another competition, this time it's the Carling Cup after Roberto Mancini's side only managed to get a 2-2 draw against Liverpool in the competition's second leg, while getting beaten 1-0 in the first meeting.

Mancini himself was very disappointed at that failure but once again he put the blame on refereeing decision instead of his team's own performance, which the manager though already pleasing enough.

Manchester City have officially went out from another competition, this time it's the Carling Cup after Roberto Mancini's side only managed to get a 2-2 draw against Liverpool in the competition's second leg, while getting beaten 1-0 in the first meeting.

Mancini himself was very disappointed at that failure but once again he put the blame on refereeing decision instead of his team's own performance, which the manager though already pleasing enough.

I thought we might all need a little cheering up after the result against Citeh, so courtesy of giftscardspresents.com, I bring you a t-shirt giveaway. Featuring the brilliant and original Spurs caricatures by James Husbands, to win your choice of t-shirt (pick from Ardilies, MacKay, Greaves, Parker, Bale, Hoddle, Modric, Rafa VDV and Harry & Wenger.

We are now half way through the Serie A season and the main performance of the week 19 weekend was Roma's 5-1 win over Cesena on Saturday evening. The Luis Enrique project now seems to be taking shape. Later that night Juventus won away at Atalanta and with that win were crowned winter champions. Inter Milan now have won eight games in a row in all competitions after beating Lazio 2-1 in.

Clint, to coin the phrase from former SportsCenter anchor Dan Patrick, is 'en fuego'. Dempsey dumped in three second half goals as Fulham raced to a 5-2 victory against Newcastle this afternoon.
Deuce becomes the first American to score a hat trick in the Premier League - did we mention he scored three against Charlton in an FA Cup match two weeks ago?

Clint Dempsey has just put Fulham up 2-1 on Newcastle at the hour. Try to contain your surprise.UPDATE: Make it two for Deuce and a 3-1 Fulham lead after he buckets a slip pass from 15 on 65 minutes. If you're keeping score, that makes his: third against Newcastle this season, his ninth in the last 11 games overall, his eighth in league play this term and 13th across all competitions (matching

Clint Dempsey has just put Fulham up 2-1 on Newcastle at the hour. Try to contain your surprise.UPDATE: Make it two for Deuce and a 3-1 Fulham lead after he buckets a slip pass from 15 on 65 minutes. If you're keeping score, that makes his: third against Newcastle this season, his ninth in the last 11 games overall, his eighth in league play this term and 13th across all competitions (matching

Manchester United

Position 2nd, 15-3-3 (48 points, +32 goal differential)

Away Record: 7-2-1, +13 goal differential

Recent Form: WWLLW

Last Meeting: I don't think there was a last meeting, was there?

Kenny Dalglish believes Craig Bellamy must be handled carefully if he is to avoid another serious injury.
The Wales striker is keen to play in every game he can, but the Liverpool boss feels a more restrained approach is needed.
Bellamy has made just nine starts in all competitions this season, but has come off the bench 11 times.

United to travel to the Emirates this weekend to take on Arsenal, and they look a big price at 2.62 to beat the Wenger boys. The Gunners were thrashed 8-2 earlier in the season at Old Trafford, and although they have improved since then I can't see why they are virtually the same price as United in the betting to gain their revenge.

Roberto Martinez No-one can say that Roberto Martinez is not likeable, but personality does not a successful manager make. Wigan have now won just two of their last 20 games in all competitions, sit bottom of the Premier League and went out of the FA Cup to League Two Swindon a fortnight ago. In truth [.

Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray has moved to clear up speculation linking his Australian defender Rhys Williams with a move away from the club following links with a series of Premier League outfits.
The likes of Liverpool, West Bromwich, Newcastle and Bolton have all been reported to be keen on the 23-year-old Socceroo but Mowbray insisted they weren't pondering letting him go.

José Callejón scored the winner with six minutes remaining as Real Madrid came back from a goal down to beat Mallorca 2-1 and extend their Liga lead to eight points.

Tomer Hemed's first-half header threatened to send José Mourinho's side to only their second defeat in 24 matches in all competitions until Gonzalo Higuaín equalised with a shot which was helped over goalkeeper Dudu Aouate by the sliding Fernando Tissone.

It's that time of the year again when local pride is at stake in the numerous state championships which are prevalent in the opening months of the Brazilian football calendar. From Amapá in the far north to Rio Grande do Sul in the south, from Acre in the west to Paraíba in the far east of the country, twenty seven regions of Brazil will be involved in their own local championship, mixing the big boys with the smaller village teams, with each club hoping to win their respective title and qualify for a place in next year's edition of the national cup, Copa Brazil.

By Chris Wright

It's competition time here again on Pies folks, and this prize is going to take some beating!

As you'll be aware, Lionel Messi nabbed his third-straight Ballon d'Or gong earlier this week, and to celebrate Adidas have produced a very special pair of boots for him to wear during Barcelona's La Liga tie against Real Betis on Sunday.

Lionel Messi won his third Ballon D'Or this week. To celebrate he will be donning a very special pair of boots for Barcelona's match against Real Betis this weekend. The customised adizero F50 boots have been produced in a celebratory gold colourway and feature the flag of Argentina, the years of Leo's Ballon d'Or successes [.

Live life in the fast lane with the NUFC Blog prediction competition, the second of which starts this weekend. Cash prizes to be won and I wouldn't be surprised if the ensuing fame leads to a book deal and your own reality TV show! The second NUFC Blog prediction competition kicks off this weekend and [.

In case anyone wants to revisit Espanyol's 1-1 draw over Barcelona this past weekend here are the highlights. Barca's fierce crosstown rivals did Real Madrid a huge favour by playing spoilers moving them five points clear on top of the table. Barca went ahead through Cesc Fabregas. Who knew he could head the ball with such venom, a phenomenon previously unknown to Arsenal fans.

FC Porto striker Hulk is fast becoming a major target for a number of clubs this winter transfer season with the likes of PSG, Anzhi and Chelsea reported to have joined the race to acquire his signature.

Having scored 36 times in all competitions last year with a further 21 assists to his name, Hulk is currently one of the top strikers in the game at the moment.