If drawing 1-1 at home to Fulham and losing in the Milk Cup with an understrength team can be described as a blip, then our blip was batted away with that assured win at Wigan.

Nice too that the goals were scored not by one man, but by four. Particularly pleasing too that Gervinho netted one: I think he's had a big effect on our attacking potency, even if he's not sunk as many goals as we might have liked – though three league goals in ten starts is hardly a drought, either.

Norwich 1-2 Arsenal

Another game, another win. I've not dusted that little phrase down for a while now but it looks nice in print (and in pixels). Since losing at our lovely neighbours on October 2nd, we have registered seven wins and one draw in eight games fine form indeed.

After four games in twelve days, nobody would argue with an Arsenal player needing time out of club football for the international break, but it is pleasing to know that for the majority of them, it couldn't be more unwelcome. Having collected 19 points out of a possible 21 in their last seven games, Arsène [.

Chelsea 3 Arsenal 5 ... Yesterday's astounding win against the Blues was arguably Arsenal's most impressive attacking performance since the defeat of Barcelona in February and, regardless of their opponents' suspensions, apparent dip in form and Terry's ‘turmoil' behind the scenes, the Gunners justified Wenger's optimism.

Ahead of the fascinating clash between Chelsea and Arsenal early this afternoon, the latter are looking to make amends for what has been described as a poor away form against a Blues side that are unbeaten at Stamford Bridge. Whilst some have already written-off the Gunners for the European places, let alone a possible chance [.

LONDON, England Roberto Mancini saw Manchester City clinch automatic qualification to the group stages of the Champions League and immediately demanded a fresh injection of cash. Arsene Wenger saw his side's season end on a low-key note with a draw against Fulham and promptly heaped more frustration on Arsenal fans by admitting the club [.

LONDON, England Less than three months ago Arsenal were in sight of an unprecedented quadruple. Now that number – four – is again within sight but with an entirely different connotation. If Manchester City win at Bolton on Sunday they will finish third, even if Arsenal win, simultaneously, against Fulham.

So that week rolled past fast, complete with two excellent days off school. Thankyou banks, thankyou wedding I could get used to these three-day weeks. I can't believe they moaned about them in the 70s. OK, so there was crippling industrial strife, high inflation and not enough electricity to chuck about, but I could handle a bit of candelight here and there so long as someone remembered to keep the internet meter stocked with 20p pieces.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Nicolas Anelka eased the pressure on Carlo Ancelotti as his double-strike inspired Chelsea's 2-0 win over FC Copenhagen in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie at the Parken Stadium on Tuesday. Anelka's 15th and 16th goals of the season put Chelsea on course for the quarter-finals and they [.

LEYTON, England Leyton Orient's players will be jetting off to Las Vegas after hitting the FA Cup jackpot by securing a £1 million replay against Arsenal. Jonathan Tehoue grabbed a dramatic 89th-minute equaliser for the East London club to give Orient a 1-1 draw with Arsenal that earns them a replay against Arsene Wenger's [.

Frank Lampard reckons the Champions League should be Chelsea's number one aspiration for this season. The England midfielder knows Chelsea are seemingly out of the Premier League title race after some poor form that has seen them drop to fifth and sit 12 points behind leaders Manchester United. Anyone looking to bet on Champions League [.

FIORENTINA, Italy — Inter Milan kept up their title challenge with a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Fiorentina on Wednesday. An own goal from Michele Camporese gave the champions the lead before Manuel Pasquale's cross trickled over the line to restore parity. But Giampaolo Pazzini struck the winner from close range to keep Leonardo's team in [.

MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has dedicated his sensational winner against Manchester City to his club's fans. Rooney knows some United supporters have become disillusioned with the England international since he handed in a transfer request following a row over the club's perceived lack of ambition.

MANCHESTER, England - Wayne Rooney said it was the best goal he had ever scored, and Manchester United Manager Alex Ferguson called it the greatest strike he had seen in 25 years at Old Trafford. The opposing goalkeeper did not even budge. Rooney put a troubled season behind him Saturday as his spectacular bicycle kick [.

LONDON, England Last August, at the start of the most eagerly-awaited Manchester season in years, the respective strengths of dominant United and big-spending City were personalised in the talents of one-time Old Trafford team-mates Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez. Since then both icons of their respective clubs have endured the turbulence of contract disputes [.

PARIS, France — Striker Andre-Pierre Gignac fired defending champions Marseille back into the title race on Saturday with the only goal at home to rock bottom Arles. Coach Didier Deschamps had demanded a massive improvement after a woeful goalless draw last week against struggling neighbours Monaco and Gignac's third goal of the season brought some [.

Manchester United veteran Gary Neville has announced his retirement from football with immediate effect. The 35-year-old, who has made only three Premier League starts this season due to fitness problems and a lack of form, made 602 appearances for United and represented England on 85 occasions. Hailed as "the best English right-back of his generation" by Sir Alex Ferguson, Neville was a member of the famous side that won the FA Youth Cup in 1992 and along with Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, dedicated his entire career to his manager at Old Trafford.

MANCHESTER, England Wayne Rooney returned to scoring form with two goals in Manchester United's 3-1 Premier League win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford. Rooney bookended the first half with a goal after just 48 seconds and another in stoppage time. He came into the game with one goal from open play since last [.

BOLTON Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Nicolas Anelka and Ramires were all on target as Chelsea ended their miserable run of away form with a 4-0 victory at Bolton here on Monday to keep alive their dim hopes of the Premier League title. Carlo Ancelotti's side had fallen away from contention for the title with [.

LENS, France Lens overcame Caen 2-0 in Ligue 1 to leapfrog their opponents and move out of the relegation zone. Lens started the day second bottom in the standings, while fellow strugglers Caen were in better form after winning two straight games. However, Lens proved too strong at Stade Felix-Bollaert as they claimed a [.

LONDON, England – Ten-man Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League Sunday after holding Tottenham to a 0-0 draw in a match that failed to live up to expectations. United's hard-earned point saw them reclaim top spot from Manchester City on goal difference, although Sir Alex Ferguson's unbeaten side have two games [.

At the final whistle of Blackpool's third round FA Cup tie against League One highfliers Southampton, the home fans were ecstatic after all they had just managed to beat one of the Premier League's form teams when it comes to playing away from home, and book their place in the next round. But amid [.

MANCHESTER, England Manchester United ruined Kenny Dalglish's first game back in charge of Liverpool with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford in the third round of the FA Cup. Manchester United ruined Kenny Dalglish's first game back in charge of Liverpool with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford in the third round of the [.

DOHA, Qatar — Three-time Asian Cup winners Saudi Arabia desperately need a winning start in Group B on Sunday against Syria to convince the doubters they have what it takes to banish the pain of four years ago. Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro is under huge pressure back home to deliver after he clung on to [.

LIVERPOOL, England - Manager Roy Hodgson left Liverpool on Saturday and the club appointed former player and manager Kenny Dalglish until the end of the season to try to turn around a dismal run of form. Hodgson, who joined England's most successful club from Fulham in July last year, had been under intense pressure from fans in recent weeks after defeats by Wolverhampton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers.

LONDON, England Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti was looking forward to crossing swords with his Ipswich Town counterpart in Sunday's FA Cup third-round tie at Stamford Bridge before Roy Keane was sacked on Friday. The 39-year-old Keane, who had been at Ipswich since April 2009, left with the Championship (second division) club 19th in the [.

Over the years I've heard many fans bemoaning the fact that their club appear to play teams just as they come into a good run of form. Conversely it's also good to catch clubs whilst they are on a poor run of form. I think many clubs in the Championship took advantage of a Portsmouth side in turmoil earlier this season as they got to grips with the division.

LONDON, England — Chelsea were sent spinning to a shock 1-0 defeat at Wolves on Wednesday as the Premier League champions fell further behind in the title race and left manager Carlo Ancelotti clinging to his job. An own goal by defender Jose Bosingwa after five minutes handed victory to Wolves, who climbed out of [.

'Dzeko and the moneymen'

Interesting how times have changed: Man City at home would for years have failed to set the pulse racing but with all the money spent there (and you might not approve but there's not a lot we can do about it, witness the incoming £27m Edin Dzeko), allied to their current league position, there can be no denying it's a huge test for both clubs.