At half-time in this game, I have to admit that I was struggling to think about what I would write in my post-match report. However, and thankfully, the game came alive in the second-half, and will probably live long in the memory of Arsenal fans for years to come. My thoughts as follows:
* As I said, it didn't look like it was shaping up to be a classic in the first-half.

Arsenal 1 (Van Persie 71) Man United 2 (Valencia 45, Welbeck 81)
(Premiership)

The bare facts make for grim reading. Defeat to United leaves us fifteen points behind them, and eighteen off the pace set by their city rivals. Our own neighbours remain ten points above us despite their loss earlier in the day, and that critical fourth spot is still an elusive five points away.

This year has been a difficult year so far for several of our non-league clubs. Mike Bayly has a round-up of what has been going on at the foot of football's food chain.

By any measure of austerity, it's been a fairly turbulent week in the world of non-league football. On Sunday evening, the main stand at Rossendale United's vacant Dark Lane ground was completely destroyed in what police are treating as a suspected arson attack.

By Joe Milord

With La Liga having resumed, Jose Mourinho finds himself in a familiar situation. After all, in some ways, he has been here before; back against the wall, protecting a lead, against the same opposition as well, but in a much different context.

Glen's in good Kompany terrible tackle by soccermr With a huge degree of inevitability following Vincent Kompany's red card at the weekend, a Manchester City was on the receiving end of a two-footed challenge in last night's match against Liverpool. And it went unpunished. Glen Johnson dived into a challenge with Joleon Lescott.

As we prepare to enter this sixth quarter of the ninth three-year plan, we take joy in the chocolate ration being raised to twenty grams and in the continued success of our glorious struggle against East Manchester. And also in the English FA having not yet banned Luis Suarez for displaying his non-regulation incisors in joy or anger whilst in public.

This Is How It Feels
Napoli 2-1 Manchester City (22:11:11)
What's it like, as an away fan, to visit one of the most famous grounds in world football. One that houses fans so passionate and vociferous that the noise from a goal causes a seismic shift in the city? Lifelong Manchester City fan, David Mayor, reveals all.

It was Inevitable - Kim Jong Il thought so soo - hahahah.
. In a way, even after Adrian scored the opening goal in last night's El Derbi Madrileno, Madridistas the world over (and perhaps even Rojoblanco supporters) didn't feel too rattled (or euphoric in the case for Atleti supporters).

It was 2-0 to the home side at White Hart Lane. Tottenham created chances at will. The away side, Aston Villa, scared Tottenham not once. Emmanuel Adebayor scored both the goals and should have had more. Ledley King and Younes Kaboul were imperious in central defence. Luka Modric was exceptional in central midfield.

The morning after losing a championship game is never enjoyable. Despite the fact that you tell yourself ahead of time, it's just great to be here, no one expected us to make this run, we're playing the best team in the league, all the things to try to prepare yourself mentally, it sucks.

Fortunately for Dynamo fans, the 2011 season which at one point looked on the verge of being a second straight season without playoffs, turned in to a magical run all the way to the brink of a third MLS Cup.

I can't be the only one who still finds himself humming "This is LA...." every few minutes.

Sunday night was the most thrilling night I have ever spent at the HDC. I don't think I have ever heard the crowd louder. My favorite fans, pictured above, cheered their brains out, as it seems did 20,000 other fans.

It was so nearly a vital three points for Alex McLeish away from home thanks to goals from Stiliyan Petrov and what should have been a late winner from Richard Dunne to cancel out Conor Wickham's first half leveller.
Unfortunately, the familiar sight of a late goal coming from a set piece returned when 5'7″ Stéphane Sessègnon helped himself to a free header with one minute of normal time left on the clock.

Match Review: Liverpool 1 Norwich 1

Liverpool dropped two points against Norwich yesterday, a match in which they have only themselves to blame for failing to make the most of their near total domination. The point signalled the Reds' third home draw of the season, and if they are to reclaim a place in the top four and the prize of Champions League football that accompanies it, then they cannot afford to be so wasteful in front of goal.

Rafa Benitez's final season at Liverpool was blighted by injuries, and whilst much of it was self-inflicted (i.e buying the injured Alberto Aquilani), injuries are, sadly, a brutal inevitability of football, especially at the highest level. The fallout can be managed though, and in an article on his new website, Benitez discusses how injuries affected his time at Anfield.

For some it was the sort of day where one points to the end result—a victory at Goodison—as being enough, as being the only thing that really matters after a far from convincing performance. There was Luis Suarez, who scored a goal in the end though his touch often seemed heavy and his play a step off the pace.

They lost again yesterday, of course, a two-nil reverse at Southend United which left them anchored to the bottom of the entire Football League and this morning, in an act entirely at odds with the slow, long, drawn out procedure of the take-over of Plymouth Argyle, Peter Reid paid the price for his failure as an alchemist with his job.

There was a certain inevitability about Adebayor scoring on his Spurs debut this weekend. Much in the same way you could be assured that any millionaire simpleton appearing on MTV Cribs will lead the film-crew into his monstrously decorated bedroom and declare: this is where the magic happens, while pointing to his hovercraft-sized bed and winking like a sex pest, one could almost guarantee the Togolese talisman would find his feet rather sharpish in the Midlands.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side dominated at the Theatre of Dreams to make it three wins in three so far this season for the hosts and add further woe to the hapless Gunners

Manchester United continued their perfect start to the season with a spectacular 8-2 win over an increasingly beleaguered Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side dominated at the Theatre of Dreams to make it three wins in three so far this season for the hosts and add further woe to the hapless Gunners

Manchester United continued their perfect start to the season with a spectacular 8-2 win over an increasingly beleaguered Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Football League blog: Momentum the key as promoted trio make their mark in the Championship

For the new season, MirrorFootball is teaming up with some of the blogosphere's best new writers to bring you even more great football reads every single day. Friday is Football League day, so please be upstanding for theseventytwo.

Not since Zora Folley fought Muhammad Ali in 1967 has the outcome of a particular sporting debate been so easy to predict. Well, Cesc Fabregas has joined Barcelona. Surprised? Thought Not! The inevitability of the move was only eclipsed by Cesc's ever burning desire to move back home with his Catalan roots firmly engendered in [.

There was a sense of inevitability last week when Joey Barton revealed he would be making an announcement on his future later that afternoon.

Two days prior there wasn't a worry for Newcastle fans. Most speculation on Barton's future had blown over and the midfielder was performing well in pre-season.

There was a sense of inevitability last week when Joey Barton revealed he would be making an announcement on his future later that afternoon.

Two days prior there wasn't a worry for Newcastle fans. Most speculation on Barton's future had blown over and the midfielder was performing well in pre-season.

There was a sense of inevitability on Monday afternoon when Joey Barton revealed he would be making an announcement on his future later that afternoon.

Two days prior there wasn't a worry for Newcastle fans. Most speculation on Barton's future had blown over and the midfielder was performing well in pre-season.

Liverpool agree £20m fee to sign Stewart Downing from Aston Villa

• Villa cave in after Downing hands in transfer request • Charles N'Zogbia set to arrive from Wigan as replacement Aston Villa have accepted a £20m bid from Liverpool for Stewart Downing after the England international submitted a written transfer request, effectively forcing through a move to Anfield.

Stockport County director Lord Peter Snape declared in March 2009, one month before the club entered administration, that he wanted "Stockport County Trust to vote to relinquish ownership of the club," because if it "had been run properly we wouldn't be in this mess." Snape now knows it wasn't as easy as it looked; and the consequences of 'his' consortium's "mess" are currently unclear.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

By THOMAS FLOYD

After a two-month slump caused by a combination of injuries, international absences and inconsistent play, a nearly 100 percent New York Red Bulls squad reminded MLS just how lethal it can be Wednesday, dismantling Toronto FC for a 5-0 win.

Dotmund has always been a fan of football manager's excuses, and you don't get any better excuses than from the coaches of national sides from countries with oppressive regimes. Even so, North Korea's Kim Kwang-min still managed to go above and beyond with his reason why his team had lost their opening match in the 2011 Women's World Cup.

It's unfortunate for the manufacturers that Wazza (far right) had his transplant post-production. Possibly the situ could be saved with a supplementary hairpiece? Images via facebook

We're sad to report that the Kickette office has been thrown into disarray this morning; a situation that may severely impact on our ability to bother looking for stories.

Bob Bradley gamble opting to sit down Landon Donovan and opening with Alejandro Bedoya and Sasha Kljestan paid off handsomely. The midfield was a beehive of meaningful activity with the fresh legs of both players making repeated inroads into the heart of the Jamaican defense.

Bedoya in particular made the right channel a right terror with his pace and movement.

Probable contenders for Villa Park hotseat - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Gerard Houllier's mutual departure from Aston Villa last week has left us all guessing as to who will take over the reins at Villa Park. Normally we would have a fair idea as to who that will be, but at the moment it is anyone's guess who will be implemented by Chairman Randy Lerner.

After the dramatic events which unfolded on the morning of Queens Park Rangers' last match of the season when the club's promotion to the Premier League was finally confirmed after the FA imposed a £875,000 fine rather than a heavy points deduction, Rangers' fans could be forgiven for looking forward to a summer filled with hope and expectation about their first season back in the top flight since 1995-96.

Barcelona are synonymous with everything good. As they went to collect their winners' medal, there was a shot of United's players clapping as if they were resigned to defeat, as if this were an event of inevitability. Perhaps, it was. Indeed, they were outclassed as many observers had predicted by a team that are not destined for greatness, for they are already there.

As we close in to the end of the season, championships galore abound. In Europe, not to surprise of anyone, Manchester United and Barcelona qualified for the finals of the UEFA Champions League. In South America, meanwhile, Brazil suffered a Bloody Wednesday that saw four of its five remaining clubs in the Copa Libertadores kicked out of the Copa Libertadores.

As we close in to the end of the season, championships galore abound. In Europe, not to surprise of anyone, Manchester United and Barcelona qualified for the finals of the UEFA Champions League. In South America, meanwhile, Brazil suffered a Bloody Wednesday that saw four of its five remaining clubs in the Copa Libertadores kicked out of the Copa Libertadores.

Written by Mr Arsenal

Arsenal's fans have endured another disappointing conclusion to a long season- the defeat to Bolton firmly put to bed any dwindling hopes of silverware. The inevitability of the capitulation, however, has been the most painful part of the demise, prompting many fans to question Wenger and the direction in which the club is moving.

The Inevitability of Serie A losing a Champions League place is a post from: Just Football

Milan, Inter and Roma have not done Serie A any favours recently. All three contrived to lose the first legs of their respective Champions League ties, at home, and have put the seal on Italy's top domestic league only being able to offer three Champions League spots for the 2011/12 season.

The SPL scoots from the east end of Glasgow to Paisley when the Old Firm is done and dusted. How the other half live.
How the other have live.
Eleventh versus twelfth in the SPL sounds like a relegation clash and both teams will be treating it as such.
In the last few weeks though I think the fear of the drop has been lifted from these two sides.

What. The. Hell. Was. That.

That was probably the craziest last-day-of-the-transfer-window ever. There were some pretty high figures being bounded about over some equally high name players. Sort of. The new Liverpool owners are literally going for broke to try to rescue their season.

When Dimitar Berbatov drove the ball into Richard Kingson's goal to complete Manchester United's turn-around at Blackpool during the week, there was a near-nationwide shrug of resignation at what is starting to feel like the inevitability of their coronation as the Premier League champions. That sort of performance, the digging in and refusing to accept a defeat that had seemed destined to slip away from them, was championship form coming from a team that, if history can act as a guide to anything, usually gets better during the second half of the season.