A whole gaggle of interesting matches to watch this weekend. We've chosen a handful each on Saturday and Sunday, including the quarterfinals of the African Cup of Nations, a couple each from the big leagues (Premier League, including Chelsea-ManUtd; Serie A, highlighted by AC Milan-Napoli; La Liga the one we're most interested in is Atletico Madrid-Valencia), plus a few wild cards (e.

The Tevez-Pato "will he? won't he" questions ricocheted every which way this January as the musical chairs transfers song played at AC Milan, but at the end everyone retook their own chairs. Boring. Perhaps they were dating Berlusconi's daughter, or were on £200,000 a week slave wages that no one else could match, but whatever the reason, that anti-climax will be followed up by a busy February and early March.

Blackburn

Position 18th, 4-6-13 (18 points, -14 goal differential)

Away Record: 1-6-4, -6 goal differential

Recent Form: WLWDL

Last Meeting: Blackburn 4 Arsenal 3 (September 17, 2011)

Back in league action tomorrow as we square off against mighty Blackburn (hey, lately, any team playing against us looks pretty mighty).

Aston Villa

Position 11th, 6-9-7 (27 points, -3 goal differential)

Away Record: 3-6-2, -1 goal differential

Recent Form: DWLDW

Last Meeting: Aston Villa 1 Arsenal 2 (December 21, 2011)

Back in action tomorrow (remember when we used to play matches on Saturday) as we square off against Aston Villa in the FA Cup 4th round match.

There's a whole slate of FA Cup 4th Round matches this weekend, kicked off by a match today that is especially interesting for viewers on this side of the pond. Everton hosts Fulham, which means it's also a faceoff of the two best American players of this generation: Landon Donovan vs. Clint Demspey.

A couple of big-name matchups in 2nd legs of domestic cup competitions coming up later today:

Carling Cup semifinal Manchester City vs Liverpool 8:45pm CET / 2:45pmET / 7:45pm GMT (USA TV: FSC): We didn't see the 1st leg of this semifinal tie earlier this month, which somewhat surprisingly went 1-0 to Liverpool at Anfield.

None of today's matches are necessarily must-see; but if you must watch some football, here's what we recommend:

Saturday, Jan 21

Chelsea's new Catalonian Makélelé?

England, Norwich-Chelsea (7:30amET ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com): Norwich (and Swansea) have attracted attention as newly-promoted sides that have fought their way into the top half the table.

None of today's matches are necessarily must-see; but if you must watch some football, here's what we recommend:

Saturday, Jan 21

England, Norwich-Chelsea (7:30amET ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com): Norwich (and Swansea) have attracted attention as newly-promoted sides that have fought their way into the top half the table.

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?

In recent years gone by matches between Arsenal vs Manchester United was the outstanding Premier League fixture and has duly served up some classic encounters at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United: Premier League, Dec, 2006 It is fair to say that Arsenal have yet to truly leave a mark at the Emirates Stadium [.

Manchester City and Tottenham are ready to lock horns at the Etihad Stadium in a potential Premier League title-defining clash which promises to be dynamite. For the past two season's, Manchester City and Tottenham clashes have been purely to decide the squabble for that much-coveted fourth UEFA Champions League spot.

Ducky's Note: Starting with this post, and hopefully not dying a premature death, BigFourZa will feature interviews with other football fans from around the world under the 'Fanboyism' section. The topics will range from match previews, reviews, transfer discussions, referee rants and a lot more.

After a month's hiatus (due primarily to an extended internet-free trip to India see below), we're back with a TV guide to the weekend. As usual, we provide US TV listings with ET kickoffs, since that's where we reside. For our non-US readers, we've included a link to livesoccertv.com for each match.

Real Madrid and Barcelona face off against each other in the 'El Clasico' Copa Del Rey Quarter-Final first leg as Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola lock horns again. If Barcelona are God, then Real Madrid must be the Devil. Because, for one to exist, the other must co-exist. Whereas, one perceives themselves as the divine [.

Well, as Homey mentioned yesterday, I'm back here blogging hopefully pretty regularly. And first up is our 3rd Round FA Cup tie with Leeds at the Emirates tomorrow:

As you probably remember, we actually played Leeds in the same round of the FA Cup. Some brilliant, no doubt dashingly handsome blogger wrote a preview of that match, and wrote as follows:

Leeds, of course, are one of the traditional big footballing clubs –they've won the first division 3 times, most recently in 1992, reached 4 FA Cup finals in a span of 8 years in the late 60s and early 70s.

I hope everyone had a happy and safe New Year celebration. It seems odd to be writing a preview one day after a recap, but so it goes. Our boys are back in action tomorrow, taking on Fulham at Craven Cottage. Our opponents aren't having the best of seasons, currently sitting in 13th place with 20 points, and a -5 goal differential (which is also the same record as 14th place Swansea).

THE KING IS BACK... oh yeah, we also play some team this weekend.

Credit to @BeardedGenius for the picture.

By now you've heard the rumors. Read the Twitters, Sky Sports, and your old ma. Believed it straight away, or looked at the screen in disbelief, yelling obscenities, assured that Wenger took the easy way out, refusing to take a gamble on some multi-million euro German hunk.

Liverpool vs Blackburn Rovers
26 December 2011
15.00 GMT
Anfield

History:
Total Appearances: 139
Liverpool Wins: 60
Blackburn Wins: 38
Draws: 41

Last Premier League Meeting: 5 January 2011 Blackburn 3-1 Liverpool (Gerrard)

Form:
Liverpool: The Reds' season has had more ups and downs than a roller coaster, with the club struggling to find any sort of consistency.

Liverpool vs Blackburn Rovers
26 December 2011
15.00 GMT
Anfield

History:
Total Appearances: 139
Liverpool Wins: 60
Blackburn Wins: 38
Draws: 41

Last Premier League Meeting: 5 January 2011 - Blackburn 3-1 Liverpool (Gerrard)

Form:

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Who knew there's a full slate of games in the Premier League, Serie A, Ligue 1, Spain (Copa del Rey)? Though to tell the truth, not a whole lot of must-see TV today. Actually the one match today that we will try to watch just kicked off, so this will have to be a very quick post:

Udinese-Juventus at Stadio Communale Friuli (12pmET, Fox Soccer Channel, RAI Internazionale, ESPN3 USA, FOX Deportes): 3rd vs 2nd Udinese with 31 points, two behind Juve, who are in turn a point behind table-toppers Milan.

We should win.

Aston Villa
League Position: 10th, 16P, 4W, 7D, 5L, 18GF, 21GA, -3GD, 19pts
Home Form: 8W, 3W, 2D, 3L, 10GF, 9GA, +1GD
Last Meeting: Arsenal 1-2 Aston Villa (May, 2011)

Tomorrow we travel to Villa Park, the site of an Aston Villa team that has been mediocre in every sense of the word this season.

It's the greedy bastards vs. the cash-strapped, plucky underdogs!... except it really isn't, since Arsenal are a multi-million dollar organization.
Whatever, City still sucks.

Manchester City
League Form: 1st, 12-2-1 (yay!), 49 GF, 15 GA, +34 GD, 38pts
Home Form: 10P, 10W, 24 GF, 4 GA, +20GD
Last Meeting: Arsenal 0-1 Manchester City (November 29)

Ah.

The UEFA Champions League last 16 draw takes place on Friday in Nyon with the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and Napoli awaiting their fate in the knockout round. Two seeding pots have been formed, one consisting of group winners and the others of runners-up as follows: Group winners: Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Benfica, [.

Another El Clasico is upon us Real Madrid hosts archrivals FC Barcelona at the majestic Santiago Bernabeu for a Saturday night La Liga match (kickoff is at 10pmCET/9pmGMT/4pmEST).

This will be, remarkably, the 7th El Clasico of 2011: there were the four matches packed into 18 days last spring (two meetings in the Champions League semifinal, the Copa del Rey final, and their 2nd La Liga match of the season), plus there were two legs to the preseason Spanish Super Copa.

In The Stands previews La Liga's big Saturday night match as Real Madrid host Barcelona in the season's first ‘El Clasico'. There are some things in life which stand out as not-to-be-missed hallmark events and dates. We all know them; they include birthdays, Bank holidays, Christmas Eve, Easter, May Day, April Fools Day and of [.

In The Stands brings forth the team news and our predictions as Real Madrid host Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu in the El Clasico. Going into Saturday's clash Real Madrid currently sit top of La Liga on 37 points, three ahead of Barcelona having played one game less. Both sides are bang in form and [.

Other than the games played in preseason, this certainly shapes up to be the least important outing of the season. We're heading to Greece to take on Olympiakos in the final match of the group stages of the Champions League. But fortunately for us, we already have first place wrapped up, so there's no need to wear out our main players in this one.

Chelsea host Valencia at Stamford Bridge in the UEFA Champions League Group E with a place in the last 16 at stake. To emphasize the importance of this match could not do justice to exactly just how crucial Tuesday night's clash with Valencia is for under fire Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas. Under pressure and threatening [.

The draw for Euro 2012 has been made and the fixture list has also been drawn out marking England's plot to the final in Kiev come 1, July. Interestingly enough, should Fabio Capello's men emerge from Group D unscathed, they will face-off against what is likely to be Spain or Italy in the quarter-finals.

In The Stands sticks two fingers up at the official Euro 2012 draw and plays God to create our very own ‘dream draw' throwing up some potential blockbusters! Let's face it, the long-winded ceremony-come-draw for Euro 2012 on Friday evening will be a bore. That is of course until the balls start being drawn out [.

In The Stands looks ahead to the draw for Euro 2012 which takes place on Friday in Kyiv, Ukraine with England situated in Pot 2. The long awaited draw for next summer's European Championship finally takes place at the Palace of Arts in Kyiv, Ukraine on Friday 2 December at 18.00CET (19.00 GMT time). With [.

City will come with a physically strong side, in the hope of bullying our Young Guns out of the Carling Cup tonight. This does not have to be the case if Wenger deploys his squad correctly.

Bosnian hitman, Dzeko, will be the only player who can win this game for City... and with Adam Johnson a certain starter, it's pretty easy to see the tactics Mancini will employ.

We at Arsenal Offside would like offer our condolences to the family and friends of Gary Speed in light of his the news that he has taken his own life yesterday. Arsene Wenger offered his own message on the Arsenal website saying:

"It was a shock of course. I did not know him very well as a person but you did not like to see him on the team against you.

After an emphatic win over Dortmund in the Champions League, the Gunners host Fulham at the Emirates in a match described by Wojciech Szczesny as 'vital', and rightfuly so. A win could see Arsene Wenger's team back in the top four and few would bet against them to get the job done. Fulham have never [.

Arsenal continue their decent into the relegation zone after another disastrous Champions League match where they once again showed their defensive frailties and lack of mental strength and character, and facing the stalwart Fulham FC will offer no let up to the North London crisis situation.

Manchester City have become a proud club. Their foreign owners, AKA daddies, have invested a multitude of their fortunes into the Blue clad section of Manchester. They have run the club an annual debt of nearly 200 million pounds to restore order in their town. Fancy foreign men from far off lands grace the sidelines [.

Later tonight, Arsenal host Borussia Dortmund in a crucial game for both sides and I have recently been told off for not having a matchday thread lately, so here it is! Arsene Wenger's team are in a rich vein of form both domestically and in Europe. The weekend's victory over the Swans made it five [.

Who's ready for a good old fashioned England-Germany turf war?

With City at the hands of the Footballing Gods after their 1-2 loss to Napoli, United not so good themselves after their 2 Hilarious Mistakes-2 Benfica draw at Old Trafford, and Chelsea sucking right now, it's fair to say that England haven't exactly covered themselves in glory in Europe this season.

Whilst discussing the barrage of abuse new German recruit, Per Mertesecker, has received from all quarters Wenger inadvertently confirmed the back four to start the most important game of the season for Arsenal against Dortmund in the Champions League penultimate group game.

"The criticism in the papers has been very harsh, but when you play for a big team, you have to accept that.

AC Milan host Barcelona in the best of the week's UEFA Champions League matches with memories of the pair's last few clashes at the San Siro flooding back. Almost 5,000 Barca fans have travelled to the world's fashion capital in eager anticipation as the two sides seek to play out a potential Group H decider [.