Make no mistake about it, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has created a buzz amongst Gooners that is only comparable with Charlie Sheen mangled on Tigerblood.
The boy has burst onto the scene in explosive fashion since making his first league start for Arsenal against Manchester United last month.

By Alan Duffy

Everton 1-0 Manchester City Premier League 31st January 2012

Roberto Mancini's nouveau riche Citizens just can't seem to put any decent daylight between them and their Manchester rivals in the race for the title.

There's a slim chance Carlos Tevez (in sparkier times above) will be joining Samuel Eto'o's Russian playground, Anzhi, before the transfer window closes at 12am tonight. But don't bank on it chicos! Milan, PSG and Inter all held discussions with him in the past months and everyone basically snapped their fingers and said "NO", except for Anzhi who're apparently willing to pay £15m for him.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

Those who woke up early on Sunday morning were treated to one of the best Premier League games of the season.

Manchester City used a last-minute penalty from Mario Balotelli to beat Tottenham 3-2 and go six points clear at the top of the table.

In the big two Sunday games in the Premier League, both Manchester City and Manchester United dealt big blows to North London rivals Spurs and Arsenal.

In the first game, Man City won a thrilling controversial 3-2 match thanks to Mario Balotelli's injury-time penalty.

The controversy is whether Balotelli should have been on the field to score the penalty as he appeared to stamp on Scott Parker's head.

In the big two Sunday games in the Premier League, both Manchester City and Manchester United dealt big blows to North London rivals Spurs and Arsenal.

In the first game, Man City won a thrilling controversial 3-2 match thanks to Mario Balotelli's injury-time penalty.

The controversy is whether Balotelli should have been on the field to score the penalty as he appeared to stamp on Scott Parker's head.

Manchester City went six points clear at the Barclays Premier League summit after a late penalty conversion from Mario Balotelli ensured a thrilling 3-2 win over a resilient Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium.

After a slow first half, the hosts came alive at the beginning of the second, with goals from Samir Nasri and Joleon Lescott creating a comfortable two-goal cushion.

Manchester City striker Samir Nasri was abused by Liverpool fans whilst driving home after City's 1-0 defeat in the League Cup semi-final first leg. Funny stuff, especially when a clearly pissed off Samir Nasri decides to break the speed limit as he zoomed off into the distance! Related posts:Check Out Samir Nasri Pants Against Napoli!

There's a lesson fans need to learn when they're on the road trying to drive up to their football heroes : it doesn't always involve road rage (ouiiii Samir Nasri, je parle de vous!) Case in point... Schalke's Spanish hero, Raul Gonzalez, who is loving life in the Bundesliga at the moment.

Two Liverpool fans spot Samir Nasri on the road and give him a proper ribbing.

Everything about Samir Nasri's look here screams: "TA BOUCHE! I'm worth £4million more than you!" (SNAP to the Maybelline Mascara ads) but even Liverpool's Jordan Henderson must've shrugged it off in their slim 1-0 victory over Man City last night.

Liverpool will take a 1-0 advantage back to Anfield after defeating Manchester City in their Carling Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
A first-half penalty from Steven Gerrard was all that separated the sides at the Etihad Stadium after City defender Stefan Savic clumsily felled a charging Daniel Agger in the box.

Roberto, ditch Sheikh Mansour for Mitt Romney. He's got cash to give away.

The Italian is complaining that he's down to two central midfielders and one striker. James Milner and Nigel De Jong will start in the middle and Sergio Aguero patrols up front.

The Ivory Coast has refused his demand to release Yaya and Kolo Toure till after the Man Utd FA Cup showdown for their ACN campaign.

Liverpool sign teen star, funny Samir Nasri story and football's craziest fans

In the final part of our look at the best of talkSPORT.co.uk from 2011, we look back at December's top stories

View the full story here: Talksport

A news article on 2012-01-02 08:00:00 from: Talksport

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

2011 has been incredibly hectic in the world of football, and who better to tell you this than the personalities themselves?! From Zlatan Ibrahimovic's infamous autobiography outburst to Pele's never ending self-praises (groans all around), Ronaldo taking a jab back at opposition fans to the rise of women's football in Japan, there was really no shortage of entertaining quotes this year.

It's Christmas week... la semana de Navidad! In the Premiership, however, life goes on for Kun Aguero and co', who scored in City's 3-0 victory over Aston Villa last night. Kun scored a brace, and the goal celebrations had everything except Dani Alves' brilliant Santa hat.

Manchester City continue their winning run after last weekend's victory over Arsenal by gaining another important victory, this time against Stoke City at Etihad Stadium.

The result brought the Eastlands closer in getting the half season champion as they would need one more victory to seal that temporary morale boosting achievement.

Match report

So, our first league defeat since that trip to White Hart Lane at the start of October, and like that day I don't think it was a game we really deserved to lose. Our encounters with Mancini's City have been normally staid affairs due to their defensive approach but their more expansive style this season meant it was an exciting, open game of football which suited both teams.

Pundits had been queuing up to say that Manchester City were at the top of a downward spiral. The suggestion was that after going out of the UEFA Champions League, courtesy of Napoli and Bayern Munich, and then losing to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the wheels were starting to come off the great Manchester City roller coaster of 2011.

There is news in France today that Newcastle are close to signing young wonder-kid Sofiane Elbekri of Racing Club Lens. According to the French Daily L'Equipe, Newcastle are close to capturing the signature of 15 year old midfielder Sofiane Elbekri, who is currently at the Lens Youth Academy. The lad has been compared to Manchester City's Samir Nasri, but [.

Will Koscielny pocket another multi million pound striker?

When I say horror city, I don't mean Manchester City the team (although I won't be far off with that). It is of course a return to the City of Manchester where our last visit there for a match was one to be forgotten. Had this match be immediately after that one, I would be very worried.

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.

Keisuke Honda's agent has denied claims that Liverpool or Arsenal are pursuing the player.
CSKA Moscow's attacking midfielder was heavily linked with a move to England in the summer transfer window, with both Kenny Dalglish and Arsene Wenger reported to be admirers of the 25-year-old.
However, agent Kees Ploegsma has moved quickly to deny the speculation, insisting there has been no contact over a possible move away from Russia.

As a player, you have respect for Barcelona but you never have fear. You have to plan for a good game against them and to try to cause them problems. So no, we do not have any fear of Manchester City, especially because we're playing at home in this match but we do have the ultimate respect for them because they're the league leaders.

This is simply brilliant. From Talksport:

Samir Nasri has hit back at critics of his mega-money move to Man City by blasting Arsenal for failing to provide the Europa League football he craved.

Nasri, who was criticised by Arsenal fans and labelled a mercenary when he left for Man City in the summer, feels vindicated following the 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich that helped Man City finish ten points above Villarreal to qualify for the Europa League's last 32.

The draw for the 2012 European Championships in Poland and Ukraine was made yesterday with some very interesting match-ups. This A-Z guide should enlighten, confuse, bore or maybe even fascinate some of you football fans.

A is for Absence - The group games are being played at 5pm and 7.

Manchester City remain five points clear at the top of the Premier League, while the three big London clubs; Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, all got important wins.

Man City have a massive Champions League match against Bayern Munich this coming week, and they warmed up for that encounter with a 5-1 thrashing of Norwich City.

Manchester City remain five points clear at the top of the Premier League, while the three big London clubs; Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, all got important wins.

Man City have a massive Champions League match against Bayern Munich this coming week, and they warmed up for that encounter with a 5-1 thrashing of Norwich City.

Turn the clock back to 2010 in the match at St Andrews against Birmingham City. Samir Nasri had just netted what looked to be the winner in the match. Just seconds from time, on their last attack, Birmingham found a half decent ball for Kevin Phillips. The veteran came up with a scuffed, poor effort [.

Arsenal's 1-0 loss to Manchester City in the Carling Cup match yesterday showed, once again, the power of petropounds. But one goal from over 100 million is a pretty weak return, really. However, a win is a win and even if City are on the ropes in Europe, they've booked their spot in the semifinals of the league cup.

3PM Extra: See Nasri and Frimpong's sweary fight, plus celebration fail and overhead kick nightmare

Presenting quality football videos from the interweb, daily at 3pm. Here's today's collection: 1) What sparked that tunnel bust-up between Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Frimpong?

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has dismissed suggestions that Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri will forever be a villainous figure at the Emirates Stadium, hoping that the former Gunners playmaker is given a better reception in the future.

Before his club's 1-0 defeat to City in last night's Carling Cup quarterfinal, Wenger had urged the home crowd to respect Nasri's contributions to the club rather than jeering him for the infamous summer exit.

Why are they using a blush brush for his eyes? Clearly, our mommas will do a better job than City's make-up team!/ via MCFC TV

Tweet This Post

Video highlights and reaction match report -

So Carling Cup defeat last night, and late defeat at that, but the overwhelming sense I have this morning is that of team that deserved more. Arsenal's youngsters, combined with some experience, more than held their own against the most expensively assembled squad in modern football.

Cool T? Surely not

Arsenal failed to qualify for the semi finals of the Carling Cup after a 1-0 defeat at home to the moneybags of the Premier League. $amir Na$ri was jeered and booed throughout. Just after 5 minutes before the whole stadium was standing because "stand up if you hate Na$ri" was the song doing the rounds.

We'll hopefully get a chance to see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain again tonight in the Arsenal's Carling Cup quarter-final clash against Manchester City at the Emirates. No doubt AW will shuffle the pack to give players such as the Oxo Kid, Park Chu-Young and Yossi Benayoun a run, while at the same time resting key first team personnel.

Ten-man Manchester City survived a serious examination of their title credentials to extend their unbeaten Barclays Premier League record to 13 matches at Anfield.
Had it not been for goalkeeper Joe Hart the visitors may have tasted a league defeat for the first time since May 7.
They barely had time to celebrate Vincent Kompany's 31st-minute opener before Charlie Adam's shot was deflected in by Joleon Lescott.

Manchester City maintained their five point lead at the top of the Premier League after a 1-1 draw at Anfield.

But City owe a great debt of gratitude to goalkeeper for the point as he made several world class saves to deny Liverpool all three points.

City started the game well and bossed the opening 15-20 minutes with Samir Nasri and David Silva pulling the strings.

Liverpool show a packed midfield is how to beat Manchester City | David Pleat

Kenny Dalglish's five men in the middle of the park worked hard to snuff out the threat of City's main threat, David Silva Manchester City started brightly, with the Champions League defeat to Napoli last week a distant memory but Liverpool were powerful opponents, who slowly wrestled control with a thoroughly organised, hard‑running and skilful performance.

Mario Balotelli's latest indiscretion is no laughing matter | Richard Williams

Colourful and crazy as ever, the Manchester City striker is in hot water again after his red card at Anfield A great game for English football," Charlie Adam said afterwards. Not, however, a great game of English football, at least in the sense of one typifying national characteristics.