Euro 2012: Xavi says Spain have a 'great opportunity' to make history

Xavi says Spain have a "great opportunity to make history" as the reigning European and world champions aim for a third tournament triumph. The Barcelona midfielder is desperate to write his name into the history books, but knows Spain face a difficult task against Italy in Kiev. "We have achieved great things with the national team," said Xavi. We're in a great generation of players and we have a great opportunity to make history. This is our chance." Having defeated Germany four years ago, Spain, who overcame the Netherlands to win the World Cup in 2010, will become the first team to retain the European Championship if they beat Italy on Sunday. Even more important, victory over the Azzurri would make them the first country to win three major international tournaments in a row - and Xavi says Spain are determined to show they are still the team to beat. "We really want to do well and show people that this team is still hungry to win and that our football is good," he added. Xavi admitted he was a fan of the approach introduced by coach Italy coach Cesare Prandelli and singled out the Azzurri's Andrea Pirlo for praise. "A few years ago, football was showing tendencies of becoming more physical and the games more condensed," he said. "We were very lucky that, although (Spain's) footballers were slightly weaker physically, they were more talented technically.
Source: BBC

Henry considered quitting international football

Thierry Henry says the outcry over his hand ball in France’s World Cup playoff against Ireland pushed him to the brink of international retirement.

French sports daily L’Equipe quoted the Barcelona striker in an interview as saying he felt abandoned and deeply upset by the virulent criticism he received from former players and politicians.

Henry’s hand ball before passing for defender William Gallas to score helped give France a 1-1 draw with Ireland and a 2-1 win on aggregate, advancing the team to next year’s tournament in South Africa.

“The day after the match and the next day, I felt alone, really alone,” said Henry, adding that he gave serious thought about quitting the French team. “Oh, yes I did. Friday, when everything had gone too far, I was very worked up.”

After receiving criticism from former players such as former Ireland and Marseille striker Tony Cascarino and French Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot, Henry said it was his friends and family who talked him out of retiring from international football.

“Despite everything that happened, the fact I felt abandoned, I will not drop my country,” he said. “I asked myself the question. Without the support of my loved ones, maybe I wouldn’t have thought the same way. Now, I’ve decided - I’ll always fight until the end.

“It’s been very hard, everything started from something that happens in a game and it went too far. I heard some people giving lectures about this, when I said I was sorry, on the pitch and off it.”

Henry received criticism for wildly celebrating Gallas’ goal in front of dejected Irish players.

“I shouldn’t have done that. But honestly, it was uncontrollable ... Yes, I regret that,” he said.

However, Henry dodged the issue of whether he should have immediately told referee Martin Hansson he had handled the ball.

“I was in a no-win situation,” he said, adding that the incident will not overshadow his whole career. “I don’t think that everything I’ve achieved can be tarnished.”

My dream rests in Hands of God

Phew, what a week that was! One of the most emotional ones of my life. There were more changes than I could handle, including moving cities and leaving behind too many friends. If that wasn't enough, dealing with worries about the qualification of Ivory Coast and Argentina for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa saw me at my emotional worst.

I've had to pack my bags and move thousands of kilometers north. Mumbai can be one of the hardest cities to leave. It was intimidating when I first came here six years back. But today, I feel more at home in its squalid lanes than anywhere else in the world.
In Mumbai, I grew to care about Indian football. Before that, the game was all about the Premier League, Jose Mourinho and Brazil.

It was at the Cooperage football ground that I first heard the thump of Baichung Bhutia's boots meeting the ball. The sound of the perfect kick can be as sweet as the ball meeting the middle of Sachin Tendulkar's bat.

It was in Mumbai that I realised Indian footballers don't just dream of a financially secure future but believe that great things are possible. They live in hope, not in desperation. And some of them, I honestly believe, are good enough to compete at the world level.

It wasn't just the goodbyes that were painful. Maradona really played havoc with my nerves and it was Didier Drogba who calmed them. Some months back, dear reader, I got lucky with the World Cup tickets for South Africa. I had applied for the T7 series, which gives the tickets of the team of your choice from the group stages onwards to the final. If your team loses in between, then you get the match ticket of the team that's beaten them.

I had applied for the T7 tickets of Ivory Coast, because of the love I have for Drogba and also because, in the first round, my application for Brazil and Argentina tickets was rejected. The validity of my tickets was subject to Ivory Coast's qualification for the tournament. And Drogba didn't let me down.

Ivory Coast qualified top of Group E in the African qualification after a 1-1 draw against Malawi. Drogba came off the bench to score the equaliser just two minutes after his introduction and helped secure my nerves and a second successive World Cup trip for the West Africans.

Maradona's appointment as Argentina coach was another reason I couldn't have missed this World Cup. However, their trip to South Africa almost got cancelled after losses to Brazil (1-3) and Paraguay (0-1).

But they've come through with wins over Peru (2-1) and Uruguay (1-0). Yet, Maradona's future as coach doesn't look secure. It's highly unlikely that the Argentina football association will trust the eccentric genius to lead the team in South Africa after the qualification fiasco. What can I say! My dream now rests in the Hands of God.

Brazil qualify for World Cup

Brazil qualified for its 19th consecutive World Cup, leaving Argentina to join Portugal and France with difficult paths to reach next year's tournament.

Defending champion Italy and European champion Spain maintained their leads in Europe, while England and Germany won friendlies ahead of qualifiers on Wed-nesday. And in Africa, Cameroon boosted their chances with their first victory in the final round of qualifying.

Luisao put Brazil ahead in the 24th minute at Rosario, Argentina, and Luis Fabiano scored in the 30th and 67th. Jesus Datolo scored in the 65th for Argentina, which will be under pressure to remove coach Diego Maradona.

Brazil lead South American qualifying with 30 points, three ahead of Chile and Paraguay and eight in front of Argentina with three matches remaining. The top-four teams advance to the World Cup while the No. 5 nation goes to a play-off against the No. 4 nation in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Brazil became the seventh nation to join host South Africa in next year's 32-nation field, following Australia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea and the Netherlands.

Argentina lost a home qualifier for the first time since a 5-0 defeat to Colombia in 1993.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the FIFA player of the year, is in danger of missing the World Cup after Portugal needed a last-minute goal by Liedson for a 1-1 draw against Denmark. Nicklas Bendtner gave the Danes the lead in the 41st minute.

Group One

Denmark lead Group One with 17 points, four ahead of Hungary, which lost 2-1 at home to Sweden when Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored in injury time. Sweden are third with 12 points and Portugal have 10 heading into Wednesday's game against Hungary. The top team qualifies from each of the nine European groups and the best eight second-place teams go to play-offs.

France likely will have to win a play-off for a World Cup berth after a disappointing 1-1 tie with Romania at Saint-Denis.

France looked in control after Thierry Henry's 48th-minute goal, but defender Julien Escude turned the ball past his goalkeeper Hugo Llorisslid while attempting to intercept a cross seven minutes later.

"The objective is to qualify, no matter how we get there. I'm not in the habit of giving up," France coach Raymond Domenech said. "There's still everything to play for, nothing is finished yet. It will go down to the last game."

Les Bleus are second in Group Seven with 14 points, four behind Serbia heading into their meeting at Belgrade on Wednesday.

The Czech Republic played to a 2-2 draw at Slovakia, which could qualify for their first major tournament. Substitute forward Milan Baros headed in his 34th international goal in the 84th minute for the Czechs.

Slovakia heads Group Three with 16 points, two ahead of Northern Ireland. The Czechs are fifth with nine.

At Tblisi, Georgia captain Kakha Kaladze - who plays for AC Milan - headed two own goals in the 57th and 67th, giving Italy a 2-0 victory over Georgia.

Peru banned from internationals

Peru have been banned from playing international football, including the 2010 World Cup, over a dispute between the government and football federation.

Fifa has also warned Peru that they have one month to settle the dispute or they could be expelled entirely.

"The Peruvian Football Federation (FPF) will only return on the basis of negotiations with the president and the board of the FPF," said a statement.

Peru do not resume their 2010 World Cup campaign until March.

They are currently bottom of the 10-nation South American qualifying group with just one win in 10 matches.

Fifa's executive committee will discuss the issue at a meeting in Tokyo on 19-20 December.

South American Football Confederation (CSF) secretary general Eduardo de Luca was reported as saying: "Fifa has suspended Peru from all activity."

The dispute began when the government of President Alan Garcia refused to recognise the election of Manuel Burga as football federation president.

The president of the Peruvian government's Institute of Sports (IPD), Arturo Woodman told Reuters: "If Burga's position is going to remain the same as before... this is a dialogue of the deaf.

"There is absolutely no intervention by the government. What there is, is respect for Peruvian law."

Tennis chief handed 2018 bid role

The head of men's professional tennis in Europe is to lead England's bid to host football's 2018 World Cup.

Andy Anson is European chief executive of the ATP - the governing body of men's tennis - and will start a similar role for the World Cup bid in January.

"It is an absolute privilege to be invited to take the role," said the 44-year-old, a former commercial director of Manchester United.

Bid chairman Lord Triesman said he had "an excellent pedigree" for the job.

Etienne de Villiers, ATP executive chairman, said: "He brought great passion and experience to his role in leading one of the biggest and most important markets in world tennis and did so with great distinction.

"I have no doubt that Andy will bring these qualities and more to his new position - the FA could not have picked a better person to lead their bid for the 2018 World Cup."

When Hansen came up against Diego Maradona

Just under 30 years ago, I played against current Argentina coach Diego Maradona when he scored his first goal for his country against Scotland at Hampden Park on 2 June, 1979.

Maradona was 18 at the time, and if ever one player was destined to be the greatest player in the world it was him.

You talk about the young players in this country, and we have one who is destined to win all the biggest awards in the coming weeks in Cristiano Ronaldo, but Maradona eclipsed him.

This is in no way meant as any criticism of Ronaldo, but he would not be in the same stratosphere as Maradona. It was June and the hottest day in Glasgow for 30 years and we could hardly get near him. He was just magnificent. Unbelievable, and just a kid as well.

You look at his achievements in winning the World Cup with Argentina in 1986 and inspiring them to the final and you see how good he was, but there are other stories as well.

He captained a Rest of the World team in one match, playing alongside Michel Platini, who was one of the best passers of the ball the game had ever seen, but even he was standing open-mouthed at some of the stuff Maradona was doing.

I can remember when I played against him that the ball was almost stuck to his feet. He had the most amazingly quick feet - again people talk about the quickness of Ronaldo's feet, and there is no doubt he is exceptional, but Maradona was just something else.

He was massively strong, scored goals, ran the game and was just the most fantastic talent.

When we played against him, Argentina were the reigning world champions from the previous summer and had people like Mario Kempes and Leopoldo Luque playing for them, the big stars of that World Cup. Maradona was actually 10 times better than them.

And he was so tough. I remember my old Liverpool team-mate Phil Neal telling me he put in a hard tackle on in him early on when England played Argentina a year later, as defenders did in those days, and he said Maradona didn't even flinch. He didn't even go down. He just had everything.

Sometimes you see these young players who have a lot of hype surrounding them, but we all knew that day that this was a player who was going to be the best in the world and he proved us all right.

Belarus 1-3 England

Wayne Rooney scored twice as England took a giant stride towards World Cup qualification by beating Belarus to make it maximum points from four games.

Steven Gerrard gave England the lead from 30 yards after 11 minutes, but Pavel Sitko headed a deserved leveller for Belarus before the break.

Rooney turned in a cross from Emile Heskey five minutes after the break.

And he lifted home a superb third from Gerrard's pass 16 minutes from time to give coach Fabio Capello another win.

It gives England a perfect record of 12 points so far, with Capello's huge reputation bolstered further by two convincing away wins against dangerous opposition in Croatia and Belarus.

And for Gerrard, a spectacular strike will increase his fragile self-confidence in an England shirt and silence any lingering doubts about his worth at international level.

Rooney's double also demonstrated his growing maturity as he provided a deadly spearhead to the attack, ably assisted by the powerful Heskey, who was winning his 50th England cap.

The Manchester United striker has now scored five goals in England's last three qualifiers as he plays a leading role in the new Capello era.

Gerrard had pleaded with coach Capello to keep faith with him after a low-key display in the win against Kazakhstan - and he repaid his confidence with a stunning opener.

He picked up the ball from Rooney before placing a perfect slide-rule finish into the bottom corner beyond Belarus keeper Yury Zhevnov from fully 30 yards.

Instead of settling England, the goal was the signal for a period of Belarus dominance, with keeper David James having to save from Dmitry Molosh and Vitaly Kutuzov.

Heskey was working tirelessly up front to keep the Belarus defence occupied, and his fine cross set up Rooney for a far post header, but he could not find the target.

Belarus were in the ascendancy, however, and it was no surprise when they drew level after 28 minutes at the end of a glorious 23-pass move.

Igor Stasevich was the creator, popping up an inviting cross to the far post for Sitko to arrived unmarked and head beyond the exposed James.

England needed to apply more pressure to the gifted Belarus attacking players after the break, and Rooney almost provided the perfect start with a great run that was only marred by a tame finish.

He made no mistake as England regained the lead after 50 minutes, but credit must go to Heskey again with a powerful run and perfect cross for Rooney to slide home from close range.

As Belarus attempted to force their way back into contention, Capello made two changes to his attacking personnel, sending on Shaun Wright-Phillips for Theo Walcott and Peter Crouch for the excellent Heskey, who was struggling with an injury.

It did not stop Rooney taking the game by the scruff of the neck and he scored his second, and England's third, with a goal of the highest class 16 minutes from time.

Gerrard slid a superb instant pass into his path, and Rooney dummied a defender before lifting a composed finish over Zhevnov.

The Liverpool captain should have added a fourth five minutes from time when he rounded Zhevnov, but carelessly shot again the outside of the post with the goal at his mercy.

It was not a costly miss as England entered new territory by winning their opening four World Cup qualifiers for the first time.

Maradona, Mascherano and philosophy

Sometimes nicknamed the Philosopher of Football, Argentine legend Jorge Valdano is probably best known for scoring the South American nation's second goal in their 3-2 win over West Germany in the 1986 World Cup final in Mexico.

His career started in 1971 with Newell's Old Boys before he moved to Spanish side Deportivo Alaves four years later.

In 1979 the striker joined Real Zaragoza, where he scored 46 goals in 143 matches, and that form earned him a transfer to Real Madrid, the club he eventually ended his playing career with in 1987.

After a spell coaching the Spanish giants' youth team, he took over at Tenerife before going on to guide Real Madrid to the Spanish title in 1994/95.

He spent one year at Valencia before returning once again to the Bernabeu where he became sporting director until his resignation in 2005.

The 53-year-old is the author of five books, including Suenos de futbol (Football Dreams).

Here Valdano gives BBC Sport his views on Diego Maradona, who is set to take over as Argentina coach, and his two compatriots Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez and Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano. He also discusses his future and that of football before answering questions posed by website users on the 606 forum.

You have said of Diego Maradona's second goal against England in the 1986 World Cup: "I am certain I can describe it much better than he could. But I could never have scored it." How would you describe it? What is your abiding memory of Maradona, both as a player and a person?

With that sentence I only wanted to establish the difference between narrative intelligence and footballing intelligence. The first has more prestige but the second has more complexity.

I wrote various articles about that goal and I stand by what I said then. Great football, to me, is the art to improvise, to find solutions, and that goal was the perfect demonstration.

As for Maradona, he was a genetic miracle, a man whom nature endowed with extraordinary abilities and who, moreover, grew up in the right place to achieve his potential.

On the field he demonstrated an ability to be a generous man, both committed and brave.

The people who said terrible things about Maradona are the same people who forget that it is necessary to judge geniuses by their deeds and not by their life


Do you see yourself remaining as a commentator on football or would you like to return as a coach or a sporting director? How does writing about football compare with playing football?

I like to come in and out of football, so I never rule out a comeback. I believe this game, when you live it with so much intensity, can make you deranged.

It is vital to take time out now and then to recover perspective. From that point of view, writing helps you reflect. The differences? When you write you can make changes until you are happy with the result; football, like music, does not allow corrections.

My best memory, and at the same time the greatest achievement, is winning the World Cup in 1986. That is the only thing which gives an idea of reaching the summit.

I am a good reader but find it very difficult to choose between Argentine writers Jorge Luis Borges and Julio Cortazar and the Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

What has given you the most pleasure in your career - playing, coaching or writing?

My love for football began as a player. That is my vocation. The trouble is that every player has his sell-by date. Everything else is compensation for the nostalgia that the player feels.

Do you remain pessimistic or optimistic about the future of football?

I am a realist. Football is a metaphor for the time and place you are playing in. He who does not agree with the evolution of football does not believe in the evolution of the world.


What is your assessment of 20-year-old Argentina and Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero as a player?

Sergio Aguero is a fascinating player with a wide repertoire - technical, creative, powerful, daring and destabilising. His well-above-average strength is a particular talent.

His weakness is that he forms part of a collective who do not exalt him. Anything that Cristiano Ronaldo achieves at Manchester United, or Lionel Messi does for Barcelona, has more market value that anything Aguero does for Atletico. That's life… and business.

In any case, Aguero is still a boy and perhaps it would be good for him to mature at a club who hold him in the highest regard.

Celtic need 2006 spirit against United

Celtic must summon the spirit of 2006 to repeat a famous victory over Manchester United on Wednesday and maintain an interest in the Champions League.

Two years ago Shunsuke Nakamura's late free kick secured a 1-0 Parkhead win over United that helped Celtic into the knockout phase for the first time but this year the Scots, with one point from three games, are hanging on by their fingertips.

They were disdainfully swept aside 3-0 at Old Trafford last month as two goals for on-song Dimitar Berbatov and one for Wayne Rooney capped an impressive display by the champions.

Another win for United would send them into the last 16 with two games to spare if AaB Alborg fail to beat Villarreal in Denmark and a draw would be enough if the Spaniards win.

Celtic have lost only one of their last 11 home Champions League games but they have yet to score in three matches this season and United have yet to concede.

United's defence was given a wake-up at the weekend, however, when Hull City had the temerity to score three times at Old Trafford, leaving Alex Ferguson's team hanging on for a 4-3 victory having led 4-1.

"We got a warning on Saturday, we have to make sure we finish teams off," goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar told MUTV.

"We must not stop halfway through the second half and start thinking about the next game."

Martins gives Newcastle victory

Obafemi Martins scored twice as Newcastle United produced a stirring second-half performance to beat Aston Villa 2-0 on Monday to move off the bottom of the Premier League.

Villa went into the game at St James' Park knowing a win would put them third but it was Newcastle who were the better team as they climbed to 14th.

The visitors had the better of the first half, Martin Laursen clipping a post with an early header and Gabriel Agbonlahor mis-kicking from six metres.

Newcastle came out fired up after the break and deservedly took the lead after an hour when Nigerian Martins turned sharply to shoot home from the edge of the box.

Nicky Butt then hit a post with a free kick before Martins settled it eight minutes from time from close-range after a good run and cross by Jonas Gutierrez.

Newcastle's win completed a good weekend for the clubs at the bottom end of the table after Tottenham Hotspur beat Liverpool, Stoke City stunned Arsenal and Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic also collected maximum points.

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari sets Champions League final target

It is a statement of Chelsea's endless extravagance, even at a time when Roman Abramovich is supposed to be constrained by the credit crisis, that they are preparing for tonight's Group A match in the Cavalieri Hotel, arguably Rome's finest.

But it is a reflection of their formidable resolve that they intend to book the same hotel for the penultimate week of May, when the Eternal City stages an even more auspicious occasion: the Champions League final.

Rooms at the Cavalieri start at £770 a night, with suites closer to £5,000, but such details will appear mere fripperies if Chelsea realise their avowed ambition to avenge last season's defeat in the grandest game.

Until then Luiz Felipe Scolari is suspending all judgment upon his team, described yesterday by Roma manager Luciano Spalletti as the best in the world. Talk of attacking élan or defensive muscle, quite justified based on Chelsea's masterful recent performances, means nothing to him unless they earn their place in the final reckoning.

"We need to arrive in the final," said Scolari, asked to compare his side to the model fashioned by his less exalted predecessor, Avram Grant, who took Chelsea to Moscow. "We are playing very well, but we have not got into any final position before now.

"We need to get into more finals, win more finals. Then, after that, it might be possible to say we are better. But, until now, no."

For a man normally so fond of using superlatives in his attractively zany English, Scolari was dismissive of any mention of Chelsea being, or becoming, "the best". They were not, he explained, so exclusive: "I am not the man that says: 'I am the best.' Or that my team is the best.

"I never say things like that. I say that there are 10 'best', or maybe 20 or 30. There are three or four, minimum, in England – and in Spain, Italy, Brazil. Maybe it's 50. Chelsea is one of these 50."

Barring any dramatic wobble, Chelsea will take a long stride towards the knockout stage of the Champions League by securing only a draw at the Olympic Stadium. The pursuit of that target will be spearheaded by Nicolas Anelka after Scolari confirmed that fellow striker Didier Drogba was not ready to contest a full game, having injured a knee in the goalless draw at CFR Cluj a month ago.

But the Frenchman is likely to have the full confidence of his manager after recording a hat-trick against Sunderland last Saturday – the most emphatic signal that his temperament has improved under Scolari.

But the satisfaction of Anelka's resurgence remains tempered by long-term injuries to Michael Ballack, Michael Essien and Ricardo Carvalho, which prevent Scolari from seeing his Chelsea side as anything more than a work in progress.

Still smarting from a rare league defeat, to Liverpool, the Brazilian said: "We have played some very good games, but we didn't play well in one or two and paid the price.

"I am not happy because I don't have all the players at my disposal. Maybe in the future I will have more options because we will have Ballack, Essien, Carvalho and Ashley Cole back, and that will be good for me.

When I have these players, it is better for me because I will work to decide who will play and who won't. That is my job as a coach. I need to explain to them who is playing or not playing. This is a team and I am part of that team. Every day we try to improve."

Despite Chelsea's flourishes up front, their most spectacular improvement has been in defence and this should ensure they prevail against Roma tonight. Only in two of the games of which Scolari has taken charge have they not scored.

As he put it: "When I have a very good defence, I have a very good attack."

Arsenal 'lack spine' claims Stoke City's Thomas Sorensen

Basil Fawlty would probably accuse Thomas Sorensen of "stating the bleeding obvious" in response to the Stoke City goalkeeper's assertion that Arsenal "lack the spine needed" to mount any kind of challenge for the Premier League title.

But if the penny had still to drop for Arsene Wenger prior to his team's woeful display at the Britannia Stadium, Sorensen's brutal assessment of Arsenal's failings might just force home the message that English football now views the Gunners as a soft touch, a team that can be 'got at'.

The Britannia Stadium on a cold, windy November day is no place for the faint-hearted, especially when Rory Delap is producing his A-game with his jet-propelled throw-ins, but Arsenal hearts were faint from the moment they walked onto the pitch.

It was evident from the looks on the faces of Cesc Fabregas and, particularly, Emmanuel Adebayor, that Stoke was the last place Arsenal's players wanted to be.

Adebayor's performance was pitiful. Outfought by the muscular Stoke centre-half Ryan Shawcross, the Togolese forward developed an exaggerated limp and slumped to the ground three times, clutching his ankle, following a late second-half challenge by the defender. Adebayor was ultimately replaced by Wenger, but it's difficult to imagine how his efforts would have gone down had he shared a dressing-room with the likes of Adams, Keown, Winterburn and Vieira.

Those great names of Arsenal's past would have relished this encounter with Tony Pulis's passionate Stoke team because they would have matched the home side's commitment before allowing their superior quality to do the rest.

This Arsenal team did not want to know, however, and Sorensen – barged to the ground by the petulant Robin van Persie in an incident that led to the Arsenal substitute's dismissal – suggested that Wenger's team lack the steel required to succeed in the Premier League.

Sorensen said: "Arsenal have shown in the past that they are a fantastic football side, but they are just lacking that bit of physicality. When Chelsea came here, they matched us in the challenges, but Arsenal weren't quite there.

"That's the difference. Arsenal lack that bit of spine that you need. They want to play all the time, but sometimes you have to work hard and earn the opportunity to play your football.

"They have excellent players, but once we got the second goal, it felt like we were cruising because they totally lost belief. I think they expected a bit of an easier ride, but no one's going to get that here."

Ahead of this game, half of Stoke's goals this season had been as a result of Delap's penetrative throw-ins, but Arsenal centre-halves Kolo Toure and Mikael Silvestre were more Cannon and Ball than Adams and Bould in their attempts to deal with the two throw-ins that led to goals for Ricardo Fuller and Seyi Olofinjana.

Gael Clichy's injury-time goal might have reduced the arrears, but Van Persie's dismissal and injuries sustained by Adebayor, Bacary Sagna and Theo Walcott capped a dreadful day for Arsenal, who, Wenger admits, cannot afford to lose at home to Manchester United this Saturday.

He said: "There is no better game in which to come back from a defeat from a confidence point of view. It will also give us a chance to show we have quality."

Newcastle's Steven Taylor tipped to save the day against Aston Villa

The England Under-21 skipper will have to curb the free-scoring ways of international colleague Gabriel Agbonlahor when Aston Villa visit Tyneside and interim manager Joe Kinnear has every confidence that his centre-half will rise to the challenge.

"I think Taylor has all the ability to go all the way," Kinnear said. "He's a terrific lad in training, Geordie through and through, run through a brick wall for you. He's as brave as a lion.

"Everything will come through experience. As he grows and gets more and more confidence he will get even better. I know there is talk about him playing for the seniors.

"He has some habits which need ironing out but I have sat down with him and his answer was 'well, no one has ever told me that.' I told him I see deficiencies in all players, doesn't matter if you are the best in the world, you will still have deficiencies.

Kinnear, who played as a defender for Tottenham, added: "We need him to be tighter, stronger, not drop off, those sorts of things. He has had habits he needs to come out of. He can do it. He has two good feet and he's good on the ball.

"But I feel he needs to be tougher, punch his weight but all the ability is there. Need to get tight as you possibly can, don't show your opposition too much respect, let them worry about you. He has grown up as well.

"I had Michael Dawson at Nottingham Forest, he went to Spurs, a similar type of player, came through the Under-21s. Taylor is a real athlete, strong; it is maybe just his decision-making at times. That comes with experience."

While Taylor keeps a lookout for Agbonlahor, Argentinian centre-half Fabricio Coloccini will no doubt be asked to halt towering John Carew in his tracks but despite Newcastle's defensive frailties, Kinnear is backing them to provide the platform for a much-needed victory against Martin O'Neill's Champions League hopefuls.

"I think they can play with each other, but obviously we have spoken about it," Kinnear added.

"We have worked really hard on the training ground but it is a case of them having to play alongside each other because there is no one else.

"I think they will be OK. I feel very optimistic of getting a result against Villa, especially playing at home."

Bolton off the bottom after beating Man City

Bolton Wanderers moved off the bottom of the Premier League and out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 home defeat of Manchester City on Sunday.

A poor game was settled by two late goals, the first a close-range effort from Ricardo Gardner and the second an own goal from City defender Richard Dunne.

Bolton climbed above Newcastle United, who play Aston Villa on Monday, and Tottenham Hotspur who were 2-1 winners against Liverpool on Saturday.

West Bromwich Albion drop into the bottom three.

City stay 10th despite a sequence of just one win in six league games that will not please the club's Abu Dhabi owners.

"I'm disappointed because you have to stand up to the challenge at Bolton," City manager Mark Hughes told the BBC.

"We know we can do a lot better than we showed today but we weren't allowed to play our normal game."

City had chances to take the lead through Robinho and Stephen Ireland but fell behind after 76 minutes when Gardner, looking slightly offside, turned in a Gretar Steinsson cross off the underside of the crossbar.

Dunne then completed a miserable afternoon for City when a Gardner cross went into the net off his shin with two minutes of normal time remaining.

Darren Bent says Tottenham was 'a horrible piece to be' under Juande Ramos

Bent aired his thoughts after his side's victory over Liverpool at the weekend, which saw him set the winning goal up for the Russian striker – a partnership that Ramos claimed would never work.

"It was said that me and Roman couldn't play together," Bent said.

"But I set him up to score the winning goal, and, with time the partnership will blossom. We will keep working on things in training and keep trying to improve."

Admitting that he and the squad are far happier and more optimistic under new manager Harry Redknapp, Bent said that the atmosphere at White Hart Lane in the final weeks of Ramos' time had been seriously unhealthy.

"At one stage the training ground was a horrible place to be," he said.

"Everyone was down, there was no team morale. But Harry has come in, everyone has had a new lease of life and that has shown in the performances.

"It wasn't nice before, Ramos came in and banished a lot of players to the reserves because he didn't want them."

Admitting he had never got very close to the Spaniard, Bent spoke of the restoration in faith Redknapp has installed in the players.

He told the Mail: "Harry has come in and made everyone welcome, and that's the respect you have to show people. He's made people believe they're good players and that we shouldn't be where we are.

"He can talk to people one-on-one, have a proper conversation. With Juande and the Spanish it was a bit hard.

"I didn't ever really get to know Ramos."

Redknapp also criticised Ramos' decision to write off the partnership of Bent and Pavlyuchenko.

"It seems strange that you pay £16 million for Bent and then go and pay £14 million for Pavlyuchenko and then realise they can't play together. They've got to," said Redknapp.

Arsenal are ready for physical test at Stoke, says Arsene Wenger

After conceding four goals against their arch-rivals Tottenham on Wednesday night, the last thing Arsene Wenger needs is a visit to Stoke City, who will provide another stern test for a nervous looking Arsenal defence.

Wenger was bitterly disappointed to see his side throw away 3-1 and 4-2 leads and drop two crucial points as they look to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League title this season.

The Arsenal defence have struggled throughout the season, which has resulted in Kolo Toure losing his place in the team, but not even the arrival of Mikael Silvestre from Manchester United has tightened up the back four.

The Arsenal manager knows things will not get any easier when they face a totally different style of football against Stoke, whose direct style of play is likely to cause untold problems for the north London side.

Rory Delap's long throw-ins continue to be one of Stoke's main attacking threats and resulted in Ricardo Fuller scoring the winning goal against Sunderland on Wednesday night.

Wenger admits his side are bracing themselves for a different kind of game, but is refusing to get carried away by Delap's aerial threat.

Wenger said: "We know they are very dangerous on set-pieces and especially from long throw-ins. We need to deal with that.

"I believe the most important thing is for us to have the ball and put them under pressure. We have to attack the ball in the air and not make too much fuss about it. They score maybe one like that every two months and it is not like a penalty. It is a throw-in and we cannot get obsessed by that. We need to try and dominate the game and score goals."

When asked if he would ever employ a similar tactic, Wenger added: "Why not? If you have a player who can do it, then of course. It is normal."

Wenger was quick to dispel rumours of unrest in the Arsenal camp following their 4-4 draw with Tottenham.

Reports suggested there was a dressing-room showdown between some of the players, but Wenger was adamant that all his players were united in wanting to win major silverware this season and would show their fighting spirit at the Britannia Stadium this afternoon.

Wenger said: "We know the truth on the inside and that is not what has been projected on the outside. We know what we have to do. We were all very disappointed.

"The mood in the dressing room was of disbelief and frustration. But the players are united, passionate and want to win.

"They are in this together, they want to be winners together. We have a long way to go and we are all determined to show that we can fight for this title together."

Cristiano Ronaldo pledges to win back the hearts of Manchester United fans

The Portuguese winger was involved in a long-running transfer saga over the summer and was quoted as saying he wanted to move to Real Madrid.

The 24-year-old eventually stayed at Old Trafford, and he has drawn parallels with the reaction he faced after the World Cup two years ago, where he was vilified for his part in Wayne Rooney's red card in England's quarter-final defeat.

"A part of the supporters show themselves to be more unhappy than others. But I hope to change their minds," he said.

"When I put on the United shirt I give my maximum. Nobody can condemn me on this.

"I hope it will be similar to when I came back to England after the 2006 World Cup and I can win the fans back."

United were critical of Madrid's approach and refused to sell their star asset, but Ronaldo insists it was his decision to stay.

"Nobody can convince me about anything," he said. "Since I was young I've had to make decisions, I make them alone.

"I want to win more at this club. If the boss thinks I have to stay on the bench I respect that, even if it's difficult."

Meanwhile, Carlos Tevez has said he is happy at United, despite struggling to keep a regular place in the starting line up.

The Argentinian striker was a key player in United's Champions League and Premier League double last season, after moving from West Ham, but Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov have been preferred to Tevez in recent weeks.

With Cristiano Ronaldo now fully fit as well, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he faces a difficult balancing act up front.

Tevez's two-year loan deal expires next summer and he is yet to sign a permanent contract, but he insists he is not thinking of leaving.

He told the Daily Mail: "This season is proving more complicated than any other and it is difficult for me to get in the team. The competition with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov is intense.

"This club have the most talented forward line in England and the manager has decided that we cannot all play in the team at the same time. I want to play more and the coach knows this.

"But I have no problem with him. We have spoken. There is no way I would want to leave this club. I insist I am calm.

"I have confidence in the coach and he has in me. In this sport it is necessary to be patient and I will be."

Maradona set to make coaching debut v Scotland

Diego Maradona, celebrating his 48th birthday on Thursday, said he expected to make his debut as Argentina coach in a friendly with Scotland on November 19.

Maradona has yet to be officially confirmed by the Argentina Football Association (AFA) but he has already been making plans and his appointment is widely seen as a certainty.

The AFA has said it will confirm the new coach next Tuesday.

One of the greatest players the game has produced and also one of the most troubled, it would be a remarkable turnaround for a man who has fought off drug addiction, alcohol problems and obesity since retiring.

Maradona's career peaked when he captained Argentina to World Cup victory in 1986 with some outrageously brilliant performances but dramatically declined as he was banned three times for drug offences, including one at the 1994 World Cup.

Bilardo, coach of Argentina's 1986 team, is expected to take on the role as general manager, marking his return to the national team set up after an 18-year absence, and has been involved in meetings with Maradona.

"We have to start working as quickly as possible," said Maradona. "We are going to play the game against Scotland with the best team we've got," he told reporters in front of his home on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.

"I scored a goal there, on a tour with Menotti," he added, referring to his first goal for Argentina in a 3-1 friendly win over Scotland in 1979 under coach Cesar Luis Menotti.

Adebayor doubts Arsenal title bid

Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor has questioned his side's ability to win the Premier League, unless they start to develop a winning mentality.

The Gunners appeared to be heading for victory over arch-rivals Tottenham on Wednesday, but conceded two late goals to draw the game 4-4.

The 24-year-old suggested his team-mates thought the game was won and was at a loss to describe what went wrong.

"To be champions in this way? You can never be a champion," Adebayor said.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was furious at his side's capitulation at the Emirates Stadium and Adebayor echoed his manager's sentiments.

The Togo international added: "There is a lot of disappointment. We are down at the moment because we did everything to get the three points and we ended up with one.

"We feel very sorry for ourselves that the things are not going the right way.

"It was one of the most difficult games in my life because I cannot understand that after 90 minutes we were leading 4-2 - I don't know how we finished with a draw.

"It's very easy to give up because we were 4-2 up and maybe thinking the game was finished. With five, six or seven minutes to go, maybe in our head the game was over."

Going into this weekend's game away at Stoke, Arsenal are six points behind leaders Liverpool and have drawn two and lost two of their opening 10 games so far this season.

They had also looked in control against Hull earlier in the season, but after taking a second half lead they failed to close out the game and goals from Geovanni and Daniel Cousin secured a memorable win for the Premier League new boys.

That followed defeat away at Fulham in August, while last season their title challenge fell apart after Birmingham secured a late draw at St Andrews.