Spain move not on the agenda, says ´happy´ Fabregas
LONDON (AFP) - Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has brushed off recent speculation linking him with a move back to Spain, saying he is determined to play a role in the Gunners' future successes.
Reports from Spain last week said Real Madrid and European champions Barcelona will battle to sign Fabregas at the end of the season.
However the Spaniard has reiterated his commitment to the Gunners and says he is fully behind the long-term strategy put in place by French manager Arsene Wenger.
"I am so happy here," Fabregas told the Daily Mail. "And I want to continue to be part of what is happening here. Definitely.
"If not I would have left when I had the opportunity, three years ago, two years ago or last year.
"I believe in this team and I feel we can achieve things. The boss believes in us more than anyone, and I feel I am part of it. He makes me see that as well. And I don't want to fail here."
Arsenal welcome league leaders Chelsea to the Emirates stadium on Sunday, where a win for Carlo Ancelotti's side would move them 11 points clear of the Gunners.
Arsenal have been ravaged by injuries in recent weeks and Robin van Persie, Gael Clichy, Nicklas Bendtner, Kieran Gibbs and Abou Diaby will all miss the weekend clash.
Nigeria´s Martins set for surgery
BERLIN (AFP) - VfL Wolfsburg's Nigerian international striker Obafemi Martins will undergo surgery on his left leg that should sideline him for a month, coach Armin Veh said on Saturday.
Veh revealed that Martins, 25, has been struggling with the injury for several months. "He can no longer stand the pain," said Veh.
Signed from Newcastle United last summer for 10 million euros, Martins has played ten times in the Bundesliga and scored five goals for the German champions.
He is hoping to compete in the 2010 African Nations Cup in Angola from January 10-31.
Nigeria´s Martins set for surgery
BERLIN (AFP) - VfL Wolfsburg's Nigerian international striker Obafemi Martins will undergo surgery on his left leg that should sideline him for a month, coach Armin Veh said on Saturday.
Veh revealed that Martins, 25, has been struggling with the injury for several months. "He can no longer stand the pain," said Veh.
Signed from Newcastle United last summer for 10 million euros, Martins has played ten times in the Bundesliga and scored five goals for the German champions.
He is hoping to compete in the 2010 African Nations Cup in Angola from January 10-31.
Spain move not on the agenda, says ´happy´ Fabregas
LONDON (AFP) - Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has brushed off recent speculation linking him with a move back to Spain, saying he is determined to play a role in the Gunners' future successes.
Reports from Spain last week said Real Madrid and European champions Barcelona will battle to sign Fabregas at the end of the season.
However the Spaniard has reiterated his commitment to the Gunners and says he is fully behind the long-term strategy put in place by French manager Arsene Wenger.
"I am so happy here," Fabregas told the Daily Mail. "And I want to continue to be part of what is happening here. Definitely.
"If not I would have left when I had the opportunity, three years ago, two years ago or last year.
"I believe in this team and I feel we can achieve things. The boss believes in us more than anyone, and I feel I am part of it. He makes me see that as well. And I don't want to fail here."
Arsenal welcome league leaders Chelsea to the Emirates stadium on Sunday, where a win for Carlo Ancelotti's side would move them 11 points clear of the Gunners.
Arsenal have been ravaged by injuries in recent weeks and Robin van Persie, Gael Clichy, Nicklas Bendtner, Kieran Gibbs and Abou Diaby will all miss the weekend clash.
Celtic back on top as Rangers slip up
GLASGOW (AFP) - Celtic got back to winning ways with a 3-1 defeat of St Mirren to return to the top of the Scottish Premier League on Saturday.
The Hoops took full advantage of rivals Rangers' 1-0 defeat to Aberdeen in the early kick-off match to move two points clear at the top.
An uninspiring first-half was lit up with three goals in the final nine minutes. St Mirren defender Chris Innes turned Socceroos striker Scott McDonald's shot past his own keeper in the 38th minute before Georgios Samaras made it two just three minutes later.
Michael Higdon had replaced the injured Andy Dorman and he capitalised on a Marc Crosas mistake to pull one back on the stroke of half-time.
McDonald got on the score-sheet with a superb volley and missed an injury-time penalty as Celtic dominated the second-period.
Celtic manager Tony Mowbray said it had been a good weekend for his team.
"If we get goals it will only build confidence. What we try to do as a football club is to play with a bit of style," the Hoops coach said.
"But, ultimately, today was about taking all three points."
St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson said his side should have done better.
"The goals we lost were preventable and we could have defended better in those situations," the Buddies boss said.
Earlier in the day Rangers' unbeaten start to the league campaign came to an end when Lee Miller's first-half strike was enough to claim a 1-0 for Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
The Dons were reduced to ten men on the hour mark when captain Mark Kerr received a second yellow card but Mark McGhee's men held on for the win.
At Parkhead, China captain Zheng Zhi had the first chance of the game when Aiden McGeady picked him out at the far post with a cut-back but Paul Gallacher smothered his tame effort.
Samaras could not take advantage when referee Steve Conroy allowed play to continue despite a foul on the Greek striker, with his shot from just outside the box trundling harmlessly wide.
His strike partner McDonald didn't do any better in the 16th minute when he sent his flicked effort over the bar as the Australian met Andreas Hinkel's cross at the near post.
Just as it looked like the half would end goalless there were three goals in quick succession. Celtic broke the deadlock in the 38th minute when McDonald beat the offside trap from Samaras' perfectly weighted pass to send a low angled shot across Gallacher which hit Innes on the way in.
The Greek got on the score-sheet three minutes later. The St Mirren defence backed off McGeady allowing him to pick out Samaras inside the box and he sent his shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
The Buddies pulled one back on the stroke of half-time. Marc Crosas' failure to deal with a Billy Mehmet cross allowed sub Michael Higdon to smash an angled shot past Lukasz Zaluska. McDonald made it 3-1 after an hour played.
A long ball out of defence from Hinkel found McGeady who whipped in a fierce cross that McDonald volleyed past Gallacher from close range.
Zheng thought he scored in the 76th minute when he nipped in amongst a host of bodies to lash past Gallacher but the China captain was flagged offside.
St Mirren struggled to create chances and Mehmet should have done better when Garry Brady's cross fell to him in a promising position but he volleyed high over the bar.
The Buddies conceded a penalty in injury time when Innes handled in the box. There was confusion as the defender walked up the tunnel despite only receiving a yellow card but he soon returned to see Gallacher pull off a superb double save from McDonald's spot-kick.
Elsewhere Hearts won 2-1 away to Kilmarnock, Hibernian defeated Falkirk 2-0, Motherwell drew 2-2 with Dundee United and St Johnstone versus Hamilton ended 1-1.
Celtic back on top as Rangers slip up
GLASGOW (AFP) - Celtic got back to winning ways with a 3-1 defeat of St Mirren to return to the top of the Scottish Premier League on Saturday.
The Hoops took full advantage of rivals Rangers' 1-0 defeat to Aberdeen in the early kick-off match to move two points clear at the top.
An uninspiring first-half was lit up with three goals in the final nine minutes. St Mirren defender Chris Innes turned Socceroos striker Scott McDonald's shot past his own keeper in the 38th minute before Georgios Samaras made it two just three minutes later.
Michael Higdon had replaced the injured Andy Dorman and he capitalised on a Marc Crosas mistake to pull one back on the stroke of half-time.
McDonald got on the score-sheet with a superb volley and missed an injury-time penalty as Celtic dominated the second-period.
Celtic manager Tony Mowbray said it had been a good weekend for his team.
"If we get goals it will only build confidence. What we try to do as a football club is to play with a bit of style," the Hoops coach said.
"But, ultimately, today was about taking all three points."
St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson said his side should have done better.
"The goals we lost were preventable and we could have defended better in those situations," the Buddies boss said.
Earlier in the day Rangers' unbeaten start to the league campaign came to an end when Lee Miller's first-half strike was enough to claim a 1-0 for Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
The Dons were reduced to ten men on the hour mark when captain Mark Kerr received a second yellow card but Mark McGhee's men held on for the win.
At Parkhead, China captain Zheng Zhi had the first chance of the game when Aiden McGeady picked him out at the far post with a cut-back but Paul Gallacher smothered his tame effort.
Samaras could not take advantage when referee Steve Conroy allowed play to continue despite a foul on the Greek striker, with his shot from just outside the box trundling harmlessly wide.
His strike partner McDonald didn't do any better in the 16th minute when he sent his flicked effort over the bar as the Australian met Andreas Hinkel's cross at the near post.
Just as it looked like the half would end goalless there were three goals in quick succession. Celtic broke the deadlock in the 38th minute when McDonald beat the offside trap from Samaras' perfectly weighted pass to send a low angled shot across Gallacher which hit Innes on the way in.
The Greek got on the score-sheet three minutes later. The St Mirren defence backed off McGeady allowing him to pick out Samaras inside the box and he sent his shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
The Buddies pulled one back on the stroke of half-time. Marc Crosas' failure to deal with a Billy Mehmet cross allowed sub Michael Higdon to smash an angled shot past Lukasz Zaluska. McDonald made it 3-1 after an hour played.
A long ball out of defence from Hinkel found McGeady who whipped in a fierce cross that McDonald volleyed past Gallacher from close range.
Zheng thought he scored in the 76th minute when he nipped in amongst a host of bodies to lash past Gallacher but the China captain was flagged offside.
St Mirren struggled to create chances and Mehmet should have done better when Garry Brady's cross fell to him in a promising position but he volleyed high over the bar.
The Buddies conceded a penalty in injury time when Innes handled in the box. There was confusion as the defender walked up the tunnel despite only receiving a yellow card but he soon returned to see Gallacher pull off a superb double save from McDonald's spot-kick.
Elsewhere Hearts won 2-1 away to Kilmarnock, Hibernian defeated Falkirk 2-0, Motherwell drew 2-2 with Dundee United and St Johnstone versus Hamilton ended 1-1.
Bullard on the spot to frustrate City
MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Hull midfielder Jimmy Bullard hit a late penalty to leave Manchester City frustrated again as the Tigers snatched a 1-1 draw at Eastlands on Saturday.
Mark Hughes' side have now drawn seven successive league matches and are in danger of falling behind in the race for a top-four finish.
City, who stay sixth in the Premier League, had taken the lead through Shaun Wright Phillips' deflected strike on the stroke of half time.
But Bullard made no mistake from the spot in the 82nd minute and Hull's players were able to celebrate by sitting down in the corner to recreate manager Phil Brown's half-time team talk in last season's 5-1 defeat here.
Robinho was back in the City side for the first time since picking up an ankle injury at the end of August.
And despite three months of speculation linking him with a move to Barcelona, the Brazilian quickly showed he was in the mood, swapping passes with Emmanuel Adebayor and forcing Hull to desperately clear for a corner.
Hughes was once again forced to deny Micah Richards could be on his way out of City in the build-up to the game but, having been recalled to the side, he almost allowed Hull to score with their first proper attack.
Richard Garcia lobbed a cross in from the right and Richards allowed the ball to come over his shoulder and was lucky to see Stephen Hunt's shot blocked and hacked clear.
But it was all one-way traffic, with Kolo Toure picking out Richards and his cross finding Stephen Ireland, whose flick at goal just flew over the bar.
Robinho was on the top of his game, collecting a pass from Wright-Phillips and skipping past Paul McShane before producing a curling shot that just flew wide of Matt Duke's post.
Duke was worked for the first time after Adebayor slid through for Tevez and the Argentinian's stab at goal was blocked by the legs of the Tigers goalkeeper.
But Robinho was soon getting back in on the act when Nigel De Jong headed into the Hull area and the Brazilian lifted an over-head kick over the bar.
And soon it was Wright-Phillips that was passing up an opportunity with De Jong flicking into his path and the winger firing into the side netting.
Hull threatened again when Geovanni broke from his own half to force a low save from City goalkeeper Shay Given.
But City finally broke the deadlock in added time at the end of the first half.
Tevez burst into the Hull half and slipped the ball to Wright-Phillips and the little winger jinked inside Hunt's challenge and his shot deflected off Anthony Gardner and inside the near post from more than 20 yards.
But Hull should have levelled just a minute after the restart when Jozy Altidore passed through for Garcia and his low shot beat Given but was cleared off the line by Joleon Lescott.
City still looked dangerous and were appealing for a penalty when Wright-Phillips went down after being tugged by Hunt in the area.
And shortly after that Tevez drilled just over the bar and Wright-Phillips thumped a low drive straight at Duke.
Robinho almost celebrated his return to the team with a goal when he beat the wall with a free-kick that flew just wide of Duke's goal.
But with 10 minutes left, referee Lee Probert pointed to the spot after Toure tangled with Jan Venegoor of Hesselink.
Bullard swept in from the spot to provoke celebrations every bit as memorable as Brown's ill-advised team-talk last season.
Bullard on the spot to frustrate City
MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Hull midfielder Jimmy Bullard hit a late penalty to leave Manchester City frustrated again as the Tigers snatched a 1-1 draw at Eastlands on Saturday.
Mark Hughes' side have now drawn seven successive league matches and are in danger of falling behind in the race for a top-four finish.
City, who stay sixth in the Premier League, had taken the lead through Shaun Wright Phillips' deflected strike on the stroke of half time.
But Bullard made no mistake from the spot in the 82nd minute and Hull's players were able to celebrate by sitting down in the corner to recreate manager Phil Brown's half-time team talk in last season's 5-1 defeat here.
Robinho was back in the City side for the first time since picking up an ankle injury at the end of August.
And despite three months of speculation linking him with a move to Barcelona, the Brazilian quickly showed he was in the mood, swapping passes with Emmanuel Adebayor and forcing Hull to desperately clear for a corner.
Hughes was once again forced to deny Micah Richards could be on his way out of City in the build-up to the game but, having been recalled to the side, he almost allowed Hull to score with their first proper attack.
Richard Garcia lobbed a cross in from the right and Richards allowed the ball to come over his shoulder and was lucky to see Stephen Hunt's shot blocked and hacked clear.
But it was all one-way traffic, with Kolo Toure picking out Richards and his cross finding Stephen Ireland, whose flick at goal just flew over the bar.
Robinho was on the top of his game, collecting a pass from Wright-Phillips and skipping past Paul McShane before producing a curling shot that just flew wide of Matt Duke's post.
Duke was worked for the first time after Adebayor slid through for Tevez and the Argentinian's stab at goal was blocked by the legs of the Tigers goalkeeper.
But Robinho was soon getting back in on the act when Nigel De Jong headed into the Hull area and the Brazilian lifted an over-head kick over the bar.
And soon it was Wright-Phillips that was passing up an opportunity with De Jong flicking into his path and the winger firing into the side netting.
Hull threatened again when Geovanni broke from his own half to force a low save from City goalkeeper Shay Given.
But City finally broke the deadlock in added time at the end of the first half.
Tevez burst into the Hull half and slipped the ball to Wright-Phillips and the little winger jinked inside Hunt's challenge and his shot deflected off Anthony Gardner and inside the near post from more than 20 yards.
But Hull should have levelled just a minute after the restart when Jozy Altidore passed through for Garcia and his low shot beat Given but was cleared off the line by Joleon Lescott.
City still looked dangerous and were appealing for a penalty when Wright-Phillips went down after being tugged by Hunt in the area.
And shortly after that Tevez drilled just over the bar and Wright-Phillips thumped a low drive straight at Duke.
Robinho almost celebrated his return to the team with a goal when he beat the wall with a free-kick that flew just wide of Duke's goal.
But with 10 minutes left, referee Lee Probert pointed to the spot after Toure tangled with Jan Venegoor of Hesselink.
Bullard swept in from the spot to provoke celebrations every bit as memorable as Brown's ill-advised team-talk last season.
Duff´s late strike earns Fulham share of the spoils
LONDON (AFP) - Fulham salvaged a share of the spoils against Bolton as Damien Duff's late equaliser earned a 1-1 draw against Bolton on Saturday.
Roy Hodgson's team fell behind to Ivan Klasnic's first half strike at Craven Cottage, but Duff struck with 15 minutes to play to extend the west Londonders' unbeaten run at home to six matches.
Bolton remain in the relegation zone after a fourth successive league game without a win.
Fulham almost went in front in the 16th minute but a superb goal-line clearance from Gretar Steinsson prevented Erik Nevland scoring from six yards.
Nevland almost supplied the perfect pass for Zoltan Gera moments later but again Steinsson read the danger before the former Manchester United striker could finish.
Fulham midfielder Jonathan Greening briefly caused alarm in the Bolton defence with a surging run and shot.
Greening was in the thick of it again when he was booked for a foul on Tamir Cohen, even though replays showed that the Bolton man had dived.
After being pushed back for long periods, Gary Megson's struggling side took the lead against the run of play in the 35th minute.
Croatia striker Klasnic collected a header from Gary Cahill, turned Brede Hangeland six yards fron goal and fired past Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
It was only Bolton's second goal in four games and they were soon under the cosh again at the start of the second half.
Steinsson was in the right place to deny Fulham with another goal-line clearance as the right-back blocked a header from Clint Dempsey.
Gera flashed a volley wide of a post as Fulham pressed for the equaliser before Duff was thwarted by a diving save from Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Jaaskelainen made a superb stop to keep out Nevland's shot but the pressure finally told as Duff levelled in the 75th minute.
Duff collected a pass from Nevland and the Republic of Ireland winger drilled his shot into the bottom corner of the net.
There was still time for Duff to go close to a winner in the 84th minute when his 20-yard drive flashed past a post.
Duff´s late strike earns Fulham share of the spoils
LONDON (AFP) - Fulham salvaged a share of the spoils against Bolton as Damien Duff's late equaliser earned a 1-1 draw against Bolton on Saturday.
Roy Hodgson's team fell behind to Ivan Klasnic's first half strike at Craven Cottage, but Duff struck with 15 minutes to play to extend the west Londonders' unbeaten run at home to six matches.
Bolton remain in the relegation zone after a fourth successive league game without a win.
Fulham almost went in front in the 16th minute but a superb goal-line clearance from Gretar Steinsson prevented Erik Nevland scoring from six yards.
Nevland almost supplied the perfect pass for Zoltan Gera moments later but again Steinsson read the danger before the former Manchester United striker could finish.
Fulham midfielder Jonathan Greening briefly caused alarm in the Bolton defence with a surging run and shot.
Greening was in the thick of it again when he was booked for a foul on Tamir Cohen, even though replays showed that the Bolton man had dived.
After being pushed back for long periods, Gary Megson's struggling side took the lead against the run of play in the 35th minute.
Croatia striker Klasnic collected a header from Gary Cahill, turned Brede Hangeland six yards fron goal and fired past Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
It was only Bolton's second goal in four games and they were soon under the cosh again at the start of the second half.
Steinsson was in the right place to deny Fulham with another goal-line clearance as the right-back blocked a header from Clint Dempsey.
Gera flashed a volley wide of a post as Fulham pressed for the equaliser before Duff was thwarted by a diving save from Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Jaaskelainen made a superb stop to keep out Nevland's shot but the pressure finally told as Duff levelled in the 75th minute.
Duff collected a pass from Nevland and the Republic of Ireland winger drilled his shot into the bottom corner of the net.
There was still time for Duff to go close to a winner in the 84th minute when his 20-yard drive flashed past a post.