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Before every Arsenal fixture, we’ll bring you a Scouting Report on the Gunners’ next opponents. Arsène Wenger's side host Hull City at Emirates Stadium on Thursday. To find out more, we asked tactical expert Michael Cox. MICHAEL COX This weekend’s FA Cup third-round meeting with

Arsenal’s win over Newcastle marked the 50th match of what was a very busy 2014 for Santi Cazorla. The first to reach half a century of games during the calendar year, an indication of the Spanish international’s importance to Arsène Wenger, the more

Steven Gerrard would be regarded as the best player in the world if Liverpool win the Premier League, according to Luis Suarez. A Premier League medal is the only item of silverware missing from Gerrard's collection at club level, with the midfielder having already won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup, League Cup and Community Shield.

Lewis Hamilton eased to a third consecutive grand prix win in China on Sunday to reduce Nico Rosberg's championship lead to four points. The Mercedes driver produced a masterclass in wet conditions to take pole on Saturday and was in a class of his own once again at the Shanghai International Circuit as he took the chequered flag 18.6 seconds ahead of team-mate Rosberg.

Nemanja Matic insists Chelsea were not guilty of underestimating their opponents in Saturday's shock 2-1 defeat to Sunderland. Chelsea's hopes of claiming the Premier League title were severely dented as a late penalty from Fabio Borini, the striker on loan at Sunderland from leaders Liverpool, secured a famous win for Gus Poyet's relegation-threatened side.

Gus Poyet feels his resurgent Sunderland side are capable of "anything" between now and the end of the Premier League season. Having appeared almost certain to suffer relegation, Poyet's side have been given fresh hope of survival courtesy of two outstanding performances at teams contending for the title.

Manchester City kept up the pressure on Premier League leaders Liverpool with a 4-1 win at home to Southampton in Saturday's early kick-of match.

Last season's beaten FA Cup finalists Manchester City tasted fresh disappointment in the competition on Saturday when they drew 1-1 at second-tier Blackburn Rovers in the third round. Stunned by Wigan Athletic in last year's final, City took the lead at Ewood Park through an Alvaro Negredo goal on the stroke of half-time, only for Scott Dann to equalise early in the second period. City, currently second in the Premier League, also had defender Dedryck Boyata sent off late on for two bookable offences and now face an unwelcome replay against Gary Bowyer's side. "I think it was a very close game," City manager Manuel Pellegrini told BT Sport. "They're a difficult team and they play here with a lot of intensity, so we must decide who

Premier League leaders Arsenal overcame fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, while Aston Villa were dumped out by third-tier Sheffield United. Tottenham had won at Manchester United in their previous outing and new manager Tim Sherwood made only one change to his starting XI, but his side fell behind in the 31st minute at the Emirates Stadium. German teenager Serge Gnabry was the architect, picking the ball up wide on the Arsenal right and driving infield before finding Santi Cazorla, who arrowed a left-foot shot past Hugo Lloris. Spurs were unable to react and Tomas Rosicky sealed victory in the 62nd minute, robbing Danny Rose on halfway and bearing down on goal before adroitly lifting the ball over

Which of these Football Clubs would you VOTE FOR to Win ENGLAND PREMIER LEAGUE (EPL) This Season? Is It: >Arsenal >Chelsea >Liverpool >Tottenham Hotspur >Manchester City >Southampton >Everton >Manchester United >Newcastle United >Hull City >West Bromwich Albion >Cardiff City >Swansea City >Aston Villa >West Ham United >Fulham >Stoke City >Norwich City >Sunderland >Crystal Palace SEARCH FOR THE POLL. And Tick your Opinion. But if you cant find the Poll, You Are Free To Comment Below. GAME START!

Jose Mourinho has admitted he finds it difficult to fit playmaker Juan Mata into his Chelsea line-up regularly. Mata has made just five starts in the Premier League this term, from a possible 12, and has scored only once in all competitions, against Arsenal in the League Cup. Reports have suggested a January return to his native Spain could be on the cards for the 25-year-old, as he looks to boost his chances of making his country's FIFA World Cup squad, Atletico Madrid mooted as a likely destination.

The England and Wales Cricket Board have pledged their full support to England batsman Jonathan Trott after he quit the current Ashes tour. Trott was allowed to travel home after suffering a stress-induced illness, that had been troubling him for some time, with his return to Australia unconfirmed. England have previously been hit by mental health issues in the midst of tours, with Marcus Trescothick pulling out of the 2006-07 Ashes and Michael Yardy withdrawing from the 2011 Cricket World Cup due to similar problems.

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher remains some way off a return to first-team action, according to manager David Moyes. The 29-year-old has not played for United since December 2012 due to a bowel problem and has been limited to appearances for the Under-21 side, completing a fixture earlier in November. Moyes feels Fletcher needs to play more with the youth team before he can be considered for a return to first-team action.

Juventus coach Antonio Conte has backed Fernando Llorente to earn a spot in Spain's FIFA World Cup squad with his performances in Turin. The former Athletic Bilbao striker initially struggled to make an impact following his free transfer to Serie A, scoring just twice in his first 10 outings. However, he has gone on to net three goals in as many games, and Conte believes Vicente del Bosque will take notice, despite Llorente having played in just three friendlies in the past 18 months.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellgrini has dismissed speculation linking Joe Hart with a loan move away from the club. Reports on Tuesday suggested Hart could be loaned to Stoke City, with Pellegrini hoping to use the England keeper as a makeweight to sign Asmir Begovic. Hart has already been confirmed to start Wednesday night's UEFA Champions League fixture with Viktoria Plzen and Pellegrini ruled out the suggestion Hart was on his way out.

Laurent Blanc is unsure if Edinson Cavani will be fit for Paris Saint-Germain's UEFA Champions League clash with Olympiacos on Wednesday. The Uruguay international did not feature in the Ligue 1 table-toppers' clash with Reims at the weekend after returning from international duty.

London - Premier League club Fulham have announced on Wednesday that they have appointed former Manchester United assistant coach Rene Meulensteen to work alongside manager Martin Jol. Meulensteen left United earlier this year following the retirement of Alex Ferguson as manager and had a 16-day spell as coach of Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala. He arrives at Craven Cottage with Fulham languishing in the Premier League relegation zone after registering three wins, one draw and seven defeats in their opening 11 games. "I was impressed by the vision of (Fulham owner) Shahid Khan and (chief executive) Alistair Mackintosh," said Meulensteen, whose official title will be 'head coach'. "I've spent many hours talking with Martin Jol and we share a vision of how football should be played and how players should be developed. It's our job to make sure we can bring this vision to life on the pitch for the fans." Mackintosh described Meulensteen's appoin...

Bayer Leverkusen have extended the contract of goalkeeper Bernd Leno to keep him at the club until 2018. The Germany Under-21 international joined Leverkusen in 2011 after spending three seasons with Stuttgart's reserve team. Leno has since gone on to establish himself as a first-team regular at the BayArena, helping Sami Hyypia's side to secure a place in the UEFA Champions League as Leverkusen finished third in the Bundesliga last season. And the 21-year-old is confident the club will continue to enjoy success in years to come. "Bayer 04 Leverkusen took me on as a 19-year-old third division keeper and turned me into the number one at a club in the Champions League," Leno told the club's official website. "I was really impressed with the massive vote of confidence back then and I'm incredibly grateful to the club for that. "We've been successful together over the past two years and I've been able to improve consistently due to the cons...

Robin van Persie may be a Manchester United player, but Arsene Wenger insists he will always be an "Arsenal man" at heart. The Netherlands international moved from the Emirates Stadium to Old Trafford last year and was a major part of United's Premier League winning side last season, but Wenger believes his loyalties will always draw him to his former club. Van Persie joined Arsenal from Feyenoord in 2004 and went on to become the club's eighth highest scorer with 132 goals. He will face Arsenal for the third time since leaving on Sunday, and Wenger admitted he still finds it odd seeing the 30-year-old in the red of United and not his side. "Of course it's strange because for me he is an Arsenal man," the Frenchman said. "I took him when he was a very, very young player. "We have gone together through very difficult periods and he became a world-class player and for me he is an Arsenal player." Van Persie has scored nine goals in 13...

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has confirmed he wants the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar to be held in November or December. General agreement has been reached among European football federations that hosting the competition in its usual June-July spot would not be viable, as this would involve it taking place during the height of summer time in the Middle Eastern state. Tournament organisers have given assurances that the event would not need to be move and planned to build air-conditioned stadia with environmentally friendly cooling systems. However, the promises have done little to appease fears over player safety, and Blatter wants to see the tournament brought forward, but ruled out a January or February start. "We are starting the consultations to bring it (the World Cup) to the winter time," he said. "It can only be done in November, December, not January, February. " A change to the scheduling is likely to be met with opposition from Europe's domestic l...