Arsene Wenger believes he has solved Arsenal’s soft defensive core and that the Gunners can win the Premier League title playing free-flowing football.

PSG 1 Barcelona 3: Barcelona took a big step towards the Champions League semi-finals with a resounding 3-1 victory over Paris St Germain in yesterday’s quarter-final first leg at the Parc des Princes.

Barcelona took a big step towards the Champions League semi-finals with a resounding 3-1 victory over Paris St Germain in Wednesday’s quarter-final first leg at the Parc des Princes.

Barcelona 1 Man City 0 (Barcelona win 3-1 on agg): Lionel Messi starred once more as Barcelona progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals for a ninth consecutive season thanks to a 1-0 last 16 second leg victory over Manchester City at the Camp Nou last night.

Robbie Henshaw enjoyed the niggle that came with facing his Connacht team-mates across the divide in yesterday’s Ireland training session in Galway.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits the club’s injury woes have intensified the Gunners’ search for reinforcements in the January transfer window.

Arsenal duo Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Debuchy are both expected to be sidelined for around three months, the club have announced.

Real Madrid overcame Neymar’s early opening goal to see off arch rivals Barcelona 3-1 at the Bernabeu as Luis Suarez made his long-awaited debut for Barca.

Novak Djokovic dropped just four games against Paul-Henri Mathieu as he coasted into the third round of the US Open. The world number one, bidding to reach the final for a fifth straight year, had the easiest of afternoons on Arthur Ashe, defeating the 81st-ranked Frenchman 6-1 6-3 6-0.

Luis Suarez will have his appeal against a four-month ban for biting heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport next week.

Valencia 3 Sevilla 1 (Agg 3-3, Sevilla win on away goals)

WINE enthusiasts sometimes tie themselves into knots worrying about the complexities to be found in the drink, fussing about which flower or fruit a wine smells like, or worse still focusing on soil structure and hectolitres per hectare.

Alan Pardew has admitted Newcastle are grinding their way towards the end of a season which at one point threatened to deliver much, much more.

West Brom 1 Newcastle 0

PREMIER LEAGUE:

A crisp sunny day for a drive out of the Big Smoke, the lilting Welsh accents of the genial locals, a clean sheet, three goals and a return trip back across the Severn Bridge, plumped up by a seven-point cushion.

France midfielder Mathieu Flamini has rejoined Arsenal.

Novak Djokovic could not hide his satisfaction after completing the first step on the road to a place in history at the Australian Open.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew was today attempting to head off a fresh crisis after captain Fabricio Coloccini’s continued presence on Tyneside was thrown into doubt.

Newcastle today completed the signing of France international full-back Mathieu Debuchy.

Yohan Cabaye is hoping Newcastle can capture France team-mate Mathieu Debuchy after revealing the defender is desperate to follow him to Tyneside.

Adrian’s brilliant second-half strike booked Atletico Madrid’s place in the Europa League final at the National Stadium in Bucharest on May 9.

Frank Lampard was recalled for Chelsea’s Champions League clash at Valencia tonight as Andre Villas-Boas made three changes for the Group E clash at the Mestalla.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has claimed no club could bid enough money to convince him to part with Luka Modric.

JEFFERSON FARFAN struck twice as Schalke fought back from an early deficit to progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League at the expense of Valencia last night.

RAUL scored his 71th goal in European competition as Schalke recovered from a goal down to force a draw in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash with Valencia at the Mestalla last night.

MANCHESTER UNITED will avoid the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Valencia and finish top of Group C; but, as so often this season, it is hard not to feel a little underwhelmed.

Alex Ferguson has handed Ben Amos only his third Manchester United start as the Red Devils look to secure the Champions League point against Valencia at Old Trafford that will confirm them as Group C winners.

MANCHESTER United new-boy Javier Hernandez chose the perfect time to net his first competitive goal for the Red Devils as his 85th-minute winner proved too much for Valencia.

MANCHESTER UNITED aim to avoid getting caught up by a general strike in Spain today – and set up their own blockade against Valencia instead.

Roger Federer continued his serene progress at the US Open on Saturday to remain on course for a showdown with the man who ended his amazing Grand Slam streak.

TAIWAN’S Yen-Hsun Lu refused to let himself believe he had a chance of defeating Andy Roddick before prevailing in a thrilling five-set encounter with the American at Wimbledon yesterday.

Rafael Nadal eased any concerns over his fitness with a dominant victory over Paul-Henri Mathieu in the fourth round of Wimbledon.

Rafael Nadal claims his difficult progression to the fourth round at Wimbledon could ultimately help him when the tournament reaches the latter stages.

FRANCE coach Marc Lièvremont has hit out after receiving letters claiming Guadeloupe-born back Mathieu Bastareaud shows a lack of allegiance to France.

Marc Lievremont has reassured French fans that Mathieu Bastareaud is fit to face Italy and has only been named on the bench in order to allow him such much-needed rest.

FRANCE coach Marc Lièvremont was reluctant to talk up comeback king Mathieu Bastareaud ahead of Ireland’s forthcoming trip to Paris, despite the Stade Francais man announcing his return to the international stage with a brace of tries yesterday.

FRANCE centre Yannick Jauzion insists Les Bleus cannot afford to make the same mistakes as last year when they take on Scotland in their RBS Six Nations opener tomorrow.

France centre Yannick Jauzion insists Les Bleus cannot afford to make the same mistakes as last year when they take on Scotland in their RBS 6 Nations opener on Sunday.

CONTROVERSIAL centre Mathieu Bastareaud has been given his chance in the starting line-up for France’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Scotland on Sunday.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is hoping to avoid AC Milan and Inter in the Champions League last 16.

Sixth seed Andy Roddick broke new ground at the French Open with his comfortable third-round win over Frenchman Marc Gicquel today.

ALEXANDER HLEB has hinted that former Arsenal teammate Cesc Fabregas could join him at Barcelona.

Alexander Hleb has hinted that former Arsenal team-mate Cesc Fabregas could join him at Barcelona.