Here's the sporting year in [guff] quotes.

They were the fiercest of rivals in the early part of the last decade, but it’s been quite a while since Arsenal versus Manchester United was a title decider.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists the fighting instincts shared by Alexis Sanchez and Luis Suarez were honed on the streets of South America.

PREMIER LEAGUE:

Arsene Wenger will still talk animatedly about almost any subject, but he has definitely grown more guarded and reserved, sometimes tetchy, in recent seasons, believes the man who once wrote his column for the club magazine.

It’s been a difficult few days for everybody associated with Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger needs only one piece of advice going into transfer deadline day judging by his team’s Jekyll and Hyde performance against Liverpool: forget about David Villa and concentrate on signing a centre-back instead of a centre-forward.

INTER MILAN are attempting to hijack Arsenal’s move for Velez Sarsfield starlet Ricardo Alvarez with a €12m bid.

Former England international Nigel Winterburn admits he is “shocked” and “amazed” by Wayne Bridge’s decision to rule himself out of Fabio Capello’s squad but believes it could be best for the team.

FORMER Arsenal left-back Nigel Winterburn claims Sol Campbell’s return to the club has been forced on manager Arsene Wenger because of the lack of defensive cover.

Blackburn coach Nigel Winterburn has backed Paul Ince to turn things around at the club and dismissed claims the players have lost confidence in the manager.

Arsene Wenger last night moved to try to restore order within the Arsenal after reports suggested he had stripped William Gallas of the captaincy and left him out of his squad to face Manchester City at Eastlands.

William Gallas’ future at Arsenal has been thrown into doubt following reports from France that he has been stripped of the captaincy and dropped for the trip to Manchester City.

Arsenal 2 Ajax 1

THEY used to sing ‘one-nil to the Arsenal’ in the days when beautiful football hadn’t yet arrived at Highbury, but for all Thierry Henry’s goals and Robert Pires’ flicks, it is defensive quality that is guiding the club to glory again.

PHILIPPE SENDEROS is an intelligent young man with the luxury of being able to hit back at his critics in five languages.

Everton 1 Arsenal 0

ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger has identified the unbreakable team spirit of his ‘United Nations’ squad as the key factor behind the champions’ ongoing bid to go through an entire Premiership season unbeaten.

ARSENAL will have history and a psychological edge on their side when they face London rivals Chelsea in the FA Cup next month.

WHEN Arsene Wenger became Arsenal coach in summer 1996, the first thing he did was sign two midfield players.

PATRICK VIEIRA last night revealed his growing belief that Arsenal can finally match the status of Manchester United within Europe and conquer the Champions League.

Arsene Wenger today produced a throwback to the Arsenal days of old when he saluted the rock-solid Gunners’ rearguard.

Former Irish international and Manchester United legend Denis Irwin has branded Arsene Wenger’s defence of his players following Sunday’s Old Trafford fracas “an insult to people’s intelligence”.

ARSENAL defender Kolo Toure has urged manager Arsene Wenger to finally make a summer signing – his little brother Yaya.

Nigel Winterburn tonight revealed that the death of his father in April had a part to play in his decision to retire.

Oleg Luznhy has been released by Arsenal, it was announced today.

RELEGATED West Ham announced yesterday that they are releasing 10 senior players, including Paolo di Canio, Lee Bowyer, Gary Breen and Nigel Winterburn.

Relegated West Ham announced today that they are releasing 10 senior players, including Paolo di Canio, Lee Bowyer and Nigel Winterburn.

West Ham managing director Paul Aldridge was quick to promise there would be no “fire sale” following the club’s relegation from the Barclaycard Premiership.

West Ham manager Glenn Roeder remained in hospital this morning as club officials prepared to decide who should lead from the sidelines for the remainder of the season.

WEST HAM manager Glenn Roeder remains in a stable condition in hospital but scans have shown a blocked blood vessel on his brain.

Jermain Defoe and Glen Johnson have recovered from gastritis and are in the West Ham squad to face Everton at Goodison Park tomorrow.

West Ham’s survival hopes are in danger of being hampered by a combination of illness, injury and suspension to key players.

West Ham striker Fredi Kanoute is set to start in tomorrow’s Barclaycard Premiership visit to Leeds – having come through with no trouble from his two appearances as a substitute.

Glenn Roeder was tonight in a race against time to finalise his second eleventh-hour swoop of a frantic transfer deadline day at Upton Park.

West Ham manager Glenn Roeder is hoping to have his top two strikers Paolo di Canio and Freddie Kanoute back from their long-term injuries for tomorrow night’s crucial Premiership match against Blackburn at Upton Park.

BODY willing, a badly bruised thigh in particular, former Gunner Nigel Winterburn will be making his final Highbury appearance tomorrow when West Ham play Arsenal.

Alex Ferguson kept an unchanged line-up for bottom side West Ham’s visit - meaning that David Beckham once again started on the bench.

West Ham’s veteran left-back Nigel Winterburn insists the Upton Park players are backing under-fire manager Glenn Roeder.

Michael Carrick was dropped by West Ham for the game against Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Dennis Bergkamp returned to the Arsenal attack after a calf injury as the Gunners attempted to rewrite the history books at West Ham today.

PASCAL CYGAN yesterday signed a four-year deal with Premiership champions Arsenal and was immediately tipped for an international future by Arsene Wenger.

Nigel Winterburn will stay at West Ham after agreeing in principle to a new one-year contract.

Celtic boss Martin O’Neill believes Tony Adams could still prove a useful option for Arsenal to have in their squad next season - even if it was for just a limited number of games.