A host of former Arsenal favourites have questioned the appetite and ability of the current wearers of the shirt after Monday night’s 3-0 mauling at Crystal Palace.

Petr Cech admits Arsenal suffered a “huge setback” ahead of their crunch meeting with Chelsea as Watford left the Emirates Stadium with all three points on Tuesday night.

Martin O’Neill has poured scorn on the suggestion he will have to guard against the boredom and grumbles that were supposedly rife among Giovanni Trapattoni’s Republic of Ireland squad in the lead-up and during Euro 2012.

This very weekend back in 1999, Glenn Hoddle was a dead man walking as manager of England, an ironically appropriate condition for him to find himself in, since it was a newspaper interview in which he had amplified his belief in reincarnation which had put him on the front as well as the back pages and brought him, as an international gaffer, to an authentic point of no return.

Nigel Winterburn’s simplistic approach to cone-running. Pat Rice gets mad. David Seaman is fussy.

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

Still no word of Ray Houghton. Not even a stir out of his new Twitter account (@ray81988) since Brazil-Colombia on Friday evening.

He made his Arsenal debut at Liverpool, and Ray Parlour has experienced many seminal moments for the Gunners at Anfield. Another one is in the offing today.

And so it’s that time of year again, the time of year when nine out of 10 columns begin “and, so, it’s that time of year again”.

Arsene Wenger has spoken about the pressure he feels he is under to bring success back to Arsenal.

We have known for a long time now that football cannot die.

Robin van Persie is almost certain to be sold by Arsenal in the next few weeks after the Dutchman confirmed he will not be signing a new contract at the club — with Manchester City the overwhelming favourites to sign him.

A few myths were nailed and a few home truths emerged from the Emirates on Saturday as Arsenal dismantled a dismal Aston Villa to move three points clear of Tottenham and into the position of favourites to finish third in the Premier League.

They must have thought the day would never come, but the long suffering patrons at Youghal track finally heard the news yesterday that the seaside track is to get a €100,000 contribution from the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) to deliver improvements at the track.

EIGHT years is a long time in scuffling.

MIDFIELDER Alex Song believes Arsenal are scoring late goals this season because they are sticking to their footballing principles.

MANCHESTER CITY’S latest recruit Kolo Toure believes he was right to swap the Emirates for Eastlands because Arsenal have failed to replace too many big names.

Manchester City's latest recruit Kolo Toure believes he was right to swap the Emirates for Eastlands because Arsenal have failed to replace too many big names.

FORMER Gunners midfielder Ray Parlour has slammed striker Nicklas Bendtner’s choice of footwear.

FORMULA ONE boss Bernie Ecclestone was last night facing a multi-billion-pound divorce battle.

Ex-Beatle escapes split with his huge fortune relatively intact, write Helen William and Damon Wake.

THEY may begin with professions of undying devotion and star-studded wedding ceremonies, but celebrity marriages often end in the divorce courts.

Middlesbrough defender Julio Arca played 68 minutes on his return to action after recovering from a broken foot.

Jonathan Woodgate will make his debut for home-town club Middlesbrough against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow.

Ian Poulter’s horse Divine Gift – a suitable description for what he might need in his quest for a second Ryder Cup appearance – won again today.

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is confident England winger Stewart Downing will be fit for tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership opener at Reading.

Had the most vociferous of his critics got their way, Steve McClaren may well have been watching the UEFA Cup final on television.

Steve McClaren is again set to make wholesale changes to his starting line-up as Middlesbrough play their fourth game of an exhausting week at Bolton tomorrow.

Middlesbrough 0 Everton 1

Steaua Bucharest 1 Middlesbrough 0

Basle 2 Middlesbrough 0

Basle 2 Middlesbrough 0

MIDDLESBROUGH emerged from a major test of their European credentials with a UEFA Cup quarter-final place after surviving a major scare in Rome.

Charlton 2 Middlesbrough 1

Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing could return to spearhead his side’s bid for a UEFA Cup quarter-final place against Roma tomorrow night.

Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing could return to the squad for tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership clash with Birmingham after recovering from a knee problem.

Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren will make a late decision on midfielder George Boateng ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup fifth-round trip to Preston.

Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka will again be missing from the squad for tomorrow night’s UEFA Cup clash with Stuttgart in Germany through illness.

Middlesbrough midfielder George Boateng returns to the squad for the first time since December 21 for tomorrow’s Premiership clash with Chelsea.

Middlesbrough defender Chris Riggott could return to the starting line-up in tomorrow night's FA Cup fourth round replay against Coventry.

Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren is facing a fresh injury crisis as he prepares for tomorrow night's vital Barclays Premiership clash with derby rivals Sunderland.

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer could return to the starting line-up for tomorrow’s FA Cup fourth-round trip to Coventry with deputy Brad Jones struggling.

Middlesbrough today confirmed that Czech defender Martin Latka has been handed a trial during the club’s training break in Marbella.

Middlesbrough 5 Nuneaton Borough 2