Arsenal could be forced to smash their transfer record or be priced out of a move for Andrei Arshavin, as Zenit St Petersburg continue to demand a big-money fee for the wantaway Russian playmaker.

Zenit St Petersburg will have to lower their inflated demands for wantaway star midfielder Andrei Arshavin if they are to strike a deal with Arsenal during the transfer window.

Zenit St Petersburg are determined to inflate the price tag Arsenal must meet for wantaway star midfielder Andrei Arshavin, according to his agent.

Lyon moved clear at the top of Ligue 1 today following a 3-1 win against Monaco.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas admits he is unlikely to secure the signature of Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes.

Former Arsenal striker Sylvain Wiltord was arrested when he turned up for training with Lyon today.

FRANCE coach Raymond Domenech has sprung a surprise in naming Arsenal’s Abou Diaby and Chelsea’s Lassana Diarra in his squad for the double-header against Lithuania and Austria later this month.

RONALDINHO shrugged off claims about his weight as he helped Barcelona shrug off their mini-crisis and go two points clear in La Liga with a 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao last night. An own goal by Amorebieta, a fine volley by Xavi and a cool finish from the recalled Eto’o in a brilliant first half display saw Barca home.

MANCHESTER United left-back Patrice Evra has been recalled to the France squad by Raymond Domenech.

Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra has been recalled to the France squad by Raymond Domenech.

THE cheers in the Santiago Bernabeu that greeted Real Madrid’s 5-1 Champions League win over Dynamo Kiev in midweek turned to jeers yesterday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by local rivals Atletico Madrid.

France 1 South Korea 1

France coach Raymond Domenech has admitted the forthcoming match with South Korea had assumed critical importance for Les Bleus after they were held 0-0 by Switzerland in their World Cup Group G opener.

FRANCE coach Raymond Domenech has launched a blistering attack on the country’s media for spying on a closed training session.

France coach Raymond Domenech has confirmed the starting line-up that will face Switzerland tomorow in a World Cup match.

France striker Thierry Henry was happy with the progress his side showed in their 2-0 victory over Denmark, despite insisting there is still room for improvement.

NICOLAS ANELKA has missed the World Cup cut for a third time as France coach Raymond Domenech named his 23-man squad for this summer’s tournament in Germany.

Nicolas Anelka has missed the World Cup cut for a third time as France coach Raymond Domenech named his 23-man squad for this summer’s tournament in Germany.

AC Milan 3 Lyon 1 (Agg 3-1)

Lyon 4 PSV Eindhoven 0 (Agg 5-0)

Lyon gained revenge for their elimination at the hands of PSV Eindhoven last year by dumping the Dutch side out of this season’s Champions League with plenty to spare at the Stade Gerland tonight.

ITALY thrashed World Cup hosts Germany 4-1 in a surprisingly one-sided international friendly in Florence last night.

PSV Eindhoven 0 Lyon 1

ARSENE WENGER’S place in English football history is assured for so many reasons.

Arsene Wenger has warned Manchester United will take time to cope with the loss of Roy Keane, describing the Irishman as the club’s “most influential player of the past decade“.

Lyon continue to dominate French football with a 4-0 win at bottom club Metz keeping them seven points clear of second-placed Paris St Germain.

DEPRIVED of the injured Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet, France have rarely missed their two leading strikers more than before their final World Cup qualifier against Cyprus.

A DETERMINED Switzerland will try to prevent France completing their first successful World Cup qualifying campaign in 20 years on Saturday.

REAL MADRID captain Raul says his side have to learn from their mistakes after they were swept aside 3-0 by Olympique Lyon in their opening Champions League tie on Tuesday.

FRENCH CHAMPIONS Lyon put a huge dent in Real Madrid’s Champions League ambitions last night with a stunning 3-0 victory over the nine-times European champions which sent them top of Group F.

Republic of Ireland 0 France 1

Rep of Ireland 0 France 1

Republic of Ireland 0 France 0

THIERRY HENRY last night scotched speculation about a rift with manager Raymond Domenech, after being substituted after 67 minutes of the 3-0 win against the Faroe Islands in Lens on Saturday.

THE COMFORTABLE 3-0 victory against the Faroe Islands in Lens on Saturday night may have helped put the smile back on the face of French football but at the local club’s training centre in nearby Avion yesterday, manager Raymond Domenech was counting the physical cost of a game which saw France draw level with Ireland and Switzerland atop what is literally the group of four.

France coach Raymond Domenech has again left Robert Pires out of his squad for the World Cup qualifiers against the Faroe Islands and the Republic of Ireland.

ZINEDANE ZIDANE made a triumphant return to the international stage last night the talismanic midfielder lifting France to a 3-0 win over Cote d’Ivoire.

France 3 Ivory Coast 0

ZINEDINE ZIDANE will make an emotional return for France tonight as captain, but pleaded: “Don’t expect miracles.”

ROBBIE KEANE was on target twice yesterday as Tottenham defeated French champions Lyon 3-1 to lift the Peace Cup in Seoul.

Djibril Cisse returned to the France squad today after being named in Raymond Domenech’s party for the international friendly against Hungary on May 31.

PSV Eindhoven 1 Lyon 1

PSV Eindhoven substitute Robert was the hero as he slotted the deciding penalty to book their place in the Champions League semi-final – and a probable double-header against AC Milan.

PSV EINDHOVEN are one clean sheet away from their first semi-final in Europe’s premier club competition since 1988 when they host French champions Olympique Lyon tonight at the Philips Stadium.