RHYS MURPHY marked his international comeback with the winning goal as Ireland’s Under-21 European Championship qualifying campaign got off to a brilliant start.

ARSENAL fan Per Mertesacker admits watching the Gunners thrashed 8-2 at Manchester United was painful — but the Germany centre-half hopes for better times ahead after sealing his dream move to the Emirates.

MANCHESTER United’s parent company posted a record full-year operating profit of £110.9 million (€126m) as the English soccer champions plan a $1 billion (€700m) initial public offering in Singapore.

CAN you imagine the ructions there would be now had our Government succeeded in getting the being deposed Libyan dictator Muammar al-Gadafi to invest in the rescue of our banks late last year?

THE earnest young reporter who screamed “Everton fans, this is what you’ve been waiting for” as an unheard-of player from an unpronounceable club was linked with a loan move to Goodison will tell you otherwise; but transfer deadline day has rapidly become just another agonising parade of meaningless hype.

DIEGO FORLAN believes his move to Inter Milan has come at the perfect time in his career.

ARSENAL were last night embroiled in a desperate race against time to land Mikel Arteta as Arsene Wenger looked to fill the void created by the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.

MANY English-born strikers aspire to emulate Danny Welbeck but Londoner Rhys Murphy wants to make it to the top in an Irish shirt.

“WELL, I can see that they’re gone downhill, they’re not creating any chances, they’re struggling.”

WAYNE ROONEY has backed Manchester United’s youngsters to force their way into Fabio Capello’s Euro 2012 England plans.

ARSENE WENGER began the process of rebuilding Arsenal’s shattered defence yesterday after swooping for Per Mertesacker and Andre Santos, signings that have reportedly ended the Gunners’ interest in Bolton defender Gary Cahill.

A MAN has pleaded guilty to blackmailing Coleen Rooney.

EVERYONE is fixated on the similarities between this year’s final and the previous two.

TONY CASCARINO has been dropped to the bench for Transfer D-Day by Sky Sports News.

THREE of Irish football’s most decorated stars have backed Robbie Keane’s move to the MLS.

ONCE Arsenal’s fixtures for 2011-12 were announced, it was obvious August was going to be a difficult month. Aside from three tricky Premier League fixtures, there was the small matter of a Champions League qualifier.

Dancing Shoes enacts George’s skill but doesn’t shirk from his sadness, says Carl Dixon

SURROUNDED on all sides, snipers shooting from every angle as even loyal troops reluctantly break ranks; a victim of his own stubborn refusal to listen to sense. The end game, it seems, has finally arrived.

JUAN MATA was yesterday preparing to say his goodbyes to Valencia after confirming he was travelling to London to complete the formalities of his move to Chelsea.

OF the Manchester United youngsters that have won so much praise and faith from Alex Ferguson, Danny Welbeck has been the one to raise eyebrows, yet he justified the hype with a goal and an assist as the champions maintained their perfect start to the season last night.