Arsene Wenger insisted the title race remains wide open after Arsenal’s scoreless draw with Manchester United moved Wenger’s side to within one point of leaders Chelsea.

IT comes to something when a battling goalless draw against a side that had just been beaten 5-1 by Liverpool is seen as a positive result for Manchester United; but that probably sums up where David Moyes’ side are right now, and sums up the size of their problems too.

Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has cleared the decks for a summer transfer splurge aimed at ensuring the Red Devils do not get lost in the wilderness.

Arsenal 0 Manchester United 0

Fabio Capello, Glenn Hoddle and Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino have emerged as contenders for the vacant Tottenham manager’s position after Spurs sacked Andre Villas-Boas yesterday.

European champions Bayern Munich feel they have got the strongest opposition they could have faced after yesterday’s Champions League last 16 draw pitted them against Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini does not believe facing Barcelona is the fearsome prospect it once was.

Everton 4 Fulham 1

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is desperate to get key personnel fit with his position as manager hanging in the balance.

So, Liverpool perhaps have the most to celebrate from this result as they hang on to the Christmas No 1 spot, a position that has remained with the leading festive team for the past four seasons right until the trophy has been handed out on the final day.

Record-breaking jockey AP McCoy was named RTÉ Sports Person of the Year for 2013 on Saturday night.

Who is Jose Mourinho, if, as he stated last summer, he is no longer The Special One? Football’s most famous epithet has come back to haunt the Portuguese coach, who announced on his return to Stamford Bridge last summer that he was now The Happy One.

The fleet of flashy sports cars and SUVs parked adjacent to the lush Carton House sports pitches give the impression Ireland’s Rugby elite are in camp at their training base.

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With Suarez, you get the impression the little boy inside him is often screaming all right, but more often than not it’s for the ball.

While admitting he harbours reservations about Fifa’s eligibility rules — which allow players who meet certain criteria to switch countries if they haven’t already been capped in a competitive senior international — Martin O’Neill reckons it would be “foolish” if he didn’t use the same rules to maximise the Republic of Ireland’s player pool.

Making move from Ireland to a Premier League club only first step on long and often painful journey.

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Stoke 0 Man United 2

Manchester United manager David Moyes insists stability and longevity are the magic ingredients for the most successful clubs.