THERE was a dramatic development in the battle for control of Arsenal last night after it emerged that the Gunners’ third largest shareholder Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith is poised to sell her stake in the club.

TOGO striker Emmanuel Adebayor announced his retirement from international football last night, declaring his intent on steering Manchester City into the Champions League after “the worst season of my life”.

CHELSEA captain John Terry has not apologised to midfielder James Milner for his controversial Wembley challenge, despite calls for him to do so from Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill.

SO, for the first time in seven years, England doesn’t have at least one representative in the last four of the Champions League: so what.

MARTIN O’NEILL did his very best to construct a smokescreen – however justified his complaints about Howard Webb’s handling of two major decisions – but ultimately it was impossible to deny that Chelsea will deservedly take their place in the FA Cup final on May 15.

CARLOS TEVEZ was blithely unaware his departure from Old Trafford in the summer would lead to such extensive inquests into why he was allowed to leave and how much of a contributing factor it would be in the decline of Manchester United.

ALEX FERGUSON admitted his chances of securing a record-breaking fourth successive Premier League title were slipping from his grasp in the wake of the disappointing goalless draw at Ewood Park.

STRIKER BOY by Jonny Zucker (Frances Lincoln; €8.80). After a seven-year exile, David Cartwright and his son, Nat, return to England to settle in Lowerbury, close to their beloved Premiership club, Hatton Rangers.

IT takes a brave man to stand up to Alex Ferguson in the game of verbal, psychological warfare that the Manchester United veteran brings into play every season but perhaps Owen Coyle, despite his team being picked apart with embarrassing ease, is ready to join that select band of hardly souls.

BAYERN MUNICH have been dealt a double blow ahead of the visit of Manchester United in the Champions League tomorrow as they slumped to a second successive 2-1 defeat in the Bundesliga to Stuttgart.

FRANK LAMPARD’S reaction to scoring four goals and taking his tally to 21 for the season betrayed a mixture of prickliness and defiance.

ARSENE WENGER sunk to the ground after Kevin Phillips scored an added time strike that thwarted Arsenal’s pursuit of the title.

THOUGH I fully appreciate there are others ways to be successful in football, I rather regret that Arsenal are playing Barcelona on Wednesday night.

ALEX FERGUSON yesterday taunted title rivals Arsenal, claiming the Gunners favourable run-in will count for nothing come the end of the season.

CARLO ANCELOTTI insists Chelsea are ready to plunder Premier League glory from under the noses of Arsenal and Manchester United after shaking off the disappointment of their European exit.

WEALTHY supporters attempting to mount a takeover of Manchester United have ruled out making a bid during the current football season.

MANCHESTER UNITED midfielder Owen Hargreaves has been handed a boost by manager Alex Ferguson after he pulled him out of the reserves to train with the first team.

Portsmouth 0 Chelsea 5

VETERAN defender Sol Campbell has called on his young Arsenal team-mates to make sure they are not just remembered for their attractive football – and to deliver a first league title since the ‘Invincibles’ of 2003/2004.

WAYNE ROONEY’S brilliant form this season could lead England all the way to victory in the World Cup final in July, according to Franz Beckenbauer.