Soccer Never Dies

Zinedine Zidane has leapt to Thierry Henry's defence as the row about the handball assist that helped put France through to the World Cup finals continued to rumble. The former Real Madrid star believes that his compatriot would not deliberately seek to gain an unfair advantage amid the controversy surrounding Ireland's aggregate defeat in Paris on Wednesday. Henry appeared to control the ball twice with his forearm and hand before flicking it across the face of the goal for William Gallas to score a priceless late winner for the French, but Zidane does not think it was malicious. "He is not a cheat, I know him well," the former France playmaker, who was sent off for headbutting Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final, told BFMTV while reflecting on his red card in the 2006 World Cup Final." "He will get over this. He made a mistake, like I made a mistake, even if I'm not making any comparisons. We all make mistakes." ...

Barcelona ace Lionel Messi has urged Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas to come and join him at the Camp Nou and become the "greatest midfield player in the world". The Gunner has long been linked with a move back to the Catalan club and, speaking to the Sunday People , Messi has now joined the debate by telling the young Spaniard to head back to his homeland. "Everybody at Barcelona knows about Cesc Fabregas,” he admitted." "He is one of the greatest midfield players in the world and the sort of player who would suit the Barcelona style of football." "If he chooses to leave Arsenal I am sure it would be for Barcelona. And, if there is any doubt, I would like to say to him this is the best football club in the world - and if he came here I am sure he would become the greatest midfield player in the world within three years." "If he came now he could learn off players like Andres (Iniesta) and Xavi, who are the best central midfield pair...

Stan Kroenke has today spent £85,000 purchasing another ten shares in Arsenal, increasing his stake but still leaving him some 62 shares short of the amount he needs in order to compelled into launching a takeover. A statement issued to the PLUS market, where Arsenal's parent holding company are listed, reads: "On 20th November 2009, Arsenal Holdings (the "Company") received notification that on 19th November 2009 Stan Kroenke, a director of the Company, acquired 10 ordinary shares of £1.00 each in the Company at a price of £8,500 per share. "Taking into account such acquisition, Stan Kroenke has a beneficial interest in, and controls voting rights over, 18,604 ordinary shares in the Company, representing 29.9% of the Company's issued ordinary shares." That means, according to the Press Association, that Kroenke is now closer to the 29.99% that would mean, under strict City rules, that he would be obliged to launch a formal bid for the remainder of ...

Frank Lampard - Thigh Injury - Expected Back in December Didier Drogba - Chest Injury - Doubtful Robin Van Persie - Ankle Injury - Expected Back in January Fernando Torres - Groin Injury - Expected Back in December Micheal Ballack - Knee Injury - Doubtful John O'Shea - Calf Injury - Doubtful Darren Bent -  Hamstring Injury - Doubtful "We do not pay players to go to the World Cup - we pay the players to do well for Arsenal" - Arsene Wenger