Striker understood to have been offered two-month loan deal

Thierry Henry has been offered the chance to rejoin Arsenal and is poised to agree a two-month loan deal in the next 48 hours.

Speculation about the possibility of Henry re-signing for the Gunners has been building since he linked up with Arsene Wenger’s squad for training at the end of the Major League Soccer season.

Wenger initially insisted that he had no plans to bring in Henry on loan, with his French compatriot merely keeping fit during the winter before returning to New York Red Bulls.

However, the Arsenal manager has softened that stance in recent days and admitted before Christmas that he was thinking about trying to reach an agreement with the striker.

It is now understood that a deal is on the table and Henry could accept by Saturday, allowing him to start the New Year back at the Emirates Stadium.

Henry is the all-time leading goalscorer for the Gunners following a hugely successful eight-year stint in North London earlier in his career.

Mouth-watering

He left for Barcelona in 2007 before heading across the Atlantic last year, but he has maintained his form and is now set to return to the Premier League.

A number of Arsenal’s players have stated their desire to see Henry link up with the club once again, and if a deal is finalised he may be asked to play a key role.

Wenger’s attacking options will be depleted when Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho leave for the African Cup of Nations.

The new MLS season does not kick off until March and Henry could feature in a number of mouth-watering fixtures, including the clash with Premier League champions Manchester United on 22nd January, the North London derby at home to Tottenham on 26th February and both legs of the UEFA Champions League tie against AC Milan.

ALEX FERGUSON is aiming for a 70th birthday to remember with Manchester United on top of the Prem.

Ferguson’s men drew level with leaders Manchester City yesterday after they trounced Wigan.

United host Blackburn on Fergie’s birthday — New Year’s Eve — while City play 24 hours later. He said: “It’s a long season. If we’re top of the league or joint top with City on New Year’s Day I’ll be happy.”

Yesterday premiere league Score card

Chelsea 1-1 Fulham

Boltan 0-2 Newcastle united

Sunderland 1-1 Everton

Liverpool 1-1 Blackburn

West brom 0-0 Manchester City

Stock City 0-0 Aston Villa

ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS will be handed a £150million transfer war chest in the New Year.

Chelsea and owner Roman Abramovich are hell-bent on closing the gap on the runaway Manchester clubs.

Top targets include £50m-rated striker Edinson Cavani and his Napoli midfield team-mate Marek Hamsik, who is valued at £30m.

Ironically, Chelsea face the Italian side in the Champions League last 16, with Hamsik, 24, insisting: “They are a great club — we are up against a very strong team.”

The Blues have come up short so far in AVB’s first season in charge.

But Abramovich is determined to stand by his man and give him the ammunition to make them title contenders again.

Chelsea are also reportedly interested in Juventus winger and Manchester United target Milos Krasic — rated at £20m.

However, the Blues’ first signing of 2012 will be far cheaper in the shape of Gary Cahill, who is set to leave Bolton for £7m.

Struggling Wanderers have indicated they are ready to sell the centre-half, 26, and he is expected to link up alongside England partner John Terry.

AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani claims he is to meet with Manchester City on Thursday to discuss the possible signing of Carlos Tevez.

The defending Serie A champions want to sign the controversial Argentine on loan with a view to a long-term deal at the end of the season, but City would prefer to conclude a permanent arrangement in January.

City boss Roberto Mancini is eager to see Tevez’s situation resolved after a long-running saga which has seen the striker fined and suspended before returning to South America.

Ligue 1 title contenders Paris St Germain have also been linked with a big-money move for the 27-year-old former Manchester United and West Ham star.

Momentum

But the French club have said they will only attempt to sign Tevez if European heavyweights Milan fail in their efforts.

Galliani is optimistic Milan will be successful and the Italian supremo is set to fly to England this week in a bid to build momentum ahead of the January transfer window.

In comments reported by Italian news agency ANSA, Galliani said, “It’s true I’m meeting them (City) Thursday, but I don’t think the deal will be concluded that day.”

Galliani then told Radio 1 Rai: “We’re not going to take him outright: we’re offering a free loan with the right to buy in June.

“The player wants to come to us and not PSG (Paris St Germain) and we hope City accept the offer.”

Galliani also said signing Maxi Lopez, currently at Catania, was a “standby” option if Milan are unable to agree terms with City for Tevez.

Catania are expecting Lopez to leave during the January transfer window, with general manager Pietro Lo Monaco saying the club had received several offers for the Argentinian forward.

Milan leave for Dubai for their winter training camp on 29th December and Galliani admits it will be “almost impossible” for Tevez to join the rest of the squad.

Ex-captain Tevez has not played for City since refusing to warm up during a UEFA Champions League game against Bayern Munich in September.

In a fortnight which had seen the blue Manchester club suffer elimination from the UEFA Champions League and a first domestic defeat of the season, David Silva’s goal responded to suggestions he and his colleagues may have been suffering a blip.

After an end-to-end first half somehow remained goalless, the imperious Spaniard struck in the 53rd minute of a relentlessly entertaining and open match to move City back above derby rivals Manchester United at the top of the table.

Defeat ended Arsenal’s eight-game unbeaten run in the league and, despite clearly renewed confidence, Arsene Wenger’s men remained in fifth position and now level on points with sixth-placed Liverpool.

City settled quickly and had a chance to launch the ball into the Arsenal box after Mario Balotelli was tripped by Mikel Arteta.

Samir Nasri, booed heavily in the Carling Cup tie between the clubs earlier in December, was again barracked by the visiting fans before lobbing his free-kick straight to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

Nasri tried to slip in Sergio Aguero but his ball was too strong for the Argentinian.

Aguero spurned a good opportunity when he took a Pablo Zabaleta cross in his stride and fired over.

Aguero went through again moments later, but was denied the space to shoot and could not find Balotelli.

Referee Phil Dowd then booked Alex Song for an earlier foul on Silva and made a big call moments later when the same player felled Yaya Toure. Dowd again allowed City to play advantage, but this time did not go back to speak to Song when the ball went dead.

Opportunistic

Gervinho had Arsenal’s first serious opportunity, but Joe Hart saved well and the goalkeeper then tipped behind an Aaron Ramsey effort from the resulting corner.

Balotelli almost gave City the lead with an opportunistic acrobatic shot after Per Mertesacker misjudged a bounce, but Szczesny reacted quickly.

Ramsey appealed for a penalty in the 35th minute after a scuffed shot from Robin van Persie was deflected into his path and he went down under a Kolo Toure challenge. Dowd saw nothing untoward and the ball was scrambled clear.

City midfielder Gareth Barry was booked after a risky tackle on Mikel Arteta from behind.

Aguero showed great close control on the edge of the box to create another chance for himself five minutes before the break, but Szczesny saved again.

City caught Arsenal on the counter-attack to take the lead seven minutes after the restart.

Nasri found Balotelli in space down the left and the Italian charged forward to cut inside and shoot.

Szczesny parried, but Aguero reacted quickly to head across goal for Silva to slide in and score.

It was a lead which was almost wiped out within a minute, as, with City fans still celebrating, Arsenal powered forward and Theo Walcott forced Hart to tip over from 18 yards.

Van Persie thought he had equalised when he deftly chipped Hart three minutes later, but the flag was raised for offside.

Unhappy

City stepped up the tempo with Aguero firing narrowly wide from distance and Nasri going through, but opting to pass instead shoot when well placed.

Play quickly switched to the other end where Van Persie shot straight at Hart, but City were soon back on the attack.

Zabaleta almost made Arsenal pay when he seized on a poor pass from Laurent Koscielny, but drove against the post with Szczesny beaten.

Walcott appeared unhappy when he was replaced by Andrey Arshavin with 20 minutes remaining while City attempted to tighten up by sending on James Milner for Balotelli.

Song survived for a second time after clashing with Vincent Kompany, as Dowd again chose not to show him a second yellow card. Advantage was played and Szczesny saved low from Aguero.

Dowd was also lenient with Arteta after fouling Yaya Toure and Barry in quick succession, the referee only booking the Spaniard for the first offence.

Richards enjoyed some luck when a Koscielny cross caught his arm in the box and Dowd deemed it accidental.

Arsenal pressed until the end with Arshavin driving wide and Thomas Vermaelen forcing Hart to make a brilliant save with a well-struck shot following a short free-kick.

It is the final that most football fans expected, and indeed wanted, to see. Barcelona, the all-conquering European champions, take on South American kings Santos, whose exciting young stars have been vying with the Catalans for top billing here in Japan. With Neymar, Lionel Messi, Xavi, Ganso and many more sharing the same glittering stage, this promises to be a FIFA Club World Cup finale to remember.

The match
Santos-Barcelona, Yokohama International Stadium, Sunday 18 December 2011, 16.15 Nepali time live from Ten sports and Ten Action.

Real Madrid will finish the year top of the league after victory at Sevilla. There were also wins for Espanyol, Getafe and Athletic Bilbao.

Real Madrid regained top spot in Spain after winning 6-2 in Sevilla despite being reduced to ten men in the first half.

With Barcelona in Japan taking part in the Club World Cup, Real made a real statement of intent as they moved three points clear at the summit.

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring after 10 minutes, latching onto a through ball from Angel Di Maria before slotting past Javi Varas with a first time finish.

Di Maria was once again pulling the strings when Jose Callejon netted in the 37th minute. The Argentine flicking the ball over the Sevilla defence for the 24-year-old to flick past the on-rushing goalkeeper.

Three minutes later Ronaldo got his second of the game and Real’s third, firing a rocket into the top corner from around 30 yards out.

But then in the 44th minute Pepe was given a second yellow card after being adjudged to have elbowed Alavaro Negredo in the face.

Di Maria got himself on the score sheet in the 65th minute. After receiving a pass from Karim Benzema he broke down the left wing, leaving the defenders for dead, before cutting into the box and firing home.

Jesus Navas pulled one back for Sevilla three minutes later. He was given too much space in the box by Sergio Ramos and fired a shot across Iker Casillas’ goal and into the far corner.

In the 73rd minute Sevilla were also reduced to ten men. Manu del Moral was dismissed for a tackle from behind on Alvaro Arbeloa, which seemed a harsh decision.

Federico Fazio then upended Benzema in the box in the 84th minute as he was about to shoot but somehow escaped without even a booking.

Ronaldo then scored from the spot to complete his hat-trick.

Sloppy defending from Sevilla then allowed Xabi Alonso to pick out an unmarked Hamit Altintop to slot home from five yards out in the 89th minute.

Alavro Negrado rounded Casillas in stoppage time to score Sevilla’s second.

JORDI GOMEZ pounced on Petr Cech’s howler two minutes from time to put the breaks on Chelsea’s revival.

Daniel Sturridge had given Andre Villas-Boas’ men the lead with a stunning 59th-minute strike.

But Cech spilt Hugo Rodallega’s tame cross in the dying stages to hand Wigan a simple leveller.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chelsea had put SIX past Wigan here last term — yet the Latics had the edge in the early exchanges.

The home fans were shouting for a penalty when Gomez went down under pressure from Ashley Cole but ref Martin Atkinson waved play away.

Gary Caldwell then blocked a dangerous cross from Sturridge before John Terry tried his luck from 30 yards.

Chelsea were settling in now and almost broke through when Ali Al Habsi saved Oriol Romeu’s 23rd-minute volley.

At the other end, a Wigan period of pressure ended with Mohamed Diame gunning a shot narrowly wide.

Didier Drogba had a sniff seven minutes before the break but the veteran hitman nodded Raul Meireles’ cross wide.

Wigan had another penalty shout when Branislav Ivanovic blocked Victor Moses’ shot with his arm — but Atkinson was once again having none of it.

And Roberto Martinez’s men ended the half on the up when Moses just missed David Jones’ dangerous low cross.

Villas-Boas threw Salomon Kalou into the mix after the break, with Romeu making way.

And the Ivory Coast star almost made an instant impact with a slalom run and shot that was blocked by Ronnie Stam.

Moses was the main threat to the Blues and his brilliant ball-juggling act was followed with a shot that just crept wide.

Instead, it was Chelsea who broke the deadlock thanks to Sturridge’s sizzling effort.

Cole made tracks into Wigan territory and picked out the striker in the Latics’ box.

Sturridge brought it down first time, picked his spot and lashed it past Al Habsi.

Maynor Figueroa came close to an instant leveller but Cech tipped his shot wide.

Chelsea then had their hearts in their mouths when Terry went down cluthcing his knee.

However, the magic sponge did the job and the Blues’ captain was thrown back into action.

Wigan almost grabbed an equaliser in a nerve-shredding minute following Branislav Ivanovic’s blunder.

The defender sent a hospital pass back to Cech, who scrambled the ball clear under pressure from Hugo Rodallega.

With the keeper stranded, Franco di Santo tried his luck — and his shot would have gone in had Ivanovic not redeemed himself with a stunning header behind.

There was time for more drama, however, and Cech’s blooper gifted Gomez a leveller.

And Wigan could have even had a late spot-kick after Di Santo tangled with Chelsea’s Jose Bosingwa.

MANCHESTER UNITED could be handed an amazing Champions League lifeline.

FIFA will suspend the Swiss FA — and all their clubs — unless the association punish FC Sion for fielding ineligible players.

If the Swiss do not comply, United’s conquerers Basel would be slung out of the Champions League.

And that would open up the possibility of a shock reprieve for Alex Ferguson’s men.

Sion were hit with a transfer embargo over the signing of Egyptian keeper Essam El Hadary — but still signed SIX players anyway.

They have all turned out in Swiss league matches after a civil court ruled that they were eligble to play.

Five of the six also featured in a Europa League play-off against Celtic — causing Sion to be turfed out of the competition.

FIFA chiefs have told Switzerland to throw the book at them by January 13.

A spokesman said: “Should this deadline not be respected, the Swiss FA will be automatically suspended from 14 January 2012 onwards.”

There has been no official word on would what happen to Basel’s place.

But it is thought likely that it could go to United as the third-placed team in the qualifying group.

ARSENAL will face Italian giants AC Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Although the Gunners have drawn the team that most clubs were hoping to avoid, they will have the advatage of playing the second leg at the Emirates.

Chelsea will also face Italian opposition after being paired with Napoli.

They too will enjoy home advantage in the second leg.

Full draw: Lyon v APOEL, Napoli v Chelsea, AC Milan v Arsenal, Basel v Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen v Barcelona, CSKA Moscow v Real Madrid, Zenit St Petersberg v Benfica, Marseille v Internazionale

First legs will be played on February 14/15 and 21/22.