Wenger admits his side are all-but out of the Champions League following their worst defeat in European competition.

The Frenchman said: “We don’t live in a dream world. There is maybe a 2% or 5% chance statistically, but realistically we are out of this competition.

“We made mistake after mistake and we were punished.”

He added: “We were never in the game. We were very poor offensively and defensively.

“It was shocking to see how we were beaten everywhere. It was our worst performance in Europe by far.

“There was not one moment in the 90 minutes we were really in the game, and it was always the same problem, balls over the top and we were well beaten.”

Wenger’s side lacked defensive shape and failed to provide any ammunition for their forwards as they were outclassed at the San Siro.

The Gunners went behind in the 15th minute when Kevin-Prince Boateng was allowed space to fire in and they never looked like getting back into the game.

Former Manchester City forward Robinho headed in from close range and then capitalised on a slip from Thomas Vermaelen to fire low past Wojciech Szczesny.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic compounded their woes by adding a fourth from the penalty spot after he was brought down in the box by Johan Djourou.

Arsenal’s only real sight of goal came in the 66th minute when Robin van Persie saw a shot palmed away by home keeper Christian Abbiati.

Wenger added: “You question everything on a night like that but it’s difficult to analyse and it’s better not to talk too much, analyse it with a cooler head and to regroup for the next game.”

At a similar stage last season, Arsenal saw their campaign fall apart in the space of just under two weeks.

They were beaten by Birmingham in the League Cup final and were subsequently knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona and the FA Cup by Manchester United. Their title challenge faded soon after.

With an FA Cup last-16 tie away at Sunderland on Saturday, followed by league games against Tottenham and Liverpool, the Gunners must rally from Wednesday’s result to prevent a similar slide in fortune.

“The season is not finished,” insisted Wenger. “We have a big game on Saturday and it is a good opportunity to show we have character and mental strength, that we can respond after such a shocking defeat.

“You could blame and blame, but we have to stick together and win the next game.”

Understandably, Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri was delighted with his side’s display.

“We played a perfect match, especially in defence,” said Allegri. “We played very well as a team, we didn’t give them any goalscoring chances. We deserved this night, this win. It’s the best game we’ve played this year.

“We could have scored more and it’s a pity, but we have a good advantage. However, in London we need to play as a good a match as we did tonight. We have to play another 90 minutes and it won’t be an easy match especially as they have nothing to lose.”

Pictures users have deleted from Facebook months or even years ago may still exist, it has been revealed.

Facebook says it’s working to fix flaws allowing deleted photos to hibernate on various data servers.

“We have been working with our content delivery network (CDN) partner to significantly reduce the amount of time that backup copies persist,” the company told Ars Technica, who first reported that users were having trouble deleting photos permanently in 2009.

Many blogs show people how to access deleted Facebook pictures by way of viewing and saving the direct link to a photo URL the same way you would view a page source.

Once you delete a photo, Facebook friends won’t be able to see the photo unless you access the direct page link for the photo. Photos are generally removed by editing an album, clicking on the “edit photo” prompt and selecting the checkbox on your Timeline and clicking “remove” under photo.

Facebook acknowledges in its Statement of Rights and Responsibilities: “when you delete IP content, it is deleted in a manner similar to emptying the recycle bin on a computer. However, you understand that removed content may persist in backup copies for a reasonable period of time (but will not be available to others).”

(video/text by Mashable.com)
Homepage photo via AP) 

Liverpool 2 Man United 1

ALEX FERGUSON described Manchester United’s last-gasp FA Cup defeat to Liverpool as a “sickening blow”.

United were left stunned by Dirk Kuyt’s 88th minute winner after Ji-Sung Park had cancelled out Daniel Agger’s opener.

And Fergie could not hide his disappointment at the result which leaves his side with just the Premier League and Europa League to play for. 

The United boss said: “To lose the game is hard to believe.

“We dominated the game and we were comfortable.

“Our movement off the ball was good and I thought we were in the driving seat.

“Just one breakaway, one bad break against you, and you can lose the game.

“It’s a sudden-death situation and we’ve experienced it many times over the years.

“But I’m pleased with my players, they performed very well, dominated the game, didn’t deserve to be beaten at all in fact.

“We were the better team, but that’s FA Cup football I’m afraid.

“To lose it is a real sickening blow.”

Ferguson was also quick to defend returning goalkeeper David de Gea, who was at fault for Liverpool’s opening goal and had a torrid afternoon.

He said: “Our own players created a problem for the first goal.

“They didn’t give him enough room to deal with it.”

United’s next game is a Premier League encounter at home to Stoke on Tuesday, with Ferguson desperately hoping Rio Ferdinand will recover from a back spasm — one of nine players who was absent today.

Ferguson added: “Rio only had one training session yesterday and we couldn’t gamble with that.

“He will train tomorrow and Monday. He could be right for Tuesday.”

1. Content Will Still Reign as King in 2012

Image Credit: Lars Kehrel

In 2011, there were major changes made to Google’s algorithm that has paved the way for a new emphasis on ‘original’ content.  Regardless of the year, content will always reign as king in the SEO world.

In 2012, you should have a balance of human friendly content and search engine friendly content.  After all, your potential customers (or contacts) will be the one’s purchasing your products or services.

Gone are the days when website owners used to squeak by with poorly written content from basement content writers.  If you want to get noticed in the search engines, having quality content will be the key to your online success in 2012.

2. Web Content Should be Scannable for Mobile Users

Remember, a percentage of your web users will be searching the Web from their iPad and mobile device. If you post content that takes too long to get to the point, people will get bored and move on to your competitor’s website.

Make sure you include a clear Call to Action on each page of your website. Consider hiring a good SEO copywriter to create fresh content for your website, blog and social media sites.  You’ll be one step ahead of the game with a professional SEO copywriter.  SEO copywriters are specialists who are trained to write marketable content that helps in converting readers into paying customers.

3. Is your SEO Consultant Wasting your Time and Money?

If the answer is ‘yes’ or ‘not sure’, that’s a sign it may be the perfect time to ditch your SEO consultant.  In 2012, savvy entrepreneurs and business owners are nickel and diming every aspect of their business.  People are investing their money more wisely than ever before. They are less likely to choose an SEO consultant based on price and they are focusing on SEO experts that have proven track records.

If you’re in the market for a new SEO consultant, make sure you ask him or her to provide you with proof.  In other words, ask to see proven results from ‘current’ customers that they have been with for more than just a couple of months. Internet marketing experts suggest that people choose SEO consultants that have a solid client base of at least 1-2 years (or more) old.

4. Add Original Photos & Videos

Image Credit: windmillnetworking

If you want to make your website more interactive, consider adding original photos and interesting videos to your website.  When Google crawls web pages, they look for content that’s diverse.  Don’t forget to optimize your videos and photos for SEO purposes. Check out our previous article: Using Google Image Search as Fuel for SEO

5. Share Web Content via Facebook, Twitter & Google+

If you want to generate more traffic in 2012, share your content with your social media networks.  Make sure you optimize your web pages for social sharing to help attract more traffic. For example, Facebook allows you to make your pages more social media friendly by optimizing your titles and Meta tags by using Facebook Open Graph. When one of your friends shares one of your web pages, this automatically improves the conversion rate of your website.Lastly, when sharing content through social media, don’t forget to include a back link to your website. Social media provides an excellent opportunity to engage with people who ‘like’ or ‘follow’ you online. Although SEO rules are constantly evolving, the tips above will give you a good head start on the race to online success in 2012.

The 12-inch figurine from In Icons -– which will sell for $99, before shipping — will go on sale in the U.S. in February. The site said it is selling the action figure “to honor the American icon and great visionary Steve Jobs.”

The figurine is extremely detailed and more realistic than other models we’ve seen of the former Apple CEO in the past — he’s even wearing a wedding ring.

It also comes with a pair of black socks, a chair, a backdrop that says “One More Thing” and two apples — one with a bite. iPhone not included.

Will you buy a Steve Jobs action figure? Is it too soon for companies to monetize items based on Jobs?

(text/image: mashable.com)

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.

LG‘s upcoming OLED TV panel measures 55 inches and comes with a contrast ratio of over 100,000:1, the company has announced.

The panel is also just 5 mm thin and has a color gamut that is “wider” than that produced by LCD panels. All of these characteristics make it a candidate for bringing OLED TV technology to the masses in a market that’s still dominated by LCDs.

“Although OLED technology is seen as the future of TV display, the technology has been limited to smaller display sizes and by high costs, until now. LG Display’s 55-inch OLED TV panel has overcome these barriers,” said Sang Beom Han, CEO and Executive Vice President of LG Display.

Of course, we’ll hear more of this panel at the next CES, along with those WiDi-supporting CINEMA 3D Smart TVs LG has announced earlier this month.

[via mashable]

Even the British occasionally have to change with the times. Following a study stating that 80 percent of all web video is now compatible with HTML5, the BBC has formally adopted the standard for videos on the desktop and mobile versions of its website. The full roll-out across BBC.com follows a pilot program in which the broadcaster tested HTML5 on the the Health section of the site. According to Electronista, the BBC has been working with HTML5 delivery systems throughout 2011 to build its iPlayer apps for the iOS. In other news, the BBC has just texted Flash and said it’s totally open to staying friends and meeting up for coffee sometime.

(via: geekgossips.com)