Another Premier League side is snapped up.

Another Premier League team has been snapped up, this time by a member of the United Arab Emirates royal family. It adds to the growing global view that the Premier League is a candy shop where anyone with a few hundred million in the bank can come along and snap up a side causing growing anger and frustration at the influx of foreign owners.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saqar al-Qassimi has bought up a 60 per cent stake in one of the current Premier League sides but news is not being released of which it is until a few days have passed. It means that another club can now join the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Portsmouth in having an owner that does not come from this country.

It contrasts quite interestingly the way that massive football clubs are run in Spain, where no single person can nail down and own a club. This has been linked to the financial power that Real MadridReal Madrid and Barcelona are currently whipping up, financial power that vastly outweighs any financial investment that we have seen so far from an owner in the Premier League.

However, the point is that whoever the UAE member has snapped up can look forward to a future of no debts, big name players and maybe even a lot of success. Although it is quite worrying to see another club that will be controlled entirely by one person, who can make demands and arrangements as they see fit. The power in football is moving away from the area that it should be in and although the fans of this club in question can be positive, they should be equally cautious.

If this is a big club then it will be a lot easier for the current structure to move forward quickly. The high calibre playing staff should already be in place for next season and the business model of the club should be solid. This means that the new owner will have a lot less work to do and it will allow the team to maybe snap up a couple of players at the last minute who would otherwise have not been accessible.

If it is not a big club then it is likely that the owner will have a lot more work to do. The football club of today is seen as a business and all hard working business men like to see profits from their investments. This could mean a complete overhaul of the business model of the club in question. This could dent the immediate prospect of success on the pitch until the club is turned into a financial machine that churns out results in this aspect, something that would have nothing to do with the football.

This view is substantially more worrying for the fan of this mystery club. They will only care about the football so long as the finances are stable. They see their club as a sports club and not a business and the owner has to keep this in mind when he is making decisions that could potentially annoy a lot of people. Just look at what Mike Ashley did to Newcastle United.

City set to poach Tevez from under the noses of their city rivals.

Manchester City are the reported favourites to poach Carlos Tevez from beneath the very nose of their city counterparts as the players loan deal at Manchester United is approaching a rapid halt. Tevez has made no secret of his desire to stay at United but it is thought that the current Premier League champions are not willing to pay the £25 million that will make his services permanent.

Having already paid up to £10 million to have him on loan for two seasons you can understand why but the point is that if Tevez goes to City it will anger hundreds of thousands of United fans that once adored and respected the Argentine. Fair enough he may have had a few disagreements with the manager and the club but that is not reason enough to throw back in the face, the support of many United fans that helped him through a rough patch.

If Tevez has any sense or wants to remain any good contacts at United then he will not even think about this deal and will look for a move elsewhere. Many United fans would probably rather see him join Liverpool that Manchester City and this is saying a tremendous amount.

It would be a brilliant signing for City because it would add to the growing talent they are currently assembling. Mark Hughes is trying to put together a squad that clearly retains all of the major personal values in football. These are hard work, honesty and respect and all of the players he has brought in so far do not appear to have egos and would fit into this thesis perfectly.

However, the summer transfer market has so far thrown up many surprises that mean seemingly certain deals can be changed at the last minute. United, if they wanted to, could still sign up Tevez as hard as this may seem because they are due a lot of money from Spanish giants Real Madrid. Madrid themselves were also heavily linked with Tevez and it could be the case that they steal in with some last minute negotiations to take him to the Real revolution.

The main problem as far as United are concerned is the fact that they do not have any control over the Argentine. As his current deal at United is only on a loan basis, they can have no influence over the club that he chooses to join after the next few days, when the loan expires. Sir Alex Ferguson would obviously like him to go to a foreign club but he cannot change the mindset of the player if he wants to remain in England.

It would be nice for the matter to just be settled as it has been dragging on for an extended period of time now. Tevez will want to settle down and work on his future career and City will want to work out who they can go for if they can’t make good of the rumours linking him to Eastlands.

United need to rebuild quickly.

Now that the Cristiano Ronaldo saga is finally over, Manchester United are faced with another problem, the need to rebuild the current side quickly to cope with the loss. You can do an awful lot with £80 million but United are unlikely to receive the full amount all in one go, which means Sir Alex Ferguson will need to be wise in the way he handles the funds.

United have numerous options. They would do well to get Carlos Tevez on a permanent contract before he decides to go elsewhere. It is clear just how much the Argentine loves the club and the fans love him, a nice thing to consider when there are very few loyalties in the game. Tevez also has a work ethic that no amount of money can buy and although he will never have the quality that Ronaldo did, he is miles ahead in terms of effort and energy.

United will also need a world class winger to come in as well. A deal for Wigan’s Luis Valencia looks almost certain but it is likely that Ferguson will want to go for a real high calibre player to come in and strengthen things even further. Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich is one option but the German club’s price tag of over £50 million could put United off.

The club should have faith in the manager. There was a mixed reaction yesterday when news reached the fans about Ronaldo’s departure. Some were happy to see him go and others thought it was the end of the world. This not the first time Ferguson has got fed up with a player and eventually sold him, David Beckham, Roy Keane and Ruud Van Nistelrooy all went the same way. Each time Ferguson has come back and reinvented the side and still won numerous trophies.

It could be that through Ronaldo’s departure two or three doors of opportunity are opened up for United that would otherwise have not been there. It is naïve to say they won’t miss him because any player who leaves that can score 30 goals a season will be a massive loss. However, the point is that some of his performances this season were ordinary and buy freeing up funds and space for two or three more players, United could consolidate their challenge in England as well as in Europe.

Ferguson will probably already be hoping that his side face Real Madrid at some point next season just so he can show Ronaldo that he is not missed and that they do not need him. The potential finances that United have are now huge, they doubtless had a few million in the bank before the transfer and now that it has become a reality they could afford two absolutely world class players. Whether Ferguson goes down this route remains to be seen.

United have a very strong squad and will be looking to make it even stronger. Yes the fans should be down because they have lost a great player but it is pointless trying to keep someone who clearly wants to go elsewhere. Now Madrid have the ego problem and United can rebuild.

Deal being lined up to keep the right man at Newcastle

A deal is being lined up which could see Alan Shearer stay on at Newcastle United. It is though that Shearer will be offered a four year deal to try and tempt him into staying and getting the club back into the Premier League.

Newcastle were sent down much to the joy of Hull City and now the board are rapidly working away in order to get a deal done that would see Shearer stay on. No doubt he will want to as he will still be suffering from the heart break of the drop, this would make it much easier for him to say yes to a good deal as opposed to if the club had stayed up.

If they had stayed up then a number of problems at the club would not have been highlighted and Shearer may then have been persuaded to not stay on as head at St. James’ Park. Shearer is clearly a man with big opinions and ideas about how the club should be run and he will want to get these across in a better manner.

It must be remembered that he did not have long in charge of the team and a few games clearly wasn’t long enough for him to be able to stamp his style of management on the side and as a result they went down. A long and more extended deal will allow him the time and space to develop the side to the exact point to how he would want it.

He also knows how to deal with the players as he was a high calibre on himself. This will be important over the next couple of months when you take in to account the fuss that is likely to be generated over the downgrading of contracts. A lot of Newcastle’s players will be subjected to 50 per cent wage cuts and as a result many may head for the door rather than show their faith and stay on.

Another reason why a long deal would be good for both parties is the fact that Shearer has the ability to inspire. The fans are loyal and love him despite the club going down and he can inspire the younger players in the side to go out and run themselves into the ground for a club that deserves so much more.

Man journalists have been commenting in recent times about how Newcastle had become somewhat of a laughing stock to a number of other clubs in the North East and the rest of the country. This is something that will really get to Shearer, something he will take to heart and work vigorously to change.

So Newcastle would do well to give him every single assurance that he asks for and pretty much offer him whatever he wants to stay as manager of the club. Getting someone else in now would be a bad move as they would take time to settle in and develop the club to their own ends. Shearer is already there and Newcastle need to make sure he stays there.

Fergie will always be one of the greats.

Reports emerging today that Sir Alex Ferguson has missed his chance to become one of the greatest managers of all time are absolutely ridiculous and naïve. Ferguson’s Manchester United side lost last night in the Champions League final and many reporters are now saying his chance at true greatness has been missed.

Well it is hard to believe this when you bear in mind the 35 trophies he has already won including 11 Premier League crowns and two European Cups. The point is that any manager would have suffered last night and it is difficult to think of a team that actually would have beaten Barcelona, regardless of the way United had played.

Barca manager, Pep Guardiola, himself commented before the game that even if his side won that Fergie would always been an idol to him and to other managers because he has achieved so much in a huge career. The Scot will be hungry for more as well, he is a human being and will be feeling as gutted as anyone else on the United plane when it comes home.

No doubt he will want to right this wrong at some point and has already stated that he will not retire until it is clearly obvious that he can’t take a moment more of the excitement and fast pace of the domestic game.

So to suggest his chance for greatness has slipped away is a stupidly naïve statement to make. His side came up against another side that played perfectly in every single area on the pitch. This is something that can sometimes render tactics irrelevant. It seemed that however Fergie tinkered with his team then Barca would play around that problem until it worked for them.

When he does eventually retire then he will be considered as one of the greatest ever, if not the greatest manager in the last two decades. It is impossible to win absolutely everything all of the time and although there was talk of a quintuple this year for United it was an unlikely scenario. This is a side that went for everything and as a result have come out with only the Premier League, World Club Championship and Carling Cup to show for it.

However, at least they had a go. It would take a very special side to win everything they were playing for in a single season. It would take a team with a squad so deep it would seem like they had contracted players walking the streets, ready to play when necessary. It would also take a manager who wouldn’t appear to be a human being, the sort of man that has an answer for everything and knows how to turn literally any game in five minutes so it works to his advantage.

It is very easy to ignore just how well Barca played last night and look at how United clearly were the worse team. It’ll be a hard push for Barca to get into the final again next year as there are a lot of teams who will be gunning for them when the competition starts again. It is certain however, that the statues being made of Fergie are not going to be smashed to bits because of one final defeat.

Fitting reward for a season of hard work

Fulham will be playing European football next season and it is just what the club deserves as they have prospered under the management of Roy Hodgson. Fulham have developed from a mid-table club who had to fend off the threat of relegation each season to become one of the most efficient sides outside of the top four.

Fulham have attracted a lot of praise from every section of football this season and have created a defence, which rivals even the best in the game. Hodgson, whose appointment was one of much debate in West London when it was announced not too long ago, has created a lot of this.

What Hodgson has brought to the side is the experience that you need to steady a Premier League side that want to jump from one end of the table to the other. Before he arrived you didn’t really know which Fulham side you would be playing, the one capable of beating Manchester United 2-0 or the one capable of caving in to a good thrashing.

The point is that Hodgson brought with him a very level head. He made sure that every element of his side had big characters and that the same players were playing together all the time, keeping rotation down to a minimum. What this created was a sense of team spirit, something that can eradicate the quality of any opposition on any single occasion.

Now this has been set up and is part of the club, Fulham can move on to bigger things and bigger adventures. The chants echoing around Craven Cottage of ‘we’re all going on a European tour’ have not been heard for a very long time and the efficiency that Hodgson has drilled into his team is the main reason for this.

The club now looks very business like, limitations and possibilities are both equally considered with every decision that the football club makes. A strong discipline regime makes sure that none of the players step out of line and if the whole improving attitude continues then Fulham could start pushing the boundaries of what they can do domestically as well as on the European front.

Efficiency is everything in the game of football. Fulham do not play the prettiest game by a long way but they play to their strengths, which Hodgson has helped them develop. The spine of the side from the defence, down the middle to the front men is strong and this often makes the team resilient when they have to take a lot of pressure playing the bigger sides in the Premier League.

Hodgson has given back some confidence to one or two players that previously didn’t really have any and he has utilised the team’s best players and made sure that they are all playing their hearts out for the white shirt every single time they walk onto the pitch.

Fulham would do well to keep Hodgson in place for a very long time. He is arguably their best manager over the last few seasons and he doesn’t look like he will be swayed by an offer from anywhere else any time soon.

Pressure piled onto Mark Hughes.

The pressure has been well and truly piled onto Mark Hughes as Manchester City’s financial backers are demanding a top six finish next season. The news comes just days after Hughes was told he had a job for a long time at City, however the stakes have been raised by the new owners and Hughes will have to dance to the tune if he wants to stay where he is.

The theory is that taking into account where City are likely to finish this season and the players they are going to bring in then UEFA Cup football is the least acceptable scenario to satisfy the powers that be next year.

On the one hand the club are giving Hughes assurance that he is safe in his managerial position but on the other hand they are dropping subtle hints that he could be axed if he doesn’t fulfil their targets. This equipped with the news that the club are locked in negotiations with Stephen Ireland over a new contract gives Hughes one hell of a headache for the time being.

City chairman, Khaldoon Al-Mubarak said: “We are not going to splash money around because that formula doesn’t work. It needs to be done sustainably, with quality management, quality infrastructure and a quality manager. That’s what we are doing.”

It all sounds like we have heard it all before. When Caludio Ranieri found himself in charge of a Chelsea side with millions in the bank, thanks to a new Russian owner, he too was told his job was safe. A year later he had not made the strides that the club wanted and he was sacked quite harshly.

So it seems that however City want to dress this issue up, Hughes will have to do something special next season. The calibre of names that arrive at City this summer could be rather muted and hence stem the progression of the squad and success. These are all things Hughes will have to take into account but it probably wouldn’t surprise anyone if he was axed by January.

However, so far Hughes has done a pretty decent job in charge, he has managed to control Robinho’s ego from getting out of hand while making sure that the progression of youngsters through the club’s academy does not stop. Even if City have a rough start to the season then it would be a very risky decision to get rid of a boss who clearly has so much managerial potential. Another club would rapidly sign him up without a seconds notice.

The task is quite simple for Hughes to carry out. He just has to win more games and break through a whole host of clubs who have publicly stated their intent to break into Champions League football next season. This means there will be four or five other clubs trying to do what Hughes has been told he must do. This could make his life a lot more difficult and ultimately be the deciding feature in Hughes’ future.

Sunderland fate in their own hands

Sunderland will go into the last day of the Premier League season with the fate of their survival in their own hands. The pressure was piled on by Portsmouth last night after a 3-1 defeat left the Black Cats staring over the edge.

However, Sunderland are better positioned than a few teams around them but the drama of last day football has seen stranger things happen and the prospect of facing Chelsea could mean an opportunity opens up for the lies of Hull City or Newcastle United.

Sunderland would have wanted a greater barrier than just two points going into their final clash of the season but manager, Ricky Sbragia, is staying positive. He said last night: “We wanted to get a cushion going into the last game but we know what we have to do. It is going to be difficult but we have got to get a win on Sunday.”

Both Manchester United and Chelsea are facing sides in the relegation places this weekend and will likely field strong sides as they owe it to the others battling away. Sunderland will want to make sure they are safe through winning but a determined Chelsea will want to see Guus Hiddink out in style so it could be a case of hoping that Hull or Newcastle slip up.

Sunderland have by far and away the best chance of survival but if both Hull and Newcastle win their fixtures than it will be the side on Tyneside that goes down, which no one expected. It could well replicate the day when West Brom managed to get safe after looking like they were certain to go down, being bottom of the table on the last day.

The relegation battle so far this season has been extremely interesting to watch and it sure to be tense. All Sunderland have to do is get a win, if they draw then they will be looking at goal difference and as harsh as it seems every fan will be hoping that Aston Villa and Manchester United can romp to victories or at least take points that would guarantee Sunderland’s safety.

It would be such a shame to lose either of Newcastle and Sunderland, regardless of the fact that both sets of fans will want to see the other club plummet to failure miserably. Tyneside has produced some of the most passionate football clubs in living memory and if both manage to stay up then we can once again be treated to one the fiercest rivalries in world football next season.

It is impossible to predict what will happen on the last day because something always develops that no one even considered. Sunderland clearly have a very clever and under rated manager, despite the thumping defeat last night, every single person at the club will have the league table worked out and they know what they need to do. If they win the are safe, the equation is as simple as that, the fact their last day opponents are Chelsea will not matter to a single person in a red and white shirt on Sunday.

Tevez future looks set to be decided once and for all

Manchester United have said today that the future of Carlos Tevez will be resolved in early June. The Argentine forward has been the centre of much speculation, for a large part of this Premier League season.

His substitution yesterday in the match against Arsenal, which saw United lift the Premier League crown, suggested that it might be his last game at Old Trafford. However, the echoes flying out of Manchester today suggest that United would like Tevez to stay and have started working on the terms and details.

The point is that Tevez is not contracted to a club, he is contracted to an agent, Kia Joorabchian. The sum of money reportedly being asked for to make Tevez into a permanent United player is thought to be in excess of £25 million, making the total paid by United for his services £35 million.

Both Tevez and Sir Alex Ferguson have expressed their desire to get the matter sorted and Tevez would jump at the chance to stay at a club where he is worshipped by the fans. It would also save a headache for Ferguson who will want to keep one of his most influential players.

United’s Chief Executive, David Gill, said today: “The actual situation will be cleared up in early June. Carlos has done very well. We would like him to stay but the actual economic situation needs to be clarified.”

United were offered support yesterday by European officials that suggested Tevez’s contract with Joorabchian was nothing more than on an employment type basis, suggesting that Tevez could join United permanently for free. However, the West Ham United and Sheffield United affair showed just how ugly a tussle over Tevez can get and United will not want a repeat in a summer where they will be keeping an eye on many other stars.

The news is positive for United fans though, and for playing staff alike. Tevez does not seem to have an ego and is the sort of player that will run himself into the ground over 90 minutes for his club. He seems genuinely pleased to be where he is and has often kissed the United badge on scoring this season.

It doesn’t make sense to get rid of a player that everyone seems to adore and get on with. There will be a lot of arm wrestling to get him released from whatever current agreement he is held to but United clearly admire and respect Tevez enough to consider it as an option.

Gill’s promise that the matter will be sorted swiftly will be relief to admirers of the club as reports all season long have linked Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo with moves to Spain. It proves that the club has further ambition, despite ample glory, and is determined to not be pushed around by any outside parties.

If a reasonable deal can be reached and all parties concerned are happy then Tevez will be wearing the red shirt of United at the start of next season. Let’s hope the speculation stops and the matter can be settled once and for all.

United on the brink of title success

Manchester United can secure the Premier League title today if they get a point from their match against rivals Arsenal. United will be looking to rapidly wrap up the league to then turn all of their focus and energy towards the Champions League final on May 27.

It would also be fitting for them to take the title in front of their own fans, but Arsenal will be looking to do any thing they can to spoil the party and leave Liverpool with the smallest bit of hope they could still intervene.

United captain, Rio Ferdinand, seems to be the only major injury worry for the current champions who look set to name an otherwise full strength side. Arsenal on the other hand have their work cut out. Manuel Almunia is suffering from an ankle knock, Tomas Rosicky, William Gallas and Gael Clichy will all join him in the stands for the match.

It has been clear this season that United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, has not lost a single bit of his hunger for the game and will be looking to secure this title as though it were his first domestic success in charge of the club.

Speaking ahead of the game, he said: “We have another opportunity to win it in front of our own fans - it would be nice to do it. My first intention was to win one and break the stranglehold Liverpool had on the title. The big challenge was that first one.”

“They have had a bit of criticism recently and they will want to register their abilities on a day when everyone expects Manchester United to win the title.”

You cannot really argue that United have not been the best team this season, at various points they have proved that they have everything needed to grind out horrible points and victories and never really looked threatened when Liverpool had their spell at the top of the league.

If they win today then it would mark another success in the book of what Ferguson has called his best ever team. Their focus may well be on the end of the month and Barcelona but everyone at United will know that if you win the league then it proves you are a better team over a longer period of time as opposed to winning a one off match.

Once the success is secured the close season drama can begin and the club can enjoy the remaining games they have this season. The destination of one or two in the current squad is still unknown e.g. Carlos Tevez. Accompanied with the ongoing saga that is Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo, the title success could just be the backdrop to a lot more important drama about to unfold at Old Trafford.

United have proved they are by far and away the best team this season and a lot of work will have to be done over the summer if other clubs are going to get closer and make more of a challenge in the next campaign.

United move to within a point of another Premier League crown

Manchester United need just a point this weekend when they play Arsenal to secure another Premier League title after a 2-1 victory at Wigan Athletic last night. In a tricky match for the champions, a professional performance was enough to see them past a Wigan side that had clearly improved from this point last season.

It was in fact Wigan who went ahead on the half hour mark. Nemanja Vidic’s slip allowed Hugo Rodallega to slam the ball home to cancel out a first half pretty much dominated by United. Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick both got on the score sheet in the second half to give United the three points they were looking for.

It was a very professional display by Sir Alex Ferguson’s side and he will be pleased at the manner of the victory and the fact that there were no players looking to throw their toys out of the pram with this performance.

One Wigan fan said before the game: “We just need to stay in there and fight.” That’s exactly what Steve Bruce’s men did. They literally made it as difficult as they could for United to get any time on the ball that would allow the killer last pass to be made. The Wigan goal may have been against the run of play but it was deserved.

Wigan look to be getting better all the time and surely as time passes they will add higher quality additions to their squad. This will allow them to push on next season and based on this it wouldn’t be a surprise if they show enough grit and determination to secure a top six spot in the next campaign.

United’s work is not yet done. They still need to get a point from the Arsenal game and will face a side likely to be rampant on revenge having been stuffed in the Champions League. United will know that they can’t waste as many good chances to score as they did last night and there is no doubt that if Arsenal can do any thing to spoil the party then they will.

Ferguson will be pleased with the performance of Tevez who looks to have kick started the manager into negotiating with him over a new contract. He will also be pleased that the team got through the match with no fresh injury doubts, something so important when you consider the high calibre of matches they have left to play.

Although the quintuple is now no longer a possibility there has really only been one team who has been so dominant over the entire season and it’s United. Despite Liverpool’s push this season United have proved time and time again that they know how to grind out results and win key points.

This is easily a match they could have let their heads drop in. The rain was pouring down and no doubt one or two of the players wouldn’t have fancied it. However, they stuck to their task and are now within touching distance of the Premier League trophy yet again.

Liverpool can temporarily move back to the top of the Premier League

Liverpool face a tricky trip to West Ham United today but can move back to the top of the Premier League with a win. It will be a tough encounter at Upton Park as West Ham are also trying to push for a UEFA cup sot ahead of next season.

Rafa Benitez has no other matches to worry about this season so is likely to pick the best Liverpool side he can. Xabi Alonso will not play any part in the match as he is still recovering from the ankle injury he suffered after Joey Barton’s challenge last weekend. Liverpool’s only other concerns are Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano who are both carrying slight knocks but are expected to play.

Gianfranco Zola will be relying on the ever-audible West Ham support as well as the talents of many young players he has brought into the first team. Carlton Cole will miss out as he continues his recovery from a groin strain and joining him will be James Collins and Kieron Dyer.

Benitez will insist that his team still have a chance the Premier League title glory and will refuse to concede the title to Manchester United until it is a mathematical certainty. This makes for an attacking promise from the Liverpool boss and we may be treated to some of the best football of the weekend if Liverpool hit their straps.

However, West Ham must win the game if they want to have any chance of stealing 6th place away from Everton who are looking more and more likely to finish in that position. The gap is currently six points and a win will put the pressure back onto Everton who face a tough match today against an ever-improving Tottenham Hotspur side.

Hopefully it will not be a dead game as considering both teams do still have something to play for the likelihood that they will get anywhere near these proposed goals by the end of the season is grim. It could well turn out to be a rather pointless encounter, but such is professional football this is not likely to happen.

Until the fat lady sings, everyone on Merseyside and East London will be signing their hearts out and any slack effort or match play from either side will not only let the fans down but will not do either club justice.

There is also the added spice that both managers like to wield the post-season axe and the players should be aware of this. Liverpool will want to improve their squad again at the close season so anyone who does not pull their weight in Liverpool’s remaining games could fast find himself in the Benitez list of players to get rid of.

West Ham are also likely to increase their ambitions next season and this could well mean a massive over haul of playing staff if the new owners of the club allow Zola adequate funds to create a squad good enough to compete in Europe. There are a lot of youngsters currently in the West Ham side and they need to play out of their skins if they want to have any chance of staying in Zola’s plans.

Arsenal secure the future of one of their best talents

Arsenal winger and front man, Theo Walcott, has committed his future to the club by signing a new long term contract. The news comes just days after reports of a new offer being prepared for manager, Arsene Wenger, and the gaffer will be pleased by the news that Walcott has no intentions to move this summer.

Walcott has come under increased scrutiny within the last couple of weeks as his inexperience in the Champions League ties against Manchester United was displayed at its fullest. However, Arsenal fans can now rest easy that this gifted individual will not be playing his football in any other place than at the Emirates come the start of next season.

Walcott seems as enthusiastic by the new deal and is insistent that Arsenal can win trophies in the next campaign. He said: “I’m absolutely delighted. The way the boss has managed all the team, the players he brings in just settle into the team straight away and just be part of it.”

“This team has definitely got the chance to win something, especially for the fans as well because they’ve been absolutely terrific for us this season. We want to do it for them mainly and it would be brilliant to look back on the amount of trophies and medals you’ve won.”

The North London club will be hoping that more players publicly commit their future to the club as Wenger will no doubt look to change things around this sumemr in his endless quest for the perfect football formula.

Walcott was a name rumoured to be targetd by a number of Premier League and Spanish clubs. His pace and touch on the ball are his two biggest assets, both of which are the sole reasons he is at such a big club.

There is little doubt that Arsenal are going to have to rapidly improve if they are to seriously challenge on all fronts next season. The first sign to doing this is to make sure the manager is not forced to sell anyone and the signature of Walcott is the first insurance of his more than talented squad staying together.

The bigger challenge for the former Premier League champions will be to hang onto their bigger players. Captain, Cesc Fabregas, has been linked with a move to Barcelona all season long and, no disrespect to Walcott in the slightest, it is these high calibre players that the club will have to keep.

The younger players can take something from Walcott’s commitment. He obviously recognises the fact there is no better manager in the game than Wenger to develop and nurture the talents of a gifted young player. Wenger, lest we not forget, turned Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira into two of the biggest names in the game from a point where they arrived at Arsenal as just young and raw young men.

The foundatons for Arsenal are very good. If the bigger players stay then it just needs one or two tweaks to make the Arsenal amchine strong again.

Hull City captain prepares for biggest ever game

Hull City captain, George Boateng, is calling this weekend’s match against Stoke City the club’s biggest ever game. The match is a real six pointer with both sides wanting to win to secure their Premier League safety for next season.

Boateng has been in and out of the Hull side all season with niggling injuries and is not prepared to underestimate the significance of this match. Forget the games against Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool, for now it’s all about beating Stoke.

Hull have really struggled after an impressive early season run that saw them take impressive victories away at Arsenal and Tottenham. They will desperately want to win this game to give their fans a little bit of breathing space. Newcastle United and Middlesborugh are also facing each other so one of them looks set to drop points, making the game for Hull even bigger than it already is.

Boateng said ahead of the clash: “This is going to be the biggest game in Hull City’s history, bigger even then winning last season’s play-off final against Bristol City. The best thing for us is that the game is at home. The good news is that we do not have to go to Stoke and defend 650 long throw ins. I feel very positive.”

Interestingly in comparison with other clubs neither Stoke nor Hull are that badly positioned. They both have a better chance of survival and should be confident that there are three teams worse than themselves. Three points for Hull would be a huge boost, coming in a run where confidence has been undoubtedly low and the side has been scratching around.

Stoke have been poised on the point of safety for a long time. It could be the case that the nerves and fidgets start to set in shortly if they cannot get themselves over that line. A win for either club would drastically dent the chances of the other, but they will be hoping that the other relegation dogfight this weekend ends in a draw, giving them a corridor of opportunity to bounce on.

Boateng is one of those rare individuals in the modern game that seems to set an example to everyone else. You never read about him in the media other than when it is to do with football and he is one of the main reasons Hull have done so well when he has not been fending off an injury. If his leadership skills are finely tuned during the game then it could well prove the turning point.

Big players are needed for big games like this one and it could turn out that this is the game of the weekend as all of the big clubs will be nursing players or now have little to play for. Phil Brown and Tony Pulis will be sussing each other out, but it is unlikely that either side will canter away with a victory but whoever gets the win will be feeling a lot easier than they do right now.

Hull could well pounce on the fact Stoke have not made the most of their position, they need the three points more and the home advantage could see them through.