Published by the Independant - Dec 28, 2007

ARSENAL

Need: If Jens Lehmann goes then another goalkeeper; if Lassana Diarra departs, a midfielder. Maybe a striker.

Budget: Big money signings extremely unlikely. Arsène Wenger is under no pressure to spend.

Candidates: What’s your knowledge of junior African football like? The hardest club to second guess but Thomas Sorenson is a possibility as goalkeeper cover.

Prediction: Unless Wenger buys a British youngster for the future it should be quiet. (Read full article…)

Carlos Tevez returns to West Ham tomorrow with Sir Alex Ferguson convinced the Upton Park outfit owe their Premier League existence to the South American.Tevez netted seven goals in 10 games for the Hammers at the back end of last season, including the winner at Old Trafford on the final day as the Londoners beat the odds to stay up at Sheffield United’s expense. Although the 23-year-old promptly quit the Hammers, joining United on a two-year loan following a protracted registration wrangle, his immense contribution to his former club’s survival fight is unlikely to be forgotten by the home fans, who seem certain to buck their usual trend of booing the Red s by acclaiming Tevez as a hero.
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Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton will spend New Year in jail after being remanded on charges of common assault and affray.

The 25-year-old was arrested in Liverpool early yesterday following an alleged incident in the city centre.

Barton, of Foxbank Close, Widnes, Cheshire, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court. The court was told he and a group of friends were allegedly involved in two separate incidents following a row with another group inside a McDonald’s restaurant in Church Street, Liverpool.Magistrate Carol Myers remanded Barton in custody.

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The Premier League enters a key phase with a jam-packed Boxing Day programme promising to throw up twists and turns at both ends of the table.

Manchester United renew acquaintances with Roy Keane as they take on a Sunderland side scrapping for points after sliding into the bottom three.

Leaders Arsenal will expect no gifts on their trip to Portsmouth.

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Draw for the last 32:

• Aberdeen v Bayern Munich
• AEK Athens v Getafe
• Bolton v Atletico Madrid
• Zenit St Petersburg v Villarreal
• Galatasaray v Bayer Leverkusen
• Anderlecht v Bordeaux
• SK Brannv Everton
• FC Zurich v Hamburg
• Rangers v Panathinaikos
• PSV Eindhoven v Helsingborg
• Slavia Prague v Tottenham
• Rosenborg v Fiorentina
• Sporting Lisbon v Basle
• Werder Bremen v Braga
• Benfica v Nuremburg
• Marseille v Spartak Moscow

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The Results of today’s Champion’s League Draw are as follows:

• Celtic vs Barcelona

• Lyon vs Manchester United

• Schalke vs FC Porto

• Liverpool vs Inter Milan

• AS Roma vs Real Madrid

• Celtic vs Barcelona

• Olympiakos vs Chelsea

• Fenerbahce vs Sevilla

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GOLTV Match Schedule – December 22 - 28, 2007

TORONTO, December 20, 2007 – Below is a list of soccer matches that will air live or on tape delay on GOLTV from December 22 - 28, 2007.
GOLTV Match Schedule for December 22-28, 2007*:

Saturday, December 22
Time               League           Match (Home vs. Away)        Coverage
2:00 p.m.         Spain               Zaragoza vs. Valencia            LIVE
4:00 p.m.         Spain               Sevilla vs. Racing                   LIVE

Sunday, December 23
Time               League           Match (Home vs. Away)        Coverage
11:00 a.m.       Spain               Atl. Madrid vs. Espanyol          LIVE
1:00 p.m.        Spain               Barcelona vs. Real Madrid      LIVE

As some of you may know, SoccerTV.com has been sold last month. The website has been operated by Oliver Tse for a decade, and has been a true pioneer for every soccer fan in North America. Oliver will operate the site until February second, and currently it is not known what the new owner intends to do with the website, or if it will be maintained in current state at all.

Whatever happens with SoccerTV.com we would like to say Thank You to Oliver for maintaining such valuable resource for so many years.

GOLTV BRINGS NON-STOP ACTION THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

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English Premier League club Manchester United is set to announce record profits of around £75 million.

The club will report record annual turnover in excess of £200 million for the year to June 30, figures to be released next month will reveal, according to UK press reports.

The figures are a significant increase on last January’s figures, when the club announced a turnover of £167.75 million and profit of £46.25 million.

The club’s previous record turnover was £174 million.