Benayoun: ‘When I saw the team-sheet I thought it was a mix-up!’

Yossi Benayoun has admitted that he was ‘surprised’ at being chosen as Arsenalcaptain for the 1-0 Carling Cup defeat toManchester City on Tuesday.

The Israeli skipper, who signed on a season-long loan from Premier League rivals Chelsea in August, captained a fairly experienced side which included the likes of Lukasz Fabianski and Laurent Koscielny.

However, boss Arsene Wenger opted to hand Benayoun the captain’s armband instead – something which he certainly didn’t anticipate before the cup clash.

“The truth is I did not expect this, but it was a nice moment. When the line-up was revealed at the hotel (a few hours before the match), I saw the letter ‘C’ next to my name; I thought there was some mix up. But overall it was a nice experience”, Benayoun told Israeli radio station Non Stop 103.3FM.

“It was nice to be captain for the night, but what matters most was the result and eventually we lost the game.

“It was the first time I played as captain in England. It’s a great honour, even though I’ve only been at the club for a short period while there are players who have played here for a few years, I still got the armband. But for me it’s more important to work hard and get more opportunities in the Premier League”.

Benayoun, 31, has previously said he is ‘hopeful’ of making his loan move from Chelsea permanent at the end of the season, something which Wenger himself hasn’t ruled out just yet.

Despite finding it hard to break into the Arsenal midfield this season, Benayoun never doubted his choice in joining the north Londoners and admits it was the Gunners’ manager who persuaded him to sign on the dotted line.

“The negotiations with Arsenal were really quick and they showed real interest in me, so it was an easy choice. I also spoke to Arsene Wenger before signing at the club. He said he believed in my experience and ability to contribute to the squad and to play in several positions, so I was convinced quickly [to sign for Arsenal]“.

Chelsea give defender Sam Hutchinson new contract

Sam Hutchinson has signed a one-and-a-half year contract with Chelsea just 16 months after announcing his retirement.

The defender, 22, who came through the club’s academy, made four appearances for the Blues before a knee injury forced him to quit in August 2010.

However, Hutchinson, who was earmarked as one for the future by former Blues boss Jose Mourinho, realised the pain had gone while coaching at Chelsea.

“It’s great to be back and I am looking forward to the future,” he said.

“I take it week by week and it is a slow process. I am still not out of rehabilitation but I am playing 90-minute games and feeling fit.

“I have progressed from a month of three days training and then a day off to four days training and then a day off.

“It is important now to stick to the plan and listen to the doctors and progress from there.”

Academy manager Neil Bath added on Chelsea’s website: “Should he make progress, we anticipate there could be a further contract but he is still going through the early stages of rehab and is still not training with first-team-type loading in terms of intensity and demands.

“It’s fantastic news because we have a player who has been with us since he was seven, who we thought had retired.

“It is looking good that he will have a professional living in the game but we have to stay patient with the plan.”

Hutchinson, who can play at centre-back or right-back, made his Chelsea debut, aged 18, against Everton in May 2007.

He signed a new four-year contract at Stamford Bridge in August 2007 but a knee injury blighted his season, limiting him to only six league games for the reserves.

Hutchinson captained Chelsea reserves and made his first start, against QPR in the League Cup, in between a couple of Premier League appearances in the 2009-10 season before the knee injury returned and forced him to announce his retirement.

He made a shock return in the summer and played the first half of a 6-1 pre-season friendly defeat at Crawley.

Media round-up: Thursday, 1st December featuring Mancini, Sheik Mansour and Paul Pogba

Roberto Mancini believes Manchester City are becoming unpopular as a result of their success. “Every team that wins things doesn’t get sympathy,” said Mancini. “Do United get sympathy from other teams? No, because United win always. When Arsenal won leagues and cups was there sympathy? No. Because every team knows that when they win they do not get sympathy. I hope we don’t get sympathy for the next games either.”

Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis has launched a fresh attack on Manchester City, according to The Daily Mail, by suggesting that they might try underhand tactics to influence Villarreal ahead of their Champion’s League game with Napoli. De Laurentiis said: “I can feel strange things going on surrounding the Villarreal game – princes and sheiks are getting agitated. To think about it would be evil but sometimes you can guess what is happening.”

Sheik Mansour has praised manager Roberto Mancini for following the “right path” toward achieving the club’s main objective, winning the Premier League title. In rare public comments, the Sheik  told Dubai-based Sport360 daily newspaper that the club’s main goal for the season is still within reach, despite City’s slim chances of remaining in the Champions League.

Kolo Toure says comparisons with Arsenal’s “invincibles” side of 2003/04 are premature. “We need to take it game by game because sometimes when you win you just start to feel so comfortable and don’t fight as well as you should,” said the 30-year-old. “We don’t think about this record. We just want to play as well as we can every single game.”

Manchester United fear they may lose Paul Pogba, 18, to fierce rivals Manchester City as talks over a new deal have stalled, according to The Independent. Pogba’s current deal expires in the summer, allowing him to speak to suitors as early as January, and a number of clubs are believed to have registered an interest in the player, currently on the fringes of Sir Alex Ferguson’s first-team squad. He has so far failed to agree terms on an extended deal.

Russell – We want City win

Norwich City defender Russell Martin insists the newly-promoted side will be going for the win against Manchester City this weekend.

The Canaries returned to winning ways on Saturday following a crucial 2-1 success over fellow new-boys QPR at Carrow Road.

Next up for Paul Lambert’s men is a trip to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday to face the unbeaten Premier League leaders.

Few expect Norwich to return to Norfolk with any points, but Russell, who scored against QPR, insists they will be positive in Manchester.

Positive

“(City) is probably going to be one of the toughest games of the season going up there and trying to stop them because they’re in really good form,” said Martin.

“But the way we play as a team, we will go up there expecting to get a result because that is how we do it.

“We will go up there and give it a good go, but it is a tough run of games and we needed the three points (against QPR) because it doesn’t get any easier.

“It comes in between really tough games - Arsenal and Manchester City. It doesn’t get much tougher than that, but every week is tough in this league.”

TRIPLET SCORING FOR BARCA

It was a therapeutic game, as if he had designed the calendar to shake off the bitter taste of defeat against Getafe played a game that left Barca but left untouched the forwards especially the team. Among them, a name, Alexis Sanchez, who was beginning to collect some criticism for his lack of scoring.

Not scored since the first game of the season, against Villarreal, and the Chilean goal needed as the air we breathe. Just half an hour to recover needed. It was a goal of ‘crack’ when his team needed him most, especially against Lightning dared uneasily. With a subtle touch, crossed the bottom left of Cobeño after a dry cut, Alexis opened the way to victory. Important for the club, but more important for the ‘Boy Wonder’, which drew too many days without celebrating a goal with a long injury involved. 

In his best days as Barca, Alexis closed his personal account with the goal that Barca definitely reassured. The merit of Alexis was not only hit the shot, but accompany a move that was born in Messi‘s boots in the midfielder position.

 The Chilean Xavi pounced on a rebound to control with his chest and beat the goalkeeper Ray. The doublet of Alexis returns the best version of Chile last year, even as Udinese player, signed four goals in one match against Palermo in Udine set victory by 0-7. 

It was undoubtedly his best performance since he landed in Europe. However, despite their initial impressions as a player means Barça have left many fans Catalans, Alexis had never come to the Christmas break with more than two goals in his private account and now adds three, who scored against Villarreal and the doublet with the Lightning. Mark out of the house now becomes one of his unfinished business. 

It is the fifth career double in the Chilean, a player reached the boat to open the field and create spaces that define the face-to-door. However, his goals against the Lightning rescued the team at a particularly delicate and Tocopilla make the player a candidate to remain in the ownership during the next team commitments. Alexis and he started the match against Real Madrid in Spain Super Cup at the Santiago Bernabeu. 

Villa: Farewell to the bad taste of San Siro and Getafe with his ninth goal of the course 

There was a certain ‘buzz’ with the figure of David Villa, multiplied by the lack of luck in Getafe, but the Camp Nou finished chanting the name of ‘Guaje’ in a match that served to reconcile the goal after two games especially uncomfortable for Villa, San Siro and Getafe, which was not entirely successful. It had scored against Zaragoza his eighth goal of the season (interestingly, the same as last year added at this stage of the championship, almost the same number of minutes) and against the Lightning, took a pass from Alves to beat Cobeño and set it 3-0 before the break.
Villa goal needed to calm some debates about its performance in recent games and incidentally, to remain a second best scorer of Barca this season with nine goals, behind only Leo Messi. 

Interestingly, Villa found the net in the drawing Guardiola team reworded: Pep ahead of Alves, who became almost at the end of the relay, placed Alexis in the left and put Villa as theoretical ‘nine’, escorted by Leo Messi. Here, closer to the penalty spot, David Villa was more comfortable and quickly find the net in a move that was released in which Pique and Alves, touching the outside of the game, assisted him. 

Asturian striker signed a good game, beyond the success of face-to-door, combined with their peers and creating spaces both outside and inside. And the second part was about to make his second goal after taking advantage of a ball pumped coming from Victor Valdes in an improper play Barça.Villa tried to control possible at the edge of the area and beat Rayo Vallecano Cobeño output with a chopped ball but the ball went over the crossbar. The former Valencia completed their night playing 90 minutes, unusual for the ‘Guaje’, not just this season but since signing for the club. 

Messi: Leo sum ​​and 26 goals in 22 games 

The best player on the planet remains committed to breaking records every season and returned last night to offer a new touch of his usual magic to close the scoring at the Ray Vallecano. 

It was the 49 minutes of the game when Leo Messi took a pass from Dani Alves and into the area to star in a spectacular ride that ended by sitting and surpassing Cobeño measured with a shot that slipped touching the long pole. 

With last night, the Argentine won his sixteenth league both, and thus equalized Cristiano Ronaldo top scorer in this tournament. Last season, Messi had managed 15 goals in the first 14 games of the season. 

Leo already marked 26 goals in 22 matches he has played taking into account all competitions (only lost the Cup in L’Hospitalet), resulting in a spectacular figure of 1.18 goals per game. In this regard, Rosario is ‘key’ numbers of last year, when he signed also 26 ‘targets’ in their first 22 entries with the team, either as principal or alternate.

PEP GUARDIOLA: “IT WAS A STRANGE GAME”

Barca striker Asturian spoke today at a press conference after the victory over Rayo Vallecano last night at the Camp Nou. The crack has become FC Barcelona has expressed confidence about the possibilities that all have to get a good result in their match against Real Madrid “We will go to the Bernabeu in different circumstances than other years, but with the same idea: try to win. In this Similarly, the iron tip wanted to play down the next “Classic” and also noted that “There is still a lot and hope to make a great season.”

As for the controversial yellow spotted yesterday to Gerard Pique, which allows the defense to get the classic clean the Bernabeu: “The referee gave his verdict on the record, the rest is the interpretation of each, there you have the record.”

About the feelings that have the equipment at this stage of the League has proven safe and emphatic “I have the same trust or more than last season,” he said. He also was pleased with the results garnered by the team yesterday and his personal rendimientio with their peers, which stood out from his partner Alexis Sanchez “was a great game yesterday,” he acknowledged.

Moreover, the number 7 of Barca said the party has to play his former club Sporting de Gijon to Real Madrid, which has admitted that “I’m always happy when they win” and also took time to ask for assistance the price “to see if we can do a favor.” So far as he has not forgotten to remember either the front, Pep Guardiola’s only have the head on the next and important league match against Levante.

Inter plot £40m raid on Arsenal & Liverpool

Inter Milan are thought to be willing to pay £40 million forArsenal and Liverpool target Eden Hazard

Interest in Arsenal and Liverpool target Eden Hazard is set to be stepped up – by Italian giant Inter Milan.

Talksport is reporting that the Nerazzuri are ready to gazump the Gunners and the Reds by testing Lille’s resolve with a bid of around £40million.

Arsenal were thought to have made a move for the Belgian international in the summer, but manager Arsene Wenger was put off by the asking price quoted.

Lille president Michel Seydoux recently said Hazard could leave if an offer upwards of £43million came in – a fee likely to put off famously thrifty Wenger.

Even Liverpool, who have been willing to pay inflated transfer fees in the past, seem to have been put off by the large numbers being asked.

Hazard had expressed a desire to leave the French champions in the summer, news that was expected to spark a bidding war among Europe’s top clubs.

The 20-year-old is considered one of Europe’s brightest young prospects and, should Lille fail to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages, a move could come sooner than next summer.

Inter look to have taken the initiative by indicating their willingness to come close to Lille’s valuation, though Real Madrid are likely to have some say in the matter.