Wenger insists trophies will come

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has vowed their attacking style will bring them silverware as he conceded the Premier League title was now out of reach.The club are set to be trophyless for a third season after their 2-1 defeat by Manchester United on Sunday, but Wenger was unequivocal.

"We will continue to play the way we do but better," Wenger said. "The trophies will come. The main target is to keep the team together. They are absolutely amazing." And striker Emmanuel Adebayor has backed Wenger's "vision" for Arsenal - and declared the Gunners will come out fighting next season. "Arsene is a great man and a great manager," declared Adebayor, who now has 20 Premier League goals this season. He has achieved a lot of things with this club. For sure he is going to be here. He has a vision to bring a lot of good players to this club like Alex Hleb, Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue, Cesc Fabregas and William Gallas. They are his players. So, for sure, we will win something, no doubt about that."

The Gunners are now nine points behind leaders United with just four fixtures remaining, and three points behind Chelsea having played a game more. A disappointed Wenger hinted that certain decisions which went against Arsenal at Old Trafford highlighted a recent trend, but was keen to stress the pride he felt in a team which were controversially knocked out of the Champions League by Liverpool in midweek. "Overall, I am very proud of my team's performance," he said. "We had to be exceptionally strong after the Liverpool game - and we were. I feel the difference between success and failure is very little. We do not feel there is much between ourselves, United and Chelsea when it comes to technical ability and quality. So it is difficult to accept we will not win the title. I want to win trophies and it is sad we cannot win a trophy this season. On the other hand, I feel we have done a lot for the Premier League this season by the way we have promoted it."

Arsenal needed to win at Old Trafford to start clawing back the Premier League leader's six-point advantage but a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty cancelled out Adebayor's opener before Owen Hargreaves grabbed the winner to effectively end Arsenal's hopes. Hargreaves' free-kick came after Gilberto had been punished for a challenge on Patrice Evra while Ronaldo's penalty was awarded following a handball by William Gallas. Wenger said: "Those two decisions made it difficult for us but overall we have to take it. With the penalty you can give it or not give it. As for the free-kick I do not think Gilberto touched Evra."

Paddy Power special offers for this weekend

Please find to follow Paddy Power's Weekend Football Bulletin.

Paddy Power specials this week look at the clash between Man Utd and Arsenal and managers under pressure. For the big game, and with Ronaldo seemingly unable to stop scoring, Paddy Power are betting on the inevitable with odds for when the Portu-geezer scores his first v Arsenal on Sunday.

We are also offering sack race head-to-head betting between Wenger & Fergie as well as Benitez and Avram Grant whilst for the first time in a long time due to customer requests Paddy Power are offering betting on the next Arsenal manager.

Finally, with the awarding of penalties (or not in some cases) proving hugely topical of late Paddy Power are betting on who next gets a penalty favour between Liverpool and Arsenal, how many penalties will be awarded this weekend and whether Arsenal or Man Utd get a spot kick at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Paddy Power Weekend Bulletin

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Ronaldinho next season

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Bent' it like Beckham!

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France v England

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Lampard left frustrated and confused over Chelsea's delay on deal

Frank Lampard admits he has been left frustrated and confused by his failure so far to agree terms on a new contract at Chelsea, with the club only expecting talks to reopen with his representative at the end of the season.

The England midfielder, who has 15 months to run on his deal, scored four times in the 6-1 demolition of Derby County on Wednesday night to take his season's tally to 17, but claims the uncertainty over his future is unsettling. Discussions had begun over a new long-term contract last summer only to stall with no agreement reached, prompting both parties - apparently with Lampard's blessing at the time - to postpone their resumption until the summer.

Source: football.guardian.co.uk

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Man City v Tottenham

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Sevilla 3 Fenerbahce 2 (Agg 5-5, Pens 2-3)

Volkan Demirel was the hero for Fenerbahce as they advanced from a penalty shoot-out into the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in their history. After 90 minutes Sevilla led 3-2 to cancel out the first-leg deficit and make the scores 5-5 on aggregate, and with no goals in extra time it was left to visiting goalkeeper Volkan, who saved from Julien Escude, Ivica Dragutinovic and Dani Alves.

Volkan had earlier gifted Sevilla a two-goal lead within nine minutes, as four goals were scored in a pulsating first half. He failed to deal with long-range efforts by Dani Alves and Seydou Keita, and although Brazilian forward Deivid pulled a goal back for Fenerbahce on 20 minutes, Sevilla restored a two-goal advantage with a deflected Frederic Kanoute shot just before half time.

Deivid pounced for his second with 11 minutes left, and with no more goals after extra time it was left to Volkan to make amends for his earlier errors. He saved Sevilla's second penalty from Escude, and although Palop kept out Edu Dracena's powerful effort in response, Volkan then stopped Enzo Moresca's blasted shot and punched away Alves' powerful effort to send the Turkish side through.

Sevilla had dominated from kick-off, their early pace troubled the Fenerbahce defence, and when Keita was held back by Selcuk Sahin the home side fortuitously took a fourth-minute lead with the resulting free-kick. Alves' powerful 35-yard strike was straight at Volkan, who could only punch the ball into the top corner putting Sevilla ahead in the tie under the away goals rule.

Their confidence yielded a second goal just five minutes later, Keita striking a left-foot swerving shot from a similar range which deceived the 26-year-old Turkey goalkeeper and flew into the top-left corner. Fenerbahce began to recover and Deivid scored on 20 minutes, shooting low from 12 yards through an advancing crowd after a Mehmet Aurelio corner had not been cleared.

Both sides then went close as space opened in midfield, and Sevilla took advantage five minutes before the break. Alves crossed from the right to Kanoute, who controlled with his chest from 12 yards and fired a low volley at goal, which was deflected by Gokhan Gonul past the helpless Volkan. Sevilla held on for the rest of the half, Christian Poulsen clearing off the goal-line deep into injury time after Aurelio had set-up Deivid's shot.

Fenerbahce played with more fluency in a quieter start to the second half, and came close to an aggregate equaliser through Alex and then two chances for Ugur Boral. And the home side paid the price for their own missed opportunities on 79 minutes as Fenerbahce drew level on aggregate.

Deivid crept unmarked behind the defence to latch onto a long free-kick from Alex, and first hit the post before pouncing on the rebound to score from two yards. The game remained 3-2 after 90 minutes and went into extra-time, where both sides struggled to maintain their earlier intensity.

Deivid had chances for a hat-trick, but missed two 20-yard efforts within a minute while Alves shot a 25-yard free kick wide on 99 minutes. Alves hit a 25-yard free kick against the wall in injury time, and the game went into penalties, where Volkan's saves ensured a safe passage for Fenerbahce.

Teams:

Sevilla Palop, Daniel, Escude, Dragutinovic, Adriano Correia, Jesus Navas (Kone 105), Poulsen (Maresca 94), Keita, Diego Capel, Kanoute, Luis Fabiano (Renato 77).

Subs Not Used: De Sanctis, Duda, Mosquera, De Mul.

Booked: Keita, Daniel.

Goals: Daniel 6, Keita 9, Kanoute 41.

Fenerbahce Demirel, Gonul, Edu Dracena, Lugano, Wederson, Deivid, Aurelio, Sahin (Senturk 62),Boral (Kazim-Richards 111), Alex (Bilgin 112), Kezman.

Subs Not Used: Kulbilge, Cakmak, Arat, Turaci.

Booked: Sahin, Deivid, Gonul, Wederson, Kezman.

Goals: Deivid 21, 80.

Agg (5-5) Fenerbahce win 3-2 on penalties

Att: 38,626

Ref: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland).

Source: sportinglife.com