MAN CITY 4 - ARSENAL 2

Emmanuel Adebayor had the last laugh on Arsenal as he scored the decisive third goal in a pulsating encounter from which Manchester City emerged with a 4-2 win and their 100% record intact.

 

When Shaun Wright-Phillips sent over a vicious cross, the £25million man had no intention other than to find the net, which he duly did, sending a capacity crowd into ecstasy.

 

Manuel Almunia's own goal gave City a first-half lead before Robin van Persie drew the Gunners level just past the hour mark. Craig Bellamy, Adebayor and Shaun Wright-Phillips put the game to bed for City before the returning Tomas Rosicky scored a late consolation.

 

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WILSHERE STAYS AT EMIRATES

Arsenal have tied up promising teenager Jack Wilshere on a new long-term contract as the Gunners continue to look to the future.

 

Wales international Aaron Ramsey, 18, on Wednesday agreed an extension to his deal, and the Premier League club have been quick to also secure the potential of Hertfordshire-born Wilshere, at the club since he was just nine.

 

Manager Arsene Wenger rates the England youth international highly. Wilshere signed professional terms when he turned 17 on New Year's Day and had became the youngest player to represent Arsenal in both the league and in European competition when making his first-team breakthrough last season.

 

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REAL MADRID SIGNS BENZEMA

 

Lyon have accepted an offer from Real Madrid for striker Karim Benzema. The striker becomes Real's third major signing after Brazil's Kaka and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.

 

Madrid and Manchester United have been vying for the services of the 21-year-old but Lyon continued to insist before today that the France international would remain at the Stade Gerland for another season at least.

 

However, Les Gones announced on their official website this afternoon that they have accepted a fee of at least 35m euros (£30m) from Madrid for the player, with performance clauses set to see that fee rise to 41m euros.

 

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LYON CONFIRM BENZEMA BID

 

Lyon have confirmed that they have received a bid for Karim Benzema from an unnamed club, but insist that any agreement over the France international's transfer is yet to be reached. The side in question is thought to be Real Madrid with strong reports in both Spain and France linking them with a £35million move for the 21-year-old.

 

The striker is also been rumoured to have interested Manchester United with manager Sir Alex Ferguson said to be a big admirer of the gifted youngster. The Premier League champions have £80million burning a hole in their pocket after the confirmed sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real and know that they must find someone to take on the scoring burden left by the Portugal winger.

 

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GALLAS STAYING ALIVE AT EMIRATES

 

William Gallas maintains he has no intentions of leaving Arsenal this summer. The central defender, 32 in August, has endured something of a difficult spell since arriving from Chelsea two years ago.

 

Manager Arsene Wenger eventually replaced Gallas as captain with Cesc Fabregas following public criticism of the young squad and reports of a bust-up with centre-half partner Kolo Toure.

 

However, somewhat ironically, the Frenchman then went on to produce a string of consistent displays as the Gunners found some form over the latter part of the campaign before missing the closing weeks because of injury.

 

Gunners boss Wenger, though, continued to give Gallas his full support, denying suggestions Gallas had played his last game for the Gunners.

 

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VAN PERSIE REJECTS MOVE TALK

 

Robin van Persie has rejected speculation linking him with a move away from Arsenal, insisting he wants to stay at the club. The Dutchman is yet to sign a new deal at the Emirates Stadium, despite being locked in talks over a contract extension for the last few months.

 

Manchester United have been linked with a shock move for the forward, but van Persie plans to stay at Arsenal and is determined to establish himself as the best player in the world at the club. Van Persie is desperate for success at Arsenal after only lifting the FA Cup during his first five seasons in north London.

 

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ARSENAL ENTER RACE TO SIGN BENZEMA

 

Arsenal are reported to be in the race to sign Lyon striker Karim Benzema, as they look to replace Emmanuel Adebayor should he leave for AC Milan this summer. The highly-rated Benzema has been linked with Manchester United for the past six months, but the News of the World claim that the striker is now subject of interest from Arsene Wenger.

 

Should the future of £25m Togo striker Adebayor be decided in the next few weeks, Arsenal will be keen to bolster their strikeforce and a £30m bid for Benzema could be accepted.

 

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ARSENAL SIGN THOMAS VERMAELEN

 

Arsenal have completed the signing of versatile Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax Amsterdam. The 23-year-old, who can play either centrally or on the left, passed a medical on Friday and will bolster a defence that came under fire from all quarters last season.

 

Arsenal have not disclosed the fee or the length of the 'long-term' contract, but Vermaelen's agent recently suggested a four-year deal had been offered to his client and reports estimate the transfer fee to be around £10m.

 

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FABREGAS TO STAY DESPITE ADMIRING GUARDIOLA

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas admits that Pep Guardiola is his idol. Though, he has received no contact from Barcelona. The Gunners midfielder has been persistently linked with a return to the Camp Nou, where he spent his youth career before moving to England in 2003.

Fabregas expressed that he is happy at Emirates Stadium, and hinted that working under former Barca midfielder and now manager Guardiola, would not be a totally unpleasant prospect.

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ARSHAVIN'S AGENT DEMAND SALARY INCREASE

Andrei Arshavin's agent has called on Arsenal to increase the star's £80,000-a-week wage packet to compensate for tax increases imposed by the British government. Next April the top rate of income tax will rise from 40% to 50% and agent Dennis Lachter wants the Gunners to alter the terms of Arshavin's deal to compensate his client.

The Russia forward agreed a three-and-a-half-year contract when he signed from Zenit St Petersburg for £15m just four months ago.

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