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Arsenal are back on top of the premier league standings after they beat West ham 2 - 0 yesterday despite the fact that Thomas Vermaelen was shown a red card for tangling with Guillermo Franco just before the break.

Blatter's chances of being re-elected unopposed for a fourth term in office were further enhanced by FIFA's financial results for 2009, which showed turnover topping $1bn for the first time, with reserves of a similar level. Fifa's results for 2009 showed revenue was $1.059bn 18% of which is profit.

Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres set about Lille's destruction. Giving Liverpool fans something else to talk about other than Albert Riera's bad hair day.

Meanwhile, ahead of the Liverpool weekend match, Sir Alex has been working the FA calling the disciplinary committee a "dysfunctional unit" following their decision not to punish Gerrard for throwing an elbow against Michael Brown in the Portsmouth match. The old dog is back to his old tricks after being quiet for a bit.

On meeting the CL champions:

"We respect what Barcelona have done but competition is about what you do tomorrow," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

"I believe what is important is that on the day everyone sees a good game and we win it.

"We are focused on us, not our opponents. In the quarter-finals you are bound to meet a good team and Barca are a good team."

Nicely understated.

At the Camp Nou end, Gerard Pique, Cesc's La Masia compatriot warned that, "All the attention will be on Cesc, we are friends but on the field there is no friendship, we will each defend our own."

"It will be a great game and I think people will enjoy it because we both have a similar style. For us it is better that they not only defend but also attack and want to score goals."

William Gallas may have a Baker's Cyst.

From Wenger's description, the defender does not appear to have a straightforward calf strain. There is fluid accumulation that is putting pressure on his calf muscles which seems suspiciously like the complication from a Baker's cyst rupturing. These cysts are the possible sequelae to a history of knee ligament and meniscal injuries.

Whatever the cause, It looks like Gallas will be out for the next 4-5 weeks. If that happens then he will not be available for the CL quarterfinals against Barca.

The injury complicates contract talks. Gallas wants a two year deal which is contrary to Wenger's usual offer of a one year contract as a matter of policy to players over 30 years. The only way out for Gallas is to take a hefty wage cut. An injury might be additional leverage but then at this crucial stage why expose Sol Campbell?

The good news is that Cesc and Tomas Rosicky have been declared fit and they will see action in the weekend against the Hammers. Alexander Song is back from his two match suspension. So we have our midfield back.

As a Gunner supporter, one could not have asked for a tougher opponent barring Man Utd. As a lover of football, this sets up one delicious quarterfinal.

The match will see Thierry Henry re-uniting with his old team. Barca, I dare say is probably about twice as potent as the 2006 team that won the CL final against the Gunners. Messi is at the top of his game.

We can expect an encounter full of fluent and attacking football of the highest quality, by practitioners who presently hold the patent to the beautiful game.

Bayern faces Man Utd, Lyon will go up against fellow Ligue rival Bordeaux, and CSKA plays the new Cinderella, Inter.

Jonathan Zebina reacts to a group of unhappy tifosi racially taunting him

The Juve tifosi are an unhappy lot who have vented their anger on a frustrating season on a whole host of people like Jean Claude Blanc, Juve's owner and director of football operations Alessio Sacco.

On the pitch, the players made easier targets. Especially the ones with darker skin. Jonathan Zebina and Felipe Melo were subjected to racist taunts by a handful of Juve supporters throughout the match. When Zebina exited the pitch after receiving his red card he showed them the finger.

Afterwards, he apologized for the gesture but he also said that it was to show his displeasure at thirty thugs and racists who he accused of traveling to England "just to chant these things."

"I'm tired of this situation and the fans need to stop."

The incident continues a disturbing trend at Juventus. In April 2009, Juve had to play a closed door match to Lecce after being sanctioned for fans hurling racial abuse at Mario Balotelli. They were further fined €20,000 on two separate occasions for singing:

"If you jump up and down Balotelli will die."

In a match against Catania last December, Juve fans once again targeted Balotelli singing, "There are no black Italians."

After the April sanction, Juve president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli said:

"Together we must all try to promote a sporting culture that puts respect for the adversary at its core and fights against racism."

We have to remind him again. Start with your club.

A touch of absolute brilliance. A moment that ensures Clint Dempsey's place in Fulham's history. It is not enough to say that he kept their Europa dream alive, it is the way he did it.

The awareness that Chimenti had strayed out of position and then the precision of his delicate chip as it drifted lazily over the goalkeeper who just had to watch helplessly as the ball fell into the net.

"Just one of the great Fulham moments."

The Deuce has been accused of sleep walking in many matches but every once in a while, there are these reminders of supreme talent. Can we say that England might feel a bit of trepidation seeing this?

Fulham's magnificent victory capped what must be a schizophrenic week for the Serie clubs.

Just as the dust from Inter's momentous win over Chelsea had settled, the Italians were treated to the sight of one of their most storied clubs come apart at the seams, as Juve capitulated to the Cottagers.

What has happened to Fabio Cannavaro? The four years from the pinnacle of FIFA's world player to the nadir of a red card at Craven Cottage is a histogram of a player's slow decline. Today, it was a free fall.

Cannavaro was brushed aside contemptuously by Bobby Zamora for Fulham's equalizer in the 9th minute. The big forward drove home past Chimenti after controlling Paul Konchesky's cross with his chest. The Italy's captain nightmarish venture ended when he brought down Zoltan Gera in the 27th minute and was sent off by Bjorn Kuipers.

Alberto Zaccheroni might have a case that the punishment far exceeded the crime. But one can argue that Cannavaro could not have dented Fulham's drive had he remained on the pitch.

For Juve, their Europa euphoria is over and they have reached a dead end in the Serie. It has been a frustrating season after they looked the best bet to challenge Inter for the Scudetto.

After the match, Zaccheroni said:

"Unfortunately, this team can not find stability."

Antonio Chimenti, the 39 year old third choice goalkeeper was used adding context to these words of fatalism.

Roy Hodgson on Fulham's 4 - 1 victory over Juventus."We should just do a Rocky Marciano and retire now because it's not going to get any better than this.This must come close to the greatest night of the club's history. On a personal note, I am not sure I can recall such a recovery. I am on top of the world."

Christian's post on the epic poem on Beckham's heel took me on a google search for more football poetry.
Here are some of the things that turned up..

Pretty good huh ?
There's a whole bunch of poems here and here's one for Chelsea fans after the Inter debacle .It's called "Someone called Jose strikes again " ..... here..

FC Santos will be Red Bull Arena's first visitor on March 20th

Looks like a player strike is imminent barring a last minute deal. Free agency and guaranteed player contracts continue to be the sticking points.

The MLS players are standing firm. Kasey Keller:

"I understand where the league was coming from five, 10 years ago when it was up against the wall if we were going to still have a league," Keller said. "That's now no longer the case and some of the things they were able to get away with just can't happen anymore."

This season's highlights would include the Red Bulls moving to their $200 million new home and the new franchise Philadelphia Union.

Rubbishes Rafa's man management skills.

The Spanish winger nurses World Cup ambitions and his lack of playing time at Liverpool are hurting those chances big time.

Chalk down Riera as another wasted and expensive Rafa transfer. It's quite a list.

In an ESPN interview:

"Arsenal are a team to consider because of their fantastic build-up play. They are like us at Barca in so many ways. Rather than being from London, they should be from South America. Andrei Arshavin and Cesc Fabregas are touch-players I love to watch."

He also mentions Man Utd but leaves the glowing description for the Gunners.

These guys are not the ones

These guys are. The MAN Group, Britain's biggest hedge fund is being lured on board by the Red Knights.

The hedge fund is amongst the top ten performers with over $20 billion in assets. It is managed by Jon Aisbitt, an ex Goldman Sachs partner.

The MAN Group was founded by James Man in 1783, a barrel maker who won the contract to supply the Royal Navy with rum. On July 31st, 1970 the Royal Navy abolished the supply of rum which kept its officers and sailors inebriated throughout the Battle of Trafalgar and Jutland. They were saved by an equally sozzled enemy. By then Man's business had diversified into one of the world's largest investment companies.

The hedge fund also sponsors the Man Booker prize which went last year to Hilary Mantel for her novel "Wolf Hall." The year before it went to Arvind Adiga for "The White Tiger", which in my opinion is the definitive account of the two India's that co-exist today.

MAN Manchester United sounds quite acceptable. I look forward to Pusser's being served to the players especially when they play Arsenal.

A tribute to the clubs left in the CL fray.

Jimmy Page and the Yardbirds (with Keith Relf on vocals) perform "Train Kept A Rollin". Enjoy.

Carlo Ancelotti gone from Stamford Bridge. 10... 9... 8....7....6 .....

In certain gloomy fan forums David Moyes is being touted. David Moyes? In other more optimistic circles, Fernando Torres is being courted after the striker came out with the statement that his tenure at Liverpool would be conditional, based on who the club decides to buy in the summer.

Whatever the spin, it is clear that Ancelotti is on an endangered species list. Bitchelotti. The yapmeisters are full of it.

What galls the Stamford Bridge faithful is that the manager who led them to unprecedented heights came to their house and kicked them in their posterior. Doing it without ruffling his hair or his panache. Meanwhile, Abramovich has stiffened up, changing his blank cheques into club equity, making profitability a prerequisite.

The heydays are gone when Stamford Bridge could gather around gladiator style to see their latest high powered acquisitions tearing a chunk out from the opposition. And then watch the mortally wounded gyrate in their death throes.

Left in place is a Milan style aged squad who got caught out. Deja vu? Carlo Ancelotti does not even have a Pato as redemption. Meanwhile, Chelsea fans can't get enough of Malouda while Anelka and Lampard seem to be playing on egg shells. And still others could audition for Caligula. Sound Roman enough?

Arsenal target Marouane Chamakh made sure that Bordeaux joined Lyon as the second French league side in the CL last eight.

It was not easy as Bordeaux suffered a Konstantinos Mitroglou equalizer and a horrendous Alou Diarra tackle that saw their captain receiving his marching orders. It sparked off a dominant second half performance by the Greek club as they searched for a second goal to progress to the last eight. But Antonios Nikopolidis whiffed on a Tremoulinas cross and Chamakh was in perfect position to launch himself forward for his winning header.

Earlier, Yoann Gourcuff launched lightning bolts from the left, one which beat Nikolipidis all ends up for the early Bordeaux lead. It was all going to Laurent Blanc's plan as promised with Les Girondins on the attack instead of trying to defend a 1-0 first leg lead.

A note here for Arsenal fans about Chamakh. He is a bit Jekyll and Hyde. He does show a penchant for selfless play (good), a heavy touch (bad), a powerful aerial presence (good). In sum, he is not any better than Bendtner which cannot be comforting. Wenger would be advised to continue to cast his eye around.

Lionel Messi we bow once again! We have lost count of your superlative performances. Following on the heels of his Valencia virtuoso, the Argentinian was at his best as stuttering Stuttgart lost its voice altogether against his onslaught. Stuttgart dared to hope after the first leg. Oh! How appearances deceive.

Christian Gross must be comforted by Karl Heinz Rummenigge to convince the Stuttgart coach that there is life after such utter destruction. Bayern was bludgeoned by Barca in similar fashion last season. Yet here they are wondering with bated breath as with every other club. Who gets Barca in the Friday draw?

But before we conclude that this was the Leo Messi show, lets point to some of Stuttgart's own failings that hastened their doom. Jens Lehmann was just awful. The former Arsenal goalie's decision making was piss poor. He spent most of his time getting caught out of position and making shoddily timed dives.

The first goal saw four defenders collapse around Messi and yet none showed the awareness of a Maicon or a Samuel launching themselves horizontally to actually block shots. Especially with the ball on his shooting foot. Similarly, Lehmann was caught charging Toure after Messi's superb pass isolated the Cote D'Ivoirian and Pedro found an empty goal to finish off. Dani Alves superb flick found Messi and Lehmann once again showed poor timing in his dive. Zlatan Ibrahimovic slipped the ball to a streaking Bojan Krkic and Lehmann's half hearted charge found acres of space to slip the ball into goal.

Barca would have won but lets put it this way, they could not have found a better ally in Lehmann and the Stuttgart defense.

And if he's really sorry as he claimed to be he should play out his days in the League of Ireland..

A big blow for the Blaugrana on the eve of their CL second leg against Stuttgart.

Midfield maestro Xavi injured his calf muscle during training and will be out for 2 weeks.

With the match delicately poised at 1-1 and the Sevilla defeat putting pressure on them as the only flag bearer of La Liga. This CL campaign has seen the demise of four of the five past champions. Xavi's absence could hurt them as he has been their best ball distributor.

Barca has problems of continuity. One day sublime, the next, desultory. They are also in danger of becoming a one trick pony with their fortunes centered around Messi. Guardiola will see hope in Thierry Henry having a breakout performance against Valencia. Zlatan Ibrahimovic should be back providing a big target for Barca's aerial game.

Seydou Keita just received his medical clearance and should be the first choice to pair up with Busquets. Carlos Puyol should be back to bolster the defence.

Barca have to watch out for an old Arsenal hand in Aliksiandr Hleb who set up Cacau's goal. This will be the Stuttgart game plan with criss crossing wing play and a rain of crosses into the box to catch out some of the slower members of the Barca defense.

All in all, a promise of a fascinating match at the Camp Nou with the German team having a good chance as any in this CL season of David upsetting Goliath.

Seems like Andriy Arshavin has been moonlighting as an internet Deepak Chopra. His advise appears as free ranging as his pitch performances.

Here is Arshavin defending John Terry's actions. It is football's equivalent of Emile Zola's eloquent "J' accuse."

I also think Arshavin's Orwellian nightmare of tabloids inserting cameras in the pants of footballers to fulfill a prurient interest was just a step removed from the recent spy-gate. Kind of prophetic.

All this makes Arshavin a fascinating character. Footballers with wide ranging interests? Rio Ferdinand is another.