NNewew VVisionision SPORT Monday, November 7, 2011 63 Szczesny gets used to giving the orders ARSENAL Wojciech Szczesny is unwor- ried by the prospect of bawl- ing out experienced interna- tional defenders Per 25years not out Mertesacker and Thomas Vermaelen as Arsenal’s defence finally achieves some stability this season. The Emotional Ferguson looking beyond anniversary 21-year old Polish keeper can Injured Cech fought on regularly be seen barking orders at Mertesacker, 27, who has 78 Germany caps Boas hails and also now at Vermaelen, 25, after his return from inju- ry, who has 32 caps for brave Cech Belgium. Szczesny’s role in organising his defence has BLACKBURN been instrumental Arsenal in recording nine wins and a Chelsea manager Andre draw in their last 11 games Villas-Boas hailed the and the keeper said: ‘For me commitment of Petr Cech it really doesn’t matter if my after the Blues goalkeep- defence are older than me or er fought through the more experienced than me, it pain barrier to help the doesn’t make any difference. Londoners secure a vital My job is to get them organ- 1-0 win over Blackburn. ised and their job is to listen.” Cech suffered a sus- pected broken nose City and Chelsea in Premier League summaries after a heavy collision QPR 2 Man City 3 with Blackburn striker chase for Eriksen Blackburn 0 Chelsea 1 Ayegbeni Yakubu in the Manr United 1 Sunderland 0 early stages at Ewood SOCCER Arsenal 3 West Brom 0 Park, but played on to Aston Villa 3 Norwich 2 help the Blues earn their Manchester City and Chelsea first clean sheet since are locking horns in the bat- Liverpool 0 Swansea 0 Newcastle 2 Everton 1 the opening day of the tle to sign one of Europe’s season. top young talents Christian United boss Ferguson believes he still has more to offer The Czezh interna- Eriksen. Chelsea have fired an tional currently wears a opening salvo, testing Ajax’s had my family. I don’t think they Lindergaarhappy to start scrum cap after suffering resolve to hang on to the MANCHESTER did anyway. “I am glad it’s all over, Anders Lindegaard, handed a a serious head injury in a 19-year-old midfielder with a though. We can kick on now.” start in favour of David de Gea in challenge with Reading’s £22million offer, but City are Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated his United needed an own goal from the United goal, disagreed with Stephen Hunt in 2006. ready to step in with a bid of 25th anniversary as manager of their former defender Wes Brown his manager’s claim that the sense And Villas-Boas felt about £30m. Both clubs, Manchester United with a 1-0 deep in first-half injury-time to be of occasion affected them but he Cech showed courage to along with the crème de la victory over Sunderland before sure of the three points and, while was quick to pay his own tribute to play on despite his histo- crème of European football, admitting that he had been moved they recorded a fourth consecutive 69-year-old Ferguson. ry of injuries to his head. had representatives at the by the club’s decision to name a clean sheet since the humiliation “Definitely not,” said Lindegaard “I think he has bro- European Cup qualifier stand in his honour. of the 6-1 home loss to Manchester when asked if the anniversary oc- ken his nose. He was in against Dynamo Zagreb last The North Stand, the largest of City, it was hardly a vintage United casion had been a problem. “Some tremendous difficulty Tuesday, when Eriksen had a the four at Old Trafford, is now ti- display. of the wisest words I have learned and he’s injury-prone in starring role in the Dutch tled “The Sir Alex Ferguson Stand,” “I’d have been quite happy to since I came here came from the these types of incidents,” club’s 4-0 victory. He is an while United chief executive David blow the whistle when we went manager who said, Play the game, Villas-Boas said. established international, Gill also confirmed that a statue of 1-0 up and finish the game,” said not the occasion. “He gave us good sig- having been the youngest the veteran Scottish manager will Ferguson. “It was an anxious day “We tend to slow down our pace nals and we asked if he player the 2010 World Cup. be unveiled there before the start of next season. for the players and I think they when we are playing opponents wanted to come off at “I was really emotional. I couldn’t showed that today. They improved in a lower gear than ourselves. We half time but he and Rooney: Treat believe and I didn’t expect that,” in the second-half, but the last 15 have to be able to keep our high- wanted to continue. said Ferguson who was clearly minutes was torture. est gear even if we are playing op- “That was brave be- me like Arshavin moved when Gill revealed the “Possibly, yes, the occasion got ponents not playing that quick. We cause he’s been suffer- tribute on the pitch before kick-off. to the players. The players wanted have to do that better. “Naming ing a lot from these types ENGLAND “I have to thank the club for that to do well for me, I think that was a stand after the manager says it of injury.” Wayne Rooney will use the because it is fantastic of them to obvious, but these occasions can all. He’s got he biggest stand, one two-match ban handed to do that. I am really proud of this be a bit like that. of the biggest stands in the world, Terry in England Russia’s Andrey Arshavin at moment. “I remember when we com- is called the Sir Alex Ferguson squad for friendlies Euro 2008 as the cornerstone “I never knew a thing about it. memorated the 50th anniversary Stand. I’d be thrilled to have one of his appeal against the (Assistant manager) Mike Phelan of Munich against City and that seat named the Anders Lindegaard England captain John longer suspension he knew about it and he never told certainly got through to the players seat!” Lindegaard and Ferguson Terry will be named received for kicking out at me, so he’s sacked. But I had that day, no question. Maybe a both benefited from the return of in the squad for this Montenegro’s Miodrag absolutely no idea and neither little bit today.” Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand. month’s friendly inter- Dzudovic in England’s final nationals against world Euro 2012 qualifier last champions Spain and month. Rooney accepts the Sweden despite allega- blame for that moment of tions he racially abused petulance but feels he should Anton Ferdinand. not be treated more harshly Wenger praises world class RVP than Arshavin, who was sent off for violent conduct against LONDON Van Persie has scored eight goals Can Arsene Wenger Andorra in Russia’s final quali- in his last six league starts and Wenger believes his man belongs emulate Ferguson fier before the European finals Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and stay at Arsenal four years ago. Rooney is has hailed striker Robin van in the category of the world’s fin- appealing against UEFA’s Persie as “world class” and be- est five players. for 25 years? Write three-match ban that would lieves he could be capable of And although the Arsenal man- WENGER, leave a force him to miss the group winning the Ballon d’Or next ager concedes this year Barce- space, type your games next summer in season if he keeps up his current lona playmaker Lionel Messi’s answer, your name Poland and Ukraine. He is form. has the world player of the year and send to 8338 ready to travel to Switzerland Wenger watched his Dutch award in the bag, he believes his striker score the first and make striker could be a contender next NB: Send before to speak to the appeal panel Thursday 3pm. and the Arshavin factor is two more in Saturday’s 3-0 win year. “The only thing you know is uppermost in his mind. The over West Bromwich Albion at ‘world class’. When I was a kid, Available to Airtel, Manchester United star said: the Emirates Stadium, which sent in Germany they had three rank- MTN, Orange, utl & ‘It’s hard for me. Arsenal to within three points ings: national class, international Warid subscribers of the Premier League top four. class and world class,” he said. Manager Wenger and hot-red Robin Van Persie.