Ahead of TheGame: Make or break for Arsenal

The news in 60 seconds

MAKE OR BREAK FOR ARSENAL
Arsene Wenger has billed the Champions League fixture against Liverpool as the start of the most challenging period he has faced in nearly 12 years in charge of the club. "The next ten days will define our season because I strongly believe that we are in the championship race," he said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article3661328.ece

BENITEZ RELYING ON TORRES
The Liverpool manager believes his star striker will be the inspiration for another European triumph against the odds, insisting he has the big-match mentality to shoot his side into the last four of the Champions League. "Three times now in a week we play Arsenal, twice in Europe and on Saturday in the league, and I would expect Fernando to work just as he has done before," Benitez said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article3661306.ece

PM CAUTIONS FOOTBALLERS
Gordon Brown responded to questions about recent instances of bad behaviour at matches, with players openly challenging referees. "I think that most fathers and mothers - when they know their teenagers or young children are watching football matches, either as spectators at games or watching them on television - want their footballers to be better role-models," he said. Yeah, just like politicians.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3661383.ece

LIVERPOOL AND EVERTON FACING POLICE PROBE
Police will speak to Liverpool and Everton about alleged incidents in the Merseyside derby. Officers are investigating claims Phil Neville was spat on and punched by Liverpool fans as he prepared to take a throw-in. They are also looking at reports that Liverpool's Steven Gerrard was subjected to hate-filled chants about his personal life. Didn't this use to be called "The Friendly Derby"?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3659069.ece

PORTO FACE MATCH-FIXING CHARGES
The Portuguese club have been formally accused of fixing two domestic matches against Estrela da Amadora and Beira Mar during the 2003-04 season. It was the same season that saw arguably Jose Mourinho's greatest triumph as he led them to the Champions League trophy.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article3658976.ece

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEWS: MASCHERANO RETURNS
Emmanuel Adebayor is set to start for Arsenal in tomorrow's quarter-final first leg match against Liverpool. Javier Mascherano is expected to return to the Liverpool midfield after serving a one-game suspension, with Lucas Leiva likely to drop out.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article3651331.ece

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: LIVE COMMENTARY
Follow all the action as Manchester United take on Roma in the Olympic Stadium with our rolling match coverage. Live from 7.45pm.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/sports_commentary/football/index.html

SOUTHAMPTON FACE EGM REQUEST
Rupert Lowe, the former Southampton chairman, has requested the Saints hold an extraordinary general meeting at which they will call for the removal of a number of the current board. Southampton Leisure Holdings have confirmed they have received a requisition from Lowe, Michael Wilde and Merlion Equities Ltd, who hold a 22.97 per cent share in the company, to convene a meeting. The cheek of the man.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3659200.ece

MANSFIELD GET CROWD REDUCTION
The League Two club have had the capacity at their Field Mill stadium temporarily reduced by 50 per cent to just 4,684 after the resignation of James Derry, the club's chairman and safety certificate holder. AOTG thought it was star players who put bums on seats.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3660446.ece

SPL HOPE TO KEEP GRETNA GOING
The Scottish Premier League insist they are doing everything in their power to keep the team in business until the end of the season. "We are in an intensive care situation with Gretna and we are in constant communication with the administrator in an attempt to solve the situation as best as we possibly can." Iain Blair, the SPL secretary, said, invoking an image at AOTG of hospital beds being pushed around a pitch.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article3660192.ece

LIVE MATCHTRACKER
Cardiff City host West Brom in the FA Cup semi-final that could have been, except it's in the Championship. There are two huge games at the top of League One as Carlisle play Nottingham Forest and Leeds visit Doncaster. Follow events as they unfold, live from 7.45pm.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/live_match_tracker/

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If you've got another couple of minutes

Manchester United travel to Roma tonight for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final and for those watching the match the big question will be whether Cristiano Ronaldo can replicate his spectacular domestic form within the Olympic Stadium. Does the Portuguese star need to deliver the European Cup to be considered the best player in the world or have his achievements this season convinced you that he has it in the bag? Martin Samuel, The Times Chief Football Correspondent, believes he has nothing to prove: "It seems strange that confirmation of his ability should depend on the odd 90 minutes of football, rather than the weeks and months in which he has been shown to be the best, but just as Colin Montgomerie needed his major and Tim Henman his grand-slam tournament win to be elevated to the elite, so Ronaldo needs a starring role in Europe." Do you agree?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3656222.ece

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>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<<
Kop chiefs apart - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Tom Hicks and George Gillett have asked not to be seated together for the Champions League match against Arsenal at the Emirates tomorrow. 2) Gillett admitted that his relationship with his Liverpool co-owner was unworkable. 3) Rick Parry, the club's chief executive, said: "We need a resolution." 4) AOTG suggests the Americans have a tug of war with the scarf they shared for their first Anfield photo shoot and the winner takes all.
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A quickie before you go, sir?

Manchester United may be the favourites to turn Roma over tonight, but luck can often be more important than skill in crucial encounters. Watch Rodrigo Taddei enjoy a fortuitous whack in the chops against Roma last month.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu1cYBUyDoQ

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35
The number of managers from the top four divisions who have left clubs this season after Huddersfield Town and Andy Ritchie parted company today. Considering that only 12 teams are relegated at the end of the season that number seems a tad high.
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In TheGame

Your football smugshots are still flooding in and AOTG continues to be blown away by some of the famous faces on show. Paul Joseph gets the biggest praise for his collection of pictures taken with five of Brazil's 1970 World Cup winning team. We also have a fake Diego Maradona and the real one, plus the real Henrik Larsson and a cardboard cut-out - but can you tell which are which? Keep the snaps coming and who knows, we might get bought out by Facebook.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/03/football-smug-s.html
In TheGame Podcast, Gabriele Marcotti reveals a stat that lovers of Martin O'Neill will not appreciate and Guillem Balague interviews Rafael Benitez who reveals that the Liverpool players are feeling the strain at this crucial point of the season.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/03/the-rafa-report.html
Our Newcastle expert is having a dizzy spell in Fanzine Fanzone after his team's first back-to-back wins since December. Or maybe it was the sight of Geremi, Nicky Butt and Joey Barton combining to great effect in midfield that did it. About time, wouldn't you say?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/2008/03/dizzy-spell.html
Bill Edgar has posted his daily trivia question: name the four clubs who have won successive English league titles on two or more separate occasions?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/03/bill-edgars-t-7.html

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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
Red alert - The Sun
Everton fury at Rafa fans attack - Daily Mirror
Capello embroiled in corruption case - The Daily Telegraph
Capello's No 2 subjected to 'Mafia threat' in Italian court - The Independent
Uefa warns Roma as fears for fans mount - The Guardian
Reds don't like to Rome - Daily Express
Tell us the truth, Fabio - Daily Mail
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

"I've never understood this home and away business. The ball is still round, they play for 90 minutes with the same eleven men on a standard size pitch and the advertising billboards all say the same thing (in the Champions League anyway). I accept that the crowd shout different things but when I played sport I never heard the crowd. Can anyone shed any light on this?"
Andy in Lyon, France is stumped by Manchester United's relatively poor record away to Europe's top teams. Perhaps Sir Alex Ferguson should use his words as a team talk. By the way, is the reason you never heard the crowd down to the fact that there wasn't one? AOTG is intrigued to know more.

"Why do you only give prominence to the Premier League teams? What about the battle for promotion taking place in the Championship? Although we are currently top, Bristol City's achievement this season has been ignored by the popular press."
It's not enough for Colin Baser that his team are close to promotion, he wants more. Wait until next year and depending on whether the Robins go up then you can delight in all the media scrutiny that Derby have enjoyed.

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Tomorrow's news today

- Ruud van Nistelrooy misses Manchester United
- Roberto Carlos says Chelsea have no chance against Fenerbahce

And expect...

Mansfield Town to ask Max Mosley to run their corporate events.

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