Emirates Airlines to sponsor AC Milan

Dubai's Emirates Airlines said Wednesday it would sign a sponsorship contract with Italy's AC Milan, without disclosing the value or the duration of the deal.

"Emirates Airlines will officially sign the contract in Milan on Friday", airline spokesman Boutros Boutros told AFP in Dubai.

"We are proud to sponsor a club as prestigious as AC Milan."

Emirates already sponsors English Premiership club Arsenal, German side Hamburg, Paris Saint-Germain in France and Greek side Olympiakos.

Chamakh Reveals Premier League Trio Talks

Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh has revealed that he has held talks with three Premier League clubs.

However, the Moroccan international has denied signing a pre-contract agreement with Arsenal.

The 26-year-old, who is available on a free transfer in the summer, admitted that he had been in contact with Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

"Some said I have signed for Arsenal. I deny it categorically," he said.

"It's true there are contacts with English clubs, including Arsenal, but I deny there's a deal."

Chamakh added: "The more it goes, the less I see myself playing for Bordeaux next season."

While on Tuesday, Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez admitted that he is unlikely to sign Chamakh, stating: "I do not think we will sign him - but I will not say any more."

Chamakh has long been linked with Arsenal, who host Liverpool in the Premier League on Wednesday, but Gunners boss Arsene Wenger refused to be drawn on potential signings.

"We are talking to nobody," said the Frenchman. "We are focusing on the game against Liverpool.

"I believe he talks to many clubs, which he is entitled to do. Chamakh is free to sign a pre-contract, he is free to sign where he wants, but I cannot interfere in that."

Barca Injury Crisis Deepens

Barcelona defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy has become the latest player to join the growing injury list at Camp Nou.

Along with Eric Abidal, Gerard Pique, Rafael Marquez and Dani Alves, will not be ava

The former Shakhtar Donetsk player has been ruled out of this weekend's trip to Atletico Madrid due to an arm complaint.

Chygrynskiy is out for at least a week and, ilable to travel to the Vicente Calderon.

Pique and Marquez will be suspended after their red cards against Getafe, while Alves is facing a three-week lay-off with a calf problem and Abidal has been ruled out for two months due to injury.

To make matters worse, midfielder Yaya Toure, who played in defence following Pique's early dismissal, limped off with a leg injury and is likely to be sidelined for 10 to 15 days.

Pep Guardiola now has just three first-team defenders available to him in Carles Puyol, Gabriel Milito and Maxwell.

Domenech backs Vieira's City move

Patrick Vieira joined Manchester City from Internazionale in order to boost his chances for a World Cup spot.

This decision seems to get the desired effect: France boss Raymond Domenech has praised the midfielder's decision to leave Inter.

Vieira was desperate for regular first team football and Domenech has admitted that the player is now firmly in his World Cup plans. 

"He needed to play again, it didn't really matter where, but now it's a bonus that he finds himself again at a very good club,” Domenech told L'Equipe.

"His departure is good news. Both of us have been talking about it for several months,” he continued.

"It's good for him, it's good for Les Bleus. In so far as he plays and he is at his right level, there is no reason that he won't go to the World Cup.

Crucial Match for Arsenal

Samir Nasri believes Arsenal will be out of the title race if they lose to Chelsea on Sunday.

The Frenchman was involved last weekend as the Gunners lost 3-1 at home to Manchester United - a defeat that has contributed to them falling six points off the title pace, having briefly topped the Barclays Premier League last month.

The Gunners won 2-1 at Stamford Bridge last season thanks to two goals from Robin van Persie, but will be without the injured Dutchman on Sunday.

"Defeat is forbidden," Nasri said. "That would mean the end of our title chances.

"But any other result would leave us in the running."

The Gunners have struggled against their title rivals this season, losing to United twice as well as being comprehensively beaten by Chelsea at home, and Nasri admits he is at a loss to explain why.

"We know that we can beat anyone," he added.

"Maybe we put a bit too much pressure on ourselves before matches against big teams because we tell ourselves that they are decisive for the title."

Nasri moved to Arsenal in the summer of 2008 and had an impressive debut campaign before picking up a serious injury in pre-season training which sidelined the France international until the end of October.

The 22-year-old believes he has improved under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger, however.

"I have progressed in all areas," said Nasri.

"Tactically, I know how to play on one side even though I remain convinced that I can play better through the middle. I'm also defending a lot better.

"Technically, I'm much more fluid in the one-touch game. That wasn't the case at Marseille.

"My left foot has improved. And I'm also more of a shooter in front of goal."

Wayne Rooney Won Player of the Month for January

Rooney produced a series of outstanding performances to help maintain the Red Devils' Barclays Premier League title push.

The England striker scored six goals during the month and in doing so soared to the top of the Barclays Race for the Golden Boot, becoming the first player to reach 20 goals this season.

Rooney was on the score sheet against Burnley and was again in outstanding form in last weekend's victory against Arsenal, scoring an excellent goal to put the match out of Arsenal's reach.

However, it was United's encounter against Hull City that was the highlight of the month with Rooney scoring all four goals in United's comfortable 4-0 win. Rooney has now scored 20 times in just 23 Barclays Premier League matches this season.

This is the fifth time that Wayne Rooney has won the Barclays Player of the Month award, placing him level with Steven Gerrard as the player with the highest number of individual monthly awards.

The decision was made by the Barclays Awards Panel, which includes representatives from football's governing bodies, the media and fans.