Laurent Koscielny News

Wayne Rooney denies transfer request, Arsenal quoted A 30m for Jovetic, City in talks on Cavani and Benitez to Stoke... THIAGO FOR UNITED? We're taking this with a massive pinch of salt because the fella who wrote The Sun's 'Thiago for United' story lives in Sheffield and doesn't even speak a word of Spanish.

Had Daniel Levy given Andre Villas-Boas the striker and midfielder he needed last summer, then Spurs would surely have finished above Arsenal.

After the tailspin the club had fallen into under Juande Ramos, Redknapp had coaxed Tottenham into realising their potential with some stunning football and a Champions League campaign which reached the quarter-finals. No pressure then for the man who had been sacked by Chelsea.

The Gunners skipper spent the final two months of the season sat on the bench as Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker firmly established themselves as Arsene Wenger's preferred central defensive partnership.

After nine months, 53 games, 29 wins, 105 goals and one, priceless, top-four finish, another dramatic season is over.

The Premier League season may only have ended three days ago, but amid speculation that manager Arsene Wenger is planning to overhaul his squad, three of his players appear to have begun putting in overtime to convince the Frenchman of their worth.

READING A NEW SCRIPT Arsenal had already rattled in seven goals at Reading's Madejski Stadium this season, but they returned for a Premier League fixture on December 17 in seemingly more straitened circumstances.

Arsenal broke the hearts of their arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur yet again on Sunday as they claimed the final Champions League spot at their expense on a final day of the Premier League season bursting with goals and goodbyes.

Arsenal 's Barclays Premier League victory over Newcastle ensured they beat rivals Tottenham to the last Champions League place despite a late blockbuster from Gareth Bale on the final day of the season.

Howard Webb sparked great amusement at St James' Park when he returned to referee the second half of Newcastle's last-day clash with Arsenal because he and his team of assistants had swapped shirts due to bites from flying midges.

The margin was so fine, so gnawing at his peace of mind, that ArsA ne Wenger now knows how it is to step down from the dock freed from the heaviest of charges.

Arsenal clinched their own Champions League spot this afternoon, winning their crucial game against Newcastle 1-0 thanks to a Laurent Koscielny goal.

Laurent Koscielny ensured Arsenal of a place in the Champions League qualifiers with the only goal in a tight encounter at Newcastle.

Arsenal qualified for the Champions League for the 16th straight season after edging Tottenham to fourth place in the Premier League, as Alex Ferguson bowed out as Manchester United manager with a 5-5 draw against West Bromwich Albion.

SLOPPY PLAY Lack of cohesion brings attacks from both sides to a standstill, with Debuchy first refusing to pass and being bullied off the ball.

Wenger looks pre-historic, post-Fergie; Moyes - leave Everton players alone; Newcastle need leader in Kevin Nolan mould a Part two: QPR to Wigan Athletic West Ham United's Kevin Nolan and Newcastle United's Hatem Ben Arfa in action.

Whether it be for something as simple as bragging rights or as crucial as Champions League qualification, Arsenal and Tottenham are making something of a habit of heading into the last day of the season with plenty riding on their results.

Wigan winger Callum McManaman has been ruled out of England's European Under-21 Championship campaign with an ankle injury.

After his contract wrangle earlier in the campaign, Arsenal's Theo Walcott has kicked on to become one of Arsenal's most important players, writes John Cross In particular, the North London clubs have been going toe-to-toe. Tottenham have been laying down the gauntlet - and it's been up to Arsenal to respond.

Chelsea are favourites to lift the Europa League for the first time at the expense of Benfica in Amsterdam on Wednesday.