Arsène Wenger hopes that by signing Lukas Podolski he can convince Robin van Persie to commit himself to the club by agreeing a new deal this summer. The 28-year-old's present deal expires at the end of next season and talks are planned later this month amid interest from a number of top clubs, including Barcelona and Manchester City.

Fritz Theilen was a working class lad, who as a leading member of the anti-Nazi Edelweiss Pirates narrowly escaped public execution. He was born in the Ehrenfeld district of Cologne, an industrial, working-class area, in 1927. Like most other school boys he was enrolled in the Hitler Youth. He was expelled in 1940 for insubordination but on leaving school at 14 he was taken on as an apprentice toolmaker by Ford motors, which had opened in Cologne in 1931. There he saw the exploitation of slave labourers.

She survived sudden stardom to sell more than 40 million albums. Ten years on, she has finally got to know her famous father. So why are pain and heartbreak still providing the inspiration for pop music's mistress of alchemy?

German daily Bild claim that Cologne and Arsenal have agreed on the transfer of Germany international Lukas Podolski.

Cologne striker Lukas Podolski refused to comment on a possible move to Arsenal this summer after earning his side a point in a 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim.

Cologne coach Stale Solbakken admits Lukas Podolski could leave the Bundesliga side at the end of the current season.

Great Britain's Lizzy Yarnold won a bronze medal at the women's skeleton World Championship in New York State. The 23-year-old, who became junior world champion in Innsbruck in January but who was in only her third senior race, outpaced the British World Cup champion Shelley Rudman by 0.35 seconds.

A degree from a prestigious university is usually seen as a guarantee of a well-paid job. In reality, it's more like a raffle ticket: from Goldman Sachs to a bowling alley, LSE alumnus Theron Mohamed charts the diverse fortunes of his peers in the six months since graduation.

More horror arrives in the mail.

Fulham 2 Arsenal 1

A winter visit to this fine city on the Rhine offers Christmas markets, hearty food and drink, and invigorating art.

At the end of 12 fantastic rounds there was something sadly inevitable about the calculations from the three men at ringside when they confirmed that Britain's Matthew Macklin had lost his world title fight on Saturday by a debatable split decision.