Van Persie makes his first return to the Emirates as Podolski looks set to start in place of Giroud

Striker returns to the Emirates for the first time this weekend

Arsenal midfielder was impressive against Brazil

Arsenal have lost to Manchester City and Chelsea recently

The 21-year-old is more imposing than Arsenal's current options but likely to cost more than £10m

AC Milan forward made a stand against racism after abuse during friendly

Arsenal manager admits he was not aware of Michu

The Football Association was still basking in the warm glow of royal benediction yesterday, but a man who was produced by one of the world's best youth development programmes, and is now an architect of one of its most ambitious, yesterday warned it would take at least a decade for St George's Park to bear fruit.

France legend warns FA to be patient but doubts young players still dream of an England career

That goal in Rio de Janeiro's Maracana nearly three decades ago provided a tantalising hint of what English football could produce, but John Barnes has provided a sobering assessment of the national team's long road to aspirations of silverware. Things may get worse before they get better, he says, because the power of the Premier League will continue to prevent young players gaining the top-flight experience integral to the flourishing of Spain and Germany.

Arsène Wenger said yesterday that Arsenal are determined to tie up a new contract for Robin van Persie between the end of the season and the start of Euro 2012, although that leaves the club only a matter of days to do a deal.

Mark Hughes, the Queen's Park Rangers manager, last night suggested that managers have lost faith in referees after the dubious dismissal of his captain, Shaun Derry, had rendered defeat even more inevitable to a Manchester United side who can now afford to lose two games and still be crowned Premier League champions.

If you have followed Peter Crouch's career closely, his goal against Manchester City on Saturday was not that much of a surprise. He scored Mark Hughes-style volleys twice for Liverpool against Galatasaray and Bolton. The third goal of his hat-trick against Arsenal at Anfield in 2007 was not too shabby either.

United manager starts the psychological warfare in effort to derail City's title push