SOCCER

Arsenal welcome the newly-crowned FA Cup winners Wigan Athletic to the Emirates tomorrow in what is a crucial but also worth three points as any other Premier League match.

Wigan are fighting for their Premier League survival, so they need the three points just as badly as Arsenal do tomorrow, so there will be no shortage of attacking play. Roberto Martinez can piece together something looking like an attack when he needs to, and this will probably work out for Arsenal, too, as the Gunners tend to play more freely against teams who leave space rather than those who just play a 4-5-1 and stand tall. Wigan may also be a little tired from their cup win over the weekend, so Arsenal should have space to roam.

And roam they must. The three points are crucial to stay ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, and the goal is simple: win the last two games, and the 4th Champions League spot is in Arsenal's hands. 

Team News

Arsenal 

As predicted, Roberto Mancini has been sacked by Manchester City tonight. Despite the success he has brought to the Etihad, the powers that be have decided to pull the trigger. Mancini has a win rate only bettered by Sir Alec Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti.

Manchester City had not won a trophy for nearly 35 years until Mancini arrived, winning the FA Cup and then the Premier League title in successive seasons. However, that was not deemed good enough by the ridiculous Arab owners, who spend their country`s wealth whilst their countrymen starve in poverty.

It is hard to understand the logic of their decision when they had not won a thing until Mancini arrived. The new manager is expected to be Manuel Pellegrini, whose CV includes a spell at Real Madrid. It is hard to see what Pellegrini offers that Mancini did not, especially as Pellegrini has not won anything of note recently.

Today is just symptomatic of the disease that pervades the Premiership with arrant billionaire owners acting like feudal lords hiring and firing at will, whilst their fans are left surprised and confused about their position. No doubt all will be revealed next season!

In keeping with the other tell-tale signs, today, I was on my way to the drive-through parade which starts at Old Trafford and ends in Albert Square, Manchester, when I immediately noticed that the huge banner that has been on the front of the building at Old Trafford has been removed.

What is the significance of that you may ask? Well, the player who is at the forefront of the banner is none other than Wayne Rooney. I have it on good authority from my United insiders, that the banner has been removed at the express request of Sir Alex Himself! There cannot be any clearer indication that Rooney`s days are numbered at Old Trafford.

In a straw poll in the Sun newspaper today, Manchester United fans were asked whether Rooney should stay or be sold. The answer was emphatic, with 73% saying that he should go! United fans are an especially loyal bunch, but they will only take so much. Rooney`s form this season has been appalling with below par performances, looking unfit and overweight all the time. Manchester United has won the title despite Rooney, not because of him.

There have been some fairytale endings to football matches under the reign of Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, so it will have come as no surprise to anyone that yesterday's game at Old Trafford, Ferguson's last as Manager, ended in the fashion it did. The game looked to be heading for an anti-climactic 1-1 draw and at the end of an emotional afternoon, few could have blamed all involved for taking this game for granted as United had already been crowned champions and League Cup winners Swansea City had nothing to play for. The occasion was definitely bigger than the actual game and the game could have been an afterthought to everyone concerned.

Not to Ferguson.

Actions speak louder than words, so they say, so it is the fact that Wayne Rooney has been omitted from the Manchester United squad for the last match at Old Trafford today against Swansea. Added to that, the fact that this is Sir Alex Ferguson`s last home match as manager, it is fairly obvious that Rooney is on his way to the exit at Old Trafford.

Whilst the club remain tight-lipped about his omission, the writing has been on the wall since his exclusion from the Champions League match against Real Madrid last month. It remains to be seen what excuse is given for Rooney`s omission, but it is obvious to everyone that his days are numbered. It also remains to be seen who will be brought in as a replacement.

More news will be posted as soon as it becomes available.