FOOTBALL

It is the transfer deadline day and Arsenal's season hangs on the hinges, with many players being linked to the club to strengthen a depleted side.

The football magician Lionel Messi arrived in Kolkata early Wednesday to take part in the FIFA international friendly match against Venezuela, which will be played at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sept. 2.

Arsenal are finally making progress in the transfer market, albeit with a day left, as they attempt to strengthen a squad ruthlessly exposed by defending champions Manchester United.

Barcelona began their defence of the Spanish league title with a typically dominating 5-0 win against Villarreal at the Nou Camp.

After being handed their most severe mauling in a long time, Arsenal are readying themselves for a late charge in the transfer market.

Real Madrid surged into the top of the Spanish La Liga after thrashing Real Zaragoza in their first league game of the season, with Cristiano Ronaldo bagging a hat-trick.

Before Manchester United shattered Arsenal, another London side, Spurs, got mauled by the blue half of Manchester.

Despite the fragile state Arsenal find themselves in, not many expected such a thrashing at the hands of Manchester United in Old Trafford.

The gap between two traditional rivals will be scrutinized at Old Trafford as Manchester United host Arsenal on Sunday.

The gap between two traditional rivals will be scrutinized at Old Trafford as Manchester United host Arsenal on Sunday.

The gap between two traditional rivals will be scrutinized at Old Trafford as Manchester United host Arsenal on Sunday.

Liverpool dominated proceedings at Anfield as they secured a convincing 3-1 win over Bolton.

Chelsea trudged to a 3-1 win over Norwich City at Stamford Bridge, although the Canaries troubled them far more than what the score-line suggests.

Arsene Wenger has told Bolton Wanderers to keep Gary Cahill if they maintain their stance that his initial offer for the player is derisory.

OH-IO! One of the oft-forgotten states of the Midwest is actually a pretty sweet place to visit. With the perfect mix of town and country, there is something here for everyone.

It'll be an interesting night of European football as the continents two champions from last season - Barcelona and FC Porto - take on each other in the UEFA Super Cup.

Chelsea's pursuit of Luka Modric, one of the summer's long-standing sagas, has come to a conclusion according to Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp although reports suggest Daniel Levy has laid out terms to him, threatening him to play or face exclusion from Euro qualifiers next week.

Widespread reports have stated that Arsenal had an offer rejected for Bolton defender Gary Cahill as their bid only came within one-third of his valuation.

In an effort to confirm whether Jordan Jefferson was involved in a bar fight last Friday, police in Baton Rouge searched the LSU quarterback's home on Wednesday. The fight left four people hospitalized, one with broken vertebrae. All will recover, but the playing careers of the football team members involved may not be so lucky.

Arsenal are all set to start their post-Samir Nasri era when they take on Udinese in the second-leg of the Champions League qualifier.

Arsenal will travel to Udine, Italy to face Udinese in the second-leg of the Champions League Qualifier at the Stadio Friuli on Wednesday.