LONDON, Feb 20 (Reuters) – Long-serving Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger can do very little to salvage even pride from what looks like being another trophyless season after Tuesday’s 3-1 Champions League home defeat by Bayern Munich.

The last-16 first-leg loss exposed the lack of strength in depth which has contributed to the Londoners going out of both domestic cup competitions, lying fifth in the Premier League and looking poised to bow out of Europe.

LONDON (Reuters) – Manchester City’s Premier League title defence fell apart at the seams in a 3-1 defeat to Southampton on Saturday when goalkeeper Joe Hart committed a howler and Gareth Barry scored a bizarre own goal.

Manchester United can increase their lead over City at the top to 12 points with 12 games left if they win at home to Everton on Sunday (1600 GMT) after coach Mauricio Pochettino sealed his first win for 15th-placed Southampton.

LONDON (Reuters) – The unstoppable Gareth Bale scored twice in Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-1 victory over Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday while rivals Chelsea and Arsenal also won to add spice to the race for the Champions League spots.

Chelsea stayed third in the standings, a point ahead of Spurs, after a 4-1 home success over third-bottom Wigan Athletic while 10-man Arsenal lost Jack Wilshere to injury but still beat Sunderland 1-0 away thanks to Santi Cazorla’s strike.

LONDON, Feb 9 (Reuters) – The unstoppable Gareth Bale scored twice in Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-1 victory over Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday while rivals Chelsea and Arsenal also won to add spice to the race for the Champions League spots.

Chelsea stayed third in the standings, a point ahead of Spurs, after a 4-1 home success over third-bottom Wigan Athletic while 10-man Arsenal lost Jack Wilshere to injury but still beat Sunderland 1-0 away thanks to Santi Cazorla’s strike.

LONDON (Reuters) – English football held its breath twice this week because of Paul Gascoigne, firstly when he was admitted to an alcohol treatment centre and secondly after Jack Wilshere showed England may finally have found his heir apparent.

Gascoigne became a national hero with his performances and tears as England reached the 1990 World Cup semi-finals but since drinking curtailed his career, England have been crying out for a ball carrier who can beat men and pick a perfect pass.

LONDON, Feb 7 (Reuters) – English football held its breath twice this week because of Paul Gascoigne, firstly when he was admitted to an alcohol treatment centre and secondly after Jack Wilshere showed England may finally have found his heir apparent.

Gascoigne became a national hero with his performances and tears as England reached the 1990 World Cup semi-finals but since drinking curtailed his career, England have been crying out for a ball carrier who can beat men and pick a perfect pass.

LONDON (Reuters) – Manchester United’s nine-point lead in the Premier League is partly down to success against other big clubs but Champions League challengers Everton visit Old Trafford on Sunday having outfoxed them in August.

Everton fans will be proud to call their fifth-placed side “big” as they again push for the top four despite modest means compared to United and second-placed champions Manchester City.

LONDON, Feb 7 (Reuters) – Manchester United’s nine-point lead in the Premier League is partly down to success against other big clubs but Champions League challengers Everton visit Old Trafford on Sunday having outfoxed them in August.

Everton fans will be proud to call their fifth-placed side “big” as they again push for the top four despite modest means compared to United and second-placed champions Manchester City.

LONDON (Reuters) – Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero scored from a near-impossible angle to salvage a 2-2 home draw with Liverpool but a memorable Steven Gerrard goal still helped boost Premier League leaders Manchester United on Sunday.

The irony of one of Liverpool’s most battling displays of the season helping arch-rivals United end the weekend nine points clear following Saturday’s 1-0 win at Fulham will not be lost of either set of fans but their draw was fully deserved.

LONDON, Feb 3 (Reuters) – Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero scored from a near-impossible angle to salvage a 2-2 home draw with Liverpool but a memorable Steven Gerrard goal still helped boost Premier League leaders Manchester United on Sunday.

The irony of one of Liverpool’s most battling displays of the season helping arch-rivals United end the weekend nine points clear following Saturday’s 1-0 win at Fulham will not be lost of either set of fans but their draw was fully deserved.