LONDON (Reuters) – Arsenal are set to be without Mikel Arteta for around three weeks at just the time they need the steadying influence of the Spaniard following a 2-0 home defeat by Manchester City which Arsene Wenger labelled timid.

A 10th-minute red card for Laurent Koscielny for a last-man foul on Edin Dzeko gave the hosts an impossible task but in truth, they had been off the pace from the start and it was no surprise when James Milner and Dzeko scored before halftime.

LONDON, Jan 13 (Reuters) – Arsenal are set to be without Mikel Arteta for around three weeks at just the time they need the steadying influence of the Spaniard following a 2-0 home defeat by Manchester City which Arsene Wenger labelled timid.

A 10th-minute red card for Laurent Koscielny for a last-man foul on Edin Dzeko gave the hosts an impossible task but in truth, they had been off the pace from the start and it was no surprise when James Milner and Dzeko scored before halftime.

LONDON (Reuters) – Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini was thrilled by his side’s first league victory at Arsenal since 1975 but the gloss was slightly taken off by a harsh red card to captain Vincent Kompany.

Mancini said the champions would appeal referee Mike Dean’s 75th-minute decision in Sunday’s 2-0 victory, which followed the Belgian centre back’s tackle on Jack Wilshere where he won the ball but with two feet just off the ground.

LONDON, Jan 13 (Reuters) – Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini was thrilled by his side’s first league victory at Arsenal since 1975 but the gloss was slightly taken off by a harsh red card to captain Vincent Kompany.

Mancini said the champions would appeal referee Mike Dean’s 75th-minute decision in Sunday’s 2-0 victory, which followed the Belgian centre back’s tackle on Jack Wilshere where he won the ball but with two feet just off the ground.

LONDON (Reuters) – Premier League leaders Manchester United and second-placed champions Manchester City put former English heavyweights Liverpool and Arsenal firmly in their place on Sunday with United’s Robin van Persie again on song.

United sealed a needlessly nervy 2-1 home win over eighth-placed Liverpool to maintain their seven-point lead after Van Persie with a goal and Patrice Evra with two assists put rival Luis Suarez in the shade.

LONDON, Jan 13 (Reuters) – Premier League leaders Manchester United and second-placed champions Manchester City put former English heavyweights Liverpool and Arsenal firmly in their place on Sunday with United’s Robin van Persie again on song.

United sealed a needlessly nervy 2-1 home win over eighth-placed Liverpool to maintain their seven-point lead after Van Persie with a goal and Patrice Evra with two assists put rival Luis Suarez in the shade.

LONDON, Jan 10 (Reuters) – Former world player of the year Homare Sawa, a sporting idol at home in Japan, wants more “superstars” in women’s soccer to help the game grow globally and build on the success of the London Olympics.

While Lionel Messi is recognised everywhere, even the very best women footballers are little known in large parts of the world.

LONDON (Reuters) – Pioneers Aston Villa have put almost all their faith in young players this season but the bold policy is at risk of badly backfiring for the Premier League club after Tuesday’s defeat at fourth tier Bradford City.

The 3-1 reverse in their Capital One (League) Cup semi-final first leg was the latest in a string of woeful displays from the 1982 European champions and damage has been done even if they salvage a trip to Wembley in the January 22 second leg at home.

LONDON, Jan 8 (Reuters) – Pioneers Aston Villa have put almost all their faith in young players this season but the bold policy is at risk of badly backfiring for the Premier League club after Tuesday’s defeat at fourth tier Bradford City.

The 3-1 reverse in their Capital One (League) Cup semi-final first leg was the latest in a string of woeful displays from the 1982 European champions and damage has been done even if they salvage a trip to Wembley in the Jan. 22 second leg at home.

LONDON (Reuters) – Manchester United striker Robin van Persie bagged a contrasting double in a 4-0 win at Wigan Athletic on Tuesday to hand Roberto Mancini another painful reminder of why he looks the difference in the title race.

Mancini’s Manchester City did their job by winning 3-0 at home to Stoke City but the Premier League champions remain seven points behind rivals United following Van Persie’s masterclass, with Tottenham Hotspur up to third after a 3-1 win over Reading.