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Mid-Day Ticker: Bellamy fit for Carling Cup, Arshavin loaned out and more

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 Photo by Joe Toth/ISIphotos.com

By THOMAS FLOYD

Despite some concern earlier this week, it turns out Liverpool will have the full services of forward Craig Bellamy at its disposal Sunday in the Carling Cup final against Cardiff City.

Bellamy, who leads Liverpool this season with six Premier League goals, missed last weekend's F.A. Cup win over Brighton with a back problem. But the Wales international had an injection to ease the pain and has re-joined full training ahead of this weekend's match against his old club.

Centerback Daniel Agger, who was rested for the Brighton clash, is also poised to step back into the lineup and assume his usual position next to Martin Skrtel.

Here is some more news to keep your Friday rolling:

REPORT: ARSHAVIN ON LOAN TO ZENIT

Arsenal will loan struggling playmaker Andrei Arshavin to his old club, Zenit St. Petersburg, for the rest of the campaign, according to The London Evening Standard.

Reporter James Olley tweeted Friday, "Decision made. Arsenal agree to loan out Arshavin until the end of the season. Zenit to pay wages & £1m fee. Race on now to sort paperwork."

Arshavin, the captain of the Russia national team, has recorded just one goal and three assists in 19 Premier League appearances for Arsenal this season while mostly appearing as a substitute. The Russian transfer window closes Friday night.

CONNOR TAKES OVER WOLVES

Nearly two weeks after firing Mick McCarthy, Wolves have named Terry Connor manager for the rest of the Premier League campaign.

Steve Bruce, Alan Curbishley, Walter Smith and Brian McDermott had all been linked to the job, but the club ultimately appointed Connor, an assistant under McCarthy, to the post. Wolves currently sit just inside the relegation zone with 13 matches to play.

GALLAS EYES PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE

Tottenham defender William Gallas has told his teammates to stop thinking about a top-four finish that would secure a Champions League berth and instead set their sights higher: on winning the Premier League crown.

"He tells us to think, first and foremost, about finishing top," Tottenham forward Jermain Defoe said to The Mirror. "Hopefully the top two will slip up. You never know what will happen between now and the end of the season."

Tottenham, at 16-4-5, is third in the table, 10 points clear of fourth-place Arsenal and seven points behind league-leading Manchester City.

PETIT: WENGER LOSING PLAYERS' FAITH

Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit fears some players have lost faith in manager Arsene Wenger this season as the Gunners continue to trudge through a tumultuous campaign.

Petit, who played under Wenger with Arsenal from 1997 to 2000, added that "95 percent of the players can do better. But I feel there is a communication problem. Each player seems to be in his own world. These players are fragile. They can crumble."

Arsenal suffered a 4-0 loss to AC Milan in the first leg of a Champions League round of 16 tie, was eliminated by Sunderland in the F.A. Cup, and currently sits 17 points back of Manchester City in the Premier League race.

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What kind of impact do you see Bellamy having in the Carling Cup final? Is Arsenal correct to loan out Arshavin? Is Connor the right man to lead Wolves?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Arshavin has had a poor season (season and a half really), but I don’t see how this is a good move for Arsenal. They need as much depth as they can get for the final stretch of the season, and dumping one of the only guys who can potentially be a spark off the bench at this juncture doesn’t strike me as a smart thing to do.

    Reply
  2. good point. But Liverpool will pay him way more than at Fulham, it’s a massive club with history and he could fight and win a starting spot. But if he leaves England, for sure he will find a CL club

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  3. liverpool isnt getting into Champions League, Arsenal might. I bet Duece wants Champions League not Europa League again..

    if they both are in the EL id take Liverpool.he could do a lot there.

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  4. You “Mark my words, Dempsey is leaving Fulham, durrhurr” people are usually bad enough, but why the hell are you leaving that comment on this article? I swear, I’ve never seen a more pointless, irrelevant, unoriginal comment.

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  5. why is Arshavin still at Arsenal? He had a really excellent season with Arsenal and a pretty decent one and so far 2 horrible ones. sell him or let him leave

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  6. I’m telling you guys come summer Dempsey is leaving Fulham. Either to Liverpool or Arsenal in the PL or to a CL team in Spain or Italy.

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  7. Arshavin has been terrible, for the most part. However, his cross to Henry showed what he can do when he’s on his game. Zenit is the team fighting to stay in Europe, while Arsenal will be fortunate to hold on to a Europa spot for next year. So, it makes sense on that level. It’s just a shame that he can’t get it together for the Gunners.

    Reply

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