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Portsmouth 1-4 Arsenal

This arena bristled in mutinous mood last night, yet Arsenal's progress in the gathering maelstrom was serene. Victory has hoisted the London side back to within four points of Chelsea at the top with a chance to vault above Manchester United into second place tantalisingly close against a...

Fans love to get the Tweet and lowdown | Barney Ronay

Twitter has given us unparalleled access to the private thoughts, however dull, of the biggest names in sportThis year Twitter has been almost impossible to avoid in sport. For those not familiar with its workings, the Tweet is basically a cyber-age update on the cave painting or the smoke signal,...

Sir Alex Ferguson hails 'marvellous' Manchester United win over Wigan

• The whole team played well, says manager• Wayne Rooney was 'absolutely fantastic'Sir Alex Ferguson said he had an "uncomfortable" Christmas after two damaging defeats but he is in the right mood to celebrate his 68th birthday, and the new year, after Manchester United hit top form to...

Gaydamak casts doubt over owners

• Former owner demands money owed by current regime• Portsmouth will contest terms of HMRC winding-up orderSacha Gaydamak, the former owner of Portsmouth who says he is owed at least £28m by the club, has demanded that the current proprietor, Ali al-Faraj, tell him when he will be...

Villa may make move for Parker

• Martin O'Neill looks to bolster his midfield• Nigel Reo-Coker and Steve Sidwell may move on Aston Villa are the latest club to show an interest in signing Scott Parker from West Ham United next month. Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have both been linked with Parker, who is valued at...

Ian McGeechan awarded knighthood as Jenson Button receives MBE

British and Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan, who led tours of Australia and South Africa, is rewarded with a knighthood and there is an MBE for the Formula One champion, Jenson Button.McGeechan, 63, a former Scottish international before becoming national coach and winning a Grand Slam and Five...

The year ahead: sport

Who will win the World Cup? And can Roger Federer avoid the curse of Gillette?Sport loves new years – and new decades even more. New years appeal to sport's sense of constant renewal, its thrillingly blinkered forward-facing universe, fed by an unceasing supply of new games, new balls, new...

Past and present stars honoured

Blackburn's Jason Roberts, ex-Blackpool and England star Jimmy Armfield and former manager of Arsenal Ladies Vic Akers are included in the 2010 New Year Honours List.