From the Back Pages, February 3: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain lights up Arsenal’s defeat of Crystal Palace

This was a grind but Arsenal, as they have shown regularly this term, are not averse to squeezing out tight, patient victories these days. Arsène Wenger’s side are restored to the top of the Premier League and considerably buoyed by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s first goals in 14 months. They will watch the two teams directly below them slug it out on Monday satisfied that their own job has been done. (The Guardian)
From the back pagesFrom the back pages
From the back pages

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed deadline day signing Kim Kallstrom may not make his debut until March due to his back problem. (The Mirror)

John Terry, a resilient warrior who could have been leading Manchester City out against Chelsea on Monday. Chelsea’s captain came close to a move to City in 2009 but now, at 33, he has adapted his game and played every minute of Chelsea’s Premier League campaign. (The Telegraph)

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Manchester City’s place in next season’s Champions’ League could be challenged by rival clubs this summer because of detailed new Uefa rules over Financial Fair Play (FFP). (The Independent)

West Bromwich Albion 1 Liverpool 1: Whether it is in the heart of the Black Country or a couple of hundred miles north of the Black Sea, Liverpool just cannot seal a deal. First, on Friday night, the chance to add Yevhen Konoplyanka, the Ukraine winger, to Brendan Rodgers’s increasingly stretched resources slipped through their fingers. The club insist that they are not to blame, that they did all they could. (The Times)

Robin van Persie could make a shock return to Arsenal in the summer. As predicted in this column last week, Manchester United manager David Moyes plans a mass makeover of the squad at the end of the season. (Daily Mail)

MANCHESTER UNITED are closing in on a world-record $1billion kit sponsorship deal with Nike that could pour £70million a year into the club coffers. (The Express)