Thanks to Arsenal’s European commitments and January’s cold snap, this rearranged fixture was the second match between the two clubs in a matter of days.

Arsenal won 2-0 at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday, a result which meant the Gunners could go top with a two-goal victory in the return match in North London.

However for a long time it looked as though the only movement in the league would be Bolton climbing out of the relegation zone.

Owen Coyle made one change from the weekend’s defeat, bringing in Mark Davies for Ivan Klasnic as the new manager packed his midfield in an attempt to stifle Arsenal’s attacking threat.

The tactic worked as the visitors started brightest and were rewarded in the seventh minute, Cahill volleying in Kevin Davies’s knock down after Gael Clichy had made a mess of clearing a left wing cross.

Taylor struck the post with a free-kick then was given a clearer chance to double Bolton’s lead from the penalty spot when Denilson clumsily fouled Lee Chung-Yong.

He coolly slotted home the kick – and Bolton looked good value for their lead.

Arsenal’s victory on Sunday was inspired by Fabregas, and again it was the captain who stirred his team into action.

The Spaniard set up Eduardo for a one-on-one chance with Jussi Jaaskelainen, the Croatian only able to hit his shot into the body of the Finn.

Moments later Fabregas’s free-kick was headed on to the underside of the bar by Davies.

On the stroke of half-time Fabregas picked out Rosicky 20 yards out, and he shifted the ball to his right and shot past Jaaskelainen at his near post.

It was Fabregas himself who got the equaliser following a controversial incident which left Bolton fuming at referee Alan Wiley.

William Gallas crunched Mark Davies on the ankle in the build-up to the goal, a challenge from which the Trotters man would not recover. Play was allowed to continue and Fabregas battled his way past three Bolton defenders before nut-megging the keeper from a tight angle.

Arsenal could sense that victory was theirs for the taking and they went in front on 65 minutes: Vermaelen lashed home a left-footed volley after Bolton had only half cleared a Fabregas corner.

It looked as though Arsenal would have to settle for the win without going top; however Arshavin finished the job with five minutes remaining, flicking the ball to his left and volleying home with his right. — Eurosport

With Fernando Torres absent, Dirk Kuyt proved himself an able deputy, firing his side ahead in just the sixth minute, and wrapping the game up with a penalty in stoppage time.

With Tottenham unable to trouble Liverpool’s industrious midfield, pickings were slim for Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe, while Kuyt and Sotirios Kyrgiakos both missed golden chances at the other end.

The result moves Liverpool up to sixth, just a point behind Harry Redknapp’s Spurs, who remain fourth.

Shorn of their best two players and off the back of a poor run of form, Kuyt’s early goal proved a major tonic for a potentially fragile Liverpool side, and provided the building block for their victory.

From a moment of panic in the Liverpool penalty area where Pepe Reina claimed a loose ball in the penalty area at the third attempt, the Spanish ‘keeper launched a long punt downfield. Kuyt chested down to Alberto Aquilani, collected the ball back off the Italian, and fired low into the bottom corner past Heurelho Gomes.

Cue an air of positivity and level of noise around Anfield seldom seen this season, and one to which Rafael Benitez’s men responded with energy and tireless pressing.

A hopeful, long-distance effort from Gareth Bale midway through the half was all Spurs could mount in response, as Liverpool’s five midfielders nullified the creative talents of Niko Kranjcar and Luka Modric.

The half was to finish in a flurry, however, as a Liverpool corner resulted in Martin Skrtel blazing just over at the back post, while Wilson Palacios and Jermaine Jenas conjured Spurs’ best move of the game immediately afterwards only for Modric to fire tamely at Reina on the stretch.

Controversy and confusion reigned at the start of the second half as Defoe dispossessed Pepe Reina and fired home from the edge of the area, only to see his effort ruled out as he had run from an offside position well beforehand.

Before the ins and outs of phases of play could be discussed, Albert Riera rattled the crossbar with a towering header, while Reina was content to parry a vicious, swerving volley from Jenas over the bar.

With Spurs having swapped Vedran Corluka for Alan Hutton and Kranjcar for Robbie Keane, they were always vulnerable to being hit on the break.

That happened almost immediately as Kuyt raced clear of the defence and picked out the run of Philipp Degen on the far side, only for the Swiss midfielder to misplace his pass back across goal as the crowd bayed for him to shoot.

Hutton sent a piledriver of a volley just past the post from Bale’s raking crossfield ball as Spurs began to press more urgently, though Crouch’s effectiveness as a target man was dimished by Kyrgiakos’s own aerial strength, with Defoe and Keane largely reduced to the role of frustrated onlookers as a result.

Instead it was Liverpool’s substitute David Ngog who really made his presence felt, bringing with him a burst of pace that was too much for an increasingly shaky Spurs defence. They did, however, pass up two golden opportunities before making the game safe.

First Kuyt volleyed over from five yards from Ngog’s fine flick-on before Gomes saved superbly from Kyrgiakos as the Greek sprang the Spurs offside trap.

Ngog’s strong running finally told in the 93rd minute. Sebastien Bassong could only upend the Frenchman as he surged into the area, and Kuyt kept his nerve to convert from the spot at the second attempt after bring made to retake following encroachment from team-mates. – Eurosport

Benin needed to win and for Nigeria to lose to stand any chance of progressing but Egypt scored through El Mohamady’s fortunate goal after only eight minutes to ensure that was never likely.

Moteab squeezed home a second from a tight angle but despite plenty of chances there were no further goals.

Egypt started strongly, dominating the early possession from the moment Benin lost the ball from a sloppy kick-off.

El Mohamady was the surprise scorer after eight minutes, taking the ball deep on the right-hand side and whipping in a cross from more than 30 yards out.

The ball appeared to catch the breeze and instead of curling towards the waiting strikers it looped over the head of goalkeeper Yoann Djidonou, who must take plenty of blame as he failed to react.

Hossam Ghaly gave the ball away cheaply four minutes later and, with Essam El Hadari well off his line, gave Pascal Angan the chance to chip for goal.

Angan’s shot had the height but with El Hadari scrambling back he was relieved to see the ball bounce wide.

After 23 minutes the lead was doubled.

Hassan produced a fine initial cross and while Djidonou did well to parry Ahmed Raouf’s header, Moteab was able to slide the ball over the line from an acute angle despite a desperate attempt from the goalkeeper to claw it out.

Raouf squandered a glorious chance to head home a third before the half-hour mark, but chances for Razak Omotoyossi and Djiman Koukou brought Benin back into the game before the interval.

Moteab had a fine chance to double his own tally 10 minutes after the restart but Djidonou rushed him for time and was able to smother his shot.

Egypt received a warning shot 20 minutes from time when Rabou Hosni allowed Omotoyossi to fire at goal from six yards, but his shot was off target.

Mouftaou Adou missed an even better chance moments later when he diverted a skidding ball just wide.

At the other end substitute Mohamed Zidan was just denied after a jinking run and shot, while Moteab again missed from a fine position and Djidonou denied Rabou Hosni from a late free-kick. — ESPN

The Pharaohs are seeking a third consecutive African Cup of Nations title, and seventh overall, after failing to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa following a play-off defeat to Algeria.

Egypt went into the fixture with a quarter-final spot guaranteed following victories in their first two games while Benin had to win and hope Nigeria lost to Mozambique in order to qualify.

And despite Egypt making six changes to the side which defeated Nigeria 3-1, the form book remained true with Ahmed El Mohamady and Emad Moteab’s first half goals sealing victory.

Hassan Shehata’s side dominated from the off and took only seven minutes to move into the lead courtesy of a howler from Benin goalkeeper Yoann Djidonou.

El Mohamady, who has attracted the interest of Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland, crossed from the right and caught Djidonou off-guard, who could only watch as the ball sailed over his head and into the back of the net.

Egypt did not have it all their own way and Pascal Angan should have equalised but could not keep his attempted lob over stranded keeper Essam El Hadari on target.

And Angan was left to rue that miss when Egypt doubled their lead after 24 minutes.

Djidonou could only palm Ahmed Raouf’s header on to the post and Moteab, despite the best efforts of a defender on the line, fired in the rebound from close range.

It could have been three just four minutes later but Raouf could only direct his header straight at Djidonou.

Benin’s best move came nine minutes before the break when Koukou exchanged passes with Seka on the edge of the box but the midfielder fluffed his lines and failed to connect with his shot.

Egypt were happy to keep possession after half-time but continued to create chances with Moteab forcing a good save from Djidonou after being played through down the left channel.

Frenchman Michel Dussuyer’s Benin side almost reduced the deficit after 66 minutes when substitute Mohame Aoudou’s header was tipped over the bar by El Hadari.

And with Benin going for broke, Aoudou missed another golden opportunity when he could only side-foot Muri Ogunbiyi’s low cross wide from eight yards out.

But Egypt would have added to their tally not for a hat-trick of saves from Djidonou, making amends for earlier errors, and some wayward shooting.

And Benin’s fate was never in doubt with Nigeria beating Mozambique 3-0 and the Squirrels continuing to hold their record of never qualifying for the knockout stages of the African Cup of Nations. — Eurosport

The Lokomotiv Moscow forward scored in the 45th and 48th minutes, before substitute Obafemi Martins sealed victory with a late strike to hand under-fire Shaibu Amodu a welcome boost.

The Super Eagles boss, whose side lost to Egypt in the opening game before edging past Benin, needed a win to secure their place in the next round, but things were not all smooth sailing early on.

They created the first scare for their opponents after just three minutes when Odemwingie and John Obi Mikel exchanged quick passes, but there was no one in the penalty are to pounce on a square ball from the Chelsea midfielder.

Minutes later sloppy play between Campira and Dario Khan saw an attempted clearance by the latter fall straight into the path of Chinedu Obasi, whose 12-yard shot from the left was parried away by Kapango.

Despite dominating possession and displaying some slick passing, the Mambas failed to create many openings in the first 20 minutes with their best chances coming from distance – Paito first failing to trouble Vincent Enyeama with a wayward effort, before Genito’s shot was straight at the Nigerian goalkeeper.

At the other end, Obasi missed a gilt-edged header from two-yards out when Danny Shittu nodded a free-kick into the path of the Hoffenheim striker.

The Super Eagles kept up the pressure as the teams approached the half-hour mark – Odemwingie the latest to come close when his strike from the right was turned around the post low down for a corner by Kapango.

Paito tried to respond with the best effort of the game for the southern Africans, which was struck handsomely from 35-yards out on the left, but parried away by Enyeama.

Four minutes before half-time, Miro came closest to breaking the deadlock with a low strike from just outside the area that came off the right upright.

And just as it seemed the two sides would be level at the break, Odemwingie’s quick thinking caught out Kapango with a rifling shot from just outside the penalty area that snuck in just beyond the goalkeeper’s right in the 45th minute.

It was 1-0 at the break and the advantage was doubled in the third minute after the restart when a sweeping break saw Obasi play Yakubu in on the left and his cross enabled Odemwingie to finish from close range.

Mart Nooij’s team pressed forward desperately to try and pull a goal back, but battled to find many clear-cut openings.

Dario had one of their better chances when he climbed high to meet a right-side cross from Domingues, but Enyeama was alert with a diving save to his right.

Martins wrapped up the victory four minutes from the end when another error saw the Mozambican defence again dispossessed and, when Mikel’s shot was saved, the Wolfsburg striker was on hand to apply the finishing touch.

Victor Obinna should have made it 4-0, but missed an easy one-on-one chance at the death as the Super Eagles eased into the next round alongside Group C winners Egypt. — ESPN

Villa looked shambolic and jittery as Rovers over-turned their first leg deficit with a double strike from Nikola Kalinic.

But a controversial goal from former Blackburn defender Stephen Warnock sparked the comeback and the writing was on the wall for the visitors after the dismissal of defender Christopher Samba, who brought down Gabriel Agbonlahor inside the box.

James Milner scored the penalty and Villa never looked back after that with Agbonlahor, Emile Heskey and an own goal from Steven Nzonzi confirming their superiority.

Blackburn regained their pride with goals from Martin Olsson and Brett Emerton before Ashley Young put the icing on the cake for Villa in injury-time.

Martin O’Neill’s side will now meet either Manchester United or Manchester City in the final at Wembley on February 28 and are one step away from lifting their first trophy since the 1996 League Cup.

The long suffering Villa fans will be hoping it is the start of a new era of success after many years of under-achieving since the 1982 European Cup triumph.

O’Neill has slowly but surely rebuilt his team since arriving at Villa Park in the summer of 2006 with the accent on young English talent.

Now the likes of Milner, Young and Agbonlahor will have the chance to show their potential in a major final.

But it will also be special for a long-serving stalwart like defender Richard Dunne, who moved to Villa in August and can now look forward to the first final of his career.

O’Neill’s men started slowly though and the aggregate scores were level when Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan was indecisive when attacking what looked a catchable ball from an inswinging corner by Dunn and Kalinic powered in a goalbound header which took a deflection off Warnock.

After 26 minutes Blackburn moved ahead on aggregate. Morten Gamst Pedersen had time to send over a left-wing cross and, although Guzan did well to keep out Olsson’s close-range header, Kalinic converted the rebound.

Villa were given a lifeline in controversial fashion by Warnock four minutes later. Agbonlahor clearly pushed Rovers skipper Ryan Nelsen to the ground as Young’s right wing cross found its way through a ruck of players to former Blackburn player Warnock – who powered the ball into the roof of the net from close range. Rovers’ protests to referee Martin Atkinson were in vain.

Villa started to gain some momentum and five minutes before half-time Heskey’s pass was chased down by Agbonlahor, who was brought down in the box by Samba – who was clearly the last defender and given a straight red card by Atkinson.

Milner ensured Villa regained the aggregate lead by hammering the penalty past Paul Robinson for his eighth goal of the campaign.

Villa were now in the ascendancy and in first half injury-time Robinson parried aside a fierce drive from Villa skipper Stiliyan Petrov.

Villa dominated the opening stages of the second half and after 53 minutes an own goal from Steven Nzonzi put them ahead on the night and 4-2 on aggregate – Carlos Cuellar flicked on a corner from Stewart Downing and Nzonzi turned the ball past Robinson under pressure from Richard Dunne.

Three minutes later Villa struck again with a shot from Milner deflected by the chest of Agbonlahor past a stranded Robinson.

Villa were now rampant and after 62 minutes Blackburn cracked again as Heskey beat the offside trap after collecting a pass from Milner and he coolly rounded Robinson before netting.

Olsson made it 5-3 with a spectacular scissor-kick from Gael Givet’s centre, before Robinson turned aside a header from Heskey and came off his line to deny Agbonlahor.

With six minutes remaining Emerton’s volley crept under the body of a partially unsighted Guzan to further eat into Villa’s lead – but Young had the final say in injury-time as he curled the ball wide of Robinson into the corner of the net.

Dede Ayew, whose father Abedi Pele was the pivotal figure when Ghana last won the trophy in 1982, headed the only goal on the half-hour to help his side finish second behind Group B winners Ivory Coast.

Burkina Faso, who needed a draw to qualify, were eliminated. They had 10 men for the last 24 minutes after Mamadou Tall was sent off.

Ghana now play hosts Angola in the quarter-finals in Luanda on Sunday.

After the unmarked Ayew struck, Ghana squandered several chances to add to their goal tally.

Burkina Faso, who finished bottom of a group reduced to three teams after Togo’s withdrawal following the deadly gun attack on their bus, tried to force an equaliser but only winger Jonathan Pitroipa was able to penetrate Ghana’s defence and create half-chances.

Tall was dismissed after he collected a second yellow card.

“It was a very important match for our young team and it was both physically and psychologically tough,” Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac said.

Rajevac lost several players before the start of the tournament and has since seen captain Michael Essien injure his knee in training.

Essien watched from the stands after deciding to stay and support his team-mates rather than return immediately to his club side Chelsea.

Ivory Coast will meet Algeria in their quarter-final in Cabinda on Sunday.

City need to avoid defeat at Old Trafford next week but if this game is any guide, it is destiny the Blues, subservient for so long – and Tevez, subject of such scorn when he quit United last summer – will have their day.

Tevez’s two goals came after Ryan Giggs had given visitors United the lead, and his delirious celebrations reflected his, and City’s, enthusiasm for putting one over on their neighbours.

The friction around the City of Manchester Stadium as the lights were dimmed before kick-off for a rendition of `Blue Moon’ was only made even more intense by a couple of red flares in the visiting end that glowed United’s response.

It set the scene for a scintillating encounter between the two halves of Manchester, one potless but loaded, the other using the vast array of trophies as insulation against a chilling debt piling up outside.

For a good half an hour, it appeared Sir Alex Ferguson had got his tactics spot-on.

Although Wayne Rooney was a lone frontman, the extra man further back meant United were able to dominate midfield.

Antonio Valencia hugged one flank, Giggs rolled back the years on the other, and between them Darren Fletcher, Anderson and Michael Carrick passed the ball around City heads going dizzy as they tried to keep up.

Rooney had already been denied from close range once when he got on the end of Patrice Evra’s shot, only for rookie defender Dedryck Boyata to make the block.

So when a similar effort from the England star was turned away by Shay Given after Valencia had skipped past his marker, it was a first victory for the Irishman in what turned into a personal duel.

But the rebound rolled into the path of Giggs, the 36-year-old who has appeared in more of these matches than anyone else. From three yards Giggs could not miss. His first derby goal since 1996.

At that stage, City looked as though they were going to be completely outplayed, but slowly the tide began to turn.

Tevez wasted a glorious chance when Shaun Wright-Phillips picked him out with a superb curling cross, then Micah Richards thudded a headed into Boyata’s back after Bellamy had been the provider.

In the end, City needed a controversial penalty to get their equaliser. Controversial in the sense Rafael was outside the area when he began an extended tug of Bellamy’s shirt.

The offence was clear enough and as the Brazilian teenager – the one youngster Ferguson eventually picked – was inside the box when he let go, referee Mike Dean felt a spot-kick was the suitable punishment.

Edwin van der Sar used all his experience to try to put Tevez off. But the former United man was not having any off it and eventually stepped up to confidently ram home the penalty into the top of the net.

Tevez had enough dignity not to celebrate directly in front of the fans who bellowed ‘Fergie, sign him up’ from the Stretford End last year.

But the sight of Gary Neville was too much to resist and Tevez delivered a `shut your mouth’ hand gesture to his former skipper, who backed Ferguson’s decision to get rid of the Argentinian.

For all the understandable focus on Tevez, the most influential man on the pitch was Given, who turned away yet another point-blank effort when Giggs got his head to Rooney’s deep cross.

The worth of that save did not become apparent until City’s next attack when Vincent Kompany hooked a wayward Pablo Zabaleta’s shot straight onto Tevez’s head.

As he scored and Eastlands erupted, the striker this time immediately raced to the home dug-out and cupped his ears, in exactly the same manner he did when he scored for United in a Premier League meeting between these two sides late last season, when the Old Trafford crowd’s demand for him to stay was at its peak.

Just yards away, Ferguson stared straight ahead, chewing his gum furiously. Again the chant was “sign him up”. This time it was City doing the singing.

Tevez’s work was done. Given still had more to do. Rooney was denied three more times as United laid siege at the end looking for an equaliser. They still have another 90 minutes to get one. But Tevez will want more as well.

Shane Long scored the dramatic winner in the first period of extra-time, the Irishman heading in Brynjar Gunnarsson’s right-wing cross to break Liverpool hearts.

The striker had earlier been involved in Reading’s injury-time penalty equaliser: Long was fouled by Yossi Benayoun as he tried to turn in the penalty area.

Gylfi Sigurdsson took the replay into extra-time by scoring an incredibly cool injury-time penalty, sending Diego Cavalieri the wrong way.

Earlier Liverpool had gone ahead in first-half added-time when Ryan Bertrand deflected Steven Gerrard’s cross into his own goal.

Reading should have scored at least once in the first half. Gregor Rasiak missed a glorious chance from six yards after Jamie Carragher inexplicably stepped over a teasing Simon Church cross from the right wing.

Church himself nearly scored moments later. Jobi McAnuff sent over a delicious ball from the right at which Church hurled himself; however the Welsh forward failed to make contact with his head when, had he done so, he surely would have scored.

The second half continued in the same vein with Liverpool’s chances few and far between while Reading carved out the clearer opportunities.

Liverpool’s Alberto Aquilani could have put the result beyond doubt but he headed wide from eight yards.

Ivar Ingimarsson and Church both had wonderful headed chances while Jobi McAnuff had Anfield on its feet as he danced through the Liverpool defence after running 60 yards only to push his shot wide of the post.

Even when trailing in extra time Liverpool might still have saved themselves, but Benayoun shot straight at Adam Federici in the Reading goal when clean through in the second period.

The Royals saw the game through and will next face Burnley in the fourth round.

Hull City striker Daniel Cousin took advantage of a defensive mix-up to grab the only goal after 17 minutes. Cameroon pressured the Black Panthers for much of the match but could produce an equaliser, as Gabon secured only their second ever African Nations Cup victory.

Cameroon did all the early pressing with Landry N’Guemo going close from a tight angle before Didier Ovono had to turn Achille Emana’s snap shot from the right channel on to the post and out for a corner.

It was against the run of play when Gabon snatched the lead with less than 20 minutes gone. Cameroon’s defence got themselves in a mess, allowing a mis-kicked pass from Cedric Moubamba to find its way into the path of Cousin, who slipped a low shot past Carlos Kameni.

Paul Le Guen’s side almost responded moments later as Alex Song surged forward. The midfielder was brought down on the edge of the area but the referee waved play on as the ball fell for Pierre Webo, who saw his low shot saved.

Geremi’s long-range free-kick then seemed to have Ovono in trouble, but he awkwardly punched it away.The second half took time to come to life but Emana almost scored an explosive equaliser with a long-range half-volley out of nothing that flashed wide.

A quick free-kick just before the hour mark released Emana inside the area but as he closed on the goalkeeper he sliced his shot horribly wide.

Cameroon were struggling to get star striker Samuel Eto’o involved and his first decent shot from inside the area was deflected wide.

Emana then forced a good save from Ovono before substitute Somen Tchoyi flashed a powerful shot wide, but it was beginning to look like it might not be Cameroon’s day.

Ovono made a good save to keep out Geremi’s deflected free-kick in the final minute of normal time and Song then sent Cameroon’s last chance over the crossbar.

Gabon almost sealed it when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang smashed the ball against the crossbar in injury time, but Cousin’s strike proved enough. — ESPN