Chelsea vs Arsenal: Gunners face top-flight rivals in Capital One clash

Arsenal have not won the trophy since 1993.

Arsenal, who suffered a humiliating Capital One (League) Cup quarter-final defeat by fourth tier Bradford City last season, will again rotate their squad when Chelsea visit the Emirates in the last-16 on Tuesday.

Manager Arsene Wenger has used the competition in recent years to blood youngsters and field fringe players and did so when a second-string side edged out West Bromwich Albion in a penalty shootout in the third round.

"I will rotate against Chelsea but play with a team that has a good chance to qualify as well. That will be the target," Wenger told the club's website (www.arsenal.com).

Arsenal have not won the trophy since 1993 when they beat Sheffield Wednesday. They lost to Chelsea in the 2007 final and to Birmingham City at the same stage four years later.

Adding spice to the tie is the Premier League positions of the two clubs, with Arsenal two points clear of their London rivals at the top of the table.

Wenger's team have a tough sequence of games coming up that will test their credentials as title contenders.

Arsenal host third-placed Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday and then, after travelling to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, they take on Manchester United at Old Trafford.

FLYING AGAIN

"You worry about fatigue a little bit but not too much. Sometimes when you play every three days you look tired and then in three days you are flying again. It goes a bit in cycles," Wenger said.

There are four other all-Premier League clashes.

Manchester United, who came back from 2-1 down to beat Stoke City 3-2 on Saturday, should prove too strong for struggling Norwich City at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Newcastle United entertain Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur host Hull City again, three days after a 1-0 league victory for the Londoners at White Hart Lane.

Southampton also travel to Sunderland on November 6.

Championship leaders Burnley will fancy their chances of causing an upset when they host West Ham United on Tuesday.

Burnley, who spent one season in the Premier League in 2009-10, have won eight and drawn one of their last nine league games and manager Sean Dyche said Saturday's home victory over promotion rivals Queens Park Rangers was their best performance so far.

Two other second-tier sides welcome Premier League opposition.

Surprise 2011 winners Birmingham, who stunned Arsenal at Wembley with a late Obafemi Martins winner, entertain Stoke while Leicester City, who won the trophy in 1997 and 2000, take on Fulham.byy india today.in

Aamir is fascinated towards tall women?

Wednesday, November 20, 2013 12:15 IST

He may not be very tall himself, but Aamir Khan Tuesday revealed that he enjoys working with actresses who tower over him.

In "Dhoom 3", Aamir will be seen romancing tall and beautiful Katrina Kaif.

"I love tall women and her (Katrina's) heels didn't come in the way," Aamir told reporters at an event to announce Yash Raj Films' association with Mattel to create D:3-inspired limited-edition "Barbie Collector Dolls" based on his and Katrina in "Dhoom 3".

Katrina said heels are not something that one randomly decides to wear. "If it's required you do it or else you don't," she added.

In terms of actresses getting their due in Bollywood, Katrina feels things are changing for good.

"I do see the change ... the change is happening. Actresses are getting their due credit. A lot of womencentric films are being made," she said.

Some of the forthcoming such films are "Dedh Ishqiya", "Gulaab Gang" and "Mary Kom".
By arrangment with Mid-Day.com

Ouch! Akshay receives extortion calls..

Akshay kumar is receiving threatening call asking for Rs 5 crore or face elimination. He informed the police that he is receiving extortion calls from a gangster who is threatening to kill him.

According to Akshay he suspected that a former domestic help, whom he recently fired, was behind the extortion calls. Sources revealed that Akshay fired the domestic help a couple of months ago. "He had been working for Akshay for quite some time and wanted remuneration for his years of service, which Akshay refused. Angered, the man passed on information about the star and his lifestyle to the underworld," said a crime branch officer, who did not wish to be named.

According to sources,the gangster, suspected to be Ravi Pujari, has made several calls to the actor over the past few weeks, and has refused to budge from his Rs 5 crore demand. For now, the police are on the lookout for the domestic help. "The nature of the information the caller shared confirmed the theory that somebody from within the household had got in touch with him or one of his henchmen. But so far we have not been able to substantiate this as the domestic help is yet to be traced," said a senior crime branch official.


Meanwhile, apart from crime branch,the Juhu police have also been informed about the calls and have been asked to keep a watch on Akshay's residence. The actor, believed to be in Jodhpur for a shoot, was unavailable was comment.byy santa banta news network..

True or pretence, Ranveer-Deepika get cozy in public?

The Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela' couple Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone were closeted in a party continuously looking at each other. The on-screen chemistry appeared continuing off screen too. Bhansali had organized a success party in view of initial collection by the movie at the Box office.

The couple is rumoured to have entered into a love affair in real life too but Deepika has not spoken a word about it while Ranveer has spoken about his `Loveria,` indicating that he has fallen in love with co-star Deepika. Many believe that rumoured love affair is a publicity stunt devised by the producer-director to hit the headlines in Bollywood media.


At the bash for the film, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh had eyes only for each other. The two were snapped like a much-in-love couple and according to the video magazine Lehren, they were 'inseparable' for the entire evening.

Although a few weeks back Ranveer set tongues wagging about his 'lovaria' disease, his co-star and rumoured girlfriend Deepika is holding hard to open up about her love life to the media.byy santa banta news networkk..

Neil's fitness mantra revealed..

Wednesday, November 20, 2013 13:08 IST

Looking good is part and parcel of an actor's job. Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh believes in a healthy diet and pumping the iron to look fit for the screen

He says `I am a regular at the gym where I do the normal workouts.

Only if a role demands that I have a six pack, then I go the extra mile and do functional training.

As for my diet, I have a wholesome balanced diet to maintain a healthy weight. I am not at all into junk food.

Again, if a role demands that I look lean, than I go on a strict diet plan.

I achieve all this in a natural way as I strictly believe that use ofany kind of steroids can be harmful in the long run.`
By arrangment with Mid-Day.com

I will quit the day I stop enjoying it: Sonakshi Sinha.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013 10:57 IST

Calm and collected Sonakshi Sinha is doing phenomenally well for a 'blank slate' and 'unambitious' person as she likes to call herself. An excerpt from a candid chat...

Two drastically different films, Bullett Raja and R...Rajkumar releasing back to back...
Yes, Tigmanshu sir's film and Prabhu sir's films are like the two ends of the spectrum. In Bullett Raja, I play a struggling actress. It is an interesting premise and I really wanted to work with Tigmanshu. I respect him a lot. About R...Rajkumar, it is a typical, masala film with songs and dance. It is a film where romance is given as much importance as action.

People who have worked with you once come back to you for more....
True, but see the films that they have come back to me with. I started with Joker but then I was given Rowdy Rathore, which I think was a fantastic film. I did Dabangg and I got to do Dabangg 2. People I have worked with would have understood if I had declined their next offer but I didn't find any reason to turn down any of them.

But relationships and networking work here big time...
At first they said I am Salman's favourite and then they said I am Akshay's favourite. It is not like I haven't worked with other people. Ranveer, Saif, Shahid... I believe in keeping cordial relationship with everyone. Yes, I form a good working rapport with people and that is what takes you forward. Today, if someone has to ask why Akshay Kumar works with me again, it's because I am punctual and deliver my goods. I am doing a second film with Ajay, third with Prabhu sir. They appreciate little things when you're being professional.

Apart from Lootera, you have been accused of doing shallow roles in most films....
I am absolutely unapologetic about it. Whatever people had to say, their doubts were put to rest with Lootera. I act in films which I like to watch as an audience. I want to go to the theatre, hoot and clap and dance and I think that's entertainment. Commercial films also have a space for the heroine. A lot of people also say that I have created a space which I can only fill. So that's about it.


Do you take criticism to heart?
I don't. Everybody has an opinion today, whether you ask for it or not. Only with Lootera, I got so much applause and appreciation. It felt good that people took me seriously as an actress. But that's fine. I purely work for the love of it. I know that you can't please everyone. Do what your heart tells you. Also Lootera kind of films are so rare to come. It has set such a high benchmark for me that I won't accept anything that doesn't come near it. In the meantime, I am doing commercial films. I don't think that will drive away other people. Vikram (Vikramaditya Motwane) came to me after I starred in four huge masala films. He told me that he planned to cast me soon after he watched Dabangg. So, there. The day I think I have stopped enjoying the process, I will quit. I have no attachment to these trappings.

Any barriers that you had to break down to be part of this industry?
I didn't plan to be part of this industry even though I have grown up in it. It is all destiny. I had no time to prepare myself, I just jumped into the deep end of the pool and learnt to swim. I was not sure if I wanted to continue doing this. I have no ambitions so I don't plot and plan anything. Till today I haven't called up a producer asking for my work. Neither has my dad. I don't socialise I don't do the normal things that people here should be doing.

No yes-men around you?
Not at all. Our upbringing has kept us close to the ground. I have seen yes-men around my father while growing up and I used to think what are these uncles doing... but then times have also changed.


Do you miss doing other normal things that youngsters do? Like dating?
Sometimes but loneliness rarely creeps in because I am surrounded by good people. I have done my bit of hanging around with friends during college days. About dating? If you have to meet you will find a way. Love always finds a way. Look at my parents. They met in a train from Patna to Poona. Mum was 15 and dad was 20. Dad was going to study at Pune film institute and mum was coming from a wedding. He wrote letters to her and he would go to her house and sing songs under her balcony! My mum's mother used to throw rocks at him so that he goes away. I doubt such a fairy tale will happen with me.
By arrangment with Mid-Day.com

Bharat Ratna for Sachin Tendulkar

	Sachin Tendulkar has become the youngest person to be conferred the Bharat Ratna © BCCI  Enlarge

Sachin Tendulkar will become the first sportsperson to be conferred the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award. The Prime Minister's Office made the announcement hours after Tendulkar brought down the curtains on a 24-year international career.

"Sachin Tendulkar is undoubtedly an outstanding cricketer - a living legend who has inspired millions across the globe," a PMO release said. "During the last 24 years, since the young age of 16 years, Tendulkar has played cricket across the world and won laurels for our country. He has been a true ambassador of India in the world of sports. His achievements in cricket are unparalleled, the records set by him unmatched, and the spirit of sportsmanship displayed by him exemplary. That he has been honoured with several awards is testimony to his extraordinary brilliance as a sportsman."

Speculation about Tendulkar getting the award has been around for years, and peaked in 2011 when the eligibility criteria for the award was broadened. Originally, the honour was for excellence in "art, literature, science and public services" but was amended to recognise "performance of highest order in any field of human endeavour".

In 2008, Tendulkar became the first sportsperson, along with chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, to receive the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour. Tendulkar received the Arjuna Award (a national award for distinguished sports persons) in 1994, and in 1998 he received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, the country's highest sporting honour. The next year, he was the recipient of the Padma Shri ( the fourth-highest civilian award).

Previous recipients of the Bharat Ratna include Nobel laureates Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa.byy espn sports.com