THE BEST SOCCER PLAYERS

The Football Association are to study Didier Drogba's comments in his autobiography saying he wished he had punched Nemanja Vidic in the Champions League final. The Chelsea striker was sent off in the final in May for slapping the Manchester United defender - and in his book said he now wishes he had punched Vidic. The FA take a dim view of current players making such comments in books, and will study the remark and the whole book to see whether Drogba may have brought the game into disrepute. An FA spokesman said: "We are aware of the comments and will be examining them in their proper context." The FA are not viewing it in the same light as Roy Keane's book, in which the former United skipper said he had deliberately injured Alf-Inge Haaland. Back in 2002, Keane was banned for five games and fined £150,000 by the FA but similar disciplinary action is unlikely to be taken against Drogba, who may simply be warned. Drogba wrote: "I have seen the match on

The north London club were due to begin negotiating a new deal with Walcott at the start of this month after talks were pushed back during the summer but they have still yet to materialise. Walcott has just 20 months to run on his current contract, which ends in June 2010, and Arsenal have taken a risk by allowing him to run down more time after his excellent start to the new campaign. Walcott has established himself as a regular for club and country this season, starring in all four of England's World Cup qualifiers and scoring a stunning hat-trick in England's 4-1 victory over Croatia last month. The player has not been pressing for a new contract and, privately, is adamant that his development would be best served by continuing to work under Arsene Wenger but he is growing increasingly concerned that he has heard nothing from the club and there will be alarm in some quarters if the situation is still the same by the new year. Arsenal re

Alexander Hleb admits he is badgering former Arsenal team-mate Cesc Fabregas to join him at Barcelona. Belarus midfielder Hleb quit the Gunners in the summer to move to Camp Nou and wants to play alongside Fabregas again. Fabregas, who left Barcelona for Arsenal in 2003, admitted earlier this week that a return to the club would be 'a dream come true'. The Spain international plans to review his future at the end of the season and Hleb hopes Fabregas will come back to Barcelona. Like a brother "We get on very well on and off the pitch. For me he is like a brother. We call each other a lot to talk about things," Hleb told El Mundo Deportivo. "He tells me he misses me at Arsenal and, without wanting to detract from anyone, I would love it if he came to Barca to be a part of all this. "I don't stop insisting that he should return to Barca and he doesn't stop insisting that he is very happy at Arsenal and with Arsene Wenger. "I will keep boring him

William Gallas admits he has had to reassert his authority as Arsenal captain after conceding he "flipped his lid" against Birmingham City last season. French defender Gallas was given the armband by Arsene Wenger ahead of the 2007/08 campaign, but blotted his copybook in a 2-2 draw at St Andrews in February. Birmingham were awarded a last-minute penalty and, in protest at the decision, Gallas retreated to the halfway line and sat down sulking. The result was seen as a pivotal moment in Arsenal's faltering title bid and Gallas acknowledged he made a mistake with his actions. He believes some of the criticism aimed in his direction was unfair, but is confident he still has the backing of his team-mates to be Gunners skipper. Gallas told L'Equipe Magazine: "The controversy about my captaincy? People had to find a scapegoat as we didn't win any trophies last season. "So, they talked and talked again about the Birmingham match. Indeed I made a mistake. I mus