Arsenal have confirmed that Mexico international striker Carlos Vela has signed a new long-term contract.

Vela, 20, joined the Gunners in January 2007, but spent the next year-and-a-half on loan in Spain with the likes of Salamanca and Osasuna.

The skilful striker made his Arsenal debut last season and showed fans his vast potential with a blistering Carling Cup hat-trick against Sheffield United.

Vela has featured more prominently under manager Arsene Wenger this season, making eight first-team appearances while he is also a regular for his county having won 19 caps.

Delighted

“We’re delighted that Carlos Vela has signed a new long-term contract with the club,” Wenger told the club’s official website. “Carlos is a fantastic talent and we have already seen glimpses of this during his performances.

“Let’s remember, he is still only 20 years old, so there is still a huge amount to come from this boy. We have invested a lot of time in Carlos, as we put him in Spain for two years to get some good experience.

“Now he’s back with us, we’re working hard with him every day and he is a very exciting player. We’re looking forward to seeing Carlos score many goals in an Arsenal shirt for a long time to come.”

Thrilled

Vela is thrilled to commit his long-term future and is looking forward to helping the club win their first trophy since the 2005 FA Cup.

“I’m very happy to sign a new contract and I’m very excited to be spending more years with Arsenal,” said the Mexican starlet.

“I just want to work hard and help this great club win trophies. I want to stay here for a long time and it’s a great responsibility.

“I will keep working hard to show the boss and all the fans why I’m here.”

Liverpool 5/4, Draw 9/4, Arsenal 9/4

Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed that ‘never in a million years’ did he expect Mark Hughes to make the step up into management.

The Manchester United boss was at the helm of the Old Trafford outfit while the Manchester City manager was on the Red Devils’ playing staff in his days as a marauding forward.

The Welshman has gone on to carve out a successful career in the dugout with spells at the helm of his national side, Blackburn Rovers and now City.

Hughes is the envy of many Premier League managers given the vast riches at his disposal as he is charged with the task of turning the Eastlands outfit into a Premier League force.

City are targeting a top-four finish this season and will face their bitter rivals in the two-legged Carling Cup semi-finals early next year.

That will pit veteran boss Ferguson against Hughes once again, with the Scot surprised at which of his charges have made a success of coaching.

Difficult

He told Inside United: “It’s difficult to assess that because you don’t know what ambitions the players have.

“Currently we’ve got (Ryan) Giggs, (Paul) Scholes and (Gary) Neville taking their coaching badges. That’s great and I encourage them to do that because it gives them a platform if they want to stay in the game.

“It can be difficult to pinpoint who would make it as a manager.

“For instance, nobody here thought Mark Hughes would become a manager, never in a million years, and we all thought Bryan Robson was a certainty to be a top manager.”

Ferguson is still unsure as to who poses the greatest threat to United’s bid for silverware this season, with both City and Chelsea boasting vast financial resources.

He added: “It’s difficult to say with so much money coming into the game. Manchester City have millions, Chelsea have money and you can’t count out anyone.

“You don’t know where the next deluge of money’s going to come from. You just have to say, ‘Here’s another challenge.’ We won’t be afraid of it.”

Man. Utd v Aston Villa Both Players To Score: Rooney, W. and Agbonlahor, G. 7/1

Manchester City duo Craig Bellamy and Vladimir Weiss have contracted swine flu, with several other players under observation for the virus.

Weiss was ordered to stay away from Eastlands ahead of Saturday’s Premier League victory over Chelsea after it was discovered he had been hit by the illness.

City have confirmed that Wales international Bellamy has also been suffering from the H1N1 virus, while a number of other staff members have reported flu-like symptoms and have had swabs taken.

“There is a little bit of it creeping into the camp,” City assistant boss Mark Bowen told the Manchester Evening News.

“Players come in every day with sniffles, coughs and colds and the doctor has to determine whether it is the onset of something more serious.

“It is his decision whether they have to be sent home.”

Bellamy is thought to be over the worst, although he is still doubtful for Saturday’s short trip to Bolton as he is battling to recover from a knee injury.

Bridge

One player who definitely will not be involved at the Reebok Stadium is England defender Wayne Bridge.

The former Chelsea star was carried off at the weekend following a clash with Juliano Belletti.

Manager Mark Hughes initially felt Bridge would be out of action for a couple of weeks.

However, scans have revealed the 12million full-back suffered medial ligament damage, which could sideline him for between four and six weeks.

That would mean Bridge must sit out both legs of City’s Carling Cup semi-final with Manchester United, plus the Blues’ FA Cup third-round tie at Middlesbrough.

In addition, City have eight league games to play before the end of January, although Bowen is hoping to get Bridge back slightly earlier than expected.

“It depends on his recovery but Wayne tells us he is a good healer and he is a good professional, so we are hoping it will be sooner,” he said.

Bolton v Man. City. Click here to bet.

Everton risk being drawn into a relegation scrap ahead of their home clash with high-flying Tottenham.

The Toffees have established themselves as regular qualifiers for European competition in recent years but they have made a disappointing start to the new campaign.

David Moyes’ plans have been thrown into turmoil by an injury curse that shows no sign of relenting, with three more players struck down in the midweek Europa League match against AEK Athens.

Everton did at least manage to claim a morale-boosting victory in a rain-soaked Greece as Diniyar Bilyaletdinov’s early goal carried them through to the last 32.

They can now switch their focus to domestic matters and Moyes will be anxious to pick up another win as Everton are currently just two points clear of the drop zone.

Moyes will not be able to freshen up his side as much as he would like after three successive Premier League losses, with Jo, Sylvain Distin and Dan Gosling all doubtful after being forced off against AEK.

Leon Osman has a foot injury, while Phil Jagielka, Mikel Arteta and Phil Neville are among the long-term absentees.

John Heitinga is suspended after collecting a fifth yellow card of the season and those players still standing may again be asked to fill unfamiliar positions.

Spurs news

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is convinced that his side can finish in the top four and they currently occupy fourth place after an impressive start to the season.

An under-strength Manchester United side knocked Spurs out of the Carling Cup in midweek and Redknapp will want to see a positive response.

Having made changes for the trip to Old Trafford, the manager is set to revert back to something like the line-up that drew 1-1 with Aston Villa last weekend.

Michael Dawson and Sebastien Bassong should form the central defensive partnership once again with Ledley King (hamstring) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) both still missing.

Carlo Cudicini is facing a long spell out after injuring his wrists and pelvis in a motorcycling accident, although Luka Modric is closing in on a comeback following a fractured fibula.

Redknapp must decide whether to start with Peter Crouch or Robbie Keane alongside Jermain Defoe up front.

Possible starting XIs

Everton: Howard, Neill, Hibbert, Distin, Baines, Pienaar, Fellaini, Baxter, Bilyaletdinov, Cahill, Saha.

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Palacios, Huddlestone, Kranjcar, Defoe, Crouch.

Everton v Tottenham. Click here to bet.

Sam Allardyce has confirmed he will be back in charge of Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

The Rovers chief underwent an angioplasty procedure last month, and has been recuperating at home.

Allardyce has missed league games against Bolton, Fulham and Stoke, whilst he was also unable to attend as his side won their Carling Cup quarter-final against Chelsea on penalties on Wednesday night.

Although the Rovers boss will be in the stands, rather than on the touchline against Liverpool, he is looking forward to returning to the helm.

“I will be up in the stand out of the way, and guiding it from there – I will be linked up and having some input, I will also speak to the lads before the game,” Allardyce confirmed to Sky Sports News.

“It is an unexpected situation what has happened, and a bit of a traumatic experience but the specialists are saying I can move back into there now and get on with the job I love doing and I am looking forward to seeing the lads.”

He was delighted to see his side make the Carling Cup semi-finals in his absence.

“Hopefully it will spur us on and through to January so we can look forward to the semi-finals as we are just two games away from Wembley,” he said.

The Blackburn boss does admit he needs to take better care of himself.

“There is obviously some greater care I will have to start doing and taking better care of myself,” he said.

“It is difficult but I will keep going for regular testing like I have done.

“A little more exercise when possible and go week by week and he said I should be fully recovered in two or three weeks.”

Allardyce is very grateful for all the messages of goodwill he has received over the last few weeks.

“I was overwhelmed with the amount of well wishers and I would like to thank them publicly and on camera as it is impossible for me to get back to everyone,” he stated.

Blackburn v Liverpool. Click here to bet.