Arsene Wenger’s faith in Manuel Almunia has been underlined by the announcement that the Spanish goalkeeper has signed an extension to his contract.

Details of the deal were not divulged but the 30-year-old Almunia revealed that he has now set his sights on ending his career in north London, where he has this season replaced Jens Lehmann as Wenger’s first-choice goalkeeper.

“I am very happy,” said Almunia, who made two important saves in Arsenal’s 1-1 Champions League draw with Liverpool on Wednesday. “I have extended my contract and I hope to be here for a long, long time.

Barcelona is “looking for excuses” to sell their under-performing Brazilian ace Ronaldinho at the end of the season, the Spanish club’s former midfielder Rivaldo said Thursday.

“For me it is sad to see a club do this with a player. They are turning people’s opinion against him and this shows that they want to sell him and are looking for excuses to do so,” the AEK Athens player told radio Ona FM.

“It is like a father who is against his son. A father must always look for the best thing for his children,” added former Brazilian international Rivaldo.

Anelka has often been reduced to a bit-part role since his move from Bolton in January, but the France striker is a more mature character than earlier in his career and has no intention of causing problems for Blues manager Avram Grant.

His spells at Arsenal, Real Madrid and Liverpool were spoiled by his occasional outbursts when he felt hard-done-by, earning him the nickname ‘le sulk’.

A goal by second-half substitute Aruna Diane gave Paris Saint Germain a 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Strasbourg here on Wednesday and was enough to see the League Cup winners move out of the bottom three.

The Ivory Coast international, who had been applauded on to the pitch whereas the man he replaced Pegguy Luyindula was booed off, struck 18 minutes from time shooting home from fellow substitute Bernard Mendy’s cross to give the 1996 Cup Winners Cup winners their first league victory since Jaunary 23.

Sunderland manager Roy Keane hopes to spare the north-east side’s fans the relegation fears that have dogged them this term by bringing in new players ahead of the next Premier League season.

The former Manchester United and Ireland midfielder has spent much of the current campaign trying to keep his side in the lucrative top-flight.

But the Black Cats are now seven points above the drop zone with six matches of the season remaining after back-to-back wins and a repeat performance away to second-bottom Fulham this weekend would all but assure Sunderland’s safety.

The Spaniard took time out ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final first leg clash away to Premier League rivals Arsenal on Wednesday to urge that there be no repeat of the ugly scenes which marred last Sunday’s match at Anfield.

“It is important to stop these things (chanting) between the fans. Especially against families and children, it is important to stop these things if it is possible and just talk about football.

European football governing body UEFA confirmed Monday they have dropped their investigation into alleged sectarian chanting by Celtic supporters in Barcelona.

UEFA looked at video footage which appeared on the internet from Celtic’s Champions League visit to the Nou Camp on March 4.

“From what we could see there wasn’t sufficient evidence to open a disciplinary enquiry,” a UEFA spokesman told AFP.

Celtic had said they were surprised to be the subject of a probe.