President Zardari and Benazir Bhutto’s Daughter to Join Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf.
KARACHI: JangDailyNews – Well, everyone knows 25th December is an important day for PTI and it will surely change the political map of Pakistani Politics.
Saturday, 24 December 2011
Friday, 23 December 2011
Veena Malik excommunicated
Seems like the spate of controversies haunting Pakistani starlet Veena Malik is not over yet.
Sources claim that the All India Muslim Tyohar (Festivals) Committee has issued a ‘fatwa’ against Malik and excommunicated her. The reasons stated is not just one, but two! One of them is obviously the ‘objectionable’ photographs she shot for FHM, and the second one is that she has embarked on a mission to find herself an Indian groom on national television despite of already being married to a Pakistani man. It seems that complaints over the reality show marriage were accumulating with the Majlis-e-Shura, the 70-member supreme body of the Committee in Bhopal.
"She has made a laughing stock of the community. The social boycott became necessary to stop our community girls from following her example. She has been excommunicated and no member of the community will entertain her from now onwards”, Ausaf Khurram, the chairman of the organization was quoted to have said.
We wonder what else does Veena have in store for herself and for us too! Watch this space for more.
Alonso upbeat ahead of 2012 season
Fernando Alonso is convinced Ferrari will take big strides forward next season as they have plenty of room for improvement.
The Italian squad was once again found wanting this year as Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel dominated from start to finish. Alonso and Ferrari were forced to settle for third place in the drivers' and constructors' standings.
But Ferrari president Luca di Montemozelo on Sunday claimed that "all the ingredients are in place to start winning again" while team principal Stefano Domenicali said "the signs that it's a competitive car are all there".
Now it is double world champion Alonso's turn to reveal that they are upbeat ahead of the 2012 campaign.
"This is the time when one is always optimistic, but then we must wait for the start of the season to see where we really are," the official Ferrari website quotes him as saying during a Santander press conference in Madrid.
"It's true that in the past few days, there was a good feeling at Maranello and there's an air of confidence about it. We want to reacquaint ourselves with the taste of winning that has eluded us for a while.
"Last spring, we made important changes to the structure of the technical part of the team and now we have adopted a new approach, a less conservative one, in the design of the new car. The philosophy behind the 2012 car is very different to that of 2011, especially in some key areas like suspension and aerodynamics."
According to Autosport, the Spaniard feels that Red Bull can only go forward by so much after their RB7 dominated this season while Ferrari have still have plenty of areas where they can still improve.
"I think we are going to go up," he said. "Red Bull has a car that is very well developed, a very good car. Improving that car is possible, and they will improve it, but they don't have such a big margin to improve, unlike us.
"We had aerodynamic problems when the windtunnel wasn't working well. We had a different philosophy to adapt to the Pirellis, a different philosophy for the suspension and many other things. So we have a big margin to improve.
"So I think they will improve by X per cent, and we are going to improve by X by two, so it's all going to be much closer."
Alonso added that the gap between the top teams is unlikely to be big next season.
"We know our rivals will be very strong and whoever wins next year's Championship will win it by a tenth or two in the car," he said. "There aren't going to be huge gaps.
"For the car we have taken some measures and used some innovations that probably wouldn't have been used in previous years because of Ferrari's more conservative approach. So all this makes us feel optimistic."
"Inzamam closer to Don than Sachin"
Former English cricketer Tony Shillinglaw has argued through a study that technique wise it is Inzamam who was close to Sir Donald Bradman and not Sachin Tendulkar.
Shillinglaw, who is a coach now, has conducted an extensive biomechanical study of Bradman`s technique and claims that actually it is Pakistan`s Inzaman-ul Haq, who comes close to Bradman`s batting style.
Shillinglaw says that the only striking similarity between Bradman and Tendulkar is that both the players are good watchers of the ball but the Indian is actually confined by orthodoxy.
"It`s almost become a myth that if you`re watching Tendulkar, you`re watching Bradman. Well, there is very little comparison when you do so. Tendulkar is basically textbook, whereas Bradman used a rotary method in preparing to hit the ball," Shillinglaw was quoted as saying in `Sydney Morning Herald`.
"What you get with that is it becomes just a human instinct to react to the ball, and in the end that`s the basis of Bradman`s method. It`s a circular motion. He didn`t learn to bat, he learned to control the ball."
Bradman had said in an interview in 1996 that after being struck by Tendulkar`s technique, he asked his wife to look at his batting style and she also endorsed that there were similarities.
Shillinglaw, who analysed Bradman at length and had scientists at Liverpool`s John Moores University recreate his strokes, accepts there are some facets of Bradman`s batting that resonate in Tendulkar. But, technically, he says, they are different.
It does make sense to a degree. They were both small men, and Tendulkar wasn`t taught to bat in a traditional way. Of course, being small and compact, he developed in his own way the skill of judging the ball and reacting to the ball", Shillinglaw said.
"The similarity is that they were both expert at viewing the ball and playing it, but Tendulkar, I feel he is restricted by the confines of orthodoxy", he said.
"It amazes me that with all modern technology nobody has really looked in-depth at [Bradman`s] method and compared it with the likes of Tendulkar in particular because of his reputation, and Jacques Kallis, whose average is very similar.”
"They`re both very highly skilled, technical players, and comparing Bradman with those two, I feel, is a way to establishing Bradman`s differences."
Asked if not Tendulkar then who is closest to batting style of Bradman, Shillinglaw came up with a surprise choice.
"Funnily enough, the nearest I`ve seen of all people is Inzamam-ul-Haq, even though he was a big bull of a man. His batting movements were the nearest I`ve seen to Bradman, and amazingly his timing and his foot movement for a big man - they were very quick," says Shillinglaw, who penned the book Bradman Revisited.
Shillinglaw, who is a coach now, has conducted an extensive biomechanical study of Bradman`s technique and claims that actually it is Pakistan`s Inzaman-ul Haq, who comes close to Bradman`s batting style.
Shillinglaw says that the only striking similarity between Bradman and Tendulkar is that both the players are good watchers of the ball but the Indian is actually confined by orthodoxy.
"It`s almost become a myth that if you`re watching Tendulkar, you`re watching Bradman. Well, there is very little comparison when you do so. Tendulkar is basically textbook, whereas Bradman used a rotary method in preparing to hit the ball," Shillinglaw was quoted as saying in `Sydney Morning Herald`.
"What you get with that is it becomes just a human instinct to react to the ball, and in the end that`s the basis of Bradman`s method. It`s a circular motion. He didn`t learn to bat, he learned to control the ball."
Bradman had said in an interview in 1996 that after being struck by Tendulkar`s technique, he asked his wife to look at his batting style and she also endorsed that there were similarities.
Shillinglaw, who analysed Bradman at length and had scientists at Liverpool`s John Moores University recreate his strokes, accepts there are some facets of Bradman`s batting that resonate in Tendulkar. But, technically, he says, they are different.
It does make sense to a degree. They were both small men, and Tendulkar wasn`t taught to bat in a traditional way. Of course, being small and compact, he developed in his own way the skill of judging the ball and reacting to the ball", Shillinglaw said.
"The similarity is that they were both expert at viewing the ball and playing it, but Tendulkar, I feel he is restricted by the confines of orthodoxy", he said.
"It amazes me that with all modern technology nobody has really looked in-depth at [Bradman`s] method and compared it with the likes of Tendulkar in particular because of his reputation, and Jacques Kallis, whose average is very similar.”
"They`re both very highly skilled, technical players, and comparing Bradman with those two, I feel, is a way to establishing Bradman`s differences."
Asked if not Tendulkar then who is closest to batting style of Bradman, Shillinglaw came up with a surprise choice.
"Funnily enough, the nearest I`ve seen of all people is Inzamam-ul-Haq, even though he was a big bull of a man. His batting movements were the nearest I`ve seen to Bradman, and amazingly his timing and his foot movement for a big man - they were very quick," says Shillinglaw, who penned the book Bradman Revisited.
Confident Misbah ready for England
Pakistani skipper Misbah-ul Haq said Friday his high-flying team can beat England -- world`s leading Test side -- when they meet next year.
Pakistan returned home Friday after routing Bangladesh in two Twenty20s, three one-day internationals and two Tests, ending the year with five Test wins and without losing a series, both in five-day matches and limited overs.
They now take on England over three Tests, four one-days and three Twenty20 matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a series starting next month.
Misbah said England will be a real test for his side, who are now fifth in Test rankings.
"The series against England is important as well as very tough," Misbah told reporters.
"England is the world`s best Test team but in current form we can beat any team if we keep the good form and co-ordination which we showed this year."
Since taking over as Test captain in 2010 following a spot-fixing scandal, which resulted in jail terms for players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, Misbah has led Pakistan in 13 Tests.
Misbah, who has guided Pakistan to six wins, six draws and a single loss, said his team needs to improve to beat England.
"Despite achieving some good results we still need to overcome some of the mistakes which we committed and the management as well as the players are determined to overcome them because England will be really tough," said Misbah.
"Our targets on the Bangladesh tour were to keep consistency in our performance, overcome some of the mistakes and improve our rankings and that we achieved," said Misbah.
Pakistan also beat the higher-ranked Sri Lanka 1-0 in Tests and 4-1 in one-days in the UAE in October-November.
Misbah said his team has gelled over the last year.
"The best part about this team is that we have good coordination among the seniors and juniors, the support staff is helping players and each and every player realises his duty and that will help us against England," said Misbah.
Pakistan will have to once again rely on interim coach Mohsin Khan after failing to find a permanent replacement for Waqar Younis who stepped down in September citing health problems.
"Now wins over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are part of history," Khan said. "We have to start afresh against England and need to raise our game because the next opponents are very strong and ranked number one in the world."
The first Test between Pakistan and England starts in Dubai on January 17.
Pakistan returned home Friday after routing Bangladesh in two Twenty20s, three one-day internationals and two Tests, ending the year with five Test wins and without losing a series, both in five-day matches and limited overs.
They now take on England over three Tests, four one-days and three Twenty20 matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a series starting next month.
Misbah said England will be a real test for his side, who are now fifth in Test rankings.
"The series against England is important as well as very tough," Misbah told reporters.
"England is the world`s best Test team but in current form we can beat any team if we keep the good form and co-ordination which we showed this year."
Since taking over as Test captain in 2010 following a spot-fixing scandal, which resulted in jail terms for players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, Misbah has led Pakistan in 13 Tests.
Misbah, who has guided Pakistan to six wins, six draws and a single loss, said his team needs to improve to beat England.
"Despite achieving some good results we still need to overcome some of the mistakes which we committed and the management as well as the players are determined to overcome them because England will be really tough," said Misbah.
"Our targets on the Bangladesh tour were to keep consistency in our performance, overcome some of the mistakes and improve our rankings and that we achieved," said Misbah.
Pakistan also beat the higher-ranked Sri Lanka 1-0 in Tests and 4-1 in one-days in the UAE in October-November.
Misbah said his team has gelled over the last year.
"The best part about this team is that we have good coordination among the seniors and juniors, the support staff is helping players and each and every player realises his duty and that will help us against England," said Misbah.
Pakistan will have to once again rely on interim coach Mohsin Khan after failing to find a permanent replacement for Waqar Younis who stepped down in September citing health problems.
"Now wins over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are part of history," Khan said. "We have to start afresh against England and need to raise our game because the next opponents are very strong and ranked number one in the world."
The first Test between Pakistan and England starts in Dubai on January 17.
2011 in NBA: Unexpected heroes
looks back at a dramatic 2010-2011 NBA season that was full of surprises and unexpected heroes.
When January came around, the team that inevitably came under most scrutiny were the Miami Heat, partly due to their 'Holy Trinity' of Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, and partly due to their excellent record coming into 2011.
After a slow 8-9 start to the season, they'd picked up the pace in December with a superb 15-1 record, firmly establishing themselves as favourites to win the NBA Championship. Their seemingly inexorable run to the NBA Championship was juxtaposed with LeBron James' switch to the Heat. Although it had happened the previous summer, the story had serious legs, rumbling on well into the new year.
James explained his move on 'The Decision', the hour-long show dedicated to his, uh, decision to move from the Cavaliers after seven years, saying: "I feel like it [the move] is going to give me the best opportunity to win and to win for multiple years, and not only just to win in the regular season."
Of course, the move was pilloried by Cleveland fans, who considered Cleveland born-and-bred James as their talisman.
Gilbert, owner of Cleveland Cavaliers, wrote an open letter to the fans, labelling James as "cowardly" and "bitterly disappointing" and even guaranteed that "Cleveland Cavaliers will win an NBA Championship before the self-titled former 'King' wins one."
Miami Heat finished the regular season with a 58-24, .707 percentage record, second in the Eastern Conference behind Chicago Bulls. In comparison, the Cavaliers set an unwanted record of having the longest losing streak in the NBA, stretching from 18 December 2010 to 11 February 2011.
The Cavs ended the regular season last in the conference with a 19-63, .232 record, one of the worst in franchise history. Thus the wounds of betrayal were salted with near-catastrophic failure.
The year of change
2011 also signalled a change of guard in the NBA.
Young stars are always rising through the ranks in the game, but occasionally the sprinkling turns into a torrent - refreshing the sport by infusing it with fresh blood.
Oklahoma City Thunder, the youngest team in the league whose starting five averaged out to an age of 24.4 years old, impressed everyone especially with the prolific duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. The team averaged just under 105 points per game and topped their division. With more time to improve and gel in the off-season, the Thunder are likely to go from strength to strength.
Signs of a new generation taking over are also apparent in other teams.
Chicago Bulls' point guard Derrick Rose proved to be the biggest surprise package this year, becoming the youngest NBA MVP in history at 22 years old.
Rose looks destined to put his name among the greats after becoming only the third player in the past 30 years of the NBA to record 2,000 points and 600 assists in a single season, the other two players being LeBron James and Michael Jordan.
The native Chicagoan guided the Bulls to top of the conference with the best win-loss record of 62-20, succumbing only to Miami Heat in the conference finals, their most impressive season since the Jordan era.
On the other hand, seasoned campaigners have started to show their decline.
The Boston Celtics are a prime example. Although they did well in regular season, topping the Atlantic Division, the veterans in the team couldn't quite carry their energy over in the playoffs, where they lost to Miami Heat.
It's undeniable that the team is aging and it's more than apparent. The age of their starting five is a good indicator. Except for Rajon Rondo (24), the rest of them, Jermaine O'Neal (33), Kevin Garnett (35), Paul Pierce (34), Ray Allen (36), are well into the twilight of their careers.
Two-time defending champions LA Lakers appear to be headed down the same path as well. The Lakers still have the personnel in their team to strike fear into their opponents, but like the Celtics, the names that carry the team are on the wrong side of their primes.
Superstar Kobe Bryant looks far older than the 32 years old after carrying the franchise for the best part of the past 15 years while Ron Artest seems to be letting his eccentricities get the better of him, changing his name to Metta World Peace in September in an attempt to inspire the young around the world.
And then there's Derek Fisher, who at 37 years old is looking at his final stint at the Lakers before his contract runs out in 2013. With legendary coach Phil Jackson announcing his retirement at the end of the season, the curtain came down on a glittering era for the Lakers. Their coach is gone - it's only a matter of time before the players follow suit.
San Antonio Spurs complete the set of teams whose age has been visibly troubling them. For one, the team was over-reliant on 35-year old Tim Duncan throughout the season.
When Duncan missed 6 of the Spurs' final 12 games through injury, the Spurs had a 4-8 record, including a 6 game losing streak at one point. They had to turn to Manu Ginobili, who at 34 years old isn't the quickest shooting guard around, and Tony Parker, who isn't quite the same player since his divorce from Eva Longoria in January.
Mavericks buck the trend
The only team that proved an exception were the Dallas Mavericks, and most fans would never in their dreams have begrudged the veterans in that team of a championship ring.
The Mavs surprised everyone with their strong postseason showing, clean sweeping defending champions LA Lakers in the conference semi-finals and easing to a 4-2 win over the star-studded Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.
Dirk Nowitzki was finally rewarded with a NBA title for 13 years of excellent service, a fitting contrast in a season where superstar James finally left his home team after seven years. He carried the Mavericks through the final with his all-round game, topping his team in average points and rebounds over the six games.
The 38-year-old Jason Kidd, a two-time NBA losing finalist during his time with the New Jersey Nets, returned to the franchise he started his career with and was duly rewarded with an unexpected NBA title at the fag end of his career.
Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle was understandably proud. He said of his battle-hardened veteran: "For the rest of their lives, they are world champions. They are so deserving."
The one percent that costs billions
On July 1, 2011, the fourth lockout in NBA history began upon expiration of the 2005 collective bargaining agreement.
During the lockout, teams could not trade, sign or contact players, and players could not access NBA team facilities, trainers or staffs, which meant that non-playing jobs were on the line as well.
The NBA Players' Association (NBPA), headed by LA Lakers' Derek Fisher, were in negotiations with the franchise owners to negotiate a new deal but both sides failed to agree on several key issues, though not for lack of trying.
"Everyone loses if we don't reach an agreement, that's something that I think has always been understood," said union president Fisher.
"I will say we are not apart in terms of an agreed urgency on getting a deal done," said NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver.
The main points of contention were a new salary cap for the teams and how basketball-related income (BRI) was to be split. Franchise owners claimed that they were losing money and needed more than the 43% of BRI, but the players were unwilling to budge from their stance of having less than 52% of the BRI.
Long story short, the players were unwilling to accept having less than 53% of the BRI and both sides were unable to agree on a deal. Federal mediator George Cohen, who negotiated the 2011 NFL lockout, was brought in but to no avail and the NBA season was cancelled up till 15 December.
On November 26, after 15 hours of talks, a tentative deal was reached and a shortened season will start from Christmas Day. The players had to compromise for 51.2 percent of BRI in 2011-12, with a 49-to-51 band in subsequent years on top of other salary cap clauses.
However, the damage was already done.
The lockout cost the players around $350 million in lost pay. According to CNBC, the average player lost $220,000 after the first missed paycheck on November 15. Externally, $2.7 billion was lost in the TV license market.
An exciting year ahead
Despite the negative impact it had, the lockout may just be a blessing in disguise. For one, it will certainly make the normally drawn out regular season more interesting to watch.
With a blockbuster clash between Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks on Christmas to kickstart the shortened campaign, each regular season win has more value than it does in the past. And hopefully, it will teach the younger players a valuable lesson on how money isn't everything.
So, here's to an excellent 2012, hopefully filled with as many surprises and unexpected heroes as 2011.
Award winners
Most Valuable Player - Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
Rookie of the Year - Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers
Defensive Player of the Year - Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
Most Improved Player - Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
Sixth Man of the Year - Lamar Odom, L.A. Lakers
Coach of the Year - Tom Thibodeau, Chicago Bulls
All-Star Game MVP - Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
Finals MVP - Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
Ferguson hails mental strength
Sir Alex Ferguson understands the criticism of Manchester United but feels the massive setbacks they have suffered this term have only emphasised their strength of character.
United have failed to win just four of their 17 Premier League games this season and despite Manchester City's flying start remain just two points adrift of their neighbours heading into the Christmas programme.
Yet their campaign as a whole has been pock-marked by disastrous defeats.
The 6-1 home defeat by City in October stands out, with the loss to Basle not far behind given it cost United their place in the Champions League.
In addition, United were beaten on home soil by Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.
It has given ample opportunity for United's critics to attack.
Yet Ferguson feels it has also brought the best out of his players.
"If you lose a derby game 6-1, get knocked out by a Championship team in the quarter-final of the Carling Cup, and lose to Basle, who are not a power in Europe, you can understand the criticism," he said.
"But in terms of the nature of the players we have and the kind of club we are, we have shown the resilience and determination to do something about it each time it has happened.
"That says a lot about the character of the team.
"We lose games in normal seasons. This season we have lost games that have been dramatic and a bit more emphatic in the sense of the impact it had on our chances of winning trophies.
"These were bad results for us but the character of the team has rescued us each time."
United have responded to the extent of collecting 19 points from a possible 21 since that City defeat, the latest win coming at Fulham on Wednesday.
Twenty-four hours later, Tottenham and Chelsea fought out a draw at White Hart Lane that did neither side much good in their attempts to overhaul the Manchester duo at the top of the Premier League.
Yet Ferguson, who has consistently suggested it is only those within a couple of points of the leadership on New Year's Day who can expect to battle it out for the biggest prize, is adopting a cautious attitude.
"At this point in time everyone thinks it is going to be a one-two for the city," he said.
"But things change. You only need to go back over the years to see how dramatic our league can be.
"Lose a game in this league and all the rest get a pick up and start chasing harder."
With a Boxing Day encounter with Wigan to prepare for, Ferguson has opted not to get embroiled in a row with Liverpool over their reaction to the eight-match ban and £40,000 fine handed out to Luis Suarez for using insulting words towards Patrice Evra, with a reference to the player's colour.
"I have nothing to say about it," he said, when asked about the T-shirts worn by Liverpool players in support of Suarez prior to Wednesday's draw with Wigan at the DW Stadium.
Ferguson is on far more comfortable territory talking about his own team, who will have Phil Jones available to face Roberto Martinez's men after X-rays showed he only suffered bruising to his cheekbone during an aerial clash with Clint Dempsey in midweek.
"We feared the worst," he said.
"At the time it looked like a real sore one.
"He had lost his vision for that period when he came back on the field. Thankfully it is good news.
"He has got a bit of swelling in his jaw but he should be okay for Monday."
Ashley Young has been ruled out with a knee injury though, so veteran wide-man Ryan Giggs is set to have some involvement.
The 38-year-old extended his unique record of scoring in every Premier League season at Fulham, and Ferguson finds it remarkable how Giggs has manages to carry on producing the same high level performances over such a long time.
"He was unbelievable on Wednesday," said the United boss.
"He controlled the midfield. I saw Danny Murphy bellowing to the forwards to come back because he was finding it hard.
"We know he is incredible. It is an established fact.
"It is an unusual sight we are seeing in the modern-day game, a lad at 38 performing at that level."
Wenger denies Bridge move
Arsene Wenger has denied making a move to sign Wayne Bridge, but admits he is likely to delve in to the loan market for a left-back.
Gibbs was expected to be out for two weeks in October with a stomach injury, but tests revealed the full-back had picked up a hernia and required surgery that would keep him out until mid-December.
The 22-year-old suffered a further setback this week, and he has had to go under the knife again, ruling him out for a month.
Wenger is already desperately short in defence, with Andre Santos out until March and Carl Jenkinson and Bacary Sagna likely to return in mid-January at the earliest.
The Gunners boss has had to field Laurent Koscielny, Thomas Vermaelen and Johan Djourou out of position at full-back recently.
While out-of-favour Manchester City defender Bridge is available on a short-term deal, Wenger has denied he has already lined up a move for the former Chelsea defender.
"I haven't made any inquiry yet for Wayne Bridge or anyone else," Wenger said.
"It is of course something we will look at but it depends on how long you have to take them.
"I have to see what is available - if I have a good opportunity then why not? They have a big impact on your wages.
"If you have to sign a player for three or four years and then you have three or four left backs, only one can play, so they are not happy.
"It can only be a short-term solution for us because we have bought Santos, we have Gibbs, we have Vermaelen who can play there, so we do not need a long-term solution."
Gibbs' promising career has been stunted by a series of injuries that have dogged him since he broke in to the Arsenal first team and his chances of making Fabio Capello's Euro 2012 squad have receded with his latest setback.
There was better news from the treatment room about Bacary Sagna and Djourou, however, with the latter making a quicker-than-expected recovery from a groin strain he suffered last Sunday at Manchester City.
"It was a blow for Kieran, but Djourou has a little chance to come back for the Wolves game," Wenger said.
Sagna, meanwhile, trained separately from the rest of the Arsenal squad in an open training session at the Emirates Stadium on Friday and is recovering well from the broken leg he suffered in October.
"He's a long way ahead of schedule," Wenger said.
"I saw him still limping a little bit so we have to be careful but physically he will be ready very quickly because he worked very hard in the gym.
"The end of January is a reasonable target for him."
Wenger's injury-hit squad face Wolves on Tuesday before taking on QPR on New Year's Eve.
The two upcoming games have been given an added importance due to Robin van Persie's goalscoring exploits in 2011.
The Arsenal captain equalled Thierry Henry's club record of 34 goals in a calendar year last week and is two short of reaching Alan Shearer's Premier League record of 36 goals in a year.
Van Persie has been the catalyst for the club's turnaround in fortunes this year, but even though Wenger has been impressed with the Dutchman's efforts, he has warned his captain that the team's goals, and not his own should take priority.
"The individual records are not vital for me, they are just a sign that the team scores," Wenger said.
"He is an exceptional player, but what is important is that we win our games this Christmas."
That said, Wenger is obviously keen to see the former Feyenoord man replicate his efforts in 2012 and help the Gunners guarantee a top-four finish.
"The target for him is to be better in 2012," Wenger added.
"In sport you have always have that target, to be better than what you have done before."
Thursday, 22 December 2011
NFL: Back surgery for Johnny Knox
Chicago Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox has undergone back surgery.
Knox, 25, needs an operation to stabilise a vertebra in his mid-to-lower back after being injured in the Bears' 38-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on December 18.
"Johnny has total movement throughout his body, has total use of all his extremities, which is good," said Chicago coach Lovie Smith after the game.
"We're doing tests right now, but he has total movement. He is not paralysed or anything like that."
NHL: Blackhawks rout Canadiens
Western Conference leaders the Chicago Blackhawks came from behind to crush the Montreal Canadiens 5-1 in the NHL today.
Viktor Stalberg, Jonathan Toews and Bryan Bickell all scored in the third period as the Blackhawks took the game away from their opponents.
Andrei Kostitsyn had put the Canadiens in front in the second period, but goals from Andrew Brunette and Patrick Sharp turned the game around.
The Philadelphia Flyers also responded well to conceding first as they saw off the Dallas Stars4-1.
Claude Giroux cancelled out Michael Ryder's opener before goals from Wayne Simmonds, Jaromir Jagr and Andrej Meszaros earned the Flyers victory.
The San Jose Sharks thrashed the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-2.
Logan Couture scored twice for the Sharks as they raced into a 5-1 lead after the first period.
The Phoenix Coyotes battled back from 3-1 down to grind out a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, Lauri Korpikoski with the winning effort.
Jay McClement got the winner as the Colorado Avalanche edged out the St Louis Blues 3-2.
Elsewhere, two goals in the space of 21 seconds in the opening period set the Vancouver Canucks on their way to a 4-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings.
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