MANCHESTER UNITED UNICEF dinner

Questioning: Rio Ferdinand is joined on stage by Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney and co at Unted's gala dinner as they are interviewed by BBC political editor Nick Robinson

Cheer up, Ryan: A rather glum looking Giggs poses for a picture with team-mates Rooney and Fletcher

Double act: Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney strike a pose with Chris Smalling and partner Sam Cooke

Sir Alex Ferguson however was a notable absentee. 

The United boss, whose secrets behind his unrivalled success at Old Trafford were in part revealed following an unprecedented study by Harvard University, didn't join his side at the black-tie affair despite his name being mentioned on the official invite.

Suit you, sir: Patrice Evra and Darren Fletcher look the part as they arrive at the home of Manchester United

Happy: Hernandez shares a joke with Valencia while Cleverley, Young and Welbeck are all smiles (below)

The United boss is unlikely to be happy that his side playing three games in seven days over the Festive period starting with a tricky trip to Swansea on Sunday.

United will begin the tough run of games with a six-point cushion over rivals Manchester City as they attempt to wrestle back the Premier League trophy to the red half of the city. 

Thumbs up: Shinji Kagawa (left) and Jonny Evans with his girlfriend Helen McConnell

In the swing: United veteran Ryan Giggs arrives at the star-studded evening at Old Trafford

Men in black: Tom Cleverley, Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck pose for the assorted media

Picture perfect: Summer signings Nick Powell and Alexander Buttner with their respective partners

Lat year's gala raised £130,000 for charity and some punters would have paid in excess of £3,500 a ticket for last night's do which included a three-course meal, free bottle of wine and a VIP drinks reception at the United museum, according to the club's website. 

Red Devil: Coronation Street actress Catherine Tyldesley arriving at Old Trafford for the gala dinner

PS United are always in the news... but what are you doing here, Nick?

The evening was hosted by BBC political editor Nick Robinson - a lifelong Manchester United fan who is from Macclesfield

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ARSENAL YAWAPA MKATABA MNONO MAKINDA WAKE

Arsenal have committed £70million to secure the futures of Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey and Carl Jenkinson, who have all signed new five-year deals.

The improved contracts mean Wilshere’s pay goes from £50,000 to £80,000 a week, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s has trebled to £60,000 a week and Gibbs
has had a rise of £10,000 a week to around £50,000 a week. It is believed Ramsey now earns £60,000 a week while Jenkinson will earn about £35,000 a week, an increase of £15,000.

As Sportsmail exclusively revealed on Wednesday morning, five of their new-look British core have signed long-term contracts. And the north London club confirmed the news in the afternoon.

Manager Arsene Wenger of Arsenal stands over (L-R) Carl Jenkinson, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Manager Arsène Wenger said: 'We are delighted that these five young players have all signed new long-term contracts. The plan is to build a team around a strong basis of young players, in order to get them to develop their talent at the Club.

'Jack is certainly the best known, the leader of this group - but the other four players are exceptional footballers, and we’re very happy that we could conclude their new deals at the same time.

Wenger continued: 'Gibbs, Jenkinson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey and Wilshere represent a core of the squad and it’s an extension for a long period for all of them.

Out on the town: Jack Wilshere (left) joined Kieran Gibbs and Thomas Vermaelen (right) last night for the Arsenal players' Christmas party 

Joining in: Contract rebel Theo Walcott was joined by Melanie Slade (right) as Gervinho looks ready to party (left) 

'I’m a strong believer in stability and I believe when you have a core of British players, it’s always easier to keep them together and that’s what we’ll try to achieve going forward.'

Arsenal’s push to keep their best British talent indicates a deliberate shift in Wenger’s thinking.

After basing his sides around foreign players for years, the manager seems to have had a change of heart after the likes of Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy all left the Emirates Stadium.

Speaking after the thumping win at Reading, Wenger said: ‘We have a core of good young English players and I hope we will be able to build a team around them and that they can achieve something together.’

Another British player who continues to negotiate a new deal at the club is Theo Walcott. The striker rejected a deal worth £75,000 a week in August, and hopes to get closer to £100,000.

Walcott joined his team-mates yesterday at two Michelin star restaurant L'Atelier for the team's Christmas party.

Fresh after thrashing Reading 5-2 on Monday evening, the players seemed in high spirits as they hit the town in central London.

Golascorers Lukas Podolski, Walcott and hat-trick hero Santi Cazorla may have had greater cause to celebrate after helping the side bouncing back from a humiliating 1-0 defeat in the Capital One Cup last week to League Two outfit Bradford.

Loving it: Olivier Giroud arrives for the party (right) as Bacary Sagna (left) is greeted by photographers 

Up for it: Lukasz Fabianski (left) and Lukas Podolski arrive to get the party started in 

RONALDO NA ZIDANE WALIPOKUTANA WAKUMBUSHIA ENZI ZAO JANA

A slimmed-down Ronaldo captained his side to victory as he went head-to-head with Zinedine Zidane on Wednesday night in Brazil.

Both players were in charge of star-studded squads in the Ronaldo and friends v Zidane and friends annual charity match.

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Elite: Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane lead out their men for the charity match

Star line-up: Brazilian favourites Ronaldo (fifth left), Neymar (fourth left) and Lucas (third left) were among the players involved

Payback: Neymar is the middleman as Ronaldo faces up to Zidane (but it's all in good spirits)

How's that? Bebeto celebrates scoring the opener with Neymar (right

The Brazilian's team emerged 3-2 victors, thanks to a late strike by Tottenham target Leandro Damiao.

Legendary Italian referee Pierluigi Collina came out of retirement to officiate the game which will raise funds to support projects to reduce poverty in Brazil and Africa.

In Zidane's side were former greats including Deco, Freddie Ljungberg and Fernando Hierro, as well as futsal star Falcao. 

Drastic action: Ronaldo before and after his weight loss

Little magicians: Zico takes on Deco with Ronaldo watching on

Trampled: Santiago Solari takes a tumble during the well contested friendly

Rough and tumble: Goalkeeper Dida smiles as Sorin goes rolling by

Have you lost weight? Argentinian Pablo Guinazu gets a grab of Ronaldo at the final whistle

Still got it: Zinedine Zidane tries to shield the ball from Brazilian player Amaral

Veteran: Michel Salgado appears to let Zico get the run on him during the UNDP-organised match in Porto Alegre

Ronaldo's squad included Zico, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Romario and Neymar.

It was all too much for one mascot, who broke down in tears as he got to meet the Santos star.

Neymar played in Bebeto to open the scoring for Ronaldo's team before Falcao levelled things up. 

Zidane led by example as he fired in a fine volley to put his side ahead, but Caca Ferrari and Damiao made sure it was Ronaldo who ended up smiling. 

Good cause: The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) banner in the crowd

Celebration time: Bebeto (second right) after scoring his goal alongside Ronaldo and Neymar

Sky high: Leandro Damiao marks a goal during the match at the Arena Gremio

Collision course: Ronaldo and Fernando Hierro go in for a 50-50

On the noggin: Zico tries to leap for a header

Meeting of legends: Ronaldo tries to steer the ball away from Zidane in their charity match

JK Azindua Mradi Wa Kibada

JK Azindua Mradi Wa Kibada

Rais Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete akifunua kitambaa kuzindua rasmi mradi wa ujenzi wa nyumba 290 za gharama nafuu zinazojengwa na Shirika la Nyumba la Taifa (NHC)

maeneo ya Kibada, Kigamboni, wilaya ya Temeke mkoa wa Dar es salaam leo December 13, 2012 . Kushoto ni Mama Salma Kikwete, kulia ni Naibu Waziri wa Nyumba na Maendeleo ya Makazi, Goodluck Ole-Medeye, anayefuatiwa na Mwenyekiti wa Bodi wa Shirika la Nyumba la Taifa, Mhandisi Kesogukewele Msita , Mkurugenzi Mkuu Bw. Nehemia Mchechu,

  Rais Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete akitembelea moja ya nyumba baada ya kuzindua rasmi mradi wa ujenzi wa nyumba 290 za gharama nafuu zinazojengwa na Shirika la Nyumba la Taifa (NHC)

maeneo ya Kibada, Kigamboni, wilaya ya Temeke mkoa wa Dar es salaam leo December 13, 2012  . Wa tatu kulia ni Mama Salma Kikwete, kulia ni wa pili kushoto ni  Naibu Waziri wa Nyumba na Maendeleo ya Makazi, Goodluck Ole-Medeye, kushoto ni  Mwenyekiti wa Bodi wa Shirika la Nyumba la Taifa, Mhandisi Kesogukewele Msita , Mkurugenzi Mkuu Bw. Nehemia Mchechu,

 Rais Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete akiakata utepe  kuzindua rasmi mradi wa ujenzi wa nyumba 290 za gharama nafuu zinazojengwa na Shirika la Nyumba la Taifa (NHC)

maeneo ya Kibada, Kigamboni, wilaya ya Temeke mkoa wa Dar es salaam leo December 13, 2012, akiwa pamoja na Mama Salma Kikwete, Naibu Waziri wa Nyumba na Maendeleo ya Makazi, Goodluck Ole-Medeye,  Naibu Waziri wa Fedha Sara Salum, Mwanaseheraia Mkuu wa Serikali Bw Jaji Frederick Werema, Mbunge wa Kigamboni Dkt Faustine Ndugulile ,Mwenyekiti wa Bodi wa Shirika la Nyumba la Taifa, Mhandisi Kesogukewele Msita , Mkurugenzi Mkuu Bw. Nehemia Mchechu,