The Morning Sports Briefing

Arsenal complete great escape

Arsenal are through to the knockout stages of the Champions League for the 16th consecutive year after they beat Olympiakos 3-0 away from home last night.

Needing to win by two goals, or better the Greek’s 3-2 win at the Emirates earlier in the campaign, Arsene Wenger’s side completed the great escape with relative ease against a disappointing Olympiakos team bereft of any ideas or attacking endeavour.

Olivier Giroud was the hero for the Gunners, completing his first hattrick for the club, and they now head into the last-16 with Barcelona and both Madrid sides possible opponents.

Chelsea forget domestic woes to top Group G

Meanwhile Chelsea put their domestic woes behind them to see off FC Porto 2-0 at Stamford Bridge and finish top of Group G. The hosts took an early lead thanks to an Ivan Marcano own goal before Willian put the game beyond the visitor's reach in the second half, meaning Jose Mourinho's side at least have a Champions League knockout game to look forward to in the season from hell.

Elsewhere, Gary Neville's first game in charge of Valencia ended in defeat, his new charges losing 2-0 to Lyon at the Mestalla.

Martin and Michael named managers of the year

Yesterday the two O'Neills, Martin and Michael, were named joint winners of the Philips Sports Manager of the Year award after they guided Ireland and Northern Ireland to improbable Euro 2016 qualification.

Women in sport

Our women in sport series continues today with Sonia O'Sullivan's column, interviews with hockey player Emma Russell and cricketer Isobel Joyce as well as a feature onIrish athletes who have scholarships in America.

Why the Fury petition is pointless

Malachy Clerkin also gives his opinion on the furore surrounding controversial heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and the BBC Sports Personality of the year awards, he writes: "Society will not be any less sexist or homophobic if Fury is delisted. It will not be any more sexist or homophobic if he stays on it and actually wins the award. That's not how society works. Change comes in small, barely noticeable steps."

Munster and Leicester ready to renew rivalry

Munster and Leicester meet in the Champions Cup on Saturday for the latest renewal of their great European rivalry and Paul Burke, the Ireland international who represented both sides, has drawn similarites between both, he said: "There are so many similarities; passionate supporters, steeped in history and clubs that have enjoyed huge amounts of success.

“Any match between Munster and Leicester is huge because of the history dating from the time of Neil Back’s ‘intervention’.”

Wounded Ulster can still progress

Ulster welcome European giants Toulose to Ravenhill on Friday night and the province are without a raft of first team players due to injury. One of those is Tommy Bowe, but the absent Ireland wing believes his side can still qualify for the next round, he said: "If we can pull out a big performance this Friday we are going to be right back in it again. If we win back-to-back the next two weeks . . . do that and we are right back in the frame."

America at Large

In today's America at Large column Dave Hannigan looks at the appointment by the Florida Marlins of notorious drug cheat Barry Bonds as head coach, and the wayhis arrival has been celebrated and barely criticised.

What to watch out for:

Football

Tottenham (Setanta, BT Sport Europe, 8pm ko), Celtic (BT Sport 2, 6pm ko) and Liverpool (Setanta, BT Sport Europe, 6pm ko) are all in Europa League action tonight.