Tottenham - Arsenal

Spurs are in the race for CL spot (three points less than Man City with a game in hand) and this is more than “just” a derby game. They have lost just once against Arsenal in last eight competitive games (0-3 at Emirates) and lost also once in last 26 league games at White Hart Lane. Peter Crouch will be in the team after he served the suspension, Pienaar is rated as in doubt.

For the Gunners, this is the very last chance. Just one win of last six in the league and they’re seven points below United (with this game in hand). Also we’ll see how they will react on 102th minute shocker three days ago. However, Arsenal are still the best travellers in Premier (29 points of 15 games) and are undefeated in all six away games in 2011. Tragedian, Emmanuel Eboue, will be probably replaced by recovered Bacary Sagna. Denilson, Rosicky and Almunia are also fit.

Both sides are desperate for points, but don’t have impressive defensive records lately. I think this would be an open game (play for a goal more), not a tactical battle. Odds are more than acceptable.

Bet: Over 2.5
 Odd: 1.97 188bet, Pinnacle
 Stake: 8/10
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Champions League 31. March

Arsenal – Barcelona, Arsenal corner handicap (-0.5) @ 2.00, Expekt

If it is any other top English club, I would take offered odd with a big smile. But Arsenal… At this moment it looks Barca is everything that Gunners want to be. And I really can’t predict final result. I can imagine 1-1 or 2-1, but will leave it.
I see Arsenal as a side which will have bigger possession and good pace. Partially because Barca’s tactic on away games in Europe (6 draws and 3 wins in last 9). They’ll sit back and wait some stupitidy by Almunia or Campbell most likely, or simply a chance for good counter attack. Guardiola would be satisfied with a scoring draw. Wenger would not. And Arsenal will have the advantage after set pieces, I guess Wenger knows it.

Inter – CSKA, over 2.5 @ 2.05, Stan James

1.40 for a home win is a rubbish in my opinion. Handicap, too risky. Mourinho will have same players that knocked Chelsea. They’re big favorites no doubt and they’re surely capable of scoring few tonight. On the other hand, CSKA like to play counter attacks, sometimes look very dangerous and can score. I think their chance is tonight, not in re-match. Like the odds for goals. Over 2.5.

Nice little double for me. (Those are best current odds for both bets,bet365 offer 1.95 for both.)

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Birmingham – Arsenal

Well, Brum HAD a great season. They’re 9^th, probably will stay there and surely won’t repeat this success in foreseen future. They’re also tired after mid-week defeat (and all season as well), defense line is in late football ages and will have to chase Arsenal’s fast runners. The fact in their favor is St Andrew's is not a happy place for top sides. They took a point vs. Spurs, Everton, Chelsea and Man Utd. McLeish will also be dieing to do a favor to his mentor Sir Alex. And to be honest, they won’t have anything against to ruin Arsenal’s dream just for pleasure.

 

On the other hand, Wenger said this game is more important than that next week vs. Barcelona and he surely thinks like that! Management, fans, players and even he are satiated with his repeating stories about grand European success. Choice is win the title or go! And if he doesn’t do it this year, will hardly have such chance in the forthcoming. But, French is scratching the head as Vermaelen got the red card vs. West Ham and he has no other choice but to put Silvestre and Campbell as center backs. Both are everything but safe defenders in my opinion and with confused looking Almunia and Cameron Jerome in a sensational shape I smell a trouble and give up from any thought about backing them with some high handicap.

 

Brum have nothing to play for, but will try to give some importance to themselves in a title race. They won’t look tired. On the other hand, this is the highest importance for the Gunners. They definitely have potential to score few. Over 2.5 for me. bet365 offer 1.88, Pinnacle 1.83.

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More will follow... 

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Thursday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP 

Manchester City are setting their sights high, with Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery, Barcelona striker Thierry Henry, Chelsea skipper John Terry and Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz all transfer targets. (The Times) 
Liverpool may make a £9m bid for Valencia centre-back Raul Albiol if Daniel Agger refuses to sign a new deal to keep him at Anfield. (Various) 
Real Madrid's Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart says he would like to join Chelsea, if his compatriot Guus Hiddink stays on as manager. (The Sun) 
Hiddink, meanwhile, has urged Chelsea to bid for Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko. (Various) 
AC Milan are lining up a £15m summer bid for Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy. (Various) 
Everton defender Joseph Yobo will be offered a new £6m contract in the hope of fending off interest from Arsenal and Chelsea. (Daily Mirror) 
Wigan are interested in signing Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton and will move for him at the end of the season. (The Sun) 
Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone has alerted Aston Villa, Newcastle and Everton by admitting he has concerns about his future at White Hart Lane. (Daily Mail) 
Jeremie Aliadiere will quit Middlesbrough if they are relegated and the striker could make a shock return to Arsenal. (Daily Mirror) 
Boro defender Emanuel Pogatetz also says he will leave the club if they are relegated. (The Sun) 
Blackburn defender Andre Ooijer has confirmed he will return to PSV Eindhoven next season. (Various) 
Birmingham striker Kevin Phillips is wanted by Australian side Perth Glory. (Daily Star) 
Arsenal's highly-rated young midfielder Mark Randall is wanted on loan by Blackpool. (Daily Mirror) 
Ipswich and Watford are keeping tabs on Barnet striker John O'Flynn. (Daily Star) 
Bristol City striker Dele Adebola is a target for Sheffield United. (Daily Mirror) 
Celtic are weighing up a £2m summer swoop for highly-rated 23-year-old Espanyol midfielder Jordi Gomez who is currently on loan at Swansea City. (Various) 

OTHER GOSSIP 

England boss Fabio Capello has branded striker Wayne Rooney a "crazy man" after the striker's red card in Manchester United's defeat by Fulham. (Various) 
Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is considering an application for a British passport that would allow the Spaniard to play for England. (Various) 
Tottenham left-back Gareth Bale has revealed he is having extra coaching in how to become a better defender. (Various) 
Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon is set to for showdown talks with manager Ricky Sbragia over his future. (Daily Star) 
Uefa says it will bring match fixing charges against a European club within days. (Various) 
Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun is set to anger his employers by risking his fitness to play for Israel on Saturday. (Daily Star) 
Former Portsmouth boss Tony Adams is hoping to rebuild his managerial career by landing the top job at Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam. (The Sun) 
Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has vowed to stay as manager of Inter Milan for the next four or five years, quashing speculation he wants to return to the Premier League. (The Telegraph) 
Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn believes up to a dozen cash-strapped clubs will go into administration in the next year. (The Sun) 
Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has admitted he will be sacked as Mexico boss if they lose to Costa Rica on Saturday. (Daily Mirror) 
 
AND FINALLY 

Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand insists footballers do not have a flash lifestyle, despite their huge salaries. "Our lives are quite boring", he insists. "I spend a lot of time watching Coronation Street and Eastenders." (Daily Star) 
Chelsea and Russia boss Guus Hiddink showed that managing two sides simultaneously can be confusing when he referred to Arsenal's Andrey Arshavin as a Chelsea player. Hiddink only has the midfielder under his charge with the international team. (The Sun)
www.bbc.co.uk  www.thesun.co.uk