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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Saturday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic is set to join former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid in a £20m deal.(Daily Mail) 
Real Madrid legend Raul has been linked with a move to the United States to join New York Red Bulls at the end of the season.(The Independent) 
Coventry are planning a summer bid for Derby striker Rob Hulse after having an approach to sign him on loan rejected earlier this week.(Daily Mail) 
Chelsea defender Alex is wanted by German club Bayern Munich.(Daily Mirror) 
Mikael Silvestre is set to leave Arsenal after being snubbed by boss Arsene Wenger for last Wednesday's clash with Liverpool.(Daily Mirror) 
Marouane Chamakh will be an Arsenal player this summer after agreeing to a four-year, £10.4million deal.(Sun) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Kolo Toure believes Patrick Vieira's "winning mentality" can help Manchester City end their 41-year wait for FA Cup success.(The Guardian) 
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp says he will not sacrifice his club's FA Cup ambitions in favour of Tottenham's bid to break into the top four.(The Guardian) 
Manager Carlo Ancelotti has laid down the law to his wayward Chelsea stars and warned: "If our form starts to suffer, I will act".(Daily Express) 
Wayne Rooney has revealed that he is limited to five sponsorship deals by his Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.(Independent) 
Sven-Goran Eriksson has revealed the full story behind his chaotic seven months at Notts County and the bizarre sequence of events that began with hopes of a multi-million-pound revival for the Football League's oldest club only to end with it on the brink of financial collapse.(Guardian) 
Manager Roberto Mancini is to net a £9million three-year contract extension from Manchester City's wealthy owners.(Sun) 

AND FINALLY

England manager Fabio Capello has urged Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to rest Wayne Rooney to keep him fresh for this summer's World Cup in South Africa.(Daily Mail)
www.bbc.co.uk

Tuesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP 

Inter Milan are interested in signing Chelsea midfielder Jon Obi Mikel. (The Sun) 
Manchester United will move for Wigan's Antonio Valencia if winger Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Old Trafford. (Daily Mail) 
Liverpool will make a £12m bid for Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing at the end of the season. (Daily Mail) 
Liverpool have been in contact with Carlos Tevez's agent as the forward's future at Manchester United hangs in the balance. (The Sun) 
Everton are close to sealing the signing of 16-year-old Hamburg defender Shkodran Mustafi, who played in the Germany Under-16 side who beat their English counterparts 4-0 last week. (The Guardian) 
Bolton have slapped a £20m price tag on defender Gary Cahill to put off interest from Arsenal. (Daily Mail) 
Sheffield Wednesday are interested in signing Cardiff's Darren Purse on a free transfer. (Daily Mirror) 
Former Ipswich and Sunderland striker Marcus Stewart will extend his career into a 19th season after signing a one-year deal with Exeter. (Daily Star) 

OTHER GOSSIP 

Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre has hit out at former Manchester United team-mate Patrice Evra for saying the Red Devils' Champions League win over Arsenal was "11 men against 11 babies". (Daily Telegraph) 
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill says next season's Europa League - the new name for the Uefa Cup - has too many games in the schedule. (The Sun) 
AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti will need reassurances about his status before he would consider taking the Chelsea job, having spoken to the Blues last summer before they appointed Luis Felipe Scolari instead. (The Times) 
The Premier League could force clubs to sell players to balance their books and avoid overspending. (The Times) 
Crystal Palace are to add Craig Short and his brother Christian to the coaching staff next season. The pair played under Eagles boss Neil Warnock at Scarborough. (Daily Mirror) 
Norwich goalkeeper David Marshall says he has struggled to sleep since the club's relegation from the Championship. (Daily Record) 

AND FINALLY 

St Johnstone's former boyband member Chris Millar was made to sing a Robbie Williams medley as a training-ground forfeit. (Daily Record)
www.bbc.co.uk