Arsenal - Burnley

Arsenal are third with three points less than the leaders. Theoretically, they could take a top with a win today with four goals margin. However, the most important thing is they’re still in the title race. A month ago they faced the crisis noticing just one point in three games, but after that made three consecutive wins. Title is a dream, first bad result in this phase of the league would eliminate them and I don’t expect any kind of possible relaxation. Aaron Ramsey has joined the injury list alongside Campbell, Djourou, Gallas, Gibbs, Merida and Van Persie. Vela will be rested after the international duty, while Alex Song is suspended. Good thing for Gunners is Abou Diaby and Andrey Arshavin are back in contention after recovering from injuries.

 

Although Burnley have collected just one point less than first club above the relegation line, their recent results and performances suggest they’re certain travelers to the second tier. They have a single win (West Ham, 2-1 at home) in last 16 encounters! It seems losing Owen Coyle was the decisive factor in their Premier campaign, as they lost great run of results at home. On the other hand, their away shape could be called disgusting. One point from 14 games (Man.City 3-3) and in every game except one (Bolton 0-1) conceded at least two goals. In total, they’ve conceded 43 goals which is far the most in the league. Leading scorer Steven Fletcher is expected to play with a cast on the broken hand, while player-coach Graham Alexander will return after five weeks. Skipper defender Caldwell and defender McCann remain sidelined.

 

Only thing that could be a worry for Wenger is their Champions League re-match vs. Porto at Tuesday. But on the other hand, considering today’s opponent this is a great chance for warming-up and bringing the confidence for Tuesday. Wenger won’t rotate players too much, but the fact is any players should win this with few goals margin. This is also a chance for Arshavin to recover his old shape. Arsenal -2 ah will be a bet, -2.5 would be a gamble. 

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Saturday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh has confirmed he will be joining Arsenal in the summer, saying: "It is not easy in England but the challenge in my career has always been to learn every day, keep improving and always help my club to success."(The Mirror) 
West Ham striker Mido claims he turned down an offer of £45,000 a week from another Premier League club in order to prove himself at Upton Park.(Daily Mail) 
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has lined up a £4m summer swoop for Espanyol striker Jose Callejon.(The Mirror) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says he is happy to accept the 'green and gold' anti-Glazer campaign.(Daily Mail) 
However, he has insisted that there is "no chance" of the Red Knights persuading Manchester United supporters to boycott games in their battle to wrest control of the club from the Glazer family.(The Times) 
Birmingham have announced pre-tax losses of £20.5m for the year ending 31 August 2009, blaming 'the decision taken by the previous members of the board to retain most of their playing staff from the previous Premier League season'.(Daily Mail) 
Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan claims manager Neil Warnock only quit the club for London rivals QPR "for the money". (Daily Mirror) 
Wembley Stadium is to have its pitch re-laid for the 10th time since the rebuilt venue reopened in 2007 after fresh criticism in the past week.(The Times) 
Michael Essien is set to miss the rest of the season after a serious setback in his recovery from knee surgery.(The Sun) 

AND FINALLY

Newcastle United managing director Derek Llambias has urged supporters to cease their abuse of owner Mike Ashley and the club's board, saying: "Enough's enough. It frustrates me because we know what we've done behind the scenes and what Mike's committed to financially. We'd like to be able to go out on the town after a win - we always used to - but it's very difficult for us to do that now."(The Guardian)

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Friday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Joe Cole could leave Chelsea in the summer after negotiations stalled on a new contract with the 28-year-old demanding in excess of £100,000 a week. Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool are interested in taking the England midfielder on a free transfer. (Daily Mail) 
Juventus are targeting Arsenal striker Robin van Persie in exchange for Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo. The Turin club are open to a deal, but would be looking to land either Van Persie, Gael Clichy or Bacary Sagna as part of the transfer. (Daily Mail) 
Juventus will also move for Bayern Munich's French winger Franck Ribery - putting Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid on alert.(imscouting.com) 
German playmaker Mesut Ozil, 21, has rejected a new deal at Werder Breman, clearing the way for a £15m move to Arsenal in the summer - although Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid are also interested.(Daily Star) 
Meanwhile, Arsenal defender William Gallas, 32, is a free-transfer target for Italian side Roma.(Daily Mail) 
Manchester United are lining up a £9m move for Croatia Under-21 star Milan Badelj. The Dinamo Zagreb playmaker has been labelled the new Luka Modric. (Daily Mail) 
Palermo's 20-year-old centre back Simon Kjaer will snub approaches from Manchester United and Tottenham because he wants to play alongside fellow Dane Daniel Agger at Liverpool. (Daily Mirror) 
Wigan are keen on Espanyol striker Jose Callejon, 23, and hope to strike a deal at the end of the season. (imscouting.com) 
Sheffield Wednesday have joined Swansea in the race to sign Rochdale's 19-year-old defender Craig Dawson. (Daily Mail) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Russia have approached Fabio Capello about becoming their new coach after the World Cup. The new head of Russia's Football Union, Sergei Fursenko, held informal talks with the England manager at Stamford Bridge last Saturday, over a deal which could more than double his net income. (The Guardian) 
Capello will attempt to talk Manchester City left-back Wayne Bridge out of international retirement before he names his provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup on 11 May. (The Independent) 
Chelsea officials have sent a specialist sports psychologist to France to help Ashley Cole overcome his broken ankle and split from wife Cheryl Cole. (Daily Mail) 
Ian Wright has launched a scathing attack on Manchester City over their treatment of his son Shaun Wright-Phillips. Former Arsenal star Wright accused City chiefs Garry Cook and Brian Marwood of treating the England winger "like a youth team player." (Daily Mirror) 
West Ham have withdrawn the offer of a new contract to midfielder Valon Behrami, with co-owner David Sullivan keen to cash in on the Switzerland international in the summer - much to boss Gianfranco Zola's despair.(Daily Telegraph) 
Liverpool insist the club has had no contact with the Abu Dhabi royal family regarding a bid for the Anfield outfit. (Daily Star) 
Wigan's French left-winger Charles N'Zogbia would play for England, if he was asked - the 23-year-old qualifies through residency having lived in England since 2004. (The Sun) 

AND FINALLY

New QPR manager Neil Warnock has instructed his players to wear shinpads in training to step up the intensity of the sessions.(Daily Mirror)

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Thursday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is considering a bid for Benfica's £10m-rated Brazilian defender David Luiz. Manchester United and Real Madrid are also interested in the 22-year-old. (Daily Mirror) 
Cesc Fabregas will resist interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid and decide to stay at Arsenal, according to the man who discovered the Gunners star. Scout Francis Cagigao said reports he had agreed to join Barca in the summer were wide of the mark. (Daily Mail) 
Real Madrid have stated their intention to keep new signing Sergio Canales for the long term, by slapping a massive 150m Euro (£135m) release clause on the 19 year-old's contract. Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are all reportedly interested in the attacking midfielder. (IM Scouting) 
Manchester United are tracking Dinamo Zagreb playmaker Milan Badeli. The 21-year-old Croatian is also attracting interest from German sides Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen. (IM Scouting) 
Italian giants Juventus have joined Manchester City in the chase for Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain. The 22-year-old is also reported to have a 150m euro release clause. (IM Scouting) 
Blackburn outcast Steven Reid is set to join Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday on loan until the end of the season. (Daily Mirror) 
Sunderland are in talks with Paraguay star Cristian Riveros. Manager Steve Bruce wants to sign the midfielder from Mexican side Cruz Azul before the World Cup. (Daily Mirror) 
Aston Villa defender Habib Beye has threatened to quit Aston Villa - barely seven months after joining them from Newcastle. The 32-year-old Senegal international is upset at his lack of first-team opportunities. (Daily Star) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Newcastle United managing director Derek Llambias says the club has been taken off the market because no-one was willing to bid enough money for it. (Daily Telegraph) 
Manchester City keeper Shay Given insists Brazilian forward Robinho, who is on loan at his boyhood club Santos, will return to Eastlands next season. (Daily Star) 

AND FINALLY

Fulham defender Chris Smalling has admitted that his summer move to Manchester United came as a complete surprise to him. The 20-year-old was working as a waiter 18 months ago. (Daily Mail)
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Wednesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Striker Fernando Torres says he would rather move to Spanish side Barcelona, than stay in English football if he is forced to leave Liverpool. The Reds may have to sell Torres, 25, to help repay the club's financial debt with Chelsea and Manchester City interested. (IM Scouting) 
Manchester City are on red alert as Real Madrid's top scorer Gonzalo Higuain has turned down a new contract offer amid reputed interest from the Eastlands outfit.(Daily Mail) 
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that he retains an interest in Brazil and Juventus defensive midfielder Felipe Melo, as he plans for the longer term without the stricken Aaron Ramsey.(The Guardian) 
Wigan and Stoke are keen on Serbian defender Dusko Tosic, who is a free agent after leaving cash-strapped Portsmouth.(The Daily Mail) 
David Beckham will return to to play for LA Galaxy in the United States after the World Cup. The England midfielder, 34, is currently on loan with Italian side AC Milan. (The Sun) 
Everton are leading the chase for West Brom's highly-rated Graham Dorrans. The Scottish midfielder, 22, has hit 13 goals this term. (The Sun) 
Manchester United midfielder Nani has urged manager Sir Alex Ferguson to press ahead with his bid for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Miguel Veloso. Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal are all interested in the 23-year-old.(The Sun) 
Bolton boss Owen Coyle wants to sign United States midfielder Stuart Holden on a full-time deal after his impressive start at the Reebok Stadium. The 24-year-old is on a short-term contract to the end of the season.(Daily Mirror) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Portsmouth will be offered a staggering £32m rescue deal from the Premier League to pay their tax bill and avoid going bust this season. (Daily Mirror) 
Defender Wayne Bridge will play for England again, according to his Manchester City team-mate Kolo Toure. (The Telegraph) 
Russia's bid to stage the World Cup in 2018 could be set to benefit from the political and financial firepower of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. (The Telegraph) 
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has poured cold water over reports suggesting he will quit the Blues to take over as Italy boss after this summer's World Cup. (The Sun) 
Meanwhile, Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has revealed he quite fancies the Italian job, but not just yet: "Now I'm thinking only of City. I will be here many years." (The Sun) 
Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone faces a long injury lay-off after a scan revealed he suffered ankle ligament damage against Everton. (The Daily Mail) 

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AND FINALLY

England captain Steven Gerrard says his wife, Alex Curran, will not be at the World Cup in South Africa with him, unless they reach the semi-finals. (Various)
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Tuesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United are considering a fresh attempt to lure Benfica's £20m-rated winger Angel di Maria to Old Trafford.(Daily Mail) 
Aston Villa, Sunderland and Blackburn are eyeing up Wolves defensive midfielder and captain Karl Henry, 27.(Daily Mirror) 
Liverpool are offering key Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano a two-year contract extension with a pay rise to keep him out of Barcelona's clutches. (The Sun) 
Blackburn are eager to sign Aruna Dindane - on loan at Portsmouth this season - in £2.5m deal from Lens.(Daily Mirror) 
Barcelona midfielder Alexander Hleb is desperate for a return to the Premier League, with Manchester City and Aston Villa standing by to sign him. (Daily Mirror) 
Michael Owen has dismissed the prospect of leaving Manchester United this summer by insisting he is happy to accept a reduced role at Old Trafford in exchange for silverware. (Daily Telegraph) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson made a personal phone call of support to Ryan Shawcross after the Stoke defender's tackle broke Aaron Ramsey's leg. (Daily Mirror) 
England boss Fabio Capello will turn to Tottenham's injury-plagued defender Ledley King as he attempts to solve his centre-back crisis. King, 29, won his last England cap almost three years ago.(Daily Mail) 
Neil Warnock joined Queens Park Rangers as manager after the club agreed a £400,000 compensation deal with Crystal Palace. Warnock will be paid £15,000 a week at Loftus Road.(Daily Mail) 
Meanwhile, Steve Coppell has turned down the chance of an emotional return to replace Warnock at Selhurst Park, leaving the manager's door open for Paul Hart to take charge.(Daily Mirror) 
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has urged club manager Rafael Benitez to stop fretting about his fitness while he is away on international duty with Spain. (Daily Mirror) 
Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is to undergo treatment - but not surgery - for a bruised bone in his knee which he sustained against Blackburn on Sunday. The centre-back left Anfield on crutches after the match. (The Independent) 
Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell will escape FA action for a lunge that took out a Wigan player, corner flag and linesman after referee Anthony Taylor cleared him. (The Sun) 
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart believes he can answer the question at the heart of Fabio Capello's bid to win the World Cup. (Daily Express) 
Craig Bellamy's international future is in doubt after John Toshack, the Wales manager, refused to confirm that the Manchester City striker was part of his plans for the future. (The Guardian) 

AND FINALLY

Crisis-club Portsmouth are offering financial advice to supporters on their website. Pompey, who are in administration and have huge debts, are advertising PFC Financial Services division, which claims to bring everyday financial solutions to fans' families. One supporter said: "It's got to be a sick joke."(Daily Mirror)

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Veendam 0 - 1 FC Eindhoven

0-1 B.v.d. Eede  89.min.

Holland, Scotland - two games

Veendam - Eindhoven (Monday)

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Both teams have no problems with scoring goals.From some reason that I don’t fully understand,Eindhoven desperately need one point here.From that same reason,they rested 7 regular players at friday and lost vs. Omniworld,1-3 on the road.Eindhoven have talented coach and a bunch of PSV youngsters.Defense line doesn’t look good.It smells on goals,again.Over 2.5.1.57  at  Expekt.

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Greenock Morton - Inverness Caledonian  (Tuesday)

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First thoughts when you hear the name Terry Butcher are broken legs and bloody noses.But,when one club has him for a manager it only means fighting spirit and ambition.He has signed a new contract today with the club and announced promotion (next year more likely).Also should be mentioned,his assistance is another big name Maurice Malpas.

Statistics look good.888sport offer 2.00.Away win.
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Monday gossip

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Bayern Munich are set to open negotiations with their French star Franck Ribery as the Bundesliga side bid to stop the midfielder leaving for Real Madrid or Manchester United.(IMScouting)
Birmingham City are interested in signing Kris Boyd from Rangers, with Blues set to send scouts to see the striker play for Scotland against the Czech Republic on Wednesday. (Daily Mail)
Arsenal have become the latest Premier League club to monitor West Brom midfielder Graham Dorrans (on photo), who is believed to command a price tag of £6m. (Daily Mail)
John Rooney, the 19-year-old younger brother of Manchester United superstar Wayne, will have a second trial for Nigel Clough's Derby County this week.(Various)
Liverpool's highly-rated new 15-year-old striker, Raheem Sterling, who has been signed from QPR, was enticed to Anfield with a £300,000 contract offer. (Daily Mirror)
Sheffield United and Carlisle are both chasing York City striker Richard Brodie, who is joint top-scorer in the Blue Square Premier league with 20 goals so far this season. (The Sun)
Burnley manager Brian Laws wants to sign 29-year-old Cameroon international winger Salomon Olembe, who is a free agent after leaving Turkish team Kayserispor. (Daily Mirror)
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OTHER GOSSIP

Chelsea defender John Terry is seething over Craig Bellamy's insults, directed at the former England captain after Manchester City's 4-2 win on Saturday, saying: "People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."(Various)
Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho is keen to leave the Italian club to take over as the Real Madrid manager, should current boss Manuel Pellegrini be sacked by the Spanish giants, according to Spanish daily Sport.(IMScouting)
Aaron Ramsey's broken leg is not as bad as the fracture suffered by team-mate Eduardo, and the Wales international could return for the north Londoners in only six months' time.(Daily Mirror)
Midfielder Jack Wilshere will not be recalled prematurely to Arsenal from his loan spell with Bolton, despite his club-mate Ramsey's injury which has reduced Gunners boss Arsene Wenger's options in the centre of midfield. (Daily Mirror)
AC Milan midfielder Alexandre Pato may miss his team's Champions League second leg tie against Manchester United on 10 March after the Brazilian international hurt his right thigh in the Rossoneri's 3-1 Serie A victory over Atalanta on Sunday. (Daily Mail)
Blackburn striker El-Hadji Diouf was warned by police following his confrontation with Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard, which spilled into the tunnel at half-time, during the home side's 2-1 Premier League win at Anfield on Sunday.(Daily Mirror)
Cardiff City boss Dave Jones is considering leaving the financially stricken Championship club in the summer after being told by chairman Peter Ridsdale that he must sell players and rely on free transfers in the close-season.(Daily Mirror)
Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone will have a scan on his right foot on Monday after leaving White Hart Lane on crutches following Spurs' 2-1 victory over Everton. (The Daily Telegraph)
Charlton midfielder Nicky Bailey has branded Southend manager Steve Tilson "a total disgrace" for claiming that he feigned injury in the incident which led to the sending off of the Shrimpers' Jean Francois Christophe in the Addicks' 2-1 away win on Saturday. (Daily Mirror)
England coach Fabio Capello, Liverpool's Rafael Benitez and Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli all feature on a Juventus shortlist to replace Alberto Zaccheroni at the Turin club in the summer. (IMScouting)
Celtic have lodged an appeal with the Scottish FA over Scott Brown's red card in Sunday's Old Firm derby defeat.(Daily Record)
Southampton have been given a record 44,000 ticket allocation for their Johnstone's Paint Trophy final against Carlisle at Wembley on 28 March. (The Sun)

AND FINALLY

Saturday's Stamford Bridge referee Mike Dean reversed the pre-match handshake protocol by asking Manchester City captain Shay Given to lead his away team down the Chelsea line, thereby avoiding an even more embarrassing situation for John Terry which would have seen the home skipper standing in front of Wayne Bridge demanding a reaction. (Daily Mail)
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