Arsenal

Arsenal V Blackburn Rovers

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 4 February 2012 – 13:00 GMT

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Preview

Two teams in urgent need of a win will seek out comfort in each other this weekend, as Arsenal, without a win in four Premier League games, take on third from bottom Blackburn at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, with the Lancashire club bidding to repeat their four-goal heroics in last September’s seven-goal thriller between the two sides.

It was one of the most remarkable, memorable games in Premier League history – Blackburn 4-3 Arsenal; 17 September, 2011. A seven-goal spectacle that the underdogs somehow edged. You’ll get mammoth odds on a repeat (500/1 for Blackburn 4-3), with the Gunners overwhelming favourites to reverse that scoreline (3/10 on an Arsenal victory) – emphatically so, too. Whether they do remains to be seen, as they haven’t shown an awful lot of late to suggest they’re even capable of dishing out a spanking.

Arsene Wenger would settle for just a win right now, let alone a convincing one. Wednesday’s 0-0 draw at Bolton was, believe it or not, Arsenal’s first Premier League point of 2012; previously, they had suffered defeat on visits to Fulham (2-1) and Swansea (3-2) as well as at home to Manchester United (1-2). So that point did at least put the brakes on their three-match losing streak in the league, although they remain without a win in four, since edging out QPR at home 1-0 on 31 December, 2011.

Worrying times then for the Gunners, who have slipped to seventh, five-points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, after going over a month without a league win – they are, however, into the fifth-round of the FA Cup following January scalps of Leeds (1-0) and Aston Villa (3-2). So it’s imperative the North Londoners get back to winning ways as soon as possible, and who better to face than struggling Blackburn?

Only Bolton (15) and Wigan (14) have slumped to more defeats this season than Blackburn (13), who went down 2-0 on Wednesday at home to Newcastle to leave the Lancashire club two-points adrift of safety in 18TH. However, Rovers are unbeaten in three top-flight matches away from home, a run which even includes their shock 3-2 victory at Old Trafford over Manchester United on 31 December, 2011.

Worryingly though, manager Steve Kean did not strengthen sufficiently during the January transfer window, bringing in only Bradley Orr and Anthony Modeste (on loan from Bordeaux). And, if anything, the dressing room has lost its most influential player, with club captain Chris Samba yet to feature in the first-team since handing in a written transfer request last month.

Match Pointers

Last PL Meeting: Blackburn 4-3 Arsenal (17 September, 2011); a remarkable contest that left everyone speechless at full-time. The Gunners had taken the lead twice through goals from Gervinho and Mikel Arteta, before Blackburn stormed back with four goals of their own, two from Yakubu, to secure a memorable 4-3 triumph.

- Arsenal are unbeaten in eight home Premier League games versus Blackburn (W7 D1 L0), whose last victory in this fixture (at Arsenal) was a 2-1 win on 26 October, 2002.

- Blackburn have failed to score on six of their last eight visits to Arsenal in the league.

Arsenal

- The Gunners (League Position: 7TH; Form: WLLLD) ended a run of three straight league defeats with a 0-0 draw at Bolton in midweek, though they have now registered one solitary point from their last four matches.

- Arsenal have scored precisely one goal in each of their previous five Premier League home games – four of which were netted in the second-half.

- At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal have won seven and lost twice in the Premier League this season (W7 D2 L2).

Blackburn

- Wednesday’s 2-0 home loss to Newcastle meant Blackburn (League Position: 18TH, Form: WLWDL) remained in the relegation zone, two-points off safety.

- Just two teams (Norwich & Wigan) have conceded more away goals than Rovers (23 from 11 away PL matches).

- Away from home, Blackburn have won only one of eleven (W1 D6 L4).

- Blackburn are unbeaten in the English capital this season, drawing 1-1 at both Fulham and QPR.

Betting

Prediction: Arsenal to WIN @ 3/10 (Bet365)

I would love to oppose Arsenal in the form they are in, especially at the odds, but that would mean putting some form of faith in a Blackburn team destined for relegation. Yes they did beat Manchester United at Old Trafford a few weeks ago, but that was a significantly weakened United team shorn of Wayne Rooney and the like. You could even argue that playing away from home is also a positive for Steve Kean and his players, considering the fractious relationship between the team and it’s home supporters. Even so, I cannot bring myself to back anything other than a home win.

Arsenal have been very disappointing in 2012, even in the FA Cup. So many are failing to produce, particularly in the attacking third of the pitch. I never thought they’d miss Gervinho as much as they have, simple because Theo Walcott has been extremely poor. However, Walcott and the rest of his attacking chums have a shot at redemption here, attacking a Blackburn defence that concedes on average two goals a game. I’m expecting them to score a few here, something they haven’t done for a while at home in the league.

Value Bet: Aaron Ramsey to Score @ 3/1 (Ladbrokes)

Following my own logic that Arsenal will score a few, it could pay to back someone other than Robin Van Persie netting at the Emirates, whom accounts for four of Arsenal’s last six league goals. Theo Walcott recently scored at Swansea so he’s no longer due; Wenger may opt to rest Oxlade-Chamberlain and go with Henry, who is far too shore to be backing; so it leaves me with the midfielders. Both Mikel Arteta (7/2) and Aaron Ramsey are handsomely priced, yet it is Ramsey who finds himself on the end of more scoring opportunities who appeals more at 3/1.

Match Odds

Arsenal – 3/10 (Bet365)

Draw – 9/2 (PaddyPower)

Blackburn – 12/1 (BetVictor)

At the weekend it was the FA Cup, now the focus in England switches swiftly to the Barclay’s Premier League as various tussles across the entire division resurface on Tuesday (31 Jan) and Wednesday (1 Feb).

Straight to matters at the summit and after Manchester City’s dramatic late win over Tottenham Hotspur on 22 January, it would seem the Premier League trophy is staying in Manchester. That aforementioned result ensured Roberto Mancini’s Citizens remained three-points clear of neighbours United, leaving Spurs lagging eight-points off the pace of the leaders.

Premier League Title Betting with Bet365: Man City 2/5, Man Utd 9/4, Tottenham 20/1

It could be all change, though, depending on Tuesday’s results, with all three title protagonists involved in proceedings.

Tottenham (1/4 WilliamHill) are presented with a fabulous opportunity to get straight back to winning ways in the league with a home clash against Wigan (16/1 BetVictor). The Latics currently prop up the division in 20TH and are without a win in seven, shipping ten goals in their last three away PL matches combined, but were, however, 1-0 winners on their last visit to White Hart Lane, in August of 2010.

Manchester United (3/10 888Sport) have won seven of their eight Premier League tussles with Stoke City (12/1 PaddyPower), including all three in Manchester, so any chance of the Red Devils slipping up at Old Trafford would appear slim. But the Potters did hold Liverpool to a 0-0 draw at Anfield in their most recent Premier League away game, while it was they who were the dominant force when the two sides locked horns earlier in the season at the Brittania in a 1-1 draw back in September.

Meanwhile, Man City (20/23 Boylesports) take on David Moyes’ inconsistent Everton (15/4 BetVictor) at Goodison Park. It is, however, a fixture the Citizens came unstuck in last season, losing 2-1 despite dominating the opening 45 minutes and taking a deserved 1-0 lead into the interval. Revenge is on the cards, though – Everton have won only two of their last eight home PL games, scoring just six times in the process, whereas City are searching for their fourth straight league win and are firm favourites to do so having had the weekend off due to their early exit from the FA Cup.

The race for fourth hots up with Chelsea and Liverpool both in action on Tuesday, at Swansea and Wolves respectively, with Arsenal taking on Bolton at The Reebok 24 hours later.

Top-Four Finish Betting with WilliamHill: Chelsea 2/5, Arsenal 2/1, Liverpool 7/2

Chelsea (17/20 WilliamHill) are the current occupants of fourth and are five-points clear of their closest pursuer, Arsenal, while Liverpool are a point further back in seventh. The Blues are the most likely to come a cropper. Though, you feel – Swansea (4/1 SkyBet) have been beaten just once in eleven home Premier League games this season and will still be buoyed by their 3-2 victory over Arsenal in their last encounter at the Liberty Stadium.

Speaking of Arsenal (8/11 Ladbrokes), the Gunners won’t have it easy either. Arsene Wenger’s side were unconvincing in the FA Cup at the weekend, edging past Aston Villa at home, and must now go to a resurgent Bolton (9/2 StanJames), who beat Liverpool 3-1 last time out at The Reebok in the league, desperate to avoid a third consecutive away defeat. Moreover, The Reebok was where Arsenal’s world came crashing down around them last season, with a 2-1 loss confirming the end of their title bid last April.

As for Liverpool (3/4 WilliamHill), well they are very much expected to complete a routine win at Wolves (17/4 StanJames) – a fixture they cruised to a 3-0 success in last season. Kenny Dalglish’s side have lost their previous two away league games, at Bolton and Man City, but responded emphatically with quick-fire eliminations of Man City and Man Utd from the Carling Cup and FA Cup. Now the Reds are hotly tipped to dispatch of second from bottom Wolves, who are without a league win in eight and have suffered four defeats in their previous five matches at Molineux in all competitions.

Elsewhere…

Mark Hughes’ QPR (4/1 BetVictor) go to Aston Villa (17/20 WilliamHill) with both sides searching for back-to-back Premier League wins; a Newcastle (7/4 Bet365) side thumped 5-2 at Fulham last time out in the league pay relegation favourites Blackburn (13/8 StanJames) a visit at Ewood Park; the previously mentioned Fulham (10/11 WilliamHill) entertain Roy Hodgson’s inconsistent Baggies (15/4 bWin), while a cracking contest could be in store at the Stadium of Light as Martin O’Neill’s invigorated Black Cats (17/20 WilliamHill) host Paul Lambert’s high-flying Canaries (15/4 BetVictor).

Full list of Premier League fixtures for Tuesday (31 Jan) and Wednesday (1 Feb):

Swansea V Chelsea

Tottenham V Wigan

Wolves V Liverpool

Everton V Man City (LIVE on SKY SPORTS 2)

Manchester United V Stoke

Aston Villa V QPR

Blackburn V Newcastle

Bolton V Arsenal

Fulham V West Brom

Sunderland V Norwich (LIVE on SKY SPORTS 2)

Arsenal V Aston Villa

Date & Kick-Off: Sunday, 29 January 2012 – 16:00 GMT

Venue: Emirates Stadium

FA Cup, Fourth Round

Preview

The final FA Cup Fourth-Round tie of the weekend is an all Premiership affair as Aston Villa, buoyed by their 3-2 victory over local rivals Wolves, head to north London to tackle an out of form Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium – where the Villains recorded a 2-1 win on their last visit, on the final day of last season. You’ll get handsome odds on a repeat, mind.

Only eleven-time winners Manchester United have lifted the FA Cup more times than Arsenal (10), whose most recent triumph in this competition was in 2005 when they beat the aforementioned on penalties at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. They’re 15/2 third-favourites to claim their eleventh honour, which looks a precarious bet considering they are by no means guaranteed to be in Sunday’s Fifth-Round draw.

You’d think a home draw would be beneficial. It should; the Gunners have only lost three times at their swanky Emirates home all season (W13 D3 L3 in all competitions) – though their most recent occurred just seven days ago, to Manchester United, and it was preceded by league defeats away to Fulham and Swansea, which came either side of a nervy and unconvincing performance against Leeds in the third round. They prevailed, of course, otherwise we wouldn’t be talking about them now.

It was fans favourite and club legend Thierry Henry who sparred Arsenal’s blushes in the previous round, coming off the bench to score the only goal of the game on his return following the completion of his loan deal from MLS club New York Red Bulls. The Frenchman is however doubtful for Sunday meaning Arsene Wenger has little choice but to start Robin Van Persie, the prolific but injury prone Dutchman who has been rapped up in cotton wool on occasions this season.

Being without Thierry Henry is the least of Arsene Wenger’s problems. Once again the Gunners tactician will be shorn of key players – in defence especially – with Kieran Gibbs, Andre Santos, Carl Jenkinson, Jack Wilshere, Abou Diaby, Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh all unavailable. There is some good news, though – Mikel Arteta should return to partner Alex Song and Aaron Ramsey in midfield while there may even be a place on the bench for Bacary Sagna, the full-back who has spent the past three months recovering from a broken ankle.

Once again Arsene Wenger may have to select four central defenders in defence, meaning there will be two makeshift full-backs on the pitch. That could be a crucial factor in determining who progresses, as Villa do boast ample pace on the flanks. Charles N’Zogbia has been ruled out but Gabriel Agbonlahor is available and he along with Marc Albrighton will look to terrorise this unconvincing Gunners rearguard that has shipped seven goals in its last three Premier League games.

Up front for the visitors meanwhile will be the resurgent pairing of Darren Bent and Robbie Keane, with the pair accounting for all three of the team’s goals in last week’s 3-2 win at Midlands rivals Wolves. Keane, on loan from MLS side LA Galaxy, bagged in a brace in that game. However all eyes will be on Darren Bent on Sunday, as it was his brace in last season’s corresponding fixture which earned Villa a shock 2-1 victory at the Emirates.

Match Pointers

- In order to get this far, Arsenal had to overcome Leeds at home (1-0) while Aston Villa faced opposition from League Two in Bristol Rovers (1-3).

- Arsenal were 2-1 victors when the two sides met at Villa Park in the Premier League in December, reversing Villa’s 2-1 victory at the Emirates on the final day of last season.

- Aston Villa have succumbed to defeat on just one of their previous five visits to North London to face Arsenal (W2 D2 L1 – Villa’s last five at Arsenal).

- Arsenal have now lost three league games on the spin following last week’s 2-1 home reverse to Manchester United, conceding seven times during this retched run.

- Alex McLeish’s Villa have incurred more defeats at home than they have on their travels in this season’s Premier League (Villa’s Away Record in PL: W3 D6 L2) – they’re also unbeaten in their last five away matches versus top flight opposition (W3 D2).

Betting

Arsenal’s reputation in the FA Cup has clearly gone before them, as no way are they 4/7 favourites here. They host this tie on the back of three successive league defeats, their record against Aston Villa is hardly a source of encouragement – they’ve only beat them once in their previous five meetings in north London, losing twice – while they’re still missing a host of key players, particularly in defence, where they are especially vulnerable having shipped seven in their previous three matches against Premier League opposition.

It’s alright pointing out the obvious, that Arsenal are once again understrength – as they’ve been for most of the season, but you can only oppose them with the right opponent. To their credit, they have coped admirably; they sit 5TH and are firmly in contention for a top-four finish, but they’re up against a team in Villa whose pace on the flanks willpose Arsenal’s makeshift full-backs all sorts of questions. Agbonlahor and Albrighton will be a constant threat out wide all afternoon and if they supply good service to the in-form strike duo of Robbie Keane and Darren Bent… you know the rest.

For me, Arsenal are ridiculous odds. As are Aston Villa, who should be a lot shorter than their 5/1 quote. Get on Alex McLeish’s resurgent Villains at staggering odds!

Prediction: Aston Villa to WIN @ 5/1 PaddyPower

Value Bet: Darren Bent to Score @ 9/4 Bet365

Match Odds

Arsenal – 8/13 Ladbrokes

Draw – 16/5 BetVictor

Aston Villa – 5/1 PaddyPower

Swansea V Arsenal

Date & Kick-Off: Sunday, 15 January 2012 – 16:00 GMT

Venue: Liberty Stadium

Preview

When these two clashed at the Emirates in September, it was a close-run thing; Andrey Arshavin scored the only goal for Arsenal of what was a tight affair, but Swansea gave a very good account of themselves and created some really good chances. On another day, who knows what the final score might have been. So it promises to be an intriguing contest when the two, of similar styles and qualities, reconvene for the second time this season, only this time it will be on the Welsh side’s terms.

Considering how there was very little to choose between them some four months ago, surely hosts Swansea must be made tentative favourites? That is anything but the case, which is surprising seeing as only champions Manchester United have gone to the Liberty Stadium and won so far this season, or that Arsenal have lost precisely half of their away fixtures.

It’s a cliché, but Swansea really have made their home stadium a fortress. Just one defeat in their own backyard all season is outstanding really, exceptional even, especially when coupled with their supernatural defensive record; Brendan Rodgers’ men have kept six clean sheets and conceded just four times at the Liberty Stadium. In their most recent encounter there, they gave title chasing Tottenham a proper going over.

Arsenal, meanwhile, slumped to their fifth away loss of the campaign at Fulham last time out in the league. Their response was to labour to victory over Championship side Leeds in the FA Cup, but they were anything but convincing, in a game they were also favourites to win. If anything, Thierry Henry popping up with the winner only highlighted how much Arsenal struggle to create and score goals when Robin Van Persie isn’t in the team, with the Dutchman rested for the third round tie.

Bringing Henry back on loan could be a shrewd acquisition by Arsene Wenger, but it’s also a common sense purchase as well. The reliance on Van Persie has become too great to ignore, to the point where when he doesn’t fire, Arsenal don’t collect as many points as they perhaps should. Just two wins over the festive period emphasised their urgent need for fresh impetus, as well as their needs for goals, having mustered just six in as many league games.

Despite the buzz around North London surrounding Thierry Henry, the iconic figure is likely to begin proceedings on the bench at Swansea. Robin Van Persie is set to return after sitting out Arsenal’s narrow FA Cup triumph over Leeds, while Theo Walcott is also in contention after missing several games over the festive period through illness. However, a whole host of defenders are still missing, including the dependable Thomas Vermealen.

As for the hosts, Swansea are just about at full strength for this fixture. Manager Brendan Rodgers did rotate for last week’s FA Cup tie with Barnsley, with striker Danny Graham netting a hat-trick in a 4-2 success, so it should be a fresh and reinvigorated Swansea side who host Arsenal in the Premier League for the very first time. You won’t be at all surprised to hear that this game has been sold-out for a while.

Match Pointers

- Only their second meeting since 1983, with Arsenal edging out Swansea in their Premier League encounter in September at the Emirates; Andrey Arshavin’s first-half strike doing the damage in a 1-0 success for the Gunners.

- Swansea have kept six clean sheets in ten home Premier League games, and can boast the strongest home defence in the top flight with only four goals conceded.

- Four of Swansea’s five top flight victories this season were earned at the Liberty Stadium in Wales (W4 D5 L1), although the Swans have only managed one win there in their last five.

- Five of Arsenal’s six league defeats this term were away from home (W4 D1 L5), where they’ve kept just two clean sheets in ten and conceded 22 times – no team has shipped more on their travels than Arsene Wenger’s side.

- Arsenal have not played out a draw away from home since the opening weekend; however, Swansea have drawn their previous two home games, the latter against Arsenal’s North London rivals Tottenham (1-1).

Betting

I’m glad this game is on Sky as it should be a good watch. Both teams prefer it when they have the ball at their feet so it could boil down to whichever monopolises possession the better.

On the basis of their performance at home to third-place Tottenham, my money would firmly be on hosts Swansea, whose record at home in the Premier League is nothing short of outstanding. Only Manchester United have left Wales victorious this season, while just four of the ten teams who have so far visited the Liberty Stadium have managed to score past Michel Vorm, who at times has been superhuman in goal.

Having forward Theo Walcott and Robin Van Persie fit and available is a huge plus for Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger, but for me there is too much onus on the midfield trio of Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta, who simply must hold their own in the middle of the park, and especially Alex Song. The latter will be tasked with shielding this frail defence – the porous in the Premier League away from home, with 22 conceded in just 10 outings – shorn of natural leader, with Thomas Vermealen joining a whole host of defensive personnel on the sidelines.

Personally, I don’t make Arsenal favourites. It’s incredible how well Swansea retain possession, something Arsenal were previously renowned for, but also how well they defend. The same cannot be said for the Gunners who go to Wales with a makeshift back-four, a midfield trio who are steadily improving but are by no means a finished article, and a forward line that has struggled for the past month.

The draw has obvious appeal, however, with Swansea striker Danny Graham recently netting a hat-trick recently in the FA Cup, I feel the Swans may edge this and record a famous win. They are certainly value to do so.

Match Outcome: Swansea to WIN – 4/1 Ladbrokes

Value Bet: Danny Graham First Goalscorer – 9/1 PaddyPower

Match Odds

Swansea – 4/1 Ladbrokes

Draw – 11/4 Coral

Arsenal – 5/6 VictorChandler

Aston Villa V Arsenal

Date & Kick-Off: Wednesday, 21 December 2011 – 19:45 GMT

Venue: Villa Park

Preview

Darren Bent scored twice at the Emirates to earn Aston Villa a surprise 2-1 victory over Arsenal on the final day of last season – at home, though, they’ve not recorded a league win over the Gunners since 1998, losing six of the subsequent twelve meetings at Villa Park. Gabriel Agbonlahor is back from suspension, after missing Sunday’s 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool, but goalkeeper Shay Given is out until the New Year while the aforementioned Bent is doubtful with a thigh problem.

Villa now sit tenth in the league following their weekend reversal to Liverpool, which was their second in succession at home after losing 1-0 to Man Utd on 3 December. Alex McLeish’s men have now faced four of the top six and failed to register a single point, plundering just the one goal but conceding nine. Next up is Arsenal, whom they conceded four to in last season’s corresponding fixture in Birmingham, which they lost 4-2.

Arsenal suffered their first league defeat in over two months when they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by league leaders Man City on Sunday, ending a run of eight games without losing for Arsene Wenger’s side that included seven wins and one draw. Their performance merited a great deal more though, which is why I really fancy them to bounce back with three points here provided they overcome the loss of Alex Song in the middle of the park, who is suspended.

Johan Djourou, Carl Jenkinson, Bacary Sagna, Andre Santos and Jack Wilshere are all out injured, while midfielder Abou Diaby and full-back Kieran Gibbs are doubtful for the Gunners, who will once again be spearheaded by the Flying Dutchman, Robin Van Persie, who only needs two more goals to equal the feat of Premier League legend Alan Shearer, who once scored 35 Premier League goals in a calender year.

Stat Attack

- Arsenal are unbeaten in twelve visits to Aston Villa in the league, winning six.

- Aston Villa have failed to register a single point against the top six teams in the Premier League this season, losing 4-1 at Man City, 2-0 at Tottenham, 1-0 at home to Man Utd and losing last weekend’s home clash with Liverpool 2-0.

- The Gunners had won three on the spin away from home in the league before losing 1-0 to Man City at Eastlands on Sunday, recording wins at Chelsea (3-5), Norwich (1-2) and Wigan (0-4).

- Darren Bent has six goals in his last eight league appearances versus Arsenal, including both in Aston Villa’s 2-0 win at the Emirates back in May.

- Robin Van Persie has netted 18 goals in his previous 17 away Premier League appearances but has never scored at Villa Park.

Our Prediction: Arsenal to WIN – 4/5 PaddyPower

Villa have lacked cutting edge against the classier sides in the division, failing to penetrate either of Liverpool, Man Utd or Tottenham. Having Gabriel Agbonlahor back from suspension will certainly bolster the levels of creativity, but Darren Bent remains a doubt and without him it is almost impossible to highlight where their goals will come from. There aren’t too many teams who have scored fewer goals than them (18 in 16 games), and most of those were with Bent in the side.

Losing their first league game for over two months is a huge mental blow for the Gunners, but they gave as good as they got away to Man City and definitely deserved at least a share of the spoils, possibly even more. Defensively they were resolute, something we never thought we would say of Arsenal, while the pace of Gervinho and Theo Walcott on the counter caused one of the strongest defences in the Premier League in Man City’s countless problems.

Manchester City were left breathing a huge sigh of relief on Sunday; Arsenal were a constant a threat and a performance of the same intensity would see them tear this uninspired, toothless Villa team to shreds.

Value Bet: Robin Van Persie First Goalscorer – 7/2 bWin

Match Odds

Aston Villa – 4/1 Ladbrokes

Draw – 11/4 SkyBet

Arsenal – 4/5 PaddyPower

Arsenal V Everton

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 10 December 2011 – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Preview

Like all good teams do, Arsenal responded in spectacular fashion to dropping crucial points by thrashing a sorry Wigan 4-0 at the DW Stadium last week. That emphatic victory came a week after they were held to a bitterly disappointing 1-1 draw by Fulham at the Emirates. So you can’t help but feel for their opponents this weekend, an Everton side whose record against the Gunners is very dispiriting in itself.

No win in their last eight top flight encounters with Arsenal, losing six, we think it is fair to say Everton plainly have it all to do on Saturday. They’ve not been victorious away to the Gunners for 15 years! Runs are there to be broken, however, as Fulham did at the end of November, when ending Arsenal’s five-match winning sequence at the Emirates in the league. Whether Everton, a side who have already slumped to defeats against Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd, can pull off something similar really does remain to be seen.

Arsenal

League Position: 5th

League Form: WWWDW

Now that the group phase of the UEFA Champions League has concluded, with the Gunners assured of a place in the last-16 as group winners, Arsenal can focus all their energy and commitment on the domestic front and continuing their resurgence.

Last week’s 4-0 whitewash of Wigan at the DW was their sixth win in a seven-match unbeaten spell that has helped them rocket up the table into fifth, to within just two points of the Champions League spots. A few more like that and it won’t be long before they are named potential title protagonists. If that is to be the case, slip-ups, like the one which occurred on 27 November at home to Fulham, need to be few and far between.

Arsene Wenger made wholesale changes for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Olympiakos in Greece, so expect a completely different side to the one which slumped to a 3-1 loss to tackle Everton at the Emirates. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, defender Thomas Vermealen – the Belgian who has netted in three of Arsenal’s last four Premier League matches, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Gervinho and Robin Van Persie were among those who didn’t feature and should return to the starting XI.

One player who is definitely out is left-back Andre Santos. Now that does leave Wenger with a problem, as full-backs Kieran Gibbs and Bacary Sagna are both out injured while young Carl Jenkinson is doubtful. The Brazilian injured his ankle in Greece and is likely to miss all of Arsenal’s festive fixtures. Abou Diaby, who made his first competitive appearance of the season at Wigan last weekend as a second half sub, is also out.

Everton

League Position: 10th

League Form: LLWWL

The Toffees were shaping as though they could potentially inflict some telling damage in this fixture, after ending the month of November with successive victories over Bolton and Wolves. Then along came Stoke, who produced an industrious display at Goodison Park to consign Everton to their third defeat in four at home. Now we’re left scratching our heads as to how competitive they can really be in a fixture which has bore next to no fruit for some fifteen years.

To register two miserly points from their previous fifteen trips to Arsenal in the league just about says all you need to know. This is an horrific fixture for Everton, who have also fared woefully against the sides directly above them in the league. Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd, heck even Newcastle, have gotten the better of David Moyes’ side this season. It would be a genuine shock if Arsenal weren’t added to this growing list.

Everton’s away record stands at a mixed W3 D0 L3, though that in itself tells us a lot. Their three wins all came against sides situated in the lower reaches of the league in Blackburn (18th), Bolton (19th) and Fulham (13th), while their defeats were all routine-like at Chelsea (4th), Man City (1st) and Newcastle (6th).

Neither Sylvan Distin nor Royston Drenthe were deemed fit enough to make the bench against Stoke, so doubts remain over their possible participation at the Emirates. Distin has been back in training for a little while now and should return, meanwhile Drenthe, who scored on his last visit to London, in Everton’s 3-1 victory over Fulham, is struggling with an ankle problem.

Match Pointers

- Arsenal won home and away versus Everton last season and are unbeaten in eight Premier League meetings with the Toffees (W6 D2), who last won away from home against the Gunners in 1996.

- Each of the previous six league encounters have featured both teams scoring.

- The Gunners have won five and lost none of their last six Premier League matches at the Emirates Stadium, though they were held to a 1-1 draw by Fulham last time out there.

- Arsenal have won six of their last seven in the league, with their most recent being a 4-0 whitewash of Wigan at the DW Stadium.

- Central defender Thomas Vermealen has three in his last four Premier League starts for Arsenal, netting in each of his last two turn outs at home.

- Everton have a mixed away record; winning three, drawing none, and losing three.

- The Toffees have failed to score on five occasions this season, and some of those include defeats at home to Liverpool and Man City as well as their loss at Man City.

Betting

Arsene Wenger could afford the luxury of naming a weakened side for Tuesday’s Champions League game with Olympiakos, which was effectively a dead rubber for them seeing as they were assured of top spot in the group before the match kicked off. A young Arsenal team were comprehensively beaten on the night, losing 3-1 out in Greece, but virtually the entire team-sheet for Saturday’s home game with Everton will be comprised of players who didn’t feature in midweek.

A revitalised, refreshed Arsenal should wipe the floor with Everton, who couldn’t conjure a single shot on target at home to Stoke last week, with Robin Van Persie, the inspired Dutchman who has so often played a leading role in dismantling the Toffees in recent Premier League encounters, at the forefront of their success – again!

Prediction: Arsenal to WIN – 4/7 PaddyPower

Value Bet: Robin Van Persie First Goalscorer – 7/2 WilliamHill

Match Odds

Arsenal – 4/7 PaddyPower

Draw – 16/5 VictorChandler

Everton – 6/1 Ladbrokes

Wigan Athletic V Arsenal

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 3 December – 15:00 GMT

Venue: DW Stadium

Preview

Although their overall record against the Latics is very impressive, winning nine of their twelve Premiership meetings, Arsenal have encountered unexpected problems on recent ventures to Greater Manchester. Last season saw them squander a 2-1 lead, despite having a numerical advantage, while the season before Wigan produced one of the greatest ever comebacks in the Premier League, storming back from 2-0 down to score three in the final ten minutes of the game to seal a quite stunning 3-2 success. Will there be even more drama this time around at the DW?

Wigan go into the game on a high, after recording a 2-1 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light last time out – their first maximum haul since August, would you believe, ending a drastic run of nine matches without a win. That result cost Steve Bruce his job as Black Cats manager, and it kind of makes you wonder how on earth Roberto Martinez is still at the Latics helm, after his side’s retched run of eight consecutive defeats from September to November. It’s now two games unbeaten for the Spaniard and his charges, though.

Last Saturday’s stalemate at home to Fulham will have left a bitter taste in the mouth of Arsene Wenger, who will have targeted maximum points in that fixture. To be honest, they were fortunate to ground out a draw and that setback, which ended a run of five consecutive league wins, combined with the disappointment of Tuesday’s Carling Cup defeat at the hands of a second string Man City team, and you could argue this is an opportunistic time for a club like Wigan to stand toe-for-foe with the mighty Gunners.

Wigan Athletic

League Position: 19th

League Form: LLLDW

After taking four points from their last two matches – this on the back of eight straight defeats – Latics boss Roberto Martinez has paid tribute to the character of his players ahead of Saturday’s clash with Arsenal at the DW Stadium, where they’ve not won now for a little over three months. Last week’s 2-1 win against Sunderland was their first since 27 August, ending a dire run of nine without a win.

Finally, things are looking up for Wigan. To take four points from a possible six is massive, a huge step in the right direction considering they registered a huge 0 in their previous eight. Even more remarkable has been their upturn in fortune in front of goal, having plundered five in two games – though equally remarkable is how they didn’t manage to win their last home game, against rock-bottom Blackburn, despite scoring three times.

That 3-3 draw with struggling Blackburn was Wigan’s last outing at the DW, which has never really been a fortress, more a happy hunting ground for everyone else. The stadium is never, ever full, not even when the top four or five teams in the country visit. Nevertheless, a half-hearted ground hasn’t stopped Martinez’s men from making a real fist of things against Arsenal in recent seasons, registering four points and scoring five goals in their last two encounters in Greater Manchester.

Roberto Martinez does have to content with any fresh absentees, so all his focus and concentration will go on shoring up a defence which has kept a clean sheet since their last victory at the DW, back in August when they beat QPR 2-0. They’ve conceded a minimum of two goals in all four of their home matches since. If that run holds up, Wigan won’t be taking anything from this fixture.

Arsenal

League Position: 7th

League Form: WWWWD

The past few weeks and months have been something to savour for Arsenal supporters. The same cannot be said for the past seven days, though, which could be further compounded at the DW this weekend – which is a real possibility when you consider how they’ve not won their since April 2009, conceding five on their last two visits.

With the top seven sides in the table so tightly group, a third consecutive slip-up away to Wigan is unthinkable. Last week’s hugely deflating 1-1 draw with Fulham at the Emirates dropped the Gunners back down to seventh in the table, twelve points adrift of leaders Man City but crucially three behind fourth placed Newcastle and the Champions League places. So victory is a must this weekend, especially given the nature of the fixture – this is arguably the easiest away outing for any team in the Premier League.

Exiting the Carling Cup at the quarter-final stage was far from ideal preparation, with a half-decent Arsenal XI beaten 1-0 by a second string Man City team. In the long run, that defeat could benefit their various causes, but in the short-term, considering the draw with Fulham was demoralising enough, it could affect the overall mood in the dressing room. I doubt it will be enough to deny Arsenal three points though, as the Gunners were playing some really tidy football – they had won five on the spin in the league before last week’s Fulham stalemate.

Gradually, this Arsenal team are coming together. They are by no means a finished product, while there are some who simply aren’t good enough – in my honest opinion – namely full-back Andre Santos and centre-half Per Mertesacker, but you can’t argue with their form: it’s now six unbeaten in the league (W5 D1) and if they can improve on last week’s lethargic showing, they should have too much class for a feeble Wigan.

Match Pointers

- Just one of the 12 Premier League meetings between these two sides were won by Wigan (a 3-2 win at home during the 2009/10 campaign), although the Latics have registered four points from the previous two encounters at the DW.

- Wigan ended their winless run of nine matches by beating Sunderland 2-1 at the Stadium of Light last weekend. Their last win at home, however, was back in August when they recorded a 2-0 win over QPR.

- Latics midfielder Ben Watson has two goals in his last two starts versus Arsenal at home in the league.

- Arsenal dropped their first Premier League points for well over a month last time out, with a 1-1 draw with Fulham in North London ending a five-match winning sequence for the Gunners in the league.

- Tuesday’s 1-0 loss to Man City in the Carling Cup was Arsenal’s first defeat in eleven games in all competitions, a run which consists of eight victories.

- Robin Van Persie has five in his last two appearances for the Gunners away from home in the league, while he netted a hat-trick against Wigan in last season’s league encounter at the Emirates in London.

Betting

Results wise, Wigan will take a tremendous amount of heart and belief from their last two outcomes, beating Sunderland on the road last time out and drawing at home to Blackburn in their most recent clash at the DW. However, you do have to take into account the quality of the opposition, which wasn’t great on either occasion, and the fact they’ve been woeful pretty much all season.

So naturally I expect the Latics to struggle this weekend, against far superior opposition to anything they have faced recently in the form of an Arsenal side still riding the crest of a wave after going six unbeaten in the league, winning five. Granted they weren’t entirely convincing away to Norwich in their most recent away encounter, but the fact they grounded out a 2-1 win shows how far this team has come in such a short space of time.

With Thomas Vermealen back in the side, bringing some organisation and discipline to the defence, Arsenal shouldn’t concede the sheer number they have done in recent ventures to Wigan. Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta will try to take the game by the scruff of the neck in midfield and with Gervinho and Theo Walcott providing pace and width on the flanks, I don’t see how the Latics will contain their visitors – nor a striker in such prolific form as Robin Van Persie, whom scored a hat-trick at the Emirates against this very opponent last season.

Match Outcome: Arsenal to WIN – 8/13 Coral

Value Bet: Arsenal 3-0 (Correct Score) – 11/1 Ladbrokes

Match Odds

Wigan – 11/2 Totesport

Draw – 10/3 VictorChandler

Arsenal – 8/13 Coral

Arsenal V Fulham

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 26 November 2011 – 17:30 GMT

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Preview

There isn’t a manager in the land who would envy Martin Jol this weekend. The Fulham manager has the unenviable task of pitting his wits against Arsene Wenger at the Emirates, which is where an Arsenal side who’ve won eight of their previous nine matches, and whom, as recently as Wednesday, have qualified for the knockouts of the UEFA Champions League, reside. I suppose it isn’t a good time to mention that Fulham have NEVER beaten Arsenal in the north of London?

So Fulham will try to succeed where Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and Marseille all failed – and that’s beat Arsene Wenger’s rampant Gunners. To be fair, the latterly mentioned did nullify them to a degree – the only side to do so as well in three months – although their 0-0 draw at the Emirates was against a side shorn of the prolific Robin Van Persie, whom is unplayable at this moment in time.

Finding a way to nullify Robin Van Persie is half the battle for Martin Jol, whose Fulham team must somehow find a way of containing the Premier League’s leading marksmen. The Dutch ace has 13 in 12 Premier League appearances – 31 in 29 PL appearances in 2011 – while his brace against Borussia Dortmund in midweek, the goals which secured Arsenal’s place in the latter stages of the Champions League, took his tally for the season, in all competitions, to 17. Only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, two of the modern day greats, can rival his scoring prowess this calender year.

All the best, Fulham!

Arsenal

League Position: 7th

League Form: WWWWW

Buoyed by progress in Europe, Arsenal now turn their attentions to the Premier League and enhancing their claims for Champions League football next season. Next up is a London derby with Fulham at home, a fixture they’ve won eight times out of ten in the Premier League, before a trip to hapless Wigan. Two matches they ought to gobble up.

Just a matter of months ago, the Gunners were being written off with regards to a top four finish, but five successive wins later and not only are they firmly in contention, their claims are arguably stronger than some of their rivals. With twelve games played, they are locked on the same amount of points as Chelsea and Liverpool, though they do have the ignominy of trailing arch rivals Tottenham by three points.

At the rate of knots at which Arsenal are scoring, which is around three per game during this five-match winning run of theirs in the league – they are, however, without defeat in nine in all competition, winning eight, it won’t be long before the Gunners soar to even greater heights in the league – especially with Liverpool hosting Man City on the Sunday.

A few more goals from the hitman himself, Robin Van Persie, whom has scored a brace in three of his last four league appearances at the Emirates, as well as five in seven versus Fulham, and Arsenal will make further inroads up the table. Though they mustn’t underestimate Saturday’s opponents; Fulham have only conceded six on their travels so far and weren’t in European action during the week, unlike the Gunners who were certainly put in a fair old shift during the week against an industrious Dortmund side.

Fulham

League Position: 16th

League Form: LLWLD

Notorious bad travellers Fulham are the equivalent of lambs to the slaughter, with the West London side forced to pay their capital rivals Arsenal a visit at the Emirates on Saturday for a fixture even the commanding leaders of the Premier League would dread. But it has to be done, and at least the Cottagers head to north London with some fairly encouraging foundations upon which to build upwards from.

Although their away record in the Premier League isn’t great – they have only won five of their previous 44 away matches – Fulham can at least take heart from their recent exploits on the road. A couple of goalless draws with Sunderland and West Brom coupled with a tidy 2-0 win at Wigan means there are now 294 minutes on the clock since Martin Jol’s defence last conceded away from home.

So perhaps we do have a team, in Fulham, who are actually capable of keeping tabs on an Arsenal outfit in imperious form, fronted by an unstoppable Robin Van Persie? It still looks a monumental ask, though, saying that, the Cottagers did give their London rivals a run for their money at the Emirates last season. Only some brilliance from Samir Nasri, as well as some Fulham profligacy, denied them a rare draw there back in December of last year.

Another hugely significant factor working in Martin Jol’s favour is the lack of European football during the week – for them, anyway. For the first time this season, the Champions League and Europa League matches weren’t scheduled for the same week, meaning Fulham should have the slight edge in the conditioning department. This coming Thursday will see them back in Europa League action, though their immediate focus is on Saturday’s live ESPN clash with Arsenal.

Match Pointers

- In their 132-year history, Fulham have never recorded an away win against Arsenal, losing on eight of their ten visits to north London in the Premier League.

- Arsenal are unbeaten in all competition for nine games, eight of which were wins, while they’ve not lost a match at the Emirates since losing 2-0 to Liverpool back in August, winning nine and drawing one of ten since.

- The Gunners have won five Premier League matches in a row, scoring 15 and conceding 6.

- Robin Van Persie has scored ten goals in his last five league appearances for Arsenal, scoring two or more on three occasions at the Emirates this season (make that four if you include his brace against Borussia Dortmund in midweek in the Champions League).

- Fulham have won only two of 12 Premier League games this season (W2 D5 L5).

- Only bottom of the league Wigan have netted fewer times on their travels than Martin Jol’s Cottagers (3), whose team have failed to score in four of six away matches.

Betting

The history book would suggest a comfortable evening for Arsenal, who have won eight of the previous ten Premier League encounters on home soil, whether that be at the old Highbury or the swanky new Emirates, which isn’t that new anymore. However, Fulham should appreciate the lack of European football during the week, whereas Arsenal may well feel the effects of an exhausting night in Europe against one of the more industrious teams around in reigning German champions Borussia Dortmund.

The final 20 minutes could be a crucial period, then, which means ensuring they are within striking distance of the Gunners heading into the closing stages is imperative for Fulham if they’re to spring any sort of surprise. With the form they are in currently, you suspect Arsenal may well be home and hosed before we even get a chance to see the benefit of Fulham’s fresher legs.

The Gunners have scored in the opening 45 minutes in every match during this five-game winning streak of theirs in the league, and although they only went in at the break with the lead on two occasions, it could pay to back Arsenal HT/FT considering Fulham have only mustered three away goals all season.

Match Outcome: Arsenal to WIN – 4/9 PaddyPower

Value Bet: Arsenal/Arsenal (HT/FT) – 11/10 Bet365

Match Odds

Arsenal – 4/9 PaddyPower

Draw – 7/2 Boylesports

Fulham – 8/1 Totesport

Arsenal V Marseille

Date & Kick-Off: Tuesday, 1 November 2011 – 19:45 GMT

Venue: Emirates Stadium

TV Coverage: LIVE on SKY SPORTS 2

Preview

Arsenal have qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League in each of the previous eleven seasons and their hard-fought victory over in Marseille on Match Day 3 has left them on the cusp of their twelfth successive Round of 16 appearance. The Gunners top Group F, a point above Marseille who they face on Tuesday in north London, but are four ahead of Olympiacos with Borussia Dortmund a further two-points back.

Should Borussia Dortmund justify favouritism in Germany the same night, when they host Olympiacos at Signal Iduna Park, Arsenal would find themselves six-points clear of third-placed Dortmund with only two rounds of matches left to play. Looking at the bigger picture, though, topping the group will be of more concern to Arsene Wenger, as the Frenchman will be keen to avoid a situation similar to last season when his team drew eventual winners Barcelona in the very first round of knockouts.

High-scoring victories, domestically, for both teams at the weekend should mean we’re in for a competitive affair at the Emirates Stadium, which is just as well as Arsenal have been dominant in the north of London for a considerable period now. Focusing solely on previous group matches, Arsenal are without defeat at home for over eight-years, winning 20 of their last 24, including each of the previous eight.

If Marseille are to enhance their chances of qualification, particularly if they wish to finish as section-winners, then the 2008/09 & 2009/10 French champions must repeat the feat of Inter all those years ago and win in North London. That does seem a long-shot though; in ten previous visits to England for a continental fixture, L’OM have recorded just one solitary win. Last season, Didier Deschamps’ team slumped to narrow defeats at both Chelsea (2-0) and Manchester United (2-1).

Winning for the second weekend in a row, away at Dijon (2-3), back home in France will have raised spirits however, particularly as it stretched their unbeaten streak domestically to six matches (W3 D3). I’m pretty sure they will have taken some heart from Arsenal’s 5-3 victory at Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday as well, despite seeing their opponents on Tuesday score five times at what is a notoriously difficult venue to even score at, let alone win.

Although Arsenal’s weekend win over London rivals Chelsea was hugely impressive, more so the number of goals they scored and how they counter-attacked with real fluidity and purpose, defensively it was another horror show. Chelsea were extremely wasteful, as they carved open the Arsenal defence times and time again. Johan Djourou and Andre Santos at full-back had terrible games; they were caught out of position on countless occasions, as was centre-half Per Mertesacker, the German defender who is set to be replaced in the team-sheet by a now fit Thomas Vermaelen.

Furthermore, Arsenal weren’t entirely convincing at home to Olympiacos on Match Day 2, while there were hairy moments over in France as well, although for both sides in truth. What I’m trying to say is that despite being the favourites, and rightly so, it is by no means a formality that this match should end in a home win.

However, Arsenal are beginning to race through the gears, with Saturday’s morale boosting win extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to nine, eight of which were wins, while the form of their three-pronged attack has been especially eye-catching. Gervinho has been a little indifferent since arriving in the summer but his quick turn of foot and the fact he attacks defenders with real purpose has impressed me, though not as much as a confident Theo Walcott. The England winger was exceptional at the weekend and was only narrowly beaten to the Match of the Match award because of Robin Van Persie’s hat-trick, the Dutchman who now has 12 goals for the season, scoring seven in his last four competitive games.

Marseille, though, have a couple of nifty individuals of their own who could catch the eye. Lucho Gonzalez pulls all the strings in the middle of the park, a player Arsene Wenger rates so highly he tried to sign him on the final day of the summer transfer window. French schemer Mathieu Valbuena is another tricky customer in the middle; however, it is the pace in behind of Andre Ayew and Loic Remy which could cause this leaky, hapless Arsenal defence problems.

Match Pointers

- Arsenal (W2 D1 L0) top Group F with seven points, a point above second-placed Marseille (W2 D0 L1).

- The Gunners opened their accounts with a creditable 1-1 draw in Dortmund before securing back-to-back victories at home to Olympiacos (2-1) and away to Marseille (0-1).

- L’OM started with successive wins over Olympiacos (0-1) in Greece and Borussia Dortmund in France (3-0); however, a last-gasp winner from Aaron Ramsey sent them to their first reverse of the campaign last time out, losing 1-0 at home to Arsenal on Match Day 3.

- Unbeaten in 24 home group games in UEFA Champions League, Arsenal are seeking their ninth straight home win in the group stage with their last reverse coming against Inter Milan back in 2003.

- Marseille have been victorious on just one of their ten visits to England in continental competition, losing away at Chelsea and Manchester United in last season’s tournament.

Betting

In seasons gone by, Arsenal only had to turn up with their boots to win Champions League group games at home. If they were really geared up, they’d win at a cantor. With this current batch of misfits, that isn’t the case any more. The recent form of Gervinho, Theo Walcott and especially Robin Van Persie, who has been a goalscoring machine in recent weeks, certainly bodes well but defensively they still look alarmingly suspect. Plus Marseille don’t often suffer heavy defeats on their travels, they like to keep things tight when playing away from home in Europe under Didier Deschamps, hoping to catch teams out on the break.

Marseille’s pace on the counter could wreak havoc on an Arsenal defence which back home posts the third-worst defensive figures in the Premier League (conceding two-goals per-game on average). However, I’m putting faith in Arsene Wenger’s reinvigorated team and backing Van Persie & Co to outscore their opponents.

Match Outcome: Arsenal to WIN – 4/6 Bet365

Value Bet: Arsenal 3-1 (Correct Score) – 14/1 WilliamHill

Match Odds

Arsenal – 4/6 Bet365

Draw – 3/1 Boylesports

Marseille – 9/2 PaddyPower

Tottenham Hotspur V Arsenal

Date/Kick-Off: Sunday, 2nd October 2011 – 16:00 (GMT)

Venue: White Hart Lane

TV Coverage: LIVE on SKY SPORTS 1

Preview

There has been a dramatic shift of power in the north of London, and it shows in the pre-match betting for this weekend’s eagerly-anticipated Premier League clash between arch rivals Tottenham and Arsenal at White Hart Lane.

It wasn’t so long ago that Arsenal merely had to make an appearance in this fixture in order to register maximum points, but that is no longer the case. If anything, Tottenham are the now on top, and the only one of the two actually on the up.

Spurs go into Sunday’s colossal encounter having taken more points from their first five league games than Arsenal have from their opening SIX, having also scored as many goals, conceded far fewer and having lost just one of the previous six north London derbies. Crucially, though, it was Tottenham who managed to retain their prized assets over the summer. In fact they’ve complimented them with some shrewd acquisitions to which the club as a whole are beginning to reap the benefits, which is more than can be said for their backward-minded neighbours.

So, unsurprisingly then, it is Tottenham who go into the 37th North London derby in the Premier League era as favourites, a peculiar sight in itself. The result is no formality, though. Arsenal haven’t quite drifted off the radar, at least not yet.

Tottenham Hotspur

League Position: 6th

League Form: LLWWW

There was no messing from Harry Redknapp as he made wholesale changes for Thursday’s Europa League match with Ireland’s Shamrock Rovers. Just about anyone who might feature on Sunday didn’t partake in the action, with the Spurs boss understandably having one eye on this week’s mouthwatering contest with Arsenal in the league, and perhaps the other on protecting his healthy, if not unspectacular record in this particular fixture.

Since taking over the helm back in January 2008, Harry has lost just one of his six duels with opposite number Arsene Wenger, triumphing on two occasions. He is also the only manager in nineteen-years to have masterminded a Tottenham victory at either the Emirates Stadium or Arsenal’s former ground, Highbury, in the Premier League, doing so last season courtesy of his side stunning 3-2 comeback win at the Emirates. No wonder the White Hart Lane faithful adore the ground he walks on.

It is a rather strange perception having Tottenham as the favourites for a North London derby, but it’s a thoroughly deserved tag. Spurs go into the match having prepared far better – they’ve recovered admirably from a couple of quick-fire defeats to Manchester United and Manchester City to string a run of three straight league wins together, none more impressive than their 4-0 demolition of Liverpool at White Hart Lane. Their football is also a lot more cohesive than their rivals, while there are certainly more smiling faces around their place, which is what you’d expect from a team that has won its last three league matches by an aggregate of 8-1.

Personally, I can’t get enough of Tottenham this weekend. Luka Modric has made me eat humble pie with his performances since the club all but forced him to remain a Spurs players, with London rivals Chelsea courting the midfield schemer who in his last appearance at White Hart Lane opened the scoring against Liverpool with a pearler. Scott Parker has also bedded in nicely, alongside a rejuvenated Modric, while Gareth Bale is showing glimpses of the form that earned him the PFA Player of the Year for his exploits on that left-wing last season.

Oh, and we shouldn’t forget Emmanuel Adebayor, the former Gunner who already has three for the season and will be as determined as anyone on that pitch on Sunday to find the back of his former employer’s net. The one drawback is their defence isn’t all that convincing, especially with Michael Dawson and William Gallas still out injured.

Arsenal

League Position: 13th

League Form: LLWLW

They are the biggest price to triumph in a North London derby that I can remember, which in itself speaks volumes about their claims on Sunday. But Arsenal should be used to all this by now, all this undermining of their ability, and they certainly won’t be short of motivation or incentives as they make their way to the Lion’s pit that is White Hart Lane for their first meeting of the season with arch rivals Tottenham.

It has been a turbulent couple of months for the Gunners. The sale of Gael Clichy, Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas left them with several huge voids that were subsequently filled by make-shift signings in the form of Andre Santos, Mikel Arteta and Gervinho. Two of those lack that essential ingredient that when absent often stems to a team’s demise, and that’s experience in the Premier League. So it’s of very little surprise to myself and everyone else that Arsenal have made an unconvincing start to the new season.

Two wins and three defeats from their first six league games leaves Arsenal floundering in the lower reaches of the league, a lot closer to the relegation places than the summit, or the Champions League places for that matter, which is their main objective this season. The one big positive however is that they have recently found their way back to the winning trail, conveniently so, and although neither were convincing the Gunners have now won three consecutive matches. Wins inspire confidence, as well as self-belief, and both have been lacking in that Arsenal dressing room this season.

Their current winning streak does merit respect, even if it doesn’t contain any noteworthy results. A 3-1 victory over Shrewsbury in the Carling Cup was to be expected, as was their 2-1 defeat of Olympiacos on Wednesday in the Champions League. Robin Van Persie’s brace inspired the team to a 3-0 win over Bolton last week in the league, in what was probably their most accomplished team performance of the season – though how much we can read in to that result/display remains to be seen considering their opponents spent much of the game with ten men.

However, as is usually the case at Arsenal these days, it isn’t long before hopes are extinguished by some bad news. In this case, it’s injuries, a stack of them as well. Jack Wilshere won’t return until the new year, but then that’s well documented, however, Johan Djourou, Laurent Koscielny, Yossi Benayoung, Gervinho and Theo Walcott are all doubtful, the latter a major one, while Thomas Vermealen is set to make his return after the international break.

Match Pointers

- Harry Redknapp has lost just one of the six North London derbies he has been involved with as Tottenham manager, winning two (W2 D3 L1).

- Tottenham have lost only one of their previous 19 Premier League matches at White Hart Lane (W10 D8 L1), while they were 4-0 winners against Liverpool in their last clash there.

- Arsenal have won just two of their last ten league games away from home (W2 D5 L3), and none of their last seven.

- Robin Van Persie has four goals in his last four starts for Arsenal versus Tottenham, while Rafael Van der Vaart scored twice in this fixture last season and has three in two versus the Gunners.

Betting Verdict

Arsenal certainly look alluring at the odds but Tottenham have everything going for me; confidence, a winning run in the league against quality opposition – as opposed to Arsenal’s three-game winning streak against lower league opposition and European weaklings; a stable midfield that could dominate proceedings, even against arguably the best retainer of possession in the Premier League in the Gunners, while going forward they boast more potency. I just feel there’s a lot more proven performers in the Spurs ranks than the Gunners.

Tottenham’s obvious fault is their defence, so Arsenal could, possibly even should, prosper there, but everything else sees Tottenham triumph on paper. Per Mertesacker could also be the one sizeable chink in Arsenal’s armour this weekend, with the German centre-half having already been found wanting in the Premier League, against pretty average teams by Tottenham’s standards. It’s a frightening prospect seeing him up against the sheer pace of Bale or the craftsmanship of a Modric or Van der Vaart.

Basically, if Modric, Parker and Bale have a good game then Spurs should win this. Emmanuel Adebayor’s determination to score against his former club is just a massive bonus.

Match Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur to WIN – 6/5 StanJames

Value Bet: Emmanuel Adebayor to Score – 6/4 Ladbrokes

Match Odds

Tottenham Hotspur – 6/5 StanJames

Draw – 13/5 VictorChandler

Arsenal – 5/2 Bet365