Tag: "arsenal"

Betfair Big Interview: Jody Craddock

Wolves are close to surviving in the Premier League despite last week’s late defeat at Arsenal. Betfair went to meet long-serving defender Jody Craddock to learn more. “I once sold a painting for two grand – the very first Championship one I did of all the Wolves players celebrating winning the play-offs in 2003. Sir Jack Hayward bought that.” Hi Jody, so how many more points do you need to secure Premier League survival? As many as we can get. Before the Arsenal game I said another six, but that was only guessing. In reality you can’t set targets, you win a game and then it seems the team below you win a game, so that’s why you just need to get as many as you can. Eight points from four games before the Emirates has set you up, though

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Apr 07, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Champions League Results: Messi destroys Arsenal with one of the greatest performances

Magical display from Barca’s Argentine maestro ends Wenger’s European dream at the Nou Camp and Mourinho’s men win in Moscow. “Messi got behind Arsenal’s back four and lifted his shot past Almunia to seal his fourth hat-trick of 2010.” Lionel Messi gave one of the finest individual performances in European football history as his first-half hat-trick condemned Arsenal to the Champions League exit. The Gunners took the lead at the Nou Camp in the 18th minute through Nicklas Bendtner . The Austrian striker sprawled over as his shot was palmed away by Victor Valdes but he managed to pick himself up in time to hook the rebound into the Barcelona net. The Catalan side looked disgusted with themselves at going behind in front of their fans and they responded only three minutes later when Messi fired the ball into the top corner of Manuel Almunia’s goal. The diminutive Argentine gave his side the lead after 37 minutes when he picked up possession in Arsenal’s area, ghosted past his marker and slotted the ball home. Minutes later Messi got behind Arsenal’s back four and lifted his shot past Almunia to seal his fourth hat-trick of 2010.

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Apr 07, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Champions League Betting Preview: Barcelona v Arsenal

Some have argued that Barca’s failure to kill-off this tie in London gives the momentum to Arsenal but Dave Farrar disagrees and expect the defending champions to sweep aside the Gunners at the Nou Camp.

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Apr 05, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Champions League Betting: CSKA Moscow v Internazionale

Tobias Gourlay isn’t entirely convinced that Tuesday’s early Champions League quarter-final is worth an afternoon off work. Recommended Bets: Back 0-0 Correct Score at 9.2 ; back the Draw at 3.3 Internazionale take a 1-0 lead to the Luzhniki Stadium for the second leg of their Champions League tie with CSKA Moscow. The Italian champions had enough possession last week to have garnered more of an advantage, but now need to be extra careful of a long journey (so long that this match will kick-off early at 1730 BST on Tuesday), a synthetic pitch and well-rested opponents (CSKA’s weekend league match with Zenit St Petersburg was called off for security reasons). Even though CSKA defender Aleksei Berezutski puts his team’s chance of qualification at 45%, the market makes Jose Mourinho’s team 1.16 to qualify for a semi final with Arsenal or Barcelona. A goal in Russia would leave the hosts needing three and one wonders if the Special One won’t make like he did at Stamford Bridge in the last round, when he sent out three strikers and won 1-0. The Nerazzurri have scored fewer goals than any of the other teams still in the competition though and their Portuguese leader has been known to err on the side of caution

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Apr 05, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Premier League Weekend Review: Fergie knows it’s far from over

Sir Alex has gone from upbeat to downcast in the space of a week but that doesn’t mean he’s giving up, says Ralph Ellis. Meanwhile, why Liverpool could yet make good Rafa’s fourth place promise and why Wigan are the relegation value… “So is that it then? Is it time to load on to Carlo Ancelotti’s side at 1.66 and make some easy money

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Apr 05, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Reduce the number of Premier League teams to save players and entertainment

As Cesc Fabregas and Wayne Rooney became the latest victims to injury, Feizal Rahmann tells us why reducing the number of teams in the top division would give players and indeed fans, a huge boost. “Indeed, if the Premier League is to survive at all, perhaps reducing the number of clubs is the only option as the biggest clubs will inevitably be drawn towards a European Super League as they look to not only further their riches but also to preserve the assets they pay so handsomely.” It took just 24 hours this week to dash the hopes and dreams of two individuals, their clubs and their countries. Fortunately for Wayne Rooney , his ankle injury should not rob him of a place on the plane to South Africa and he will return for Manchester United’s final few games.

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Apr 04, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Premier League Results: Chelsea go odds-on for the title

Chelsea win at Old Trafford and are big favourites for the title… “The Blues were backed at 6.4 to be leading at half-time and winning at full-time and are now just 1.63 to win the league, having been backed at 4.3 just a couple of weeks ago after drawing at Blackburn. United have drifted to 3.6 after being matched at a low of 1.92.” Chelsea are in pole position to win the Premier League after being matched at 26.0 to beat Manchester United by a 2-1 scoreline. Joe Cole was backed at the huge price of 24.0 to open the scoring, which he did courtesy of a beautiful deft touch at the near post. Didier Drogba added a second after coming on off the bench before youngster Federico Macheda pulled one back, ultimately in vain. The Blues were backed at 6.4 to be leading at half-time and winning at full-time and are now just 1.63 to win the league, having been backed at 4.3 just a couple of weeks ago after drawing at Blackburn. United have drifted to 3.6 after being matched at a low of 1.92.

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Apr 03, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

The Over/Under 2.5 Goals Column: Rooney’s absence should see the goals dry up at Old Trafford

Ed Nicholson looks at the big match of the weekend as Chelsea visit Old Trafford and Wolves’ trip to the Emirates in search of over/under 2.5 goals value. “With United casting one eye on their second leg quarter final match against Bayern Munich next week, and without the influential Wayne Rooney I can see United being quite tight and compact here. Chelsea too will want to get a result – and a draw is not a bad one for them. So a low scoring draw is foreseen.” Man Utd v Chelsea This game now has a completely different feel to it following Chelsea’s impressive 7-1 success against Aston Villa last Saturday and, perhaps even more pertinently, Wayne Rooney’s injury in midweek. And for those who have been saying that Man United have only performed so well this season thanks to Rooney’s tremendous form, this Sunday’s game against Chelsea will either go some way to proving them right or wrong. Obviously one match will be far from conclusive on that score, but it does just happen to be against Chelsea at a time of the season when losing any game could prove decisive in deciding league titles or relegation battles

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Apr 02, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Premier League Betting: Easter Weekend’s 3pm Kick-offs

With seven (no so magnificent) fixtures to preview this weekend, “Mystical” Mike Norman has plenty of options as he searches for a fifth successive winning best bet. Best Bet: Back Blackburn at 2.2 to beat Portsmouth. Best Bet: Back Blackburn @ 2.2 to beat Portsmouth Also: Back Under 2.5 Goals @ 2.44 in Arsenal v Wolves; Back Over 3.5 Goals @ 4.0 in Bolton v Villa; Back Stoke @ 1.83 to beat Hull; Back Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.08 in Sunderland v Tottenham; Back Under 1.5 Goals @ 3.2 in Birmingham v Liverpool; Back 0-0 Correct Score @ 10.0 in Fulham v Wigan Arsenal 1.28 v Wolves 16.0 ; The Draw 6.4 As much as Arsenal should still win this game, I simply have to lay them at 1.29 given what’s happened to their squad in recent days. To lose William Gallas, Andrey Arshavin and Cesc Fabregas to injury after the Barcelona game is a huge blow to Arsene Wenger’s hopes of winning the title . Wolves have been in decent form of late and I don’t think they will be rolled-over at the Emirates today

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Apr 02, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Champions League Results: Two-goal comeback stuns Barca and their backers

Gunners show determination to deny Barcelona at The Emirates while Inter secure slim win “After a goalless – and breathless – first half, the Gunners’ hearts were broken just seconds into the last 45 minutes, as they fell behind to a two-goal ambush from Zlatan Ibrahimovic . At that point Barcelona were matched at 1.04 to win the game.” The odds are against Arsenal reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League but they sure won’t go down without a fight.

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Apr 01, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post
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