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.
Tobias Gourlay sees something beautiful on the horizon as Barcelona travel to North London.
Over the coming weeks and months Jaymes Monte will give a rundown of Premier League players that you perhaps didn’t realise would be at the World Cup, week one begins with Arsenal… “Song has made a significant impact at international level and has been named in the team of the tournament at the past two African Cup of Nations.” Johan Djourou – Switzerland Born in Ivory Coast but raised in Switzerland by his adopted mother Johan Djourou is now, when fit, a fully fledged member of the Swiss first team squad. He made his debut against Scotland on 1 March 2006 and has since made a further 20+ appearances for the first team
Tranmere could be in for a hiding at home to Pardew’s men, Swindon are rattling in the goals and the Canaries anticipate an easy afternoon. Alan Dudman selects the weekend’s best third tier bets. “The Saints have surged towards the play-offs, and now rock up in 10th place with 55 points
Spurs are out to 2.14 in the match odds with a resurgent Everton in town and despite losing in midweek the momentum is with the Toffees says Richard Walker “Best Bets: Back Everton @ 4.1 ; Lay Under 2.5 goals @ 1.96 ; Back Saha to score @ 3.2 .” Such is Everton ’s admirable resurgence this season that Spurs are as far out as 2.12 in the match odds market (The Draw is 3.45 and Everton 4.1 ). That Tottenham price alone is a singular reflection of what a job, in my eyes, perennial manager of the season David Moyes has once again fashioned on Merseyside. Funny enough, their good form extends right back to their come-from-behind 2-2 at Goodison Park back in December. Moyes’ cast-iron belief in his side never wavers, and it didn’t once again after a mediocre start to the campaign on the blue side of Stanley Park. The hosts would have been far shorter than 2.0 only a couple of months ago. It’s hard to think of this as anything other than a banana skin match for Spurs.
Ed Nicholson gives us his best selections from this weekend’s Premier League fixtures and an intriguing Carling Cup final, where assuming Wayne Rooney can be kept relatively quiet, we should have a low-scoring encounter. “This season Aston Villa have the best defensive record in the Premier League having conceded just 21 goals in 26 games, while Man Utd have conceded just 24 in 28 matches. When sides meet with such good defences – regardless of how good their goal scorers have been and how many times the team has scored, it’s the defences that usually come out the best.” Stoke v Arsenal Stoke have beaten Arsenal twice at the Britannia stadium since winning promotion to the Premier League. Last year they surprised Arsene Wenger’s side by winning 2-1, and then embarrassed an admittedly weakened Arsenal side 3-1 in the FA Cup earlier this year. It seems that Tony Pulis has found the secret to beating Arsenal, and it seems to revolve around the same way Man Utd play them at the Emirates.
Big Four clashes have been coming thick and fast of late, though the Premier League’s latest offering isn’t one that will influence the title race says “Mystical” Mike Norman.
Everyone’s got it in for Aston Villa at the moment and are calling them ‘boring’. Dan ‘The Betting Man’ Fitch concedes that they can be a bit dull, but knows the reason why. Obviously we all know that Saint Wenger’s team would never hit a long ball in anger, but then why would you when you play a 5ft 6” midfielder as a centre forward?
“Mystical” Mike Norman has been given the task of previewing the West Midlands derby and he is very much of the opinion that form does matter in such games. Best Bet: Back Birmingham @ 1.88 to beat Wolves.
Ed Nicholson casts his analytical eyes over this weekend’s Premier League over/under 2.5 goals markets and finds a good bet in the big match of the weekend.
