This weekend sees the semi-finals of the FA Cup with Budweiser. Arsenal face holders Wigan Athletic and Hull City play Sheffield United, but in the Barclays Premier League, there are two cup finals too. One will probably decide a relegation place; the other will almost certainly hand the league title to the winners.
Norwich City travel to Craven Cottage on Saturday to play Fulham with the losers facing a near-impossible task to avoid going down, almost certainly alongside Cardiff City and Sunderland, who look doomed already. With five games to go, the Canaries hit the panic button and parted company with boss Chris Hughton. Despite being five points clear of Fulham, who occupy the third relegation place, the board have acted now, given the team's last four games are against Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. It is not inconceivable that Norwich will lose all four. Defeat at the Cottage will leave Fulham two points behind Norwich, and assuming that Norwich do lose all four against the league's big guns, Felix Magath's charges will only need one more win from fixtures against Tottenham, Hull City, Stoke City and Crystal Palace to move above the side from Carrow Road. Magath has a proven track record for pulling teams out of trouble, and no doubt will smell blood coming from a Canaries team who look short of confidence, are out of form and who have just appointed a manager - Neil Adams - with no Premier League experience. Norwich went to Craven Cottage on the final day in 2005 needing a win to stay up. They lost 6-0 and were relegated. The omens are not good, and I think Fulham will add to their growing belief with another win to follow up their success at Villa Park last week.
On Sunday afternoon Liverpool play host to Manchester City in what looks for all the world like a title decider. The Reds are on a run of nine consecutive victories, and five more will earn them their first ever Premier League title, and their 19th in English top flight football. Standing in their way is a City side who have stuttered of late, just weeks after seemingly beginning to run away with the league. Despite this, Manuel Pellegrini still has the bookies' favourites in a strong position; as well as Liverpool, they also know that maximum points from their remaining matches will win them their second championship in three years. Brendan Rodgers has already ramped up the pressure, claiming that the visitors will go into Sunday lunchtime's game as favourites. The Kop boss has said all along that Liverpool aren't in this title race. He may as well keep saying it, because it isn't doing his players much harm at the moment. The timing feels right for the home side to take the bull by the horns and go and win this title. This weekend marks the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, and Anfield will be an emotional setting for a game which will kick off seven minutes late as part of the league-wide commemorations of the tragedy. What better way to remember the 96 who lost their lives that day than to win the one piece of silverware that has eluded them since 1990. Mind you, Manchester City will have something to say about that. Who do I think will win the game? I don't know, but I'll have a lot of fun finding out!
Thursday, 10 April 2014
Tuesday, 18 March 2014
TWIF 2.05: Moyes and Davies under Derby day pressure
This Week In Football I look at two managers facing battles to save their jobs following, or ahead of, derby day fixtures.
Manchester United's 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool was a shocking new low in what has been a horrendous season for the Barclays Premier League champions. Shocking in that Liverpool only managed to score three goals. Two penalties from captain Steven Gerrard and a goal from Luis Suarez gave Brendan Rodgers' side an unbelievably easy victory. Liverpool would have been disappointed it wasn't six or seven. What would have hurt the home fans the most would have been the players' lack of urgency, fight, and ultimately discipline. To concede three penalties is pretty shameful, and to be honest, referee Mark Clattenburg could, maybe even should, have given Liverpool five. United were getting overrun in midfield; it looked like 12 men against ten at times. Juan Mata was out of position again. If you don't play him in the No.10 role, you may as well put him in goal. The gulf between the two old rivals was apparent for all to see, and it proved that David Moyes, despite his defiance in press conferences before and since, is on borrowed time at Old Trafford. If United are knocked out of the Champions League by Olympiacos and then lose at home to Manchester City in the Premier League, I am reasonably confident that the United hierarchy will act. We all expected a transitional season, but 7th in the table is an absolute failure.
Speaking of managers who may be up against it, Billy Davies is allegedly facing a battle to hang on to the Nottingham Forest hot seat after a poor run of results and an FA charge, which has brought a touchline ban, subject to appeal. It gives me no pleasure as a fan of his and of the club to see his position brought under threat by an increasing band of supporters who have had enough of his antics and percieved lack of tactical nouse. In all fairness, find me another team in the Sky Bet Championship who wouldn't struggle to maintain a good run of results with almost their entire starting XI out with not insignificant injuries. The Billy Out Brigade will point to the fact that the club is in no better position now than a year ago, when they ultimately missed out on a play-off place on the final day, but he needs to be given the chance to see out the season. If Davies isn't the manager, who will be? Last time he left, he was followed by Steve McClaren, Steve Cotterill, Sean O'Driscoll and Alex McLeish, a glorious period in the club's history it wasn't. On Saturday Forest travel to the iPro Stadium to face local rivals Derby County. Needless to say, the Reds fans aren't all that confident, illustrated by their struggle to sell out their ticket allocation for the match. Following the reverse fixture at the City Ground in September in which Forest won 1-0, Derby sacked Nigel Clough. I am just hoping that the roles aren't reversed on Saturday afternoon.
Manchester United's 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool was a shocking new low in what has been a horrendous season for the Barclays Premier League champions. Shocking in that Liverpool only managed to score three goals. Two penalties from captain Steven Gerrard and a goal from Luis Suarez gave Brendan Rodgers' side an unbelievably easy victory. Liverpool would have been disappointed it wasn't six or seven. What would have hurt the home fans the most would have been the players' lack of urgency, fight, and ultimately discipline. To concede three penalties is pretty shameful, and to be honest, referee Mark Clattenburg could, maybe even should, have given Liverpool five. United were getting overrun in midfield; it looked like 12 men against ten at times. Juan Mata was out of position again. If you don't play him in the No.10 role, you may as well put him in goal. The gulf between the two old rivals was apparent for all to see, and it proved that David Moyes, despite his defiance in press conferences before and since, is on borrowed time at Old Trafford. If United are knocked out of the Champions League by Olympiacos and then lose at home to Manchester City in the Premier League, I am reasonably confident that the United hierarchy will act. We all expected a transitional season, but 7th in the table is an absolute failure.
Speaking of managers who may be up against it, Billy Davies is allegedly facing a battle to hang on to the Nottingham Forest hot seat after a poor run of results and an FA charge, which has brought a touchline ban, subject to appeal. It gives me no pleasure as a fan of his and of the club to see his position brought under threat by an increasing band of supporters who have had enough of his antics and percieved lack of tactical nouse. In all fairness, find me another team in the Sky Bet Championship who wouldn't struggle to maintain a good run of results with almost their entire starting XI out with not insignificant injuries. The Billy Out Brigade will point to the fact that the club is in no better position now than a year ago, when they ultimately missed out on a play-off place on the final day, but he needs to be given the chance to see out the season. If Davies isn't the manager, who will be? Last time he left, he was followed by Steve McClaren, Steve Cotterill, Sean O'Driscoll and Alex McLeish, a glorious period in the club's history it wasn't. On Saturday Forest travel to the iPro Stadium to face local rivals Derby County. Needless to say, the Reds fans aren't all that confident, illustrated by their struggle to sell out their ticket allocation for the match. Following the reverse fixture at the City Ground in September in which Forest won 1-0, Derby sacked Nigel Clough. I am just hoping that the roles aren't reversed on Saturday afternoon.
Monday, 24 February 2014
England have it easy. Too easy.
England were placed in Group E in Euro 2016 qualifying. But is the competition too easy with the extended format?
Sunday saw the draw for the European Championship qualifiers, yet any excitement about England's near-certain progression into the finals was offset by an overwhelming feeling of anti-climax. Switzerland, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania and San Marino stand in the Three Lions' way in Group E of the competition. Rumours that the E stands for Easy were neither confirmed nor denied by the FA.
UEFA's decision to expand the tournament to 24 teams - an increase from 16 last time out - means that for England and the other teams in Pot 1 of the seeding, qualification should be a foregone conclusion. Under the current six-pot format, it was straightforward enough for us to qualify anyway without making it even easier. People may have their opinions on the the heavy weather England made of reaching the World Cup, but don't forget we did so without losing a game. With an additional eight places up for grabs for Euro 2016, second place, or even third in the group, will be enough to reach France. But can you really see England not winning the group with their proverbial hands tied behind their backs?
The lack of significant format change has rendered the whole qualification process almost meaningless. No wonder the FA are worried that they may struggle to fill Wembley Stadium for the home games this time around. Who is going to get excited by another visit of San Marino? During the World Cup campaign they were an embarrassment, frankly. Being a bad side is one thing, but at times they barely even tried to take the ball forward. It's a waste of time that we all have to play and beat them twice more.
From UEFA's point of view, it will be good for the game and for the likes of Scotland and Wales, for whom qualification is now a far more realistic proposition. But I speak for many England supporters in raising concern that 24 teams in the finals is too many. It's quantity over quality. Some of England's matches are difficult enough as it is for some people to get excited about, but knowing that we should win and will qualify before we have even started makes it a really tough sell. At least our previous campaigns have been a touch more exciting; there have been crucial, or even 'must-win' games along the way. This campaign will be so easy there's almost no point.
Sunday saw the draw for the European Championship qualifiers, yet any excitement about England's near-certain progression into the finals was offset by an overwhelming feeling of anti-climax. Switzerland, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania and San Marino stand in the Three Lions' way in Group E of the competition. Rumours that the E stands for Easy were neither confirmed nor denied by the FA.
UEFA's decision to expand the tournament to 24 teams - an increase from 16 last time out - means that for England and the other teams in Pot 1 of the seeding, qualification should be a foregone conclusion. Under the current six-pot format, it was straightforward enough for us to qualify anyway without making it even easier. People may have their opinions on the the heavy weather England made of reaching the World Cup, but don't forget we did so without losing a game. With an additional eight places up for grabs for Euro 2016, second place, or even third in the group, will be enough to reach France. But can you really see England not winning the group with their proverbial hands tied behind their backs?
The lack of significant format change has rendered the whole qualification process almost meaningless. No wonder the FA are worried that they may struggle to fill Wembley Stadium for the home games this time around. Who is going to get excited by another visit of San Marino? During the World Cup campaign they were an embarrassment, frankly. Being a bad side is one thing, but at times they barely even tried to take the ball forward. It's a waste of time that we all have to play and beat them twice more.
From UEFA's point of view, it will be good for the game and for the likes of Scotland and Wales, for whom qualification is now a far more realistic proposition. But I speak for many England supporters in raising concern that 24 teams in the finals is too many. It's quantity over quality. Some of England's matches are difficult enough as it is for some people to get excited about, but knowing that we should win and will qualify before we have even started makes it a really tough sell. At least our previous campaigns have been a touch more exciting; there have been crucial, or even 'must-win' games along the way. This campaign will be so easy there's almost no point.
Monday, 27 January 2014
TWIF 2.04: Mata signs, Januzaj dines, FA Cup round five.
This Week In Football Manchester United made the biggest move of the January window, as another Old Trafford star went out for dinner.
United start rebuilding, but they need more than Juan player.
Manchester United may be out of the title race in the Barclays Premier League, but the signing of Juan Mata from Chelsea has reminded the world that they aren't quite finished yet. It may have come too late in terms of their title defence, but the Spaniard's arrival may be the catalyst for a push up the table and into the top four. He alone won't win games for David Moyes, and there is no doubt that United are still four or five players short of a championship-winning squad, but this signing can definitely set the wheels in motion, whether in what is left of this January window, or in the summer. I don't buy Arsene Wenger's argument that Chelsea are trying to sabotage Arsenal and the other title contenders by selling Mata to a team who still have to play them all except Chelsea for a second time. After all, he has been quite happy to let the likes of Ashley Cole and Robin van Persie go in the past to rivals. Short memory as well as short sight, Arsene?
Januzaj's girl cries fowl over Nando's date.
Adnan Januzaj was in the news on Monday when it was revealed that he took a girl to Nando's on a date. No different from a lot of other 18-year-olds I would have thought, except Januzaj has probably got a bit more money than them. Not that money should matter. Call me old-fashioned, but the size of your wallet shouldn't be important. Melissa McKenzie, of Liverpool, obviously saw pound signs in her eyes when a Manchester United footballer came calling, but when she wasn't taken to the poshest restaurants and hotel, felt like she missed her chance to get into the VIP's circle. Shame on you darling, for trying to sleep your way into the papers, and as for a Scouser selling her story to The Sun, surely she knows what her city thinks of that particular publication.
Top four draw opens Cup up.
The current top four in the Premier League were drawn together in the 5th round of the FA Cup with Budweiser in Sunday's draw; Manchester City will welcome Chelsea to the Etihad Stadium, and Liverpool will travel to the Emirates to face Arsenal. From a neutral point of view, it's a shame that two of them will go out so early, but then again last year it did the competition, and particularly Wigan Athletic, no harm that a so-called lesser club's path to the final was made easier by the draw. It could be great news too for Wigan's former boss Roberto Martinez's current club Everton, who if they beat Swansea City in the 5th round, may suddenly think it could be their chance.
Tweet me with you opinions @adamgray50
United start rebuilding, but they need more than Juan player.
Manchester United may be out of the title race in the Barclays Premier League, but the signing of Juan Mata from Chelsea has reminded the world that they aren't quite finished yet. It may have come too late in terms of their title defence, but the Spaniard's arrival may be the catalyst for a push up the table and into the top four. He alone won't win games for David Moyes, and there is no doubt that United are still four or five players short of a championship-winning squad, but this signing can definitely set the wheels in motion, whether in what is left of this January window, or in the summer. I don't buy Arsene Wenger's argument that Chelsea are trying to sabotage Arsenal and the other title contenders by selling Mata to a team who still have to play them all except Chelsea for a second time. After all, he has been quite happy to let the likes of Ashley Cole and Robin van Persie go in the past to rivals. Short memory as well as short sight, Arsene?
Januzaj's girl cries fowl over Nando's date.
Adnan Januzaj was in the news on Monday when it was revealed that he took a girl to Nando's on a date. No different from a lot of other 18-year-olds I would have thought, except Januzaj has probably got a bit more money than them. Not that money should matter. Call me old-fashioned, but the size of your wallet shouldn't be important. Melissa McKenzie, of Liverpool, obviously saw pound signs in her eyes when a Manchester United footballer came calling, but when she wasn't taken to the poshest restaurants and hotel, felt like she missed her chance to get into the VIP's circle. Shame on you darling, for trying to sleep your way into the papers, and as for a Scouser selling her story to The Sun, surely she knows what her city thinks of that particular publication.
Top four draw opens Cup up.
The current top four in the Premier League were drawn together in the 5th round of the FA Cup with Budweiser in Sunday's draw; Manchester City will welcome Chelsea to the Etihad Stadium, and Liverpool will travel to the Emirates to face Arsenal. From a neutral point of view, it's a shame that two of them will go out so early, but then again last year it did the competition, and particularly Wigan Athletic, no harm that a so-called lesser club's path to the final was made easier by the draw. It could be great news too for Wigan's former boss Roberto Martinez's current club Everton, who if they beat Swansea City in the 5th round, may suddenly think it could be their chance.
Tweet me with you opinions @adamgray50
Thursday, 5 December 2013
Behind The Goal's Mock World Cup Draw
The draw for the 2014 World Cup takes place on Friday, but before then, many fans have speculated on their nations' fates. Some have even done mock draws, so I have done my own for a bit of fun.
Of course, the real thing will feature the great and the good of world football, and possibly a glamorous assistant or two; mine featured none of that, and certainly none of the drama, but who cares? I would have replicated it more realistically than I did, but Kinder Surprise eggs and big glass bowls are expensive these days. Instead, folded up pieces of paper in a cereal bowl did the job.
The first job was to draw the European team to enter Pot 2. That turned out to be Bosnia. Following the emptying of Pot 1, Bosnia were then paired with Argentina after the 'Pot X' draw. Personally, I'm surprised so many people are confused by this twist. Yes, the team moving probably should have been France as the lowest ranked Pot 4 team, but hopefully they'll get drawn out anyway.
England ended up in what looks alarmingly like the group of death, Group E. Hopefully the real thing will bring us better luck, but if we get a similar group on Friday, bring it on!
So here is the completely unnecessary, unscientific, but just-for-fun BTG World Cup draw.
Group A:
Brazil, Ivory Coast, Costa Rica, Greece
Group B:
Germany, Algeria, Honduras, Italy
Group C:
Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Portugal
Group D:
Spain, Ecuador, Australia, Croatia
Group E:
Uruguay, Cameroon, USA, England
Group F:
Colombia, Nigeria, Mexico, Russia
Group G:
Switzerland, Chile, South Korea, France
Group H:
Belgium, Ghana, Japan, Netherlands
Of course, the real thing will feature the great and the good of world football, and possibly a glamorous assistant or two; mine featured none of that, and certainly none of the drama, but who cares? I would have replicated it more realistically than I did, but Kinder Surprise eggs and big glass bowls are expensive these days. Instead, folded up pieces of paper in a cereal bowl did the job.
The first job was to draw the European team to enter Pot 2. That turned out to be Bosnia. Following the emptying of Pot 1, Bosnia were then paired with Argentina after the 'Pot X' draw. Personally, I'm surprised so many people are confused by this twist. Yes, the team moving probably should have been France as the lowest ranked Pot 4 team, but hopefully they'll get drawn out anyway.
England ended up in what looks alarmingly like the group of death, Group E. Hopefully the real thing will bring us better luck, but if we get a similar group on Friday, bring it on!
So here is the completely unnecessary, unscientific, but just-for-fun BTG World Cup draw.
Group A:
Brazil, Ivory Coast, Costa Rica, Greece
Group B:
Germany, Algeria, Honduras, Italy
Group C:
Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Portugal
Group D:
Spain, Ecuador, Australia, Croatia
Group E:
Uruguay, Cameroon, USA, England
Group F:
Colombia, Nigeria, Mexico, Russia
Group G:
Switzerland, Chile, South Korea, France
Group H:
Belgium, Ghana, Japan, Netherlands
Wednesday, 20 November 2013
People's Republic of Zlatan: 23 players not going to the World Cup
When the draw was made for the European play-offs in World Cup qualification, the world was left to rue the fact that either Cristiano Ronaldo or Zlatan Ibrahimovic, two of the finest players in the world today, would not be going to Brazil next summer. As it turned out, it was the Portuguese who were celebrating, thanks to Ronaldo's hat trick on Tuesday night, and Sweden to wonder what might have been. It is the second successive World Cup finals that Ibrahimovic will miss. It got me thinking of some of the other players who will also watch the greatest show on Earth on television, and here I have compiled a 23-man squad capable of taking on the best in Brazil.
For the record, I have only selected players from nations that haven't qualified. I have not considered players that have retired from International football, irrespective of whether their team reached the finals (although I am happy to be corrected on any mistakes). Is it too late for this squad to form their own country?!
Goalkeepers:
Petr Cech (Chelsea and Czech Republic)
Samir Handanovic (Inter and Slovenia)
Wojciech Szczesny (Arsenal and Poland)
Defenders:
Neven Subotic (Borussia Dortmund and Serbia)
Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea and Serbia)
Lukasz Piszczek (Borussia Dortmund and Poland)
Martin Skrtel (Liverpool and Slovakia)
Daniel Agger (Liverpool and Denmark)
Vlad Chiriches (Tottenham Hotspur and Romania)
David Alaba (Bayern Munich and Austria)
Midfielders:
Gareth Bale (Real Madrid and Wales)
Jakub Blaszczykowski (Borussia Dortmund and Poland)
Arda Turan (Atletico Madrid and Turkey)
Gylfi Sigurdsson (Tottenham Hotspur and Iceland)
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Borussia Dortmund and Armenia)
Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal and Wales)
Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur and Denmark)
Andriy Yarmolenko (Dinamo Kiev and Ukraine)
Forwards:
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG and Sweden)
Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund and Poland)
Oscar Cardozo (Benfica and Paraguay)
Marek Hamsik (Napoli and Slovakia)
Pierre- Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund and Gabon)
Let me know who you would select for your squad, or which of these 23 would make your starting 11. Tweet me @adamgray50 or leave a comment.
For the record, I have only selected players from nations that haven't qualified. I have not considered players that have retired from International football, irrespective of whether their team reached the finals (although I am happy to be corrected on any mistakes). Is it too late for this squad to form their own country?!
Goalkeepers:
Petr Cech (Chelsea and Czech Republic)
Samir Handanovic (Inter and Slovenia)
Wojciech Szczesny (Arsenal and Poland)
Defenders:
Neven Subotic (Borussia Dortmund and Serbia)
Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea and Serbia)
Lukasz Piszczek (Borussia Dortmund and Poland)
Martin Skrtel (Liverpool and Slovakia)
Daniel Agger (Liverpool and Denmark)
Vlad Chiriches (Tottenham Hotspur and Romania)
David Alaba (Bayern Munich and Austria)
Midfielders:
Gareth Bale (Real Madrid and Wales)
Jakub Blaszczykowski (Borussia Dortmund and Poland)
Arda Turan (Atletico Madrid and Turkey)
Gylfi Sigurdsson (Tottenham Hotspur and Iceland)
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Borussia Dortmund and Armenia)
Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal and Wales)
Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur and Denmark)
Andriy Yarmolenko (Dinamo Kiev and Ukraine)
Forwards:
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG and Sweden)
Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund and Poland)
Oscar Cardozo (Benfica and Paraguay)
Marek Hamsik (Napoli and Slovakia)
Pierre- Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund and Gabon)
Let me know who you would select for your squad, or which of these 23 would make your starting 11. Tweet me @adamgray50 or leave a comment.
Friday, 8 November 2013
TWIF 2.03: Plenty to shout about in north London
This Week In Football takes a look at how north London is coping with new expectation.
Are Arsenal the real deal?
Sunday will be a fantastic day for armchair fans of the Barclays Premier League, with Sky Sports showing three games back-to-back. Consider it your reward for sitting through the inevitable bore draw between Norwich and West Ham on Saturday Night Football. Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle begins the Super Sunday hat trick, followed by Manchester City's trip to Sunderland. But the big one is at Old Trafford, as Manchester United host leaders Arsenal in a must-win game for the home team. Defeat for David Moyes' side is not an option. They would fall 11 points behind the Gunners, and surely out of the title race. For Arsenal, it is the third game of what has been called a season-defining week. Many times before, we have seen previous Arsenal teams fail these sort of tests; the big boys would show them up for being the flat track bullies they perhaps were. But right now they are two-thirds of the way to proving that they could be here to stay, following wins at home to Liverpool last Saturday night, and best of all, their victory at Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League which proved how resillient they have become defensively. Despite their excellent start, there are many that are yet to be convinced about their credentials both at home and abroad, yet a win on Sunday would surely get everyone believing that their long trophy drought could end.
Tottenham could be, just be patient.
Across north London, Tottenham are continuing to make slow and steady progress. Thursday night's 2-1 win over Sheriff Tiraspol ensured their place in the Europa League round of 32, they are in the Capital One Cup quarter-finals, and are in the top four in the Premier League with the top flight's second best defensive record. Reason for optimism you would think, yet Andre Villas-Boas can't seem to win over the fans who think his team plays dull football. For me it doesn't matter. A 1-0 win is worth as much as any other, and don't forget that Spurs are still a work in progress when you think of how many new signings are still gelling together. The supporters who are frustrated at the lack of goals should remember that they are still picking up wins, and will only get better once the likes of Roberto Soldado, Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela begin to hit form. Villas-Boas must believe that to win you have to concede fewer goals than the other team, not score more! All he should be criticised for this week is his decision not to substitute Hugo Lloris following his head injury at Everton. It was irresponsible to say the least, and he was lucky that Lloris had a relatively quiet end to the game.
Are Arsenal the real deal?
Sunday will be a fantastic day for armchair fans of the Barclays Premier League, with Sky Sports showing three games back-to-back. Consider it your reward for sitting through the inevitable bore draw between Norwich and West Ham on Saturday Night Football. Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle begins the Super Sunday hat trick, followed by Manchester City's trip to Sunderland. But the big one is at Old Trafford, as Manchester United host leaders Arsenal in a must-win game for the home team. Defeat for David Moyes' side is not an option. They would fall 11 points behind the Gunners, and surely out of the title race. For Arsenal, it is the third game of what has been called a season-defining week. Many times before, we have seen previous Arsenal teams fail these sort of tests; the big boys would show them up for being the flat track bullies they perhaps were. But right now they are two-thirds of the way to proving that they could be here to stay, following wins at home to Liverpool last Saturday night, and best of all, their victory at Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League which proved how resillient they have become defensively. Despite their excellent start, there are many that are yet to be convinced about their credentials both at home and abroad, yet a win on Sunday would surely get everyone believing that their long trophy drought could end.
Tottenham could be, just be patient.
Across north London, Tottenham are continuing to make slow and steady progress. Thursday night's 2-1 win over Sheriff Tiraspol ensured their place in the Europa League round of 32, they are in the Capital One Cup quarter-finals, and are in the top four in the Premier League with the top flight's second best defensive record. Reason for optimism you would think, yet Andre Villas-Boas can't seem to win over the fans who think his team plays dull football. For me it doesn't matter. A 1-0 win is worth as much as any other, and don't forget that Spurs are still a work in progress when you think of how many new signings are still gelling together. The supporters who are frustrated at the lack of goals should remember that they are still picking up wins, and will only get better once the likes of Roberto Soldado, Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela begin to hit form. Villas-Boas must believe that to win you have to concede fewer goals than the other team, not score more! All he should be criticised for this week is his decision not to substitute Hugo Lloris following his head injury at Everton. It was irresponsible to say the least, and he was lucky that Lloris had a relatively quiet end to the game.
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