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Midweek Footballby Ben, last updated 2007-03-12 22:00:04
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Champions Sweating on Return of Terry
Plenty has been written about the importance of John Terry to Chelsea football club, but the abysmal defending shown by the current Premiership champions in Sunday's FA Cup clash with Spurs spoke volumes. Terry watched from the sidelines as his side conceded three soft first-half goals, and came perilously close to ending their long unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge. Defensive midfielder, Claude Makele, was also absent as Mourinho declared his intentions to avoid a replay. That ploy failed, and there should be a return to a more familiar formation at the City of Manchester Stadium on Wednesday night, as Chelsea look to close the gap on Man Utd back to six points, with Terry marshalling the defence.
Chelsea have won four straight league games without conceding, and come up against a Man City side in freefall. The Citizens tamely exited the FA Cup on Sunday - their fifth straight defeat - and are just one place above the drop-zone. They have also failed to score in the previous four meetings with Chelsea, losing the last three, so it would come as something as a shock should they turn over the Londoners. www.pinnaclesports.com rate Chelsea favourites 2.01 (-1), with Man City 1.917 (+1).
Arsenal Hamstrung By Injuries & Suspensions
Arsenal's season is going downhill fast. The Gunners have lost out on three Cup competitions in quick succession, as well as the services of captain, Thierry Henry, for the remainder of the season through injury, who joins Tomas Rosicky and Robin Van Persie on the treatment table. The brawl at the end of the Carling Cup defeat also robs them of the suspended Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure for the trip to Villa Park on Wednesday night, where the Londoners will look to pick themselves up. The only target Arsene Wenger has left for the season, is to ensure the club's qualification next year's Champions League, which could be endangered if their league form drops off.
Arsenal however have an excellent record playing away to Aston Villa, unbeaten in the last seven encounters. Villa's season has taken a trajectory similar to their opponents, with early promise fizzling out, taking the club below mid-table. The Villans have at least had 11 days rest, so unlike Arsenal should be fresh, and eager to build on the three consecutive clean sheets at Villa Park. www.pinnaclesports.com give Villa a half-ball start on their Asian Handicap 1.833 (+0.5), with Arsenal favourites 2.10 (-0.5).
Premiership sides Well Placed for UEFA Cup Progress
Both Spurs and Newcastle came out on the right side of high-scoring UEFA Cup first-leg round one knock-out ties. Newcastle eased past Dutch outfit, AZ Alkmaar, 4-2, scoring all their goals in a pulsating first half, and suggesting they should have no fears for the return leg. AZ will have no alternative but to play an open attacking game, searching for two goals, which could leave them open to a sucker punch from the speedy Newcastle duo of Obafemi Martins and Kieron Dyer. The Geordies are unbeaten so far in the competition and www.pinnaclesports.com rate them 1.971 (+0.5) with Alkmaar 1.952 (-0.5).
It would be no surprise to discover a spate of recent heart-attacks in North London. Spurs have scored 20 goals in their last six games, with their last three real roller-coasters producing a 4-3 win at West Ham, 3-2 victory at Braga (in the first leg of this competition) and a 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge in Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final. The comfort of home advantage should help the Lilywhites, with a one goal advantage and three crucial away goals giving them plenty of breathing space. Braga have only won three times away from home in the Portuguese Liga this term, and have found goals hard to come by, scoring only nine times in twelve games, which does not augur well with the side needing to score at least twice. www.pinnaclesports.com price Spurs 2.00 (-1 & -1.5) with Braga 1.926 (+1 & +1.5).
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