Arsenal v Spurs Saturday 20th November 2010 Premiership preview

Premier League preview: Arsenal versus Tottenham H Emirates 12.45pm 20/11/2010

This is a London derby not to miss, as ex-gooner captain William Gallas travels to the Emirates stadium with his new club Tottenham Hotspur.

The clash will remind football fans of Sol Campbell making his first trip back to White Hart Lane as an Arsenal player, where the abuse and missiles were relentless as the Spurs fans demonstrated the fierce rivalry between these two North London clubs.

To spice up the atmosphere with Gallas even further, French forward Samir Nasri has stated that he will blank Gallas pre-match and not shake his hand. There are rumours that suggest that Nasri has abone to pick with Gallas since the release of his autobiography had references to Euro 2008 and Nasri's supposed negative influence.

The big question for the travelling team will be whether missed forward Jermaine Defoe starts, who is back after an ankle injury. Harry Redknapp has dearly missed Defoe, who yesterday reinforced this fact that missing the England striker for 6-7 games will always mean that you run the risk of dropping points - which has been the case for the lily whites. It is more than likely that Crouch will start and Redknapp will use Defoe as an impact player. Dutch hit Van der Vaart will play a supporting striker role, giving the Spurs team a real added dimension.

Tottenham's staccato league form however is mainly down to their UEFA Champions League debut. Through injury and midweek fatigue, Redknapp has been frustrated by mediocre peformances and forced into regular squad rotation leading to missed opportunities in the form of points.

After recent losses at home against West Brom and Newcastle, Wenger will be keen to show Chelsea and Manchester United that they are a serious Premier League contender in this 2010/2011 campaign - their record in these North London derbies is good when playing at home - most tip the Gunners for a win. Popping into second regularly has given the Arsenal faithful hope - but 3 points today would put them momentarily into 1st - giving their players added belief that this could well be the season to get some silverware.

Jack Wilshere is expected to start, recovering from a back problem which kept him out of the midweek friendly against France.

Predicted first 11 line-ups

Gunners: Fabianski (GK), Sagna, Squillaci, Djourou, Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Fabregas, Nasri, Walcott, Chamakh.

Spurs: Gomes (GK), Hutton, Gallas, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Modric, Palacios, Jenas, Bale, Van der Vaart, Crouch.

Should a a great Premier League derby!

Chris Houghton gets the sack?!?!

A formal statement came out from St James Park tonight regarding Chris Houghton's future at Newcastle United. Newcastle confirmed that Chris Houghton will remain in place as manager of the magpies until the end of the season and that his contract would be re-negotiated at this point.

But then...

Ashley sacks Houghton ?!?! This has to be the worst board decision in the history of the premier league...see my latest article

Chris Houghton - you will be rewarded by a good club with a clever chairman, hopefully with a club that will help send your old club down!

Carling Cup 4th round Newcastle 0 Arsenal 4 27th October 2010

A glamour tie for the Geordies this evening as Arsenal made the trek to St James Park in the Carling Cup fourth round.

Wenger selected a decent team - one that you could see in the Premier League which I found refreshing. Why not - it's a day at Wembley for the fans...it potentially silverware that the Arsenal trophy cabinet could do with!

Arsenal assumed their normal fresh, one touch passing system in the first half as the home team managed to maintain rigidity in midfield and defence. Arsenal piled on quite a bit of pressure prior to the half time break and managed to put a corner in resulting in a goalkeeping blunder from rookie Tim Krul, who spilt a catch into his own net. Cruel, it could be said in the 45th minute but this seemed a fair reflection in the 1st half.

In the second half, Arsenal started brightly and managed to double their lead when Theo Walcott found himself in lots of space behind the back four with Nickolas Bendtner scampering out of the way from an offside position. Bendtner collided with one of the Newcastle central defenders and Walcott coolly slotted home past Krul for his 5th goal of the season. Fabio - get this lad back in our England 1st eleven!

Newcastle then brought on Andy Carroll and Enrique and this resulted in a decent spell of pressure lasting 10-15 minutes for the home side. They plugged away but Arsenal defended very well.

Fabregas came on towards the conclusion of this tie for run out but this proved completely academic. Bendtner too advantage of a Guthrie error and went on to smash a third in - great finish...worth a look on the highlights or Youtube. In the 85th minute, Ryan Taylor hit a great free kick stretching Szczesny to his absolute limit.

Walcott grabbed a second goal to make it 0-4 - flattering given the mid game spell that Newcastle United had but the Gunners took their chances well, with great on the break style away tactics.

Champions League Fixtures 20th October 2010: Inter vs Spurs

Champions League October 20th: Inter Milan vs Tottenham

The last time I was at the San Siro in a Spurs top it was during the dark days of Juande Ramos' reign and I was heckled by some fellow British tourists for languishing in the relegation zone. This evening it is a very different story as we take on Inter equal on points in the Champions League table. All the Lilywhites who have made the journey to this great stadium can wear their strips with pride as we are riding high in the Premiership and have shown great spirit and form in recent fixtures, particularly in our outing to Craven Cottage last weekend when we came from behind to claim all three points.

It is a shame that van der Vaart is suspended as he has proved to be a great signing for us and unfortunately Ledley King is injured and joins Defoe, Dawson, O'Hara and Woodgate in the sickbay. Hopefully Gallas and Kaboul will be available however. Additionally to give the game some extra spice both Crouchy and former Inter player Keano are both available to start and both have some personal demons to fight in the shape of demonstrating to Benitez how he hunder-rated them during their spells under him at Liverpool, which should play in Spurs' favour. Inter are also missing one of their strongest players - striker Diego Milito - but unfortunately for the away fans Samual Eto'o is likely to start and having already put 16 in the back of the net this season, he is at the top of his form and is to be feared.

Spurs fans are quick to point out that they were victorious in their last away encounter with a Benitez-managed team (2:1 last season at Anfield) but Inter fans would be just as eager to argue that Inter are just too strong at home for Spurs to pose a serious threat. Their last home defeat in this competition came in November 2008.

Contrary to popular belief Spurs have played in the San Siro before though, although we've never played against Inter. We managed a draw against AC Milan in the 1972 UEFA Cup semi-final, which got us through to the final against Wolves due to having won the home leg with 2 Steve Perryman goals. Carlo Cudicini's father actually played in goal for A.C!

Personally just as in 1972 I'd settle for an away draw and then we'll thrash them at White Hart fortress.

It's an amazing stadium, it's an amazing fixture ... COYS ... COYS

Champions League 19th October round up

Chelsea are unstoppable and showed flexed their champions league muscle in Moscow tonight with a 2 nil win. Anelka bagged his 50th Chelsea goal and Carlo Ancelotti's side were not put off by the artificial surface. John Terry also got a chance to put the past in it's place as the last time they visited Moscow they were beaten by Manchster United in the final. Chelsea now top their group with 9 points.

Arsenal beat Shaktar Donetsk 5-1 at the Emirates stadium. Wenger will have been delighted that they could go in at half time 2-0 up with Song and Nasri on the goal sheet. Fabregas, Welshere and Chamakh all scored for the Gunners in the 2nd half with ex-Arsenal player Da Silva getting the consolation goal.

Champions League Werder Bremen 2 Tottenham 2

No wonder Harry Redknapp has been strongly linked with the England post which is seemingly vacant from 2012 after the European Championships. Redknapp has clearly delivered at White Hart Lane. Displaying cunning fox-like ways in the transfer market (the latest example Van der Vaart seems to be settling in very quickly) and great player development skills (Lennon and Huddlestone as shining examples) Harry has made Spurs a dominant English side that previously had been labelled a poisoned challice by many pundits in the game. With a superb campaign in the 2009/2010 season where Spurs finished fourth, they didn't wobble against the Young Boys beating them 6-3 on aggregate to delight the Spurs faithful.

So the UEFA Champions League virgins Tottenham Hotspur started explosively, scoring twice in the first 20 minutes.

Left wing wizard Gareth Bale got to the goal line to cross nicely into England striker Peter Crouch who went to slot the ball in displaying goalscorer positioning. However, Werder Bremen Pasanen put the ball in for an unfortunate own goal.

It was Crouchy who scored the second for the lily whites, looping a header home from an Ekotto cross. Great midfield movement and passing from the North London travellers, they really did stretch Werder Bremen. Brilliant header from Peter Crouch, using his size and heading skill. Dominating possession for the whole of the first half, Tottenham Hotspur could have had half a dozen goals, peppering the Werder Bremen goal with shots on target. Gareth Bale was outsanding as was Peter Crouch and new dutch signing Van der Vaart.

The home team managed to steal one against the run of play, with Almeida scoring in the 43rd minute after some sloppy Spurs defending. A great opportunity for Werder Bremen was created from this moment on.

In the second half, the home team started very brightly, with Cudicini making a great save tipping a superb long range shot over the bar. Marin then scored an absolutely exquisite goal, hitting a drive from outside the box.

Marin and Almeida continuted to pile on pressure to the hear of the Tottenham Hotspur defence. This seemed to impact on the visitor's approach to the match early on in the second half, Spurs looked tentative and reluctant to pile forward in the aggressive manner that brought them their 2 goal lead in the 1st half.

Werder Bremen were good for a draw - exciting times for Tottenham Hotspur as they claim their first UEFA Champions League point.

COYS ;-)

Manchester Utd 3 Newcastle Utd 0 Premier League result

Great to see Newcastle Utd back in the big time, travelling away to Old Trafford last night with plenty of topless fat Geordies enjoying the Lancashire August evening sunshine. Chris Houghton had his troops well organised for this glamourous tie against Sir Alex Ferguson's 11, packing the midfield and defence successfully until the 32nd minute where Valencia managed to regain possession and feed Berbatov to slot home the opener for Manchester United in his 3rd season at the Red Devils.

As Houghton's men pushed on, space became apparent for Man Utd and Newscastle started to look weary. You could see a second coming and it did. Nani cleverly feed in to Evra and the cross from the left back was put into the Newcastle net by Fletcher. A deserved 2-0 at the break for Fergie's boys.

In the second half, Manchester United pushed on with bossing the promoted Newcastle. The magpies worked hard to try and build possession in the final 3rd but the front line couldn't get anything to stick. Man Utd started to move the ball around with ease, Scholes particularly showing that he on his day is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.

Scholes then combined with Giggs to score a superb goal, a well controlled volley going across the Newcastle keeper. A regulation victory for the ex champions and great to see the Man Utd veterans still keeping in great physical condition.