Midweek Outlook (01 Mar 2011)

Chelsea vs Manchester United

What an awful weekend for Arsenal. First having to lose the League Cup final, then to fall 4 points behind in the title chase as we romped to a 4-0 victory at Wigan.

Perhaps it was the first time this season, that we started to wonder if we had just ended the away-game jinx?

Well, all will be known this coming game as we travel to Stamford Bridge to claim our game in hand. A win in London would surely signal the FA to start tying the ribbons on the Premier League trophy in red, white and black? OK, let's not get carried away. We are stil in the month of March! *slaps self*

We are at the penultimate game before we start out run-in to the end of the season. Up ahead I forsee the following games to be tricky and that we should charter the waters with extreme caution.

1. Liverpool - 06 Mar 2011 (Anfield) After losing the West Ham 1-3 over the weekend, I seriously do not see them as a threat anymore. I'd probably be more worried about the away-game jinx that may still loom over our heads rather than them being real threats.
   
2. West Ham United - 02 Apr 2011 (Upton Park). Not that they are going to be formidable just because they beat Liverpool. Heck, any team can beat Liverpool these days. It's Upton Park that I fear as the shadow of the 1995 final game (where we ended up 1-1), that cost us the League title by a solitary point, is still fresh in my mind.
   
3. Arsenal - 01 May 2011 (Emirates Stadium). Possibly the game that will crown ManUtd as league champions if ManUtd can pull off a win here. Well, that is assuming that the Gunners have been able to keep pace up to then.
   
4. Chelsea - 07 May 2011 (Old Trafford) Ancelotti has already thrown in the towel earlier in February, I don't see how they would be able to muster up enough fire to want to win so badly. By May, I think everyone in Stamford Bridge is on holiday mood already.
   
5. Blackburn Rovers - 14 May 2011 (Ewood Park). Like Upton Park, this is our bogey ground. Hopefully by then, we would have enough points to spare and step into the pitch with less nervousness.

Now back to the game. I think Hernandez will have a place alongside with Rooney at the expense of Berbatov. I mean why change a winning formula?

The rest of the line up should be pretty straight forward and although Valencia has recovered, I still do not think he merits a place in the squad against a difficult team. The Bolton game after Liverpool on 16 Mar would be the earliest I foresee him making a return.
Bookies are initially giving ManUtd only a 0.25-ball handicap with a decimal odd of 2.025 to beat but shortly after the handicap was revised to 0.5-ball with a decimal odds of 1.80 to beat. From the looks of it, it seems that perhaps the inside tips are point towards at least a draw for ManUtd.

I agree with their outlook as I will be punting for a draw and ManUtd to go 5 point clear.

JayWalk's 2010/2011 Track Record to-date (28 Feb 2011) : P99-W52-L47

- Voxeros