Weekend Tips

Last week I had success by tipping two 8-1 bets. All teams to score in League 1 and the Rugby half/time-full/time double. Also Robin Van Persie for first scorer, although Arsenal had a much easier game then I was expecting. I was also unlucky with Brunston who came in fourth. Hopefully I have equal success this week.

Again this week many of the fixtures have been called off so there are only a selection of fixtures to look at. However similar to last week I expect plenty of goals due to the conditions.

Football:

O'Neill fine run set to continue

Wins: Blackburn, Fulham , Reading, Sheffield United and Celtic 15-1 (SkyBet)

Best Bets of the day: Martin O'Neill (right) to lead Sunderland to victory over Arsenal 12-5 (SkyBet) and Everton to beat Chelsea 12-5 (SkyBet)

Longshot of the day: Both teams to score in all League 1 and 2 fixtures 34-1 (SkyBet)

Horse Racing: 

Each way: Island Legend in the 1.40 at Lingfield 12-1 (SkyBet)

Rugby Union: Ireland to beat France 3-1 (SkyBet)

Weekend Tips

With many matches being called off this weekend it has left only a selection of fixtures to look at. 

Due to the poor conditions I would expect that there might be a few shocks today and so picking outright winners could be tough. However the conditions should aid the number of goals and I expect many this weekend.

Predict Birmingham good run to continue

Football:

Both teams to score:

Norwich vs. Bolton

Watford vs. Barnsley

Bristol City vs. Leeds

Cardiff vs. Blackpool

Best bet of the day: Both teams to score in all League One games today- 8-1 (SkyBet)

Long shot of the day: 3 draws- West Brom vs. Swansea, Stoke vs. Sunderland, Wigan vs. Everton

40-1 with SkyBet.

One straight bet : Chris Hughton (right) to maintain Birmingham form with win over Southampton 11/10 (SkyBet)

Worst bet of the day: Arsenal to beat Blackburn at 2/9 (SkyBet). Arsenal should win however this price in far to short for me and would not be going in my Accumulator as do not trust Arsenal to deliver and after Blackburn performances of late. Better bet is Van Persie to score first at 4-1 (Skybet)

Horse Racing:

Each-Way bet : Brunston 12-1 (SkyBet) in the 3.35 at Lingfield.

Rugby Union:

Half-time/full time double bet

France/France- 1/9

Scotland/ England 11/2

Nice 8-1 Double with SkyBet.

Arsenal's Woes Continue

Another trophyless season has now been confirmed for Arsenal. Sundays defeat to Bolton was the was final nail in the coffin. The slim hope that Arsenal had of challenging Manchester United for the title is gone. This is now the sixth season without a trophy and the Aresnal fans are more restless then ever. Arsene Wenger's (below right) stubbornness over his policy of not spending money is again damaging the team. 

For years now Arsenal have been lacking a title-winning spine to the team. A world class goalkeeper has been needed, why he did not sign Shay Given years ago no one will ever know. He has persisted with the likes of Almunia and Fabianski who will not win you leagues or cups. They are liabilities. This year Schenzy has had some very impressive performances and is me for is the best goalkeeper at the club but he is still error-prone.

Time for Wenger to spend

The centre of defence has been weak since the likes of Tony Adams retired. Thomas Vermaelen has been impressive however his injuries have affected Arsenal. Without him the defence is weak. Lorient Koscielny and Sebastian Squillaci are in their first seasons but have not impressed. Arsenal are noted as weak from set pieces. Teams such as Bolton and Stoke have always troubled Arsenal in recent years due to their physicality. Wenger always complains however his successful sides would not have had a problem. At the back he had Sol Campbell, Martin Keown and Adams. They were always very strong and gave the team real backbone. 

They also had the likes of Patrick Vieira and Ray Parlour to boss the midfield. These were hard players who could easily hold their own. Vieira is the one who they have missed very much. They have never replaced him. Diaby and Song are just not in the same league.

Players such as Ljungberg and Pires have not been replaced. These were great players at the height of their careers. Both were skilful players who the likes of Tomas Rosicky are no where near up to their standard. Andrey Arshavin and Samir Nasri have their moments and Theo Walcott is a shadow of the player he should be.

Another area where Aresne has seems to have changed tactic in up front. In the beginning he had Nicolas Anelka an unknown at the time that took the league by storm. When he was sold to Real Madrid he was deemed an almost impossible player to replace. The pace, power and clinical finish. However suddenly in comes another reasonably unknown called Thierry Henry. He proved better then Anelka and is one of the greatest Premier League forwards of all time. Another element to the success was that of the masterful Dennis Bergkamp. Now neither have been properly replaced. Robin Van Persie is a great player however his injuries have prevented him from maintaining his form for an entire season. Wenger seems to have gone against his electric frontman tactic which for me is an error. Nicklas Bendtner should not be at the club, the Barcelona game proved that. For me he has the player to fulfill the void and that is Walcott. Why has he never put Walcottt up the middle? He is wasted out wide. When I first saw Walcott, I saw him as a potential Henry for England. His performances for the U21, especially his two goals against Germany were world class. He only came on in the 77th minute. Where has this player gone?

His potential is not being fulfilled and he is rotting on the wing and at Arsenal. Walcott needs to leave Arsenal to both play every week and be put through the middle. He is now a shadow of that player he was and now seems is scared to shoot.

Arsenal have good players but not great. They lack leaders throughout the team. Until this is rectified no trophy will be coming Arsenal's way. The Carling Cup was a prime example of this. This was a defining moment in the season. Too many weak links and no winning mentality has cost them. Arsenal never grind out results like Chelsea or United do. Arsenal's football is fantastic but has no cutting edge. They try to play Barcelona style however don't have the Lionel Messi and David Villa at the end of it. I honestly believe Wenger's time is coming to an end. In the last few weeks he is losing the plot, the comments to Kenny Daglish after the Liverpool game proved that. Arsenal need a new approach; either a new man like Jose Mourinho who will maybe not give the style but will provide trophies or a Pep Guardiola to continue the style but add the end product. Alternatively Wenger needs to cull the weak links and failures and spend, which I cant see happening.

Ins-Golakeeper, centre half, dominating centre midfield like Yaya Toure and clinical forward.

Outs- Bendtner, Rosicky, Denilson, Almunia, and thats just for starts.

Arsenal Tough Task

Tonight Arsenal without Theo Walcott and huge doubts over both Robin Van Persie and Cesc Fabregas, who even if play will not be fit, face the might of Barcelona at the Nou Camp. Barcelona are one of if not the best team in the world at the moment. Despite Arsenals stunning comeback at the Emirates they have to expect an all out assault tonight from Barcelona. Scoring goals is never a problem for Barcelona and at the Nou Camp they are almost a cert to score. Arsenal will not hold out. 

Last season Mourinho's boring yet masterful game plan of defending and shutting the game out worked. However they did concede and that was with the incredibly rigid and tight organisational unit that was Inter Milan. 

Wenger must be fearful of what could happen

Arsenal are not the same, they do not have the players to do it. They are not strong enough. As a result Arsenal must score goals and with Barcelona missing Gerard Pique and Carlos Puyol they must fancy scoring. However I don't think they will as they lack the fire power. A not fully fit RVP and no Walcott means that a real genuine threat seem to be lacking. Having said that players such as Samir Nasri and Andrey Arshavin have the ability and will have to step up to the plate.

I just see Barcelona's midfield as too strong and can see Arsenal chasing shadows for much of the night. The forward line is also frighting and with the Arsenal defence not being dependable I can see many Barcelona chances. If Arsenal don't get going early they could easily find themselves 3/4 down by half time.

This will be a real mental and physical test for Arsenal. They will have to do more work off the ball then usual and shut men down early. If Arsenal go all out attack I do fear for them as that is clearly not the way to play. They don't have the players. To win this one Arsene Wenger (left) will have to go away from his perfect football idea and be prepared to win ugly. Although I have no faith that he will. He needs to forget those principals tonight as it is all about, as Charlie Sheen says, "Winning" the aggregate tie to progress. It is this mindset that separates Jose Mourinho from Wenger. Arsene ideas have won him nothing in recent years whereas Mourinho's cabinet is bursting.

 I am looking for a stirring performance from Arsenal and hope they go through, although my head tells me it is going to be a depressing night for Arsenal fans.