Arsenal v Porto UEFA Champions League Sky Sports
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas says he wanted to play through the pain barrier against Porto, but took the advice of doctors in a bid to return to action at the weekend. Arsene Wenger has every confidence in Nicklas Bendtner – and hopes the Denmark striker can help fire Arsenal into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with victory over Porto. Boss Wenger hopes that there are no more horror tackles such as that on Aaron Ramsey;
Arsenal should win this game tonight;
Portsmouth v Birmingham
Alex McLeish fears for the future of British managers as the number of foreign investors in the Barclays Premier League continues to grow. The Birmingham boss, whose side visit Portsmouth tonight, has echoed Harry Redknapp’s view that owners from abroad are more likely to bring in managers from outside these shores.
That said he faces a foreign manager in Grant and if recent form is an indicator Pompey could win this one and are favourites to do so;
Sunderland v Bolton
A dire game in prospect from two poor sides. Sunderland should surely to god win this one;
SPECIALS FOR TONIGHT;
WILLIAM HILL CHAMPIONS / EUROPA LEAGUE SPECIALS
**WALCOTT WORLD CUP ODDS CUT
THEO WALCOTT has been cut from 4/6 to 4/7 to make the England World Cup squad with William Hill after his goal-scoring display at the weekend. Hills make him 5/4 to miss out and stay at home. ‘Theo seems to be hitting form at just the right time and a good Champions League showing might cement his place in the England squad’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.
Walcott versus Porto…..
Score at anytime: 11/5
Receive a yellow card: 5/1
Receive a red card: 33/1
Get an assist: 9/4
(bet settled on UEFA stats)
(Extra time counts, Penalty shoot out do not count)
Play 90 minutes if starting the match: 5/6
**Highest scoring English team in European midweek matches:
Arsenal EVS
Man Utd 6/4
Liverpool 9/2
Fulham 9/1
Extra time counts. Penalty shoot outs do not count.
**Fastest scoring English team in European midweek matches:
Arsenal 6/4
Man Utd 15/8
Liverpool 5/2
Fulham 7/1
**How many goals will Nicklas Bendtner score v Porto:
Does not score 4/7
1 goal 6/4
2 goals 9/1
3 goals or more 20/1
Must start the game or bets void. Extra time counts. Penalty shoot outs do not count.
GUNNERS TO GO THROUGH….8/13 YES; 6/5 NO.
90 min BETTING – 1/2 Arsenal; 13/5 draw; Porto 9/2.
HOW WILL IT BE DECIDED: 10/11 Arsenal in 90 minutes, Evens Porto in 90 minutes, 20/1 Arsenal in extra time, 33/1 Porto in extra time, 33/1 Arsenal on penalties, 40/1 Porto on penalties.
REAL MADRID TO GO THROUGH….8/15 YES; 11/8 NO.
HILLS…TO WIN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE….3/1 Barcelona; 9/2 Chelsea; 11/2 Man U; Real M; 9 Inter; 12 Arsenal; Bayern M; 16 Bordeaux; Sevilla; 28 Lyon; 40 AC; Porto; 66 Fiorentina; 150 CSKA- Stuttgart; 200 Olympiacos.
