Arsenal can beat Montpellier at the Emirates on Wednesday night.
Cazorla’s mobility and creativity will be very hard for the French visitors to handle.
Having scored five goals against 10 men on Saturday, Arsenal should be able to score two against Montpellier. Even a 1-0 win would set them up for Villa Park on Saturday.
Myself, I don\’t think Theo Walcott wants to leave and Wenger won\’t sell him in January because he needs his goals in the second half of the season.
Saturday\’s derby was over at 4-2 when sub Oxlade set up Walcott to make it 5-2 at the death. Theo deserved that goal, I thought.
We all expect Schalke to beat Olympiakos, so keep an eye on that score.
This morning we\’re being warned that the impatient oligarch might sack Di Matteo if he loses in Turin on Tuesday night.
Juventus are always a combative outfit and top of Serie A right now. Four points above Inter.
Key stat in Serie A : Juventus have only conceded 9 goals in 13 games. I call that consistency from a team of warriors.
Shakhtar and Chelsea have seven points, Juventus six.
Beating Juventus, the Italian champions, is a big ask when you\’re being you\’re being told to play attractive attacking football. And when your £50m centre forward is playing like a zombie.
Juve are a physical team, very organised and highly-motivated, eager to get back into the big time after years of disgrace.
Last time out they stuffed Danish new boys Nordsjaelland 4-0 and the man who scored the first goal was midfielder Marchisio, who got into the six-yard box to knock in a low cross, I seem to remember. Various players can score for Juventus, not just one or two.
RDM\’s eight core pros were Cech, Ivanovich, Lampard, Terry, Ramires, Lampard, Cole and Drogba.
Of those, only Cech started at West Brom, where Chelsea were beaten 2-1 by West Brom, who moved above Everton into fourth place. Oscar, Mata and Ramires came on as subs after Peter Odemwingie had made it 2-1 in the 50th minute.
In his first job as manager, Steve Clarke is doing really well so far. He’s tweaked Roy Hodgson\’s well-drilled team and anchorman Yacob is a key addition. West Brom are solid but have pace and flair in attack. A lot of their finishing is clinical and sporting director Dan Ashworth is one of the unsung heroes of the Premier League.
Man City hammered Aston Villa 5-0 to go top above Manchester United, who lost 1-0 at Norwich.
Sir Alex was without Rooney and he started Giggs, a mistake. Chicharito never got a pass all day. Norwich were swift and busy and when left back Garrido hit a beautiful first time cross to the near post. Pilkington scored with a perfect glancing header that even Peter Schmeichel wouldn\’t have saved.
United fly to Istanbul today and play Galatasaray on Tuesday night. Let\’s check out striker Yilmaz, who scored all the goals when Gala won 3-1 at Cluj on Matchday 4. Cluj and Gala both have four points.
United, with 12 points, are the only club to have won all four games in the Group Stage.
Porto and PSG have won three in Group A. Malaga have won three in Group C, while Bayern & Valencia have each won three in a weak Group F. Having lost 2-1 to Celtic, Barcelona have only won three in Group G.
Manchester City v Real Madrid is a big game on Wednesday but only because of the drama surrounding Roberto Mancini, and Jose Mourinho\’s desire to return to the Premier League.
Jose and Cristiano Ronaldo have fallen out of love with Madrid and want the whole world to know it.