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Wilkins relieved to have Drogba

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Chelsea assistant boss Ray Wilkins was pleased to take all three points from a dangerous Arsenal side and praised Didier Drogba for yet another outstanding performance (Chelsea 8/13 Premier League Outright).

The Blues had won their first five top-flight games before losing 1-0 to Manchester City last weekend, but they bounced back in style to beat Arsenal 2-0 at Stamford Bridge and pull four points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

Drogba scored the first goal just before the break before Alex’s powerful free-kick rounded things off in the 85th minute to continue Chelsea’s recent dominance over the Gunners.

The west Londoners took six points from Arsene Wenger’s men last term and their ability to beat their rivals near the top of the table went a long way to securing the Premier league title last season.

Arsenal have enjoyed a mixed start to the season but Wilkins feels they are a team to be respected in the battle for the 2010-11 title.

“Arsenal are one of the teams who scare me because they have the ability to take the ball and keep it,” he said. “I’m glad to get this out of the way and claim the three points.”

Drogba’s latest goal was his 13th in 13 matches against Wenger’s men, but Wilkins feels that his goal-scoring ability is just one part of the African’s all-round contribution to the team effort (Drogba 7/4 to be Premier League Top Scorer).

“Didier is a fantastic player, a world-class striker,” he added. “If you give him an opportunity he will score. Also he is the best forward I have ever seen for coming back and defending.”

A few pundits questioned Chelsea’s early-season position in the table as their first five victories were all against teams expected to finish in the bottom half of the table, and Wilkins admitted that the Blues’ players are taking nothing for granted after the wake-up call at Eastlands.

“We failed in our first test at Manchester City and the lads were distraught at that,” he added. “We put that right against Marseille and today we’ve put in a fantastic performance.

“Last year, I think we were 11 points clear and Manchester United clawed all that back. There’s a lot of football to play. We must remain consistent and keep winning games.”

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Eriksson unveiled at Leicester

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Sven-Goran Eriksson has been named as Leicester City’s new manager, the ex-England boss replacing Paulo Sousa (Leicester 66/1 to win Championship title).

Sousa was sacked on Friday with the Foxes languishing at the bottom of the Championship after nine games.

Eriksson, 62, has signed a two-year deal at the Walkers Stadium.

“I am very happy to be here. The club wants to be in the Premier League and I do as well. That is the clear target,” he said at a news conference.

Eriksson watched from the directors’ box at on Saturday as City beat Scunthorpe 3-1 on Saturday but had refused to talk to the media.

But on Sunday, at the press conference to announce his appointment, he said: “I think the ambition of the club is fantastic. If they did not have ambition then I would not be interested.”

Eriksson had been out of work since managing the Ivory Coast at this summer’s World Cup in South Africa, where they failed to reach the knock-out stages.

The Swede was director of football at Notts County for seven months, having previously managed Mexico between June 2008 and April 2009.

Leicester (14/1 to be promoted), who were recently taken over by a Thai consortium, reached the play-off semi-finals last season under Nigel Pearson.

But Pearson left to manage Hull, and when Sousa was sacked it left the club seeking their seventh manager since former Portsmouth owner Milan Mandaric took over in 2007.

On the back of taking Swansea to the brink of the Championship play-offs last season, former Portugal international Sousa was recruited by Mandaric.

But he oversaw a woeful start to the season, with only five points gathered from Leicester’s first nine league matches.

The manager’s fate was sealed by a 6-1 league defeat by Pompey, followed by a 4-3 loss at Norwich.

Eriksson said: “Leicester is a club with a rich heritage and is a proud sporting city.

“I hope that together we can look forward to adding to that history with the accomplishments I plan to make.”

Eriksson’s first game will be against the Thailand national team next Saturday before his first competitive match on  October 16 when Pearson brings Hull City to the Walkers Stadium.

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Eriksson unveiled at Leicester

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Sven-Goran Eriksson has been named as Leicester City’s new manager, the ex-England boss replacing Paulo Sousa (Leicester 66/1 to win Championship title).

Sousa was sacked on Friday with the Foxes languishing at the bottom of the Championship after nine games.

Eriksson, 62, has signed a two-year deal at the Walkers Stadium.

“I am very happy to be here. The club wants to be in the Premier League and I do as well. That is the clear target,” he said at a news conference.

Eriksson watched from the directors’ box at on Saturday as City beat Scunthorpe 3-1 on Saturday but had refused to talk to the media.

But on Sunday, at the press conference to announce his appointment, he said: “I think the ambition of the club is fantastic. If they did not have ambition then I would not be interested.”

Eriksson had been out of work since managing the Ivory Coast at this summer’s World Cup in South Africa, where they failed to reach the knock-out stages.

The Swede was director of football at Notts County for seven months, having previously managed Mexico between June 2008 and April 2009.

Leicester (14/1 to be promoted), who were recently taken over by a Thai consortium, reached the play-off semi-finals last season under Nigel Pearson.

But Pearson left to manage Hull, and when Sousa was sacked it left the club seeking their seventh manager since former Portsmouth owner Milan Mandaric took over in 2007.

On the back of taking Swansea to the brink of the Championship play-offs last season, former Portugal international Sousa was recruited by Mandaric.

But he oversaw a woeful start to the season, with only five points gathered from Leicester’s first nine league matches.

The manager’s fate was sealed by a 6-1 league defeat by Pompey, followed by a 4-3 loss at Norwich.

Eriksson said: “Leicester is a club with a rich heritage and is a proud sporting city.

“I hope that together we can look forward to adding to that history with the accomplishments I plan to make.”

Eriksson’s first game will be against the Thailand national team next Saturday before his first competitive match on  October 16 when Pearson brings Hull City to the Walkers Stadium.

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Capello hopeful on Rooney fitness

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England (9/1 to win the 2012 European Championships) boss Fabio Capello is hoping that Wayne Rooney will be available for selection for his country’s Euro 2012 qualifying match against Montenegro.

The Italian manager believes that off the field revelations about the Manchester United striker’s private life would not affect his decision to select the player.

Rooney’s form for United (11/2 to win the FA Cup) has dipped since his personal life became the centre of media attention as he has only managed to score one goal for the Old Trafford side so far this season.

The former Everton striker picked up an ankle injury in the Red Devils’ Premier League clash with Bolton and will be hoping that he will be fit enough to play for England on October 12.

Capello believes that just playing matches is the best thing that Rooney can do to help him deal with life off the pitch.

He said: “I think at this moment, when you play (if you have private problems) it is better because you are focused on the game and training.

“The games Rooney played in the new position, he played very well. I was very happy. I hope he will be fit for the next game.

“I can speak about the performances for the national team, not about the performances for United,? he added.

Rooney did feature in England’s last European qualifier as they beat Switzerland 3-1, scoring the first goal for the Three Lions.

Capello has stated that he does not think players having problems with money and fame is not a new phenomenon.

He said: Not only now, but before there were the same problems every year – in Italy, Spain and the world.

“It is young people, young men with a lot of money. A lot of money is sometimes one problem, a positive problem. Sometimes.

“Does that make modern management impossible? No. It is private problems. It depends on the people they stay around, the friends.”

Rooney will be hoping to put his off-field problems behind him as he works his way back to fitness.

The 24-year-old should be fit enough to face Montenegro before he goes back to playing for United who will face West Brom in the Premier League.

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City show title credentials – Kidd

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Manchester City (15/2 to win the Premier League) assistant manager Brian Kidd believes his side proved their title credentials after they beat Newcastle United 2-1 at Eastlands on Saturday.

The Blues took the lead thanks to a penalty from Carlos Tevez who smashed the ball down the centre of the goal.

The Argentina striker was fouled for the penalty however there was some debate whether the tackle was inside the box as the forward ran in on goal.

City’s lead did not last for long as they conceded a goal by Jonas Gutierrez just six minutes after the penalty from Tevez.

The Blues had to work hard in a tightly fought contest and they got their rewards thanks to a great strike from substitute Adam Johnson who cut in from the right wing to fire a shot past Tim Krul.

Kidd was pleased by his side’s effort to win the three points which puts them second place in the Premier League.

He said: “I think that sums us up, if you want to win in the Premier League you have to dig results out.

“We knew we weren’t really at it in the first half. But that was the pleasing thing, because the players responded.

“What is pleasing is that the players have shown that there is substance in the result. You know you’ve got a chance when you’ve got that in the squad,” he added.

City had a slow start to the Premier League campaign after a defeat to Sunderland and draws with Tottenham Hotspur and Blackburn.

However the club’s star-studded side look like they are starting to gel in recent games with wins against defending Premier League champions Chelsea and Wigan Athletic.

Kidd believes that City boss Roberto Mancini deserves credit for making the change that helped his side break the deadlock against the Magpies.

He said: “Tactically he changed it two or three times.

“Credit must go to the boss – he went for it. I think his substitutions and tactics proved that.

“We’ve gone second in the league now. Over 38 games you get games like that, that are not for the purists,” he added.

City (13/2 to win the FA Cup) will to continue their good form in the Premier League as they next face Blackpool on October 17 which will be no easy game after the Seasiders pulled off a shock 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.

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Drogba ready to blow away Gunners

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Chelsea striker Didier Drogba says he can’t wait to get out on the pitch to face Arsenal on Sunday as the Ivorian international looks to keep up his incredible scoring record against the Gunners (19/5 to beat Chelsea).

The 32-year-old is expected to return to the Blues starting line-up when Arsenal arrive at Stamford Bridge having sat out the 2-0 victory over Marseille in mid week.

Drogba has been at his imperious best this season as he helped Carlo Ancelotti’s men get off to a flying start, winning their first five Premier League matches before they came unstuck against Manchester City last weekend.

Chelsea looked off colour at Eastlands last Saturday but were somewhere near their best in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Drogba and his team mates will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing Arsenal having won the last four meetings against their London rivals.

Drogba has been the scourge of Arsenal since he joined Chelsea in 2004, scoring 12 goals in 10 starts and two substitute appearances against Arsene Wenger’s men.

Drogba (5/1 to score two or more against Arsenal) got both goals in last season’s 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge, while also getting a brace at the Emirates Stadium in the 3-0 win.

Last season’s golden boot winner says he is expecting a tough encounter on Sunday given Arsenal’s start to the season, with the Gunners having won four of their first six.

“I can say that I am a bit lucky because I scored a few goals against them,’ he acknowledged.

“Every game is different. I remember some games when we played well against Arsenal, but this one will be a different one, I don’t know how.

“It is a strange start to the season for me, I scored goals and made some assists but I am not really 100 percent yet with the surgery I had in pre-season so it is a bit difficult for me to catch up but I am doing my best and I hope that maybe in one or two weeks I will be better.”

The Gunners (7/1 Premier League outright) are expected to be missing a number of star names for the clash with Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott, Cesc Fabregas, Nicklas Bendtner, Thomas Vermaelen and Manuel Almunia all unavailable.

Chelsea have their own injury problems, although not as bad as Arsenal, with Jose Bosingwa, Yossi Benayoun and Salomon Kalou all out.

Despite the two club’s injury problems fans can still expect Ancelotti and Wenger to name to starting elevens packed with internationals as they look to maintain their push for the Premier League title.

The game is likely to prove to be a good acid test of the pair’s title credentials this season, although Drogba refuses to say a defeat to either side will badly dent their hopes.

“I won’t say [it is] critical because the season is long. Last year Arsenal were 10 points behind us and they came back and they were fighting for the league with three games to go, so it’s going to be a big game, an important game, but not one that will say Chelsea or Arsenal will be champions,” Drogba added.

“I think we can beat anybody but we can also lose against anybody, that’s football and you want to win when you come to the pitch but you never know if you’re going to win or not.”

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Gerrard could keep England armband

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Liverpool and England captain Steven GerrardFabio Capello says he has not yet decided whether to restore Rio Ferdinand to the England captaincy for England’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro on October 12 (England 9/1 to win Euro 2012).

The Manchester United player is not certain to be fit for the game, and it is his fitness that is at the centre of Capello’s struggle.

In Ferdinand’s enforced absence, Capello handed the captain’s armband to Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard, and now he faces a difficult decision over who should lead the team.

But the Italian stressed the importance of players being fit “for a lot of games” – which could count against Ferdinand.

Ferdinand has already lost the Manchester United captaincy to Nemanja Vidic as a series of setbacks have curtailed his appearances for the Red Devils.

The United defender was named as John Terry’s replacement earlier this year but suffered a knee problem which forced his withdrawal from the World Cup.

Gerrard has impressed in the flying start to the Euro 2012 qualifying group, and looks to be the player in pole position for the captain’s job as England attempt to maintain their 100 per cent start to the qualifying campaign (England 1/7 to win Euro 2012 qualifying group G).

When asked whether Ferdinand would be captain if available, Capello told the Press Association: “I will decide after seeing which players are fit.

“I haven’t decided. I can’t speak about who will be captain. I hope all the players will be fit and then I will announce it.

“Why not Ferdinand? No, no no. Wait. I can’t speak about if, if, if…”

Capello is not concerned about Ferdinand having been axed as United captain, saying that it would not affect his decision about the England position.

The Italian said: “I think Sir Alex decided on one player that played more games (Vidic) and be sure he is always fit. I think so.

“It is important always that the players have to be fit for a lot of games.”

Gerrard was Capello’s first England captain for the friendly with Switzerland in February 2008.

Capello said: “Gerrard is a really good captain. He is captain of Liverpool, and he always plays like a leader on the pitch.”

Ferdinand has played just six of the past 22 England games due to injury.

Capello will now keep both players guessing and is only likely to make a decision after the players meet up at Watford on Thursday.

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‘Minimum’ top four for Mancini

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Roberto Mancini claims his Manchester City side need to beat teams like Newcastle, who they face on Sunday, to ensure a Premier League top-four finish this season (City 1/3 to finish in Top 4).

The Italian manager saw his side beat Chelsea at Eastlands last weekend to end the west London side’s 100 per cent start to the campaign. City have also drawn with Arsenal and beaten Liverpool so far this season, but it has been the results against the so-called lesser teams that have hampered them.

Many fans would see this as a repeat to last season’s frustrations, they beat Chelsea home and away and also recorded victories over Arsenal but ultimately it was a failure to put away smaller teams that saw them get pipped to the Champions League qualification spot by Spurs (10/1 to finish in the top four this season).

City have experienced defeat at Sunderland and also a home draw with Blackburn in the opening months of the season, however they still sit fourth in the table and only four points off leaders Chelsea.

The club host Newcastle (15/2 to win the game, draw 10/3) to Eastlands on Sunday lunch-time and Mancini will have to do without Pabla Zabaleta, who injured him hamstring in the Europa League game with Juventus earlier in the week, and it is expected the manager will rest Jerome Boateng.

City (2/5 to win the game) are unbeaten on home turf in their five games in all competition so far this season and Mancini has said he wants them to extend that record as a solid home form is essential to match his minimum requirement of a top four finish.

The manager has told the Manchester Evening News however he knows that Newcastle could pose some problems for his side if they try to turn up and ’shut up shop’.

“We must win against teams such as Newcastle. We must not think that we can win only against Chelsea and Liverpool. If we want to go up the table, we must win also against Newcastle,” said Mancini.

“When a team such as Newcastle or Sunderland face City, they will play more defensively than Chelsea or Liverpool.

“This is the problem. Some teams will put a lot of players behind the ball, and it can be difficult to find a solution to this.”

While Mancini sees the top four as his ambition for the season, City defender Dedryk Boyata is looking even higher and has said the target is “to win the title” (City 9/1 to win Premier League).

The teenage defender claims the side need to “stay focused” if they are to reach that level and look to match the standards that has brought them “great results” against the Premier League big guns.

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Wenger targets ‘big’ victories

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Arsenal manager Arsene WengerArsene Wenger believes it is paramount for Arsenal to beat the teams challenging for the title as he prepares his side to face Chelsea on Sunday (Arsenal 19/5 to beat Chelsea).

The Gunners are desperate for some sort of silverware this term, having not picked up a trophy since doing the double in the 2004-05 season, and they face their toughest test of the campaign to date with a trip to Stamford Bridge (Arsenal 7/1 to win FA Cup).

The north Londoners have enjoyed a good start to the season but are already four points behind league-leading Chelsea after a shock 3-2 defeat to West Brom last weekend.

The Blues are tipped to win the Premier League this season, with Manchester United as their nearest challengers, but Wenger maintains that his young side can have a say in proceedings.

Arsenal failed to take a point off both Chelsea and United last season and the French tactician believes that the only way to win the Premier League is by beating the biggest teams around.

“The only team I have seen win the Premier League without winning the big games is Manchester United,” he said. “It is vitally important to win the big games.”

And Wenger is glad that he will take his side to Stamford Bridge with Carlo Ancelotti’s men having been brought down to earth with defeat to Manchester City last weekend.

“It is easier to play Chelsea on Sunday when they have lost two games than two weeks ago, that is for sure,” he added. “Every defeat makes you just a fraction smaller.”

The Emirates club began the season with a creditable draw against Liverpool before three straight victories against Blackpool, Blackburn and Bolton.

Sunderland managed to hold Wenger’s men to a draw at the Stadium of Light but it was the defeat to the Baggies last time out that sent shockwaves through the Premier League as the west Midlanders were 3-0 up at one stage.

The Gunners will have to do without captain Cesc Fabregas, centre-half Thomas Vermaelen, keeper Manuel Almunia and forwards Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie for the daunting clash in west London.

Didier Drogba is enjoying another superb season for Chelsea (Drogba 7/2 to be first goalscorer) and he will be hoping to keep up his good form on Sunday but Wenger does not believes that his men should concentrate all their efforts on stopping the African star, as Chelsea have so many options going forward.

“I feel we should not make an obsession of one player of Chelsea because they have a few players who can score goals against us,” he added. “What is important is that we have the ball, that we dominate the game and that we are efficient defensively.”

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Toure demands Toon success

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Manchester City star Kolo ToureKolo Toure has stressed how important it is for Manchester City to follow up their win over Chelsea last weekend with another victory on Sunday against Newcastle United (City 2/5, Newcastle 15/2, draw 10/3).

Roberto Mancini’s side inflicted a first defeat of the season on the champions last Saturday to add credence to claims they can break into the top four of the Premier League.

The win follows up an earlier success over Liverpool at Eastlands too but Toure says it is vital they not only pick up three points against the big sides but also against the so-called lesser teams – like Newcastle.

The defender said: “We just need to be consistent in our results. The Newcastle game is really important because we need to show we have improved.

“Every time we play a big team we play well but when we play a team we are supposed to beat we struggle a bit. We hope to change that on Sunday.”

City, who could move a point behind the leaders if results go their way this weekend, were held by Juventus in the Europa League on Thursday but there are real signs the expensively-assembled squad at Eastlands is beginning to gel and that they are becoming a real force to be reckoned with (City to beat Newcastle 4-0 – 16/1).

Vincent Kompany is again set to partner the former Arsenal man at centre-half against the Magpies and Toure has been very impressed with the Belgium international – whose preferred position is really in midfield.

“Vincent is a really intelligent player,” added the Ivory Coast ace. “He was strong last season and is doing really well in this campaign.

“It is not easy playing centre-half when you have been in midfield. It takes time to get used to it but he is doing really well at the back, which is good for the team.”

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