The Gunners have the opportunity to close the gap to just a single point if they can beat Sunderland at the Emirates after United were beaten by Chelsea in the week (Arsenal 2/5, draw 16/5, Sunderland 13/2).

United do not play until Sunday, when they face a tough trip to north-west rivals Liverpool, so this is the perfect chance for Arsene Wenger’s side to put pressure on at the top of the table.

Sunderland will be no pushovers, though, as Steve Bruce has turned the Black Cats into a good footballing team that can be very hard to beat.

Bruce’s side have already picked up an away win over Chelsea and draws at Anfield and White Hart Lane this season, but the Gunners should still prove to be too strong for them this weekend.

Saturday also throws up a West Midlands derby between Birmingham and West Brom.

This is a massive game for these two rivals in their bids for Premier League survival, as both sides sit just above the relegation zone.

With Birmingham boosted by their Carling Cup win over Arsenal, they will be full of confidence going into this game and could just grab a victory in this relegation six-pointer (Birmingham 11/8, draw 21/10, West Brom 2/1).

Owen Coyle has done a great job with Bolton this year and, after suffering a slight blip in form, the Trotters have started to put in some decent performances.

Boosted by Chelsea loan-ace Daniel Sturridge ,they will be a challenge for any side and it’s Aston Villa’s turn on Saturday (Bolton 6/5, draw 12/5, Villa 2/1).

Last time out in the league, Villa finally looked like the team everyone expected to be before the start of the season, as they took apart Blackburn Rovers 4-1 at Villa Park last weekend. Gerard Houllier’s players have started to settle under the Frenchman’s leadership and they may just bag all three points at the Reebok.

Rovers, who looked so poor against Villa, travel to the capital to take on a Fulham side who are starting to edge their way to safety in the Premier League.

Now four points clear of the relegation zone, Mark Hughes’ side have only lost one of their last eight outings in the top flight and should pick another valuable three points at Craven Cottage (Fulham 4/6, draw 13/5, Rovers 4/1).

Newcastle United host Everton at St James’ Park, in what should be a close contest as both club’s push for a place in the top half of the table (Newcastle 6/4, draw 23/10, Everton 13/8).

Jermaine Beckford is starting to show the Premier League what he is all about after he bagged a brace against Sunderland last weekend.

Newcastle will be without Joey Barton through injury but Stephen Ireland is set to come into the side to make his debut for the Magpies.

This game is too close to call and both teams would probably settle with a point each from this one.

West Ham United welcome Stoke City to Upton Park with the Hammers looking to see off the Potters.

Avram Grant’s men are just a point away from safety and will be desperate for back-to-back victories after they impressively took Liverpool apart 3-1 last Sunday.

Stoke are six points off the relegation zone and they would love to keep the chasing back at bay with another three points. With the Potters being tough to beat they will probably play out a draw against a resurgent West Ham (West Ham 11/10, draw 23/10, Stoke 23/10).

In Saturday’s late kick-off, bottom-of-the-table Wigan take on top-four chasing Manchester City at Eastlands (City 4/11, draw 7/2, Wigan 7/1).

Italian striker Maro Balotelli has found a rich vein of form and will be looking to get on the scoresheet against the Latics.

It’s hard to see anything but a home win in this game, which City should cruise against a struggling Wigan outfit.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

The Manchester outfit made it 14 goals in three matches as Emmanuel Adebayor and Carlos Tevez both struck braces to push their goal difference above that of rivals Tottenham – which could prove crucial come May.

A relatively dull first half sprung to life with four goals in five minutes following a quick fire double for Tevez, a reply from Birmingham’s Cameron Jerome and a neat finish from Adebayor.

Tevez’s first came from a 38th minute spot kick after Birmingham’s Scott Dann was adjudged to have felled Adebayor in the area.

The Argentinean’s second, just two minutes later, resulted from a corner that Nedum Onuoha initially thought he had scored from, however, replays showed that Tevez got the final touch to make it 28 goals for the season.

Birmingham pulled one back in the 42nd minute through a Cameron Jerome header after James McFadden had sent in a teasing cross.

But just one minute later Adebayor restored the two goal cushion by latching onto a delivery from winger Craig Bellamy.

Alex McLeish’s men came out for the second half with a renewed impetus but failed to break down the Man City defence.

And with the game entering the closing stages, Birmingham’s failure to find the net was punished by a Nedum Onuoha blast that made the score 4-1.

The Midlands team were merely playing for pride when Adebayor sprung the offside trap to secure a 5-1 victory and with it, snatch away any of the pride that Alex McLeish’s side had hoped to maintain.

Related posts:

1. Manchester City v Liverpool- The Race For Fourth Premiership Spot Hots Up
2. Goodison Trip Tests Mancini’s Manchester City
3. Bimingham City – The Premiership’s Surprise Team

View full post on PartyBets Blog