Weekend Football Focus

Bolton v Charlton
3pm Saturday, Reebok Stadium
Away ticket info: £23 (£9-£16 concs). Tel: 020 8333 4010
Last season: 1 (Djorkaeff) 2 (Bart-Williams, Euell)
Referee: Alan Wiley (Burntwood)
Facts: No surprise that Paolo Di Canio has ruled himself out of tomorrow's trip to Bolton - he last appeared there for Sheffield Wednesday in March 1998. Bolton have not scored a second-half goal since the 2-2 draw against Arsenal in April
Stand out bet: Score draw: 7-2 (Bet 365)
Bolton have somehow managed to hang on to their Premiership status for the past couple of seasons but, if their complete capitulation at buoyant Portsmouth was any indication in midweek, this could be a season too far for Sam Allardyce and his boys. Charlton, meanwhile, have come out of the blocks reasonably swiftly and, with Paolo Di Canio and Carlton Cole at the club, certainly now possess the variety with which to tackle most challenging situations. Charlton midfielder Scott Parker is still attracting admiring glances from some big clubs but, with the transfer window about to slam shut, it looks as though he will be staying firmly back home at The Valley.
Verdict: SAD SAM

Chelsea v Blackburn
3pm Saturday, Stamford Bridge
Tickets: £29-£46 (£15-£23 concs). Tel: 020 7386 7799
Last season: 1 (Hasselbaink) 2 (Yorke, Dunn)
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
Facts: Blackburn, who haven't lost at Stamford Bridge since 1988, have won their last three away games in London - the last two were 4-0 victories at Fulham and Spurs. Frank Lampard has gone 12 Chelsea games without a goal
Stand out bet: Three goals or more in the game: 4-5 (Bet 365)
It's probably a good thing the transfer shutters are about to come down on Chelsea otherwise, given time, Roman the Rich would have carried on spending. Now it's up to Claudio Ranieri to make it all fit together, though he could be forgiven for wondering where to start. His squad doesn't so much resemble one jigsaw as half a dozen of the blessed things. Ranieri must also keep all his players happy, which could be difficult - although the pay cheque at the end of the month might help. Damien Duff's £17million move from Blackburn has also helped provide Graeme Souness with the wherewithal to freshen up his squad.
Verdict: IT ALL FITS FOR CLAUDIO

Manchester City v Arsenal
4.05pm Sunday, City of Manchester Stadium - live on Sky Sports 1
Away tickets info: £27 (£12 concs). Tickets can only be purchased in person at the Arsenal Box Office in Avenell Road, Highbury
Last season: 1 (Anelka) 5 (Bergkamp, Pires, Henry, Campbell, Vieira)
Referee: Graham Poll (Tring)
Facts: With seven points from three games, Manchester City have made their best start to a Premiership season. David Seaman finished on the winning side when he last played against Arsenal, for Queens Park Rangers, in March 1990. Ray Wilkins and Roy Wegerle were on target as Rangers won 2-0 at Loftus Road
Stand out bet: Match bet - Henry to outscore Anelka: 9-4 (Bet 365)
Some observers had questioned whether Arsenal, who had a quiet summer in the market place compared to their rivals Chelsea and Manchester United, were going to be quite as influential this season, but the early portents suggest that Arsene Wenger's aristocrats are still going to be there or thereabouts. Arsenal's movement in the midweek win over a well-organised Aston Villa outfit took everyone's breath away, although the spat between Robert Pires and Villa's Olof Mellberg was a bit of a negative in view of the Gunners' recent disciplinary problems. Pires, to be honest, has been known to go to ground a little easily on occasions and the big Swede was obviously in no mood to give him the benefit of the doubt at Highbury.
Verdict: ARSENAL JUST AS GOOD AS EVER

Tottenham v Fulham
3pm Saturday, White Hart Lane
Tickets: Home: £25-£37 (£13-£15 concs). Tel: 0870 420 5000. Away: £25-£30 (£13-£15 concs). Tel: 0870 442 1234
Last season: 1 (Sheringham) 1 (King og).
Referee: Jeff Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)
Facts: Fulham, who have not won at White Hart Lane since 1948, lost just three of their 10 London derbies last season - including two defeats to Arsenal. Spurs have picked up 11 bookings in their three Premiership games this season
Stand out bet: Double result - Spurs (half-time), Spurs (full-time): 7-4 (Skybet, William Hill)
It's amazing what a couple of results will do. It was all gloom and doom after that opening-day defeat by Birmingham, but a few points and some decent displays later have got some Spurs fans talking of Europe. Glenn Hoddle will be more pragmatic at this early stage of the season but his team showed some welcome resilience against Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday night and will now look to crank up through the gears at home to Fulham tomorrow. Meanwhile, the away side's young manager Chris Coleman will perhaps be looking to do some late business now that Steve Marlet has returned to France. At least he can take heart from the useful performances by his Japanese star Junichi Inamoto, who scored in Fulham's opening-day victory over Middlesbrough.

Verdict: SPURS STILL RISING

Nationwide Division 1

Ipswich v West Ham
3pm Saturday, Portman Road
Away ticket info: Sold out
Referee: Andy Hall (West Midlands)
Facts: Of the team that started in West Ham's 3-2 win at Portman Road in October 2001, only Christian Dailly, Michael Carrick and Don Hutchison remain at the club. Ipswich are still looking for their first win since becoming the last team to beat Portsmouth, in April
Stand out bet: Jermain Defoe to score the first goal: 9-2 (Bet 365)
Hammers fans looking for relief from their recent troubles would be advised to avoid Portman Road as they may get a vision of the future. A scary one at that. Burdened by huge debts and forced to sell their best players, Ipswich failed to cope with relegation from the Premiership two seasons ago and have made a disappointing start to this campaign. Sound familiar? The visitors can inflict further misery as Saint Trevor of Barking adds to his reputation as the caretaking king.
Verdict: HAMMERS BROOK NO ARGUMENT

Millwall v Crystal Palace
3pm Saturday, The Den
Tickets: Home: £18-£25 (£9-£15 concs). Tel: 020 7231 9999 Away: £20 (£10 concs). Tel: 08712 0000 71
Last season: 3 (Harris, McCammon, Cahill) 2 (Freedman, Roberts og)
Referee: Howard Webb (South Yorkshire)
Facts: Millwall, unbeaten in four league games, have made their best start since 1995-96 when they won four and drew one of their first five matches. Lions fans will not be hoping for a repeat of that season, when after topping the table they ended up being relegated
Stand out bet: Millwall to win 2-0: 9-1 (Coral)
As a former chiropodist, Neil Warnock should know how to avoid irritating itches, but the Sheffield United manager still persists in getting under people's skin. Palace boss Steve Kember will not be the last man to be angered by Warnock's wind-up tactics, but could have surely done better than labelling him a prat after Tuesday's 2-1 defeat. The touchline exchanges should be more cordial tomorrow but there'll be no love lost in the stands as Millwall defend their unbeaten record against the First Division leaders.
Verdict: PALACE STAY ON TOP

Watford v Gillingham
3pm Saturday, Vicarage Road
Tickets: £15-£20 (£10 concs). Tel: 01923 496 010
Last season: 0-1 (Shaw).
Referee: Mark Warren (West Midlands)
Facts: Watford still await their first league goal of the season and even gifted Sunderland full-back Stephen Wright his first league goal last weekend. Gillingham haven't lost at Vicarage Road since 1978, winning on their last two visits
Stand out bet: Gillingham to win: 5-2 (William Hill, Blue Square)
No neutrals, and possibly not even the players' wives, will head to Vicarage Road tomorrow for a meeting of the division's two dullest teams. Watford are pointless and goalless after their three league games, while the visitors have managed a single goal in four league matches. Definitely one to watch on the Internet.
Verdict: BORE DRAW