Weekend football focus

Arsenal v Blackburn
2pm Sunday, Highbury - live pay-per-view game
Tickets: Sold out
Last season: 1 (Edu) 2 (Edu og, Yorke)
Referee: Andy D'Urso (Billericay)
Facts: Arsenal have conceded only two goals in the five games since Pascal Cygan's return to the starting line-up. Blackburn have lost just two of six recent visits to Highbury
Standout bet: No goalscorer: 12-1 (Bet365)
It doesn't seem that long ago that some of us in the media were suggesting it was all up with Arsenal, that another Champions League season was about to pass them by, that they were verging on a busted flush. How wrong we were. Suddenly, the Gunners have not only qualified for the next stage but they've topped their group. Not only that but their Premiership title challenge is right on course and Patrick Vieira is fit again. Large helpings of humble pie all round, please.
Verdict: WHAT CRISIS?

Chelsea v Bolton
3pm Saturday, Stamford Bridge
Tickets: Corporate packages only. Tel. 020 7385 7809
Last season: 1 (C Cole) 0.
Referee: Matt Messias (York)
Facts: Chelsea have gone 12 games without defeat and haven't lost at home to Bolton since 1975. Only Frederic Kanoute, Andy Cole and James Scowcroft have managed Premiership goals against Chelsea at the Bridge this season
Standout bet: Adrian Mutu to score the first goal: 4-1 (Ladbrokes)
There have been many times when I've felt like chucking my mobile phone into the nearest field but, unlike the ex-pat Turkish contingent in Germany on Tuesday night, I've managed to resist the temptation. Not to worry, though, because if Roman pulls all his roubles out in a hurry, John Terry and his team-mates can always resort to flogging a few second-hand phones and lighters down the Kings Road to raise extra funds. This is the sort of fixture that, in past seasons, the Blues could foul up but not this time.
Verdict: BLUES ANSWER CALL

Middlesbrough v Charlton
3pm Saturday, Riverside Stadium
Away ticket info: £22 (£14 concs). Tel. 020 8333 4010
Last season: 1 (Christie) 1 (Johansson)
Referee: Howard Webb (Rotherham)
Facts: Middlesbrough have not conceded a goal in six games, but the only goal credited to Steve McClaren's side in their last four was an own goal scored by Manchester City defender Sun Jihai
Standout bet: Charlton to keep a clean sheet: 12-5 (Bet365)
Timing is everything and Scott Parker couldn't have orchestrated his two goals better, with watching Sven suitably impressed. Unfortunately, the script went wrong after that with Southampton scoring late on to win 3-2. Charlton are up at the other end of England tomorrow, to meet a Middlesbrough side who have climbed steadily away from the panic positions in the table and who have become miserly in defence once more. Tomorrow looks another close encounter with one goal deciding things.
Verdict: CHARLTON BOUNCE BACK

Newcastle v Tottenham
3pm Saturday, St James' Park
Away ticket info: Sold out
Last season: 2 (Speed, Shearer) 1 (Dabizas og)
Referee: Alan Wiley (Burntwood)
Facts: Alan Shearer has hit 13 of Newcastle's 21 league goals. Keiron Dyer has not scored a Premiership goal at St James' Park since April 2002. Frederic Kanoute has now scored nine in 11 for Spurs
Standout bet: Newcastle to win to nil: 6-4 (Bet365)
Tottenham may have put five past Wolves last weekend but many Spurs fans remain unconvinced. The supporters feel that everything is in limbo, although they heard yesterday that David Pleat will remain in charge for the rest of the season. There is a faction which hoped Celtic's exit from the Champions League would mean Martin O'Neill would be tempted. There is no disputing O'Neill's passion or commitment to the cause. The agony he showed on the touchline against Lyon made me want to go and have a lie down in a darkened room.
Verdict: LOOKS TOUGH FOR TOTTENHAM

Leeds v Fulham
4.05pm Sunday, Elland Road - live on Sky Sports 1
Away ticket info: £26 (£17 concs). Tel. 0870 442 1234
Last season: 2 (Viduka 2) 0.
Referee: Neale Barry (Scunthorpe)
Facts: Fulham have lost only one of their last six away league games and have been defeated just once in eight matches against teams from the bottom half of the table. Leeds striker Mark Viduka has not scored in his last nine appearances, while Leeds haven't won in five Elland Road outings
Standout bet: Alan Smith to score the first goal: 8-1 (Ladbrokes)
Mark Viduka is one of those frustrating players who sometimes look like they're good enough to take on the world and on other occasions just look as though they couldn't give a toss. In modern day parlance he's a mood player, which really means that when he plays, he often puts the manager in a bad mood. Last Saturday, however, Viduka and the rest of the Leeds team really looked up for it. Whether it was because the opposition was Chelsea and they fancied a move to London or whether they want Eddie Gray to have the manager's job permanently, was open to question.
Verdict: FULHAM COULD STRUGGLE HERE

Nationwide Division 1

Crystal Palace v Nott'm Forest
3pm Saturday, Selhurst Park
Tickets: £19-£25 (£5-£15 concs). Tel: 08712 0000 71
Last season: 0-0.
Referee: Andy Hall (Birmingham)
Facts: Palace haven't won in six at home and 10-goal striker Dougie Freedman hasn't scored in seven. Forest's last league win was in October but they are unbeaten in two away
Standout bet: Forest to win 2-1: 10-1 (Stan James, Ladbrokes, BetDirect)
Crystal Palace Ladies face Colchester United Ladies after this game and are likely to provide more entertainment than the "main event". Both teams have more chance of winning the Lottery than a football match - Palace have won once in 11 attempts while Forest boast two victories in 18 - so a deadly dull draw is on the cards. Kit Symons has hardly been a resounding success in his seven-game reign, so perhaps chairman Simon Jordan would be better off doing what he secretly craves - putting himself in charge.
Verdict: BORE DRAW

Millwall v Ipswich
3pm Saturday, The Den
Tickets: £15-£25 (£5-£15 concs). Tel: 020 7231 9999
Last season: 1 (May) 1 (D Bent).
Referee: Iain Williamson (Berkshire)
Facts: Ipswich, who have won once in six visits to The Den, are unbeaten in six away matches. Millwall, who are unbeaten in four home fixtures, have gone five games without a win. Darren Bent has scored four in five for Ipswich
Standout bet: Millwall to win by one goal: 10-3 (Bet365)
Dennis Wise has always had friends in high places, but even the Millwall manager would have been surprised to see the Czech Republic's Deputy Interior Minister Miloslav Koudelny at The Den this week. Koudelny led a team of Czech politicians and policemen eager to examine Millwall's crowd-control measures, which in recent years have consisted of an iron curtain around the ground to prevent the hardcore hoolies getting in. Millwall's performances on the pitch have been less rigorous of late and they will need to improve to beat an Ipswich side unbeaten in five games.
Verdict: CZECH MATE FOR MILLWALL