Weekend Football Focus

Arsenal v Tottenham
3pm Saturday, Highbury
Tickets: Sold out
Last season: 3 (Henry, Ljungberg, Wiltord) 0.
Referee: Mark Halsey (Bolton)
Facts: Spurs have not won a London Premiership derby for well over a year and haven't won at Highbury for 10 years. Kanu, who came on as a late substitute against Dynamo Kiev, hasn't scored a Premiership goal for 13 months
Standout bet: Arsenal to keep a clean sheet: 5-6 (Bet365)
You know the feeling when you've been wanting a Jimmy Riddle for the last 50 miles on the motorway and you finally see that sign for the next services? Or when you're running late and the train actually turns up on time? It's called sheer relief and that is just the way Arsene Wenger looked when Ashley Cole popped up in the Dynamo Kiev penalty box to score that late winner. On paper, Arsenal should have too much for their old rivals at Highbury tomorrow, especially after David Pleat lost his unbeaten record in such a dismal way against Bolton last weekend. The form guide, however, has little relevance when these two collide.
Verdict: WINNER WENGER

Charlton v Fulham
3pm Saturday, The Valley
Tickets: Charlton fans: £25 (£15-£20 concs). Single and restricted view only seats remaining for home fans. Tel. 020 8333 4010. Fulham supporters: £25 (£15-£20 concs). Tel. 0870 442 1234
Last season: 0-1 (Saha).
Referee: Andy D'Urso (Billericay)
Facts: Luis Boa Morte's red card against Liverpool last Sunday was his fourth in a Fulham shirt. Jason Euell has gone seven games without a goal
Standout bet: Steed Malbranque to score the first goal: 12-1 (Bet365)
Charlton fans won't want to hear this, but it's difficult to visualise Scott Parker still being at The Valley this time next year. Parker may have been a Thunderbirds extra a few years ago, but he has become a big player in the Premiership and the major players will have been suitably impressed with his performance in the marvellous victory over Birmingham on Monday. Confidence will obviously be high after that but tomorrow's derby will be no cakewalk. Fulham were desperately unlucky not to earn at least a point at home to Liverpool last Sunday and would have done if the otherwise excellent Zat Knight hadn't stuck out a telescopic leg late on and brought down Florent Sinema-Pongolle.
Verdict: CHARLTON ROLL ON

Chelsea v Newcastle
4.05pm Sunday, Stamford Bridge - live on Sky Sports 1
Tickets: Corporate tickets only remaining. Tel. 0870 300 2322
Last season: 3 (Gudjohnsen 2, Zola) 0.
Referee: Paul Durkin (Portland)
Facts: Chelsea are unbeaten at home in the Premiership since losing to Blackburn in February
Standout bet: Frank Lampard to score first goal: 12-1 (Stan James, Bet365)
Adrian Mutu showed amazing restraint when the malevolent Sinisa Mihajlovic spat full in his face in Rome on Tuesday night because there are plenty of other players, both past and present, who would have ripped his head off for that despicable act. Mutu was an example to everyone, but I can't agree with his post-match comment that, "it's all in the game". The main thing is that Claudio Ranieri's admirable team kept their discipline superbly and made sure Lazio finished the game with what they deserved - zilch. If the Blues can maintain this form, I can't see Newcastle stopping them.
Verdict: BLUE FLAG STILL FLYING HIGH

Nationwide Division 1

West Ham v West Brom
3pm Saturday, Upton Park
Tickets: £27-£39 (£15-£20 concs). Tickets available to personal callers only at Upton Park or the West Ham stores at Lakeside and Bluewater
Last season: 0-1 (Roberts).
Referee: Mike Dean (Cheshire)
Facts: West Brom have lost just one of their seven games against teams from the top half of Division One and are unbeaten in five away matches. West Ham, for whom Jermain Defoe has scored 10 times this season, have gone 14 home games without defeat
Stand out bet: Game to finish in a 0-0 draw: 17-2 (Bet365)
This week's winners of the Diane Abbott Award for startling hypocrisy can be found at Upton Park. Having hounded Glenn Roeder out of the job, some West Ham fans are unhappy with his replacement Alan Pardew, whose direct approach apparently clashes with the Academy's classical principles. Pardew's failure to win any of his four games in charge is greater grounds for grievance, but a victory tomorrow would probably win the crowd over. West Brom put the long into long-ball so it won't be pretty.
Verdict: PARDEW OFF THE MARK

Crystal Palace v Preston
3pm Saturday, Selhurst Park
Tickets: £19-£25 (£5-£15 concs). Tel. 08712 0000 71
Last season: 2 (Black 2) 0.
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)
Facts: Preston are unbeaten in their last three home games but have lost their last two away matches. Since winning their opening two games, Palace have won just one out of 13 in Division One
Stand out bet: Preston to win by two goals or more: 7-2 (Bet365)
An embarrassing early exit was always on the cards after years of underachievement and it was just a surprise that Steve Kember managed to outlast Iain Duncan Smith. Unlike Crystal Palace fans, at least Conservatives can console themselves with the thought that their party was once a formidable institution. Palace are now in the hands of a novice, Kit Symons, who has only been able to vote in three General Elections.
Verdict: KIT PROVES THE RIGHT RIDER

Norwich v Millwall
3pm Saturday, Carrow Road
Away ticket info: Sold out
Last season: 3 (Nielsen 2, Kenton) 1 (Claridge).
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
Facts: Millwall, who haven't won at Norwich since 1968, have gone seven away games without a victory. The Canaries have lost just one of their last 11 and have come from behind to win three times this season
Stand out bet: Home win for Norwich: 5-6 (Premierbet)
Dennis Wise seems a bit confused at the moment. Millwall's caretaker-manager is having more problems deciding whether he wants the job on a permanent basis and appears to be changing his mind all the time at The Den. Having originally ruled himself out, he's now decided he'd give the thumbs-up to Theo Paphitis.
Verdict: PAPHITIS POPS THE QUESTION