Weekend Football Focus

Arsenal v Chelsea
3pm Saturday, Highbury
Tickets: Sold out
Last season: 3 (Desailly og, Van Bronckhorst, Henry) 2 (Stanic, Petit).
Referee: Paul Durkin (Portland)
Facts: Arsenal have gone 15 Premiership games without defeat against Chelsea, dating back to September 1995. Chelsea, unbeaten in six away matches, haven't kept a clean sheet in a derby since last November's 0-0 draw against Tottenham.
Stand out bet: Thierry Henry to score the first goal: 9-2 (Bet365)
Hardened Highbury regulars may not admit it, but Arsenal fans are trembling into their Kafka novels and mung bean salads. Even north London liberals can see that money equals power in the big, bad world of Premiership football and Arsene Wenger has not seen much moolah recently. While Claudio Ranieri was splashing out £111million on top-class players this summer, Wenger was only able to spend £1million on an unheralded German goalkeeper - barely enough to pay the school fees of a few Arsenal season-ticket holders. Wenger may not have huge funds at his disposal but can cherish a priceless gift that Ranieri will never receive - that of job security. The Italian is widely considered to be keeping the Stamford Bridge bench warm for Sven-Goran Eriksson and even adopted the England manager's acclaimed diamond formation against Birmingham this week, fuelling rumours that the Swede is already picking the team. Ranieri's diamond is unlikely to be forever, or even successive games, but a win at Highbury would give him more time.
Verdict: ARSENAL FEELING BLUE

Fulham v Wolves
3pm Saturday, Loftus Road
Tickets: £26-£33 (£12-£26 concs). Tel: 0870 442 1234
Referee: H Webb (Rotherham)
Facts: Louis Saha has already found the target four times after managing only seven last season. Saha scored two penalties in Fulham's 2-0 win when they last hosted Wolves, in a Division One game in April 2001. Wolves have not won in London since their 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in February 2002
Stand out bet: Saha to score the first goal: 5-1 (Ladbrokes)
Chris Coleman must have spent the summer sparring with Roy Jones Jnr as his Fulham side are clearly punching above their weight. The Cottagers have lost just one league game this season and a five-match unbeaten run in the Premiership has taken them to the dizzy heights of fifth, enough to give even the most optimistic of Fulham fans vertigo. Coleman's feet remain firmly on the ground, however, and the Welshman views tomorrow's game as an opportunity to move another three points closer to safety. They should certainly get them because the visitors have begun the season like timid cubs, rather than fully grown Wolves. Many promoted teams begin brightly before fading away as winter sets in, but without that head-start Dave Jones's men seemed doomed to relegation.
Verdict: COLEMAN LANDS KNOCK-OUT BLOW

Leicester v Tottenham
2pm Sunday, Walkers Stadium - live pay-per-view game
Away ticket info: Sold out
Referee: Andy D'Urso (Billericay)
Facts: Leicester have lost just one of their last seven home matches in the league against Spurs. The Foxes' Les Ferdinand was on target when he last played against former club Spurs, for West Ham in March
Stand out bet: Kanoute to score the first goal: 6-1 (Ladbrokes)
David Blaine may be the world's best illusionist but Glenn Hoddle is peerless when it comes to delusion. The former Tottenham manager spookily suggested yesterday that he could one day return to White Hart Lane, but surely he's talking about the next life. Tottenham seem to be getting on just fine without him and David Pleat's more prosaic qualities have delivered four points from his two games in charge. Leicester appear to be there for the taking, having won only one game all season, and if Pleat's good run continues he could be given the job on a permanent basis. Which is when it could all start going pear-shaped.
Verdict: A PLEATY TREATYY

Nationwide Division 1

Crystal Palace v Rotherham
3pm Saturday, Selhurst Park
Tickets: £19-£25 (£5-£15 concs). Family day: free ticket for Under-16s with every adult ticket bought before Saturday. Tel: 08712 0000 71
Last season: 0-0.
Referee: Peter Walton (Northants)
Facts: Rotherham have now gone 13 away games without a win, but haven't lost in London since their 2-1 defeat on this ground against Wimbledon in October 2002. Palace have gone 11 matches since keeping a clean sheet
Standout bet: Palace (h-t), draw (f-t): 16-1 (Coral, Ladbrokes)
Like Dorian Gray, Julian Gray appears to have self-destructed and the Palace midfielder could soon be nothing more than a torn painting in the Selhurst Park attic. Gray has been rejected by Charlton, Leeds, Blackburn and even Palace themselves, so must hope that a loan spell at Cardiff will salvage his career. Palace boss Steve Kember has also been thumbing the classics this week, describing his side as "Jekyll and Hyde" following Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Derby. Perhaps he meant Laurel and Hardy?
Verdict: GRAY DAY FOR PALACE

Millwall v Sheffield United
3pm Saturday, The Den
Tickets: £15-£25 (£5-£15 concs). Tel: 020 7231 9999
Last season: 1 (Ifill) 0.
Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire)
Facts: Sheffield United, who haven't drawn any of their past 11 games, have lost on each of their past seven visits to The Den. Neil Warnock's men have won three away matches in a row
Standout bet: Away win for Sheffield United: 7-4 (Ladbrokes)
Dennis the Menace has the opportunity to prove he is worldly Wise over the next few weeks and may get the chance to carry on caretaking. The Millwall captain is the players' choice to take over from Mark McGhee, but Wise could find it difficult to cross that invisible line which separates players and manager.
Late-night card games and tussles with taxi drivers may find favour with the lads but are unlikely to impress the chairman. An unlikely win over the leaders, though, would give Theo Paphitis something to think about.
Verdict: TAXI FOR WISE

Watford v Bradford City
3pm Saturday, Vicarage Road
Tickets: £15-£20 (£5-£10 concs). Tel: 01923 496 010
Last season: 1 (Cox) 0.
Referee: Uriah Rennie (South Yorkshire)
Facts: Bradford have gone six games without a win but are unbeaten in two away matches, drawing 2-2 on both occasions. Watford striker Bruce Dyer has gone seven matches without a goal
Standout bet: Home win: 10-11 (Bet365, BlueSq, Hills, Ladbrokes, Skybet)
Watford are desperately seeking their third league win of the season and will welcome Bradford with undisguised glee. Nicky Law's side are also struggling, you see, and with just one win from their past six games should be beaten at Vicarage Road. The Bantam is a friendly, active bird rarely seen on the streets of West Yorkshire and should be ripe for a roasting.
Verdict: BANTAMS STUNG BY THE HORNETS