Gunners to Apply Pressure

Arsenal host Sunderland on Saturday knowing that a win would put them within just one point of league leaders Manchester United.

United’s defeat to Chelsea in midweek means that they are now just four points ahead of the Gunners having played one game more than their title rivals. With Sir Alex Ferguson’s side not in action until Sunday Arsenal have an opportunity to pile the pressure on the Red Devils.

And it is a prime opportunity at that as they face an out-of-form Sunderland side that have lost their last four fixtures on the bounce. Arsene Wenger’s side bounced back from their Carling Cup disappointment with a 5-0 win over Leyton Orient in midweek and will be fully focussed on the job at hand here.

Arsenal are a short 2/5 to get the win that would move them on to 59 points while Sunderland are 7/1 to compound Arsenal’s misery and it is 7/2 that the game ends level.

Manchester City’s title aspirations were also reignited following Chelsea’s defeat of Manchester United. Although 10 points currently separate the two Manchester clubs City can close that gap to seven points with a win at home to Wigan this Saturday evening.

The Latics currently prop up the Premier League table having won just one of their last ten Premier League fixtures and their form suggests that they may well be playing Championship football next season.

Roberto Mancini’s side are 4/11 for the win here with the draw priced at 7/2 and an away win available to back at 8/1.

The relegation battle of the day is between Carling Cup winners Birmingham and West Brom. The Baggies have been improving steadily since Roy Hodgson came into charge but they come up against a Blues side that will be full of confidence this weekend.

Birmingham are 6/5 to get the win that would pull them away from the relegation zone and plunge the Baggies further into the mire. Both the draw and the away win are priced at 23/10.