Lee Dixon: Get set for another Spurs-Arsenal rollercoaster

If there are goals for Spurs, Bale will surely be involved

There will be goalscoring threats right across the White Hart Lane pitch on Sunday afternoon, says our in-form expert Lee Dixon, who is salivating over the prospect of another classic north London derby 

The North London derby has been English football's wildest rivalry in recent years and there is every reason to believe that Sunday's edition will match up to the classics of the Premier League era. 

In Gareth Bale, Spurs boast a frighteningly talented attacker playing the finest football of his career, while Jack Wilshere is a future Arsenal legend coming into his own very rich vein of form. Add in years of needle between two fierce rivals and the battle for Champions League qualification and we have all the ingredients for a very entertaining game. 

There are simply too many variables to make a call on the match odds market. Tottenham are unbeaten since losing at Everton on December 9, while Arsenal actually boast better 12 game form than their north London rivals. I can genuinely see any of the three results happening and even if one team were leading with minutes left, I wouldn't be confident of them going on to win. 

But while we can't be sure of picking the winning team, we can back plenty of goals with confidence. It beggars belief that in the last two seasons there have been 21 goals in the league fixtures between the two. Throw in the Carling Cup game from September 2010 and it's 26. Throw in this season's match and it's 33!

And there are goalscorers everywhere you look, the most obvious being Bale.
 
It would be remiss not to mention the Welshman, after another stunning week. Bale is now the 1.538/15 favourite to be named PFA Player of the Year after scoring the 14th and 15th goals of his Premier League season at Upton Park on Monday night. That's incredible form and, obvious though it is to say it, he is a massive danger to Arsenal and not just because he is in phenomenal form but because the way Arsenal play will give him opportunities.

The Gunners will attack but Spurs, with pace on both wings, will get opportunities to break and go at the away rearguard. Unless my old club sticks someone on Bale he will surely hurt them.

But, of course, when Arsenal are on the attack they have the weapons to hurt Tottenham. One player who will attract plenty of attention is Wilshere. I have been watching Jack recently and I love what he does. He is so different to what we have got here in England. He drives himself right across the pitch and into little holes, always looking to pass and move and stretch the opposition.

As a local lad and one of his team's leading talents, Jack will undoubtedly be one of the main men on Sunday.  One of my formative experiences as an Arsenal player came at White Hart Lane where I was literally put up against the wall and threatened by Tony Adams, David Rocastle and Paul Davis who told me in no uncertain terms what the fixture meant to them. Believe me, I made sure I put a shift in that day.

A few years have gone by since then but this fixture still means just as much to the fans and I hope it does for the players.
 
I absolutely guarantee White Hart Lane will be rocking for this fixture. Neither teams' top-four aspirations will be decided in N17 on Sunday afternoon but they can either take a big boost or a body blow. For what it's worth I fancy both to finish in the Champions League positions with the internal strife at Chelsea seeing them finish out of the top-four again. It's an eventuality that might actually appeal to both sets of fans!

My bets on Sunday will be pegged to the goals markets. With all that attacking talent and the fixture's recent history, I'll be going over in both halves - that's 1.5 in the first half and 3.5 after 90 minutes.

This fixture hasn't disappointed in recent years and I really can't see that changing on Sunday. Enjoy it! 

Recommended Bets 
Back over 1.5 goals in the first half @ 2.6213/8
Back over 3.5 goals @ 2.77/4

Honda Classic Betting: Woods is one of our backs from the first day three-balls in Florida

Will you be backing Tiger at a little over even money?

Dan Geraghty picks out four players to back from the first round three-balls at the Honda Classic... 

Tiger Woods exited last week's Match Play in the first round without making a bogey, highlighting the fact that you need a bit of luck to progress in that particular format. If he manages to avoid bogeys this week, or at least keeps them to a minimum he will be a hard man to beat on a much tougher course. Woods' game appears to be in better shape than it was when he was second here last year and he can continue his solid start to 2013. Dustin Johnson and Martin Kaymer are his round one playing partners, neither have any notable course form.

Charl Schwartzel and Russell Henley re-oppose this week after last week's titanic Match Play encounter. However, this week they have Justin Rose alongside them and 'Rosey' is well suited to PGA National. Like his playing partners, Rose has started the year well, he's been third and fifth here in his last two visits. The Englishman just edges an exciting three-ball for me.

After a stumbling start to the year, Nicolas Colsaerts kick-started his season with an impressive run at last week's Match Play. Colsaerts has impressive GIR stats that might well see him suited to PGA National. Andres Romero has consistently struggled here and again looks in poor form; Dicky Pride makes up the three-ball and looks the danger.

My girlfriend isn't much of a golf fan, however, she reads this column from time to time and a couple of weeks ago she observed: "you're always talking about Paul Casey coming back but it doesn't sound like he is."

Well, I have news for her, and you, Paul Casey's on his way back and his renewed assault on the PGA Tour starts here at a course he was fourth on in 2010 - his last appearance here. Brendon De Jonge and David Mathis are his three-ball partners.

Recommended Bets
2pts Back Tiger Woods @ 2.05n/a 
2pts Back Justin Rose @ 2.47/5 
2pts Back Nicolas Colsaerts @ 2.05n/a 
2pts Back Paul Casey @ 2.15n/a 

UAE Oaks: Timeform's Runner-by-Runner Guide

Christophe Soumillon will be aboard Emotif at 17:05.

Timeform analyse the Group 3 UAE Oaks staged at Meydan on Thursday...

Lovely Pass continues to go the right way, beating several of these when landing the UAE 1000 Guineas here last time. Should stay this far and every reason to expect another bold show.

Emotif made just the one start in South Africa last year, winning a minor event by over 4 lengths. Still green and in need of run behind Lovely Pass here last time and no surprise if she can reverse form.

My Special J's finished runner-up first 2 starts before showing much improved form when winning Debutante Stakes at the Curragh last year. Looks flattered by that and well behind several of these last time.

Music Chart won 2 of her first 3 starts, and far from disgraced when third to Lovely Pass here last time, forced very wide off home turn. Likely to stay this far and no surprise if she reverses form.

Go Angellica won 2 of her first 3 starts last year, including a 4-runner listed race at Salisbury. Below form in better events subsequently and well beaten in UAE 1000 Guineas last time so best watched.

More Than Sotka was consistent for a different yard in France last year, and again gave her running when third to Music Chart on reappearance. Too keen behind Lovely Pass last time and this trip is a concern.

Mar Mar took a while to get off the mark, reacting positively to visor when winning at Doncaster in November. Blinkered when seeming to improve behind Lovely Pass latest but was able to dictate.

Shuruq won her maiden at Kempton last year and has shown much improved form when second to Music Chart and Lovely Pass in 2 starts this campaign. Claims again if staying this far.

Pure Excellence was kept busy last year but improved with her racing, winning 3 times in total including a listed race at Newmarket. Has disappointed in both the UAE 1000 and 2000 Guineas this year, however.

Timeform 1-2-3:
1. Emotif
2. Music Chart
3. Lovely Pass

Timeform Verdict: Several of these ran in the UAE 1000 Guineas last time, Lovely Pass coming out on top, but it could be worth chancing that Emotif improves significantly for her reappearance, as most from the yard continue to do, and she was an easy winner of her sole start last year. Music Chart could easily reverse form with Lovely Pass having had a poor run through last time and is feared most.

Download your Timeform card for Meydan now!

Real Madrid menace should strike fear into Man United

Will we see more of this at Old Trafford?

Christian Crowther reviews Barcelona's Copa del Rey exit to Real Madrid and suggests that Sir Alex Ferguson has much to fear in their Champions League second leg...

Anyone who witnessed Tuesday night's Clasico can testify what a feat of tactical mastery Jose Mourinho orchestrated in sweeping aside Barcelona.

Led by their talismanic Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, scorer of two goals on the night and a constant threat throughout, Real Madrid executed the perfect counter-attacking performance.

Mourinho's men mixed tenacity and discipline in defence with electric pace and incredible skill on the break.

Barcelona did not have any answers for Mourinho's tactics either. Lionel Messi became a peripheral figure for much of the game, and how often can we ever say that?

Players like Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira put in an almighty shift in closing Barca's midfield down but even players such as Angel Di Maria - a brilliant attacking outlet
for the whole game - tracked back to stifle the Catalans' endeavours.

Based on an away performance of this magnitude in a comparable game, there is much for Manchester United and the watching Sir Alex Ferguson to worry about for their return leg.

In the aftermath of their 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu, all the chatter about United's chances of qualification was understandably positive, though after this showing from Madrid, those missed chances could well come back to haunt them.

Suddenly, keeping Real Madrid from notching more than once seems like a much tougher proposition and the market is reflective of this, rating the Spaniards as 1.84/5 favourites to progress.

So where does this leave Barcelona? Despite an immaculate La Liga campaign, it's not been plain sailing for this powerhouse of European football, now out of their domestic cup and teetering precariously after a 2-0 defeat to AC Milan in the first leg of their Champions League tie.

Although Barca represent 1.321/3 favourites to win the home match with Milan, the Italians are understandably rated as 1.715/7 favourites to qualify for the last eight after shutting out the Catalans at the San Siro.

The exclusion of David Villa as a recognised striker has understandably led to criticism of assistant boss Jordi Roura, who is still filling in for Tito Vilinova while he receives further cancer treatment.

It will be interesting to see what team the coach picks for the La Liga Clasico on Saturday.

Racing Post Greyhound TV: Romford, Hove and Henlow

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"Mottos Impact, a recent arrival from Ireland for Seamus Cahill, looks the one to play in the Maiden Trophy final (21:24) where anything close to his 369 sectional when winning his heat the other night can soon put him in charge. From the same dam line as the likes of Bucks Blade and Bucks Yahoo, a draw alongside rails favouring Ballymoney Chris and Droopys Sian can only be to his advantage"

Racing Post Greyhound TV is back with another three nights of live greyhound racing on Sky channel 212 from Thursday through to Saturday. Darrell Williams is across the best of the Open racing on offer.

Romford's Friday night card provides the bulk of the Open race action highlighted by three heats of a Marathon contest and the final of a Maiden 400m contest.

Mottos Impact, a recent arrival from Ireland for Seamus Cahill, looks the one to play in the Maiden Trophy final (21:24) where anything close to his 369 sectional when winning his heat the other night can soon put him in charge. From the same dam line as the likes of Bucks Blade and Bucks Yahoo, a draw alongside rails favouring Ballymoney Chris and Droopys Sian can only be to his advantage. 

The first of three heats of a Marathon competition at 20:34 is undoubtedly the pick of the bunch with Golden Jacket finalist Eden Rumble up against CD track record holder Avit On Bertha. On current form Eden Rumble might be given the edge, but without a previous look around the Essex circuit slight preference is just for the Cahill trained bitch that set the a record time for the 750m trip on Essex Vase final night.

Henry Jewel, a recent 695m Open race winner at Hove and with sharp form over the 575m trip at Romford, is a far more confident pick and should be another for Cahill in the second heat (20:50), while Ayamzabeauty looks the one to be on in the third heat (21:06).

Elsewhere, Millstreet Lar should relish the return to the red box, from which he made all the running a fortnight ago, in a 400m contest at 21:56, while the same box could also give Ding Hero the edge over in the 575m finale (22:40). Although arguably one of the hottest races of the night, Kevin Hutton's charge has won five of his eleven races over the CD and with a two from three record in trap one, could soon have his opposition on the backfoot.

Courts Ad Stanly's early speed could provide the key ingredient to solving the Maiden at 19:46, where Torchbearer's lack of a previous look round makes him one to take on, while Renas Princess has obvious lead ability claims in a Maiden Stayers contest (20:02) that is otherwise somewhat lacking in early pace and could surprise against a few more fancied rivals. In-form Sharons Return (22:26) is worth sticking with in her bid for a four-timer.

Thursday night viewers shouldn't miss Tibetan Skies, who looks sure to take the beating if getting anywhere near his 2981 (calc) trial from last week. Kevin Hutton's charge had some more than useful form in Ireland and looks a potentially useful prospect. A lay of non-winner Teejaysblackhawk can pay for the stake.

Your A Champ took last week off but while the odds are unlikely to be too inviting it's hard not to envisage Ken Tester's popular sprinter making it nine wins on the spin in the sprint at 20:18.

The return of East Anglian Derby winner Bubbly Phoenix, off since picking up an injury in the All England Cup in October, adds some spice to the card, and with a brace of decent trials over the 515m trip, there's no logical reason to oppose Paul Young's prolific winner (21:24).

However the same kennel's Airlie Impact hasn't quite recaptured his old form judged on his two runs back since a layoff and is one to oppose in a highly competitive four bend contest at 21:56.

Sidaz Dippy looks a decent prospect in the making and after smashing the opposition over 575m at Romford last weekend can complete a quickfire double when stepping up to 695m in the novice at 22:26.

Despite a wider than ideal draw, Doonane Lad is not for opposing in the 21:48 at Henlow. Tony Tuffin's charge has useful form at the track over both four and six bends and should have enough early speed to clear his rivals, which if doing so would make him very hard to beat.

Navarone gained a confidence boosting win at Coventry on Sunday, but has continually been finding one too good at Henlow, which might make him for the layers (22:03).

Recommended Bets
Doonane Lad 21:48 Hen (Thu)
Tibetan Skies 19:46 Hove (Thu)
Mottos Impact 21:24 Rom (Fri)
Ding Hero 2:40 Rom (Fri)

North London Derby Stats: Spurs v Arsenal may be closer than you think

Point apiece on Sunday afternoon, chaps?

Andrew Atherley has some very interesting revelations about Sunday's HUGE north London derby... 

Are Arsenal in crisis? Yes, say many football pundits and radio phone-in callers, who will be sharpening their knives again before Sunday's crucial north London derby at Tottenham.

Defeat at White Hart Lane would complete a calamitous fortnight in which the Gunners have been dumped out of the FA Cup by mid-table Championship side Blackburn and seen their odds of progressing to the Champions League quarter-finals drift to 25.024/1 after a 3-1 home defeat by Bayern Munich.

A Tottenham victory on Sunday would leave Arsenal seven points behind their local rivals and with a tough battle on their hands to claim their customary place in next year's Champions League. At the moment Tottenham are 1.68/13 to finish in the top four and Arsenal are 2.0811/10.

And yet, as Arsene Wenger has been fond of saying recently, let's keep a sense of perspective. For a start, the current league standings are not that different to this time last season. Then, as now, Tottenham were third (with 53 points, compared with 51 now) and Arsenal were four points behind (in fourth place). At the end of the season Arsenal finished third while Tottenham had dropped to fourth, a point behind.

So, for all the positive talk about Gareth Bale-inspired Tottenham and the negativity surrounding RVP-less Arsenal, the truth is that their relative positions have barely changed since last season.

Judged on current form in the Premier League, Wenger's critics may be surprised to learn that Arsenal are doing better than Tottenham, whether it's on the popular measure of six-match form (Arsenal rank second only to Manchester United on 13 points, with Tottenham next on 12) or double that number of games (Arsenal also rank second to United on 12-match form, with Tottenham again a point behind in third).

Of course, that doesn't take account of Arsenal's setbacks against Blackburn and Bayern Munich, but nor is Tottenham's FA Cup defeat by Leeds (a Championship side of similar standing to Blackburn) included in those form figures.

That's not to deny Arsenal have problems. For a start, there is a class gap: their only two defeats in their last 12 Premier League games have been against other big-six sides (Manchester City and Chelsea) and then they were outclassed by Bayern Munich.

The class gap is also evident in the mini-league of top-six teams, in which Arsenal are fifth with an average of just 0.71 points per game. And the Gunners' away form against top-half teams is unconvincing (one win out of six).

Tottenham are no better, however. Andre Villas-Boas's side are bottom of the mini-league of top-six teams (with an average of 0.67 points per game) and have won only two out of six at home to top-half teams.
How the teams are ultimately judged will depend on how they perform over the final 11 games of the Premier League campaign, with Sunday's derby a potential turning point.

A draw is a distinct possibility at 3.613/5 given how closely matched the two teams are on form and their difficulties in winning games against the higher-class sides. 

Over 2.5 goals has to be considered too, as 15 out of 22 (68 per cent) big-six clashes have gone over that mark this season. Even more eye-catching is that fact that 12 of the last 13 north London derbies in the Premier League have gone over 2.5 goals, which is 1.748/11 to back on Sunday.

A majority of those last 13 league derbies (seven out of 13) have gone over 3.5 goals, which is 2.789/5 on Sunday's match. 

Recommended Bets
Tottenham v Arsenal draw at 3.613/5
Tottenham v Arsenal over 2.5 goals at 1.748/11

Premier League: Top four still very much on for Arsenal

All smiles: Santi Cazorla has recaptured his early season form

Arsenal have been labelled a club in crisis recently but Christian Crowther reveals things may not be as bad as all that for the Gunners...

Having endured a nightmare few days where they exited the FA Cup before being beaten by Bayern Munich, many observers declared the demise of Arsenal.

While there are still lingering issues for debate, not least the position of their manager, a cursory glance at the form table suggests that they may not be sunk so deep in crisis after all.

Looming on the horizon is Sunday's north London derby but, as the Gunners approach this famous fixture, they actually bring the second-best form in the Premier League, bettered only by Manchester United.

Arsene Wenger's much-maligned troops are actually unbeaten in five league matches, picking up four wins, one of which was a 5-1 thumping of West Ham at the Emirates.

Summer signings Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski have been in particularly inspiring form, notching four and three goals respectively across the last eight games in all competitions.

Tottenham themselves enter Sunday's game off the back of three straight league wins, though the Lilywhites have only won one of the last four encounters with the old enemy, so Arsenal's price of 3.211/5 to win holds serious appeal.

In the back of their minds, Andre Villas-Boas' players also know that they let a huge lead over Arsenal slip last season, so they will be the ones carrying the extra pressure into the weekend clash.

The way the table is shaping up actually means this fixture, as important as it is for local bragging rights, may not actually be worthy of the winner-takes-all tag that it will be labelled with.

Most observers have spent the season inferring that Wenger's side will miss out on fourth spot but, the way Chelsea are going, Arsenal may yet spring an ambush on those Champions League spots without needing to overhaul Spurs.

The Gunners are only two points behind the European champions heading into this weekend's fixtures and, under Rafa Benitez, Chelsea are a side who can't string a run of Premier League wins together.

You can back Arsenal at 2.0811/10 to gatecrash the top four at present, odds sure to shrink if they beat Tottenham.