Archived Premiership Football Betting Tips (22nd April 2006)

For fans of the 2 North London clubs this is the big game of the weekend and the one to watch; forget the paltry prize of the FA Cup, fourth place and the remaining Champions League spot are what will be at stake at Highbury come Saturday lunchtime. If Spurs can snatch victory fourth place will be almost theirs with a 7 point gap over the Gunners but if Arsenal win Spurs will most likely have to settle for the UEFA Cup. Wenger should hold back on picking Campbell (if fit) for this fixture as his defence (without Campbell) has held firm in recent weeks and should not be messed with. Spurs have Ledley King out with an injury so their defence may find it tough against the likes of Henry, Pires and Ljungberg. Arsenal are bound to go for the jugular from the start and should take all 3 points.

Only 2 points and 2 places separate these two sides although Bolton still have a game in hand and could clinch a UEFA Cup place. Bolton finally ended a sequence of 5 defeats with a draw at West Brom so maybe now their bad spell is over and they can push again for Europe. Only 11 goals conceded at home and 3 losses makes them a good bet for the win, especially as Charlton haven't won away in their last 6. Charlton only have position to play for in the last few games but surprised most with their comeback to take all the points after being a goal down at home to Portsmouth. Hreidarsson is banned for Charlton's last 3 games after admitting a charge of violent conduct against Luis Boa Morte and his absence will not help. Bolton to enjoy a rare win.

Pompey will have been disappointed with the way they threw away all 3 points at the Valley in the last 15 minutes and will need to atone for their lapses with a win against Sunderland. It was their first defeat in 7 games and could not have come at a worse time as they slipped back into the bottom three after Birmingham's win over Blackburn. Lua Lua could return against Sunderland who will probably try to hold out for as long as they can; they managed the full 90 minutes at Old Trafford but Portsmouth won't play pretty and are likely to play desperate from the start. The Pompey faithful should not be disappointed and a vital win should be theirs.