csconstantine.com

LONDON (SE) - Arsenal could move to within a point of the Premier League summit with a win over Stoke City at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Just a week after beating Barcelona 2-1 in the Champions League, the Gunners play host to a club whose direct style is the antithesis of the Catalan giants’ passing game.

There is little love lost between Arsenal and Stoke, and an already strained relationship was further tested when Gunners manager Arsene Wenger compared the Potters’ tactics to that of a rugby game earlier this season.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis has constantly defended his team’s approach to matches, and would be justified if he pointed to a disciplinary record that is significantly better than Arsenal’s so far this season.

However, it would be an injustice to talk about Stoke’s style as they continue to exceed expectations in their third season in the top flight. Currently tenth in the league, a weakened Potters line-up also reached their second FA Cup quarter-final in two years with a 3-0 win over Brighton on Saturday.

“We worked very hard all over the pitch,” Pulis said after the cup win. “Without the players’ commitment and attitude, irrespective of what the manager does, you’re not going to win.

“If you look at that (the Stoke team selection), I think it showed respect for the FA Cup and respect for Brighton.

“We were able to do it because we have got a good period where we play Arsenal on Wednesday and then West Brom on the following Monday - there is a good break between the games, and that is very important.”

In contrast, Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Leyton Orient on Sunday means that they can add an FA Cup replay to a hectic schedule of five games in 14 days, including the League Cup final against Birmingham and the return trip to Barcelona in the Champions League \2013 a fixture list which justifies Wenger’s decision to rest a number of key players for the weekend’s cup tie.

Despite the fixture pileup, Arsenal midfielder Alex Song is confident the Gunners can go on and win trophies this season, but has stressed how vital it is to pick up maximum points against Stoke.

“We have a very good team and always work very hard in training because this year is very important for us,” said the Cameroon international. “We want to do very well because everyone has been waiting for this moment for a long time.

“We are in a strong position because we are in four competitions and that is very good for us.

“We need just to take game by game. The next step is Wednesday against Stoke which is very important. It is important just to take the next step. If we win this game we are a point behind Manchester United.”

The likes of Cesc Fabregas, Jack Wilshere, Robin Van Persie, Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri all may return to the Arsenal starting line-up on Wednesday, although Johan Djourou is a doubt with a back injury and Abou Diaby remains unavailable through suspension.

Stoke are likely to start on-loan striker John Carew, but winger Matthew Etherington faces a late fitness test on a back problem and Mama Sidibe is unavailable due to recurrence of an Achilles injury that will keep him out for the rest of the season.

Labels: CityArsenal, preview, SportsTicker, Stoke

England are taking no chances as they prepare for tomorrow's opening World Cup match against the Netherlands in Nagpur – right down to refusing to play ball with the Dutch when it comes to virtual cricket.

Andrew Strauss's team need no reminding that the men in orange caused major embarrassment by beating them in a World Twenty20 game at Lord's in 2009 and they are determined there will be no repeat in the 50-over format – so determined that, according to the Dutch, cheeky requests to borrow video footage of Jimmy Anderson and Co have been rejected.

"The funny thing is there is a new practice facility called 'ProBatter' with a hole in the screen where the ball pops out from footage [of various bowlers so batsmen in the nets feel like they are facing the real thing]," said Netherlands team manager Ed van Nierop. "The boys really like that the England team management refused to give us the footage of the England bowlers, so they must be a little afraid of us!"

What England must be, of course, is respectful. And they are, insists Matt Prior. "Netherlands are a team you absolutely cannot be complacent against," said the keeper-batsman. "We've seen what happened in the past and we don't want that to happen again."

A few weeks ago, Prior was expected to watch the World Cup from home. Then, having been recalled to the one-day squad at the last minute instead of Steve Davies, he seemed certain to open the batting. Now, with Kevin Pietersen promoted to the top of the order, Prior is being cast as England's "finisher" – the middle-order batsman with the responsibility for seeing the team to a big total or guiding them to a target.

"The middle overs in this World Cup are going to be very important, playing the spin and with the seam bowlers using a lot of cutters and slower balls – trying to manipulate the ball around," said Prior. "It is going to be hard, but playing on the subcontinent is something I feel confident about, so I'm looking forward to it.

"The minute anyone says the word 'finisher', you panic a little bit and think: 'That's a lot of responsibility.' But I love being a part of a team, and you want to be a cog in the wheel and one of those that wins games and helps set up games.

"Being a 'finisher' gives you the responsibility, and I enjoy that. I don't think Eoin Morgan's boots can be filled – he's a phenomenal player – but I'll certainly try my best."

If Prior could pick his own position it might not be six. But he knows he cannot – so will continue to give it his best shot, wherever he is deployed. "I've always thought opening suited my game better," he said. "But the way the last couple of games have gone I've found a tempo I'm very comfortable with.

"I don't think, opening, I managed to get that tempo ever – which was hugely frustrating, because I know that if I get that tempo right I can be very, very successful. Right now, this role is suiting me – and I feel very comfortable in it."

Prior averages only 25 in ODIs, compared to almost 43 in Tests. "People throw stats around and say your one-day stats aren't that good," he said "They aren't. But I'm working very hard to improve them."

Labels: Avoiding, Dutch, England, Independent, preview, refuse, sneak, upset

Back On Song

After collapsing 3-1 at Udinese two weeks ago, doubts on Leonardo's Inter reared their ugly heads. With the team suffering from a plethora of injuries and looking vulnerable at the back, there were suggestions that the Nerazzurri's bubble had burst, that they could struggle to get back on track.

What has happened subsequently, though, is quite a different story as Inter have embarked on yet another winning streak. The Italian and European champions defeated Napoli on penalties to reach the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia, then rallied from 2-0 behind to edge past Palermo 3-2 last weekend and in midweek registered a 3-0 victory in Bari.

Back-to-back league wins mean that the Beneamata are now just seven points behind leaders Milan in Serie A with 41 points from 22 matches; that gap will be narrowed down to just four should they win their game in hand.

Currently placed in the top-four, Inter are indeed back in contention for the Scudetto and, having lost just once at home all season, will be confident of getting the better of Roma on Sunday evening.

Winning Is The Only Objective

Roma talisman Francesco Totti has the winning mentality and although the Italian veteran hasn't won much silverware with the Giallorossi in his career, he has often inspired his team to big-game wins. Sunday evening's encounter against Inter at San Siro is one of the big matches that Roma cannot afford to lose, and Totti knows that.

"The game against Inter is very important," Totti told the press. "We cannot underestimate the value of the game as we are nine points behind Milan and have a game in hand. If we want to remain within reach of Milan then we have to get a result. In any case, the league is still long and so there is time."

Roma head into the clash in fifth place in Serie A with 39 points from 22 matches; despite retaining a game in hand, the former Italian champions are nine points off the pace and a draw or a defeat on Sunday evening could potentially ruin their Scudetto hopes.

To increase the pressure, the Lupi's away form isn't very encouraging as they have won only three times on the road in the league - that's three games out of 11. Roma may have scored 11 goals in those matches, but they have been a mess defensively, having conceded a whooping 17 goals away from the Stadio Olimpico, a record they hold jointly with third-from-bottom Cesena.

TEAM NEWS

Inter

Stankovic, Cordoba, Mariga, Lucio, Castellazzi and Samuel are injured and are unavailable.

Roma

Pizarro, Brighi and Adriano are sidelined with injuries and will miss the trip to Milan. Mexes is suspended.

Follow Goal.com on to get the latest soccer news directly. Check out Goal.com's

Labels: Goalcom, Inter, preview, Serie

NEIL RICHARDS STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - West Ham United have all the incentive they could ever want to beat Birmingham City at Upton Park on Sunday.

Victory would lift the Hammers above the Blues and out of the relegation zone \2013 and would exact some measure of revenge on their Midlands rivals for the League Cup semi-final defeat last week.

West Ham were just 11 minutes away from a place in their first Wembley final since 1981 before Birmingham hit back to level the tie on aggregate and then won it with an extra-time goal from Craig Gardner.

And let’s not forget that West Ham co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold used to occupy the same positions at St Andrew’s before selling up to Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung, with whom they have had a less than amicable relationship.

All those factors, however, are mere sideshows compared to the all-consuming quest for Premier League survival \2013 something that West Ham feel is well within their reach following Wednesday night’s 3-1 win at Blackpool.

Robbie Keane, who was snapped up on loan from Tottenham on transfer deadline day, marked his debut with a goal and Victor Obinna scored twice to follow-up his hat-trick against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup at the weekend.

West Ham are looking to become only the second team since the Premier League was formed in 1992 to avoid being relegated after being bottom of the table at Christmas.

“It would be a massive achievement for us,” captain Scott Parker told West Ham TV. “I think we’re good enough to stay in this league but we need to prove that and win games.

“It would be massive for everyone in there because it has been difficult at times this year, on and off the field. Sometimes it’s not been easy.

“We’ve made things difficult ourselves but all we can do is stay together and try to win football matches.

“We’d defy history if we could stay up so it would be great.”

The league table would make for even grimmer reading for Birmingham had they not battled back from two goals down to snatch a point when these two teams met in November.

“We know they’re a great side, they’ve got quality players who maybe have not been playing to their maximum so far,” first-team coach Peter Grant told Sky Sports News. “They’ve added to that with the likes of Robbie Keane who I had the joy to work with up at Celtic, so they’ve got top, top quality players and we’re going to have to be at our best to get a result, that’s for sure.”

Birmingham twice fought back from a goal down to earn a valuable point with a 2-2 draw with Manchester City on Wednesday, but they have won only once in their last nine league games.

Alex McLeish’s side are still waiting for a visa for their new signing, Obafemi Martins, the Nigeria striker who has joined on loan from Russian Premier League side Rubin Kazan until the end of the season.

“We want him back as soon as possible,” McLeish said. “We will try and get him back for the West Ham game and will take it to the wire.

“If he is back on Saturday, we will include him in the squad. We just need to get the red tape sorted.”

Striker Cameron Jerome and midfielder Barry Ferguson are both doubtful for Blues with ankle injuries. Roger Johnson will have a late fitness test on a calf problem and Curtis Davies is standing by to make his debut should the central defender be ruled out.

Labels: Birmingham, CityWest, preview, SportsTicker, United

PREDICTIONS:

Skysports.com prediction: 0-0

SKY BET odds: Stoke 11/10 Draw 12/5 Sunderland 12/5

One to Watch: Matthew Etherington

Bet on Saturday's match

Both teams come into the match on the back of midweek defeats after Stoke lost 2-0 to Liverpool, while Chelsea claimed a 4-2 success at the Stadium of Light.

Stoke have an excellent home record against the Black Cats having won three on the trot by a one-goal margin, although Sunderland have been improved on the road of late.

Steve Bruce's side have won back-to-back Premier League outings away from home having got the better of Aston Villa and Blackpool in January.

Stoke's defence is bolstered by the return from suspension of Ryan Shawcross and his return is crucial with Abdoulaye Faye pulling a hamstring against the Reds.

Shawcross will partner Robert Huth at the heart of Tony Pulis' defence with Andy Wilkinson continuing at right-back with Danny Higginbotham on the left in front of Asmir Begovic.

Matthew Etherington should return on the left side of Pulis' midfield having been rested at Anfield while Kenwyne Jones and John Carew will provide a strong attack.

Jamaican hit-man Ricardo Fuller is away attending his uncle's funeral, so Jon Walters will provide cover on the bench.

Sunderland are set to play with a lone striker in the shape of Ghana international Asamoah Gyan because he is the only fit centre-forward on the club's books.

He will be supported by Kieran Richardson with Danny Welbeck (hamstring) and Fraizer Campbell (knee) injured, while youngster Jordan Cook picked up a knock in the reserves on Wednesday.

Sunderland will give a debut to Sulley Muntari in midfield while the club's second new signing Stephane Sessegnon is likely to be utilised on the left.

Stoke are likely to face a fit again John Mensah, who is expected to return to the side in place of Anton Ferdinand and he should partner Titus Bramble at the heart of the visitors' defence.

Stoke: Begovic, Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Pennant, Whitehead, Delap, Etherington, Jones, Carew.

Sunderland: Gordon, Onuoha, Mensah, Ferdinand, Bardsley, Cattermole, Elmohamady, Henderson, Richardson, Sessegnon, Gyan.

Labels: preview, SkySports, Stoke, Sunderland