World Football Daily

It really is game on at the top of the Premier League at the moment, with two points covering leaders Manchester United, Chelsea and an Arsenal side that seems to have buckled down from the sickening injury to Aaron Ramsey.

The young Wales midfielder is likely to be missing from the sport for anywhere up to a year after suffering severe leg injuries last month in a clash with Ryan Shawcross that provoked a good deal of over-reaction.

Shawcross was vilified as a villain in the wake of the injury, caused by a tackle that was just milliseconds mistimed and nowhere near as bad as a couple of other tackles over the same weekend – merely bad luck was my own personal thought.

But since then Arsenal have looked like a team ready to take serious aim at winning the Premier League as they strolled past Burnley 3-1 despite Nicklas Bendtner missing enough chances to win 12 games on his own.

The Dane made up for his wastefulness on Tuesday when the Gunners summarily despatched Porto from the Champions League 5-0, Bendtner netting a hat-trick, and it is him that Arsenal will have to rely on for the rest of the campaign.

With so many playmakers around him, Bendtner is going to be on the end of countless perfect set-ups, and if he has more days like Tuesday than last Saturday, he could well grab a dozen goals over the last nine games, which only include a couple of tough looking games at Spurs and at home to Manchester City.

Of course Arsenal will want Cesc Fabregas back as soon as possible to increase their reputation with Soccer Betting, but the same applies to Wayne Rooney at a suddenly striker-lacking United, while Petr Cech’s loss to Chelsea could be the most important of the lot judged on Hilario’s performances since Cech hurt his calf.

It’s hard to say what way things will go, but as of right now, I’d take a fired-up Arsenal team to overcome the EPL Betting odds and take the Premier League race right down to the wire.

The Brazilians are, of course, the most successful nation in terms of World Cup titles having lifted the trophy on five separate occasions, the most recent of which was in 2002.  Along with Spain and England, Brazil are among the favourites to lift the trophy in South Africa and full-back Dani Alves claims his national side are ‘almost invincible.’
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Portsmouth will play at Wembley for the second time in three years and the south-coast outfit are still on target to become the first team to win the FA Cup and get relegated from the Premier League.

It’s a situation which has never happened before but Pompey’s inspired 2-0 win over Birmingham at Fratton Park means they’re into the semi-finals of the cup, against either Spurs or Fulham, and based on their spirited quarter-final showing they will fancy their FA Cup final betting chances.

Avram Grant’s bottom-placed side played with a purpose and desire not normally associated with relegation-haunted teams and Birmingham were firmly second best. Frederic Piquionne grabbed both goals to sink Alex McLeish’s men, who have arguably been the surprise package of the season so far.

Blues sit comfortably in eighth position in the top flight after an amazing 12-match unbeaten run earlier in the campaign. But McLeish’s men failed to spark over the weekend and Pompey, driven on by on-loan Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara, claimed the glory and a semi-final berth at Wembley.

Speaking before the quarter-final O’Hara said: “I think they deserve to have a bit of a great occasion, get to the final. Win the FA Cup and get relegated – it’s crazy. But that’s Portsmouth.”

Portsmouth are rooted to the foot of the table with 19 points, but after going into administration they will almost certainly have their nine-point deduction ratified next week by the Premier League. That will leave Pompey cast adrift and leave them with an almost impossible Football Betting mountain to climb in their bid for survival.

I have to admit I have developed a bit of a soft spot for Portsmouth this season. Firstly because they have provided me with plenty of ideas for blogging – their perilous financial state has had more twists and turns than the most gut wrenching of roller coasters, providing fresh, cringe-worthy headlines almost every day.

But another interesting subplot to rise from the wreckage has been the side’s march to Wembley and the FA Cup semi-finals. The national stadium is, of course, familiar to Pompey fans. They won the cup back in 2008, beating West Brom and then Cardiff at the famous stadium.

However, we know now that Harry Redknapp’s star studded side was bought on borrowed money, and that taste of success could ultimately cost the club its existence.

It is this troubled backdrop that makes their FA Cup results this season all the more satisfying, and I’m sure the fans would consider a Wembley triumph this year a much greater achievement than the win two years ago.
Credit has to go to boss Avram Grant. The Israeli’s hang-dog appearance and dour public persona often see him criticised for a lack of passion.

However, despite a succession of let downs from the club’s crisis riddled board, Grant  behaved with dignity, taking each blow on the chin and using it to forge a backs-to-the-wall spirit with his remaining players.

Sadly their drop into administration means a nine point deduction and almost certain relegation, but far from going out with a whimper, Grant seems determined to salvage something from this car crash of a season, a final at Wembley would be just the ticket.

I’m sure Spurs or Fulham will have something to say about that. The London duo face a replay to decide who will play Portsmouth in the semi-final. But in an era where people question the continued existence of FA Cup magic, few would begrudge Portsmouth’s day in the sun, and possible final appearance, after all they had to cope with this season.

The club may cease to exist in a few weeks time, but anyone who was at Fratton Park on Saturday will tell you the heart and soul of the club is still alive and kicking, whatever a high court hearing might say.

Meanwhile, England manager Fabio Capello could face a fresh selection headache. Defender Wes Brown has a suspected broken foot, and he could be out for some time.

The FIFA World Cup odds make England third favourites to win the tournament, but at the rate injuries are piling up the team might have to field a makeshift back four.

Finally, in horse racing news, the Cheltenham betting is really hotting up as the countdown to this year’s Festival begins.