SATURDAY

SPURS 2-0 ARSENAL 2.45pm

#WengerOut. The hash tag is no longer harsh. Gunners have justification, for in Wenger, they no longer trust, but rust. Last week’s reverse result at home to Swansea has opened the criticism and it will be interesting to see if Wenger will remain in charge next summer unless he starts by beating bitter North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane today. The lunchtime derby is delicately poised for the two sides that both failed to capitalise on leaders Leicester’s draw to West Bromwich Albion. Arsenal have always bossed Spurs and never finished below them for the last 20 years, but this is a peculiar year, huh? I reckon Mauricio Pochettino will have the last laugh. Home win.

NEWCASTLE 1-1 B’MOUTH 5pm

The Magpies are now getting desperate. They remain in relegation zone and this is one game they will need to tuck home, except that The Cherries, eight points above their hosts, are not the side to give up easily. They push until the last minute. Steve McClaren could already be seeing Championship in the mirror. Draw or away win.

CHELSEA 2-1 STOKE 4pm

The Blues are back from the dead. They now look like they can compete for Champions League spot and rightly so. A win at home to Stoke should see them ease into the Europa slot and become a firm contender for the top four, like midfield enforcer Nemanja Matic believes. But interim manager Guus Hiddink remains guarded about his side’s progress. This Stoke test, given their hard-fighting stance, could be a defining game. Home win or draw.

WATFORD 2-3 LEICESTER 5pm

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri must have realised by now that defensive frailities, or is it fatigue, could prove decisive in their shock title ambition. While The Foxes are good going forward, they are susceptible in the back and keep leaking goals. The draw at home to West Brom should wake them up if they are going to leave Watford with a point today. Watford themselves were unlucky to return from Manchester without a point after going down late to Juan Mata’s fine free kick. But I still see the league leaders winning this game.

DOrtmund 1-3 BAYERN 7pm

Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich fell to a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Mainz to cut their cushion at the top to five points. They now travel to cross-city rivals Borussia Dortmund hoping to avoid a scenario where they will be just two points ahead. It’s difficult seeing Bayern lose two on the trot though.

ENGLISH FA CUP FIXTURES

SWANSEA 3-1 NORWICHS’THAMPTON 2-0 SUNDERLANDMAN CITY 3-1 A. VillaPALACE 1-2 LIVERPOOLWEST BROM 2-2 MAN UtdPALACE 1-2 LIVERPOOLEVERTON 1-2 WEST HAM

jacobs.seaman@newtimes.co.rw